When I make my way back to the conference room, I find that everyone else has cleared out. Finnick is talking to Paylor, until they notice our return. I hook my pinky finger around Peeta's pinky and stick close to him.
"Katniss how are you feeling?" Paylor asks genuinely.
I'd like to speak my mind and let them know they've interrupted my engagement night. It seems as if I will never get a moments peace to revel in the moment with the big step I've taken with Peeta. It's so fresh in my memory that the ring takes me by surprise when I look at my hand.
"I'm okay." I admit, as we sit at the table again.
I've pushed my chair as close as possible to Peeta's and wrap my hand in his. The back of his thumb rubs gently across the top of my hand, tracing designs as if he's frosting my skin. I listen as Paylor explains her course of action. It isn't until Peeta nudges me that I realize I have been asked a question.
"Katniss, I asked if you will come to the capitol and help me begin my plans to win over the rebels or if all else bring them down." Paylor asks as she leans forward on the table.
Haymitch is eyeing my weirdly, it's not my fault I am so distracted and frustrated. Not to mention the fur surging in my veins from Gale.
"Only if Peeta comes with me." I state clearly, and glance at him.
Finnick chuckles, "He already agreed. Weren't you listening, what were you dreaming up inside that head?" His voice is dripping with amusement.
I know that Finnick Odair is subtlety mocking me, and he gets the best of me as a flush creeps across my cheeks. I narrow my eyes at him, and clear my throat. Peeta and Finnick exchange a humorous smile. I'm annoyed now that Finnick and Peeta have some inside joke at my expense.
"Okay… I'll go." I answer to speed things along.
"Great. You have half an hour to gather you're things. We need to get out of 13 and back to the Capitol before morning." Paylor stands up and heads for the door.
Haymitch walks out with her, leaving Finnick with Peeta and I. I slowly get up and approach Finnick. I go to playfully smack him but he grabs me and pulls me into a big hug.
"What are you doing! I'm mad at you!" I squirm in his arms, hearing Peeta delightfully laugh somewhere behind me.
"Congratulations, Katniss." He smiles and releases me from the hug, I stand back and take in the weight of what just happened.
I turn to Peeta and he shrugs his shoulders, "What do you mean by that?"
Finnick smiles, "You don't think we can all see it? Katniss you're practically glowing and I think most of us can agree you aren't pregnant."
"How would you know that?" I accuse putting Finnick on the spot.
"I think that your innocence was made quite clear when I had to interrupt you two earlier, it doesn't help with the looks of frustration." He smiles and claps a hand on Peeta's shoulder, "Really, I am happy for you two. Take care of her."
Finnick saunters out of the room and winks at me just as he opens the door. I'm unbelievably embarrassed again and worried that rumors will spread about my engagement before I get to personally tell people myself.
"Don't get so worked up over it, Darling. He means well." Peeta kisses my cheek.
"I don't want rumors spreading, I want to tell people together."
"Don't worry, we will pack and go find your mom and whoever else you want to tell right now."
Peeta drops me off at my room to pack and says he will be back shortly. I wander around my room grabbing things I think I will need. It dawns on me that I really didn't pay attention at all. How long were we going to stay in the capitol? What clothes should I bring? I sigh and decide that I can call Cinna's daughter if I need dresses. I've just finished packing my things when Peeta returns. He insists on carrying my bag as we walk to the hospital to find my mom. We are cutting it close on time so I quickly run the length of the wing and find she isn't there. A nurse is the only one the wing tending to a few patience.
"Have you seen my mom?" I ask quickly.
"She's with the rest of the district in the bunkers. They are being informed as to why we are on lock down. She just left; I'm not sure when she will be back."
I scrounge up paper and a pen and start to scrawl a note to her. If I can't talk to her, I have to at least write to her. She's my mother and she should know what I am about to tell her.
Mom, I wish I could say goodbye in person, but I have no time left. Peeta and I are going to the capitol with President Paylor to help her regain control. I don't know how long I will be gone but before I leave I have to tell you. Peeta asked me to marry him tonight. I am so scared mom. I know I love him, anyone can see that. I said yes to him, but I'm afraid more than ever that he will be taken from me. Gale has an evil inside him and he will do what ever he can to hurt me. I feel like he will hurt Peeta. I wish I could stay and wait for you, but I am already holding up the hovercraft. I'm afraid that I'll marry him end up alone, I don't know what will happen to us. I've never need you more than I do right now and I hate that I have to leave now. I love you!
