Here is part 4! This is the dinner conversation entirely from Peeta's pov. Because we must know what our Bae is thinking. :) AND, when I spell checked my doc, the computer said there were no suggestions for this chapter. Does that mean I'm awesome? Oh well, enough babble! Let's pick up where we left off, shall we?

Peeta

"Oh my gosh!" Annie cried. "You should move in, Peeta!"

Peeta felt Katniss go rigid under his arm, and he could only imagine what her face displayed. She had never been able to hide her true feelings. He, too, was bewildered at Annie's proposal, but he kept his arm around Katniss and brushed his fingers back and forth over her shoulder to help her keep up the charade and her composure. He hated lying to their friends, but he would do anything for Katniss, even cause himself pain.

"You can finally get out of your parent's basement! It'll be perfect! Don't you think, Finnie?" Annie asked, nudging the copper-haired man beside her. Finnick's eyes were dancing with amusement, and he seemed about to burst into a laughing fit, although he curbed it well, Peeta thought. He knew he was going to have to answer for this one. There was no way Katniss would be able to lie and say that it was a good idea, nor would she be able to pull off gracefully rejecting the notion that her fiance, someone for all intents and purposes she should already be well acquainted enough to live with, should move in.

"We haven't really discussed anything other than we want to be together," Peeta said truthfully, hoping it was enough to stop the escalation of the topic, but Annie, innocent and sweet as she was, seemed to latch onto it like a determined poodle.

"Think about it, Peeta - Finn and I will be out soon, and your fiance will need a roommate. You live in your parent's basement, and posh and free as it is, you could use a little change." Peeta knew Annie was trying to be helpful, but throwing out that a grown man still lived with his parents stung. They all knew why he was there, saving money to open his own bakery one day and rid himself of the constant, disapproving scrutiny of his mother, but she continued before he could object. "And, you're going to get married anyway. Don't you want to start waking up next to Katniss every morning?" Peeta's gut twisted. Annie had nailed that one on the head so perfectly it sank in as if it were driving through soft flesh. It was what he wanted more than anything. It just wasn't what Katniss wanted. She was comfortable in their closeness, and he was happy to be what she needed when she needed it. It was better than not being with her at all in his opinion.

To Peeta's surprise, Katniss spoke up in favor of Annie's plan, "Actually it's not a bad idea." Peeta couldn't help but gaze at her incredulously, her casual agreement further embedding the nail of what he desired most, until it disappeared altogether, painfully lodged inside him and never to be plucked out. "Annie's right," she added, looking him straight in the eye. "There's no one I'd rather live with than you."

Peeta knew what she meant; that they were already comfortable with each other, and it would keep up the pretense for a bit. But most likely Katniss was terrified of having to live with someone she didn't know. He couldn't deny the logic in it for her, and if the only feelings he'd ever had for Katniss were platonic, he would say absolutely, but this could be dangerous. He didn't want to ruin two decades of friendship, and they seemed more delicate than ever now.

"We'll talk about it later," he decided, trying to sound chipper despite the crushing feeling in his chest. The food arrived soon after, and upon noticing that Katniss was enjoying herself, his spirits lifted enough to join the witty banter flying around the table.

After fighting Finnick for the check, Peeta escorted Katniss from the restaurant, lazily resting his hand on her lower back. It was something he hadn't done much of, even as close as they were, but he had decided toward the end of dinner that if this was the closest he was ever going to get to being her other half, then he would savor every touch, every smile, and every moment. The dreadful feeling that he wouldn't have Katniss much longer in any capacity compelled him to.

"We'll leave you two alone," Finnick said, winking conspiratorially at Peeta as he and Annie disappeared down the hall, leaving him and Katniss in the living room. Katniss took a seat on the sofa, patting the space next to her.

Peeta accepted it, and Katniss reached for his hand. It was her usual friendly touch, a gentle squeeze between hands settled on her thigh, her shorts having ridden up when she sat down, her soft skin warming the back of his hand. He wanted to hold her so badly, but he didn't trust himself. There was no one around to pretend for, so he had no reason to act on his true feelings.

"What do you think?" Katniss asked him, yanking him from his thoughts. Her look was intent, curious, and a little bit worried, which confused Peeta.

"You mean, what do I think in general, or what am I thinking right now?" Peeta responded, having forgotten the topic of conversation at dinner.

"I mean about you moving in here. Roommates?" she questioned. Peeta remembered the reservations he'd had about it, and his feelings revolving how Katniss seemed to not share them, or have any idea they existed. The angel on his right shoulder was telling him this was a bad idea, but the devil on the other was saying 'go for it'. In a timid test, he asked her what she thought of it.

