"I shouldn't have asked you to stay last night," I say as I look at Peeta's fresh black eye.

"It's fine," he says. "I'm used to it."

"But I gave her another reason to hurt you," I say. "I know I'm supposed to love all people, but your mother just makes me want to, uh" I stomp towards a tree hit it, turning it into a flock of birds.

"I thought you weren't supposed to get angry," he says.

"Well, I'm not, but that woman, it's just," I say. "How could any mother treat their child like this? How could she beat you?"

"She just does," he says. "But she's still my mother Katniss. I still love her."

"Well you have a bigger heart than I do," I say.

"A bigger heart than an angel?" he asks. "That's really funny Katniss."

"But it's true," I say. "Sometimes it feels like you're the one who already has the wings." I sit down on a stump and pout.

"Why?" he asks.

"Because you have so much patience," I say. "Something I've never had and never wil-" I stop as I hear a calling.

"Katniss?" Peeta asks. "What is it?"

"I have to take someone," I say. "I need to go help someone pass over to the other side."

"So you need to leave?" he asks and I shake my head.

"No, they're nearby," I say.

"Can I come with you?" he asks.

"Peeta," I say. "It's not that I think you can't handle it. It's just, it's a baby Peeta. These ones are always really hard to handle. I still don't get over them easily and I've been doing this for a really, really long time."

"I want to be there for you," he says. "Please Katniss."

"Fine," I say and unclip the necklace from my neck. I feel my wings reappear and I turn to Peeta and press my hand to his chest as I cast the shadow enchantment on him. "Now the mortals can't see us."

Peeta nods and I take his hand and lead him through our dense forest hideaway and we come to a shack at the edge of the Seam.

"It's worse than I thought," I say.

"What could be worse than a dying child?" Peeta asks.

"I hate taking children already," I say. "I hate it even more when I'm taking them from families that already have so little."

"It'll be okay," he says. "So how exactly do we do this?"

"Just don't let go of my hand while we're passing through," I say.

"I wasn't planning on it," he replies. I wander to the back of the shack and slide through the wall, dragging Peeta with me.

We end up in a one room cottage with a cradle in the corner. The child is blue and no longer breathing and the mother is crying by the cradle. I put my heart in a box and let go of Peeta's hand as I step forward and kneel beside the poor mother. She can't be more than eighteen and hear her crying about not wanting to lose her baby too, which makes me think her husband was dead already. I wrap my ghostly arms around her and kiss her cheek.

"I'm so sorry Vanessa," I murmer, knowing while she can't feel or hear me, she'll feel the comfort I give her. I slowly release her and reach my hand forward and press my hand to the child's chest before reaching into his body and pulling out his soul, holding him as the infant that he is as I stand up.

I walk over to Peeta and take his hand, leading him out of the house and away from Vanessa's heartbroken cries. I lead him deep into the woods before turning to him.

"I need to take him up above the gates," I say. "I'll be right back."
He nods, not meeting my eyes as I spread my wings and start towards the heavens. I stop outside the gates and had the child to Saint Peter.

"I'm sorry you had to do it this time," he says. "I know you hate taking children."

"I was closest," I say. "It never gets easier, it just gets normal."

"I'm happy to hear about Peeta," he says. "Its not often angels get soul mates."

"Well I hope to help him find his wings as soon as I can because I want him to come home, with me," I say.

"It'll be soon," he says. "I know how because of what's going to have to happen, but I can't tell you. It'd jeopardize his entrance into your ranks."

"I understand," I say as I now my head. "I don't like it, but I understand. I must be going now. If what you say is true, we'll be seeing you soon." He nods and I leave, descending through the clouds and landing next to Peeta. I carefully take away the shadow enchantment and watch as he starts to collapse. I catch him and help him slowly lay down on his back.

After a few moments, he blinks open his big blue eyes.

"What happened?" he asks.

"You passed out after I took the enchantment back," I say. "You're okay now though."

"You don't look so okay," Peeta says.

"Like I told you, children are hard," I say. "Especially infants."

"How do you do it?" he asks.

"You keep reminding yourself that death is needed for suffering to end," I say. "It never gets easier, but that's how it works."

"It was hard," he says. "Listening to her cry and watching you take the child."

"I know," I say. "But I did warn you."

"I know," he says. "Will I have to do that someday?"

"Yes, but I'll be with you Peeta," I say. "After you earn your wings, we'll never be alone ever again."

"But the emotional wounds are still there," he says. I nod and gently brush my thumb across his cheek, healing the bruises there.

"And unfortunately," I say. "They don't heal as easy as that. And when they do heal, they leave nasty scars."

"But I'll be happy to bare those scars with you," Peeta says kissing me. "For the rest of our long, long, long lives."