Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, names, or places from the Hunger Games Trilogy. All rights go to Suzanne Collins and her publishers (or whoever else owns the series). Some sections adapted from Catching Fire.

WARNING: mainly UN-BETAed at this moment.

I cast my gaze downwards, choking on my words, "How can you say that, over how little we have known each other?"

His eyes stare at mine, and in that moment it almost feels like he is peering into my soul, picking at everything that is wrong with me. What does he expect from me? Does he think I'm some silly girl who will buy the pretty words and misplaced romantic sentiments?

Peeta braces himself against the railing. His tone is hollow, "Don't you remember?"

I squint a little, taking a step backwards, "Remember what?"

"Nothing," he says, this time nearly devoid of emotion, "You should go lie down, it's already fairly dark." He raises his hand in an authoritative manner, "Guard! Have somebody take Her Majesty to lie down."

The cabin is small and cramped, something I certainly wouldn't have complained about before I came to Panem, but I've adjusted to the spacious open rooms of a palace designed for comfort. My ability to reside in the small stale rooms in my castle at Seam has been replaced by a desire for the large airy rooms in my new home.

Home.

It was odd to think about Panem as home, but I know I must accept my fate. I am the Queen of Panem, from now until I die. There was no going back to my life in Seam. I could no longer be Gale's fiance or Seam's princess. From now until forever my only connection to my homeland would be the title of Archduchess.

The squeak of a creaking door causes my thoughts to cease. Slowly, somebody attempts to pry the door open without making any noise. The person's attempts are unsuccessful however, as the stop and start motions only add to the already noticeable noise.

It's when the person slides into the bed, settling beside me, that I know who it is. Peeta, despite our tiff this morning, joins me in the small cabin.

The bed is tiny, really too small for the both of us, so we both wordlessly shift our bodies to mold around each other on our sides. My back is pressed to his front and my legs are tangled up in the bed, but Peeta makes sure to keep his arms to his sides instead of wrapping them around me like he usually does.

It isn't until the dead of night, when the boat is rocking from side to side, causing me to roll with the boat, that I slip my hand into his and bring it around my body, allowing him to steady my body.

We arrive earlier than I expected. Even before the sun completely rises, I find myself alone in the bed, being shaken awake one of my maids. They dress me in another riding habit, this time it's a heavy dark green suit instead of the flimsy pastel habits I have worn over the past few days.

Groggy and a little queasy from last night, I make my way to the front deck where I find Peeta leaning against the railing. Surprisingly without a jacket, he's dressed in a fairly simple white shirt and black breeches.

When I peer out over the deck I first see it.

It's beautiful.

The strip of land is surrounded by a greenish blue pool of water. The purplish blue outline of mountains surrounds the island on both sides, enclosing it in a band of rocks. I imagine it's the mountains that keep the rough waters from crashing in. Low on the ground, just meeting the surface of the water, the light stone turrets and gateways of a castle rest against the sloshing waves of the sea. Lush green foliage bursts through the skyline and topples over the stone building. It reminds me of Seam in an odd way, with the castle being encased by a forest.

"What is this place?" I marvel to Peeta.

His voice is what could only be described as 'dark' when he answers me, "Taraxa".

"Taraxa?" I question him. It's an odd name that doesn't really fit the language of Panem. It's certainly not like any of the lofty names given to any of the royal residences I have been to.

"It's named after the word for dandelion in the language they used to speak in a place called Rome. Taraxacum is the more formal scientific term, but I believe that Taraxa rolls off the tongue a little smoother. Don't you agree? "

I nod, "It's beautiful."

"I figured you would. It's simpler than my other homes, I thought it might remind you of your homeland," he pauses, "I know you aren't very fond of, well, the excess- in the Capitol."

I glance downwards, "You're right." I catch the sleeve of his garment with my hand as I bite the inside of my cheek, "Perhaps," I take a deep breath, "Peeta, perhaps we should talk?"

He shakes his head, "Later, Katniss," he rests his hand over mine, "this isn't the time for fuss."

The boat docks right against the rocky cliffs containing the castle. The spot where we land is precariously steep to the point that it takes three men to safety hoist me on to dry land.

"Why are you dressed like that?" I question him.

He pauses before speaking, "It was on the original itinerary for me to bring you somewhere for the midday meal, but if you do not want to go with me, I will understand. One of my people can get you a horse, you could explore the grounds on your own if you would like. I keep some beautiful Andalusians on the island's stables."

I shake my head, dropping the linen napkin to my lap, "I am fine with your original plan. Where will you be taking me?"

"I was planning on a brief walk through the castle's grounds and then a short trek through the woods. There are a handful of spots that I thought you may enjoy," his voice is devoid of emotion as he speaks to me.

