The family interviews are broadcast that night, although they are mostly overshadowed by the footage of the girl from Seven being slowly tormented and finally strangled by the two remaining Careers from One, and by the man from Three, still weakened and exhausted from his fight with the man from One, being hacked down by Cronin.

Rhees and Kern both look pale and haggard in their interview. It strikes me that they must have been in the same position this time last year, only dad would have been by their side as well. And mother too. Or at least I assume she would have been interviewed about me. Perhaps what she said was so disappointing and unworthy of being broadcast that the footage never made it to the light of day. Or maybe she refused to say anything positive about me. I never did ask my family about those interviews.

Either way this year she is conspicuous only by her absence. Rhees and Kern both explain how strong dad is and how similar I am to him, and because of that he has a good chance of coming home. They also mention the wedding and how it would be wrong for dad to not be there. I hope the mention of mine and Katniss' impending nuptials generates enough sympathy with the overly romantic viewers in the Capitol.

I don't remember the last time I felt able to relax; between Briar's threats hanging over me, the insinuations from Snow, and dad's precarious position in the games I feel lucky to still be breathing.

As I predicted, interest from the sponsors has increased tenfold. But not for dad. With Briar no longer sending him gifts his sponsorship has dried up. The Careers have no difficulty in getting sponsorship. Neither, gallingly, does Rafe. The remaining three tributes, including my father, are on their own.

He is still surviving off gathered berries and roots, but both he and Yohan are looking thinner than when they first arrived in the arena. The cookies I sent have long been eaten. I only hope he has enough strength in him to fight when the time comes. By contrast Rafe has been sent a parachute full of bread, broth, dried meat and dried fruits. He gratefully devours half in a single sitting. He must surely know the end is approaching and that he won't be in the arena much longer either way.

When a similar parachute arrives with the Careers it doesn't take long for their alliance to finally be broken. An argument breaks out over who it is for, and the fragile truce that they had held is shattered. They are equals in a fight. He has the edge in strength, but she can best him for speed and agility. Their fight is a flurry of flashing blades, from which only one can emerge the winner. It is a close call, but when the two of them are drawn together, a knife held between them it is his eyes that widen, his mouth that drops open in a surprised 'oh.' It is him that drops to his knees, the knife still lodged in his stomach. She walks away, injured but victorious, grabbing the parachute and feasting on her winnings at last.

The issue of Yohan still hangs over my head. With only three other tributes in the arena, the chances of someone else killing him are becoming smaller and smaller. If it gets down to the two of them I will never see my father again. I doubt the boy will be able to do it; more likely that dad will take himself off quietly somewhere to end it himself. His own personal act of defiance against the Capitol.

That is, of course, if he even makes it that far. I try to avoid Briar's eye as much as possible but I can feel her watchful gaze burning in to me. Since I returned from my meeting with Snow I have been waiting for something, anything, to happen but so far she has remained in her usual spot by the bar, sipping as leisurely as ever on her champagne. I have not allowed Katniss to leave my sight, just in case Finnick's warning proves true. I couldn't bear it if, on top of everything else, she took Katniss from me too.

It is late in the afternoon when everything finally comes to a head. Katniss and I are doing our best to schmooze up to one of the patrons in an attempt to glean sponsorship from them, when she squeals in awe, the feathers on top of her head wobbling dangerously. We turn to see what has caught her attention. President Snow himself has entered the bar, surrounded by an entourage of ten peacekeepers. Finnick stands just behind them. Annie, I notice, is nowhere to be seen.

My breath catches in my throat as my eyes dart towards Briar. She seems just as confused as everyone else at the unexpected appearance of the President; she certainly hasn't yet realised these people are here for her. I watch as Snow leans in towards the peacekeeper at the head of the group and issues some whispered orders. The peacekeeper passes these orders on to his men. Three groups of two head out across the room, with four staying back in formation around the President.

