You guys NEVER cease to disappoint or amaze! And I have to say I really enjoyed writing this chapter so I hope you enjoy! Keep those reviews coming! Just so everyone knows, I got inspired and started a new HG fic called "A Song of Forgetting", it's unlike anything I have ever written and it is pretty dark! But it's kind of about what happens if the rebels lost. I'm enjoying writing it and I'll definitely post a link whenever I start posting it! :)

In the mean time, enjoy this one and look forward to the sequel very soon ;)

XOXOXO

"It is reported that Mellark's condition improved and by the time he returned to his home in District 12, he had virtually cured himself. His former mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, firmly told reporters that he was so much better and he would never do anything to harm Everdeen. But that's not altogether true is it? Recent reports say before Everdeen's kidnapping, she was admitted to the hospital for severe injuries which included a broken jaw," Peeta lets out a strangled gasp at this and I feel my heart racing at the thought of what this might be doing to him. "Though Everdeen refused to admit what had happened to her, Mellark, her husband by this time, suspiciously disappeared and only returned to the district when Everdeen's disappearance was reported. But we're getting off subject here, aren't we? So we take you to Chase Bridges, who is inside the medical center at this moment." The camera flashes to a younger reporter with red hair and a cheeky smile.

"Thanks Lyles. We're inside the District 13 medical center and just recently spoke to several specialists who worked under Doctor Linger. Though they wish for their name to be protected, one of the specialists presented me with Doctor Linger's notes and reports on Mellark's condition. Many of them seem to be signed by the district's president, Alma Coin. Many of the reports include specific instructions to keep Mellark's treatment slow and unsuccessful. It is quoted that President Coin told Linger that Mellark was not to be fully restored to his pre-hijacked self until the Mockingjay was dead." Peeta gasps and squeezes my hand. I lean up to grab the remote from him but he holds it out of reach.

"Peeta, turn it off."

"No Katniss. I need to…I can't believe…"

"Peeta!" He ignores me and instead turns the volume up.

"I'm sorry Chase, but do you mean to say President Coin had every intention of Katniss Everdeen dying in the Revolution?"

"That is exactly what I am saying. Though we have no reports of the secret meetings held between the president and the Mockingjay, one thing is certain. Alma Coin gave orders to halt Mellark's treatment before she sent him to the Capitol to participate in a secret mission that involved Everdeen. Linger includes in his reports that 'the President took extra measures to ensure Mellark's hatred for Everdeen was stronger than ever, so that he would be instrumental in her death.' Coin seemed to have visited Mellark often and spoke to him about Everdeen. She was disappointed when it seemed that he was getting better and did not feel such strong anger towards the Mockingjay. She ordered Linger to cease his treatments and continue a tiny dose of tracker-jacker venom that would keep his fears and anxiety present in his mind. Since the Capitol chose to alter his memories of Everdeen, Coin continued to do the same and Linger delivered daily reports on Mellark's condition. When Mellark left for the Capitol, however, all treatments including the daily poisoning, were ceased. This may explain why Mellark was able to fight the poison after some time spent in the Capitol medical ward under the care of Doctor Marco Aurelius. When asked about these accusations, Linger admitted to being the doctor in charge of Mellark's continued torture in District 13.

'President Alma Coin knew what was best for this country and the measures she took, no matter how extreme, were to better the lives of the people of Panem. The Mockingjay needs to be disposed of, for Panem cannot flourish as it should while she lives. President Coin knew this. I was just attempting to finish her work.'

While District 13 is pleading for amnesty in favor of insanity, many people are pleading for the death penalty. Some of those closest to Everdeen and Mellark, including Haymitch Abernathy and former Victor Johanna Mason, argue that even though the Revolutionaries has been disbanded, while Linger is alive, the Mockingjay is still in danger. What do you all think of these revelations? We're taking callers right now! Caller number one, go ahead, you're live!"

"Hi there, umm, I just wanted to say…I have always supported the star-crossed lovers of District 12! I loved watching them in the Games together. But I don't think she's safe with him anymore. What they did to him is just too terrible…and I don't think he'll ever fully recover enough for her to be safe."

"Well thanks, Caller One! Not sure if we agree or disagree but it's great to hear your input! Caller Two, go ahead!"

