Hey guys! I know it's been forever since I updated last. My cousin stayed a little longer than expected and then as soon as she left I had to go to camp. Then, I was almost finished with the chapter and I decided that I didn't like it so I started over. Don't forget to review and tell me what you like and dislike! Enjoy!

"You seem different," Sae says as she cleans the plates we dirtied from lunch. "What do you mean by different?" I ask. "I don't know," she shrugs. "You just seem happier." Do I? I have no idea. I haven't noticed a change. "I guess," I sigh. The only thing I've noticed is that I'm not as tired. Maybe I am happy. I don't know.

In the month since the building of the bakery began, Peeta has moved in most of his stuff. I brought up the idea when I got tired of him leaving every night to take a shower and change. It's not him leaving that aggravates me. I just can't sleep without him here. The nightmares are too bad.

I look at the clock on the wall. It's noon. Peeta should be taking a break soon. Every day for the past month has been the same. Peeta would get up at 5:00 in the morning, go to the bakery to help with the building, take a half hour break for lunch, and then help build until 10:00 at night. Each day when he comes for lunch, he sits in his stool at the counter and Sae fixes his plate. He eats slowly, his eyes drooping. I can tell he's exhausted and sore from the work, but he doesn't say so. That's one of the things I love, yet hate about him. I love how he's determined to help, no matter how it affects him, but I don't like that he hides his pain from me. We're both alike in that way.

At night, when he thinks I'm asleep, I can hear him moan as he tosses and turns. I can occasionally hear a "stupid leg" come from him. I don't think all this work is good for his leg. I'm worried about him. I'm scared he's going to hurt himself and then he won't be able to run the bakery.

Today, he limps in and I can tell he's trying to hide it, but not doing a good job. His eyes are tired, but he still wears a smile. He sits down at his usual place and Sae hands him his food. "How's the bakery coming?" I ask. "Good," he says. "We're almost finished." "Oh yeah!" I say. "I got a call from someone today, but I don't remember their name. They said all of the ovens and stuff will be here in three days."

He thinks about this for a second, then nods. "I hope it's finished in three days. I don't know what I'd do with the stuff otherwise. There's no way I could fit it all in my kitchen."

We don't talk anymore. He finishes his lunch and limps back to the bakery to finish for the day. Sae cleans his dishes and then leaves to go feed Haymitch. I'm left alone. I stare at the phone, instantly thinking of her. I wonder how long it's been since we've spoken. There have been moments when I've missed her, and there have also been times when I've hated her for abandoning me. I wonder if she misses me. There's only one way to find out.

I stand up and walk toward the phone. Her number is on a sticky note stuck to the wall just in case I ever wanted to call. I didn't. I punch in the numbers and wait while it rings. "Hello?" a woman's voice says after three rings. "Mom?" I ask, unsure if it's her. "Katniss?" she says a little too loudly. "Oh my gosh!" I guess she missed me. The ringing in my ears proves it.

"It's me," I say with a fake laugh. "How have you been?" I ask awkwardly, not knowing what to say to the woman that I haven't seen, let alone spoken to in who knows how long. "I've been good," she says. I can hear the smile on her face. After a long pause she says "I like District 4." "Annie?" I ask. "About her," my mom says. My heart beats fast in my chest. "She's pregnant. Six months." My mouth drops open. Annie pregnant? I'm happy for her, but a little heartbroken. Without Finnick there, the baby won't have a dad. "Oh," is all I can say.

"So how about you?" she asks. "What about me?" I ask. "I've seen you… on the television…" she says. Oh no. She's seen the shows with me and Peeta…. "You look good, Katniss," she picks up when I don't answer. "Greasy Sae's taking care of you?" "Yeah," I say. There's an awkward silence for a while. "I went hunting again." "Good!" she says. "How did it feel?" "Fine," I shrug. "There are a lot of people in the woods though so it's a little harder." "Well I'm sure you can handle it," she says. "Hey, I have to go," I lie. "I need to help Sae with lunch." "Okay," she sighs. "Call me back soon, okay?" "Sure." I hang up before she can respond and sit back on my stool. Now I feel different. Yeah, it was only a two minute conversation, but I feel like a weight's been lifted off of my shoulders. I feel like part of the barrier between us was torn down; like we're not so distant anymore.

I decide to go check on Peeta and the progress of the bakery. On the walk there, I see several people out, but again, they avoid me. I kind of understand why, I guess. I'd avoid the person that destroyed Panem too. In fact, I'd despise the person. I kind of already do…

The bakery looks great. It looks amazing. I see Peeta immediately. He's outside, planting flowers in a bed that lines the front of the building. They look like daisies. I go up to talk to him. "Hey," I say. "It looks really good." "Thanks," he says with one of his sweet smiles. "I think I can have it finished in two days if I stay a little later." "Peeta," I huff. "You're going to kill yourself working on this. You need to take a break, like now." "I can't, Katniss," he says. "I've still got so much to finish." I look around. "I think the million people you have helping can take your place for a little while. Now come on. You're going to lie down." "Fine," he huffs. "Let me go tell them you're making me leave." He gives me a wink before limping inside.

