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Description
Chapter 1~
I stare out the window into the road of the Victor's Village. All is silent. I mean I don't know why it wouldn't be since it's three in the morning. But still. My eyes move to the only other two houses that are inhabited here. Haymitch's is dark. Since he's probably sleeping off his drunkenness and preparing to sleep off the inevitable hangover that will plague him in the morning. My brain tells me not to look at the other house. But, my eyes seem to disagree. They move slowly to Peeta's house. I am puzzled at what I see.  The lights are on and there is a figure moving around inside. I can just barely make him out. I step closer to the window, my face and hands pressing against the cool glass. He shuffles around the front room. I take a deep breath. I try to pretend to wonder why he is awake. But I know. He couldn't sleep either. The nightmares haunt him too.
My nightmares consist of watching Rue, dear Rue who never should have been reaped that terrible day, Prim, I can't even begin to think about sweet Prim without losing it entirely, Mags, who gave her life up for me, Peeta, and Finnick and any other person I have witnessed lose their life, die all over again in my dreams. I also have nightmares of watching how Finnick die. Finnick, who left behind a wife and a son. Finnick who was the only one who understood me in Thirteen when Peeta was being held in the Capitol. Tears threaten to spill over my gray eyes, so I force myself to think of Annie and their son, Finnick Jr.
I smile at the thought of them. They came to visit a few months ago. He has his father's face, and his mother's soft eyes. I loved playing with him, and Annie appreciated the sleep she got when I was with him. She is probably the only person I really talk to now. I call her at least every week. We bonded after she came to Twelve.
I snap back into reality and find myself standing in front of Peeta's house. My eyes go wide; I didn't mean to walk over here! I suddenly stare down at my clothes. I have loose hanging red-and-white plaid pajama pants and a see-through white tank top on with a light jacket on. I had let Annie give me these clothes because she insisted on it since I helped her so much when she and Fin came. I quickly button up the jacket to cover my shirt and knock on the door before I lose the courage. My heart is racing and I dig my hands into the pockets of the jacket.
After a few moments, Peeta answers the door. He is sliding on a shirt. His clear blue eyes lock onto my instantly. He is obviously confused. "Hey," He says. It's more of a question than a statement.
I suddenly lose the ability to speak. I haven't looked into his eyes in months. I take in how he looks for a moment. His ashen blonde hair that is skimming just above his perfectly blue eyes. The way his chiseled features fit him perfectly. How his arms are perfectly toned and tanned, oddly enough. How he stares at me with his intense eyes. "You ok?" He asks, obviously trying to get my focus off of him.
"Oh," I squeak, "Yeah, totally, like yeah." Stop rambling! I scream at myself.
He nods slowly, "Did you want something?" He asks. I can sense he is trying to keep a nonchalant tone.
I take a deep breath, "I just saw the lights on, and I couldn't sleep" My voice trails off.
"Come in," He says softly and opens the door so I can walk in. I smile gratefully at him and walk slowly into the house. He closes the door behind us and motions to the couch.
I sit down slowly on it and look up. He is in the kitchen and I can see him through the doorway. He is making bread. I slowly stand up and walk into the room and sit on the counter.
He glances up at me, and then looks back down at the bowl he is mixing. I sigh and look around the room. I see pictures of his family, his mother, his father, all of his brothers. I smile at some of the pictures. Then I see one that catches my eye. It is of me. I am laughing at something. I have a dazzling seafoam green dress on with pearls all over me.  It was obviously taken during the Victory Tour so long ago.
I look back at him. Our eyes connect for a split second before he looks straight back into the bowl. I blush slightly because he was staring at me.
"Peeta." I whisper and he looks up at me, his eyes are surprised, as if it's stunning I said his name. I take a deep breath, "Look, we can't just keep avoiding each other." I murmur softly. I can barely hear myself, but he obviously heard me because he nods slowly.
"I know…" his voice trails off like mine did a few moments ago. I scoot closer to him on the cool countertop.
"Can I ask you something?" He murmurs.
I nod slowly, afraid he'll ask me something stinging. He looks into my eyes.
"Why did you tolerate me while we were in Thirteen? I mean I was horrible to you..."
This question stuns me. There are tears that threaten to spill over my eyes. "I did it because I..." My voice stops because a sob wracks my body.
Peeta steps closer to me, "Katniss, I'm sorry..." He whispers softly.
I shake my head, sending tears flying into the air, a few splashing against his face. He reached out to me, but I just jump off the counter and run through the door and into my house, slamming the door closed behind me. Sobs shake my body. I walk up the stairs and into my bathroom. I close the door behind me and slide to the white tile floor. I wrap my arms around my legs. I sniffle and listen to the quiet of my house. Then I hear it. Someone is pounding on my door. Tears flood my eyes again and I start sobbing. I hear the door open and steps coming up the stairs.
There is a light knock on the door. I scoot away from it and lean against the wall. It opens and Peeta's head looks inside. He looks at me and walks in. "Katniss…" He starts and sits down next to me.
I look into his eyes. He stops. I lean into him and bury my face into his chest. He stokes my back and wraps his strong arms around me. I let out a soft, content sigh. I let my eyes flutter closed.
