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mega-aulover · 3 years

Text

Coming Home

A small birthday story in honor of Katniss Everdeen's Birthday.

Set AU - Where the Hunger Games existed but the war began when they were 16 and ended when they were 22. Katniss never went to the Hunger Games but she did join the Rebellion and fought until the Capitol was taken. not beta'd all mistakes are mine...

special thanks to @rosegardeninwinter for her help earlier!

Rated T - for canon typical violence

“I wish I were able to wear a dress,” Delly said.

There were many uniformed members of the Rebellion, standing around the dance floor, some were dancing, others were milling around the fair grounds. It was a brilliant spring evening one that held promise.

“You’re wearing a skirt Del’s,” Jo said leaning against a pole at the edge of the dance floor.

“It’s still not the same as a long dress. In my head I can dance and move so serenely to the music, I look like a swan moving across the water,” Delly sighed.

“In reality, you move like an elephant with a lit matchstick up its butt,” Johanna said.

“JO!” Delly exclaimed. “Elephants are gentle creatures and besides…” Delly looked down at her feet. “They’d be mortified to know they were ever compared with me.”

Jo laughed. “Okay Everdeen, which one do you want to dance with?” She pointed a group of men off to a corner.

Katniss had remained silent during the entire exchange. Today was her birthday and she didn’t want to be here, but this was a mission to get Delly away from Gale. Gale was badly hurt and Delly came home with him to help him convalesce.

The band played a lively tune and Delly tapped her toes. Even before the war Katniss wouldn’t have come to any of these frivolous events.

Despite having returned home to District Twelve, she did not feel comfortable. It was as if something was missing. Her bed was too soft, the silence was too profound, and the night sky too dark. She still slept on the floor and she found she needed noise of some sort at night even if it was snoring. Loud noises though, like a heavy thump, disquieted her.

“Is the noise too much?” Jo asked.

Jo was a military psychologist assigned to the surviving members of the 451 to help them transition from a military combat unit to a home life.

“No,” Katniss said.

“Why don’t you go for a walk Everdeen. Or better yet go out on the dancefloor and make a fool of yourself.”

Katniss paid no mind to Jo, instead she glanced around at the dance floor where couples slowly shifted their feet to the music. Katniss palms were wet with perspiration, she curled her hands into fists, not wanting to show her nerves. If Delly was disastrous on the dance floor, Katniss was by virtue of her awkwardness, worse.

Dances were horrid.

They were supposed to be celebrations of the human experience. Where people gathered and moved in graceful harmony. Dances were a place to discuss likeminded topics. It was a place to merrily accept another’s body pressed to their own, whilst whirling around a confined space as gleeful and fanciful music played into the air, affecting all those gathered. Katniss was not graceful, she was not a pleasant conversationalist, and she did not like to be touched.

“Stop scowling Everdeen, it’s just a dance,” Jo said.

Katniss gave Jo a withering look, before breaking away. She blindly walked away from the dance floor. This wasn’t just a dance, it was a celebration of the end of a grueling war against the Capitol. A war that the districts won, but at the cost of the blood of many innocent lives. The troops were sent home, most of her unit, the 451, came from District Twelve, but were not dispatched yet. The new government was dispatching the troops by district. Since District Twelve was the furthest away it would be dispatched from service last.

District twelve held a fair and dance to celebrate. Katniss slipped her hand inside of the pocket of her wool brown and green dappled uniform. Her pants were cuffed as she was short, her suspenders were hidden by the vest she wore, her white shirt was unbuttoned at the neck and her military issued jacket hung open.

A group of young men who were inebriated stopped to salute her, “Captain.”

“As you were,” Katniss said.

“Do you know who that was?” One of them said in a low gravelly voice.

“No who?” This one had a higher pitched voice.

“Captain Everdeen.”

Katniss heard when they stopped moving to stare at her.

“I heard she shot Snow straight through the eye,” the one with the higher pitched voice said.

Her valor and sometimes stupidity caused her meteoric rise in the military and some fame. She was only twenty and two, but she felt older than her years. As she moved away from the fair and toward the shops that lined the Merchant quarter it became quieter.

It was good be home and at the same time her mind pulled from the recesses of her soul the memories of the war. Six years was a long time to be away from home. Six years to metamorphize, to create a cocoon, t urn into an unimaginable goo, and morph into the person she was today.

Though there were times she wished for a different future. One she imagined and dreamt of often while in her cot. A future of a picnic in the meadow. A bent head with a toddler with bright blue eyes, a girl with dark hair twirling in the distance, and a warm babe in her arms.

Those were dreams. Idyllic nonsense dreamt up by a desperate girl in a monstrous war.

“Katniss?”

Katniss looked up to see Peeta Mellark standing with his family, his brother and father. His mother and other brother decided to fight for the Capitol. Katniss had no idea of what became of Mrs. Mellark or her eldest Aldo. Her heart leapt within the confines of her chest at the sight of his ruddy face, the lock of unruly ashen colored blond curl that fell across his brow. His arms were massive and his chest broader. But his blue eyes still held that warmth and beauty that she recalled from his youth. He was taller and looked more debonair with his cane. His name fell from her lips like a quiet prayer, “Peeta.”

“Captain Everdeen,” Rye saluted.

“Lieutenant Mellark, Sergeant Mellark,” Katniss greeted them both reading the insignias on their shoulders. Rye was a Sergeant and Peeta a 1st Lieutenant.

“Why don’t we meet you by the ah…” Rye trailed off.

“Rooba’s sandwich booth,” Mr. Mellark said pulling Rye and his wife with him.

They stood facing the other. When the war began, they were only sixteen so young naïve and entirely unsophisticated to understand the intrinsic dance of war.

“I heard about Gale,” Peeta said.

“He’s recovering.” There was a time she wouldn’t have been able to stare at him in the face, unless they were trading. “We had to pry Delly away from his sick bed. She’s down by the dance floor.”

“Delly?”

“They got together during the war. Delly’s medical corps unit got assigned to ours, she helped cure a lot of the injured.”

“So, they’re a couple.”

“Between you and I, I think Gale was constantly trying to find ways to get into the infirmary to see Delly.”

Peeta gave her that sweet youthful smile she recalled when she spied on him in school. A small smile crept on her face. They stood there until a group of kids ran between them breaking the moment. They began to move toward the fair. The only sound was their steps followed by the click of the cane as he used it to walk.

“I thought I would never see this day,” Peeta said quietly.

“Me either, when we broke through to the palace, I couldn’t believe…” Katniss drifted off as the violence she experienced that day still battered her mind.

“You were there…at the Capitol?”

“Yes,” Katniss muttered her eyes saw the fire, the sounds - she could hear the whistling of the bombs as they fell to the earth.

“I’m sorry, I heard the 451 lost a lot of…”

“We sustained the heaviest casualties. We were on the front line of the assault.” Her voice did not sound like her own. She sounded haunted and much like the souls of the cadavers of the fallen men and women, hollow.

Peeta took her hand, and she closed her eyes as she let the warmth of his hand seep into her and spread out from the center of her being like a candle being lit in a darkened room. Gripping his hand tightly she looked up at him. “Thank you.”

They continued walking this time hand in hand. “You find it weird to be back at home?”

Katniss nodded.

“I can’t stand my bed.”

“I sleep on the floor.”

“Me too, that is when I can sleep…” Peeta squeezed her hand.

“Do you have them- nightmares?”

“Every night.”

“I hate the nightmares…Prim’s taken to sleeping in the goat shed.”

“Rye has them too, my dad’s sleeping in his downstairs office.”

“You should get him a cot.”

“It won’t matter much.”

“Are you leaving?” Katniss nearly tripped misstep at the thought of Peeta leaving.

“It’s Rye who’s leaving us as soon as he gets his dispatch.”

“You’re staying at the bakery?” Katniss let go of his hand though she wanted to reach back out and take it.

“Even though it feels odd to say this, this is home. What about you?”

“I feel the same way, but I don’t think Prim wants me to stay. She’s all grown up and doesn’t need me anymore.”

“I was shocked when I saw how tall your sister got,” Peeta had some laughter in his voice as he continued. “I’m sure you were shocked to come home to a giant.”

Katniss grinned, it was true her baby sister was nearly as tall as Gale. She was also eighteen and thankfully never entered service, as the war ended. “I’m not that short.”

“Well compared to Prim you’re tiny.”

Katniss playfully swiped at his shoulder. Peeta was always so easy, even though they didn’t speak much, when they did it was so easy. She never stammered or lacked words. When she turned sixteen, she thought she would have time to tell Peeta thank you for the kindness he bestowed on her family after her father died. She had a brilliant plan of leaving him tiny gifts at his desk, of the things he liked to do, such as extra paper and pencils for drawing.

A fond smile lit her lips as she recalled the innocence of that girl. There were many times while on her cot that she imagined how that would have played out. In the end Katniss would have discovered the truth behind those acts, were driven not by a need to repay Peeta, but the fountain of love that flowed from her heart. Even now as she walked by his side, she was acutely aware of her attraction to him, and the depth of tenderness she felt for him.

“So, are you going to dance?”

“No.” Katniss spied Peeta from the corner of her eye. “What about you?”

“I’m afraid I can’t.” Peeta stopped walking to rap against his leg. It sounded hollow. “Lost it toward the end and have an impressive bionic leg that I’m still getting used to.”

“Oh.” Her hand reached out to touch him. He was one of the reasons she was able to make it through the horrors of war. The image of Peeta in his wrestling uniform. The image of Peeta’s arms dusted with flour. The image of Peeta’s warm smile gave her the strength to make it through many a cold night.

“How about a raincheck and we dance at the fall fair. By that time, I’ll be good enough to at least shuffle my feet around with out falling or stepping on your foot.”

Laughter burst from her lips. Peeta always had a way of reaching her that no one else had. In her six years she learned the pining, or the bond as she thought of it, was really love. Katniss loved Peeta.

Delly once explained that love that was never fulfilled was an unrequited love.

“I haven’t heard that beautiful sound in years,” Peeta whispered.

Katniss felt her cheeks warm before the colored.

“You were my constant northern star Katniss. I thought of you the entire time. I swore to myself that if I ever got to see you again that I would tell you…”

Katniss gasped and her legs moved on their own as she grabbed the lapels of his uniform to bring his head down, stood on tip toe and pressed her lips to his.

The kiss, long overdue, was as glorious as the sight of her beloved woods. Peeta wound his arm around her small waist before deepening the kiss. Sounds slipped from her mouth as her body became consumed with flames.

Peeta smiled down at her when they stopped kissing. “I love Katniss Everdeen. I’ve been a goner for years…”

Katniss smiled brilliantly at him, “I love you too.”

“Happy Birthday.”

“You remembered,” she was astonished.

“I remember everything about you. I’ve been a goner ever since you sang the Valley Song when we were kids.”

Happiness spilled into her like pure clean water being poured onto a dry parched land. “I don’t want to spend any more time without you.”

“Me either. I want to spend the rest of the time left on this green earth with you Katniss Everdeen.”

Her heart raced. Life was short and she was willing to make leaps and take risks. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

Peeta opened his mouth his cheeks became even redder, and he nodded.

“Good. Come on.”

They walked hand in hand to the dance. She smiled and nodded to her mother and sister, then to his family as they passed by on their way to the dancefloor.

“Katniss…” Peeta frowned.

“Trust me.”

A hush fell on the crowd and people gave them space. The band stopped playing. People were staring at them. As she was well known amongst her unit and the people in District Twelve. Peeta had his own notoriety being the beloved son of the baker, a kind and gentle boy who group up to be a handsome compassionate man.

“We’re having a toasting tonight…and this is our wedding dance.” Katniss voice carried into the quite air. “Could you please play the Valley Song,” she asked the band.

Cheers went up.

Katniss took his hand with the cane and positioned it behind her she then took his free hand in hers lifting it up. They shifted on the dance floor, she put her head on his shoulder and for the first time since coming home, she felt at home.

Peeta stopped moving and kissed her once more. That night they promised before all who could see that they would be faithful, loving, and kind in sickness and in health. When they joined in body it was as if torn souls were reconnected and sewn back together again.

Four years after the war Katniss found herself holding her babe as she watched one of their twins play with Peeta in their meadow. Her daughter’s voice could be heard laughing in the wind. A sense of DeJa’Vu washed over her. Katniss realized this was her dream, this was her coming home.

#mega aulover #drabble #Everlark #Birthday Drabble #Katniss Everdeen

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everlarkbirthdaydrabbles · 7 years

Note

My birthday was last week (5/21) but if you're in a lull and want to backtrack I love fluff and/or arranged marriage situations.

How very fitting that our last story at everlarkbirthdaydrabbles is in response to what was, in fact, our very first submission! We’ve held onto this an entire year, gleefully looking forward to the day that we could fulfil this request! So happy birthday to you @roseymama, this incredible piece of Everlark was crafted just for you by the most wonderful @appleblossomgirl0305!

Blessed Accidents

A/N: Happy, happy day, birthday girl! I hope you have an incredible birthday and phenomenal year to come! (I also hope you have nothing else to do today besides eat cake and read this, as it is embarrassingly far too long for a drabble.)

To the @everlarkbirthdaydrabbles angels that have made this birthday gift exchange possible, thank you so, so much. You have done something so beautiful for the entire fandom.

Rated M

Trigger warning: parental abandonment

Katniss couldn’t put her finger on exactly what was wrong. She could feel it, gnawing insistently at the back of her mind like a headache coming on, but couldn’t figure out what had thrown her so off-balance. At nearly eighteen, Katniss had spent the past six years keeping her small family alive, a finely calibrated existence that kept them skimming just above oblivion. She was well aware that any small disaster could be their undoing, so she was vigilant in her watchfulness.

She glanced over at Prim, who was sitting at the kitchen table, schoolwork open in front of her. Katniss followed her sister’s eyes as she cast a worried look at their mother, who was making tea in the small kitchen.

Katniss’ eyes narrowed as she took in her mother, her blond hair brushing against her shoulders as she swayed back and forth, humming quietly to herself. As Katniss scrutinized her, her mother turned dreamily towards the window and closed her eyes, smiling into the soft morning light. This can’t be good, thought Katniss. But if anything, her mother looked perfectly healthy, robust even.

As she and Prim walked to school, Katniss did a quick mental inventory of her mother’s recent behavior and found no warning signs of the crippling depression that had nearly killed them all. If anything, lately her mother had seemed the opposite, too… happy. It had taken years after their father’s death for her mother to crawl out of the chasm of her grief. In the past few years, she had even resumed work as a healer, training Prim to assist her and freeing Katniss up to dedicate more of her time to hunting and their continued survival. But the humming and private smiles were new. Katniss scowled, if her mother was going to fall apart again, she needed to figure out how to protect Prim.

But as she regarded her sister walking straight-backed and solidly next to her, she realized that Prim wasn’t such a little girl anymore. In fact, she was taller than Katniss and her dark blue eyes held a sadness and gravity that belied her nearly fourteen years. But she was fed and healthy and Katniss had loved her the best she could. The last hurdle was keeping Prim off of tessera and safe through her last five Reapings. Then Katniss would be free in a way she’d scarcely even let herself imagine.

As the rutted dirt road of the Seam transitioned into the cobblestones of town, Katniss caught sight of Peeta Mellark, the baker’s youngest son, hurrying out from the bakery storefront. Their eyes met and she was instantly annoyed by the cornflower blue and disheveled blond curls and the sprinkling of freckles over his pink, flushed cheeks. And, especially, by the responding tug in her belly and the warmth that spread like honey through her limbs.

She dropped her gaze and gave him a curt nod. She hated when they met like this, it was so awkward since they were heading to the same place. And it seemed to be happening more frequently lately as the end of the school year approached. Only another few months and she could avoid Peeta Mellark, and the unpleasant sensations he inspired in her, forever.

—–

“Morning,” Peeta mumbled, his heart dropping to his toes as Katniss nodded at him while staring down at her boots. He didn’t know why he did this to himself every morning; rushed through his chores and waited by the front store window with his bookbag already slung over his shoulder in the hopes of orchestrating his exit so that it appeared he just happened to run into Katniss Everdeen. He had done it nearly perfectly this morning, but it didn’t matter. Katniss still couldn’t care less about him.

He fell into step behind them, feeling utterly pathetic. She clearly couldn’t stand the sight of him. He just wanted so desperately to talk to her. Okay, that wasn’t all he desperately wanted, there was a lot of touching he wanted to do that made him light-headed with desire to imagine, but first he wanted to talk to her. With only a few months left of school for them, he was painfully aware that time was running out before she might disappear forever.

Prim, who was usually so shy and quiet, suddenly turned towards Peeta and asked how the bakery was doing. He could feel his mouth hanging open in shock that she had addressed him, but managed to stutter out that it was fine, good, thanks for asking. His mind raced with what he could ask her in return as he took a couple of quick steps to walk beside her. He’d made a study of Katniss’ life and suddenly wasn’t sure what it was safe to know about Prim. He settled on asking her about school.

He glanced over at Katniss while Prim asked after his parents. Katniss was staring straight ahead, her jaw tight. He was amazed, as always, at how much presence she had despite her small stature, how intimidating she could be. Struggling to hold the thread of conversation, Peeta was just asking after their mother, when Aspen Lewis came hurtling out of his family’s store and nearly tackled Peeta, hopping onto his back. Katniss grabbed Prim and herded her forward, quickening her pace to avoid the boys’ scuffle. Peeta was stuck walking the rest of the way with that jackass Aspen chattering away.

Throughout the day, Peeta replayed that short conversation over in his mind. Why had Prim chosen to talk with him that morning? Was it a sign? As grateful as he was, something about it was bugging him. Maybe he was just distrustful of anything good ever happening to him.

—–

Katniss was distracted. She couldn’t stop glancing over at where Peeta sat during lunch, surrounded as usual by the boisterous blond heads of his fellow merchant kids. Why had Prim talked to Peeta that morning? Katniss thought Prim understood that Peeta was to be ignored. She had never talked to Prim about the bread and had always assumed she had been too addled by starvation to question how Katniss had gotten it. But Prim seemed to understand that Katniss disliked Peeta. Or maybe, being Prim, she intuited that Katniss felt uncomfortable around him, was in debt to him and hated to owe things. Then the horrifying thought that maybe Prim liked Peeta shot through her mind. Prim was too young. Peeta couldn’t possibly be interested in a fourteen year-old. But Prim was lovely and kind and fair. The thought turned her stomach and she looked back over at him, trying to imagine if it could be true.

“Is it the sandwich or the arms?” Madge asked, chewing thoughtfully on a raisin.

“What?” Katniss asked, hoping the annoyance in her voice would discourage any further conversation. It didn’t.

“Peeta. You know, that guy you’ve been staring at for the past ten minutes.” Madge held the container of raisins out to Katniss in offering.

“I’m not staring,” Katniss mumbled, taking a raisin even though she didn’t like how they stuck in her teeth.

“I think he might be the prettiest one of the three Mellarks,” Madge mused thoughtfully. “If you like that kind of thing.”

“Which kind?” Katniss wished she hadn’t asked it the second it was out of her mouth.

“You know, the strapping baker kind. With broad chests and blond curls and dimply grins.” Madge poked her finger into her cheek and gave Katniss an angelic smile.

“Then no, I guess I don’t.” Katniss picked at her fingernails hoping Madge couldn’t see her blush.

All the teasing had left her voice when Madge said, “Peeta’s a really good guy, Katniss.”

Katniss stood up, shoving the bag of dried meat she hadn’t eaten into her pocket, nodded at Madge and walked away.

She didn’t see Peeta watch every step, looking like it took all of his considerable strength not to go after her.

Over the next few weeks, Katniss checked the snare line early and went straight to school from the Hob. She felt bad not walking with Prim, but if Prim did like Peeta, this would give her the chance to talk with him without Katniss ruining it. She ignored the sharp pain in her chest as she imagined their hands brushing, then forcefully cast it out of her mind.

——

Peeta was starting to go mad. He lay in the darkness, unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he’d see Katniss; the curve of her neck, the coil of her dark braid, the silvery gray of her eyes. He flipped his pillow for the hundredth time, trying to find a cool spot. How was he ever going to convince Katniss to go out on a date with him if she continued to avoid him so thoroughly. He couldn’t ask her at school, not with all their classmates listening. He knew she’d hate that.

He went to the window to open it wider and the strangest sight caught his eye. His parents were dancing in the backyard. But that wasn’t really possible. He looked closer, squinting into the dim moonlit yard, and realized that it wasn’t his mother. His father was wrapped around Mrs. Everdeen. He drew back, feeling like he’d been caught doing something terrible, something shameful.

Peeta watched as his father pushed Mrs. Everdeen against the wall of the small garden shed. Watched as he kissed her and ran his hand up her leg and under her skirt. Peeta turned away, feeling sick. And disturbingly jealous. His heard the echo of his father’s voice on the first day of school saying, “See that little girl? I wanted to marry her mother, but she ran off with a coal miner.” Well, her coal miner was dead. And the muffled sounds of her pleasure drifting up from the yard, proved his father was getting a second chance. As he crept back to his bed, he wondered what was to become of them all now?

——

The following Sunday, Katniss was returning from the woods, a full game bag bulging over her shoulder. It was nearly spring and she could practically feel the hum of life beneath the earth. She had met Gale today. Since the accident, she never knew when he would turn up.

About a year after he had finished school and started working full-time in the mines, there had been a cave in. His crew had been trapped for a day and a half. Two of his crewmates had been crushed by the falling rock. The rest of them were banged up, but not badly hurt. But when Gale emerged from the mineshaft, it was clear that something had broken, something on the inside. He hadn’t been the same since, hadn’t spoken a word since the accident.

A month later, he moved into the woods. When the weather was bad, he slept in the cabin by the lake, otherwise he slept rough. He seemed to have become more forest creature than the boy Katniss grew up with. Sometimes, when she was in the forest, he would materialize out of thin air. He’d stay with her for a bit and she’d tell him about his family or the Hob or they’d walk side by side in silence. As unsettling as it was to see him like that, it seemed important to her to link him to people. She figured that was why he sought her out.

