Happily Married I

Katniss had done it plenty of times over the past two weeks. Just a few drops of poison every day in Peeta's meals built up over time. He can't have more than a few more days left to live. "Breakfast is ready!" She put his breakfast on the table.

"Thanks, I love your french toast. I don't know what you've put in it lately, but it's delicious."

She had gotten very good at that fake smile. "Thanks, it's a new spice Madge told me about."

He finished his breakfast and coffee. "That's good. Madge is a great cook. Gale always said she was. Bye now."

He leaned over to kiss her, but she turned, and he kissed her cheek. "Sorry, morning breath." She said. He chuckled as he left for work.

She got up and washed the dishes, making sure all the bits of food went down the disposal. She picked up the little brown bottle. Her heart pounded at the power she held in her hand. In less than one ounce was the ability to control life and death. She put the poison in the back of the drawer.

"What are you making for dinner?" Her friend Delly asked. "It smells great." She leaned over the pot and took in the aroma. "Is that the spice Madge told you about that I smell"

She shook her head no. "That's basil. I don't add the other spice til the end."

"My God, I'm gonna have to let my clothes out the way you're feeding me." Peeta patted his belly when he sat at the table. "The pot roast smells great. Has Madge been giving you cooking lessons again?"

Katniss brought over the green beans and potatoes. "She has so much time on her hands since Gale passed away." He took a bite of his food. "I'm still amazed that Gale passed away at such a young age. Jeez, he was only two years older than me."

"Do you want some wine?" Katniss asked.

"No thanks, just water for now."

She poured a glass of ice water for him and a glass of wine for herself. She swirled the wine in the glass and wondered what life will be like in just a couple of weeks. "This wine is very dry. I like it. Order me a case please."

He nodded his head and swallowed. "Sure, anything for you."

Her mind drifted, it was probably the wine. She saw him but imagined the man she first fell in love with. A little more hair, a little less belly, and a lot more ambition.

The doctor had told him for a while now that he needed to lose weight. Carrying around the extra weight was bad for his heart.

"Did you pick up my prescription?"

She scrunched her nose. "I'm sorry honey. I forgot again. I'll pick it up today. I promise."

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed the back of her head. "That's okay."

"I wish he would just drop dead." Katniss wrapped her hands around her face. "Why is it taking so long?"

Madge rubbed Katniss' shoulders. She felt the tension that Katniss had built up inside her. "You have to relax. You're a bundle of nerves. Remember, it took Gale eighteen days to succumb. Up to the last-minute, he looked healthy."

"But Peeta is smaller than Gale. It should have happened by now."

Madge's long blonde hair flowed over Katniss when she reached down and kissed her neck. "Oh God Madge! You know what that does to me." Katniss melted in the chair and all her worries disappeared, for at least the moment.

Madge moved around and sat on Katniss' lap. She put her arms around her and kissed her. They each felt the other's heartbeat when their chests pressed together. "Just think Kat. In just a couple of weeks we can get an apartment in the city and finally get out of this burg." Katniss grabbed the back of Madge's neck and pulled her close. Her heart raced harder when she thought about the insurance money she'd collect soon.