This is a Katniss/ Peeta story!

She remembers the first time she saw him. After everything was over and the rebuilding process had begun. Gale and her had been traveling, promoting the new government set up by the people, and when they had finally made it to the new 12 Katniss' heart was pounding. It had been years since she had been here. Ever since her restriction was lifted and she was allowed to leave, she had avoided this place like the plague. Too many memories, too many mistakes, to have to face head on.

The first months that she had been back in 12 after Coin's death had blended together. She couldn't recall exactly what went on during that time, her mind lost in the thousands of memories.

The first day that she was able to clear the fog from her head for an extended period of time was when she saw him again for the first time. His blond hair was curled with moisture, his muscles bulging from beneath the thin tshirt he wore, as he plunged the shovel into the ground. His face was flush with excursion and she could clearly see the new patches of skin melted together from his burns.

She froze when their gazes met.

She cried when he explained that the bushes were for her.

Primrose.

They hadn't talked again for days after that.

But slowly, week by week, they had grown closer. He would join her for meals that Greasy Sae cooked for them. She would take turns with him to make sure that Hamitch stayed alive and somewhat sober. They would spend hours, creating a book of their past, so no one in the future would forget. As the days went by their physical proximity to each other got closer. A couple of months found them moving from sitting across the room from each other, to melded together on the couch as he drew and she talked.

It was slow, but they were both severely scarred. Just when Peeta thought that he might be getting through to her, that he might be worming his way into her heart, that he might finally have feelings reciprocated, was when he showed up. Gale Hawthorn arrived up in district 12 sporting a new suit and a slick haircut.

He started seeing her less and less; Hawthorne took up most of her time now. She would spend days at a time hunting with him in the woods, reminiscing when times were simpler.

When the day came when she told him that she loved Gale and would be moving with him back to 4, he shouldn't have been surprised, but the fragile pieces of his heart that belonged to her shattered at her words, and he nodded and closed the door in her face.

He didn't say goodbye, and neither did she, leaving on a hovercraft the next day. He gave himself up to a different craving every week after she left. The first week it was alcohol, the next women, the next was a combination of both. He didn't have problems keeping his bed warm every night, being a victor and partial face of the rebellion had its perks. This pattern continued for months upon months. He steadily drowned himself in white liquor and women, anything to numb the body and mind.

It wasn't until a couple years later that he realized what he had become. He awoke in a tangle of naked limbs, Haymitch was standing in his doorway, head soberly shaking in disappointment. His expression had been like a slap to the face. He was pathetic, he had nothing in this life to call his own. He was constantly craving a woman that wasn't his own. Every faceless body he had immersed himself in had been another attempt to block her out, to force himself to move on, yet none had swayed him and he still whispered ''Katniss" in his sleep.

After the revelation with Haymitch, Peeta forced himself to just accept the fact that she wasn't coming back. He had lost, and it did no good for anyone if he let himself waste away pining over a girl he could never have. He sobered up, and no longer found himself in the beds of willing women. He had yet to remake a name for himself among the new 12, the name of which he never bothered to lean, and so he drew on what he knew and reopened his parent's bakery. He graciously served the survivors of his town, giving out cookies for free to the bubbly children. He was slowly becoming content with his life. It was simple, yes, but it was normal, which is exactly what he wanted. He could be content with doing the same routine every day again, not constantly having to worry about survival.

He lived his content life for a couple of years, coming to know almost everyone who lived in the district. Sometimes he would get grateful looks, thanks for his help with the rebellion. Other times he would get skeptical ones; people questioning his full sanity after the hijacking with the capital. The worst looks he received were the ones of pity; so strong as the people recognized the boy who had the girl, and then got left by her, for an ex coal miner military official.

His friendship with Haymitch grew and they had an unspoken rule to not ever mention her. Not as if they would have any updates, she hadn't bothered to keep in touch with her mentor after she left the boy with the bread.

It wasn't until Delly Cartwright strolled back into town, and into his bakery, that Peeta began to feel a spark of hope.

She had been there in 13, to help coach him through the shiny hijacked memories and the real ones. When he had felt such hatred towards Katniss, Delly had told him that he loved Katniss once, and if he tried and fought the venom he could feel that way again. The first time she saw him there was no pity in her eyes, just pure joy, causing a smile to grace his face.

From that moment on, they became almost inseparable. She would accompany him at the bakery, causing more laughs out of him in one day then he remembers laughing in a lifetime. This friendship continues for months, and slowly Peeta begins to realize that he can love again. Their first kiss sends tingles throughout his body, and the first time they make love he is truly satisfied and happy. He realizes that he loves her, and is thankful that he was not fully broken. It may have taken years but he was finally capable of feeling again. She accepts his marriage proposal and they do a small toasting ceremony right before winter arrives. He is genuinely happy, content with his life. But it's always the best times that are interrupted because his world is turned upside-down in a flash.

When he sees the flashing ring on her left hand his mind flashes back to a conversation he had with Delly, concerning the new capital fashion of marriage. A sparkly ring, worn on the left ring finger, to symbolize marriage, symbolize possession. Gale wore a simple band on the same finger. He didn't understand why people felt it necessary to prove something like love. No piece of metal could possibly symbolize the emotion.

