I do not own The Hunger Games

Chapter Twenty Four- Finally

(Peeta)

In district thirteen I was chained to a metal bed. My body was consumed with hatred toward everyone around me. Doctors, friends, and Katniss slowly took away my nightmares with their love and endless efforts. But now, now I am locked in the study surrounded by my paintings. No one comes in here to talk to me; no one comes to coax me back to myself. Haymitch opens the door and puts food on the floor three times a day. My hatred is now replaced by a great fear and sadness. I fear the possibility of slipping back into my hijacked self. And I have an ache of sadness that Katniss has not tried to help me. I have been in this study for three days and I have not spoken to Katniss. If it weren't for the ability to paint her and admire her in my old paintings I would not be able to go on.

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On my third evening Haymitch slowly cracks the door and I grab his arm so he can't leave.

"What is it boy?" Haymitch asks, annoyed.

"I want to come out. Or I want to see Katniss. Please let me talk to her." I plead.

"Sorry boy. Aurelius says you must stay in here for a week. Or until your fever goes down." With that he wiggles out of my grasp and retreats.

I curl into the small couch and cry into my knees.

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I'm awoken by a small knock on the door. I think that its Aurelius here to check on me, considering it's midnight. But when I open the door groggily I see Katniss standing before me. At first, I figure I'm dreaming but that doesn't stop a smile from taking over my face.
"Peeta?" She whispers. "How are you?"

Her voice is so real, her face just an arm length away. I brace myself for the pang that will come with her leaving. She always leaves in my dreams.

"I'm just happy to see you." I laugh.

With that she smiles and some tears escape her eyes as she closes the space between us and wraps her arms around me.

She feels so warm and real in my arms and her hair smells so good that I have to ask, "Katniss, is this a dream? Please tell me it's not a dream."

She looks up at me with watery eyes and kisses me. The kiss lasts for a long time and all I can think about is Katniss. Peeta and Katniss. This is where we belong. This is where I always want to be. We go back into the study and close the door, still in an embrace. She pulls away all to soon and says, "This is not a dream. This is to good to be anything I would dream."

We both laugh and fall onto the couch, kissing again. I figure that my nightmares should return anytime, that my fever would consume me. But nothing comes. All I feel is something alone the lines of bliss.

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The door to the study opens and a soft chuckle comes from Haymitch as he puts the breakfast on the floor and leaves. I open my eyes and see Katniss nestled next to me on the small couch. I kiss her awake. She is startled at first but then smiles and kisses me back. It's the first time I remember her being happy in the morning. It makes my heart swell to think I was able to be the cause of her happiness. She hums for a while and we just lay there. It's hard, in this moment, to remember that we've been in the games at all. It's hard to remember we have both thought it possible that we were lost from each other forever.

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When we finally make our way into the kitchen Aurelius and Haymitch are sitting at the table. I was a little nervous and afraid that they might take me away. And apparently Katniss was as well because she stepped in front of me protectively. Aurelius stood up and said, "Peeta, I know this is hard but you are going to have to come with me until we can get your fever down."

For the safety of everyone, and especially Katniss, I was about to give in and leave but Katniss yelled, "NO! You cannot take him away! He is fine, he is Peeta!"

Aurelius tried to protest but Katniss would not give in.

Finally she grabbed my hand and looked at me, deeply, like it was almost painful to say what she was about to say, "Peeta, the other night when you were down here, when you were very sick, would you have hurt me?"

I thought about it. I thought about that night. I was filled with conflicting thoughts and I was absolutely horrified that I would hurt Katniss. But that was the main thing; I was furious with myself and afraid for Katniss. But not once did I actually want to hurt her.

So I answered truthfully looking back at her, "Never."

Aurelius and Haymitch argued back and forth for a while but I couldn't concentrate because Katniss was holding me and standing by me like I was her life source. It was like she loved me in that way I always dreamed she would. I was confused on how such good moments could come out of such a bad turn of events.

After more arguing and more protests form Katniss it was decided we could go back to normal, but Aurelius would be checking in every month for a bit. They both left Katniss and I in the kitchen, but there was a feeling of peace and love that settled over us as we fell onto the couch and watched some silly singing show until we drifted back to sleep.

Thanks for reading! Please review! This story is not over yet! But it's getting there. Thanks for sticking with me even through all my errors and short chapters! Happy New Year! (P.S. It's been about year since I started this story!)