Three years ago
Peeta was a nervous wreck. He'd avoided this moment for as long as he could. The first year had been easy. They'd been too new. There was no way he could expose Katniss to his mother that soon. It was easier just to pretend to his mother that he wasn't sure where their relationship was going.
It had been a lie, of course. Peeta knew exactly where he was headed with Katniss. He had almost from the very start: into an apartment the minute they graduated, and down the aisle as soon as she'd have him. But there was no more getting away from it. They'd been together for two years. He and Katniss were receiving their undergraduate degrees in a few weeks. Ry and Finn were getting their law degrees. His oldest brother Brandon's wedding to the Mayor's daughter, Madge Undersee, was coming up not long after that. Peeta's girlfriend would be expected to put in an appearance at all three events. But first, they needed to survive this dinner.
Ry straightened his dinner jacket as he entered the kitchen. "You all set?" he asked, reaching for his keys.
Peeta clenched his jaw and nodded. Ry clapped him on the shoulder. "Katniss is a big girl. She'll handle it, Peet. And if Mother acts like too much of a bitch, we'll deal with it." Ry grinned at him and winked. "I'll give her the big news about accepting the job in the public defender's office."
They picked Katniss up on the way to the restaurant. She looked lovely in a black A-line dress and a single pearl on a simple chain that Peeta gave her their first Christmas together. Her hair was up in an intricate braid, but it was fingers that were tied into knots. Peeta raised them to his lips. "You look beautiful. Nervous?"
"I feel like the stakes are really high tonight. You met my family a long time ago."
He leaned over and kissed her cheek and then helped her into her coat. "That's because your family is lovely and they're important to you. Mine, well, other than Ry, I don't care what they think."
Katniss frowned. "Well, let's get it over with then."
Peeta's parents, Brandon and his fiancé were already at the restaurant when they arrived. Peeta's father jumped up from his chair, welcoming them with open arms. Brandon slapped his brothers on the back and shook Katniss's hand kindly, introducing them to Madge. His mother sat at the table, her hands folded in her lap waiting to be acknowledged.
"Mother," said Peeta, bending down to kiss his mother's cheek. "This is Katniss."
Lyla Mellark assessed Katniss coolly, her lips pursed. She nodded. "Good evening."
Peeta watched Katniss's eyes turn to ice even as she pasted a fake smile on her face. "Mrs. Mellark, lovely to meet you."
OoOoOoO
The meal was excellent, Peeta thought, even if he hadn't been able to enjoy a bite of it. His mother had spent the entire evening talking about Brandon and Madge's wedding; rhapsodizing about the invitations and the venue. She praised Brandon for his latest promotion at his law office and oozed about a recent charity event that Madge had organized on her father's behalf. It was, Peeta thought, the greatest display of her social climbing nature that he'd ever seen. And while Peeta could tell that his oldest brother and the bride-to-be were embarrassed by his mother's behaviour, he could at least be thankful that his mother hadn't yet started on her usual litany about his shortcomings.
"Oh, Peeta," his mother said, drawing him out of his reverie. "I forgot to tell you that I saw Delly Cartwright at Madge's event the other day. She asked about you and said to say hello."
He resisted the urge to shake his head. His mother and Delly's mother had been trying to throw them together since they could walk. Neither was interested. "That's nice, Mom. How's Delly?"
"Oh, Peeta, she looks stunning. You really should look her up sometime."
Peeta watched Katniss take a slow slip from her water glass. He nodded. "Katniss and I will have to give her a call sometime. We'll be busy for a while yet, settling into the new apartment and starting our jobs, but a party for all our friends would be a good idea."
"Brothers too, right?" grinned Ry. He'd been into Delly since puberty had transformed her from a plump little girl into a curvaceous woman. "You owe me one, Peet."
"That I do," said Peeta, clinking his glass against Ry's.
"Speaking of the job, Peeta," said Lyla, interrupting the camaraderie, "Are you certain you aren't interested in law school? It seems like such a waste for you to be spending your time doodling the day away in the bowels of some advertising firm." She turned up her nose in distaste.
Katniss put her fork down and clenched her jaw.
"Mrs. Mellark," she said firmly. "Peeta happens to be an exceptionally talented artist and Heavensbee and Associates is one of the best marketing companies on the East Coast. My Aunt Effie says that the mere fact they were willing to let him in the door for an interview is a testament to his skill, let alone making the decision to hire him."
