Hi, sorry for this random ask but I just read a very sad everlark fic and have been bawling my eyes out, really need some everlark fluff but i was looking for non-established relationship everlark fluff but all i could find was married!everlark with toastbabies fluff, could you maybe help me out? Any will do, thanks!!
PROMPT #50: everlark discovering on their date that they’ve missed each other their whole lives (living in the same city, went to the same high school, going to the same halloween and nye parties, were set up before by different friends but stood each other up, shopping at the same store, etc.) [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]
AN: This ended up being substantially shorter than I was aiming for, but it was nice to get back into fic writing all the same. Thanks to the mods for holding this exchange again, and thanks to all the authors and artists who took part. Your creativity is what is keeping the world spinning right now.
(Not beta’d - all errors are my own)
This date isn’t quite as blind as Katniss was expecting
Still a little bit blind, though. She’s seen the guy before, she’s sure of that. But where? The weird furrowed brow look he’s sending her every time she dips her gaze towards her plate to pick out another choice sliver of cheese-herb-sauced chicken breast tells her he’s got the same weird deja vu thing going on, too.
She sighs and asks, “It’s not just me, is it?”
The guy — Peeta, she tells herself again, somehow not as distinctive a name as it sounds like it should be — huffs a quiet laugh and sets his fork down.
“Maybe we’ve just got those kinds of faces?”
“You might be right. But I’m not convinced.”
He smiles, a beyond-charming quirk of his lips. “No, neither am I. I think I would remember you if I’d seen you before.”
She blushes, just a little, and takes a sip of water. “Well, it’s our first date,” she points out. “Might as well do the twenty questions thing now.”
“And, what, deprive us of a perfectly good second date activity?”
“This will drive me insane if we don’t work it out right now.”
He drums his fingers along the edge of their table. “Don’t think I didn’t notice you not immediately pass up a second date.”
She runs her hands — nowhere near as damp now as they were at the beginning of the date — along the smooth satin of her skirt. “I could be tempted, I suppose.”
“Hmm. Noted.” He smiles that charming little smile again and leans forward, close enough that she can make out the hints of gold flecked like tiny bursts of sunshine in his blue eyes. “Where do you want to start?”
“Well,” she takes another bite of chicken before she says anything weird about his eyes that she might regret, “you’re obviously not from District Twelve, so —”
Peeta coughs. “Actually, I am.”
There’s a beat of odd silence where they do nothing but blink at each other.
“District Twelve,” she repeats, slower, like there’s a chance he misheard her. “As in, tiny ass coal town about two hours south of here?”
He quirks his brow. “Is there another District Twelve I should know about?”
She narrows her eyes. “Merchant or Seam?”
“Merchant, but I went to D12 Senior High. That was in the middle of Seam, right?”
“Bullshit,” she exclaims, maybe a little too loudly if the dirty looks she’s getting from the snooty old people at their neighbouring tables is anything to go by. “I’d remember if you were there. When did you graduate?”
“Uh, 2008?”
“Bullshit,” she says again, because this can’t be real, can it? “Same year as me. You weren’t there.”
He grins again. “I’m glad we can establish that neither of us remember each other from high school, so strike one for that, but I wasn’t there for all of it. Just… I don’t know, maybe the last three months of the semester? Didn’t seem all that worth going to graduation after not really having contributed anything. Then I got accepted to Capitol University, and —”
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she cuts in with a chuckle. “Capitol University. When did you start?”
“Pretty much right away.”
She leans forward, eyes narrowed. “Major?”
He mirrors her. “Double, actually, Business and Arts. You?”
“Environmental Biology. But I had a friend doing economics, so I was around the business school a lot.”
“What was their name?”
She takes the last bite of her chicken and pushes her plate away. “Madge.”
He chuckles. “Don’t tell me, Madge Kingswood, right?”
“Uh…”
“She dated my roommate for about a year.”
“You were Thom’s roommate?”
“Sure was. For a little while after we graduated, too. Last I heard, he moved to District Two. Something to do with gem mining.”
“Hang on, are you the Peter — or, Peeta, I guess — that she and Thom tried to set me up with for, what was it… a double bowling date?”
He laughs, a boundless, joyful sound that pools warm in her belly. “I’m guessing you’re Kat with the lethal aim, then?”
“The lethal aim has more to do with archery. Did you have fun that night?”
“I got stood up, if you’ll recall?” His eyes glitter in the gentle candlelight. “Did you really have food poisoning?”
She blushes again, but she’s not sure why she’s so embarrassed. “No. I just… completely hate bowling.”
“Guess a second date down at the alley is completely out of the question, then?”
“I’d probably dredge up the food poisoning excuse again if you tried it.”
“Also noted.”
They share a smile, one that almost frightens her with the length and breadth of how it speaks of their possible future.
She coughs into her closed fist and dabs at her lips with a napkin. “Well, next thing, I guess you’re gonna tell me you were at all the music nights at the campus tavern.”
“Every Friday, if I didn’t have something due that night. Why?”
“I was in a band that played there about once a month. Drummer.”
“You behind a kit would have been a sight. What was your band’s name?”
“Victors.”
He shakes his head. “Funny. My best friend married your keyboard player.”
Her jaw drops. “You’re best friends with Finnick?”
“We went to the same elementary school. Been friends for years now.”
“He’s kind of a dick.”
Peeta bursts out laughing again. “Yeah, he kind of is.”
“Spend much time around the campus gym, then?”
“I was there on a wrestling scholarship,” he tells her, and the subtle flex of his muscles beneath the deep midnight of his suit jacket catches her attention in a way it didn’t before. “I assume you did the rounds there, too, then?”
