Chapter One

I tread silently through the track in the woods, my bow poised and ready for attack. I stop the moment I see a hare, a youngster, it's fur still soft and fluffy. It sips on the water from the stream, every so often glancing around to check that nothing is there.

I pull back my bow and release an arrow. The hare spots me but it's too late. The arrow plunges straight through its eye.

After collecting the hare, I begin to walk back to District 12. I didn't go far out in the woods today. After a terrifying nightmare a couple of weeks ago, I am petrified to go any deeper than half a mile or so alone. I have never been scared of the woods before.

Of course, if Gale was with me, maybe things would have been different. But I haven't seen Gale ever since he moved to 2 after the rebellion.

As I reach the boundary of the woods and the District, I remember having to burrow under the horrible electric fence the Capitol had used. There is no fence now. Ever since the rebels defeated the Capitol, all of the fences were taken away. People can go in the woods now if they want to, they can even move about districts freely. That is the motto of the new government. Freedom.

I walk slowly across the meadow across to the town. I notice a pang of sadness. I really do miss Gale. I know I have Peeta now, who loves me to the moon and back and of course I love him too, but even then I still miss my hunting companion. If I had never been reaped for the Hunger Games, surely I would be married to him now...I push the thought to the back of my mind. Peeta is my husband now.

I get back to our house in the Victors Village and start up on dinner. I've never really been good at cooking, not a scrap on Peeta, so I rely on my mother's old cookbook written well before my father's death. My mother. My heart sinks. I haven't seen her or even talked to her in almost two years. After working in 12 for a while after the war, she left to work in one of the new hospitals in District 4 and I haven't seen her since.

Sighing, I open the book on an especially well-worn page with the recipe for hare stew. I carefully prepare the meal as best I can, all the time reflecting over the time with my mother. I guess the loss of Prim broke her finally. I try to put myself in her position. Her husband and youngest daughter are dead and the other one started a war which killed just about everyone she knew. How great. I feel tears trickling down my face. No wonder she left District 12 to start a new life.

It is just as well Peeta does not walk as stealthily as me. I hear the door opening and closing and footsteps with a very slight limp clump through the hall to the kitchen. I quickly wipe the tears away and turn to face him as he walks in.

"How was your day?" Peeta says, enclosing me in a tight hug. I breathe in the comforting smell of fresh, sweet bread as I nuzzle my head into his neck.

"Alright. I went hunting. How was yours?" I ask, my voice muffled.

"Busy. Two wedding cakes and four christenings!" Peeta says, pulling us apart. He kisses me lightly on the forehead. Ever since the Hunger Games have been abolished, the birth rate has sky rocketed for obvious reasons, especially in the poorer districts. As well as the constant food supply, parents no longer need to have the overwhelming fear of their child being reaped for the Games. I know Peeta is thinking about this too as I serve out the steaming stew.

"Looks delicious. Rabbit?" He asks as we sit down at the table in our dining room.

"Hare," I reply. We tuck into our meal in silence which is unusual. However, a particular thought is digging into my mind and I barely finish a quarter of my plate.

"What's the matter?" Peeta asks genuinely, glancing down at my almost untouched plate.

"Who were the christening cakes for?" I ask, directly ignoring his question. I can feel his eyes bore into me questionably as I look away.

"The new baby from the house opposite the bakers. Two from couples in the newly built houses and one for a new family from eight." Peeta rushes. He looks up. "Why do you want to know?"

"No reason," I say quickly, collecting up the plates. "So, I hear Paylor is announcing a new agreement with-"

"Katniss," Peeta says, cutting in. His voice is firm, determined. "Why were you asking about the cakes?"

I put the plates down on the kitchen counter, taking as long as possible.

"Katniss?"

"I just wanted to know, okay?" I snap, sounding much more fierce than I had initially meant. I instantly feel guilty as I see the hurt across Peeta's face.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, sitting back down at the table. "I didn't mean to-"

"I know," Peeta interupts again. There is a pause. "I love you Katniss."

I smile as relief floods through me. He strokes my hand and leans towards me as our lips meet. I feel the heat radiate off him as his strong arms wrap around me, his lips soft and warm. We break apart only to gasp for breath, then Peeta presses his lips against mine again as I see a smile playing on his face.

The kisses become harder, more passionate. Peeta's arms grip me tighter as I feel myself being lifted and taken through to the bedroom. Our kissing is resumed the moment I hit the bed. His tongue begs for entry against my bottom lip. I eventually give in and feel a whole new warmth in my mouth.

As we break apart again I feel Peeta's soft lips leaving a trail of kisses down my neck and stopping at my chest, pulling down the straps of my top. His white shirt that he wears at the bakery is pulled over his head as my top is flung off. My braid becomes undone as we become more passionate, Peeta lying on top of me and kissing me feverishly, his hands wandering all over my body. I let my hair run free as we roll over so I am lying on Peeta. His heartbeat is fast and strong and regular. Our trousers come off as we kiss, and then just as Peeta is about to unclip my bra we pull apart. I look at him expectantly as he sits up.

"Katniss..." He whispers, his voice seductive. I have to restrain myself from pushing him down on the bed and kissing him again. "It's been almost five years since we got married. Don't you think its time?"

My heart stops as I hear his words. I can't believe he has brought up this right at this time. His big blue eyes stare at me, hope and fear enveloped into one.

"Please...Peeta. You know I don't want children."

His face drops and I can see sadness creep into those beautiful eyes. I knew he was hoping to himself that I would say yes. But some of the scars the Capitol gave me can never heal, no matter how much medicine I get.

"Katniss, the Games are over," Peeta murmers, his hand finding mine and squeezing it gently. "Our child would be able to live a carefree childhood. Without having to cope with the things you-" he swallows. "And I had to face."

I am struck by Peeta's beautiful speech. It always amazes me how naturally he can form words and sentences. But I am also annoyed. Why did he bring this up now, right in the moment?

"Katniss?" He says. I say nothing. His thumb strokes my hand. "Katniss?" Peeta repeats again, pleading slightly. He is waiting for our kissing to resume. But the moment is over. I don't want to look into the bitter disappointment expressed in his eyes as I turn over and face away from him. It hurts, but I know it hurts him too. I have to stay strong as I know he is looking at me, desperate for me to roll over and kiss him and say that I'm sorry. But it doesn't come, and soon I hear the sound of his head softly hitting the pillow, his breathing slowing down.

I fall asleep with tears streaming down my face.