Author's note: Once again, I want to thank you for sticking with me on this story and for all for the reviews, favorites and follows. Your support is greatly appreciated. I have one more chapter planned which will be all Katniss and Peeta. Given some reactions to the Johanna/Peeta portion of the last chapter, I thought it best to clear that part up right away. Some of you guys sounded worried... :)

I would love to hear what you think so take a moment to review if you can. Either way I hope you enjoy the next part!

Chapter 3

Three hours earlier...

"So?" Finnick O'Dair asked impatiently the second Johanna Mason stormed into a small studio apartment where the Capitol's cameras were blissfully absent. Finnick had stumbled onto this gem years ago shortly after beginning his career of trading his talents for secrets. The price had been a high one to pay, but it had been worth it for a little freedom over the years. Freedom and clandestine meetings such as this one. "What happened?"

Johanna dislodged a hair pin, two earrings and a bracelet in short order, tossing each with ferocious indignation to the floor. "Nothing. Not a damn thing."

"You're kidding."

"Do I look like I'm kidding?" She shot back hotly. "I offered him…" She waved her hands over her body in a grand gesture of showmanship, the scowl on her face deepening. "…all of this. Even gave him a little taste of what he could have with a kiss that still has my head spinning. And he turned me down flat." She threw her hands up in animated disgust. "Said he couldn't do that to Katniss. That he loved her too much, and that I wasn't his type. Can you believe that? Me. Not his type?"

Amusement sparking in Finnick's sea-blue eyes led to a knowing smirk as his gaze shifted to the person sitting across the table from him. The one that had endorsed their little scheme. "Well, I'll be. Looks like you were right, Haymitch."

Haymitch Abernathy raised a flask of liquor as if saluting his unseen victor before taking a swig. "Told ya to prepare for disappointment." His appreciative gaze took in every curve of Johanna's carefully wrapped package of seduction, prompting an attempt at appeasement. "Look, darlin', don't take it personal. You definitely have the goods to make it happen with any guy that isn't Peeta Mellark. He's just too far gone for Katniss for it to have ever worked."

Johanna scoffed as she shook out her hair and kicked off her shoes. "I don't get what he sees in that girl. Or how she's not all over him every chance she gets. A boy like that – all hard muscles, strong hands and soft lips…" Fanning herself and blowing out an overworked breath, Johanna took her place at the table. "He wouldn't last half a day back in my district."

She grabbed a beer and uncapped it as she made a further observation. "I was sure after training today that, at the very least, he'd be into making out on the downlow, but…" She doused her disappointment with a few gulps. "…even that was a non-starter."

Haymitch chuckled. "Like I told ya, training was about getting intel. Fact is, darlin', Peeta played you without breaking a sweat. And I dare say, without even realizing that was, in fact, what he was doing. He's just that damn sincere." Haymitch tilted his flask in Johanna's direction and pointed a cautionary finger at her. "So, don't go blaming him because you fell for it."

Johanna rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. Peeta's the perfection we should all strive to be."

"I mean it, Johanna." Haymitch reiterated, his tone sharpening. "No paybacks, no fury of a woman scorned crap. He's off limits in the arena. That was the whole point of me coming to the two of you. If we even have a chance to make this work, the boy stays in mint condition. That is non-negotiable."

"Relax, Haymitch. I'm not into kicking innocent puppies, ok?" Johanna replied flippantly.

Finnick reengaged to get the conversation back on track. "Alright, then. You proved your point. Peeta's all in." Finnick leaned forward, all business, and pinned Haymitch with a pointed look. "But what about Katniss? We all know the game here, Haymitch. That whole star-crossed lover pitch was too convenient, too perfectly timed to be real for both of them."

"You're right." Haymitch conceded. "Truth is, Peeta's been all in since the beginning. Katniss on the other hand, is hard headed and stubborn. It takes her a bit longer to figure some things out. Especially pesky little things like feelings and such."

"So, then, I was right." Finnick surmised. "None of this is real for her."

"I didn't say that, now, did I?" Haymitch rejoined.

"So…she is in love with him." Johanna concluded.

"I didn't say that either." Haymitch countered cryptically.

Blowing out a breath of frustration, Johanna's blue eyes sparked with irritation. "Haymitch, would you at least try to make some sense here?"

