Hey Everybody! I hope you all are doing well! Sorry it took me so long to update! I have been working hard on this chapter. I know some of you may have seen that I had "updated" yesterday. I deleted that update because it was only 1,000 and pretty bad quality of a chapter! To make up for the confusion yesterday I decided to make this chapter 1,000 words longer! I wanted to thank you all so much for the reviews for the last chapter! I can't thank you all enough! You all light up my world! Talk to you at the end of today's extra long chapter!

Is it possible that she's actually opening up?! She's opening up! You've done it Peeta! You got through to her so quickly this is defiantly something to be proud of…I stroke Katniss' back and nuzzle her neck with my forehead. "Katniss, I love you." She jumps at my words and steps backwards quickly. "Katniss…I'm sorry-I just thought it'd be okay to say it…you don't have to say it to me…I just wanted to you know how I felt." She falls on her back and looks up at me in horror. I bend over to help her up, and she puts her hand to mine. I pull her wrists to help her up and I hear some sort of crack. I look down at her and he face is flushed with pain.

"Katniss? What's wrong?"

"You broke my wrist!"

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry! Let me help you up!" My heart is crushed at her words, that I have actually hurt Katniss. I bend down to pick her up and she screams and punches my jaw.

"Don't you dare touch me! I don't trust you anymore. Just…go, I'll get up by myself!"

I turn my back to her so I don't make her even more upset. She wiggles around for a while. I turn and quickly scoop her into my arms and set her back on her feet. She yells at my touch,

"I couldn't stand to see you struggle."

"What so it's okay to choke me?"

Choke her? What does she mean? I'm not even touching her…But she's right. My hands are wrapped tightly around her neck. I try to release but my hands won't let me.

"I hate you Peeta Mellark! Do you hear me? I hate you! I always will. That's a promise!"

Her body is still and I know she must be dead. Her body drops to the ground. I bust out crying and I fall onto my knees and stroke her face.

"I swear I didn't mean to do this. I'm so sorry Katniss." My heart burns as if it had been set on fire, and I'm sure I won't ever forgive myself. I shake in anger at my attack or whatever it's called, and throw my head back and yell something vile out.

All of a sudden I'm back in my bed, it's drenched in what I guess is my own sweat. I sit up quickly and throw off the sweat soaked sweats. The sun is just about to come up as I take a step out of the shower. I can't keep my mind off of what happened in my dream. I walk around on the cold floors and each foot step echoes louder than the one before. Thoughts of Katniss swim around my head and no matter how hard I try I know I won't be able to rest until I know she's okay. I throw on a t-shirt and pull on boots of some sort, and head out the door. The cold air makes my skin sting. I begin to regret not grabbing a coat. But at the moment all I care about is Katniss' safety. There is a very small amount of snow falling and it only adds to the redness on my face. I see my own breath, by that time I am at the back of Katniss' house, I can't help but think back to the time I was nine and did the same thing. Walking outside of Katniss' house and hoping to catch just a glimpse of her. I smile at the memory of when we were younger.

I shake the snow out of my hair and look through the first of the three of the windows, I can't see anything in that one, all the walls in the victor's village houses are white, and all the furniture is silver or white. It all runs together, not to mention in these enormous victor's village houses, it's only one small broken body in each. The second window I look through that is the equivalence of where my room is located, is empty as well. I peek through the last window with little hope that I'll see a single hair on her head. Again I see an all-white room with a snow white bed. But peeking out of the top of the covers, I can see a dark brown braid laying over a pillow. I smile at her signature braid, and how beautifully it contrasts from the white sheets.

I look down for only a moment just to smile in the memories of waking up to her perfect olive skin, beautiful smile, and feeling her warmth against my body. When I turn my attention back to the beautiful girl, I had once thought would be my wife; I find she has risen from her slumber. Her face is turned towards me and the window, only a moment of peace is allowed, before her soft skin is bright red from her crying and screaming. Even though I am outside, the screams still make me jump and make my ears ring. I can't help myself when I run around the house to her front door, what could be causing her so much pain this early in the morning? I kick the door open with ease and run down the hallway and into her bedroom.

