Howdy :D. So I know it's been a bit since my last update and I'm very sorry. Senior year is very busy, as some of you may know. Projects, tests, homework, then on top of that throw in marching band and all my responsibilities with that and you get one busy girl. But, I figured I owed you guys something written so here it is.

A quick thank you to those of you that reviewed this series. You have no idea how happy you guys make me when I see those pop up in my inbox. Really, truly, thank you.

I did promise this one would be angst-y and it is (I think). Except it's Peeta and not Katniss. I tried making it from Katniss's point of view but it just didn't sound convincing. Peeta's more of the dreamer type anyways I think. Anyways, the song of Inspiration is from Next to Normal (a musical for those of you who don't know). For those of you who know the musical and where this song fits in, I'm just looking at the lyrics here not the context.

There's a world, there's a world I know
A place we can go where the pain will go away
There's a world where the sun shines each day
There's a world, there's a world out there
I'll show you just where
And in time I know you'll see
There's a world where we can be free
Come with me
Come with me
There's a world where we can be free
Come with me

Thank you all for reading. Please enjoy and don't forget to review!

There's a World

She's having another one. Another nightmare. I'm in the next room and I can tell. She's screaming. Screaming so loud I can't believe someone hasn't already gone in to check on her.

I lay in my bed, feeling the train sway slightly as it runs along the tracks. Her screams echo around in my head, sounding too much like the ones in my nightmares. The ones that all involve her dying in the games, and where I can't get to her in time to save her.

It's not until I hear her tears that I get up. Those have not invaded my nightmares yet, and I won't let them.

Her door opens easily and I see her trembling on her bed. Her whole body shakes like she's sleeping in the snow. Her arms twitch and her hands are balled into tight fists. Her screams are now frightened whimpers and sobs, her tears running down her face. Even in obvious pain she's breathtaking, radiating that wildness that only she has. My mind runs through the shades of greens and browns from my paints, picking the best ones to paint this scene.

"Peeta…" She says my name like she's pleading. Her shoulders convulse as her cries increase and I'm pulled out of my thoughts.

"Katniss." I call, trying to pull her out of the dream. I shake her gently, not wanting to hurt her but it doesn't help. She's on her side, curled up in a ball, her nails digging into her arms. She's screaming again, her tears falling down in a steady flow.

"Katniss, wake up." I shake her harder, but again it has no effect.

"No!" She shrieks at the nightmares, her voice shrill.

"Katniss!" I'm holding her arms to the bed, preventing her from thrashing around. "Katniss!"

Katniss wakes with a start, her grey eyes wide with wild terror. Her body still shakes under my arms, but slowly she comes back to me. She grabs my shirt in her hands, pulling me closer to her and cries into my chest.

"Don't leave." She whispers, her voice hitching on her tears. "Stay with me."

"Always." I promise, stroking her hair. She buries her face deeper into my shirt and I can feel her trembling against me.

I'm suddenly struck by how vulnerable Katniss is at this moment. Here, as she's clutching onto me like I'm her only tie to reality and if she lets go she'll break into a thousand pieces. Her terror rolls off of her in waves, like a wild animal being cornered. The noises coming from her makes my heart break and I wrap my arms around her small body.

I try to search my mind for another time where I've seen her as fragile as she is now. The image of Katniss sitting in the rain flashes in my thoughts and I remember. How small she looked. And how afraid she was. Even when we eleven, I knew I would do anything so that she wouldn't look that way. I still would do anything.

"There's a world," I start, trying to soothe her, "where the sun shines and the grass is green and the water is bluer than the sky. Where flowers grow in gardens and birds sing beautiful melodies. Where children go to school and laugh and play with each other."

I stop, thinking of more things. She curls up closer to my chest, her sobs quieting.

"Husbands go to work where they make good money for honest work. Wives look after their children with love. They make cookies and pies and wonderful dinners for their families. Children run through the streets, and play chase in fields without fear. Boys play games with balls and wrestle in the mud, while girls play with dolls and make nice things with ribbons."

Her tears have almost stopped and I feel her body relax slightly against mine. Her breathing is even and calm and I think she's asleep.

"There's a world," I continue, my voice low, "where there's no pain, no war, and no such thing as the Hunger Games."

Katniss sighs and her grip on my shirt loosens. I stroke her hair and kiss the top of her head.

I think again about how much this girl means to me and I'm filled with hate. Hate for the Capital and their stupid Games. Hate that they make our children fight to the death over something that happened 75 years ago. Hate that I'll never be able to live with the girl I love by my side.

But then I remember that Katniss doesn't actually love me. That it was all an act for the cameras. I pull her closer to me at that thought, because I know that's not true. She does love me. She wouldn't have found a way to keep me alive to win the Games if she didn't.

"There's a world," I whisper to her sleeping form, "where you admit you love me too."

She stirs, but doesn't wake up.

"Stay," she breathes in her sleep.

"Always," I answer back and lay back to the rocking of the train.