Whenever she spent the day with Gale, she would find herself panicky to get back to Prim, to see with her own eyes that she was okay. As Katniss pushed through the front door, she nearly slammed into her mother. And as her mother pressed her hand against her heart in surprise, Katniss nearly swallowed her tongue in shock. When had her mother gotten so fat? But as her eyes traced the rounded bulge of her mother’s protruding belly, she realized with sickening horror that she wasn’t fat. She was pregnant. Very pregnant.

Katniss stared at her mother in slack-jawed horror before she began to sputter, too aghast to form words. No, this couldn’t be happening. It wasn’t possible. She felt Prim’s small hands on her shoulders steering her towards their yard.

She rounded on Prim, eyes wild with panic, “What the hell,” she demanded in a hoarse whisper. “How did this happen?”

Prim was infuriatingly calm as she said, “The usual way, I think.” She rubbed Katniss’ arm and continued, “I’m just relieved you finally noticed, I couldn’t figure out if you were in some weird state of denial or just your usual unobservant self.”

Katniss’ thoughts were flying through her head at a dizzying speed, she reached out to grab one, but by the time it had left her lips a new one was there, “When? How long? How could she? Who?”

“Sit down, Kat, I think you’re in shock. Put your head between your knees and breathe.” Prim slid the game bag off her shoulder and helped lower her to a crate by Lady’s pen. She did as Prim told her, feeling like she might pass out.

“I think she’s about seven months along. I wasn’t sure until about six weeks ago, she’s been wearing those flowy dresses. I knew she was seeing someone, and I thought that was why she was acting so weird. It didn’t occur to me until way later than it should have…” she shrugged, finally looking a little bit her age. “And as for who,” she said, blushing slightly, “I’m not sure, but I think it is Mr. Mellark’s.” And all of a sudden it became clear why Prim had been so friendly with Peeta.

“What can we do?” Katniss asked, feeling slightly deranged.

“Uh, wait until she goes into labor?” Prim asked, seeming unsure of the question.

Katniss shook her head before dropping it between her knees, “What are we going to do?” she moaned. The the fury she has been waiting for finally ripped through her and she sprang off the crate and ran into the house. Prim calling to her from behind.

Katniss rounded on her mother, afraid to touch her, but wanting to strike her. “How could you? How could you let this happen?” she hissed.

Her mother was exasperatingly nonplussed, reaching down to cradle her stomach. “Oh, you can’t possibly have really just noticed,” she laughed, “I’m as big as a house.”

“What are you going to do?” Katniss demanded.

“Well, Katniss, I’m going to have a baby,” she explained like she was talking to toddler.

“With Mr. Mellark.” Katniss felt light-headed again but dug her toes into the leather of her boots to ground herself.

“Yes,” her mother had the decency to flush as she looked away and began folding the dish rag.

“He’s married,” Katniss stated flatly.

“I’m aware of that, Katniss,” she snapped. “We didn’t intend for this to happen, it just did. Sometimes accidents can be blessings.” There was an infuriatingly dreamy smile playing at her lips as she said that last part, but her expression sobered and she added, “He’s trapped in a loveless marriage. We’re working on that.”

“How are you possibly working on it?” Katniss demanded. “He’s a merchant, he’s married. What is there to work out?”

“He loves me! We’ll figure out how to save him from her.” Katniss stared at her incredulously. It was like trying to argue with a crazy person. Living in reality had never been her mother’s strong suit. But since Katniss was painfully familiar with the depths of depression to which her mother could sink, she had sort of willfully ignored her mother’s less devastating lunacy, allowing her to drift and daydream since it had seemed relatively harmless. Katniss wanted to scream at how wrong she had been. This would destroy them for sure. Her mother turned away and Katniss, faced with her rigid back, saw how she could have missed the pregnancy. Her mother was still so slim and in her loose dress, there was no evidence from behind.

Trying not to cry, Katniss bitterly bit out, “Well, you better figure it out quick. Because I’m not taking care of this one.” And she ran out of the house.

She was so lost in thought, her mind swimming with fury and betrayal, she was surprised to find herself at the alley door of the bakery as the sky darkened into twilight. Was she there to confront Mr. Mellark? What could she possible say? What did she even want to ask for? But as she glanced into the yard, she saw that Peeta was throwing scraps to the pigs. She stood against the wall, the stones biting into her back until he approached the door. She lept out and grabbed him, spinning him until he was pressed against the outer wall. He dropped the pail he was holding and gasped out, “Katniss?”

“Did you know?” she demanded. She had nowhere else to put this untethered fury and threw it into Peeta’s face with her words.

He looked down, a dead give away of his guilt, and quietly admitted, “I saw them together a couple of weeks ago.”

“Why didn’t you say something?” she hissed.

“Oh, you mean during one of our daily chats? Maybe during class? Or one of the many mornings where you wouldn’t even look at me?” Katniss stepped away from him as the last barb hit home. Almost immediately, he looked contrite for speaking so sharply.

His voice was quiet when he said, “For years, I’ve tried to work up the nerve to talk to you.” She looked at him, scowling, and he took a deep breath, “Without success. What was I going to do, open with, ‘Hey, Katniss, so our parents are having an affair, want to hang out sometime?’”

She furrowed her brow in confusion. But felt herself deflate as the anger began to leave her. It had been the only thing holding her up. She leaned against the wall next to him, and as horrifying as this entire situation was, the brush of her bare arm against the warmth of his raised gooseflesh on her skin.

“I was almost free,” she whispered, grateful for the thickening darkness that hid the tears gathering in her eyes.

“I know it’s messed up, but it’s not like they’re breaking up a happy marriage.” Peeta said, an almost soothing cadence to his voice.

“This has nothing to do with your mother,” she snorted out a derisive laugh.

“What then?” He sounded so confused, so distracted, fidgeting beside her.

She rounded on him, looking incredulous, then spat, “Do you not know about the baby?”

“What baby?” he asked, clearly not understanding what a baby could have do with anything. Then his face paled as he visibly cottoned on.

She felt a perverse satisfaction in his shock and asked, perhaps unkindly, “So what does that make us? Bastards in law?”

His face fell as he shook his head, apparently lost for words. “I’m just kidding,” she said, stepping into the darkness, “I know the only thing it makes us is completely screwed.”

And then she was gone.

—–

As he lay in bed staring hopelessly at the ceiling, he tried to order this information into something that made sense. His father was having an affair with Mrs. Everdeen. She was going to have a baby. And while this was certainly the end of his family as he knew it - for undoubtedly his mother would find out soon and her retribution would be fierce - he couldn’t figure out why Katniss was so devastated.

He ran her words over and over in his mind, ‘I was almost free.’ How haunted her voice had sounded. He tried to see this from her perspective. And suddenly in rapid succession, the images came into focus. Her mother’s breakdown after her father died. Katniss’ overprotective relationship with Prim. The inevitable public shame of her mother’s affair. Another mouth to feed. He sighed under the weight of these worries that weren’t exactly his, but that he was desperate to help her solve. Tomorrow, he thought, tomorrow he would track her down at school and they would figure this out together.

But she wasn’t in school the next day. Peeta spent the whole looking for her, his heart in his throat every time he entered a classroom, before plummeting to his toes as he found her seat empty.

When Peeta returned to the bakery for his afternoon shift, his father was holding an icepack to his cheek. His mother was gone, having left nothing but the bloody trail of her fingernails down his father��s face.

Mrs. Everdeen went into labor around midnight on a Tuesday a few weeks later. Katniss showed up breathless at the alley door looking pale and frightened and telling Mr. Mellark it was time. Peeta watched as his dad threw on a pair of pants and his boots over his pajamas and ran out into the night. The mixture of joy and fear on his face was unmistakable. He was practically incandescent with love. Peeta had never seen anything like it on his father’s face and he couldn’t help feeling like maybe he had never really known his father at all. Peeta dressed quickly and jogged to catch up to Katniss who was walking home slowly.

“Can I walk with you?” he asked.

He thought she nodded, though he couldn’t see her clearly in the silver-moon darkness. He continued to walk beside her anyway.

When they reached her house she paused in front of the porch, then stepped back and turned towards the meadow. “It’s going to be a while,” she offered as an explanation. “I’m not very good at the pain part,” she admitted sheepishly.

“Me too. I mean, me neither,” he said, willing to agree to anything she said as long as she’d let him stay with her.

They walked in silence until they reached the meadow. Katniss led him to a willow tree. They sat down beneath it with their backs against the rough trunk.

“Your mom left?” she asked quietly.

“Yeah.” He wasn’t sure what else to say. “It’s been strangely pleasant.”

She was quiet for a moment before she asked, “Are you scared?”

“About what?” He wasn’t sure if she was referring to his mother leaving, but figured she knew it wasn’t a huge loss.

“About the baby,” she said, sounding slightly exasperated.

“No, not really,” he answered truthfully. The darkness helped.

A moment later, she said, “You can’t possibly understand.”

“And don’t try to explain. Obviously I’m too dim to get it,” he teased.

She sighed, “I just meant that you’re the youngest. You’ll understand when you meet the baby. Being an older sibling is a life sentence.”

He looked at her thoughtfully. “Having two older siblings, I’d say that it’s more about the way you sister. Is that a verb?”

“No,” she said, but a smile tugged at her lips. “But it should be. In my experience, it’s a full time job.”

He smiled back. “Will you deck me if I say I’m looking forward to meeting him?”

“Or her,” she said pointedly. “I’ll try not to.”

“Sorry, of course it could be a girl. It’s just Mellarks don’t seem to make girls. My mother gave it her best shot, but finally had to give up. I’m pretty sure she’s never forgiven me for betraying her by being another damned boy.”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever forgive my mother.” She looked away and when she looked back at him, her eyes bore into him in the dim moonlight, “I’m… I can’t figure out if I’m more afraid that I won’t love the baby… or that I will.”

He nodded thoughtfully, “Maybe this time it’ll be easier. Since you won’t be doing it alone.” And to a chorus of crickets and with a million stars as his witness, he reached for her hand, threading their fingers together in a promise of solidarity and companionship and maybe, someday, something more.

He must have dozed off, because what felt like seconds later, Katniss was gently shaking his shoulder and telling him it was time to go back. When they got to the porch, it was eerily quiet and illuminated by a single flickering candle. Peeta wanted to reverently tour the house, he’d spent untold hours imagining her home, but an exhausted-looking Prim was walking into the living room with her arms laden with soiled sheets.

“How is…. Everyone?” Katniss asked her sister.

Prim gave a small worn smile and said that everyone was good and healthy. Katniss raised her eyebrows questioningly and Prim added, “Oh, and congratulations, you have another sister.”

Katniss seemed to deflate for a second, then straightened up and walked over and took the armful of linens out of Prim’s arms and kissed her cheek. “Well, she’s going to have a lot to live up to. I’ve already got the best sister imaginable.” Prim smiled, a real smile and kissed her back. “Go to bed, little duck, I’ve got these.”

“Sounds good,” Prim yawned, “I’m bushed.” And she wandered into the room off the kitchen, calling over her shoulder, “‘Night Peeta.”

“How can I help?” Peeta asked, feeling shy now that he was actually in Katniss’ home.

“I’m just going to put these outside to soak. I’ll be right back in to help you make up the couch.”

“That’s not necessary,” he said.

“Don’t be silly, it’s too late for you to walk home and our parents have already scandalized both of our families, so you might as well get some sleep.” She gave him a weary smile and disappeared out the back door.

He took the opportunity to drink in his surroundings. The sparse furniture, a table and three chairs, a threadbare couch with the batting showing through on one arm and the tiny kitchen with wood plank shelves laden with jars of herbs and tinctures.

Katniss came back in with a clean sheet and blanket under her arm. When they’d finished making up the couch she cast him a tired smile and said, “Goodnight, Peeta.”

He fell asleep the instant his head hit the pillow.

——

Katniss awoke with a start trying to place the mewling sound coming from nearby. Oh, right, the baby. She tried to roll over and ignore the sound, but it didn’t stop. She felt the bed shift as Prim got up. Katniss refused to follow her. She understood better than anyone the pull of a helpless little sister, but this time she would let her mother do her job.

But seconds later came Prim’s shrill, panicked cry, “Katniss!”

She was standing in her mother’s doorway, with Peeta right behind her (Katniss had forgotten he was there), facing a frantic Prim. The baby was a squirming, squalling bundle on the bed. The empty bed in the empty room. Prim was clutching a note to her chest. She held it out Katniss in a shaking hand before scooping the baby off the bed.

The note was from their mother. The first part of the note was to Prim, telling her she loved her and apologizing and asking her to understand that they just needed a little time together “like a honeymoon”, followed by instructions to feed the baby with diluted, boiled goat’s milk. The second part of the note was addressed to Katniss. “I’m sorry, Katniss. We just need some time alone. Away from all the judgement and pressure. We’ll be back for her, I promise.” And that was all there was. A hungry crying baby and a worthless note full of empty promises.

Numbly, she handed the note to Peeta, who was standing in the doorway looking completely disheveled and only marginally more awake than asleep. She slipped past him and out into the yard to both milk Lady and escape the plaintive cries of both sisters.

Katniss entered the kitchen with the warm milking pail clutched so tightly that her fingers were turning white and found Peeta sitting at the kitchen table, both of his hands fisted in his hair.

“I don’t understand,” he said, “this can’t be true.”

Katniss didn’t answer as she put a cup of the milk on the coal stove. She filled the kettle and placed it beside the pan of milk.

As Prim walked into the room holding the weeping baby, Katniss murmured something about needing the bottle. Prim came back with a large eye eyedropper.

“Is that even going to work?” Katniss asked.

“I doubt it,” Prim sniffled, “but it’s the closest thing to a bottle that we have.”

“I’ll get a baby bottle at the Hob.” Katniss took the eyedropper from Prim and sterilized it with the now boiling water. Peeta watched raptly as she added a few tablespoons of the boiled water to the simmering goat’s milk, which she poured into a sterile bottle. She placed the bottle into a pot of cold water and swirled it occasionally before testing the temperature on her wrist, filling the eyedropper with milk and handing it to Prim.

They all watched as Prim ran the glass tip along the wailing baby’s lips. The second the milk made contact with her tongue she abruptly stopped crying and sucked at the eyedropper. The baby squawked plaintively every time they pulled it from her to refill it, but with a bit of maneuvering they were able to drizzle a stream of milk into her mouth until, sated, she turned away and promptly fell asleep.

“Can you stay with her while I go to the Hob?” Katniss asked. And while Prim looked utterly shell-shocked, she nodded. Katniss grabbed her jacket and stared over her shoulder at Peeta, “You coming?” she asked.

Peeta babbled non-stop on the way to town about how he didn’t understand how either of their parents could do this, could leave their child like this. When they got to the bakery he asked if she wanted him to come with her to the Hob. She snorted and shook her head no.

“How can I help? What can I do?”

“Nothing,” she said dully. He reached in his pockets and gave her every coin he had, she spun and walked away without another word.

That night, Peeta showed up on their doorstep with a loaf of bread and some early apples from the tree in his backyard. Katniss tried to send him away, but he set to work washing dishes and preparing dinner.

Katniss scowled at him the entire time, but waited until he had served the fried bread and scrambled eggs before telling him they didn’t need him and he should just go home.

Without a word, he took off his boots and lay down on the couch, pulling the blanket over his legs. If she wouldn’t let him help with the baby directly, he would be support staff for all of the Everdeen girls.

Katniss sighed audibly, but didn’t fight him or insist that he leave. She was just too tired.

Peeta didn’t make eye contact as he asked quietly, “Have you named her yet?”

It hadn’t even occurred to Katniss to name her. “Not yet,” responded Prim.

“Any ideas,” he asked.

Prim shook her head.

“How about Citrine?” he asked.

“Or Rosebud,” suggested Prim.

Katniss stared down at the tiny scrunched face with her fine white hair and said, “Dandelion,” though she hadn’t meant to speak. The image of looking down and seeing the first dandelion of the year and the promise of survival it invoked rushed back to her and she remembered her father’s joking voice telling her that as long as she could find herself, she’d never starve. Her heart panged painfully at the memory of his voice, she missed him so. This child would need all of the help she could get. She looked at Peeta out of the corner of her eye and knew she needed him. He had been part of that dandelion in the schoolyard when she’d first known that hope wasn’t lost and he was part of this one too.

“Danni for short,” Prim decided, nodding.

And just like that, the baby became Katniss’ sister. Not just her mother’s mistake or an unfair burden. Those tiny fingers and heart-shaped pucker of a mouth and her overwhelming need for protection worked their way inside Katniss and rooted there.

——

It went on that way for weeks. Peeta going to school, taking his afternoon bakery shift, then showing up at the Everdeen’s house to wash and cook and mend before falling face down on their couch in mindless exhaustion. The girls took turns feeding Danni throughout the night and Katniss was gone at first light to hunt. She showed up only periodically at school, but since there were only a few weeks left, no one seemed interested in confronting her. By that time, the whole District had heard the story and there seemed to be a collective decision to leave the four of them be.

Peeta’s brothers helped out by taking over Peeta’s bakery duties as best they could. But with both Mr. and Mrs. Mellark gone, the bakery was suffering. None of the brothers understood the ordering and their offerings were dwindling as the supplies ran low.

Despite his daily, and frankly indispensable, presence, Katniss did her best to ignore Peeta entirely. She would hardly speak to him nor allow him to hold Danni. She tried to let her gaze slide indifferently past him, but her eyes wouldn’t cooperate and kept seeking him out. It was odd to want to watch him so much. Gale was arguably the better looking of the two and yet she’d never wanted to stare at him while he worked. But she couldn’t seem to tear her eyes from Peeta’s methodical movements as he kneaded bread. From the fluid roll of his shoulders, the mesmerizing clenching of the muscles in his forearms. His hands, flour dusted and strong, folding and re-folding the dough. Placing her cool fingers on her flushed cheeks, she forced herself to focus on the laundry she folding.

Despite Katniss’ continual cold shoulder, everyday Peeta asked how he could help. And when she inevitably declined his offers of assistance, he found ways to help anyway. She knew it had to be the exhaustion, she was practically hallucinating by the third week, but being so close to him caused frissons of heat to ignite low in her belly and snake up her spine like a live wire, awakening each of her senses and making her feel too receptive and raw. It was making her crazy.

Finally one night, when she had almost dropped Danny in her exhaustion, Peeta exploded.

“Damnit, Katniss, let me help!” He was flushed and breathing hard. And despite the fact that he was angrier than she’d ever seen him, she could tell he was holding back. “This isn’t my fault. I didn’t do this!” Then, after several deep breaths, he added in a quieter voice, “I’m standing right here. I didn’t go anywhere. Please, let me help.” He was right. She knew he was, but then where was all of this anger supposed to go? And as she looked up into his face, pink and blotchy in his frustration, but still so beautiful and kind, all of the anger seeped out of her. And as she took a step to brace herself, the full force of her bone-deep fatigue threatening to suck her under.

Peeta wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her, careful not to jostle the baby. “Please let me help,” he repeated and her entire body slumped against him.

“I’m so tired,” she admitted and he nodded, leading her over to the bed. She sat down and held out the softly whimpering child to him. With almost comic gentleness, he wrapped the baby in his arms. Danni looked ridiculously small there, nestled against his thick arms and as Katniss fell backwards on the bed and into the blackness of sleep, she thought her little sister might be the luckiest creature on earth.

Katniss woke with start. The late morning sun was streaming in through the tears in the curtain and it was… quiet. She flew out of bed, her heart pounding and found Prim sitting at the kitchen table mixing herbs with a mortar and pestle. Her hair was neatly braided and she smiled as she glanced up at the disheveled Katniss.

“Morning, sleepy head,” Prim grinned, “Everyone’s fine. Peeta took Danni on a walk. Why don’t you take a bath?” She wrinkled her nose and Katniss scowled at her as she slid into an opposite chair.

Prim continued, “Suit yourself. I just thought that since you finally came to your senses and let Peeta participate in this little disaster of a family, we should probably work out some sort of a schedule so we don’t all go mad.” Katniss stared at her. When had she gotten so grown up? Maybe that’s what having a baby sister did to you, forced you to grow up. Like they were pushing up from underneath, nudging you forward. “And I thought you might want to be a little cleaner when he gets back,” Prim added, appraising her.

Katniss nodded and headed into the bathroom to bathe, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. She had clearly underestimated Prim and she didn’t even want to think about how unfairly she’d treated Peeta. But knowing that they were in this together, settled something frantic inside her. They might be okay after all.

Things started to work more smoothly after that. Instead of wreaking havoc on their lives, Danni became part of their life. On mornings when Danni would awaken early, Katniss would wrap her tiny sister into the intricate sling that Hazelle had taught them and take her hunting. On those mornings, in the misty quiet, with the baby tethered to her as though an extension of her own body, Katniss stayed closer to the fenceline. Somehow, this baby - who seemed instinctively to understand the need for quiet in the woods and used those giant blue eyes to take in everything around them - had become too precious to risk. She had also become Katniss’ hunting partner and it was nice to have the company again. It had been months since she’d last seen Gale.

Katniss would meet Peeta at the bakery right after school and help him to attach the sling, trying not to marvel at the breadth of his shoulders or let her fingers linger on the strong plane of his stomach as she pulled the fabric around him. While Katniss assembled the sling, Peeta would hold Danni out in front of him, cooing and chattering nonsense in a comically serious voice while she smiled gummily and cooed back. Then he would kiss her nose and tuck her into the sling. Katniss wondered at Danni’s ability to be so studiously serious with her and so chatty and happy with Peeta.

Prim, having finished her homework and done the patient rounds in the afternoon, took Danni in the evenings while Peeta and Katniss made dinner and took care of the house and did their own homework that Peeta brought home for them.

