"I'll leave you guys to discuss whatever you need to whilst I wait in the other room." Prim smiled, backing away.
"Hey," Katniss called out, her voice sounding raspy as she rubbed her neck. "Can you just keep making dinner since you're here? I'm going out for a walk with..." Her eyes met his steely blues. "Peeta." She whispered.
Prim nodded, taking her coat off and placing her bag down on the sofa as Katniss retrieved her own coat and bag before heading back out with Peeta silently following.
She was surprised she couldn't hear his steps. When they were together, she would seldom take comfort hearing his footsteps in her dreams whenever he came back to his place to meet her in his bed after a long day's work.
Shutting the front door closed, she led him downstairs and out of the building, into the quiet streets of Seam Lane.
"I see your leg's better," she mumbled. Maybe that was why his steps were quieter.
"Oh, yeah. I, uh, got a new prosthetic. Technology sure does work its magic these days..." Peeta replied just as quiet.
They fell into silence again, walking away from Seam Lane into Seam Street, where the Hawthornes lived.
"Thank you for looking after my Uncle Haymitch," Katniss finally continued.
Her uncle was a former doctor turned gym coach after he became an alcoholic and was blacklisted from working at any hospital in the country but his thirty-five-year career had allowed him to have a hefty amount of money to live in Victors' Village where many elites and rich people lived. He also had a good standing with the town's mayor.
"No worries. He's a good guy. Rye sometimes brings the kids over to see him so he can teach them how to play baseball but you know Rye, he'd rather they learn wrestling like we did but they're too young. Haymitch plans to start a little league."
Katniss was surprised. She knew he rarely drank but taking an active part to enlighten the lives of the children in their small town was out of character for such an independent man as him. Katniss didn't even remember if he'd helped her in her extracurricular activities when she was young.
"Wow," she mumbled. "He really is trying to turn things around."
Peeta nodded. "He is. You should be proud. Hey, I'm sorry about your mother. My dad was saddened when he found out."
Katniss knew their parents' history. They'd dated for three years back in High School before her mother fell in love with her father during their Senior year when her father moved to America from Italy which she now knew. They'd gone to the same college and then Medical school before getting married and having her and Prim a couple of years later and apart. Now, cancer had taken one and partial suicide had taken the other parent.
"Thank you for your condolences." Katniss acknowledged. "Why did you want to see me?"
Peeta took a deep breath in as they turned away from Seam Street into Seam Village, a small bit of countryside where a good friend of both families, Sae, lived.
"Delly told me you'd come in after much persuasion. You know how overbearing she gets when we don't comply." He smiled.
Katniss returned the smile before it disappeared. "So, she told you she basically hired me on the spot without bothering to look at my resume."
He chuckled. "Yep. Well, it's not like you're new to the franchise. We've worked long summers behind the counters many times. You will be a regular face again before we know it."
"So, you're okay with this? With me working at your bakery?"
Peeta stopped and turned to face her, making her stop and turn to face him in the process.
He took a deep breath and looked down. "I know we ended things badly. I regret that greatly. I admit, I had a lot of issues, insecurity being a great one. I... I was overbearing, jealous and in denial. I wanted to believe that we had a perfect relationship that I wasn't jealous every time you smiled at something Gale said or did. I wanted to marry you and be the one who came home to treat you how you deserved, like royalty. I had so many fantasies of our future that I couldn't see past what was real. To be honest, Delly did like me. After I came back to find out you weren't ever going to come back, I dated her for a year and a half before she eventually moved onto Scotti. It was a sight, seeing them together in my bed after work. I guess I wasn't what she imagined for all those years and she did confess that she had an idea of how we'd be as a couple but it never lived up to what she wanted."
"I'm sorry," Katniss said, a pang of hurt hitting her chest. "Do you still love her?"
"No," he shook his head. "I never loved her. I just used her as a rebound, I guess. There wasn't anything there, I barely even remember having sex with her unless I was drunk."
Katniss blushed. "Oh."
"I forgot you were a prude. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you we slept together-"
"No." She cut him off. "You have needs. So, do I. I dated a couple of guys, nothing ever lasted."
"Gale?"
Katniss winced. "I kissed him when he came to visit once but it felt so weird, uncomfortable. I literally wiped my mouth in disgust after. We haven't really talked since then, it's embarrassing..."
