Your responses have been overwhelmingly lovely! I'm so happy to present you with the final part of this story!
The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy do not belong to me.
The Teacher
Part Three
Peeta never thought that he'd find himself in this situation.
From across the round table, he watched Prim Everdeen pour an obscene amount of syrup on her waffles before stabbing at one and stuffing it in her mouth—all in one gulp. For someone so slender, her appetite was a sight to behold.
She suddenly looked up at him, her blue eyes wide and her mouth half-full. "Are you going to eat that?"
He looked down at his still-full plate before offering his serving.
Prim smiled widely before forking his pile of bacon and putting it on her plate.
From the kitchen, Katniss gave him an apologetic smile as she easily flipped a pancake in the griddle. He grinned back, his chest warming watching her so content in her task. A sudden image of her doing the same thing at their home rushed into his mind.
It was not a bad picture.
Prim snapped her fingers in his face. "Mr. Mellark? You good?"
"Please don't call me 'Mr. Mellark'," he pleaded. Katniss chuckled from the kitchen at his request. "Not after—"
"I caught Katniss with her hand down your pants?" Prim finished with a smirk. "What should I call you?" She bit into a piece of bacon, her blue eyes dancing with laughter. "Big brother?"
"Prim, we barely got to second base—" Katniss said as she joined them, placing a plate of pancakes on the table. She put a short stack on Peeta's plate before scooting onto his lap. Instinctively, his arm rounded her waist to keep her from slipping off. "—thanks to someone coming very unannounced."
"Sorry!" Prim didn't sound at all apologetic. "Just wanted to see my big sister!" She smiled in mock-innocence. "You should've texted me: 'Don't come to my apartment. I'm busy giving Mr. Mellark the 'Five Fingers of Fury'!'"
Peeta, in the middle of drinking from his mug, just managed to gulp down without choking. "The what?"
"You know! 'Disciplining the Octopus'…'Making Toothpaste'…'Amish Birth Control'?" Prim raised a brow at him in exasperation. "Any of this making sense?"
Katniss put her hands up in surrender. "Okay, I think we've freaked Peeta out enough." She looked to her sister. "I'm very happy that you've come earlier. And, you can call Peeta…Peeta. He's not your teacher anymore."
"Well, he's sure as hell not your teacher anymore either," Prim retorted, eyeing them. "Unless that's your thing."
Katniss swiveled to face him. "Are you freaked out yet?"
"Can you clear up what 'Five Fingers of Fury' means?" he asked her.
"Handjob, Peeta," Prim said as she cut into her second waffle. "I meant handjob."
Peeta met Katniss' beaming expression. Even if he had a million mornings just as humiliating as this one, he'd do it all just to see that look on her face.
"To answer your question, I'm not freaked out," he assured Katniss. "Not even a little."
Prim placed her fork down and reached into her pocket.
"This might change your mind." She handed Katniss an ivory embossed envelope. "Dropped by the parentals' place before heading over and they gave me this."
Opening the envelope, Katniss pulled out the cardstock and read over it quickly.
"Huh." She placed the card back in its envelope and placed it on the table. "Interesting."
He looked to her. "Is everything okay?"
"It's an invitation—" Katniss told him, her expression deadpan. "—to my high school reunion."
"So have you decided on going?" Johanna asked. The pen in her hand skimmed the contract in front of her and she shook her head in frustration, letting out a slight growl. "I'm going to call the publisher about this."
"No, I have not decided yet," Katniss replied absently. She stood up, going to the mantle of Johanna and Cashmere's home. Her eyes roamed over the various frames featuring Cara and the couple. She was even in a few of them. "Especially…"
"Because Peeta is still 'Mr. Mellark' there?" Katniss turned to see her friend watching her. "You knew that this relationship wasn't going to be easy, right?"
"I know that," she responded. "I just didn't know it was going to go down the crapper so soon."
"This is a grownup home, you know!" Cashmere walked into the living room. Behind her, Peeta followed with Cara on his shoulders. "That sort of language is not desired nor required."
"My apologies." Katniss went to her surrogate sister and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Then, she went to Peeta and Cara, giving them both a smile. "How did it go?"
Cara tossed her golden curls over her shoulder confidently, tilting herself to meet Peeta's eyes. "He got it."
"Cara seems to know more than I do," Peeta told her, his blue eyes glowing at her. "But, I think it went well."
"Baby girl!" Johanna reached to remove her daughter off of Peeta's shoulders. "You should wash up before starting on your homework." Cara nodded, her legs wrapping around her mother's waist. "Peeta and Katniss need to talk."
"About what?"
"About what to get you for Christmas," Cashmere told her. "I'm going to make you a snack. I'll meet you both in the kitchen."
"We'll be there in a few minutes, babe," Johanna said to her partner. She looked between the couple in front of her. "You two can have your snack after your talk."
"Thanks Mom," Katniss told Johanna before she disappeared from the living room with Cara. Turning, she reached and placed a kiss on Peeta's lips. "Hi."
Peeta grinned, wrapping his arms around her slender waist. "Hello."
"Did it really go well?" Katniss asked, leading him to the couch.
She joined Peeta and his arm rounded her shoulders to pull her close. "They offered me the job."
Katniss clapped her hands in excitement. "Congratulations!" Her arms wove around his neck as Peeta pulled her onto his lap. "Are you accepting it?"
"What do you think?" he asked her, seriousness in his gaze.
"Do you think you could leave District 12?"
Peeta paused for a moment before nodding slowly. "I think it's time for a change." He lifted her chin teasingly. "Would you mind?"
"Not at all." Her fingers went to his hair and Peeta closed his eyes, a sigh escaping his lips at her tender gesture. "So this reunion…" His eyes shot open. "What do you think?"
"I think that you should go," he told her. "You haven't been back to District 12 and you're kind of a big deal now. Also, wouldn't it be nice to go home?"
"District 12 never really felt like home," she said honestly. Her gaze went to him. "The forest...our boulder…that was about the only place that felt like home. Being with you feels like home." Peeta took her hand kissing the top of it. "Not to mention, The Teacher might bring up some issues for us. My parents haven't read the book, but they get the basic gist of it."
"Would you be ashamed to be seen with me?" Peeta asked, his voice tight.
"Never. Remember, I asked you to leave with me." Katniss rested her forehead to his. "I'd be proud to be seen with you…as my date to the reunion."
