Her eyes gazed out of the front of her homes window, looking at the dying crowd of people standing in the bakery across the way. Artemis pressed her lips against the glass, taking in the cool water she had poured for her and her two friends.

Unlike Beau and Linden, she was unable to get over the fact that she was blatantly ignored by her best friend. She turned on her heel, huffing out a sigh and she turned her attention to the two boys, resting on the couch, debating on what would happen if the games just suddenly stopped. "What if we refused to have children?" Linden suggested as Artemis sat beside him, placing her glass on the table in front of her. "I have a feeling we'd be forced to have children. Consensual or not. Have you seen the girls that line up outside of Darius's? One of them is bound to have a product of his seed," Beau replied.

"The word you're looking for is 'child', Beau," Artemis added on sarcastically, her eyes slowly drifting towards the window to look at the bakery. Beau shook his head in response with a grunt. He was always a pessimist. Nothing good could come for free, kind of person. He was right about the Games. He was right to worry that day. He was right that Peeta would change. But he was wrong about him not coming home. It was something she was going to hold above him if he strained their relationship.

The door to the house propped open, and her parents along with her sisters strolled through the door. They were off at the bakery, trying to get Peeta's attention. From the sour looks on their faces, it didn't go as planned. Katherine had a noticeable pout as she placed herself on the other side of Linden, her arms crossed her chest as she gazed out of the same window as her sister. Artemis took notice that Liden changed his relaxed, slouchy posture to upright and polite as soon as Katherine sat down. His eyes seemed to drink in her small figure which sent shivers down Artemis's spine. She didn't like how hungrily he looked at her sister.

"Didn't go as planned?" Beau questioned the pouty girl who huffed in response. "It's just like, why don't we get special treatment? We've known them for all of our lives. We should be top priority but no a Peacekeeper has to tell us to just say "Hi, congratulations" and then exit," she exclaimed, the obvious chip on her shoulder growing larger by every scalding second.

The newness of Peeta and Katniss would settle down soon, they wouldn't be treated like royalty and they'd go back to being regular people. Regular people who have killed people. Just plain murderers living amongst them. The Peeta that she'd known all her life had turned into a killer. Not by choice but by survival. The amount of people on the doorstep of the bakery made her stomach flip as she realized that the people there aren't just there to congratulate them on his win but also his murders.

He never brutally attacked anyone, he didn't shoot an arrow into somebody's heart. Perhaps some of the old Peeta was in him. Her father sat across from her, staring between her and the newcomer that he hadn't seen before. Of course, Linden looked out of place in their home. The olive toned skin, the dark hair, the Seam look. It wasn't something her family was used to. They were used to light colored hair, light colored eyes, fair skin to tan skin like herself.

She cleared her throat as she squirmed uncomfortably in his gaze. "Oh, this is Linden. He's a friend of mine," Artemis pointed at the lanky boy beside her, who blushed when he realized her father was staring at him while ogling his youngest daughter. "It's a pleasure," His voice cracked under the pressure of Torq's brooding gaze, causing Katherine to laugh a little. He felt even more embarrassed now. "How'd this happen?" Torq questioned his eldest.

Artemis's mind went blank, she couldn't let her father know how they met in the Hob. Not only was the black market illegal but her father would have her head if he found out she was going in there regularly. She could picture it now, the argument, the punishment, the rift that it would make. She was protecting her family by going there, her mother would understand, but she was also placing the household at risk and her father would have none of it.

"He's friends with Gale," she finally admitted, the sweat on the back of her neck began to pool up. "He frequents when I'm at work," She peered over to see him giving her a questionable look, to which she pinched him in side, hoping he wouldn't give away her like. He gently rubbed his side from where the stinging sensation was, soothing the throbbing pain. "We became acquaintances over time." She added with a forced smile on her face.

"I thought you said we were friends." Linden asked, his lips tugging into a frown. The look he gave her wasn't near as friendly as she thought he'd give her. It was scrutinized, and agitated that he had been brought into her like. "You heard wrong." She replied, not breaking the glare they we're sharing. She knew she was in the wrong but there was no way it was completely her fault.

If anything, it was the Capitol's fault for taking Katniss away. Actually everything was the Capitol's fault. "Look at them," Serena cooed as she approached Torq, draping her arm over his shoulder as she looked between Artemis and Linden. "They're bickering like a couple." The statement made Artemis choke on her own spit, while her face went bright with embarrassment. Linden couldn't help but smirk and place a hand over hers, to which she nudged away. "We're not a couple. We're far from it."

"Darling, you shouldn't have to hide your feelings," Linden pushes, puckering his lips in a teasing manner. Artemis rolls her eyes at the gesture, she can feel her brow tense from the stress he was causing. "Oh, you're just loving this," she hisses out from underneath her breath, making sure that Linden was the only one to hear her.

