Chapter 8 Summary: Now that Diana has taken care of Gale's snootiness, peace has been restored. The Toastbabies are up to their own devices, and Peeta is at the center of their little game.
Rated T / Peeta POV
The next morning, Peeta got up early to grab the groceries he ordered to replace the things his brood had gobbled up, including the all-important kas-up, for Diana.
Yesterday, he and Katniss nearly panicked over the fact that they had run out of ketchup. Thankfully, he remembered that Diana had packed ketchup packets in her small suitcase. He grabbed the groceries and brought them inside, intending on making breakfast for everyone.
Peeta was glad the birthday party for the chaotic twins was over. Now, he only had to concentrate on celebrating his anniversary with Katniss. He planned on a private romantic dinner with just him and his wife. Something calm and serene, unlike yesterday's mayhem. Coming downstairs and watching Diana and Hunter throwing cake at Gale and his wife gave him a few white hairs. For that matter, all of his kids had been in a full-out war with the Hawthornes.
The cake fight had trashed Annie's home. The havoc was caused by his disorderly progeny.
He chuckled to himself, though, they were definitely a family. Despite the bedlam that having a million kids brought, this was his dream come true. As a small boy, Peeta dreamt of having children with Katniss Everdeen. He desperately wanted to have a loving, warm, united family.
Growing up, his mother wasn't a nurturing woman. She freely gave out backhanded slaps to the back of his head, and she was the queen of insults. In the district, she was known as the witch.
READ REST HERE AO3 & FFN
Read the entire series here:
Meadow’s Call
A Million Kids
Ryley Translator
Tooth Fairy Jail
Buttercup2
Crocks are Fun
I wanted to thank @norbertsmom, my bestie and beta, who edited this in an hour - You Rock!. This is a personal chapter because it has a conversation I had with my dad when I was Meadow's age. Submitting this for @everlarkweek Prompt: Toastbabies
Summary: Katniss has decided to move out, and she’s going to meet Blond # 8 for brunch. After all, the real enemy is Marvel. Perhaps Katniss will find where she really belongs.
A/N: In this world, the Capitol didn’t win the war, the Districts did, and this changes Katniss' life, and how she finds her found family. Special thanks to @norbertsmom for betaing and @everlarkweek for hosting. This is the conclusion.
Rated T / Read PT1 & PT2 HERE
PART 3
“Nervous,” Gale asked as they rode in the ride share that picked them up at his hotel.
“A little,” Katniss breathed.
Last night after the call, Katniss packed up all of her clothing. Everything she owned fit inside of a large suitcase. Katniss hated shopping and the clothing style in the Capitol wasn’t worn for comfort, it was for the sake of fashion. Currently, the latest trend has people wearing long fake peacock-like feathers shooting out of their hips or heads. No one was able to sit and walking by people with feathers dangling off their hips was insane.
Marvel always wanted her to try to be more trendy. Katniss loathed things that were impractical. She couldn’t spend money on things that were unnecessary.
“I’m seriously hungry,” Gale said.
“You’re always hungry,” Katniss answered.
“True.”
“Last night was fun,” Gale mentioned.
After they left the apartment. Katniss felt lighter than she had since arriving. She wasn’t sure what today would bring. Gale suggested that they call room service and get ice cream with all the trimmings. After the sugar high, they bounced on the bed like a couple of teenagers. Watched a movie and then fell asleep in their own beds, Katniss with one pillow and Gale with like five.
The boy liked his pillows. Katniss thought it was demented. Back home, he was constantly collecting pillows. If one got, ‘too hard,’ or ‘too soft,’ it was replaced. How pillows miraculously became too soft or too hard Katniss didn’t know. She didn’t mess around with his pillows.
“Not as fun as the night we snuck into old man Abernathy’s white liquor stash, got drunk and dyed his geese,” Katniss grinned.
Gale laughed, “I’ll never forget the brightly colored geese chasing Haymtich around town. Those feathers made for nice pillows.”
“Just don’t steal pillows at the hotel, they’ll charge you.”
“Way ahead of you. Justine, the night shift manager, promised to give me some pillows to take home.”
Katniss laughed.
She slept well last night, surprisingly she didn’t dream of Marvel. Instead, she dreamt of a handsome stranger that was just out of reach. In her dream, she always seemed to just miss him. He was exiting a building while she was entering. He was crossing the street she had just crossed.
Katniss never saw his face, but she had a feeling that when she met him, she would know it was the man of her dreams.
Earlier, when they woke up, they chatted, and the familiarity of being with Gale was comforting. She hadn’t felt like herself in a long while. Katniss, for the first time in months, was free. However, that morning, clarity also brought a slew of problems she hadn't considered last night. Gale was leaving tomorrow, and that meant she needed to find a place to live.
As they rode in the car, her unknown future was gnawing at her.
Katniss had to make quick decisions. Beginning with some simple ones. Did she want to stay in the Capitol? If she did stay, why would she want to stay? She did just get a job, but she didn’t have a place to live. Would she consider going home? She could easily go back to District 12, get her job back at the school, move back in with her mother and baby sister. She could go hunting again, something she hadn’t done since she’d left. That was comforting.
Living in the Capitol with nothing but time, she forged a small existence. One where she didn’t have to worry about her mother and sister. One where she was free to grow. This was a possibility.
So if she did stay, she would need to find a reasonably priced hole in the wall apartment. She would also need to get furniture. She knew of a place that she could get it on the cheap. Marvel hated the place. “Do you think you can help me find someplace to live, before you leave?”
“Sure,” Gale said. “I feel you’ll be a lot safer without Marvel, than with him.”
Katniss snorted.
“We’ll get you a bed too, so that you at least have someplace to sleep,” Gale said.
“I know a place where we can get something second hand. Marvel hated that our furniture was second hand, but I couldn’t imagine paying thousands for a night table, when for a fraction of that, you can get all the essentials.”
“Good enough, you don’t have to sell me on that,” Gale nodded. “Your mother gave me some money for you. But she said I wasn’t supposed to spend it on that dimwitted blockhead.”
“Gale.”
“Those were her words not mine.”
Even though Marvel was horrid to her, it hurt, because she’d let herself be taken in by his charms.
“Are we heading out of the city?” Gale asked, as they were driving past the dam and reservoir.
“Actually, we’re in the residential zone for the Capitol," Katniss answered. The scenery was unfamiliar to her as she traveled by train very early in the morning and most of the time she was asleep. The sky scrapers and taller buildings were in the center of the city. The further out they traveled, the more green spaces they encountered.
When they entered a small town on the fringes of the city, Katniss began to recognize it. “I work out here actually.”
“This seems like a nicer place than in the center of town,” Gale remarked.
Katniss agreed, while the commute sucked, the small town itself was pretty, with towering pine trees.
“Wondering if you can hunt out here?”
“Not sure,” Katniss replied.
The car came to a stop in front of a modest building. A curvy blonde woman stood out front.
Gale whistled, “Man she’s pretty.”