He grinned. "Are you asking?"
"Are you accepting?" she countered.
Lifting her chin, Peeta pressed his mouth to hers—she took it as a yes.
"Peeta!"
"Wow, Effie!" He reached over to give her a hug, careful to not press too close to her burgeoning stomach. "You are a fertility goddess!" Leaning down, Peeta placed a hand on the belly. "Hey Thing 1 and Thing 2!" Looking up, he grinned at the soon-to-be mother. "You sure that there aren't three in there?"
"Are you saying I look fat?" Effie retorted with a faux glare, her mouth suppressing a chuckle.
"No." From his peripheral, Peeta saw Haymitch enter the living room. "I just know how thorough Haymitch likes to be."
"Welcome back, asshole," the man retorted, mirth in his dark eyes.
"Haymitch!" Effie admonished her husband. "We're not introducing crude language into the womb!"
"Fine," Haymitch grumbled. He gestured for Peeta to have a seat on the plush couch in their living room. "Have a seat…a-hole."
Peeta laughed; this would be a difficult few months for his ornery friend. Every other word, not in the classroom, was usually a curse word.
"So how was Manhattan?" Effie asked, sitting next to Peeta. "Was it everything you hoped?"
Peeta nodded, trying to keep his smile at a normal range. Anything bigger than his usual half-smile would look suspicious.
He looked between the couple before continuing, "I got the job."
Haymitch clapped his back. "I knew you would! Sounds like it went in your favor."
"Congratulations, Peeta," Effie added good-naturedly. "You stayed a little longer than expected." She eyed him. "Any particular reason?"
"I hung out with Cashmere," he explained. "She and Johanna are doing well. Their daughter is an intelligent little lady with the blunt charm of both her mothers." Peeta took a breath and looked between the couple. "I also hung out with someone there."
Haymitch sat back in the armchair. "I had my suspicion."
"Oh…tell us more!" Effie leaned forward in interest. "It's been awhile, hasn't it?"
"Keep it real, sweetheart," Haymitch said to his wife. "He hasn't dated at all."
"The reason I'm telling you is that I sort of invited her to District 12," Peeta explained. "Actually, she was already invited."
Haymitch met his eyes. "Spit out whatever you're hiding."
Peeta nodded determinedly. "Do you remember Katniss Everdeen?"
Effie rested back, her light eyes going wide and hands going to her stomach. "Oh shit."
"Not that surprised," Haymitch stated.
"Peeta, you weren't involved with her before, were you?" Effie looked to him in worry. "I remember that whole scene in the teachers' lounge between you and Coriolanus…"
"No, we were friends," he told her honestly. "Nothing happened…then." His memory wandered to Katniss, her head on his shoulder as they sat in her apartment before his flight. She had been nervous about him telling his friends, but had agreed to meet him in District 12. "But I went to her book signing and we just spent the night walking the city and catching up…and it just came back."
Effie stared at him curiously. "What?"
"That flutter in my gut," Peeta said. "I just couldn't let her get away—not when she brought back a feeling that I never thought I would ever feel again."
"The red book in the breakroom," Haymitch mused. "Hers?" Peeta nodded in affirmation. "Thought so." He rested his hands on the armrest, his expression far off. "I saw you."
Peeta peered at his friend. "Saw me?"
"Graduation night. First, Katniss came out of the woods…then you."
"Oh, dear. I thought that nothing happened," Effie said.
"Nothing did." Peeta rested his elbows on the tops of his thighs, his fingers entwined as he remembered that night. "But, that night, Katniss asked me to leave with her. And, God—did I want to."
"Her book is about you…both of you," Haymitch concluded and Peeta nodded again. "If Coriolanus were still alive, he'd have a field day."
"I'm in love with her," Peeta found himself telling them. "I know it's going to be bad. We're willing to face it together. I'm hoping that you'll support us and get to know her since you both are my friends—my only friends, really."
"That's pathetic," Haymitch remarked.
Peeta shook his head in frustration. "I know."
"Are we seriously your only friends?" Effie replied with a small smile and he nodded. "That is really pathetic." She clapped her hands before turning to Peeta. "So when will we meet your…friend?"
The doorbell rang and Peeta went crimson. "I might have invited her to dinner here."
"Let her in!" Effie cried and Haymitch barked out a laugh. "She's your last chance at children!"
Peeta shot up, rushing to the door.
Opening it, he was greeted with the breathtaking sight of Katniss, sophisticated and beautiful in a burgundy dress and tall boots.
"Wow." His hand reached to cup her cheek before drawing her into a kiss. "You look beautiful."
"Maybe it's because you haven't seen me in two days," Katniss replied with a shy smile. "I missed you."
His finger traced the graceful line of her jaw, imprinting every bit of her into his mind. "I missed you, too."
There was a loud sniffle and they turned to find Effie and Haymitch standing in the entryway.
Effie beamed at them, tears in her eyes. "You two are going to have beautiful children!"
Katniss turned to Peeta with a grin. "Am I pregnant?"
"If Effie has her way, you will be," Haymitch told her with a smirk. He held out his hand. "For the first time as your non-teacher entities—Haymitch Abernathy and my hormonal wife, Effie." He put an arm around his wife who smiled through her sobs.
Katniss shook his hand and smiled back. "For the first time as Peeta's…" She looked to him and shrugged. Girlfriend didn't seem quite right. "…whatever—Katniss Everdeen."
"Peeta is really happy," Effie remarked as they sat down in the living room.
Dinner had gone smoothly with conversation flowing between the foursome. Katniss told the Abernathys about her life in Manhattan; about Cashmere, Johanna, and Cara, as well as the years before she wrote The Teacher.
"I remembered him before," Katniss replied. Her eyes went to Peeta and Haymitch, chatting on the smaller set of seats. "He was…emptier." She reached to take a sip from her coffee cup on the table before them. "But then again, so was I."
"I remember those years," Effie admitted. "There was no fire in his eyes." She peered at Katniss. "May I ask—how do you feel about him?"
"I've always loved him, Effie." It felt strange referring to her former teacher by her first name, but it felt good to admit her feelings. "As a girl, it was an admiration that grew to respect when we became friends. Then, friendship grew into love. Do I regret asking him to come with me? No. I've known what I want because I've always known who I am—and, I've always wanted Peeta."
