Peeta's P.O.V

"Isn't this illegal?" I ask Prim as she takes me into the woods.

She glances at me before going around a bush, still crouching to not be seen. "That's the reason we are hiding, isn't it? Come on,"

We walk in silence for a few minutes before Prim breaks it. "Tell me more about your dreams," she says.

I give her a confused look, "I can't remember much. It's all fuzzy."

"But there must be something else, something else that stands out, maybe? Anything you can remember besides the woman."

I don't respond immediately, I let myself think, gather my thoughts. After trying to come up with something for a while, but to no avail, I give up. Shrugging, I say, "Nothing. Just the woman. But I feel.....attached to her in some way, a way I can't explain. I need to know who she is, the sensation is becoming overwhelming."

She nods but doesn't say anything for about another five minutes. "Look around here, does anything feel familiar? Anything?" her eyes are full of a hope I don't want to crush. So I try harder to remember, try harder to think but she stops me. "No, " she whispers, "don't pressurize yourself. Just...look." She puts her hands on my shoulders, gently and slowly spinning me around, making me take it all in.

When she stops, my heart does, too, for a moment, or at least it feels like it does. "I- I've been here before, " I begin, looking at Prim, who has a soft smile playing on her lips. "I remember coming here....with someone." Prim's smile widens until her eyes almost close because of her cheeks pressing upwards. She almost laughs, too.

"What's wrong?" I ask her, but she just shakes her head. She takes my hand again dragging me along with her towards another opening I can barely make out between the thicket of trees.

When we finally come to a halt, she let's go of my hand, but I don't really pay attention. The view stretching out before me is like nothing I have seen ever before. A beautiful lake, with perfectly clean water, reflecting our faces, slightly rippled because of the breeze. I shiver because of the cold and am so lost in my thoughts, I almost slip on the snow left behind by the blizzard yesterday. But as my mind processes it, my breath catches. No, I think. I have seen it before. I know I have. I'm sure of it. But I can't think of when I did.

This place is just as I think I remember it. The perfect shape of the lake, the perfect amount of trees surrounding it, the perfect amount of snow settled on the trees. Beautiful. But that is not the only thing that I think of.

It's the fact that I came here with someone. I gaze around, trying to get a hold of a hint- any hint- that gives away the information that my memory failed to give.

Who was it? Please let me know....I need to... At this point, I don't even know who I'm demanding answers from. I feel so frustrated for not knowing, for not being able to recollect, I can't think straight.

I look in the water to spot Prim's bemused and distant expression as she stares at me. I turn to her and ask, "What?"

"Nothing, do you know this place too?" she asks me.

"Yeah, I do. I remember coming here, but not alone. With someone....."

"You can't remember who it is, can you?

"No," I say. "I can't. I want to but I can't. I've been trying for so long—"

"It's okay, " she cuts me off, "don't worry, you'll remember soon. "

"Okay, " I murmur.

She looks at me with a smile, "Come on, I have one more thing to show you. "

I nod, following her as she takes me deeper into the woods.

++

Prim's P.O.V.

We reach the cabin and I knock before I enter.

"Hello?" I call out.

A baby's cry breaks the silence. I drop everything and rush up the stairs. I burst into the room and am caught off guard at the sight. A beautiful sight. Katniss and her baby. Well, Peeta's baby too.

"Prim," Katniss says.

I carefully approach her. I sit beside her and her child in her arms. They cling to her to the nutrients they need.

"I- Wow... they're beautiful, Katniss," I say.

"Yeah.. she is." Katniss says softly.

"Are you alright? Do you need anything? How did you do it all alone? I'm sorry I couldn't help. The storm came." I say.

"I feel a little funny... like I may pass out all the time, but I'm fine. She's fine too, I think." She says.

"Hmm. Set her down. Let me see what is going on." I say.

She nods and moves so I have access.

"I think I'll need Mother. We'll have to go back." I explain.