She sighs and finishes her water. “Track Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.”
“Hate to say it, but I don’t think our paths crossed there, either.”
“No, but I did go to a few wrestling meets. My roommate enjoyed them.”
He grins again. “Guys in tight spandex, huh?”
She snorts. “Don’t ask me. I barely looked up from my phone.”
“Glad my meets provided such riveting entertainment.”
“I was literally the only one not paying attention.”
“Probably a good thing I didn’t know you were there,” he muses as he takes another sip of wine. A drop clings to the edge of his lips, and the dart of his tongue to catch it is entrancing. “I might not have placed otherwise.”
She clears her throat. “We were way up in the nosebleeds, so there was probably no danger of me distracting you. This is all kind of uncanny, though. I could know you from anywhere.”
He smiles again, a rogue curl flopping forward over his eyes. “Sort of romantic, don’t you think?”
She snorts. “That we constantly missed each other over the years? Kind of sounds like the opposite of a fairy tale.”
“Oh, I don’t know. We’re here now. Maybe the universe thinks we’re inevitable or something? Soulmates destined to be brought together. Maybe that’s why we’re familiar to each other, we were together in a past life or something.”
Her answering laugh is more like a snort. “Or maybe fate took a break, and this is some sort of cosmic screw-up that slipped through the cracks and is bound to fail.”
“Katniss,” he says, the playful glint in his eyes simmering down to something more serious, and strangely earnest. He reaches across the table, just barely grazing his pinkie against hers. It’d be dumb to say a thrum of lightning coursed through her at the touch, so she’ll just keep that thought to herself.
“If I’d seen you or, more to the point, noticed you then, during any one of those times our paths could have crossed but didn’t, any one of those times we were in the same room but I looked left and you looked right… believe me, I would have let you know, and I wouldn’t have let you go.”
“Well,” she says after a long moment, just staring at his finger beside hers, “good thing we’re meeting up now, then, isn’t it?”
That same hundred-year smile passes between them, maybe not quite as scary as it was before. “Yeah, it is.”
I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE CHALLENGE BUT I'M ALSO EXCITED FOR HARVARD!PEETA I HONESTLY CAN'T SAY WHICH ONE I WANT MORE🤩👏 sorry for the caps im just so excited with all the sneak peeks you've been blessing us
Ahhh! Haha thank you so much! It was too exciting not to share a little with you guys. Hopefully I’ll have more to share soon! Harvard!Peeta will probably be posted before The Challenge. But I’ll continue to do some teasers beforehand for you guys 🤗 I’m so happy you’re excited! This made my day, haha.
Hey! I just wanted to say I really enjoyed your submission to the efe all the world's a stage. It was really good and cheered me up after such a shitty day
Prompt 11: in panem au where everlark isn’t reaped and Peeta knocks up katniss. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]
written by @albinokittens300/@mellarked-katnisseverdeen
Summary: Katniss has something to tell Peeta, and they stand by one another as they always do.
A/N- First of my two prompts! It was so beautifully vague so I added a little surprise at the end which I hope is appreciated :). Had an absolute blast writing this, honestly. And as with any AU I do have ideas and thoughts about what happens after this which, I may or may not want to explore? Either way, please enjoy!
His face freezes when she says the words, and he tries to wrap his head around what she is saying and all the implications it comes with. Katniss allows him this moment to collect his thoughts, knowing well how much she needed them a few days ago when she found out herself. After a few breaths, Peeta moves to look at her face again.
“I thought you-”
“I did too. Turns out I was wrong.” Katniss says. Resisting the urge to bite her nails out of nervous habit. “But my mother has never been wrong about this, Peeta. There’s a baby. That much I am sure of.”
A second of silence elapses between them, and Peeta speaks again, slightly nervous but also in awe. “A baby. We’re gonna have a baby.”
Katniss nods, and a lightning strike of fear, much like the ones she has been having the last few days, overcomes her. She gives in to the impulse she has since she asked him to meet her here in the meadow tonight. Without words, she moves closer and wraps her arms securely around him and lets her head be cradled in his shoulder. Peeta, for his part, doesn’t spare a second in holding her back, taking her in his arms tenderly and pressing a kiss to her forehead.
The message is clear if she had any doubts. That Peeta was going to be here beside her, though anything. And certainly planned on being by her side through this too.
For a while, they stand there. Peeta kisses her forehead and hair to comfort her. Katniss relishes the safety and comfort of his arms, and the knowledge that she isn’t as alone in this as it seemed before. The two of them stay like that till the wind blows, and they are brought to shivers when they feel the chill in it. Their time here might not be very long before they are expected back. Peeta, in particular, would be missed if he is not back to close the bakery soon. The thought, as usual, annoys her.
“Your mother knows, I’m assuming?” He asks once they both seem to gather themselves.
“Yes. She knows the baby’s yours, too. I- Peeta when she told me I was so scared I couldn’t tell her a lie. I told her everything. The whole thing upset her, but she said it was something she suspected for a while. Didn’t seem angry.” Katniss tells him. Peeta allows himself a measure of relief at the reaction.
It is enough to make him laugh. When Katniss gives him a ‘what ‘s-so-funny’ look from her place in his arms, he calms back down.
“Looks like we were as secretive as we thought, huh?” He remarks.
She makes a valiant effort not to laugh or encourage him. But a chuckle slips out of her when he says it so seriously. Mostly because as silly as he plays it off as he is fairly spot-on.
