A/N: IM SO SORRY ABOUT THE WAIT. I just moved into a new house and I was so busy! I promise my updates will become closer together. This chapter does change POV's. I didn't quite reach the sexual aspect, but you'll see in this chapter that we're almost there. PLEASE REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT Y'ALL THINK.
Peeta's POV
We say our 'I love you's' and part with our own family member. I stand back a minute to watch Prim and Katniss walk to Prim's car together, laughing, before walking with my own father back to his truck.
"So, son, tell me," he begins. I look over to him and nod my head, waiting for him to continue. "How long did it take for you to finally make your move?"
I just laugh. My whole life, my dad was my best friend. I'm not going to lie and say we haven't had our differences, but he was always the person I turned to for anything. Once the bakery started expanding, we started to grow distant. That was the worst time for him and I. He was so concerned with money and building that he almost forgot he had a family. As soon as he truly felt the tension, he stopped and came back to us. My mother was disappointed because I'm pretty sure she was only happy when she knew we were constantly making thousands.
"Well, if I'm being honest with you, dad, it wasn't quick. Not saying I didn't enjoy every second of time getting to know her, though." I say.
"I'm happy for you. You… you look like I once did. In love…"
"With mom?" I ask. He never seemed to be overly affectionate with my mother. Hell, I actually don't remember the last time I heard him tell my mother he loved her.
He hesitates for a minute before answering, "Not quite…"
I stare at him questioningly before he continues, "Once upon a time I met this girl, no, this beautiful woman. She came into the bakery on an early June day and we just… connected. We dated for a long while when this other guy moved into town and just stole her heart. She had said it was his voice. She told me she truly loved me, but wasn't in love with me. I told her I wanted her to be happy so I let her go," he pauses to help me put my bag in the truck and climbs in.
He starts the truck and pulls out before finishing, "I loved her with everything I had. All I wanted was for her to be happy and if I couldn't be the one to make her that, I needed to do whatever I could so she could have that chance."
He says the last part with more sadness than I think I have ever heard in his voice in all my life. God, just thinking about losing Katniss kills me, let alone not making her happy. I know I probably shouldn't ask, but my curiosity gets the best of me.
"Dad, who was this woman?"
He looks at me and quickly looks away. He doesn't answer for a few minutes, but when he does my mouth drops.
"Lily…"
The only Lily to ever live in Seam is Lily Everdeen. Katniss' mother. I knew that they had known each other but…
"Lily… as in Everdeen?" I ask, even though I know the answer. He just slowly nods. "Dad, how come you never told me this?" I ask, suddenly curious as to why he never said anything before.
"Well, I don't know if you remember, but do you recall the first time you ever saw Katniss?" he asks.
"Of course," I say, "I was 6. She sang on front of the whole elementary school at an assembly." He smiles sadly and nods.
"Do you remember what you told me after?" he asks. I don't recall saying anything, so I shake my head. He smiles a little bigger and says, "You said 'Dad, I love her' and I just laughed. I told you it was just a phase and you shook your head and said 'No dad, one day I'm gonna marry her!' I still didn't believe you. As the years went on, I could see the way you looked at her from afar. The way you showed your admiration in the smallest ways. I could see that you really did love her. I felt that if I told you about Lily and me, it would ruin whatever you had with Katniss."
I take a second to absorb all of the information he has given me. Have I really loved Katniss for that long? Wow. And in a way, I'm thankful my dad never told me this before. It definitely would have made things weird for me. I wonder if Katniss knows about our parents.
"Thank you, dad."
"Thank you?" he questions.
"Thank you for holding out and thank you for eventually telling me. It probably would have made things weird for me then, but I'm happy you told me now."
He just smiles and nods. We drive in silence for a few minutes before he asks, "Does she know?"
I'm confused so I just glance at him to see if he'll elaborate. He does. "Does she know that you love her?" I just smile. I smile wide enough that my cheeks start to pain me but I don't stop. "Yes." I say.
"And does she love you?"
I have a shit-eating grin on my face but don't even bother to try to wipe it off. "Yes."
"Well, son, I'm happy for you. I want you to know that no matter how your mother takes the news, I'll always be behind you."
Oh right. Every time I come home my mother asks me if I've found a 'suitable woman' yet, and the answer is usually no, since I never have gotten really serious. But this time, it's going to be yes. And I just know she's going to have a problem with who that 'yes' is.
Katniss' POV
As soon as I get in the car, the 50 questions begin.
"How long have you been together? Have you taken things slow? Do you guys mainly hangout at the house or elsewhere? Have… OH MY GOD HAVE YOU HAD SEX YET?"
At that I snap. "Prim! Stop!"
She visibly recoils and regains composure. "I'm sorry. I'm just so damn happy! And c'mon, I don't get much girl talk from you!"
I laugh, "I guess you're right, little duck."
"So tell me!"