When Lyla Mellark's eyes zeroed in on Katniss, Peeta had to supress the urge to tell her to duck. "And who, pray tell, is your Aunt Effie?" she asked through tight lips.
"A family friend," said Katniss, "and the owner of the top PR firm in Panem. Effie Trinket. Have you heard of her?"
Lyla's eyebrow quirked. Of course a woman like his mother had heard of Effie Trinket. Effie was a powerful woman in Panem. Her bubbly personality and take-no-prisoners attitude made her a fixture at the parties and high society events his mother was dying to attend. Of course, Katniss didn't care a lick about Effie's reputation, but she was smart enough to know that his mother would. Peeta watched her try to fit this latest piece of information into her evaluation of Katniss's worth.
"I see," Lyla said, dropping the matter entirely. "Tell me, Katniss, what are your plans after graduation?"
"I'm joining an environmental engineering firm," said Katniss. "It specializes in sustainable development projects. I'll be joining a team of people working on the construction of a pharmaceutical plant here in Panem."
"And your father has no concerns about you entering such a non-traditional field? It can't be easy to be a female engineer."
Katniss's jaw twitched at Lyla's latest attempt to deliberately provoke her. "No. My father would not be concerned, if he were alive. He always encouraged me to be, "non-traditional," as you say. He even taught me to hunt with a bow and arrow."
Peeta turned to his dad. "She's an amazing shot. She can hit a squirrel right in the eye."
His father looked impressed. "I haven't had squirrel in years."
"Thank goodness," his mother said dismissively. She turned back to Katniss. "It must have been so hard on your mother," she said, "to raise children alone. What does she do, dear?"
Peeta grasped Katniss's hand under the table, trying desperately to communicate with her telepathically. You don't have to do this. But Katniss soldiered on.
"My mother is a nurse by training. She was brilliant, but she's been unwell since my father died."
"I see," said his mother. "Well, I guess we can be glad the state has programs to help such 'unfortunate' people."
"Lyla," admonished Peeta's father.
Katniss wiped her mouth with her napkin and laid it on her plate. "I guess we all have our limitations, Mrs. Mellark. Some of us love too much. Others love too little."
Unaccustomed to being put in her place, Lyla sat back in her chair, her eyes narrowed. Peeta looked over at Ry, who nodded and turned to their mother. "So, Mother. Did I tell you that I'm going to be a public defender?" Lyla gasped and began to shriek at Ry about "wasting their hard-earned money."
Peeta leaned over to his father. "Dad, I think it's time for us to go." He rose and pulled out Katniss's chair.
"Please, Peeta," said his father, looking stressed.
"No, Dad. We've had enough. Good night everyone. We'll get a cab home, Ry."
Ry's eyes were gleeful when looked up. "Not to worry, Peet. I'll see you later." He turned back to Lyla. "Now mother, 'unfortunate' people need adequate legal representation too."
Three weeks later, Peeta's invitation to Brandon and Madge's wedding arrived. There was no "and guest" on the envelope. Ry suggested they appeal to Brandon and Madge. Peeta simply checked "will not attend" on his RSVP and sent his brother and new sister a nice gift.
Seven weeks ago
Peeta nursed another fresh beer, relaxing into the leather loveseat in Finnick's man cave. Katniss was curled up against his side, a big bowl of popcorn between them. Annie sat on Finnick's lap while they waited for Ry and Delly to arrive with the pizza. The Avengers battled to save New York on the big screen.
None of the gang were up for saving the world tonight. Finnick and Annie were entering the home stretch for the wedding. Ry and Finn were insanely busy at the new law firm they'd started about a year ago. Jo managed a nightclub and worked nights and weekends.
Katniss was busily working on a new housing development around the lake not far from where they'd grown up and was spending her waking hours muttering about walking trails, public access and protecting fish stocks. Peeta, having quickly risen through the ranks at Heavensbee and Associates, was now the lead designer on several of their highest profile accounts, all of which seemed to be launching a new product in the next month. He was exhausted.
Iron Man was flying across the screen when Peeta checked his beer. Empty again. They were going down a little more smoothly than usual tonight. He pulled another one out of the cooler beside him, leaving only one soldier behind.
