we are in the past, and Katniss has just reunited with Peeta & Haymitch. It is time for the plot to thicken because in the last chapter, Katniss announced she was going to kill Snow and that may have not gone over so well...

I do not own the hunger games

Quiet descended in the room. It was logical to get rid of Snow and it was insane to think that she, a small scrawny person, had the ability to take down a king.

"No," Peeta argued.

Finnick looked in shock and skeptical of her claim.

"It is Fletcha's destiny, boy," Haymitch answered.

"Then it is my destiny to fight him as well," Peeta argued.

"It is not…" Haymitch said.

"How do you know," Peeta said.

"But it was spoken long before you took your first breath," Haymitch argued.

"You argue amongst yourselves, I am going to go to find out what happened to Ryder," Finnick said, leaving the trio behind.

"All I know is that one stick can be easily broken but if you gather several sticks together they become impossible to break. Fletcha needs us, needs me. I would lay down my life for…"

"Fine," Haymitch said, shaking his head.

"Good," Peeta nodded.

"We start training at first light," Haymitch said.

"Haymitch," Katniss called as she extended her hand exposing her wrist.

"I need time to prepare," Haymitch grumbled. "You two need to bond."

"Bond?" Katniss whispered.

"Yes, you two are soulmates." Haymitch raised an eyebrow. "Didn't I explain this to you?"

"Only that my soulmate will be the only one to see me," Katniss responded.

"My older self is a fool," Haymitch grumbled. "You need to establish a bond."

"Will everyone still perceive me as a man?" Katniss was curious.

"Only until we've won the war," Haymitch said.

Katniss turned to Peeta, "Would you mind?"

"I understand there is a purpose greater than us at play. I will be by your side, as your companion and your champion when need be."

Katniss stood in front of Peeta feeling awkward. She could feel her cheeks warm. His words were sincere and she could see there was no trickery or that Peeta held a duplicitous bone in his body. Katniss made her decision.

"What do we do?"

"Your Royal Highness will press his mark atop of yours. It will invoke the deepest of magic. You both will be compelled to speak sacred vows that will be more binding than any ones recited in front of a priest. These vows will be permanent and you will be tied to each other in this life and the next."

"Is that all?" Peeta asked.

"You will seal it with a kiss, but do not mistake me when I tell you that you will be connected, share one same heart. You can never be separated unless you are separated by death."

Katniss understood, she didn't want to lose Peeta now that she found him. It sounded odd but every moment she spent in his presence she felt a pull toward the handsome prince.

Haymitch grunted then said, "I'll see you two lovebirds later."

Katniss did not listen to Haymitch nor did she notice when he left after a few minutes of staring at them. Her attention was focused on the man standing before her. His eyes did not waver from her face.

"Are you really from the future?"

Katniss nodded.

"Do you know what happened to me or to my brother?"

"No one knows. It is much like what happened to my father. He was summoned to the palace and he was never heard from again. At one point all three of you will be in the palace and Snow will kill you. It is vastly unfair that you do not exist in my time. Your light was extinguished." Katniss glanced at him. She could not hide her worry.

"I am still present," Peeta said briefly, touching her face. "If the Haymitch from the future sent you here then who am I to fear what could happen," Peeta lovingly said. "If you mean to protect me and my brother, I will also move heaven and earth for you."

"So you do not think I am too forward," Katniss asked.

"You are perfect," Peeta said. "I want to know all about you. I want to drink in your presence."

"What do you want to know?"

"Your favorite color?"

"Really?"

"Yes," Peeta said.

"My favorite color is green. What about your favorite color?"

"I love the color of sunset, the soft russet that occurs during that time of the day. It is as wondrous as your eyes."

"My eyes?" Katniss never found her eyes wondrous. Effie always said they were as dull as a piece of flint rock. After her father's death, Effie had taken it upon herself to condemn everything Katniss was. From her soul mark to her magic.

Perhaps her mother allowed it to protect her from the evil in the world. However, all of their careful scheming was for naught. Effie was taken and her mother and sister were dead.

"Where did you go?"

"I'm sorry I just remembered my mother and sister…." Katniss could not speak. The words were stuck in her throat.

"You miss them?"

Katniss nodded. She took her sorrow for the loss of her family and converted it to righteous fire. She would have her justice. She was going to kill snow.

"Your eyes are alight with fire," Peeta whispered.

"Snow took my family away. He will kill you too if I do not act," Katniss whispered.

"We will do it together." Peeta then swore, "I pledge my fealty, we will destroy Snow and avenge their deaths and the deaths of so many others."

Katniss saw that Peeta's eyes also burned with righteousness. "Thank you."

"You and I are bound. I will follow you into the pits of the deep if necessary…we are one."

His fierce loyalty overwhelmed Katniss. "Peeta."

"What else do you enjoy?"

"I love hunting, though it is not common for proper young ladies to do…"

"Just how good are you?" Peeta asked.

"Is there a spot that I can show you?"

"Come with me." Peeta led her outside to a spot where they were protected by the trees. He set up small targets with earthenware that she could shoot. Katniss was able to shoot them down. A bird flew up above and she shot it down. Then turned and targeted and shot a rabbit that was coming from the wood. She shot both bird and rabbit in the eye.