Realizing it was ridiculous to have Peeta sleeping on the lumpy couch when a perfectly good bedroom sat empty, they moved Peeta into their mother’s old room. Katniss couldn’t escape the sadness she felt at the permanence of this shift and what it signified, but it made sense.

One evening as Katniss and Peeta sat at the kitchen table together doing homework, Katniss found herself enthralled with his gestures. The way he would tap his pencil against his lip when he worked on sums, the self-conscious way he’d rub the back of his neck when he told a funny story, the way he chewed his thumbnail when he found something especially challenging. She tried not stare, but found him increasingly distracting to work across from.

“Why are you scowling?” Peeta asked, that little half-smile that made one of his dimples deeper than the other playing at his lips.

“Just thinking… about Danni,” she said distractedly, trying to keep her face from scowling. Was that her default facial expression, she wondered.

“Oh, I see. Good thing you’re thinking about her. That’s the thing about babies; they lull you into a state of false security and waking exhaustion and then they attack.” His hand shot out and squeezed that ticklish spot just above her knee and she gasped out a laugh of surprise. He grinned at her and she scowled deeper in return.

Then without warning she launched herself at him. His surprised “ooomph” as she knocked him from his chair morphed into a cascade of gruff giggles as she straddled him and savagely tickled his sides. With seemingly no effort on his part, he flipped them over and pinned her arms above her head. She rocked and squirmed under him trying to find an opening to regain the upper hand, but his weight in the cradle of her thighs was undeniable. Something else was undeniable too. The heat and firmness of his growing erection stopped her writhing. She stared up into the darkening blue of his eyes. His laughter had stopped and the intensity of the look on his face took her breath away. She realized, with a jolt of terror, that he was about to kiss her.

At that moment, Prim strolled into the room, Danni in the sling and a bucket of fresh milk in her hand. She made a surprised squeak and hurried to set down the pail before walking into her room.

Katniss pushed at Peeta’s chest and scrambled up from underneath him, embarrassment and something else, disappointment? flaming her cheeks. What must Prim have thought? What was she doing? They had just gotten their lives under control, under some sort of balance and she was going to ruin it. She mumbled a quick “sorry” somewhere in Peeta’s direction, but couldn’t look at him. Getting up slowly to follow Prim into their room, Prim popped out, slipping a knit hat over Danni’s fuzzy head.

“We’re going over to Hazelle’s for a visit,” she said, buttoning her sweater around the both of them and slipping quietly out the door as Katniss called to her.

Peeta had come up behind Katniss. He wasn’t touching her, but she could feel the heat of this body. She was afraid to turn around. To face whatever was coming. Because all of a sudden it felt inevitable.

“I don’t want to ruin this, this thing we’ve got going,” she said to the wood of the door.

“Then we won’t ruin it,” Peeta said simply.

She turned, frowning at his flippancy over something so important. But he wasn’t smiling and his eyes were wide and clear. “I mean it, Peeta. I don’t want to lose you.”

He chuckled mirthlessly before responding, “I don’t think you could lose me if you tried, Katniss.” He looked up at the ceiling and a took a deep breath before cradling her face in both of his hands. “I’m in love with you. I’ve always been in love with you. I don’t ever want to be anywhere else.”

She stood there and let the truth of his love percolate down into her bones. Then she levered up on her tiptoes and kissed him. It started out soft and tentative as butterfly wings, but before she knew it, she was pressed against the door panting as he blazed a trail of wet kisses down her neck. She reached up under his shirt, feeling his stomach muscles tighten deliciously as he let out a strangled grunt. But he stopped her then, pulling her hands out from beneath his clothes and kissing each of her hands before placing the softest brush of a kiss on her lips.

“Goodnight, Katniss. I love you.” And with the most angelic smile on his kiss-swollen lips he turned, gathered his books and went into his room, closing the door softly behind him.

Lust-addled and feeling slightly rejected, she retired to bed. It was the first time she’d had it to herself in months. And knowing Peeta was about fifteen feet away on the other side of the wall, was making her body hum with need. She sighed, slipping her hand into her underwear and gasping at how good it felt as her fingers slid over her throbbing clit. It took less than a minute of fantic circling before her body shuddered in pleasure. She could have sworn she heard Peeta’s responding choked sound of release in the seconds that followed, but it was hard to be sure with her heartbeat still pounding in her ears. She fell asleep instantly with the knowledge that she would hear that sound up close soon enough.

And after that night, it was like the dam around her heart had broken and she was positively flooded with love for the boy with the bread. Her boy. She wanted him all the time. His presence, the low rumble of his laugh, his touch. Definitely more of his touch. She burned for him in ways she never thought possible. She wanted things she’d never thought she’d want. His whispers in her ear, his lips on her forehead, his large, warm palm on the small of her back and the weight of his thick body nestled in the cradle of her thighs. But as much as she wanted to feel every millimeter of his bare skin against hers, he progressed their physical relationship at a snail’s pace. There were hundreds of kisses and he couldn’t seem to stand near her without touching some part of her body, but he didn’t push for more.

After weeks of laying in her bed, next to her two sisters, positively burning for him, she snuck into his room and crawled under the thin sheet he used as a cover. He started and stared down at her, sleepy confusion in every line of his face as she wrapped her strong arm around his belly and nestled into his broad chest.

“Katniss?” he asked groggily.

“Shhh,” she said, “Go back to sleep.” And while part of her wanted to strip him naked and climb atop him, filling her aching body with his rigid heat, she didn’t think she had ever been that warm or comfortable. So, for that night, she allowed sleep to claim her, but she made plans for other nights to come in her dreams.

When she woke, she was pretty sure that she had never slept so well.

The following evening, as Katniss watched Peeta humming tunelessly as he danced a giggling Danni around their shabby living room, she blurted out, “I love you too.” Then she ran outside to milk the goat before she burst into flames of embarrassment. Or maybe it was happiness.

When she climbed into his bed that night, she left her nightgown on the floor. He gasped when he ran his hand up her bare back and she smiled into the darkness, helping him strip off his clothes. There were no words to describe the gloriousness of all of that warm, firm skin under her hands and mouth.

He helped her, his large hand engulfing hers as they slid it up and down his rigid shaft. He stopped her hand frequently to take gasping breaths and to tell her how good it felt, how he never wanted it to end, but that he couldn’t help it, and then he was coming in hot spurts and gasps of pleasure, her name on his lips.

And she helped him too, her hand on top of his directing his thick fingers as they pushed into her wetness and then slid over her slick clit until it was her turn to muffle her ecstatic cries into his shoulder as she pulsed around his fingers.

“I’ve wanted to do that since I learned it was possible,” he mumbled happily into her hair.

“Good thing. You’re going to get plenty of practice,” she mumbled back.

“Can’t wait.” And her entire body shook with his laughter.

“I can’t believe how well this has all turned out,” she said sleepily.

“Katniss, I always hoped we’d end up like this. My wildest dreams are about raising a family with you by my side. I just thought we’d have, you know, gotten to have sex first.”

She barked out a laugh and laid her head against his shoulder. She had started to understand. For what felt like the hundredth time, she thanked the heavens for him being here.

The next afternoon, as Katniss fastened the sling around Peeta’s body, being liberal with her touches now and enjoying each sigh and grunt she elicited and she ran her fingers over his warm skin, Peeta froze. Thinking she had done something wrong, she stood up, but he didn’t look at her, continuing to stare towards the door to the bakery storefront. She followed his gaze and found Mrs. Mellark standing motionless in the doorway.

Peeta silently handed Danni to Katniss and stepped between them and his mother.

“Hello, Peeta,” she said, her voice tight.

“Hello,” he said. Then clearing his throat he asked, “What are you doing here.”

Mrs. Mellark straightened her already straight back and answered brusquely, “Your brother asked me to help with the ordering and bookkeeping.”

Peeta must have known, somewhere in his mind that his mother was at her sister’s house all of six blocks away. Somehow it was easier to believe that she had just disappeared like his father had. “So you’re back.”

“This is my business too, you know,” her voice climbing slightly. “I understand that your father has left. While I was initially very angry at him, I’ve realized that him leaving is probably all for the best.” She nodded, as if that concluded the discussion, and walked stiffly around Peeta towards the small office under the stairs.

Seemingly against her will, Mrs. Mellark glanced over at Katniss who turned, still holding Danni. She cleared her throat and asked, “Is that the child?” Katniss nodded. “And it’s a-?”

“Girl,” Katniss supplied. Katniss turned Danni around so she was facing outward and as Mrs. Mellark saw her face, her breath caught audibly. “Her name is Dandelion,” Katniss said softly.

“Really?” Mrs. Mellark tried to sound disapproving, but her face was so filled with longing it didn’t work.

Peeta’s voice was right behind Katniss’ ear as he asked quietly, “Would you like to hold her, Ma?” Katniss tensed, but didn’t protest.

“Well, I… I don’t… oh, all right.” She seemed annoyed at her own interest in the girl.

Peeta gently nudged Katniss forward and she took reluctant shuffling steps until she was standing close enough to Peeta’s mother to transfer the child. “We call her Danni,” Peeta said from next to Katniss as he held her elbow.

Mrs. Mellark’s face lit up as soon as the baby was in her arms. Danni reached up with her tiny hand and grabbed Mrs. Mellark’s chin. Mrs. Mellark made a practiced movement, a small circle that that lightly trapped Danni’s hand under Mrs. Mellark’s chin as she said in a very un-Mrs. Mellark-like singsong, “Why, hello Danni, it is so so nice to meet you.”

Katniss glanced up at Peeta as if to verify that this was really all right. He ran his hand over her head and down her braid as he watched his mother with his sister, a small smile playing at his lips. He leaned over and whispered, “See, I told you she always wanted a girl.”

Mrs. Mellark glanced up sharply and said, “Peeta, don’t you have some work to do? Danni and I are going to go submit the order forms. The flour shipment will be here on Thursday. She can stay with me while you and brothers go fetch the supplies.” And she disappeared into the office cooing softly.

“Are you sure it’s all right?” Katniss asked Peeta, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

Peeta pulled it out with a tug of his thumb and placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I’ll be here all day. If anything worries me, I’ll keep her with you on Thursday.” He shook his head ruefully, “But honestly, Katniss, she was a good mother in a lot of ways. And while I would never try to excuse her violent behavior, I’m starting to think that my dad might have been more of the problem than I ever understood.”

“Hmmm,” said Katniss, sounding unconvinced. “You’ll make sure Danni is okay. And you won’t leave her until you’re sure.”

“I can’t believe you’d even have to ask,” he said, looking a little affronted.

“I don’t need to,” she said, “I just can’t help it. Sistering, remember?”

“Right,” he said, kissing her softly, “how could I forget? Now go, this is your time. I promise, I’ll check on them every few minutes.”

And reluctantly, Katniss left. She went to the Hob and settled a few accounts before buying a bowl of Greasy Sae’s stew. As she sipped the hot broth, she decided it was madness to leave Danni with anyone who had hurt Peeta and she gulped the soup so fast she burned her tongue, before hurrying back to the bakery.

As she passed the storefront on her way to the alley door she saw Mrs. Mellark through the window. She was standing at the counter, holding Danni in front of her and swaying as she chatted animatedly with customers. Peeta was beside her casting sidelong smirks at whatever his mother was saying, which was obviously about Danni from her gestures. Katniss had never seen old witchy Mellark look so darned happy. Sighing to herself that Peeta had asked her to trust him and she needed to do so, she headed home to see if Prim needed any help with her homework.

When Peeta returned home with a perfectly healthy and happy Danni that evening, he regaled them with stories about his mother’s obvious smittenness with the baby. And as Prim blew raspberries on a delighted Danni’s belly, Peeta pulled Katniss down on his lap and kissed her. It was the first time he’d done so in front of Prim and, though a little embarrassed, Katniss couldn’t wait for him to do it again.

——

The night before their last reaping, Katniss tucked Danni in with Prim and kissed both of their precious blond heads. She took Peeta’s hand and led him out to the meadow. She shook out a blanket and pulled him down onto it before holding his face between her small hands. He stared into her eyes, even more luminous by moonlight and marveled at all of beautiful things he could see in them, the brightest of all was his future.

As they reverently undressed each other, mapped flushed skin with eager hands and hungry mouths, with teasing giggles and moans of honeyed pleasure. He made her come with with hands, then his tongue, before she begged him to make love to her. As he pushed into the slick heat of her, the pleasure sliced through his body all the way to his soul. He felt dizzy with euphoria and rested his forehead against hers as he fought his body’s instinct to plunge fast and hard into the oblivion of this bliss. He moved as slowly as he could, long, sure strokes that made her beg for more beneath him. Before he was ready, the white-hot sensation was lancing up his shaft. He pulled out and spilled himself on her trembling stomach, her name becoming a shuddering moan as he came and came.

They lay side by side on their backs, hands clasped as they tried not to drown in the sea of stars and the tidal wave of love that engulfed their hearts.

“I’m gonna marry you someday,” Peeta whispered.

And though she didn’t believe in marriage, had no plans to ever do so, she had to bite her lip to keep from grinning into the night.

It was an out of body experience coming through your final reaping safely. Like some giant, cosmic foe had been vanquished. But of course, it hadn’t, because that same foe would be back for Prim next year. And, eventually, would come for Danni. The mere thought of it nearly brought Katniss to her knees, but Peeta’s strong arm wrapped tightly around her, kept her upright. Katniss peered over to where Mrs. Mellark stood, her face obscured by the brim of her hat, holding Danni life a life raft.

As Katniss scooped Danni into her arms, she and Mrs. Mellark’s eyes met. And though her mouth was set in same grim line as usual, Katniss saw a pain in the crystalline blue of her eyes that she had never seen before. Mrs. Mellark fumbled for Peeta’s hand and squeezed it once roughly, seeming to surprise them both. Katniss wondered if so much fear had poisoned Mrs. Mellark’s heart into the twisted thing it had become. Katniss clutched Danni to her chest, took her other beautiful sister’s hand and glanced over at Peeta’s lovely face and let her heart fill with golden light to ward off the darkness.

Peeta’s mother and brothers joined them that night at the Hawthorne’s for the celebration dinner. As Peeta passed Danni to his mother’s waiting arms, he said, “You look nice, Ma.” And Katniss noticed with a start of surprise that Mrs. Mellark had worn her hair in a braid over her shoulder instead of her usual severe bun. Danni instantly grabbed onto the braid and Mrs. Mellark beamed up at her son before schooling her features and walking past him into the room. Peeta’s brothers handed several loaves of warm bread to Hazelle and they all sat down for dinner.

Posey, though far too big, sat on Katniss’s lap. As Hazelle counted their blessings, Katniss caught a slightly disturbing exchange of glances and flushed cheeks between Prim and Rory Hawthorne. Peeta squeezed her knee under the table and gave her a small smile and shrug. She was about to say something when she saw a flash of gray eyes from the kitchen window and was pretty sure that Gale had been there making sure they were all safe, but when she looked back, he was gone.

She placed a kiss on Posey’s head and readjusted her so she could hold Peeta’s hand while she ate with the other.

“So, Danni and I were talking the other day,” Peeta said into her ear.

“Talking, huh?” Katniss snorted.

“And,” Peeta continued ignoring her skeptically raised eyebrow. “She was saying how much fun it would be to have a little niece or nephew to grow up with.”

Katniss was shocked. “Bite your tongue, Peeta Mellark,” she hissed under her breath.

“I’m just passing along the message,” he shrugged, grinning.

“How about you just shut up and your eat your dinner,” she said, shoving a forkful of greens into his mouth.

But somehow as she gazed at the beautiful boy beside her who made the best surrogate father she could have dreamed of, that future that had seemed repugnant cracked a window of possibility inside her. Maybe loving someone and being truly loved in return, made the risk of loving them bearable.

As everyone dug into their food, serving themselves and their neighbors, passing dishes high and low in a tangle of arms, Katniss rested her head on Peeta’s shoulder and watched. Even six months ago she could never have even imagined such a ludicrous scene. But maybe her mother had been right. Sometimes it was the unplanned things, the things you didn’t even think you wanted, that were exactly what you needed. Sometimes, accidents could be blessings.

#Everlark birthday drabbles #roseymama #appleblossomgirl0305

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lifeisshiny · 7 years

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Favorite Tee

Happy Birthday @jennagill!!! ILY so hard, lady. Thank you for being a phenomenal friend, we are all so lucky to have you in our little community.

xoxo

Katniss wakes to the sound of raindrops lightly tapping her bedroom window, and rubs her eyes as she lifts herself out of bed. She draws the curtain and sighs as she looks outside.

“I guess I’m going to the gym.”

She’d rather just crawl back into bed, with the warm sheets and fluffy pillows beckoning her back to slumber, but she’s been training for her first half-marathon for weeks now and can’t afford to lose momentum.

Opening her t-shirt drawer, she pulls out her favorite tee without a second thought – a soft, dark green shirt her mother brought home nearly five years ago…

“Mom, what are these?”

Her mother and Prim laugh. “They were having a 2-for-1 sale on family reunion t-shirts at the Goodwill, so Prim and I picked up a couple.”

Katniss scowls. “Okay, but it’s not our family – seems ridiculous to wear someone else’s family reunion shirt, doesn’t it?”

“But they’re so soft!” Prim exclaims, lifting up the dark green one. “Plus, I picked this one out for you. It’s a little big, but it’s your favorite color! And it has trees on it!”

Katniss can’t help but smile as she takes the shirt from her little sister. It is incredibly soft, and the design is pretty – resembling a forest path, it has a list of the family members’ names in small white font down the center, and beautifully outlined white trees on either side. She peeks at the label on the inside, and runs her finger over the single ‘P’ written in orange marker. She looks down the list, and finds the only ‘P’ name. “Peeta,” she whispers.

She tries on the shirt and looks down at it. “’Mellark Family Camping Trip, 2012’…I guess I can wear it to sleep,” she says, kissing her sister’s forehead. “Thanks, Primmy.”

Her heart aches as she puts on the t-shirt, thoughts about the loss of her sister just a year after this memory wandering into her head. But, the pain just drives her to keep going, especially since she’s running this half-marathon in Prim’s honor and memory. So she shakes her head, ties up her laces, and grabs her car keys. It’s time to run.

She runs and runs, ignoring the stench of this no-frills gym and focusing instead on the upbeat tones of the EDM station she listens to when she works out. Out of the corner of her eye, she notices a mop of sweaty blond hair climb onto the elliptical next to her, but she ignores the person and stares straight ahead. It’s not until a few minutes later when she realizes the person – a man, who looks to be around her age, with average height and stocky build – is staring at her. Or rather, at her chest.

“Excuse me!” she exclaims, pulling the earbuds out of her ears. “What the hell are you staring at?!”

The man blinks and shakes his head, his cheeks instantly turning bright red. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry, I wasn’t staring at your boo-er, uh, chest, I swear, uh, I was just trying to look at your shirt.”

“My shirt?” she says loudly, looking down. “Seriously?!” she yells, furiously pressing buttons on the treadmill to slow herself down. “You expect me to believe that you were looking at my shirt and not my boobs?”

He stops his legs on the elliptical, and his cheeks turn even brighter red at the mention of ‘boobs’. “Look, it’s just – I know the Mellark Family, that’s all…”

At this, it’s Katniss’s turn to blush. She slows down her pace on the machine and looks away from him. “Oh, uh, sure, the Mellark family…” she mumbles.

“Yeah,” he says, a hint of a smile on his face. “I, uh, grew up with them, and I don’t remember seeing you at any of the family events.”

“Oh,” she says, forcing a fake smile. “I…must have kept missing you or something…”

“Which one are you?” he asks, pointing to the list of names on her shirt. “Maybe your name will sound familiar.”

“Delly,” Katniss spits out, “Delly Cartwright-Mellark”. She’s worn the shirt enough times to know most of the names on there, and Delly’s always stood out. “But listen, I’m about done here, so it was nice to meet you, but I have to get going,” she says hurriedly as she steps off the treadmill.

“Wait!” he yells after her, but she’s already ten steps ahead of him. It’s only when she hears commotion behind her that she turns around, and sees that the man has fallen on the floor. “Oh my god!” she says frantically, running back to him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, uh, I’m fine, thanks,” he says, sitting up. Katniss squats down, careful not to touch him as he slowly tries to stand. It’s then when she sees his left-pant leg ride up, and lays her eyes on the reason for his fall. “I’m still getting used to it,” he says quietly, locking eyes with her. “My new leg.”

She rises to her feet and meets his gaze, reading sadness and frustration behind the bluest eyes she’s ever seen. “I’m sorry I ran off,” she says, knowing she’s partly to blame for his hasty climb off the elliptical . “Are you okay now?”

He smiles. “Yeah, I’m fine…Delly.”

Katniss narrows her eyes and tilts her head at the way he said ‘Delly’, as though he knew she was lying. “I uh, didn’t get your name…”

“My name?” he mumbles, the flush returning to his cheeks. His eyes wander to the ceiling for a few seconds before they finally settle back on Katniss, and he sighs.

“Peeta,” he says. “I’m Peeta Mellark. And I believe you’re wearing my t-shirt.”

#happy birthday jackie!#love you!!!#cc writes #everlark #everlark drabble #everlark fanfiction

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seasonsofeverlark · 2 years

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Forever Love

Author: @mega-aulover

Prompt: Hi! My birthday is Feb 16., and an Everlark drabble would be a delightful treat :) I’m a sucker for athletic!lark, and since my birthday falls towards the end of the 2022 Winter Olympics, I wouldn’t be opposed to an Olympic themed story. Bonus premise: the first time they meet, one of them is naked. ? (Thank you, thank you in advance!) [submitted by @daydreamsandcaffeine]

Rating: M for mentions of nudity and some language

Author’s Note: Happy birthday to @daydreamsandcaffeine I hope this fulfills your prompt and I hope you have a wonderful birthday. Special thanks to my beta @norbertsmom. Words: 3694 ________________

Peeta was running late as he rushed out of the bathroom. He searched for a towel but the bathroom was empty. There wasn’t even a roll of toilet paper. They had to be on the bus to get to the Birds Nest. From far away it looked like a bird’s nest, but it was the place where the Opening and Closing Olympic Ceremonies took place in 2008. The Olympic Committee in China refurbished all of the buildings used in the 2008 Olympics for the 2022 Olympics.

