What if.....

together

Before I can stop myself, I call out Peeta’s name. We can both go back home! Together! I quickly unstrap myself from the tree and fall to the ground. I pack up the sleeping bag and dig out the night vision glasses. Slipping them on, I start down to the river. Soon, dawn starts to break over the far off mountains. I have reached the river and can see faint marks of blood. I follow them and stop as they disappear.

“ You here to finish me off sweetheart?” I whip around but am unable to see anything.

“ Over here, darling.” A mud covered hand waves around in the air. I rush over and see Peeta’s blue eyes staring back at me. I open my mouth in surprise. “ Nice of you to find what’s left of me.” He whispers, flashing a smile at me.

I mumble back a “ You idiot.” I untangle him from the mud and rocks that he has imprisoned himself with. I help him to the riverside and work his jacket and shirt off him so he sits in an undershirt and pants. I cure the burns and tracker-jacker stings while he eats some dried fruit. Then I brace myself and pull down his pants. His cut is worse than I thought. I look into his eyes and can see the pain.

“ Hey Katniss, come here.” He says tugging my braid. I lean down. “Do you still love me?”

The question takes me by surprise. I don’t know how he could even doubt my love. I answer his question the only way I can. I kiss him. I swing one of my legs over his and straddle him. My arms go around his neck and his circle my waist. He responds with fervor. I savor the moment. He tastes of bread and of home. When I finally pull away, we are both out of breath and his sounds more rugged. I untangle myself from him and turn back to cleaning his wound, a blush creeping up my cheeks as I remember that the entire nation was watching. After a while I bring my eyes up to meet his and he has a ridiculous grin on his face and his eyes are twinkling with love. I grin back at him and kiss his cheek. He laughs and I resume my task of cleaning his wound, glad I can keep his mind off the pain. Once the wound is clean I wrap it in a bandage and help him to his feet. We stumble clumsily down the river to a cave and I settle Peeta in before finding a way to cover the entrance. I weave some vines together and hang them over the opening. Satisfied I turn and walk into the cave as Peeta calls my name. I walk over to where he is sitting up and kneel beside him. I brush his hair out of his eyes. He pulls me down so my head is cradled in the crook of his neck and my body is pushed up against his. He holds me for a few moments as his hand toy with the end of my braid. Then he speaks. “ Katniss?”

“Hmmm?”

“ If I don’t make it…”

I cut him off. “ You will.”

“ But if I don’t,”

I stop him with another kiss, leaning up so I can reach his lips. “ I forbid it. You can’t die.” I am surprised with the need in my voice. He seems surprised too.

“ Okay.” He says, placating me. I kiss him again, smiling against his lips. He smiles back and pulls me closer, intensifying the kiss.

--------------------------------------------Time skip---------------------------------------------------------

I turn around as Claudius tells us about the feast but stop when he mentions what is being offered there. I turn to stare at Peeta, who shakes his head and says “ No, you can not go, I won’t stand for it.”

I crawl toward him and cradle his head in my lap as he lies back down. “ Peeta, you need the medicine!”

He shakes his head again. “ Not as much as I need you.” I smile at his words.