A beautiful white dress with a puffy layered skirt and a few golden sequins here and there on the bodice was donned over your body the very next day, just moments before you were called in for your interview with Caesar. The sapphire necklace was back on your neck once more, your hair showering down in gentle waves down your back, very minimal makeup dabbed on your face, your nails done with clear polish infused with a gentle golden shimmer, golden flats on your feet. You brought your arms around yourself now as the cold air hit you, and you shivered again, closing your eyes as you tried to imagine someone's arms safely wrapped around you, keeping you warm...

"Go on in," a Peacekeeper commanded now, and you nodded as you entered the room, your flats gently padding on the floor, eyes widening as you saw that the love seat from the night before has been moved to this room, flowers of many different kinds surrounding you in several huge vases and pots on the floor. The array of colours made you smile, and you felt yourself smile wider when you caught sight of Caesar, still in his signature midnight blue suit and wig, beaming at you as you entered.

"Why, hello (Y/N)," Caesar greeted you with a hug. "How are you faring?"

You shrugged in response. "Bit nervous. But hopefully alright."

"Well, it's just this interview, and then you can go home with Peeta. You can do this," Caesar encouraged you, and you nodded back, hoping that this was true.

Soon, the door on the opposite side opened, and Peeta entered with a black tuxedo on, his hair gelled once more. He smiled the moment he saw you, and you didn't hesitate to enter his arms again, grateful for the warmth he brought to everything.

"You look beautiful, (Y/N)," Peeta whispered.

You smirked as you looked up at him. "Well, don't I always," you teased, pinching Peeta's cheek playfully. "Anyway, it's just this left, right? Just this, and then we're heading home."

"Shame Haymitch was bent on keeping us apart last night," Peeta murmured. "I honestly wished to see you, but I had to suffer through a night after the Victory Ceremony."

This remark made you nod. Last night was a good night, with Capitol citizens congratulating you and Peeta while you stuck with him, your hand always in his. But in all honesty, you couldn't have felt more endangered and scared. Then after you got to bed, images of your dead allies took up most of your dreams again, just like in the hospital after you got out of the arena, and it took you all your will not to open your mouth and scream obscenities again, the way you always had, knowing that with trouble on your side you would probably be monitored every single moment. Even Cato's sweater around you, all through last night, didn't really help much. But all you said was, "I suppose it was for the best. He has been pretty responsible lately, you know."

"Alright, let's get this show on the road," Caesar finally said, eventually making you and Peeta let go of your hug as you both went over to the love seat, holding hands. At first, you decided on just sitting formally with Peeta. But then Caesar chuckled. "Oh, you can go ahead and cuddle with him. It was very cute when you did it last night," he encouraged.

So that was what you did. Once more, you kicked off your flats, imagining Haymitch scowl behind the sets at that, and wrapped your arms around Peeta's waist, while on of Peeta's arms draped over your shoulders, pulling you close to him. This made Caesar smile, and he looked like he was going to tear up but luckily did not.

Soon, you heard the cameras roll, the music play, and then Caesar was now talking to Panem with his usual wit and charm, just as he did in the interviews before the Games. And now he turns to you and Peeta, and the interviews begin.

"Good morning to all of Panem!" Caesar cried. "As you know, today is a very exciting day. Sitting right behind me are the victors of the 74th Annual Hunger Games--(Y/N) (Y/L/N) and Peeta Mellark, and we will be interviewing them for the next little while--"

You smiled and waved from your spot, your arm still around Peeta.

"Alright, let's get this going," Caesar finally said, turning to the both of you. "So. You both started off as childhood best friends, am I correct?"

You nodded and straightened up. "Yeah, we were. I mean, we did. Since we were...five years old, I think?"

Peeta nodded. "Five years old, yeah."

"And I have to say, it has been quite a ride for the both of you since you got to the Capitol," Caesar admitted. "What are your thoughts, (Y/N)?"

You bit your lip in thought. "This is a tough one to answer, actually. I mean, I thought when Peeta and I both got reaped initially, and we spent some time in the Capitol before the Games, we drifted apart with constant arguing."

"Hey, we didn't fight every day," Peeta smirked jokingly.

"Peeta, don't interrupt," you scolded him teasingly. "But whatever the case, we were both losing the strong bond we both developed, and..." You trailed off, unsure of whether you should continue and how.

