I wake up to Effie knocking on my door and rushing me to prep. We are in District Ten, we will deliver a speech in a couple of hours and then back on the train to the next district. The speech goes by quickly and without any issues. The tour continues like that for the next few districts. In District Six, two people are taken from the square by peacekeepers for the sign. I take a deep breath, not wanting to risk showing my weakness on stage. Peeta squeezes my hand tightly and wraps his arm around me, knowing that what I need the most right now is comfort. We finish with the tour of the districts in district one. We will be in the Capitol in two days. I fall asleep quickly.

As I walk onto the stage in District One, I am handed flowers by a young girl with blond braids. She tells me that she wants to volunteer when she gets older, just like how I did for Prim. I open my mouth to tell her not to do it, to scream. To do anything, make any type of sound, but I can't say anything. I am frozen in place and unable to speak. I wake up with screams escaping my lips. The door to my room opens and Peeta runs in, looking disturbed. I woke him up from his sleep. His robe isn't tied around him, exposing his chest when he walks forward.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you. It was just a nightmare."

"No, it's okay. I get them too. Goodnight," He turns to walk out the door to my room.

"Wait… will you stay with me?" I feel safe with him here, his company gives me peace and makes me feel safe.

"Yeah," I can tell my request has caught him off guard, "Of course."

I lift my blanket enough for him to climb into the bed with me. Once he settles in, he pulls the blanket back over us. He leans his head on the pillow, folding his arms under him. I want to feel him closer to me, I want to be held by him the way he held me that night in the games. I lay my head on his chest and drape an arm over him. I feel him slowly wrap an arm around me, testing to see if I am okay with it. I nestle myself in closer to him to show to him that it's okay. I welcome his arm around me, and I am glad to be in his presence. I have grown closer to him over these last couple of weeks. I've begun to feel something different toward Peeta, I don't know what to call it, but I know it's a different feeling than I had when we started the tour. It is like I can be with him, without having to put on such an act. It comes more naturally to us now. I wake the following morning to a pillow under my head. I remember that I had fallen asleep with Peeta, I look around, but my room is empty. I dress quickly and make my way to the dining car. Once I arrive, I see Peeta there with Effie and Haymitch, in a deep discussion.

"Ah, finally. How nice of you to join us," Haymitch greets me as I sit down beside Peeta, "If Snow wanted you to pacify the districts, I promise you he is not happy. You two have sounded like you're reading pages from a drilling manual. You two do not sound in love and you two do not sound grateful for the Capitol granting you both your lives."

"Try reading what Effie gives us," Peeta remarks, forgetting or not caring, that Effie is standing in the room.

"Okay. So try telling that to Snow, when you see him, in two days!"

"Well we're open to suggestions," Peeta says, earning an exasperated sigh from Effie as she leaves the room.

"We can get married," at this point, it could only help the situation.

"Yeah. You're not helping Katniss," Haymitch takes another drink.

"I'm serious. Like you said, this never will end and it will happen eventually. Why not now?"

"It would make a statement to Snow," Haymitch sits his drink back on the table, "It could work."

"Sure. Let's do it then," Peeta seems frustrated by the plan and stands to leave.

"Peeta, sit back down," Haymitch tells him and he surprisingly listens to him.

"What?"

"This wedding would be the focus of the Capitol. It will follow you back home. There will be filming at both of your houses, preparations will be made. They will spare no expense to make this wedding the most lavish and most publicized wedding in Panem. They will want honeymoon details even. They will probably even want updates after the honeymoon."

"That just makes more of a distraction. You said our job is to be a distraction, so I guess job well done."

"No… there's more to it than that," I say catching on, "Even after the wedding, after the honeymoon, he won't leave us alone. He is never going to leave us alone."

"Then we can do something else afterwards."

"What? An engagement is a big distraction, a wedding is a big distraction. There isn't much else that would be popular…"

"Unless we have a baby," Peeta says it. The only thing that I won't agree to and Peeta has just made it a suggestion.

"No," I immediately object, "No. I don't want children. I don't want my children to grow up in a world like this. No baby."

