Chapter 1: Friends with Benefits
Peeta and Katniss had been friends since they were small children. The two went hunting in the woods together as often as they could, confiding in each other about their daily lives. The baker' son was always so trusting and caring that Katniss could literally tell him anything.
So it was one day in the meadow, as the pair relaxed after a hard day's work, watching the clouds. Peeta shifted onto one elbow to observe his friend.
"Katniss? Is something bothering you? You're so quiet."
It was eerie, how well he knew her - how he knew her even more than she knew herself. The District 12 beauty finally sighed and sat up. Peeta copied her, and they sat side-by-side, Indian style, for a long moment. Peeta only waited. There was definitely something on her mind, but she would tell him when she was ready.
"My mother's forcing me to get married," Katniss finally admitted.
Peeta stared. He knew that the Seam still observed arranged marriages, though these days they could be somewhat rare. And Katniss was only 18!
"Gosh….. that's awful!"
Katniss could see the genuine concern, bordering almost on disgust, on her best friend's face.
"Do you know who she's picked?"
Katniss scowled, plucking a blade of grass angrily before chucking it away. "Gale Hawthorne."
"That hunter who always competes with us for game? But he's an asshole!" Peeta protested.
"And a vain one at that," Katniss agreed.
The conversation lapsed into silence. Peeta finally spoke up. "I know you're going to hate me for saying this, but it could be worse. Hawthorne is at least our age, and two hunters in a family is better than none. Your children wouldn't want for anything…."
"Stop it," Katniss told him brusquely. "I knew you would think this way."
"I'm just trying to be optimistic!" Peeta protested, even though she was already aware.
"Peeta, I can't marry someone I'm not in love with!" Katniss insisted. She was not angry, no, just emphatic.
Peeta sighed. No amount of optimism could argue with that kind of logic. "So, can't you just tell your mom that? Or is there no way out of this deal she's struck?"
Katniss laughed bitterly. "I already tried that route. The only way I can possibly avoid becoming Mrs. Gale Hawthorne -" she made a face - "is if another suitor comes forward to ask my mother for my hand. If she deems him worthy, she just might accept it."
"I'll do it," Peeta offered.
Katniss laughed. "Always the chivalrous one."
"Katniss, I'm serious! I'll ask your mom for your hand, and if she says yes, we're gold. We get married and whatever happens next is up to you. We don't have to have children; we wouldn't even have to….. you know…." He oddly blushed.
Katniss stared at him. In her eyes, Peeta could see tears forming. "You would do that? For me?"
"I would do anything for you, Katniss Everdeen," Peeta said seriously. He took her hand. "We're friends, aren't we?"
Katniss covered her mouth with a hand to keep a sob from escaping. Then, suddenly, she grabbed Peeta's face and passionately kissed him on the lips. She drew back gently, before happily scampering away for home. An elated Peeta watched her go.
That night, the Everdeen women were just finishing up dinner when there was a knock at the door.
"I'll get it!" Katniss jumped up and answered it, her heart leaping excitedly when she saw her best friend.
Peeta eyed her. "Should I ask her now?"
Katniss nodded eagerly. "Yes, now." Her mother now approached the door.
"Ah, Peeta! What brings you here?"
Upon seeing Katniss's mother, Peeta's body tensed. Sensing his nervousness, Katniss ushered him in and gave him an encouraging push in her mother's direction. Mrs. Everdeen frowned, noticing the gesture.
"Mrs. Everdeen….." Peeta began slowly. "I understand you've been arranging a match for Katniss."
"Yes, Gale Hawthorne, the hunter," Mrs. Everdeen nodded.
Peeta looked back to Katniss, who nodded for him to go on. "I have a match for Katniss."
Mrs. Everdeen eyed him, perplexed. "You do?"
"A perfect fit," Peeta assured her, his confidence beginning to grow.
"A perfect fit?" Mrs. Everdeen echoed.
"Like a glove. This match was made exactly to measure."
" 'A perfect fit'? 'Like a glove'? Stop talking like a baker and tell me who it is!" Mrs. Everdeen barked, beginning to lose her patience.
"Please don't shout at me," Peeta begged, his voice coming out in a squeak.
There was a brief silence, Katniss's mother breathing out to regain her composure.
"Very well. Who is it?" Her unusually calm voice had a lulling effect on Peeta.
"Who is it?" he echoed almost stupidly.
"Who is it?"
"Who is it?"
"WHO IS IT?!" Mrs. Everdeen finally roared.
"It's me! It's myself!" Peeta yelped in terror.
Mrs. Everdeen let out a bark of laughter. "Him? Himself? Either you're out of your mind or you're crazy! He must be crazy!" She stalked about the house, Peeta and Katniss watching with concern as Mrs. Everdeen worked herself up into a tirade. "Arranging a match for yourself! What are you, everything? The bridegroom, the matchmaker, the guests all rolled into one? I suppose you'll even perform the ceremony, Peeta!"
"Please don't shout at me, Mrs. Everdeen," Peeta begged. "As for arranging a match for Katniss, I know it's a little unusual -"
"Unusual? It's crazy!" Mrs. Everdeen screeched.
"Times are changing, Mrs. Everdeen! None of the Merchants practice arranged marriages anymore, and even what you are proposing for Katniss is growing increasingly rare in the Seam! The thing is, I promised your daughter I would come forward as a suitor if you deemed me worthy!"
