Hey Everyone...Well...I'm finally back with another update. I'm sorry for the wait, but as you guys know I've been through a really difficult point in my life, and when I lost the chapter, it was hard to get back into this fanfiction. But because of all you wonderful readers I'm here to continue this! Alright I'll shut up so you guys can finally read! I love you guys! (This may not be edited quite as well as my other chapters but I was too excited not to upload it immediately!)

*******Peeta's POV*******

I open my eyes. They feel so incredibly weak that I'm surprised I'm able to even connect the dots as to where I am. I know for sure that I'm in the remains of a Capital Hospital. There are multiple tubes running into my arms and wrists. My wrists are also tied down to the metal sides of the hospital bed. The room smells of alcohol and something else that I can't quite make out. Suddenly I hear the door open and I feel as if it'll be one of Snow's last followers that lived through the rebellion. Instead I'm greeted by something I can honestly say I fear even more than a follower of Snow… Haymitch. I cast my gaze towards the window with iron poles covering it.
"Boy. Look at me."
I hesitate for a few moments before slowing turning my head towards him.
"What the hell happened back there in that bakery?"
"Haymitch…tell me. Did I kill that man?"
"…Kill him? No. Mentally handicap him for the rest of his days? Yea…That you did manage to do."
I feel terrible about this but a small smirk escapes my lips and I can't help but feel a small sense of accomplishment. After all. I don't want to grow up to be like the hollow shell of a father. My mother beat me and my brothers through the years and my "father" never so much as discouraged her.

"You realize that Plutarch is sure to come after you and Katniss even harder now that you've started this new story. Was it not enough that Annie Odair was pregnant? Now we have the boy with the bread making headlines about a murder all over again."
"Haymitch. You don't understand. I didn't murder him…He was beating-"
"Look. I admit. Seeing the bruises on the wife's face made me understand your motives. But Peeta. You and Katniss' safety and privacy means more to me than some damn interview. Yes, I'm pissed you and her ran off the way you did. But again, I understood. Now, I want you to realize. I was right. Because we see where we are back here in the Capital."

I shoot my gaze down towards my wrists. Thinking about all that has occurred. I've literally put myself, Katniss, Annie, Dillan, Char and his mother at risk. When I set out I had three people to protect and keep in my mind. Now, it's almost doubled. The anger builds up higher and higher until I begin feeling something too familiar to me. It's the venom. Snow still manages to make his appearances in my everyday life. Free from his clutches and free from his reign. But it's these moments when the venom pulses stronger through my veins that I begin to realize that no matter how hard I try. No matter how many days I push away the attacks, how much time I spend with Katniss or Annie or baby Dillan. I'm still always just going to be one of Snow's mutts. The same kind of mutt that ripped Finnick Odair's head off. The same kind that almost killed and Katniss in the 74th Hunger Games. I can't run from it. It's always within me. I can't see anything after that except the burning image of Snow coming closer to my face. His voice echoes through my mind like he's beside me. I rip one hand from the restraints and attempt to roll off the bed to figure out where all the mutts are. The ones that killed everybody I loved. I feel something smacking me and it's some sort of mutt. And I can just sense it's the one that killed Haymitch. I punch it several times, until my arm is once again restrained. There's a long sharp tooth or something jabbing into my neck and before I can fight this thing off anymore, my eyes slam shut.

This time its not on my own terms that my eyes shoot open. Something cold splashes onto my face. The first thing I'm greeted by is Haymitch with a fresh black eye.

"Boy! It's got to stop! Are you aware of what just happened?"
"Not really."
"You punched me in the eye during a damn attack."
"I'm sorry."

My chest begins to tighten and an overwhelming feeling of hatred and shame clouds my mind for only a moment. Haymitch rubs his eyes wearily and just looks down for a moment.
"I know it doesn't happen as often. But I have someone in holding, but you have to promise me you'll be gentle with her. She can't bear to see anything as violent or dramatic as an attack."

I nod slowly. Deep inside I know it's Katniss and that she's going to hate me more than anything. I failed her yet another time. I had one task to bring back food and I failed her. I failed Annie. I failed Dillan. It's all on me and I guess it's time to own up to it all.
"Haymitch... Let me see her. I swear. No attacks."
He stares me in the eyes for several minutes before nodding and taking a few steps towards me. He unlocks my wrists long enough just to fasten them behind my back with some metal shiny thing that is obviously capital produced. My legs are weak and as I'm guided through the long narrow hallways with Haymitch I have several doctors stop and look at me as if I'm some sort of animal escaped from the depths of the woods. To some degree I guess I actually am.

