Even though it appears many of you enjoyed my last chapter, I still feel like it was bad... It might just be me being overly critical on myself, but whatever. It was writers block and I'm much to excited for what is to come, so I forced myself through it.

Now please enjoy this extra long chapter as an apology. :)

The look in his eyes when I finished was a mixture of pain and longing. Silence filled the room, my time to talk was done and I waited for him to respond. I felt like he was going to run away from me, and the thought of pre-empting it was tempting. Leave before he had the chance to do so himself. The feeling was overwhelming and his silence made it unbearable.

I lingered in his gaze for only a moment before turning away and walking off. I told him my deepest secret, something I became ashamed of in the last few days and was rewarded with silence. I felt a little hypocritical, but I was being selfish.

"Wait."

I turned back only to be met by his lips. How was he right behind me all of a sudden? Fuck it, who cares how he got here!

His kiss was slow, but the heat behind it was intense. I lost myself in him, feeling that fire inside me ignite from his touch.

It ended too quickly as he pulled away from me. "I'm sorry. I didn't know. I'm such a jackass."

The look of pain and confusion was clouded all over him. I understood what he meant. The story of his life had the same effect on me. "Don't" was all I could say.

"But," he began but I cut him off as our lips locked again with more passion.

I felt him melt into my touch, knowing that he had understood the meaning behind my simple explanation.

Everything was overwhelming, my head spinning. Peeta's lips anchoring me, also being the cause of my worlds uproot. His hands cupped my cheeks, deepining our intimacy. My arms wrapped around his waist, drawing him closer. Suddenly his hands were in my hair, pulling a moan from my lips only to be replaced by his seeking tongue.

The whole room was tipping, making me lose my balance. Clinging to him to steady myself, my tongue battled his. The heat he radiated into me was settling in my core.

We must have been moving because the back of my legs caught the bed, our kiss breaking as I fell onto the matress. My eyes shot open, barely noticing that I had closed them to begin with. He looked into my eyes, those god damn blue eyes drew you in. It became painfully obvious, my reaction to him straining against my pants.

He was still standing infront of me, for once I had to look up to meet his gaze. His shirt was pulled up over his head, revealing what I could only before imagine. He wasn't as built as I was, but had the masculine outline of muscle gained from his physical labor. I reached out running my hands up his abs to meet his more defined chest.

The moan that escaped him from my touch was one of the most beautiful things I ever heard. I reached around him and pulled him down ontop of me.

Tongues battled again, only to be broken when my shirt was lifted over my head. He looked down at me, feeling me the same way I had done to him. He stopped at the hem of my jeans, noticing the bulge. Our eyes met and he grinned devilishly before unbuttoning my jeans and pulling the zipper down. The pressure decreased, but it was still painful. He assaulted my mouth once again, this time pushing me to the side, giving me the dominance for the first time. I rolled on top of him, his hands grabbing at my ass before sliding into my jeans. My moan from the contact only enforced him as he pushed my jeans and boxers both off as our lips danced.

I broke our kiss only to find my lips at his neck, rewarded by the sexiest noise I have ever heard. My erection painfully rubbed against his denim, reminding me I had more important matters to attend. I kissed down his body, his hands once again finding my hair, only turning me on more. I licked his abs, dipping my tongue into his navel as my hands worked on the button to his jeans. I stopped, sitting up to pull his jeans off, taking every part of him in as more of him was revealed.

"Cato." Peeta moaned as he was released from his denim prison. I never broke eye contact with him, afraid I'd lose the fire burning inside me if I looked anywhere else than his eyes. His jeans were finally thrown to the ground and I kissed him again, feeling full skin on skin for the first time.

He grinded into me, his cock rubbing against my own. "Uuhg, Peeta." Breaking the kiss with my moan.

"Cato, please." Peeta whimpered, grinding into me again, forcing a groan from us both.

My eyes opened, again not knowing I had closed them. I looked into his, embarassed to admitt I had no idea what to do next. I didn't care what it was, as long as it was with Peeta.

"I don't know what I'm doing." I admitted, hoping it wouldn't ruin the moment. All I got was a smile as he rolled me over, him ontop of me.

