A/N: This is an AU fan fiction where Peeta was never reaped and Katniss went on to win the games and how their relationship blossomed from there. It is all from Peeta's point of view because I just love his character. The first chapter is just to introduce you to the story really but after that I plan for it to be really sweet and romantic. Please review and tell me what you think, I would love to hear if you have an idea for where I could take this story. I don't write very quickly so don't expect updates straight away but I will do my best. I hope that you like it!
Peeta's POV
I'm watching the screen in the middle of the square along with all of the other residents of District 12. It's always hard for our district because we are a community and everyone here knows everyone. It's always hard when no one comes back and the constant reminder of the losses is on the faces of the families and friends. No one in 12 likes watching the games.
It's tense around the square as everyone watches the mutts surround the cornucopia and however it's going to end isn't going to be a pretty sight. I look away from the screen, I can't watch. How could I when the love of my life might be about to meet her death? I've been terrified for the whole of the games, worried sick every day as she has new difficulties to face but she's strong and she's a survivor. But this shouldn't even be happening, it's not right, it's not fair. I should have volunteered to go in with her but at the reaping I just couldn't face it, I was a coward. I should be in there protecting her but I suppose she's done alright on her own. Maybe I would have held her back. I'm fighting with myself over what I should have done but I suppose there's nothing I can do now. I think about all the things I should have said to her but never did. Now I may never get the chance to. Tears sting my eyes; this wasn't how it was supposed to happen.
The sound from the speakers change. The noise is an ear splitting roar. I snap my head back to the screens to see what has happened readying myself for the worst case scenario. But the sound is cheering and clapping and all around me people are hugging one another and clapping. The games are over. I see Katniss being lifted into hovercraft, alive. I am overcome with happiness. She did it, she won the games!
My father is standing next to me, his eyes are wet and I know he's feeling admiration for the poor girl from the Seam. Our eyes meet, he has always known the feelings I've had for her and he pulls me into a tight embrace. "She was always a survivor, she won! She's coming home to twelve, to you," his voice is muffled into my shoulder. I know what it means; he's saying I still have a chance. And I won't for the life of me miss it.
Across the square is her family, her mother and little sister are holding one another crying but I know that it's tears of joy. Everyone in twelve has been looking out for the Everdeens, being from the Seam people knew how hard it would be for the family without Katniss; she was the provider and carer. People would drop by every day to provide them with food and other basic necessities; my father was one of them. It had taken a lot of convincing my mother, she looks down on the people from the Seam and she hates losing money but my father was adamant and made sure a loaf was set aside every day.
Beside them is gale, I can tell he's relieved and his smile is broader than anyone else's but I can't help but wonder what will happen between the both of them when she returns home. Everyone knows of the relationship the two of them have, and I think most people assume they're going to get married one day. I'm disheartened, how can I compete with Gale? He's tall and handsome and I know he would be able to provide for her one day. But I can too, I know my family isn't the richest of merchants but with my bread I would always make sure that she would never go hungry.
A week after the end of the games and it is the day Katniss is coming home. All over the district there are decorations and in the square there is a celebration feast and a party for everyone in the evening. With the extra rations sent to us by the Capitol I know that no one is going to go hungry tonight. I can't wait to see her again, it seems like she's been away forever. I know that if I can see her in the flesh I know it will all be real and I didn't just dream it all up. I will have to wait though as only family are allowed to go see her on the platform and even if I tried I wouldn't be able to get through the hundreds of reporters. She has never been one for wanting lots of attention but I'm sure she is used to it by now, being paraded in front of all of Panem.
I have been working on something special to welcome her back home. I talked it through with my father and together we have been saving up left over ingredients, just enough for a perfect cupcake. The special part is that I've iced a flower on top. It's a Katniss flower. It took me well over an hour because I wanted it to be perfect. She deserves it to be perfect. I wanted to get it exactly right so I decided to go into the woods to have a look at the flower myself.
I had seen her go in and out before a hundred of times so one day I followed in her footsteps under the fence and into the woods beyond. It was beautiful there, everything was so calm and serene and I followed the noise of babbling water until I found a stream. On the bank were the flowers, hundreds of them in full bloom, they were beautiful but not as beautiful as the girl named after them. I carefully placed one in my pocket and set off home. I had been out for a lot longer than I expected as the bakery is a fair walk from the fence, as I was getting close to home it was dusk. My mother was waiting outside, arms folded across her chest staring at me from the moment I had turned the corner into her view. I knew I was going to be in trouble, she had waited until we were inside away from prying eyes when she turned to face me. She shouted at me for over an hour and it ended with a backhanded slap across my jaw and a promise of no dinner. But it was worth it.
Me and my father have been helping set up the feast in the square. We had been baking for three days solid to prepare bread, cakes and other delicacies. There were hundreds of large circular tables set out along three sides of the square all surrounded by chairs. The fourth side was where the justice building stood. At the top of the steps stood several instruments laid out ready for the band later that evening. In the middle was a large space cleared for dancing. We had been setting up for a couple of hours putting bread on all of the tables along with an assortment of pastries and cakes and then covering them with wicker baskets so that they would keep. After over two hours of preparation we are done and so we return home to get ready.
The sun is just setting when me and my family head towards the square. There are hundreds of other people heading in the same direction as us ready to celebrate District 12's second ever victor. The sight of the square blows me away when I see it. It looks so different from when I was there only an hour ago. Over head there are hundreds of twinkly lights strung from each of the buildings to cast a glow on the dance floor below. They look like hundreds of stars. We head toward a table and seat ourselves next to another merchant family that we live near. There is a hum of chatter and the band is playing a relaxing tune to welcome the guests.
A large man I recognise as the mayor walks the steps of the justice building and clears his throat into the microphone, "Welcome everyone! I would like to thank everyone for attending tonight for the victory celebrations of Miss Katniss Everdeen!" There is a roar from the crowd as everyone claps and cheers, they mayor gestures toward the doors of the justice building where they swing open. A silhouette appears in the doorway and the figure finds its way into the light, Katniss.
The sight of her takes my breath away. She looks tall and confident as she steps toward the mayor and shakes his hand. Hey dark hair is wavy and natural down her back, it is framing her face. She is wearing a floor length dress in emerald green that shines in the glow of the hundreds of tiny lights above our heads. She looks dazzling but the thing I can't take my eyes off is her smile. I didn't realise until now that I am standing and gawping at her but many people have risen out of their seats as well so I don't look suspicious. She makes her way down the steps towards her family my eyes are glued to her all the way and the party begins.