Katniss chuckled, “You always did have a thing for blondes.” Gale dated the Mayor’s daughter off and on for years. They broke it off when Madge became interested in Thom, his best friend. She broke poor Thom’s heart and left the district for a man named Thresh from District 11.
Katniss and Gale got out of the car and smiled at the woman.
“Katniss?”
“Delly?”
Delly squealed and hugged Katniss. Over her shoulder she could see Gale mutter, “friendly.”
“My friend owns this place. You’ll love the food, come on, follow me.” Delly led them to the side of the building where there was a small podium and a young woman stood there.
“Ivone,” Delly greeted.
“Hiya Delly, are these your friends?”
“Yep.”
“Follow me,” Ivone said as she grabbed some menus and led them down the side of the building that was a green house. It was warm in the green house. The garden was composed of many plants her mother used. “We try to grow some of the herbs and spices used in the food,” Ivone said.
Katniss was impressed. They turned a corner into a covered patio filled with plants, tables and chairs. There were outdoor heaters scattered about. The patio was near capacity.
Ivone led them to a table surrounded by plants.
“Your waiter will be by shortly to take your order, please enjoy your meal.” Ivone left.
“So what's good here?” Gale asked.
“Everything. The sandwiches are great, and seasonal. The bread is freshly baked. And the deserts are to die for.”
“What’s your favorite thing on the menu?” Gale asked.
“I love the chili verde,” Delly said. “But if we’re going to do brunch, we should do the brunch charcuterie board. It has a taste of everything.”
A waiter arrived and they placed their order.
“So do you live close by?” Gale asked.
Katniss watched as Delly turned pink and said, “Yes, I do actually.”
“You’re too pretty to have so much trouble dating.”
Katniss couldn’t believe Gale was flirting with Delly.
Delly giggled. “Trust me, I’m considered plain around here.”
“Well, people around here need their eyes checked.”
Seeing her bestie lean forward and wink at Delly was weird.
“What about you Katniss, how did you end up with Marvel?”
Katniss was about to answer, but she was distracted by laughter. She turned her head toward the sound, and there from the midst of the glare of the sun, a man began to emerge. He was average height, and bulky. However, as his face began to come clearer, Katniss's heart suddenly pounded in her chest. He was beautiful.
Handsome wasn’t an apt word for the chiseled face. Incredible blue eyes that drew Katniss in and made her audibly gasp.
“Peeta,” Delly squealed.
“Dells,” the blond adonis said as he delivered their food.
Katniss stared at the man and she could see he too was staring straight at her. She could not form a single sentence. She understood why moths were attracted to the light.
“Peeta, this is the girl I told you about, Katniss, and her best friend, Gale.”
“Nice to meet you,” Gale greeted.
“Likewise,” Peeta said.
“This is your place?” Gale asked.
“It is,” Peeta said.
“Food is good,” Gale said.
“Thank you,” Peeta said, taking a seat.
Plates passed and they began to eat. The topic of conversation was light. Katniss nodded and smiled. She couldn’t help but steal glances at Peeta. During the meal she would catch him sneaking a peek at her too. Katniss was trying to keep cool, but it was impossible when he leveled those striking blue eyes at her.
When the meal was done, Peeta glanced at her and she noted that cheeks were red. He cleared his throat, “You know, when Delly said she was meeting you both, I thought it was a bad idea. But I’m glad I was wrong.”
“See, I was right about them,” Delly said. “Marvel has excellent taste in women, it's their friends he didn’t like.”
“True, Marvel and I didn’t get along.”
“Same,” Gale said. “I, however, wanted to be supportive.”
“Same,” Peeta said and then he turned his attention back to her. “So how did you meet Marvel?”
Katniss quietly said, “He came to our home district, as part of internship, I met him as he left the mines. Oddly enough, I didn’t like him at first, but he won me over.”
“He swept Katniss off of her feet,” Gale supplied.
“When his internship was over, he convinced me to move here with him. I should have listened to my gut. I knew something was off about him - I just feel so stupid. I don’t even have a plan now that I’ve left him. I moved out of the apartment last night.”
“Wait, you moved out?” Delly looked hopeful as she stared at Katniss.
“Yeah, I’m staying with Gale for now, but when he leaves back to District 12, I’ll be homeless."
“I’m actually looking for a roommate,” Delly said excitedly.
“I couldn’t, I wouldn’t want to...” Katniss stammered.
“Katniss this could work,” Gale implored, “you need a place and she has a room for rent.”
“I need a roommate. Marvel kept on telling me that I shouldn't because having privacy was great. I told him that I needed someone to help me with the rent.”
“I told her he just wanted to isolate her,” Peeta said. “Delly’s like my sister and he told her I was toxic.”
Gale snorted, “That’s what he said to Katniss. We’re practically family and he tried to tell her that I was toxic.”
“I’m just glad Katniss was nice to Delly. I’m sure anyone else would have treated Delly poorly.”
“She didn’t know Marvel had a girlfriend. Once she found out,” Katniss shrugged. Delly had been apologetic over the phone.
“I still feel bad for being the other woman. He lied to both of us, and was a jerk whenever I questioned him. And I’m sorry, Katniss.”
Katniss reached out and placed her hand on Delly’s. She was contrite and upset. “I don’t blame you. I blame Marvel. He was in a committed relationship and still looking for other women. Like you said, he lied to both of us. Marvel is the moron.”
“He’s smarmy,” Gale said.
“She’s right Dells, he wasn’t nice to you,” Peeta said.
Delly took a deep breath, “I don’t even miss him to be honest, I just feel…”
“Like a fool,” Katniss said.
“Yeah,” Delly laughed. “Do you think we can see the video?”
“Sure, if that’s what you want,” Katniss said.
“Yeah, Peeta wants to see everything, too,” Delly nodded.
“I do,” Peeta said. “I’m curious as to how it happened. Why don’t you guys come inside where we can watch this in private.”
“Sure, but I want to pay for the meal,” Gale said.
“Oh no, it’s on me,” Peeta said.
“Okay then,” Gale stood, but he still took out his wallet and left a substantial tip for the server.
All of them headed toward the inside of the building. “The front part is a bakery,” Peeta gave as a way of an explanation as they entered through a door on the side where the kitchen was. The heat caused Katniss to feel tingly.
“In here,” Peeta opened a door marked PM.
Katniss unzipped her coat and sat down. While Gale and Delly congregated around the monitor they connected the video. Katniss sat down on the sofa.
Peeta sat next to her, “I think Delly has a crush on your friend.”
“He’s a good guy. He’s a lush when drunk though,” Katniss said. “Caught him kissing a tree one time.”
Peeta laughed. “So are you going to move in with Delly?”
“I don’t want to take advantage of her,” Katniss said.
“The fact that you’re hesitant lets me know that you’re trustworthy. You could have gone the route of blaming Delly for causing Marvel to cheat, like many women would.”
Katniss was at a loss for words. “I..”
“I’ve known Delly all of my life. She’s a good person who is often taken advantage of and I know you wouldn’t.”
