Watcher ch 7

Hello! I know, I know, it's been a long time. I hope you aren't too mad at me… I did finish Wilderness after all!

I need to thank everyone, kleeklutch, notanislander, norbertsmom, and the ladies of FB for their encouragement! And gentlemama for listening to me plan even when you had no idea what I was talking about lol!

More notes at the end….


"Be good to him. His heart is delicate," Prim whispers into her sister's ear before she lets go of the hug.

"It is. At first, I only thought it was his leg—" Katniss says.

Prim adds, "He's so tenderhearted." The sisters let go of one another and watch Cato and Peeta while they talk. Prim and Cato are the first ones to leave this morning since Prim has sick people she must go tend to. "He's such a generous soul."

Katniss thinks about all of the little things, how he knows how she likes her tea, how there are always cheese buns for her, how he is always watching her—Thresh comes up behind her and picks her up in hug, making her grunt. She can't help but to notice Peeta, looking at them with concern until he sees her giggling. He smiles along with them when he sees that it's nothing to be worried about.

"What are you two doing over here?" Thresh asks after he lets Katniss go.

Prim wraps her arms around him. "We are getting ready to go. The fever has spread to another village."

Thresh kisses the top of his little sister's head. "Yeah, you better get going then."

Before Prim has a chance to leave, the rest of the siblings have joined the little circle. Katniss watches them, wishing, not for the first time, that they all had more time together. She knows that their jobs keep them all busy, but for this weekend, once a year, they get to steal away.

Cato comes over to join Prim. Katniss looks around for Peeta but she doesn't see him. By now, the rest of them, even Cashmere who swore that she was going to sleep late and eat lots of Peeta's pancakes before she left, is awake and hugging everyone.

With all of them outside, there is a little crowd. It only takes Katniss a moment to see his blond curls weaving in and amongst her family. It's not until he gets closer that she realizes that he is passing out those linen striped bags. He returns to her side when he is empty-handed.

She waits as long as she can, which is only a short minute, before she whispers, "What was in the bags?"

He flushes a deep red that spreads all the way to his hairline. "I got up extra early to make cheese buns for everyone. Was that alright?"

She wants to wrap her arms around him when she hears the uncertainty in his voice. She nudges him with her shoulder and grins at him, trying to make the mood lighter even though she feels melancholy too. "Well, you know, if you keep feeding them, they'll never leave." She loves the way he snorts at her words. "You think I'm kidding, but I'm not."

"I heard that," Gloss teases behind them.

"I know you did," Katniss says in her sing-song voice as she turns to face her brother. "You better enjoy those buns; those are all you are going to get for a while."

Gloss digs through the bag and sinks his teeth into one of the rolls while humming a muffled, "Hmmmm—"

"I'm serious Peeta, he gets no more buns."

She glances at his face, but amusement makes his eyes dance. Solemnly he agrees, "Yes, ma'am."

"That's not fair—" Gloss says around the bread in his mouth. "We got stuck with a brat while you got a baker! We want a baker next time!"

They both laugh when Cashmere yells from across the yard, "Yes, we want a baker!"

Katniss shakes her head. "You can't have mine!"

Everyone chuckles while she can't believe that Peeta actually turns redder. Gloss grins at his embarrassment. "I'll just come back once a week for some of these, alright?"

Jo adds, "Oh, me too! I want some bread too!"

"Oh yes! I'd love some fresh bread!" Rue agrees.

"Is Peeta taking orders?" Thresh quips.

"I'll just keep coming by for my daily allotment," Finnick informs them.

Prim requests, "Add us to that list!"

Katniss rolls her eyes before she meets Peeta's eyes. In all of her years on this earth, she has heard about hope, imagined what it might feel like. But it's not until then, when she looks into his eyes, that she knows what hope looks like.

This also means that she will be seeing a lot more of her siblings.


The last of her family leaves after lunch. Cashmere said that she just needed one more meal, even though she was coming back next Monday to pick up her bread. Katniss finds Peeta in the kitchen wiping down the counters one last time.

She wants to touch him, but isn't sure if she should. So she joins him at the counter, and inquiries, "Are you tired?"

He shrugs. "It just feels like a typical day."

"From when you were in the bakery?"

He nods, but keeps his head ducked. "Actually this is easier."

"Well, why don't you take the rest of the day off?"

He stops wiping the counter and looks at her. "Are you sure? Don't we need to go chop some wood?"

"Nah," she answers. "It's going to be warm tonight and no one will be building any fires."

