Cato
When we reached District 2, Katniss began sweating profusely and even hyperventilated. "Are you okay?" I asked and she shook her head.
"I killed Garen. I killed him," She looked at me with tears in her eyes and I nodded.
"I understand."
And you actually do because you were in the same position as she.
Katniss wiped her nose and nodded, preparing to greet the Victors of 2. After her speech, she'd torn Cinna's dress off in her bedroom and cried.
Katniss looked at the new dress Cinna had made for her. It was light blue and had gold sleeves. "You'll do fine. Plus, They're sending Kelsa and Allis. They're not that bad," I explained and Katniss nodded.
"I can do this," She whispered and I opened the door for her. Haymitch was not with us due to mutual hatred from both Kelsa and Allis.
"Allis Siln, Kelsa Malister, this is Katniss Everdeen," I said and the three shook hands.
"So we finally get to meet..." Allis said and Kelsa nodded.
Allis is pregnant.
That means she might not even go to the Capitol for the Games.
"Well, we have to get going," Kelsa said and began walking out of the room. We followed behind as Kelsa and Allis led us to the grand ballroom.
"Welcome to District 2 blah blah blah," Kelsa said and Katniss nodded. We were in for a long meeting.
~'~'~'~
Katniss looked outside the window as 2 flew by. We were taking a short 2 day break and running for the mountains to where the Arckenson Mansion hid. Enobaria was in the Capitol with Juna and Father, so we had the house to ourselves.
"Cato... Do you really love me?" Katniss asked and I looked up.
"Of course I do, why?"
"It's just that... I don't know," She sighed and I nodded. I stepped forward and sat next to her, pulling her small figure into my arms. I kissed her hair and closed my eyes, breathing in her smell. It was like pine and berries. I found it intoxicating.
Katniss
We arrived in front of a building that looked like it was almost three times the size of the Mayor's House. It was painted dark blue and had many windows. There were trees planted all around the house and some had little fruits that were dark red and hanging by stems.
"Where are we?" I wondered out loud and Cato grinned.
"This is my house," he opened the front door and let me in. The inside was just as beautiful as the outside. There were chandeliers, furs, rugs, and a fire was lit in a large room next to the kitchen.
"This is your house? Do you share it with anyone?" I asked and he shook his head,
"It's only my father, Juna, Enobaria, and me," he replied, leading me to the kitchens. "You hungry?" He asked and I nodded. My stomach grumbled to answer as well.
Cato chuckled and began pulling food from the cabinets. He diced potatoes, meat, and pulled pearl onions out from the fridge. I watched as Cato put everything into a pot and added water and flour. Soon, a thick stew was bubbling in the pot. He ladled two bowls and sat me down at a circular table with one of them. He sat beside me and we began eating.
The stew was rich and savory. The meat was cooked to perfection and the potatoes were extremely soft. "Where did you learn to cook?"
"My mother taught me the recipe. She said that if I ever needed something on a cold day and she wasn't there, that I would be able to make it," He looked out the window as a few snowflakes fluttered by.
"That's sweet," I said and he nodded. After finishing the stew, I took a walk around the house. It was so large I almost got lost, but one picture caught my attention. It was a picture of a woman. She was sitting in a garden holding a little boy in her arms.
She was one of the most beautiful women I'd ever seen. Her brown hair hung in curls around her face and she had warm eyes that rested on the boy in her arms. She wore an emerald dress with light green lace on the edges.
"That's my mother," Cato's voice sounded from behind me and I flinched. "And that's me," he pointed to the little boy.
"Your mother was very beautiful," I sighed and he nodded.
"She was..." he trailed off and kissed my forehead. "Mother, this is Katniss. She's from District 12. She won the Hunger Games just like you and me. I wish you could see how beautiful she is. I wish you could see how..." He trailed off and I turned to see tears in his eyes. He quickly wiped them away and shook his head.
I hugged Cato and kissed the tears from his eyes while standing on tip-toe. He pulled me closer and buried his head in my shoulder.
"I love you, Katniss," He whispered and I ran a hand through his hair.
"I love you too," I replied and he kissed me. It felt different, though. When I'd first gotten out of the arena, I'd kissed him to make sure I was still there. That he was still there. It was out of desperation.
This kiss was different. I felt a warmth in my chest as he pressed his lips against mine. Cato picked my up, never breaking away and walked up a flight of stairs, kicking the door open and kicking it shut.
We continued to kiss until I began undoing the buttons of his shirt. That was when he pulled away.
"Did I do something wrong?" I asked and frowned. He held my elbows and looked down.
"Katniss... I want you to know that you aren't my first and you might not be my last. I'm under the President's control and I have been with countless women. I want you to know that I'm tainted. I'm dirty and tainted," He sounded so disgusted with himself and I couldn't help but reach up to cup his cheek.
"Tainted or not, I love you, Cato. I love you for who you are and what you do," I pressed my lips against his. Cato was slow to respond, but soon, he was leading me to the bed at the center of the room. His shirt was off and my jacket discarded.
