I was having somewhat of a pleasant sleep, only because I wasn't dreaming, but I was shaken awake by a loud scream. I couldn't really comprehend who exactly had screamed, but I bolted up in bed. The first thing I noticed was that John was absent, the bed was still warm where he had been but he wasn't there. I jumped to my feet and ran to the other side of the bed, seeing his dark figure shuddering in the dark, laying on the floor.
"John, John are you alright?" I demanded, sinking to the floor next to him and tapping his shoulder nervously. He took a gasping breath and turned on the spot, wrapping his arms around my neck and almost pulling me down with him.
"What happened?" I asked, letting him hug me, knowing it must have been comforting.
"You were right, I saw him, he was back." John stuttered, burying his face in my shoulder. I couldn't see him properly, but I looked at the clock, 5:34, we've only been asleep for maybe three hours or so.
"It's okay, John it's okay, he'd not here, he's gone, he won't get you." I assured, patting his back awkwardly. I had no idea what to do, obviously he had dreamt of the boy from One, I knew exactly what he was going through but didn't know what to do.
"He's horrible, half his head is gone, his brain is black." John muttered. He sounded like he was about to cry, but I wouldn't judge him if he did. I had cried plenty of times after the game, with terror, sadness, and guilt, but I had always been alone. That was before the drugs, so I'd sit in the darkness and cry, facing every bad dream and memory and not knowing how to stop it.
"He's long gone John, don't worry, he's not coming for you, just like the boy isn't coming for me." I said, gently running my fingers through his blonde hair.
"Hey, come on, it was just a dream, you can get through this." I insisted. That didn't help, I knew it wouldn't, it's pretty hard to know the difference between dreams and reality.
"Where's the necklace, do you still have it?" I asked in a soft voice. I felt John nod into me.
"Come on, show it to me." I insisted.
"Do you want it back?" he asked nervously, but ever so carefully leaned back against the bed and pulled it out from under his shirt. The silver shined off of the red glowing lights of the clock, making it look almost eerie.
"No I don't want it back, it's yours now." I assured. He nodded, studying the engraved twelve. "Just think about home, your family, that annoying goat, your house, anything you want." I suggested. He nodded and looked at the charm, I could see him mind working and slowly he started to relax ever so slightly.
"We're going back there, in less than a day we'll be there, you can see your family again, and they'd never let him get you even in memory." I assured.
"We'll be neighbors." He pointed out.
"Yes we will, we can talk through the windows and throw stuff at each other's windows and toilet paper the trees and all sorts of fun stuff." I assured with a laugh. John's face broke into a nervous smile.
"I'll come over every day." he assured.
"You better." I laughed. "And you can live the rest of your life without fear, go find a pretty girl, get married, start a family, anything you can ever imagine."
"Small problem, my pretty girl is a guy." He pointed out with a sort of forced smile. I smiled back at him, feeling my cheeks blush tremendously. I really hoped he meant me.
"That does create some difficulties yes." I agreed with a laugh.
"Will my family get a separate house or will we have to share?" he asked.
"Separate, thank god. If I had to share a house with my pathetic family I would've jumped in front of the train." I laughed.
"You said you had a brother?" he asked.
"Yes, unfortunately, he's my annoying goat. Older brother too, fat and bossy and thinks he's my second mother." I sighed.
"Well I've got Harry, she's the biggest stuck up brat in the world, we never got along, ever." he sighed.
"Well maybe they'd get along then." I laughed.
"Probably." John agreed.
"You've got parents too then?" I asked.
"I hope so yes." He agreed.
"Well when you're a victor you suddenly see a lot more of them, it's very annoying. Even though you've got separate houses they think it's their responsibility to keep you safe, keep you comfortable, and make sure you cook and clean for yourself."
"I'll need a do not disturb sign on the front door then." He said with a laugh.
"I already tried that, the only thing that seems to keep them out is when I bought a dead lock for the door." I said with a small laugh.
