That Ol' Wind

Chapter 5: Peeta

She's here. She's really here. I'm standing this close to her. She came just like I had hoped she would.

I smile down at her and she smiles back. She hasn't changed at all. If anything she grew more beautiful. Her eyes still gleam a magnificent silver color and her dark hair curls down her shoulders to her elbows. She wears a light dusting of makeup she doesn't even need. She looks so happy and I'm right with her.

"Alright guys, how you all doing tonight," I say when I finish my first song. The crowd cheers loudly and I laugh."Well as most of you know, this is my last party, at least for a while, so let's make it go with a bang!" I say and they scream again. I sing so many songs that I've written over the thirteen years of touring. And just like before, every time I look at Katniss she's singing right along. l smile at her. She smiles back. The whole concert we shoot glances at each other like we're a couple of teenage kids again.

When I get closer to the end of my show, I decide to try something.

"Okay guys, I've got a special treat for you guys. Ten years ago, I discovered some hidden talent in this little town. Since I see her standing in the crowd tonight, I'd like her to come up here and sing The River with me, just like before," I say and I walk off the stage and stop beside Katniss. I grab her hand and drag her on stage. She laughs at me and I begin to play my guitar just like before. And she sings along. Just like before.

"You know a dream is like a river
Ever changing as it flows
And a dreamer's just a vessel
That must follow where it goes
Trying to learn from what's behind you
Never knowing what's in store
Makes each day a constant battle
Just to stay between the shores

I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

Too many times we stand aside
And watch the water slip away
'Til what we put off 'til tomorrow
Has now become today
So don't sit upon the shoreline
And say your satisfied
Choose to chance the rapids
And dare to dance the tide

I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

And there's bound to be rough waters
And I know I'll take some falls
But with the good Lord as my captain
I can make it through them all

I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry
Like a bird upon the wind
These waters are my sky
I'll never reach my destination
If I never try
So I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

Yes I will sail my vessel
'Til the river runs dry

'Til the river runs dry,"

He voice is still as sweet as it used to be and when she finishes she smiles at me as the whole crowd cheers.

"Now since she sang for me, I'm gonna end this show but singing for her. Gale, why don't you get her a stool," I say and the whole crowd cheers as the music for the Dance starts. The song I wrote for Katniss.

"Looking back on the memory of
The dance we shared 'neath the stars above
For a moment all the world was right
How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end, the way if all would go
Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Holding you, I held everything
For a moment, wasn't I a king
But if I'd only known how the king would fall
Hey who's to say, you know I might have changed it all

And now I'm glad I didn't know
The way it all would end, the way it all would go
Our lives are better left to chance, I could have missed the pain
But I'd of had to miss the dance

Yes my life is better left to chance
I could have missed the pain, but I'd had to miss the dance"

I look at her and see the tears in her eyes and she nods and walks off stage. After the show I greet some fans, sign some autographs, take some pictures. But I don't see Katniss.

Then as the crowd clears, I see her standing there.

"Katniss," I say. She smiles at me.

"Peeta," she says and runs into my embrace.

"I missed you," I whisper into her hair.

"I've missed you too," I hear her murmur back.