This is the first part of this chapter. It got kind of long so I had to break it apart. I'll try to post within the week if not in a couple days.

Everyone, enjoy the World Cup! Thanks so much for all the support.

Disclaimer: I own nothing; simply working with the idea.

Peeta was a natural. The bakery was busier than it had ever been with Peeta at the helm. For him, everything just came to him. Haymitch would tell him to bake some cookies and the ingredients or a recipe was the last thing Peeta needed to make the best damn cookies the town had ever tasted. But it wasn't just cookies or cakes, complicated soufflés and other various pastries suddenly were making appearances at the bakery. Business was booming with walk-in business and even better with referral business. Customers were coming in and asking for lavish multilayered cakes that Haymitch's was usually the last place people would go. Peeta had become a blessing in disguise and no one had ever seen a happier sober Haymitch.

It was a combined effort between Peeta working at the bakery, him bringing home leftovers, and Katniss' hunting that got the family through some of the harder months. As for their kiss in his bedroom, Katniss was thinking about it and every time he came home from work and brought something for the family, the walls around her heart were slowly coming down. Prim and her mom loved him and he took care of the family. It really did take a lot of the burden off her shoulders and it gave her time to think about them together. There wasn't a better person and tonight, she was going to let him know that; Katniss wanted to try with him.

"You worked too hard today." Peeta tells Mrs. Everdeen, who's falling asleep on the kitchen island.

"You worked too hard." She says with a yawn. Peeta places a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Go to bed. I got her." He tells her and she complies. She stands and places a kiss on his cheek, much like she did with her two daughters.

"Don't stay up too late." He shakes his head and watches her leave. Peeta had developed a fondness for the woman. She was like a mother to him now and he was happy to help any way he could. Peeta walks out of the kitchen, to the living room to see Prim happily munching away at the cookies he had brought home with him from work.

"Slow down." He tells her before handing her a glass of milk.

"Peeta, you make the best cookies!" She tells him with a mouthful.

"Thank you. Now, finish eating your cookies and drink your milk. Then, it's off to bed with you."

"No! I'm not tired." He's unconvinced as she lets out a big yawn.

"That might work with your mother but not with me." Peeta chuckles.

"Can you read me a story?"

"You want to me to read you a story?" She nods as she hands him a book. "Okay, one story then bed." Prim nods again. Peeta makes himself comfortable on the floor. Prim snuggles under his arm as he begins the story.

Katniss walks down the stairs just in time to hear Peeta's animated voice. She watches from the stairs as Prim laughs as Peeta reads. She watches Prim crawl into his lap and rest her head against his chest. A few minutes later, Peeta finishes the story and Prim is asleep in his lap. Katniss watches Peeta move the hair out of Prim's face and place a kiss on her forehead. Peeta picks her up and starts for the stairs.

"Hey," Peeta flashes her smile as he walks pat her.

"You're coming back downstairs right?"

"Of course. My room's down here." He smiles again before he disappears around the corner to Prim's room.

Katniss fixes up the living room while she waits for Peeta. She was trying not to talk herself out of telling Peeta that she was ready to start something up with him. She sat on the couch and picked up the book he was just reading to Prim. He loved her sister and she loved him, possibly more than Prim loved her. Katniss scoffed at the thought because it was ludicrous, but he was definitely a very close second. Still, anyone who cared about her sister like she did deserved a chance.

Peeta quietly walks down the stairs and into the living room. He looks around and notices it's all cleaned up.

"Thanks for cleaning up." He tells her before reaching for the light switch. Katniss catches his hand making Peeta catch her gaze.

"Can we talk?" Peeta nods then takes a seat next to her.

"If this about Prim and her sweets intake…I can't promise anything because when she gives me those puppy eyes and that pout, I can't say no." Katniss smiles at him.

"It's not that. She's happier than I've seen her in so long. Not to mention, she goes to bed full every night. I could never thank you for that."