"By Jove!" Peeta exclaimed. "I've never seen such skill before!"

"My father taught me."

They walked back in and proceeded to prepare a meal. It was illegal to poach. However, Peeta rationalized, as they were going to eat everything that night no evidence would be kept.

Haymitch and Finnick came back and were surprised by the sumptuous meal.

All throughout the night Finnick kept on giving her strange looks. Katniss was uncomfortable and had it not been for Haymithc's enchantment Katniss would have sworn that Finnick knew she was a female under the guise of a man. Finnick's eyes traveled to Peeta, whose hand rested on top of hers. Perhaps he found their union strange. Katniss frowned as she glanced down at her plate.

Men were strange creatures.

Ever since she announced of her plan to kill the King, Finnick witnessed Peeta's reaction, he looked at her differently. True they were strangers but she had proven herself; she was no ordinary person. As Haymitch once explained to her she was the daughter of Everdeen the noblest house and a descendant of Queen Paylor. Her blood was steeped in deep magic.

Next to her Peeta laughed retelling how she'd shot down the bird mid-flight to Haymitch.

Katniss picked up a piece of the bread and savored its flaky sweetness a soft moan escaped her lips and Peeta gripped her hand. Their eyes met and Katniss could feel heat invade her face at the way Peeta's warm blue eyes darkened.

Finnick jerked backward and stood.

"Finnick?" Peeta questioned.

The chair fell onto the ground, he stared at her before he left the table.

"Finnick," Peeta called. He as if to follow Finnick.

Haymitch cleared his throat, "I will speak to him."

"Why?" Peeta asked.

Haymitch only glanced to Katniss, "I'll speak to him. In the interim, why don't you two go on up to rest, Finnick and I will clean up," Haymitch said quietly.

"Sweet dreams," Peeta said standing.

Katniss walked beside Peeta. It was a strange act to walk beside Peeta knowing he was a crown Prince, even if he did not rule he was a royal. The house was quiet and she found strange there were no servants. Especially because of Peetqa's status. If something were to happen to either one of Peeta's brothers he would be closer to inheriting the crown.

As they got closer they got to his chambers, Katniss became warm and cold at the same time. As thoughts ran through her mind, and lessons about women and men. It was vulgar for a single email to share the bed with a possible future king. And that is what she was going to potentially do. By the time they arrived, Katniss couldn't stop her hand from shaking.

Peeta opened his bed chamber and stepped inside. Katniss expected him to have a servant, but he didn't. His space was clean and tidy. For some reason, her hand shook at the idea of sharing a bed with him. Of having to mate with him.

"I will give you a moment to prepare for bed," Peeta said.

"No wait," Katniss said extending her hand. Peeta noticed it and smiled gently.

"There is no need to be nervous." Peeta stood before her, his voice was gentle.

Katniss nodded.

"We can talk some more...this is about and no one else."

Katniss breathed easier.

"May I?" Peeta asked, pointing to her wrist.

Shyly she extended her wrist. The pads of his fingers were rough, but they were gentle. He gently cradled her smaller hand and his warmth surrounded her like the sun kissing her skin on a summer's afternoon. His eyes flickered to hers as he lifted his other hand and gently traced the silhouette of a bird.

Katniss gasped when small currents of pleasure rushed through her arm trickling into her heart and body. She closed her eyes as her body was engulfed in pleasure so deep Katniss lost the track of time.

He put his wrist up against hers.

They had the same bird, his was mirrored on her skin. When placed next to the other the birds faced each other. When pressed together they would line up just like their souls.

Peeta pressed his symbol on top of hers. Magic enveloped them. It pulsed through them and they were connected mind, body, and soul in a rite of passage embedded deep in magic.

Their hearts threaded into one. Katniss began to see Peeta's past from their inception to the moment they were torn. She saw and felt his first breath, the first time he handled a sword. The first time he was thrown from a horse. She felt and lived it all until the very moment that he pressed his mark onto hers.

"Heart of my heart, flesh of mine flesh," Peeta murmured.

The words tumbled into her mind and spilled from her lips, "Heart of my heart, flesh of my flesh. I am from your rib."

"And you were torn from me, my treasure to seek."

"To protect and cherish, from this day forward," they whispered, their foreheads touched. Before their breaths mingled and lips touched.

Katniss felt as if she was soaring in Peeta's arms and she knew he felt the same way. They were bound; the only bond left was the words spoken in front of a priest.

As the kiss finished Peeta pressed his forehead against Katniss's. "And now you are mine and I am yours," Peeta whispered. "My beloved."

"And now you are mine and I am yours," Katniss repeated. "My beloved."

"Katniss as much as I want to consummate our union. I feel we should wait until we complete the mission."

Katniss sighed. "I agree. I must kill King Snow."

They stepped apart but because of the bond, they could not spend too much time apart.

"Will you share my bed to rest?" Peeta asked. His face was red, and Katniss found it sweet. She too was nervous, and her words failed her as she nodded.

That night in his arms Katniss felt complete. She felt safe. And it struck her as she drifted off to sleep that the last time she had felt this way was when her father was alive.

PS in the next chapter we back to the future...