A/N: Thank you SOOO much for the alerts and reviews! If you haven't read my other stories, please do and review there as well. If I get lots of reviews, I'll do my best to write even more often!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games.

Chapter 2

Peeta POV

Three weeks go by before a muster up enough nerve to venture out of the house. I honestly don't know what to do with myself. Mostly, I just stare out my windows and spy on Katniss's house. My bedroom window faces hers. At night when she goes to bed, I hide in the shadows of my dark room and watch her ready for bed. She always walks over to the window and stares into mine. I don't know why she does this. She doesn't visit me. She doesn't seek me out. I know that I haven't left the confines of my house, but she has. She's gone off into the woods everyday. She's seen Gale. I can feel it.

Today is Sunday. I know she spends all day on Sunday with him because he works in the mines all week. I feel like vomiting knowing that he has her all to himself for an entire day when I don't have her attention for five minutes. I try not to think about it but it's like a curse on my mind. I finally come to the realization that Katniss can't see me if I'm holed up in this house all the time. It's warm out, still Spring. I need to take advantage of the nice weather and be outside.

I take a shower and clean up my house. I've only been sustaining on regular groceries that Haymitch has had delivered. It's time for me to start baking again and get my life together. I eat an orange for breakfast and then grab another as I head out the door to Haymitch's house. I turn the knob, finding it unlocked and walk in. It smells like shit in here. My god he's gross! I push my way through the litter scattered about on the floor and see him slumped over at his kitchen table. I poke at him and he doesn't move. I try again and he swings his knife at me. I didn't even see it under his arms. Crazy bastard.

"Watch it Haymitch! You almost cut me!" I scream. Haymitch corrects himself in the chair and rubs his eyes with the back of his palm. "Sorry boy. Old habits die hard. What can I do for you?" I offer him the orange and he places it on the table. Cuts it with his knife and begins to eat it. I sit down in the chair opposite him. I begin. "I need to order some things but I don't know who to call. How does this Victor thing work?" I ask. Haymitch looks at me with his grey eyes and says, "Call this number and tell them what you want. Don't forget to tell them to send you extra coin for spending too. It'll all come on the next train. You will never be denied anything Peeta."

I think about that for a minute. I can have anything in the world that I could possibly want, except Katniss, and she's all that I want. Even if she hadn't been in the Hunger Games and I had been sole Victor, she still wouldn't give me the time of day. It's so ironic. I shake my head and laugh to myself but Haymitch still notices. "What's so funny Peeta?" He asks. I shrug it off. "Just funny how I can have whatever I want except the one thing that I want most."

Haymitch looks around as if to make sure nobody is spying on us. "Listen kid, I'm only gonna say this once because she would shoot my eyes out if she knew I said anything. Trust me, give it time. Katniss is going to come around. She's drawn to you. I know she doesn't show it, it's because she's afraid, but I've seen it and I've spoken to her about it. Time Peeta. You've got plenty of it now that you've won. You've waited this long. Wait a little more."

"Haymitch, I think the booze is getting to you. Katniss doesn't give a shit about me. She's in love with Gale." I say. Haymitch laughs and shakes his head. "Boy, you don't know anything. Play it cool Peeta. She's gonna come around. And don't mess with any other girls. Eyes are always watching. If you love Katniss, just be patient. Good things come to those that wait."

I thank Haymitch and then get on back to my house to call that number. I order a double convection oven and all of my baking supplies, some wall paints and brushes, and then I treat myself to ordering oil paints, canvases, sketch pads and pencils. I've always had a talent for painting and now that I can afford the materials, I plan to do so.

I head back out of my house after the call and make my way into town. As I approach the bakery, Primrose comes out of the Butcher Shop. She rushes up to me and throws her arms around me. It's kind of weird because I don't know her well but I guess after seeing me with her sister in the Games, she feels connected to me. She's really adorable with her hair braided back. Blonde hair and blue eyes like merchant class. I bet her parents love story was one that rocked the District.

"Hey Prim. How's it going?" I ask her. She smiles. "Good Peeta. Where have you been? Katniss said we had to give you your space. That a lot happened in the games." She replies. I nod. "Yes, it's been rough but I'm coming around. What's that you have there?" I ask. Prim shows me a couple of cuts of meat. "Don't go buying any bread from the bakery Prim. I have supplies coming on the next train. I promise from now on I'll bake you whatever you want. It'll keep me busy too." I inform her. Prim smiles wide. "Thanks Peeta. Personally I think that you're the best baker anyway. And I know Katniss would rather eat whatever you baked for us anyway."