"Then enjoy the ride." He smirked as he glided down my body. I wanted to watch him, but my eyes closed again, feeling his tongue draw patterns down my torso.

"Fuck, Peeta!" Wet heat surrounded me. I've never felt anything like this before in my life. Peeta's tongue knew exactly what to do. His tongue slid around my head, teasing me before he fully engulfed me again, only to slowly drag his tongue across the bottom of my cock.

I was on fire, every part of me screaming, threatening to be scorched to nothing in a matter of moments. I could feel it building, the fire about to consume everything but then it was subsiding, Peeta releasing me. "Not quite yet, Cato."

I whimpred, knowing I was at Peeta's mercy. Nothing was happening, my eyes still being closed. Opening them I saw Peeta licking his fingers. He looked so innocent, but that devilish grin appeared again, slowly drawing his fingers from his mouth.

He guided his fingers to my entrance. I trusted him completely and his fingers slowlying circling me brought the fire back, only embers, but catching fire.

The fire seemed to be doused as his finger entered and I cried out.

"Shh, Cato." Peeta reassured, "It'll be okay, relax and there won't be as much pain."

He started to slide his finger back out, "It will only hurt for a little bit." He promised. It took a bit of getting used to, the pain slightly subsiding and the fire slowly starting again.

"Fuck!" I shouted, the fire in me all of a sudden exploding into an inferno, but subsided quickly, the fire left behind burning more brightly than when it started. "What the fuck was that?" I asked opening my eyes to look at him.

He only smiled down at me. Fucking Christ! He hit again. I was losing myself, losing to the fire within. "Peeta, oh fuck… Peeta!"

His fingers left me. I didn't even notice that he had added two more, only exploding with ecstasy at every touch.

"This is probably gonna hurt." Peeta said, spitting into his hand and slicking himself. He positioned himself and pushed in. I felt like I was being torn apart. "Look at me."

I opened my eyes, finding blue staring back at me. He pushed further in, making me cringe in pain, but his eyes stayed locked on mine. He let out a moan as he fully burried himself. His face flushed with pleasure. He waited as I adjusted to him. I silently nodded to him, knowing that I would never fully adjust unless he moved and hit that spot inside.

It only took a few thrusts, Peeta's cock striking that sweet spot inside, igniting the fire inside once again. "Peeta!" I shouted. Peeta increased his pace, hitting my spot more. I felt explosion after explosion of the fire inside, each more intense than the next.

I had no idea what I was shouting, only that I couldn't keep my mouth shut as the fire built. I wrapped my legs around his waist, feeling the fire intensify even more. Peeta grabbed me stroking a few times before my hands found his neck. I pulled him into a kiss as he continued to slam into me. My hands sliding through his surprisingly soft hair.

"Fuck!" I shouted, breakin our kiss as his thrusts became more accurate. "God Peeta… Peeta. PEETA!" I shouted, my erection throbbing between us as I felt myself explode, my fire now a white light.

I slowly came down, never having felt such ecstacy when Peeta's thrusts became eratic and he groaned, "Cato!" His lips met mine as his cock became impossibly hard inside me. His muffled groans escaped my mouth as I kissed him, feeling him throb inside me as he released.

He broke away from me, collapsing completely. His heavy breath against my shoulder as we both recovered from our high. He gently pulled out of me, my body fully relaxing as he rested his head against my chest.

Waking up was surreal, thinking the whole thing was a dream, but the heavy weight of Peeta laying on my chest told me it was all real. I wanted to stay this way for as long as possible, knowing our time was limited. Soon we would all be going our separate ways.

That was everyone's thought. I heard a few of the other tributes say the same. They had kept us here to long: there was no manditory training, no grand entrances.

"Whatcha thinking about?" Peeta asked.

"You're awake?"

"Yeah, have been for the past hour." He answered, "Didn't want to wake you, and I liked hearing your heart beat. Reminded me you are actually here and it wasn't all an illusion."

Smiling was all I could do. How could I have been the luckiest guy alive?

"Still mad at me?" I asked him.