“I’ll consider it,” Katniss said. It would be advantageous, if Delly lived nearby, her commute would be non-existent. She wouldn’t have to live in the center of the faster paced center of the city. Having worked for a few weeks at the pre-school, the commute was exhausting.
“Okay here we go,” Gale said as the lights in the room were turned off, and Delly and Gale sat down to watch.
On the screen the tragic tale of the prior evening’s shenanigans played on screen.
“Good grief,” Peeta said next to her as he watched Marvel try to gaslight her on the screen.
“I can’t believe he tried to say it was his mother?” Delly asked.
“Just wait,” Gale said.
They watched the entire thing and at the end everyone sat there in shock.
“My flabbers are gasted,” Delly said. “I don’t know how you didn’t go after me.”
“Why would I,” Katniss. “Marvel was the one lying to me. You told me the truth, plus you were also a victim of his deception.”
“Wow, what a jerk,” Peeta said. He turned to Katniss, and said, “You and Delly deserve much better, and I’m glad you moved out.”
His look was so fierce that Katniss blushed.
“So what about it, Katniss, will you consider being my roommate?”
“She works around here so that would lessen her commute,” Gale said.
“It would be great if you could,” Delly said.
“Alright,” Katniss agreed.
“Great, you can move in tonight!” Delly clapped her hands.
-
Later that night, Katniss sat on her new bed. Delly had gone out and purchased some soft beautiful sheets. Delly and Gale were laughing as she put away her things. The last 24 hours were ones of change. She didn’t even know how she got here, but she couldn't believe she’d broken up with Marvel, and found housing near her job.
“So what else is there to do around here?” Gale asked.
“Lots," Delly said. "In the winter, people do outdoor stuff like skating, sledding, and skiing. During the summer, the restaurants and bars have outdoor seating during the weekends, and people hike, go fishing, and camping outdoors."
"Really, that's cool, Katniss is going to love it out here then. She loves the outdoors, and so do I," Gale said.
The door bell rang and Delly got up and said, "That must be Peeta. He said he'd stop by with some ingredients, he wanted to make us dinner."
"Do you cook?" Gale asked.
"Outside of toast, cereal, and eggs, no," Delly said laughing.
"You're in luck, I'm a pretty good cook."
"If you cook, then I'll do the dishes," Delly said as she left the room.
"She's cute," Gale said, watching Delly through the open door.
Katniss chuckled, "Slow down Hawothorne, she and I just broke up with our ex."
"I'm just saying she's a catch," Gale said.
"Just be careful with her. She seems like a nice girl, the type you have your mom meet, and not the type you take to the slag heap."
"Noted," Gale said. He stood, "Do you mind if I go out there and…"
"Please, wild horses couldn't keep you away from her."
"Thanks," Gale said as he left the room.
Katniss sighed as she finished unpacking her meager belongings and looked around the room. Thankfully, it was furnished and she didn't have to buy anything. It was larger than the room she had back home in district Twelve, but smaller than the bedroom she shared with Marvel. Sighing, she walked out to find Peeta was in the kitchen, with Gale and Delly sitting at the counter.
"Need, help," Katniss volunteered.
"Katniss is a great cook," Gale boasted.
"Well, I won't burn water." Katniss walked to the gallery kitchen. "Where do you want me?"
Peeta's face became flushed. "Ah, we're making spaghetti bolognese. So why don't you start chopping the celery, carrot, garlic, and onion."
"Sure." Katniss washed her hands. Peeta set the cutting board out for her and the veggies she was going to cut into small square pieces. She learned from trying to get her little sister to eat her veggies that if she cut them into small squares she could blend them into the stews. Her sister didn't know she was eating her vegetables as a kid.
As Gale and Delly spoke, at the counter, she and Peeta settled into a comfortable rhythm. She dumped the chopped veggies into the sauce pan, as Peeta had finished grinding down the meat. When the meal was finished Peeta smiled at her. "You're pretty good."
"Thank you."
They sat in Delly's small dining area and Peeta brought out his freshly baked bread. And Katniss moaned when she tasted the fresh flaky buttery bread. "Oh goodness."
"Good huh," Delly said smiling.
"This is one of things I missed most about District Twelve, the fresh bread. I found a shop in the Capitol. Their bread was good, but it wasn't like this."
"You're welcome," Peeta said.
"So other than food, what kinds of bread do you sell?"
"The normal stuff, but I do like to study the bread that other districts eat. In July, I celebrate a different district by making baked goods from that district. It's pretty popular."
"That's cool."
Gale reached for seconds, and he grinned and gave some more to Delly. He gave her that cheese grin and wink combo and Katniss shook her head. She then muttered 'cheesey', under her breath. That got her a scowl from her best friend.
"I thought I overheard Gale say you work nearby?" Peeta asked.
"I work as a preschool teacher."
"Oh, you took over Miss April’s class."
"I did," Katniss said.
"She was a beloved teacher. She had to retire because of a heart condition."
"I didn't know, all I was told is that she retired."
"Well, she used to get her cupcakes from us for her kids' birthday." Peeta smiled at her. "I can give you a special discount, since you're new to the neighborhood."
Katniss felt her face heating up, but she didn't say anything.
There was a knock just as dinner was finished. Delly opened the door to reveal a beautiful girl with dark skin and shining light brown eyes. She looked to be around the same age as Katniss’ baby sister.
"Rue! Hi," Delly said, letting the girl into the room.
"Everyone, this is Rue, my neighbor. She lives next door with a few roommates."
"Hi, I'm Gale, and this is my best friend, Katniss."
"Oh wait, is this the girl you told me about last night?" Rue excitedly asked.
"Yes," Delly was red.
"Wow, the way you handled that dead beat was amazing," Rue said. "Hey, are there any extras? Do you mind if my roommates come over, we're starving."
"Sure," Delly said.
Before they knew it Rue and her roommates, Foxy, and Heddle were joining them. Rue was sweet. Foxy, despite her name, was quiet and shy. Heddle however, was talkative. All three girls were extremely smart and were on scholarship from their home districts, learning. Delly had taken them under her wing like a mother hen.
Katniss sat back and watched Peeta from afar as he spoke and interacted with the girls.
Peeta was so handsome and there was something about him that made her want to take notice. She compared this feeling to what she felt met Marvel. Both men were charming. However, looking back, Marvel saw Katniss as some sort of challenge. Once he had conquered her, she wasn't good enough and that's when he began hinting, then demanding that she change.
Hindsight was a phenomenal teacher. Had she stayed true to herself, she wouldn't have moved to the Capitol and lost sight of who she was. This time around, even though her heart was telling her to get to know him, Katniss decided to proceed with caution.
At the grand age of 23, she'd learned that her heart was a precious thing and she couldn't just give it up to anyone. She also learned that physical attraction wasn't the same thing as love. There were many different types of love. She wanted to take her time and heal and grow.
Peeta said something funny and even Gale laughed. He glanced toward her, and she smiled back, willing her heart to calm down. It didn't matter if she was attracted to Peeta. Katniss was going to do what every respected hunter did, observe.