"That doctor is a monster and should be executed just like Coin was! What right does he have to meddle in these poor children's' lives? Peeta Mellark was a kind boy and he didn't deserve any of this! I'd even go as far to say the whole thing is Katniss Everdeen's fault! She should have just eaten those berries in the first arena." The reporter's eyes widen while I feel all breath leave me.

"Well that's a bit harsh but thanks for your input. Caller Three, you're live."

"I just wanted to say that I think you should all be ashamed of yourselves. Katniss and Peeta are finally married and happy and they don't need this drama or bull-BEEP in their lives. That doctor should be locked up for the rest of his life, along with all of his specialists. It's not the boy's fault, what happened to him. And if Katniss decides he is safe enough to be with, who are we to question that? Just leave those kids alone for BEEP sake."

"Well, thanks Caller three…"

I register Peeta's heavy breathing and I fight to keep my own breathing under control. I feel our hands tremble together and I choke back tears.

"Peeta," I whisper. He shakes his head and shivers overtake him all over. He's going into a flashback. I can't let this happen. I reach out to hold him and he jerks back.

"Stay away Katniss. I need to…I have to get out of here…"

"Peeta, no! Stay with me. I can help you. Just don't leave me." He lowers his head and grips his hair. I choke back a sob as I hold his hands down so he won't hurt himself.

"Peeta," I whisper as I lean in closer. "I love you so much. I'd die without you. You are my everything and I…I'm sorry I didn't tell you this sooner. I'm sorry I waited so long to tell you how much you mean to me. Peeta look at me." His eyes are squeezed shut even as I grip his face. I plant soft kisses all over his face and finally his lips. He tries to jerk back again but I hold on, just as I did all those years ago in the Capitol.

"Real, Peeta. My love for you is so real. Come back to me. Stay with me."

"K-Katniss."

It's a long night for both of us. We're curled up in the floor in front of the fireplace, his head in my lap and his arms wrapped around mine. He whimpers and pleads and I fight to bring him back from the terrors that plague him. I hate the world right now. Even when I thought he was safe, when I thought he was getting better, people did everything they could to make sure he would never come back to me. The fact that he is here in my lap still astounds me. Even more now that I know what I know.

Around four in the morning, I feel him carrying me to our room and he pulls me under the covers beside him. I bury my face in his chest and refuse to give him any space, for fear I may lose him if I move. Slowly he comes back to himself and he kisses me sweetly, whispering words of love into my hair. We don't talk about what we just saw. There's not much we can say. We know how unfair the world is. We knew that when we were old enough to understand the Reaping. We have been through hell and more, but my Peeta truly showed them. I could care less what the world thinks; I have never cared and can only think about Peeta's reactions. He doesn't bring it up the next day and neither do I. We go about our lives as if we never saw the damn news report. We spend our days and our nights wrapped around each other so that we can completely ignore the outside world that threatens our perfect piece of paradise.

Fifteen years. I cannot believe that Peeta and I celebrated our fourteenth wedding anniversary in November and now that we are into January of the new year, it will be fifteen years this November. Where has the time gone? People say it flies when you're having fun and I suppose the same goes for when you are happy. Being with Peeta is unlike anything I have ever experienced. Being this happy is something I never thought I would have. We still have bad days, we still have arguments but I guess we have been through enough together that keeps us from going to bed without speaking. One of us always apologizes and I make sure to kiss him before we go to sleep. His flashbacks are few and he manages to keep them at bay by gripping something nearby. If I am around, I wrap my arms around him and press my cheek to his back, whispering against his skin all of the reasons why I love him.

Not much has changed over the years. Finn looks exactly like Finnick and is starting to steal hearts all around District 12. Effie and Haymitch live comfortably in Haymitch's renovated house across from us, though Effie still makes occasional trips to the Capitol to oversee her Academy. Mellark Family Bakery is doing so wonderfully that Peeta opened two other locations in different districts. He sometimes leaves to check on the stores but I either accompany him or he makes sure to return as soon as he can. We are never apart for very long. We don't want to be. I can safely say Peeta's arms is where I feel the safest. It's what I call my home.