I get butterflies when he turns around. How is it that he makes me feel this way? I don't think I'll ever understand it. When he comes back out, he grabs my hand and we walk back to my house. When we get there, we go upstairs and he goes to the bathroom to change into a plain white t-shirt and grey sweatpants.

He lies down, giving a big sigh as he does so. "Now how does it feel to just rest?" I ask. "Amazing," he mutters. I try to get up to watch TV, but as I'm standing up, he grabs my wrist. "Stay with me," he mutters. I smile, remembering when I was on the other side of this conversation, what seems like a lifetime ago. "Always," I whisper and get back in the bed.

The bakery gets finished in two days, just like Peeta thought it would. He seems a lot better now that he's not killing himself. He finished moving everything in yesterday and the grand opening is tomorrow. He's been spending a lot of time in a spare bedroom, which is where he moved his art supplies. He's been paining forever and when I try to come in to see them he tells me he doesn't want me to see them until the opening. Typical Peeta. So full of surprises.

I leave to go put up flyers advertising the opening. I tack a few to wooden posts and then I head into the one store that's been built. I ignore the stares and walk straight up to the counter. "Hi," I say to the woman standing there. "Hello," he says barely audible. "Can I ask for a favor?" I ask. The young woman nods. "Can you hand these to anyone that comes to the counter?" I ask. "Peeta Mellark is having the grand opening for the new bakery tomorrow. Everything's free tomorrow too. You just have to show up." "I'll hand them out," the woman says. "Thank you," I sigh. "I don't think I could have handed them out. If you haven't noticed, I think the people here are scared of me." The woman gives me a faint smile and then I head back to the house.

Peeta's sprawled out on the couch watching TV when I get back. "I finally finished moving everything in," he says. "Just in time too." "Good," I say. He sits up to make room for me and he puts his arm around me when I sit down. There go the butterflies again.

"What are we watching?" I ask. "I don't know," he says. "Something about the rebuilding in eight." Pretty soon, we end up lying down, both of us on our sides and his arms around me. "You seem tired," I say after a while. "I am, he says. "Then why aren't you sleeping?" I ask. "I don't want to miss this," he says. "Miss what? The rebuilding of District Eight?" "No," he says. "This. I want to stay like this forever." I sigh and turn over to face him. "Me too," I say. His face lights up, his smile making me feel warm. "Really?" he asks, as if I'm joking and I'll tell him I'm just kidding any second. "Really," I sigh and burry my head in his chest.

The next day, we get up early to get ready for the opening. I put on the orange sundress that I wore for my interview and put on a pair of white flats that I wore on the Victory Tour. Once the belt is tied around my waist, I put my hair in its usual braid and brush my teeth.

I open the bathroom door to let Peeta in to get ready. He's finished in five minutes. He's wearing a pair of khaki pants and a navy blue shirt. "You look very nice," he says as he puts on his shoes. "So do you, Mr. Mellark," I say.

We walk toward the bakery together and walk through the crowd to get to the steps. We crouch under a giant red ribbon tied at the posts beside the beginning step. To be honest, I'm kind of surprised by the size of the crowd, and telling by the size of the smile on Peeta's face, so is he. It looks like all of District 12 is here. I know they didn't show up because they want to support who's running it. I guess the word "free" has an effect on people.

After about five minutes, Peeta taps on a microphone to get everyone's attention. "Hello," he says. He looks confident, just like every other time he's spoken in front of a crowd. I don't understand how he does it. "Before the bombing, there was a bakery here. My family ran it. It wasn't always the happiest place to be, but when I was baking it was." I remember the day he tossed me that bread. I look over to where I was sitting when he tossed it. There used to be a tree there, but of course, it didn't survive the bombing.

"So!" Peeta continues. "I know you probably don't want to listen to me go on and on about this and that." He picks up a pair of scissors off of a bench by the door and hands them to me. "Go ahead," he says. I walk over to the ribbon and cut it right down the middle. There are several claps and cheers and then Peeta yells "Let's get started!" and we walk inside.

"Wow," is all I can say when I walk inside. There are paintings everywhere. There is a painting of the old bakery, I see one of a mockingjay perched on a branch, there's one of a little girl sitting under a tree…

"Oh my gosh Peeta," I say. "Do you like them," he asks. I nod. "Yes. Yes I do."