Part 4
The winter was finally over. In those short winter months, her life had changed dramatically. For one, she loved living with Delly in the outskirts of the Capitol. Life here was far slower. People knew each other. They smiled at one another when they saw each other in the streets.
She found the winter outdoor activities better suited to her lifestyle than the indoor concrete life of the Capitol. Also, she had found a small family while living with Delly.
Through Rue, Delly, and Peeta, she'd met a host of people. A young couple named Finnick and Annie who frequented Peeta's bakery. She met Johanna, their other feisty neighbor who loved skiing. Through Johanna she met Venia who was studying to become a cosmetologist. She met Rue’s older brother Teagan and his friend Drove. They were also students and they also taught skiing and snowboarding.
Every weekend they met at Peeta's and either went skiing, sledding, snowboarding, or some sort of winter sport. Now that the school was finally closed for the summer, Katniss was excited to see what the summer would bring.
She was walking home when she stopped at Peeta’s bakery. She found Johnna, Annie, and Venia sitting outside sipping coffee.
"Hey Brainless," Joahnna called.
Her first time skiing, Katniss didn't know how to stop and she fell a few times until she learned to lean in sideways. But that was enough for Johanna to call her brainless.
"Hi," Katniss said.
"Hey, so now that winter is over," Annie began. "Finnick and I are thinking of going fishing. I heard from Gale that you're a hunter. Is that true?”
"Yeah," Katniss said.
"Really?" Johanna asked, laughing.
"I’ll have him bring my bow and arrows next weekend when he comes out here."
Gale and Delly had gravitated toward the other and were now officially dating. It was a long distance, but Gale was serious, and from what his mother said, he hadn't even thought of another woman. Delly was over the moon with him. Katniss was glad for both her friends that they found happiness.
"Oh, hey Katniss," Peeta said when he spotted her. He walked over and smiled at her.
"Hi Peeta," Katniss greeted and she could feel her cheeks blooming. Every time she saw him she was reminded of how handsome he was.
"So have you heard about the fishing trip?"
"Yeah, Annie and Johanna were just telling me about it."
"Are you going?"
"I'd love to go," Katniss said.
"Great, I ah, I ah, guess I'd better be going back," Peeta said as he turned around and nearly ran into a patron. "Sorry," he said, before rushing back inside.
"Boy he's got it bad," Vienna said.
"Does he," Annie agreed.
"I'm sorry what?" Katniss was clueless.
"And this is why I call you Brainless," Johanna snickered.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about, Jo," Katniss said.
"He likes you," Annie said.
"Peeta likes me?" Katniss parroted back, she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Yeah," Vienna said.
"Big time," Johanna said. "But both of you are the same. You light up like a street lamp at night every time he comes into a room."
Katniss wanted to deny it, but couldn't. It was true she liked Peeta. She'd been observing him for months and he was a genuinely sweet, kind, and goodheart person. Nothing like Marvel. Peeta was sincere, always kept his word, and generous, not just with his friends, but to strangers as well. Peeta also never said anything bad about Gale.
He made an effort to get to know him, they both became good friends. With each passing day her crush on Peeta grew. She couldn't help the way her face heated up whenever he was around. They were good friends, so she didn't want to ruin what they had.
During these past few months, she and Peeta had become friends. She knew his favorite color, a soft orange, the color found in sunsets. She knew how he didn't like sugar in his tea. He always double knotted his shoelaces, and was a good listener. Peeta was a Painter, and with his large hands, he crafted the most delicate cake decorations. He was gentle even though he was muscular and stocky. Peeta was witty and funny, and he could make her laugh with his humorous observations. In essence, there wasn't much about Peeta that Katniss didn't like.
"You like him, don't you?" Annie said. "A lot."
"I do," Katniss sighed. "But I don't want to ruin what we have."
"You don't have anything," Johanna exclaimed.
"Their friendship," Venia sighed.
"Pft, tap that-"
"Jo!" Annie said. "Theirs is not that kind of relationship. This is the type that ends with them getting monogrammed bath towels."
"Oh, you mean the serious type."
"Exactly," Vienna said. "Katniss isn't like you. She is more serious minded, and so is Peeta."
"I think you need to speak to him," Annie said.
"Talk," Katniss said. "I don't know."
"Don't be afraid to speak to him. He feels the same way as you."
Katniss looked inside the bakery and sighed. "I don't know. But I do know that I want you to count me in on that fishing trip."
Katniss walked away and toward her apartment. There was only one person who could verify if Peeta liked her and that was Delly.
"Dells, I'm home." She called out when she entered.
"Oh hi!" Delly said coming out of her bedroom. "How was your day?"
"The last day of the school year was great. The kids were excited for their summer adventures. I am glad we simulated a day at the beach today. A lot of them have never been swimming.” Katniss removed her boots and sat down on the sofa.
Delly sat down next to her. “We have rivers, but no lakes and no access to the ocean. I'm guessing the kids loved sitting with their feet in tubs of water.”
“They also loved playing with the sand. I'm just glad none of them decided to fight with it.”
“I’m going to make myself a sandwich. Do you want one?”
“Sure, thanks Dells, I have some chips left over from today.”
When the sandwiches were gone Katniss sighed, "Dells, can I ask you a question?"
“What’s wrong? Are you going to move out…”
“No, no, nothing like that. If anything I’m wondering if Peeta has ever asked you about me.” Katniss knew her face was red. Suddenly, she felt extremely hot and her cheeks stung from the heat.
Delly smiled, “I know the answer, but I’ve been sworn to secrecy. If you want to know if he likes you, the best thing to do is ask him.”
Katniss frowned. She was scared.
“I’m going to give you the same advice you gave me when I caught feelings for Gale. Get off your rump and tell that boy you like him.”
Katniss laughed at the sight of Delly imitating her. “Fine.”
Two weeks later Katniss hadn’t been able to speak with Peeta. There was always someone around them. She was frustrated and at the same time relieved, she didn't know what or how to start the conversation. They were all packed and ready to go camping. Gale had traveled from District Twelve for the weekend trip.
"Have you spoken to Peeta?”
"No,” Katniss said, then asked, “Who told you?”
"No one, it's obvious you like him. Every time I come out here you're like a cat in heat panting after him.”
"Am not.”
“Are too.” Gale snickered, “You just have to stop being so chicken.”
"Gale,” Katniss warned.
"He's right you know,” Delly said as she placed a kiss on Gale's lips.
Katniss pretended to gag.
"You know what," Gate said, sticking his tongue out at her.
"Are you sure you guys aren't brother and sister?" Delly asked.
"Not Related," both Katniss and Gale said at the same time. They laughed at their old joke.
"Why me?” Delly uttered jokingly. “Everyone should be here at any moment. Are we all packed?”
"Yup," Gate answered, as he put his back back on. Katniss did the same, carrying her bow and quiver of arrows in her hand.
Delly looked at her phone, “They're downstairs.”