"Alright." Haymitch drawled as he leaned back in his chair, his lips pursed and his gaze lifted in contemplation. "If there's one thing Katniss doesn't want, it's to be in love. So, whether she is or isn't, doesn't matter here because the idea isn't even on her radar. Right now, she's all about survival and protecting the people that are important to her."

"And do those people include Peeta?" Finnick asked.

"She made me promise to save his life this time. His. Not hers." Haymitch admitted. "What does that tell you?" Not waiting for an answer, Haymitch continued. "Look, I've been with these two every step of the way, and I'm telling you, Peeta isn't just a means to an end for her. Hell, she probably doesn't even realize it yet, but she needs him like you need Annie and you…" Haymitch turned his attention briefly to Johanna. "…need your anger. He protects her, inspires her, in ways that can't be measured or seen. And I'm not over-selling it when I say that without Peeta Mellark, there is no Girl on Fire. And we all know that without her…"

"There's no Mockingjay." Finnick finished for him.

Johanna added, "No revolution."

"No future." Haymitch concluded, having made his closing arguments before closing the deal. "So. What's it gonna be? Can we count on you to help in the arena?"

Johanna and Finnick shared a look that spoke volumes. Johanna nodded her assent then let Finnick voice their combined decision.

"We're in. You have yourself two new allies."

"Good. Very good." Haymitch nodded with satisfaction. "Now, let's just hope our two victors have found a way to patch up their own alliance. Because if they don't, it's gonna be one helluva bumpy ride…"

Another tap sounded at the door, this time louder.

To steel her resolve and shore up her defenses, Katniss Everdeen reached for one of the many emotions that had fueled her restlessness: impossible, unexplainable exasperation.

"Who is it?" Katniss called out curtly to her unseen visitor.

"You know who." Came the muffled reply.

"What do you want?"

"I'm tired, it's late, and I wanna go to sleep." Tired? He sounded downright weary. As if he'd been out fighting a battle of his own.

"Don't you have your own bed for that?"

A heavy sigh. "Come on, Katniss. You know I can't sleep without you." A pause. A soft confession. "Look, I'm sorry about earlier. About what I said. I...went too far. And you didn't deserve that."

That was clearly a reference to his jab about Katniss not being in love with him. Something inside of Katniss chaffed at the very thought that Peeta truly believed she had never felt anything for him.

Or ever could.

"Katniss?"

The soft timbre of his unspoken plea broke Katniss out of her thoughts and prompted action. Katniss jumped out of bed and made it to the door in a few short strides. She opened it, revealing to Peeta her tired face, dulled eyes and the deep frown that had taken up residence since his earlier departure.

As soon as she opened the door, she knew it was a mistake.

For she had been right. He didn't just sound like he'd been in a battle, he looked it as well. Blonde hair was disheveled as curls haphazardly cut into the smooth bronze of his forehead. Generous lips were drawn into a tight line and his sincere, gentle gaze was confidently, calmly resigned to inevitable defeat.

Which was a huge problem.

Because if there was one thing Katniss Everdeen couldn't resist, it was a resigned Peeta Mellark.

After all, it was that Peeta that had made her leave the safety of the cave determined to risk her life for the medicine that would keep him in the world a little while longer.

That Peeta that sparked her act of rebellion against the Capitol.

That Peeta that had somehow slipped through all of her defenses with his let's-be-friends-because-I-know-we'll-never-be-anything-more offer and made her feel things she had never wanted to feel.

Ever.

In her entire life.

Her slim frame blocked Peeta's entrance to her room as she leaned her shoulder against the doorjam and crossed her arms defensively in front of her. It was a physical deterrent to the internal urge to throw herself into his arms and forget every promise she'd just made to herself to deny her newly discovered feelings, keep her emotional distance, and focus solely on keeping him alive in the coming days. Instead, she openly scrutinized him, really seeing him for what had to have been the hundredth time, but felt as fresh as the first.

And what she saw was devastating in its perfection.

She tamped down the desire to push his unruly hair back into place. At least there it wouldn't conjure up the adorable, little-boy look he was sporting. The one that sent pleasant butterflies dancing in the pit of her stomach and an intense need to protect him into every cell of her being. She ignored the itch of fingers that longed to trace the lines of his handsome face, that strong jawline, and take a dip in the light cleft of his chin. That wanted to smooth the frown lines away from those soft lips. Lips that she ached to feel moving against hers, sparking a fire that could easily take her over, but would never use her up, never destroy. Only fuel a stronger, more lasting fire. And she fought back the urge to hug away all of the obvious tension in his body, their hastily exchanged words and the distance and uncertainty her petulance had placed in those deep hazel eyes.

