Finnick and I are in the jungle. He's being tortured by the screams of Annie. I keep telling him it'll be okay. When we trying getting out of the wedge- we aren't able too. Peeta and Johanna are on the other side, and that's when it happens. Another tribute knocks Finnick out from behind. They stare at me, but the time is over. I am able to run from the jungle just as the tribute throws a knife. It misses me, but I turn around only to see Peeta on the ground. The knife has hit him. Peeta is on the ground, a deadly weapon in his chest. He's breathing rapid, short breaths, and above him is the tribute, the tribute that killed Finnick, and now Peeta. But it's not a tribute, it is President Snow. His smile is wicked, he smells of roses, and I am his next victim.

I wake up gripping for my partner. He's not there though. Peeta is not there. My head is spinning, and my stomach is doing summersaults. I run to the bathroom, only to hug the toilet. There's nothing for me to even vomit up, so what does come up is almost essential to my body. Sitting on the bathroom floor, hugging the toilet, with tears streaming down my face is not my idea of a good night. Who knew two and a half years ago that I would be here? No Prim to comfort me, or mother to take care of me. There's a knock on the door. I swear if it's Haymitch I will stab him. Slowly standing up, I grab a pair of hair scissors from the vanity. Cautiously I walk down the stairs. Nobody comes here at this hour to visit. There's another light knock. I open the door and Peeta comes barging in. I drop the scissors; he embraces me into a bear hug. It's unexpected, so I stand there until he releases me. He's talking so quickly it is hard to catch it all.

"Katniss, Katniss I am so sorry for earlier. I am just so confused! I hate all of this- not knowing crap. Everyone has to tell me who I am! I can't deal with it, I think I get pieces of my life to sit in place and then it doesn't fit. I just- I just need you."

My eyes fall sad. I put my arms around him, he returns his. I whisper into his ear how sorry I am repeatedly. We end up in my room, lying in my bed for a second night now. The window is cracked, I bring him tea. He looks at me in the moonlight. I can't look into his eyes without feeling guilt. I am so selfish. No matter how many answers I give him, they will never be good enough. I try to help but destroy what I build. I stare at the wall; his eyes are still on me.

I begin.

"You've had these feelings for me since I was five, and saved my life when I was eleven. It wasn't just my life you saved- it was my families too. After the reaping I realized how much you impacted my life. We never spoke of it. Then when Caesar asked about a special girl back home- you brought up me. I thought it made me look weak, so I pinned you against a wall. But from that point forward, you and I were always known as the-" I pause and do my best imitation of Haymitch's voice "-star-crossed lovers from district twelve."

I finally let my eyes fall upon his.

"We were always the star-crossed lovers. It wasn't true, but you certainly made it believable. Just another part of the games though..." I say silently. He sighs.

"We are friends now Katniss."

"I know. I'm just trying to give you the answers you so desperately deserve." I shrug a little and begin to cry again. He holds me. I give myself such a terrible headache; I fall asleep on his chest. I'm jolted awake, Peeta is screaming my name in his sleep. It's not an angered scream, but one full of pain. The painful scream is an indication that I can shake him.

"Peeta, Peeta. I'm here it's alright!" His eyes fly open and there's a breath of relief. His blue eyes are full of water. He's drenched in sweat, so I help him take off the soaked shirt and throw it on the other side of the room.

"Stay with me." He sniffles out.

"Always Peeta. Always." I reply. He holds me close to him for the rest of the night. I never fall back to sleep though. It's not that I am afraid of nightmares, because I won't have any. Peeta is here. I am safe. But I can't shake a feeling that turned its head tonight. I felt it when I saw him cry. I can't bear to see him in pain. But it's the same feeling I had on the beach in our second games.

At the crack of dawn I slip out of the house, and head to the woods. I write on Peeta's arm; "Be home soon. –K." before leaving. The crisp morning air is refreshing. Once I get to the woods I retrieve my bow and arrows. A deer is wondering for the first time in months, years even. I debate shooting it, in the end I let it live. All together I end up with a squirrel, two birds, and a rabbit that was caught with the snare. By the time I am done, the sun is fully out- noon by the looks of it. I bag my catches. On my way to the Hob, I try to avoid the path that leads past my old house. Instead I take the path that goes by the Mellark's bakery. It's nothing but a pile of ruble now. Once I reach my destination I see a blonde figure just across the way. He's walking with a slight limp. That walk can only belong to Peeta. I race over to him, my game bag on my shoulder.

"Hey!" I shout about one hundred yards away from him. He stops and walks my way. He has a box full of goodies; he must've just come from the train station.

"When will you be getting back?" He asks, and holds out his arm that I wrote on. "Soon, I hope. I made some cheese buns for dinner. I think they are you favorite- Real or not real?" He sounds serious so I answer.

"Real, I'll be back as soon as I drop these-" I gesture to my bag "-off to Sae."

"I'll come with you, and for the record I was just joking. I know they are your favorite." He says with a smile and follows me off to the Hob. Recently I thought I was given strange looks, but when I stroll in with Peeta behind me it becomes quiet. Everyone starts smiling, and of course Peeta- being Peeta smiles back. He even makes small talk with another vendor while I do business with Greasy Sae. When I am finished, I grab his hand to go home. We walk from the Hob with no words spoken; hand in hand. We pass a few people on the way home, all of their faces light up at the sight of us. It isn't until we reach Victors' Village that Peeta makes a remark.

"Katniss, why was everyone staring?"

"Because they probably think it's nice to see their two victors returning to normalcy."

"Or they think the star-crossed lovers are back together" says a raspy voice. Haymitch is stumbling over our way. He must have caught the supply train today- I say that for two reasons; one he almost never misses it, and two he is carrying a box in one hand and has a wine bottle in the other. I give him a death stare. Peeta just smiles.

"Are the star-crossed lovers back together?" the drunken man asks. Peeta and I exchange glances.

I firmly tell him "No."

"Well if you want everyone to think you are, and cause attention you're doing it the right way." His head gestures to our locked fingers. I immediately let go and take a deep breath.

Haymitch continues "You can't be walking around like that and expect everyone else to think nothing of it." I know he is right, but I would never admit it. All three of us stand in an awkward silence. It's Peeta who breaks it.

"Haymitch, would you like to join us for dinner?" I want to bang my head against the stone wall. I want to scream at him for even asking. Haymitch says every right thing to piss me off-and a dinner with him would probably result in more nail marks on his face.

Haymitch seems to be reading my mind; he smiles smugly and replies "Yes."

"Great, Katniss-you can call Greasy Sae and tell her not to worry about us tonight?" Peeta's voice is hopeful. I fake a smile for him, and he smiles back-his eyes shining. We continue our walk to my house; Haymitch says he'll be over soon. I call Greasy Sae to tell her we will be cooking tonight. She seems relieved, and says she will finally get into Haymitch's house to clean without a death threat, or knife in the wall. I laugh, and we hang up. Peeta is in the kitchen. The box he had was full of baking supplies. There's a small box inside addressed to me-it is from the doctor. I sigh and open it; inside are a few pill bottles- one is full of white ones; they are marked for PTSD/Anxiety, the next is full of blue; they are marked for sleep, the third bottle contains green; those are marked for nightmares, and the fourth bottle has pink; marked for depression. Two are to be taken daily; the other two are only when needed. There's a letter that tells about if I have any questions or concerns- I can call him. He will be calling me weekly for sessions so I have to answer the phone. I push the box and letter away from me, because I feel someone standing over me. It's our house guest.