A door slammed upstairs and before long Finnick and Annie's new house was filled with the smell of cheese and pepperoni. Ry clattered down the stairs with the pizza. Delly was on his heels, their drinks in her cooler.
Ry threw himself onto the floor and opened up the pizza box, choosing the biggest slice and biting down. He moaned in ecstasy.
"Oh fuck. That is so good. We need more pizza and movie nights, guys. This running a law firm shit is hell on my social life."
Delly gave him a withering stare. "Excuse me, but the last time I checked, I run the law firm. No one would get billed or paid if it weren't for me. You and Finnick just stand around, looking good in your suits while you pontificate."
"So, what you're saying is, I'm hot. I'm good with that," Ry retorted.
Finnick and Ry had quickly built reputations as two of the best defence attorneys in Panem and clients flocked to them in droves when they opened the doors of their new office. Within a few weeks of their partnership, they'd needed an office manager. At Peeta's encouragement, Delly applied for the job and then she wowed them both in her interview. They hired her on the spot, much to Ry's delight. It wasn't long before their relationship progressed beyond business, but neither seemed to be in hurry to define it.
"So Annie, all ready for the wedding?" Delly chirped, desperate to change the subject.
Annie groaned and reached for a slice of pizza. "I can't wait for it to be over." She pointed at Peeta and Katniss. "When it's your turn, don't let anyone talk you into a big production. Just have a little wedding in your backyard and be done with it."
Peeta felt Katniss freeze beside him. She'd told him more than once that she didn't want to get married, but that didn't stop him from wanting to be her husband. It hadn't stopped him from buying a ring either.
"We're not in a hurry, Annie," he lied, taking a healthy swallow of his beer. "We're basically married now. A piece of paper wouldn't make that much difference. Katniss shifted uncomfortably beside him and Peeta rubbed her shoulder soothingly.
"Please, please let me be in the room when you tell Mother that you and Katniss got married," Ry begged and Peeta laughed mirthlessly. "No! Better!" his brother effused. "Let me perform the ceremony. That would be awesome. Then I can be partly responsible when she finally pops her cork."
Peeta's head swam when he shook it. Definitely time to put some food in his stomach. "There's no way I'd leave you in charge of our wedding Ry."
Ry cleared his throat. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join my idiot brother in marriage to the beautiful woman who is fool enough to sleep with him. God knows why. I sure as hell don't."
Finnick, Annie and Delly burst into laughter. Peeta stood up to get a slice of pizza and the room tilted dangerously.
Katniss stood up quickly. "Okay, Peeta. You need some fresh air. We'll be right back."
She led him out of the basement to Finnick and Annie's back deck where the twinkle lights strung through the trees gave off a romantic glow.
Peeta flopped into a deck chair. "It's beautiful out here, isn't it? We should buy a house, Katniss. I want a really great kitchen. Then I'll bake you cheese buns every weekend."
Katniss sat in front of him and combed his bangs with her fingers. "You already bake me cheese buns every weekend. We don't need a whole house for that, Peeta. It's just the two of us."
"Yeah, but we need more room. For the kids!"
She shook her head, an amused smile passing over her lips. "Peeta. We don't have kids. We're not even married."
That was an easy problem to solve. "Then let's get married."
Katniss's smile faltered. "Peeta, you're drunk."
"No, well, a little. But that's not the point. Let's just do it. Let's get married. We can get a licence tomorrow and Ry can marry us by the weekend. We can do it here. It's really pretty back here."
"Peeta, please. You need to stop this."
He should do this right, he thought, and got out of his chair to kneel before his girl. "Katniss Everdeen, will you marry me?"
Katniss scowled. "It's all a big joke to you, isn't it?"
He sat back on his heels. "What?"
"I never would have expected this of you, Peeta. Why would you make a joke out of something so important?" She pushed her chair away from him and Peeta scrambled to his feet.
"Katniss, it's not a joke. I love you. I want to marry you. I always have."
He reached for her and she slapped his hands away. "Sure," she sneered. "That's why you've waited five years and had to get drunk to ask me."
Peeta wanted to scream in frustration. "Katniss! You are constantly telling me that you don't want to get married. I haven't asked because I thought you'd say no."
"Well, you were right. I'm saying no. Go inside, Peeta. I'm going home." Katniss stormed around the corner of the house. Her car roared to life and peeled down the street.
When Peeta got home an hour later, Katniss's half of the closet was empty.