It has been a week since Caius showed up in District 12. To start with I couldn’t even believe it. Then I remembered his drive and determination, not to mention how stubborn he is. Caius was taken to the Sanctuary under his district after the games. The only people who were told about him were his family and mentor.

He started to go stir crazy down there. I understand of course, he is used to the trees and the forests. Being stuck in a cement cage couldn’t have been good for him. It’s not like it’s much different now but there is one significant change.

“Did you miss me?” He had said with his arrogant but charming smile.

“What are… why…?” I walked over to him slowly and he wrapped his arms around my waist, picking me up and holding me off the floor.

I breathed in the smell of pine and spices as I draped my arms around his neck.

“I know I missed you.” He murmured so that only I could hear.

For a moment I let myself give in to it, but I soon came to.

“Caius!” I struggled to get out of his grip and looked up at him sternly.

“Okay, okay!” At this point I sent him away so that I could talk to Haymitch.

I told Peeta to explain things to him when I saw the confused look in his stunning emerald eyes. I know that what Haymitch was saying is right. He is an ally, and clearly loyal.

When Caius and Peeta walked back in I could see the questions that he wanted to ask.

“Abernathy huh?” He said.

“What are you doing here Caius? You should have stayed where you were.” I sighed.

“I couldn’t, I couldn’t stay there when I know that you’re here. My mother even told me she thought I should come.” I raised an eyebrow. “Okay, so she said if I had to do it then she couldn’t stop me. I left about a week and a half ago and slowly made my way here.”

“Then we bumped into one another and had a lovely time bonding.” Haymitch said dryly.

“It’s not like I asked to find you. It wasn’t you I was looking for.”

“Well I really wasn’t looking to find you, hate to break it to you.”

“Can we focus please? I can't breathe over all the testosterone in here.” I said.

I saw Peeta’s mouth twitch but his face was still set in a hard line, unfaltering.

“I want to be a part of this, you saved us obviously, and you can't have planned nothing.” He walked over to me, as though the others weren’t even here.

“I do have plans…” I sighed. “…and I could use all the allies I can get. So listen up and I’ll fill you in.

He was listening so carefully, or maybe just watching me so carefully. His eyes were so soft and his gaze traced all the lines on my face. It was distracting and I know I sounded like an idiot when I was telling him about some of the things that the others know.

I caught sight of Peeta’s face a few times but I couldn’t read anything off him. He was stony and I was afraid that there were more emotions under his hat.

“I’m in. I am more than in; just tell me what you need me to do.” He smiled warmly.

I couldn’t help but smile back. I had forgotten just how infectious his smile was.

“Well let’s give them some catch up time.” Haymitch rolled his eyes and nudged Peeta’s arm.

Peeta just got up and followed him, without so much as a backward glance.

“I really did miss you.” He reached out and brushed my cheek with his thumb and I closed my eyes, sighing heavily.

“Caius I-” His lips were pressed against mine before I could finish my sentence.

It only took a moment for me to forget the words that I was about to say. I fell back into the dream that I had been living in the arena, not the nightmare part, but the part where it was just us, alone in the world. When I had enough control over myself I pulled away from his embrace.

“Caius stop, I can't.”

“Why not?”

“Because I- this isn’t the games anymore.”

“I’m not stupid, I found all of this out and knew that a part of you was just playing the game. I knew that even when I was in the arena. But I don’t believe that I’m nothing to you. Not when you’re so much to me.” He took me by surprise a little, he knew what I was going to say and there is no denying the truth behind what he was saying.

“I don’t know what I feel.” There was more truth in that than I could put into words.

“So don’t think about it.” He shrugged and kissed me again.

I let myself fall in this time; it was a welcome distraction from everything else.

When I left the Sanctuary I waited by the log for Peeta to emerge. When the light grew low in the sky I realised that he was already gone. I had to race to get back to the village before the sun went down. I was terrified at the prospect of being alone but I was surprised to see him in my kitchen making dinner.

“Peeta! I uh… I didn’t see you leave earlier. I waited.” I said almost nervously.

How stupid is that? The victory tour was practically breathing down my neck and I was nervous about how this conversation would go.

“I didn’t stay much longer. I figured you needed some time so I just came back.” He didn’t look over at me for more than a second and I sat down on one of the chairs with my back to him.

I rubbed my eyes and held my head in my hands. Peeta walked over to me and put a hand on my shoulder.

“I get that things have changed, and that this is going to be different… but don’t think that I’m going to change. I mean, you came in here expecting to tread lightly and for me to, what? Ignore you?” I didn’t look up I just listened. “I’m not saying that I’m glad he’s here, and I’m not denying that things are going to change, but I’m not going to force them to, you know?”

I finally looked up at him and he looked down with gentle eyes. I stood up to face him and he ran a hand through my hair. “Thank you.” I whispered.

He pulled my head into his chest and put a hand on the small of my back. My lips twitched a little. He had never held me this way before. I suspect it was because of Caius but I would never say anything about it.

I saw Caius almost every day during the week, mid-week Peeta and I just spent time in the forest. He watched me inspect things like rocks, and dig through the dirt and he laughed more than once.

As we headed further out I heard the running water again. “Peeta! Can you hear the water?”

He stopped a moment to listen. “Yeah, it’s coming from over here.” He headed off in that direction and I followed.

As we climbed over rocks and grassy hills I saw the creek emerge. Hidden beneath a canopy of trees and surrounded by raised terrain there was a little haven. It was a beautiful little spot.

“Am I crazy for thinking that it’s impossible to believe that anything like this could exist outside of the arena?” I said with a chuckle.

Peeta smiled, “If you are then I must be too.”

We stayed in the shelter for a while, just admiring the serenity. As usual I was eager to head back before the sun set.

The night was like any other. It was the next day that was different.

As soon as Caius saw me he took me in his arms and held me tight. “Where were you yesterday? I was worried.”

“I told him over and over that you don’t come every day. He refuses to listen to me.” Haymitch said dryly.

“Caius, I can't come here every day, I have to make sure I do some of the things that they think I’m doing.” I said softly.

“Next time tell me when you’re not coming, please?” He whispered.

“I promise.” He kissed me gently and Haymitch started causing a fuss.

“Hey! Hey! That’s my daughter you’re violating!” I laughed as usual.

He always makes me feel better.

So now there is a week until my Victory Tour begins and to be honest I’m nervous. I’m more nervous about being a mentor, but I’ll have to take this one baby step at a time.