War changes everything for those who manage to survive it. The Great War tore a generation of young men away from safety and into a blood bath. A false sense of peace swept the world for a few decades before a war that has been fought on a scale that has never been seen in the history of humanity. There are no victors in the second Great War, only survivors, The men who returned home from this tragic war returned a shell of the men the once were. The greatest generation had secured peace in Europe at a steep price.

Peeta Mellark, a war hero and survivor, returned home from the pacific no different than his brothers. He is broken and traumatized young man who watched his closest friends and brothers die on a beach for a reason he can't begin to understand. A shroud of grief has surrounded the war hero, causing him to change from the happy, upbeat kid everybody knows him as, to a quiet, isolated, and mentally wounded hero.

Peeta awoke from his tumultuous slumber with sweat pouring down his face. Every night he closes his eyes and tries to dream, he relives all of horrible things that happened to him during the war. This nightmare was the worst one by far. He had to relive the moment where he held his brother on the sands of Iwo Jima, chocking on his own blood in several different pieces. Peeta watched the light drain from his eyes as his brother passed on to a place that no person has ever come back from. Moments after his brother took his last breathe his squadron was ambushed. He watched as his friends were either gunned down or impaled with a bayonet. After watching his child hood friend cut in half he woke up in a haze.

Peeta managed to shake off the terrible memory and walk to his bathroom. Peeta lives in a single apartment next to his family's bakery. Peeta has been back a couple of days and everybody he once knew wanted to see him, talk to him, and congratulate him on his medal of honor. Peeta didn't want to see the friends he once loved; he just wanted to be alone with his thoughts. Peeta lost his ability to socialize with other people. He can't fit in with people anymore.

Peeta finished his blistering shower and put his clothes on. Peeta made a quick breakfast and walked out of his apartment. Peeta likes to go on long walks around the town of Panam, not only to bask in the silience, but to isolate himself with the community. Peeta, who feels like an outcast, makes sure to distance himself from people so he doesn't have to let them in emotionally, to save himself from the pain he felt from the war every time a person he cared about was brutally killed before his eyes.

Peeta, stuck in his haze of loneliness and mental torment, was walking around the outskirts of town like every other day since he had returned from battle. He suddenly overheard a shout in the distance. Peeta just ignored the sound and simply continued walking. Peeta believed in a certain level of privacy and left what was going on alone. This was the plan atleast till he heard a shriek and another pair of shouts. Slightly interested Peeta walks towards the commotion under the cover of the trees, what can he say old habits die hard.

As Peeta approached the now growing sounds he finally got a look at what was happening. Peeta saw a girl being grabbed by the collar with a red mark across her cheek and blood dribbling down her chin. The man holding her was yelling about something that Peeta couldn't hear from the distance he was from the two people. Peeta looked at the dark haired girl with a single braid; there was something eerily familiar about this girl.

Peeta sees the man cock his hand back again for another slap. He decides, for some reason he can't explain, to intervene and protect this girl who is dressed in men's clothing, making this women a whole lot more interesting. Before the older man with snow grey hair can make contact Peeta calmly walks forward and addresses the man.

"Beating women is not very chivalrous" Peeta says calmly

The man and the girl immediately shoot their eyes in his direction. The older guy lowers his hand and for some reason seems to chuckle at the comment.

"Boy, you better walk away before I make you regret intervening. Go back home to your parents, Mr. War Hero."

This man seems to know much about him. This irks Peeta because this man seems to know a lot about him but Peeta can't recall meeting him before. It isn't as surprising because when Peeta returned home the word of his "Courageous" deeds in the war spread like wildfire. He hated the term hero because he believed that his brothers that laid dead on the battlefield were the real heros and not the ones who made it home.

The girl looked panicked when she say this him. This made him a little confused because he can't really remember meeting her. But then again he doesn't remember a lot of people before the war, only the events in question and his arrival back from the front lines. The girl stops squirming and opens her mouth to speak but before words can leave her mouth another clap hits her cheek.

"Well that was very unfortunate" says Peeta. "Now I'm going to have to put you down right here and now."

Peeta calmly walks towards the man holding the now limp girl. He releases her and squares up his shoulders. The old man smiles and responds to Peeta in what appears to be a joyous manner which makes this situation a lot more confusing.