"I guess I'll just get one of those then." He decided.
"And you'll need curtains too; they like to knock on the windows. One time my mom threw rocks at my bedroom window until I let her in. All she wanted to was to vacuum the rug and make me scrambled eggs." I sighed, remembering that annoying moment. Parents were a nescience, they think they help and they only make things a lot more annoying than they should be.
"Well maybe you should learn to make your own food." John suggested.
"I don't eat much at home." I admitted.
"You don't eat much here too."
"The food is fancier here, I actually eat a lot more than usual." I pointed out.
"So that's why your ribs poke out so much." He said with a little laugh. I frowned at him, crossing my arms with embarrassment and looking for my robe. It was hanging on the bedpost on the other side of the bed, so I guessed it wasn't worth it.
"No, that wasn't an insult or anything, but you should really eat more, it's not healthy." He pointed out.
"Nothing's healthy anymore." I pointed out.
"True, I guess, but not eating can kill you, we should both know that by now." He pointed out.
"That's part of the reason I won, because when everyone else was starving to death it was just another day for me." I defended.
"Sounds miserable. I can barely go a day without food, that's why that bread really helped."
"Let's not talk about the games now, let's concentrate on the future." I decided.
"I never thought I'd be living in the Victor's Village." John said with a smile.
"I don't think you'd ever even dream of half the things that happened." I admitted.
"You better not hide away all day, believe it or not I'll still want to talk to you." John pointed out.
"I'll make an exception for you, as long as you don't let my parents in." I decided.
"Of course not." He agreed. There was a little bit of silence, both of us trying to think of what to say next.
"How do you think they'll great us?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Well I know that I'm the new victor and all, but I bet by now they'd all seen the picture, would that somehow turn them against us?" he asked. I tried to not focus on how perfect it had felt on the balcony and concentrate on the question.
"No they'll be thrilled to meet the new victor. Maybe the homophobes will stay at home but who needs them anyway?" I pointed out with a little laugh. He smiled with a little shrug, but obviously something was bothering him, other than the dream of course.
"I don't know how my family will react. I mean I know their all for my happiness, but I don't know if they'll be okay with it." he muttered.
"Well then we'll improvise the best we can, but I'm not going to get in the way of you and your family." I pointed out.
"If I have to pick, I'd pick you." He pointed out.
"Don't pick someone you've known for three weeks over your own family." I defended.
"You've become my family." He debated which only made me bush more. I took his hand comfortingly, knowing this isn't a kissing time, it was a 'be together and be thankful we're both alive' time.
"I'm guessing you don't want to go back to sleep." I said.
"No of course not." He agreed. So we stayed up all night, talking to each other about nothing in particular, our hands interlocked and sitting crammed together between the wall and the bed. When the clock finally read seven o'clock we got up, going out into the dining car to see who else was up. It was kind of insulting to see that even Mrs. Hudson got up before us, but to be fair we were up the whole night for the most part.
"Good morning boys." She said with a smile, flipping through channels on the TV. I just grumbled, grabbing a piece of toast from the already stocked breakfast table and sitting on one of the couches to the left. It wasn't nearly as comfortable in here as it was in the living room, but it will do. John sat in one of the chairs at the table, across from Molly, and started to butter up some pancakes. Mrs. Hudson stopped on the news, where it was showing replays from John's interview and crowning.
"You're like a celebrity." I laughed.
"Shame." He agreed, looking up at the screen. The anchor man was going on about how exciting it was to have another District Twelve winner in a row, and showed more and more replays of John getting the crown on his head. And then, of course, the picture showed up on the screen.
"It's not newsworthy!" I defended, but the anchor man seemed pretty interested in it, saying that beyond the games a complicated love story took place. Absolutely pathetic if you ask me. I heard John groan behind me.