Peeta had to be ready in the next five minutes to take the bus to the Birds Nest. His plane had arrived late, there was a mix-up at customs, he was delayed further because he needed to wait for his PCR covid test to come back negative. Peeta made it to the Olympic Village with less than 20 minutes to shower and change into his parade outfit. Thankfully his teammate Cato led him to Panem’s floor and into the suite of apartments he’d be staying at during the Olympics.

He shared the suite with Cato and Marvel, who were known as pranksters.

“Guys?” Peeta called out coming out of the bathroom.

The scream that penetrated the air had him frozen.

Instead of being in the room with his fellow teammates Cato and Marvel, he stood buck-naked in a room with three women, all three brunettes. One winked at him, the second one had not looked up into his face once, and the shortest one, the one who screamed, was looking at her feet.

“Why, hello there, big boy,” the woman who winked said. Her eyes traveled from his broad muscular shoulders, down his abdomen before zoning in on his dick. He could see her salivating. He quickly covered himself with his hands.

“Can I help you with that?” The tallest of the dark-haired trio waggled her eyebrows.

Cato and Marvel who were laughing as they entered the room suddenly sobered. Cato stepped forward to put his hand on the tall one’s shoulder. “Clove?”

“Sorry he's…bigger,” Clove said. “Right, Jo?”

“Absolutely and thicker than a..”

“Really, Clove…Jo?” Cato said.

Jo turned a wicked glare at Cato and said, “You’re big, but not as big as him.”

“How many of our guys have you seen naked?” Marvel asked.

Jo wickedly winked at Marvel. “My collection is growing; I’ve got a few left, including Thresh and Finnick. I heard Thresh is a monster, but this one before me is a splendid specimen.”

Peeta cleared his throat while cupping his hands over his dick. “I-”

“Oh,” came a soft sultry sound from the other woman.

Peeta turned his attention to the other woman and was entranced. He instantly felt his dick become hard. She wore a face mask but her expressive wide gray eyes were everything. She was small, delicate with olive skin tone and long dark braided hair. She looked like a tiny figure skater.

“Oh…I’m sorry,” Peeta didn’t mind being naked. He grew up with three brothers and one bathroom. You had to be strategic about getting into the bathroom in the morning. That meant diving into the bathroom in different stages of dress. He was also a hockey player so walking in next to nothing in the locker room was normal.

Her steel gray eyes averted.

“I’m going to kill them,” he muttered. “I need to get to my room. Sorry ladies.”

“No need to be sorry, thank you for the show…” Jo said, shaking her hand. “That is some fine man candy.”

Peeta sighed; he needed to quickly get dressed. The entire time he hoped the siren with the gorgeous eyes was still out there. He found the apartment empty. Groaning, he slipped on his mask and ran out of the apartment.

Peeta ran outside and watched the bus with his roommates and the girl take off. He had to wait a few minutes to get on the next bus. Peeta took the wrong bus and ended up arriving late to the Birds Nest.

After the quick check, Peeta began searching for the other members of the Panem Olympic team for the parade of athletes.

“Hey Peeta,” Finnick shouted.

“Finn,” Peeta greeted, relieved to finally see a friendly face. Why they had to be present at the parade instead of resting Peeta didn’t know.

“I can’t believe we made it,” Finn said, catching up to Peeta.

“How long did you have to quarantine?” Peeta asked.

“Man, way too long; little Finn hasn’t seen any action in weeks,” Finn said, pushing back his long surfer-like hair away from his handsome face.

Several women eyed Finn and a few others giggled. Finnick was like a Greek god, tall and bronze with a swimmer’s physique. Finnick was a shark on the ice. He was their captain and center for the hockey team. Peeta shook his head. “I think you’ve got a fan club.”

Finn nodded his head at the girls giving them what he called his lazy panty-dropping suggestive wink. “They’re Swedish.”

Peeta rolled his eyes. “Finn, we can’t, you know what coach said.”

“You mean growled,” Finn said.

“KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS.” Both men said at the same time mimicking Haymitch Abernathy.

“We’ve got to find the rest of the Panem team,” Peeta said walking forward. Together they walked in the hall of the Birds Nest looking for the pure white snow jackets that were the trademark of the Panem team. Their uniform was all white as designed by Cinna & Portia. They were beautiful and sleek with faux-fur trim. The country’s emblem was on the right sleeve in white. The name Panem was embroidered in white down the left sleeve.

They rounded a corner when Peeta ran into something. A small bundle of white fell on the floor.

“Watch where you’re going!” A feisty slight woman with dark eyes stared at them. Then her eyes widened. “Well, hello gorgeous.”

“Jo,” the girl on the floor said. Her voice was sweeter and it got Peeta’s attention. He couldn’t see her face, because of the mask and the knit hat she wore, but he recognized her silvery eyes; they were mesmerizing.

“No, the beanpole here owes you an apology!”

“Jo, I am not a beanpole.” Finn bowed deeply, waving his hand with a flourish, grabbing Jo’s gloved hand and placing a kiss on it.

Jo narrowed her eyes, taking her hand away from Finn, “Seriously Finn. Beanpole is the one on the floor.”

“Yes but you’re the one who has ax’s hanging on your wall,” Finn said.

Peeta shook himself out of his stupor and leaned forward to help the girl on the floor up. She batted at his hands.

“Never mind,” she grumbled as she stood up.

Peeta stood back. She wasn’t tall either but there was something captivating about her. “Hi, I’m Peeta.”

She looked at him and said, “You guys need to watch where you’re going. You could hurt someone!”

“Sorry,” Finnick said.

But the girl with the beautiful eyes flashed with fire. Peeta felt his knees become jello. “And your name is?’

“Catnip,” another masculine voice said. The girl with the silvery eyes looked over her shoulder.

“Catnip?” Peeta said.

“No, it’s Katniss,” she said.

A tall man with similar eyes came into view.

“Gale,” Katniss greeted.

“Where’d you go?”

“Away from you,” Jo said.

“What?” Gale questioned.

“Hello, I’m Finnick, this is my mate Peeta. We’re on the hockey team.”

“Gale, curling.”

“Katniss, curling.”

“Jo, women’s hockey.”

“We don’t have a women’s hockey team Jo,” Gale said.

“No shit Sherlock. I’m really a speed skater.” Jo grinned.

“There you guys are,” a soft voice greeted.

“Hi Annie,” Jo said.

Finnick became stiff standing next to him.

“Shall we do a round-robin again and do introductions?” Peeta asked.

“Sorry I know everyone here except for you and your friend,” Annie said.

“I’m Peeta, and this is my teammate Finnick, we’re on the hockey team.”

“Lovely, I’m an ice skater.” Annie smiled but her eyes were set on Finnick. A slight blush appeared on her face.

Peeta looked at Finnick to see what kind of suggestive response he’d give to Annie’s blushing, but to Peeta’s surprise, there was a blush on Finnick’s face too.

Peeta raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

“What the hell are you lummoxes doing here?” Haymitch growled.

“Sorry coach,” Peeta and Finnick said at the same time.

“We’re next.” Haymitch ushered them to where the other hockey players were waiting.

“Annie Cresta and Finn,” Haymitch called. “You were selected to be the flag bearers.

Peeta saw the way Finnick’s face brightened like a tomato. He was glad to hang back and talk to Katniss. He actively sought her side. He had nothing to be embarrassed about since she’d already seen him at his worst earlier.

"Do you mind if I walk beside you?”

Katniss shrugged.

“This is exciting,” Peeta said.

“Yep,” Katniss said looking forward.

If it weren’t for the way her eyes seemed to sparkle, Peeta would’ve thought she didn’t have an interest in him.

“So Curling,” he opened.

“It’s competitive.”

“What is curling?” he asked, genuinely curious.

Her head whipped to look at him. Peeta could see her lightning appraisal of his sincerity.

“It’s kind of like playing marbles, but it’s on the ice. We have to shoot the stone toward the bullseye. We use the mop-looking sweeper to help slow the stone or to keep the stone going straight. With our stone, we can also knock our opponent’s stone off the line of the target.”

“So the closer to the target, the more points you get?”

“Yea,” she said and her silver eyes radiated her happiness. Peeta wanted to sigh like a silly boy with his first crush.

“So you and Gale are on the same team?”

“We are in the mixed doubles. I’m also playing in the women’s event with Madge, Delly, and Lucy Gray,” Katniss pointed to three women up ahead.

“Nice.”

“So hockey?”

“To be honest, I was a wrestler until I met Finn, and he convinced me to try out for hockey as a kid. I’m the goalie. He said my quick flexibility as a wrestler is great for a goalie.”

“I’d bet you having those broad shoulders are good to-” her words died as her eyes widened.

Peeta grinned. He wanted to ask her about his shoulder but they were called out to queue to walk out into the arena. As they walked alongside each other they kept on bumping their shoulders and sharing looks. Peeta couldn’t stop from smiling underneath his mask. At one point they joined gloved hands and waved at the nearly empty arena.

After the ceremony, Peeta was able to take a picture of them together. He saved the image as his screensaver. He had to be careful with his phone. They all did. President Snow forbade them from posting on social media.

The instructions were strict. Taking personal pictures was fine, but no posting on social media. They were to behave themselves while visiting the foreign country. If they ran into trouble, they were to contact their liaison, Effie Trinket.

“This was nice,” he said, clearing his voice.

“It was,” Katniss said.

“Do you want to go back with me to the building? I mean we’re on the same floor.”

Katniss nodded.

“Catnip,” Gale called. “Don’t forget we’ve got to be up early tomorrow.” Gale had his arms around Delly and Madge. Lucy Gray looked annoyed at Gale.

“Gale,” Katniss growled.

“Catnip, you know the deal; lights out as you get to your room with Johanna.”

“Fine, but the same with you. The last thing I need is you inebriated.”

“Don’t worry, Katniss,” Delly smiled. “I’ll make sure these two don’t get into a lot of trouble.”

“Saint Delly,” Madge taunted.

Delly turned pink. “Madge, you don’t want to ruin Gale’s chances at medaling, do you?”

“Come on, let’s get out of here,” Katniss muttered, grabbing his arm as they quickly made their getaway.

Peeta would follow her to the ends of the earth.

Katniss laughed. When they were standing waiting for the bus to get back to their building, she turned to him and said, “Sorry about that.”

“Is he your…”

“No, we’re not related. And, N O - he is not my boyfriend. Just annoying. He told my dad he’d watch over me at eleven and he’s been doing that all of my life. You know, scaring my dates and keeping me on the straight and narrow.”

“So more like a big brother?”

“Right, but more annoying because he is also my partner in mixed curling.”

“Ah.”

“Yeah.”

They arrived at the building and Katniss’ phone kept on going off. Katniss said, “My baby sister has been tweeting me about getting her a Bing Dwen Dwen plush bear.”

“You mean the panda?”

“Yeah.” Katniss put her phone away. “She’s obsessed!”

“Maybe there’s a store within the bubble where we can get her one,” Peeta said. “How about tomorrow after your meet and my practice, we get together and look for one?”

“Okay, that sounds like a date.”

“Meet you at the dining hall? Around noon?”

“See you tomorrow, Peeta,” Katniss said.

Peeta waited until she was safely in her apartment before jumping in the air and mouthing “score.” He heard cat whistles and turned around to find his teammates standing outside.

“Looks like young Mellark isn’t the only one that found love tonight…” Thresh said, his arm around Finnick’s head. Of all the team members Thresh was the only one tall enough and strong enough to be able to put Finn in a headlock.

Finn grinned.

Then all at once, the team snickered, as they imitated their coach in unison, “Just remember to keep it in your pants.”

“Come on Mellark, let’s tuck you into bed,” Cato said.

“It’s past your bedtime,” Marvel said, wiggling his eyebrows.

Despite the teasing, they were all a good group of guys. However, outside of hockey, Peeta was certain they’d never click. Finnick was the star. He played professionally in Canada. Thresh was the other star; he played for a team in Denmark. Cato & Marvel played in Switzerland. The rest of the team was like Peeta; they played on their local District hockey teams.

That night, despite the Zero-G mode on his mattress, he couldn’t fall asleep. He was too keyed up, thinking about Katniss. The way her eyes sparkled when she witnessed the opening ceremony. When he had heard her sing along to the Beatles song Imagine during the opening ceremony, he was a goner.

His poor heart fluttered around in his chest, unable to find purchase. His heart wanted Katniss. The next morning, he was utterly distracted during practice. Thankfully, he wasn’t the only one; Finnick was even worse.

As soon as training was over, Peeta headed to the dining hall. There’s been a fair amount of ribbing in the locker room, but he didn’t pay attention. His focus was on seeing Katniss again.

“Hey,” he said, spotting her immediately. They were required to wear the official Panem clothing at all times. She had on the mandatory white jeans, paired with white snow boots and her white puffy jacket.

“Hi.”

“Did your meet go well?”

“We made it to the next round.”

“That’s great.” His voice sounded just a little bit too chirpy. He tried to lower his voice register to sound more masculine. “We have the first round tonight.”

“Let’s get some food; I’m starving.”

They moved about the commissary quickly choosing what they were going to eat. For him, a mixture of lots of vegetables, carbs, and protein. For her, a lot of vegetables and proteins.

She took off her jacket and he spotted a hint of a green shirt underneath her white sweater. They ate, sitting across from one another; the plastic screen around the seat separated them, but it was nice to see her face. To see the way a smile formed. The way her nose wrinkled when she found something unpleasant. Peeta soaked in every emotion.

For safety measures, as soon as they finished eating, their masks went back on, and they headed out to find a shop.

They found a shop quickly and went in.

“We’ll divide and conquer,” Katniss said.

They searched the store, but couldn’t find the elusive panda. For the next few days, they searched every day hoping to find the panda for Prim, but they couldn’t find the mascot. Finally, Finn got a tip that pandas were supposed to be arriving super early at the gift shop the next day.

They woke up early and headed for the shop. Once more they split up. Peeta saw a line and stood in it when he discovered this was the line for the panda.

“No luck,” Katniss said, coming to stand with him.

He could see the disappointment in her eyes.

“Why are you standing on this line?”

Peeta saw that he was only one person away. “Hold up.”

“How may I help you?” the person at the counter asked.

“One panda mascot, please,” he said. The person behind the counter nodded and handed Peeta one panda mascot and gave him the price.

“Peeta,” Katniss gasped. She clasped her hand against her chest.

He took out his wallet and paid. Then held out the panda to Katniss. There was a collective awe when they saw him bow and say, “For you,” as he handed the panda to her.

“He’s so nice!”

“He’s so respectful!”

Peeta’s cheeks heat up.

Katniss clutched the panda to her chest.

Her happiness made him feel like a warrior. He carried this sensation into the game and Peeta blocked every lap shot made, allowing Panem to move to the next bracket.

As the Olympics continued, they met for every single meal. Even though they couldn’t go to the events, they cheered each other on. They were able to use their phones to watch their events as they were being aired.

Peeta watched Katniss’s graceful line as she launched her stone straight through the center. Curling was far more strategic and challenging than what she explained. Jo showed him a short video of Katniss celebrating the way he extended his body to catch a slap shot being hurled at 100 miles per hour.

Seeing her get into hockey even though she had no idea who played what was endearing. After each day they took walks outside and talked about everything. They often saw Finnick and Annie making googly eyes at each other. Finnick had it bad.

Peeta, however, recognized he too had it bad too, but couldn’t do anything about it because of the rules. Until the games were over, he couldn’t even kiss Katniss, but he really wanted to kiss her. He wanted to kiss her badly.

On the night before their big games, all of the remaining Olympic athletes gathered in Finnick’s room. They used an app to have a karaoke night. The app played random songs, and it was up to them to make the best of it.

Finnick got a song called Forever Love, by an artist named Francesca Botticelli. He sang it to blushing Annie.

Marvel and Cato sang Shot Through the Heart by Jon Bon Jovi. They sang the wrong lyrics and were completely off-key and everyone laughed.

Thresh decided to go alone, he got a BTS song which he did admirably.

When it was Katniss and Peeta’s turn, a Disney song came on. A love song from the movie Tangled. Peeta couldn’t sing because he was tongue twisted, but Katniss’s voice caused everyone to shut up and listen.

At the end of the song, Marvel had tears in his eyes and said, “She sings so beautifully!”

All Peeta wanted to do was kiss her, but he couldn’t. Coach Haymitch would find out and he would die if he got kicked off the team.

The next day, after their final matches, neither of them won a medal.

When it was time to return home, Peeta was sad. He was packing up to go when he heard the familiar knock on his door.

“So…I was hoping….” Katniss said shyly as soon as he opened the door. Her eyes didn’t quite meet his.

“Yes,” Peeta said.

“I was hoping we could go out on a real date when we get home to Panem?” Her face began to turn red. “If you want to, I don’t know… If you do or if you think I’m boring or annoying.”

At first, he didn’t know what to do. Katniss had opened up to him and was asking him out. Then he realized his games were over and so were hers. He could finally do something more.

Peeta stepped up to her and took her hand; he looked deep into her eyes. And then gently he placed his lips on top of hers. His heart exploded in colors at the softness of her lips pressed against his. She trembled slightly in his arms as their kiss ended. Her lashes fluttered open and Peeta swore her eyes were brighter than rare gray sapphires.

“I’ve been dying to do that for the longest.”

Katniss blushed. “Me too. I was afraid that you didn’t like me.”

“Katniss, I really like you, and when we get home to Panem, I’d love nothing more than to continue seeing you.”

She smiled brilliantly. And it struck Peeta that they might not have won an Olympic Medal, but they may have just won a Forever Love.

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #winter #winter 2022 #birthday #mega-aulover #submission #prompt

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jlalafics · 3 years

Note

Ok so you just wrote me a gorgeous drabble and here I am wanting more, bc you’re just too good. On my way to the gym this morning I almost crashed my car bc I saw sexy construction workers and was wondering if sometime in the future you would maybe consider ConstructionWorker!Peeta? Maybe Katniss almost crashed her car staring at that ass? Lol sorry for being so needy... 😘

I hope you enjoy @mrspeetamellark, trying to think up a story title and story cover concept right now because I’m liking this Everlark so much.

Thanks for the prompt, doll! <3

_____

“Yes, move that meeting to the afternoon,” Katniss told her sister. “Snow wants to meet about the Gilmore divorce proceedings.”

“Got it,” Prim replied from the speakers of the car. “Where are you?”

“Just turning onto our block,” she informed her. “It looks like they’re finally renovating the building next to the office…”

Katniss’ eyes were suddenly drawn to a figure standing out against the rest of the men gathered at the site. He was leaning against one of the wood slats that surrounded the property, blond and broad wearing a fitted white t-shirt.

Suddenly, his eyes drew up to meet hers.

Azure blue greeted her own steel ones, the man’s mouth widening into a smile, his expression warm and sweet.

Before morphing into panic—

“Holy fuck!”

Katniss swerved just in time to avoid a squirrel crossing the street and just barely maneuvering her car from crashing into a tree. She managed to save face, making the turn into her office’s parking garage and then into her assigned space.

“Are you alright?” Prim called out. “For a moment there, I thought I lost you.”

Katniss turned off the engine, taking in a calming breath.

“I’m fine. I’ll be up in a minute,” she responded before hanging up.

This is what she got for even looking at a man. It was a sign from the gods telling her to focus on work and not on her lack of a social life.

Too bad, though. The man was awfully cute.

++++++

“Peeta!” Turning, Peeta found Finnick—one of the other construction workers and his childhood friend—heading towards him. “Your dad said that we could take our lunches now.”

“Fine with me,” Peeta agreed, pulling off his construction helmet and tucking it under his arm.

The two headed down the street, grabbing some sandwiches from a nearby deli before heading back.

“So,” Finnick began, as they sat down at the tables set-up in front on the construction site. “I saw that your lady almost damn near crashed into a tree this morning.”

“She isn’t my lady,” Peeta muttered, unwrapping his sandwich to avoid his friend’s teasing eyes. “She’s just a beautiful woman who I happen to admire—who would never look at someone like me.”

“She did notice!” his friend exclaimed. “That close call happened because she was looking at you. Maybe you should go over to her office building and introduce yourself, ask if she’s okay—”

“No, no, no…” Peeta shook his head. “She’s high class and I am…me.”

“Peeta—” Finnick looked to him in concern. “You are a good guy. Stop being so hard on yourself. Just because one woman couldn’t look past your circumstances, doesn’t mean they all will.” His friend’s sea-green eyes darted behind him. “In fact, I’m going to help you out—”

Sticking his middle and index fingers into his mouth, Finnick let out a loud whistle.

“What are you doing?” Peeta asked in confusion.

His friend ignored him, looking behind Peeta and pointing at him.

Then, he was being yanked by the forearm from his seat and being slammed against one of the wood slats of their construction site.

Up close, her eyes were smoky and full of fire—because she was pissed.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” she demanded. “I am not the kind of woman who needs to get whistled at to feel like she’s hot. In fact, it’s downright demeaning! If you wanted my attention, all you had to do was introduce yourself like a normal person—”

“Wait!” She stepped back, but her grip on the front of Peeta’s shirt didn’t let up. “I never whistled at you. It was my friend; the idiot with the red hair who is currently trying to skulk back into our construction site, so you won’t manhandle him like you’re doing to me.”

The woman turned just in time to see Finnick guiltily rush into the construction site.

She immediately released her grasp, her olive complexion flushing scarlet.