Our trek through the woods is more enjoyable than I would have expected. We quickly cover the castle's grounds, which include a fairly basic garden and stable, before entering the wooded area.

I'm pleasantly surprised by the fact that we are able to go without the usual troop of guards keeping a close eye. Apparently a small island enclosed by a large body of water is easier to keep an eye on than a palace with thousands of people milling through it.

A trickling waterfall, only falling two or three feet between the various pools, far less dramatic than the one Peeta showed me previously, peeks through the heavy wooded area. I sit on the edge of the rocky moss covered perimeter with my hands braced against the extremity.

My toe dips into the water, precariously testing the temperature, "Do you think it's safe to use?"

Peeta looks up, "Use?"

"To swim, I was thinking maybe I would be allowed to use it later." I clarify.

Peeta stares outward, "To be entirely honest I'm not sure. It can't be unsafe, can it?"

I shrug, "I suppose it would be alright, it's not too deep from what I can tell and the current isn't strong."

"Here," he says, tossing his satchel to the side before starting to unbutton the small white hooks that rest on the front of his tunic. "I'll have a go."

He's removing his shirt! In the outdoors, practically in public!

I quickly slap his hand, "Peeta, what on god's earth are you doing? I swear to god, if you're trying something-"

"Swimming," he says, interrupting my shrieks, "I can't exactly swim fully dressed, can I? It was your idea anyways, but I didn't know you were so invested in religion..."

I turn a little red, "You can't just do that?"

"Do what?" he asks as he tosses his shirt to the side. I can't help but feel a little alarmed at seeing him half nude in the daylight.

The weak side of my disposition almost wants him for a moment.

My cheeks flush, "You can't just," I lower my voice, "strip, whenever you feel like it!"

Peeta chuckles and runs a hand through his hair, "Katniss, nobody is watching. Nobody will ever know."

I huff, "I'll know."

"Katniss," he says with a smirk, "Relax, it's nothing you've never seen before."

And with nothing more than those words and a charismatic grin Peeta unexpectedly swings his arms around my body and pulls both of us straight into the water.

I pull my drenched body up from the water. I must be an unnatractive sight, coughing up water with my soaked mussed hair and red eyes.

"You bastard!" I cry at Peeta. I blindly shove my arms outward at him in an attempt to make him tumble over, but it's no use as he has already got his footing.

"Ugh!" I scream out in annoyance, crossing my arms over my chest as I stand up, "I'm leaving," I say, attempting to wade through the water in my heavy water laden skirts, "Have your fun!"

Peeta comes wading after me, "Katniss! Katniss!" his steady hand finds a place my shoulder, "I'm sorry, don't be cross. I meant it in jest!"

I swing around to face him, throwing his hand off my shoulder, "I don't care. I'm going back to the palace."

"Here, I'll come with you," he says as we reach a shallower section of the crystal pool, "You can't go alone, you'll never find the way."

"Fine," I say with a huff of indignation, "I can't stop you from coming."

Peeta stops for a moment, pausing before he speaks, "Perhaps we should wait a moment. You probably shouldn't do the hike back when your clothes are that wet."

I stop, turning to face him, "Alright, how about this, you can stay for a swim and I'll sit by the water's edge. We can wait a couple of hours for our clothes to dry. Is that a plan?"

He nods, "It's a plan."

I bite to hide my smile as I turn my back towards him, "Alright, then why don't you help me out of my dress?"

It's the perfect way to get back at him. He teased me by throwing me into the water against my will, but I can tease him in another way. It's a surefire way to get back at a man.

Peeta makes a strangled noise, "Help you out of your dress?"

I give him a nod and pull my hair to the front, giving him access to the buttons along the back of my waist coat. I flitter with a few of the buttons on my skirt in an attempt to appear more confident about the idea than I am.

"Well," I say impatiently, "I can't really expect my clothes to dry if I'm still wearing them, now can I?"

He pauses, "Well, no, but you can't-, you were just-"

"Peeta," I say in an assertive voice, "Is there a problem?"

"No, Katniss," he says as he finally crosses his hands to the back of my dress.

As he is undoing my buttons I have my hand wander across the side of his wet breeches, "Perhaps you should get out of the rest of your clothes too. This way they will be dry for the hike back," I say as Peeta unhooks the final button.

Peeta breathes in as I twirl my body around towards him, my hands catching the vest against my chest.

"Maybe," I say, running a wet finger along Peeta's bare chest, just like he often does to me when we are in the comfort of our own bed, "I could help you out with your buttons."

At this his face breaks out into laughter.

I frown at him, embarrassed, "What was that for?"

