Chapter 1

Welcome Home

I watched the blur of trees and fields as they slowly became engulfed in shadow as we sped home on our train. My blonde hair matted in the condensation of the window, my eyelids drooped as I fought to keep them open. Meanwhile, my thoughts ran in circles. What the hell am I going to do? When you had resigned your fate to death and then are unexpectedly dealt a new hand, how did you go on from that?

I entered the arena knowing in certainty only two things. One, that Katniss Everdean was going home and two, I was going to die. Nothing much else seemed to matter. So imagine my surprise when the game maker's game turned against them and they were forced to award the citizens two victors instead of one. It was an unprecedented event that no one saw coming. Therefore, no one really knew what to expect next.

Well no one, it seemed, except Haymitch Abernathy. His harried whispers in my ear before the final taped re-cap, before I was reunited with Katniss, or my "one true love", as they liked to call her. He mutteredc dire warnings as he seemed under the assumption that we were in all grave danger. That the capital would take anything and everything they could that mattered to us if we weren't careful, and even then, they'd still wreak havoc, any chance at a normal life was thrown out the window.

I shrug my shoulders and attempt to reposition myself into a different position. My hip aches with odd way my body is seated. I'm constantly trying to adjust my balance to accommodate my new metal appendage. I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss my old leg, my flesh, blood. I miss most of all being able to feel. You never realize how much you feel until it's gone. The only thing I feel anymore is pain. Every once in a while I am assaulted with sharp stabbing pains that feel just like the slice of Cato's sword and I go to grasp it only to realize there is nothing there but metal and plastic. Phantom pains are what the capital doctor called them. Great. Like having real pains wasn't enough.

Over the slow steady hum of the train and gentle rocking I hear crying. Not soft steady whimpers, but gut wrenching, primal screams. I stand up and steady myself against the window. I'm still not one hundred percent with keeping my balance and the unevenness of the surface below me always makes it worse. After a few unsteady steps my gait evens out and I push out of the train car and into the hall. The sound of the screams grows louder. My feet lead me to adoor, her door. Without thinking of the repercussions I open the door, quickly step inside and shut the door before anyone else is disturbed by the noise.

I make my way to her bed where she has tangled her legs in the sheets. Half the pillows are pushed haphazardly onto the floor and I have to slide my feet along to keep from falling over them. I kneel down to the bed and gently try to shake her awake.

"Katniss, wake up. You're dreaming." I feel a sudden grip on my wrist and I'm about to sigh in relief when suddenly my wrist is yanked out from under me and I'm thrown toward the headboard of the bed. My feet slam into the wall and a searing pain from my stump has me seeing black spots.

"Katniss?" I ask into the darkness. She is looming over me. I hear her gasp and her hand goes to her mouth.

"Oh my god, Peeta. I'm so sorry. I was sleeping and…" She stops mid-sentence when she sees my hands clutching my leg. "Oh my god, are you hurt are you…" She doesn't say okay. There is no way I will ever be okay, I don't think either of us will be.

"I think I'm fine, just smarts a little. Just give me a minute." I try to come of nonchalant . I think I almost manage it when I grunt out in pain as she leans in to have closer look.

"Should I go get someone?" She asked as the tears that were only threatening come spilling down her cheeks.

I'm saved from having to give her an answer as her door gets pushed open. "What is with all the racket in here. It's a good thing I wasn't trying to sleep." Haymitch doesn't wait for an invention and simply barges in the room. He takes one look at her all sweaty and the disheveled bed then to me and starts laughing. "Jeez sweetheart you can't be so rough in the bedroom if you want him to ever come back for more."

My face burns as I realize what he is insinuating. I glance at Katniss who looks lethal. "Ha ha Haymitch! I think Peeta's hurt his leg."

Haymitch immediately drops his joking demeanor and makes his way to the bed in two quick strides. "You alright Peeta?" I cannot take the sympathy as he looks down at me. I turn towards the wall to avoid either of their penetrating gazes.

"I don't know. It stings a little. I haven't looked at it. Don't really care to look at it to be honest. So just help me up and on my way."

I hear him sigh and then I feel his large palm on my shoulder the other hand grasping my hand. Katniss has scrambled up and attempted to help by pulling my other hand. I sit up and find that the black spots are receding at least. I'm shocked to notice that the train is slowing down.

I'm just about to voice this observation when I hear a cool "Arriving in district twelve" announced throughout the train.

"We're home" Katniss says with a small smile.

"Let's get you up kid." Haymitch calls our attention back to the task at hand.

They both give me a tug to get me verticle. They just let go of my hands when the pain stabs again and I fall into Haymitch's arms.

"Wonderful." The train jerks to a stop and I fall the rest of the way to the floor. Welcome home Peeta.