"Looks like I'm going to have to beat the lights out of our precious home town hero"

As Peeta gets within spitting distance the old man throws the first punch. Being trained by the marines had some perks to it, especially in a street brawl. The first punch comes reeling at Peetas face. At the last second Peeta lazily puts one hand up and catches his fist right before it hit his face. The old Man's face turns from a wide smile to a shocked expression. Peeta pulls his arm forward causing him to stumble forward from the force. Peeta delivers a strong kick to the man's ribs, causing him to cringe forward. Peeta then delivers a strong upper cut to this man's jaw, causing his head to snap up in a brutal fashion. Peeta then delivers a strong right hook to the old man's jaw causing his eyes to roll back into his head and to fall to the ground unconscious.

After shaking out his fist, which burned from the fight, he looked over to see the girl on the ground nursing her jaw and staring right back at Peeta. She looks a little nervous because of what she saw the blond man just do to the bigger and stronger but older man. Peeta, who doesn't need a thank you or a good bye, turns around and continues his walk. Suddenly he hears foot steps behind him and turns around preparing to be stuck by the downed man only to find the girl standing behind him with a fire burning in her eyes.

She looks angry at him, which makes no sense to Peeta but then again people don't make sense to him after the things he just went through. Peeta cocks his brow in confusion waiting for this girl to say something.

"I can take care of myself, I didn't need you help and I certainly didn't want it."

Instead of feeding into this girl Peeta decided to take the high road and turn around to walk away. He turned eighty percent of the way until his shoulder was grabbed and he was flung back around. He looked back at the girls face and the emotions displayed were different from anger. He saw sadness and ultimately a quivering girl.

"My name is Katniss", the young girl whispers the young man. Peeta doesn't know what to say to the young girl. He is afraid of introducing himself and becoming attached to the girl. The blond haired boy finally managed to collect his thoughts a respond to the dark haired girl.

"Nice to meet you, I should be on my way. Sorry for bothering you." Peeta quickly turned and walked away leaving a confused girl staring at his back. Peeta continued on his walk like nothing had ever happen. Trying to deal with the darkness that consumes his heart and soul Peeta is unsuccessful and after a couple of hours turns around and begins his journey back home.

As Peeta approaches his home the sun begins to set and darkness looms overhead. He turns left onto his street and notices a dark figure sitting on the steps of his porch. Peeta carefully approaches the dark figure, unseen and unheard. He uses that darkness to his advantage and slowly creeps up on the unsuspecting individual. Once he only a few feet away from the shady figure he slowly starts to recognize her.

It dawns on Peeta that the woman sitting on his steps seems to be that Katniss girl from earlier. Skeptical of what she is doing in at his house he slowly approaches her. Once he is a foot away he makes his presence known.

"Can I help you" Peeta sees the olive skinned girl jerk her head in his direction. With a surprised look on her face she begins to stand. Her expression turns from surprise to neutral in a heartbeat.

"I wanted to thank you for helping me earlier. That man has harassed me many times and this time he was about to do something unforgivable." Peeta notices as she talks she stares at the ground with a blush on her face.

"You don't have to thank me Ms. Katniss. I was just helping somebody in need. Anybody else would of done that. Now if you excuse me I am a little tired from my long walk and would like to turn in for the night" Peeta has already said too many things to this girl already.

"I would like to know if you would maybe want to grab a cup of coffee together or go for a walk. You intrigue me Mr…."

"Peeta Mellark"

"Mr. Mellark. I would like to spend some time with you if that's ok."

Peeta hasn't been put in this situation in a long time. Accepting her offer would mean he has the potential to find happiness in his life. It also opens up the door to the potential pain and heart break that he can't experience again.

"What would a girl like you want with a man like me." Honesty seems like the best route to escape this predicament. " I am only a shell of the man I once was. Sorry but I can't risk letting somebody back into my life. The last people I cared about are laying in the ground forever. I'm sorry Katniss but I will have to decline. Have a great night and I do hope you find happiness with a man worth your time."

Peeta sees sadness and shock on her face. Before she can respond he bolts past her and enters his single apartment. Peeta falls asleep thinking of this girl that he had just meet. Unfortunately his thoughts of her aren't enough to save him from his nightmares. The next few hours are like the same every night. His own personal Hell.