“Oh. I’m sorry.” The woman let out a nervous laugh. “It’s just been a hell of a day so far. I almost crashed my car this morning—” Her grey eyes widened. “It’s you!”

He held out his hand to her. “Peeta Mellark.”

She took it and Peeta let his thumb brush against her rich skin. “Katniss Everdeen.”

“Now that we’ve officially met,” he started. “Are you okay? It was a close call this morning.”

“I’m fine,” she assured him. “It’s just been so busy with meetings and I have to go grab lunch—”

“Split my sandwich with me,” he offered. Peeta nodded at the still wrapped sandwich on the now empty table. “Or I’m pretty sure there are few birds that would be happy to take your half.”

Katniss flushed. “You sure?”

“I insist.” He led her towards the table, pulling out a chair for her. After sitting, he pulled one of the wrapped pieces out and handed it to her. “Turkey and provolone, no tomatoes.”

“That is my exact order at Sae’s Deli!” Katniss said as she unwrapped her half.

Peeta grinned. “It’s where I got it.”

“So—” She placed her sandwich down and turned to him. Peeta examined her, perfect posture, a heart-shaped face, and smooth shoulder-length waves greeted his appreciative eyes. “—why did your friend whistle at me?”

Peeta let out a breath.

“The first time I came by to examine this construction site, you came to your office,” he explained. “You were wearing a red romper and your hair was in a braid. You were about the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Ever since, I guess I just looked out for you. Finnick just happened to notice and thought he could help things along…”

Peeta waited for her to recoil or grimace. It sounded pathetic, the way he always made sure to look out for her black BMW in the mornings. However, to him, it was just not a good day if he didn’t see her lovely face, even if it was just through her car window.

“Did you want to have dinner?”

He turned to her, his jaw dropping. “What?”

Katniss blushed, her eyes going to her lap.

“I think you’re cute and I almost crashed my car looking at you,” she revealed slowly. “And it seems like a sign that we should look into whatever this is. Also—” Her eyes met his, glowing brightly. “No one has ever called me beautiful.”

“I find that hard to believe,” he said softly. “I would love to have dinner with you. You have to let me pay, though.”

“Is that some sort of manly-man bullshit?” she retorted with a grin.

“No, my mother would kill me if she found out that I didn’t pay on the first date,” Peeta explained. “She’d think that it would be a horrible start to our epic love story.”

“I like your mom already,” Katniss told him. “How’s six sound?”

“Perfect.”

“Katniss!”

They turned to find a pretty blonde and a dark-haired woman with a squared gaze approaching.

“My sister and one of my associates,” Katniss told him. She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small case and taking out a business card. “My cell number is on it—text me when you can, and we can go over details for tonight.”

“Sure,” he replied in a daze.

Taking her sandwich—they both had foregone eating—Katniss stood, but not before pressing a kiss to his cheek and giving him a breathtaking smile.

“I’m looking forward to tonight.”

+++++++

Over texts, Katniss and Peeta decided to meet at an Italian restaurant close to her apartment.

“I can’t believe you asked that guy out!” Johanna, her roommate and one of the other lawyers in the firm, said from her seat on Katniss’ bed. “You, who won’t even agree to coffee when any other man offers, asked a construction worker out to dinner.”

“He’s not just a construction worker,” Katniss protested. “He’s Peeta Mellark, a guy who I think is really nice and easy to talk to—”

“And let’s not forget the ass,” came a shout from Prim, who was searching in Katniss’ walk-in closet. “Don’t act like you weren’t looking at it when he got up to go back to work, Katniss.” Prim stepped into her bedroom, holding a deep-purple dress with a v-neckline and three-quarter sleeves. “I knew you tried to hide my birthday present! Put this on so he can rip it off you.”

Katniss scowled at her. “Who taught you to talk like that?”

“You did,” Prim retorted with a cheeky grin. “Now, go and get ready. I’ll lay out some underthings for you.”

Katniss headed towards her bathroom.

“Prim, I’m not sure how long it’s been since anyone’s been down there,” Johanna quipped. “You might want to pick something that covers that jungle.”

“I’m on it,” her sister replied as Katniss was about to close the door. “Tonight, we’re just emphasizing her boobs.”

“Good luck with that,” her friend retorted.

++++++

Their dinner was going surprisingly well.

Katniss hadn’t been on a date for almost a year and she had worried over the thought as she walked over to the restaurant

That was until she saw him.

Peeta cleaned up nicely, meeting her in a dark green sweater, fitted jeans, and brown oxfords. In his hand was a single pink peony, which he held out to her after kissing her cheek in greeting.

They both settled at their table, ordering quickly (eggplant parmigiana for her and lasagna for him) before falling right into easy conversation.

Peeta’s family owned the construction company that he worked for though, he was the only family member who worked onsite besides his father. Peeta’s mother worked at the home office as the company’s administrator. He had two brothers, one of which owned his own bakery business and ran it with his wife who had been his high school sweetheart.

“I think you’d like Delly,” he told her. “She’s very down-to-earth which works out perfectly because Rye is all sorts of insane. He’s the kind of guy who will wake up in the middle of the night to make the perfect chocolate cake. Luckily enough, Delly is the kind of girl who will stay up and write out everything he’s done because he’s forgotten by morning.”

“And, your other brother?”

“Runs a small hotel upstate. It’s the perfect place for Christmas,” Peeta said. “Andy and his partner Gale turned the place into one of the top hotels to experience wintertime. It does help that they both have a great sense of style.”

“So, your brother is—”

“Gay as the day is long as he would put it.” Peeta grinned. “He and Gale have been together forever. They’re one of the most stable couples I know.” He met her eyes. “How about you?”

“I grew up about an hour out of the city. My parents were high school sweethearts, married right out of high school. Had me about a year after their wedding and four years after me, Prim was born.”

Katniss stopped for a moment, taking a long sip. This part was always the hardest to explain.

“My father passed away when I was six and Prim was two,” she continued. “My mom brought us here to the city to stay with my Uncle Haymitch while she got back on her feet and find a job. We woke up the next day after arriving at his place and she was gone.”

“Oh God, Katniss—” Peeta reached over, covering her hand with his. “—I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t feel sorry for us. It was probably the best thing she could have done for us,” Katniss told him, her voice still a little thick. She gave him a wet smile. “Feel bad for my Uncle—single guy in his prime having to take on two young girls. Did you know when I got my period, he bought five different types of pads? I know, too much information—”

“I like learning about you, Katniss,” he told her. “Every little bit I’ve learned, I like.”

“I feel the same way.”

It was true. Everything she learned about man before her had only compounded the growing feelings inside her. Peeta was breath of fresh air in her staid routine and every bit of time with him made her feel like she was slowly coming back to life.

Peeta squeezed her hand, she didn’t realize their hands were still pressed together—but she didn’t mind it.

“Go on,” he urged with an eager smile. “Tell me more.”

“When I was in sixth grade, my uncle came for a parent-teacher conference and met my teacher, Effie Trinket. A year later, he married her. She’s great, got me through those tough girl years. She and my Uncle are disgustingly in love.” She snorted, taking a long sip of water. “That’s my odd little family.”

“Have you heard from your mom?” Peeta asked curiously.

Katniss shook her head.

“I don’t have a real desire to. I’m not mad at her anymore, but I can’t say I’d be thrilled to see her again. Prim doesn’t even remember her. She calls Uncle Haymitch and Aunt Effie Mom and Dad.” She sat back, giving him an embarrassed smile. “That was more unloading than I intended for a first date.”

“Honestly, I’ve been watching you for a while,” Peeta revealed. “Finnick is sick to death of hearing me talk about the gorgeous brunette next door. That’s why he whistled at you; it was to save his ears from my own insecurities when it came to you.” His face had gone red. “I know you’re some big-time lawyer and I’m just some guy—”

Katniss shook her head. “You’re not just some guy.”

Peeta grinned. “I hope not.”

After he paid for dinner, they decided to walk to her apartment since it was a warm night.

As they strolled down the block, his hand brushed against hers before carefully grasping her fingers. Katniss took the initiative, entwining their fingers together, and Peeta turned to her, lifting her hand to press a kiss to her knuckles.

She felt the heat rise up her body, her center twisting at the feel of his rough lips to her skin. She had to wonder how those lips would feel against the rest of her body, specifically between her thighs.

It had been a long time since she had sex.

“Nice place,” Peeta said as they approached the luxury apartment complex. “I know the company that worked on them, Beetee Latier is a smart guy and I’m willing to bet that this place is very up-to-date when it comes to virtual assistance.”

“I’ve never tried it, but Johanna has said that she can tell the apartment when it’s too cold,” Katniss told him offhandedly. “And it raises the temperature according to what is comfortable.” They stop outside the entrance and she turned to him. “Thanks for dinner and the conversation.”

“Thank you for giving me a chance,” Peeta replied.

His hand reached, cupping her cheek and his thumb brush against the edge of her bottom lip before dropping to his side. Katniss felt every nerve pulsate at his touch and she had desperately fought the urge to take his thumb into her mouth to taste him.

She wanted to ask him to come up, but her need to not seem so desperate dampened her longing.

Reaching into her purse, Katniss took out her keys, giving him a shy smile. She quickly kissed him on the cheek.

“Good night, Peeta.”

His hand reached to a tendril of her hair, caressing it with his fingers as if he were trying to memorize the feel of it between them.

When Peeta met her eyes, her breath caught at the desire in his darkened blues. “Good night, Katniss.”

“Fuck it—”

Katniss snapped, her keys dropping to the ground in a loud clink, as her arms wrapped around his neck and she pulled his mouth against hers. Peeta gasped in surprise before catching himself and circling his arms around her waist to pull her close.

He tasted delicious, her tongue surrounding his as she feasted on him. Her hand reached to grasp at his hair and the moan that tumbled from his mouth cause the fire inside her to flare. She had never wanted anything or anyone as much as she wanted the feel of him against her.

His lips slid off hers, pressing to her neck, his tongue sampling her.

“What are you doing to me, Katniss Everdeen?” he asked breathlessly, the intensity of his question sending shivers through her skin.

Katniss met his eyes, her chest heaving as she felt the rapid beat of her heart.

“I’m taking you upstairs.”

So, there’s going to be a 2nd part to this. I’m having too much fun.

Yeah, I’ve been shipping Gale with the eldest brother since TWC.

#mrspeetamellark #request #constructionworker!Peeta #lawyer!Katniss #Everlark #Everlark Fanfiction #Modern AU #Rated MA #Rated E in later part

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katnissdoesnotfollowback · 3 years

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kdnfb reads #2/12

Given that I’ve already fallen so far behind on these posts, I’ve decided to lighten my load and feel less guilty about it. Instead of every other week, these will be posted once a month - ish. Since I completely missed February. Honestly, I barely read a thing in February, thanks depressive episode (heavy sarcasm there). A note about the fanfic on this post, I’m not going to link to every tumblr posted drabble I’ve read in the last two months. It’ll probably break the post with too many links for one, for another, I think I’ve pretty much reblogged all of them already anyways. A note about the books, I’ve decided to include the juvenile chapter books and graphic novels I read because my kids are reading them or just because. One of the most common (and most difficult to answer) questions I get at the library is recommendations for books for kids between the ages of 8-14. It’s been so long since I myself read any of those that I’ve started reading a lot more of them lately. I dunno, maybe this’ll help someone else out there, maybe not. Can’t hurt, right?

Anyhow, here is what I’ve read between my last #kdnfb reads post (from Jan 17th) and now, March 14th:

Fanfic (Everlark unless otherwise stated):

The Rule by writingdirtymp3 (work in progress)

Happy Birthday Peeta by @endlessnightlock

Fifteen Years by @starsmahogany

yet hanging in the stars by @ladynephthyss (work in progress)

Books:

25 Days ‘Til Christmas by Poppy Alexander

December Heart by Merry Farmer

Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio

Marley by Jon Clinch

Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown

From an Idea to Lego: The Building Bricks Behind the World’s Largest Toy Company by Lowey Bundy Sichol

****

Previous posts can be found here

#kdnfb reads #kdnfb reads 2/12

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everlarkficquestions · 4 years

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Masterlist: Drabble Collections

This masterlist features author’s collections of short everlark drabbles and ficlets that have been posted with the tag “Drabble Collection”.

Please make sure to read the tags, summaries, and author’s notes before diving into these collections. Some stories may feature subject matter which is not to everyone’s tastes.

As with all masterlists, if you have posted a collection that fits but is not on this list, let us know by sending us a message with the details and we’ll be happy to include it. Please also let us know if you spot any inaccuracies. Thank you!

101 Ways to Say "I Love You" - papofglencoe, sirrah_sirrah

A collection of Drabbles - merciki

A Place For My Tumblr Drabbles and My Everlark Birthday Gifts Drabbles - endlessnightlock (Endlessnightlock)

Baker's Dozen - burkygirl

Beneath You're Beautiful - bubblegum1425

Bits and Pieces - JavisTG

Breadcrumbs and Fletchings - sponsormusings

Bric-a-Brac by flythroughflames

Cake Crumbs - Ally147

Chele's Drabbles - chele20035

District Drabbles by just_a_dram

Dispatches from District 12 - xerxia

Drabbles and Short Works by Titania - titania522

Drabble Collections - Katnisdoesnotfollowback*

Drabble Meme Stories - Hutchabelle*

Everlark Advent - xerxia

Everlark Drabbles - Muttpeeta

Everlark Tales and Other Stories by Alliswell

Everlark Writing Meme Drabble Collection - titania522

Every Little Piece of Me - Jenns_Fiction

Every Me Loves Every You - misshoneywell

grow together - Abagail_Snow*

In Any Universe - katnissdoesnotfollowback

just close your eyes, the sun is going down - rosaeles*

Long Story Short - VanillaCottonCandy*

making a blank page bloom: drabble collection - rosegardeninwinter

Motley memos - roseymama

odds & ends - loveleee

Patchwork - FanficAllergy & Rosefyre

Puzzle Pieces - authoresskika

sketched lightly: assorted Hunger Games short stories - rosegardeninwinter*

Smutercising by katnissdoesnotfollowback*

Telling Old Hunger Games Tales - katnissdoesnotfollowback

the drabble collection - melissaeverdeen13*

The Hob - Pikelet184

The Twelve Days of Christmas - merciki

THG Drabbles - albinokittens300*

This and That: a collection of Everlark drabbles - NotAnIslander

This Would've Happened Anyways - katnissdoesnotfollowback

Tumblr Word Meme Collection - titania522

you could live a hundred lifetimes - Abagail_Snow*

Created: 6/09/2020

Updated: 3/28/2023

#masterlist #+#drabble collections

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thgfanfictionlibrary · 5 months

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General Rated Fics Masterlist (3)

Part 1 / Part 2 /

Created: November 12th, 2023

Last Checked: —-

Cats Will Be Cats-JHsgf82 Summary: Canon-compliant. Post MJ. Growing Back Together Period. All Peeta wants to do is settle into bed for the night with Katniss. But Buttercup has other plans.

Gravity-VanillaCottonCandy (ao3) Summary: But he just stares at me for a long moment, his smile never wavering, then admits simply, "I'm just so happy that I threw you that bread." I feel my chest constrict, both moved by his words and exhausted from even standing inside this place again. And my eyes overflow then and all I can manage to say is, "so am I." / Katniss and Peeta, growing back together through a series of snapshots. Set Post Mockingjay.

Great in the eyes of someone-tryalittlejoytomorrow (ao3) Summary: Staying alive. That's about his area of expertise. Never did Haymitch think he would have to mentor them for the rest of their life. (Post-Mockingjay.)

Her Favorite Place-JHsgf82 (ao3) Summary: Written for anonymous Tumblr Prompt: They’re in bed, one of them’s like “it’s time to get up” and their lover pulls them back down, wraps their hands around their body, snuggles up close, preventing the other one from getting out of bed (Things Fictional Couples Do that Make Me Lose My Mind)

I Can't Believe You're Mine-JHsgf82 (ao3) Summary: Canon-compliant. Post-Mockingjay. Pre-epilogue. Katniss watches Peeta walk the floors with their infant daughter. As he cradles her, he whispers, "I can't believe you're mine" and Katniss's heart melts.

It's the Thought that Counts-everlarktoast (ao3) Summary: When Peeta gets sick, Katniss has to care of him. Just a short, fluffy, post-mj everlark drabble.

May 8-shesasurvivor (ao3) Summary: May 8th is Katniss Everdeen's birthday!

Night on the Train-megaaulover (tumblr) Summary: A lost moment from the Victory Tour.

The Lips I Used to Call Home-HuntersWithCellPhones (ao3) Summary: Peeta and Katniss have a short conversation about Gale.

The Magnificents-GobletGirl (ao3) Summary: Katniss Everdeen has a secret that keeps her from dating. Peeta Mellark owns the bakery she frequents and has made no mistake that he is interested. What happens when Katniss's two worlds collide?

#general #everlark #everlark fanfiction #thg #thg fanfiction #masterlist #general masterlist

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everlarkbirthdaygifts · 4 years

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Happy Birthday, booksrockmyface!

Today, we wish EBG’s own @booksrockmyface a very Happy Birthday! We hope you’re having a wonderful day so far (or as wonderful as you can manage in these odd times!). To keep you’re special day going, @ally147writes has written a story just for you!

AN: Happy Birthday, @booksrockmyface! I must apologise for the short length of this one, which is more of a true drabble. I’m running on about ten hours sleep over the past three days, and I just knocked back some sleeping pills to try and help the process along tonight and they are kicking in nicely. I hope you’ll still enjoy this little slice of domestic everlark fluff, though :)

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She sets a hand between his shoulders and kisses his cheek. The same routine she’s had for the past decade. The same routine he’s had for the past decade. The same routine that ends with him gasping and jumping near a foot in the air every single time.

The same routine for the past decade; you’d think he’d be used to it by now.

But he’s glad he’s not.

“What are we having for dinner?” she asks, leaning heavy against his side.

His heart settles. “It’s a surprise,” he tells her. His hand guides a knife over a stalk of celery, up and down in a steady, even rhythm that matches his breath.

He swears he feels her roll her eyes. “You say that every night.”

“And have you ever been disappointed?”

“Only that night you used cilantro in that stew.”

“Well, we won’t make that mistake again.” He lets out a beleaguered sigh. “Whole continents worth of cuisine… lost to us forever.”

“Yes. How unfortunate that we won’t have to eat soap-flavoured food again.”

He grins at her. “Drama queen.”

“You love it.”

He leans in, drops a dainty kiss on her lips. “Yeah, for some reason.”

“Need any help?”

“Katniss, you can’t even manage to make toast without an incident.”

“That was literally one time.”

“And I literally will never forget it.”

“Now who’s the drama queen, huh?”

“You, if you’re really going to stand there and make a big deal over going and taking a nice, hot shower instead of helping me cut vegetables.”

Her hand slides warm down to his lower back, a daring tease over his ass and up again. “You could join me, if you wanted.”

“Dinner, Katniss.”

“Shower sex, Peeta.”

“Well, which is it?” he teases. “Shower sex, or vegetable cutting?”

She snorts and takes a step backwards. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you’re gorgeous.” He leans in, kisses her again, lingers longer and warmer and harder. “Go shower, Katniss. You’ve been working all day. Dinner will be ready when you’re done.”

“And what are we having again?”

“I told you, it’s a surprise.”

“It’s dinner.”

His hand brushes over the gentle swell of her stomach, not big enough yet to give away their secret, but enough to set Peeta’s heart aflutter at the sight of it. “It’s nice having something to look forward to, though.”

She grins at him, cheeks glowing under the tinny yellow kitchen light. “You’re going to be the dorkiest dad, you know that?”

“Yeah, probably. But you’re going to be the best mother.”

#everlark #everlark fanfiction #everlarkbirthdaygifts #everlarkbirthdaydrabbles #fan fic #by ally147writes

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ao3feed-everlark · 4 years

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by albinokittens300

Place for all my loose Everlark/The Hunger Games Drabbles (fics with anything from 100-500 words that don't fit into another fic). All of them are not directly connected but take place in canon unless explicitly said otherwise. Mostly fluffy, but can be anything and is perpetually open to suggestions. Can't promise everything, but will say it never hurts to tell me any ideas that you have!

Enjoy!

Words: 337, Chapters: 2/2, Language: English

Fandoms: Hunger Games Trilogy - Suzanne Collins

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings

Categories: F/M, Gen

Characters: Katniss Everdeen, Peeta Mellark, Toastbaby

Relationships: Katniss Everdeen/Peeta Mellark

Additional Tags: Fluff, Drabbles, Short and Sweet Fics, Tooth-Rotting Fluff, you are warned, Cupcakes, First birthdays

#everlark #thg #thg fanfic #katniss everdeen #peeta mellark

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mega-aulover · 4 years

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Hello From District Four

This is for @mandelion82 who sent me the following prompt: “ Hey there! I would love a little AU drabble/ficlet. Whatever jumps into your head, but fluff/romance is always great. Everlark, of course. Maybe some kind of summer/beach thing. Something light and fun, and of course, romantic. ;) If you don’t mind. Thanks very much! “ I wanted to have it ready for your birthday. I hope you enjoy! It’s set in 1950′s District Four shiny beaches where romance is in the air.

Special thanks to my beta and bestie @norbertsmom / Rated T

1955 District Four

“Go to the ocean she said,” Katniss grumbled. “You’ll enjoy yourself…” Katniss mocked. A white bird screeched as it took flight and Katniss ducked.

Yesterday one of those crazy birds nearly flew into her. Katniss sighed out of pure frustration. How could anyone enjoy the beach? Her sister Primrose did. This was her baby sister’s idea of paradise. Prim came here during spring vacation with a group of her college friends and thought Katniss would have a marvelous time. She’d been here for two whole days and she hated the beach.

“Ah Miss Everdeen,” Finnick Odair, the proprietor of the hotel greeted her.

“Mr. Odair.” Katniss smiled tightly at the tall gorgeous man who stood before her.

