Katniss and Peeta (When the Going gets Tough)

Memories

I wake up gasping for air. I feel like I can't breathe. I am hyperventilating, and I can't stop it. I feel like I am suffocating. There is a brace on my neck and I can't get it off. I start kicking an clawing . I wake up Peeta who is in the chair next to me. My uncle is asleep in the other chair. He can sleep through anything, so I probably won't wake him up.

"Hey! Calm down! It's alright! I'm right here! I've got you!"

"Peeta, get this off me!" I exclaim pointing to the brace.

"You have to keep it on, because your neck is swollen." He replies and has a sad look in his eyes.

"Peeta it was so scary! I thought I was gonna die!" I'm choking out sobs that shake my entire body.

It hurts to breathe. I wrap my arms around Peeta and my side with the tube hurst a lot. It hurts to cry but I don't care. I was reading this book and it said,"Pain demands to be felt."

"You aren't gonna die! I'm right here! I've got you!"

After about twenty minutes of him hugging me and kissing the top of my head, he finally calms me down.

I'm scared to ask, but I'm too curious. "Peeta how long have I been asleep?"

"About a day." I must have a certain look on my face because then he quickly adds," Which is to be expected due to the circumstances."

I look at him and sigh. "You always have been good with words. You sound so official."

He chuckles softly. "And you have always been in control of my heart. It like you cast a spell or something." He wiggles his fingers like he were doing magic.

It's my turn to laugh. I look back at him and he is crying. I grab his hand, and wipe his tears. "Baby, what's wrong?"

He looks up like he is trying to hold in more tears. "It's just that when you were deployed I used to dream about your laugh and your smile. Now, it's right in front of me and I couldn't ask for more."

I know that he loves me. I know that I love him. I don't know what to say. "Peeta do you know what I used to think about?"

"No."

"Do you remember when I taught you how I swim and you tried to teach me to bake?"

He smiles and his teeth shine so bright. "I could never forget. I actually learned something and I found something you weren't good at. I also recall your braid turning white, and you mistaking salt for sugar.  Really two cups of salt in a cake! Worst. Cake. Ever."

"Yep, that's what I thought about. I also remember you saying how swimming was irrelevant. You kept saying, 'Why do I need to learn to swim. I don't have a pool. I can't swim in the bathtub.' Your excuses were so funny." I sigh thinking about the good memory.

"I'm surprised that's what you remember." He replies.

"I remember everything. I just thought about that one the most." I don't know why, but I can hear the edge in my voice. I also feel the need to be defensive.

"Don't get defensive. I wasn't accusing you of anything I was just surprised." I relax a little.

"What surprised you?"

"That you picked the two weeks it took me to learn how to swim, and to get you to bake. I swear you were against the idea of being in that kitchen. It's like you had a prejudice to the kitchen."

"I really enjoyed spending the two weeks with you."

"I remember a certain weekend where we got very close."