CHAPTER SEVEN

Katniss had never been a terribly patient person. By Tuesday morning she didn't doubt that through some trick in the universe, what used to be a minute now took two. Saturday couldn't come fast enough. She wanted to kiss Peeta again.

Katniss had seen him every morning during their ritual cup of hot chocolate. That first morning after the kiss, she must have turned ten shades of red because Peeta had questioned whether she was feeling alright as she looked flushed. She covered by saying that the kitchen was a tad warm, probably due to the ovens. It had become increasingly difficult to maintain her cover as "Mockingjay." At least Mockingjay was known to sit quietly through meals. If she had to maintain any additional conversation, she knew she'd reveal herself. She needed to tell Peeta soon, and she planned to after the Harvest Festival.

Despite time crawling at a snails pace, very little could dampen her mood. She often found herself humming through her chores. If she was alone she would sing. She'd discovered on Monday that her voice seemed to calm the animals, even Haymitch's gaggle of geese.

As she sat next to Hattie and prepared her to be milked, she sang a folk song that had been running through her head since she'd heard it performed at the festival on Saturday. Hattie seemed to give a shudder in relief upon hearing her voice.

My young love said to me, "My brothers won't mind,
And my parents won't slight you for your lack of kind."
Then she stepped away from me and this she did say:
"It will not be long, love, till our wedding day."

She stepped away from me and she moved through the fair,
And fondly I watched her go here and go there,
Then she went her way homeward with one star awake,
As the swan in the evening moves over the lake.

The people were saying no two were e'er wed
But one had a sorrow that never was said,
And I smiled as she passed with her goods and her gear,
And that was the last that I saw of my dear.

Before Katniss could start the last stanza of the song, a voice broke in. Caught and seeing no hope for it, she joined Peeta in finishing the song.

I dreamt it last night that my young love came in,
So softly she entered, her feet made no din;
She came close beside me, and this she did say,
"It will not be long, love, till our wedding day."

"So the Mockingjay does sing?" Peeta teased her.

Katniss chuckled and continued to milk Hattie. "Well apparently so can you."

"Nah. I sound like a dying cat compared to you. Your voice is beautiful."

Katniss blushed. "Thank you."

"Funny, I heard that song performed last Saturday."

"Did you? I imagine that She Moved Through the Fair is probably played often at festivals and fairs. It is traditional."

"Yes, it is. Well, I just came out here to take Ash out for a ride," Peeta said as he brushed the nose of the dappled gray gelding while he fed it a sugar cube.

Katniss nodded and when she realized that the barn had turned quiet she looked over her shoulder. Peeta was watching her with a half-smile. Her stomach flipped over.

"What are you looking at?" she asked.

"Sorry. Nothing. I was just thinking," he responded with a shrug of his shoulders, but a blush spread across his cheekbones.

"Now you are fibbing. You were looking at me."

"No. I wasn't. I was just looking in your direction. Well I better get going." He turned around and mounted the horse. "I'll see you later, Jay." He then clicked his tongue and departed the barn, whistling the tune she had been singing.

Katniss shook her head. As she returned to work, she tried not to think about how good his muscular legs looked in his jeans as he rode out.

As the week progressed, Katniss found that she had a harder and harder time falling asleep. She could not quiet her mind at night, instead she worked through every possible scenario. She thought about the kiss. She anticipated Saturday. She worried about everyone's reaction when she told them the truth. She hoped Peeta didn't hate her for lying. She imagined him kissing her again.

Often, once she knew Rue was asleep, she'd slip out of her room with her book to read. On Monday and Tuesday night, she found Haymitch's study empty. On Wednesday night when she snuck in to settle on the sofa with the adventures of Rosalind and Orlando, she switched on the light and yelped. Haymitch was still awake, seated at his desk and leaning back in his captain's chair as he took a sip out of his brandy snifter in the dark.

"Trouble sleeping, sweetheart?"

Katniss nodded.

"You've been sneaking down here all week."

"Yes, to read. I can't sleep and I didn't want to disturb Rue."

Haymitch swirled his brandy, sniffed it, and took a sip. Katniss sat stiffly on the sofa and waited. "Have you ever tried brandy, sweetheart? It will help you sleep."

She shook her head.

"Let me pour you one."

Haymitch stood up and walked over to the small bar service. He opened the cabinet below and pulled out a clean snifter, then splashed in a bit of brandy. He walked over to the sofa and handed Katniss the glass before taking a seat in the leather wingback chair across from her, propping his feet on the coffee table.

Katniss took a drink and choked, causing Haymitch to cackle.