"And you never have to. I would never allow her, you, or your mother to go without. Not while I'm here." Katniss places her hand on top of his.

"I wanted to talk about the other night."

"Which one?"

"The night we…" Katniss blushes and Peeta grips her hand tighter. "I've thought about it and…I want to."

"You want to?" He asks and she only looks at him. "You want to." Peeta smiles at her and Katniss blushes more.

"Yes, Peeta! I want to try this. Us."

"Great! I want to take you on a date, but I don't know the area like that. Where do people go on a date around here?"

"I don't know. I've never been on one."

"Mm, well, I'll think of something. I won't disappoint." He stands and pulls her up with him. He gives her a chaste kiss on the lips before he pulls her up the stairs to her room. "I'm so excited!" He whispers happily before he place another kiss, this time on her cheek, and heads downstairs to his room.

"So Katniss…" Peeta rocks back and forth on his heels.

"Peeta." Katniss eyes him with a smile.

"Peeta!" Prim runs into the kitchen, where both of them are standing, and collides into his legs. Her small arms wrap around them and she breaks out in a fit of giggles. Peeta bends over and picks her up so she's resting on his hip.

"What's going on, little one?"

"What are you two doing?" Prim asks as she looks between Katniss and Peeta.

"Prim, it's-" Katniss tries but Peeta puts his hand up to stop her.

"It's good you are here because maybe you can help me with something." He jostles her gently which makes her laugh. "See, I want to take your beautiful sister over there on a date but I don't know where to take her." They both look at Katniss who tries to turn from them before she blushes but they both see it.

"Ooh a date! Can I come?" Prim asks with a big smile.

"Um-"

"Please? I promise I'll be good!" Prim hugs Peeta tightly. He turns to look at her and she's giving him those eyes and Peeta knows he can't say no. But what kind of date was it going to be with Katniss' sister hanging around.

Suddenly, Peeta smiles big, an idea running through his head.

"Sure! Why not?" Peeta puts Prim down and she happily runs to her mother to let her know the news.

"Uh, Peeta?" Katniss speaks up. "So, we're going on a date with my sister?"

"And probably your mom." Peeta adds and Katniss looks at him strangely. "But, right now, I have to go do some shopping!" Peeta exclaims before he grabs his jacket off the rack by the door.

"Peeta? Where are you going?" Katniss asks as she follows him.

"I have to go to town and get some stuff." He's out the door before Katniss can say anything else.

"Mom! Peeta and I are going to town!" Katniss yells to her mother before she's out the door behind him. She has to run to catch up to him as his strides are long and purposeful. Not to mention it was still freezing outside, so walking fast was the best way to stay warm.

"Are you insane?!" Katniss shouts at him.

"What?" Peeta asks.

"It's freezing outside and you just decide to take a stroll into town! What are you thinking?!"

"I'm thinking that I do it every morning to go to the bakery and I'm thinking I need some stuff for our date."

"Peeta! Forget about the date! It's not worth freezing to death!" Freeze warnings were already in place. Unfortunately, they effected them in more ways then just the crops. Their house wasn't particularly built to withstand extreme cold and wood was scarce. So being out, voluntarily, was something Katniss strayed far from.

"Katniss, you're exaggerating! I just think you're more prone to being cold." Peeta tells her.

"What the hell does that even mean?" Katniss asks as she jogs some to keep up with him. He suddenly stops walking and takes the glove off he's wearing. Her hand instantly jerks out of her pocket to cover his. "Are you insane?! You have a death wish or something…" When he takes his other glove off, she almost loses it. "Peeta!"

He pushes her against a tree on the outskirts of town. Peeta's one hand goes up to cup her face gently while the other plays with the fingers she has wrapped around his. Katniss doesn't say anything because she's too stunned to do so. That and he was so warm that she suddenly became lost in his touch. Her eyes close as his hand slowly traces the outline of her jaw then her cheek. His other hand squeezes hers tightly and she realizes that she never wanted to let go.

