A/N: Okay, so here's the deal. After re-reading Not All Who Wander Are Lost (BTW it's really weird reading your own writing), I've come to the conclusion that the current storyline was played out. I really had no more ideas, and I felt I was getting a bit repetitive.

So, after a long conversation with one of my old climbing buddies, I came up with the idea for a third storyline set in the same AU. It takes place two years after the events of NAWWAL. I'll be utilizing flashbacks of their life in Maine, but this story will be getting back to a lot of climbing.

I really hope you guys enjoy this. I might go back one day and write a short epilogue or something, but for right now I'm going to mark Not All Who Wander Are Lost as complete.

Please read and review. Let me know if you like the idea of this story, and if you'd like to see it continue. Unfortunately, I will not be able to write at the pace I used to, but if this story gets enough of a reception I will make an effort to post regularly.

Thanks, and enjoy!

Peeta

The wind is snapping against the fabric of the tent. We've had to keep our feet up against it at times so it doesn't collapse on us. Katniss thinks it's at least sixty mile-an-hour gusts. I'm forced to agree with her. We're lucky our tent hasn't blown right off the side of the mountain, even with us and all of our gear inside of it.

We've been stuck here for almost a day and a half. The storm snuck up on us and before we knew it, we had to stop and seek shelter. We haven't been able to do much except wait, dig ourselves out so we don't suffocate, and conserve resources.

I'm boiling some snow for water while Katniss, again, takes inventory of what we have. It's not much. Two sleeping bags, one WhisperLite stove with enough gas for a few days, one long rope with various climbing gear, two harnesses, our personal clothes, boots, signal mirror, compass, map, first-aid kit, our knives, one pot, and meager rations.

I hear my wife sigh heavily. We're up shit's creek.

One week earlier

Grabbing a mug of coffee for Katniss and a sippy cup of apple juice for Cam, I make my way out onto the deck. The sun is beginning to set, and this is Cam's favorite time of day.

"There's daddy!" Cam, who's almost two, exclaims when she notices me from her perch in her mother's lap.

"Daddy better have mommy's coffee," Katniss snarks.

"My ladies," I say with a flourish as I hand them their respective drinks. "Miss Mellark, have you made sure you have everything you need for when grandma picks you up tomorrow?" I ask Cam.

"Yes, daddy," she nods seriously, the resolute set of her jawline reminding me of Katniss more and more each day.

"Good," I ruffle her hair and she giggles.

"Speaking of, is our gear squared away?" Katniss asks, stealing a sip of Cam's apple juice to the toddler's chagrin.

"Yep," I smile. "I just wasn't sure about a few items of your clothing."

Katniss returns my smile, understanding my meaning. Even after almost three years of marriage and a still very healthy sex life, I sometimes get a little shy around my wife's more intimate garments.

"Mommy how long will you and daddy be gone?"

Katniss looks down at Cam, who's still in her lap with her back to her mother, nestled in. Even though her eyes have stayed blue like mine, I can't help seeing a carbon copy of Katniss. Cam has parts of both of us – she's incredibly precocious, but can be a little guarded around new people. She's inquisitive. Sometimes we think she'll never stop asking us questions.

"Not too long baby," Katniss soothes, smoothing down Cam's unruly brunette locks. "I promise."

Cam smiles at that. In our house, if you make a promise, you keep it. No discussion. Cam knows if she promises us she'll clean up her toys, she's going to do it. If we promise to take her sailing or to go see her grandparents, she knows we'll do it.

"Where are you going?" Cam asks, this time the question directed at me. We've told her probably a hundred times already, but I can't bring myself to be annoyed in the slightest.

"Alaska, sprout. Mommy and I are going to Alaska."

"Peeta, it's boiling over!" Katniss' plea brings me back to the present.

"Shit!" I quickly turn down the gas before we add another problem to our already growing list.

"Where was your mind baby?" She asks pointedly. There's no use denying it, not when she uses that tone.

"Home. Cam," I shrug.

She moves next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and leaning her head down onto me.

"I know," she whispers. "We'll see her soon, Peeta."

"Kat, we're stranded in the Alaskan wilderness, on the side of a mountain that doesn't even have a name. Our radio is broken, we're running out of food, and this storm doesn't look like it's letting up anytime soon."

She lifts her head up, looks at me, and promptly rolls her eyes.

"I know all that," she insists. "We will get out of here, Peeta."

Katniss

This is bad. Really bad. I've been in tough spots on mountains before, but this certainly takes the cake. I know Peeta is freaking out, and frankly so am I. Yet us having a simultaneous meltdown right now won't help in the slightest, so I have to keep him calm. Hopefully if he's calm, I will be too. Hopefully.

I know now why it took us so long to decide to even come here. I mean, I always knew the reason we were hesitant, but it's come into clear focus. After Cam was born, we pretty much stayed around Panem and Maine. We were so busy and, honestly, tired that climbing was the last thing on our minds. We didn't care, our family will always take first priority.

