Peeta sat on the couch, the fire before him crackled softly. The warmth that radiated off the fireplace spread throughout the house, providing protection against the raging coldness of winter. Outside, the roads were blanketed by a white sheet, small flakes drifted down from the blue sky, dusting anything beneath it. Few brown, lifeless leaves clung onto the branches, swaying unwillingly to the tune of the winter breeze.
The door creaked open, Katniss entered the house, her braid and clothes coated with a light sheet of snow. She dusts the snow off and takes off her hunting jacket before kicking her boots off and making her way towards where Peeta was. Her face was flush from the cold weather, a light tint of pink painted her cheeks. Throwing herself next to Peeta she placed her head on his shoulder, her cold frame quickly warming up from the heat that emitted off Peeta's body.
Grinning softly, Peeta brought his large hands to her cheeks feeling the coldness that still plagued itself on her skin. She smiled lightly, enjoying the proximity. Peeta gently pushed a dark strand behind her ear and whispers, "No luck today?"
"Yeah nothing, it is winter after all," she laughs, but hints of disappointed was still evident.
"Hmm," Peeta muttered before he anxiously fidgets his fingers and glances at the plate of bread on the table, "Katniss…"
"Mhmm," she hummed before snuggling closer to his body.
"Let's do our toasting," he blurts out, his eyes conveying anxiety, "marry me."
Katniss prompted herself up and supported her weight on one arm. Her hand tumbled forward, the loose strand falling out again, "You mean it?"
"I do," he said, his lips pressed so tightly together it looked painful, "But if you don't want to…I'm happy to wait. No matter how long you need."
"Ok," Katniss replied simply before repeating her answer, "Ok."
"Really?"
She nods reassuringly, "Yes."
Peeta grinned widely as he passed her a slice of bread and kept one for himself.
The snow continued to drift outside, what would be considered as a harsh winter seemed oddly inviting and soothing. The window pane was blurring providing the two with the privacy they deserved and lacked.
Pulling Katniss onto his lap, Peeta shuffled closer to the fireplace to allow better access to the fire. Pushing the loose strand back again he asked the same question he asked during the 74th annual hunger games, "Together?" he asked, his eyes blazing with the reflection of the kindled flame.
"Together," she whispered smiling, her hand laced with his before they both placed the bread above the flame.
The orange red flame burned brightly, morphing the bread into a browny golden shade. The smell of the toasted bread drifted in the atmosphere and lingered in their nostrils.
They turned towards each other before both smiled and took a bite into the each other's toast in sync.
"You love me real or not real?" He asked as he swallowed the bread, though the answer was extremely clear.
"Real," she replied flashing those rare smiles that actually reach her eyes, the smiles reserved only for those she loved, "You will always love me?"
"Always." He replies kissing her forehead, "Always, Katniss Mellark."
Katniss grins at her new title. Yes, she was attached to her last name Everdeen. It was one of the few things that still connects her to her father. But Mellark sounded right. She would always be Katniss Everdeen. But she was Katniss Mellark too.