Keep up the good work, people! We are doing well so far. Over 600 reviews, about 160,000 words, 310 pages. And on Sunday it was my 6 month anniversary for beginning this fanfic. So feel free to get me flowers and candy and whatnot. :D Oh, and just to warn you guys, until further notice, the POV's of the story will shift from Katniss to Peeta, so just be extra-aware, okey-dokey?

oOo

PEETA'S POV

Surprisingly enough, my sleep remained undisturbed by nightmares; Katniss' nor mine. We slept soundly until 7:00 in the morning, when the habitual breakfast bell sounded. I forced my eyes to peel open, and they immediately fell upon the still-sleeping body of Katniss. She was curled comfortably at my side, both arms wrapped around my own, forehead resting against my shoulder. Considering the night before, this was nothing less than perfect.

I lay still like this for a while, decided Katniss needed the rest. But unfortunately, not ten minutes after I had decided that, she stirred beside me.

I watched as her stunning silver eyes opened slowly, and fixed on me. She didn't say anything, though; just yawned and settled back down.

"How are you feeling today?" I asked quietly, slipping my hand over hers, where it was wrapped around my right arm.

"Much better." I could see in her eyes she wasn't lying, like yesterday when I asked. She doesn't seem to realize I'm good at things like this. "I'm not dizzy, which is a definite improvement." Katniss' eyes sparkled slightly.

Did I have to say anything to that? She knew I was glad she was okay. I guess it was enough, though, to kiss her and spin our minds out of control. When I finally pulled away, we were out of breath.

Katniss' eyes looked like they were having trouble focusing. "I'm dizzy now," She mumbled, smiling slightly. "But not because of the surgery."

I couldn't help but laugh. "It's good to have you back again." Stretching forward, I leaned my forehead against hers, lips barely an inch apart. "I would have to say those five hours waiting for your surgery to be done was some of the worst hours in my life. And I have had plenty." Though, I didn't add that I was asleep for part of it.

I literally heard the breath catch in Katniss' lungs. For a second she was still, and then her eyes flickered upwards to meet mine, hesitant. "Peeta? Can you…do me a favor?"

"Sure." The corners of my mouth tugged upwards into a subconscious smile.

"Can you…" She bit her lip somewhat unnoticeably, and a faint streak of pink appeared on her cheeks. "…Maybe kiss me again?"

Even though I wanted to laugh at this, but I managed to keep a fairly straight face. My finger slid under her chin and I was a good boy and did what I was told. Katniss probably didn't even need to ask me; I would have ended up kissing her again anyways. Either way, we were kissing, and I could feel the rapid thrum of Katniss' heart in my fingertips.

Neither of us really wanted to stop, but oxygen was running low. I reluctantly released her, allowing air rush into both of our lungs. Funnily enough, when I opened my eyes and looked at Katniss face, she looked as though she was about to burst out laughing.

Katniss' gray eyes flicked up to mine when she sensed I was staring at her. "What?" Her voice was just barely a whisper, and the corners of her mouth were slowly pulling upwards.

"Nothing." But we both knew that was a complete lie. I changed the subject. "Food came. I should get it." Without looking at Katniss' unconvinced, amused look, I got up and pulled the foodstuff from the box. But while my back was still to her, I heard a small noise of surprise. When I turned back around, I saw Katniss sitting up in bed, her legs swung over the side. Except she was in a slightly hunched over position, stiff for some odd reason.

I hastily set the trays back down and rushed over to her. "What are you doing? You can't try and stand up on your own!"

Katniss glanced up at me in confusion. She looked fine. "I wasn't really trying to stand up. Just seeing if I can do this without passing out."

After a second-long pause, I sat down next to her. "But still, Katniss. It's dangerous. You could fall and hit your head or something."

She didn't argue; just let me help her lay back down. Once she was situated, and I was positive she wouldn't try to do anything else idiotic, I went back to get our food.

Katniss ate slowly, gazing distractedly at her tray. A few minutes into eating, she put down her bird leg and looked up at me. "It didn't make me dizzy, you know."

I mind was otherwise occupied at the time, so when she spoke, I had to shake my head clear of the cobwebs. "What?"

"When I sat up. I wasn't dizzy." Katniss took a bite of her mashed turnips. "I thought I would be, but I wasn't."

I paused for a second, and then pulled her to my side. "That is definitely an improvement. I'm glad you're feeling better today." And that was the truth. All I wanted was for Katniss to be okay.

"I want to try standing up." She shoved her half-empty dish away and propped herself up on her elbows. "Help me?" I thought the little semi-conscious smile that went along with her request was really quite adorable, but I didn't say so.

"Of course." After pushing aside my tray as well, I curled my arm protectively around Katniss' waist.

At first she did what she had done when I had my back turned; she just swung her legs off the bed. I waited as she sucked in a breath.

Katniss held it for a moment before releasing it in a gusty sigh. "I'm not really dizzy." She glanced over at me. "I can feel it, though, deep in the back of my head, just waiting to come out and knock me flat."

I gave her a reassuring squeeze. "Not while I'm around. Ready?"

She nodded and heaved herself into an upright position.