"I always thought you were an intelligent person, Katniss," Effie replied, an easy smile on her face. "Peeta is a good man and we just want him to be happy. If you make him happy, then we have no qualms. We support you, though not everyone will."
"I'm sure." Katniss smiled ruefully. "My parents, for one."
"Oh, and don't forget about your classmates," Effie warned her.
Katniss leaned in interest, a conspiratorial grin on her lips. "Tell me—who's become a bitch and who's a bigger bitch?"
"You remember that one blonde, Glimmer?" Effie said to her and Katniss nodded. "She runs the PTA now and is the Queen Bee of Mommies. She's been telling me to join their Mommy and Me walking class since I got pregnant. I want to stab her between the eyes."
"I remember her," Katniss recalled with a chuckle. "She was a major asshole."
"She's married to that Marvel boy that she was dating in high school." Effie shook her head. "He used to pick his ear with his pencil in my class."
"He used to scratch his ass with the cafeteria forks," Katniss added with a grimace. "My high school reunion should be fun."
"We'll be there—" Effie told her. "—for moral support and because we're obligated as former staff members of Panem High."
Katniss sighed. "At least we'll have two friendly faces."
"Four, if you count the twins." Effie caressed her taut swell affectionately.
"Thank you," Katniss responded with gratitude.
"What are you ladies talking about?" Haymitch called out suddenly.
"My reunion." Katniss bit her lip anxiously. "And, everyone's reaction…" She smiled at Peeta. "…to us."
"Would it make you feel better if I told you that I like being an 'us'?" Peeta told her.
He sat beside her, taking her hand and giving it a squeeze.
Katniss looked into his eyes, feeling that familiar flutter. "More than you realize."
"Okay. You two need to leave," Haymitch groaned. "You're making my wife swoon. When that happens, she gets either really emotional or really horny. I'm not in the mood for either."
"Gross," Peeta told his friend. "But, we are leaving." He stood up, holding his hand out to Katniss who took it. "Katniss hasn't slept and I'm sure she's dying to get to bed."
"You going to tuck her in?" Effie countered.
"Nice one, honey," Haymitch responded with a proud smile.
Katniss shook her head at the couple.
"I know you want us to keep the cursing to the minimum, but—"
She flipped them the bird.
Haymitch guffawed at the gesture. "Katniss, you're going to fit in well with us."
Bidding the couple a final goodbye, Peeta led Katniss out and onto their front porch.
"So, Day One." He put an arm around her. "You breathing?"
"No." Her head went to his shoulder. "But, I will…eventually." She met his eyes. "Where to now?"
"Do you have a place to stay?" he asked her.
She shook her head. "Not at this time of night."
Peeta led her down the porch steps. "Then, come with me."
Peeta's house was off the beaten path, bordering the forest and the edge of District 12. The one-level rectangular home looked more like a cabin with its wood paneling and green shutters. Katniss stepped onto the porch, smiling down when she saw the welcome mat's greeting: Writing in Progress.
"Was there any particular reason why you chose this house?" she asked with a small smile.
Peeta stood next to her, reaching into his pocket and drawing out his keys. Unlocking the door, he turned the brass knob, letting her in first before following her inside.
"I thought that if you were going to come back to District 12, the forest would be the first place you'd visit," he said, reaching for the light switch next to the door. Katniss could see the blush on his cheeks in the soft lighting of the living room. "I know. It sounds weird just saying it out loud."
She didn't respond, though the thought of him pining for her brought a tightness to her chest. How many times had she walked the streets of Manhattan in hot pursuit of a blond man with Peeta's strong profile? There had been too many times to count.
Now, they had all the time in the world to talk about their lives before coming back together.
"Not weird at all," Katniss finally responded. Her eyes went to the cluttered desk in the corner of the wide room. Books were stacked to one side and file folders on the other. A laptop was set up in the middle. "I probably would come to our forest first." She sat in his chair, swiveling to face him. "And, if I had come back? Before you came to Manhattan?"
Peeta approached her, blue eyes darkening, and her breath hitch at his stare.
"Well…I would definitely expect a kiss hello." Bending forward, his hands went to the armrests of the chair. "Hello."
She grinned, her hands reaching to cup his face. Gently, her mouth brushed over his.
"Hello, Mr. Mellark."
Peeta groaned, fire racing through his spine and settling on his bottom half. "I know I shouldn't like that as much as I do."
"I think it has something to do with being at this desk," Katniss told him. "Like this is the kind of scenario that smutty fiction is made for."
He straightened, holding his hand out to her. "You read smutty fiction?"
Katniss waved her hand easily as she stood. "Read it, write it…"
"And, which notebooks are those stories in?" Peeta asked with a cocky smile.
"That's more of a third date kind of revelation," she teased. Her eyes went to the open doorway. "Your room?"
Peeta nodded and together they went into his room. "This place is actually a cabin, if you couldn't tell by its features. The bathroom has screens instead of actual windows." He nodded to the door next to his closet. "I got it for a good price and I don't really need much room."
Katniss let go of his hand, circling the room in silence. She flipped on the lights in his bathroom, quickly looking inside.
"You have a nice tub," she remarked before shutting off the light and going over to the closet. Quickly, peeking inside, Katniss shut the door. "A modest but tasteful wardrobe."
Peeta grinned, crossing his arms. "Anything else you want to peek into?"
Katniss raised a brow. "Where's your underwear drawer?"
"Don't wear any," he retorted.
"I'm looking forward to spending time with you," she replied. Sitting on the bed, Katniss looked up at him, grey eyes invitingly smoky. "Which side is yours?"
From what I remember—" Peeta began. "—you sleep on the right." Katniss nodded, scooting to the side closer to the lone window of his bedroom. He followed, climbing onto the mattress from the left. "So this would be my side."
Laying back, Katniss turned and closed her eyes. Pressing her nose to the pillow, she could smell his scent; forest musk and worn book pages.
"I just want to stay here." Her voice was soft. Katniss wasn't sure if he could even hear her. "I want to keep you in this place—so I can protect you. Protect us."
"Then stay." Peeta's arms wrapped around her waist and Katniss pushed back, feeling him firm behind her. His lips pressed tenderly into her temple and she remembered all those times in the forest when she had wished for him. Wished for them. Wished for this—the chance to be by his side. "Stay always."
Katniss turned to look at him. "Why?"