"But won't they be there?" She asks.

"I don't know, Katniss." I say. "But we need something that only mother has access to. I think something is very wrong."

She nods and moves to sit up.

"Here, uh.. I'll help." I hear Peeta say.

Katniss turns to see him. I see her expression change from the pain and loneliness to how she was before she had to leave.

"P-Peeta? Is.. that you?" She asks, her voice wavering with tears.

"Yeah..it's me. You're..Katniss?" He asks slowly.

"Yes. It's me. And our daughter, Peeta." She says.

I pick up the child gently while Peeta helps Katniss to her feet. She holds onto him tightly and I can't help but feel happy. Even though Peeta may not remember her, she needed this. She needs him. She needs to be whole. And I know they can get through this.

"We better leave now. I don't want you to get worse Katniss." I say.

She lets him go and nods while whipping her face of her tears.

"Help her so she doesnt fall, Peeta." I say.

"Okay.." He says unsure.

~

Peeta's P.O.V.

We walk through the woods, with Prim walking beside who she claims to be her sister—and my wife,—and has her niece—my daughter— in her hands. It's too much to take in, being a father and a husband and not knowing that. It's also a good thing, but I maintain a safe distance from Katniss. I catch her staring at me once in a while, and her face feels so familiar. I see the longing and pain in her beautiful gray eyes, and even though I want to help her, I can't.

We walk at a considerably slow pace because of Katniss's current health. On our way, all I can think of is that I have a family. Living for so long with Madge and her refusal to have kids, it's rather far-fetched, and having our own kids seemed impossible in the midst of all our fights. I wasn't really happy with her, anyway. And if what Prim said really is true, then why am I in denial? Isn't this what I always have wanted? A family? A happy one?

But could Katniss and I be happy? If the Capitol is really against us, are we even safe?

I'm broken out of my reverie by realising that we have reached the fence. But that is not the only thing, the three of us came to a halt rather abruptly, the reason being a peacekeeper standing just by the boundary, his back facing us. Prim and Katniss look at each other, with frantic expressions marking up their similar faces.

I stand there, unmoving, as the peacekeeper turns his head and spots us. His eyes widen until I'm sure they are as big as ours. Time seems to slow down and yet it feels like all of us are immobile, we don't move a muscle and just stand there as the peacekeepers come at us.

"Found them where we least expected them to, " One of the peacekeepers named Thom says, the commander of the peacekeepers, he is. "Thought this one would've died by now," Thom continues, nodding towards Katniss. "Didn't know survival could be easy in that wilderness."

By now, there are about a dozen peacekeepers waiting by the fence, with guns in their hands. There is no turning back now, even if we make a run for it, we'll be shot. And we can't risk that, but who knows what they will do to us once we are within their reach. Will our punishment be worse than death? From what Prim told me, mine surely was. If Katniss loves me as much as she says she does, isn't my memory loss painful for her?

"Come to this side of the fence. Now!" Thom shouts into the silence of the town, making me jump in surprise.

I take the first step, shocking myself, and the others follow. We continue with small and scared steps until we reach the fence, and once we do, we crawl underneath it. Prim being extra careful with...Willow...in her hands. None of us utters a word to each other.

One of the other peacekeepers turns to me and says, "Wasn't last time enough?" I don't really understand what he means, but don't say anything back and keep my gaze fixed on the ground. Thom gives him a look, and then he shuts up, appearing taken aback.

"You, come with me." Thom says to Katniss. He motions for Katniss to come to him, the way you would a dog. Katniss looks back and me, then to Prim. Thom follows her gaze. Katniss looks at Prim upon noticing that, he turns his attention to Prim saying, "You too." Prim complies looking down at Willow and holding her tighter.

Only after that does Katniss speak up, "No," She says, taking Willow from Prim and wrapping her arms around her protectively.