Her phone began to beep with incoming texts and she smiled as she read each one. Most were pictures of Willow's mouth covered in sauce.
"Who... is that?"
Katniss looked up, blushing as she switched her phone off. "My cousin."
"Cousin? Haymitch has a daughter?"
She shook her head, suddenly feeling stupid and guilty. "No, from my dad's side. I got to meet a few Italian relatives."
"Oh. She's cute."
A bright smile lit Katniss' face as she blushed. "She is, isn't she? Her laugh and smile are contagious and she draws such amazing pictures, sometimes I can't believe..." She stopped herself.
"Believe what?" Peeta asked, smiling confusedly.
"We're... related."
"So, you have artistic people on your father's side?"
She nodded slowly. "My father knew how to draw, so did my mother. I guess there's something artistic even in me."
"I better let you get back."
"You didn't answer my question. Are you okay with me working at your bakery?" She asked.
Peeta shrugged. "We'll barely see each other so you won't be uncomfortable. One day, we'll properly talk things out, not make things even more awkward."
Katniss nodded. "I agree. Thanks for not firing me."
"Why would I? I'm not a vindictive, jealous ex."
"I know but people would talk. All they know is that we were together one day and the next, we weren't..."
Peeta raised his eyebrows. "Well, it's none of their business, right?" He asked with a small smile. "I have to go. It was meant to be a quick stop."
He walked her back to Prim's building and left, mumbling a quiet 'goodbye' as she turned around and headed for the door.
She turned around, saw him get into his car and pause. She kept her gaze on him even when their eyes met before he looked away, started the ignition and drove off.
It was then she realised she hadn't got the key reader.
She buzzed Prim's home button and Prim quickly let her in without bothering to confirm if it was her. She must have been watching from above.
"How was your talk?" Prim asked as soon as Katniss stepped inside.
"Awkward but he's fine with me working at the bakery. We'll barely cross paths."
Prim pouted, sliding a plate in her sister's direction on the dining table.
"That sounds sad. You do know you have to tell him, right? No matter how awkward things may be."
"We will talk properly about how we left things then Willow comes after."
"I hoped sending the photos would work, I saw you online on the app."
Katniss scowled. "How dare you? I had to cover that she was our cousin from Dad's side. Don't do that, Prim. I'll tell him when I'm ready.
Prim sighed, sitting down at the dining table and folding her arms. "I'm sorry."
The elder sister released her own sigh, picking at her food. "No, I'm sorry. You're right. It's been five years and every day Willow's more curious than before. I have to introduce them soon. I just hope he won't be mad at me."
"He'll never be mad at you," Prim replied, placing her hand on Katniss' to make it stop fidgeting.
"The day we last spoke, there was something in his eyes, Prim... A little bit of me was frightened but I continued to jibe at him about Delly. I didn't even let him explain himself."
Prim pursed her lips. "Well, Peeta will forgive you."
"He won't. He wasn't my Peeta any more then, and he isn't my Peeta now. Something's off about him. He's changed. We both have. Has Willow eaten?"
The blonde gave a short nod. "I allowed her to eat in her room. She would be almost done but I think she's up for seconds."
Katniss chuckled lightly and smiled brightly at her sister. "You wanted to tell me something before Peeta came?"
Prim blushed furiously. "Well..."
"Spit it out, Little Duck," Katniss told her lovingly. "What's up?"
"I've spoken to Rory. We think it's time you find a place for you and Willow..."
Katniss' face fell, her fork clattering on the plate. "I-I know that we'd be leaving soon but not this soon. I-I haven't got the money from the sale of our old apartment yet and I've just started my job. Heck, I don't even know my salary!" She rambled.
Prim sighed. "Well, I guess you have five months..."
"I-I should be able to get the money from the sale then. I'll need some cash for a deposit-"
"I'm pregnant." Prim breathed out. "I'm pregnant, Katniss. I'm going to be a mom too."
Katniss blinked slowly, a smile slowly making its presence known on her face as her eyes glistened with tears.
"You're going to be a mom?" She whispered.
Prim nodded, her own tears making their way down her cheeks. "Yeah."
She was met with a tight hug from her big sister but she didn't realise the uncertainty laced in the brunette's eyes.