Dream Come True...?

There she is. Just a few yards away from me on this stage. Standing there, beautiful in a glowing yellow dress. Clean. Alive. Healed. Hardly recognizable compared to days ago. And all mine.

But most importantly, out of that damned arena.

She's stunned by the flashing lights and booming crowds for a moment, but the smile is clear on her face when she sees me. It makes my heart soar. I can't stop smiling at the sight of Katniss smiling at me.

She takes a few steps, jumps into my arms and clings to me. I stagger back, still not use to my prosthetic leg. I need to find a way to tell her about that without frightening her. Without the cane they gave, we both would have gone tumbling to the ground. But as long as she's in my arms, I could care less.

This is unbelievable. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this happening. That's a lie. I did dream this could happen, but I always knew it wouldn't. That's what I told myself. Until she found me half dead in the mud and nursed me back to health.

After straightening up, I can't resist it any longer. I thought the crowd was going wild before, but when I leaned down to kiss her, they went nuts. While I am enjoying this, I notice something is off about our kiss. Then it comes to me. She's still not fond of the Capitol, so kissing in front of everyone of the place she loathes probably isn't comforting. But I'm selfish for ten minutes or so. I can't get enough of this. I'm half expecting to wake up any second in the arena again like I have so many times.

Our lips still locked, Caesar Flickerman comes up behind me and taps on my shoulder, wanting to move things along. Borderline greedy, I push him away not wanting this to end. I didn't bother looking at him to give him an apology. No, this was the only prize I wanted. Completely unattainable... until now. Of course, this only encourages the audience. But I should've expected Haymitch's intervention. It's not a gruff maneuver, only meant to get us going.

We're sitting on the Victor's chair, barely big enough for the both of us, when she surprises me. She slips off her sandals, scoots closer, tucking up her legs, and lays her head on my shoulder. No one's going to hear a complaint from me. Without hesitation, I work my arm around her, again expecting to wake up soon.

The festivities begin and the video depicting our hell begins. Looking at myself, I find I'm a mediocre actor. With the Careers, I see that whenever they brought up Katniss, I'd play it off smoothly. My words sounded like the truth, but it was also obvious it wasn't. I really acted like a Lover Boy. When I was in the mud, I had no idea I spoke while sleeping. I said her name a few times, more than a few. My eyes flickered to her face beside me worried she'd be embarrassed, but she only looked curiously at the screen.

Katniss was ... Katniss. Strong, persistent, and determined. She didn't play up the romance at all, especially after seeing I was teamed up with the Careers. With the exception of her alliance with Rue. Her hard exterior melted away and you saw the real girl underneath. After Rue's death, Katniss loses that curious spark in her eye. She shuts down.

You would have though she was just dealing with me betrayal during the beginning of the games. Until Claudius Templesmith made that announcement. My arm tightened up around her when she called out my name on screen. From there on out, it was all about the two of us. Kisses, intimate talks. All of it. They end with her banging on the glass of the room they'd begun to operate on me. Somehow, this only made more sure that she was mine.

We're crowned by President Snow, who just smiles at us while placing the half crowns on our heads. There's cheers and bows for too long. Then we got into the Presiden't house for a Victory Banquet. Its mainly just more bows and greetings and flashing cameras. Its getting old really quick, but I can handle it as long as she's with me. I'm always touching her, even if its just a hand.

I wanted to be with her alone, to talk about something, anything, after we're allowed to rest, but Portia needs me for something else. I'm dazed the whole time, only wanting to get to Katniss. Is it me, or is everyone conspiring for us to be apart? I think about that for a moment and decide I'll have all the time in the world with her once we're home in District Twelve. Where we'll live just a step away in Victory Village. Despite the jubilation the idea brings me, I can't fall asleep.

The next day, we prep for another interview. Its held in a room down the hall on our floor, so there's hardly any pressure. I walk into the room, Katniss and Caesar chatting it up, but I steal her away. "I hardly get to see you anymore. I think Haymitch is bent on keeping us apart," I laugh.

"Yes, he's gotten very responsible lately."

"Well, there's just this and we go home. Then he can't watch us all of the time." I may have implied something more than I intended. I see a shiver run up her after saying that. I didn't mean that. I feel guilty about saying it now. But there's no time to self hate because the interview has to start. We get into the same position as last night, cuddling close and comfortable.

At first, practically all of the questions are turned on me. Whether he asked me directly, or Katniss made an answer that ended with me adding something. I don't mind because she's camera shy. But he begins to press her for fuller answers. We reiterates that I've loved Katniss since I was a young child of five, and I correct him and say since the moment I've laid eyes on her. But then he turns on her. "But, Katniss, what a ride for you. I think the real excitement for the audience was watching you fall for him. When did you realize you were in love with him?"