She looked different; dressed in fancy capital-esque clothing the she was clearly uncomfortable in. But she stood stoically by her husband's side, as he address the people of the new 12, going on about the rebellion and the power of the people, and even though Peeta should be paying attention all he could stare at was her. Her eyes nervously scanned the crowd and when her stormy grey met his steely blue eyes, he took an intake of breath. Their gazes locked, caught in each other's presence. Neither caring that their spouses were on either side of them. How long it stayed locked, he didn't know, but it felt as if an eternity had passed before she broke her gaze and studied her toes.

He turned to find his wife's lips pulled down in a frown as she looked between him and Katniss. She frowned before turning away from him to listen to Gale's speech. When Gale was finished the audience cheered and he lead his wife off the stage.

"Why don't we invite Gale and Katniss for dinner?"

He nodded to Delly's suggestion, not being able to explain that he didn't think he could function while being in the same room as her again. When the couple showed up at the Mellark house, Delly played the perfect hostess, keeping up the conversation with Gale as Katniss and Peeta sat silently. Their spouses talked of everything from capital fashion, to politics, not really noticing that the two other bodies at the table were not uttering anything. Delly asked what Gale and Katniss' plans were and Peeta tensed when he informed them that they were moving back for half a year, to kick start the new government; what more was that they were living in Katniss' house in victor's village, which sat right next to his.

They avoided each other as much as possible, but she had to find something to occupy her time as Gale performed his military political duties. Unsurprisingly, she eventually found herself among the similar trees of her childhood, bow and arrow in hand. She made it to her usual meeting spot with Gale and was disappointed when she didn't feel any sort of nice memory at the thought. It was becoming harder and harder to feel for Gale when she was living in the same town as Peeta.

A twig snapping had her turning (slower than usual, she was a little rusty) and drawing her bow back. Her eyes widened and she lowered her weapon from its target of the blond man in front of her.

"Here to finish me off sweetheart?" A sliver of a smile showed on her face.

"Sorry, I didn't know you would be here."

He simply shrugged and sat down on a fallen log. She put her bow down and lowered herself next to him.

"So you and Delly huh? How long?"

"A couple of years now. How are things with Gale?"

She didn't know why they were talking about this.

"Good. They're good."

He smirked as if he knew that she was lying through her teeth.

"You look different." It definitely wasn't a compliment, rather a criticism of her new capital look. Something he swore he could never see her wearing.

"You look the same."

He chuckled before turning his head to look at her.

"Looks can be deceiving."

"Peeta, I…"

He quickly stood, dusting off his pants.

"See you later Katniss."

His heavy gait sped off but she was up just as quickly.

"Peeta stop!" She called after him, "Please." She choked out the word as her voice cracked. He froze, his shoulders tense and his fists clenched at his sides. Ever so slowly he turned towards her, eyes ablaze.

"Peeta…I'm sorry," she sobbed. "So sorry. I…I don't know what to do."

"What do you mean Katniss?"

"I love you Peeta. I just don't-" her response was cut of by his lips slamming down onto hers. She gasped in shock as his tongue plundered her mouth and stumbled backwards as he pushed her until she was pinned against a tree. She moaned as he pressed his hard body against her and fire ran through her veins and accumulated between her legs. Her hands fisted themselves in his blond locks, pulling roughly as he grinded against her.

Hands groped, caressed and ripped away clothing. He roughly pushed her skirt up around her hips, moaning when his fingers caresses her bare folds. Her hands fumbled with his belt buckle, undoing it, along with his pants and pushing them far enough down for his tented boxers to show. She quickly pushed those down just far enough for his hardness to pop out. He moaned deep in his throat when she palmed him, her thumb expertly coming up to rub the wetness leaking out of his head, causing him to thrust two fingers deep inside her, and her head to fly back and hit against the tree.

She quickly batted his hands away from her and pulled on him to be closer. She needed him, and she needed him now. As always he was able to read her and within seconds had her thighs in his hands, holding her up against the tree as the head of his cock teased her folds. She moaned and writhed against him, desperate to have him fill her. He let out a deep chuckle and slowly sheathed himself inside of her.

They both let out animalistic moans as he pushed at the deepest parts of her. His strong arms held her against him as his hips started to move. Making deep thrusts within her, causing spots in her vision as she struggled to control herself. Her short nails dug into his shoulders causing a growl from within him, and he picked up the pace; quickly filling her to the hilt again and again. However, he could only hit certain angles in their position and he quickly resituated her on the forest floor, on all fours. His large hand pressed down on her shoulders, causing her ass to stick in the air.

He groaned and teased her from behind before thrusting back into her. Her head flew back as she let out a moan and he fisted his hand through it, slightly pulling her head back as he rammed her from behind. His brain was beyond comprehension as he mindlessly thrust into her over and over. She was convulsing constantly around him, her senses overloaded with the feeling of being filled by him. Unintelligible words flew from her mouth, crude words from his, as they raced towards a finish. She clamped down on him as her body wracked with another orgasm, her insides milking him as he felt his control slipping. A roar tore out of his throat as he slammed into her quickly before holding himself inside her as he released, his hips shallowly thrusting through his orgasm.

Their heavy panting was the only thing that could be heard as he slid out of her before lying on the ground beside her, pulling her onto his chest. As her breathing slowed, reality slowly crept up on her. What had she done? They were both married for god's sake.

Peeta sighed contently, pulling her closer to his body.

"Katniss," his voice was full of content, as he sighed into her hair.

She pulled away from him, eyes wide in disbelief and panic.

What had they done?

More to come...