They went downstairs and everyone was in high spirits. Katniss looked around. She couldn’t spot him. “Where’s Peeta?”
“He had an emergency at the bakery, he said he’d meet us at the campground,” Finnick said.
She felt deflated, but put a smile on her face, and went along with the group. The Campground was beautiful. It reminded her of the woods and District Twelve, with lush grass, sweet smelling pines and a sparkling flowing river.
They set up camp. The girls were swimming while Finnick taught Tegan and Drove how to fish. Delly and Gale went on a hike. Toward mid-afternoon, there wasn’t any sign of Peeta.
"Don't worry, he’s coming,” Delly assured her.
“Hey, lets go hunting,” Gale suggested.
Katniss shrugged.
“This I’ve got to see,” Johanna said, getting to her feet. She took her axe with her, she’d brought it to chop down the kindling they needed to make a fire for cooking.
Katniss shared a look with Gale who nodded. All three went deep into the woods. It was getting late and most of the wildlife was bedding down for the night. Besides them, Johanna walked, looking around. Thankfully, she didn’t have a heavy tread.
Katniss spotted some movement in the brush, a rabbit scurried out. She quickly nocked her arrow and shot the rabbit. There was another movement and Katniss with lightning fast movements nocked and shot her arrow before Gale could even get his arrow from his quiver.
Johanna whistled lowly as she watched the other arrow get the second rabbit.
“I’ll go get them,” Gale said.
“Dam,” Johanna said. “Maybe you aren't brainless at all.”
“I’m glad you didn’t make noise, it would have scared the prey,” Katniss said as she shoved her bow over her shoulder.
“When I was little, I used to go hunting with my father.”
“Why did you stop?”
“I discovered boys didn't like girls who smelled like game meat.”
“I didn't care,” Katniss laughed.
“I think we have more than enough meat for everyone tonight,” Gale said, as he came back.
“Let's skin them before we get back. Hey Jo, do you know how to skin a rabbit?”
“Sure do, my father taught me when I was a kid,” Johanna said.
“Great you and Gale can skin them, so that we can eat them for dinner tonight.”
“Done!” Johanna said, as they made their way back to camp. When they arrived Katniss scanned the crowd and still no Peeta. She sighed and went to wash up. Johanna regaled everyone with the hunting trip. Katniss cooked the rabbits and Finnick cooked the fish, everyone loved both things and were outside roasting marshmallows.
Katniss was sitting inside of her tent wishing for Peeta to arrive. Even though she had fun today she admitted she missed Peeta. She was miserable. Lonesome in a sea of people who she cared for.
All day long she eagerly waited for him, and each time she realized he wasn’t with them she became sadder. Katniss found herself in a quandary. She wasn't supposed to feel this way. They were very close, but he didn’t hold the title for best friend, for her to miss him this much. Katniss had never felt this way toward Gale. Heck, she’d never felt this way when she was dating Marvel. However, with Peeta, she couldn't wait to see him, she cherished being around him, she enjoyed hearing his voice, and couldn't wait to tell him stuff. Sitting in the tent, Katniss came to realize how much she needed Peeta.
Tears sprung to her face and she wiped them. Katniss had never cried over a guy in her life.
“Hey, Finnick is going to play, you wanna sing?” Gale asked, poking his head into her tent. The moment Gale saw her crying he instantly got inside. “Hey, hey, what’s this? What’s wrong? And who do I have to beat up?”
Katniss laughed. “You’re stupid.”
“Yeah, I know,” Gale shrugged. “What…wait does this have to do with Peeta?”
Embarrassed, Katniss couldn’t even look at Gale in the face. She stared at her folded hands in her lap.
“Look at that, you’ve finally fallen in love.”
Katniss looked up at Gale in total surprise.
“Now don’t give me that look, you’re in love and so is the blond baker.”
“You can’t know that?”
“Alright, do you remember a few weeks ago when you got sick, and I was visiting Delly.”
“Yeah.”
“I’ve never seen a man become so paranoid. He dragged you to the doctor, got you your medicines, came over everyday to see you and made you cheese buns and hot soup.”
“Okay.” Katniss wasn’t sure what Gale’s point was.
“Well, Delly was also sick.”
Katniss shrugged.
“His best friend was also sick but he didn’t drag her to the doctors. He drove you. He didn’t buy her medicines, he went to the apothecary and purchased your medicine. He didn’t make Delly her favorite treat, but he made yours. And yes we all ate from the soup he made us in the apartment. But Peeta called at all times of the day asking me about you, and how you were feeling. A man doesn’t do those things for someone who he simply considers a friend. I never treated you like that in my life, and you’re my best friend and I think of you as family.” Gale gave her a pointed look, before finishing with, “Peeta has genuine feelings, just like you do for him. It’s not onesided. Trust me.”
Katniss sighed. Gale was right. In their entire history, he had never once acted in any way like Peeta did toward her. “You’re right, if you had hinted you liked me I would have run for the hills.”
“Thank goodness, not for nothing Catnip, but you’re grosser than Rory.”
Katniss punched Gale in the stomach. His brother Rory once refused to change his socks for two weeks. The funk coming off that boy was horrendous.
“You don’t punch like a girl,” Gale gasped as he bent over.
“Keep that in mind,” Katniss said as she got up and walked outside.
Gale came outside clutching his stomach and Delly made a bee line for him. “Gale, what’s wrong.”
“I insulted Catnip and she got me.”
“Did you tell her that she was grosser than Rory again?”
“Might of,” Gale said.
Delly led Gale away, “How many times do I have to tell you not to do that.”
Katniss chuckled, listening to them. Delly really was the perfect girl for Gale. She was sweet, which tempered Gale’s fieryness, but she had enough sass to keep his stubborn butt in line. As she walked toward the fire pit, Katniss noticed Peeta sitting by the fire and her entire mood changed. They made eye contact and she witnessed as by the light of the fire, his face became ruddy. Her own face was flushed with excitement.
“Hey, I heard from Delly you can sing?” Finnick said with his guitar.
Katniss smiled and felt shy.
“Oh come on, she can’t be that perfect!” Johanna complained.
“Oh she can sing, really pretty too,” Delly said from somewhere in the dark. “Right, Gale.”
“Yup, she can make the Mockingjay’s back home silent,” Gale said.
“I don’t think-” Katniss said.
“Please sing,” Peeta requested.
“You want me to sing?” Katniss asked him. She stared at him over the fire.
“Sing the Valley song,” Peeta said, staring back at her, a crooked smile on his face.
His blue eyes glowed with warmth, and Katniss nodded. She sat down as Finnick began playing the intro. As soon as she began singing, a hush descended over the camp. Slowly, as the song lifted from her lips, even the sounds of nature became quiet.
Across from her, Peeta’s eyes widened and his mouth hung open.
Katniss looked at him squarely in the eyes when she sang, “Go, build me a mansion, build it so high, so I can see my true love go by.”
Peeta stood and walked toward her, and as she sang, “So I can see my true love go by…” He kissed her in front of everyone.