"Sweetheart, this is fine cognac. You swirl it in your glass," he said as he demonstrated. "Then you bring it up and take a sniff before taking a small sip. Savor it."

Katniss followed his instructions. As she tasted the brandy she wasn't sure she like the taste but she enjoyed the pleasant warmness that spread into her belly. More importantly she no longer choked.

"See. The ritual of drinking brandy should be very relaxing," said Haymitch right before he savored another sip. "So sweetheart, why aren't you sleeping? Boy trouble?" The last remark earned him a steely-eyed glare. "Is there something you need to talk about? Something I should know?"

Katniss didn't speak. Instead she took another sip of brandy.

"You really are a tight lipped one. At least with me. Not so much around the boy."

She felt her cheeks heat at the reference to Peeta.

"Well just so you know, if you need anything, advice, whatever, I'm here. But I should warn you I'm probably a terrible mentor, but we take care of our own here. If you ever find yourself in trouble don't hesitate." Haymitch's gray eyes stared at her, looking for acknowledgement. He had Seam-colored eyes just like her.

Katniss nodded. "I understand." She took another sip and started to feel pleasantly drowsy.

"There is no need to keep secrets in this house."

"Yes, Haymitch. Really, I just came down here to read," she insisted.

"So what are you reading?" Katniss handed him the book she borrowed.

"Shakespeare, huh? Which plays have you read?"

"I started with King Lear but I thought he treated his daughter, Cordelia, most unfairly. She loved him but he misunderstood her," she answered as her voice shook in her defense of Cordelia.

"Yes, a tragic story," Haymitch agreed.

"Now I'm reading one of the comedies, As You Like It. I admire Rosalind."

"Yes. She has spunk. Good play."

Katniss took her last sip of brandy. She could feel the effects on her body and her tongue. She knew she had better get herself to bed. "Well I think I will go to bed. You were right. Brandy is relaxing." She stood and walked toward the door.

"Good night, little Mockingjay," Haymitch said, which made her pause.

"Night, Haymitch."

Thursday evening as Rue and Katniss prepared for sleep, Katniss sprawled across her bed and lamented, "We have to figure out my story for Saturday. I can't go to the Festival Ball as Mockingjay."

"You know if you just told Peeta and Haymitch who you are this wouldn't be a problem," Rue admonished.

Katniss picked up her pillow at threw it at her causing the girl to laugh. "Not helping, Rue."

"Okay, Okay. You've used sickness and injury so far. Maybe you could come down with a cold this time?"

"No. That would be too obvious. Then I'd have to be sick for days. A stomach bug can pass quickly but not a cold."

"Allergic reaction?"

"Rue, I can't automatically break out in hives."

"Hmmm. Can we somehow blame your family? Maybe say they are going to call?"

"Maybe, but all phone calls are logged on Haymitch's bill. I could always fib and say they never called? But afterwards they'd probably expect me to come."

Katniss grabbed her cap, which she'd set on her nightstand, and fiddled with it.

"Katniss, Saturday is the ball and it requires dancing, right?"

"Yes." Katniss hesitated, unsure of the direction of Rue's train of thought.

"Mockingjay's family custom requires that she cover her hair. What if they required that she not dance and couldn't attend events with dancing?" Rue suggested.

Katniss tilted her head to the side and considered. "Yes, that could work. But when do we tell people that I'm not going."

"Let's just wait until breakfast on Saturday."

Come Saturday morning, the entire household was buzzing about the ball. The final day of the festival was centered around a community feast and dancing in the town square that started around five o'clock. Every household was to bring food to the event. Peeta had spent the entire day before baking several cakes including a triple chocolate pumpkin cheesecake, a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and a hazelnut flourless torte. He had to complete his baking by Friday because Bitha had commandeered the kitchen all morning and afternoon on Saturday to fry up her famous chicken and make pasta salad. No one dared enter her kitchen.

Most mornings the household fended for themselves for breakfast or Bitha would make them something at their request. However, on Saturdays, everyone ate breakfast together. Bitha normally prepared quite a spread of eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and either pancakes or French toast. But on the day of the ball, she set a simple buffet in the dining room with fresh fruit, rolls that Peeta had baked the day before, cold cuts, and cheese. Katniss prepared her plate and sat down at the table in her seat next to Peeta.

"Jay, are you excited to finally attend the festival?" Seeder asked.

"Oh, I'm not going," answered Katniss, which made everyone stop.

"Why, not?" Seeder inquired.

Katniss saw Rue give her a subtle nod of encouragement.