I smile at the thought and probe Prim for more information. "What kinds does she like Prim? I'd hate to bake a kind that she's not fond of." I admit. Prim smiles. "You already know what kind is her favorite Peeta. Oh and she loves the cheese buns too." I rack my brain for the kind of bread that could trump all others for Katniss and only one comes to mind. Nuts and Raisins. The brand that I threw to her in the rain. I look at Prim. "Nuts and Raisins?" I ask her. Prim smiles.

Prim pulls on my sleeve. "Peeta, if I tell you a secret, you promise you wont snitch on me?" I bend down and cross my heart. "Katniss talks about you all the time, and it's always with a smile. She does things the long way around. She's a piece of work. But she's my sister and I love her. Don't give up on her. Ever." Prim gives me a kiss on my cheek and dashes towards Mrs. Everdeen further into town before I even have a chance to respond. Today is turning out to be a weird day. Everyone telling me to be patient about Katniss. As if I have control in the matter.

I'm left standing there alone and then I realize that I'm outside the bakery. That I've been home three weeks and my family hasn't come to see me. Not even my father. I'm hurt, I'm disgusted, I'm disappointed and I am alone in this world. There is nobody there for me except Haymitch and he's too busy drowning his own sorrows to notice mine unless I come knocking. I push open the door and the bells dings. My brothers come to the front of the store and embrace me.

Rye speaks first. "Peeta, we're so sorry. She's had us on lock and key. She's furious over Katniss. It's been awful. We're so sorry we couldn't visit. I'll go get Dad before she hears us." Rye shoots off to the back. Van picks me up and spins me around like I'm his sister instead of his brother. "I'm so happy you made it out of there Peet! Dad was over the moon. I swear he would have had a heart attack if you died. We've been waiting for you to venture into town."

My head is spinning from all of the information. I try to get my wits about me and then my father walks in the room. I can't hold it in anymore. He puts his arms around me and squeezes so tight. We both start crying. I'm so happy to see him. Van and Rye throw their arms around us and then we hear the door. Katniss walks in with two squirrels tied to a string in her hand. We break apart and my eyes stare into hers for the first time in three weeks. The connection is broken when my mother walks into the room.

"Peeta Mellark. What are you doing here?" My mother asks me. It sounds like the silliest question. I mean, this was my home. She has pure hatred in her eyes. Before I can answer her, she spots Katniss slightly behind me. "Get that fucking Seam whore out of my store! I told you filthy boys not to let her in here! I don't want any Seam in here, even if they're paying customers. If it weren't for her, my son wouldn't be corrupt. She ruined him!"

I'm shocked. My father speaks up. "If it weren't for her, he would be dead. She nursed him and took care of him. They care about each other. They're in love." She rages and approaches us with the rolling pin in her hand. I have a flashback to being eleven and burning the bread for Katniss. I'm a second too late when I realize that the blow isn't meant for me this time, it's for Katniss. Her hand comes down and the rolling pin connects with Katniss's beautiful face. She drops the squirrels and I catch her as she collapses. My mother brings her hand up again but this time, my shoulder shields Katniss and takes the brunt of it.

My father grabs my mother and Rye opens the door for us to escape. I carry Katniss back to my house, running. I get to the door and kick it open. I carry her up the stairs to my bedroom. She's out cold from the blow. I scramble around in the bathroom looking for medical supplies. I find some antiseptic and ointments and bandages. I wet a cloth to clean the blood. I pray that I don't need to stitch it. That her gorgeous face won't be marked by something that my mother did. I don't think that I would be able to calm myself enough to put a needle through her skin anyway. I'm a mess.

I take off Katniss's jacket and take a deep breath before I begin. I wash off her face with the rag and am silently happy that it doesn't look as bad as I originally thought. It's not very deep but the bruise will be horrific. I clean it out with antiseptic and put some ointment on it after I staunch the bleeding. I decide not to bandage right away. To let the air get at it. I clean up the mess and lay down next to her. I position my body around her and then give up and just take her into my arms.

I eventually fall asleep and when I wake up. Katniss's arms are around me too. She's facing me, her unwounded cheek against my chest. I don't want to wake her. I want to stay like this for as long as possible. Katniss squirms and opens her eyes, realizing that she's in an intimate position with me. She doesn't pull away though. Her hand moves up to touch her face but I stop her. "It has medicine on it. I didn't bandage it yet." I say softly. Katniss nods. "Thank you Peeta. I'm sorry." She says. I raise my eyebrows in confusion.

"What do you have to be sorry for Katniss? She was gunning for me until she saw you. I'm sorry my mother is a heartless bitch and attacked you. You have nothing to apologize for." I explain. Katniss leans closer to me and places her lips on mine. I don't know what to do. I'm stunned. I just kiss her lightly. I don't want to be the first to break it. "Thank you Peeta. For everything." She says. Then she gets up, grabs her jacket and descends the stairs.

I'm just as confused now as ever.