"Eventually when we got to the Games, it took us time to forgive each other," Peeta picked up for you, and you nodded. "But we did in the end. And now, with my best friend and girlfriend beside me, I couldn't feel any safer," he concluded.

"Ah. Yes," Caesar nodded. "What made you think (Y/N) was the one you loved over Katniss initially in the interview?"

Peeta gulped, and you saw him pale a bit before he gave his answer. "Katniss and I...well, the only time we really ever interacted was at her worst time." He then proceeded to talk about the time he saw Katniss, already weak and starved, at the apple tree in his backyard, and hearing this story for the very first time made you tear up slightly, though you managed to keep your cool. But it was definitely not hard to miss the emotional impact the story had, and you found yourself wiping your tears with the back of your hand.

"But since then, she and I, we never got to talk to each other," Peeta finally said. "That was when I realized, maybe what I felt for her wasn't as strong as my feelings for (Y/N). With Katniss, yes, I helped her. And you have to admit she's an amazing person. But (Y/N), with her...I can trust her with anything. We shared so much that it hurts to let it all go."

There came a collective "AWWWW!" from the crew behind the camera, and you just beamed up at Peeta and kissed him on the cheek in the meanwhile.

"(Y/N), I know most of you would be wondering now," Caesar finally said, turning to you. "You and the boy from District 2, Cato. What really happened between you and him?"

Now this was a question you actually expected, so you jumped right into it. "Well...I'll admit after the changes Peeta and I underwent, I..." You bit your lip and glanced down, imagining Cato's sweater around you again, imagining the comfort Cato gave you. "I was unsure about...whether Peeta and I would ever mend the bonds again, and I didn't know how Peeta really felt about me since his profession of love for another girl who just wasn't me. So I was with Cato because he...he was the closest thing I had to a friend in the Games. He became my ally in the arena. And now, I can say he was more than that. He died a hero, a saviour for me and Peeta and our relationship."

"And I trust there's nothing extreme going on between you and Cato?" Caesar joked, making you laugh.

"Well, many of the other allies teased about it," you recalled. "But no. Nothing's going on."

"Okay then," Caesar chuckled, and even Peeta flashed a smile at you, with you smiling back. "And I assume, (Y/N), that with the other allies you made..."

You shrugged. "I did know they were going to die in the end, but what better way can I get to know them? They're human, like we all are. Best to ensure all of our survivals before our deaths, right? And might as well be with someone who you can trust."

Haymitch nodded at you from behind the camera, and you nodded back, knowing that you were probably saying the right things.

Caesar managed to keep the both of you talking about your experiences in the arena, especially touching on the tracker jackers and the moments near the river bank and the mutts and the tokens you got from home. When at last it came to the moment about the berries, he asked, "What was running through your minds when you pulled out the berries?"

Suddenly, it felt like everyone was watching you with glaring, evil, piercing eyes. This was the moment everyone has been waiting for--and it seemed to call for a big speech. But all you could manage to say was, "I...There was...I just...couldn't imagine...I just can't imagine life without Peeta with me." You wished you could say more, but trusting yourself not to spill our your true intentions.

"Same can be said for me," Peeta added with a nod.

"So what are you going to do when you both get home?" Caesar finally questioned.

"I guess I have a lot to talk about with my mom," you chuckled. "And we have lots to do."

"Visit lots of people," Peeta nodded.

"Do lots of things," you added.

"And get used to the fact that we're a couple now," Peeta said, leaning in to kiss you, which you didn't mind.

Caesar smiled softly for a moment before he eventually addressed the nation once more, and then the interview was over. You hugged Peeta tightly once before you got off the seat, putting your flats on again and running to hug Caesar once, which surprised him. Then you turned to Haymitch. "Was that okay?"

"It was good," Haymitch assured you with a thumbs up.

You nodded as you were escorted--once more, by Effie--to your room to pick up a few things. Your eyes fell first on Cato's sweater, which you picked up and bundled up in your arms, also taking your mom's reaping dress which you were wise enough to bring with you. But even as you looked around the room, flashes of the tributes' faces occupied your vision again, on the walls and even on the window...

"Effie?" you called.

Effie immediately trotted over to your side. "What is it, (Y/N)?"

You turned to her calmly. "Is there any way I can make an order through the Capitol right now? There's something I need from them before I go."