The smile that appears on his face lightens up the whole room. "I know exactly what I want to do."

"Well, you deserve it." She turns to leave, not sure why she feels the inkling of disappointment weighing down her heart.

"Katniss?" He asks. She turns so she can meet his eyes. "Will you come with me?"

"Are you sure?" She hesitates. She doesn't want to intrude if he's asking just to be nice to her.

He nods and looks thoughtful. "Yes."

"I would love to."

"Stay here, and I'll be right back," he says, excitement in his voice.

She watches him hobble up the stairs. It doesn't take him long before he comes back with the bag he showed up with and the blanket from the foot of his bed thrown over his shoulder. He comes back to her, fills up the water bottles they sometimes use when they are cutting up wood and grabs the bread. He says, "Follow me."

She smiles when he leads her out the front door to the beach where they were just a couple of nights ago.

He stops at the same spot where they first met, and spreads out the blanket. He eases himself down, and she follows him. The silence between them is comfortable, so she feels weird for breaking it, but she wants to say, "You must like the lake."

He nods, and content smile lifting up the corners of this mouth. "It's unlike anything I've ever seen before."

She looks back at the shimmering waves lapping gently at the sandy shore. "Let's go swimming."

"You don't think it's a little chilly?" His other plans forgotten.

She shakes her head. "Finn heated up the water for Cash. She doesn't like chilly water with her being spring and summer and all that."

"So the water is still warm?" The wonder in his voice makes him sound younger than he is.

She gets to her feet and holds out her hand for him. "Come on, Peeta."

He doesn't hesitate once when he slides his hand into hers. She tugs him to his feet. As soon as he is up, she tugs her boots off. He smiles and pulls his shirt off over his head. With bashful grins they strip down to their underwear and run into the water.


A couple of weeks pass with them falling into an easy schedule of eating, chopping wood, milking goats, making cheese and finding things to do to fill the evening hours. One of those evenings, Peeta walks out of this room with a book in his hand. He limps slowly to the winding stairs and stills. He doesn't hear her moving upstairs or down. "Katniss?"

"I'm down here," she calls from down below. "I'll be there in a minute."

"Ok," he calls back while looking at the book in his hands. For the first time since he arrived he's had a chance to explore his room. One of the wonders is his bookshelf. When he's had a chance to read what he wanted, the books changed to another set of titles he might like.

They've watched a couple of movies together, but when one sees a title like, 'Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron', well you must spend the evening reading.

He is still standing there reading the back jacket again when he hears, "You called?" causing him to jump.

"Katniss!"

She giggles. "What did you find for tonight?" He shows her the front and she whistles. "A mad Baron? That sounds promising."

"Are you finished?" He isn't sure what she was doing on the lower floors, but he doesn't want to bother her. "Do you want to read tonight?"

"I am, and I do. Do you want some popcorn? Some tea?"

He smiles sheepishly. "I already have some."

"Oh good. who is reading first?"

He turns to walk back to the overstuffed couch where they have been spending their evenings. Her heart clinches when she sees how he is walking tonight. He must have worked harder than she thought. She still watching his backside when she hears his voice, "—one just popped out at me, like it was begging to be read."

She looks up in time to meet his eyes. before she can stop herself, out comes, "Is your leg bothering you tonight? Can I get you something for the pain?"

When his cheeks flush beet red, her heart sinks, knowing that somehow she hurt him. She starts towards him to only have his cracking adolescent voice stop her, "I'm ok, Katniss." Her worry must still be written on her face, so he continues, "Come, and read and drink tea with me. That will make me feel better."

"Of course, Peeta." She lets him sit first, then before he has a chance to protest, she grabs a pillow and gently picks up his scarred leg and eases the pillow under it. She wants to fuss with more when she can see the relief cross his face. She sits by him, perched on the edge and fixes him a cup of tea, milk, no sugar.

He has a funny look on his face when she hands him the mug. "You know how I like my tea?"

She looks down at her lap, unable to meet his eyes in that moment. she nods. "Well, of course I do. We've been doing this for a while now." She exhales and makes herself meet his eyes. "Are you ready to read? Do you want me to go first?"

He shrugs looking at the book again. "I can start, I guess."

She wiggles back against the cushions, tucking her feet under her. "Alright, I'm ready," she chuckles.

He glances at her, and for the first time, raises a brow. "Are you sure?" He teases.

She leans forward, getting her cup of tea before she returns to her previous position. "Now I am." She winks at him then waves her hand, encouraging him. "You may begin, kind sir."

