A/N: Here's Chapter Four: thank you to everyone for the fantastic reviews! I'll post a few more tonight, I promise. :D Just leave some feedback, if you've got the time! (Starts with Cato.)

"You're what?" I retreat to my original spot in disbelief. It sounds so out there, but at the same time...it's starting to make sense. ~

I looked up at him in disbelief. Was it really that hard to understand? "I'm in love with you, Cato." I repeated, this time, the pain sounding in my voice, because I knew he'd heard me the first time...and the fact that he was asking me to explain myself was just an obvious sign that he didn't know what to say and didn't feel the same way. "And I'm a complete idiot for it. You're...the least likely out of everyone here to have the same feelings I do, and yet...yet, I fell for you. From training. I always thought you were attractive, but tonight, just talking to you, getting to know you... I knew it was something more than some petty attraction." I looked between my knees to the dirt. "But now, nothing can be the same again. Now you understand why I didn't want to say anything. Because I know there's things you want to do to me now. I can see it in your eyes. And...I wouldn't hold it against you if you did." ~

For a moment, I just stupidly stare at him, thinking of something to say. All this time talking to me, asking me if I had any girls, and he loved me? But, I'm not angry or anything...just confused. "You like me...?" ~

"How many times do I have to say it? Yes! I more than like you..!" My voice cracks. "I'm gay. Always have been. And I shouldn't have fallen for you, but I did, and there's no stopping it now." I whisper the last sentence. ~

It's not a bad thing. The worst thing I feel is shock. For a moment, that is. Then I just feel disgusted with myself because I led him on. Fuck! I led him on, and now I have nothing to say. I go back to my sleeping bag, leaving him there, and pull the sword out from underneath it. I look at my reflection in the blade before turning around and walking back. When I hold it up to him, he flinches, but I say, "Take it!" He doesn't do anything, so I wave it around in front of me. "Are you paying attention? I said take it!" ~

I quickly take the sword from him, afraid of what's going to happen now. I look at the sword, and back at Cato. "...Why?" ~

"To show you that I don't want to kill you...like you said I would." I don't know what I want now. He's afraid of me. I've scared him off already. "What you told me wasn't that bad." ~

I'm shocked, and yet...not. "But...you don't feel as I do." I drop my eyes. ~

Do I? I mean, I've never felt feelings like that before, but I did treat him as if I've known him for years. I wouldn't know much, but I don't think normal friendships start that fast. "So?" I don't want to think about it. ~

"That's the worst feeling." I look away. "You were my what was missing. And I'll never have that. And I didn't want you to know.. Like you said. It just makes things more difficult." ~

I run forward and grab him again so that he can't leave. "Don't you think about doing anything to yourself." I can't be responsible for his death, if he decides to kill himself. Not now. ~

"Let go of me!" I can't stop tears from falling down my face as I try to pull from his grasp, but he's much stronger than me. "Are you happy now? Emotional and physical checkmate, Cato." I look into his confused eyes for a moment, then break my gaze and begin sobbing. ~

"No!" I don't know what comes over me, but when he looks away from me, I lean forward and kiss him on the lips. Just a quick one. ~

In that moment, everything is perfect. I am happier than I have been in my life. But then, I realize what's happening... I know he doesn't mean it. My eyes widen and I just stare for a moment. "Don't fuck with me, okay? I get you're not into me. I never expected you to be." ~

Great, the kiss made me even more confused. And Peeta didn't really have the best reaction, either. "I was...just checking." I don't let go of him yet. ~

"I love you. That's something you know. Or even if you're into guys," I whisper, "what is there to check?" ~

"I...could be into you." It certainly could've seemed that way before. And I'm not completely against the idea, either. ~

"Please, don't be making a sick joke.." I look up at him. "I'm begging you." ~

"It's not a joke." I say. "You think I'd joke about that?" ~

"Well...I don't know.. I'd hope not." ~

"Just...why me?" I ask. "We just met...could it really happen that fast?" ~

"I...always thought you were attractive." I admit. "I developed a bit of a crush from the start. But...talking to you tonight?" I put my shaking hand on his cheek. "I saw you're so much more than what everyone else thinks. That..you'd be perfect for me." I shut my eyes. "Like I said...a match made in heaven, right?" ~

So that's what he meant. I let go of him finally and sit back down. What do I even make of this? I haven't considered the possibility of liking him like that before, but I'm not against it. Like I said, he isn't that bad of a person. And he's made it farther than everyone else, so I'll give him credit. "Come sit." ~

I don't look him in the eyes, but I do go sit by him, once again a safe distance away. ~

"What, am I contagious?" I pat the ground next to me. "Closer." ~

I scoot a little closer to him, already getting a bit warm and shaky about all of this. "You..make me so nervous." I laugh a little, still not making eye contact. ~

"You were nervous before I even talked to you." He still isn't looking at me-purposely avoiding my eyes. "You know, you aren't a bad kisser." ~

I blush madly at that. "Th...thanks." He doesn't realize the butterflies he puts in my stomach, or how hard he makes my heart pound, or how sweaty my palms get around him. I want to suggest we try it again, but when I open my mouth to speak, nothing comes out. So, I kneel in front of him, look up into his eyes, and kiss him, slowly and allowing it to progress a bit from the last one before pulling away. ~