After Cam started to grow up, though, we agreed after awhile that we needed a vacation. Sure, we've taken Cam on trips to Portland to see her aunts and uncles, to the beach, and out on the lake. But Peeta and I needed some time for each other. When I got pregnant with Cam, we hadn't been together for very long. Once she arrived, all of our time was, rightfully, devoted to her.

We knew leaving her, even if it's only for a little while, would be hard. Actually, hard is not an adequate word. It was near impossible. And it terrified me a lot more than I'd like to admit.

Kind of like the first time we left Cam at home and tried to go on a date.

"Kat, we should get going."

He's right, of course. We're already dressed and my mom is already here, but I can't seem to put down my baby. She's fast asleep in my arms. Peeta is standing in the door to her nursery, leaning against the frame, a small smile on his face.

"What if she wakes up?"

"Then your mom will take care of her," he answers softly. "Come on, we promised ourselves a night out."

"I know," I nod, looking down at Cam. I still make no move to relinquish her.

After a couple more moments, I sigh and gently put her in her crib, tucking her in with the blanket her Aunt Prim gave her. I place her favorite teddy bear, a present from Haymitch, next to her. Taking one last long look at her, I take Peeta's offered hand and shut the door behind us.

"I don't want to see you two before midnight," my mom half-teases as we head to the garage.

"I'll take care of her, I promise," Peeta grins.

"Oh, I know that," she waves him off with a grin.

"Mom, sometimes she throws off her blanket when she's sleeping," I tell her for the thousandth time. "And when you're feeding her, sing Jack Johnson or some Bob Marley."

"Katniss," she stops me in a well, motherly, tone. "Don't worry."

I nod, even though we all know that I'm going to worry no matter what.

I'm silent as Peeta drives to the restaurant, obviously thinking about my baby girl and the fact that I'm not with her.

"What if she wakes up and we're not there?"

"Kat," Peeta tries.

"No, Peeta, I'm her mother. I'm supposed to protect her. Be there for her."

"You are. Nobody doubts that. You're the best mom in the world."

"But I just left her! For what?"

Oh god, what did I just blurt out. Peeta's silence is deafening. Finally, after a few tense moments, he speaks.

"Do you want me to turn around?"

The hurt in his voice is unmistakeable. I feel absolutely awful. I already think I don't give him enough anymore. Most of my time and effort is dedicated to Cam. At the end the day, I'm usually pretty tired, and Peeta always does everything he can to help me. I know he needs this. I know we both do. I never thought it would be easy raising a family, but I never want Peeta to feel the way I know he does right now.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, reaching over and lightly running my fingers through the hair on the back of his head. "I'm a terrible wife."

Peeta pulls the car into a spot, and I notice we've made it to the restaurant. I'm just not sure if he even wants to eat dinner with me anymore.

He shuts off the ignition and lets out an audible sigh. I stay silent. I don't want to dig myself into a deeper hole than the one I'm currently in.

"I never want to hear you say that again."

His voice is resolute, steely. It makes love and affection and pride and all kinds of emotions swell up inside of me. He's defending me – to me.

"You are, without a doubt, the greatest wife in the world." I almost scoff out loud and he slightly narrows his eyes at me. "I'd appreciate it if you didn't insult my wife. She happens to be a wonderful wife and an even better mother."

"Peeta."

"Kat, it's okay," he soothes, grabbing my hand from his neck and intertwining our fingers. "I know this is hard. It's hard for me too, but you're her mother. Your connection is undeniable. It's genetic. Of course you hate leaving her. But we have to start somewhere, right? We have to trust she's going to be okay if she's out of our sight. Plus, I think we got a pretty good babysitter."

He's right, as usual. It is hard, and I selfishly didn't even think about how hard it is on him. He's been so patient with both of us. He never complains when he has to wake up to change or feed Cam. He never says a word when I'm too tired to have sex, he doesn't even ask. In fact, I have to initiate almost all of our lovemaking now.

"I miss her too." His voice is so quiet I almost don't hear him.

"I love you." I lean over and give him a kiss on the cheek. "Come on, husband, take me out for a night on the town."

"I'm not sure how much action we'll see here in Panem, but I'll give it my best shot."

After that night, it didn't get easier, but we forced ourselves to take time for us. It was actually a combination of most of our friends and families that urged to us to take this trip. Even though we felt guilty admitting it at first, we both missed climbing. Not only was it our shared passion, it was how we met. Our relationship formed in the tiny confines of a tent and on the tallest mountain on earth.

Now, it's all gone to shit. We have to call upon all of our training, all of our experience, to find a way out of this. At first, we hoped it was just a storm and that it would pass in time. It became apparent quickly that not only do we have to hunker down, we have to go into survival mode to even have enough food to walk out of here alive.

"Peeta?"

"Hmm?" He's brewing me some tea, something we have a fair amount of.

"I love you."

He turns to me, and even in the midst of all this, he smiles and I can plainly see the love in his eyes.

"I love you too."

"Good. Now use that big brain of yours and get us home to our daughter."