Okay so, I am going to go with a little bit of angst and comedy in this chapter.

It is again from Peeta's POV, I am going with an uber awkward situation soon. You'll have to keep reading to see how that turns out :P

Reviews are love :)I am sorry for the delay I wanted to write another chapter but I got stuck, sorry it is shorter than some of my other chapters. The next few will make up for it.

I am not sure how happy I am with this chapter but meh it's here for you.

Still don't own THG.

Chapter 9:

Peeta POV.

I had no idea how on earth I was supposed to talk to Haymitch, I had spent the last two weeks trying to work it out, how to bring the subject up, or even what questions I would ask. I was putting it off, there was no other way to put it, Katniss always joked that I knew what to say, how to say things but when it came to this I had no idea.

Katniss was off hunting today, she didn't need to hunt but she would still go every day for the rest of the town, she would bring one or two Rabbits or Squirrels home for us but the majority of the town. I was waiting for a delivery from the Captiol, the foundation for the bakery was set, it was all coming true. I was re-opening the bakery, it was something that I was excited about, I couldn't wait to be able to feed the District like Katniss did. I watched her day after day and it made me a little jealous. I was so looking forward to being able to do the same.

I was sat in my kitchen, it was almost our kitchen now since Katniss spent most nights here and she had a lot of her clothes here. I just wanted to ask her to just move in but I was worried about commitment, I didn't really know what we were, I was not going to push it, I didn't want to lose her, for being too pushy. I was prepared to do this at her speed.

After about an hour, the bread that I had been baking was ready, I took it out and let it cool before wrapping it up, hoping that it would help me start to talk to Haymitch, or hopefully he would be sort of drunk so he could get through it without being embarrassed.

I coughed, cleared my throat and left the house and walked the short distance to Haymitch's house, it was the one between mine and Katniss' and it was a lot dirtier than ours because he didn't clean it, we used to have Hazelle cleaning it, part of me made a note to see if she would be able to do it again. She had recently returned to District 12 but without Gale, he was stopping in District 2, he had some big important job and whilst Katniss was healing, that was the safest place for him in my opinion.

As I walked to Haymitch's door I could hear him swearing and the honking of one for the geese, "Get out of the house you fucking useless animal!" I heard through the door as I knocked, "IT'S OPEN!" Haymitch yelled as he slammed the back door and I opened the front door walking in with the bread wrapped and held it up for him.

"I brought you some bread... I figured you might be hungry" I explained as I put it down, my palms starting to get sweaty as I felt my heart pounding, I felt like I was telling Haymitch all over again about my feelings for Katniss. Asking him to help me keep her alive, Haymitch turned around, he didn't look that drunk which was start and he clearly spotted something was up.

"What is it Peeta... you look like you're waiting for a gong to go off or something!" Haymitch exclaimed taking a seat on the table and pulling a chunk of bread and throwing it in his mouth, I felt myself blush furiously, Haymitch had some sort 6th sense when it came to things being up. I sighed and took a seat and played with my fingers for a moment a little stuck for words, "well... I erm... I wanted to talk to you... about... about Katniss" I mumbled, I seriously needed to get a hold of myself.

Haymitch raised an eyebrow and looked at me "What about? I thought you two were getting on again now... I mean isn't she stopping at your house every night?" he smirked. It was the kind of smirk that if Katniss was here would make her blush or punch him. It was a fine line with Katniss and Haymitch. One moment they are getting along and a second later they could be ready to kill one another.

"It's not like that! I mean yes she is but we aren't... we aren't doing that..." I explained blushing furiously, coughing, I felt so awkward it was un-real. Haymitch was like a father figure to me and Katniss, it was so weird talking to him about her.

"Why not? I mean you're both teenagers and hormones and what not!" he added, now looking around for a bottle of that white liquor he seemed to favour, he spotted one and got up making his way over to it and saw the sheepish expression on my face as he seemed to realise what it was I was wanting to talk to him about... "Oh bloody hell. You don't know what you're doing do you? I mean you're a boy Peeta! Surely you have some instincts!" Haymitch said, still smirking as he took a long swig from his drink, he seemed almost like he was enjoying making me feel uncomfortable.

I shifted on my seat and coughed "Well... we've done... stuff but... I mean, I was 13 when my dad had that talk with me and my brothers... I am pretty sure everything they talked about was just bollocks... I know... stuff but I mean... it's Katniss!" I said defensively back at Haymitch.

Haymitch nodded and took another swig of the drink and sat down in the seat opposite me "I get what you mean..." it was now his turn to look uncomfortable, he wanted to help but Katniss was like a daughter almost now so it had to be weird for him. He took a deep sigh and looked at me "Right I am only going to say this once so you better pay attention" he said simply looking right at me. He was so uncomfortable but I had to appreciate what he was doing.

"Katniss is not someone you want to rush, if you're being... intimate... just... make sure she...you know... finishes, the last thing you want is to leave her un-satisfied." I nodded and opened my mouth to speak "Don't interrupt me!" he said and I raised my hands up defensively.

"Katniss is worried about pregnancy and kids so if you happen to get in –that- situation, make sure you're protected. Let Katniss come to you, let her tell you when she is ready and don't rush things boy. I am not going to tell you what to do, if you're unsure as to what to do... ask her. Katniss will tell you what she does and doesn't like. Do the same with her. Just be honest with one another."

He sighed and took another long drawl from his bottle, obviously he was finished and needed to remember that he had just said that and I just nodded, taking in what he had said, I felt so awkward right now. More so than before because it was a lot to take in and was basically what I had been told when I was 13 and from my brothers, I cleared my throat and nodded "Thanks Haymitch... it... it was helpful... just... don't tell Katniss I asked okay?" Haymitch nodded and then the door opened, causing him to topple off his chair and me to jump with fright as Katniss walked in with a large bowl.

I blushed furiously and stared at my feet as Katniss looked around, I really wanted to laugh at Haymitch and Katniss certainly did as she spotted Haymitch. "You both look like I've just frightened the life out of you... what did you think I was someone here to rob you or something Haymitch?" She asked amused as she walked over and put the tub on the table, "From Sae. She's made you some Rabbit stew." She explained to him as I composed myself, I just looked up as she leaned over and kissed my cheek whilst Haymitch picked himself up.

"Thanks for that Sweetheart... She's a gem" he said lifting the lid of the stew and sniffed.

Katniss smiled at me and I took her hand, "We'll leave you to the drink and geese shall we?" she said and Haymitch nodded "Thanks for that Sweetheart. Enjoy your evening" he smirked, it was pointed at me, I knew it and it caused me to blush as Katniss looked at me and lead me out of his house.

"What was that about?" she asked curiously, I shook my head and kissed her cheek "it was nothing Katniss. Just Haymitch being drunk as usual." And she smiled and rested her head on my shoulder, she looked so content and happy.

I had a lot to do now, take it what Haymitch had said and make it real. Make Katniss as happy as I could, like she was making me just being here.