"I think it all makes perfect sense. I meant what I said that there's no one I'd rather live with than you, and once Annie and Finnick are moved out, you can have their room," Katniss explained. "We'll just have to share a room for a few months, which shouldn't be an issue." Oh it was an issue alright, Peeta said to himself. "It could be one long sleepover, you know? Like when we were younger and we always wanted to have one, but our parents thought it was 'indecent'," Katniss rolled her eyes at the word, "just because we weren't the same gender."

Peeta knew exactly what she was talking about. He hadn't understood it then, but he certainly understood it now. He really needed some time to think about what to do, but he couldn't do it with Katniss near him. One pleading look from her and he was a goner, and he always had been.

"I need to think about it, Katniss," Peeta said. He stood, but she tightened her hold on his hand so that he wouldn't move away from her. Looking down at her he could saw her eyes searching his face. She looked as confused as he felt.

"Are you okay? You seem a little off tonight," she asked.

"I'm just a little tired," he lied. He was exhausted. Dinner had taken a toll on his normally restrained emotions. There weren't many times in his life that Peeta didn't know what to do or say. "I should probably get home since I have an early morning tomorrow." That was at least more truthful.

"Alright," Katniss replied, walking him to the door. Before he left, she put her arms around his waist and leaned her head into his chest. "Thank you, Peeta. You really are the best." He could hear the sincerity in her tone. She let go and gave him a quick peck on the cheek. She didn't do it often, but she had done it before. It had the effect of cheering him up a bit.

"Call me when you've thought about it. I'll be the best roommate ever. Promise!" Katniss called after him as he walked to his car. She had no need to remind him. It would be all he thought about that night.

The ovens were hot, and the cinnamon rolls were rising when Mrs. Mellark strolled into the bakery the next morning. Peeta was scurrying around the kitchen, behind in his work from lack of sleep. He'd finally fallen asleep at three a.m., going over and over in his head the pros and cons of rooming with Katniss, only to be woken up an hour later at four. It was a fitful hour anyway, knowing today he would have to tell Katniss no. He would not be moving in with her. She was going to take it personal and not understand. Maybe that was his fault for keeping his feelings from her for so long, but he just couldn't endure the rejection and loss if she didn't feel the same way, which he was pretty sure she didn't.

"Running behind, are we?" Mrs. Mellark said to him. She never sounded sweet, but today she was extra irritable. She hated lateness, and today Peeta had given her a reason to be annoyed. "You know how I detest irresponsibility, Peeta."

"Sorry, mother. I'll move faster," he responded, trying to ease the verbal blow Mrs. Mellark was sure to give.

"I don't think you appreciate what I do for you." Here we go, Peeta thought, taking a deep, relaxing breath. "Maybe I should give you a pay cut if you're going to act so childish. Really, Peeta," he grimaced at the way she said his name, like he was a toddler throwing a temper tantrum. "That's what teenagers do. You're a grown man. It's time to take some responsibility for-"

The rolling pin next to him somehow ended up in his hand, crashing down onto the steel countertop., his mother jumping a little at the loud noise. Every day it was the same. Peeta you're irresponsible. Peeta you act like a child. Grow up, Peeta. Why don't I teach you a lesson and cut your wages. He was sick of it. He only needed a little more to start his bakery. He was so close to being out from under his mother. It was time to stand up for himself.

"I'm not a child. I'm a grown man who works hard and you should be thankful to have me," he said, trying to keep his voice from elevating from years of repressed frustration. It wasn't working too well and his mother didn't appreciate being spoken to so boldly. When he was younger, words and tone like that called for bruises, and he'd learned quickly not to tempt her.

"Grown men don't live with their parents at 28, Peeta." The way his name spewed from her lips, as though she had ingested something poisonous, was the last straw. Peeta untied his apron and tossed onto the counter. He picked up his phone, dialing Katniss.

"Who are you calling?" his mother demanded. Peeta set the phone down and touched the speaker icon, and Katniss' hello rang out in the room. Mrs. Mellark's eyes narrowed. She hated Katniss. It was the one thing in Peeta's life that she had no control over. He barely had control over it, either, but his mother detested Katniss, always had.

"Hey, Katniss. I made a decision," he said.

"What is it?" she asked, her tone sounding nervous.

"You're talking to your new roommate," Peeta answered, staring daggers at his furious mother.

Woo, doggy! I had fun with that last bit. :) Take that Mrs. Mellark! The beyotch...

I'm not sure how I did with Peeta's thoughts. Was I too cruel? I mean, if you've loved someone forever and you've been too afraid to lose them to tell them… did I get it right? Anyway, I couldn't derail the direction it was going. Nothing else came to mind! I think I promised things would slow down this chapter, but maybe I lied…? I'm not sure. In my timeline there's been about a week since Peeta agreed to be fake engaged with Katniss. What do you think? Tomorrow's update will be moving day. Hope you're loving it! Pbg