"Katniss," his voice was husky against her ear as he leans into her. He presses his cheek to hers and again Katniss reveles in his warmth. It was freezing outside and he was warm. Katniss could only think that maybe he was right and she really was more prone to being cold. "You're so cold."

Katniss can only nod, hoping it was enough to keep his body so deliciously close to hers. Her eyes open when she hears a zipper and widen when Peeta opens his coat up. Okay, so now she was sure he'd lost his mind. But before she could say anything, he pulls her into him, wrapping her up tightly in the layers of his coat, and zips it up around them. Peeta runs his hands up and down her arms trying to create some heat for her then pulls her in tightly against his body.

"Geez, you're so cold! No wonder you didn't want me to come out here when you feel this way." He tells her with a chuckle. Katniss wants to say something but she was so lost in the sensation of him; his body pressed against hers, his arms around her. His hands found a resting place on the small of her back just underneath her shirt, and her face hides safely in the crook of his neck.

Katniss shudders lightly at the new sensation running through her. Peeta took it as a sign that she was still cold and turned to look at her. His hands find their way under the back of her shirt and start to run up and down back there. He hopes that the skin on skin contact would keep her warm.

He was so warm and it felt so good, she wondered why she'd just found out about Peeta's tendency to stay warm. Katniss tosses and turns in the night trying to find some much wanted heat in her freezing room at night and just downstairs, Peeta slept with little to no sheets and he slept half naked. No wonder.

She couldn't help it anymore. Her face turns inward and her lips graze his neck but they didn't stop there. Katniss presses a kiss to his neck. She does it again and again until finally Peeta pulls back to look at her. Her hands are nestled tightly between them otherwise she would have used them to grab his face and pull him down towards her. Luckily, Peeta's taken the hint. He slowly, hesitant almost, lowers his face to hers. It's not until Katniss licks her lips in the anticipation that Peeta finds the courage to place his lips fully on hers.

Forget her kisses because they were nothing compared to the one they were currently in. It wasn't anything crazy or lustful it just was and Katniss could already feel the heat. When he pulls back to look at her, it was as if her lips were burning; like they were the hottest part of her body and she wanted more.

Peeta lowers his lips to hers once more. He pulls away some and again presses his lips to hers. Each kiss was deeper than the one before and Katniss was melting after each one. When Peeta tries to pull away for the last time, her hand shoots up to the back of his neck. She holds him in place and deepens the kiss so it's a tongue battle.

Katniss didn't know if she just couldn't get enough of the warmth that came from kissing him or enough of him. Since that night in his room where they had shared that kiss, Katniss was unable to stop thinking about it; his lips, or his hands. Maybe it was the fact that he was so masculine, warm, strong, and providing for her family. She didn't know but she never wanted to stop kissing him.

Peeta finally pulls back and clears his throat. "I think we should go before it's too late." He pulls his hands back through his sleeves and unzips his jacket. Katniss instantly feels the loss and can't help but want to pull him back into her. Peeta doesn't stray far, though, as he throws his arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry. I won't let you get cold."

"Hey Peeta!" The shopkeeper happily greets him.

"How's it going, Phil?" Peeta greets back with his arm still around Katniss. She didn't recognize the shopkeeper, but she wasn't real friendly with them anyway. She only ever traded with one a handful of them while the rest of them didn't really care for her.

"Good! So you brought the girlfriend this time…" Peeta clears his throat and removes his arm to rub the back of his head.

"Um-" Katniss grabs a hold of his hand. He smiles down at her before he grabs one of the baskets to grab some groceries for what he had planned.

"Your girlfriend, huh?" Katniss teases.

"Hey, you have to believe me. I haven't said anything." He walks a little further into the aisle. "I mean, I don't talk about you that much. Do I?" He scratches his head in confusion then shrugs.

"What do you say?" Katniss asks with a smile.

"Nothing." Peeta tries but he can't contain the blush that covers his face. "You know what we should get while we're here, milk. We're all out at home."

