Fighting To Come Home Chapter 4
It had been nine very long months since Katniss had deployed overseas. The only injuries she had received were the gun shot to her shoulder when she tackled Finnick saving his life. She had also received some minor injuries like a large piece of shrapnel in her right knee, along with some smaller pieces in her back. But in the army's point of view they were nothing serious and were easily fixed. Johanna had received a serious concussion when the shrapnel went into her leg and Finnick had come out fine besides some cuts and bruises. They had received orders two months ago that their current tour was done and they were being sent home for two months. But they didn't know if they would be coming back overseas or going back to Fort Benning after their two month leave was over. Finnick was going home to Colorado and had already left but Johanna and Katniss had created this plan to surprise everyone back in District 12.
Currently they were on a midnight flight to Portland where they would land and check into a hotel room and rent a car and then drive to District 12 and show up at Peeta's bakery while Johanna would go to Clove's office. The only person who knew was her mother, they planned that they would all go to dinner with Clove and Peeta and Prim and Rory and then Prim and Johanna would walk in surprising Prim.
They finally landed in Portland at two in the morning, they both were exhausted and weren't sure how they made it to the hotel room they booked. They both crashed in their uniforms and didn't wake up until almost ten the next morning. Quickly they both showered and dressed and got into their rental car driving the long two hours to District 12. When they got closer to town Katniss called her mother and told her they were pulling into town, so her mother called Peeta's bakery and told his workers that Katniss was on her way, she did the same thing for Clove's office.
Once in town they drove to Katniss's apartment and dropped all of their things off, to help disguise themselves through town they put hats and sunglasses on which helped since it was the middle of August and hot. Once outside Johanna spoke "So I'll see you and lover boy tonight at the restaurant when we surprise Prim right?"
Katniss nodded her head "Yeah, I'll see you tonight. I have fun with Clove" Katniss said smirking.
Johanna laughed and said "Have fun with lover boy brainless. See you in a couple of hours" the two friends turned separate ways and headed towards their destinations. Once outside Mellark bakery Katniss looked inside the window to see Peeta's two assistants working the front which meant Peeta was in the back which was perfect.
Taking a deep breath she stepped inside and walked towards the counter patiently waiting in line once she got the front she took off her sunglasses causing the worker to smile and say "Just stand to the side over there and I'll call him out saying a customer has a question for you".
Katniss smiled and said "Thanks" she removed her sunglasses and hat and let her hair fall down in waves. She stood with her back to him so that he wouldn't see her at first she could her the worker go in the back and say "Peeta there's a customer out front that needs to talk to you".
"Alright I'll be right there" Peeta said. Just hearing his voice made her heart beat quicken and bring a smile to her face. She could hear his heavy footsteps across the floor when she guessed that he was about half way towards her she slowly turned around.
One she was fully turned around and he could fully see her, he stopped dead in his tracks, his jaw dropping open and a surprised expression on his face. Katniss smiled he looked so adorable, "Hi Peeta" she said.
"Katniss" Peeta whispered before he charged at her wrapping her in strong bone crushing hug, he picked her up and spun her around while kissing her hair and repeating her name over and over.
Once he finally sat her down he put his forehead against hers and whispered "Are you really here?"
Katniss smiled with tears in her eyes and placed her hand on his check "I'm really here Peeta".
Peeta smiled and pulled her into a mind blowing kiss that made her weak in the knees. Katniss wrapped her arms around his neck, she needed him to be closer, being away from the person you love the most in your life for nine months is excruciating. When they pulled away everyone in the bakery started clapping and cheering, causing Peeta and Katniss to blush, Katniss hid her face in Peeta's shirt not wanting to come out. She had forgotten that the bakery was completely full with customers. Once everyone stopped clapping and cheering Peeta looked towards his assistants and said "I'm taking the rest of the day off" and with that he grabbed Katniss' hand and pulled her outside.
Laughing Katniss quickly caught up to him so that they were walking side by side "Someone's eager aren't they" Katniss said.
Peeta smiled "Of course I'm eager I haven't seen my beautiful, smart, strong, courageous, brave, and incredibly sexy girlfriend in nine months".
Katniss stopped and tugged on his hand making him look at her she wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on her toes to kiss him when she pulled away she said "You really know how to charm a girl don't you Mr. Mellark".
Peeta smiled and said "I only know how to charm you Ms. Everdeen. Now come on were wasting time" he picked her up bridal style and ran the short distance to her apartment where he through open her door kicking it shut and quickly heading towards her bedroom.
Johanna and Clove
Once at Clove's office she had the secretary call Clove and tell her she would be needed in the meeting room in twenty minutes, Johanna sat in the room on the other side of the room with her back towards the door. Johanna had never felt so nervous and excited in her life, not even when she first went to Iraq. Twenty minutes later she heard the door open and Clove speak "Hello Mrs. Clark. My name is Clove and I'll be talking with you about your husband's last wishes when it came to his will".
Johanna smiled she feel for her set up, obviously Johanna wasn't married. Johanna stood and slowly turned around to face Clove. "Hello Clove" Johanna said with her normal smirk.
Clove stood there completely shocked "Johanna, what are you doing here?"
"Obviously I'm here to see my girlfriend after nine months" Johanna said walking around the table towards her.
