Wow! Thank you for your support!

See author notes at the end of the story.

These characters do not belong to me.

But you didn't have to cut me off

Make out like it never happened and that we were nothing

And I don't even need your love

But you treat me like a stranger and that feels so rough

No you didn't have to stoop so low

Have your friends collect your records and then change your number

I guess that I don't need that though

Now you're just somebody that I used to know

-Gotye (Somebody That I Use to Know)

Italics=Flashback

This first flashback is rated M. Please skip over if you're not into that.

This chapter switches between both Peeta and Katniss.

All I Know

By JLaLa

Chapter Four: Somebody That I Use to Know

"Mom" and "Dad" were fighting.

Katniss sat in her room listening to Gale and Johanna arguing downstairs. It was really Gale's fault; he didn't understand that she could do this on her own.

When she pulled out the envelope that Effie had given her the night before and declared she was staying, she saw a number of reactions: happiness from her daughter, shock from Peeta and anger from Gale. Johanna had already known about it, of course.

Haymitch had left her his house. The deed was in the envelope and was already in her name. Written on the envelope was one thing: "To a fresh start".

"It is your choice again, Katniss," Johanna said the night before as they sat on her bed looking it over.

She didn't regret the choice when she saw the joy and the happiness in Zoe's eyes. She was scared as hell, admittedly, but she felt that this was where she needed to be. The issue was that Gale thought that she still needed them or to be more precise him. Johanna on the other hand thought that it was none of his damn business-and it wasn't.

She also knew that deep in the crevices of Johanna's sarcastic disposition was someone who was worried that the guy she liked was still pining. Living with them over the last four years had given her an interesting look into what a semi-normal relationship was.

Katniss went to her window and without thinking walked onto the porch roof. She needed to be outside. Quietly, she shimmied herself down a column and onto the porch. Careful to duck down when she was near the windows, she walked down the steps and into the back part of the village where woods were located.

This was what Katniss had missed when she was in Capitol; the smell of the woods. She felt so much more solid there and a part of the world around her. As she crawled under the fence, she didn't need light to know her way into the dark woods. Her feet knew the way so well.

"I knew you would come around sooner or later."

Katniss turned to see Peeta leaning against a tree with a flask in his hand. It had been Haymitch's. He had it with him that first time on the train to the Capitol. She briefly wondered when he started drinking.

"I don't do this often," he said holding up the flask. She approached him and he thought she looked like Artemis in the moonlight.

"I always wondered how you didn't suffocate in the Capitol," he continued. "These woods are practically in your blood."

"Maybe that's why I came back," Katniss replied. "Among other things."

They looked at one another for a moment and she could see Peeta's blue eyes glittering in the darkness. "Is this what I think it is?" She approached the tree he leaned against and he moved aside so that she could put her hand on the cool wood. Turning to him, she felt herself instinctively laying herself back against the tree. "I'm surprised that you didn't burn the thing down."

"Now why would I do that?" Peeta took a swig and offered it to Katniss. She raised an eyebrow before taking the flask from him and taking her own swig. "It's a special tree."

The sun was setting when Peeta had found her in the woods. The day had been hot and it was a relief to feel the temperature significantly drop. There was still a warm breeze that kept the woods comfortable. Katniss was laying back on the tree, her feet bare and her long braid against her shoulder. She was looking at the colors in the sky as the sun began to drop.

The weather had been so hot that Katniss had put on a long white linen dress that had belonged to her mother. She liked that it had kept her cool in the weather while he had appreciated that it was slightly sheer. If you really looked, that is. He joined her lying back against the tree next to her and they watched the sun lower.

Orange intermingled with violet blues of a night sky and he turned to her. "I don't think I would want to share this with anyone else," he said and took her hand. Katniss smiled and kissed his lips nipping his bottom lip before releasing him. He went in front of her and pulled her close. She put her arms around his neck. "You look beautiful."

"You're only saying that because you can see through my dress," she replied but kissed him again. This time she slipped just a little of her pink tongue into his mouth. Katniss could feel his desire for her mounting.

There was something in her that loved the feel of being able to control Peeta this way. She liked that she could bring that part of him of out. The part that was no longer sweet. Their lips met again but it was a different feeling this time. Her own desire had been kindled.

"What are we doing?" he asked as her lips were pressed against his.

"Whatever we want," Katniss told him and pressed her body against him. Peeta let out a ragged breath.

"Be careful," Peeta replied his voice thick and she ran her hand down against his chest and into the spot right inbetween his abdomen and his hip bone. "You don't know what you're doing." Katniss knew that he was baiting her.