I try not to cry and let my fear get the best of me, before I turn to face Peeta I suck up my emotions. He waits as I had the note to the nurse and tell her to give it to my mom as soon as she returns. I pull Peeta's sweater tighter around me as we head out into the chilly post storm air. Haymitch has already boarded the craft, with Paylor. Peeta waits while I ascend into the craft and come up behind me with the bags. It isn't long before we are soaring through the sky away to the capitol. I'm exhausted and curl my feet under me and lean into Peeta's body. I feel my eyes getting heavy as he softly holds me. My eyes have drifted shut but I am conscious, barely listening to Peeta and Haymitch talk. Paylor has wandered to the front of the cockpit to talk to the pilot.
Haymitch's gruff voice sparks my interest in the conversation I haven't really been too interested in, "You better take care of her." He says, sounding so protective.
Peeta talks softly, concerned about waking me up, "I will. Forever."
"That ring you gave her isn't something you can take back. I'm warning you to take care of her, it's not an option. You have to. You've committed to that girl, and I will hurt you if you ever hurt her."
"I know, Haymitch. Even though my dad is no longer here he made sure to tell me how to treat a girl like Katniss. I was raised to respect women, why do you think I made you go along with my plan to save her in the first games. I loved her then, and I love her even more now. I never could have killed her, when I was reaped I had already decided I do something elaborate or I die to save her."
My mind is reeling, I knew Peeta felt strongly for me but hearing him say it makes it so much more real. I'm failing at controlling my breathing, if I don't calm down Peeta will know I've been eavesdropping. I mentally giggle, he wouldn't ever get angry at me I could get away with it if I wanted.
"How did you know?" Peeta asks softly.
"You didn't give it away, she did. She can't keep a secret. I can read her like a large print book. She was glowing and dewy-eyed, how often is she like that? If you were going to keep it a secret, try hiding the ring."
"Oh." is all Peeta says, with a soft chuckle.
Half of me wants to lay here and keep listening, the other half wants to either smack Haymitch for making fun of me or hug him for caring about me.
"I knew the look on her face as she walked in. It was the look she had on her face when she collapsed in the prairie in the criminal games. When it looked like she was giving up, but the camera stayed trained on her. She wasn't smiling, but it was a look of happiness and peace. I've never asked her what she saw in her head then, maybe she doesn't even remember. But whatever she saw made her fight and come back to us." Haymitch recalls, I feel Peeta's hand still on my hip after his fingers were softly drawing patterns.
What neither of them now is that I do remember, I think of those beautiful images of Peeta and I every day. When I'm feeling lost and scared, I remember I have Peeta and a future of beautiful memories yet to come. They're comforting and give me hope when it seems like all hope is gone.
I don't know why Peeta's doesn't respond after what Haymitch has said. It falls quiet as time passes and I truly fall asleep. It isn't until Peeta gently wakes me up that I realize I am in a car. I don't know how I missed us completely getting off of the hovercraft and the entire drive to Paylor's mansion. Peeta helps me out of the car since sleep has clouded my coordination. We are taken to a large guest wing of the mansion, Haymitch grumbles goodnight and enters his room. Peeta opens the large white wood door and pulls me into the room. I spy the biggest bed I have ever seen, it could have easily fit four people in it. I kick off my shoes and flop down on the mounds of blankets and pillows. I hear Peeta rummaging through a bag and then climb into bed.
He leans over to me, "Katniss, where are your pajamas?"
I groan and sit up, I was so close to sleep again. I pull off his sweater and in one swift motion pull off my dress. I slide the sweater back on and button a few buttons. Peeta laughed and curled back into his pillows. I slide over closer to him and curl into his arms, my head already feeling heavy with sleep.
He kisses my temple and whispers, "You have no idea how good you look in my clothes."
I smile, "Tell me again in the morning, love." I'm so tired, I just want to sleep peacefully.
Just as I feel my body drifting away I hear Peeta talk, "Katniss…what did you dream about in the prairie?"
"You." I breathe heavily, my lips feeling like they've been filled with lead.
I can see Peeta and I dancing in the meadow now, it is more magnificent than the first time.
"Are you thinking about the same thing from the prairie right now." He says sounding just as sleepy as I do.
"I don't ever stop." I whisper.
Sleep takes us both quickly, and my head is filled with a different dance. The dance we will share at our wedding and a dance of sorts that was interrupted earlier.