"Don't you dare try to deny us anything, woman. We have authority, we are already letting your child go, don't make us change our mind." Thom says through gritted teeth.

"I'm not leaving my daughter here." Katniss retorts, standing firm on her decision.

"Yes, you are. You can't make the decisions here, that's our job. Now hand that child of yours to your husband, we'll take care of you and your sister." This I know leaves Katniss no option. She has to abide by what Thom said, and doesn't look too happy with it.

She looks at me with pleading eyes. Eyes that hold so much hurt. "Please don't let anything happen to her. She's your daughter too. Please," I only nod and take Willow in my now trembling hands, holding her close. "Thank you," Katniss whispers, her eyes never leaving Willow's face. As if recognising the unfamiliarity of being in someone else's arms, Willow wakes up and starts crying. I see Katniss bite her lip, closing her eyes and looking away. Her fists come to her side, clenching and unclenching again.

"Take me," Katniss shrugs, looking the peacekeeper straight in the eye, not the slightest crack in her voice. Not the slightest hint of her being afraid. She holds Thom's gaze until he breaks it to talk to me.

"You can go home, boy. Do whatever you want with the child, don't bother us. We may be letting you go now, but we won't be so lenient again." Thom says, and I oblige, knowing there will be consequences if I don't.

I see one peacekeeper being assigned to Katniss and Prim, each. Both the peacekeepers stand behind either Katniss and Prim, pressing the tip of their guns into the girls' backs, urging them to move forward.

I look at them both one last time, searching for any sign of fright in their expressions, but find none. Admiring their courage, I walk on shaky legs towards home. I plan on handing over Willow to Ava. I know that is wrong because Katniss trusted me with her, but I can't let Madge get to know about anything. Not yet, anyways. She will eventually, and so will the others, but not yet. Not even when I am not sure of it myself.

Once during my saunter, I stop to truly look at Willow's face. She had stopped crying as soon as she started. The similarities of our faces is outrageous and only confirms my growing suspicions. I am her father. At least that is what I will believe until I either get Katniss back, or my memories. Or maybe both.

I arrive home and since Mom isn't around here at this time of the day, I'm spared of any harsh words or actions. Surprisingly, Ava is home, so it just makes my task easier. I carefully — so as to not wake anyone up— go to Ava's room and find her lying on the bed, looking at the ceiling in a strange manner, as if contemplating its existence and importance.

I whisper her name when I call her, not wanting to disturb any of the house member's sleep, or even Willow's. She looks at me, surprised and says, "Where were you?" Scrambling of the bed, she approaches me, but stops midway when she seen what I hold in my hands. "Peeta...." She whispers, "What..? Who...."

"Ava, look, I need your help." I begin, deciding to explain everything to her right at the moment. She takes the news better than I thought, and when I finish telling her everything, she has a calm expression on her face. "I know, " That shouldn't shock me — because she hasn't lost her memories and would know all that's happened — but it does.

"So, it's true?" I ask and she responds with a very curt yes.

I nod my head head and she holds out her hand, expecting me to pass Willow into them, do I do. "This is my niece" she declares happily to herself, not seeming to believe it. "I'm an aunt," She looks at me, laughing and loses herself in the joyous moments.

As much as I want my sister to be happy, and to be able to see her like this all the time, I also don't want to get caught. "Please take care of her," I tell Ava.

"I will, " she responds, giving me a smile. "In case mom asks, I will tell her that I am babysitting today."

"Thank you, Ava." I let out, overwhelmed with everything that has happened since the morning.

"You don't have to thank me, " She says, "Also, I want a favor."

What is it?" I ask.

"Can you go call Delly, too? I can use her help in handling Willow. I would get Delly myself, but I don't want to risk leaving Willow with you, and mom finding out. Or even Madge." She explains

"Yeah, I will." She smiles at me in response, and then I set out again, satisfied, knowing that Willow will be in safe hands.

~

"Wow, she's a cutie. Has your big nose." Ava says.

