A/N: So I decided to just go ahead and pick up right where I left off last chapter. I know the first event that is going to happen in this chapter, but I'm not sure what else is going to happen. I guess we shall see.
And from the romance stand point for Cat and Jade…ideas are forming, let's just say that. (Lol. That reminds me of "Fire is Catching". K I'll shut up now.)
Disclaimer (since I have not done this yet): All rights go to Dan Schneider for Victorious and to Suzanne Collins for The Hunger Games.
Peeta POV
I woke up earlier the next morning. As I turned to my side, I looked at the digital clock next to me, which read 7:15 AM. Wonderful.
For a moment I just lay there on my light orange bed sheets, covered with a blanket that we had taken from my old home above the bakery. The air in the house was chilly, but not as cold as it would have been should we be in that room above the bakery like old times before all of THIS happened.
In all honesty, everything that's happened is not too bad. I was reaped into the Hunger Games, where I could have died. But I made friends on the first day in the training center. We formed an alliance.
We soon met up with one of the other alliances in that arena: thankfully it was the good one. We formed one giant alliance and eventually conquered all.
But not without our losses. We went from our huge alliance of I think ten or so people down to four who actually made it out. Which is better than I could've hoped for, but still.
And not to mention, the love of my life and I finally got together. It started out as an act on her side and turned into something real.
Katniss. Katniss Lynn Everdeen. The most beautiful girl on planet Earth. And she was mine to love and protect forever and ever.
"Sounds like a marriage proposal," I whispered to myself. I turned in my bed and looked at the little box sitting on my bed. It held a ring that I intended to give Katniss soon, as a promise ring.
A marriage proposal. A MARRIGE proposal.
A marriage proposal!
It suddenly clicked in my head. There was only one way to convince Snow just how in love we are. I have to propose to Katniss Lynn Everdeen and turn her into Katniss Lynn Mellark.
And I have to do it in front of the cameras.
My heart fell. Of course I wanted to propose to Katniss. I wanted her to know how much I loved her.
I just wish it could be at the right time, the right moment. Not because I had to do it to keep us and our families alive.
I sighed, knowing my first order of business today was to get the cameras here and propose to Katniss. I had an idea though.
This plan is perfect, I thought with a smile on my face.
I decided to go ahead, get up, and make myself look nice and presentable.
With a groan, I pulled the blanket off of me and untangled myself from my sunset orange sheets. I stood up and headed into the bathroom to take a short shower.
I turned on the water first, making sure to set the shower to a gentle setting rather than the fierce setting it got set on the first time I used one of those complicated things.
I slipped off my pajamas and then stepped under the water.
The wonderful thing about Capitol technology is that if you don't feel like doing anything, if you're still tired and don't really want to move or think (aka how I was right then), you don't have to.
All I had to do was close my eyes so that no soap got in my hair, and the many showerheads and soap dispensers moved around me for about ten minutes. And once the water shut off, I just had to step out of the shower and into the drying machine for about 30 seconds and I was good to go.
So ten minutes and thirty seconds later, I was hunting for some comfortable but not over the top clothes to wear. I decided on a white collared shirt and standard black Capitol issued pants, like the ones on the train.
The only thing I did with my hair was comb it out and lay it down nicely. Katniss told me herself that she thought I looked best with my hair natural and not full of gel like the Capitol people liked it.
I put on a little cologne and headed out the door to the kitchen, where my mother was already busily at work with some pastries. I could see loaves of bread almost done in the oven.
"Would it absolutely kill the business if I took a loaf of that bread over to Katniss's house?" I asked my mother, pointing to the oven which had only a five minutes' time left on it.
"You will be home by 5 PM and you will help me make more bread if you do. Am I clear?" my mother said in return.
"Can it please-"
"No ifs ands or buts. 5 PM or no bread for your Seam girl," said my mother hostilely.
My face flushed red with anger. I hated how she always took stabs at Katniss for being poor and being from the Seam before the Games. Where she lived meant nothing! Why did my mother care so much about it?
"We've gone over this so many times, Mom. Why does where Katniss lived mean anything to you? She's just like you and me! She may even be a better person than us because she knows what it's like to have to fight so hard to keep her family alive!" I said. I wasn't yelling, just expressing my feelings.
My mother turned to me.