"A little." I didn't need to see his face to know he was messing with me.

"Cato?" He moved his head from my chest, proping himself up on his elbows. We made eye contact, waiting for him to continue. Those blue eyes held so much depth, I could get lost in them for hours. "Do you think maybe this was a mistake?"

What! The anger was instant. How could he use me like this? He must have seen the anger flash through my eyes. "No, that's not what I meant. What I meant was, do you think maybe we moved a little to fast? I don't want this to change anything because I really do like you. But it all happened so fast, and we still have so much to work out."

"You were the one that jumped me, you know." I replied. I was still a little angry, but I could see where he was coming from. One minute we liked eachother, the next we were fighting. Then we ended up in bed faster than I could even think.

"I know." He paused before continuing, frowning slightly. "It's just that your story touched me, and I understood a bit more about why you are who you are. I was upset at first, but knowing how much you struggled to be where you are overcame me."

He was blushing. "Then, do you regret what happened?" I asked. Regret was that emotion I knew best.

"Of course not."

"Then what more is there to say?" I asked. He broke our eye contact, resting his head on my chest again.

"Just that I want to know you more, and not just be a sex toy." He actually sounded afraid, like it was something I would actually do. I pulled him closer into me, letting my hand rub circles against his back, whispering, "I would never do that to you."

There was silence and I spent it wondering how it was possible that I didn't screw anything up. Peeta's way with words must have rubbed off on me. Or I was becoming as comfortable with him as I was with Clove, who I seemed to have no trouble talking to anymore. Or I was just improving.

That's when the door bursted open, Clove running into the room.

"They're making an announcement! Something is happening!" She shouted, but then paused when she saw that I wasn't alone. Or clothed.

"I'm so sorry!" She blushed, covering her eyes. Peeta jumped at the intrusion and pulled the covers over himself, ultimately taking the rest of the sheets from me leaving me exposed.

"Clove!" I shouted, "Get the fuck out!"

"Right! Sorry!" Her eyes opened and saw me before I could cover myself. "Oh my god, penis…"

"Out!" I shouted again before trying to find anything to cover myself with. She turned and left the room, shutting the door on her way out.

Peeta was beet red from the encounter with Clove. Noticing that I had nothing to cover myself with, he reluctantly gave me part of the sheet back. "Sorry, I paniced."

I laughed, pulling him back into me.

This time there was a knock. "Uhm… Sorry guys." Embarassment thick in her speech. "But they want us all to gather in the dinning room. Something is happening and they are finally going to tell us something. So hurry up and get dressed." There was a pause. "Please get dressed…"

Her embarassment only made me laugh harder. Peeta was watching me cloesly, his eyes slightly narrowed. "Who are you? The Cato I know doesn't laugh this much."

Stopping my laughter, I looked down at him. I had no time to speak before he kissed me, deep and passionate.

Breaking our kiss, he pulled away before getting out of bed. "Well, it sounds like everyone is being summoned. I should probably be going back to my floor to get ready."

Why did he look so sad? "Wait." I said. He turned to look at me as he was gathering his clothes, his jeans upside down, something small and black falling out. "What's wrong?"

"Well, if they have an announcement." He stopped, pain covering his features. He grudgingly started dressing himself as he continued "I guess its goodbye for us."

My mind went blank, I didn't even get to say goodbye to him before he was gone, lost in my own horror. God dammit, it's like the Capitol planned this. Just when I was my happiest, they had to throw it back in my face.

The knocking was back at my door, pulling me from my thoughts. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah." I replied.

"Are you decent?" Clove asked, I confirmed my status, at least being covered by the sheet. She walked in, notcing that I wasn't dressed, but at least covered. She sat at the edge of my bed, watching me cloesly. She must have made the same realization as Peeta, that this was most likely goodbye for most of us. She had grown close to the others as well; it must have been just as tough for her.

"I'm sorry." She whispered. She said no more, only crawling onto the bed and giving me a hug, resting her head against my chest, the same place Peeta once was. I held her, not knowing what else to do.