"My family watches this station every morning!" he complained, knowing that if they didn't know about the picture yet this is when they'd find out. I was glowing red again, I knew the entire world had seen it now, and that was the first impression I was going to make on John's family, the psychopath victor kissing him in the picture. What if they hated me, or wouldn't let me be with him anymore? He said he'd pick me over his family, but that wasn't fair at all, he has to stick with his blood, not his heart, as much as that would pain me.
"Don't worry about it dear, this has happened before." Mrs. Hudson assured from the couch.
"Not like this!" he pointed out.
"Maybe not to an extreme like this, but it certainly has happened." she decided. John just grumbled something I couldn't hear and went back to his pancakes. The rest of the train ride was mostly just sitting in the living room and talking. Well, I correct myself, they did the talking, I was zoning out and lost in my own thoughts. John sat next to me and his hand was laying overtop of mine, making me feel a little bit better even though there wasn't anything to be upset about. When the intercom announced that we'd be arriving at District Twelve in less than five minutes my stomach gave a nervous twist. I didn't know what there was to be very nervous about, it was home, and even though they were annoying I had kind of missed seeing my family. I got to my feet and went to throw all my stuff in a bag, my clothes, multiple hair brushes, books and sketch pad. I felt like I was forgetting something when I remembered that Molly had confiscated the drug shoe, I wouldn't necessarily need it again apparently. If they were going to put me through their homemade rehab I guess I'd be forced to go through with it. I didn't want to attack John again, or even anyone really, the drugs may help the dreams but they hurt more. As long as I had John at my side I'd be okay. I got dressed; not wanting to arrive in my pajama pants and robe, and threw the bag over my shoulder. The bell that announced that we had stopped dinged pleasantly and I decided it was time to get leaving. I took one look at the room; the covers thrown over the bed halfheartedly but other than that empty then closed the door with a small snap. I knew I'd be back here next year, to face a completely knew tribute. This time I'd make sure not to get too attached, there were only so many miracles in this world. I went out to the dining car, where the door was starting open. The three of them were all standing in the room, Molly giving Mrs. Hudson and goodbye hug. She lived in the Capital, and even though she visited frequently she had to return there.
"I guess I'll see you when I see you." I decided, giving her a hug as well.
"Well isn't that sweet?" she said with a smile. "You be good okay? Help John ease into this life." She insisted.
"Of course." I agreed. She patted my shoulder happily and turned to face the door. Molly, John, and I walked into the dark station, walking through the concrete halls until we got to the main door. Our footsteps were the only sounds as we walked, ready to face the world again apparently. We stopped outside of the doors, knowing that everyone stood outside, waiting for us to come out.
"Ready to return to the civilian life?" I asked John, who nodded nervously.
"I'll let you do the honors." Molly decided. John stepped forward, pushing open the door nervously and letting the sunlight floor in. I took a deep breath and then saw the people, crowds of them, much more than what showed up for me. It seemed like the entire District showed up to support him, cheering and clapping like they'd never been happier. I saw my parents and Mycroft near the side, Mom and Dad cheering along with the rest and Mycroft clapping his hands with boredom. I looked down at John, who was waving at a small group of people with blonde hair resembling his own, no doubly his family. I found his hand, interlocking our fingers and taking another deep breath. This was the end, the end of this emotional roller coaster of three weeks. It was over and done, and I had a little bit less than a year to spend as a normal person until the names are picked once again. 

A/N: THERE IS A SEQUEL!  It's called When Luck Runs Out, by DrJohnHolmes. Okay I have to be honest here and say that this story was my personal favorite, not only did I love writing it but I also loved reading it after it was published. Honestly I can't wait to write the next story in this little Hunger Games AU,  and everytime I watch the Hunger Games I get all excited to put my ideas on paper (well, screen, but you know what I mean) So yes, since this one is over you guys all get my new story, Like a Fairytale, this Sunday, it's a teenlock one that I did just for fun and I like it a lot so, thanks for reading and I hope to see you guys reading my other works :)