"You work in an esteemed bakery with a good reputation. She comes from a place where their black market sells stew with all kinds of different meats that they continue to call beef. Is that the kind of girl you want to be with?" my mother asked me in just the same tone as I had used.
"It is the kind of girl I want to be with. Because she has suffered hardships that have changed the way she looks on at life. What we see as a loaf of bread she sees, or at one time saw, as a lifeline," I said, my affection and admiration for Katniss bubbling over.
Uh oh. My mother just caught on to something.
"You threw that burnt loaf of bread that you burnt to her, didn't you? You burnt it on purpose and gave it to her! You didn't feed it to our pigs who kept our business running did you?" my mother asked with a bewildered tone.
The oven went off, causing both of us to jump slightly.
I immediately got up from where I had sat down and got them out of the oven, setting them in their usual place. I got a cloth towel from a drawer and wrapped up the biggest loaf. The heat of the bread burned through it, but I didn't care.
Just then, my father walked in.
"Good morning. I see you're already working, dear," said my father.
She eyed me and then turned to my dad, nodding.
"Taking a loaf of bread over for the lovely lady, are you?" said my father with a genuine smile. My father adored Katniss and Prim, whilst my mother didn't care for them (obviously).
"I promise to make up for it tonight," I said, nodding.
"Don't you worry about it. I'll help your mother. Be home by 5 though," said my father. I smiled and nodded, then headed out the door and over to Katniss's house. But not before calling Haymitch.
"Hello?" he said, his voice slurred.
"Call up the cameras. Have them be at Katniss's house at nine."
"Ok."
Jade POV
Clove, Cat, and I were just talking on the phone with Katniss's mother, who had suggested we come over again for breakfast. Cat had come and stayed the night last night at my house in case you wonder.
As we stepped out into the cold air, I saw Peeta walking up to Katniss's house as well with what looked like a loaf of bread in his arms.
The three of us girls ran up behind him and stood next to him.
"Hey girls," said Peeta as we continued walking.
We knocked on Katniss's door, Peeta standing behind us.
The door opened and Prim stood there in an adorable blue dress. She smiled up at us.
"Hey guys," she said.
"Hey there Little Duck," said Clove, picking Prim up and spinning her around as we walked in.
"Oh hey Peeta, didn't know you were coming over," Prim said. She used the tone that one would use when chanting "Katniss and Peeta sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g!"
Peeta blushed and laughed. He handed the warm bundle of bread to Prim.
"Take that to your mother, we can have some French Toast if you want," he said with a charming smile.
Prim's face lit up as though someone had given her a bar of gold.
"Thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you!" she said, and we all laughed as Prim skipped happily into the kitchen.
We took off our coats and hung them up, then walked into the kitchen where Elizabeth and Prim stood happily, Elizabeth already making some French toast.
"Where's Katniss at?" asked Clove, looking around just to make sure she hadn't just missed Katniss.
"Catnip is right here," said a familiar voice.
We spun around to see Katniss and Gale walking in, about a gallon of strawberries in a clear bucket being carried by Katniss.
"Hey guys. I bring strawberries," said Katniss, setting the bucket down on the countertop.
"Nooo, really?" teased Cat. We laughed.
I looked up at Gale, who was smiling his ever so charming smile. Wait. Ever so charming? Where did that come from?
Gale's gaze met mine, and my heart fluttered a little bit. His mysterious gray eyes were drawing me in.
I shook my head a little bit to clear it. This felt wrong. I loved Beck. He may be dead, but I still loved him, I am still devoted to him.
And Gale loves Katniss. There's no denying it, and even Peeta knows that. But he's ok with it as long as nothing happens.
"Hey, lovebirds? Back to earth," Katniss said, nudging me with her elbow. She was biting her lip in an attempt not to laugh.
I turned to her and then noticed that I had my hand on Gale's face, and Gale had been staring deeply into my eyes.
I quickly removed my hand and gave a nervous laugh.
"French toast is ready."
Everyone sat down at that table faster than you could say "who's hungry".
We ate together and discussed what was coming for us in the future. Us Victors would be whisked away to the Capitol soon to start mentoring. That was going to be horrible, knowing you were basically preparing these kids for slaughter.
All through breakfast, I couldn't help but notice that Gale kept looking up at me, and he'd look away really fast as soon as I noticed him.
