A/N: So they're both dead and soon to be reunited. Enjoy. Congratulations to my fiftieth reviewer, Tissue729. I dedicate this chapter to you. Thank you to everyone who has stayed with me on this journey. I love you all.
Feloria
Cato's POV
The games are over. Katniss and I both came out alive. Unfortunately Clove died, however I am thankful that Katniss gave her a merciful death. Right now, I've been waiting the past two days for Katniss to wake up. The berries that we ate had a strong sleeping dose so we don't know when she'll wake up. Outside, Haymitch and Enobaria are in the lounge discussing what to do now. Where we will live? We can't go back to our districts now that we are dead. I hear the door open and Haymitch comes in. He checks up on Katniss regularly, but he knows that he doesn't need to with me here.
"Cato, Enobaria and I have decided that you will live here in the Capitol. You're families will be moved here as well. We just have to go over our plans with Snow. I'm sure he'll agree. But there will be a catch of some sort. Snow is evil. He'll use this to make himself money so be cautious okay."
"Ok Haymitch thanks. Do you think she'll wake up soon?"
"Hard to tell, you didn't wake up until three days later." Three days!
"Three days! I was out for three days!"
"Yes, you were. Now, if you'll excuse me I have to go mentor Peeta. He has to get ready for his Victor interview. I'll see you in a few hours alright." With that he walked out the door.
"Katniss, if you hear me wake up. Please wake up. Squeeze my hand. Show me that you can hear me." I waited but she did nothing, Sighing, I dropped her hand left to get a drink from the kitchen. When I came back, I found that Katniss was gone. I felt a rush of joy flooding through me. She must have awoken. Except where was she? Behind me I heard a scream. I turned around to find Katniss standing in the doorway in complete and total shock. What was wrong? Oh wait, I'm alive. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I mentally face palm myself.
"Ca…Cat…Cato?" She stutters. I pull her close and embrace her in a loving hug. We were both alive. We had defeated the odds and we came out alive.
"Cato, am I dead? Are we dead? You're dead so I must be dead. Oh Cato, we're together again" She hugs me back. Whoa! Total mood swing.
"Katniss, I'm not dead and neither are you. We're both very much alive." Katniss pulls away from me in confusion but then looks up at me in horror. She must be registering the fact that we are alive.
"You're not alive! You're dead. You died! I saw your face up in the sky. I can't be alive. I swallowed the Nightlock." She was hyperventilating.
"Katniss! Breathe. Listen to me. I'll explain everything. You didn't swallow Nightlock. You ate a blackberry that was filled with a sleeping dose so that we would fall unconscious and appear dead. To the whole of Panem, we died in the Hunger Games. This was all part of Haymitch and Enobaria's plan to get us both out. I'm sorry I had to leave you." She just stared at me like a freak.
"Well say something"
"You complete arse Cato Stone! You let me cry my heart out for days thinking you were dead while all this time you were alive. How could you do that to me? Don't you dare do that to me ever again. I hate you!"
"No you don't, you love me" I pulled her in for another hug which turned into a tender kiss. The memory of her lips came back as soon as I touched them. Those soft sweet luscious lips. Man have I missed her. After a moment, she pulls away in need of breath.
"I know, but I'm still mad at you." She leans back to kiss me which I return passionately.
"Katniss, remember how all this time, I said we would get out together and we have. I told you to trust me." I grinned at her.
"Don't push it Cato, the reason, you aren't already on the floor, beaten to a pulp is because I am distracted by your lips."
"I'm sorry. Katniss, I wanted to say how sorry I am days ago, but I am really sorry about what I said to you about Prim. You were just trying to save Prim's life. If I could have saved my sister, I would have. Even if it meant possibly losing my life. Please forgive me Katniss. I really am sorry."
"I forgive you but you should also say sorry to Prim. She is the one you have to apologise to."
"I love you Katniss. I really do." I kissed her lips sweetly which she returned. I keep her in my embrace and we sit back down on her bed.
"I love you too"
"So, what happened to Peeta? I presume he's Victor now that I'm supposedly dead." Katniss asks curiously
"Yeah, he his. Stupid git doesn't deserve to be though. Clove should have won. Haymitch is preparing him for his interview. In fact it should be on right now." I move away to switch on the television. It flickers to life and on screen appears Caesar and Peeta dressed in a blue suit. He looks to be miserable.
"Now Peeta, why the long face? You won the Hunger Games, surely that must be something to be happy about?"
"Caesar, why do you think I'm not happy? I don't care about how I won. I lost Katniss. She left me. I thought we could somehow win together and she could be happy with me. She said she would come home to Prim and her family. That she would do everything in her power to win."
"Oh Peeta, I'm sorry. You really loved her didn't you?"
