"Miss me?" Finnick laughs as he steadies me back on my wobbly feet.

I crush my body into his and wrap my arms around his neck, I'm crying like a fool as he gently spins me around.

"I blew the pod up!" I sob, "How are you alive?"

He sets me down, "I don't even know Katniss. I woke up in the tunnels, and made my way out. Those lizards were dead, but somehow I survived. Paylor noticed me when she was at the hospital here. She has seen to my recovery and now I'm going back with you." He smiles.

I'm still over come with emotions, but he keeps talking, "How's Annie?"

Anguish appears on his face, I brush the tears from my eyes, "She's okay. It was hard at first, but everyone helped her. They all have been helping her."

I remember the first days after Finnick's death. Poor, Annie, pregnant and widowed. My mom and several other women made sure Annie was okay. She's been in the hospital wing, as her mental condition has gone downhill.

Finnick and I are deep in conversation as we are brought back to the air base. We are speeding home high up in the air. I sit on a small bench with him, my hand holding his.

He pats my hand, "I saw a whole new side of you little Mockingjay, in those games." He states.

"I know… I saw a new side of myself too." I admit.

"Katniss, how can you be okay?" He wonders, "3 games? The quell was bad enough."

Haymitch is peering at me awaiting my answer, "I'm not okay, at least not at night. During the day I can stay busy but at night my brain is idle and I'm left to think and remember it all. There's only one thing that keeps the nightmares away…"

Finnick tightens his grip on my hand, "Peeta? So I'm taking it you are not the enemy in his eyes anymore."

I smile, "No, not anymore."

Finnick laughs, "Look at you the girl on fire glowing with love."

We land in 13 as the sun is setting. Finnick is last off the craft, and has seemed to look paler.

"Finnick, don't worry. She still loves you." I reassure as I take his hand and we run to the hospital.

The jarring of my ribs is nothing compared to the joy I feel for leading Finnick to his love. We enter the hospital and I point him to the closed off area where Annie stays. He turns to me, and smiles.

"Thank you." He whispers and kisses my cheek.

I watch him run to the curtained area and gently pull them open. I see Annie lunge from the bed and instantly cry. Finnick is smiling and crying. I watch their reunion through tears, I am so happy for them. Finnick gently places his hand on Annie's growing belly and he is over come with joy. I am choking back tears of delight. I let them have their peace and set out to find my boy. It's been the longest week of my life because I have not seen him.

Back above ground I head toward the construction zone. I am amazed at the progress made since I have last seen this area. There are completed houses and businesses now. The hard cobblestone street smells of fresh lumber and paint. My heels click down the street echoing off the silence around me. I see a solitary work light still on, and the distant pounding of a hammer reaches me.

I see a crowd of workers just leaving their stations, heading in for dinner. They nod and greet me as we pass. I notice Gale in the crowd, he acknowledges me but continues on. I know I have to talk to him, but Peeta is the only thing my mind can think of right now. Haymitch said Peeta would be working on a special project well into the dark hours. I wonder what it could be but I guess it is him working still.

I approach a building that looks finished on the outside, as I head in I see a large display case and counters. Through another room I find Peeta hammering away at long strips of wood on the floor. The room is earthen and clean, gleaming steel ovens and counters sparkle in the low light. It is cozy and warm even in the vastness of the space. I see large mixing bowls and large steel bins on one wall. It dawns on me and I know exactly what I am standing in. It's a bakery, made by Peeta, just for him.

I stare at him on the floor, he hasn't noticed me yet. He is shirtless, covered in sweat and grime. His blonde hair darkened with sweat. I can't help but notice just how muscular his arms, back and chest are. I softly hop onto a counter, cross my legs and wait. I am marveling at how he can drive thick nails into the beams of wood so effortlessly. I am daydreaming now of him and I baking in this very room. Him teaching me the tools of his trade, together we create beautiful works of art from flour, water and yeast.

His strangled outburst and string of curse words break me from my dream. He is holding his hand and groaning in pain. He must have missed the nail, and all I can think of is how much it must hurt.

"How about you come over here and let me kiss it to make it better." I offer sweetly.

He turns around and takes in the sight of me, dressed beautifully, and poised on his counter smiling. He bounds to me and even on the counter he is eye level with me. His arms circle my waist and my hands caress his neck.

"Darling… you look beautiful." He sighs.