"Jo" Clove whispered before she broke into tears and ran into Johanna's arm. The two just stood there embracing each other, both with tears running down their faces.
Johanna pulled away and said "You've made me soft Clove".
Clove laughed and whipped away her tears "How did I do that?"
"Your making me cry, I never cry, and I've been through a lot. Now I understand how Katniss can be so soft with Peeta" Johanna said laughing, and pulling her girlfriend in for a kiss.
Katniss and Peeta
"Do we really have to go to dinner tonight? I was hoping we could stay locked up in your room until tomorrow?" Peeta said wiggling his eyebrows at Katniss.
Katniss smiled and pushed on Peeta's chest pushing him away from her. "Come on it's supposed to be a surprise for Prim she doesn't know I'm home. Besides I promise you we can lock ourselves in your apartment all day tomorrow". Katniss said.
Peeta sighed "Alright, but understand I'm only doing this for you and Prim".
"I understand. Now come on, let's go" Katniss said dragging Peeta out of the apartment and downstairs to her truck.
When they pulled up to the restaurant Johanna and Clove were already there sitting at the table Katniss' mother had reserved for them, and the Hawthorne's.
"Jeez what took you so long brainless?" Johanna said.
"Peeta here didn't want to leave the bed. I had to promise that we wouldn't leave the apartment all day tomorrow" Katniss said taking a drink of water.
Peeta blushed and said "You weren't supposed to tell anyone".
Johanna laughed and said "Oh lover boy your so naïve Katniss tells me everything. And I mean everything" Johanna said drawing out the last word and winking at Peeta.
Peeta's turned the color of a tomato and turned to Katniss looking horrified. Katniss laughed and said "She's only teasing" Peeta immediately relaxed and Katniss mumbled "A little bit".
Peeta turned to her and she said "What?" Looking all innocent.
Peeta narrowed his eyes and he whispered "We'll talk about this later".
Johanna couldn't hold it in any longer and started laughing so hard she had to lean on Clove for support.
Katniss' phone vibrated and she looked at the text that her mother sent her. "The Hawthrone's and my mom are their way now. Prim and Rory will be here in twenty minutes" Katniss said.
"Alright let's get ready for the water works" Johanna said.
"Oh like your one to talk Jo" Clove said.
"Oh you must tell Clove, did Jo get a little emotional when she saw you again?" Katniss asked teasingly.
Johanna scowled and said "Of course I didn't brainless".
Clove smiled and looked at Katniss and mouthed 'She did'. Katniss started laughing and said "God I would pay good money to see that".
Johanna narrowed her eyes and kicked Katniss in the shin's underneath the table "Shut it brainless".
Katniss rubbed her shins and said "Don't make me hurt you Jo".
"I'd like to see you try brainless" Johanna said.
"Oh come on Jo let's go" Katniss said standing up, instantly Johanna stood up as well and the two girls stood glaring at each other.
Peeta stood up and said "Okay let's come down you two".
"Stay out of this Peeta" Katniss said still glaring at Johanna.
The two glared at each other for a couple of minutes before they both started laughing at one another. They sat back down and waited for her mother and the Hawthrone's arrived.
Her mother was the first one to walk into their private area at the restaurant "Katniss" her mother said rushing towards her oldest daughter.
Immediately Katniss stood up and headed towards her mother, embracing her in a hug "Oh sweetie I missed you so much" her mother said into her hair.
"I missed you to mom" Katniss said back.
Her mother pulled away letting Hazel hug her "It's good to have you back safely Katniss" Hazel said.
"It's good to be back Hazel" Next Katniss hugged Vick telling him that he was growing too tall and picked little Posy up into her arms and hugged the little girl. After Katniss sat Posy back down she surprised everyone by running and jumping into Johanna's lap, wrapping her little arms around the young woman's neck.
"I'm glad your back Jo Jo, we can play Barbie's again" Posy said.
Johanna sat with her eye's wide not knowing what to do. Slowly she wrapped her arms around the little girl and she said "Of course we can play Barbie's again Posy".
Clove put her hand on Johanna's shoulder and smiled, Katniss stood with her mother and Hazel smiling.
"Rory texted me they'll be here in five minutes" Vick said.
"Okay Katniss I'm going to have you leave the room and then I'll have Vick come get you and then you can come in and surprise Prim. By Johanna being in here she'll be totally confused, it'll be perfect" Her mother said.
Katniss nodded her head gave Peeta a brief kiss and stepped into the hallway walking down a little bit so that Prim wouldn't see her when she came in. She could hear Prim and Rory come in and say Hi to everyone, "Johanna what are you doing here?" Prim said really high pitched.
Vick then poked his head out and waved her in "What is going on? Why is Johanna here? Where is Katniss?" Prim said sounding close to tears her voice kept going up higher and higher the more she spoke.
Katniss stood inside the doorway looking at the back of her sister, Rory noticed her and smiled and took a step away from Prim. "Someone tell me what's going on? Peeta please" Prim said now pleading with Peeta.
Peeta smiled and said "Turn around Prim".
Slowly Prim turned around and faced Katniss. Prim gasped and ran towards her sister developing her in a bone crushing hug. Katniss hugged her back, the two sisters just stood there hugging each other.