Speaking of home, I feel like I have left behind a bit of my District 12 past. My mother knew about Gale's pregnant girlfriend and never said anything to me. He wound up calling me about a year after his son was born. I was furious with both of them and I remember Peeta coaxing me to talk to them but I refuse. They both got the hint and have left me alone. Gale didn't tell me why he waited so long to tell me. Rory has severed all ties with his brother as well, which I imagine is difficult since Vick has gone to 2 to get a job with Gale and Posy asks when her brothers will be returning. Peeta tries to keep Rory calm and tries to convince him that his brother still loves him. The fact is, Gale kept his news to himself, or at least, away from his family for a long time. Hazelle wept when she first found out, from my mother no less. Though whether it was from joy or disappointment, I don't know. To this day, I don't speak to Gale or my mother.

The Orphanage has been completely renovated and I was in charge of overseeing the construction to the units in Victor's Village. As part of the Mockingjay Relocation Project, foster families or families wanting to adopt could rent a home here in Victor's Village. Brent's office has been busy drawing up the correct papers and there are so many more happy children in 12 than there ever have been. Prim would be proud to see how much has changed. Delly often brings Dex by and tells me that it is thanks to Peeta and I that her she doesn't fear the Reaping or imagine a terrible fate for her son in the Arena. Dex loves to wrap his arms around Peeta's neck and ride his back. Finn is too old for such things anymore but at least he still loves to spend time with Peeta, either baking or riding horses.

I still visit my woods often. Though I don't have any need to hunt anymore, I still go out there to just reconnect with nature and be at ease. Peeta understands it is still my refuge. Sometimes he accompanies me. Most of the time he just lets me be.

Panem has flourished. We are in the history books and it still bothers me but I just have to look around and see how much the country has changed, how much I have changed, and I have to smile. Peeta and I, we are doing more than just living. We're living happily. Our lives are not perfect, I don't know if anything is, but it's as close to perfect as I think I could get.

I hear a sound behind me and I jump to my feet, still alert and cautious after all these years. I see two women hold their arms up and I lower my bow.

"What have I told you about sneaking up on me out here," I say with a scowl. "I could have shot you."

"If you didn't kill me during the Quell, I don't think you'd do it out here," Johanna says with a wink. I roll my eyes and shake my head. Annie gives me a sweet smile.

"Peeta was getting worried. You've been out here for hours."

"I lost track of time," I say with a shrug.

"We know, which is why we said we would come out here to get you." Johanna moves closer and my eyes go to her stomach. Under her shirt you can make out the slightest bump. Her eyes follow mine and she smiles.

"Give me your hand." She pulls my hand to her belly and moves my fingers around until I am left wondering what the hell she is doing. Then I feel it. A sort of flutter, the faintest of movements, if I wasn't expecting something I probably would have missed it. Her eyes are sparkling when I look up at her.

"You told him, didn't you?"

"Yeah. Finally. He was a little upset I waited so long. But he is so happy." Annie and I throw our arms around our pregnant friend and she laughs as she is sandwiched between us.

"When," Annie asks breathlessly.

"End of July. Hopefully earlier, since I seem to be growing at an alarming rate, as the doctor says."

"It's not twins is it," I ask with wide eyes.

"God no! I probably won't be able to handle one kid. Why would you wish two on me?"

"Johanna," Annie chuckles. "You will be a wonderful mother. I am so happy for you."

"Me too," I tell her honestly, feeling tears well up in my eyes. I brush them away impatiently but Johanna takes my hand and gazes into my eyes.

"You never told him, did you?" I swallow heavily. We swore we wouldn't bring this up. It's too painful and I never want to think about it. I feel Annie brush my hair aside and Johanna squeezes my hand as I shake my head.

About two years ago, I forgot to renew my pregnancy shot. Except this time, I didn't freak out like I did years ago. I felt…excited. Scared definitely but still anxious and even happy. I decided to hold off on telling Peeta. I wanted to figure out a really wonderful way to tell him. I imagined seeing the look on his face. Not happiness but something that goes beyond that. I got giddy every time I thought about it. I kept the news to myself for several weeks until I finally called Annie and Johanna. They were both ecstatic but promised to keep it between us, even though they insisted I tell Peeta.

