Hi :) I have a new chapter, if you haven't noticed. But before you begin reading, I HAVE AN IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT TO MAKE. I have kind of run out of one-shot ideas for this story, but have no fear! I'm not gonna stop writing this. I just need the help of you guys, my lovely loyal readers. If you have an idea for this story, please tell me via reviews or PM, and I'll write your idea. Don't worry, I will give you credit! Thanks in advance, my lovelies. Now, read on!

-Meghan

"I've called her to dinner five times already!" Katniss Everdeen says in exasperation as she balances a hungry Orion on her hip. "Where is she?"

"You know, I think she locked herself in her bedroom the minute she got home from school," Peeta says, setting a plate of cheese buns on the table. He's surprised the smell of the cheese buns hasn't brought down his daughter yet. She seemed to inherit her mother's love for them. "Think she's dead?"

Katniss glares at him. "Not funny, Peeta. Can you go up there and see what's wrong?"

"Yes, ma'am," Peeta obeys.

Peeta hurries up the steps and into Sage's room. He cannot think of any reason why she would be cooped up in her room all day. She usually bounces all around the house like a firecracker, and Peeta hasn't heard a peep out of her since they said goodbye in the morning.

"Sage?" Peeta knocks lightly on her door. "Dinner's ready, didn't you hear Mommy calling you?" No response. "Sage? I know you're in there. Come on out; we're having cheese buns for dinner." Still silence. "Come on, Sage, I'm serious. Unlock the door."

Perhaps the surprising change of Peeta's tone from kind to stern makes Sage open the door a crack. Her hair is matted, her eyes are watery and red, and there are recent tear and snot tracks on her face. The sight of his young daughter like this leaves Peeta dumbfounded. What on earth happened?

"Baby, what's wrong?" Peeta asks in enormous concern.

Sage doesn't answer, but opens the door wider to let her father in. Peeta walks in and is suddenly crushed with the power of a little girl hug. You'd think the hug of a six year old wouldn't harm you, but Sage squeezes Peeta like a lifeline. Fresh tears appear in her eyes.

"D-d-daddy, it's t-terrib-ble!" she sputters.

"What's terrible, darling?" Peeta says, kneeling down so he can be eye-level with Sage.

"Love!"

Peeta is so astonished at that, he nearly looses his footing and falls over. "Um, what?"

"L-love! It's terrible!"

Peeta stares at his daughter, trying to read the emotions on her face to see if he could figure out what she was talking about.

"I'm sorry, sweetie, but could you explain?" Peeta asks gently.

"T-today, at sch-school, I, well…" Sage trails off, her cheeks growing hot.

"Yes?" Peeta urges.

"I ki-kissed a b-b-b-boy!" Sage cries, and then goes into a fit of hysterical crying again.

Peeta is absolutely sure he heard her incorrectly. Yes, he had to. Sage's crying is making her words almost inaudible, after all.

"Sorry?"

"I kissed a boy, Daddy. I kissed a b-boy."

Oh. So he hadn't heard her wrong.

"Could you explain a bit more?"

Sage takes a deep breath and wipes her eyes. "Okay. There's this boy in my class. His name is Phoenix. And he's really pretty. His eyes- they're really sparkly and such a pretty green color. They shine like the sun. And his hair-"

"Okay, sweetie, I get the point. He's really pretty," Peeta says, worried that his first grader is talking like a love struck teenager.

"Yes, yes he is. And really nice too, because today, at school, these kids were being mean to me and my friend-"

"Someone was being mean to you?" Peeta says furiously. "Why would anyone be mean to you? Who are they?"

"It's nothing, Daddy," Sage says.

"Nothing? It's not nothing if my daughter is-"

"Daddy, it's not the point! I'm telling you about Phoenix, remember?"

And only because Peeta sees tears glistening in Sage's eyes again that he relents. But this conversation is not over, he tells himself.

"Anyway," Sage continues. "as I was saying, when someone was being mean to me and my friend, Phoenix and his friend came over and Phoenix said, 'why can't you just leave them alone, you meanie?' and then the mean kids went away. And Phoenix said to me, 'I don't understand why some kids are mean, do you?' and I said, 'I don't know,' and he said, 'Well I think mean kids are stupid, don't you?' and I said, 'Yeah,' and he said, 'They're just mean for no reason. You didn't do anything to them.' And then… oh, Daddy, I c-couldn't help it! I just kissed h-him! I k-kissed him on the l-lips! And then when I s-stopped, Phoenix was s-staring at me like I was a f-f-f-f-freak! And then he r-ran away and, Daddy, I don't think he'll e-ever speak to me ag-gain!"

Sage collapses with sobs into Peeta. He strokes her hair and whispers soothingly until she regains herself somewhat.

"Cupcake, I'm sure Phoenix will speak to you again," Peeta consoles.

"No, he won't, Daddy! He hates me now! Don't you unders-stand?"

"Phoenix does not hate you," Peeta says. "No one could ever hate you because you are a kind, smart, beautiful, brilliant young girl. And nothing you could do could make anyone hate you. Just try to talk to Phoenix tomorrow when you get to school. He doesn't hate you, alright?"

"You think so?" Sage snivels.

"I know so. Don't worry, Cupcake. And, love? Love is the most amazing thing the world has created," Peeta assures.

"No it isn't," Sage insists.

"Yes it is. You'll see when you get older."

"Am I gonna get married?"

"I bet so."

"Will I marry Phoenix?"

"Maybe."

Sage brightens up. "I will, Daddy. I will marry Phoenix. Just like you and Momma. And we're gonna have kids and I'm gonna name one of them Cutie Pie. And then me and Phoenix will get old together and live happily ever after."

"That's right. Happily ever after."

Sage grins. "Come on, Daddy. I will not have a happily ever after unless I have my cheese buns."

Peeta laughs. "Alright. Let's go get those cheese buns.

And then they ran off into the sunset…

So? Got any ideas? Let me know! Review!

-Meghan :{D