Hey! Sorry for those of you who have been waiting for this chapter. I know I said I would have it up on Tuesday, but I didn't expect my teacher's to bury me alive with homework.

I wanted to thank my first few reviewers:

Anosa

Fanpire4000

Pjoandggandhgfan (sorry if that name is spelled a little wrong. I'm not really sure)! They really inspired me to keep going with this story and it was great getting such nice reviews. Thanks guys

This chapter is in all Katniss's POV but there will be more from Peeta's mind too. The song that Katniss sings in this chapter is from . It the lyrics are not mine, I just borrowed them from the website. I DO NOT own the Hunger Games and I'm saying I do with this story. I hope you like it!

KATNISS POV

"Peeta," I whispered. He looked down at me. "Why are you here?" He bit his lip. I kept my eyes on his, waiting for an answer.

"Because," he sighed. "Because I want to be me again. I always feel like me when I'm with you. It feels normal, like we're going to be leaving for the Victory Tour in the morning. I decided last night that I don't like hearing you scream anymore." His eyes were fading away, staring at something in the distance. He kept talking and I listened to every word he said. "Every night I lie in bed, not wanting to close my eyes. I know eventually that you will start screaming. When you do I crawl out of bed and sit up against my wall. It's right across from yours. I didn't think you noticed. I always listened to you; making sure that you were still alive." A tear leaked down his cheek and I reached up to brush it away. He flinched, leaning away from me. "Don't." His eyes were closed tight.

"Peeta," I said, reaching my hand out to touch his cheek.

"I said don't!" Peeta said, angrily pushing away my hand. I clutched it to my chest, scooting away from him a little. His hands clenched into fists and he gritted his teeth. His whole body was shaking.

"Peeta, stop. You're scaring me," I whispered. Then I remembered when this had happened before. We were stuck in the Capitol sewer system, running from deranged mutts. Peeta had told me and the rest of the team to leave him there. I couldn't do that. I can't do it now. I gently put m hands on either side of his face. "Peeta, open your eyes." I demanded.

"Mutt," he growled at me. "Leave me alone." His eyes shone just like in my dreams and I didn't know how much longer I could do this.

"Not real," I said, gently stroking his cheek with my thumb. "Come back to me Peeta."

"Katniss?" his eyes were wide and watery. He was fighting it. "Katniss, I_". Then he was gone again, eyes closed. I sighed. I couldn't think of anything else to do.

"We're both shaped like starts that cross in the sky, our love hides away, only comes out at night. When the sky turns to black and you gaze into the night I know I'm under the same sky. I'm under the same sky."

I haven't sung since the day I returned to District 12 with the rebels. I make up the song now, thinking of words that describe how I'm feeling. Peeta's eyes glaze over and they look into mine. It has to be working.

"Although they've taken you away from me I'll find my way back, even if others don't agree. I can't stay here or make it through the night. I clutch this pearl to remember you by."

"I'm sorry." I looked at Peeta. He was crying. "I'm sorry." I pulled him tight against me. Because, no matter how many times I had to do this, I would never stop if it meant keeping the real Peeta.

"Shh," I whispered, stroking his blonde curls. "You didn't do anything wrong Peeta." We sat like that for a while, me holding Peeta in my arms. It is quiet. Not just in the house, but out on the streets of District 12. Everywhere. Then a Mockingjay lands on the tree branch outside my window. It sings four little notes, loud and clear. And those four notes send me flying back in time.

"Here," a little dark-skinned girl said as we sat in a tree. "I'll teach you a special code. That way we'll always know that the other is safe." Rue smiled over at me and then licked her lips. Four sharp notes flew through her lips and into the air. "No you try."

I copied her tune gently at first, the first two notes soft. When I saw her nod I finished the tune loudly.

"Perfect," I said. "No one will be able to tell the difference from us and the birds."

"Katniss?" One of Peeta's strong hands was gently rubbing my arm. I blinked and turned away from Peeta and the little bird. I felt the walls closing in on me. My breathing quickened and I began to feel cold. Peeta looked around at me, gently grabbing one of my hands. They were shaking. "Hey, what's wrong?" I tried to slow down my breathing.

"I- I can't breathe!" I gasped. I tried to stand up, but my knees were shaking. "I need air." Peeta was off the bed in a second, one of his hands on my back, the other guiding me with our linked hands. He led me out of the bedroom and, somehow, down the stairs. When we got to the front room I broke free of his hold, needing the air so much it hurt. I flung open the door and ran out into my yard.