I lean in and kiss him, reveling in the surge of passion filling me. I let me feeling and this kiss tell him how much I have missed him. I don't care that he is sweaty and dirty, all that matters is I never want to go this long without seeing him ever again. I am breathless when I break away for air. I pull his swollen finger to my lips and kiss it gently.

I giggle, "You should be shirtless more often."

He puffs his chest out, strikes a pose and smiles. I giggle even more, as he helps me off the counter.

"You should wear dresses like this more often." He muses and spins me around, "You're radiant in this."

He kisses me passionately again and pulls me tightly into him. I place my hands on his hard chest and sigh. He softly runs a finger across my cheek, then I remember my tear tracks must be evident through my make-up.

"You've been crying? What happened? Did Hawthorne yell at you again!" Peeta asks fervently his eyes ablaze with concern.

"No. Peeta, they were good tears. I just saw Finnick and Annie reunited. Finnick is alive, Peeta." I tell him gently. "It was emotional Peeta. Finnick helped me so much when Snow had you captured. Without Finnick I don't think I would be here with you now. He helped me through a really dark time. He is a great friend to me."

Peeta looks confused, "Finnick just showed up here in 13?"

I sigh knowing I'll have to tell Peeta where I went today, "No, Haymitch and I went to the capitol this morning. I made a deal with Haymitch and my end of the bargain was to go talk to Paylor. I did and when I was done talking to her, Finnick showed up."

His eyes sadden, "Why didn't I know about this? I would have gone with you, Katniss."

I want to cry because I have hurt him now, "I think we both know you wouldn't have ever let me go to the capitol. I don't blame you, darling, but this was something I had to do on my own. I had to come to terms with my anger toward Paylor. I promise you I was treated like a queen, I was protected and I was safe. I returned about an hour ago, and I came looking for you."

He leans down level to my eyes, our foreheads touching, "Please just don't ever leave and not tell me again."

"Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere without you" I peck his lips.

I scoot back onto the counter remarking that my feet are beginning to hurt from the shoes. Peeta launches into a long explanation for this bakery. I can see the pride in his eyes as he describes what he wants to do with this place. He describing the things he wants to make and I can't help but smile because I feel the passion he has for baking.

He moves back by me after he has finished picking up. He wraps his arms around me again and wedges himself between my knees. He places his head against mine and smiles.

"I want to teach you how to bake." He whispers, and I smile.

He kisses me deeply as our bodies meld together in the humid room. His hand slips behind my knee and pulls me even closer to him. His lips trail down my neck and rest upon my collar bone and trail back up to my lips. I drag my hands down his chest and loop my fingers into the belt loop on his pants. He softly kisses me in-between short breaks for air. My body is set on fire by his kiss.

"Katniss." Peeta breathes as he softly pushes my hair out of my face.

I kiss his neck and try to catch my breath. I feel the steady rise and fall of his chest and rest my head against him. He tips my face back up and kisses me again, until someone clears their throat.

Haymitch stands in the doorway, "Mellark, I need to talk to you."

I am mortified of the position Haymitch has found us in. Peeta sighs and removes his hand from my leg. He winks at me and follows Haymitch outside. I pull my dress down to a more appropriate length and try to smooth my tangled hair. I know my lips are swollen and my face is flush with embarrassment.

I explore the building more and find a set of stairs that leads to a wide open 2nd floor. It is lofty and calm. I spot Haymitch walking away so I start to head back to find Peeta when I spot him ascending the stairs. He reaches me and smiles.

"Peeta… I'm so embarrassed." I whisper into his chest.

"It's Haymitch. He fell of the stage at our reaping. He passed out in a pool of his own vomit on the train. I think the field is level. Don't be embarrassed." He soothes as he holds me.

He grabs my hand and we head back to underground. We walk silently until a question burns in my mind.

"What did Haymitch want?" I ask.

Peeta is silent at first then speaks, "Finnick says that there might be a way for me to get a real leg. I have to go talk to him now."

I have forgotten that Peeta's left leg is a prosthetic. It never bothered me but I can almost guarantee it bothers Peeta. He never would have said anything about it to me, since I was the one who put the tourniquet on his leg. I feel horrible now, I can't imagine what it is like to try and work on construction houses when a leg doesn't work the same as the other. I've been so selfish, how could I have not cared about his leg.

"What are you going to do?" I ask.

"I want a working leg, not this metal and plastic capitol contraption." He states.

I know now that Peeta resents his lost limb. I pray silently that Finnick knows what he is talking about. I want nothing more than for my boy with the bread to feel whole again, even if that means stopping at nothing to get him a leg not made by the capitol.