She kept her eyes on him as she unbuckled his belt and used a hand to undo the button of the khakis he wore. "I know exactly what I'm doing," she said and reached for him. Peeta gasped and she was suddenly being pushed roughly against the tree.

His own hands were ascending her outer thighs and then cupping her bottom so that he could lift her. The skirt of her dress was pushed up giving her freedom to wrap her legs against his hips. Their lips met again and when Peeta thumbed her nipple through the thin cloth she moaned into his ear. "Please…"

"Tell me what you want," Peeta said pressing his lips against her neck.

She could tell that she didn't need to say it but Katniss knew that Peeta needed to hear it.

"I need you,"Katniss said into his ear. "I need you inside me."She bit his ear and he moaned. He didn't need to be asked again.

When he entered her, their eyes met and they never left one another as he continued to push into her. They settled into a rhythm and Katniss dug her feet into his back urging him on. He was the only one who could do this to her. Her boy with the bread.

She needed completion. "Faster." Peeta let loose and it didn't matter to either of them if they were sore the next day. Katniss was on the brink and a final thrust led her to fall apart. Moaning his name, Katniss felt Peeta speed up and soon he joined her in post-climatic bliss.

"Do you think anyone heard us?" she asked as they sat on the base of the tree. The back of her dress was ruined and she intended to ask Peeta if he could get her a sweater so she wouldn't expose herself to the whoever might be walking about.

"Let's hope that Haymitch is passed out," Peeta said with a grin.

The next morning when they both exited her home, the glare that Haymitch gave them told that he had heard everything.

"I knew there was something different about that time," Katniss said as she sat down on the ground.

"Yeah, we conceived a child." Peeta sat next to her. "Hopefully she never finds out about our sex tree."

They laughed. "I think the secret has gone with Haymitch." She leaned back and closed her eyes. "It's so peaceful here. Johanna and Gale have been fighting for an hour."

"About what?" She opened her eyes and found him staring at her.

"His constant need to butt into my life." She drew her knees to her chest. "I think he is trying to deny that I can survive without him."

"Can you?" Peeta asked.

"Yes, he isn't attached to my hip," she said annoyed.

"But you admit that he is pretty attached," he replied. "Could it be that Johanna is reacting to this constant need of his?"

"Probably," Katniss admitted. "I thought we were over this." She looked exasperated.

"Maybe you are." He looked at her. "Has anything ever happened between you two?"

"Once," she replied and took the flask from his hand. "Before he and Johanna got together. I had only been at her place for four months when he came to see me."

"Did you sleep with him?" He didn't look angry just sad.

Her eyes met his. "No," she whispered. "We kissed and we did go to my room. But it felt different—wrong. I stopped it and nothing has happened since then. With him. Or with anyone."

"How do you know that if they don't work out that he won't come for you?"

"He knew it felt wrong. I could tell but I can see that it's different with Johanna," she said. "We were just a pipe dream. She's real."

"Thank you for being honest with me," Peeta said after a moment. He stood up. "I better get back before Zoe wakes up. It's been an exciting weekend for her."

He held his hand out and she took it so that he could help her stand up. When she was finally up, she brushed the back of her pants and then looked up to see that their faces were only inches apart. She pushed herself against the tree causing Peeta to lose his footing. He caught himself by putting his hand against the tree and found himself leaning into her.

They stared at one another for a moment. "Katniss…"

She swallowed her nervousness. "Yeah?"

"You should probably leave," he said thickly and looked down. Katniss went under his arm and avoided making skin to skin contact.

When she was at the fence, she turned to him. Peeta was looking at his feet. "I am going to be cleaning the attic the day after tomorrow. I think there might be some stuff that you and Zoe might want to keep. Would you be interested in helping me? Bring Zoe along if you want."

"We'd like that," he replied softly. "Goodnight Katniss."

She threw the flask over to him and he caught it easily. "Goodnight Peeta. Thank you."

"For what?"

"For the talk. For her." Peeta nodded and she left to climb back into her room.

000000

"Mommy!" Zoe cried out as she ran to Katniss's arms. She wrapped her daughter in her arms. "Where have you been? I missed you." Peeta watched his daughter looked adoringly up at her mother. He wasn't the jealous type but there was something about the way Zoe seemed so attached to Katniss that bothered him.

"It's only been two days darling," she replied but held her tighter. Katniss looked up to see Peeta watching them and her cheeks burned. "Hey Peeta." She wore a pair of denim and a loose button down shirt. He admired her toned figure.

