Katniss and Peeta - Katniss POV

The primroses shake gracefully in the breeze, as if nearly dancing in the spring time. The sun beams down on them as it begins to lift silently into the lightly clouded sky. I can hear the mockingjays whistling from the nearby trees, humming a melody I teach them frequently; Rue's melody. It's been 10 months since the capitol came crashing down, taking my beautiful little sister with it. The capitol has taken everything I could possibly love away from me, and though my job has been down and vengeance has been seeked, my hatred for them all will never be lost. Climbing out of bed, I prepare myself for another empty day. Although it is over and done with, I still feel like I must go train, prepare myself for the war, watch my back with every corner I turn. It seems silly to everyone else, but to me, it has been my survival techniques these past three years.

It is almost three years ago that my little sister Prim's name was pulled from the small crystal ball, signalling her death in the Hunger Games. It's almost three years that I volunteered to take her place, and with that, changing my life forever. Almost three years that I was pulled into a romantic situation with my team mate yet competitor, Peeta Mellark. There isn't one day that has passed that he has not crossed my mind. Ever since that bell rung out across the arena, signalling the beginning of the 74th Hunger Games.

Peeta Mellark, the boy with the bread. The one the capitol took away from me, forcing him to forever hold hatred for me, perceive me for a mutt. This is another reason I will always hate the capitol. I loved him, I still do, but it's clear he will never come back to me, not fully. There will always be a reminder of what happened between us. I see him every now and again, walking to and from town, heaving bags of flour over his shoulders. The smell of fresh bread always wafting from his house to mine. Oh how I miss him. I miss his warm embrace around my body, the way his lips would gently brush across my neck as he hugs me. The sensation of safety that he brings every time I lay eyes on him. I wrap my dressing down around my body, one Cinna left in a box full of memories, his beautiful creations. The box he sent before they tortured him for information towards the rebellions, the box that was his final gift to me. Wearing his creations always aches my heart, but if I wear my standard none beautiful clothes that we not touched by his magical hands, I feel empty. I slip my feet into slippers and climb the stairs down to the living room, where greasy sae has left a roaring fire burning in the fireplace, lighting up the room. I force some bread Peeta left for me into my stomach and sit down in front of the fire, slowly brushing my hair and braiding it back into its signature braid my mother enforced when I became one of the district 12 tributes.

After getting dressed into my old hunting clothes, with Cinna's personal belt wrapped around my waist; I hoist a shelth of arrows over my head and let my hand clasp around the bow. I don't worry about hiding my equipment in the woods anymore, there's no need after district 12 was basically abandoned. But even then, there's no one that is willing to stop me. As I walk closer to the meadow, the place I once believed to be the one truly beautiful landscape in district 12, besides the woods of course, I spot someone sitting on top of a dirt pile, staring out over the meadow. It's Peeta. His blond hair moves gently in the breeze as his arms curling over his knee. We haven't talked in 2 weeks, whenever he comes over, he drops off the bread, like I drop off game, and we just leave, nothing being said. I can't help but think back to all those hours we spent with just us, the way we would talk and he would embrace me. Those days seem to be gone. What I wouldn't give to have them back.

"Hey." I mumble as I walk over to him, carefully watching where I step. No doubt I'm standing on a grave.

"Oh, hey." He replies as he takes a quick notice of me, straightens himself up and turns his attention back to the meadow.

"How long have you been out here?" I ask him as I climb up and take a seat next to him, lowering the bow beside me, my hand still resting on the handle.

He shakes his head, his lips tightening just a touch. His eyes are red, his face slowly beginning to soften. He's been crying. "Before dawn." I'm not sure what to say to him to make him feel better. The meadow is now a graveyard of our people. The people that were murdered as we barely escaped the quarter quell. I can't help but feel blame for it. Peeta's whole family were lost in the bombings, and although we don't know the exact location, they are buried somewhere in this meadow.

"Is there anything I can do?" I've never been good with helping people, or comforting them. Usually I would be completely lost and end up insulting them rather than helping them.

"No. I'll be okay though," He shrugs as he glances down at his shoes then to my bow. "Going hunting?"