He rolls his eyes at her, and opens the book. He clears his throat, but before he can start, they hear a fluttering of wings. They look up together to see Aurora flying towards them. "Where has she been?" Peeta asks.

The little bird, who once struck fear into his heart, cocks her head to take him in. Not for the first time Peeta knows that she understands his words. Katniss pats her leg and clicks her tongue. "Come on, dear. Peeta is about to read to us."

With a little series of hops, Aurora lands on her leg. Peeta watches them, amazed as Katniss ruffles Aurora's feathers as she pets her. The little bird shakes, and then looks at them for a long moment before she coos at them. Katniss then offers the bird her finger, and Aurora hops up on it.

Katniss then brings the little one up, and Peeta gently pets her head. "She's so sweet."

Aurora answers him with a coo, and then jumps to his shoulder, making Katniss smile. "She likes you," Katniss offers.

Peeta smiles, only because he's found peace with being here. "Well, she did chose me after all."

He wants to kick himself for the awkward silence while she wants to hug him. Katniss reaches for him, and smiles when she touches his arm. "Let's read?"

He nods, and opens the slim leather bound book. With a deep breath, he begins, "It was a dark and windy night, and Miss Priscilla Butterworth was certain that at any moment the rain would begin, pouring down from the heavens in sheets and streams dousing all that lay within her purview."

Katniss cuts in, "Purview? That can't be right."

Peeta eases the book down and looks at her over the top of it. "What isn't right?"

"Purview. It means," she pauses for a moment, as she racks her brain for the right words. "An area within which someone or something has authority, influence, or knowledge."

"How do you do that?" He asks his sorrows forgotten for the moment.

Katniss shrugs. "I just know things. I know how to understand Aurora, I know how long it takes you to get to sleep, and I know what purview means." She snaps her mouth shut, when she realizes what she just admitted. She says, before he has a chance to ask her about what she just said, "Keep reading, let's see what other words they don't use right."

He picks the book back up and starts again, "She was, of course, shielded from the weather in her tiny chamber, but with the window casings rattled with such noise that there would be no way she would find slumber in this evening. Huddled on her thin, cold bed, she could not help but recall all of the events that had led her to this bleak spot, on this bleak night. But this, dear reader, is not where our story begins."

Neither one of them has a chance to say anything when a great clap of thunder shakes the tree house. Katniss starts and jumps even closer to Peeta. She catches her breath, and chuckles nervously, "That was weird."

Peeta nods. "Are you alright?"

Katniss nods. "I didn't know it was going to rain tonight."

"You know; I'm really surprised one of you aren't the weather."

Katniss sips her tea thoughtfully. "I've never really thought about it." She shrugs and sets her mug down. "That is weird. We'll have to ask father about it next time we see him."

Peeta picks the book back up and tilts it towards her. "Shall I continue?"

Katniss nods. "But of course. We need to find out where our story does begin."

Peeta gets a quick sip of tea and reads, "We must begin at the beginning, which is not when Miss Butterworth arrived at Thimmerwell Hall, nor even when she arrived at Fitzgerald Place, her home before Thimmerwell Hall. No, we must begin on the day she was born in a small cottage in Hampshire, surrounded by roses and butterflies, on the last day before the town was ravaged by pox.

"The epidemic took her beloved father, but miraculously spared the baby and her mother. Also among the fallen were her paternal grandmother, both grandfathers, three great-aunts, two uncles, a sister and a second cousin."

Peeta pauses, and Katniss meets his gaze. "That's pitiful," she observes. Another clap of thunder and a knock on the door, keeps her from saying anything else but, "I wonder who that is?"

He starts to stand up, but to his amazement she pats him on the leg.

"I'll see who it is. I think it's Finnick, which if it is, I wonder what he's up to tonight in this storm."

Katniss disappears down the stairwell, and not for the first time, he wishes for something he can't have. He wants to protect her—he snorts. Loudly, making himself chuckle. Like she needs the likes of him to protect her.

It doesn't take long for Katniss to come back up, with Finnick following. They join him again on the couch, with Katniss getting her seat by him again, and Finnick sitting on the other side of him.

Finnick whistles when he sees Peeta's leg on the pillow. "What happened?"

Peeta rubs his knee, wishing he could reach his cramping calf. "It's nothing." He looks down at the thin book still in his hands instead of seeing the scathing look Katniss gives her brother. Finnick cracks a grin and rolls his eyes.

Finnick picks up the book and reads the spine, "Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron". I've read that one."

Katniss' annoyed expression changes to one of surprise, while Peeta meets his eyes. "You've read it?" Peeta asks.

