-I do not own HG; all credits go to Suzanne Collins. Please review! -

Peeta's POV:

I let Katniss in and took the handkerchief from her lightly laughing.

''Please sit down.'' I said.

''Oh I wasn't planning on staying long.'' She says.

''Oh, well thanks''. I say while looking at the fabric in my hand. She was staring at me. I could tell she did not know what to do. So I whisper seductively.

''You don't have to leave, you know.'' She looks up at me, surprised and a little aroused at my comment.

''I think I do''. She said with a smile. I was laughing now.

''See it doesn't have to be that bad, we can still joke around Katniss.'' She looks at me again her smile fading.

''Maybe'', she says like it is something worth thinking about later on. ''I really am tired Peeta, I'll see you tomorrow…I guess''.

''Yeah, okay. Bye Katniss''. I say and shut the door behind her. I walk into my kitchen and turn out the lights. I make my way up to my room and get ready to lie down and toss around in my endless not-slumber.

My night turns out to be worst than the last. My tossing and turning however subsided, my mind wanders on Katniss. For hours I am taken on this roller coaster ride of worry and hurt. What if she never lets me back in? What if she doesn't trust me anymore? Who would trust you Peeta? I ask myself. I would never blame her if she closed the walls completely between us. They have been falling lately and I think it has really scared Katniss. I can't keep on doing this to her! So, by 4:30 in the morning I come to the conclusion that I need to stick around a little longer and to see whether she wants me here or not. I live only for her. If I can not have her, I have no more reasons to stay.

I force myself to get up and walk down stairs. I could make her and Haymitch some bread for the next couple of days. I get the stuff out to start the preparations when I hear my door open and shut dramatically. Katniss flies into the kitchen. When she sees me staring at her, with her watery eyes and her heavy breathing she runs out again.

''Katniss", I yell out to her, flying out my door and onto my lawn. I see a glimpse of her figure as she makes her way towards the field. ''Katniss'', I yell again. ''Katniss, please wait up!''

She turns sharply and runs behind her old home in the Seam. I am a good distance behind her, being smaller than me proving to be much faster. I am afraid that she disappeared and I am shut out again when I see her stumble not to far from their old wood pile.

''Katniss'', I say quietly now approaching her scared dark profile only illuminated by the moon. She turns around quickly, tears now streaming down her face. She finds a split block of wood and throws it at me. I easily doge it, I can barely get her name when she throws another at me. I catch it in my hand, struggling not to have a flash back. I don't know if this is her way of crying out to me or if she hates my living guts and wants me to leave. I am torn and I think she is too.

Tears now threatening in my eyes, she lowers her next blow. Pain registers in her silver pupils. She lefts her head, now not sure what to do. I walk over to her carefully. I stare into her for a while. She can't hold her protection shell any longer and breaks down in front of me. I quickly scoop her up and carry her to the side of her home and sit us down. I hold her tightly as she lets it all out. She holds so much in for whom? Her pride. Another thing I love about her, she is so strong and beautiful, but she doesn't have to always put on the mask for me. She doesn't ever have to put on the mask for me. I just wanted her to know, to know everything that I loved about her. I wanted to show her off to herself, because she doesn't see it. This brings a big smile to my face while I hold her.

Her cries muffle into my chest, my shirt now wet. I was happy it was wet; I liked the feeling of her on my chest. I could protect her when she was this close. I have noticed over the years that she lets it all out when she hides against me. Games or no games, Katniss felt safe in my arms. Or am I her only comfort at this minute? What other comfort would she get, her cat, Haymitch? No, I was it. Does she like it? I felt her stir on me. I looked down as she looked up. Her hair stuck to the sides of her face. I pushed some of it back for her, her eyes now sad. I think I died right there. The look she gave me said so much but I felt as if she still keeps so much from me. She was hurting badly, from what, whom? I lean down and gently kiss her forehead.

''Katniss, everything is going to be okay …'' I was about to say something else wise and wonderful when she spoke.

''Peeta you sound silly, th…tha…thanks…'', she says.

I move slightly smiling at her. She gets a scared look in her eyes.

''Please don't leave?'', Katniss is almost pleading.

''I will never leave.'' I say very seriously, I guess that answers my own question/quest of earlier. I can't leave her here alone. I could never! I love her too much.

Hours pass as we watch the sun come up. Around mid day I notice she fell asleep. I carefully left her into my arms and carry back to the Village. I open up her door and am greeted by an irritable Buttercup.

''Hey boy'', I call. He hisses when he sees her, I laugh and carry her to her room. The door creaks as I open it. The sun is pouring in from her window, illuminating her bed sheets. I pulled them back and slipped her in. Now that I get a good look at her, she looks peaceful. Some what rested, if one of us gets sleep it's great and abnormal. I don't know whether I should leave or not? She is deep in her sleep when I hear her speak.

''stay'', she mumbles. Seconds later I hear her whisper a small cry.

''Prim, no please! Prim, Prim, Prim… NO PRIM! NO, No, no… no…please… no, No, NO PEETA! I stare at her shocked and about to wake her but she is already sitting up. Her face has sheen of sweat and worry plastered to it, until she sees me there. She quickly becomes paralyzed, not with fear but with what to do next. I watch as her pride falls. A look in her eyes tells me she just doesn't know anymore. I sit on the side of her bed and she crawls into my arms. She does not cry only breathes and accepts my innocent affection. We both are at ease, the most at ease that we have been in months or maybe a year.

-Please review. I really want to know what you think. Anything I could do better? Please let me know. -