Time passed, how much I don't know. Clove broke away from me, "Well, time to get ready!" Her switch was weak, I could tell she was trying to force her smile back. I simply nodded and waited for her to leave before dressing. The sight of something shiny caught my eyes. I went to pick it up, noticing it was a small marble, black as coal. It must have been what fell out of Peeta's pocket. It's coal black color reminded me of District 12, and Peeta. I shoved it in my pocket thinking 'and it always will.'

We were the last to arrive, no surprise there. It took me far to long to accept what was happening. Dammit, I didn't accept it, only forced to live through it. It didn't look like we were forced to sit in order, noticing that everyone was scattered into groups with their friends. I found Peeta, sitting with Katniss and decided to join them. Clove followed me to their table.

Katniss looked excited, she had been waiting for this moment since it all began. Well, since all the 'nothing' began. Peeta wouldn't even look at me. I realized it was for the best, it would only make our departure that much more difficult. I felt the black orb in my pocket. Being selfish, I didn't want to give it back. I wanted something from him to remember him by.

The Games Master was waiting patiently at the front of the hall. Noticing Clove and myself take our seats he began.

"Good evening, tributes. As you undoubtably have concluded, the games have been cancelled." There was a gasp that filled the room, everyone excited by the news. He waved his hands to quell the noise and everyone fell silent. "Our explanation is only that the arena is malfunctioning. Some glitch in the system has caused it to be unpredictable, spontaneous. We couldn't have it. We spent a fortune trying to fix it to no avail. Thus it is my great pleasure to tell you all that you will be returning home."

Many of us looked terrified; a few others were hugging as if their life depended on the other. I felt Clove's cold hand grasp mine, allowing the pain we felt to be shared. The only happy response was from Katniss, who grinned at the news. I tried to catch Peeta's eyes, not wanting our last words to be 'I guess this is goodbye'. I wanted to pull him close, tell him nothing can separate us now that we've finally found each other. He kept looking at the empty table infront of him, oblivious to the commotion around us. Avoxes started to enter the room, carrying trays full of goblets that were passed out to us. Relasing Clove's hand, I grabbed one of my own.

"As a thank you for your patience with the Capitol, I would like to raise a toast. On behalf of the president, I apologize for your inconvinience. To you, the brave tributes of Panem."

Everyone clinked their goblets and drank. The fluid was sweet. Very sweet. Horror dawned on Peeta's face as he dropped his. "Sleeping weed!" He shouted.

What? What is sleepin—

Then there was nothing.

This time when I awoke, I really was in some sort of cell. The room was small and completely white, a large cylindar tube was in the middle of a far wall, a screen next to it. I was alone.

"PEETA!" I shouted, realizing what was happening. This couldn't be happening! "CLOVE!"

The screen lit up, and the anthem started to play. It momentarily dazed me, but I turned to watch with complete hatred as President Snow appeared.

"Congratulations, tributes. And welcome to the 74th annual Hunger Games. I'm sure you're all just dying to figure out what is happening. Rest assured you will find that this years Hunger Games has come with a new twist. The Game Master thought it would be more interesting if you were allowed to mingle. Instead of the usual parade and festivities; they have been cancled, letting you all get to know each other under false pretences. I'm sure you've all gotten to know each other fairly well. Nothing brings more pleasure than watching people that care for each other slaughter one another. I hoped you studied each other thouroughly and found their weaknesses. Hopefully you know your own as well as everyone elses'. May this year be a battle of knowing your oppenent. Good luck to you all. However, remember, there can be only ONE victor. And…

…May the odds be ever in your favor."

A/N: Aww damn! Cato and his shenanigans. And I suck at writing smut, so don't hate.

Anyway, I'm supposed to graduate in a month, and I am SEVERELY behind in my school work... I wanted to get to this point to take a short break, but Cato, and his bloody writing himself, turned it into a much longer story than I anticipated. I have chapter 10 in the makings, but I don't know how far I will get. Don't worry, I will return because I am obsessed with writing this, which is kind of a problem since within the last 5 days I have written 9 chapters.

Blah, I'm babbling. Expect something within the next couple of days. And a completely different arena with a whole new story.

Love you all.