Instead, she cleared her throat and valiantly put on an air of indifference she simply didn't feel. "So? Did you enjoy the party?"

Mirroring her, Peeta casually leaned against the wall outside her door, arms folded. "I didn't go. I've been on the roof for the past three hours."

Katniss blinked in surprise. "Doing what?"

"Thinking."

An eyebrow hitched. "For three hours? That must have been some pretty heavy duty thinking."

"It was." Peeta conceded vaguely, his gaze shifting distractedly.

After his short run-in with Johanna in the elevator, Peeta felt completely out of sorts. He didn't want to go back to the Penthouse where he no longer felt up to the challenge of coming face to face with Katniss and her ever-changing moods. So, he went to find Haymitch instead, only Haymitch was nowhere to be found. Dropping in on Effie wasn't even an option as his nerves were already on edge. And love her as he did, there simply was no way he could handle her neurotic optimism tonight.

Not sure where to go or what to do, Peeta inexplicably found himself on the roof. It had been so peaceful there, so quiet and serene, he soon found himself knee-deep in contemplation and before he knew it, time had moved on without him. If it hadn't been for his obvious need of sleep, he still might be up there trying to make some kind of sense of his life and inevitable death.

Curiosity piqued, Katniss couldn't help herself from asking an obvious question, bringing his attention back to the present. "So, what were you thinking about?"

"The arena. How little time we have left together. You." Peeta sighed heavily, hesitance and uncertainty evident in his faltering confession. "I don't…I don't want to spend what could be our last days together fighting, Katniss. Or pretending that I don't care for you when we both know that I do. Or…feeling like I'm alone in all of this."

"Neither do I." Katniss' unexpected reaction came out in a breathless whisper.

"Then let's don't." Peeta continued, emboldened by her response. "Let's rewind, if we can. Back to the beginning of this whole night. I am truly sorry for what I said. And I'm ok with whoever you choose as allies. If there's anyone here that I trust, Katniss...it's you."

All of the loneliness Katniss had been feeling, all of the doubts and fear, the frustration, suddenly, magically dissipated. In their place was a peace, a calm, a sudden hope that always seemed to wrap around her like a luxurious cloak, warming her, strengthening her whenever Peeta was near.

Instinctively responding to the pure goodness that was Peeta, Katniss nodded her acceptance of his apology, and then made one of her own. "Me too. So, if you think Finnick and Johanna are worth considering, then...let's do it. Let's consider."

Peeta's lips pursed in thought. "Finnick, for sure. Johanna? Maybe not so much."

And the surprises kept coming. "Really? What changed your mind?"

Given Johanna's unexpected attack in the elevator, not to mention his adamant and unyielding rejection of her advances, Peeta seriously doubted Johanna was even an option anymore. But, Peeta reasoned, Katniss didn't need to know about all of that.

Peeta shrugged, the faintest hint of smile tugging at his lips. "You were right. She is rude. Hot headed. Brash. Unlikable. And since I've already got my hands full with you..."

He flashed her a full-fledged Peeta Mellark grin.

And, despite her resolve and her best efforts, Katniss Everdeen melted.

Into a helpless puddle.

At his feet.

Peeta felt a weight roll off him as those gray Seam eyes unexpectedly began to twinkle and the little dimples at the corners of her lips dented, indicating her amusement. Her openness. Her willingness to meet him halfway. And as she stepped back, opening the door wide and holding out her hand to him, his heart swelled at the silent, but obvious, invitation.

And Katniss Everdeen?

With that teasing, all-for-her smile, with those warm, sparkling eyes came a moment of perfect clarity. In that moment, she knew she wasn't alone. Believed that even in losing she would win. Felt as invincible as a raging inferno.

All because Peeta Mellark was on her side.

And because he was right – that they only had a few short days left together – now was not the time to waste pretending she didn't need him.

Or that he didn't stir something deep within her.

Or that Peeta Mellark was nothing more than an ally.

Tbc…