As if on cue, Caesar Flickerman, Finnick’s partner appeared. He was shorter than Finnick and reminded her of the bright pink Flamingos that inhabited the small lagoon located just outside of the resort.

“Good Morning Miss Eveerdeen,” Caesar said, smiling brightly and clasping his hands in front of him.

”She turned her gaze toward Caesar. “Mr. Flickerman.” Caesar Flickerman’s energy was annoying.

“You have come out of your room, I see,” Caesar said.

Katniss nodded. When she first arrived, the room she was given was right next to honeymooners who were extraordinarily loud. She called the front desk eight times before she finally had enough and demanded to see a manager. Low and behold Mr. Odair and Mr. Flickerman took one look at her bedraggled self and offered her a suite with an assortment of complimentary items to keep her happy.

“Are you going to partake of the free amenities?” In a flash, Caesar had a flyer of the week’s activity. He stood next to her pointing to the day’s schedule.

“Ah…” Katniss wasn’t really good with speaking to people. Children she was fine with, but talking with adults was an entirely different situation.

“There is the class to make your own hammock going on this morning. Dance lessons with Ramon,” Caesar rounded his ‘R’ as he said Ramon. “Badminton, there are also surf lessons, and team volleyball.”

All of the suggestions sounded horrific; she would much rather sit in a room and hear nails on a chalkboard for hours than participate in any of those activities.

Katniss wondered what on earth’s green nature was her sister thinking when she convinced their friends and family to send her here. It was hotter than blazes, hot enough to fry a squirrel. Even her olive skin tone burned on the first day. Katniss began wearing a muumuu, a straw-hat, sunglasses, and a ton of a heavy sunblock. She looked like a seventy-five-year old senior citizen instead of a twenty-six-year-old woman. The biggest problem she had were those confounded thong sandals that the locals called flip-flops. It was disturbing to have a wedge between her big toe and the next.

“No thank you.”

“So, a day relaxing at one of the spas perhaps? Are you headed to get your hair done or have one of our renewed facials?”

Katniss lifted an eyebrow at Caesar.

“I know,” Caesar snapped his fingers, “You’re going to get a massage?”

“No,” Katniss wrinkled her nose at the thought of a stranger putting their clammy hands on her body, it did not sound appealing.

Laughter distracted her as she stood before the hotel owners. There were people pouring out of the hotel toward the beach, mostly families and couples on a romantic retreat. There was nothing to do at the resort that didn’t involve a group. Katniss couldn’t be bothered to join any of the activities. She just wanted to be left alone to read. It’s why she woke early to get one of the prized brightly colored cabanas the hotel offered.

“Well where are you headed this fine day? Don’t tell me you’re going to the beach?” Caesar sounded just a little bit too overjoyed for Katniss’ comfort.

“The cabanas, I am headed there…”

“Ah our luxurious little homes on the beach.” Caesar smiled like a cheesy game show host. “They boast air conditioning, a private living area, and a bathroom with a tub. They also have a phone so that you can connect to our concierge service.”

“Would you care for an escort?” Finnick added, “To ensure you are able to get one of the Cabanas.”

Any other female would have jumped to have the golden man escort them. Katniss wasn’t interested in him. He was far too pretty for her tastes. Awkwardly she stammered, “No thank you, but…I’m sorry, I’ve got to get going, they fill up pretty quickly.”

Katniss quickly sidestepped the men and walked away. Finnick looked struck as if for the first time in his life someone had said no to him. Katniss rushed to the beach. It was already hot outside. The sandy white beach and the sound of the waves lapping on the shore did nothing to relax her. She would let her guard down once she was enclosed in her safe haven.

As she neared it her sandal slipped off her foot.

“Mother of freaking pearls!” She yipped when her foot made contact with the hot sand.

Katniss jumped on one foot as she gingerly found her flip-flop and slipped it back on. She made her way across the scalding sand. She could not stand the steamy humidity. She loved her cool mountains, though the ocean breeze did feel good on her skin. Although this morning, there was no wind so sweat plastered her hair to her neck.

“UGH, I hate this infernal…heat” Katniss rushed forward. She was sure she looked like a loon prancing on the beach.

Katniss saw the green cabana she preferred in sight. It was set amongst the rockier side of the beach and no one liked to go on that side. Katniss made a mad dash to the small building. Excitement coursed through her body as she ran up to the entrance. The door was open and the occupation sign read vacant. Running up the small flight of stairs she quickly switched the sign to occupied, stepped into the darkened space and threw the bag that contained her books.

“Oaf,” a masculine voice grunted behind her.

Katniss froze as she closed the door.

“What do you have in here?”

Katniss turned around slowly and her disappointment faded away as she beheld a blond man in a black suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and slim waist. Her mouth became dry as she felt animal attraction for the first time in her life. In the entire span of her life, she found some guys cute, but she never felt a physical desire. This man with his wavy hair, and blue eyes surrounded by long flaxen colored lashes that didn’t tangle when he blinked caused a riot of sensations to course through her body.

All at once she wanted to run her fingers through his hair and learn the taste of those beautiful pink lips. Katniss felt her body heat up, her face stung. “I ah…”

He held in his hand her copy of C.S. Lewis’ book, The Magician’s Nephew, “Teacher?”

A high pitch squeal came out of her mouth as a reply.

“My brother’s wife is a teacher.”

Katniss opened her mouth. She grabbed the hat from her head to keep her hands busy. “Yeah.”

“Teachers are great. My sister-in-law loves her students.”

Katniss smiled, batted her eyelashes, and couldn’t believe she was flirting. “Thank you.”

“I’m Peeta Mellark, by the way.” He handed her book back to her.

“Katniss,” she replied. She took the book, their fingers brushed and she felt a zing shoot to the core of her being.

“Unique name?”

“It’s a flower and no stranger than Peeta,” Katniss found her voice. She watched him study her, not in the way men ogled women. He stared at her thoughtfully as if trying to understand her.

“Got me there,” he smiled and revealed a dimple.

Katniss swallowed, watching his dimple. He was gorgeous, and she wondered if this guy was for real. Or perhaps he was a mirage of some sort, brought on by heat exhaustion.

She laughed nervously, and so did he. They stood staring at each other and Katniss swore something feral was unfurling within her. A primal call that harkened back to the beginning of time. She wasn’t someone who dated; most of her life she kept to herself. She spent her formative years striving to survive. Her father was killed in Hawaii when the Japanese attacked. Her mother went into shock at the news and Katniss needed to fend for her family. By the time the war ended she was sixteen and she wanted no part in men.

Katniss put her head down, she studied hard and became a teacher. Until this moment in her life, she’d never desired a man before. She gripped the book tighter. He broke the spell by looking away.

“I’m sorry, I must have crashed here last night.” He was looking around. “My other brother got married last night and well, I had one too many pink squirrels.”

“Congratulations.” She wondered what in the world a pink squirrel was.

“He married an old flame of mine.”

“Okay, sorry,” Katniss said silently, thanking the idiot who let him slip away.

He found what he was looking for. A cane. “Old war injury.”

“Stay,” Katniss said impulsively. Something deep within her told her, letting him go would be a mistake. She looked down momentarily, gathering her thoughts.

He paused, “You don’t want a hungover cripple like me around.”

“You’re not a cripple,” Katniss said.

He looked into her eyes. “Alright, allow me to get redressed.”

Katniss watched him leave. She closed the glass door and turned on the air-conditioning unit. Daringly she ordered them breakfast. Katniss was nervous about spending time with him and talking to him. It was easy addressing children in a classroom and speaking to parents about their children. But it wasn’t easy to socialize with people outside her teaching environment.

She was considered awkward in social situations. Katniss wrung her hands nervously. Part of her wanted to run away, but the food arrived and her hunger made her stay. He arrived soon after the food. She was anxious at her forwardness and hoped he didn’t think it out of place.

Normally she wasn’t a big breakfast eater, but last night she had a light dinner and was ravenous this morning. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like.”

She averted her eyes to his damp hair and how fit he looked in his loose shirt that matched her muumuu in color. The button down short sleeved shirt only emphasized his muscular arms and broad shoulders.

He looked surprised by her thoughtful gesture. “Thank you, you didn’t have to.”

She sat down at the small table. “I’ve never done this,” she blurted.

“What, eat breakfast?”

His words caused her to laugh. She was able to relax a little. “Invite a man to dine with me or anything.”

“Well, I’m honored.”

Katniss was curious about him, “May I ask how your brother ended up with your girl?”

“He came home, but I was a prisoner of war. Everyone thought I was dead, when I came home everyone was shocked.”

Katniss looked down, feeling a sense of familiarity with him, a connection. “I am sorry to hear that you were captured.”

“I thought you were going to apologize about finding my brother and ex-girl together.” He smiled, “Mostly people don’t know how to handle the POW situation.”

“A friend of mine, Darius was captured in the battle of Midway, but he didn’t make it,” Katniss recalled Darius’ wife receiving the news. “The man who brought his tags home, Thom looked like he had been through hell and back.”

Peeta looked at her and she could see the shadows of what he went through in his eyes. “I was captured in Okinawa. They beat me so bad I thought I was going to lose my leg. Fortunately, there was a doctor that was in my hut; he helped heal me. Dr. A brought me back. How was the war for you?”

“I lost my dad at Pearl Harbor.” Katniss put her plate down. “My mom didn’t take it well and we lost our home. We moved to the mountains with my dad’s relatives, the Hawthornes. It wasn’t easy for any of us.”

“It wasn’t easy for anyone. I am sorry for your loss, you sound like you loved your dad a lot.” He gave her a gentle smile.

“I did, that loss never goes away. You learn to live with it.” Katniss reached for her plate once more, she needed to change the conversation. “What is this girl like?”

“Rue is a sweet girl but she is better suited for my brother; she calms him down.” Peeta picked up the pot of tea and poured it in his cup, but added no sugar.

Katniss found not adding sugar to his tea strange, but she tucked this information away in her mind. There were many things about this man that were puzzling. He was an enigma to her. “Your brother sounds like a rogue.”

“He is, but he loves Rue, and she deserves happiness.”

“You really love your brother.”

“Rye has his redeeming qualities.” His face softened. “Rue, however, she’s a cookie.” At her confused look he said, “She’s a good girl, she helped support her family. My brother had the hots for her even back when I was dating her. The writing was on the wall. I was too blind to notice.”

“You don’t sound too upset by them getting together?” Katniss began to wonder if he truly loved Rue.

“To be honest, in hindsight we were better suited as friends. I was mad at my brother and Rue when I found out, but I wonder if my feelings were fueled by what I went through. The doctor who patched me up, Dr. A had a psychologist twin brother who helps out those of us who managed to survive the camps.” He sighed, “I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this?”

“I can’t tell you either. According to my boss, I’ve got the personality of a dead slug.”

“You do not,” Peeta shook his head.

Katniss could feel the sting of a blush creeping onto her skin. “Principle Abernathy would disagree.”

He picked up a piece of toast and bit into it, and immediately his face wrinkled.

“What is it?” Katniss took a piece of the toast and bit into the slice. It was crunchy and loaded with butter.

“This toast is okay.” He put it down.

“Are you a bread connoisseur?”

“In a way, I’m a guy who takes his bread very seriously.” He gave her a cheeky smile. “My grandfather owned a bakery. We all worked there and learned how to make bread and cakes. It’s where we met Rue.”

“Note to self, he is particular about his bread.”

He laughed and the richness of his voice caused her to tingle.

“So, what brings you to district four?” Peeta asked.

“My sister came here for spring vacation. She loved it and of course convinced our small family to contribute to a vacation for me.”

“Why do I sense that you aren’t enjoying yourself?”

“You’re right, I am not enjoying the stifling heat, the mosquitos at night, the sun burn, and all the noise. Even the water makes noise.”

Peeta laughed. “You’re right, it does.”

“I couldn’t sleep the first night, well that and because of the honeymooners in the room next to mine.” Katniss had no idea why she was talking so much. She never spoke this much.

He chuckled, she enjoyed the way his eyes crinkled at the corners.

“Don’t laugh, I despise the sand; it’s the enemy, it gets everywhere. I spend the majority of my evening trying to get it out of my hair.”

“Even with the hat?”

“Like I said, sand is the enemy.”

They fell into an amicable silence he napped in the cabana while she read, then they switched she dozed and he read. They took the long way walking back to the hotel. He spoke about the wedding and she spoke about the kids in her classroom. When he dropped her off in front of her room Katniss didn’t want to say goodbye.

They met up the next day and this time she knew enough to not order the bread for him. Peeta convinced her to sit outside, under an umbrella with a beach blanket provided by the staff. They shared stories about their experiences. She told him about Gale, her half cousin who was always chasing her.

He told her about his friend that lived next door, Delly who chased him around. He told her that his favorite time of the year was fall; she loved the spring. He loved the cold, she didn’t, but they both disliked the heat and humidity in District Four. Though he did like the scent of the ocean breeze.

On their third day together Peeta convinced her to actually take a swim. In the water, Peeta was not hampered by his leg. They kept on meeting for the next two days. With each passing day she enjoyed his company more and more.

Her two-week vacation was passing by quickly, but it was enjoyable. However, Katniss noticed all of the female attention Peeta received. Just yesterday a woman sat on her when they were having lunch at the barbeque. Katniss knew she didn’t have the hourglass figure that was all the rage in fashion. She had a stick figure. Katniss felt lacking and at times felt unworthy.

This morning Peeta and she made a sandcastle. It was a total disaster, but they laughed the entire time. By lunch she was starving. Katniss was enjoying her food.

“How can a little thing like you eat so much?”

Katniss shrugged and shoved the sandwich into her mouth. “My sister says I can out eat Gale and his brothers.”

“So I was thinking we should introduce Delly and Gale. They might hit it off.”

“They might, he’s tall though, and impossible. He has a temper,” Katniss said, rolling her eyes remembering her cousin. “He was considered 4F so he couldn’t fight.

“Don’t tell me he was a flat-foot?”

“Gale has the worst feet!”

“Great, so he’ll be as desperate for attention and Delly is great at giving attention.”

Katniss laughed so hard she nearly choked on her drink. “Oh goodness I can’t believe you said that.”

“Well it’s true.”

Katniss smiled shyly. She was completely captivated by him. He was charming, attractive, and she nearly lost her ability to speak the first time he took his shirt off to go swimming with her. Seeing him half naked was the only reason she agreed to go swimming. Katniss didn’t know how else to get closer to Peeta. She was like a cat in heat.

This was the first time in her life she wished she had mastered the art of wooing a man. He wore his sunglasses and ate his food quietly. Once they were finished eating. They swam once again and laughed. They were coming back from the beach when Katniss spotted the hotel owners. Caesar had become a bit of a pest.

“Oh no,” she said out loud. She didn’t want to have to speak to Caesar again.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s the hotel owner, Caesar,” Katniss gasped and hid against a palm tree in the lobby. “He’s always trying to recruit me to do one of those hotel activities.”

Peeta raised an eyebrow.

“Did he see me?”

Peeta looked behind him at Caesar.

“No, don’t stare at him; he’ll see me and come my way!” Katniss said but when she looked over, sure enough Finnick spotted her and waved. “Darn it, too late.”

“Miss Everdeen,” Caesar said, coming over to her.

“Mr. Flickerman,” Katniss said, but gave Peeta a wild look hoping he would help her out.

“How is your stay with us so far?”

“She’s been having a great time. We went swimming today,” Peeta answered.

“Oh I see you’ve made a friend!” Caesar clasped his hands together looking pleased.

“I am Peeta Mellark.”

“Wonderful, wonderful, I’ve been trying to get Miss Everdeen to join some of the activities the hotel offers.” Caesar smiled and his teeth sparkled in the sunlight like a used car salesman.

“Have you,” Peeta said, gripping his cane.

Katniss didn’t want to make eye contact with Caesar, there was something too perky and upbeat about him. She wondered if this is what happened when exposed to the sun for too long.

“I have, but Miss Everdeen has been a hard one to convince.”

“Not everyone is for group events.” Peeta winked at her, before saying, “Some of us like to take in the beauty of the ocean and the sand.”

“Well, I suppose that’s true,” Caesar trained his eyes on her and gave her a wide smile. “You have a wonderful District Four glow.”

Katniss shrunk back a little. She didn’t like the way Caesar looked at her as if she were some prize experiment. It was like being in the spotlight she loathed the center of attention.

“Ah Miss Everdeen,” Finnick said, walking up with a clipboard in hand. His eyes quickly scanned Peeta before landing on her. “Finnick Odair, I believe we haven’t met yet?”

There was something off about Finnick too, or maybe it was that he was too good looking for his own good. There wasn’t a wrinkle, nor a seam out of place. She liked men, well men who were like Peeta, he was appealing. Finnick caught her staring at Peeta and she stared back at him, though her body became stiff.

“Peeta Mellark, I came in for the-”

“Mellark Wedding, yes your brother Rye and his bride Rue. Handsome couple. Have you been enjoying your stay here?” Finnick asked amicably.

“I have…we were enjoying the pristine beach today,” Peeta said, stepping closer to her as if sensing her discomfort.

“Well,” Finnick handed Caesar the clipboard before slipping his hands in his pocket. “You must join us tonight. We have an exciting evening and a phenomenal menu. The chef is preparing a broiled bluefish in an anchovy sauce, a tender steak with baked potato, roast rack of lamb bouquetiere for two, stuffed pheasant and, of course, our infamous king lobster tails with our District Four bread.”

The food sounded delicious; Katniss wondered if it was offered in room service.

“We even have a full swing band with a dancing floor,” Caesar boasted. “Perhaps there will be an opportunity for romance to bloom.”

“Great, we’ll be there,” Peeta promised. Katniss realized what Peeta promised as Caesar and Finnick walked away to greet another hotel guest.

“I am a horrible dancer,” Katniss muttered. Walking after Peeta as he headed for his room.

“I’ve got a bad leg, so even if you were a horrible dancer, nobody will ever know.”

His cheeky reply and warm gaze caused her blood to warm up and race all over her body.

“I’ll pick you up tonight.”

Katniss nodded and stood there watching him walk away. That man was so gorgeous she had dropped her guard. When she looked around she found her room number staring up at her. She hadn’t even realized he had walked her to her room. Peeta managed to make her become blind to her own environment. Anytime she was with Peeta she was trying to absorb as much as she could from him. Looking at the door she realized it was because her time with him was limited.

She wanted to get to know him better. She wanted to do more, but she hadn’t figured out how to be a seductress. A gorgeous woman in a sarong walked by him and gave him the once over. The bubble she’d been living in burst. The woman was tall and statuesque with curves that would make any man sweat. She looked down at her near flat chest and she felt like a kid playing in the adults swimming pool, complete with orange floaties.

With more frequency Katniss witnessed younger girls prancing around in their racy two-piece bathing suits making eyes at Peeta when he was coming out of the ocean. She wasn’t a hip girl, she was a square. And a man like Peeta needed a girl who was exciting, not a boring girl who preferred to curl around a book than go out looking for adventure. It was only a matter of time before some beautiful exciting woman caught his eye.

Who was she fooling? She wasn’t good enough for a man like Peeta. Katniss was a frumpy English teacher from the smallest district in Panem. She went into her room and sat down. This entire situation was impossible. There was no way this thing they had could continue. The logical answer was that they were going to have to split after their time in District 4 was done.

Peeta would never come to her district and she wasn’t courageous enough to leave. Everyone left District Twelve, no one moved there. She decided she was going to say something tonight, break it off before she became too attached to him.

That night Katniss nervously dressed. She wore her nicest dress, a light green chiffon dress with a bateau neckline. She put her hair up in an elegant twist. She wore white scalloped baby-doll shoes. The knock on the door caused her heart to race and her hands shook as she opened the door.

If she thought Peeta was handsome in his bedraggled suit, he was devastating in a white dinner jacket and crisp black pants. Seriously, didn’t the man ever look bad?

“Wow you look great,” Peeta said. “These are for you.”

The flowers were a beautiful tropical arrangement. Katniss nodded. She could feel how hot her cheeks were.

“Ready? I heard the band tonight had visited the troops during the war.”

“Oh,” Katniss said quietly. Her mind was on how to break things off with him, but she was distracted by how happy he was and the faint smell of cinnamon.

Caesar was at the door, greeting the guests as they entered the dining room. Peeta leaned in and whispered. “Do you think we can get past him?”

“There’s only one way-” Katniss didn’t finish her sentence. They snuck past Caesar when a large group approached the maître-d, who sat them by a window in a far corner. They settled into the booth and laughed.

“Looks like we gave him the slip,” Peeta said.

The waiter introduced himself and gave them the menu. When the waiter left Peeta opened up his menu and asked, “So what will you have tonight?”

“I wanted to try the lamb,” Katniss said.

“That does sound good.” He grinned. “So I am going to warn you I can’t do any of the fast dances. I can do a slow one thought.”

Katniss looked down. “Peeta I…”

“You’re not getting out of dancing with me. I didn’t even dance at my brother’s wedding.”

The waiter came back and Peeta gave him their order. Their waiter took their menus and as he left, an older man with a long nose came and with great flourish showed them a bottle of wine.

“We didn’t order wine.”

“Compliments of Mr. Odair,” the man said. He then proceeded to open the bottle and pour them each a glass.

Katniss did not usually drink, but the wine smelled nice. She sniffed it and she quirked an eyebrow. She watched Peeta sip his slowly. Following his lead, she sipped hers and decided it wasn’t bad.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my proud honor to welcome to District Four, the Harry James Orchestra.”

“Wow,” Peeta said, sitting on the edge of his chair. “I used to hear his stuff on the radio all of the time.”

Katniss sipped her wine. It was pooling in her stomach, making her feel warm all over. The music was lively, the band leader played the trumpet expertly. Some of the younger couples stood up and danced to the toe tapping music. Katniss was amazed by the way they danced.

“You obviously never went dancing?”

“No,” Katniss blinked, turning to stare back at Peeta. “I had to study or work.”