That's when the nightmare begins.  First, it's me and Prim running in the Meadow. We are laughing and talking. Suddenly, bombs start falling. Prim screams and runs ahead of me.
"Prim!" I scream. "No!" But it's too late. She collapses. I run up to her and shake her, "Prim! Prim! Get up! You're not funny!" Tears flood my eyes. "Prim!" I start sobbing. I smell the strong scent of blood and roses. I look up and see President Snow grabbing Prim and taking her away.
"Come back!" I scream and run after him. But he always seems to be too far ahead for me to get him. "Prim!" I shout and try to run faster. Suddenly, he turns around. But it isn't Snow. It's Gale.
I scream and suddenly jolt awake. Peeta is shaking me. "Katniss! Katniss! Wake up!" He's shouting. I collapse into his arms, sobbing again. He holds me close. "Katniss, calm down, it wasn't real, ok? I swear it wasn't." He holds me tightly.
I believe him. I nod and look up into his eyes. His eyes have tears in them and he tries to blink them away.
I smile and whisper, "We're crazy."
A smile tugs the edges of his lips, "How so, Miss Everdeen?"
I let out a soft laugh, "We're up at three thirty in the morning in my bathroom on the floor in each other's arms and sobbing." He laughs. I smile at the sound. It's light and makes everything seem alright, even if just for a moment.
"You're the one who's sobbing." He says, matter-of-factly.
I playfully slap his arm, "Hey! You're looking like you're about to cry yourself Mister Mellark!" He grasps his arm where I just hit him and pretends to be hurt. "Abuse!" he says, and pretends to die.
I fall back onto the cool tile, laughing my head off. The tears of sadness have been replaced by ones of happiness. I haven't laughed for real since before we left Thirteen. He collapses on the ground next to me, laughing even harder than I am.
"Peeta, can I tell you something?" I ask. He nods, looking into my eyes. "I haven't had a peaceful night of sleep since the Quell." I whisper.
He smiles, halfheartedly, "Me either."
I pull him into a standing position. "The only way I ever slept normally without any nightmares was when I was with you," I say.
He smiles, "Same with me." I grasp his hand and pull him out of the bathroom. I open the door to my bedroom and when he walks in, I close it behind us. I take the jacket I've had on since I got up off and slide under the soft covers off my queen-sized bed. I lift them up so he can get in.
He does and encircles me with his strong arms.
I curl my own arms around his waist and press my smooth forehead against his own. He smiles and I smile right back at him. We both let our eyes close and I allow myself sleep peacefully for the first time in over a year and a half.

Description
Chapter 1~
I stare out the window into the road of the Victor's Village. All is silent. I mean I don't know why it wouldn't be since it's three in the morning. But still. My eyes move to the only other two houses that are inhabited here. Haymitch's is dark. Since he's probably sleeping off his drunkenness and preparing to sleep off the inevitable hangover that will plague him in the morning. My brain tells me not to look at the other house. But, my eyes seem to disagree. They move slowly to Peeta's house. I am puzzled at what I see.  The lights are on and there is a figure moving around inside. I can just barely make him out. I step closer to the window, my face and hands pressing against the cool glass. He shuffles around the front room. I take a deep breath. I try to pretend to wonder why he is awake. But I know. He couldn't sleep either. The nightmares haunt him too.
My nightmares consist of watching Rue, dear Rue who never should have been reaped that terrible day, Prim, I can't even begin to think about sweet Prim without losing it entirely, Mags, who gave her life up for me, Peeta, and Finnick and any other person I have witnessed lose their life, die all over again in my dreams. I also have nightmares of watching how Finnick die. Finnick, who left behind a wife and a son. Finnick who was the only one who understood me in Thirteen when Peeta was being held in the Capitol. Tears threaten to spill over my gray eyes, so I force myself to think of Annie and their son, Finnick Jr.
I smile at the thought of them. They came to visit a few months ago. He has his father's face, and his mother's soft eyes. I loved playing with him, and Annie appreciated the sleep she got when I was with him. She is probably the only person I really talk to now. I call her at least every week. We bonded after she came to Twelve.
I snap back into reality and find myself standing in front of Peeta's house. My eyes go wide; I didn't mean to walk over here! I suddenly stare down at my clothes. I have loose hanging red-and-white plaid pajama pants and a see-through white tank top on with a light jacket on. I had let Annie give me these clothes because she insisted on it since I helped her so much when she and Fin came. I quickly button up the jacket to cover my shirt and knock on the door before I lose the courage. My heart is racing and I dig my hands into the pockets of the jacket.
After a few moments, Peeta answers the door. He is sliding on a shirt. His clear blue eyes lock onto my instantly. He is obviously confused. "Hey," He says. It's more of a question than a statement.
I suddenly lose the ability to speak. I haven't looked into his eyes in months. I take in how he looks for a moment. His ashen blonde hair that is skimming just above his perfectly blue eyes. The way his chiseled features fit him perfectly. How his arms are perfectly toned and tanned, oddly enough. How he stares at me with his intense eyes. "You ok?" He asks, obviously trying to get my focus off of him.