“A baby, and my mother having suspected something for months? Yea. We didn’t keep as quiet as we thought, did we?” She says through reluctant giggles.
The two of them stop laughing and this time have a more comfortable silence between them. Mrs. Everdeen was not the exact reason for keeping one another a secret, and the truth would have to come out eventually. Mrs. Mellark would throw all sorts of tantrums and spit plenty of insults. But there was almost a freedom this caused. Perhaps Peeta could truly escape out from under her mother’s thumb now.
The last few months have seemingly changed her. Since deciding Peeta’s love was worth any potential pain, she has become greedy with any time she had with him. Though the fact it was few and far between that she got to spend more than a few moments with him certainly contributed.
Peeta shifts at some point, moving a cold hand to her lower belly. Gently caressing it as well as the growing baby there. Children were not something Katniss had ever allowed herself to want. The thought of any kids of hers starving, or being reaped was enough to make her detest the idea of motherhood. But her greatest joy, before she had Peeta, was Prim. Who she was all but a mother too, anyways.
And she wouldn’t lie, since the night they had burned bread together in the cabin by the lake, Katniss had thought more than once about a little blond-haired boy with grey eyes. Or a girl who looked like her but had her father’s brilliant blue eyes.
It seems, at least some of those secret thoughts she barely allowed herself to entertain would be coming into fruition. There is a fear, unlike any other that grips her when she worries about how they will manage to feed this new little human. Or even more so how she will manage to protect them the way she had Prim if she could at all. Even with that fear, though, excitement bubbles in her when Peeta tenderly touches where their baby is tucked away. Their own baby that they made together.
Katniss wants this. She is scared, but she wants this and is glad to have Peeta happy about it as well.
“We’ll have to have another Toasting,” Peeta says. “My mother won’t accept anything else, she’ll want to be in control of everything. Even if it’s just for show.” There is a hint of irritation there. Katniss knows all too well how he feels about his witch of a mother.
“At least we can have a do-over.” She says, taking a page out of his book, being positive. “This time, you won’t be able to knock me up. Or burn my bread!” Katniss playfully accuses. Peeta lightheartedly responds by faking offense at her comment, even though he had a warm grin on his face to match hers.
Prompt 54: Katniss, for some reason, using a car’s window as a mirror not knowing there was someone inside the car because of the window being so heavily tinted. Until Peeta, the owner of the car, rolls down the window. [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]
A/N: There’s not much to add to this except it’s a one-shot piece and I hope you enjoy reading my little story.
Thank you to @javistg and @xerxia31 for all their hard work and dedication arranging this wonderful event. Thanks to my dear friend and beta @sunsetsrmydreams who is always there for me. And lastly, thank you to @sunflowerslyf for your wonderful prompt. I had a lot of fun writing this for you. I hope you like it.
~~~~~~~~~~
The sun’s rays filter through the lush, lavender canopy of the giant jacaranda tree, soaking my naked body with delicious warmth. I am so relaxed and utterly contented, the struggle to keep awake seems pointless.
I give in to this luscious feeling and curl my back deeper into the strong arms that belong to the naked body laying behind me. His warm breath across my neck and shoulders and the gentle caress of his fingers up and down my body has me tingling with desire and the feeling keeps me from drifting off to a blissful sleep.
“Does that feel good?” His sultry voice asks.
“Mmmmmm…don’t stop.”
“Okay.” He chuckles. “Just a little longer but then you need to get up; you don’t want to be late today.” He whispers softly in my ear.
“Mmmmmm…just a little longer.” I purr.
Moments seem to pass and I’m suddenly feeling a little cold. I stretch out my body and reach for his arms to warm me.
“I’m cold.” My voice, an embarrassing whimper.
He wraps one arm tightly around my waist and with his free hand, makes quick work of unravelling my braid. Gently, he begins to comb his fingers through my matted hair and I fall deeply into this new and sensual feeling, any effort to suppress a moan of pleasure is lost with each gentle stroke.
Squinting my eyes in the bright sunlight to look at his face, he moves his body over mine to deflect the blinding light. His smile takes my breath away, yet it is his eyes, as blue as the morning sky, that causes my heart to skip a beat. Looking deep into his crystal blue orbs, I see my own reflection looking back at me and I’m suddenly feeling self-conscious about my appearance.
“Ugh! I hate my hair. It must look a mess. Maybe I should just get it all cut off.”
His fingers stop mid-stroke and he looks at me with pleading eyes. “Please don’t. Your hair is perfect.”
He brings his lips to meet mine before I have a chance to disagree but there’s an annoying buzzing sound in the background that is so loud it begins to hurt my ears.
***
I immediately spring up and lunge to the side of my bed and slam my fist at the offending noise. I sweep my hair away from my face and look around, realising that I’m in my tiny flat, alone and it was just a sweet dream. Sighing heavily, I’m left feeling a little disappointed because it seemed so real.
Turning my head back to the flashing numbers on the alarm clock, I try to focus my sleepy eyes on the time. I jump out of bed when I see I needed to be awake, showered, dressed and out the door half an hour ago. I can’t believe I slept passed my alarm.
“No…no…no…no. I can’t be late. Not today!”
I repeat these words as I run to the shower removing my pyjamas along the way; I don’t even have time to wait for the water to heat up before I step in and scrub my body in the tepid water then shampoo my hair as quickly as I can. Thankful at least that I decided on what clothes I am wearing today before I went to bed last night.
