KATNISS:

I sit on the floor with Peeta until my heart can't take it anymore. I expect he'll stop sobbing so I can speak to him, but every time he looks up at me, he cries harder. My chest aches hearing his sobs. The sounds coming out of his mouth aren't yells or words, but soft whimpers. The saddest sound in the world.

I shed a few tears, although I do not loosen my grip on his back. Peeta's arms hang dead on his sides, and his head remains in my neck as he cries. "I love you," I am saying, which doesn't seem to calm him down at all. "I love you," I plant a small kiss on his neck.

We sit for what feels like hours, and when I glance at the clock, two have passed. I stand, pulling him up with me. He doesn't object, although I don't think he's ready to move just yet.

I drag him upstairs to my room and sprawl him out on my bed. I remove his shoes and tuck him in, then crawl in after him. His tears have slowed, and he takes me in his arms. We lay for several minutes before all Peeta's tears have dried.

"I'm sorry," He whispers, a voice so small I have trouble hearing it. "I'm so, so sorry," I squeeze his hand reassuringly in response and close my eyes. My Peeta is back, and I am happy. My boy with the bread.

The next four weeks fly by. I wake every morning to the sound of sizzling bacon, and every morning I wake with a smile on my face.

Peeta is slowly growing back to me once again. After his episode, he couldn't look at me for days without his eyes watering. I would kiss him every morning, inviting him back to me, but he wouldn't touch me as passionately as we had the night he went mutt. I would never frown, never hurt his feelings. Apparently the direction my lips are turned meant everything to Peeta and his mood.

He would reward my efforts with a small and shy peck on the lips, before turning back to his pan of cooking bacon. Although he had never left my side, Peeta drifted farther away from me. He held me, but not as tight as he had.

A week later, smiles starting creeping in on him, and he started getting better. Peeta began to trust himself again, something I hadn't a problem doing.

He held me tighter, kissed me the way I kissed him, and smiled at me wider. Peeta is back.

Today we await the arrival of Johanna, Annie and Finn.

They are moving into the house across from ours, or next to Haymitch's. What a lovely neighbor they'll be having. I laugh on the inside. How long has it been since I've seen the old drunken mentor? I calculate nearly a year. Rarely will I see him outside feeding his geese, but I've never had a conversation with him.

"Annie and Finn's room is ready. Johanna can sleep on the pull-out couch, I suppose." Peeta says as he plops himself next to me on the sofa. He smiles broadly, showing off his beautiful teeth. Peeta is beyond excited for Finn to be living in Twelve. He's beaming.

They'll be staying with us a few days until things get settled in their house. I smile at Peeta and take his hand.

"That's great Peeta," I say and lean into him. "I love you."

I feel him tense under me and I quickly change the subject. "Any thoughts on supper? I'm sure they'll be starving when the get here." It's only noon, but I sense Peeta is thankful I changed the subject.

He stokes my hair ever so lightly, and it drives me crazy. "I don't know." I feel him shrug as he continues with my hair. I sigh and push myself up.

"Stew it is," I say standing. We spend the afternoon preparing supper, Peeta kneading his bread and I chopping my onions. Peeta is quiet lately, which makes me wonder what is going on in his mind. He occasionally starts a conversation, and shows me how much I miss him. Now, however, he kneads his bread silently, hardly acknowledging my existence.

I watch closely as he flips the dough and presses down on it. Even though he has on a shirt, I see his back and arm muscles are flexing. I sigh to myself.

I want him to embrace me right this second and never let go. I want him to hold me in his beautiful arms. I want him to carry me up to bed so I can lay with him and watch him play with my hair. I'm craving his touch, his voice, he scent.

I will wait.

I hear a knock at the door and Peeta glances at me. I pull my eyebrows together and he understands what I mean, so he leaves the kitchen to greet our guests. I smirk to myself. He knows me too well.

We're missing Annie, but right now I'm feeling anything but sociable.

I hear Annie screeching and Johanna's obnoxious laugh, and I make my way to the living room so I have a view of the family. Peeta is in Johanna's arms, and Finn has wrapped himself around Peeta's leg already. Thankfully, he is holding his good leg.

"Katniss! Get over here!" I hear Annie shout as I embrace her.

"Peeta! Peeta!" Little Finn is tugging on his pant leg, pulling Peeta down to Finn's level. I hug Annie and Johanna and watch Peeta and Finn's reunion. After we've all greeted each other, Peeta gleefully invites them on a tour of the house.

He shows them the kitchen and small downstairs bathroom, as well as the bedrooms and the upstairs bathroom. I notice near the end that Finn is on Peeta's back, tugging at his ears and giggling wildly. He would be such a great father, I think.

When we get to the living room, a timer buzzes. "That'll be the bread," Peeta says, pulling Finn down from his back and on his own feet, but he follows the man into the kitchen. Annie smiles at them.

"I see you two are already best friends," She calls to them.

Finn giggles and yells, "Yes, Mommy!" I hear Peeta chuckle, too, and I smile. Someday, I tell myself. Peeta and I will have children of our own.

This one is shorter than the other two, I know. From now on I'm making them shorter so I can update more frequently. Review and subscribe :)