I hold him close as he continues to shake and cry. My shirt is soaked from his tears and I don't care. I just continue to hold him, my hand rubbing his bath soothingly. I whisper loving words into his ear. I tell him how strong he is, how much I need him, how wonderful he is. I knew from the moment that Brent brought out the documents that Peeta was not ok. He may think he is ready for this, and maybe he is, but I know we will have to suffer some setbacks first. This strong, gentle man who is always comforting me and holding me tight, really does need me to help him do this. Usually I would be so terrified at learning that I would run straight to my woods. But I have left Peeta alone for too long. I try to give him the comfort that I couldn't give him in the Capitol. I try to pour my love into my embrace and try to soothe him with my words. He has lost so much, because of me. He doesn't deserve any of this. If I could, I would rewind time and help him survive in the Arena. I would make sure to eat the berries before he realized what I was doing, and he would go home to 12 alone. He would be the sole Victor, he would have found a woman to dote on with his winnings, who could give him beautiful blonde-haired, blue-eyed children. He would mourn me but he would move on. He would become a Mentor, would work alongside Haymitch as he tried to bring the tributes from District 12 home. Perhaps he would think of me on occasion, remember the girl with the braids. But that would be it. He would be healthy. Whole. Complete.

No. I remember his words to me in the Quell, when he was begging for me to go home without him. When we were planning on saving the other and he presented me with the locket, with my family's and Gale's faces. He told me if I died and he lived, he would have nothing. I don't altogether believe that but I do believe him when he tells me he has always loved me. Why do I think that I am so replaceable in his eyes? Maybe in other people's but not Peeta's. He would not have been whole when he returned to 12. He may have turned to drink, as Haymitch did. Or become a morphling addict, like the District 6 tributes. He would have become bitter and angry, like Johanna once was. Who knows. The fact is, we survived together and now we have to continue to protect each other. I didn't protect him when he was taken by the Capitol. I wasn't there to keep him safe from their horrors. I'll be there for him now. I'll show him everyday how much I love him. He deserves so much better but for some strange reason, I'm what he wants. So who am I to deny him that? I denied him love and even friendship for too long. I hear Haymitch's words echo in my head. You could live a hundred lifetimes and never deserve that boy. I'll probably hear those words for the rest of my life. And will always agree with them.

I pull him to his feet and lead him upstairs. When we reach his bedroom, I stop us in the center of the room and wrap my arms around his neck, simply staring at him. His face is red and confused but his arms go to my waist and simply hold me. My hands slide under his shirt and lift it over his head, and I run my hands down his strong chest, tracing the path of his scars. He watches my hands as they travel lower and lower and he sucks in a breath as my hands skirt over the front of his pants. I tear my hands away and pull my own shirt over my head. I reach down for his hands and bring them to my heaving breasts, my eyes never leaving his face. He glances at me quickly, then back down at my chest and his hands move tentatively over my bra. In one quick second, he has made up his mind as he tears the cloth down and his lips latch onto my nipple. I let out a loud moan as my hands tangle in his hair, holding him in place. He reaches behind me and unclasps my bra, tossing it to the side. He bends down and wraps his arms around me, his lips working at my breasts. When he breaks away, he looks me in the eyes and I give him a loving smile. I think I see tears start to form in those beautiful blue eyes of his so I gently push him back onto the bed and kneel before him. My hands quickly go to his belt and his zipper and I tug both his pants and his underwear down his legs. My eyes meet his and hold his gaze as I lower my mouth over him. He lets out a strangled cry and his head falls back onto the pillow. He was only half hard but he is coming alive under my touch and I have to admit, I love that I can do that. Soon he is completely hard and several inches bigger in my mouth.

"Ka-Katniss," he pants, his hands tangling in my hair. I let him guide me as he starts to buck his hips and I try to take him deeper without gagging. My hands run over his soft skin below his shaft and he jerks his hips against the bed.

"Fuck, Katniss, stop, I'm-" he tries to tug me away but I am determined to finish him off just like this. I reach up and hold his hands down as I continue to suck until I feel him explode against my throat. It isn't the most pleasurable thing in the world but the look on his flushed face is more than enough for me. I let him fall from my lips and lean back to study him as his body continues to jerk and he collapses on the bed. I lean down to kiss him and he is quick, flipping us over and capturing my body with his. He quickly has my pants and underwear flung to the side and his head is between my legs. I gasp and sit up, trying to keep my eyes open but his tongue is working at me furiously and he is gripping himself, coming alive again. His eyes meet mine and I bite my lip. His teeth brush against that bundle of nerves and I let out a scream as I toss my head back. Peeta jumps to his feet, runs to the drawer by his bed, and jumps onto the bed with me. He has the wrapper torn open and slides the condom on his hardness before he is thrusting into me. I don't even have time to scream, he is taking me so hard and fast. He moves my legs over his shoulders as he increases his thrusts. His fingers find my clit again and he rubs in furious circles. I can't even register what is happening, before I'm seeing stars. He moans my name as my climax milks him of his and he collapses on top of me, our heaving chests sticking together. I reach up and run my fingers through his damp hair.

"I love you," I say softly but I know he hears me because I feel his smile against my skin. He rolls off me, disposes of the condom, and gathers me in his arms.

"I don't know what I've done to deserve you," he says against my hair.

"It's me that doesn't deserve you. I think you deserve so much more, Peeta, but for some strange reason that I won't ever understand, you chose me." He looks down at me and nods.

"Finally got that into your head, did you?" I smile and bring him down to kiss me. He lays his head on my chest and closes his eyes and I continue to hold him close, daring anyone to try to take him away from me again.

Since this one was so short and because yall are so awesome, I'll post one more before bed! :) Please review!