Showering and drying in a matter of minutes, I dress, shove my resume, a hair comb and some lip balm hastily in my handbag then grab my car keys before running out the door. My hair is still dripping wet, but I can braid it and add a touch of make-up in the car during traffic light stops. I paid for parking online, so I just need to turn on my phones’ GPS and be on my way. Hopefully I locked the front door on my way out, but I don’t have time to go back and check. I have nothing worth stealing anyway.
Struggling to make ends meet with two part-time jobs and a university loan, this job is the answer to all my prayers. In my preparations, I made sure to research everything there is to know about Mellark Corporation. I just need to get there on time to have a chance at making a good impression during the interview.
I fumble with the keys and finally get in the car and turn on the ignition waiting for temperamental ‘old Betsy’ to start up. It takes a while for her engine to warm up and today is no different only, she won’t even click over.
“No…no…no…Not today Betsy…Please start; I promise no more E10 fuel; Just start for me!” I plead with the old rust bucket.
Still nothing and time is only wasting further away. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, I get out of the car and head for the bus stop. If I run fast, I should make the next express bus into the city.
When I get to the bus stop, the line is long, of course it is, but I’m determined to get on the first bus that arrives. Finally, a little luck comes my way and I manage to step into the ‘standing-room only’ packed bus. I’ll have to wait to fix my hair and makeup when the bus gets to the city but that shouldn’t be a problem.
There’s got to be a ladies’ restroom or something, right?
I look at my watch for the hundredth time when the bus comes to a complete halt. Looking around I can see the large office buildings, but my stop is still a few streets away. The cars, trucks and buses in front are banked up and, in the distance, I can hear sounds of sirens from emergency vehicles.
“Looks like it might be a traffic accident.” I overhear a fellow passenger say.
“Yeah, we could be here for a while…might be quicker to walk.” Another passenger replies.
I watch as several passengers ask the bus driver to open the doors allowing them to disembark and walk the rest of the way. He’s happy to comply if they watch their step getting off the bus. Taking all that I see and hear on board, I estimate how long it would take me to walk the distance and judging by my phone…it’s a brisk 30-minute walk. I just need to find somewhere to stop and fix my hair and make-up.
“Can you leave the door open please? Thank you.” I say to the driver as I step off and away from the bus.
***
“Good morning Peeta.” The sound of my secretary comes through clear on my car’s Bluetooth.
“It started off good Effie, but this traffic is a mood breaker. Have the candidates arrived yet?”
“Yes, 2 of the 3 candidates have already shown up; we have a diva who is not happy about waiting, she keeps giving me dirty looks every time she checks her Rolex. Clearly her time is precious. The other looks like he’s been out all night. His suit is terribly wrinkled, and I can literally smell beer from my desk! What do you want me to tell them?”
I press the mute button and laugh at Effie’s summarisation of the candidates waiting to be interviewed for the marketing position. When my former Chief Marketing Officer and friend Annie got married and moved across the country, her chosen replacement left an opening in the team and the job hopefuls are outside my office right now…and I’m stuck here.
“There’s not much I can do from here Effie. The Police are stopping all traffic from moving forward. It must be a bad car accident if they’re doing that. Everyone seems to be pulling over to the side so I’m just going to do the same and wait it out for a bit. I might even grab a coffee. Apologise to the candidates on my behalf and ask if we can re-schedule their interviews for this afternoon.”
Confident that Effie will handle the situation with her usual charm and poise, I hang up from our call and settle in the car to catch up on emails and maybe read copies of the resumes Effie just sent me. Waiting for my laptop to start up, I take a moment to stare out of the window and people watch, knowing that no one can see me through the heavily-tinted glass.
A lean figure of a woman walks up directly in front of my window and reaches for something from her handbag and I’m just about to wind down the window when she begins to comb her beautiful long black hair. My heartbeat quickens as I watch her braid and un-braid her hair. She seems to be arguing with herself, unable to make up her mind which looks better. Braid or no braid and in that moment, I am mesmerised.
***
I’m about 4 minutes into my walk to the Mellark Building when I spot a parked car with darkened windows. Perfect! It’s squeaky clean and I can see my refection so clearly. Looks like someone cares about their car.
I reach for the lip balm first then grab my comb and start to comb out the knots in my hair. Braiding it seems like the best solution.
“Go for the neat and tidy look.” I say to no one, looking deep into my reflection.
“No, it looks too girlish. Out…I should wear it out.” I think better of it and start to remove the hair tie.
“No…it looks too…I don’t even know what it looks like!” I huff.
“Ugh! Maybe I should just cut it all off!” I shout in frustration.
The sound of the car window sliding down leaves me frozen and I am unable to move my legs. A man stares at me with blue eyes and a smile that would light up your darkest day.
“Please don’t! Your hair is perfect.”
I gawk at him and sputter. “Uh…Thanks. I’m late for an interview and I was just trying to-”
His smile widens. “Well, if you’re late, I’m certain they are too. Why don’t you give them a call and explain the situation? I’m sure they’ll understand.”
Looking down the clogged street and footpaths hopelessly, I agree with this stranger’s sound advice. I need this job, and I’ll have no chance at all if I don’t let them know that I’ve been held up.
I grab my phone and call the secretary who surprisingly, is more than happy to move my interview to later in the day. I thank her and hang up, turning my attention back to the handsome man in the car.
“My interview has been changed to 3pm.” Relief washes over me and I can’t help the wide grin on my face.
“Great! I was just going to get some coffee.” He points to a small café down the way. “Would you like to join me?”
“Yes. Yes, I would.”
He swings open the door and throws himself out. The movement is quick and ungraceful, and I can’t quiet my chuckle.