He tosses his hair back, struggling to breathe between fits of laughter, "Katniss, I know what you are doing. Your attempts at seductivity-"

"You don't think I'm seductive?" I huff. It stings more than I would have expected.

Peeta calms down and places a hand on my wrist, "Don't be upset, it's just because you're so, you know…"

"No, I don't know," I say. And I really have no idea what he is talking about.

"It's like when you wouldn't look at me earlier even though you've slept with me times and times before. You're so… pure."

"I am not!" I say, "I've spent the night in your bed a dozen times before. I can't be pure."

"Yeah, but for the women that I know… for the Capitol, you're pure," he says clearly trying to mollify me, "For me you're perfect."

"I'll prove it to you then," I say.

"Prove what, Katniss?" he says.

I remove the inches of space and look up at him in the most appeasing way that I can, "Prove that I'm not pure!" I hiss, slipping the vest from my chest and clinging my naked half to his for concealment.

He breathes in heavily as I reach up to kiss him, barely stopping me as I attempt to slide my lips against his.

"Katniss, no."

"Why not?" I say, feeling defeated.

"We can't keep on doing this," he leans his head slightly back.

"What exactly is this?" I ask him.

"We can't keep on fighting we each other and then fooling around at your discretion. It's not healthy and I'm tired of keeping up with it. I'm sorry for what I've done, I'm sorry that I slept with those women, but I can't change that and I can't play around with you if you're going to stop speaking to me when we stop!"

I break my grip from his, "Okay."

He bites deeply against his lip, "Okay?"

My voice is hollow as I try to cut back from the tears, "We'll be friends, we can call a truce. You know what," I pull at the skin of my lips with my teeth, "We should just swim."

When we are finished Peeta and I retrieve our clothing and return to the grassy hills alongside the river, where we share a small meal of cheese sandwiches and strawberries from the bag that Peeta has packed.

"I wanted to give something to you, Katniss," Peeta says, "Now that we are once again speaking to each other, I believe this is an opportune moment." My husband stretches out his hand and drops a small purple curiosity in my hand.

I pull the drawstrings of the tiny velvet pouch in my hand, releasing the contents into my hands. It's a locket. It's plainer than anything I would have expected, oval and gold with engravings of a small bird surrounded by a pattern of flowers and vines.

"It's beautiful," I say, the simple gift is not lost on me. The tiny token is appreciated far more than the oversized gems and weighty crowns that have been given to me in Peeta's name. "The bird," I ask, running my fingers along the engraving, "is it a mockingjay?"

He nods, "Open it."

I pop the locket open. On the right side there is a miniature portrait of my family. It's a replica of one that used to hang in the banquet room of the castle where I grew up.

Itsy and slightly younger versions of Prim, my parents, and the remaining members of the Hawthorne family stare back at me. On the other side of the locket small folded up pieces of crisp white paper are tucked into the ridges of the locket.

"Katniss," he says resting his hands on mine, "I don't want to forget who you are. I don't want you to think that you have to remove yourself from your family and your previous life because of this marriage. That's why I brought you here to Taraxa, I thought you might enjoy all of this," he motions towards the canopy of trees that surrounds us, "I know you're unhappy at my palace. I know you look down all of us for the excess and the vanity, but I want you to know that no matter what happens between us, you have free reign to do as you please. If what you really desire is to settle down in a simpler estate, I can provide that for you."

My Peeta, I think, he's put so much effort into a little locket, just to make me happy.

"I want to see my family," I blurt out.

His tone turns unnaturally sour, "I can give you Prim, and she would have to come to Panem. That is all I can promise."

I throw my arms around his body and embrace him. "Thank you," I say with a kiss to his cheek.

He gently plies my arm from his back. His hands find a stray strand of my wet tangled hair as he struggles to find his voice.

"Katniss, there are things about your family-" he stops and calms his voice, "There are things I haven't been telling you."

Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait! I had mono and now I currently have a low fever (maybe it's mono, I supposedly got over that but who really knows). If this chapter is off it's because I didn't write this when I was lucid. I'm going to go back and have it edited/change it up a bit eventually. Thank you for staying with my story and sorry about my writing habits (I swear my life drama just refuses to cooperate with my writing schedule). I do love this chapter, but the actual writing needs to be tweaked. It is sort of a bipolar chapter too and it has to be a bit more fluent.

This turned out a lot less sexual than I originally intended. I had mono and well, try writing smut when you have mono.

As always thanks to my beta prisspanem and thanks to all the people who messaged me trying to get me to update, it is those responses that made me write even when I wasn't feeling great.

Anyways YAY! Part one of the "big twist" is coming:) Also, we get to see more serious Katniss.

You can follow me on tumblr at starveinsafety. I post a lot of spoilers/updates/inspirations on there, so make sure to check it out!

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