In His Arms

A/N: Again, thanks so much for all the hits on this fic. As inactive as I am on fanfiction it's nice to know my stuff is getting read. As always, reviews are very very very welcome. I know it's short but I hope you enjoy chapter three.

Not because of plaguing nightmares, but because of some other reason we are not entirely sure of, Peeta and I do not fall straight to sleep.

"Are you ever scared of me?" he asks in the silence. We lie facing each other on the bed, not touching, just staring into one another's eyes in the moonlight.

I think about my answer for a moment and then say, "No. I never was actually."

He raises an eyebrow at me and a smile pulls over my lips. I explain to him, "I never felt afraid of you. I was wary of you, kept my distance at first but I never…feared you…" The words sound so wrong on my tongue. Being afraid of Peeta? How could I ever be afraid of Peeta? I know what he's asking but the boy who tried to strangle me back in Thirteen was not him. As far as I'm concerned, that was not Peeta so no, of course I never feared him. I know this won't be as simple for him to understand though.
He takes in my response and stares past me into space for a moment before I have to ask, "You alright?" It's become a constant habit of mine to check in with him when I see that glazed look over his eyes. I guess I am afraid when I see that wild gaze, not for myself, but because I do fear losing him again.

He meets my eyes and smiles a warm Peeta smile. "Yeah, just a bit surprised I suppose."

"Explain?" I shoot him a questioning look.

"Just you. You never cease to amaze me Katniss." The tone in his voice, the wide grin across his face, the sparkle inside his eye, these are things I once thought I'd never see again. This is the way Peeta used to look at me in the arena during both of our Games, this is the way he looked at me during our Victory Tour and during our days living in the Victor's Village before the Quell, this is how he watched me from afar for years when I never spoke to him.

This is what I had taken for granted and thought I'd lost.

Seeing him look at me this way again now, I can't even attempt to stop the tears they come so fast.

"Katniss?" Peeta doesn't even hesitate to reach out to me this time. A part of me screams that I shouldn't accept; that I can't lean on him. I have to take care of Peeta now. But his arms are strong and his chest is warm so I pull myself all too willing into his hug. "What's wrong? What is it?"

I know I have to say something but it's always when I need them most that words elude me. I choke back the sobs so I don't completely lose it. When nothing else comes to mind I am forced to tell him the truth. "You haven't looked at me like that in…" I try to meet his eyes but when my tongue fails I can only wrap my arms around his torso and bury my face in a pillow.

"Katniss?" His voice is less urgent but when I don't move I feel soft fingers close over my chin. He pulls my face out of the pillow and guides my eyes to his. We just look at each other a moment. "Real or not real?..." He pauses and I wait for the question. "…You're afraid right now?"

I think I know the answer but then, "Yes."

"Why?"

"Because I miss you." The words come out on their own. "And I don't want to lose you again."

"Are you afraid I'm going to hurt you?" His voice is oddly stern. Not hard exactly, but I can sense the urgency about him now.

"No." This answer is immediate. I watch his expression as he takes this in and measures my words. His face softens back to the Peeta I know and I smile. He does too though I'm not sure why exactly. His arms tighten around me and I welcome it. We wrap into one another and I rest my head on his familiar chest. I don't realize until this moment how much I truly missed it. His chest, his touch, his arms keeping me safe. I know he's still fighting and I know tomorrow I will have to take care of him again and I will gladly, but for now I let us be what we used to be while my Peeta is here for me. Sleep comes sudden and fast for me but I am awake enough to know when Peeta kisses my forehead, I am not dreaming.