Finnick nods, and gets a handful of popcorn. He throws some in his mouth and crunches. When he swallows, he says, "It's one of those lurid, gothic, regency novels that is so bad, it's good. I was there when Sebastian wrote it."

Katniss turns the book so she can see the spine. "But it says 'by Sarah Godfry'."

"Yes, sister. But Sebastian Grey wrote it."

Peeta asks, "But, how were you there?"

Finnick gets another handful of popcorn and sits back on the overstuffed cushions. "We are timeless, remember? I became friends with Sebastian Grey, before he became Lord Newbury."

Peeta is speechless while Katniss starts to fuss, "You know what Father says! We shouldn't go among the humans! What did Father do when he found out?"

Finnick shrugs. "Nothing. He never found out."

"How?" Katniss asks while Peeta chuckles. Finnick joins him as two guys who have known what it is to be up to no good can. "He knows everything."

Finnick smiles an all-knowing smirk. "There are ways to hide from him."

Katniss shakes her head at her brother while Peeta looks on. "I don't believe you. He knows what you have done. Everything you have done. He just lets you believe that he doesn't know that he knows what you know."

Peeta has to bite his lips to keep from laughing, while Finnick looks puzzled. "You're saying that father truly knows everything, but he doesn't tell us for whatever reason?"

Katniss nods. "Yes. I'm not sure why he doesn't tell us that he knows. That's just the way it is."

Finnick roll his eyes. "Are you two going to the fall festival?"

Peeta sits up straighter. "What fall festival?"

Katniss moans, "I forgot."

"How can you forget?"

She shrugs. "Peeta is here now, and we've been busy."

"Busy doing what?" Finnick asks.

Katniss scowls at him. "Getting ready for winter, you dork. When is the festival?"

Finnick huffs and says to Peeta, "I can't believe she forgot. Thresh would be so mad at her if you two didn't show up."

Katniss asks through gritted teeth, "When is the stupid festival?"

Finnick grins at his sister. "Next week, love. I do hope you can make it."

"Yes, I'm sure we will be able to make it. Now, are you going to stay and listen to the story, or is it time for you to go?"

Finnick eases the novel from Peeta's fingers and flips it open. "You know, her father dies—"

"Yes," Katniss interrupts him. "Everyone dies."

Finnick nods. "But then she is dumped at one place where her mother is pecked to death by pigeons—"

Peeta interrupts this time, "Pigeons?"

"Pigeons. She also ends with the plague, breaking both of her legs, stung by a bee and nearly sold into slavery. And that's just the first three chapters."

Peeta looks at the book with disdain. "I think we can find something else to read."

Katniss mutters under her breath, "Or at least read it when he's not here to ruin it for us."

"I heard that," Finnick says, bored.

"I hope so," Katniss returns.

Peeta eases his leg off of the pillow and staggers to his feet. "I have some left over bread in the kitchen. Would anyone like a sandwich?"

He can't help but to smile when Katniss and Finnick both agree heartily.


Peeta fidgets in the saddle, still not used to riding. Katniss says behind him, "You need to relax."

"I'm trying."

She spurs Snowshoe up beside Jasper until they are walking side by side. "Relax your thighs. He isn't going to drop you."

Peeta inhales and wills himself to relax. He must be doing something right, because Katniss says, "You're doing it."

He relaxes into the rhythm of the horse. "This feels much better."

Katniss watches him out of the corner of her eye. It looks like he is finding his seat, but every once in awhile he tenses up. She supposes she should say something, anything to get his mind off of Jasper. She turns her head fully, and not for the first time, he takes her breath away. The mid-day sun shines behind him, casting him in a halo, making him look even more angelic than he already did. She breathes slowly, willing her words to come back to her, when she realizes much to her horror, he's been talking for at least five minutes. She stutters, "What did you say?"

He glances at her, but unable to keep his attention on her when Jasper stumbles, making him jerk back on the reins, causing Jasper to snort and shake his head.

Katniss has to make a quick decision, and as much as she wants to grab Peeta, she takes the reins next to the bit. Jasper calms, and she doesn't even have to look behind her, but she does anyway, and exhales a sigh of relief when Peeta is breathing steady once more.

"Thank you," he says. "I-I-I'm trying," he stutters.

"Peeta," she says, wanting to grab him and hold him tight so nothing else can ever hurt him again. "It's ok. You will be a horse expert by the time your seven years are up."