Hooting and hollering could be heard, but it didn’t matter to Katniss when she kissed Peeta back.
Peeta pulled away and said, “Do I have anything to apologize for?”
“No, but you can kiss me again,” Katniss said, not caring who saw. She’d finally found the place where she belonged.
Chapter 5 Summary: It's the morning of the twins' birthday, and not only do Katniss and Peeta have to worry about their million kids, but they have to worry about squabbling Hawthorn siblings.
Rated T
The morning of the Twin's birthday was breezy and beautiful.
Katniss woke up craving coffee again. To be fair, she and Peeta didn't get much sleep. The man was a living, breathing snack who smelled of dill and cinnamon. There were times Katniss couldn't help herself.
She turned her head and saw a to-go cup filled with coffee. The scent of coffee made her mouth water. Peeta always took care of her.
After getting ready, Katniss sipped her coffee, savoring its bitter-sweet taste. Peeta always sweetened her coffee with caramel and steamed creamy milk.
Katniss padded to the twins' room. It was still pretty early, and no one had checked up on them. Peeta was in the kitchen prepping the pizza that the twins asked for, as well as prepping the barbecue that would be grilled. Haymitch was Peeta's helper. Meadow and Ryley were already awake and were going to help Finn and Annie with blowing up the balloons. The only one unaccounted for was Johanna.
Opening the door, Katniss found Johanna sitting with Hunter and Diana. She had Diana in her lap and was combing her blond curly hair.
Katniss always wanted Diana to have long hair, but Diana fussed whenever her hair needed to be combed. So it was a unanimous vote that her hair be kept short. The most Katniss could do was comb Diana's hair during bathtime.
She was surprised to find Johanna putting a bow in Diana's hair. Both twins were dressed. Diana was wearing a tutu, a sparkly top, and her beloved crocks. Hunter was wearing jeans, a button shirt, a sparkly bowtie, and sneakers.
"Sistur, is our bird-day?" Hunter said, looking up at Diana with those baby blue eyes. He held Ryley's duck plushy in his arms.
"Brothur, is our bird-day," Diana squeaked, clapping her hands delightedly.
READ REST HERE AO3 & FFN
Read the entire series here:
Meadow's Call
A Million Kids
Ryley Translator
Tooth Fairy Jail
Buttercup2
Crocks are Fun
I wanted to thank @norbertsmom, my bestie and beta, who patiently went over this chapter
Where can I find Outside Chance/the series, to read?
Here’s a link to the series. You’ll find all three stories there.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
There’s also a bunch of random pieces like alternate POV’s, future takes, etc that I’ve written and posted on tumblr. Eventually, these will make it onto ao3 as well but for now, here are most of them. They won't make much sense until you've read the majority of the main story bodies. Also... Make sure to read my notes first so you don’t read anything you don’t really wanna read.
[A] [B + Bonus Artwork!] [C] [D] [E]
[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
And Artwork! [1] [2] [3] [4]
Last but not least, an incomplete, still in progress Playlist
Eh, I wrote something. Here is part 1, and part 2 is below the cut. Inspired the same prompt list as the first part, featuring a one night stand Everlark. but they're still idiots and we're not yet to an E rating. Which means there is a part 3 in the works. :D
RATED M for references to sexual content and language.
On her way home from work, Katniss pauses in front of yet another bakery. Or maybe she’s stopped in front of it before. They’ve all started to blur together in her mind, a sweet smelling string of reminders of her biggest mistake this year. And it’s only February.
The chill breeze that’s been blowing surges into a frigid frenzy, whipping down the street. She shivers and burrows deeper into her coat. It’s a miserable winter day. The kind that threatens rain, dreary looking clouds blocking out the sunshine all day, and cold stinging droplets escaping from the sky just often enough to make the cold air unpleasant rather than crisp and refreshing the way it is before a gentle snowfall.
The problem is… Katniss can’t decide what part of that night was such a big mistake. She’s not dead or pregnant. No STD’s. They used condoms. He hasn’t started stalking her, as far as she knows. It’s not like she got drunk and slept with a complete stranger. No, she, while completely sober and supposedly of sound mind, slept with the boy she could never seem to shake. Her high school crush. And he hadn’t even had the decency to be a shitty lover. They’d had good sex. Surprisingly good sex — okay fine!
She scowls at the bakery window and then squeezes her eyes shut. Admits the truth that’s been lingering on the edges of her self-awareness, taunting her.
It was the best sex she’s ever had. No competition. Not only did she actually orgasm, but she had fun. She hadn’t felt any crushing pressure to be one kind of sexy or another with Peeta. She just… was. And she’d enjoyed it so much, she’d enjoyed being with him so much, that she’d wanted to do it again the next morning.
“Uuuugh why?” Katniss groans quietly to herself. Why did the morning after sex have to be even better than the night time sex? Softer. Almost dreamy with the rosy glow of morning sun wrapping them in warmth and radiant light, and the way he had kissed her and moaned her name -- with such awe and desire she could barely stand it. Why couldn’t it have been bad and awkward? Why did it have to feel like their bodies had been moulded together. Shaped for one another. And it certainly felt that way as they’d moved in such delicious harmony over the already hopelessly rumpled sheets of his bed.
Which means she can’t stop thinking about him. She’s never spent so much time with her own hand in her panties, biting down into her pillow and frantically working herself to a necessary but disappointing climax. Not even when she was a teenager and trying to figure out her body’s response to boys and puberty did she masturbate this much. She’s certainly never done it with a single person in mind. And now, it’s always Peeta in her head when she does it. Every. Fucking. Lonely. Night. Since she slept with him.
But it’s never enough.
Huffing out a heavy breath, she admits to herself why it’s not enough. Because she wants him again. Still. Every time she makes herself come, it’s immediately followed by the wish that Peeta were there to whisper about how gorgeous she is mid-orgasm, to hold her and kiss her during and afterwards, to make her breakfast in the morning and fuck!
Katniss shakes her head and fights back stupid tears of frustration — actually no, it’s definitely the cold wind making her cry. It was only one night. There’s no reason for her to be crying over one stupid night.
She shouldn’t have kissed him in the first place. She shouldn’t have agreed when he asked her if she wanted to go to his place for a slice of dessert they never wound up eating. She shouldn’t have fallen into bed with him. She shouldn’t have enjoyed it so much.
But she did.
She should have left after he made her come the second time in the middle of the night, his hands big and warm and tender on her hips and ass as she kissed him and rode him like a mindless wanton hussy. But god had it felt incredible, staring into his blue eyes, whimpering with need while he murmured such lovely praise to her. While he begged her to come again for him.
She shouldn’t have stayed for breakfast. She shouldn’t have kissed him like that after they’d eaten their breakfast naked in bed, laughing and talking like they were a couple or some such nonsense. She shouldn’t have begged him for his cock when his mouth was making her delirious with pleasure. She shouldn’t have watched him falling asleep after they’d both come, after they’d kissed like lovers until he went soft and pulled back just enough to smile at her and caress her cheek before he closed his eyes.
