Its cooler outside now as the sun is starting to sink low on the horizon and I know that the last of summer is leaving us, the woods around us will turn golden brown soon and then the snow will be here. I love district 12 in the snow, it covers a multitude of sins and darkness making everything seem so clean and white, it doesn't last long of course nothing ever does, but I suddenly find myself excited at the prospect of winter.
Before I know it I find myself at the back of Peeta's house unsure how I managed to make it there without realising. With a sigh I climb the back porch steps but before I can knock he's there the door swinging open and I'm swallowed by his smile and his amazing eyes.
"Couldn't stay away hay," he says and with an almost delirious giggle I fall into his arms and kiss him.
He pushes his fingers into my hair and I moan into the kiss as the fingertips of his other hand presses along my jaw and throat. God I want nothing more than to fall into his arms again, to ignore what Haymitch has told me and its unspoken implications. What was Snow doing moving things up, I know it was his idea undoubtedly but I just don't get it. My thoughts are stolen though when Peeta steps forwards so he's pressing completely against me and I can feel the heat of him through our clothes. God do I want there to be nothing against us again, but I know I have the break the kiss.
Before either of us can whip up enough will power though someone behind me clears their throat and we spring apart and I can feel the blush painting its way across my cheeks. We turn to find Haymitch stood behind us at the bottom of the steps a frown evident on his face.
"I was coming to tell Peeta about Effie," he say simply frowning again as Peeta steps past me and skips down the steps slightly obviously not caring that Haymitch had just caught us.
"She called," I stutter out and Peeta turns then to see the blush on my cheeks, he smiles and I know he's enjoying my reaction.
"Yeah," Haymitch says simply, "Katniss can I have a word," he bites out through clenched teeth and I know he isn't happy with me.
I nod and push my way down the steps stopping to press a kiss on Peeta's cheek as I do.
"I'll be back," I whisper and he nods but he's frowning as I reach Haymitch and follow him around the side of the house and out of Peeta's eye line.
"What are you playing at," Haymitch bites out as soon as we're clear, catching my arm to pull me to a stop.
"What do you mean," I say already feeling my anger rising.
"You know exactly what I mean sweetheart," he spits bitterly, "we both know that Peeta isn't pretending but what the hell are you playing at."
I'm really angry now, he thinks I'm using Peeta even after everyone is gone. How could he possibly think that? But then I stop my thoughts there as I think he can easily really since I've done it before? That thought brings me up short and I swallow back my anger.
"This is none of your business, if I'd had my way you would have never known," pushing past him I run around the side of the house before he can say anything else and then I'm back in Peeta's arms.
He frowns as he envelopes me but doesn't say anything, what does it matter what people see now, they will think it's part of the star crossed lovers after all. I go on tiptoe desperately seeking his lips and he rewards me with a hard kiss.
"Are you alright?" he asks and I smile.
"I am now," he laughs and I take his hand, "come for a walk with me?" I ask and he simply nods squeezing my hand.
I can feel Haymitch's eyes on me as we move but I don't say anything, ignoring him and centring completely on Peeta.
I ignore him completely as Peeta takes my arm and we walk into the open where it's quieter, after all our houses are the only three in the whole of the place occupied.
"What did Haymitch want?" Peeta asks finally and I sigh.
"I think he thinks I'm using you," I say and that pulls Peeta up short.
I look up into his eyes and I see something cloud them for a moment, "I know you're not Katniss that's all the matters," I can hear the anger in his voice and I know Haymitch must have pressed on a nerve but I don't say anything I simply press my hand against his cheek and he smiles softly closing his eyes.
When he opens them again they've cleared and I know I have him back. We turn and in unspoken agreement head towards the village, it's still light enough outside that we reach the shops before they've actually closed up and I stop in the sweet shop to pick Prim up a gift, just a few sweets but to thank her for putting up with me. When we reach Peeta's family bakery his father is inside alone and when he sees us he rushes forward and opens the door ushering us inside.
"Hey kids," he smiles warmly as I slip past and I can see where his son got his smile from, "out for a walk?" he asks as he flips the open sign to closed.
"Yeah thought I'd swing by see if you need help in the morning," Peeta says as he lifts himself onto the counter to perch and I stand next to him highly aware of his hand on the nape of my neck tickling the hairs there.
Since we have been back Haymitch has made us go for walks together often in town, most of the time holding hands with the occasional peck, but I know that this is something no one in the town has seen and I know that's my fault. That I was the one that always put up blocks, but now I let myself melt into his touch. I close my eyes as his hand skims down my neck and over my shoulder and when I open them I find myself starring directly at Peeta's father who is watching us pensively. I know for a fact that he didn't completely buy the star crossed lovers as many people who knew us both well didn't, but what he's seeing now isn't part of any act and I know he is smart enough to know the difference but I don't say anything.
Peeta and his father chat happily for a while and I allow myself to enjoy it, allow the normalness of it all sink into my skin, things hadn't been normal recently ever since the games ripped into our lives and it was nice to sink into it even if it was just for a moment. His father chats with him about a cake ordered by a family in the capital some monstrosity that would definitely need his help but that wasn't for over a week.
They wrap things up and soon Peeta and I were heading for the door. As we stop to say goodbye I can't help myself, turning with a smile I press a kiss to his father's cheek. He looks at me startled for a moment but then smiles patting my shoulder before turning back into the shop and then he's gone.
I can see now how this man that loved my mother could have ended up with a woman like Peeta's mother. He is exactly like his son seeing the best in everyone and I wonder if at some point she wasn't as angry as she is, now once he could find something deep in her to love and now he is simply stuck with his choices. He is gentle and kind and would have loved my mother fiercely just as it seemed his son loved me. I wonder for a moment how things would have been but I am happy they aren't, I don't think the idea of Peeta being my brother is a pleasurable thought.
We head back to the village as dusk settles on our small town making things calm and cool. With summer fading I know that autumn will settle over us and the victory parade will come. We have a lot of things to prepare before that though and I know I have a lot of things I need to sort out before we leave, but for the moment I just enjoy Peeta's hand in mine.
A/N hope you're enjoying so far, things have been a little quiet on the review front so how about some nice encouragement. I've got five more chapters already written so a little encouragement from you could lose them on the internet quicker lol. I've been a little naughty writing further into the story and now i have to double back and get some linking done but I think you are really gunna like what i have. xx