"Because I'm in love with you," he told her. "I always thought that would be the hardest thing for me to realize." Peeta kissed her forehead and she wished that she could freeze this moment. "When all along, it was the easiest."
"Just for that, I'll write you a poem," Katniss told him, her voice thick with happiness. "No, actually…ten poems."
"No, that's okay." Peeta shifted her so that her top half pressed to his. "I'd rather read some of that smutty fiction you mentioned."
She reached for her pillow smacking him with it before her mouth descended onto his.
"This town looks exactly the same."
Peeta put an arm around her, drawing her close. "What did you expect?"
"I expected District 12 to at least have an ATM," Katniss retorted with a laugh. They made a turn onto a side street and the smile slid off her face. She stopped, turning to Peeta. "Do we have to do this?"
"Yes." He looked to her sternly. "Your parents know that you're here. Prim has just flown in. It's time."
"I know that I have to see them," she argued. "But, I'm not quite ready for the amount of questioning about us."
"There's nothing for us to lie about," Peeta stated. "We didn't do anything." His hands went to her shoulders. "We waited and we found each other again." Leaning down, he gave her a light kiss. "And, we're…together."
"You can't even say it." Katniss crossed her arms. "And, you're expecting me to not worry?"
"What do you want me to do? You want me to shout it out loud?" He turned and looked onto the street, cupping his hands to his mouth. "We're together! Katniss Everdeen and I are toget—"
"Peeta?"
Twisting abruptly, he found Delly walking towards them, grocery bag cradled against her.
"Hi." He went to his ex-wife, his face burning. "Just trying to prove a point to Katniss."
Delly chuckled, barely holding in her smile. "I can see that." She tilted, looking behind him to where Katniss stood awkwardly. "You want to get this over with?"
Peeta nodded. "I guess we should." He held out his hand and Katniss took it, joining their hands. "You remember Katniss."
His ex-wife held her free hand out. "I do, but it's nice to see you again."
"You as well—" Katniss replied, shaking her hand nervously. "—Delly."
"We're on our way to Katniss' parents' house," he told her good-naturedly. "So you're a good stepping stone for dealing with awkwardness."
"How about I make it a little more awkward and invite you two to dinner?" Delly suddenly said. "Parker and Millie have been asking where you've been and Thom wants to hear all about Manhattan." She looked between the couple. "If you're into it."
"Sure," Katniss answered quickly. She looked to Peeta. "Together, right?"
Peeta smiled warmly, his blue eyes brightening at her words. "Together."
"Alright…" Delly nodded slowly. "We'll see you at seven."
With a quick wave, she walked across the street and disappeared down the block.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Peeta said after a moment of silence.
Katniss pursed her lips. "We're so fucked."
Charlie Everdeen had his daughter's stare—sharp and calculating. However, it lacked the warmth that hers did, especially when he focused on Peeta as Katniss hugged him hello. When the couple walked in, Grace was giddy at seeing her oldest daughter drawing her into a tight embrace once the door closed.
Her eyes widened seeing Peeta before her.
"Mom, Dad—you remember Peeta, right?" Katniss started, her smile tense.
"Mr. and Mrs. Everdeen, it's nice to see you again," he told them genially.
"Thank you," Grace replied simply. "Why don't we go into the living room and wait for Prim? She just went to the store to grab something that I needed for dinner."
The living room, decorated in a soft palette of peaches and cream, was comfortable. Peeta's gaze went around the room, settling on the mantle where Prim and Katniss' graduation photos were displayed.
The girl in the photo barely resembled the woman sitting next to him on the couch, the slight roundness of youth disappearing in Katniss' gracefully structured face. Her eyes sparkled with worldliness, as if she had already known where her life was going to go.
"Would you two like anything to drink?" Grace asked.
"We're fine, Mom," Katniss told her. She looked at him and nodded, before looking to her parents. Her mother had perched herself on the armrest of her husband's chair. "I know that you are probably wondering about Peeta and me—"
"No." Her father's expression was hard and she took a breath. "You were fine writing all about it in that book of yours."
"That book wasn't about this relationship." Katniss straightened herself. "It was about me; about how I felt like I was drowning in this town, and how someone taught me that I was more than I thought of myself. I didn't want to just settle."
"We get it," her father replied. "You didn't want to be your mother and me—because we were the antithesis of what you wanted in life. Did you really have it so bad, Katniss? We gave you everything you needed."
"But not everything I wanted," Katniss said. "I wanted to write and travel, to go to NYU, and to—"
"To be with your teacher," Charlie spat.
"Mr. Everdeen," Peeta found himself interrupting the man's angry conclusion. "I respect Katniss. I always have. When she was my student—" Just saying the words made his jaw heavy. "—I wanted nothing more but for her to achieve everything that she had planned for herself."
"This—" Katniss waved her hand between them sharply. "—did not happen until only recently."
"And now?" her father intoned. "Are you going to get married? Have children? Are you going to parade this embarrassing relationship for everyone in District 12 to see? Your mother can't even go to the grocery store sometimes because there are people there that have read that book of yours."
"How about just being proud that I wrote a book?" Katniss said to them.
Katniss was hurt—that much was true. The tentative relationship that she had hoped to bring back was crumbling. Her eyes went to her mother, who was sitting by her father's side, and her anger flared. Not once did her mother come to her defense, her blue eyes instead looking down at her lap.
"I feel like we're just going in circles," she told them. "I love a man. He may not be the one that you expected, but he's the one that I want. I chose him." Katniss turned to Peeta, who beamed. "I choose you."
His hand reached for hers, entwining their fingers. "I choose you."
"I want you to be part of my life," Katniss said to her parents, her voice cracking. "I want you to be proud of me. One day, I'd like to get married, have children…and I want you to be there. But if you can't accept me now, can't accept us…then I don't know what else I can say."
"I'm sorry you feel that way," her father concluded, his grey eyes expressionless.
He stood up, walking out of the room. Katniss knew where he was going; the den, which was to the back of the house. It was his retreat from the world—from her.
"Mom." Her gaze went to the woman, sitting in her father's chair and looking rather small in it. Her mother continued to stare at her hands. "For once in your life, can you please just stick up for me?"
"Goddamnit Katniss," her mother suddenly hissed. "Why do you have to make him so upset?"