My only thoughts in this moment is about how I'm ever going to apologize and make it right with Katniss. Since we've been together, I've felt happier and more complete than I ever thought I could feel after the rebellion and my capturing. A solid glass door is opened for me. Sitting in the corner of an all-white padded room is the same lanky girl with dark seam hair flowing well past her shoulders. I find strength within my trembling legs and run towards her. I collapse to my knees behind her and the tears begin streaming down my scarred face.
"I-I-I'm so sorry. I-I-"

Her face turns around to reveal a much older and aged face than what I expected and somewhat hoped for. This isn't Katniss. It's Char's mother. Her eyes are swollen and tears are running down her cheeks.
"Peeta?"
"Yes mam'."
"Y-Y-Y-You're the one that put my husband into critical condition? By beating him up in our own family bakery?"
I lower my head in complete shame and what I know for sure this time is pure hatred for myself.
"Yes mam'. I-I'm sor-"

She hobbles on her knees over to me. Her hands are also bound behind her back. She settles her forehead onto mine and then shifts it to my shoulder.
"Thank you. Thank you so much Peeta Mellark." She can barely breathe between each thank you. I cock my head in confusion and kiss the side of her head.
"I've been wanting out of that "marriage" or whatever that black hole would be called. Thank you."
"You're welcome?"
"You saved me. You saved Char. You've done more for my child than I could have ever done for his entire life. You've given him a chance." Her voice drops to a barely audible whisper as she buries her forehead into my shoulder once more…

"Your Katniss. You've given her a chance too by this Peeta. You've given me a chance to finally speak out about something. Something that could free you, me and every other victor."

I jerk my head back in complete confusion of all that has been said to me in only a sentence. I have a lump in my throat and I can barely manage to breathe.

We have a chance?

Something I had never thought possible.

"You need to go now Peeta. They will grow suspicious of what we are discussing, and listening in."

I nod quickly and look around the room to see any sort of recording device that I could smash while I was still in this room.
"Peeta. I want you to know, Char is a very smart little boy. He helps many people, in all cases. No matter what. He's clever beyond his years, he'll never let me down."
Her eyes are yelling at me to understand, and to play into this.
"Char is a very smart boy. I'm sorry for your loss."
We rest our chins on each other into something that resembles an armless hug.
"Thank you-"
"Dillie. My name is Dillie, short for Dilliah."
"Ok. See you around…Dilliah."
She tearfully nods and turns back to her corner and I rise to my feet and meet Haymitch at the door.

"I trust you two had a very…deep conversation."
"To say the least."

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

I worry for Peeta. How he is holding up in the Capital. The slim chance that he was captured just like in the rebellion. My mind becomes so busy with thoughts about Peeta's safety that it takes me back to both hunger games. I press my forehead until it throbs from the lack of food. But it's Annie and Dillan I worry for more. That's when I hear a noise outside our cave. It's much different than Peeta's heavy tread. I scoot backwards until I'm almost on top of a sleeping Annie and Dillan. The shadow grows closer. I know there's no way to defend myself in here. I'm helpless from my hunger and lack of weapon. I'm either going to be put up as a show dog or Plutarch will get one never dying story of how the Mockingjay suddenly died, with some wild false story to back it up. Instead of a grown man's face as I feared, I'm greeted by a small little boy. His features are subtle and gentle. His light green eyes light up when he makes eye contact with me. His brown seam hair almost sets me at ease. He holds in his hand a large bag of something that smells like bread. He bends down and sets it inside the cave and his perfect little eyes widen.

"Katniss Everdeen?"
"Yes?"
"I'm Charzello Gradera. A lot has happened. And I'm supposed to catch you up."….

Welllllll hey guys!

What did you think about this chapter? Are you excited to hear Dilliah's story and plan? How about little Char making his way to Katniss? Or how about the new responsible Haymitch! I'll start writing the next chapter soon! Send me some feedback if you liked the chapter, what you'd like to see! Leave me a review and tell me all your thoughts! I love and miss each and every one of you! Hope you all have been well! Talk to you soon! (Ps. Previews just might be making their reappearance as well (;)

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