It was impossible not to like Peeta. Never mind the fact that he always thought of others before himself. They were supposed to be here, at the store, picking up whatever it was that he wanted and he couldn't help but think about them. Sure they needed milk and a few other things but they shouldn't take precedent, at least not today.

Katniss is still smiling as she walks over to him and strokes his back thoughtfully. If there was anybody who deserved a chance, it was more and more evident that it was Peeta.

"Hey Peeta!" A loud shrill voice greets him. They both turn to see who it was.

"What's up, Delly?" Peeta waves. "This is Katniss." He points out. Delly simply nods her acknowledgment before her attention is back to Peeta.

"So, is my cake all ready for my party?" She asks as she makes her way over to them.

"Just about. Needs some final touches and it will be perfect!" Peeta says with a smile.

"That's good. You're making it right?" She pokes him in ribs which makes both Delly and Peeta laugh. Katniss, on the other hand, is not pleased with the interaction. What gave her the right? Katniss was the one who had a date with him.

"Of course!"

"And you're bringing it by, right?" She beams at him.

"Now that, I don't really have a choice. Last thing any one of us needs is for someone to topple over just because he started happy hour early." They laugh like they'd just shared some juicy gossip and Katniss was simply disgusted. But she didn't know how to handle the situation. How do you get a woman away from your man?

She quickly reasoned that the phrase, "Fight fire with fire," could be adjusted for the situation.

Katniss reaches for Peeta's arm and hugs it into her chest. He turns his attention to her and smiles. She can't control her hand as it makes it's way to caress that strong jaw of his. She tilts his face towards her and slowly draws his lips to hers.

Their lips meet for what Peeta meant to be a brief affectionate kiss, but that wasn't what Katniss wanted. He tries to pull his head back but Katniss has already wrapped an arm around his neck. She moans and Peeta pulls her in tightly against his body. He was getting hard in public and Katniss was his only cover.

He finally manages to pull back, completely breathless as he turns towards Delly.

"Right, well, I'll see you at your party." She smiles then makes her way out of the store. Peeta still has Katniss pressed tightly against him when he turns to look at her. She's not looking at his face, instead she's looking at where their centers are joined. "Katniss…" He tries to think of someway to explain.

"Did you bring a flashlight?" She asks innocently as she presses further against the rod in between them. Peeta only closes his eyes tightly and bites his lip in an attempt to stifle a pleasurable moan.

"Yes." He didn't know how to explain so he was going to use Katniss' idea.

"Oh. Well, it's not really necessary. We should be back before dark." She tells him before she takes a step back. "Come on. We should pay and get out of here."

Peeta pulls his jacket down some so it would hopefully cover up some of the bulge. He sighs in relief at both her comment and her naivety. Was she really that pure? He couldn't remember if he'd gone down that path in his other life but he'd love nothing more than to kill two birds with one stone: find out where his experience lies and teach Katniss a thing or two. He pats himself once more before he makes his way over to the checkout.

They were walking down the street when they pass by the bakery.

"Well if it isn't my favorite person," Haymitch says as he looks at Peeta. Then, he turns towards Katniss. "And…if it isn't sweetheart…" Peeta scoffs at the nickname before he looks at Katniss.

"I told you not to call me that," she growls at him.

"I hope she's not talking you out of working for me…"

"No. She's just accompanying me to pick up some things in town." Peeta reaches for her hand, which she gives to him.

"Oooh, I see…" He says as he looks at their hands together. He places his hand on Peeta's shoulder and shakes him approvingly. "So you can bake and break into this one's heart…" He laughs. "What can't you do?"

"Shut up, will you?!" Katniss glares at him. "This is why I don't buy anything from you!"

"Yea, that's why!" Haymitch laughs.

"Oh!" She yells before she stomps away from them.

"Why do you make my life difficult?" Peeta says as he heads in Katniss' direction.

"You'll thank me later!"