"Because I am my father's daughter, obviously," Katniss retorted in frustration. "I know how to push his buttons." She sighed. "Do you want me to leave?"
"I just want to have peace," her mother said with a sigh. "Why did you have to come back?"
The room lapsed into silence.
"She came back because she loves you both," Peeta said after a moment. "And, she wanted to make up for lost time—because she cares. That's the kind of woman you raised; someone loving, kind, and overwhelmingly brilliant. A woman that I believe in. I believed in her then and I still believe in her now. I had hoped that you did, too."
"Let's go." Her voice was still and sad as she stood. "Goodbye, Mom."
Slowly, they made their way out into the hallway and opened the front door just as Prim stepped in.
"Hey!" The smile fell from her face. "Oh no…" Her hand went to her sister's shoulder. "Katniss—"
"Not right now," Katniss said as they stepped onto the porch. "I'm not going to dignify bursting into tears in their house."
Instead, she did it in the comfort of their cabin, cupped against Peeta, her face buried against his heavy chest.
Delly sat across from Peeta, placing a cup of coffee in front of him.
"I like her," she told him.
Peeta took the mug, taking a sip. "I didn't know that I needed your approval." Delly raised a brow at him and he sighed. "Sorry, just cranky. We didn't get much sleep last night."
"That was more than I needed to know," Delly retorted.
"The visit to her parents' house didn't go well," he explained.
His eyes went to Katniss, talking to Millie as the little girl braided her hair. Beside them sat Parker, obviously enamored with the woman whom he declared 'smelled like cookies' when they entered the door.
"Did you really expect it to?" Delly replied. "I mean, as much as you want to deny it, you were her teacher at one point. This is District 12, Peeta. Everyone knows when you buy a different brand of milk."
Peeta took another sip from his mug. "I forgot how it is here."
"Do you want to make a life with her?" his ex-wife inquired. "Marriage? Children?"
"One day." He looked over to find Katniss staring at him. She started, flashed him a bright smile before going back to the children. "But, definitely with her."
Thom stepped into the kitchen from the back porch with a plate of cooked burger patties. He set it down on the counter before placing a kiss to the top of his wife's head.
"Looks like the kids have taken a liking to Katniss," he remarked before joining them at the table. "You two look like you're having a real heart-to-heart. Does it have anything to do with the pretty woman in our living room?"
"Hey now!" Peeta said with a smile. "You already have one of my significant others."
Thom laughed. "Is it weird that it doesn't seem weird to say?"
"It only took ten-plus years," Delly added.
The relationship between Peeta and the Marshall Family had been a long progression of long talks and awkward moments. In time, Peeta and Delly had been able to talk as they once did—as friends. Thom, who was such an easy-going man, eventually found his way onto Peeta's good graces and the two men were not averse to sharing a beer together.
When Millie came, six years ago, Peeta had instantly adored the dark-haired baby with Delly's round eyes. She was rambunctious and sweet, loud when she needed to be, and opposite of the calm, cool Parker, who came soon after.
"I hope it doesn't take ten more for everything to be normal for Katniss and me," Peeta found himself saying.
"Are you talking about me?" Katniss stood behind him, a tired smile on her pink lips. Thom offered her a chair but she shook her head, instead sitting down on Peeta's lap. She looked to Delly. "Millie and Parker are awesome kids."
"We like them," Delly replied, pride in her eyes.
"I don't know many kids who speak French," Katniss remarked.
"We wanted them to be international," Thom told her.
"Honey, will you make sure the kids wash their hands before dinner?" Delly asked.
"Of course." Thom stood up, going into the living room. "It's time to wash your hands, kids."
"And, if we don't?" Millie questioned.
"Your hands will fall off," her father responded.
"We'll live," Parker declared.
"We like children with hands!" Delly called out and the kids giggled. She looked to the couple in front of her. "You two want one of our kids?"
"Which one?" Katniss responded with a smile.
"Don't you think we should have our own?" Peeta asked.
Delly looked between the two with an easy smile. "I'm going to let you two discuss which one of my adorable children you'd like while I set up the burger bar."
Katniss wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "I thought that I scared you off with my family."
"No." He reached to cup her cheek, wishing that he could keep that biting sadness from her gaze. "I'm just worried about you."
"I made my choice," she replied. "I chose to leave on my own. You had nothing to do with that. But, I think it's easier for my parents to find someone else to be angry with." Her gaze went around the spacious kitchen. "I like this house."
Peeta smiled wryly. "I do, too. It used to be mine."
"Maybe when you're back in New York, we could think about finding our own place," Katniss suggested, looking anywhere but at him.
"As long as it has a place for you to write," he told her.
"A place for us to write," she corrected.
"One more day, Katniss." Peeta pressed a kiss to her lips.
"We just have to get through my class reunion." Katniss snorted. "Simple."
Thom entered with Millie and Parker hanging from his arms as they giggled.
"Okay, which one do you want?"
"I think we'll pass for now—" Katniss told them. "—tempting as it is."
Thom looked to his wife and shrugged. "Guess we're stuck with them."
Delly leaned down to kiss her kids, earning a laugh from both. "Guess so."
"Ready?"
Smoothing down her dress, Katniss gave Peeta a tight smile. "Ready."
Together, they entered Panem High.
She had not stepped through its halls for almost ten years and, since his promotion, Peeta's visits were only sporadic since he mostly worked in the district office. However, it all felt strangely familiar walking down the linoleum hallway and towards the gym.
"Katniss! Peeta!" They turned to find Effie and Haymitch walking towards them. Despite carrying twins, Effie's gait seemed much lighter than her husband's, who looked annoyed at having to wear a tie. "There you are."
"Just got here," Peeta informed them. He wrapped an arm around Katniss' waist. "Do you want to check in?"
She nodded nervously. "Yes."
Eyeing her, Peeta put a hand to her shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Anxious, I guess." Katniss gave him a smile. "I'll be right back."
Stepping towards the check-in table, she squared her shoulders and made her way. A golden-haired woman with bright blue eyes manned the table, greeting everyone with a sweet smile.
"Hi!" she greeted, seeing Katniss in front of her. "Checking in?"
"Yes. Katniss Everdeen."
The woman's eyes widened. "Katniss?" She stood up, rounding the table. "It's me, Madge Undersee."
"Madge?" Memories of working as a library aide with a pretty cheerleader flooded her mind as Madge pulled her into a hug. "How are you?"