Unsurprisingly two head directly towards Briar. She immediately begins to shout about 'impropriety' and 'false accusations' and as she struggles against the peacekeepers she shoots a look towards me that assures me that if she gets out of this I will personally pay for it. Most of the bar are on their feet looking towards the commotion. Some with disdain, some with intrigue, some with undisguised amusement. And with the distraction caused by Briar very few notice where the other two sets of peacekeepers head. One pair have approached Troya, Finnick's rep. The other pair have approached Effie.

"No," I whisper to myself. I had no idea that taking down Briar would have repercussions on anyone else. I hastily rush towards the president. As I do the peacekeepers in front of him raise their guns warningly. "No," he says in a voice of calm. "It's quite alright. Let the boy speak."

"Please, sir, Effie, Ms Trinkett, she isn't involved in this. Neither is the District Four rep."

"They both accepted money outside of official channels. I'm sure you must appreciate how I cannot allow such an indiscretion to pass unnoticed."

I catch Effie's eye as she is led away; the shock and fear emanating from her is palpable and try to mouth an apology to her as she leaves.

"She only did it once," I say to him desperately, well aware that I must be over stepping some boundaries. "I'm certain she can repay you. Please don't harm her."

"Now, now, Mr Mellark. Whatever makes you think I am in the business of harming my people?"

I swallow heavily, well aware of the irony that we are standing in a room that has been broadcasting footage of at least forty three people having been harmed because of him over the last week. "My apologies," I say, trying to sound as humble as possible. "I merely would like a give a positive character statement on her behalf. And I am sure, given the chance, she would gladly remunerate you."

He pauses before speaking again. "Your statement is duly noted. Suffice it to say that neither Ms Trinkett's nor Ms Roksen will receive a punishment as severe as Ms Baxwall's. Good day to you."

He turns on his heels and is gone from the room, pausing to hand a sealed envelope to Finnick on his way past, and leaving only an odour of artificial roses tainted with a metallic edge. The room is in total silence for the longest time, until whispers of conversation begin to reignite around the room.

I look at Finnick, who looks just as shocked at the loss of his District rep as I feel. "Is that it? She's gone?"

He nods in silence.

"What will they do to her?"

He shrugs his shoulders, his lips pursed tightly together. "Best not to think about it."

"What about Effie? I didn't want her involved in this! Why didn't you say something as well?"

He rolls his eyes and sighs heavily. "We're slaves, Peeta. Haven't you learned that yet? Do you really think they value our opinion? Snow got involved because he was losing financially. Not out of some moral obligation to us." He opens the envelope and reads the contents, his eyes darting back and forth across the paper. "Anyway," he says as he tucks the letter back inside the envelope. "I have obligations elsewhere. How's your old man doing?"

"Hanging in there."

"Well, good luck anyway." He hitches a grin on to his face and strides in to the bar, purchasing two drinks before making his way over to a woman who must be in her mid-fifties, handing her one of the drinks and delicately clinking his glass against hers. He has already settled back in to his easy routine.

I feel a certain amount of the weight that had settled on my shoulders begin to lift. At least with Briar out of the picture, dad should, for now at least, be safe from the arena traps. I feel terrible for Effie, of course I do, and I hold on to the hope that Snow keeps to his word that whatever happens to her won't be as severe as what happens to Briar.

I feel an arm slip across my shoulders and look up in to Katniss' face. "Nothing's happening at the moment," she says. "Do you want to get away for a while?"

I nod and she takes my hand in her own, leading me on the familiar path to our rooms. Only we don't stop. She leads me up further stairs, up on to the garden on the roof of the training centre, where we can be certain of being away from all prying ears and eyes. She wraps her arms around my neck and draws me closer to her. "She's gone," Katniss says quietly in my ear. "She's gone and she won't hurt you again."

My hands splay out across her back as I close my eyes and sink in to her embrace. "I didn't want any of this, Katniss."

"I know."

"What do you think will happen to Effie?"

I feel her tense slightly in my arms. "I don't know, Peeta. But whatever happens, you mustn't blame yourself, ok? This wasn't your fault."

