The next morning, I woke to a quiet rapping on the door, still wrapped in Peeta's arms.

"Peeta, it's time to get ready for your interview!" The shrill voice of his stylist, Octavia called behind the door.

I groggily opened my eyes to see a still naked Peeta. I bolted upright and shook Peeta's arm. "Peeta!"

At my yell, Peeta's eyes popped open and he reached out his arms to find my body. He scanned me over to check for injuries or threats. Once he realized we were in no imminent danger, his eyes grew wide with a different kind of panic.

Peeta peeked under the covers to discover his completely naked body.

"Peeta, are you awake?" Octavia called again through the door.

I leapt from the bed, not noticing my chest was still hanging out the top of my nightgown. I frantically grabbed Peeta's discarded clothes and tossed them at him. Without looking, Peeta caught his shirt and pants and hastily pulled them on.

Octavia cracked the door open. Peeta jumped over the bed to me and hurridly fixed my breast back into place just in time for Octavia to poke her head inside the door.

"I'm telling you, Katniss, I don't know how you managed to wrinkle a silk nightgown," he teased me, his hands swiping at pretend wrinkles to keep our practice secret.

"Sorry, Octavia, I just had more...nightmares," I lied.

Octavia smiled at the two of us. "No worries, but you should get back to your room. Cinna is probably looking for you to dress you."

"Of course," I replied, my cheeks turning a deep shade of red.

As I headed to leave, Octavia gasped.

"Oh my, Peeta where did this come from?" She pointed to a small puddle of blood on the bedsheets from where I slept the night before.

My hands instinctively ran along the back of my nightgown until I felt it. A wet patch of blood by my bottom. My eyes bugged out and I stared at Peeta helplessly.

"Oh, did I get my nosebleed on the bed?" He quickly recovered and feigned embarrassment. "This Capital air is so different from the districts."

"It is a lot fresher," Octavia offered Peeta a sympathetic smile. "It's no trouble, I'll see if an avox can change them for you after you're ready."

A sigh of relief escaped my lips. I nodded at Peeta in thanks for being the quick thinker he was and escaped out of his room.

Peeta stood next to me on the stage weang a primarily black suit bedazzled with a silver patches and a silver collar. His deep purple tie was tightly tucked in. The whole length of the interview, he grasped my hand in his, his thumb making small circles in attempt to pacify my nerves.

Ceasar pried with the usual questions. How was the tour? How are we enjoying our victory? What's new in our relationship?

Most Capital questions are complicated to answer. How do we respond in a way that boasts our admiration for Snow on stage all the while we're disgusted on the inside?

Peeta took the opportunity when Ceasar steered the conversation to us, and grabbed both of my hands in his. He looked deep into my eyes as prepared his speech.

"Well, I just wanted to say that although our time together has been under difficult circumstances, I know that it has only made our love stronger. I can't imagine life without you by my side, Katniss." The audience cooed at his words. "Through rememberance of our games, I've realized how short life is, and I don't want to waste another second."

Peeta stooped down on one knee and opened a jeweled box to reveal a sparkling gold ring. The crowd gasped, and Ceasar overexaggerated an excited surpise to enhance the performance. I put my hands to my face, pretending to fan away tears and fake shock.

"Katniss Everdeen, you've always held my heart and I know you forever will. Would you do me the honor of being my wife?"

I extended my arm for him to slip on the engagement ring.

"Oh, Peeta! Of course I will!" I squealed, and bent down to plant a quick kiss on his lips.

Once the ring was on, Peeta stood up and pulled me in for a warm embrace. Ceasar seized the moment to exclaim on the event.

Ceasar petered the interview out as our time came to an end. "I know both of you will be very happy. Let me take this opportunity, on the behalf of all Panem, we wish you a big congratulations!"

Peeta and I, again hand in hand, smiled and gushed.

Ceasure swept his arm back to gesture at us. "Peeta Mellark and soon to be Katniss Mellark, everyone!" He faced the crowd directly and threw his arms in the air. "Our Victors of the 74th Hunger Games!"

Peeta and I exited the stage, our hands pulling apart as we walked. Backstage was a frenzy of "congratulations" and slaps on the back for Peeta. Effie stepped in, tears in her eyes at the scene, but she quickly composed herself and hurried us out of the building.

"That was absolutely beautiful," she cooed. "But the Capital waits for no occassion! The car is waiting to take you both to the after party, come come."

In the car, Peeta took his seat next to me, Effie sat opposite us. She briefed us on the event, what to expect, and most importantly, how to act.

The car ground to a halt at the gates of the Presidential Palace. Partygoers bustled inside for the festivities. The palace was lit up in purples and blues, lights were strung from every tree and along the entrance.