"I was planning to. Nothing better to do around here." I reply, my grip around the bow tightening as I push myself off the ground. I catch Peeta clear his throat, as if about to struggle out a deep dark secret.

"Well if you want, after you're done I mean, maybe you can come over and you can teach me how to cook the meat up properly. Maybe I can even teach you how to bake?" I know this is difficult for him, I know he still struggles depicting what is real or not real in this twisted reality. I know he's still trying to trust me, and maybe, deep down, trying to love me again. I hope so. I still love him, I've just never told him. I didn't realise it until it was too late how I truly feel, and now I may have to suffer in silence until he is ready to hear it. His blue eyes glisten with the hidden tears, barely being sucked back.

"Sure, that would be great. See you at 3ish?" I smile as I watch him nod.

Hunting seems to go quicker since I finally have a reason to rush home. I score 5 rabbits in snares; collect various wild berries and plants, and even find the nuts mags favoured in the quarter quell. Small things I never paid attention to beforehand mean so much now. There's a small piece of mags with us, at least for tonight. As I walk back to the Victors Village, I can't help but let a small smile creep across my face. This is the first time since we have been back that Peeta and I have had any real time together. I decide to go home first and put away my bow and arrows, and put on one of Cinna's jackets, as the chilled breeze creeps along my skin. Making my way over to Peeta's door way, I take deep breaths. This seems like a dream, one I'm still waiting to turn into a nightmare, the way all dreams seem to nowadays. The basket of plants, berries and nuts in one hand and a rope of rabbits along my belt, I knock on his door.

"Hi Katniss," he says as he opens the door wider "Good haul today?"

"Yeah it wasn't too bad. I found some berries and different plants we can make a salad out of if you want to." I say as he lets me in.

"Sounds good." He smiles as he takes the basket from my arm and places them in the sink, rinsing the water over them. I place the rabbits by the window sill, hoping that they may dry out a bit more before we intend to cook them. Peeta has the fire burning, and as I overhear the clacking of metal in the kitchen, I adjust myself in front of the flames.

"The girl on fire really does like the flames huh." Peeta snickers as he takes a seat in an armchair. "real or not real?" I can't help but laugh. This is the only time he has brought up me being known as 'the girl on fire' since the hijacking.

"Real. The afternoon chill was getting bad out in the woods."

"Seems reasonable enough," he shrugs with a smile. I think this is the most relaxed he has been with me of late. "During the quarter quall, I gave you a pearl. Real or not real?" A smile creeps across my face.

"Real." I answer as I pull the pearl out from my shirt, revealing it hanging around a silver chain around my neck. Peeta stares at the pearl, then to me, then back to the pearl. I notice a small smile beginning to creep along his face. That's when he shuts his eyes tight, his fingers begin to clench into the chair. He's having another flash back. I consider staying where I am, worried that he may turn on me, but I know that's not an option for me. I cross over to where he sits and place my hands on top of his.

"You're safe Peeta. Nothing is going to hurt you here," I can see that he's still struggling, but his breathing is slowing down. "Don't let them take you from me again." I whisper as my hands find his cheeks. I bring his head up to face me, his eyes still clenched tight.

"You're safe." I whisper. Slowly, he begins to open his eyes, now looking into mine, like they used to. I smile as my hands begin to gently fall to my side. Peeta catches them and holds them to his cheeks, where he takes a few more deep breaths. He looks back into my eyes and smiles. I know the flash backs are gone.

He lets go of my hands and stands from the chair. "So are you ready to teach me Chef Everdeen?"

I can't help but laugh. "Only how to cook rabbit Chef Mellark."

After I teach him how to properly skin and gut the animals, we use two rabbits, one each, to make our meal. Peeta slices the meat downwards and while pushing them down onto the tray, he sprinkles something on top of them. He slides the tray into the grill and turns the dial to medium.

"What did you sprinkle on the top?" I ask him, curious to know where he learnt it.

"It's just some seasoning, things to make the meal taste a little better and add more flavour to it." He answers, staring into the grill.

"How did you know how to do that?"

