My first attempt. Peeta and Katniss. Enjoy!
I sighed softly and pulled back the gauzy curtain of the bedroom window. Out in the garden Peeta was standing next to his easel, gently adding wildflowers to a landscape. My Peeta. It was hard to believe even now that we were home. We were not unscathed of course, but we were alive. When that is all you dare to hope for for so long, just breathing in and out seems like a victory.
I slid my burgundy tunic over my head, quickly braided my long brown hair, and walked downstairs. My stomach growled ferociously as I stepped into the kitchen and smelled Peeta's handiwork. I grabbed a fresh roll and went out into the garden. Ever since we had gotten back to 12, Peeta and I had done everything we could to make it feel like home again. We had formed a district council that organized the rebuilding of homes and businesses. I lead the cleanup effort while Peeta put his heart and soul into carpentry. We burned the splintery evidence of our attack and out of the ashes built schools and planted primroses, gentle reminders of what we lost in our fight for freedom.
Peeta was humming to himself, quite absorbed in his work, as I silently walked up behind him and slid my arms around his strong waist.
"My little huntress!" he turned, startled, and grinned, "you've turned my poppies into a rosebush!" Sure enough, Peeta had jumped when I touched him, and a large red bloom of paint had appeared on the canvas.
"Sorry," I said sheepishly, and he laughed and softly placed a kiss on my waiting lips.
"Now," he said, "we have work to do."
It was a beautiful Saturday morning, and as we walked from the Victor's Village into the town square, the sunlight shone down from the east, framing the brand-new school with dazzling light. Today we would be getting the building ready for school on Monday morning. As we approached the steps, I voiced a thought that had been in the corner of my mind for some time now,
"I wonder if they could use one more teacher? I know they can manage but it might be nice if we could tell the kids a little bit about the history of Panem. You know, the real story. Our story."
Peeta swiftly pulled me into the shadow on the western side of the building.
"Are you ok?" I asked. Peeta sometimes made escapes like this when he thought his memories might get the best of him.
"I have never been better," he looked at me with a warm but determined gaze. "Because I love you more now than I have ever loved you. I think you would make a wonderful history teacher Katniss." He grinned slyly, "Plus, I am dying to hear a room full of children calling you Mrs. Mellark."
I shoved him into the wall, laughing. The new name had taken some getting used to and although I loved him with all my heart, I had admitted to Peeta when we got married that renaming myself was not something that I was eager to do. Nevertheless, I wanted Peeta and I to be a family in every way. Every way except one, of course. I continually promised myself and my gently protesting husband that there would not be children. Not in this world.
"Very funny, Mr. Mellark. Let's go break the news to our fearless administration."
"Not just yet." Peeta pulled me close and wrapped his arms around me. He pressed my body to his, strong hands on the small of my back. He kissed me strongly and I gave in fully to that kiss. My lips parted and as I slowly disentangled myself I realized that I was breathless. Even after two hunger games, the capitol's revenge, a bloody rebellion, a hopeful return, and seven months of marraige, Peeta still left me breathless.
We opened the schoolhouse door, and were greeted by an exuberant cast of characters. The cleaning and painting were in full-tilt. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed someone coming towards me at a jog.
"Katniss!" Delly Cartwright exclaimed, "I'm so glad you're here, we've got loads to do before Monday!" She would be in charge of the youngest children at the school and had already taken full ownership of her classroom (and everybody else's for that matter). Peeta chuckled, squeezed my hand, and Delly pulled me off so that we could talk about lesson plans.
What have I gotten myself into?