“I find it commendable that you are helping your sister go through medical school.”

“She’s always been interested in medicine. Me, I cannot even stand the sight of a paper-cut.”

“Great,” Peeta said, then looked down.

“What’s wrong?” Katniss careened her neck to look in the direction Peeta had been looking. She saw another blond man. One that wasn’t as tall as Peeta but he had a similar build and same blue eyes. He and a gorgeous brunette were headed their way.

“Peet,” the blond man said. “I’m surprised you’re not sulking in your room. Well, at least I can tell mom and dad you made it out of the room.”

Katniss daringly reached out and squeezed Peeta’s hand.

“Graham,” Peeta said in a strained voice.

“Graham,” the brunette said. “He’s on a date.”

“Oh,” the man said, noticing Katniss was present. He whistled when he saw her. “Well, it’s a good thing there isn’t another Mellark brother. If there were you’d lose this one too. Doubt she’ll want to spend the rest of her life with a man who can barely make it across the dance floor.”

Katniss scowled.

“Graham,” the brunette said. “I am sorry, my husband had one to many of those fruity drinks this afternoon. I am Clove, Graham’s wife. You must forgive him. I went with Peeta to my high school senior dance. We were friends but everyone thought we were an item.”

“You dated Peeta?” Katniss looked at Peeta.

“Clove was really crazy about my brother, she wanted to make him jealous.” Peeta shrugged.

“More like I wanted to get rid of that brute Cato. Peeta was so sweet. He asked me out so that I didn’t have to go to my senior formal dance with Cato. We had a blast and a week later I was dating Graham.” Clove then gave a tight smile, “As far as I’m concerned you got the best of out of the three; hold on to him.”

“The Maitre D’ is waiting to take us to our table,” Graham said, tugging along his wife.

As soon as they were out of hearing Katniss leaned in, “How many brothers do you have again?”

“Just the two.”

“And you dated both their wives?”

“As you can see, my older brother is married to a virtual saint, she’s a teacher. My other brother, well you know that debacle.”

“Why would she leave you?” Katniss couldn’t figure out why these women didn’t choose Peeta. His heart was big and he was sweet.

His face became flushed. “I was only fifteen and she was eighteen. I was so nervous.” Peeta sipped his wine. “When my brother saw us slow dancing he swooped in and asked her to dance. It was the beginning of the end.”

“She’s a fool.”

“A fool.”

Katniss didn’t know where to look because she too was a fool who was going to walk away from him. “You’re amazing,” the words slipped from her lips. Katniss was glad that the meal had arrived. They ate and drank. By the time the desert was coming a slow song was being played.

“You know you’re the first person who hasn’t treated me like a cripple.”

Katniss frowned, “There’s nothing wrong with you, except you never drink sugar in your tea.”

“Pardon me?”

“I just don’t know if I can be with someone who refuses honey or sugar in their tea.”

He laughed. “Well I guess it’s over.”

“Well, you do have good taste in flowers.”

“Considering you are named after a flower, I had to step up my game.” Peeta raised his glass of wine to salute her.

Katniss held her wine glass and drank. She never took her eyes off of him as she drank from the glass. There was an electricity that passed between them that made the hairs on the back of her head stand up straight. All of a sudden she wanted to be held, touched; she wanted more, but she wasn’t sure how to ask.

“Dance with me?” Peeta asked.

Relieved, she nodded. The music was soft as they made their way to the dance floor. He laid his cane by the wall, before taking her in his arms. One hand cradled hers while the other was on her back. It was intimate. Normally, Katniss didn’t liked to be touched, but she welcomed his touch. Being in his arms was heavenly.

The music was soft and alluring. The band played “It’s Been a Long, Long, Time.” The dance floor began to fill up as it was a crowd favorite. Harry James played the horn, with a longing that matched the longing in Katniss’ heart as she gazed up at Peeta. She never thought she would ever need to be held, or want to be desired. The words she held in her heart had no way of escaping her lips. So she shifted closer to him. She wanted to lean up on her tippy toes and kiss him away but they couldn’t touch, not while they were surrounded by others.

Peeta shifted them outside, into the moonlight; it was quiet away from the crowd. Katniss pressed her head against his chest. They slowly shuffled closer until his face neared hers. Katniss lifted her head and his lips pressed into hers. It was like fire was poured into her veins. She wound her arms around his neck and pressed herself up into him. Her lips opened beneath his and although Katniss was unsure of how to kiss, she learned quickly, and with each kiss she became bolder until she realized that as she yielded to his kisses, he also yielded to hers. Her hands gripped his shoulder and she leaned in to deepen the kiss.

Peeta backed away first. “Katniss, no, this is going too fast.”

Under the hazy kiss, the alcohol, the music, and the magic of the moonlit night, she didn’t quite understand him.

“Katniss,” he cupped her face.

Something was wrong, the way he held her. The way he looked at her. It then dawned on Katniss he was rejecting her. Pain laced through her body.

“I’m sorry.”

Katniss couldn’t believe this was happening. She knew she wasn’t good enough. Shaking her head, she pushed away from him. Her eyes stung with unshed tears.

“Please it’s just…”

Katniss didn’t let him finish; she ran away.

“Katniss!”

She heard him cry her name, but she didn’t bother stopping. She ran blindly. Reaching her room she looked around. She despised the palm tree’s chintzy decorations; it mocked her. Going to the closet she grabbed her suitcase, rammed her meager belongings inside and quickly left. Checking out early caught the attendant by surprise.

Katniss was able to hail a cab and within the hour she was at the train station buying her ticket. She needed to get away. Katniss sat at the train station.

“Katniss.”

Hearing his voice in the dark startled her. Standing, she saw him leaning against his cane. She wiped her face. “What do you want?”

“Isn’t it obvious.”

Katniss shook her head as she watched him approach.

“Why did you leave?”

“You know why.” Katniss whispered. She didn’t want to explain her actions.

“Is it because I’m a cripple. Do I repulse you?”

His words did not make sense until she understood. He thought he was lacking. But she didn’t see him as crippled. “NO!”

“I don’t?”

“No you don’t.”

He ran his hands through his hair. “I swear Katniss tonight was the best night for me. You make me feel whole, but I know I am not good enough for you. You need, no deserve a man who is whole.”

This entire time she was thinking she wasn’t good enough for him and here she was thinking the same thing. Katniss walked over to him and kissed him.

He opened his mouth.

She kissed him again softly. Her lips moved over his until his hands cupped her chin tenderly. He kissed her back briefly until they separated, his forehead pressed against hers as they both breathed deeply. “I don’t want anyone else Peeta. I only want you. I need you.”

“You do?”

Katniss nodded. He kissed her again and again until they were breathless.

He took her hand and began dancing. Humming the song they’d danced to earlier. “This is our song.”

“Is it?”

“’Well it’s the only song I can dance to,” Peeta said.

Katniss laughed.

“Come back?”

“I don’t have a hotel room.”

“Stay with me,” he placed little kisses on her face.

“Silly, only married couples can stay in the hotel rooms together.”

“Then let’s get married.”

It was crazy, and she should have been scared. However having walked away from him and feeling the loss was even scarier. “Okay.”

“Caesar will be overjoyed.”

“Ugh.”

He laughed. Then he kissed once more. “My brothers will never believe me.”

“Don’t worry I’ll convince them,” Katniss said kissing him once more.

“We’ll have a lifetime to convince them…”

“Yes we will,” she whispered. Their forehead met and they kissed sweetly. And they were never separated again.

The End

Research

1950’s Resort Wear

Air conditioning

Caftans

Slang

#Everlark #1950's Historical #katniss everddeen #peeta mellark #finnick odair #caesar flickerman #hello from district four #drabble #by mega-aulover #Mega-Aulover #The Hunger Games #Hg #ThG #AU Historical

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everlarkbirthdaydrabbles · 7 years

Note

My birthday is May 16. I would love a fic that features Age!Gap Everlark with Katniss 5 - 10 years older than Peeta. M or E rating. Thanks for running this fabulous web site.

Wishing you the happiest of birthdays, @ldyglfr62! Your gift - the penultimate offering from everlarkbirthdaydrabbles, was written just for you by @xerxia31. We hope you enjoy!

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

rated M, for language and adult situations.

It’s not completely unexpected, but it’s still a shock to see it. Thick, expensive card stock, pale pink with roses and their names embossed in gold.

Madge Undersee and Gale Hawthorne, along with their families, request the honour of your presence at their wedding…

I’m happy for them, I truly am. I’m just still kind of shocked that after nine years together, it took Gale less than three months to marry my replacement.

It’s not like I thought Gale and I would ever marry each other, even if our friends all expected it. And our breakup was completely mutual. But that he moved on so fast is kind of a slap.

“You should go on vacation,” Prim says when I phone to tell her the news. “That way, you can skip the wedding without looking like a jerk.” Trust Prim to cut right to it. Because she’s right; even though Gale is my oldest friend, I’d rather rip out my intestines with a fork than watch him marry the woman of his dreams while all of our mutual friends look at me with pity.

“I can’t go sit on a beach somewhere by myself,” I groan. “That’s even more loser-ish than going to my ex’s wedding stag.” But the wheels are turning. I do need to get away, and not just from the wedding. I could use a break from my entire pathetic life. “Maybe I could go see Effie?” I mumble. My late mother grew up in Ireland, she moved to America before I was born to marry my father. Her sister still lives near Dublin, and is always asking me to come see her. It’s been a long time since my last visit.

A fabulous deal on the flight seals it. Since I’m a freelancer, there’s no one to arrange vacation time with. I can work from anywhere that there’s an internet connection. My neighbour agrees to check my mailbox periodically, and my friends all understand.

o-o-o

I arrange to stay six weeks with Effie. The first week passes in a haze of jetlag, lumpy pillows, and daily afternoon tea on her garden-gnome-and-flower-strewn patio. It’s calm, quiet.

Since I’ll be gone over my birthday, Prim insists on paying for a week-long bus tour of the Scottish Highlands for me, both as a birthday gift, and as a break from my aunt. “Better not be one of those singles tours,” I grumble as she details everything over Skype while I sit in Effie’s formal living room, surrounded by creepy porcelain dolls, a pair of lace doilies protecting her mahogany table from my computer. Prim’s in med school in Seattle, I haven’t seen her since Christmas, and I think she feels guilty about not having been there for me - in person - when Gale and I broke up, no matter how many times I tell her that I’m fine about it. But since Effie is already driving me crazy, I don’t put up much of a fight.

“Do those exist?” she asks, and on my shitty laptop screen she looks pensive. I can tell she’s wishing she’d thought of looking for one. “Wild and Sexy Tours. Huh. I wonder if I can change it…” She starts clicking away on her keyboard and I balk.

“No, geez Prim, this is fine, great really.” The website she’s linked me to shows small tour buses, catering mostly to elderly vacationers. Just my speed.

“Have you met anyone over there yet?”

“Sure, Effie’s friend with the strange beard came by for cocktails yesterday.” Prim’s face screws up.

“That’s not what I mean, Katniss. Have you been out to the pubs at all? Or gone to a rugby match?” At my shrug, she groans. “Dammit, you’re too young to be spending your time holed up with Effie’s antiques. You need to get out there, meet people, date.”

“I’m not really ready for that,” I tell her, and I can see by the way her expression changes to pity that she thinks I’m still hung up on Gale. I don’t bother correcting her. Gale and I should never have been more than friends, we both knew it, but being together was easy, like a comfortable pair of jeans. I’m not in love with him, I really never was. But I’m not anxious to put myself out there just yet. Or maybe ever. Because Gale’s the only guy I’ve ever been with. At not-quite twenty-seven, I have no experience dating at all.

“Just promise me you’ll talk to some of your tour mates at least,” she says sadly. And I promise, because I can never tell my sweet sister no.

o-o-o

Edinburgh is a confusing mess of streets and hills and hilly streets and more freaking hills, and by the time I find my way to Waterloo Place, where I’m supposed to catch the bus tour, I’m late and in a panic. When I see the little red bus still at the stop, I’m almost weak-kneed with relief.

“‘Bout time you showed up, Sweetheart,” the driver grumbles, grabbing my backpack and tossing it unceremoniously into the back. I climb on board, and my heart sinks. I’m too late to have gotten one of the single seats, and am now going to be stuck sharing. There are only two empty seats, one on the bench in the very back, between a young woman with spiky hair and a serious case of bitch face and a man who might be a professional football player; the other right behind the driver, next to a startlingly handsome man, who glances up at me through a mop of ashy blond waves, and smiles shyly.

I hope Blondie isn’t a talker.

o-o-o

Blondie is a talker.

His name is Peeta Mellark, and he fills the first hour of our drive north with mostly one-sided conversation. But I find I don’t mind all that much. He’s Irish, from a village on the Irish sea, and his gently lilting accent is much nicer to listen to than the rough Scottish burr that our driver barks as he points out one thing or another along the route.

“You know a lot about Scotland,” I finally say.

Peeta smiles wistfully. “My da used to bring me here, when I was small. We’d walk the hills and sleep in the heather.”

“How long has he been gone?” Peeta lifts an eyebrow, but I know I’m right. I recognize the look in his eyes. It’s the same expression I wear when I think about my own father, whose death when I was just a kid marked the beginning of the end of my idyllic childhood.

“I was seventeen when he passed,” he says quietly.

“You miss him.” It’s not a question, I can see in Peeta’s eyes. He nods. But any further discussion is cut off by our first stop on the tour.

Though it’s a bus tour, it turns out to be a fairly active one. We make multiple stops all along the route to the Highlands, exploring an ancient cathedral, touring a distillery, even visiting a heritage village. And as what appears to be the only two people travelling alone on the tour, Peeta and I end up spending most of the day together.

It’s… nice. He’s sweet and interesting, and it’s refreshing to talk with someone my own age.

When we arrive at Inverness, our stop for the night, I realize that Peeta and I have been assigned to the same bed and breakfast, along with the linebacker, whose name is Thresh, his girlfriend Rue, and our driver, Haymitch. That’s going to make keeping to myself that much more difficult, I realize. Then Haymitch arranges for the whole group to eat together at a pub on the river. I want to say no, that I’m too tired or some other excuse, but somehow I get sucked along anyway.

I hate being forced into group situations, but Peeta, seeming to sense my unease, sits beside me and acts as a bit of a buffer between me and the throng, not speaking for me, but deflecting attention when I get overwhelmed.

And it’s compelling to watch him interact with the others. He’s so friendly and well-spoken, so intelligent and insightful, easily moving between discussing the differences between American football and Gaelic rugby with Thresh, and the impact of Brexit on tourism in the Republic with the South African lawyer seated at the next table.

And though I promised myself that I wouldn’t think about Gale, it’s impossible not to compare him with Peeta. Gale has always been sort of closed minded; conversation with Gale is only possible on the narrow range of topics he cares about, and generally involves either a recitation of his opinions with no room for dissent, or a re-living of his glory days. But Peeta is so thoughtful, I watch him absorb and consider everyone’s viewpoints, watch his reflect back intelligent discourse in a way that feels engaging and exciting, not like a firestorm. I can’t help thinking that maybe Prim is right. Maybe I do need to spend time with people my own age instead of feeling like I’m still stuck in highschool with Gale.

o-o-o

The sun rises ridiculously early in Inverness, and the curtains in my room are barely translucent. By five-thirty, I’ve given up on sleep entirely, and decide to sneak down to the common lounge, where the wifi signal is better.

I’m surprised to find I’m not alone. Peeta is already there, dressed for the day and facing the large plate glass window, beyond which the sky is streaked in pink and amber. He doesn’t hear me at first, and I can see in the reflection that his usual easy expression has been replaced by something more intense and removed that suggests an entire world locked away inside him. I decide to steal away, to leave him to his musings, but he catches the motion and turns, the faraway expression resolving into a smile that seems so genuinely sweet with just the right touch of shyness that unexpected warmth rushes through me. “Good morning, Katniss,” he says.

“What are you doing up so early?” I ask. There’s an empty teacup on the windowsill, he’s clearly been here awhile.

“I’m a baker,” he laughs. “I’m used to the pre-dawn wake-ups.” I grin, I heard him mentioning his business over dinner, and I’m curious about it.

He makes me a cup of tea, and another for himself, and as we sit together in the early morning hush he tells me about the bakery he owns in the tiny coastal village where his family has lived for generations. The picture he paints of his bucolic life there makes me ache, my own empty, tetherless existence in sharp contrast to his certainty. It makes me realize how stunted my growth has been, having wasted all of that time with Gale. Playing things safe instead of living.

I’m ready to live.

o-o-o

Our tour guide, Haymitch, is gruff and grouchy, but he seems to know all of the hidden gems of Scotland. As we head to the Isle of Skye, he makes frequent stops to walk nature trails with stunning waterfalls, to show us multiple off-the-beaten-path lookout points, and we even spend a glorious hour searching for shells on a Carribean-blue beach. But in the mid afternoon, the bus starts to make a strange noise. And as we pull into our next stop on the itinerary - the enchanted-sounding Fairy Glen - it comes to a shuddering halt.

“Ah shit,” Haymitch grumbles.

“Well,” Peeta murmurs in my ear. “There are worse places to get stuck.”

He’s right, this place is utter magic. As a group, we explore the strange rolling hills and mini lochs of the glen, walking the concentric rings and pressing coins into cracks in cave walls. Peeta is half mountain goat, I swear, practically jogging up the steep hills, gently teasing me as I lag behind. My laughter, unfamiliar but free, echoes all around.

And eventually, Peeta and I end up in a little meadow-like depression at the bottom of one of the hills. I haven’t felt so free since I was a kid. I’d love nothing more than to lie in the grass and watch the clouds float by; when I say so, Peeta pulls off his sweater and spreads it on the ground, tugging me down to lie beside him, my head pillowed on his arm.

I must drift off because the next thing I know, the patchy blue sky has clouded over completely, and Peeta is sitting beside me.

“Peeta, you should have woken me,” I say, rubbing the sleep crud out of my eyes.

“For what? Nothing’s going on here,” he says. “Besides, I like watching you sleep. You don’t scowl. Improves your looks a lot.” This, of course, brings on a scowl that makes him grin. “I’m kidding,” he laughs. “You’re beautiful, scowling or not.”

Something flutters in my chest, but I push it away. I don’t have room for that in my life. Instead, I nod towards the notepad in his hands. “What’s that?”

He tilts the paper towards me. It’s not writing, like I’d assumed, but a drawing. A sketch of a sleeping girl. My breath catches at the image on the paper. It’s me, clearly, and the talent in the pencil lines is mind-blowing. But it’s more than that. The girl in the picture looks softer, calmer, like all of her worries have been cast away. Peaceful. No, not peaceful… content. I haven’t been that girl in a long time. “This is incredible, Peeta,” I whisper.

“I have an eye for beauty,” he says, and it should sound cocky, like a come-on line. But from him, with those earnest blue eyes smiling, it just doesn’t.

Haymitch comes stomping into the clearing, greasy handprints marring his kilt. “Bus is fixed, git your arses on it,” he grunts.

Peeta gathers his sweater and notepad, and we trudge back to the bus. The tour continues in near silence, but it’s a good quiet. A comfortable quiet. Peeta wraps his arm around my shoulder and I find myself leaning into him as he strokes my hair. It’s uncomplicated and intimate. And though I’ve never been a cuddly person, I love it.

Our last stop is a trail that winds around a glassy Loch. The whole group is subdued, introspective maybe. Or maybe just hungry. Peeta and I lag behind though, enjoying the calm.

We emerge from the cover of the trees into a patch of yellow flowers, glowing in the sunlight. “Gorse,” Peeta answers my unasked question. “It’s everywhere at home too.”

“They smell fantastic,” I sigh. “Coconutty. Like the beach.” He chuckles, but when I reach for the golden flowers, he grabs my hand. I scowl.

“Thorns,” he says, delicately moving the blooms aside to show me that what I thought were flat leaves or needles are actually sharp spines. “Beautiful on the outside, but nasty underneath.”

“Just like me,” I say absently, but his brow wrinkles.

“No, Katniss,” he says. “You’re not like the gorse. You’re a bluebell.” I roll my eyes, but he continues, so earnestly. “Bluebells are shy, unassuming. Most people hardly notice them.” He leads me with a gentle hand on my lower back to the shady part of the hill. Only when he points them out do I realize the bluebells are in full bloom here. “But they’re strong and resilient, stubborn even. And once you see them, you can’t tear your eyes away from their beauty.” I turn to face him, but his hand doesn’t fall away, shifting instead to trace circles on my hipbone.

I want to scoff, to dismiss his words as the polished pick up lines of a player. But I can’t. As I stare at him, utterly speechless, he reaches up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear. I lean into his touch, and he smiles, just the barest lift of his lips. Sweet and hopeful. Before I can even consider what a terrible idea it is, I lift up on my toes and kiss him.

It’s a gentle kiss, but the desire that flares in my gut from that brief touch is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I haven’t kissed a lot of guys in my life, a handful back in highschool, only Gale after that. But no kiss has ever before felt so electric. I need more.

It’s clear he agrees, because almost as soon as I press my lips to his again, he takes control, one huge hand cupping my cheek, tilting my head to deepen the kiss. Exploring me thoroughly. I can’t hold back the little noises that escape me, and he groans softly in response.

I lose all sense of time and place, gripping his shirt, kissing him with a passion I wasn’t certain I was even capable of. It’s only when I hear the rest of the group heading down the path towards us that I pull away, reluctantly.

Peeta’s eyes flutter open, heavy-lidded, pupils fat. “I have wanted to do that since the first moment I saw you,” he whispers.

We don’t talk about the kiss, but for the rest of the day Peeta holds my hand. Even through dinner at a quiet little restaurant right on the harbour, he plays with my fingers, looking at me with something like adoration.