"Even better." I laugh. Okay, so maybe I like him. I was never expecting that to happen, but it did, so it's best not to dwell on that. "See? It's not that terrible." ~

"I love your laugh." I admit. Maybe this is going better than I thought it would. "I do." ~

I push him a little bit for the compliment. "So...you really want to take a chance on me?" ~

"We don't have much time, anyway." I smile sadly. "Of course I do...Haven't I made that clear?" ~

"Alright...then I guess I'll take one on you." I smile. ~

Is this really happening? I must be dreaming. I must be. Nothing had ever gone right for me. Oh, right. I'm dying soon. "I meant it when I said I wanted you to win, you know." ~

"I don't want you to die so that I can win. Can you at least try?" ~

"I can try to make it as far as I can..." I sigh. "But only to protect you. When it comes down to the two of us, you'll win. I swear, if I have anything to do with it." ~

"So I'm responsible for your death either way?" I hate him for even talking to me. And I hate myself for liking him. "I'm not worth it. Trust me." ~

"To me, you are. I couldn't live with myself knowing that I was able to live and you weren't. I told you before, I don't want to go home. The only person I'll miss is my father." ~

Did he really just say that on national television? "Peeta...I don't want to talk about this right now. You hungry?" I reach over for the pack that I know has food in it. ~

I sigh. "I guess so.." I really was hungry. I just wouldn't admit it. ~

"Don't tell them. They'll freak." I laugh and hand him a pack of saltine crackers. "They aren't all that fancy, but they're filling." ~

"Thanks." I take them from him. "For everything." ~

"I barely did anything. Why for everything?" I ask, mouth full of crackers. ~

"You're giving me hope." ~

Hope? He just said he'd die for me, and now he's saying that I gave him hope? "What do you mean, Peeta?" ~

"That people aren't all bad. All I ever had as a kid was my dad, so I grew to distrust and dislike people..they weren't kind. But you're different, and I love it. You give me hope for everyone else in the world." ~

"Oh...well, I'm glad you like that I'm different." I say. "You aren't all bad. There was always you." ~

"Haven't you met me? I'm a total jerk." I joke. ~

"You are a jerk, actually." I swipe the pack of food from his hands. "And I don't see how a jerk like you would ever deserve the company of someone as amazing as me." ~

"Oh, I'm sorry, I don't deserve the honor of your company, Your Highness." I cross my arms. ~

"Your Highness? Please, kid, I know you worship me...but I think our relationship is a little too informal for that." I pause. "Informal is a good thing, in case you couldn't guess." ~

"I was about to say." I laugh. "I just came out to you and the rest of the country on live television." I stop myself, thinking about what my mom must be like now. After all, my dad was the only person I ever told. ~

"So did I..." Well, shit. I didn't even know until tonight. "Well...that must be disappointing to all the girls back home." ~

"They'll live." I smile, leaning in to kiss him again, gripping my hands on the collar of his shirt. ~

Every time he kisses me, it just feels more and more right. Maybe he isn't crazy-we could be a match made in heaven. "Who cares?" I run my hand down his leg. "You're better than them." ~

I shiver a bit and blush as I feel his hand make contact with me, blushing only slightly. "Am I dreaming?" I ask stupidly. ~

"You can't dream something as perfect as me." ~

"You see what you do? You take a perfectly romantic moment and crush it with your ego." ~

"Hey, you're the one who picked me. You're stuck with me now." I push him away from me playfully and toss the snacks back to him. "Besides, you seem to like my ego." ~

I stick a cracker in my mouth. "Yeah, yeah, maybe." I smile at him. "I like your confidence. Not your cockiness." ~

"But my cockiness gives me substance," I whine. "Without it, I'm nothing." ~

"No, without it, you're just plain charming. As opposed to being a charming bastard." I laugh. ~

"I quite like being a bastard, thanks." I scoff. "I'm not gonna let some man change who I am." I laugh. ~

"Man?" I laugh at him. "Don't age me, you're two years older than I am! Just minutes ago, you were calling me kid. Make up your mind!" I nudge him. ~

"Shh! You'll wake them up." I cover his mouth with my hand. "You're kid height." ~

"You're just too tall." I pout. ~

"Put that face away. I am not too tall." I'm close to average height. Geez. ~

"But you're definitely above it." I continue pouting. ~

"I said put it away!" I laugh, tackling him to the ground. Now, I'm on top of him. Wouldn't it be a wonderful time for everyone to wake up and find us in this position? "Away." ~

My heart's racing, and my face is definitely red. "Fine!" I stop my pouting, but wrap my arms around his waist and pull him a bit closer, so as now, our faces are maybe a fourth of an inch apart, and our bodies are flat against each other. ~

"What exactly are you planning on doing to me right now?" I grin. It's as if he's trying to get more action. ~

"Oh..nothing." I give him the fakest, most innocent face I can muster up in my current, extraordinarily warm condition. ~

"Good. Because I'm tired." I know he wanted something. But I'm not giving it to him, because for one thing, I really am tired, but it's also because we've only just started talking. He's had enough kisses for the night. I get off of him and crawl back into my sleeping bag. ~

I sit there, vaguely bewildered for a moment. "Then...get sleep. You need rest." He does. I stand, brushing myself off and going back to my old watch post about ten feet away. ~

A/N: Oh, and fill FF with more Pato fanfiction, because it needs it. So lacking of such a "duh" couple. 3 xoxo