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As soon as the screaming starts Peeta's eyes instinctively shoot open. This is not a new experience for either of them. Since the train ride marking the beginning of the victory tour Katniss and Peeta have grown accustomed to each other's screams. Usually, Peeta would be in his own room painting out his nightmares when the screams began, he would then anxiously rush down the hall to Katniss's room and hold her until the sobbing stopped, but things were different now. The fight was over. District twelve was being rebuilt, and they were growing back together. Before she was reluctant to speak about the nightmares. Now? She was still hesitant but less resistant to talk to Peeta about them. So here they were inside a way too big home in the untouched victors' village inside twelve, still being plagued by nightmares. Moonlight was spilling into Katniss and Peeta's shared bedroom, illuminating Katniss's frame against the dark background that was their room.
"Katniss?" Peeta whispers, his voice laced with drowsiness.
Peeta does not get a proper response, instead, his ears are flooded with another round of even more violent screams. He very gently reaches his hand toward the girl's back. Katniss vehemently jerks away from his touch, as if she did not recognize the boy whose hand was placed on her back.
"Katniss" he repeats firmly, "Katniss, it's only me. You're alright, I promise"
As if she was being lifted out of a trance, Katniss's screams gradually diminish and she relaxes into the boy's touch. Slowly Peeta begins to drift towards Katniss. He tenderly lifts her shaking body into his lap while she buries her face into the crook of his neck. Peeta's hand gingerly reaches up to cup the back of Katniss's head. His unoccupied hand rubs comfortingly up and down Katniss's back. He can feel the sleeve of his shirt grow wet with her tears. He can hear the soft sniffles and whimpers escaping her lips. Katniss grabs the back of Peeta's t-shirt as if it is her lifeline, and simply letting go of it would send her spiraling.
"Hey, it's alright love. I've got you now. You're safe" Peeta hums soothingly.
The boy continues to whisper comfortingly in Katniss's ear until the tears stop flowing, and he can hear her breathing steady. Gradually she begins to release the grip she has on the back of Peeta's shirt. She removes her head from the crook of his neck and opts to place her forehead against his. Peeta removes his hand from Katniss's mid back and tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. Katniss moves her own hands up to the boy's face, gently cupping his cheeks. She gingerly moves in to kiss him. The moment their lips connect warmth explodes between them. And suddenly she feels the way she did in the cave, on the beach, she can feel the hunger growing within her like she never wants to stop kissing him, and this time she can place the feeling, love, true love. Slowly they begin to separate their lips and go back to resting their foreheads against one another. They stay like this for quite a bit, relishing each other's company.
Quietly Katniss begins to speak, "I don't think I'll ever be able to properly express in words how much I love you"
"You don't have to I already know" Peeta responds his mouth twisting into a grin.
"I'm sorry for waking you," She remarks, her voice dropping to a whisper.
"Don't be, it's what we do, look out for each other"
And in that moment, despite all that has happened they know they are going to be okay because they have each other and that's enough.