She shouldn’t have snuck out without a word while he slept. She should have left sooner.
She should have gotten his phone number at some point during the night or the morning.
And now, the past few days, she’s wandered by a different bakery every day. And for what? Hoping maybe she’ll stumble across him while he’s at work? She can’t even imagine how mortified she’d be if he did that to her. She needs to stop. She will stop, but unfortunately, it’s too late for her to stop today.
She needs carbs. Now. All afternoon she’s felt her blood sugar dropping, and she only made it worse by staying late at work. If she goes now, one drink will make her head spin.
She huffs in anger over the fact that she let Annie and Finnick rope her into this. Just because they’re stupidly in love with each other doesn’t make them some kind of all knowing matchmaker.
Eyeing the bakery, Katniss is pleased to see that unlike many of her other definitely-not-stalking-her-one night-stand bakery stops, at least this one doesn’t look like the staff vomited out pink and red hearts all over the place. It’s not as cozy as she thinks a bakery ought to be. Almost… sterile. But for now, that suits Katniss just fine.
Pushing the door open, she inhales and checks her phone, quickly tapping out a text to Finnick to let her know she’s on her way but may be a few minutes late, depending on how quickly the line moves.
They serve coffee too, and Katniss surreptitiously sips the warm brew and nibbles on the surprisingly delicious cinnamon twist bread as she leaves. She probably should have left work earlier and given herself enough time to go home and change or at least freshen up before going to meet her blind date, or at least check her appearance in the window, but Katniss can’t quite seem to care. She’s managed to put off everyone’s recent attempts to set her up on dates, a regular occurrence between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day, but when Finnick brought Prim into the mixture and her baby sister had started to apply pressure, Katniss had cracked.
“At least I won’t be alone,” she reassures herself quietly and double checks the text from Finnick to make sure she’s headed in the right direction. Annie and Finnick had wanted to do this ridiculous double date to introduce Katniss to a friend of theirs, someone both of them seemed convinced Katniss would hit it off with, in the bar where she and her friends sometimes still congregate for drinks and post work venting sessions.
“That way, it’s a low key, no pressure environment,” Annie reassured her. But Katniss had balked.
“And if the date goes so horribly that I’m left permanently scarred and never want to set foot in Ripper’s again?”
“Sheesh, Overdramatic Queen,” Finnick had teased, but he had suggested an alternate location, and so Katniss had finally agreed.
She’s still focused on her phone when she hears his voice, somewhere in front of her, and freezes in place. She’d know that voice anywhere now, even when he’s not moaning in her ear.
“I’m sure it’s not unsalvageable, Dells… We’ll come up with something, alright? …I know. Listen, I’m leaving the bakery now and I’m late, so I have to go but I’ll call you later, okay?… Okay. Love you, too.”
Love you too???
Katniss is still reeling from that declaration and so it doesn’t register that she’s completely stopped in the middle of the sidewalk to stare at him as he exits and shuts a recessed door.
She’s still scrambling to make sense of his presence here, right now, when she’s going to meet a blind date. Fate seems to be mocking her at that moment. Because he sees her as he pockets his phone. Of course he sees her. How could he not? She’s standing two feet away from him.
“You,” he says.
“Me,” Katniss answers and she’s not sure what she’s expecting, but for half a second, Peeta looks absolutely horrified.
Of course he does. One night stand. Her cheeks burn with shame and she looks away from him. At the logo stamped on the door he just exited and the words EMPLOYEES ONLY. The proximity to Peeta’s apartment, where they had their one night stand. Of course. Of course, after over a month of random bakery stops, she happens to pick the one where Peeta works on today of all days.
And she’s frozen, not from the cold, but from the absolute maelstrom of feeling inside her. So strong it takes her breath away.
It was just one night, she reminds herself as Peeta speaks and she stupidly has to ask him to repeat himself.
“So uh, what did you get?” he motions towards the bakery bag in her hand. She stares at it dumbly for a moment, repressing a sudden urge to scream at him.
That’s it? He gives her the best sex she’s ever had and all he can ask when they run into each other again is what did you get?
“Cinnamon twist,” she spits out and he nods.
“I would’ve recommended the cheese buns for you,” he says and her mouth erupts in salivation and instant fury that she hadn’t been made aware such a thing was an option. It sounds decadent. Divine.
“I’m, um, I was actually hoping to bump into you,” he says and motions awkwardly with his hand. His ungloved left hand. Katniss stares at his bare fingers and her mind wanders back to that night. To how those same fingers felt inside her. She makes a pathetic sound in her throat that she hopes Peeta doesn’t hear, because he’s still talking. “But I’m actually late meeting someone,” he says and hikes his thumb over his shoulder.
“I know. I heard,” she says. His eyes widen slightly and he nods. “You shouldn’t keep them waiting. And I’m actually late myself.”
“Right. Okay. Good seeing you, Katniss,” he says.
The banality of it infuriates her and all she can manage is a stiff nod and an even stiffer, “You too, Peeta,” before she sets off again.
But Peeta starts walking in the same direction and their shoulders bump slightly.
****
Their shoulders barely touch and Peeta’s entire body feels like it’s scalding. He knows his face is beet red as he apologizes to Katniss for the collision. She grunts and keeps walking. The same direction he’s going.
“I’m uh, going this way,” he says and points up the sidewalk. Her eyes cut sideways to him as they fall into awkward steps with each other.
“Me too.”
Shoving his hands in his pockets, Peeta wishes he’d remembered his gloves this morning, but he’d been in a bit of a rush. He’d stayed up late the night before, texting Annie and trying to wheedle her for details about this mystery girl Annie wanted to set him up with. Peeta had been in a near panic over the whole thing and Annie was having none of it.
Absolutely no details.
Why not? He’d whined over text and he could feel her eye rolling through the screen.
Because I know you, Peeta. If I tell you anything about her, you’ll show up not as you but as the weird ass version of you who makes himself into the dream guy of whoever he’s currently dating. You keep saying you want something deep and authentic, so you’re going into this one blind.
How dare you force me to be authentic.
I’m doing it for your own good.
What if she hates me?
What if she doesn’t?
The problem is, Peeta thinks as he glances over at Katniss, still silently walking next to him, he hasn’t trusted his own judgement in romance in a long time. Even before he and Katniss had what he thought was an incredibly intimate night and morning together, and not just because the sex was amazing -- but oh god the sex was so amazing that Peeta hasn’t been able to get aroused thinking of anyone but her since then -- but also because of the way they talked. Really talked to each other. Peeta felt like he’d bared his soul, entrusted her in part because she seemed to be entrusting him, only to wake up alone with no non-creepy way to contact her.
Alright, fine. So it was just a one night stand to her and he was being pathetic for hoping it would turn into more. But now… now he’s headed into a blind date and he’s still hung up on the woman walking next to him. As painful as it might be, Peeta needs some kind of closure, or this blind date will be even more of a disaster than all of his failed long term relationships have been.
“Katniss,” he starts and thinks for a moment that he hears her whisper, “Please don’t.” When he glances over, she’s not looking at him. She’s looking resolutely ahead.