I liked this question, because I was curious too. She lets out a soft laugh, "Oh, that's a hard one ..." I think I can imagine what it was when, but I want to hear it from her.

"Well, I know when it hit me. The night when you shouted out his name from that tree." I want to shoot daggers with my eyes at him for stealing that moment from me, but I can't and won't.

"Yes, I guess that was it. I mean, until that point, I just tried not to think about what my feelings might be, honestly because it was too confusing and it only made things worse if I actually cared about him. But then, in the tree, everything changed."

"Why do you think that was?" he urges.

"Maybe... because for the first time... there was a chance I could keep him."

My heart soars again. I press my forehead to her temple, happier than ever, "So now that you've got me, what are you to do with me?"

She turns to face me, "Put you somewhere you can't get hurt." I peck her, and that sends a round of sighs around the room.

The interview takes a turn for the worst when he asks about my new leg. She still didn't know about that yet so when she lifted the bottom of my pants she looks on the verge of tears. She blames herself for my loss of limb and seeks refuge in my shirt. We have to coax her out, and the questions are mine again.

Until he brings up the berries.

I have to admit she sums it up for the both of us perfectly. "I don't know, I just... couldn't bear the thought of... being without him." I had nothing to add so the interview ends and we go to gather what little we have to bring back home.

I change into normal clothes and I feel more District Twelve, like my old self again. But maybe a little Capitol. If I was truly my old self, I wouldn't be going home with her in my arms. I'm more confident, but not pretentious. I still feel like I could awake any minute, this bubble could burst and turn into a nightmare.

The train has to stop for fuel and we go outside for some fresh air. Our hands intertwined, we stroll along the track aimlessly. Being a little cheesey, I gather a handful of wildflowers and hold them out for her. She makes a distant face. "What's wrong?" I ask.

"Nothing." And that's it for now. We continue past the train, past any cameras, so its just us. I wait for her to start something, but she doesn't. I get a bad feeling. Did I scare her off with what I said earlier? Being alone with her?

Haymitch manages to startle her. "Great job you two. Just keep it up in the district until the cameras are gone. We should be okay." And he heads back to the train.

She drops her gaze, when I try to look her in the eye. "What's he mean?"

"Its the Capitol. They didn't like our stunt with the berries," she says suddenly.

Stunt? "What? What are you talking about?" I'm lost. What does the berries have anything to do with anything?

"It seemed too rebellious. So, Haymitch has been coaching me through the last few days. So I didn't make it worse."

"Coaching you? But not me?"

"He knew you were smart enough to get it right."

"I didn't know there was anything to get right." Then it all comes crumbling down on me like a ton of coal. Here comes the nightmare. "So, what you're saying is, these last few days and I guess ... back in the arena ... that was just some strategy you two worked out." How could Haymitch allow this? He knew the truth since before our first interview.

"No, I mean, I couldn't even talk to him in the arena, could I?"

"But you knew what he wanted you to do, didn't you?" No answer. I need one. "Katniss?" I drop her hand reluctantly, and I see her catch her step. taht's almost enough for me to grab it again, but I hold the urge. "It was all for the games. The way you acted." It wasn't a question. So I got the gift of gab, and she got all of the acting skills. That's just great.

"Not all of it."

"Then how much? No, forget that. I guess the real question is what's going to be left when we get home?"

"I don't know. The closer we get to District Twelve, the more confused I get." I wait for more, I don't know what, but it never comes.

I want to get angry. Shout how she's wasted my time. How she's been toying with me. Make her cry even to make me feel better. But it wouldn't. One of her stupid arrows has shot right through my gullible heart. How stupid was I to think she'd fall for me? All I can manage to get out is, "Well, just let me know when you work it out." Then I go back to the train.

Idiot! Idiot! She sure fooled you! I should've swallowed the berries after all. Then she could come home without having to worry about her conflicting, if not nonexistent, feelings. She could come home to her Gale. But this is all of my fault. I came up with this stupid idea to announce my feelings to everyone and their mother and look where that got me. One half of the only pair of tributes in history to make it home alive, and heartbroken. Death would have been easier than this.

The train pulls up to the train station at our district. We stand next to each other awkwardly waiting for the doors to open and for us to step off. They'll be expecting a happy couple, not whatever we are at the moment. Despite what head is telling me, I still want to protect her. I can't let her down now. So, I extend my hand. "One more time? For the audience?" She accepts it.

I want to hate her so bad, but I can't make myself do it. Some dream come true this turned out to be.