A/N: Hi again! Sorry I disappeared for a while! I developed a bad case of writers block. I think my accounts name is a curse. Anyways I have broken through it (finally) and have sat down to let my brain move my fingers and cook up this little story for you. Hope you enjoy! Reviews are welcome! This could possibly turn out to be a collection of one-shots. Disclaimer: Sadly, I don't own any of the Hunger Games series, it all belongs to Suzanne Collins.
Set after games and Peeta and Katniss are living in District 12 in the Victor's Village.
(Side note: Who else know the song 'Do I wanna know?' By the Arctic Monkeys? I am listening to is now and it's going to be stuck in my head all night. I'm a sucker for a good rock song. LOL on with the story)
It was a Sunday morning and Katniss had been up since the early hours. She had been a light sleeper before the games and even more so after. Now, it was about 9 AM and Peeta had just rolled out of bed and trudged down stairs.
"Coffee" Whined Peeta.
"Coming lazy bones." She responded good naturedly. She knew that Peeta didn't function well without his coffee in the morning. While he slurped his hot beverage and tried to wake up, she started making toast. They sat in silence except for Peeta's slurping and the crunch of the crispy bread between teeth.
"So what's the plan for today?" She asked.
"Still up for the market? I need more yeast for bread and you mentioned getting more glue for fletching."
"Sure."
After dressing in her father's hunting jacket over a shirt and a pair of cargo pants for Katniss and a blue shirt and black cargo pants for Peeta, they wandered down to the Seam. They went straight to the Hob. Since the fall of President Snow, Peacekeepers were no longer in the districts, so the Hob had become more than a place to trade illegal goods. It was a thriving market place. There was anything and everything for sale. From food to craft tools. From dolls to logs fit for the fire. There was live stock on one side and the noise! The noise they made was chaos! Baa-ing from the sheep, bleating from the goats, moo-ing from the cows and clucking from the chickens. Then there was the people. The Hob was thick with people looking for a good deal. Yelling, children crying, the steady rumble of chatter. This was with no doubt the busiest place in District 12.
"Straight to the food section?!" Yelled Peeta over the chaos.
"Sure!"
They navigated towards the food stalls. Peeta found the yeast and payed whatever the stall holder wanted for it since they have more money they would ever need from the game winnings. They started to duck and weave through the crowd towards the fletching and fishing lures stall. It was near the animals. Katniss looked over everything and found the glue she was looking for. She paid for it and examined the feathers that the stall holder had on display. Then came Peeta's excited cry. The one that would change their lives forever.
"Oh, look Katniss!"
She turned and saw Peeta gazing at a pen containing a little golden puppy. It was small and looked like a Labrador puppy.
"Can we please-"
"Peeta, no."
"But look at it Katniss!"
"I am looking and I'm saying no."
"Please!"
Katniss sighed pinching the bridge of her nose. Sometimes she wondered if Peeta was a little kid in disguise. Meanwhile Peeta had taken the opportunity to run over to the pen and was crouched down beside the little puppy. She walked over and crouched down beside him. Peeta stretched out his hand.
"Hey little fella."
They puppy licked his hand with its soft little tongue. He scratched it behind its tiny golden ears before turning to Her with pleading eyes.
"She's the last of her litter." A voice made them start. It was the vender running the stall. "Beautiful little pups."
"Katniss please! You heard what he said, she's the last of the litter. And she's a little girl puppy."
"No Peeta."
He gave her such a wounded look that she relented a little.
"Maybe,"
She stuck her hand over the top of the pen and gave the puppy a little pat. The puppy gazed up at her with chocolate brown eyes and waggled her short tail so hard it shook her whole body. At that sight, Her heart melted.
"How much?"
Peeta's face lit up with glee.
"About 50 dollars." (IDK what currency the Hunger Games universe uses so I'm using dollars.)
Katniss handed over the money and Peeta lifted the puppy out.
"She comes with a collar and lead too." The vender handed her a sky-blue collar and matching lead, both made of leather. She turned them over in her hands, checking the quality. Satisfied she thanked the vender and turned to Peeta who was clinging onto the wiggling licking puppy.
"What should we name her?"
They were back home and had set up a temporary pen in the kitchen on the lino in case the puppy peed on the floor.
"I don't know. You wanted her." Katniss was a little sour that she had lost the battle of will with Peeta but every time she looked at the puppy her heart melted again.
"Bella, Daisy… Lacey?" He tried.
"I'll leave you too it." She stood up and went to find an old crate or something to put the puppy in to sleep in that night. It would have to stay inside and Katniss would be darned if she was going to let the creature run free and poop and pee on the carpet all night. She finally found an old metal fold up one in the attic along with an old pillow and blanket.
I didn't even know we had these. Oh well. She trudged back down the stairs where Peeta sat on the floor next to the puppy trying names.
"Penny… Molly… Maggie… I got it! I know what we can call you!... Jess!" He beamed looking impressed. "That's what we'll call you! Jess!" The puppy, newly christened Jess, yipped excitedly at her new name. Katniss smiled and set up the crate and stuck the pillow inside with the blanket on top. She found some old paper and lay them down on the floor to soak up any oopsies that happened overnight. Peeta lifted Jess out of her pen and tickled her belly. Katniss looked at Peeta fondly as he wrestled with Jess on the floor of the kitchen. The sunlight streamed through the window and hit everything at the perfect angle. He sat up and pulled her into a hug, sandwiching Jess gently in between them. She relaxed into it.
Peeta played with Jess all day and cleaned up after her toilet mistakes.
"Next on the agenda… Toilet training!"
Katniss did the dishes and made him a sandwich which he shared the meat out of it with Jess. She rolled her eyes and got stuck in with the breakfast dishes.
Time skip to that night.
Katniss wandered into the kitchen after having a cup of tea in the living room, and found Peeta and Jess on the floor sound asleep. Jess was lying flat on his chest with all four legs splayed out. Peeta had curled his arm protectively over her and they were both snoring. She smiled at the sight and reluctantly woke him up.
"Time to go to bed puppy boy."
He grunted sleepily and gently rubbed his eyes.
"Ok." He shifted jess off his chest and gave Katniss a kiss. They placed Jess into her crate on top of the pillow. They snuck out quietly, not wanting to wake the puppy and tip-toed up the stairs.
"Phew, you smell like dog." She said wrinkling her nose with a playful on her lips. "Go shower."
Peeta chuckled, gave her a kiss, and departed for a MUCH needed shower.
Peeta returned to the bedroom smelling much better and in his sleep wear. He climbed into bed and cuddled Katniss close. She smiled and gently kissed the hand that encircled her middle. They were just drifting off to sleep when there was a 'thump' noise from the end of the bed then doggy breath washed over Katniss. She groaned and poked Peeta.
"Deal with her, she's your dog."
"Why can't she stay with us just for tonight? Please!"
Katniss groaned again and wiggled away from him. Jess jumped into the gap she had opened up between them and Katniss pulled the covers up over the little golden puppy.
"She'd better not pee or poo." She whispered menacingly. Peeta huffed a small giggle and reached over Jess to cuddle Katniss. They fell asleep together. A happy young couple and their fur baby.
A/N: That was so much fun to write! Hope you enjoyed and reviews are welcome.