"Thanks for inviting us to come. Where are Johanna and Gale?"

"My parents?" She smiled and he nodded. "They went to Hazelle's."

"Meeting the mother," Peeta said as they walked into her house. "It's getting serious."

"They were always serious." They talked as they went up the stairs. Zoe walked in-between contently and quietly. "I think Hazelle believed that he would never find the right girl." They reached the string to pull down the stairs of the attic. "Can you do this? I have my hands or more specifically legs full." Peeta looked to see Zoe clinging to her mother's leg.

"Sure. Watch out, there might be a little bit of a dust cloud." Peeta pulled and the ceiling opened slowly revealing the stairs to the attic. He was surprised to see that no dust appeared when it was finally opened and the stairs secured. "After you."

Katniss went up slowly and turned after she was halfway to look at them. "You coming?" He had blushed when he realized that she knew that he was looking at her bottom.

When they were finally up in the attic, Peeta saw that it was actually very neat. Boxes were stacked and marked. Zoe came up behind him. The three stood there for a moment.

"It smells in here," Zoe declared and they laughed.

"It's probably the moth balls, sweetie," Peeta said. "Walk carefully just in case there are any weak spots in the wood." Zoe nodded and walked slowly when she spotted a trunk full of clothes. He turned to see that Katniss hadn't moved from her spot. Taking her hand, he saw that her eyes were sad. He never realized that maybe Katniss had missed Haymitch despite their odd, strained relationship.

"Where did you want to start?" he asked her.

"Anywhere is fine." They went to the left and pulled the first box from the stack. Peeta kneel carefully and Katniss followed suit. "Are you alright? I mean your leg."

He nodded. "I have really good upper body strength. You know that," he joked thinking of their previous night's trip down memory lane. She busied herself so he wouldn't see her hot face by opening the box. Katniss pulled out a little parachute container and opened it to see it was the spial that they had used in the Quell. "I didn't think he would keep all this."

"He seemed so haunted by the Games," she replied and pulled out photos of them both during their Caesar Flickerman interviews.

Zoe sat on Peeta's lap as they looked through the photos. "Daddy, you look pretty," she said as Katniss handed her a picture of Peeta in his suit. "Why is this man blue?" She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"It's the style in the Capitol," Peeta informed her. He picked out another photo from a separate stack. "Now this one really made a big impact." He presented a front facing photo of Katniss in her dress.

"Oh, it's even prettier this way," Zoe said. "Mommy, is this really you?"

She took the photo and her eyes were sad. "This used to be me. Not anymore."

Peeta looked at the photo. "The girl in this photo had a lot of fire, maybe a little too much. Fortunately, it spilled into you." He tickled his daughter and her high pitched laughed echoed in the large attic.

She smiled at them before picking up a piece of paper. "What is this?"

Peeta peered at it. "It's Zoe's birth certificate. Haymitch had a copy in case."

"In case of what?"

"If something were to happen to me, he would have been Zoe's guardian. After all, we didn't know if you were going to come back as much as I tried to deny it."

He had been feeding Zoe when Haymitch came into the house. At this point, he had not slept in a week. Katniss was gone and he was left with a two week old baby who needed her mother's milk. Thankfully, they were able to wean her on formula.

His nights were filled with diaper changes and rocking the little baby. She didn't cry but for some reason Peeta felt like she was aware of her mother's abandonment. There were times where he swore that she looked at him asking "Why?"and Peeta had no answers for her. As he rocked her gently, Peeta looked up to see Haymitch watching him with a defeated look.

"Have you heard anything?" Peeta asked with a quivering voice.

Haymitch shook his head. "I've called her mother, Annie, and even Gale. No one has heard from Johanna in awhile as she is still in the military and is gone for long periods of time. It's a long shot if Katniss is with her." Peeta got up with the little baby in his strong arms.

"I have to find her Haymitch," he said. "If I leave her with you, maybe I can go to Effie. Maybe she has heard from her—"

"No," Haymitch replied. "I can't do that for you. You can't leave her too. She is barely a month old."

"But I need to find her." Peeta felt his eyes water. "I need Katniss here with me. What happens if I have an episode and I'm alone with her?"

"Then you call me or you go to your room and let her cry it out till you're okay but you don't leave," Haymitch said to him. "You don't EVER leave her." Peeta wiped his eyes. "Don't lie to yourself Peeta. She didn't want this baby as much as you tried to convince her."

"I know," he admitted. "I hoped that when she saw her that it would change."

