Note: I'm starting this story with a T rating, but it will become M at some point down the line, so be forewarned.

As we victors lowered our joined hands, the Capitol had already turned off the giant screens to lessen the impact of our display of unity. I heard a chant start off softly, building and building until we could make out the words: "No Quell! No Quell!"

Katniss and I exchanged a look; I'm sure that mine was one of utter amazement. It was evident to everyone, both onstage and out in the crowd, that the victors' speeches had stirred the audience's emotions, but I never would have imagined that it could rouse them to open protest against the will of the Capitol.

The screens flickered back on, and we all turned our attention to see President Snow standing in his balcony. There was a tight smile plastered on his face as he raised both hands to silence the crowd. But the crowd was having none of it. I wondered if this was being televised across the districts.

"This could be either really good or really bad," Katniss said, and I nodded my agreement.

"Citizens…" Snow began. Even amplified by all the sound equipment, he was barely audible above the mob's noise. Lots of us, including myself, gasped as a piece of fruit flew into the frame and hit Snow's shoulder.

There was silence after that. It was more than silence – it was a dreadful hush. We all watched the screen as Snow bent to pick up the piece of fruit. It looked like an apple to me, but with all the different ways the people of the Capitol liked to engineer and decorate their food, there was no way to be certain.

The roar started again as if it had never stopped. No Quell! No Quell! No Quell!

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Haymitch, who had also grabbed Katniss. "Off the stage. Now!" he barked.

"No," I said. Katniss and Haymitch, who had already turned to leave, both looked up at me in confusion. "We need to stay here, where the people can see us," I insisted. "They're doing this because of us. If we all go in, they'll lose sight of why they're fighting back."

"If you encourage this and nothing comes of it, it'll be your neck," Haymitch growled under his breath. "You get that?"

Still I refused to budge, and I was encouraged when Katniss returned to her place at my side. "I'm not encouraging anything. I'm just standing here," I said.

Snow clearly had a riot on his hands. The screens, which had been showing shots of the angry crowd, returned to his hard face.

"People of the Capitol!" he shouted. "I have heard your voices!" He paused as the roar died down. "I hereby declare the Quarter Quell canceled—" Again he had to wait as the crowd cheered and quieted again. "Your victors will return to their districts and carry out the essential message of the Games in other ways. We will ensure that every citizen in every district remembers that peace is our primary objective! The enemies of peace are the enemies of the Capitol!" The crowd erupted into more cheers. "The enemies of peace are the enemies of our victors!"

The roar after that was deafening, and neither of us protested when Haymitch took our arms and propelled us off the stage and back into the Training Center.

As excited as I was, I knew all too well that Snow would turn this against us in horrible ways.

It was past midnight, but I knew that Katniss was still awake because her fingers fidgeted with my shirt. Even through the material, I could feel her warm breath on my chest. I could almost hear each second tick by in the silence of her dark room. I lifted a hand to stroke her hair.

"Hey," she mumbled.

"Hey," I replied. "What are you thinking about?"

"Honestly? That this is way worse than the Quell would've been."

"Yeah." I had been lying awake and thinking the same thing. Instead of having us kill each other, they would use us against our friends, family, and neighbors. We would always be their pawns.

"And Peeta… they think we're married. We'll have to get married." She made no effort to hide the bitterness in her voice.

I shifted onto my elbow, and her head rolled to my arm. I continued to stroke her hair as I looked down at her. "We won't have to get married. I would never, ever let something like that be forced on you. I promise. I think we'll have to live together, but that wouldn't be bad, would it? Money isn't an issue. You hunt, I cook. We already sleep together." Her face flushed, and I felt the heat in mine as well. "Not like that, obviously."

"What about the baby, Peeta?" she asked. Her face was serious, but I saw a smile quirking at the corners of her mouth. "Everyone thinks I'm pregnant with your baby."

"Yeah. Sorry about that. I was trying to guarantee that sponsors would help you in the Quell."

"I know. It was a clever thing to do."

"We'll think of something," I assured her.

She sighed. "I'll just say I had a miscarriage. From stress or something. Easy enough."

"Yes," I agreed, trying to smile. "Easy enough." She couldn't have any idea how much the thought pained me – the thought of her actually carrying my child and losing it. I felt silly for mourning something I didn't even have.

I rolled onto my back again, and Katniss moved her head back to my chest and draped her arm across my stomach.

"There's one thing I'm happy for," she said after a few moments' quiet.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Neither of us has to die. Whatever Snow makes us do, at least we get to be together."

I had thought of this, of course, but the fact that Katniss voiced it herself sent a thrill of happiness through me. I squeezed her waist, too overwhelmed to reply.

To my surprise, she added, "And you're right. Living together will be nice."

I wanted to tell her I loved her, but that would have made her uncomfortable. Besides, she already knew it.