"Wonderful! Married…two children—" Madge's hand went to her stomach. "Actually, three in about six months."
"That's great," Katniss said sincerely. "And, do I know the lucky man?"
A set of hands were suddenly covering her eyes. "Hey, Catnip."
Whipping around, she found Gale, her once-best friend and neighbor, before her.
"Gale!" She threw her arms around him and he lifted her easily off the ground. Setting her down, Katniss beamed. "I can't believe it! How are you?"
Madge joined his side and his arm went around her shoulders. "Great! Married the prettiest cheerleader."
"You two!" Katniss looked at them in disbelief. "I would have never thought. You were always arguing with each other."
"All sexual tension," Madge replied with a grin. "One day, I just kissed him to shut him up." She went back to the table. "And, you are our big time author!" She handed Katniss her nametag. "We loved the book!"
Katniss looked to Gale. "You read it, too?"
"Of course." Gale beamed proudly at her. "We always knew that you were brilliant, but this was beyond anything. My friend—a full-fledged author."
"And, speaking of which…" Madge nodded her head over at Peeta, who watched with apt interest. "Did you come here together?"
Katniss felt her face warm up. "Yes, we're together."
"Kudos, Katniss." Madge winked at her. "You got the hot teacher."
"Not right away," she found herself saying. "Took me ten years to get him."
Peeta approached carefully. "Hello Gale…Madge." He met Katniss' eyes and she smiled to reassure him that she was alright.
"Long time, no see, Mr. Mellark," Gale replied. He furrowed his brow. "I mean…Peeta. Is it okay to call you that?"
"What my husband is trying to say is that we hope that you'll sit with us," Madge told the man. She looked to Katniss and smiled in assurance.
"Thank you." Katniss felt Peeta take her hand, entwining their fingers. "We'd love to."
"You've been a real sport," Katniss said as they sat at their table. The gymnasium had been decorated with blown-up pictures from their yearbook. On the auditorium's stage was a DJ spinning songs from the graduating year while former students danced on the floor. "I owe you."
Peeta shook his head. "You don't owe me anything. I just wanted you to have a good time."
Katniss leaned from her chair. "Would it be weird if I kissed you in front of all your former students?"
He shook his head. "If you don't mind that I kiss you in front of all your old classmates."
She shrugged. "Well, not a lot of people remember me."
"Katniss?" They looked across the table to where Madge was pushing herself up. "Some of the girls from my book club are calling me over. Would you please come with me? They've been bugging me all night about you." She pouted at her friend. "Please?"
"Of course." Katniss stood, but not before placing a quick kiss on his lips. "I'll be back."
Peeta grinned, his lips tingling with the taste of her gloss. "Have fun."
The two women walked towards the group and Katniss turned to him, a grimace on her face. He chuckled before searching for the Abernathys by the bar. They waved him over and Peeta rose from the table to head over to them.
A jab to his side interrupted him and the sudden scent of vodka invaded his nostrils.
"Mr. Mellark…" Peeta helped the dirty-blond man to his feet. He recognized Marvel immediately; he was the all-star athlete in Katniss' graduating class. A knee injury ruined his chances in college and Marvel had ended up losing his scholarship. The man now managed the local grocery store. "How'd you do it?"
"Why don't you have a seat, Marvel?" he instructed calmly.
The man bristled at his words, yanking himself away and almost stumbling.
"Katniss Everdeen…" Marvel slurred, a lazy grin on his face. "She had a mouth on her." He poked at Peeta's chest. "And now, she has her mouth on you…"
"Mind yourself, Marvel," Peeta warned in a low voice. "I'm going to get you some water."
Turning, he quickly headed towards the bar, trying to calm himself.
"Now everyone knows why Katniss always argued with you in class—it was foreplay!"
Peeta didn't even feel his fist connect with Marvel's jaw. He only saw red.
When he finally focused, his gaze went to Katniss, her grey eyes full of shame. All she had wanted was for them to slowly ease everyone into their relationship.
And, he had gone and fucked it up.
"Katniss, you freak!" A woman came rushing to Marvel, helping him to his feet. She glared at Katniss and then at Peeta. "You two just had to come."
"I didn't do anything…" Katniss backed away before turning and rushing out of the gymnasium.
"Katniss." Peeta's heart dropped to his stomach and he rushed to follow her. Outside, he looked to each side, spotting her rushing towards the main part of town. "Katniss!"
She ignored him, walking as fast as her stilettos could take her.
Peeta caught her easily, rounding to face her tear-streaked face.
"Glimmer is crazy. And, Marvel has had too much to drink—"
"And, my parents will eventually accept us…and people will forget that I was your student." Katniss wiped her eyes in frustration. "But people won't. Not here, Peeta. Not in District 12."
"Is that why you hated this place so much?" he asked her.
"I was always different. Like Glimmer said, I was a freak. I just couldn't be a normal teenager." She looked to him. "And, it became even more glaring when I fell in love with you." A shaky laugh escaped her trembling lips. "I couldn't just fall for a teenage boy!"
"It's not a bad thing to be different," Peeta said.
"Except for moments like this," Katniss told him. "Even though we're out here, I feel the walls closing in."
Peeta took her hands. "So tell me—what do you want to do?" He pressed his lips to her fingers. "Tell me and I will make it happen."
"I want to go back to New York now," she said in a small voice. "I want you to come with me."
"You don't want to just go. You want to run away," Peeta clarified. "I can't run with you…not like this."
Katniss looked at him helplessly. "So what then?"
His mouth was dry despite the burn of tears in his throat. "I don't know."
"Katniss!"
She threw the blanket over her just as Johanna and Cashmere burst into the room. "Leave, please."
"Do you really think that you can just ignore us?" Johanna asked as she sat at the edge of the mattress. "It's been two weeks since you've come back from District 12. You've canceled all your events. I'm not making money. Of course, I'm going to bug you."
"What my dearest wife means is that we're worried about you," Cashmere said from where she sat next to Katniss' buried form. "You're not talking to us. Peeta is just barely talking to us."
Katniss peeked out from her blanket. "What do you mean 'just barely'?"
"Peeta called to thank me for setting up the interview at Cara's school," her friend told her. "But, he decided to not take the position—and he wouldn't tell me why." Cashmere gave her a sad smile. "I think that it has something to do with a pretty writer that I know."