The morning I was going to reveal my news, I woke up bleeding. I knew what had happened and it devastated me. Peeta woke up and freaked out until I told him it was just my normal monthly cycle. I insisted he go to work, like any other day, and as soon as he was gone, I called Annie and begged her to come over. She helped me clean up and she took the blankets and sheets away to clean. I couldn't move from my bed for nearly two days. Peeta was baffled and begged me to tell him what was wrong. I remember Annie telling him in a hushed voice that he needed to just give me some time. I hated lying to my husband but how could I tell him that I could never give him what he wanted most in this world? I thank my lucky stars everyday that I never told him I was pregnant. It was devastating to me but I'm not sure how Peeta would have handled it.

After that, I went back on birth control and I never told him what had really happened. Now I'm sobbing into Johanna's shirt and Annie hugs me from behind. Now I am sandwiched in between my friends and they hold me and whisper comforting words.

"You can try again, Katniss," Johanna whispers. "It's never too late. I know you want it. I see the way you look at the kids at the orphanage. You want it and you know Peeta wants it."

"He's been so patient and wonderful," I whimper. "He hasn't mentioned children to me in years. He hasn't pressured me or even asked me. It's like he's…forgotten about it."

"He hasn't forgotten about it, believe me. But there is no reason that you can't go ahead and actually try for one."

"I can't, Jo. I can't lose another one."

"Katniss, sweetie, that happens. It's a part of life," Annie says softly in my ear. "It doesn't mean you can't do it. It doesn't mean there's something wrong with you. Your doctor has already told you that you are perfectly healthy and there's no reason you couldn't bring a baby to term."

"We're in our thirties now. Maybe we're too old-"

"You're in your early thirties," Johanna says firmly. "Don't you dare say you're too old. I'm older than you, brainless!"

"You and Peeta are doing so wonderfully, why don't you talk to him about it?" I nod and allow them to drag me back to Victor's Village, where Peeta meets me at the entrance and sweeps me into the air for a kiss. We go into Annie's house and have dinner with George, Johanna, Finn, Haymitch, and Effie but I don't say anything. When Peeta and I return home and dress for bed, I don't say anything.

I don't say anything for nearly a whole year.

But I don't renew my birth control shot. My two years is up and when I get a call from my doctor asking me if I need to come in for an appointment to renew, I tell her no.

Still, I don't say anything to Peeta.

Then, one night in October, everything changes.

I'm cooking dinner and waiting for Peeta to get home when the phone rings. I set the spoon aside and hurry over to the phone that was installed in the kitchen.

"Mellark residence."

"Yes, is Mr. Mellark available?"

"He's at work at the moment. May I take a message?"

"Is this Mrs. Katniss Mellark?"

"Yes," I say warily.

"Ah, wonderful. A big fan of yours, Mrs. Mellark. This is Doctor Thurill, in District 13. I just need to speak to Mr. Mellark about his upcoming surgical procedure and need to know if he is planning on spending the night in our hospital." My knuckles whiten as I grip the phone.

"Surgical procedure?"

"Yes ma'am. You are aware of it…aren't you?" I have to play along. It's the only way I will get information out of this guy. Good thing he's a fan.

"Yes of course. My husband doesn't keep secrets from me. But he didn't mention having to spend the night. How invasive is the procedure?"

"A vasectomy typically takes 20-30 minutes but…" I block out the rest of his words.

A vasectomy?! Why on earth would Peeta schedule a vasectomy?!

My heart is racing, my mind is reeling and I have no idea what to do. Why wouldn't he tell me about this? Why in the HELL would he make this decision alone?

Well…didn't I make the decision about kids alone? I haven't told him I stopped my birth control.

We are terrible spouses. Keeping such important secrets but this…I can't let Peeta do this. Not when I think I am finally ready to give this a chance.

"Sir, I'm sorry but I need to go ahead and cancel Peeta's appointment. We have talked it over some more and have decided not to take such permanent measures."

I actually hear him sigh in relief.

"I have to say that is a relief, Mrs. Mellark. I did try to talk him out of it but he seemed rather adamant. I must admit, I would love to see the offspring of the Star-Crossed Lovers. Do tell Mr. Mellark to call me if he has any questions in the future." I quickly thank him and hang up. I lean against the wall and close my eyes.

Now what am I going to do?