"Caesar, just play the stupid footage, I want to leave this place and never come back"
"But you will be coming back, you're a mentor now Peeta so you have to come back every year to mentor the new tributes"
"I DON'T CARE!" Peeta got up rather angrily and stormed off stage. He couldn't just hide it all away and pretend to be the perfect Victor. What a moron. Snow will definitely do something about him for his little outrage on live TV.
"I can see why he shouldn't be a Victor. That idiot. You don't make a scene on live television for the whole of Panem to see."
"That's not what I'm annoyed about. Even after all this, he still thinks he can claim you as his. I want to kill that boy so bad. Katniss, you love me don't you?" She stares at me as if I'm asking the stupid question in the world. I probably am but I just need to be assured that she does love me.
"Cato, why are you asking ridiculous questions you already know the answer to? Of course I love you. I've always loved you. "
"I don't know. I'm just so mad at him. Even before I fell in love with you, he already staked his claim."
"Cato, don't worry about him, I love you and always will okay. And besides why would I fall in love with someone I hate. I hated him from the start remember? Cato I would go so far as to say that you are mine and I am yours." I grinned at quickly kissed her.
"Your mine. Katniss, all mine. "
"And you are mine." She leans in to kiss me but Haymitch walks in and interrupts us. He always did have the worst timing.
"Oh so you're awake then. Has Cato explained what has happened?"
"Yes he has and I am so grateful to you Haymitch and to Enobaria. Thank you" Katniss said and gave Haymitch a welcoming hug.
"You're welcome sweetheart. But it won't be so easy from here on out. You're meant to be dead to the world."
"Did you see what Peeta did onstage? I can't believe he did that. He should just tough it up. Hide behind a mask until you're offstage."
"I'm guessing that's what you would have if you were in his position?"
"Yes, I would. Anyway, when do we leave? Have we figured out our next move?"
"Sort of, we're considering you living here in the Capitol. Your families would be moved here as well. But I have confirmed that you are to be shipped back home as well."
"I don't understand Haymitch. Are we going home or staying here?"
"Katniss we're dead. All the dead tributes get cleaned up after the Games and then sent home in a crate to be buried. That's how you're going home. And I'm coming with you." I said. I wasn't particularly fond of the whole being stuck in a crate idea but it would get the job done.
"Boy, I don't think that's a good idea. We can't have two crates come off a Capitol train. And you have to be sent to your district otherwise what are the people of Two going to say? Soon they will ask where you are" Haymitch said
"Haymitch, we can do it. Cato can lie with me in my crate when we leave the train and we will send a crate to Two. It will be locked so they can't open it and see there isn't a dead body inside. But aside from that, I was thinking; how about we live in District 12. Only my District would know and they would be happy to see us alive." Katniss said
"There's one problem with that. When the camera's come back to twelve to see Peeta while he is on his Victor's Tour, they will notice you. Then word will spread and havoc will wreck."
"We can change our appearances or something. Haymitch why do you always have to think things through? Can't you just wing it?"
"Because you never do and you should never just wing something. Not something as serious as this." Haymitch deeply sighed and rubbed his eyes.
"Look I'm sure your plan will work if we set it out correctly and erase any problems. Katniss, I know your family would be happy to see you home but I'm not sure about Cato. What will your mum and Prim say when they see him?"
"They will welcome him. Prim and mum love Cato and consider him family. In fact, Prim loves you like a brother." Katniss said smiling. She dazed out of it for a moment before returning to reality.
"Wait, what?" I asked shocked.
"It's a joke Prim made when I got your letter before the Hunger Games. She teased me about your letter saying that you loved me and couldn't wait for you to become her brother." I smiled at that. Prim really had a wonderful imagination. I hadn't confessed to anyone, not even Katniss, but I did have hopes of marrying Katniss one day. I knew that we were meant to be together.
"Okay, so I guess we'll have no problems apart from having to changing our appearances. We could secretly ask our stylists to help us with this. I'm sure they would be glad to see us." I said
"Sounds good to me Cato. I know my prep team would love to see me and I do want to see Cinna again. Haymitch what do you think?"
"Great. If you guys think you can handle this yourselves and get out of the Capitol unseen, then great I love it but just be careful okay. Don't let anyone who isn't in on this scheme see you. So it's probably best that you don't leave the building until after you've been to see your prep team."
"Thank you Haymitch. I mean it. Thank you for everything. I know that you were opposed to us being together at the start so thank you"
"You're welcome Katniss. I know that I was harsh but what you said to me changed my mind. I was in love Maysilee and I wished that my mentor could have helped us come out together so I did everything I could to make sure that you wouldn't have to go through the same as me. But it isn't just rainbows and sunshine from here on out. You will still have one problem to face once you return to District Twelve. Something waiting for you that you can't escape."
"Something or someone Haymitch?" I asked. I had a bad feeling where this was heading.
"Someone. You will have to face him eventually. He is returning to 12 as well."
"Who are we facing then?" Katniss asked. I couldn't believe she didn't know who Haymitch was talking about.
"Peeta" Haymitch and I said at the same time.