"My family's custom is to not dance. We aren't even supposed to go to events with dancing."

Haymitch piped up, "Hmmm. I didn't know that dancing was harmful. I wonder how your family would feel about you sipping on brandy the other night."

"Old man, stop teasing her. She said she can't go. Respect that." Peeta looked at her and Katniss saw something in his eye that she couldn't quite understand. Then he gave her a little half-smile and her stomach did the little flippy thing that it had been doing lately every time she saw him.

"Thank you," she whispered.

"No problem."

That afternoon Katniss and Rue were free since they finished their chores by lunch and they were granted the afternoon off. They did need to get ready for the ball. Together they snuck Katniss' green gown along with Rue's dress to the laundry room to do a final pressing.

"This is so gorgeous."

"Thank you. It's one of Cinna's."

"Really?"

"Yes. He actually wants me to model for him this spring. A whole brand new line."

"That's wonderful."

After ironing the dress, they hid it in the laundry room closet. No one other than Rue and Katniss entered the room except Seeder, but her dress was ironed by Rue earlier in the day.

After they both took brief naps, Katniss helped Rue weave a blue ribbon through her hair. Rue then watched Katniss as she braided her own hair in her mother's style with two Dutch braids, one on each side of her head, keeping the braids loose at the top of her head and tightening near the nape. She coiled those braids at the back of her head and pinned them into place.

Katniss then applied her peach-colored lip balm and pinched her cheeks. "So Rue, what do you think?"

"He won't know what hit him. Especially with you in the green dress."
Not long after, Rue put on her finery and departed with the rest of the household. Katniss retrieved her dress from the laundry room and after donning it, she slipped on her low-heels. She wished she could wear her boots since the dressed was floor length but they had no heels, which made the dress a tad too long.

She walked to town and found Peeta waiting for her by the old apple tree. He looked rather handsome dressed in slacks, a burnt orange silk shirt, and a brown jacket. As she approached him she saw him fumble with something, which she realized was a dandelion. Peeta looked up from the flower and saw her approaching. A toothy grin spread across his face.

"You wore green," he observed.

"I told you that you'd see me in green."

"You look beautiful," he murmured.

Katniss blushed. "Thank you."

She reached forward, plucked the dandelion from his hand, and tucked it into the side of her hair. It would be one of the last ones of the year. But more would come next spring. Peeta reached up and touched the small flower in her hair before cupping her cheek. She leaned into his hand and closed her eyes as she enjoyed his touch. When her eyes opened she saw that he was staring at her. He leaned forward and briefly brushed his lips against hers before he stepped away.

"Shall we go get something to eat?" he asked.

She nodded in response. Peeta entwined his left hand with hers and they walked to the town square, which was with strung lanterns. In an hour, after the sunset, it would look magical. There was a bandstand set up on one end of the park that would feature different musical groups during the evening. On the end furthest from the bandstand sat row after row of tables laden with food. After breakfast, Katniss had become too nervous to eat, so now she was famished. "I want to taste everything," she told Peeta.

"Then you'd better pace yourself."

Nodding at his wise advice she said, "Okay, no more than one bite of each dish."

The first table they encountered was just soups. Katniss exclaimed that she could eat the creamy pumpkin soup sprinkled with nuts and black seeds all night, but she walked away accompanying Peeta to the next table full of salads. They grabbed a couple of plates and through silent agreement Katniss put a couple bites of half of the salads onto her plate while Peeta gathered bites from the other half. They found a couple of seats at a small table and tasted the various salads. Katniss groaned in delight over a bite of French potato salad.

"You must taste this." She positioned the bite on her fork offering it to Peeta. He accepted the bite with a smile. "Oh, you have a bit of—,"Katniss said as she reached forward to brush away a tiny bit of food at the corner of his mouth. After dislodging the crumb, she dragged her fingernail across Peeta's lower lip before she quickly pulled her hand away. She brought her focus back to tasting her salads, shaking her head slightly at her own forwardness. If she wasn't mistaken, she heard an almost silent chuckle escape from Peeta.

After salads, they selected their main dishes choosing to share a piece of chicken, and taste a bit of butternut squash lasagna. When it was time for dessert, Peeta fed her a few bites of the chocolate hazelnut torte.

After eating and much prodding, Peeta convinced Katniss to join him in a fast-paced reel. When the music slowed, he pulled her into his arms. They danced for hours. Occasionally someone would greet Peeta hello, to which he'd nod before he would immediately return his attention back to Katniss.

After one slow dance, the music picked up for another reel. Peeta turned to Katniss and asked, "Shall we go for a walk?"

