More Than a Mellark

Nighttime - Same Day as First Breakfast

You guided Peeta to your room for bed. You lay him in a room across from yours.

"Lucky there was an extra room," you think. 

Five minutes later. . .

"So, Peeta, what do you like to do before sleep?" you ask. You want to make him feel as comfortable as ever.

"I like someone to sing to me," he answers, after thinking for a moment. He adds, "or tell me a story."

"Ok," you reply. "What song?" 

"No one's asked me that before," he replies, eyes wide open. 

"Well, I know one other song," you quickly remark.

"Ok."

Are you, are you, coming to the tree?

Where they strung up a man, they say who murdered three.

Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be

If we met

At midnight

In the hanging tree

Peeta seems interested in the song, so you keep going.

Are you, are you, coming to the tree

Where the dead man called out

For his love to flee

Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be

If we met

At midnight

In the hanging tree

Are you, are you, coming to the tree

Where I told you to run

So we'd both be free

Peeta seemed to want to run so he'd be free. You realize that for a split second and move on with the song.

Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be

If we met

At midnight

In the hanging tree

Are you, are you, coming to the tree

Wear a necklace of rope

Side by side with me

Strange things did happen here, no stranger would it be

If we met

At midnight

In the hanging tree

You finish the song with an uttered shred of confidence. You head towards the door.

"Wait!" 

"Yes, Peeta?" you ask with a tone of concern. 

"Could you stay?"

"Of course." There's not a care in the world after you climb into bed next to Peeta. You fall asleep happily, obviously not knowing that the notorious (to you and Peeta) Katniss Everdeen was spying on you. The WHOLE TIME.