A/N: There is still a lot left to this story, don't worry!

X-X-X

"Katniss, come on!" Peeta called as he stopped several paces in front of her, holding out his hand.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" Katniss called back, her smile not daring to fade.

It had been five years since her father's death, five years since she and Peeta Mellark had become friends, and five years ago was today.

She often thought of her dad over those five years, and how she missed him. She would pop in the Tarzan DVD occasionally, Peeta by her side, and make it up until the lullaby at which point she simply turned it off. If it weren't for the pain, her tears made it too difficult to see anyway.

She had nearly snapped the disc in two on more than one occasion, Peeta stopping her by grabbing her wrists. "Come on, Katniss. Don't let the feelings win. Don't let them take you from me."

"Let go of me!" she would sob, trying to keep a stuff upper lip while her bottom one quivered, starting to collapse into his arms, his grip tightening, causing her to meet his eyes.

"I can't," he would whisper, so softly, sometimes she thought she'd imagined it.

The rest of the time her mind was occupied with blonde hair, dimples, and blue eyes.

"Yoo-Hoo!" Peeta was waving a hand in front of her face.

"Yes?"

"Thinking about your dad, aren't you?"

She looked down at the ground as they continued to walk hand in hand. "Yes," she said so quietly she barely heard herself.

Peeta stopped beside her and turned her to face him. When she wouldn't look at him, he hooked his finger under her chin and lifted her face to look up into his. "Katniss, that's okay. It happened. You are allowed to feel. You are allowed to feel whatever you want. You know what I remember?"

"What?" Her voice was still small as a mouse.

"Your father was a great man. I remember him coming into the bakery to get a loaf of bread every once and a while. He scared the bejeebes out of me!"

Katniss laughed a small, sad laugh.

"He was so tall, and so handsome, with eyes as grey and fierce as a thunder storm, his brow only matching it's ferocity."

Katniss' laugh grew.

"He would waltz up to the counter and look down at me, quivering in my apron, certain he would eat me for lunch between two pieces of that bread."

"Stop!" Katniss laughed as she shoved his shoulder.

He just smiled as he continued, "But then all the ferocity in his eyes and brow would melt, and it was as if the sun came out. He would smile so big, and laugh so deep, and say, 'Well hi there, Mr. Mini Mellark! How're you today?' To which I would reply, 'G-good sir. Th-thank y-you. And h-how are you?' He would only smile wider and say, 'Well, good to hear it! And I am doing just fine, thank you for asking!' We would share a smile.
I remember one day in particular, after our usual exchange, he said, 'You know, I have a daughter about your age. Her name is-' 'Katniss,' I cut him off, cupping my hand over my mouth. He only got a brighter glint in his eye and said, 'Yeah, that's her. She's scary, isn't she?' I laughed and said, 'Yeah, a lot like you!' He laughed. 'Yes, yes, that's my little girl. But I'll tell you a secret. I think she likes you.'"

"He did not say that!" Katniss protested.

"He did, I promise!"

"When was this?"

"About a year before."

"I hadn't even talked to you yet."

"Neither had I, but I knew I liked you."

Katniss was silent. What does one say to that? Holding his stare she finally mumbled, "How?"

"What's that?" He asked in a taunting voice. "Couldn't quite catch it with those marbles in your mouth."

"I said how, Peeta Mellark, and you know it."

He smiled that lopsided, dimpled grin, and stared at the ground. "I heard you sing."

Katniss lowered her voice in mockery of Peeta's, "What's that? Couldn't quite catch it with those marbles in your mouth."

He nudged her with his shoulder, his grin growing, if that were at all possible. "I said I heard you sing, Katniss Everdeen, and you know it."

"When?"

"At a school assembly in kindergarten."

"Wow, you've had a crush on me forever."

"Yeah, I know. You'd think I would have moved on to bigger and better things by now, but I just can't shake you. You're like an annoying, scowling fly that incessantly buzzes around my life."

"Oh. Well, I, uh…. I guess I'll just go…." Katniss felt like she had been punched in the gut. She pulled her sweater tighter around her and started to turn away.

Peeta grabbed her wrist. "Hey, it was a joke. I'm sorry. Believe me, if you were a really annoying fly, I would have gotten out the swatter by now. And you know I have impeccable aim."

"You have terrible aim."

"I know."

"Your aim sucks."

"It was a joke."

"You could never touch me."

"Probably not."

"I'm a ninja fly!" She struck a ridiculous pose of some sudo karate stance slash dramatic stage acting.

"No. Stop. Don't even try." He chuckled, grabbing her hand.

She looked down at it and back up to his eyes where she saw sparks. "What?"

"I wrote you a poem."

"For me?"

"No. I wrote you a poem for Gale- yes for you!"

"Shut up, or ninja fly will kick your butt. I may only be seventeen, but I can still win."

"May I get back to my poem?"

"Yes. You have my permission. Continue."

Peeta cleared his throat, and his eyes adopted an intensity she could not look away from.

"Forever started with you,
And always was close behind.
And no matter what I do,
You're always on my mind.

Tell me to leave you,
To go away and stay,
And I will obey you,
But miss you every day.

But tell me that you love me,
That your heart is true,
And know I'll never leave your side,
For that means I'm with you."

"Peeta, that- ….that was beautiful."

He beamed. "Thank you! So, what do you say?"

"Peeta, I- I'm not sure-"

"You asked me if I would stay."

"What?"

"Five year ago. You asked if I would stay with you. Do you remember what I said?"

"Yes." Her voice was breathy, and shaky. "You said, 'Always'." She started to tear up and leaned into him.

He wrapped an arm around her waist, and the other stroked her hair. "Shhhh…." And he began to sing.

"Come stop your crying
It will be alright
Just take my hand
Hold it tight
I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry"

That song. That song that she had avoided for so long, that made her feel empty inside and sad, was being sung by a different man, with a very tone deaf voice even with no background music, but it somehow made her feel…. Safe. Wrapped in his arms, his heart beating below her ear, steady and strong, his chest rising and falling as he took breaths between verses, vibrating as he sang.

"For one so small,
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry

'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more"

She pulled back and put a hand over his mouth as she sang the next part, the lyrics seeming to come from her very soul.

"You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always"

She pulled her hand away as she felt him smile underneath it.

"Always," he whispered.