With a hint of a blush heating his cheeks, he straightens his jacket and offers me his hand. “Peeta.”
I take his warm hand in mine. “Katniss.”
***
A year later…
“Katniss wake up.” Peeta says as he lays soft kisses on my neck.
“Noooo…Just 5 more minutes.” I moan as I cuddle closer to him.
“Okay.” He chuckles and kisses my bare shoulder before whispering softly in my ear. “Just a little longer but then we need to get up; you don’t want to be late today.”
Hey! Just wanted to wish you a happy new year! Wishing you a good 2020!! Loved your fic C'est La Vie before and now falling in love with your current work the Bet❤ That was an amazing chapter 9, can't wait to see how things will turn out
Aww, Happy New Year to you, too! :) I hope 2020 is a great year for us all, because quite honestly we all need it, haha.
Thank you so much for the kind words! So glad you’re liking the stories and hope you continue to!
Prompt 33: “Where’s my engagement ring?” [submitted by @sunflowerslyf]
“Where’s my engagement ring?” Katniss looked from her bare hand at her friend Johanna. Jo had popped into Katniss office with a coffee and they were chatting when suddenly Katniss realised her ring wasn’t on her finger. She spun on her chair and frantically started lifting things up from her desk.
“Relax” said Jo “I’m sure it’s here.” She started looking too, scouring the floor around the desk.
It wasn’t in any of the usual spots. Katniss Everdeen had a habit of taking off her ring when she was working, it annoyed her when she was typing and despite her colleagues warning that she was going to misplace it up to today she hadn’t….except that time she left it in the bathroom on the first floor and Leevy returned it two hours later or the time she left it on the kitchen window sill in Prim’s apartment, then that was the time she left it in the Mellark’s after dinner one Sunday. Old Edna, Peeta’s mum, had a field day with that “mark my words if she can leave this trinket behind so easily I dread to think what your marriage will be like” this was one of the nicer things she had said-the old bag-and she’d lot count of the times she left it sitting on the counter top at home
But recently work had been busier than usual, with more events then normal on the calendar and extra work Katniss had been running around, skipping lunch, working longer hours and she had lost some weight and more than once the ring had slipped off, she knew she should have been more careful…..
“Ok…OK.. lemme think. I’m not panicking. I am not panicking” Katniss was clearly panicking.
Jo rolled her eyes she had been through the lost ring drama more than once with Katniss. “Relax Brainless, let’s just retrace your steps and see if we can work it out”
“Ok, so this morning I had a doctor appointment – before you ask no I’m not pregnant- I remember having it then. Then I went home before I came to work. Peeta is going away to that Culinary Convention in District 2 so I wanted to see him before he went. He won’t be back until tomorrow late“
“Bluegh I get it you two lovebirds couldn’t be parted. Continue”
“Whatever Jo. Anyway I helped him pack the last of his stuff and drove him to the airport. The car! I’ll check the car. Where are you going?” Jo had thrown her coffee cup in the bin and was following Katniss.
“Eh it’s Friday, I’m bored. We’re going on a pearl hunt” Jo laughed at her joke, Katniss just looked blankly at her “The kids book by Michael Rosen? “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” Never mind” Jo shoved Katniss out the door muttering something about needing to read more.
They marched down to Katniss car and pulled it apart, by the time they were finished that had found a pair of shoes, an odd sock, a bracelet, Peeta’s old sunglasses and about $15 in loose change but no ring.
“Ok” said Jo pocketing the change “where to next?”
“Back to work, it’s only gone 3 and we’re here until 4 at least. Come on let’s go. It’s probably be at home”
“Fine. I’ll ring Gale and tell him I’ll be late this evening and I’ll help you look at home. We’ll find it” for all her sharp edges and rough ways Johanna Mason would move heaven and earth to help her loved ones “Plus it’ll give me break for the hellcats for a bit longer ” she cackled as she walked away.
She shook her head and tried to concentrate on work but she couldn’t. She rang the doctors to see if maybe it was there but they had nothing. She needed to find her ring. She thought back to the day Peeta had proposed and then the saga that was finding her the perfect ring……
18 months ago
“So is that a yes?” Peeta Mellark was standing in the middle of his and Katniss kitchen in their newly purchased house-he would have been kneeling but the prosthetic he wore made it difficult.
They had just bought their first home together and were unpacking. Katniss found the toaster and has thrown some bread in to make toast. This moving lark was hard work and she was starving a couple of slices of toast, with real butter and marmalade was just what she needed. She turned to ask Peeta what he wanted when she saw him standing there with a half afraid look on his face, a big question on his lips and a small box in his hands.
The first thing Katniss did was drop the bread she was holding, the second thing she screamed yes and the third thing….well I leave that to your imagination.
Afterwards as they lay on the sofa, relaxed and blissfully happy Peeta suddenly remembered he had forgotten to give her the ring. He hopped up and walked naked through to the kitchen following the trail of their discarded clothes and grabbed the ring box .
“Not a great start to my new role of fiancé I forgot to give you this. Now it just a plain silver band until we can find “the one” He sat back down beside her “I looked and I couldn’t find anything that really fit for you. You don’t wear jewellery so I want to make sure that your engagement isn’t too big, top showy. I looked at diamonds, I looked at emeralds and then there were the different metals and settings it was far more difficult than I thought. I hope you don’t mind?”
“No Peeta how could I mind! I’m happy with this” she looked at the silver band now sitting proudly on the third finger of her left hand. Now let’s go order some Chinese food and crack open the champagne Prim gave us for moving in here and celebrate our engagement.”