They walked away from the festivities, which would last until one in the morning. They didn't have to go far before they were virtually alone. When Katniss shivered from a chill, he offered her his jacket. He helped her slip it on. Then with a tug on the lapels he to pull her into a quick kiss.

They made their way back to the old apple tree at the back of his property. The tree was far enough from the street that it was very dark, giving them privacy. Peeta backed her up against the tree trunk on the side that faced away from the street. Katniss was thankful for the jacket that protected her back from the roughness of the bark. He framed her face with his hands and tilted her head up as he leaned forward to kiss first one side of her mouth, then the other. He placed a kiss on the tip of her nose before meeting her lips again. At the feel of his tongue, she allowed him entry and slid her own tongue along his. He pulled back, before gently biting her lower lip and letting go. "Is this alright?" he asked with a hint of uncertainty. In answer, Katniss pulled him back into another kiss, sucking on his tongue when it entered her mouth.

Peeta glided his mouth, sucking gently from her lips to the side of her jaw, before he proceeded to nuzzle the point just below her left ear. He nipped gently at her earlobe causing Katniss to moan. Then his mouth was on hers again, tongues clashing, and his arms slid underneath the jacket and around her back so that he could pull her closer. She slid her tongue along his jawline and began to suck in the hollow where his jaw met his throat.

He moved his hands back down to her waist and leaned into her so that her back was against the tree again. She adjusted her stance so that he could stand between her legs. She could feel his growing erection as he grinded against her. She brought her lips back to his. His right hand left her and he guided it down her hip to her thigh and gently tugged. She hitched her leg and he hooked his hand underneath allowing him better access as he moved against her.

She felt him working up the fabric of her skirt as they continue to kiss each other's lips, jaws, necks. Suddenly his hand was on her bare thigh. He pushed on her leg and she set it back down, but he kept his hand on her upper thigh as he eased off her. Peeta pulled away from her mouth and she gave a gasp in protest and looked up to see him studying her with heavy lidded eyes.

He slowly circled his hand toward her juncture. He gave her a look, asking for permission, which she granted with a nod. His hands slid along her slick panties. He gently rubbed her through the lacy fabric and she thrust against his hand. He took her lips again as he slide the fabric to the side and slide his fingers along her slit, swallowing her cry. He found the little bundle of nerves, which he began carefully circling. He kissed her along her jaw until he was by her ear where he whispered, "You are so beautiful right now."

Peeta's fingers glided downwards away from her clit. He inserted one, then after she was comfortable he added a second finger. He gently pumped and brought his thumb to her clit. "It's okay. Let go." He continued to work her. Katniss felt a tightening in her body that she'd never felt before. "Let go." Release finally came as spasms overtook her. Peeta gave her a slow kiss as he withdrew his hand. He pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket and cleaned his fingers. "Sit down beside me."

Peeta eased himself slowly to the ground, obviously uncomfortable. Katniss sat down beside him. "What about—." She gestured her hand toward his lap.

"Tonight was for you. We'll have other opportunities." Katniss leaned against his shoulder.

"So, beautiful, what is your name?" Peeta asked.

"Tonight, names are not important," Katniss responded. She felt him tense then relax. "I promise you that I will give you my name soon."

"But the Harvest Festival ends tonight. When will I see you?"

"Don't worry. I will find you."

"I have something for you." Peeta fished something out of his pocket and placed it in her hand. It was some sort of pin. She could feel the clasp. Katniss held it up so it could catch the moonlight.

"It's a Mockingjay pin," Peeta whispered.

"It's lovely. Thank you."

They both sat in silence, enjoying each other's company. Katniss hated to leave. Eventually they rejoined the ball. When it approached midnight, she needed to return home. Peeta walked her to the edge of the party and gave her one last kiss.

Katniss' parting words before she disappeared into the darkness were, "I promise. You will not have to wait long."


A/N: Hello from Copenhagen. Surprise, I published Ch. 7 early. I hope you enjoyed it. Please let me know what you think. Ch. 8 will post September 24th once I'm back home.

Thank you Pookieh for beta-ing this chapter.

If you'd like more information about my fanfiction please visit my tumblr: dispatchesfromdistrict7

The characters are the property of the amazing Suzanne Collins and do not belong to me. You probably also have noticed I'll occasionally weave in one of the famous lines from her novels. Those totally belong to Ms. Collins too. (In this chapter it was from one of my favorite scenes - The Capitol party from the Victory Tour.)

I used Padraic Colum's version of She Moved Through The Fair.