Here is what you've all been waiting for: Chapter 9!

Disclaimer: I don't own THG! All rights to the AMAZING Suzanne Collins!

The doctor coughed, and looked down at his feet. "You'll have to see for yourself."

I rolled my eyes. Did he think this was a joke? This is my sisters life! Why couldn't he just tell us?

Johanna grabbed one of my hands, and Annie grabbed the other, as if to steady me for support. I took a couple of deep breaths.

Finnick was praying silently, and Gale was biting his lip so hard that I thought it would fall off. Peeta was the worst of us all- his eyes were pale and the bags under his eyes were extremely prominent. His blue eyes looked darker than ever, and he nervously scanned the room.

The doctor led us to a room, and wordlessly opened the door. I almost pushed him over trying to get inside, and no one objected.

Katniss was paler than Peeta. Her eyes were closed, and her braid covered a part of her face. I cautiously stepped forward to her afraid of what Katniss would feel like. Taking my shaking, sweaty hand out of my pocket, I gripped Katniss's wrist ever so slightly.

There was no pulse. Desperately, I gripped tighter, believing, that if I did, she would come back. Back to me, back to reality. She couldn't be gone. Katniss was cold, lifeless.

I let go of the sob that I had been stifling. Peeta sank to his knees, fearing the worst. I couldn't look at everyone else. I could only look at Katniss.
Strong, beautiful Katniss who sang me to sleep, held me when I cried. She couldn't only be alive in memory. She had to be-

Someone coughed. It was small and quiet, but it was a cough. I looked around. Everyone was as confused as I was, and no ones mouth was open.
Slowly, I turned to Katniss. I stepped forward toward her, hoping for the best. I put my face right over hers.

She opened her grey eyes. "Miss me?" she croaked, grinning.

The festivities felt like they last for years. Everyone had a reason to be joyous, and the excitement showed on everyone's faces. Finnick and Katniss joked around. Annie left and brought a whole basket of food from the bakery, which we- I- happily gobbled up. Gale and Johanna started a game of movie charades. Whenever it was their turn, they would kiss, and pronounce it to be a romance movie.

Katniss took a fistful of cake, and tried to throw it at Peeta, but since she was so weak, it slipped down her arm. Peeta smiled, and grabbed her arm, gently guiding it up. He scooped some cake, and put it in her hands. Peeta coaxed her, and helped her throw the cake- at Finnick! "What did I do?" he complained.

Katniss and Peeta both laughed, looking at each other. They leaned in, as if about to kiss, but stopped and pulled back.

Johanna's phone rang, a high pitched squeaking noise, and she picked up. "This is McDonalds, how may I take your order?" she said, crisp and waitress like. We snickered. "Fine, fine, this is Johanna." she grumbled. After a long pause, she groaned. "Ugggggggg! I'll be there in ten minutes."

She turned to us, and faced Katniss apologetically. "Sorry, Kat. Duty calls." Katniss smiled. "Tell the boss that I can't come for at least two months." Johanna rolled her eyes. "That's so like Katniss Everdeen. Responsible and kind..."

"Prim, smack her for me." Katniss ordered. I did so with delight. Johanna laughed, and grabbed Gale's arm. "He's my ride." she explained. They left, calling their goodbyes.
Annie bit her lip. "I should go too. Finnick and I, we-" she looked down, and blushed.
Katniss smiled. "I see. Well, you two can go, and, Finnick?" he turned his head to face her. "Don't screw up."

Annie laughed lightheartedly, and dragged Finnick out the door. Now, only Peeta and I were left.

"Prim." Katniss called, after taking a gulp of water. I stepped towards her. "I know I have a lot to explain. I didn't want to tell you ever. I tried to distract myself during our celebration, but truth must be told. I met Cato two years ago. He was kind, sweet at first. You didn't trust him, but I, being utterly foolish, didn't listen to your rants. Then, he showed his true colors, and... he made a list. A long list. And I couldn't let more people in my lives for fear they'd be on the list." She took another swig of water.

"Katniss, did he, did he... rape-" I stammered.

"He was going to." she simply said. I gasped, and Peeta, who had been listening in, eye's widened.

"And then, I met Peeta." she gazed fondly at him, and he stepped forward to grip her other hand. "Prim trusted him, so that put him in my favor, but I still didn't want anyone on the list. But he worked his way into my heart, and I couldn't resist."
I think I cried a little. Peeta and Katniss leaned toward each other and kissed, lips pressing against each other. They didn't stop, until Katniss was out of breath. I took that as I good sign to leave. I wanted to give Katniss and Peeta the privacy they deserved.

I locked the door behind me, and came face-to-face with Rory Hawthorne.
"These are for Katniss." he said, holding up a bouquet of katniss flowers and primroses. I laughed. "She'll love them. But she's a bit busy at the moment."

Rory smiled. "I wanted to talk to you." I sat down the flowers, and he gripped my hands. I fought down the excitement (Rory Hawthorne is holding my hand!), and calmly looked at him.

"It must've been hard, seeing Katniss halfway dead." he stated. I shivered, remembering Katniss talking about our father coming to see her, her cold hands and blank pulse. Rory gripped tighter. "I know how you feel." he whispered. "Remember when you were at the construction site? That's how I felt then. There was a point where, where... You died Prim, and I was so afraid that I was going to lose you without saying that I loved you."

I looked up. Rory... loved me?

"I love you, Prim." he said, staring into my eyes. I couldn't respond, and acted, like Johanna did- on impulse. I kissed him, pressing my lips harder onto his. He shaped his mouth onto mine and kissed me back, ferociously. His mouth tasted like cherries.

We stood there, kissing, for a long time, and I relished in every second. I pulled apart, panting and out of breath. "We should check out Katniss." he said gruffly, and I nodded, a tad dissapointed.

Rory opened the door, right in the middle of a kiss between Katniss and Peeta. Was that all they were doing?

"I thought you were weak?!" Rory called. Startled, Katniss broke apart from Peeta. Rory and I laughed. "Prim's going to spend the night at my house." he called. I looked at him. I was? "I have Frozen on demand." he said, which brought a smile to my lips. Disney movies, and spending the night with my crush? Paradise.

Katniss nodded. "I'll leave you two alone." I giggled, and both Rory and I left.

As I headed to Rory's house, I thought about how my life had changed. I was with Rory, Cato is arrested, Katniss is kissing Peeta, Annie and Finnick are dating, and Gale and Jo are dating.

Chain events, I realized. None of this would've happened without one major event- Peeta Mellark entering our lives.
Thank you, Peeta, I thought. For your wonderful art class.

Hey Guys! I know, you've been waiting for this for a VERY, VERY long time. I'm really sorry! I'm really, really sorry! I bet everyone forgot about this fic D:

I just want to say that I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! All my readers, all my followers, all my reviewers, you deserve a huge cupcake with sprinkles. Mellark's Bakery has enough for all of you! This fic isn't finished, but thank you for sticking with this fanfic through and through! Just remember...

THIS FANFIC ISNT FINISHED! I HAVE TO PUT UP CHAPTER 10 AND THE EPILOUGE!

Love,

Katelyn-Jennifer

(PS: Dedications will happen at the end of this fic, after the epliouge.)

(PPS: How do you spell EPILOUGE?)

(PPPS: See my other fic, Standing Up!)