"Katniss! Are you okay?!"

"Oh my god—p-p-p- Peeta?"

She stammers with each word.

"I heard you scream…are you alright?"

My heart is pumping wildly from running in the freezing cold. I know I must look dreadful with my hair soaking wet from the shower and the newly fallen snow. On top of how terrible I'm sure my appearance is...I'm standing at the doorway of her bedroom and questioning her so early in the day. Well Peeta…you have blown the chance you had to be able and talk to Katniss with her responding and not hating every second you're around her.

"I-I-I was having a ni-nightmare." She pulls the covers up to her neck and shakes in fear.

"I thought you were awake and…that you were hurt."

"No!"

I rub the back of my neck shyly and take a step backwards and run into the doorframe. To put it in simple terms, I ended up slamming my head against the hard wood floors as I slipped from the melted snow I tracked into her house.

"Peeta!" Katniss comes running to my side and hovers over me. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah—I'm fine." I smile happily up at her, she's not yelling for me get out of her house. So to be honest I'd be fine to freeze this moment.

"Wipe that stupid grin off your face."

I can tell she's holding back a smirk but I don't comment on it. I don't want anything to ruin this perfect moment. My head in is her lap like in the first games and I still can't help the smile that is plastered onto my face. I pull myself to my feet, I thankfully don't get too dizzy. I stare down at the sickly looking girl that was once so strong and sure of every move she made. She seems to notice my staring at her, she wiggles her nose and crosses her arms in the awkward silence. She lets out a half smile and we both realize she had already blown the whole bitter act for today.

"Get outta here Mellark."

"Alright…as long as our dinner date is still on for tonight."

"Yeah whatever…wait!" I jokingly turn my back to her and start down the hallway.

"Peeta…it's not a date!"

I laugh loudly as I am walking up the steps to her front door. I hear Katniss' feet hit against the floor as she runs after me.

"Okay…Sure Katniss…it's definitely not a date." She scowls at me.

"I'll see you then Katniss."

I see a smile tugging at her lips. And she casts her gaze downwards and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear shyly.

While I'm walking home one thought clouds my mind: Katniss Everdeen cares. She cares about you. And you almost got a smile out of her. That is a victory in itself for sure. I smile confidently, and suddenly my house doesn't feel so empty anymore with the thoughts and image of Katniss in my heart.

*******************************************Katniss' POV************************************************

What was that? When did you start to care about Peeta's safety? Is it possible you never stopped caring? I turn my back to the door and let out a quickly smile, I wipe it off my face after a second. I had forgotten what it was like to want to smile. I touch my fingers to my lips and walk back to my bedroom. Before I get to the carpeted hallway I step in a puddle of…water? That idiot Peeta must have tracked in some snow or something. I make note to clean it up before Peeta comes over tonight. I find it odd to want company…especially Peeta. I take a shower and braid my hair back. I put on a bright blue shirt and light grey sweat pants. I walk out into the kitchen and sit on the counter. I open the second bag of food Peeta had sent me and eat half the bag and I get a knock at the door. Since when does Peeta knock? I open the door slowly and Haymitch barges in. He's holding a bottle of white liquor and he throws his arm around my shoulder. His pulls us over to the table and he sits down, and he won't stop laughing. It's quite obvious he's beyond drunk.

"I hear you and lover boy are going on a date tonight."

"Where did you hear that?"

"My geese are all knowing!"

I shake my head at the severity of how drunk he is at the moment. "Haymitch…you don't even have a goose."

He laughs his annoying drunkard laugh, and shoves his bottle of liquor into my arms. "Oh Bernard!" He calls out the door, I watch the door for a few minutes and rest in the fact that I already knew, Haymitch doesn't have a goose. Haymitch slams his head against the table in his fit of laughter. "He's such a stubborn ass." Haymitch shakes his head and acts upset. He places his chin on the table and stares at me.

"Well…aren't the star crossed lovers going on a date? Or aren't they?"