"Hey! My nose is not big." I say.

"Well, Ava is right about one thing. She's a really pretty baby." Delly says and waves a toy at her.

Willow giggles and tries to take it from Delly's hands.

"So....what are they going to do with The Everdeen's?" Ava asks me in a hushed voice.

"I...I don't know..." I say. "I.. still am trying to get my head around it all.. That I married Katniss. That Willow is my daughter. That I love her... "

~

"Do you hear that?" Ava asks me, whipping her head toward the direction of the noise.

"Yeah," I responded. There is a strange commotive sound coming from outside, like loads of people speaking at the same time.

Then suddenly, someone is knocking at the door, then there's a loud banging noise followed by voices of men shouting. The only words I can actually decipher are "out", "example" and "now".

The room has grown completely silent and I can hear nothing but the commotion outside. I see Delly and Ava intently listening to everything that's happening. Once the shouting ceases Delly speaks up, "I'll go look."

Ava nods at her in answer, taking Willow from Delly's hands and tries to quieten down the child's frightened cries. I stand up, too, not wanting her to go alone, in case something happens.

"I'll come with,'' I say out loud, as she nears the door, hand already on the doorknob.

"Okay, come." She shrugs. I give Ava one last look before exiting.

Approaching the front door — which has evidently been forced open — I can just barely make out a crowd gathering at the Square. It seems that Mom and Dad have already left the house and are on their way to the crowded area.

"Come out, you! Bring along everyone in that house of yours, too." I hear someone to my right say. It's only then that I realise that I am standing a foot away from a hysterical peacekeeper. When I stay there, my feet firmly planted to the ground, startled, and stare at him, he adds, "Now!" And that is enough to break me out of my brief trance.

I clear my throat before asking, "What for?" He rolls his eyes, muttering something under his breath. "Just come out and see for yourself," he spits out, looking away. As soon as he says that, he walks away to the house next to our bakery, probably to weird out the neighbors, too.

I turn to Delly and say, "Get Ava,"

"Okay, but what about Willow? You can't let your parents see her with you, right?" She asks.

"Can you take her? Maybe blend in with the crowd? That way it won't be as suspicious."

"Yeah." She answers, and disappears inside the house, coming back a minute later with Ava walking next to her and Willow in her arms.

The three of us — along with Willow — step out into the cool air and Delly tightens her arms around Willow.

We anxiously make our way through the bustle of the district. Passing people murmuring, pointing, frightened. Some even appear bored. A large number of people have gathered around here, so all I can see over people's heads is a metal pole strapped to the centre of the Square.

But as I near it, I get the idea that the scene isn't very pretty, my heart starts beating faster, and I can hear the blood pumping in my veins, adrenaline coursing through me. My pace quickens, leaving Ava and Delly slacking behind. But all my body knows now, is what's ahead of me. I push through the crowd to get a better look.

I freeze when the view before me presents itself. My mind goes blank, eyes go wide and — despite the cold — my palms go wet with sweat. I struggle to keep my balance as my body protests, wanting to go down.

Katniss has her wrists bound to the pole. Her shirt cast away, a bloody back. A peacekeeper stands right behind her, whip in hand. Seeing the marks on her back, she has received quite a few lashes already. I swallow hard, suddenly feeling sick. This is the woman who gave birth last night. Strapped to a pole, without her shirt — in the freezing cold winter, being whipped. And...my wife. The mother of my child.

I force my body to begin functioning again, step forward and say out loud, "No, stop!" But not before another strike lands on her, and she doesn't even make a sound. The peacekeeper jerks his head towards me, and I find myself standing between Katniss and him. "I-" I try to say something, but words fail me. "Stop, she's..." again, nothing comes out.

He shoves me hard, moving me out of the way, and I keep myself from stumbling over.

"Don't interrupt me, boy. Or you'll face worse than her." He says, glaring at me, so hard that it seems like he could burn holes through me. His gaze so intense, it felt like he could see inside me — and even past.