"Ah, when we were in the capitol, one of the cooks sneaked me a book filled with all different types of recipes and tips," Peeta replies, straightening up and smiling at me. He slowly coming back to me. back to the way it used to be. I smile back. "So what now chef Everdeen?"

"Well, the rabbit should be all done now, so it's your turn to teach me," I smile as I bring the other skinned rabbits over to the bench in front of me "but before that, I better go give these to Haymitch. Maybe Greasy Sae will be able to cook them up for him. I'll be right back" I say as I pick them up and go towards the door.

Haymitch is passed out on the table; a new load of liquor must have come in. Footsteps echo above my head, Greasy Sae must be upstairs. If Haymitch doesn't wake up now, he won't eat for the rest of the night, and I can tell that he's been neglecting his body again. A knife is clenched in one hand while the other rests his head. I pry the knife from his fingerers and shake him.

"Haymitch, get up." There is a slight groan, but nothing more. He must have really outdone himself this time. I try several times before thinking about the bucket of cold water. He's not going to wake up with me shaking him; I should know that by now. I cross to the sink and fill the bucket with water. Just as the bucket is full, Greasy Sae comes down the stairs.

"Don't worry dear, I'll get him." She reassures me as she waves her hand towards the bucket. I stand and watch as she carefully looks over his body, looking for his knife obviously.

"I've got it." I say, waving the knife in my right hand.

"Oh good." She smiles. Greasy Sae has a special way to wake some one up without startling them. She leans down, whispers something into Haymitch's ear and takes a step back. In a matter of seconds, he has jumped from his seat and darting his eyes around the room.

"Oh, it's only you." He grumbles to me, taking a seat back at the table.

"I brought you some game. Enjoy." I reply as I fill a glass of milk and place it beside him. I plant a kiss on Greasy Sae's cheek and walk back towards the door, but not before Haymitch opens his mouth.

"Why are you so cheery?"

"No reason. I better go. Peeta's waiting for me. Bye." I say, a small smile itching at the corner of my lips.

When I have reached the door to Peeta's house, I push through the door and make my way to the kitchen where Peeta has set out some ingredients. "So what now Chef?" I smirk as I stand next to him.

"We are going to make some dessert." He smiles.

"Like what?"

"How about wild berry pie?" He smirks, as he looks down at the bowl of berries I collected. From our time in the arena, we double check and check again the berries that we find, especially since the fox face incident. None of them are poisonous; in fact I've been feasting on these for many years while out hunting.

"Sounds delicious." I smiles as he gives a slight nod.

"Yep, so now I will teach you how to make it. First, we need to make the base." He instructs as he adds ingredients into a bowl. He instructs me as each stage comes around, mixing the mixture to create the dough, adding flour to make it less sticky. Eventually he stands behind me and entwines his fingers in mine, guiding my hands through the procedure. We knead the dough together, but it doesn't take me long to realise that without Peeta, this recipe wouldn't get anyway. He will always be the baker. The night seems to fly by in a daze once he held my hands in his. Gradually, the pie is made, and it smells delicious. We let it air out as Peeta makes a sauce from the left over berries, and I make a salad with the plants I found in the woods. The rabbit cooks beautifully, much better than over a fire, and with the even spread of wild berry sauce, it tastes even better. We sit by the fire, laughing and simply enjoying our time. It feels like old times again, minus the fact the no-one, at the current time, is seeking for our blood. Who knows what the future may hold. We continue playing Real or Not Real, depicting the true and false details as our time as tributes.

"You were pregnant during the quarter quell. Real or not real."

"Not real. It was staged, by you, as an act against the capitol." He nods his head as he begins to grasp the understandings of it all. The lies that were told, both from our side and the capitols.

"You stepped on me when you came to find me in our first games. Real or not real."

"Real," I laugh "But you were covered in mud and leaves, completely camouflaged, so you can't blame me."

"Haha okay, fair enough. I've got another one."

"Yeah? What is it?"

"You love me. Real or not real."

I pause as the impact of the question hits me. This has progressed quickly, but I'm not saddened. I'm so pleased that we have starting growing back our relationship, so with a small smile, and eyes staring at him and to the ground, I reply, "Real."

"I love you too." He smiles as he leans closer to me and presses his lips gently against mine.