"So you move on," he replied."Stop waiting for her to change her mind because you and I both know that Katniss is stubborn." Peeta continued to let the tears fall. He was exhausted and he felt even more hopeless. "I hope that she does and that's all I can tell you. Not just for you but for her daughter."

"Haymitch, will you watch over her?" He looked down at the little baby. Her hair was dark like her mother's; he brushed his hand over it and kissed her forehead. "Just in case I have an episode, protect her from me."

"You're not a monster, Peeta," Haymitch reassured him. "You care. Sometimes too much. But I'll watch over her. She will never want for Katniss."

Peeta nodded. "She doesn't even have a name." The baby started to fuss and he got up to take her for a walk around the room."I thought that if Katniss came back than we could decide together." He knew how pathetic he sounded. "It should be something different. After all, her parents have very unique names."

"Can I suggest a name?" Haymitch said and went over to them. "Zoe."

"Zoe?" He looked up at his former mentor in confusion. "Why Zoe?"

"It means life," Haymitch replied. "To remind you that despite everything, life goes on. You're a survivor kid and she's one too. You have to teach her that. You have to be the one to tell her about the Hunger Games, the rebellion, your hijacking and show her that you survived-for her."

He smiled to himself. "Zoe it is," Peeta said. "Zoe Mellark." The baby whined as a yawn escaped Peeta's mouth.

"Why don't you give her to me?" Haymitch said suddenly. "Go to sleep, you look like shit." The older man took Zoe from his arms.

"Get all that out before she's old enough to understand," Peeta said and started for the stairs to pass out. He turned to see Haymitch cradling Zoe to his chest protectively. "Thank you Haymitch."

"Yeah, yeah." Haymitch waved him off."Stop before I change my mind and give her back."

Peeta knew he was lying.

He looked up and realized that Zoe had drifted off to sleep. "She always loves this story." Peeta turn to Katniss who was staring at her daughter in his arms. "It's so interesting that she passes out each time I tell it."

They laughed quietly so not to awaken her. "Zoe was the name of Haymitch's mom," he continued. "He lost her with the rest of his family." He rocked the little girl in his arms and kissed her forehead. "Sometimes I think that I've lost everything. Including you." Katniss felt her eyes water. "Then I look at Zoe and I realize that he was right. Life does go on. It goes on because it has to. I can't live in the past. Now that I have her."

"I don't know why I did it," Katniss said brokenly. "I felt so numb."

"What's done is done." Peeta looked down though he felt his anger rising inside. He took a deep breath. "We should move forward."

Katniss nodded but inside she felt frozen. "How?" She looked away in shame. "I don't know half of what is running through my brain. That girl in the picture is a stranger. So is the person who I see in the mirror."

"Maybe that's why you decided to stay," Peeta said to her. He handed Zoe to Katniss. "Hold her for a minute." He took off the sweater he wore and placed it on the ground. He took Zoe from her arms and laid her out then sat back down. "This was the only place you really considered home. You need time. Just please don't break her heart again."

"Again?" She laid down next to Zoe and turned to her side facing the girl.

"When she was a baby and I rocked her to sleep," he said as he looked down at them. "She would look at me and I knew she was wondering where you were. I couldn't give her an answer and I knew it was hurting her."

"She doesn't need me." Katniss said as she brushed Zoe's hair out of her face. Peeta laid back on Zoe's other side. "Not like she needs you."

"Katniss, we don't need you," he said looking up at the ceiling. "We sure as hell want you though."

Peeta reached for her hand and she didn't resist it. They laid in silence staring up at the beams. It was warm and the sound of Zoe's soft breathing soothed them both.

"I like it up here with you." Katniss hadn't moved her hand. She closed her eyes.

"Me too," he whispered but he knew she was already asleep. Peeta felt his own eyelids get heavy and he drifted off to sleep.

"Well I'll be damn," Johanna said when she and Gale found them later that evening.

I didn't pick Zoe for its meaning. For some reason while this story was being written in my brain, her name was already Zoe so it just worked out this way.

So apparently I make people hurt inside or cry. To all of you feeling this way, Zoe is giving you hugs over the internet.

The song that I name the chapter after really makes me think of this story. This isn't my favorite chapter but it needed to be done.

I forgot to mention that the song in the previous chapter that Peeta sings to Zoe is "The Only Promise that Remains" by Reba McEntire.

Not sure how long it will be till my next chapter but there will be someone coming back in the next chapter.

Once again, I appreciate all your support and love. Review, review!

-JLaLa