The Hunger Games - Extended Epilogue -- ON HOLD

Chapter 10 - Reasons

Katniss' POV

I open my eyes. I see a group of people standing over me. The group consists of Peeta, Haymitch, Gale, Paylor, Plutarch, and Effie. Effie? What is she doing here? When did she get here?
"Give her some space, will you!" I hear Peeta say to the group. They all take a step back, and I sit up. Peeta puts his hand on my back and helps me steady myself. He kisses my cheek. "Good morning, Katniss."
Everyone goes downstairs to give Peeta and I some space.
"Why is everyone here?" I ask, confused.
"We'll tell you after. For now, get dressed and come downstairs." Peeta says. He stands up and leaves the room. I put on a loose yellow short-sleeve top, and loose black leggings. I take out my braid and brush it. I put on black ankle socks and walk downstairs. Everyone is sitting around the table holding mugs of coffee. When I walk in, Effie says "ah, here's the girl of the hour." Then she stands up and hugs me.
"Hi Effie!" I say. She then leads me to the table so I can sit down.
"I bet you're wondering why we're all here." Plutarch says.
"Yeah, it's crossed my mind." I reply, still giddy with sleep.
"Well, remember how you agreed to the last Hunger Games? Yeah, well, we were going to take you to the Capitol so we could discuss it. But then Peeta got a flash back, and... You know... We had to put it off for a while. We're planning on taking you tomorrow, okay? So pack your bags, and clean yourself and the house up, and be ready at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning. We'll see you then."
"Um... How long will we be there for." I ask, thinking of meeting up with Rue.
"Including travel time, you'll probably be gone for two weeks at least. Things might change though."
"Ok, thanks." I say.
Everyone leaves, and then I go up to my room. I write a quick note to both Prim and Rue, and then I jog to the Meadow. Peeta doesn't want me to go, but I hurry and place the note by the Willow. Hopefully Rue or Prim find it on time. I jog back home and I see Peeta standing in the doorway.
"Ok, what is it with you and the Meadow? Especially the Willow. Your always there. When you were there yesterday you just sat on a log and froze. As if you were a frozen living dead." I hesitate.
"Let's go inside." I say. I should tell him. He deserves to know. We go inside and Peeta cuts some cake he made earlier. We eat in silence and then I talk.
"The Meadow is the only place where you can contact the dead. So I have been writing letters to Prim and Rue. The other day, I was talking to Rue. That's why I froze."
"You've known that? All this time? And you haven't told me!? Look, I get that it's hard for you and all, but I have dead family too. In fact, all my family is dead! Have you thought about that?! Have you even considered for one second that I might just want to communicate with my dead parents and siblings too?!?! Has it even CROSSED YOUR MIND to think of me? You know, Katniss, every single time I do whatever I can to help or protect you, but you can't do this one thing for me?! Katniss, you should've told me this before I found out that we're going to the Capitol in LESS THAN 24 HOURS. Gods Katniss, sometimes I really don't get you." And with that, Peeta just storms up the stairs.
"He'll come around eventually." I say, to no one in particular.
I finish my tea, and then walk up stairs. Peeta is in the bathroom, crying. I slowly walk in and close the door behind me. I crouch down beside him.
"Peeta?" I ask, tentatively. He just looks at me with red swollen eyes. Before I can say anything, his head goes back between his legs. "Peeta, look, I'm really, really sorry. I love you so much, and I know I should've told you. I was just afraid that you'd stop me from going back there again. And I really, really wanted to tell you. And I was actually going to tell you today. But then I found out about the Capitol and I just... I had no idea what to do. Should I tell you or not? I didn't know. But the you asked me what was going on, and I just knew I had to tell you. Peeta, please, please forgive me." I am crying now too. Peeta reaches out his arms to me and we hug. "I need you Peeta. Help me get through this trip." I say, muffled. We then just sit there for seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, hugging each other. Never letting go. This is what I want. This is what I need. I need Peeta. I need the yellow dandelion. I need him.

After what seems to be ages, I get up. I pull Peeta up and we go to the bedroom. We then just lie in bed together, doing absolutely nothing. We fall asleep by each other's side. I dream a dreamless sleep. But then I suddenly hear screaming. I open my eyes and I see Peeta thrashing about in bed. I decide that waking him up is the best solutions. I shake him. It doesn't work. I scream his name. No luck. I hold onto him, to stop him from moving too much. I whisper his name into his ear. Eventually he wakes up.
"Katniss?" He asks, sleepily.
"Shh. Shh. Peeta, you had a nightmare and I thought I should wake you up. Shh. Shh."
"Katniss, will you stay with me?" Peeta asks me.
"Of course." I say, hugging him. "Always."

I wake up to the sound of Haymitch screaming. "Lying in bed together?!?! Oh what will I tell the press. Katniss! Peeta! Both of you! You should've known better. Katniss!!!! Peeta!!!! Wake up!!!!"
"Haymitch, it was completely innocent, I swear." Peeta says, sleepily.
"Seriously, Haymitch, leave us alone." I say.
"Come on, Katniss. Let's have breakfast." Peeta says to me. I slowly get up. I put on a pair of light blue slippers and a matching dressing gown, and then I walk downstairs with Peeta by my side.

We eat breakfast in silence, and then Peeta says "Haymitch is in a bit of a mood." and I just nod my head in agreement.
"Come on, Katniss. You've got to talk. Warm up that voice of yours." I just glare at him. "No, seriously. Over the next two weeks you will have a lot of talking to do. Better get ready!!!"

After breakfast, Haymitch and Peeta go back to their own houses to get ready. I stay at home and pack. I also give the house a quick clean. Not even five minutes after I'm done, Venia, Flavius, and Octavia walk in. Behind them walks Effie, trying to avoid eye contact with me. I hug Venia, Flavius, and Octavia, and then I go up to Effie and hug her. I whisper in her ear "whatever you're thinking or whatever you've heard, it's probably not true." I then walk with my prep team to the bathroom.

Once we enter the bathroom, Venia, Octavia, and Flavius start examining me like I'm a flower that they have never seen before. Suddenly, Venia shrieks in such a way that makes me think that there is a murderer behind me. I turn around quickly and then Venia says "Katniss, your eyebrows!!!! What have you done to them?!? They are way too long!!! Is that even possible?!?!?! Oh what are we going to do? Oh god, help me!!" She then bursts into tears. Octavia immediately grabs something that looks like nail clippers, and starts attacking my eyebrows. She grabs a mirror and shines a light onto Venia. She looks up and sees me and then she shrieks again. "Oh my gods, Katniss! You look incredible!!!" She wipes her tears and then continues examining me.
"Beauty Base Zero, I think." Flavius says.
"Beauty Base Zero, agreed." Octavia replies.