For a moment we both stood there next to each other, grins slowly spreading across our faces. Then confusion lit Katniss' up and she collapsed against my chest, breaths coming in short, quick pants.

I held her tightly, and sat back down. "Are you okay, Katniss?" My hand cupped her cheek, and I stared worriedly into her eyes.

"I—" She began, but stopped to take a few deep breaths. Then she let out a shaky laugh, not quite out of amusement. "I really have to stop trying to remember things. It hurts."

I frowned. "But…"

Katniss shook her head. "It wasn't the standing up that hurt. It was the trying to remember that day…" Her eyes closed.

"I might be able to help you remember." I offered innocently, secretly still concerned about her.

"It-It wasn't too long ago…" Katniss' eyebrows scrunched, either in the effort or pain. "It was the first night you spent with me in the MI wards…"

I cast my memory back to that day. "Go on."

"I had just had a nightmare. And…we were talking…" She sucked in a breath. "That's all I can remember without hurting."

Thank goodness I knew exactly what she was talking about. Taking a quiet breath, I leaned back on the bed with Katniss and held her close. "We were talking about our favorite things."

The light in her eyes made it obvious she remembered that part. "What did I say? What were my favorite things?"

I felt Katniss' head lean against my shoulder as I tried to remember. "You said…you liked my hair when I first woke up. How it was messy."

Katniss nodded. "I remember that. Keep going."

"And you…" A quiet laugh escaped my lips. "You were kind of rambling on about how I was 'sweet and gentleman-like',"

"You say that as if you aren't." Her mouth was curved into a genuinely confused frown.

"I'm only incredulous because it's sincere. And you just pointing it out like that just made me kind of…self conscious."

Katniss pressed her face into my shoulder. "Sorry."

"Don't be." I kissed the top of her head. "It was sweet."

"Keep going, though. What was the last thing I said?" She seemed as though she knew it already, but acted otherwise.

I played along and brought the memory forward from the depths of my brain onto my tongue. "I think… The thing that you said was your favorite thing was how you could feel my heart skip a beat every time we kissed." A hint of warmth crept into my cheeks for saying it so bluntly, but it didn't actually bother me.

Everything was silent for a minute.

Then Katniss' hand slid around my neck and tilted my face towards hers. When our lips met in the middle, it was as if time froze around us. The only thing I could hear was the adrenaline pounding in my ears. I felt her lips part beneath mine and my head whirled, making me dizzy with her scent. I wondered inwardly if there would ever be a time when I didn't feel this way kissing Katniss.

At long last, Katniss had to pull away for air. She breathed heavily, hand still around my neck. She was glowing, face giddy and flushed. "I remember why that was my favorite thing, Peeta."

I laughed, still a little frenzied from the kiss. "Yeah… I completely forgot what we were talking about before the favorite things…"

"I was trying to stand up." When I readied myself to sit up, Katniss put her hand on my shoulder to stop me. "But I'm not sure I would be able to for long. Let's just…lay here for a few more minutes while I recuperate."

That was honestly okay with me.

Katniss and I lay side-by-side on the bed, arms wrapped around each other, being silent. That was okay with me, of course, because I was too wound up in the idea of her to think straight.

I wondered what it would be like when we get back home. I had to admit, I wasn't looking forward to sleeping alone, but a deal's a deal. Katniss needs the time to mature before being with me. But…

In my head I ran through what would be my ideal day for when we got home. Tearfulembraces, me carrying Katniss inside, her screaming at me to put her down, my refusal, her baffled look when I keep going up the stairs carrying her, setting her down on the bed, watching her face as it changed from aggravated to affectionate when I pull her into my arms. "We're home." I would say, and we would spend every second of our lives together from then on.

I resisted the urge to scoff at my fantasy. There was several things wrong with that daydream. First off, Katniss would be returning to her house, not mine. I wouldn't be able to carry her up to her bed because Ms. Everdeen and Prim would be really weirded out if they saw me tromping through their house with one of their family members slung over my shoulder, begging me to put them down. And no matter how much we deny it, there will come a time when the Capitol attacks. We both know the risks of losing one another.

A gentle finger on my eyebrows jolted me back to reality. I opened my eyes again to see Katniss leaning over my head, smoothing the subconscious crease of my furrowed brows.

"A penny for you thoughts." She asked, taking her hand away.

There wasn't any way I was going to tell her what had been running through my head. That was strictly for me to worry over. Not her. "Um…" I quickly ran over a false explanation for why I had looked the way I did. "I was just thinking of how District 12 will be ready for people again in just two or three weeks." Darn it! I was hoping to steer clear of the mentioning of District 12 at all, but that was the first thing my mind came up with.

Thankfully, Katniss seemed to buy it. "I hope I'll be out by then."

"Me too…" I agreed with her, but I couldn't dismiss the ever-growing feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach. Somehow, I had a strong suspicion that our days together were numbered.

And numbered, they were.

oOo

Oooh… Intense. Let me know what you think, guys! I have something biiiigggg planned for the Capitol fight and such. I almost want to have them attack while Kat and Peeta are still in D13 to make it speedier. :DD Your homework: Capitol attack in District 13 Capitol attack in District 12. Let me know!

Love you all,

TheSoggyBug (screw this, call me Lana. It's my real name)