We both walk behind the counter, put on our aprons, and begin taking orders. My first customer is a little girl about seven years old. "Can I have a doughnut?" she asks. "A chocolate one!" I hand it to her and she runs away with a smile on her face. I laugh and then get back to business. The woman from the store walks up to me. "Hi!" I say. "Hello," she says. "I never caught your name," I bring up. "Susan," she says. "I would like a cup of coffee and three frosted cookies. The kids love them." Just then, three kids, two twin boys about three years old and a girl, about seven run up. I put the cookies in a bag and pour her coffee. "I guess I'll see you around?" I ask. She nods with a smile. "I'll see you around, Katniss." Wow. I actually found one person that will talk to me.

I don't know how many cups of coffee I pour or how many cinnamon rolls I hand out. It's almost 11:00 p.m. when everyone has cleared out. Now that everyone's gone I realize that we have a gigantic mess to clean up.

I walk over to the tables and wipe them off, and then I sweep up everything that was left on the floor. Peeta cleans up the counter and behind it. After I put the broom up, I take off my apron and hang it up in the back. He pulls a few sweets from the back and we sit at a table and eat them.

After a while, my head ends up on his shoulder and his arm wraps around me. "We did it," I say. "We did it," he repeats me. "It'll be easier tomorrow. I promise." "I hope," I laugh. "I'm exhausted!" He laughs. "Me too. Maybe if we're not too busy you can help me bake." "Peeta," I say. "Unless you want the bakery set on fire, I suggest I stay at the counter." He laughs harder. "Whatever," he says.

I lift my head up to face him. He's staring at the picture of the little girl under the tree. For some reason, I can't call her me. That little girl died the moment she said "I volunteer as tribute." She died and I took her place.

"What are you thinking about?" I ask after a while. He turns his head toward me. "You really want to know?" he asks. I nod. "Well," he sighs, looking directly into my eyes. I swear. It's so easy to get lost in those deep blue pools. "I was thinking about what it would be like to kiss you again."

My heart begins to pound. I lean in and our lips meet. There go the butterflies again. When I look back to who I was, I never would have imagined I'd be sitting in a bakery, kissing Peeta Mellark with no cameras and all alone. But still, I can't imagine being anywhere else with anyone else, probably because I wouldn't.

Somehow, I feel that even if there was no Hunger Games, if there was no war, we'd be doing the same thing, just in a different place. I belong with him and he belongs with me.

His hands go to my face and his finger brushes along my cheek. My arms wrap around his neck and my hand swirls the long curls. It's as if for a moment everything is right with the world.

The next day isn't as busy as yesterday, but it's still pretty busy. Peeta's in the back all day baking, but I occasionally get a few kisses from him when there's not a line at the counter. I have a smile on my face and it's not forced.

I'm cleaning a table when I hear the conversation of two girls about my age.

"Did you see Peeta?"

"Yeah. Isn't he cute?"

"Of course. I wonder if he'd be interested in hearing my compliments to the chef."

One of the girls winks and gets up. She walks to the counter and calls Peeta's name. He walks out, covered in flour. "Yes?" he asks with a smile on his face. "Hi," she says. "I'm Laurie. This bread is so good. What's your secret?" "Well, I can't tell you that or it wouldn't be a secret, would it?" "Hmm, I guess not," she says and puts her hand on his arm. His eyes grow wide. Okay, this has gone too far.

I walk up to the counter. Peeta, I need two cheese buns, pronto!" "Okay!" he says, glad for the chance to leave. The girl gives me the eye and then she and her friend leave. I storm back behind the counter. If I ever see her again, I will spit in her coffee.

I see Thom walk in. I haven't seen him since I first came back. We talk for a while, and then he buys a cup of coffee and leaves. Apparently he has to go help work on the new Justice Building. I didn't even know they were rebuilding it. I guess that proves how much I leave the house.

Things get pretty slow after noon, so I stay in the back until I hear the bells at the front door ring, telling me someone came in. I watch Peeta bake, I clean the messes he's made. "You're messy, Peeta," I joke.

That night, when everyone's gone, we both go to the front and wipe down all the tables and sweep.
"This is actually fun," I say. "It's a lot better than lying around the house all day." He pulls me in for a kiss. "Same here," he says.

We go to the back to finish cleaning up and then we eat a few left over glazed doughnuts. "These are really good," I say. "Thanks. I try," he jokes. "How does it feel having a bakery again?" I ask. "Amazing," he sighs and leans back in his chair. "It feels great to be back to normal." I almost laugh. Things will never be back to normal. Whatever normal is. "Yeah," is all I say.

I hear the bells ring after a while and I run to put my apron back on. "I'll be with you in a second!" I yell. I grab the apron and tie it on really fast. I pull my notepad out of the front pocket and walk to the front, testing my pen on the paper. "What can I get you?" I ask. "I'd recommend the cookies. They're still warm." I stare at the notepad, trying to get the ink to come out but it won't. "Okay, Catnip. I'll take a cookie."