"What the fuck happened?" Johanna crawled over, wedging herself between Katniss and Cashmere.
"It just got too hard." Katniss looked between the couple. She blinked feeling a fresh set of tears hit her cheeks. "I've wanted Peeta for so long. Everything I've done was for us and I thought that here was our chance. But, I didn't factor in that not everyone is like you two or the Abernathys…Gale and Madge…Delly and Thom…Prim…"
"No offense, Katniss," Cashmere started. "But that sounds like a lot of people. Not to mention, a lot of people who count." She brushed Katniss' messy hair from her face affectionately. "And, Peeta is at the top of that rung. He has always put you first, even when it hurt him."
"And, I'm doing the same," Katniss said, sitting up. "He shouldn't leave District 12 with our relationship as his legacy!"
"Katniss, he doesn't give a flying fuck about any legacy," Johanna told her. "He gives a fuck about you—and you're missing out on this great love that you both have. You're missing it and hiding in your bedroom with two lesbians."
Katniss half-sobbed, half-laughed at her friend's words. "I really messed up, didn't I?" It crumbled into a heap of sobs. "I abandoned him when he needed me the most. How could I even get him to forgive me?"
"Meet him halfway." Cashmere handed her an embossed envelope. "Hell, meet him more than that!"
"And, if he doesn't forgive me?"
"Then, you'll have us," Johanna said simply. Her hand covered Katniss'.
Cashmere added her hand in. "We're not going anywhere."
Katniss gave them a smile. "Thank you."
"So what are we going to do?" Johanna asked.
Opening the envelope, she read over the card and then placed it back in the envelope before looking to the couple.
"You're going to help me pack."
"For being the celebrant, you look like you're having a grand old time."
Delly handed him a glass of champagne.
"I'm having a good time," Peeta assured her. He fidgeted with the collar of dress shirt. "Effie tied my bowtie a little too tightly. Is my face turning blue?"
Chuckling, Delly took a sip from her glass and set it on the table next to them. "Here. Let me." She undid the bowtie eyeing it to make sure both sides were equal. "So is your place all packed?"
He nodded. "It's amazing how my whole life was able to be packed up in only a month." Peeta sighed. "I can't believe that I'm just doing this."
"You deserve it," Delly said. "You've been busy saving everybody else's life and forgetting about your own. This is your chance."
He met his ex-wife's eyes sadly. "Even if it's a lonely life?"
Delly smiled sympathetically. "You don't know that." She adjusted the bowtie, stepping back to examine him. "Perfect. When are you taking off?"
"Tomorrow evening," he informed her.
"Stop by the house," she told him. "Millie and Parker want to give you goodbye presents."
Peeta nodded, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "Of course."
Moving away, Delly gave him a final smile before returning to Thom.
His eyes looked around the event room in the middle of town. He had been surprised when Haymitch and Effie had presented him with the idea of a farewell party. His first instinct was to refuse, but the two had pulled off an epic guilt trip telling him that it was their duty as the parents of his future godchildren, a girl and a boy.
How could he refuse?
Despite what Peeta might have thought in regards to his reputation, his work as a teacher and superintendent were not all for naught. It was reflected in the crowd that had come to say goodbye, many of them former students and co-workers.
His chest ached thinking of the one person whom he desperately wanted to be there.
He raised his glass in thanks to Haymitch and Effie, who were near the entrance of the room—before nearly dropping it.
For behind them entered a beautiful raven-haired woman in an ivy-colored wrap dress. She scanned the room before her smoky eyes fell onto his stunned form.
Tentatively, she approached, the train of her dress trailing behind her elegantly.
Katniss stopped in front of him. "Peeta."
He swallowed harshly. "Katniss." His eyes moved over her, taking in every bit of her beauty in, and feeling the air leave his body, as it always did when she was around. "How are you?"
"Not good," she croaked out, her voice tight. Katniss looked to him, eyes glistening. "I missed you so much."
"You left me," he found himself saying.
Katniss nodded, blinking back tears. "I know that. I left when you needed me the most—when we needed each other the most. I'll always regret that." Her hand reached for his. "Being away from you just made me see all the more how much I love you…how much I want to be with you."
"And, everyone else?" Peeta asked coarsely.
"I don't care. The people who matter the most will be there for us," she told him. "We'll be there for one another and, in the end, that's all that matters. I know that you're not going to forgive me right away, but if we could just start off slow. Go on a date or two…coffee…anything really. I just want to be near you—whether that's here or Manhattan. I just want you to know that I love you. I'm proud of you and of us."
His chest constricted. "How do I know that for sure?"
Giving his hand a squeeze, Katniss tugged him along. He passed Delly and Thom, who raised their glasses to him. Effie and Haymitch gave him full smiles while Cashmere and Johanna waved from where they stood by the bar. Prim looked between him and her sister before stepping aside.
They stopped and Peeta looked around, realizing that they stood in the center of the room.
"We danced together once," Katniss said to him. "And, I told you that I never did because I wasn't into forced dancing. The truth was that I didn't want to dance with anyone but you. I still believe that."
Gently she put his hand to her slender waist before weaving her hands behind his neck as the gentle strum of a guitar began to play over the speakers.
"The book of love is long and boring
No one can lift the damn thing
It's full of charts and facts, some figures and instructions for dancing…"
"I love this song," Peeta found himself saying as they began to sway. "I remember listening to the Peter Gabriel version, though."
"But I,
I love it when you read to me.
And you,
You can read me anything…"
"We have a penchant for finding commonalities despite huge number gaps," Katniss replied. "This is a new version. Came out last year."
"Why are you doing this, Katniss?"
"Because I'm in love with you—and I don't care who knows it," she declared. "I would be lucky to be the person you want to live your life with—if you choose me."
Peeta pressed his forehead to hers. "I always choose you."
Katniss shone, crystalline tears rolling down her cheeks. "I always choose you, too."
Peeta smiled, closing the distance between them.
"But I,
I love it when you give me things.
And you,
You ought to give me wedding rings…"
The night was warm so they decided to walk back to his place.
"So where are you going?" Katniss asked. "Delly sent the invitation for the farewell party, but no one said much about where you would be heading."
"Connecticut," Peeta informed her. "My parents owned some property up there and when they passed, it was given to me."
"Did you get a job out there?"
