Authors note: Fourth book in the series: Purpose meets Poisin. Enjoy :)

Chapter 39: Return

Katniss, Peeta and Prim are making their way back to District 12 by train. Katniss has insisted. She does not want any special treatment by the Capitol and refuses to accept their offer of safe return in a military vehicle. She no longer trusts them and Peeta has agreed. They would travel by train with Prim, while Gale would make his way back with several other Peacekeepers in the Capitol's military vehicles. Of course, Gale has orchestrated a number of undercover Peacekeepers to be stationed on the train as well, just to be on the safe side. He knows Katniss would not accept any kind of direct offer from the Capitol, but he can work around that.

Fortunately, the train ride is uneventful as both Katniss and Peeta are very tired. Prim seems to enjoy the trip and is fascinated by the scenery as it flashes by the windows on their way home. She points out all the strange and exciting things she sees and babbles about them to Peeta and Katniss. They take it in turns to tell her about what she is seeing and memories of past train rides come flooding back. Katniss thinks of that first train ride and the sense of shock that had pervaded her senses at the initial experience of the Capitol lifestyle. She thinks about how the exuberance of the Games had contrasted so completely with her own feeling of desperation at the time. Peeta thinks of the return trips. How desperately he had wanted Katniss to recognize him in a different way when they had returned to District 12 after the first Games, and how his heartache had increased after the pressures of the Victory Tour. It didn't seem to matter what he did at the time, Katniss had continued to hold herself aloof in some way. It had taken a lot of soul searching for both of them to realize what they meant to each other. Or, at least, for Katniss to admit it.

When the train finally pulls into District 12, Haymitch is there to greet them and gives them all a big hug. He saves the biggest hug for Prim, who squeals with delight when he takes her from Katniss. Haymitch has missed his little treasure and can't wait to spend some more time with her now that the family are home. He can see Katniss still looks very pale and offers to help Peeta with the bags as he hands Prim back to Katniss. They make their way to the village as the sun begins to set. The days will be getting shorter soon as the summer is nearly over.

Katniss is reminded that this was the time when their wedding was supposed to take place. The end of the summer. She is too tired to be sad about that right now, exhausted from what has just occurred, and Katniss is really just grateful to be alive…in this place, with Prim and Peeta again. The two of them could talk about the wedding after they had settled back into their home and gotten Prim back into her routine. She hoped that wouldn't be too long. They needed to get on with their future.

Arriving at the house, Katniss organizes to feed Prim before putting her to bed and Peeta takes the bags to their rooms after wishing Haymitch goodnight at the door. They need to be alone tonight. Peeta senses that Katniss has become lost in thought, as he has, too. There is a lot that the two of them need to digest, including the continuing threat against Katniss. He wonders how she is feeling and asks her after they finally get Prim to bed.

"Fine" says Katniss. "Tired. A little bit sick, too".

"Are you sure you are OK?" Peeta says.

"Yes. I just need to rest. It was a long trip".

Peeta understands. Katniss does not want to talk about what is on her mind right now. It will only delay sleep which they both need. He takes her hand and insists she leave the cups until the morning. When they get to the bedroom, Peeta takes Katniss in his arms. He wants to hold her close and reassure her. He is not going to let anything happen to her again.

Brushing her hair back with one hand, he pulls her closer with the other. They press against eachother and feel the warmth of one another's bodies. Peeta kisses Katniss and begins to undress her. He has to be careful as he pushes the shirt back from her shoulder. He knows it is still tender. Katniss lets Peeta prepare her for this moment, a moment for which she has been longing since seeing him again, sitting on her hospital bed. He had been very conscious of her injury and his main concern had been for her to get well again. Peeta had not thought about himself at all and Katniss loved that about him. Now, she was preparing to think about him. Giving herself to him had always been her greatest pleasure. It had been that way since the day Peeta asked "You love me, real or not real?" It was real, and Katniss prepared to show Peeta that again tonight, giving herself without reserve to the one person she knew would never let her down.