When we get back to our B&B I’m not ready for the evening to end. But there are other guests in the common lounge, playing a raucous game of cards. “Would you like to come to my room?” I ask, then immediately feel heat climbing up my cheeks. “Just, uh, just to talk a while longer.” I can’t meet his eyes. I’m incapable of flirting, or of communicating at all, really. Yet he follows me unquestioningly.

We sit side by side on my bed, talking. But there’s a tension between us that wasn’t there before, a crackling awareness. I don’t even know who makes the first move, but one minute we’re talking, the next I’m sucking on his tongue and his arms are pressing me tightly to him.

Kissing Peeta here in my quiet room is even better than on the nature trail. Free from distractions, I can let my hands wander, trace the firm musculature of his shoulders and arms, feel the pull and flex of his back. He unravels my braid and runs his fingers through the locks. “Beautiful,” he whispers against my lips.

We kiss and caress, hands becoming more bold. It’s when he lays me back on my bed, the hard length of his body cradled by my own, that I begin to panic. “Peeta,” I start. “I really like you.”

He pulls back just enough to look at my face. Then he smiles fondly. “But you’re not ready,” he says, and I’m shocked that he anticipated my words. “I know,” he says, and there’s no anger, he doesn’t even look disappointed. “We won’t do anything that you don’t want to,” he promises.

“Could we keep kissing?” I sound all of thirteen, pathetic and immature. But he doesn’t laugh at me.

“I’d like that,” he says.

We kiss and touch, chastely, fingers on napes and cheeks, tangled in hair. Making out like teenagers. Like the teenager I never really was. And eventually we fall asleep wrapped around each other.

o-o-o

I expect the morning to be awkward, but it isn’t. It isn’t at all. When I wake up, he’s still there, lying beside me, awake and smiling contentedly. He kisses me, just lightly, before retreating to his own room to get ready for the day.

We tour two different castle ruins, climb down (and back up) a gorge, and check out dinosaur fossils. He’s gently affectionate through it all, holding my hand, kissing my cheek, but never demanding anything else.

But I tug him into my room and my bed again that evening. And again he kisses me to sleep.

o-o-o

Gale’s wedding day falls on the fourth day of the tour. I’m cranky, and Peeta notices. He asks me what’s wrong but I brush him off. But even in the face of my moodiness, my pique and my - as Haymitch says - ‘slug-like charm’, Peeta is patient with me. Willing to take whatever little bits of myself I offer. And it’s that acceptance that prompts me to open up to him. In fits and starts over the course of the day as we walk and tour and explore, I tell Peeta about Gale, about the wasted years, about the holding pattern I’ve been in since we split.

He listens attentively, neither judging nor offering platitudes. But his quiet support means the world to me. “Do you still love him?” he asks as we sit on the dock in a quiet harbour town, watching the seabirds circle and dive.

“I never did,” I confess. “But after so long, I don’t know how to move on.”

When we return to the B&B, I again tug Peeta into my room. But this time I know something has shifted between us. Our sweet, chaste kisses rapidly escalate. And though Peeta tries to slow us down, tries to be a gentleman, I want more. And after a few attempts, he gives up on the idea of reining us in, surrendering to my demands and my searching fingers.

Our clothes fall away, until I’m down to my bra and underwear, and he’s only in shorts. He stares at me in awe, as if I’m something exotic instead of plain Katniss Everdeen, far too bony and wearing threadbare panties. And though I’ve only ever been naked in front of one man before now, I don’t hesitate to reach behind me to unhook my bra. But Peeta stills my hands. “Are you sure?” he asks. “We don’t have to…”

“I want to,” I tell him.

When the cotton falls away, he shudders. “So beautiful,” he murmurs, licking his lips. “You have no idea, the effect you have.”

“Show me,” I whisper. And he does. In his arms, I get what might be my first taste of real, raw passion. Sex with Gale was fine, good sometimes. But never like this. As I shatter, and shatter, and shatter again, everything I think I know about myself is turned inside out, and I am changed forever.

It’s fucking terrifying.

o-o-o

The last day of our tour is quiet, too quiet. The weather is unsettled, the group members tired. Even Haymitch has lost his sarcastic edge. Leaves me too much time to think about Peeta, sitting next to me. Playing with my fingers and humming in contentment. Too much time to panic.

How can I say goodbye to this man? This man who has opened my eyes and my heart, who has shown me the barest hint of a life I never even knew I was missing out on.

What choice do I have?

It’s pouring rain when we pull into the stop at Waterloo Place, and in the soggy pandemonium of luggage unloading, it’s easy for me to grab my small backpack and slip away unnoticed. I get into the first available cab and am whizzing up the Royal Mile within moments.

I don’t look back.

o-o-o

I love Effie, I do, but sometimes I just need to get away. There’s a coffee shop near the rail station that’s a perfect escape, it’s outside of the touristy area and the patio is a great place to people watch.

A swarm of men in sharp black suits rounds the corner, heading straight towards me en route to the train. Slim-fit wool trousers cling appealingly to athletic bodies before spilling downward in perfectly pressed lines to where polished black shoes click on the cobbles. It takes a moment to realize that, no, the swarm of outrageously attractive men sauntering in the spring sunshine are not, in fact, men at all, but boys. Irish schoolboys - fifth and sixth years by the looks of them - splendid in their crisp white shirts, perfectly tied windsor knots and shiny shoes. I shake my head at myself. Leering at a bunch of teenagers? I’m too old for that. In my defense, they’re much better dressed than any of the men I know. I mean, I assume Gale wore a suit to his wedding, but it would have been the first time. Even when he dragged me to his senior prom, he wore a dress shirt open at the collar and a leather jacket.

I bet Peeta wears crisp suits like these, though.

And just like that, my mood falls again. I miss him. I miss him so much. I’ve spent the past five days lying to myself, trying to make myself believe that the week we spent together was no big deal, a little fun, a lot of great sex, nothing more. But my heart, the frail, foolish thing, is singing another song. I miss him. I feel his loss acutely, despite only having known him a few days. I know I made the right choice, leaving him on that rainy Edinburgh street. His life is here, and mine, what’s left of it, is in Philadelphia, I guess. There’s no chance of a future for us. And no sense mooning over impossibilities. But it doesn’t mean I haven’t fantasized about hiring a car and driving to the coast, just to see him one last time.

It’s the melancholy that’s making me see things. In the middle of the group, a golden head stands out. For a split second, I’m sure the broad shoulders and narrow waist attached to them belong to Peeta. But it’s impossible, these are school children, Peeta is back in his hometown, living his life. But the crowd shifts, and I can see his face clearly, blue eyes shaded by lush golden lashes, the smattering of faint freckles that kiss his sunburned cheeks.

And I drop my teacup.

The clatter catches his attention, his head swivels until he meets my eyes. I’m helpless to look away from the myriad of emotions that play across his handsome face. Surprise, relief, joy and anger. But I’m sure my own face reflects only a single sentiment.

Horror.

He says something I don’t catch to the people he’s with, then changes course to walk purposely to where I sit, frozen and mute, heart pounding so hard that I feel light-headed. He covers the few yards in long strides. The sun catches his hair, crowns him in gold as he stands above me, a wide smile curling those sensual lips. “Katniss,” he says, in that molten sex voice that I hear in my head every time I touch myself. The soundtrack to my every recent fantasy. The lament of my regrets. “I didn’t know you were in Dublin! I thought you’d gone back to America! I’m so bloody happy to see you! You were gone so fast after the tour, I didn’t get your number, and you’re not on Facebook.” He’s reaching for me, and my body instinctively reacts, warmth pooling low in my gut. Which is what snaps me out of my stupor. I jump from my chair, angling myself so that the narrow café table is between us.

“Katniss?” His brows furrow in confusion, his hands dropping to slide into his pockets. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re in school?” It’s barely a whisper.

“For another week, yes,” he says, still looking puzzled. As if it isn’t a big deal. A big fucking deal. He’s a child!

“You didn’t tell me you were so young.” I’m not certain I say it out loud until Peeta’s face twists, like he’s tasted something unpleasant.

“I’m eighteen,” he says. “I’ll be nineteen next month.” Eighteen! As if seeing him in that school uniform wasn’t bad enough, the confirmation that he’s a just a kid, that he’s almost nine fucking years younger than me makes my stomach lurch. “Is that a problem? For the record, you never asked.”

“You’re a child!” I say, much more loudly this time, and his frown deepens. “I’m… shit, I’m a pedophile!” Peeta’s jaw tightens, and an angry flush streaks up his neck. He grabs my arm, not hard but not leaving me much recourse, and walks the two of us away from the patio and around the corner of the building, into a quiet alley.

“Knock it off,” he hisses, and for a moment I feel like a naughty child being chastised. Which just serves to piss me off, I’m the grown-up here! I wrench my arm away from him, and back up, crossing my arms in front of me. But the alleyway is narrow and I’ve only moved a step before my back hits the wall. He steps forward, close enough to feel the heat of his body, to feel the tension that radiates from him in waves. “I’m an adult, Katniss,” he says lowly, his words skating across my lips as he leans in. “Old enough to drink, to vote.” His next words brush against the shell of my ear. “Old enough to fuck you senseless.”

A full-body shudder rips through me, equal parts arousal and revulsion. He’s a child! I took advantage of a child! I push against his chest and he takes a single step back, still in my personal space, but giving me enough room to clear my head a little. “I’m, fuck!” I gasp. “I’m twenty-seven. I’m nine fucking years older than you are!”

“Eight,” he says, “and so what? Doesn’t change how I feel about you, or what we have together.”

“It’s wrong-” I start, but he’s having none of it.

“Bullshit! We’re both adults.”

“You lied to me!”

“I did no such thing,” he snaps, but I’m pissed now.

“You told me you owned a bakery on the coast!”

“I do!”

“You’re a child!” His jaw tightens again, I can see the anger in his stormy eyes. Anger and hurt.

His hand reaches for me and instinctively I draw back, but he simply slips my phone out of my pocket. “What the fuck?” I sputter, but he’s already unlocked it and apparently messaged himself.

“Where are you staying, Katniss?” he asks, handing my phone back. I want to tell him it’s none of his business, but I just can’t. The pain in his eyes compels me to tell him.

“My aunt has a house in Clontarf,” I grumble. Peeta nods.

“Come with me tomorrow,” he says.

“What? No, that’s not a good idea Peeta.”

“Please, just do this one thing for me. Then I’ll leave you in peace.” The pain in his eyes is shocking. Guilt eats away at me. It was cruel, I know, sneaking away like a thief in the night. I can see how much I’ve hurt him. He takes my silence as acceptance. “Meet me here tomorrow morning,” he says. “Half eight. Wear a jacket.” Then he spins on his heel and strides out of the alley.

o-o-o

I fight with myself half the night and all morning. I’m not going to show up. He’s not going to show up. I owe him a chance to explain. He’s a fucking child! By the time I make it to the café, I’m an absolute mess.

But an absolute mess wearing mascara and a cute top. I’m a hypocrite, on top of everything else.

Removed from the cold horror of discovering I’d been cavorting with a schoolboy, I have to admit to myself that seeing him again ripped down the walls I tried so hard to construct around my feelings for him. Damn him! Damn him for being gorgeous and sweet and Irish and a toddler!

He pulls up only moments after I arrive, riding a smallish motorcycle, blond curls sticking out from under a black helmet. In jeans and a leather jacket, golden stubble glinting in the thin morning light, he’s even more impossibly handsome. But it’s clear he hasn’t slept well, his wary gaze is ringed with faint purple. “I wasn’t sure you’d be here,” he says softly, pulling off his helmet. I don’t bother to tell him that until I got off the bus, I wasn’t sure either. I simply shrug. He dismounts; I pretend I’m not checking out his ass in those snug-fit jeans. But he merely pulls a second helmet from his saddlebag, handing it to me without quite meeting my eyes.

“What’s going on?” I ask, but he shakes his head.

“Put on the helmet, Katniss, then get on the bike.”

“Don’t you have a car?” I’ve never ridden on a motorcycle before, and Irish streets with their too-narrow lanes, cobbles, and the whole driving-on-the-wrong-side issue are scary enough in a vehicle with four wheels. His lips twist.

“No. Let’s go, we have a long ride ahead of us.”

It’s madness, but I do as he asks.

I sit stiffly behind him, trying to put some distance between us, but as soon as the bike is in motion, I have no choice but to wrap my arms around him and hold on tight. And having him again cradled between my thighs provokes the most confusing rush of emotions. This is such a bad idea. Such a fucking bad idea.

We don’t talk as he pilots us out of the city, we simply can’t. The rush of wind makes that impossible. But from time to time as we pass through the suburbs, then out into the countryside, he’ll squeeze my knee to catch my attention, pointing out an old tower or a ruin, or just the way the sun catches the gorse on the mountainside, making the world glow in sunny yellow. In spite of what I’ve learned, he seems like Peeta, like the man I met in Scotland. He feels like comfort, and like home. When he points of a patch of bluebells clinging to the side of a hill, my heart hurts. I stop fighting with myself and lean into him, my helmet-encased head resting against his broad back, his warmth soothing me. He squeezes my hand where it wraps around his ribs. Acceptance.

About forty-five minutes later, we drive into one of those quintessential Irish postcard villages, narrow medieval buildings crowded along the street - though here they’re painted in lush pastels - colourful bunting zig-zagging across the road and cars parked haphazardly everywhere. He circles a statue of what appears to be a young fisherman, then heads down an impossibly narrow alleyway, parking the bike in a tiny courtyard.

When he offers me his hand to help me off the bike, I take it gratefully. My legs are like jelly, and not just from the ride. He holds my fingers just a little too long, smiling wistfully. Then we rid ourselves of the helmets, and he leads me out of the alley, to stand in front of a building. It’s tall and narrow, like most of the buildings here are, but unlike most, it has an enormous plate glass window facing the street. The building itself is painted turquoise, and Mellark’s is spelled across the front in swoopy gold letters. “Welcome to my bakery,” he says softly, and with a hand on my back he ushers me inside.

The interior is even more charming than the exterior, and for a moment I can only gawk. Polished wood floors, pristine glass cases displaying a decadent array of goodies, and paintings on every wall that feel familiar. But none of that really means anything, does it? He’s in school, it’s clear that this isn’t really his bakery. It probably belongs to his family, and he works here on school breaks.

I turn my attention to the people working behind the counter, three of them. They smile warmly at me, but right away their expressions change as they catch sight of Peeta. They seem to stand a little taller, attempt to look a little busier. “Peeta,” one of them calls out. “We weren’t expecting you.” Well of course they weren’t, it’s Thursday, he’s supposed to be in school.

In school. Ugh. What am I even doing here?

“Just popping in for a bit,” he says with an easy smile. “Have a little business I need to attend to.” He heads towards a swinging door that separates front shop from back, but pauses with his hand on the frame. “Coming, Katniss?” Three heads snap to me in surprise, and I can feel my cheeks burning as I follow Peeta into a small, but modern industrial kitchen.

Here too, the workers stop and straighten, as if they’re trying to impress Peeta. It’s subtle, but I notice it. He greets each warmly by name. And I quickly realise that it’s not fear that makes them all snap to attention. It’s respect. Inexplicably, all of these people seem to respect him.

But it’s not really that inexplicable, is it? He carries himself with a confidence that goes beyond boyish ego. I can’t reconcile the businessman in front of me with the eighteen year old schoolboy I saw yesterday.

Peeta leads me to a small, windowless office at the rear of the building, and gestures for me to sit. Before I’ve even gotten comfortable, one of the women from the front shop has appeared with a pot of tea and a pair of cups. “Thanks, Dell,” Peeta says genuinely. The woman beams at him, then backs out of the office. I open my mouth to speak, but he shakes his head. “Hang on,” he says. “She’ll be back again.”

He’s right, she reappears a few moments later with a plate of food. I haven’t been able to eat since I saw Peeta yesterday in Dublin, and my stomach clenches painfully at the yeasty, cheesy scent wafting from the treats. “You call me if you want anything else,” she says, and Peeta promises he will. With one last wink in my direction, she leaves and this time Peeta closes the door behind her.

“What was that all about?” I ask, trying not to be obvious in my coveting of the buns. He notices anyway, and pushes the plate in front of me.

“Irish hospitality,” he says absently as he pulls the bags out of the teapot. He knows, even without me ever having said anything, that I prefer my tea weak.

I know all about Irish hospitality, know that Delly would continue bringing us more food and more tea and just generally fussing if Peeta hasn’t shut the office door. But this is different. “Not that. The weird way she was looking at me. She… she winked!” He glances up, and a flicker of amusement crosses his face before the sadness creeps back.

“I’ve never brought a woman here before,” he says. I wrinkle my nose at the implication of that, I can’t decide whether it’s because I’m somehow special or because, as a freaking child himself, I’m the first ‘woman’ he’s been with.

“Why have you now?”

“Because I want you to see me. To see that I am exactly who I said I am. Now eat your bun,” he says, nudging the plate again, “while I tell you about my father.”

My heart breaks again and again as Peeta paints a picture of his life. The only child of a single father, he had a typical childhood right up until his father got sick. Terminal cancer. The man spent all of his remaining time preparing his young son to take over the bakery that had been in the Mellark family for generations. At only fifteen, Peeta traded rugby for accounting, friends for responsibility. He even spent his transition year working full time at the bakery, learning the ordering system, studying food safety compliance.

By the time his father died not quite two years ago, Peeta was running the bakery himself.

He has an uncle who deals with the day to day while Peeta finishes school, something he’s doing because he promised his dad he would. But Peeta is the owner, and the one in charge.

It goes a long way to explain his maturity. He hasn’t been a child in a long time. On the face of it, the story sounds unbelievable. But I know what my eyes are telling me. What my heart is telling me. He may be younger, chronologically. But he’s the one with his life together. While I haven’t really grown since high school, his life has leapt light years ahead.

I sit in silence, picking at the cheese bun - which is incredible but which I can’t really enjoy - feeling like a pile of shit. The office door opens. An older man strides in, clapping Peeta hard on the shoulder. “Peet,” he says. “Wasn’t expecting you today! Glad you’re here though, I have those contracts for you to sign.”

“That’s great, Dalton,” he says, taking the proffered papers, his lips moving as he skims the words. But then he frowns. “The wage is wrong,” he says, pointing.

“They’re students,” Dalton says dismissively, and Peeta’s jaw tightens. It’s fascinating to watch, even if I don’t fully understand.

“That’s not how we do things here. I pay everyone a living wage.” Peeta stands, moving around the desk to take my hand, pulling me out of my chair. “When you’ve redone the contracts, leave them on my desk. I’ll pop in later to sign them before I head back to Dublin.” And with that, we walk out, leaving the older man behind.

We walk down the narrow cobbled street towards the waterfront, weaving among the tourists, past the harbour before finally stopping at an overlook right at the edge of the village. Peeta sits heavily on one of the empty benches, and drops his head in his hands. I lower myself beside him.

“You’re a good boss,” I say softly, breaking the silence that hangs between us. He doesn’t look at me.

“The bakery is more than just a job,” he says. “It’s my father’s legacy and my future. I have eight employees who directly depend on me, not to mention the suppliers and lorry drivers and pubs who benefit from my business too.” He lifts his head to look out over the water, and the weariness I see in his face speaks to a man with the weight of the world on his shoulders. Yet he’s uncomplaining.

“I’m sorry,” I tell him.

“I’ve never lied to you, Katniss. I might be younger than you thought, but I am exactly the man I said I was, exactly what you saw in Scotland.” Wary blue eyes meet my own. “Can you say the same?” My breath catches. It’s a valid question.

Katniss Everdeen is quiet and closed-off, reserved to the point of unfriendly. Difficult to get to know. Resistant to change. That’s not the woman who spent a week adventuring through the Scottish highlands. That woman smiled more, laughed more. That woman tried new things. That woman opened her heart, if only just a little. I shake my head, and his drops again to stare at his lap. The real Katniss Everdeen is the one who left this kind, gentle man standing on an Edinburgh street in the rain, without a backward glance.

Right now, I don’t like the real Katniss Everdeen very much.

He sighs. “My age isn’t really a problem, is it Katniss? It’s just a convenient excuse. You took off before you knew.” He’s right. When I really search my heart I know that the age gap between us is just a number. In many ways, in most ways really, Peeta is the more mature of us. The one with his priorities straight, with his shit together. Our ages don’t matter at all.

After what feels like an interminable silence, he asks, “Why? Why did you leave without a word? I thought there was something between us. Something real.”

“There is,” I whisper, startling myself with my honesty. He glances up at me, confusion in his expression, but also a heartbreaking flicker of hope. “You’re right,” I tell him. “I was a different person in Scotland. And… and I think I like that person better.” I swallow hard. “I like who I am when I’m with you.

“Then what’s the problem, Katniss?” The hint of frustration in his voice threatens to put me on the defensive.

“Your life is here, Peeta! And I live three thousand miles away!”

“You’re here now,” he says.

“For four more weeks,” I say, and sadness creeps in as I realize that I don’t want to leave him again, that even pissed off and hurt and, yeah, young as he is, just his presence makes me feel alive. “And then what?”

“Why do we have to figure that out now,” he asks. “Why can’t we just take it day by day, see where things go. Live without a plan, without a safety net.” He reaches for me, cradling my face in his hands, and my eyes slip closed. “Live, Katniss. Be the woman you want to be.”

What’s left of my defenses melt away as he kisses me so softly it’s like a dream. My hands wrap around his wrists, holding him in place. Keeping him with me, at least for the moment.

I know the only thing really standing between us is my fear.

“Okay,” I whisper, the words hanging, fragile and afraid, in the space between our lips.

“Yeah?” he smiles. And at my nod, he kisses me again.

I’ve wasted so much time living in complacency, afraid of change. But this feels like a second chance. An opportunity to grow and mature, instead of staying safely stuck in the past. And the part of me that is not so brave as I could wish is glad that it’s Peeta beside me as I step into the unknown.

—–

#Everlark birthday drabbles #ldyglfr62 #xerxia31

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