Okay you guys are awesome! I posted the story about three days ago and I have gotten so many views! I want to thank WriteRight8 for reviewing and giving me great feedback. I hope you guys liked the last chapter because it took me literally all day to write it and thought it was pretty good. I just hope I am not going too fast but I honestly don't think it took them too long to talk to each other. I hope you guys like this chapter as well.

We sit there together in the grass and the sun disappears leaving us in complete darkness. The only things I can see are Peeta's bright blue eyes beaming back at me.

"Do you really mean that?" he asks.

"Of course I do Peeta. I love you." I reply. The words sound almost foreign to me. I have only spoken them to two other people and they are both gone.

"I love you, too." Peeta says "I always have."

Peeta yawns and I know we should go inside. It has been a long day. He stands up and reaches his hand out for me. We walk hand in hand back inside and strait upstairs into my bedroom. I crawl right into bed because, even though I am fully dressed, I am freezing.

Peeta then follows me into bed and wraps his arms around me. We go in this together, and I hope we always will. I wish I could stay here in his arms forever, the feeling of love and care that comforts me as I fall asleep.

"Goodnight my Mockingjay." Peeta whispers and then kisses my forehead. In this moment I don't know how I have waited so long to tell him how I feel. I have known I loved him ever since he was taken by the Capitol. I think I just didn't want to put my feelings out there for them to never be seen again, lost in a world of hate and cruelty that was the old Panem.

I lay here in Peeta's arms as all my thought s disappear and I drift off to sleep.

I wake up and Peeta isn't there. I peer into the bathroom and I see that he isn't there either. Betrayal is the first thing I think when he isn't there. I told him I love him and he just leaves. Then I smell something from downstairs. Of course, he went to make breakfast. I don't know why I always think the worst of people. I guess it's because people in general have always caused me pain.

I walk downstairs and into the kitchen and I see Peeta standing behind the oven, pulling out a loaf of bread. I am glad Peeta has been baking lately, it has seemed to be helping him cope and recover.

I go over towards him and sit on the counter beside him.

"Good morning." Peeta says and comes over to where I sit on the counter. He places a soft kiss on my cheek and then goes back to his cooking.

I go to sit at the table as I hear someone burst through the door. I don't even need to look in the direction because I already know who it is.

"You could have knocked." Peeta says

"What fun would that be, boy?" Haymitch shouts back. He is obviously completely wasted. He goes over and sits across from me at the table. Peeta must have either invited him or knew he would show up because he places food in front of him and me before coming over and sitting next to me.

"How are you doing, Haymitch?" Peeta asks, trying to make a civil conversation. I wish I could be as nice as Peeta is but it's just not in my nature. If Peeta weren't here I would probably shoving Haymitch out the door because I hate being around his snarky attitude when he is drunk.

"Have you two been reading your mail lately?" he asks. Now I get a little panicked.

"Not today. Why? What's going on?" Peeta replies frantically. I can't tell he just wants to know already and isn't in the mood to play Haymitch's little games.

"Effie is coming to District 12" he says "She's gonna be staying here for a while. She said the Capitol isn't any fun anymore."

My muscles relax. I am kind of glad Effie is coming to town. It would be great to see her again. I have always admired her and have wanted to talk to her after the rebellion.

At the same time though, I don't know if it will be good for Peeta to have her around. It might cause him bad memories and flashbacks. I wonder if Effie was ever even told of his condition. Peeta seems to realize what I am thinking too because he shoots me a worried look.

I finish my breakfast quickly and clean up the dishes. Haymitch tells us to check our mail and then walks out of the house, slamming the door behind him. He must have tripped over the steps because I hear a loud crash outside the door. Peeta and I walk quickly to the window and sure enough, we burst out laughing when we see Haymitch sprawled across the yard. Peeta gives me the "should we help him?" look and I just shake my head. We laugh and stare out the window as Haymitch crawls back to his house.

We eventually leave the window and go sit on the couch. We sit next to each other and Peeta wraps his arm around my shoulders. We talk about little things like how he found Buttercup tearing apart a mouse on the porch this morning, making snarky comments about Haymitch, and the upcoming arrival of Effie.

About an hour passes when the phone rings.

"You gonna answer that?" Peeta questions.

"Are you?" I snap back

"It's not my house." He says politely with a toothy grin.

I get up from the couch and I answer the phone "Hello?" I ask

"Hello Katniss. I am so glad you picked up the phone for once. How are you doing?" Dr. Aurelius questions.

"I have been doing alright. I have been taking my medications and I have been speaking with Peeta." I say quickly. I always know what questions he will ask and I like to just say all the answers so I can get off the phone as fast as possible. I am not a very friendly person and Dr. Aurelius knows that very well.

