"Paradise is always where love dwells."
-Jean Paul Richer
"Peeta, why do you love me?" I ask, gazing up at my husband from my spot beside him on the couch.
His clear cobalt eyes widen slightly in surprise at my question. For a moment, I'm afraid he's going to be mad, but when he answers, his voice is soft and sweeter than honey. "Because you're you, Katniss." Seeing my unsatisfied expression, he continues. "First off, you're beautiful. I mean, I know you don't think so, but Katniss, you have a distorted view of yourself."
The corners of my lips twitch into a small smile, but I won't let him stop there. "Why else? That can't be the only reason."
"You're dauntless and defiant, too. When I think back on all those rough days in the arena, I notice that you're the one who stayed strong through everything." I raise my eyebrows, blinking in surprise. I'm the strong one?
"But Peeta, I spent months in the hospital, then more months sitting alone in my house!" I exclaim. "I-I'm not strong like you."
Peeta shoots me a smile that's so euphonic and passionate that my heart nearly melts. He's the only one that can do that to me, and it startles me every time. I scoot closer to him and lay my head on his shoulder. Peeta's soothing presence is paradise.
"Don't you remember how you nursed me back to health in the cave?" I nod slowly. He has a point… "And I know you haven't forgotten how you spat in Clove's face when she was trying to kill you." I nod again, hating how right he is. "And you dropped that tracker jacker nest on the Careers."
I avert my eyes from his, knowing I've lost this battle. "Alright, no more. What else?"
Grinning victoriously – but not rudely or boastfully – he moves on, naming everything that comes to mind. "You don't care what anyone else thinks of you. You led the war. You're compassionate and responsible. You're a hunter and a fighter. You never cry. You never give up." Then he starts naming specific times I've impressed him, each one making me want to shut my eyes and run out of the room crying. "You buried Rue in flowers and killed Cato out of pity. You sacrificed yourself for me in the third Quarter Quell. You visited that hospital during the war. You-"
"Wow, Peeta," I interrupt, unable to listen any longer. "Anything else?" I ask sarcastically.
"Actually, yes." I open my mouth to argue, to tell him I wasn't serious. But he cuts me up, and what he says next startles me a bit.
"I love you because you love me."
Awrighty(: Happy Valentine's Day! I wrote this short little Peeta/Katniss one-shot for this very special day (on which I am gladly and willingly single, and happy to be writing about such a great pair). I thought it would be nice to write something warm and sweet that doesn't involve death. You know, it's actually a little hard for me to do that, so you should really be thanking me ;)! Anyway thooo, I hope you likeed ittt(: It's not my best, but at lest it's not dark and depressing. Again, happy Valentine's day, loves!