There are days where the wounds get too hard to bear.

There are days when the memories and the pain seems like it's going to tear her apart- tear the both of them apart[just when she managed to get him back. Most of him, at least ]. But those days seem fewer, as the years go by. It's almost as if maybe they actually can... heal .

The best they can, anyways.

Today seems to be one of the good days. Peeta was working on some cakes[He owns his own bakery now, and Katniss could not bemore proud.], and she had come in early from hunting, and offered to help. Of course, Katniss knew...little to knowing about baking, other than the basics. So anything productive she actually managed to do had been with Peeta behind her, holding his hands over hers as he nuzzled into the crook of her neck.

Just like that, it was peaceful. As if none of those horrible things- the Hunger games, the Rebellion, the Brainwashing- had ever happened at all. A normal couple, with a normal life.

Of course, things weren't that kind. No matter how normal they seemed, the memories and nightmares lingered. But the most important thing- to the both of them- was that they weren't alone any more. Katniss had Peeta for support, and vise versa[Though most of the time, it seemed as if Peeta did more to help her. When it came to a fight, she was fine. But when it came to emotional support, he was so much stronger than she was. So much better. ].

And suddenly, icing.

Katniss blinked back to reality, eyes crossing slightly as she looked to see a smear of white frosting across her nose. She was still for a moment, before she tilted her head to see Peeta's face, screwed up as he tried not to out right cackle , one hand holding a bowl of icing as the remained out stretched towards her face. "You seemed a bit distracted, sweetheart." The grin on his face was distinct, as he set the floral print dish down. "I thought I'd bring you back to reali-"

Really. You'd thing someone who competed in the games would know,never put down your weapon. Which was how Katniss ended up with a handful of icing, and how it'd then ended up on Peeta's face .

Needless to say, a war broke out- one Katniss wasmore than eager to fight, as she laughed and ducked out of the way of globs of icing, eventually getting tossed over Peeta's shoulder and dragged into the shower to wash off. The kitchen could wait, he said.

Washed up, the two of them lay in bed together, Katniss between Peeta's legs as he brushed out her hair, pulling it into one of her signature braids with delicate care. Mid way through, her hand brushed against his and he paused, looking down at her as her face took on a seriousness. This was concerning.

"You love me. Real, or not real?"

Peeta paused for a moment- ah, this. "Real. Always."

Every so often, this would be exchanged between the two of them. Who asked and who answered didn't matter, it was always the same.

A L W A Y S.

Yes, it seemed obvious. Even though the wounds still seemed fresh, and even if they never did fully heal, there was always that one thing that they would share.

The one thing they would know is real.