Once they return to the gate, they are cheerfully allowed to board with each steward taking a moment to thank Peeta for his past service. Katniss asks the first one for a bottle of water. She guides Peeta to his aisle seat, and helps him sit down. It's not until she's sitting by the window, that she guides his hand to the water in the cup holder between them. "There's your water."

"Thank you," he whispers back. "Is it silly, but I think I'm going to try it without the pill? I think Duke is helping me more than I realize." His hand starts moving, and without thinking, her hand finds his. He squeezes her fingers, and says, "thank you."

"Peeta—it's ok. You don't have to thank me for everything—"

"Shhh. It's not that. You trained Duke," he hushes her. The pup lifts his head from the floor between their feet and wags his tail. "And I really don't know what I would have done without him."

"Thank you, Peeta," she whispers unable to speak any louder for the tears making her choke up. "It's worth it to see you now. Oh! I mean—"

Thump-thump-flip

He chuckles. "No, you're right. I am better, much better."

"I'm glad," she murmurs. "I wonder if anyone else is going to the New Year's Eve thing you're going to," she observes as the other passengers continue to board around them. "Or the thing I'm going to?"

"London is a big place," he answers. "There's no telling where everyone is going."

"That's true." Wanting, no needing to talk to him some more, she says, "how has it been adjusting to life with Duke?"

Several thumps on the floor between their feet makes them both smile. "It's been good, really good. I can't believe that you found him in a pound? Who would get rid of a pup like him?"

"I was the one who picked him out. Duke was only six months old." She glances down at him and is rewarded when he puts his paw on top of her foot. "The kids had bought him for their aging parents. Grandpa died and Grandma couldn't handle the excitable puppy by herself for long. Once I sprung him loose, he was so eager to do whatever we asked of him."

"And somehow, he ended up with me?" Peeta whispers.

"It's really amazing how we get these pups, work with them, and train them. I'm not sure how Annie does it, but she can match vets with their dogs 99% of the time."

Another thump on the floor makes them both smile.

She looks up in time to see that everyone is in their seats. "I think they are ready to give the ready-set-go speech." His breath is shaky as he releases it. Before she realizes what's happening, Duke is up and in Peeta's lap. He lets go of her hand so he can hug Duke the way she taught him to when he needed him not so long ago. "What's wrong?"

"I'm ok. I think. I heard the engine and had the thought that I'm in here for a while. And of course, Duke picks up on it." Peeta's fingers move through his fur. "I couldn't do this without him—or you."

Thump-thump-flip.

The stewards continue their speech and Katniss checks their seatbelts. Unsure what else to do, she mutters, "we'll be there soon, I promise."

It doesn't take long for the rest of the crew to find their seats and the engines to start. His grip gets tighter, and in an effort to distract him she says, "Why do birds fly south for the winter?" he shakes his head. "because it's much easier than walking!" when he doesn't immediately chuckle, but he does smile, she says, "Why did the banana go to the hospital?"

"Why?"

"Because he was peeling really bad!" Still no chuckle, but he does roll his eyes at her. The tarmac passes under them as the plane taxis out to the runway. "Do you want me to tell you another joke?"

"Maybe later," he murmurs. "Tell me what you see?"

His question makes her breath catch and tears to gather. "It's night, but I think every light in the airport is on. It reminds me of Christmas."

She turns so she can see him, and her heart thumps again as he hugs Duke even tighter. The need to touch him is so strong, and she gives in, touching his arm. "We are starting to speed up—"

He lets go of Duke long enough to grab her hand. With one hand on the dog, and the other in hers, the plane leaves the ground.

It's been a while since she's felt the familiar tug of a plane leaving the earth. Never taking her eyes off the males sitting beside her, Duke does really well for his first time in a plane. She glances at Peeta, who still isn't showing any emotion, but is breathing easier. "Better?"

He nods, and she exhales the breath she didn't think she was holding. It feels like the plane is leveling out, and soon the fasten seatbelt signs in the cabin go out and a steward comes on over the intercom, "Ladies and gentlemen. We've reached our cruising height of ten thousand feet. The captain has turned off the seatbelt sign. You may move around the cabin at this time, but for your safety, we recommend that you keep your seatbelt on while seated for unexpected rough air."

As if he knew exactly what was said, Duke calmly gets off of Peeta's lap, and they both hold up their feet. He circles the best he can, and lays down. "Dammit," he softly swears.

Her heart speeds up as a million things that could be wrong races through her mind. "What's wrong?"

"I meant to bring him a blanket to curl up on. I packed my carry on and completely forgot it."

She starts to wiggle out of her hoodie. "It's ok. He can lay down on my sweatshirt."

"No—are you sure?"

She waits until she slides it off her head before she answers. "Yeah, I'll just get a blanket if I get chilly." She bends over as much as the seats will allow her to, and softly commands, "Get up, Duke." He gives her a look only he can, but stands anyway. She quickly arranges the shirt underneath him, and he lays back down with a huff.

"Tha—" he begins.

"Shhh—" she hushes him. There are stewards emerging with carts in front of them. "Are you hungry? I think they are starting to serve dinner."

"That sounds good. I guess I don't have to eat this sub after all."

"Well, you never know—"

She loves the grin that appears. He says, "That is a good idea. Do you think we can get anything to drink yet?"

"They might go ahead and get us something—"

"Are we in first class?"

"I wish. We are in what they call premium economy. It's not first, but we do have more leg room and more room for Duke."

One of the stewardess heads past them, but Katniss stops her with a wave. "When are you going to get the beverage cart?"

"For you, I can get you something anytime. What would you like?"

"I'd like a coke please?" Peeta asks.

"A diet one for me?" Katniss asks, too.

"I'll be right back," she chirps.

Soon their chosen meals of beef or chicken is placed before them. After they eat, and taking turns going to the restroom, they settle in with pillows and little but warm airline blankets.

Katniss leans against the hard window, wiggling, trying to find a cozy spot. She must have been wiggling too much, when there is movement beside her. Before she knows what is happening, Peeta is pulling her to his side. He doesn't put his arm around her like she hopes, but he does lean her against his shoulder.

Thump-thump-flip.

He tucks her in the best he can with one hand, and while she is trying to return her breathing to normal, she hears him mutter something. She can't make out what he just said, but the pull of sleep is stronger and with everything else that happened today, she is powerless to resist.