"The Presidential Palace, the party of the year," Effie waved her hands at the white, marbled mansion behind the gate. "Eyes bright, chins up, smiles on-" Effie turned her chin slightly in my direction. "I'm talking to you, Katniss," She flicked a pointed finger toward me over her shoulder.

The pregame lecture didn't stop there. Right through the gates, Peeta and I looked around, but Effie continued.

"Now there will be photographers, interviews, all here to celebrate you- my Victors!" Effie chirped, all business, yet still brimming with glee. "Breathe it all in, children. This is all for you," she sighed, finally turning to face us.

Peeta, feeling my discomfort and anxiety about seeing Snow again after his threats, mumbled out, "It's cozy."

I bit my lip to stifle my laugh.

Effie's eyes darkened, and she held a pointed finger at Peeta. "Attitude!" Effie let out another sigh and swept around back to the Palace after fixing her face into a bright smile worthy of the Capital. "Come, come."

Down the walkway, fans parted to make way for us to come through. They cheered and waved, one ran his hands along the red feathers on my shoulder. Peeta walked protectively behind me, but I could feel his tension. He smiled and nodded curtly to the fans, but he almost seemed more uncomfortable than me. His eyes betrayed his instinct to jump at any sudden moves.

My gaze skimmed the grand party. One man dressed in purple pants and only purple shoulder feathers breathed spires of flame with a torch.

Effie swiveled around gracefully to check on our performance as all eyes were now watching.

"Come along!" She gestured back, and pointed at us. "Hold hands, and for goodness sake, Katniss, try to walk normal." The smile never left her face, but her eyes were stern.

At the comment of my walking, Peeta's face blushed and he choked a laugh down. I whipped around and glared at him.

"What's wrong with how I'm walking?" I hissed at him.

Peeta leaned forward, his hand wrapped around my waist to pull his mouth to my ear. "It just means I did a good job last night," he whispered, his grin growing wider.

I yanked away from him, still laughing, my cheeks heating up, but his fingers swiftly laced together with mine for sake of Effie's instructions.

Inside, Effie squealed at the decorations, her hands playfully swatted the beaded curtains. She led us out to the courtyard, mine arm linked quickly with Peeta's to help me down the steps. He balanced me and, I hoped, my walking. Avoxes lined the walls and weaved between clusters of people with silver trays, all stacked with small plates or clear drink glasses.

Peeta and I allowed ourselves to relax, trying unique foods and colorful drinks. Effie was right, there were many interviews and cameras flashing. Many Capital residents showered us with praise and admiration, Peeta always stepping in when someone reached out to touch my scaly black dress too fervently.

Octavius and Flavius beelined over to us, Effie now lost in the with her friends in the crowd. An avox passed by, and Flavius snatched up a plate of what looked like small, bright pink, fluffy pastries.

"Oh, you have to try one of these, they are divine," Octavius held the plate out in our direction.

"No, I can't eat another thing," Peeta shook his head at the plate.

Flavius lifted a glass flute with purple liquid halfway filled from a white covered table and handed it to Peeta. "Here."

"What's this?" Peeta questioned without grabbing the drink.

"It's for when you feel full," he spoke as if it was gossip.

"It makes you sick, so you can go on eating!" Octavius chirped, her eyes excited.

Peeta shifted uncomfortably under my arm. "Actually," he pulled away from our stylists and slid his hand down to my waist. "I think it's time for a dance."

Successfully avoiding his true opinions, he led me to the center of the room. I place my arms on his shoulders, and he gently wrapped both of his own arms around my waist. We danced slowly in silence save the music for a while before Peeta glanced around to check for listeners.

"People are starving in 12," he leaned in to whisper. "Here, they're throwing up just to stuff more in."

Before I got the chance to respond, Effie skipped over to us.

Katniss, Peeta," she gestured behind her to a plump older man with straight grey hair in a dark suit. "This is Plutarch Heavensbee. Head Gamemaker, successor to Seneca Crane."

Effie's beam was interrupted by Peeta's snide comment. "That's a tough act to follow."

My head, wide eyed, whipped to face Peeta, but my shock was cut off.

"Peeta!" Effie barked.

Plutarch seemed amused by the comment, and waved Effie down. "May I?" He extended a hand to me.

Effie nervously laughed while Peeta politely stepped out of the way. "Please," he swept his hand away from me.

Although I'm certain Peeta was receiving a harsh lecture on manners, I was uncomfortably taken away by a man who seemed all too curious by me.

He placated Peeta's lingering comment with more vague ones. I entertained small talk about the party, annoyance, I was sure, dripping from my being like venom. It wasn't until he spoke of me as an inspiration that he fully caught my attention instead of mere caution.

"Maybe it was you who inspired me to come back," He said.