"Or say that you lost it," Haymitch suggests, going along with Peeta's suggestion, "I highly doubt Peeta has any intention of actually getting you pregnant sweetheart."

"It would keep Snow satisfied, if we're always doing something new. I don't actually want to get you pregnant Katniss."

"What?" Effie is standing in the doorway, "Katniss… you're not?"

"No," I stand up and make my way toward the door, "This whole idea is stupid. I will let you propose, I will get married, I will do anything. Except have a baby or lie about losing a baby."

I storm out of the room and down the hallway. I walk into my room and sit down on the edge of my bed, staring out the window. So much has changed on this trip, I don't know why I suggested to get married, I wasn't at the point with Peeta. But it will satisfy Snow. I know they will air the proposal on every TV in every district and I know Gale will see it. I feel a small ache knowing I'm about to break Gales heart, but I know it's what I have to do. I suggested it, maybe I even subconsciously wanted to do it. I feel drawn to Peeta in a way I haven't felt drawn to anyone before. So maybe this proposal isn't the worst idea I've come up with.

Effie knocks on my door a few hours later, informing me that we will be interviewing with Ceaser soon and Peeta has decided to propose tonight, during it. I meet with Cinna and my prep team as they prepare me for the occasion. Cinna sneaks my Mockingjay pin on inside of my dress, wishing me luck before he leaves the room. We have arrived in the capitol and are on the way to meet with Ceaser. Peeta squeezes my hand from his seat beside me. He is in a black and grey suit that coordinates with my dress. Our prep teams matched us for the proposal.

"Are you sure that you want to go through with this," He asks me as the train comes to a stop.

"I'm sure," I smile at him.

We leave the train and walk into the building where we are supposed to be interviewing with him. He arrives shortly after us, greeting us happily. The interview goes by quickly, Peeta again does most of the talking. I try to focus on the interview, but my mind keeps wandering to when he is going to propose. Ceaser seems to be wrapping up our interview and then he says the words that must be leading into the proposal.

"So Peeta, tell me, what comes next for Katniss and you? Any details you can give us as to what plans you have?"

"Actually Ceaser," He stands up, "I'm glad you asked. I've been wanting to ask Katniss something, for a while now."

"Oh? Well let's hear it."

"Katniss," Peeta takes me hand and helps me to my feet as he gets down on one knee in front of me, pulling a box from his jacket pocket, still holding my hand, "I've loved you since the day I saw your hand shoot up in class when the teacher asked if anyone knew the valley song, when I saw you outside of my families bakery that day, shortly after your father passed away, I wanted nothing more than to go to you and comfort you. To give you anything you needed. When you volunteered for your sister, I thought that I would never get the chance to tell you this, then they called my name, and I knew that I was going into this arena with you. My goal at that point, was just to keep you alive. It was the greatest thing I could give to you. Then I realized you loved me too and thankfully we were lucky enough that the Capitol so graciously allowed us both to leave those games, together. It's because of the generosity of the Capitol that we are here today and that I'm able to ask you this. I love you Katniss… so will you do me the honor of marrying me?"

I cover my mouth with my free hand, nodding my head and managing to get the word yes out through my tears. I know that Effie probably scripted the speech for him and that it wasn't real, but it was beautiful and if it had been real, I still probably would have said yes. He slides the ring on my finger and raises to his feet and wraps me against him, kissing me, a little more deeply than I believe to be necessary, but I follow his lead.

Ceaser gasps and claps for us, congratulating us on our engagement before ending the broadcast. He says a few more words of congratulations before leaving the area. Effie and Haymitch are waiting for us off the stage. They have nothing but good words to say about our performance. This is a first from them when they are talking about how I act. Haymitch pulls me to the side when we get on the train. Effie and Peeta continue to the dining car to celebrate.

"Katniss, either you're acting has gotten unbelievably better," He looks at me in the eyes, "Or you're actually starting to fall in love with the boy." I blush slightly. I know my acting wasn't improving that much and it is true I was starting to feel more toward Peeta, but I wasn't in love with him. There is no way I have fallen in love with him in just a few short weeks, is there?