"Oh," I squeak, "Yeah, totally, like yeah." Stop rambling! I scream at myself.
He nods slowly, "Did you want something?" He asks. I can sense he is trying to keep a nonchalant tone.
I take a deep breath, "I just saw the lights on, and I couldn't sleep" My voice trails off.
"Come in," He says softly and opens the door so I can walk in. I smile gratefully at him and walk slowly into the house. He closes the door behind us and motions to the couch.
I sit down slowly on it and look up. He is in the kitchen and I can see him through the doorway. He is making bread. I slowly stand up and walk into the room and sit on the counter.
He glances up at me, and then looks back down at the bowl he is mixing. I sigh and look around the room. I see pictures of his family, his mother, his father, all of his brothers. I smile at some of the pictures. Then I see one that catches my eye. It is of me. I am laughing at something. I have a dazzling seafoam green dress on with pearls all over me.  It was obviously taken during the Victory Tour so long ago.
I look back at him. Our eyes connect for a split second before he looks straight back into the bowl. I blush slightly because he was staring at me.
"Peeta." I whisper and he looks up at me, his eyes are surprised, as if it's stunning I said his name. I take a deep breath, "Look, we can't just keep avoiding each other." I murmur softly. I can barely hear myself, but he obviously heard me because he nods slowly.
"I know…" his voice trails off like mine did a few moments ago. I scoot closer to him on the cool countertop.
"Can I ask you something?" He murmurs.
I nod slowly, afraid he'll ask me something stinging. He looks into my eyes.
"Why did you tolerate me while we were in Thirteen? I mean I was horrible to you..."
This question stuns me. There are tears that threaten to spill over my eyes. "I did it because I..." My voice stops because a sob wracks my body.
Peeta steps closer to me, "Katniss, I'm sorry..." He whispers softly.
I shake my head, sending tears flying into the air, a few splashing against his face. He reached out to me, but I just jump off the counter and run through the door and into my house, slamming the door closed behind me. Sobs shake my body. I walk up the stairs and into my bathroom. I close the door behind me and slide to the white tile floor. I wrap my arms around my legs. I sniffle and listen to the quiet of my house. Then I hear it. Someone is pounding on my door. Tears flood my eyes again and I start sobbing. I hear the door open and steps coming up the stairs.
There is a light knock on the door. I scoot away from it and lean against the wall. It opens and Peeta's head looks inside. He looks at me and walks in. "Katniss…" He starts and sits down next to me.
I look into his eyes. He stops. I lean into him and bury my face into his chest. He stokes my back and wraps his strong arms around me. I let out a soft, content sigh. I let my eyes flutter closed.
That's when the nightmare begins.  First, it's me and Prim running in the Meadow. We are laughing and talking. Suddenly, bombs start falling. Prim screams and runs ahead of me.
"Prim!" I scream. "No!" But it's too late. She collapses. I run up to her and shake her, "Prim! Prim! Get up! You're not funny!" Tears flood my eyes. "Prim!" I start sobbing. I smell the strong scent of blood and roses. I look up and see President Snow grabbing Prim and taking her away.
"Come back!" I scream and run after him. But he always seems to be too far ahead for me to get him. "Prim!" I shout and try to run faster. Suddenly, he turns around. But it isn't Snow. It's Gale.
I scream and suddenly jolt awake. Peeta is shaking me. "Katniss! Katniss! Wake up!" He's shouting. I collapse into his arms, sobbing again. He holds me close. "Katniss, calm down, it wasn't real, ok? I swear it wasn't." He holds me tightly.
I believe him. I nod and look up into his eyes. His eyes have tears in them and he tries to blink them away.
I smile and whisper, "We're crazy."
A smile tugs the edges of his lips, "How so, Miss Everdeen?"
I let out a soft laugh, "We're up at three thirty in the morning in my bathroom on the floor in each other's arms and sobbing." He laughs. I smile at the sound. It's light and makes everything seem alright, even if just for a moment.
"You're the one who's sobbing." He says, matter-of-factly.
I playfully slap his arm, "Hey! You're looking like you're about to cry yourself Mister Mellark!" He grasps his arm where I just hit him and pretends to be hurt. "Abuse!" he says, and pretends to die.
I fall back onto the cool tile, laughing my head off. The tears of sadness have been replaced by ones of happiness. I haven't laughed for real since before we left Thirteen. He collapses on the ground next to me, laughing even harder than I am.
"Peeta, can I tell you something?" I ask. He nods, looking into my eyes. "I haven't had a peaceful night of sleep since the Quell." I whisper.
He smiles, halfheartedly, "Me either."
I pull him into a standing position. "The only way I ever slept normally without any nightmares was when I was with you," I say.
He smiles, "Same with me." I grasp his hand and pull him out of the bathroom. I open the door to my bedroom and when he walks in, I close it behind us. I take the jacket I've had on since I got up off and slide under the soft covers off my queen-sized bed. I lift them up so he can get in.
He does and encircles me with his strong arms.
I curl my own arms around his waist and press my smooth forehead against his own. He smiles and I smile right back at him. We both let our eyes close and I allow myself sleep peacefully for the first time in over a year and a half.