"Are you sure?" He asked and I nodded, biting my lip. He gave me a small grin and began undoing my shirt.
~'~'~'~
I woke up naked. Cato was snoring softly behind me and both of his muscular arms were wrapped around me. I was sore and felt awkward, but I'd never been happier in my life.
I slipped out of his grip and went to find some clothes. Opening one of the closets, everything inside looked so formal. I pulled a loose shirt on and walked out of the room, eager to go to the kitchen and eat something.
I'd fried eggs and made bacon. There were oranges in the fridge, so I squeezed them to make orange juice. Something I'd had in the Capitol. While eating, I walked around the house a bit and saw paintings and pictures of many different things.
I stopped in front of a painting of a lake. It looked like the one in 12, behind the fence. There were birds flying over it and the water sparkled as if it were real.
"My father painted that when he visited 12," Cato said from behind me. He wore a pair of loose pants and that was it. I felt a blush forming and turned my back.
"He's very good at painting," I murmured and felt Cato wrap his arms around me. Kissing my neck he nuzzled closer to me and sighed.
"I love you, Katniss. I love you and I want to be with you forever," I pecked him on the lip and smiled.
"I love you too."
Cato
"Katniss, I have some errands to run, so don't wait up, okay?" I pulled away from her, "I'll be back later tonight. Haymitch and Effie are coming over and Effie has plans for a photo-shoot." I kissed her one last time and hugged her.
"Where are you going?"
"To change our lives!" I called as pulled normal clothes on.
What the hell are you doing?
I ran to the train station and found one of the Peacekeepers. Offering some idiotic excuse, I hopped onto the train and in 20 minutes, was speeding towards District 12. The seven hour journey would be the longest seven hours of my life.
I looked out the window as the countryside passed by.
You're not actually going to do it?!
I am. I will.
I could feel sweat in the palms of my hands and I went into the dining car for a drink. Feeling the familiar burn in my throat, I went to get a book to pass the time.
There was really nothing to do on the train. I found a TV and turned it on. My jaw dropped at what had happened.
11 was revolting against the Peacekeepers. There were fires, deaths, and explosions. I shook my head and sighed.
This is all Katniss' doing.
I know. With the Quarter Quell coming up, who knows what will happen to her, I thought.
When I reached District 12, I jumped off of the train and sprinted for the Victor's Village. Making my way around houses, I knocked on Katniss' door. Panting, I wiped the sweat from my face and faced the door.
Prim opened it and looked at me with wide eyes. "Cato?"
"Hey, Prim! Is your mother there?" I asked and she nodded. Letting me in, Prim led me to the kitchen and I saw Mrs. Everdeen cooking. "Mrs. Everdeen, hi," I started and she turned around.
"Cato! Shouldn't you be in District 2?" She asked, wiping her hands. I nodded and sat down at the table.
"Mrs. Everdeen, I have to speak to you about something," I said.
"Prim, go to your room, please," She murmured and Prim ran off. Sitting in front of me, Mrs. Everdeen raised her eyebrows. "What is it?"
"I... Er... Wow this is hard. I..."
Did you think it was going to be easy you idiot?
"You..."
"I'm asking your permission to ask Katniss to marry me," I let out and she pursed her lips.
"Well, Cato, I am a bit disappointed that you chose to ask me while you were on the Victory Tour. I mean, you left her alone in a strange district with a drunk and a Capitolite. Not very reassuring to me," she sighed and I blinked.
See, should've waited.
"I'm sorry?" I was unsure of what to say and Mrs. Everdeen sighed.
"Do you have a ring?" She asked and I nodded, pulling the box from my pocket. It had been my mother's and had been passed down the Arckenson line for quite a while.
I opened the black velvet box and showed it to her. The band was thin and platinum. There were small diamonds going around it and a large diamond in the center. Inside the diamond was the image of two butterflies, blue and red. The blue looked as if it were made of ice and the red was of fire.
"It was my mother's ring," I said and Mrs. Everdeen nodded.
"Cato, I really don't like the idea of Katniss being so young. She's seventeen and you're twenty-one," she frowned. I nodded.
"Mrs. Everdeen, I thought about the gap of our ages, and I know that it doesn't bother her. I love her, Mrs. Everdeen. I could not live without Katniss," I explained. Mrs. Everdeen sighed and laced her fingers together.
"I married Katniss' father when I was 16 and he was 24. Older than you are now. I suppose it's only fair to let her marry you, but I hope you know that from a mother's standpoint, I don't want my daughter getting hurt."
"Mrs. Everdeen, the last thing I would ever want to do is hurt Katniss," I said and she nodded.
"Fine, but I want you married after the Quarter Quell. Welcome to the family, Cato," she sighed and I shook her hand.
"Thank you, Mrs. Everdeen."
"Please, it's Natala, and welcome to the family."