This is just a quick one shot of what I thought about the morning after the "Real or Not Real" moment. I hope that you all enjoy it! : )

Disclaimer: As always, I own nothing.

The Following Morning

So after, when he whispers, "You love me, real or not real."

I tell him, "Real."

Peeta smiles at me and silently wraps me into his arms. We lie there with limbs entangled so much that we don't know where one of us ends and the other begins. There are no words, but only soft kisses as we both drift off into dreamless peaceful sleep.

The sun hits my eyes and they open suddenly from the sudden blast. My vision adjusts and after a moment I finally take in my surroundings. I am lying in my bed literally wrapped around Peeta. Two facts about us immediately come to mind. One, I am wearing practically no clothing, and two, neither is he. I turn beet red at this realization, and then an even more important piece of information hits me. We made love last night.

It hadn't been planned, but had just…happened. Is that the way it's supposed to be your first time? I mean, we had been growing closer over the past weeks and months after he had returned to District 12. We were sleeping together again to ward off the nightmares, and a month or so ago had begun kissing. But, I didn't think we had been anywhere close to doing what we did. We haven't even discussed that aspect of our relationship.

It had all just come about so naturally. We were kissing as we always did, and it intensified until I felt the hunger that I had on the beach. I realized that I needed Peeta, that I loved him, wanted him. As it did then, the hunger began to consume me, and I guess it did Peeta too, because eventually I found him on top of me. We both became so lost in each other that the next step just seemed the right thing to do. So, with my permission, we became one.

The memories of the night before are still fresh, as I notice that a pair of eyes looking straight into mine. Peeta was awake. I should have known he would be, as he keeps early hours being a baker. He gives a small smile, and brushes a strand of my hair away.

"Good morning," he says softly.

"Good morning," I reply. "How are you?"

"Great. I woke up with you in my arms. Best way to start the morning." He must have seen the hesitant look in my eyes because he becomes concerned and immediately asks. "Are you having regrets about what happened?"

I have to think about my words carefully here. How do I let him know what I am feeling without making him think that last night was wrong. I don't regret making love with him. It was wonderful. I'm just waking up wondering, though, what this means for us. How will this change us and our relationship as it has been? What does Peeta expect now?

"No, Peeta." I say firmly. "I don't regret what happened last night. I meant what I said."

"OK," he lets out a breath of relief. "I saw that look of fear in your eyes and thought that you might have decided it had been a mistake after all."

I touch his cheek. "No, it wasn't a mistake. I was actually thinking it was such a natural thing to have happened. I just woke up with the feeling that everything has changed now between us."

He raises his eyebrows quizzically, "What makes you think that anything has changed just because we made love and I know that you love me now?"

"Because it means whatever is between us is truly real." I say. The next part is harder to get out. "And that scares me."

"Why does us being real scare you?" Peeta is curious, but concerned at what I might say.

"Beacause it means I am giving you my heart. I love you so much and I don't want to lose you now. I don't think I could take losing anyone else."

Peeta puts his fingers under my chin to tilt it up and look at him. "Katniss, I'm not going anywhere. I made a promise to stay with you always and I intend to keep it."

"You'll get tired of my moods eventually." I state.

He gives a chuckle. "I think I've gotten used to them by now enough to handle them. Besides, I'm no walk in the park myself. You have to deal with my flashbacks, you know. You have always stayed with me, brought me back. You look out for me, and I look out for you. It's what we do."

I know he's right, but I decide to bring forth something else on my mind. "We're you….satisfied last night?"

Peeta's face turns serious at this. "Katniss, I've been in love with you since I was five years old and basically waiting for last night most of my life. It wasn't going to take much, so yes, I was very satisfied. Were you?"

I thought about this for a moment. I retraced my memories of the previous night and how it all felt. I remembered the pain that occurred followed by immense pleasure. I smiled. "Yes, I was, very much so."

Peeta looks relieved at this. "I'm glad. I know I had to hurt you."

"It's okay," I reassure him. "The pain was only there for a minute, and then it felt really good." I stopped for a breath, and then continued. "I was just worried about what your expectations would be and I obviously have no experience at this."

"I had no expectations, Katniss." He replies. "Seriously, I was so happy to just be with you in that way that I felt every bit of pleasure that I wanted. It's not like I have much experience at this either. Look, like everything about us, we can take this slow. Learn about each other and figure it out together. Okay?"

It was like all the built up fear just melted away with his words. How could I deserve someone so understanding and loving all at the same time? I couldn't put words to how I felt. So, I just leaned over and kissed him with all that was inside me. We stayed like that for a while, soaking in the moment.

"Can I ask you a question now?" Peeta finally says.

"Okay. Shoot." I reply feeling emboldened.

"What made you finally decide on me?" he asks quietly.

Again, I have to decide on my words first. He is so much better at this than I am. The truth, I know, is always best. "Do you remember the conversation you had with Gale in Tigress' basement?"

Peeta thinks for a moment, and then looks back at me. "Yes, I do. You heard that? We thought you were asleep."

"I wasn't," I admitted. "I heard what you both said about me."

"Okay," he said, still a little confused. "So, what exactly does that have to do with last night?'

"Gale was right. I ended up choosing the one I couldn't survive without." At these words, I could see Peeta's eyes soften and almost start to glisten, so I continue. "Gale is just like me, full of fire. What I need is you, the hope you give me that things can be better. I realized this last night, and that's why I could tell you finally that what I feel is real. That I love you."

He takes my face and kisses me again. "I love you, too. So very much."

The kissing continues until, eventually, I decide to speak again. "So now that we have settled that, what do we do now?"

"We do as we always have." Peeta explains. "You'll hunt, I'll bake, and we'll continue to live our lives to honor those who we have lost, by loving each other." He stops, thinking, but goes on. "To start, though, how about we go down and get some breakfast? I'll make cheese buns."

I smile, picking up a blanket and wrapping it around me. "Bet you can't beat me down there!" I race out of the room. I hear Peeta yelling and chasing after me down the stairs as we begin just another day together.

Hope you liked it! This will be just a one shot. Nothing more planned. Please, please, please review and let me know what you think! : )