“Nevermind,” he says instead and keeps walking. But this is a disaster. There’s no way he’s going to be anything but a distracted wreck for the next few hours. There’s no way he’ll manage to be an attentive date to anyone. Not now, after seeing Katniss again.
She’s moving with purposeful strides and he considers slowing down, backing off and letting her go ahead alone. It’s probably weird that he’s keeping pace with her, but he keeps hoping she’ll stop and announce that one of the businesses they’re passing by is her destination.
It doesn’t happen.
So he does the only thing he can think to do.
He lies.
“I think I forgot something at work,” he says and stops walking. It’s half relief, half agony when Katniss barely slows and turns to nod at him. Then keeps walking. He waits until she’s turned a corner at the end of the block and curses under his breath, because she turned down the street where the bar is located. Now he has to stand shivering on the street and give Katniss space or he’ll definitely look like a stalker when he follows her down that street.
He lingers for a few minutes. Long enough that he feels the need to text Annie to let her know he’ll be a few minutes late. His toes are starting to get cold and he wonders if he’s given Katniss enough of a head start to wherever she’s going. In the end, he doesn’t have much of a choice. The spitting drops of rain start to pick up. And he didn’t bring an umbrella today.
“Fuck it,” he mutters and jogs after Katniss. Thankfully, there’s no sign of her when he turns the corner. And he’s moved fast enough that he manages to duck beneath the bar’s awning before the deluge truly starts. He’s only a little soggy and winded but takes the time to shake the water droplets off his coat and hat, raking a hand through his hair and not caring if it turns his curls into a frizzy mess. He probably shouldn’t have lingered at work. The minor emergencies he stuck around to help with didn’t really need his specific attention. And now he’s showing up to a blind date in his work clothes. Probably smelling like yeast and sweat. He probably looks like a mess, but Annie said she wanted him to be authentic…
Taking a deep breath, Peeta reminds himself that he really only needs to make it through one drink, plasters a smile on his face, and enters the bar. It’s a quiet place. A little swanky. He pauses for a moment and finally spots Annie and Finnick, looking impossibly in love with each other and beautiful, as always. They’re cozied up in a booth. Peeta can’t see who is sitting opposite to them. Her back is to Peeta, and the booth is tall enough that he can’t see much of her anyway.
No one has noticed him yet, so he takes his time approaching. When he’s four feet from the booth, two things happen at once.
Finnick says something that makes the mystery girl laugh. A familiar laugh. Familiar and recent enough that Peeta nearly trips over his own feet.
No. It’s not possible, he thinks.
And Annie spots him, her face shifting into a triumphant smile, like she can’t believe she actually got him here.
“Oh Peeta, good! You made it before the downpour!”
“Barely,” he croaks, but that’s all he can manage, because he was right. Peeta stops next to the booth and meets the wide, astonished gray eyes of one Katniss Everdeen.
He wishes he knew her better. He’s always wished that he knew her better. But now… now he knows how to use his tongue and fingers to coax her into an orgasm, but he has no idea how she would want to play this bizarre scenario where their apparently mutual friends decided to set them up together on a blind date. After they’ve already had a one night stand.
She looks… terrified, and Peeta feels something awful twist in his gut. She’s disappointed. Of course, she’s disappointed, he berates himself. It’s him, after all. She got the authentic Peeta and left without a word the next morning.
“Annie, can I have a moment?” he asks, his voice sounding strained. And he knows Annie can hear it because her smile falters and slips.
“Don’t you want to at least--”
“It’s not necessary,” Peeta cuts her off and Katniss is shaking her head, almost imperceptibly. She purses her lips together and his mind scrambles for whatever message she’s silently sending to him.
“Is everything alright?” Annie asks, but she still hasn’t risen up from the booth.
“It’s fine,” Peeta tries to reassure her. “But this isn’t really a blind date.” Another panicked shake of the head from Katniss. What does she expect him to do? Lie about the fact that he already knows her? How the fuck does she think they could possibly pull off that kind of lie? He can feel annoyance creeping into his voice as he explains.
“Katniss and I have known each other since we were five.”
That sentence, the use of her first name when no one at this supposedly blind date has introduced them, lands squarely on the table and meets with shocked silence. Except for Katniss. She seems to wilt a little.
No, he realizes as she mouths the words Thank you to him… relief. She’s relieved.
“Oh,” Annie says, sounding a little put out.
And it hits him then, what Katniss expected him to say. What she was worried about him dropping on the table. Their one night stand.
“Well I had no idea you two had already met, let alone were already friends.”
“Didn’t say friends,” Peeta hears himself say.
“I mean… not close friends,” Katniss finally speaks up. “But we’ve known each other for a while. We went to school together. Had a lot of the same classes together.”
“Oh,” Annie says again, and Peeta sees his chance to escape before this gets any more awkward than it already is.
“I should go. Since we already know this won’t work out the way you want it to. Thank you for the invite though, Annie. Finnick,” Peeta says, motioning towards the table.
“Why not?” Katniss asks, the sharpness in her voice snaring his attention and yanking it back to her face.
“Why not, what?”
“Why do you think this won’t work?” she asks motioning between herself and him. He can feel Annie and Finnick’s gazes on him. On her, even. The curiosity and something else sparking in their aura’s. There’s something a little defiant and hurt in Katniss’s eyes. Hurt? How can that be? She left him alone in bed. Peeta lifts one eyebrow at her and tries to convey his thoughts.
Really? You didn’t want me to say it…
“Because if there wasn’t any spark or interest before now, why would there be after one drink today?” After the way you clawed at my back and begged me to go deeper, give you more, while we fucked. After the way you whispered your secrets over my damp pillows and played with my hair before kissing me. After the way you laughed with me over breakfast and then moaned my name like it was a fucking prayer when you fell apart in my arms.
Katniss drops her gaze, her cheeks darkening with a blush. “At least stay while it’s raining. You don’t even have an umbrella,” Katniss points out.
Peeta stands there like an idiot. Until Finnick clears his throat. “She’s right. Stay. Have a drink with friends, and…potential friend. Better than drowning out there.”
Finnick’s tone carries some hidden meaning that Peeta can’t quite grasp, but when Peeta looks over at him, he’s locked in a staring contest with Katniss. His lips quirk in seeming amusement.
Curiosity or stupidity wins out and Peeta shrugs out of his coat, hanging it on the hooks between booths, next to Katniss’s.
Annie shoots him a grin and Peeta glares at her, a promise that he’ll have a lot of stern words for her later for putting him through this, as he slides into the booth. Next to Katniss. She barely moves and he accidentally bumps his elbow into hers. And once again, his entire body feels on fire with memory.
“Sorry,” he says but despite her quick inhale, she doesn’t move. What, he wonders, is that about?
What I need to survive is not Gale's fire, kindled with rage and hatred. I have plenty of fire myself. What I need is the dandelion in the spring. The bright yellow that means rebirth instead of destruction. The promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again.