Her words hang in the air like a bad dream, and her heart falls when she sees the stricken look on his face. After all these years on this earth, she still can't ease the worries of a boy. She scrubs her face with her hands, and longs for—well for anything but this.

She wishes for the first time that she was just a girl, and he was her boy going to the fair. But instead, she is a pawn in these games that started before she was even born.

Katniss inhales, and tries to smile, but wonders if it's more of a grimace. She says anyway, "I didn't mean—" she stops and has to look away. "Let's go and have fun today." She meets his eyes again making her heart flip when she sees his haunted sky-blue eyes. "I'll win you something pretty."

He smiles that smile that makes her heart feel like it's going to bust out of her chest. He quips, "What if I win you something pretty?"

"Well come on then," she tries to tease, "daylight is wasting."

He chuckles behind her as they take off again. The horses stay together, and Katniss smiles when she sees Peeta relax the further they go.

Soon, the woods give way to acres of golden fields, and Peeta says distractedly as he looks around, "I don't think I've been anywhere this flat."

Katniss chuckles. "It is flat."

Peeta adds, "I'm used to mountains. And trees."

"Sometimes it's good to see other places. I guess this is your first time out of the district?"

Peeta nods, as he keeps his eyes glued to Jasper's ears. "Yeah, we didn't travel much."

She doesn't get to reply because Thresh's home village appears. Peeta gasps beside her and for the first time in a long time, she sees it through someone else's eyes.

With the golden fields surrounding the small village, the mid-day sun shining over it, it looks magical. She steals a glance at the boy beside her. His eyes are wide, and she holds in a grin when his jaw drops a little. "That's amazing," he whispers.

"It is nice." Snowshoe picks up the pace and Jasper follows obediently behind. Katniss looks over her shoulder, and asks, "Are you alright?"

She smiles when she sees him relaxing into the saddle and he flashes her a smile of triumph. "I told you, I'm figuring this out."

Katniss reins back Snowshoe some, and together they enter the village. The street looks deserted, but they can hear the crowd up ahead of them. When they arrive at the square, Thresh comes out to meet them.

"It's about time you got here," his loud, boisterous voice welcomes them as he reaches up to grab his sister around her waist.

"I told you we would be here," she fusses as he sets her down.

Thresh pauses for a moment, as he takes them both in. Then his warm chuckle that Peeta loves envelopes them both. He shrugs, and says, "No matter, you are here now—"

Peeta tries to get down off of Jasper's back, who thankfully is standing still at the moment. Hours of riding however, have made his leg lose feeling. Instead of landing gracefully, Thresh catches him about the waist, too.

Thresh holds on to him for a moment until he is steady again. Surprisingly, Peeta isn't embarrassed, but feels his new friend's worry. "Thank you, Thresh. I guess I'm not as good a rider as I thought after all."

Thresh smacks him lightly on the back. "It takes practice to be a good horseman. You have all the time in the world. Come along now, I know you two have to be hungry."

Peeta takes his first step after being on Jasper for so long, and almost crumbles to the ground. His old pain throbs, making peeta have to limp like he used to. Disappointment fills him as he hobbles to join Katniss and Thresh.

Thresh asks, "Are they ready?"

Twill answers, "Almost. They were finishing up their lunch, then they will be."

Thresh grins his easy-going grin. "We have something special for you two today."

Katniss smiles. "What is it?"

"Nope, you will have to wait and find out. Come, we'll eat and find out what your surprise is in a little bit." They follow Twill across the green to a huge canopy tent in the middle of the square. As soon as they are under the tarp, the most wonderful smells assault Peeta.

"What is that?" He can't help but to ask.

"Barbeque. Thresh makes it every year," Katniss explains. "Come on, let's find a seat, and I'll make us a couple of plates."

"But—" he protests, "I can help you—"

That's when she notices how bad he is limping. Guilt, makes her want to help him, and after they arrive at a table, she pulls out the chair for him. "Sit down Peeta. let me do this for you? Please?"

Peeta nods reluctantly as Katniss walks away with Thresh and Twill. He can't hear anything they are saying as their heads turn towards one another as they walk. Old habits come back as he rubs his leg yearning to be whole again.

A young boy comes running by with someone who looks like his older brother on his heels. Peeta watches them for a moment as they play a game of tag around the tables. The other villagers smile and watch, while others are too busy talking to even notice. He smiles when the youngest starts to giggle as the older one almost catches him. Their mother catches the little one, and he can't help but to chuckle along with them.

By then, Katniss comes back with a plate in each hand, with Thresh and Twill following behind with plates of their own and drinks for everyone. Peeta's eyes grow wide as they set the plates down. "What is all that?" he wonders.