And so Katniss and Peeta announced their engagement. Friends and family were delighted. Mrs Mellark couldn’t understand why Katniss didn’t have a diamond. She actually asked Peeta could he afford a ring. Katniss wanted to smack the old hag but she resisted the urge. Peeta simply smiled and told his mother that yes he could afford a ring but he and Katniss were going to choose the perfect ring together. She still didn’t understand and was heard muttering that she would never understand these hippie kids and what was wrong with tradition.
So they started looking for a ring. Peeta was right finding the perfect Katniss ring was not easy. Pushy sales assistants didn’t help matters insisting all the girls LOVED a diamond, and while Katniss did think they were pretty they weren’t her. After two months Katniss was fed up and so when it came time to visit Katniss mom in District 4 she was glad to take a break.
They flew to District 4 where Mrs Everdeen lived and worked. She moved there some time ago to take up a position in the local maternity hospital. Since she couldn’t travel to 12 when Katniss and Peeta gotten engaged she invited them out and paid their airfare as an engagement gift. They jumped at the chance, between buying the house and the usual stress and strains of life it was a while since they had been away. They had a lovely few days and on Saturday morning Katniss was sitting with her mother having breakfast Peeta was having a rare lie in. They were talking about this and that, Katniss was regaling her mother with some of the ring shopping stories.
“Before you say anything mother, it’ not because I’m fussy. I just have specific requirements….ok I’m a bit fussy “ she grinned as she said this
“Morning Everdeens” Peeta was up, he leaned in to give Katniss a kiss on the cheek “I keep telling you Katniss you are allowed to be cautious and you want to be sure of your choice, this will be on your finger for life unless you trade me in for a newer model someday” he said this with a smile.
“Never!” responded Katniss
Mrs Everdeen smiled at the two of them “How about when you guys are ready we head down to the market and have a look around, there are a few jewellers and goldsmiths down by the Marina. We can grab lunch as well, what do you think?”
“Sounds great Mrs E”
It was a lovely day, they were in no hurry so they took in the sights, walked along the beach. Peeta bought some seaweed salt convinced he could make use of it in the bakery back home.
They found Cresta and Odair Goldsmiths and Fine Jewellery and decided to have a look. The pieces on display were all inspired by nature and had simplicity to them that Katniss was quite taken with. Annie Cresta and her husband Finnick ODair were in the shop Annie was dealing with customer while Finnick was working on something. Katniss looked at several of the designs and when Annie finished with the other customer so came over and introduced herself and they got chatting Peeta and Katniss explaining they were looking for an engagement ring, and the difficulty they were having finding one that really spoke to them. Annie showed them a further selection of rings and there was no denying they were beautiful but not quite right. At this point Finnick had come out and was chatting to them when Katniss caught sight of a bracelet he had on “Excuse me? What’s that symbol?” Katniss asked as she pointed at his arm
“This is a Claddagh it’s a traditional Irish symbol it represents love, loyalty and friendship. The heart is the love, the hands friendship and the crown represents loyalty. Do you like it? It is more traditionally seen in a ring here I’ll show you?” Annie passed Finnick a design book with pictures of rings designed and crafted by Finnick.
Peeta and Katniss looked through and Katniss knew this could be the one for her “Yes but I would like it more contemporary, flatter… am I making sense?”
“Of course! And if you’re not it’s our job to bring your dream to reality. If we go with a wishbone style, which is easy enough to fashion from the shape we can make a wedding band to sit perfectly with the engagement ring Let’s get to work” said Finnick
And they did. Finnick helped to bring Katniss vision to reality. Peeta had noticed that some of the pieces in the shop had Mother of Pearl inlaid so he asked Finnick if it would possible to use that in the ring as the heart. Finnick said that shouldn’t be a problem. Peeta liked the idea of part of 4 being in the ring.
So when Katniss and Peeta left District 4, the making of the ring was underway and they would have it in a few months.
And now she had lost it. This was awful. She wondered how Peeta would react when she told him. This was Peeta she knew he would be ok and I mean they had insurance. It wouldn’t be the same but that was ok except it wasn’t she had to find that ring.
She picked up her phone and called Jo “Jo meet me at the car in 10 minutes. We have a ring to find”
As Katniss left her office and headed to the reception to wait for Jo.
“Hey Katniss, heading out early?” asked Keith one of security guards at her office.
“Yeah. Keith I don’t suppose anyone handed in a ring today? I’ve lost mine” she described it but Keith said there was nothing left with him. He said he would send an email round to all the building and he would let the cleaning crew know to be on the lookout.
“Thanks I’d appreciate that. I’ll leave my mobile number you can call me if anything turns up”
“Right! Let’s get going” shouted Jo “I’ll follow you in my car. Oooo I’m starving can we order food when we get to yours? Bye Keith, see you Monday”
Once they got to the house Jo got Katniss to retrace her steps and they walked through the house but turned up nothing.
“Wait! Peeta would have emptied the bins before leaving….oh god I’m going to have to go through the rubbish” Katniss wailed
“Well we won’t be doing that tonight. Let’s get the gang together and pull this place apart tomorrow we’ll find it before Peeta gets back. Now I’m heading home I’ll be here with Gale and the kids tomorrow about 10? Oscar and Emily will be delighted to help in the search plus their tiny child hands can get into places we can’t. We’ll get Madge, Delly and Darius round too”
After Jo left Peeta called Katniss. Peeta was in his element at the conference talking a mile a minute about meeting news suppliers, learning new techniques and making new contacts. He was going to meet his brother who lived in District 2 for dinner this evening then tomorrow there were a number of workshops he was attending. Katniss smiled as Peeta prattled on about this and that.