"It's not a da-"

I hear some sort of faint honking and I see a single goose walk through the back door, and make its way to Haymitch, and then flies onto the top of his head.

"Umm Haymitch…"

"Oh there you are Bernard!"

He smiles up at the goose, that I guess he named Bernard. Haymitch shakes his head and the goose walks over to me on the table, I raise my hand reluctantly and pat its back awkwardly.

"You little idiot! He bit my finger!"

"Funny… he liked the boy."

By this time I'm tired of the drunk and his goose in my house. I pick up the goose and throw it out the door. Bernard angrily waddles back towards Haymitch's house making all these weird honks along the way. "Well aren't you a little ray of sunshine today. Come back Bernard!"

Haymitch takes his bottle of liquor and stumbles out the back door after his goose. I breathe out in relief a little too soon. "Better perk up a little before your date tonight, sweetheart." I slam the door, hitting Haymitch's nose in the process.

I walk back over and sit on the counter. I look around at my house, water and feather filled. But still empty… Is that all I do? Drive people away? I shake my head and remind myself it's not my fault that people choose to walk out of my life…right? I don't feel so sure after sitting on the window ceil for another few hours, and feeling empty inside. I slide my legs down and walk back into my kitchen and can't help but stare at where the knives should be. But when the people and doctors "Katniss proofed" the house they removed anything I could harm myself with. I hear that annoying ringing noise again, but this time I know where it's coming from so I locate it on the third ring. But now I need to figure out if I even want to answer it. Don't push people away Katniss…you can't keep pushing them away forever.

"Hello?"

"Hey Katniss…"

"Who is this?"

"Peeta. I was just going to ask if it'd be alright if I come over in a few minutes."

I look out the window and see it won't be long until sunset. "Fine."

"Good. I'll see you in a few."

I hang up the phone without another word. I walk out of the spare room and look at my house. It still has puddles of water and feathers all through the house. I run into the bathroom for some towels. I clean up the puddles; it hurts my back to bend over so much after such a long time of doing nothing but lying in bed. But I hurry along and grab the feathers off the floor and toss them out a window. I catch a glimpse of my appearance on the silver of the refrigerator, I'm running back to my room to at least fix my braid and I feel something cold on my foot. I slip and fall onto the floor. "Hello? Katniss? Are you here?" I scramble to my feet, which only makes me fall once again into the puddle. I sigh in defeat and realize I won't be able to get up quickly enough before Peeta comes to find me. "Katniss!" He runs towards me and bends down next to me. I hate feeling this defeated so I try to stand up on my own again. I fall in an even more pathetic way…if that's even possible.

"Well. Don't just watch me. Help me up." He stands up nervously and has his back towards me.

"Are you sure you want me to help you..-u-u-up?"

"Well I can't get up on my own."

If I didn't know better I'd swear he was scared to help me up. I hold my hands up to him in hopes he'll man up and help. "Hey…you invited yourself over. The least you could do is help me up!" He glances down at my hands and seems to shudder in fear. He reluctantly takes my wrists and holds them as if they would crack or snap…or something. When I'm back securely on my feet Peeta, open his eyes.

"Peeta…I fell in a puddle. I'm not naked."

He looks me over. "Are your wrists okay?"

"Yeah…Why wouldn't they be?"

"No reason…just making sure."

I stare at him a minute and walk towards the bedroom.

"Katniss, where are you going?"

"To get out of these clothes, they're soaked."

He nods in approval. I quickly throw on some black sweat pants and an orange shirt. I walk back out and Peeta is patiently sitting at the table. "I like your shirt." "Whatever….I mean…okay." He meets me in the living room and we just look at each other for a little while. That's when his stupid smile makes another appearance and it makes me feel weird inside. I pretend to slap his face and he just silently laughs. He extends his arm and messes with my hair.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm grabbing the goose feathers out of your hair…"

"Oh…"

I touch the top of my head and try to feel around for some of the feathers. I see at least seven feathers fall out in one small stroke. My face turns bright red. Peeta smirks

"Don't do that."