He shook his head. "No." Turning, Peeta took her hands in his. "My book—the one that you read—has found a publisher. I used some of the notes you wrote in the copy you had borrowed and have been improving it over the past ten or so years. In fact, the publishers want me to start working on a follow-up."
Katniss threw her arms around him. "That's wonderful! I'm so proud of you!"
A crunch of leaves caught their attention and they turned to find themselves at the edge of the forest.
Peeta smiled at her. "Do you remember the way?"
She nodded, taking his hand and leading him into her forest home.
The woods welcomed them, illuminating their path with the light of the moon filtering through the glowing leaves of the trees. Their rock summoned them, protective and solid, as always.
Katniss looked underneath it and was surprised to find her light still in its familiar crevice.
"I came here a lot to work on edits last year," Peeta explained. "The batteries should still be good."
She looked around, taking the sight of it in, and took a deep breath.
"You found your garden."
Her eyes went to Peeta. "I found you."
Katniss stepped back slowly, her back resting against the smooth boulder, her eyes beckoning.
Removing his jacket, Peeta tossed it to the ground before pressing forward, his mouth joining hers.
She hummed against his lips, hands gathered into his hair to bring him closer. "Peeta…"
He pulled away, just slightly, as her hands fell from his locks to travel down and stop at her waist, where the tie of her dress was.
Katniss kept her gaze on him as she easily undid the tie to unravel the dress.
Peeta stepped back, his gaze moving from her face…down to the skin exposed from the opening of her dress…the lace bra and matching panties…and finally down to her bare feet.
"Come here," she called to him softly.
There was nothing to do but obey.
Two Years Later…
The slight rustling of the autumn wind did not seem to bother the sleeping duo.
The woman, dark-haired and olive-skinned, protectively rested her hand on the back of the baby, who snoozed on her chest.
Peeta quietly closed his notebook, careful not to bother Katniss and Lennie. The three arrived in District 12 in the still of the night, setting their things in Peeta's cabin before heading into their forest once the sun had risen over the town.
Lennie stirred; her long, dark lashes fluttering, before opening her eyes and revealing her father's deep blues. She didn't cry, only looking around before settling at the sight of her father and mimicking his smile.
"Hey, little girl." Carefully, Peeta picked her up, bringing her head to the crook of his arm. "You excited to see Grandma and Grandpa? Aunt Prim?" Lennie gurgled, waving her arms out in excitement. "Or, maybe you're ready to race Sawyer and Dani—but you do have to learn to crawl first so you can play with them."
Sawyer and Danielle Abernathy were hitting their terrible two's, walking and just generally driving Haymitch and Effie up the wall. The phone calls and e-mails from the Abernathys had been a constant source of entertainment for Katniss and Peeta.
"Millie and Parker are fighting over who gets to babysit you," he told the little girl. "I know they're still too young, but your Aunt Delly has shown them pictures and now they've completely fallen in love with you, like everyone who meets you."
"She's going to get big headed if you kept telling her how everyone is fighting over her." Katniss sat up, stretching her arms over her head, before giving father and daughter a smile. "What time are we meeting Prim and Rory?"
Prim and Gale's younger brother Rory had run into one another at Peeta's farewell party. The two had quickly started dating and were now set to marry in a few days. Katniss would be serving as Matron of Honor and it was a long overdue vacation for them since he and Katniss had been traveling for his book tour.
Raised in a Small Town, Peeta's first book, had been a monumental success after ten-plus years of work. He and Katniss were just barely married when Johanna, now his agent, booked him on a tour that took them from the streets of Manhattan to the sunny beaches of Los Angeles.
It was in Portland when they discovered that Katniss was pregnant. They were halfway through the tour and his wife insisted they continue despite the rigorous traveling. They enjoyed their nomad life; seeing the country, discovering different lifestyles, and making love in some not-so-conventional places.
Lennie was conceived against one of the tallest redwoods he and Katniss had ever seen. She was born in the nation's capital in one of the best medical facilities on Father's Day.
Their daughter was well-traveled for someone barely a year old.
"In about an hour," he told his wife. "Did you have a nice nap?"
Katniss nodded. "Nervous, I guess. As we know, my parents can be difficult."
The relationship between them and the older Everdeens was still tense, but Lennie's birth had softened them—especially with Grace, who could not help but adore a granddaughter who resembled Katniss so much.
His eyes went to her barely-there swell. "We going to tell them about…?"
"In two weeks, it's going to be obvious," she replied. "By the way, Cashmere sent me a list of houses to look into. One is two blocks from their house and Cara is already begging me to buy it so she can babysit."
"We never have to worry about not spending time with one another," he said with a grin. "We have a whole gang of people trying to spend some time with this Little Miss!"
"It's the eyes, I think." Katniss crawled over to them, pressing a kiss to their daughter's dowdy hair. "You can't help but fall in love." She smiled tenderly at him. "I know I was a goner looking into those blues."
Lennie's arms shot up as Katniss leaned forward to give her husband a kiss on the cheek, letting them know that she was in need of some attention.
"Lennox Mellark." He only called her by her full name when he was trying lecture her. It rarely worked. "Sometimes, I'm going to have to kiss your mother."
"And, sometimes I'm going to have to kiss your father," Katniss added with a grin.
"She's just like you sometimes," Peeta told his wife affectionately. "I can almost see her now in her classes, hand in the air trying to argue every…single…point."
Katniss scoffed. "You love that about me!"
"That is true," he admitted.
Lennie reached her hands out, stretching her mouth in a yawn.
"Do you want me to tell you a story?" Katniss asked her daughter and Lennie hummed at her in affirmation. "There was once a girl who loved the woods, so much that she believed that it spoke to her, and one day, it actually did…"
Soon their daughter slept and Katniss turned to him, a smile in her stare.
"You happy, Mr. Mellark?"
Lifting her chin, his mouth met hers in a tender kiss.
"Always, Mrs. Mellark."
FIN.
Thank you if you stuck around.
Couldn't get this story out of my mind and I thoroughly enjoyed writing it. I hope you liked reading it.
Anyway, not many notes in regards to this except—Lennox's name is, of course, taken from Mary Lennox from The Secret Garden.
Song: "The Book of Love"—version sung by Gavin James though I do mention the Peter Gabriel version—both are great and I just adore this song.
Feedback is love.
Thank you again from the bottom of my heart.
-JLaLa
