The next morning Johanna pretends the previous evening never happened. I had a feeling Johanna met the same fate as Finnick. Did the murder of a solicitor cause the deaths of her loved ones? She goes on chit chatting away. We choose to stay at the resort and explore the city. Haymitch takes Effie on a yacht tour. After breakfast we walk along the pavement by the canal avenues. It's hot and muggy. My braid is glued to the back of my neck by sweat. We walk about a fish market, where fishermen unload their hauls. They grin and nod at us, tobacco making the pockets of their mouths full. We eat lunch at a bistro which serves more local cuisine. Fried oysters on a roll with coleslaw. Cakes of cornbread and noodles with cheese. Peeta keeps one hand on me at all times. After lunch we choose to continue our tour by boat as the skin of his stump is agitated by friction and sweat. The sun rises and the heat is sweltering. We ask the drive to stop somewhere so we can swim he guides us slightly inland to a lagoon among mangrove trees. We strip our outer layer of clothing, Johanna dives into the water while I slide in with Peeta. We float on our backs the water slightly cooler than that of the open ocean bringing some relief. Johanna scampers off and climbs a tree to shelter in the shade.

"Goddamit there are some huge frogs here!"

"Bullfrogs! Big mamma jammas. Look out fo the snappin tutles too, they gitcha." The driver hollers to her.

Peeta and I continue to float until we reach the shallows silverfish swimming around us. I lay on my stomach and dig my hands into the sand.

"I tried to kill you Katniss. Why aren't you afraid of me?" Peeta asks.

"I was. I was angry with you, but Haymitch said something to me that made me snap to. That you would be doing everything in your power to get me back if our situations were switched." I said to him.

"I would. Sometimes I feel like I'm fighting myself still, but the I look at you and feel at home. I know hating you was not real and loving you is."

Johanna hollers out from the trees.

"Let's get back I'm sleepy!" She balances on a branch that extends over the water and jumps in. We return to the resort and our cabins.

"My birthday is tomorrow, but we're celebrating with Annie and little Finnick. Adult party tonight?" She says as she veers to her cabin.

"Sure thing" Peeta says.

I head to the shower, the lukewarm water refreshing my sweaty limbs. Peeta joins me, he washes my back and we stand against the corner for a while holding each other, examining the others body with our hands. Peeta's eyes are full and glowing at me.

"I'll do anything for you." He says to me

"I know" I reply.

As we make love all I think about is how unfair to him I've been. Even Haymitch told me I could live a hundred lifetimes and never deserve him. He notices that I was distant.

"Do you no want this?"

I shut off the water.

"Yes, you're too good for me."

He stops me

"No."

"Yes, you loved me, you sacrificed your heart was always pure. Look at me I treated you like shit. I ran away when you were hijacked. I was with Gale when you were gone. Don't you feel angry at me over that? Why don't you?"

His blue eyes turn cold.

"I loved you since you sang the Valley Song and I saw who you are. The world stops when you sing, you are more kind than you give yourself credit for. If you want the truth, I thought you were immature, and bratty for your behavior after the first games. I tried to hate you the Capitol tried to make me hate you. The reality is that I don't. You're the only person who's accepted me for who I am. You burned me. You burned me bad, but you never wanted me to change. You saved me."

For some reason that makes me feel worse.

"There are some mornings I wake up and instantly want to die you want that?" I step out of the shower and wrap a towel around me.

"Yes."

"That's not fair to you."

"No it isn't but I have hope that you will get better. That I can help you." His eyes are misty and searching. Afraid I'll reject him again. He slides with his back against the wall. "Katniss please. Let me love you it's all I want."

Hope. The dandelion in the spring. Peeta, rebirth. I am nestled in the womb of rebirth still forming. Maybe one day I'll emerge and the bad feelings will go away.

"Please" He whispers.

"Then love me" I reply not yet willing to show what he is to me and that is hope. There's no way I can symbolize that to anyone else.

We lay on the bed above the covers and hold each other, the cool fan wicking away the wet heat. Johanna calls.

"Effie says get ready for dinner. We're going to a burlesque show after dinner for my birthday!"

I brush out my hair and braid it back. I slip on a blue tank top from Cinna with a pair of harem pants and flats. Peeta always wears the same thing. When we arrive at the restaurant to meet the others Effie notices.

"Peeta, please make an effort." It's funny because Haymitch is dress identically.

"Bitch at Haymitch if you want to bitch at me!" He replies

I notice Effie is wearing a gold and emerald ring.

"Effie what's that?"

"Oh! The surprise is ruined! Haymitch proposed to me!" She sings face full of glee. Haymitch is half smiling.

We stand shocked for a minute looking at one another waiting for someone to respond. Finally Peeta does.

"Congratulations! Capitol or Twelve wedding?"

"Four" She replies

"The fuck?" Johanna slips out covering her mouth as the words escape

"We're going to file at the courthouse before we leave." Haymitch says.

I'm not sure how this will work. Effie works in the Capitol and there is no way Haymitch is leaving Twelve.

"This is great!" I lie. "Give me a hug!"

I embrace Effie who is giddy with glee. Her teenage dreams come true. She's nabbed Haymitch Abernathy Victor of the Second Quarter Quell.