The Mockingjay Flies Again

Chapter 5 - Black Eyes

Peeta is the first to step off the train. He instantly freezes and clutches his fists. Oh no. I think to myself. I slowly back away and push the kids behind me. He turns around. His eyes were black not blue. He walks towards us but then pauses when I start to sing...

Deep in the meadow

Under the willow

A bed of grass

A soft green pillow

Lay down your head

And close your eyes

And when they open

The sun will rise

Here it's safe

Here it's warm

Here the daisies guard

You from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet

And tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place

Where I love you

He un-clenches his fists and his eyes turn blue again. I slowly inch my way forward, Willow and Rye close behind, and whisper "Peeta" he looks at me with pleading eyes and says "I'm so sorry Katniss" he whispers. I embrace him

"It's okay" I coo "You didn't know"

"No," he says, "I did. Look where we are. This was where I turned into a monster" I looked around. We're at the tribute center. I turn and face him tears in my eyes.

"No" I say "Peeta is not the monster. The mutt left inside you is"

"What would I do without you" he chuckles

"Well, I would go insane and would have probably gone hunter mode on you if I hadn't met you" I say. Haymitch starts dying laughing.

"Well sweetheart you almost did" he said with a sly look on his face. Oh. Now I remember. It was when he pronounced his love to me, the night of the 74 hunger games. I turn back to Peeta.

"I really am sorry about that night. I was scared half to death," I say. Peeta chuckles.

"Well, you probably thought the other half of you would be dead the next day"

he says. Our smiles instantly fade when we realize our kids are standing right there.

"What are you talking about?" Willow says with a bit of sass if I might add.

"Attitude" says Effie. Haymitch chuckles. We are broken from our conversation when a lady walks up to us. I gasp when I see her face. She looks just like, like, Rue.