“Enough about me, how was your day?”
“Good, nothing unusual. I finalised at the details for the training event next month so the pressure is off for a few days at least. What time are you back tomorrow?”
“My flight is back in lands at 7 I thought we could go to Sae’s and grab dinner when I get in?”
“We could or we could just stay in……..I mean you’ve have been away and well Peeta a woman has needs……” she whispered seductively
“Check the freezer” laughed Peeta “you didn’t think I’d leave you without a supply of cheese buns did you”
“And that is why you are the perfect man for me Peeta Mellark, but I still think we should stay in”
“Ok well love you. I got to go meet Lincoln. I talk you tomorrow”
“Bye Peeta, love you”.
True to her word Jo arrived with the troops the next morning. Katniss has coffee and pancakes ready. Jo being Jo called everyone to order “Listen up people! We have a situation on our hands. We are here to help Katniss find her engagement ring which she has lost. Again. Now we are going to pull this house apart. Every piece of furniture, every drain, every bin –no stone left unturned. Right Kantiss and I will take the upstairs, kids you come with us. Gale and Darius you are an on rubbish sorting, garden and car. We looked at the car already but going over it again is probably a good idea. Madge and Delly hit up the kitchen, living room, dining room. We’ll find this bad boy!”
Gale laughed at his wife “Honey we really need to get you a hobby, but for now Darius let’s get ready to play in the bins”
Delly asked Katniss if she had sat on any particular sofa or chair yesterday “No I don’t think so why?”
“Well I started an upholstery class last month and I could easily remove and replace the base of the sofa if you needed to look in there.”
Katniss was slightly horrified but desperate “Do whatever you’ve got to do Delly”
She ran upstairs to where Johanna was she had all the shoes and handbags Katniss owned out on the floor and Oscar and Emily where shaking t hem then flinging them over their shoulders when nothing fell out. Jo meanwhile was stripping the bed and shaking pillows. She pointed and Katniss “You can check your beside tables….you don’t want me finding out what’s in your goodie drawer”
Oscar was instantly alert to the words “Goodie drawer” “Aunty Katniss do you keep a drawer of sweets and chocolate in your bedroom…..that is so cool. Can I have something?”
“No Oscar don’t mind your mom she said…erm hoodie drawer….it’s where Uncle Peeta keeps his hoodies. Oooo look what’s that?” Once Oscar was distracted Katniss threw a sock at Johanna.
The search of the house turned up no ring.
The search of the bins turned up no ring.
The drains held nothing except hair….causing Gale to comment that Katniss shed more hair then his dog.
The garden had nothing either. Darius suggested he get his metal detector but as she hadn’t actually spent any time in the garden it wasn’t necessary.
And Delly wasn’t very good an upholstery, Katniss was glad no one could see the bottom of her sofa.
“It’s actually gone” Katniss slumped onto the nearest chair and a lone tear fell from her eye, before she knew it she had started to cry. Oscar and Emily were watching TV and Katniss was grateful, she didn’t want to scare the kids with her crying. Her friends all rushed to her and hugged her until she finally stopped.
When she had calmed herself a bit she accepted the cup of tea Madge had made for her and everyone sat around the table.
“Have we missed anywhere Kat?” asked Darius “Let’s go back over your movements yesterday again. From the time you got up until the time you noticed the ring was gone”
“What’s the point?” sighed Katniss
“Look” said Madge “I know we’ve already been through it but let’s start from the top and work our way through your day. We might have missed something. We have time and we are not quitters!” Nods from around the table made Katniss smile and she knew they were right.
“Ok let’s get lunch and then “Operation we’re going on a pearl hunt” can officially begin” said Jo, Gale laughed and from the living room Oscar and Emily started singing and song about a bear, Delly, Madge, Gale and Darius joined the kids singing….Katniss was just lost.
“C’mon” laughed Delly “I’ll help you make lunch”
An hour later and everyone was fed and ready to go. They did one final sweep of the house Katniss led them through the house stopping everywhere she had been and then back down to the front door.
“Ok. So next thing I did was get in the car and drive to town. We’ve pulled the car apart twice so I’m satisfied it’s not there. I went to the doctor’s office, popped into Mellark’s for a coffee and from there I headed to the chemist and picked up some stuff and finally headed to work. Don’t look at me like that Joanne….ok I skived a bit but I think I’ve earned it. I’ve been working my ass off and my fingers to the bone hence the reason I lost my ring” Katniss joked.
“Right so do you wanna drive into town?” asked Gale
The day itself was dry and not too warm, walking to town didn’t take too long but with the two kiddos it might take a bit longer but it was nice spending time with her friends, even if they were spending it looking for her engagement ring “If everyone is up for it, how about we walk? Jo will the kids be okay with that?”
“Sure and we have enough adults here that can carry them if their little legs get tired….and Gale brought the buggy. We have wheels and we are ready to roll. So let’s go. Everyone ready? Oscar and Emily are you ready to lead us?”
“Yyyyeeeeess” came the excited shouts
“Ok guys why don’t you start singing our song?” grinned Gale
And they set off to the kids screeching “We’re going on a pearl hunt, we’re gonna catch a big one” and the adults laughing and Katniss joining in singing the song.
Thirty minutes later the troop arrived at the doctor’s office and entered in a line with Oscar and Emily leading the way followed by Katniss, Jo, Delly, Madge, Darius and then Gale.