"Peeta...go." I hear a faint croak and turn my head to see Katniss attempting to speak. Her hair is in her face, which is covered in sweat. Her smokey grey eyes almost close, but she fights to keep them open. "Just...leave." She says.

And then I see Ava walking up to me. "Get out of here, boy. Before I change my mind about letting you go, get out." The peacekeeper says to me. Ava grabs me by my arm, dragging me back towards the crowd. I give her a helpless look, but she gives back a stern one, her eyes denying me to say anything else.

She turns to the peacekeeper, "I'm sorry. He doesn't know what he's doing, I apologise on behalf of him."

"This is the first and last time," The peacekeeper answers, and Ava nods.

I let her take me back to where everyone remains standing, and it's so quiet that I can hear my heart beating, and the sound of my footsteps along with Ava's. But my eyes never leave Katniss's.

And before I know it, we are amidst everyone, and the whipping has once again, begun. "What do you think you were doing, Peeta?" Ava asks me, tugging at my arm. My shoulders slouch, and I look at the ground, not being able to see Katniss whipped, or the look on Ava's face, or the look on everyone's face who's staring at me.

"I wanted to help. I couldn't just stand here. She's...she's my wife after all." The sound of the whip constantly hitting her back still continues, making me want to run inside my house, so that I wouldn't hear a thing. Not Ava lecturing me, not Katniss's muffled cries, not the indistinct murmuring of the crowd.

She rests her free hand on my shoulder, "You could've worsened it. And inflicted another punishment upon yourself, too." She says in a gentler tone.

"I'm sorry," I mumble. And finally, the whip comes to rest. I breathe a sigh of relief, at least there is no more block-out-agonised-cries. I can see my parents being one of the people staring at me, and my mother's eyes hold a look of disgust as she says something to my father.

I watch as a few people step forward, gather Katniss's almost lifeless body from the ground, and carry her home. I also see Gale being one of them.

"I think I should go see her," I say to Ava and she approves, wanting me to. "Take care of Willow, please."

"Don't worry, Peeta. I'll keep her safe."

~

I stand in the doorway of Katniss's house. The door is shut, but I can hear the bustle inside. The clatter of objects banging against each other, the shuffle of multiple, hurried footsteps, rushed words, orders flying everywhere. Then the door swings open, and a couple of unrecognisable faces exit the house, going past me.

I take this as an opportunity to walk in, immediately regretting my decision as Mrs. Everdeen stares at me in surprise, not knowing whether to usher me out or let me stay. I start walking backwards, and towards the door, but she stops me. "N-no, it's alright. You can stay." I nod. I look for Gale, expecting him to be standing somewhere here, shooting me looks of disgust, but I don't.

Then I notice Katniss lying on her front on the kitchen counter before Mrs. Everdeen. Her body twitching in pain, and then I walk up to her side. Her forehead is pressed to the counter, clenched fists rest on the surface too, and eyes are shut tight. Black hair unravelled from her usual braid, have been pushed to one side so they don't interrupt with the curing process.

She is conscious, but unable to speak or move at the moment. I can't stop myself from tucking a wayward strand of hair behind her ear, and she turns her head towards me at my touch. Like it's awakened her. "Peeta..." she croaks, her voice barely more than a whisper. Tears fall down her face but she doesn't let me wipe them away.

"I'm sorry, Katniss." I say, not knowing what I am apologising for, exactly. Maybe everything.

Instead of answering to that, she asks me a question, "Where's Willow?"

"With my sister. Don't worry, she's safe, Ava will take care of her. And so will Delly. I promise you she won't be harmed." She gives me an almost imperceptible nod, and that suffices as her consent.

She winces as Mrs. Everdeen applies an antidote to her wound. I can't imagine the pain she feels, so I try to distract her from it.

I fail.