"So do you visit Artemis when she's at work?" Serena questions, sitting across the way from the new face. "When she's at what?" Linden repeats, wanting clarification. Artemis's heartbeat soars. The anxiety was starting to take over. Her knee nudges Linden's, catching his gaze. "You know, when I'm at work doing laundry with Hazelle," Artemis's voice is strained as she answers with clarification. She would hope he caught the drift of what she was doing. Thankfully he does, raising his brows in surprise. "Uh, y-yeah. Sometimes," he covers for her, stammering in the process.

All Artemis could do was hope that her parents didn't have any further questions, she didn't know how long she could keep this up. More importantly, she didn't know how much longer Linden would last under the now ever present pressure. By the looks of it, he could crack at any moment. She can see the sweat starting to form on the side of his temple. "You know, it's going to be getting dark soon, maybe Linden should be getting home. Would hate for him to be out past curfew," Artemis quickly states, forcing herself up to her two feet and gripping tightly on to Linden's wrist, yanking him off the couch.

"Ah, yes, good heavens, the day flew by. It was nice meeting you, Linden. I look forward to seeing you more often," Serena's voice was ever pleasant. It was enough to make Artemis feel guilty ridden for lying to her. Linden returned the smile her mother had given him as he waved goodbye. Artemis quickly tugged on his wrist once more as they headed out the door.

They stood on the porch in silence for a moment. Neither one of them knew what to say to each other. As Artemis turned to snap at her friend she stopped herself as she examined him. Linden held his smug smirk for a little too long, long enough to make her irritated. She crossed her arms, her brows furrowing as she glared at the plucky boy. "What?" She bit out, her voice filled with annoyance. "Do you ever think before you talk?" he questions, this time his voice sounded defensive - almost like Gale when he was getting ready to lecture her about something. "How are you even going to get out of this? Because when Gale finds out he's going to be livid."

"What do you mean find out?"

"Art, you can't be serious," she rolls her eyes at the nickname. "You have to tell him. You're putting his family's name on the line,"

"Why does he need to know? It's not like he'd care. I'm invisible to him now," her tone is icy, obviously not liking the treatment Gale had displayed towards her earlier. Linden's eyes narrow at Artemis, as she scoffs at him. "He helped you in your time of need. Taught you how to survive. That's not something he'd do for anyone," Linden shoves his hands in his front pockets, slowly backing off the porch, leaving Artemis to sit on those words. It obviously had an effect on her. He could see her mind ticking away at them. "It's the least you can do," with that, Linden turns on his heel and heads away from Merchant Square leaving Artemis and her mind gnawing at what he had just said.

~ PART ONE: THE HUNGER GAMES ~

Artemis tosses and turns in her bed, her mind still running to what Linden had said to her earlier. It wasn't her intention to lie to her family, nor was it ever her intention of getting Gale involved. If only things weren't complicated. If only her family could easily see that when she went to the woods and to The Hob that she was providing for them. She groans at Linden's words.

Her mind now felt even guiltier than what it had before. She could always say she got fired, or let go. But what's to stop her mother or father asking Hazelle what the problem was? How was she supposed to know that Hazelle and her mother were once good friends? It wasn't like she talked about it. Every situation she could think of seemed to point south. If she told Gale, he'd be pissed. If she told her parents the truth, they would be furious. And if anyone found out she was really sneaking out beyond the fence, she'd be faced with death charges.

Once again she groans to herself, cursing her big mouth. Her feet plant themselves on the cool wooden floor of her room. She paces over to her window and opens it, letting the cool night air drift into her room. Maybe if she got fresh air she could clear her conscious. Her eyes drift across the way towards the bakery, all of its lights shut off due to the power being cut off. No traces of candle light anywhere.

Even though Peeta had returned home, it was like she was looking at a Peeta-less house. She wishes things could go back to how things used to be. Where she didn't know Gale, where Peeta wasn't famous and she could just talk to him. Her fingers tap the edge of the windowsill as she sighs, eyes remaining focused on the bakery. She gnaws at her bottom lip as she sticks her head out of the window, craning it from side to side for any sign of Peacekeepers. They weren't usually up around this time and even if they were Merchant Square was one of the last places they would come to. It seemed rather odd none were stationed outside of the bakery but in Artemis's case she was thankful.

Her mind was made up. She needed to talk to Peeta. Now, she hadn't snuck out through her window in quite some time and hoped that she was still nimble enough to do it. She carefully edges herself out of the window and onto the small roof covering the porch, being careful as to not make a sound while doing so. It was easier as a kid since she weighed less.

She dangles off of the edge of the roof, bracing herself as she hops down to the dirt area of the road that passed through Merchant Square. Her hands burned at the unpleasant sensation of holding on to the wood for quite some time. She didn't have time to think about that. Panic floods her blood as she crosses the road. Being out past curfew was a blatant violation of the law and if she was caught it would be her neck. Even with no threat of Peacekeepers being around it still made her anxious.

