AN: So, this is unexpected. You've read correctly, this is in fact an Everlark story. Never fear, I'm still working on In Five Years Time, which will be a shorter fic by the end. I re-read Mockingjay last night and it just motivated me to write this. Be gentle with me, I've never written these two before. Enjoy.

It had only been a month. One month since Peeta had returned to District 12. If he really was Peeta anymore. Though Katniss had admitted she loved him, and they now lived in the same house, there was still an odd tension between them. They'd only began sleeping in the same bed a week ago, after Peeta had finally convinced Katniss that the sofa would wear her back out soon enough. Apart from that, they acted as if they were close friends and nothing more. Anything more that friendship was too much for Katniss at the time. After losing Prim, she couldn't bear to lose Peeta, thus meaning she couldn't risk moving too fast. She didn't want to trigger any memories by showing him affection. So she didn't, until she had the nightmare.

It started out like most of her usual nightmares, seeing Prim, Finnick and all the people she'd lost screaming at her. "It was your fault!", they'd yell in anguish. But that night, it was Peeta who screamed at her in her dreams. He threw things at her, and began choking her, his angry expression vivid in her mind.

"Peeta, please! Not real! NOT REAL!" she'd scream, to no use. It felt so real, so raw, that she could almost feel the air trapped in her lungs. "I love you..."
Then, she woke up.

"Katniss, it's okay... Ssh, Katniss, I'm here, it's me, it's Peeta." he cradled her in his arms. Katniss continued to scream.
"NO! NO! MY... FAULT!" she said, shaking and shivering.
"Nothing is your fault, Katniss, it was just a dream."
"YOU HATE ME!" she yelled. "YOU DON'T LOVE ME!"

Usually, Katniss would calm down pretty soon after waking up, but Peeta's usual comfort wasn't having an effect at all in that moment.
"Hey, I don't hate you, Katniss, I could never hate you." he whispered.
"You'll never love me!" She tried to pull away.
He silenced her mouth with his. Katniss was still for a while, clearly in shock. He placed a hand on the crook of her neck to deepen the kiss, and she felt herself calm down. Slowly, after feeling her relax, he pulled away.

"Don't you ever say that again, you hear me?" he said. "I know I haven't quite been me recently, after everything in the Capitol. But I do love you. Don't ever forget that." He pulled her into an embrace, wrapping his strong arms around her. She rested her head on his shoulder, and he could hear her softly weeping.
"I..." she began. The words she desperately wanted to say were suddenly caught in her throat. She forced them out. "I-I love you too, Peeta."
"I know, Katniss. I know."

Peeta wouldn't sleep that night. He stayed up, just watching her as she slept, the rise and fall of her breathing creating a rhythm he found soothing. She was so beautiful, even more so with her scars. Peeta stared at the girl he'd adored since he was five with so much love in his eyes. Suddenly, she turned to face him.
"Are you... staring at me?" she half-smiled.
"Just making sure you're okay." he said, lightly stroking her arm.
"I am now. Thank you, Peeta."
"For what?"
"For being here. For protecting me. For making me feel less broken."
"You'd do the same for me, Katniss. You already have. " He placed an innocent kiss on her forehead.

They lay there for a while, just soaking each other in. There was some light creeping through the curtains, as if highlighting Peeta's face as she looked at it. He was simply gorgeous. She was aware that most of the girls in Panem would die to be in the same bed as Peeta Mellark, and was grateful to be enveloped in his loving arms. As she was lazily tracing patterns up and down his biceps, Peeta spoke.

"Uh, sorry to ruin the moment but... What happens now?" he chuckled lightly.
"Well, that depends. What do you want to happen?" she said, staring into his eyes.
"I'd like for us to be together." he stated confidently.
"Together, as in... a couple?" Her eyes lit up a little at the thought.
"Yeah, if that's okay with you, I mean. You don't have to, it's fine, I mean-"

He was interrupted by Katniss's soft laugh. "Peeta, we already live together, we've already said 'I love you', it's hardly a big jump for us to become a couple. Of course I want to."
"Good." he grinned.

-P&K-

Katniss hadn't realized that she'd fallen asleep, but she must have. She could still feel Peeta's arm draped around her middle, for which she was glad. She could also feel his sweet, warm breath on the back of her neck. Peeta was her boyfriend now. It felt strange to think about, even after everything they'd been through.

Judging from the position of the sun, it was about nine in the morning. Maybe she would hunt today. She'd felt as if Peeta had given her the strength to leave the house and do something productive. Peeta would bake. Katniss would hunt. She liked the idea that they would both provide food for each other.

Peeta stirred beside her, a small groan escaping his lips. He pressed his body closer to hers. Katniss's eyes widened as she realized what she could feel on the small of her back. Oh, God. Yes, they were together now, but the idea of that kind of intimacy still made Katniss cringe. Slowly, she tried to break free from his embrace. He woke up with a start, no longer feeling the heat of her body against his.

"Katniss?" he breathed.
"Hey, it's okay, I'm here. I was just thinking about going to make breakfast, that's all. That's all." She sat up in bed, wondering if he'd realized the... awkward situation he had.
"Oh, okay. I thought..." he trailed off midsentence, having clearly noticed his predicament. "Ah. Sorry."
"Peeta, honestly, it's fine. It's me." she attempted a smile.

Though it had been awkward, there was something about the way he blushed that was unbelievably sweet. She leaned over to place a kiss on his lips. Just as things could've gotten heated, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it." said Peeta quickly.

It was Haymitch. Typically, he walked straight past Peeta and up the stairs. Peeta could smell the alcohol on his breath as he wandered past him.
"Is privacy not a concept you understand?" yelled Peeta, following him.
"Relax, I just need to freshen up before I..." he stopped as he passed the doorway of the bedroom, where Katniss still lay in bed. "Well, what exactly do we have here, baker boy?" he chuckled. "You two all shacked up now?"
Katniss groaned. "Not that it's any of your drunken business, but yes, I'm living here now."
Haymitch turned to Peeta. "Good job, Mellark." he winked.
You're disgusting." Katniss remarked, before closing the door on him.

"So, Peeta, how have things been?" asked Haymitch as if nothing had happened.
Peeta simply rolled his eyes. "Uh, not too bad, I guess. I mean, the flashbacks aren't as frequent anymore..."
"But you're still havin' them?"
"Uh, yeah."
"And what does missy think about these little episodes of yours?"
Peeta paused.
"She doesn't. Katniss hasn't been around to see one yet."
"Oh, that poor girl don't know what she's gotten herself into." he smirked.

Was he right? Peeta wondered. Would being in the same house as Katniss endanger her? Peeta knew he'd never ever hurt her, but hijacked Peeta? He wasn't so sure. Anything could trigger an episode when Katniss was around. Peeta soon realized he had some thinking to do.

AN: Please review, favorite and follow!