Mrs. Everdeen gawped at him.
"You did say so, Mama," Katniss prodded.
"But…. but…." her mother spluttered. "Do I have anything to say about my daughter, or doesn't anyone ask her mother anymore?"
"That's what I'm doing right now!" Peeta explained, beginning to sound exasperated.
"Stop talking nonsense! You are just a poor baker!"
That did it. "That's true, Mrs. Everdeen, but even a poor baker is entitled to some happiness!"
The entire room seemed stunned at Peeta's outburst, most of all Peeta himself. Recovering, he took Katniss's hand. "I promise you, Mrs. Everdeen, your daughter will not starve!"
Katniss's mother stared at him for a long moment. Something seemed to brighten in her eyes. Was she…. impressed? Neither of the young people could tell. Then, the older woman sighed.
"Very well, children….. when shall we make the wedding?"
Katniss threw herself into her mother's arms. "Oh thank you, Mama!"
Peeta boyishly hugged both of them as well. "Mrs. Everdeen, you will not be sorry!"
"I'm sorry already," Mrs. Everdeen mumbled, only half to herself.
"Thank you, Mama!" Peeta said exuberantly, and taking Katniss's hand, they ran out of the house, chatting exuberantly.
"Peeta, you were wonderful!"
"It was a miracle….. it was a miracle!"
It was only after they were gone that Mrs. Everdeen realized: "Gale. What am I going to tell Gale?!"
A few weeks later, Katniss was escorted by her mother and sister, Prim, to the District 12 Justice Building. The oldest Everdeen daughter wore a simple white dress with a medium bridal train behind it. In the Minister's office, she found her husband-to-be waiting with his family.
The holy man blessed them, and as Katniss looked into Peeta's beaming eyes, she knew they were doing the right thing.
"Peeta Mellark, do you take Katniss Everdeen to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do."
"And do you, Katniss Everdeen, take Peeta Mellark to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," Katniss smiled, her eyes only for Peeta.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Peeta and Katniss gently kissed, the young huntress happily relaxing into it, while their loved ones applauded.
Things moved quickly after that. A traditional District 12 toasting was held, and Katniss and Peeta were presented with their new house - courtesy of the District government. The reception was intimate and small. At last, after everyone else had left, Peeta carried his new bride up to their room.
Teasing and coy, Katniss began to undress herself, feeling Peeta's eyes on her. By the time she was in nothing but her undergarments and about to put on her nightgown, Peeta let out a hiss.
"I have to tell you something!" and it seemed strange how earnest his blurt-out was.
Katniss blinked. "OK," her happy eyes urging him to continue.
"Katniss, do you want to know when I first started loving you? I….. I've been in love with you since we were five. Ever since I first heard you sing."
For the first time, Katniss was at a loss for words. Peeta? In love with her since they were small children? Her head was swimming. She eyed him with a smirk, amused.
"You've been in love with me since we were five?"
Peeta nodded.
And with that, everything was explained, fell into place. And it made her appreciate the situation she was in - appreciate Peeta - all the more. She smiled at him tenderly, her face ruled by abject adoration.
Katniss drifted closer to her husband, now determined to repay him for all that he had given her. Her hands gently framing his face, she stood on tiptoes and kissed him sweetly, her lips capturing and releasing his in an easy give-and-take. Closing her eyes and enjoying the kiss, Katniss let her hands wander, all while speaking in a husky whisper:
"Peeta…. if you love me…. than you must want me…. Would you like it if I….. touched you?" Acting like a master seductress, she brazenly grasped him through his slacks. Peeta let out a moan into her mouth.
Katniss slunk her hand underneath his underwear to get a proper grip. Finding the flesh of his length, she stroked him gently, her speed gradually increasing. Peeta's moans became more pathetically arousing, and he even began to roll his hips into Katniss's ready and waiting palm.
"That's it," Katniss soothed. "Grow for me, love. I can feel you want me. Now what are you going to do about it? Will you….. take me to bed?"
That did it. Almost as if implicitly dared, Peeta seized Katniss by her hips and violently humped her center, his wife letting out piercing squeals at the sensation.
The couple backed up quickly, practically tumbling onto their marriage bed in a heap. Now as thirsty for love-making as her husband, Katniss divested him of all garments in an almost violent fashion. She then let Peeta take control, allowing him to gallingly straddle her.
They guarded one another, panting - sweat already trickling on Peeta's brow, Katniss's bare breasts heaving with every gulp of air. One hand on the nape of his neck, Katniss pulled Peeta down to her to kiss him, allowing him to drop on top of her and sheath himself inside her. She buried her lips deeper into his, deepening the kiss to ride through the pain.
Once settled, they began to have sex - crazed, animalistic sex. Before long, Katniss was moaning and crying out, the pleasure of her husband's manhood inside her maidenhead bringing her almost to tears. A strong and athletic man, Peeta picked up the pace until his thrusting became more frantic, his breathing labored.
"Ohhhhhhhhh….." Peeta at last shuddered as though given an electric shock, cumming inside his wife before he collapsed on top of her and lay still.
Katniss felt herself relax as she lay beneath him, the muscles in her body relaxing until even her face had drooped into a content smile. Sleeping with her best friend was quite a wonderful thing, truth be told!