1. Still Needed

I stared at the book that was now complete. The book that held so many memories that couldn't be altered or lost. Its hard cover was worn down from five years of use. Peeta and I had spent many endless hours on this object, sometimes even full days. As I fingered through the pages of it, I felt more complete. This was just one more step towards trying to heal myself. Of course, I would never be fully healed; it would be ridiculous to think that. However, looking through this completed set of pages helped bring some closure. It helped remind me that there was no more starvation. No more Rebellion. No more Hunger Games.

I continued to look over the pages until I was brought to a certain one: The page that was so carefully written on in my handwriting, so delicately drawn on, and had featured Prim and Gale.

I was instantly reminded of the warm air and Gale lifting Prim up so that she sat on his shoulders. He twirled her around and she laughed. I sat back on the grass of the meadow, soaking up the sun on the perfect Saturday. Once I heard Prim's mellifluous squeaks of laughter, I couldn't help but smile to myself.

I quickly shut the book and stacked it onto the polished desk where my mother and Prim normally worked. A tear leaked out of my eye, but I didn't wipe it away. I just glanced around the study, remembering the conversation with President Snow and the disgusting scent the roses left behind.

After a long time, I stood up and walked out the door of the study, silently closing the door behind me. I walked down the hall towards the living room where I finally lay down on the couch and continued to cry. I was praying for Peeta to decide to come home early from the bakery.

It wasn't long before I heard footsteps coming up the front door steps and the turn of the door knob. I was full of relief when I saw Peeta coming through the door. He caught my eye and realized that I had been crying. "Katniss?" He immediately ran over to me, even with his muddy boots on, and gathered me in his arms.

I continued to cry into his shoulder for a couple minutes. We were silent, apart from my sobs, as Peeta stroked my back and played with my hair. After a while, the pressure of his fingers on my back helped me relax and I let out a tired sigh. Peeta caught it.

"Let's get you upstairs," he said. He was pulling away and getting ready to help me up to bed, but I quickly grabbed his hand.

"No. Stay here with me," I whispered.

I patted a small space on the couch next to me. Peeta hesitated and gave a glance at the stairs. I knew he was thinking that it was better for me to just go upstairs and sleep on the bed, but he gave up after a few seconds and crawled in next to me. His arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me closer to him as we squeezed ourselves onto the small couch. I heard Peeta sigh as he dug his head into the crook of my neck.

"I missed you," he said, his voice muffled in my shirt. I let out a little laugh after I sniffed, finally able to stop crying.

"I was with you this morning." I smiled as I gently played with the little strands of Peeta's blond hair.

"Yeah, and it still wasn't enough," muttered Peeta.

We became silent. I just continued to play with Peeta's hair while his breathing slowed. I knew he was falling asleep. This was our routine. I even started to hum. Eventually, I fell asleep, too.

I was at a place that I had never been to before. I was in the middle of a path. Four paths, actually. They all intersected at one point. I looked around. There was nothing in sight, just the endless paths that spread out in four different directions. There were mountains in the distance, but no buildings or people.

"Katniss."

I snapped my head in the direction of the familiar voice. I was staring right into the beautiful blue eyes of Prim. I couldn't do anything. Seeing her made me paralyzed. She was supposed to be dead. So why was she standing before me smiling and happy?

"Prim," I eventually managed to choke out. She gave a bigger smile.

"I was hoping I would run into you one of these times," she said. "I didn't expect it to take this long, but I'm glad it finally came."

I gave her a perplexed look. "Didn't expect what?"

"Our final goodbye," she stated simply.

I shook my head and ran over to her and pulled her into my arms. She returned the embrace, resting her head on my chest.

"No. I will never let go of you," I told her. "You're safe now."

I could feel Prim shake her head and she started to pull away. I wouldn't let her, though. I held her tighter. It didn't matter, though, because somehow she still managed to get out of my arms and walk back a few steps.