"That is hand pulled pork, cole slaw, baked beans, and what Thresh calls mac and cheese." Twill says. "It's amazing."

Peeta grabs his fork, and says, "I don't know where to start first."

Katniss chuckles beside him and in that moment, he knows that he could listen to her laugh all day, every day. He returns her smile as she gets a fork full of the meat covered in tangy smelling sauce. He mirrors her, and he can't help but to hum when the tomato-vinegar-sweetness explodes across his tongue. His eyes close, it's so good.

He chews slowly, savoring every bit of goodness. When he is able to open his eyes again, he gets a forkful of the beans. The bacon enriched brown sugar goodness makes his eyes roll back in his head.

"I need to hurry up and eat if it's that good," Thresh says from across the table.

Peeta swallows his bite, and quips, "I just hope there are seconds."

They all continue to eat and when they are almost done, the most beautiful music fills the tent. Thresh looks at his sister with a definite sparkle in his eye. "Sing for us?"

"You can sing, too?" Peeta asks.

Thresh nods. "Very well. Come on, Sis. Just one?"

Katniss wipes her mouth and with a heavy sigh, which Peeta can tell by now, she doesn't really mean, she stands up. The villagers see her standing, and start to applaud.

Peeta watches, spellbound, as she walks to the make-shift stage in the middle of the tent. One of the band members hands her a microphone and the rest of them start a new song. He hears her begin to sing, and honestly, he is so lost in her voice that it's not until she sings the chorus, that he hears what she is singing:

It's been a long time coming,

As you shed a lonesome tear.

And now you're in a wonderama,

I wonder what you're doin' here.

I don't hardly know you,

But I'd be willin' to show you,

I know a way to make you smile!

Let me touch you for awhile.

I don't hardly know you,

But I'd be willin' to show you,

I know a way to make you,

Laugh at that cowgirl as she's walkin' out your door.

I know a way to make you smile.

Just let me whisper things,

You've never heard before.

Just let me touch you, baby.

Just let me touch you for awhile.

I don't hardly know you,

But I'd be willin' to show you,

I know a way to make you smile.

It's been a long time,

Let me touch you for awhile.

He isn't sure what he is feeling as the music fades and she gives the microphone back to the band. The applause is a dull roar as she steps off the stage and walks over to him. He wishes he understood more, so he could read what is in her eyes, when she looks at him like that.

Thresh is saying something to her and she is replying but he is lost in this wonder that she has stirred in him that all he can see is her. After a moment, Katniss meets his gaze and confusion makes her scowl at him. She grabs his hand and helps him to his feet.

The dull roar is still ringing in his ears when they exit the tent. She leads him to the middle of the green where a great, solidary oak stands. "What's wrong, Peeta?"

His heart clenches when he hears the worry in her voice. "Your voice—" he stammers, "I think the birds stopped singing when you started."

He loves the way she flushes red. "Peeta—"

"They did, Katniss." He wants to ask her if she was singing to him, but he can't get the words to leave his lips to ask her. So he says nothing.

She looks around, and spies something behind him. Grabbing his hand again, she guides him to a booth.

The young man behind the counter smirks as they walk up. "You two look like you're ready to play a game or two."

Katniss digs in her pocket for some coins and slaps them down on the counter. The young man doesn't say anything, but gives her a small wooden bow and three arrows. Peeta and the young man step back as Katniss nocks the first arrow. She releases it with her exhale, and it lands in the bull's eye. She quickly nocks the second and then the third. Her arrows land in the next two bull eyes, and the young man's jaw drops.

She turns to Peeta with a flourish. "Pick something out."

He looks at the booth, then back at her. Did she just say—"What?"

She grins that grin that makes his heart flip. "Pick something out. I told you I was going to win you something pretty."

"Really?"

"Yes, Peeta. Look, is there anything here you fancy?"

He looks at the bags of things hanging all around. Nothing really catches his eye until he sees a clear plastic bag with a pad of paper along with what looks like new charcoal pencils in it. He points and asks, "Can I see that one?"

"This one?" The young man asks, and Peeta nods.

When the bag is in his hands, Peeta can't help the excitement bubbling in his chest. "Yes, this one."

Katniss looks at the bag in his hands, her brows raised in silent question. Peeta nods to the young man and says, "Thank you," and leads her away this time. "Thank you, Katniss."

"Are you sure that's what you want?"

He grins at her, and she returns it. "It's your turn."