She was almost in the clear as she hopped the small fence surrounding the bakery, being extra careful to not disturb the pigs. Once again her bottom lip found itself tucked under she teeth as she gazes up at the room on the second floor of the house. Hopefully, this is where he still resided. Hopefully he wasn't in his new house quite yet. The thought of her doing something as stupid as this and him not even being at the house hit her as soon as she started to shiny her way up towards the window.

She grumbles to herself as she tries to open the window, something about her being a stupid idea. It was. But she was almost there so there was no turning back now. She groans as she hoists herself through the window, entering with a small, accidental, thump. This alerts the other person in the room, Peeta, as he jumps up from his bed startled. Fists balled by his sides as a feral look overtakes him completely.

Artemis quickly raises her hands at her sides. "Whoa! Whoa! It's just me!" she whispers - almost raising her voice to a shout if necessary. She didn't recognize how terrifying this experience could be but knowing what he could've gone through and what he was capable of now scared her. Is this the same Peeta?

His eyes appeared to be foggy from the sleep deprivation but guarded as he watched her every movement. She could feel sweat building up on the back of her neck out of nervousness, coming back from the Games he could be unpredictable. She placed herself on the small mattress, it squeaked at the sudden weight, her eyes never leaving his. She couldn't believe that her Peeta was gone, she could swear she could see him in the reflection of his eyes as he kept his gaze focused on her. She gently patted the bed, wanting him to have a seat next to her. He didn't move. "Peeta, you look tired. You need sleep,"

"I can't," is all he can say, voice barely above a whisper which held a defensive tone to it yet at the same time it was almost as terrified as she felt at the moment. He looked horrible. It made her heart clench as she saw how distraught he looked. Here she was thinking she was going to unload all her problems on him but she couldn't do that. Not when he's like this.

"I can figure," She stated, pressing her lips in a fine line. "That's why I'm here," she half lies. Peeta's eyes are still guarded as she remains planted on his bed with no signs of moving any time soon. "I know it's hard for you to trust anyone right now but, you're home and I'm still me." Her hand instinctively placed itself across her chest as she addressed herself.

She hoisted herself off the bed, and attempted to cross over to him but he held up a hand. "Stay where you are," he demanded, his tone was cautious and scared. She swore she heard a tremble but that might have been her. Her brows furrowed in confusion as she stopped dead in her tracks. It was as if he didn't recognize her, as if he thought she was an enemy. This hurt her far worse than watching him be in the Games. She could feel an aching pain in her chest that made tears prickle in her eyes, it took a lot to hold them back from rolling down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry. This was a bad idea," she murmured, huffing out a soft sigh. She turned towards the window that she had climbed into. It was a mistake to come see him. She could still feel his gaze fixated on her as she tried fumbling with the edge of the window she was retreating out of. "Wait," he spoke up. She turned back, surprised that he was actually speaking in a non-defensive tone, only to be more taken back when he paced over and held her hand tightly. "I should be the one who's sorry," He gave her hand a squeeze. "I'm not meaning to snap. It's just hard-"

"To get used to being back," she cuts him off, earning a surprised look from the victor. For a split second, this seemed like the old Peeta. Just surprised at anything. It almost brought a smile to her face. "Look, I don't understand everything that you went through but I want you to know that Beau and I are here to help you get through it. You're my best friend," A soft smile played on her lips as she gazed into Peeta's hurt-filled eyes.

Granted he still looked on edge but she saw the Peeta she once knew hiding in his eyes. The Peeta she knew would ask for help and that exactly what he was doing. "Will you stay?" he whispered, breaking the silence in the small room. Her heart started to beat a little faster, the closeness of him, they way his voice rasped with his question.

As the gentle, warm, breeze blew across her body she brought herself back to reality with a head shake to clear her thoughts. She didn't nod in agreement, she simply took off her shoes, not breaking the contact in fear that she may lose the man she once knew again. She watched his shoulders automatically slump in relaxation as he gazed down at her bare feet on the wooden floor, then he made his way over to the bed, creaking his way closest to the wall.

Artemis followed, draping herself in the soft sheets of the bed and placing her head beside his on the pillow. She was his protector for tonight, she would make sure nothing would happen to him while she was around. "Thank you," he whispered, his eyes beginning to close as she nodded her head.

She couldn't help but lay there with her hands intertwined across her waist, staring up at the sloping ceiling of his room while she listened to his deep breaths of sleep. Thoughts of her being young, and pressing her lips to his at the age of nine ran rampant through the her mind. She felt too eager to want to press her body into his in an embrace at the moment but restrained herself from doing so.

He was in love with someone else. He had always been in love with someone else. Thinking about him all time, worrying and crying for him, and now protecting him. She flipped over on her side, facing away from him and looking out towards the center of the room as another breeze drifted in. She felt the need to shout in frustration as she thought of him even more. This was something a friend shouldn't do.