“Oh my!” said the receptionist Effie Trinket “what have we here?”
“Hey Effie, I know I rang last night and there was no sign of my ring but I was kinda hoping that it may have turned up? Maybe one of your cleaning crew found it?” asked Katniss
“Oh dear Katniss I’m afraid not. Are you all looking for the ring? “she asked as she surveyed the group in front of her.
“We sure are” replied Darius “we’re like a modern day Fellowship of the Ring….or something”
“Well in that case good luck in your quest brave sirs and madams” Effie smiled and then indicated to the bucket of stickers and lollypops she kept at her desk Jo nodded and Effie handed Oscar and Emily one of each. The kids were delighted and popped their treasures into their backpacks.
“Effie, do you think maybe us adults could get a lollypop too?” asked Madge
Effie laughed and handed them each a lollypop.
“Right! Kiddos are you ready. Time to get singing again” The gang left a confused looking Effie and marched onto Birdsong Street and headed towards Mellark’s with everyone of then singing loudly “We’re going in a pearl hunt, we’re gonna catch a big one”
Mr Mellark stood at the counter and could hear the singing long before the Katniss and her gang of singers came into sight. He laughed as they entered, Emily and Oscar headed straight to the display case that held the cupcakes and cookies.
“Hey Mr M” Katniss smiled “I don’t suppose……the thing is….whew this is hard”
“Katniss? You’re beginning to worry me, what is it dear?”
“I lost my engagement ring, I was hoping I had dropped it here” she whispered to him
“Oh my dear, no nothing and I cleaned the shop myself and no one handed it in. Is this a ring search party” he nodded to the assembled group around the shop.
“Yep” and she relayed the story of the last 24 hours to him.
“It will turn up I’m sure of it” he patted her hand before turning his attention to the adults and children in the shop and spoke to them “Well I think that when a person undertakes a task such of this they require sustenance and who better than a baker to provide this! I have some cheese buns and quiche that I can box up and I think perhaps your little helpers might be allowed a cookie…” this time Gale nodded a yes and smiled. Mr Mellark packaged everything up and once more the headed out with the kids leading the way and singing loudly.
Katniss stopped outside the chemist. This was her last chance, Jo stopped beside her and gave her hand a squeeze “C’mon I have a good feeling about this. Ok kids one last time we’re going on a pearl hunt…”
Katniss headed straight up to the counter and when she spoke to the assistant she had all but given up hope that she would find her ring when she heard the manager Sae call to her “Katniss! We found a ring…well Rue found it. Rue works here part time and she was stocking some shelves and she found a ring, very unusual design it was too. Wait just a second while I grab the lost and found box”
From behind her Katniss heard Delly squeal, the kids asking Gale what lost and found was and were they getting something since everyone else had given them a treat. Gale hushed them but Katniss smiled.
“Here we go” she put a box on the counter and everyone peered into it, Gale and Darius had picked Oscar and Emily up so they didn’t miss a thing.
Katniss’ heart sank they was a ring but it was a silver with what looked like and emerald, beautiful but not hers “No Sae, that’s not mine” Sae glanced into the box “Oh no wait, wait , wait that’s not the ring I meant” She flew off back to the office and returned with and envelope “Here” she said and Jo reached out and took it and passed it to Katniss……
“OH MY GOD!” she shrieked “it’s my ring! It’s my ring” Everyone cheered, then laughed and cheered some more and just at that moment Katniss mobile phone rang. It was Peeta.
“Shhhhh its Peeta ”she hissed at everyone “Hey honey, everything ok?”
“Hey, yeah just have a few minutes before my next demo so I thought I’d ring and say hello. Up to anything interesting?”
“Me? No, no not doing anything exciting” as she said that Emily piped up “But Auntie Katniss tell Peeta we’re going on a pearl hunt”
“Hey Katniss is that Emily? Are you hanging with Jo and the kids,and you’re on a bear hunt? I love that story”
“Am I really the only one who doesn’t know that story?” she asked Peeta
“Ah ask the kids for if you can have lend of their book, you’ll soon get up to speed. Look I’ve got to go sweetheart I’ll see you later”
Katniss slipped the ring back on her finger where is belonged. It was a bit loose but before she could say anything Sae handed her a packet of plastic tubes(at least that’s what it looked like)“Until you get that beautiful ring resized use these “Ring Snugs” it will help keep your ring on”
Katniss pulled out her phone and text Mr Mellark to let him know they had found the ring.
Everyone headed back onto the street. Katniss felt herself welling up again as she looked around at her friends “Thank you all, I really thought I’d lost it. You gave up your Saturday to wade through garbage, pulled sofas apart, and pulled my house apart and you Jo you especially kept me going. I can never thank you guys enough. But to start with how about we all head back to mine, I’ll order dinner and we can relax. Emily and Oscar would you like to pick a movie to watch?”
A chorus of yes please filled the air and they set off back towards Katniss and Peeta’s house all singing “We’re going on pearl hunt”
After everyone had headed home that evening Katniss waited for Peeta. She had debated whether or not to tell Peeta what had happened but as Jo pointed out they had been seen by half the town singing and word would spread.
When Peeta finally arrived home Katniss was waiting with a cold beer and a tall tale for him…. and Peeta had bought her a copy of “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt”
So I hope I did this some justice for you @sunflowerslyf. This is partly based on something that happened to me only I lost my wedding ring and never found it…..and trying to find a replacement has been way harder then you would think: )
A quick google will throw up the details of the book and song “We’re going on a Bear Hunt” but be warned you may end up with it stuck in your head if you don’t already know it :)