"It's my turn?" She echoes.

He looks around quickly for something he could do—when he sees it! There in a far corner, away from the booths and wagons of people selling their wares, is a wrestling ring someone had set up. He heads in that direction with Katniss following behind. It's not until he is approaching it, that she grabs his arm and pulls him back. "You can't do that!"

He stops and meets her nervous gaze. "My brothers and I wrestled all the time. This will be easy."

Katniss glances at the ring again, then at him. "I'm not so sure about this, Peeta—"

"Let him try, sister," Thresh's voice whispers in her ear.

She whirls around to face him. "He might—" she mutters harshly.

"Let him," his gentle murmur interrupts her. "He needs to try."

Katniss turns away from her brother, and exhales. "Well, if you think you can—"

He gives her a heartbreaking grin and hobbles away as quick as he can with his leg hurting again like it used to. She wants to grab him back to her so she can protect him like only she can.

"Please, Father, don't let him get hurt," she whispers to the wind.

Thresh nudges her arm. "He's tougher than you give him credit for."

She shakes her head, as she watches him talk to the men gathered around the ring. "He's just a human. He gets hurt, he dies. He's not like us."

"You can't live like this, sister." Thresh says, grabbing her so she has to look him in the eye. "I know you are afraid—"

Katniss looks away, crosses her arms in a huff and mutters, "I'm not afraid."

Thresh tilts her chin up so she has to look in his eyes again. "You are. you are afraid of getting too close to your tributes. You are afraid of them leaving you like your mother left you—"

Katniss swats at his arm. "She didn't leave us, she died," she says through gritted teeth. "If she had stayed with Father—"

"Katniss! There's nothing Father could have done even if she had stayed with him. You know that now." She blinks fast, willing her tears not to fall, but they do anyway, and Thresh pulls her in for one of his healing hugs. "Shhh. I didn't mean to upset you. I just want you to enjoy your boy while he's here. Don't worry about tomorrow, let tomorrow worry about itself."

She sniffs against his shirt and nods. "I'll try." She pulls away from him looking up at her dark skinned big brother. "Thank you."

Thresh kisses her forehead, and says, "Here comes your boy and he looks worried."

Katniss steps away and scrubs her face, rubbing away her tears. She takes a steadying breath and tries to find her smile again before she turns to see him limping to her. "Why can't Prim heal him?"

Thresh answers, "You know she can't until Father says—"

Katniss rolls her eyes. "Bull shit. He's making him suffer." She can't say anything else because Peeta is there with a huge grin.

He takes his jacket off and offers it to her. "Can you hold it? We're going to wrestle."

She nods as she goes numb from the dread of what is about to happen. She opens her mouth to tell him again that he doesn't have to do this when Thresh says, "Who are you wrestling?"

Peeta grins. "Gerald. Then if I win, which I will, I'll go against Frank."

Thresh slaps Peeta on the back, and together they walk back towards the ring. She trots after them. She stops midway, unable to go any closer because of the dread churning in her gut. It only takes Peeta a moment to take his boots off and to roll up his shirt sleeves. All the while Thresh is talking to him, but she is too far away to hear what is being said. The more her brother talks, the more excited they become.

It's only when someone brushes up against her, making her look around, that she sees the people gathering behind her. The swell of the crowd pushes her towards the ring. Everyone stops about ten feet away, and she can feel their anticipation.

Peeta hobbles to the middle and a tall but skinny young man, who she guesses is Gerald, meets him. They circle one another slowly until they lock arms, reminding Katniss of two great bulls getting ready to fight. The gasp she feels must have escaped somehow, because she feels a pat on her arm. Her eyes land on a girl, who smiles. "Don't worry about Gerald. He's good."

Katniss looks back to the ring. "That's what I'm worried about." She thinks the girl says something else, but she is too focused on Peeta to notice. She jumps when Peeta dives for Gerald's legs, knocking him down. Peeta grapples with him, and for a moment it looks like Gerald is going to hold Peeta down, but Peeta flips him off, and pins him instead.

She pushes through the crowd until she reaches the edge of the canvas. Peeta jumps up, and Thresh hold his hand up in victory. The crowd cheers and even Gerald, good naturedly, pats Peeta on the back.

Katniss breathes a sigh of relief when Peeta appears unhurt. That is until the next man steps up for his turn. The crowd cheers behind her, so Peeta can't hear her call out to him.

She sees Thresh behind him shaking his head at her. Peeta and the new man, who must be Frank, circle one another, distracts her. This time when they lock arms, the only thing she can do is cover her eyes.