So instead, I drag a stool that sits at the corner of the room to where I stand, and plop down on the uncomfortable seat. I can't hardly watch as her mother tries to make Katniss better. Katniss cries out each time she does something. I want to help her. I know I should. I just... can't. When Katniss starts to cry, I leave the room. I try to get the noise out of my head. But it stays. Playing like a song in my head.

I hear some noise from upstairs. I look back into the kitchen. Gale is in the spot I once was in and holds her hand. There is more noise and I hear someone crying from upstairs. I go up to find the source. I see the door at the end of the hall open a tiny bit. The sound is coming from there. I walk slowly to it and open it. I found Prim with her pet cat. Crying into his fur.

"Prim? What's wrong?" I say and kneel down to her level.

"I'm an awful sister!" She cries.

"Hey, you're not even close to being an awful sister." I say.

"It's all my fault! Katniss wouldn't be in so much trouble if not for me! She wouldn't be in pain! She would be happy with you and Willow!"

"Maybe, but if that was true, it'd be you in her place. You wouldn't want that, would you?" I say.

"No..." She says, calming down. She looks up and lets her pet go. She wipes her eyes from the tears that shed.

"And neither would she. And...I don't have a clear mind of her right now.... But I know she cares for you and me and Willow so so much. And she wouldn't want this pain for any one of us. So the only thing now we can do is help her. And just hope a good outcome comes from this. Okay?" I say.

She nods and sniffles. "Okay..." She says quietly.

"She really needs your help. I can't... do the things you and your Mother do." I say.

She nods and wipes her eyes from the tears. "Okay, right." She says.

"Alright." I say and smile a little.

She pulls me into a hug, which catches me off guard. I gently hug her back.

"Thank you for choosing her..." She says softly.

I swallow hard. "You're.. welcome, Prim." I say.

~

The fire roars quietly in the corner of the kitchen. It shines and makes Katniss look like she's glowing. Radiating like the sun. Her mother gave her something to help sleep. She looks so peaceful. A part of me wants to wake her up. I want to get some sense of..us. But that needs to wait. She's been through too much right now. She needs rest, and time. And I can wait. For as long as it will take.

I gently tuck a strand of her ebony hair back out of her face. It isn't plastered with the pain she was once in. It was replaced by a look of peace. And I wish that she could stay that way. That her and her family can be at peace. Not by my actions... A small part of me has the urge to kiss her. I let the urge win and I place a soft kiss on her lips.

I pull away. I look out the window and see small snowflakes falling from the sky.

"Peeta..." I hear her croak weakly.

I look at her. She's awake but barely. "Hey, Katniss."

"Why did you stay?" She asks.

"Because...you needed someone." I say.

"I did.. I need you." She says.

I laugh a pitiful laugh. "No one needs me." I say truthfully and take a hold of her hand again.

"I do.." she says.

I see pain and sadness in her eyes. A bit of desperation lie there too. I see it reflect in my eyes.

"You told me once you'd stay... What do you say now?" She asks.

"Always."

I lean down to her and kiss her once more. I feel a part of me burn with remembrance. Burn with a need. Burn with...love.

"I love you, Katniss." I say as I pull away.

"I know.. I love you too, Peeta." She says.

"I'll come back to you. To us. Just... confusing.. And I'm not sure how.." I say.

"I know. But, I'll help. If you let me." She says and squeezes my hand weakly.

"You should get some sleep. You need to heal. They laid it into you pretty bad." I say.

"Where's Willow?" She asks.

"With my sister and her friend. Don't worry. My family doesn't know." I say.

"Okay.." She sighs.

"Just try to get some sleep." I say and plant a kiss on her temple. "I'll stay here with you."

"Always?" She asks, the sleep starting to pull her in.

"Always." I say.

Hello Lovely People! We are back! How did we do? What do yall want to happen next! Leave us the feedback in the comments and give a vote too! More will be out soon! Lots of love from us! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

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