"Katniss, it's time for me to go." What? She couldn't go. She was here now! Why wouldn't she want to stay here with me?

I became frantic. I started walking towards Prim so I could gather her into my arms again, but every step I took towards her sent her back five more. I didn't understand. She never wanted me to leave. I needed her like she needed me. We needed each other.

"No, Prim. I need you here with me. Come back for me! For our mother!" I begged. I was hysterical. I couldn't think about anything other than the fact that Prim was right here in front of me, but she wouldn't come closer. I couldn't do anything about it.

"Listen," whispered Prim. "You're strong, just like I always knew you were." She said this with a smile, but I didn't smile back. "You're needed here."

I shook my head and began to interrupt. "But everything is over! There is nothing left for me to do!"

Prim stepped closer to me, but not close enough for me to reach her. She continued to smile, but I saw a small tear slip away from her eye. "Are you sure?"

I thought for a moment. The Rebellion was over. I nodded. There was no use for the Mockingjay anymore. She could barely keep her sanity, she killed Coin instead of Snow, she almost committed suicide, she has nightmares every night, and she wasn't strong, not anymore at least. "No one needs me."

Prim's smile faded. "You're wrong. There is so much more that you still need to do. But don't worry, I'll always be waiting for you."

Prim pressed her three middle fingers to her lips and then raised them in the air facing me. She gave a big smile as she saluted me. Then she started to slowly slip away as she took one of the paths to nowhere.

I ran after her screaming, "Prim! Prim! Come back!"

It was too late. She was already gone. I heard her say my name over and over again. Katniss. Katniss, wake up. Wake up.

"Katniss!"

I sat up extremely fast and felt a wave of nausea hit me. I had just enough time to turn over and vomit on the floor. I continued to vomit, grimacing at the burning sensation in my throat. I was reminded again of the scent of Snow's roses and the sight of Prim being blown into bits. My mind was suddenly running through all of these memories and couldn't stop. I gripped the hand that was holding onto mine so tightly that I was sure I was causing pain. I made more puddles of vomit as I continued to be disgusted with all the terrible things that I've seen.

"Stop, stop, stop," I begged repeatedly.

I was vaguely aware of Peeta's other hand rubbing my back. I shut my eyes, trying to get rid of my massive headache. After a few minutes, I quit vomiting and focused on controlling my short, ragged breaths. I tried to calm myself.

"It's okay, Katniss. You'll be fine."

I leaned my forehead on Peeta's shoulders and his arms wrapped around me. He gently rocked me and I started shaking my head. He shouldn't have been taking care of me; I had just had a bad dream, that was all. He was the one that I needed to look over. I tried to straighten out and tell Peeta that I was fine, but all of my limbs felt so heavy.

"Let's get you to bed," whispered Peeta into my ear.

I tried to get up on my own, but I lost my balance and leaned into Peeta. He picked me up into his arms and carried me up to the bedroom. Once we got there, Peeta helped me change out of my vomit-covered clothes and then tucked me into bed. Peeta went to the bathroom and brought me back a cool, wet cloth and put it over my eyes. I sighed in relief.

"Peeta, don't leave me," I whispered as I heard him leave the room.

I could feel Peeta's lips right in front of mine, his warm breath on my face. "I'll be right back, I promise."

He quickly kissed my cheek and I felt him stroke my hair before he left. It didn't matter what time he came back to bed because I was already entering the darkness that came as soon as he left.

Hello, everyone!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. Hillary Izzy Blair and I (tonks-quinn57) have decided to collaborate and write a Hunger Games FanFiction! This is my first time writing a Hunger Games FF, but it isn't for HIB. Please, check out HIB's stories.

HIB and I will be updating once a week. We've already started to begin the seventh chapter, so hopefully no updating issues will occur!

Oh! Don't forget to review! We would love to know what you think. If you have any suggestions, comments, questions, or advice, please let us know! See you next week!

tonks-quinn57 & Hillary Izzy Blair