She hears the people again roar and she looks through her fingers to see Peeta pinning Frank to the mat. "Go Peeta!" She cheers and he looks up for a split second and grins at her. Someone counts to three, and the crowd cheers with Thresh rushing forward to raise Peeta's hand again in victory.

Her laughter bubbles up in relief until she sees him stumble and trip into the top rope. She starts to scramble to the ring, when she feels someone pulling her back down.

"I'm sorry mistress, let's go around to Thresh, alright?" Twill asks close to her ear.

Katniss lets Twill lead her through the people and around the ring. When they get to the other side, Thresh and Peeta are climbing out. Katniss, even before she realizes what she is doing, runs to Peeta. she flings her arms around his neck, and says, "You scared me to death, Peeta!"

He chuckles in her ear, "I won, Katniss, I won."

She leans back so she can look into his eyes. "Of course you did. I never doubted you for a minute."

He smiles and opens his mouth to say something, when Gerald comes up behind him. Peeta steps away from her, so he can shake Gerald's hand and says, "Anytime you want to hang out or whatever, just come find us."

He coughs, and clears his throat, "The next time I'm through here, I'll look for you and Frank."

Gerald glances between Katniss and Peeta, not sure what to say. He instead gives Peeta a box and a bag before he disappears into the crowd. Peeta runs his fingers through his hair, and tugs on the ends. "What's wrong?" She asks.

He smiles weakly at her. "Nothing, Katniss. Just tired I guess."

"Are you ready to go home?"

He looks around, like he is trying to remember everything. "Can we stay just a little bit longer?"

She gives him a faint smile. "Whatever you want to do. Will you sit down first? For just a minute?"

Together they walk over to a bench on the edge of the square. She waits for him to sit down first, then she asks, "Can I go and get you something to drink?"

He looks at the box and the bag in his hands, before he returns her gaze. "I would love something to drink."

While she is gone to one of the booths, he sneaks a look into the bag. His stomach twists, and his hands start to sweat. He wants to save what is in the box for winter solstice, but what is in the bag can't wait any longer. "I hope she likes you," he whispers into the bag.

"You hope who likes what?" She echoes above him, making him jump.

She hands him a bottle of lemonade, and sits down beside him. "I hope you like it," he answers as he gives her the bag. She gives him a look with her eyebrows raised. And he replies, "Just open it."

The bag is heavier than she thought it would be. It starts to wiggle, making her drop it in the grass at their feet. "Oh—" she begins, to only stop when she sees a little black nose poking out of the opening.

They hear a whine, and out rolls a little black puppy. She picks it up slowly until she and the dog is nose to nose. "A puppy?" She whispers as the pup licks her nose.

"A puppy." he repeats. "Do you like it? Do you want to keep it? I'm sure we can give it back," he says, his nerves making his voice squeaky.

She remembers Thresh's words; to start living, enjoying today. Let tomorrow worry about tomorrow. "Yes, let's keep him."


I hope you enjoyed that!

The book that Katniss and Peeta were reading, "Miss Butterworth and the Mad Baron", is from Julia Quinn book, "What Happens in London". It's a good book, read it if you like regency. It's not a real book. I know, it would be a awesome read. What she, julia, did, is in several of her books, several of her characters read those little books. I thought it would be fun since Peeta has a magical bookshelf, and they are reading together, that they might enjoy "Miss Butterworth".

The song, "I Want to Touch You For Awhile" was written by Robert Lee Castleman. Not me. But I did think the lyrics would be perfect for our demigoddess to sing to her boy who she is starting to have new feelings for that she's never had before. And yes, it's a bit blue-grassy which would be perfect for a country fair...

One of my readers brought up a question about Katniss fussing at Finnick for hanging out with Sebastian Grey (again, that is who wrote the books in Julia's books, I didn't make up that name) but then she goes to Thresh's harvest festival. Finnick, went, dressed like a young Lord of the time and made friends among the peerage. (I hear a one shot…) he was there for probably months, if not years. While Thresh went to the harvest festival in his "home district". His brothers and sisters probably came when they could to enjoy the fair. And then, remember too, they are in their disguises… so even Peeta hasn't seen Katniss in her "true form". So the villagers don't know that the dreaded "Harvester" is among them or the Mockingjay.

The mamas… that's coming… Peeta is going to ask Katniss soon…

And as always, please feel free to ask me any and all questions you may have. And as always, thank you for reading! I adore all of you!

And I almost forgot! What are they going to name the puppy?! What do you think?