I lifted my head, struck and confused, but I never got the chance to interrogate his meaning. As the words left his lips, trumpets blared to announce the President.

"I'm sure we'll meet again," Plutarch smiled in goodbye.

I snaked my way back over to Peeta, still reeling from Plutarch's words. I linked my arm gratefully back into his and adjusted my face for the cameras I was sure were panning between us and Snow. Peeta stroked my arm softly, a subtle message that I was safe and that he was with me regardless of Snow's judgement.

"You think we convinced him?" I worriedly muttered in Peeta's ear as we approached the head of the room.

"I'm not sure what else we can do," Peeta whispered back.

He continued to stroke my arm as the President stood from the balcony of his mansion. President Snow elicited cheers and applause as he spread his arms wide in welcome.

"Tonight, on this last day of the Victory Tour, I want to welcome our two young people who embody our ideals of strenght and Valor. And I want to personally congratulate them on the announcement of their engagement!" Snow's voice boomed across the courtyard, and more cheers erupted around us. "Your love inspires us, and I know you will go on to inspire us everyday, for as long as you both may live!"

At the end of his speech, he lifted his champagne glass to his lips and the sky broke out into colorful bursts of fireworks. Peeta and I turned around to view the light display, but only for a second. My eyes spun back around slowly to lock with President Snow's. Peeta watched my face, but I stood frozen in Snow's gaze and the subtle shake of his head. We'd failed.

Back on the train that night, Peeta welcomed me into his bed with unspoken agreement to keep our nightmares at bay.

"Peeta, can I ask you something?" I craned my neck to meet his eyes.

"Of course," he whispered back.

"Did I-" my voice broke off. "Did I do something wrong last night?"

Peeta's face twisted. "Why do you think you did something wrong? It was good, I told you that last night,"

I gestured toward the spot on the sheets where my blood was this morning. "The bleeding, I..." I trailed off.

Peeta chuckled and turned his body to face me. He reached out and pushed back a loose curl that had fallen in front of my eyes.

"No, Katniss. You did nothing wrong." He smiled. "It was your first time. I was surprised you didn't bleed halfway through it."

"So it's normal?" I questioned.

"Yes, it's very normal." He answered sincerely. "Are you still okay with what we did?" His eyes shifted to worry.

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. I just wish I could walk again." I teased. "Is that normal too?"

Peeta's cheeks flushed, and he cleared his throat, eyes sparkling at my question. "Well, it's normal, but it usually only happens with certain people when you do it a certain way."

A smile spread across my face, but I turned my eyes down the the fresh bedsheets. "I don't know if you can brag, Peeta. I have nothing else to compare it to." My eyes darkened. "Maybe I never will."

Peeta lifted my chin up to meet his eyes. "Why do you think that?"

I let out a sigh, tears bit at my eyes, but I pushed them down. "We failed, Peeta. My first concern is always Prim, and our families. But we could die tomorrow, or worse."

Peeta tipped up his chin. "Or worse?"

I didn't know how to explain what I knew as a dark truth of life. Both men and women, but mostly women, can be abused in more than through torture. Even before the start of the Tour, I learned how the Capital surgeons wanted to augment my figure until Haymitch stepped in. I was fortunate to only have to wear padding in my bras or dresses and at my hips. To survive in this new world of bright lights and exquisite food and glamor, you had to look a certain way.

"There are worse things than death, Peeta." My voice was quiet, words still lacking.

"What could possibly be worse than death?" He pressed, his eyes locked into mine.

Stuck in his stare, I couldn't hide my fears, but I tried to tackle the truth delicately. "I gave my first time to you, you made sure it was by my free choice. If you hadn't taken me last night, and I went back home after we failed, my body, my choice it..." My voice cut out, and tears began to fall.

"Oh, Katniss, come here," Peeta snuggled me into his arms and he held me tight, smoothing my hair all the while. "I would never let that happen."

"You can't always protect me, sometimes you have no control!" I was yelling now. A hiccup escaped my lips.

"Shhhh, I will always protect you, Katniss. Even if they cut off my arms and legs, I would be there."

"And what if you're dead?!" I shouted back, wriggling out of his arms just enough to look him in his eyes. "How can you protect me then?"

"Shhh, it's okay. I'm here now," he cradled me, brushing his fingers through my hair. "Let's not worry about that until we have to, okay?"

Peeta kissed my forehead softly and repeated over and over. "I'm right here, I'm right here."

I couldn't stop the dam that burst in my heart. The weight of the Capital and my family's safety unleashed, and I sobbed into Peeta's chest. He let me fall apart without judgement or jokes. He simply held me, echoing that phrase into my hair.

"I'm right here, Katniss. I'm right here."

Rain pattered against the window, but slicked past in the wind. It didn't take long for sleep to overcome Peeta. He curled up away from me