"Good to hear. Have you two been into town lately? I hear Thom wants to ask Peeta something important." he questions. I hear Peeta coming towards me. I quickly say goodbye and slam the phone onto the receiver.

"Who was it?" Peeta asks.

"Peeta, have you been to town yet?" I question.

"Actually, I was waiting so I could go with you." He replies kindly. I feel touched that Peeta would say that. After all he's been through; he is still looking after me.

We walk hand in hand towards the center of District 12. I know this will probably be harder for Peeta than me because of the fact his family all rest in the ashes. It is getting very cold and I know that it is almost the end of fall.

I see people walking around, I know Sae told me that people returned but I haven't ever seen them since I arrived. There are people rebuilding everywhere and I can't help but feel bad that I haven't been doing anything to contribute

I feel Peeta's grip tighten in my hand as we go near a certain ashen building. I look around and I see an apple tree and that's when I realize it's the remnants of the bakery. All the mornings I would trade with Peeta's father on the back porch, The times Prim would drag me to the window to look at the cakes, that one day in the rain where Peeta threw me the bread.

I turn to look at Peeta and I can see I tear rolling down his cheek. I can tell he is trying to be strong, but this place was his life. His entire family died in that house and I can't even imagine how hard this must be for him right now. Before I know it, Peeta releases my hand and walk swiftly towards the old bakery.

I can see metal pots and pans that seemed to have made it. The bigger appliances seem to be in usable condition, as well. I can see the framework of the building and the steps to enter. I wonder how the apple tree still looks the same, though.

Peeta begins to tremble and his hands grab his hair violently. At first I can't tell if he is having a flashback or he is just having a breakdown.

"Katniss GO!" he screams. I don't want to have him be upset if he hurt me so I decide to run to go get Haymitch. I sure hope he is sober. I burst into his house expecting the overwhelming smell of liquor but instead I am welcomed to a clean living room and the smell of lemon cleaning fluid. I dash into the kitchen and I see Haymitch in front of the stove.

"Haymitch! Peeta" is all I can make out before Haymitch turns off his oven and drags me with him out the door. We sprint towards the bakery and we push our way through the crowd that has now formed in front of it. Sure enough, Peeta is on the ground screaming profanities and yelling louder than I have ever heard.

His eyes lock with mine "Mutt!" he shouts. I back away as Haymitch goes up to him and grabs his shoulders, making him look at him. Peeta tries to strangle free but Haymitch somehow keeps him steady. Peeta then falls to the floor from exhaustion.

Haymitch throws Peeta's arm around his shoulder and I put is other around mine. We shove our way through the crowd and head back to the Victor's Village. I kick open my front door and we gently lay Peeta on the couch.

While Peeta sleeps, Haymitch and I make small comments on the rebuilding. "Enough small talk, why is your house so clean?" I ask blatantly

"Wanted a change" he answers plainly "Besides, I had nothing better to do yesterday anyway."

I can tell he isn't answering truthfully. "It's because of Effie isn't it?" I question, raising my eyebrows mischievously. After he doesn't reply I know my suspicions were right. I think he knows that too because he just rolls his eyes.

"She can grow on you." He says. They must have been talking a lot lately then. I always wondered what happened to Effie during the rebellion, but I bet Haymitch knows. I could tell by the way they would argue that they had some kind of relationship I didn't know about.

"So, is she staying with you? Is that why she is coming? I mean, I know she would want to come to see me but, you know, besides the obvious." I say trying to bring a little humor to the awkward conversation.

"Yes, yes, and not a chance, sweetheart." He answers, giving me a snarky grin. "Just hope she isn't too peppy or I will be over here a lot more often."

Haymitch and I joke about Effie and the Capitol for a few more hours and before I know it, it is nighttime. Haymitch yawns and walks out the back yard to his house. His house is right to the right of mine, while Peeta's is to the right.

I walk over to the couch to see if Peeta is awake yet. Surely, he is still sound asleep by the slowness of the rising and falling and his chest. It is amazing how much Peeta and I know each other.

I decide to walk outside to the back porch and look at the stars. My father used to bring me outside every night and show me shapes in the stars. I think they were called constellations. We would look at the stars until I would fall asleep and he would carry me back inside.

I keep staring up at the beautiful little lights until I hear someone behind me. Thinking it was Peeta, I stay where I am and don't look to see who it is until I hear the tread of their footsteps. I look up and I see the familiar gray eyes looking back at mine.

Gale

How was it?! It took me five hours to finish this chapter! I didn't know how to continue or how the characters would be with each other so I just went with it. I am trying to bring in some older characters so let me know who you want to see next! Make sure to keep an eye out for new stories and chapters and if you like this story make sure to read Innocent.

Until next time,

~Tiffany