Her words seem hollow, but I try to focus on them. This wasn't my fault. I repeat the words again and again to try and comprehend them. "Lie down with me?" I ask, finding a comfortable spot on the grass and putting my arm out to her. She rests her head on my shoulder as above us the sun beats down, the only sounds we are aware of the tinkling of wind chimes as the occasional breeze ruffles them, the melodic chirruping of birds and the gentle buzz of bees.

I feel overcome with exhaustion. As wonderful as these gardens are, as tranquil and peaceful as they may be I can't help but wish once again that we were back home, maybe under the shade of our old apple tree, away from everything to do with the Capitol.

"How much longer will we be here, do you think?" I ask Katniss.

"It won't be much longer," she answers. "Only five left, they'll probably try and push them together soon."

She's right. When we left the remaining five tributes were spread out across the arena. With three brutal recent deaths the viewing public won't be getting too restless for more violence just yet so they probably have a little respite at least, but they are going to want their crowned victor sooner or later.

I feel Katniss' finger reach up to the side of my face, stroking through my hair, pulling a curl round and round her finger. "Feels nice," I murmur, tiredness creeping up on me ever closer. I close my eyes as I feel a shift Katniss' weight. It takes me a little by surprise when I feel her lips gently pressing into mine. I place my hand on the back of head, holding her in place so I can deepen the kiss. She is mine and no-one can take that from me.

We stay this way for so long that time has lost all meaning. When she finally pulls her lips from mine, as I let out a small moan of longing, we are both breathless for more.

The tiredness has left my body, only to be replaced with an unrelenting hunger for more of the woman in my arms. I roll us both over and pin her to the ground as my tongue explores her mouth, eliciting the most delicious moans and sighs from her, and I capture every single one. I reach down between the two of us and quickly undo the zip on her pants, sliding my fingers underneath the thin cotton of her underwear, brushing past the soft curls until I find the slick wetness that shows she wants me as much as I want her. She squirms deliriously under my touch and I feel her small hands fumbling with the zipper on my pants. She groans in frustration as I take my hand away from her to help her undress me, lifting my hips so she can pull my pants and underwear down over my hips. I do the same for her and as we lie down together immediately I feel her hand close softly over my erection as she begins to stroke up and down the length. My eyes fall closed again as her thumb swirls back and forward over the head, her gentle ministrations bringing me ever closer.

I want to make her happy too, and place my fingers over that bundle of nerves at the apex of her soft inner thighs, gently circling over and over. As the pressure inside me begins to build I increase my speed on Katniss, encouraging her to do the same. I lower my fingers until I find her entrance, pushing two fingers inside while I use my thumb to circle the sweet spot that will send her to oblivion. "Peeta…" she whispers to me, "Peeta, yes…."

I keep watching her as her eyes fall shut. For a moment she looks to be in pain and she bites down on her bottom lip as every muscle in her body seems to seize up. I press my lips against hers as she shudders in my arms, greedily swallowing her moans of ecstasy. Slowly her breathing returns to normal, and she resumes her hold on me. Watching her come undone pushed me to the edge and it doesn't take long until I feel every nerve in my body catch fire, as my orgasm rides up through me like a wave, as all the anxiety and hurt turns to intense pleasure. "Katniss…. I love you," I choke out through gritted teeth as my semen spills over my stomach.

We collapse in the grass together, both of us tired and spent until we are able to catch our breath. Katniss stands first, pulling her pants back up and looking around. "What are you…?" I ask but my question is answered before I can even finish it, as she pulls a large, soft, flat leaf from a nearby plant and uses it to clean my stomach. "Sorry," I mumble, feeling my face go red.

"Don't be," she says, balling up the leaf and throwing it away.

I redress myself and lie back down, pulling her into my arms, feeling tiredness descend on me once more. I place a few languid kisses along her brow. "Thank you," I say to her. "I want to feel this way forever."

"Ok," she responds. "I can allow that."

I close my eyes and soak up the warmth of the sun.

"If you wanted to sleep, I'll watch over you," I hear her say.

"You'll do that for me?"

She places one last sweet and gentle kiss on my lips.

"Always."

A/N – I thought Peeta deserved a little wee break from all the angst I've piled on him. And we're getting so close to the end! Thanks for reading :)