Chapter 7: Memories


Peeta

I eat a lovely lunch made by me since Katniss still hasn't come out of our room. I'm glad we showed Jay and Prim the tape, it brought up some bad memories, but it was worth it. I better not get an episode though, that would scared Prim more than Katniss's nightmares. Also then we'd have to explain more terrible memories and I don't think Katniss could take that.

"Prim!" I holler. "Jay! Lunch is on the counter I'm going to check on mom!"

"Okay, thanks!" Jay's voice replies.

I walk into Katniss and my bedroom. The curtains are closed and there's a big lump on the bed that I guess is Katniss. "Sweetheart," I tentatively ask. "Are you in there?"

"Go away, Haymitch!"

"It's not Haymitch." She pulls down the covers and I see under her eyes is a lot of red, she opens her arms for a hug and I walk over to her. I take her in my arms and ask, "Are you okay?"

"I've been better," she answers.

"You know what, you should go hunt with Gale," I suggest, "in the woods."

"I'm not allowed in the woods remember?"

"Sorry, I forgot. I can't stand to see you so sad."

She buries her face in my shirt, I pull her even closer, if that's possible. Than I slide under the covers and even though its lunch time, we're both asleep in minutes.

When I open my eyes I see Katniss staring at me. "Hey, why haven't we heard Leven? It's like..." I look at the clock, "four in the afternoon. And you didn't feed him." We get out of bed and walk slowly into the kitchen. We see Prim, bottle in hand, holding Leven and Jay helping her keep his head up.

"They'll be such good parents," Katniss says and I see the pride in her eyes. I guess she doesn't regret the kids after all. We walk into the kitchen, "Hey guys," Katniss interrupts. They look up startled put they don't move a muscle, they remain where they sit.

Prim tries to explain, "Mom, dad...we heard Leven crying then we went into your room and you were sleeping. We didn't want to bother you so we fed Leven. Hope you're not mad."

"Not at all," I answer.

"Mr. Mellark?" Jay asks.

"You can call us Peeta and Katniss, Jay," Katniss says softly, I guess the nap didn't heal all of her sadness.

"Oh...okay. Peeta, Prim and I are going over my house later for dinner and we'll be staying there a few days. If that's okay with you, and also my mom invited you two for dinner. If you want to come."

"Sure we'll go, and we're fine with Prim and you staying there," I tell him. He seems relieved.

Katniss takes Leven out of Prim and Jay's hands.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Katniss

"Aren't you just the cutest baby ever!" I squeal to Leven, then I blow a raspberry on his cheek which makes him laugh.

"Ugh, mom. We're still here, could you wrap up the baby talk?" Prim says.

"Oops, sorry." I blush, and kiss Leven's cheek.

"Jay how about you and Prim go help your parents set up for dinner and tell them we'd love to come," Peeta suggests.

"Okay," Jay leads Prim out by the hand, and soon it's just me, Peeta, and Lee in the house.

Lee yawns and his eyelids start to close while he's in my arms. "Way to get them out of the house," Peeta says. He takes Lee and puts him to sleep, while I eat lunch. I'm almost done my grilled cheese when Peeta walks back in.

"Oooh! Grilled cheese," he takes a bite out of mine while I'm sitting down.

"Hey, that's mine!" I'm laughing though, so I'm not really strict.

"Oh yea I forgot, that's the only edible food you can make."

"Is not! I make tons of great food."

"I meant the only food that you didn't catch. And I don't even think that, you burned the bread," he says with a laugh.

I almost hit him at that comment, but I control my anger when I realise why he's taunting me. We're in our house alone. We havn't been alone since Prim was born, except for the rare nights when my mother would take her, or she would sleep over a friends house.

In the sense we're not exactly alone, Leven is still here, but he's asleep. I slowly rise from the table, and put my dish in the sink. I'll wash it later. Then I make my way to the couch, knowing Peeta will follow my lead. I sit down and go for the remote, but Peeta's hands intersect mine, and I'm gracefully sitting on his lap. How this reminds me of our wedding night...

My mother stood behind me, braiding my hair in the same way she did for the reaping that sent me into the Games. I look down, my dress is tight at the top, but then flows downward. Of course the dress is white, it's a classic wedding color.

However this is my dress, not one many other brides have worn before me. Also the designs on the dress, flowers and flames, could only be done by Cinna. Who apparently along with my Mockingjay uniform made me two wedding dresses. One that I could wear if I married Peeta, and one if I married Gale. Of course I chose Peeta, so I'm wearing the dress designed for Peeta's wedding.

There are butterflies in my stomach, and I must be shaking because my mother reaches out and steadies me. I have faced two Games, and the Rebellion. Yet I'm nervous about this. My mother's hands drop, and she pulls me into an embrace. We stand there hugging each other, trying not to cry, until Haymitch comes in.

He takes my hands and leads me out the door. The wedding will be held in the Meadow. I see Peeta standing in the front of the aisle, and all of my fear fades away. Before I know it I'm standing there, next to him, hand in hand. Then I'm saying my vows, and next he's kissing me and I'm kissing him. I have never been so happy, so at peace with myself.

Then there's a whole lot of congratulating, and then Peeta and I sneak away. I remember him leading me into his house, our house, then we sat down on the coach, not bothering to change. Peeta asks me one question a question I will never forget...

So when he asks me that question again, I'm not shocked. He says, "You love me, real or not real?"

And I answer, "Real."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

A/N: Katniss's wedding day is the part in italic, in case you didn't know. And her wedding is a flashback,