I flopped down onto my knees in the dead grass. I took deep, slow breaths. The grass dug into my legs, knives poking into my skin. It was dead, like everything else around it. Peeta's heavy footsteps slowly made their way over to me and he sat down next to me.

"You okay?" He asked, brushing some stray hair out of my face. I nodded, leaning in to Peeta. "Come on; let's go over to my house." He helped me up and we slowly walked together across the path. I felt like a vegetable as I walked, mind not thinking, and body not feeling. I was just going through the motions. Peeta opened the front door for me and waited for me to walk in. The house was dark. I looked up at him, my face blank. He grabbed my hand and pulled me inside.

"Wow." There were paintings everywhere. They were all beautiful. A perfect replication on the front view of Mellark's-Peeta's family's bakery- hung on the wall that led into the den. I couldn't help but stop and look at it. You could even see the perfectly frosted cakes in the window. There was a bright picture of the Capitol lights from the roof of the Tribute Training Center and a fluffy looking flower swaying in a warm spring breeze.

"Do you like them?" Peeta asked a little shyly. I looked over at him, standing by his black leather couch. I nodded and he smiled.

Peeta Mellark's smile is something that I simply cannot describe. It his bright and can make anyone else smile, but it is also tentative and soft. His cheeks glow with a healthy pink color and his blue eyes set ablaze. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you can see the ocean through his eyes. My smile was nowhere near as amazing. It cannot even begin to compare to his. But he still see's mine as superior.

"I love them. You are very talented Peeta," I said. I was starting to feel again.

"Thanks," he said, heat creeping up into his face. He looked embarrassed as his sudden change of color and turned towards the attached kitchen. "Are you hungry? When was the last time you ate?" I sat down on his couch, leaning my head on the back so I was facing the kitchen.

"Um," I said. I felt ashamed at myself. When was the last time I had even thought about eating? "I guess it's been a while," I finally mumbled, playing with one of my jagged fingernails. Peeta smiled sadly, and turned to his oven. He lit the fire and began searching around in his cabinets for supplies.

"Make yourself at home Kat," he said, already soaked up in making fresh bread dough. I looked around his living room thoughtfully. I had never been in his house before. It seemed big and lonely. I recalled him telling me that no one in his family had moved in with him besides his next oldest brother. I looked over at the side table. He had a telephone sitting there on top of a small leather-bound book. At the same moment I reached out to grab it Peeta looked up to check on me. "Don't!" I pulled my hand away.

"Okay!" It was awkwardly quiet for a few seconds.

"I'm sorry." Peeta said. "It's just, that's not something I think you need to see right now. That's my therapy notebook."

"Oh," I said quietly. "Ok. I get it. Thanks for explaining to me."

"Come here, Katniss," Peeta said gently. He was getting ready to put the bread dough in the oven and he held a small part in his hand. I walked over to him and he held the bread out to me. I opened my mouth and he set it on my tongue gently. He was smiling gently, his eyes shining with happiness. This was the boy that I had fallen in love with. "Does it taste okay?" He asked, almost shyly.

"It's great," I said smiling for him. He blushed a little and turned to put the bread into the oven. While it cooked we sat on the couch. Once again it was silent. I looked over at Peeta. He had been looking at me and he smiled a little, moving his gaze to the floor politely. Suddenly I needed his arms around me. I needed to feel that everything could be ok again, no matter how dark it seemed now. I scooted close to him a little and his eyes slowly crept up to me again. I looked at the picture of the flower hanging across the wall from me, but still scooted closer. While I was doing this, Peeta was shifting too, slowly letting his arms fall to his sides, making a spot for me.

Soon we were sitting so close our legs were almost touching. Peeta's eyes were resting on me now, reading my movements. I decided to just go for it. I scooted a little closer so our legs were touching. Peeta gently lifted up his arm and put it around my shoulders. He was barely touching me. I grabbed his hand and pulled it down so it was resting on me fully. Peeta smiled as I curled up against him.

"Is this okay?" I asked quietly, leaning my head against his chest. He nodded and let his chin rest on the top of my head.

"This is perfect."

That's it! Hope you liked it. I promise this time that the next chapter will be up by Tuesday. Please Review!