"Do what?"

"Be embarrassed." I smile at him and try to avoid contact with his eyes. "So…did you bring dinner?"

"Yeah, you sit down and I'll bring it to you.

"Fine."

I sit down in a chair and watch Peeta pull out various dishes of delicious smelling foods. In a few minutes Peeta has made up two large plates and is joining me at the table.

"It smells good."

"Thanks."

We eat in silence for most of our meal. I play with the mashed potatoes still left on my plate, suddenly my attention is drawn to Peeta.

"Katniss, I wanted to come over so we could talk…I wanted to talk about that kiss…when we were in Tigris' cellar. Do you remember that?"

"Yes."

"Yes? Is that all you have to say about that? Did you feel anything?"

"I felt something. I just don' know what it was."

"I know you wanted to save me from Snow's clutches…I know you fought for it…why?"

"I promised I'd protect you."

"Is that the only reason why? Because of a stupid promise we made during the quarter quell?"

"Peeta. I don't know! But what I do know is that I'm broken. Broken beyond repair, and your question has only enforced that!"

I throw my fork onto the plate and run back into the hall closet. I can hear Peeta scoot out of his chair. He comes and takes his spot outside the closet. I can see that he knows he screwed up which makes me a little less angry.

"You're the same Katniss that rescued me from Snow. Real or not real?"

"I don't want to do this right now Peeta."

I feel my eyes stinging which is followed by a single tear escaping and sliding down my cheek. After a while of silence I crack.

"Both."

"You're too broken to even look at me."

"Not real."

"You feel alone in this world."

"…Real."

I see Peeta get up from his usual spot, he leans against the door. I think for a long time and try to keep the tears back.

"I have one for you Peeta. You're broken…real or not real?"

"Real. So unbelievably real…You'll let me in. Real or not real?"

You can't keep blocking them out…you can't. "Real."

I hear the doorknob turn slowly. I scoot to the side and Peeta shyly smiles at me, crawls into the closet and faces me. He shuts the door and the dark makes it less intimidating to talk this close. I feel his heat radiating off his body and it soothes me, and keeps me calm.

"Peeta…I'm broken. I don't know if you understand how broken I am. So broken…I can't see how I'd ever be able to be fixed. I'm not worth it Peeta. There are other people in Panem that deserve you more than I do."

"You're right. I'm sure there are more "town/rich" people like me out there…that aren't broken. That doesn't mean that I want them. I'm broken. I don't want them Katniss…I have loved you since we were five. And I won't stop until the day I die."

I rest my head on his shoulder and we sit there in silence for an hour or so. "Let's get out of this closet." I nod and breathe in the scent that I love about Peeta. He takes my hand like in our first games. I let out a small laugh and we open the closet door and walk into the living room. "May I present the victors of the seventy fourth, and seventy fifth hunger games." I murmur into his ear. I look up at his perfect blue eyes; this is the closest to happiness I have felt in years. "Peeta. Thank you…"

For the first time ever I feel like maybe…just maybe. Together we could be "repairable". Peeta looks down at me, and I am harshly greeted with clouded dark blue eyes. His pupils are small as a pin point. This is the start of something that I haven't seen since he's been back in twelve…but once you've seen this in his eyes…you can never unsee it... The tracker jacker hijacking venom, pumping through his body….ensuring something that will break me…all over again.

Hey Guys! So...what'd you think about today's chapter? Hate it? Love it? Let me know in the reviews below! Anything you'd like to see happen? Any more characters you want to see brought into my fanfiction? What did you think about Haymitch's new "friend"...Do you guys prefer Haymitch drunk or sober? How about Katniss' thoughts? Think she's crazy or starting to heal? Your reviews/follows/favorites mean the world to me! I love knowing you guys enjoy the story! Thanks for inspiring me every day! As far as update days go I'm thinking about either Wednesday, Thursday, Or Friday...Do you guys have any preference? Talk to you all at my next update! Thanks for reading!

~Freezethemoment 3