I internally groan. "Fine. I will answer 5 questions. Choose your questions wisely, young one."
"KAT! Only 5!?"
"Take what you can get for now."
"Whatever. Okay so… first, how'd you guys, like, get together?"
"Well… he moved into the house months back. I was really apprehensive about him so I tried to steer clear. We realized we were never going to survive not liking each other… or me not liking him," at this Prim giggles and pushes me on, "so we started hanging out a couple times a week then one day I broke down about…uh… Marvel… and he was there. He told me he wanted to take me out on a real date and if I didn't like him after that, he wouldn't try again. I agreed and here we are today."
Prim squeals, "That's the cutest thing EVER!" I just laugh.
"Okay so question 2… have you had sex yet?" I flick my head to look at her, "PRIM!"
"What?! I'm not a little girl anymore. I graduate next month! And it's a valid question."
"No."
"No?"
"No, I haven't slept with Peeta yet."
She looks surprised. "Really? Wow, you guys looked super cozy at the airport."
Once again I just internally groan, "I love him. You don't have to have sex to be loving."
She shrugs. Before she can ask any more questions, we pull into the drive way at my house. Even though it's not a particularly large house, it looks like home. A small smile immediately crosses my lips. I jump out and say, "Times up. Game over."
Prim scowls and stalks into the house. I grab my bag and head in. As soon as I walk in, I'm greeted with the familiar layout and set up of the house. Before I even say hello to my mother, I go straight to my childhood bedroom. Everything is the same as the last time I was here. I change into the t-shirt and sweats Peeta threw into my carry-on and go down stairs.
"Hello, Katniss. I've missed you." My mother says and greets me with a small hug. I don't push her away but I don't exactly reciprocate the gesture either.
"Hi, mom." I say. She pulls away and smiles.
"What's this I hear about you and a Mellark? I'd like to guess that would explain your clothing?"
I offer a small smile and sit on the couch in our living room. "Yes, I'm with Peeta. And my luggage got lost so Peeta insisted I borrow some clothes for tonight. I tried to tell him no, but he wouldn't take that as answer." I say, all with a grin plastered on my face.
"I'm happy for you, sweetie." She says. Although she sounds genuine, there's something on the edge of her voice. I don't quite know what it is, but I know I'll need to find out. I nod and watch some stupid show on TV.
The days fly start to fly by as the conference dwindles on. I haven't seen Peeta since we landed and I'm practically squirming in my pants. We text throughout the day, but nothing more. By the fourth day of the conference, which also happens to be the day before my birthday, we have both had enough. I'm sitting in the cafeteria at HG Arena when Peeta texts me.
P: hey gorgeous
Me: hey baker
P: I miss you… so much
This text causes me to smile ever so slightly.
Me: I miss you, too. I need to see you soon.
P: You don't dare think I would not see you on your birthday, dear huntress? Why, you are far mistaken. I actually have something special planned, so I will be picking you up at the Arena opposed to Prim tomorrow.
He has something planned? Fuck me if I don't have the world's greatest boyfriend.
Me: Is that a fact?
P: Yes. Get back to being a business big-shot, ok? I love you.
I smile. Me: I love you.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BITCH!" Johanna screams into the phone as I try to eat my cereal before I head off to the conference.
"Thanks, Jo. I really have to go, so I'll talk to you later. Peeta has something planned, so actually, maybe I'll talk to you tomorrow." I say, all the while with a smile on my face.
"Ohhhhh, get it!" She says before clicking off. God, do I really hate her sometimes.
I finish my breakfast in peace as I think back to my relatively nice morning. I woke up to a smiling Prim and my mother holding a small cake. They sang 'Happy Birthday' to me while I was in bed and both gave me their gifts. Of course, I told them it wasn't necessary, but they refused.
Prim got me a new dress which to be honest, I absolutely love. She said I don't have enough and it was the least she could do.
My mother gave me a bracelet that had a little more meaning. Apparently, she and my father bought this bracelet for me when I was young. They had agreed not to give it to me until I was older. It was a solid gold bracelet with a small charm. The charm was of a mockingjay. On the back of the mockingjay was scripted, "to always protect you". This gift made me cry and I thanked my mother profusely.
Yeah, I'd have to say today is going to be good.
I finish my breakfast and head to the door. When I open the door, I see a box with a tag that says my name. Curious, I pick up the box and read the note on the top.
Part one of today's celebrations for the most marvelous woman alive.
I love you more than anything.
P.
I smile at the note and slowly open the box. When I open it, I smell them before I see them. Inside lye three heart shaped cheese buns.
How the hell did I end up with the best man out there?
A/N: AWWWWW. WHY CAN'T PEETA BE MINE? Haha. Well, this chapter was full of fluff, if I do say so myself. I really hope you all enjoyed. Next chapter we'll find out how the rest of Katniss' birthday goes. What's a birthday without a little… drama? *laughs* you will soon see!
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