Katniss POV
We finished our meal at about 8:50 in the morning, which was surprisingly early for all of us. Jeez, you can't get Prim out of bed until at least 9:30 most of the time. Trust me, I would know.
We started putting away all of the extra food and put the dishes in the dishwasher.
The whole time, I couldn't help but notice that Jade and Gale kept LOOKING at each other, the way that Peeta and I do. I think that Mr. Hawthorne has a little crush on Ms. West.
There was a knock at the door, and Peeta walked up to it. He opened the door, and Haymitch stood there.
"Come on in, guys," he said. He walked in, followed by a camera crew.
I eyed him evilly.
"Haymitch…" I said with a warning tone. Haymitch just smiled his usual drunkard smile, a bottle of whiskey in his hand.
Peeta pulled out a chair into the middle of the room and motioned for me to sit down.
I turned and looked at my sister, Clove, Cat, Jade, and my mother. They all shrugged. In a last resort, I turned to Gale.
He just shrugged too, but he smiled. So he knew what was going on. Or at least had an idea.
I went and sat down in the chair that Peeta had put out. I looked up momentarily and saw the red dot blinking on the cameras.
I turned back to Peeta, who stood up above me. He had a charming, sweet smile on his face.
And then, he got down on one knee.
Gasps sounded through the room. Even Haymitch, who I figured knew, looked shocked.
I turned to look at my family and friends behind me. Cat, Clove, and Jade's eyes were as wide as saucers. My mother was smiling like an idiot, along with Prim. Gale was smiling too, a look of disbelief registering on his face.
I turned back to Peeta once again.
"Katniss Lynn Everdeen," Peeta said quietly, but loud enough for everyone to hear.
"From the second I laid eyes on you, I knew you were the one. I remember that when you were younger, you used to wear your hair in two braids instead of one like you do now. I used to watch you on your way home every day and think, 'what wouldn't I give to make her mine?'. And really, being reaped into the Hunger Games was a true piece of luck for me. Rather than cowering and being afraid to talk to you, I was kind of forced to, so that worked out well," Peeta said, and everyone laughed. I felt my eyes start to sting.
"In that arena, you were the one thing that kept me going. Being with you…those were the moments of happiness that gave me hope. Those moments made me think that we could get home, and live happily ever after, like in those fairy tales you always read to Prim. And look where we are now? And for me, it's all because of you. Because I would've given up a long time ago if it weren't for you," Peeta continued.
My eyes were watering now, but I was smiling.
"I cherish each moment that I have with you, and if you'll let me, I will do that for as long as we both live. I will love you and care for you and be your hero for as long as you'll let me in this life of ours," Peeta said.
"Katniss, will you marry me?"
Tears were flowing fast and heavy down my face, but I was just able to say my answer to him.
"Of course, Peeta. Yes, I will marry you!" I cried out, and he stood up.
I leapt into his arms and held tight as everyone around us clapped.
Peeta slipped the engagement ring on my finger and I turned to my friends and family.
Everyone was crying tears of joy, even Clove and Prim. Gale wasn't crying, but his eyes were full of tears that threatened to spill over.
I ran up and hugged everyone, picking up Prim and spinning her around when I got to her.
I paused for a moment when I got to Gale.
"Are you ok with this?" I asked him.
"Are you happy?" he asked me.
"Of course," I said, smiling.
"Then yes, I am okay with this. Besides, I may or may not have a crush on someone," he said.
"It's totally Jade," I said.
He blushed and hung his head.
"Oh come here!" I nearly shouted, and he hugged me tight.
One of the Capitol reporters came up to all of us, and Peeta grabbed my hand.
"How do you all feel about this?" the reporter woman asked.
"Our Katniss is getting married to the love of her life. We're happy, obviously!" said Cat, and I smiled even wider, if that was possible.
I smiled also at the fact that she said "our Katniss".
"What does the family think?" she asked Prim and Mom.
"My girl is happy with a man who will treat her right. I couldn't be happier," my mom said with a smile.
"Katniss and Peeta, sitting in a tree! Getting m-a-r-r-i-e-d!" Prim chanted.
Peeta just hung his head and laughed and I kissed Prim on the forehead.
"Ah, that's my little duck," I said.
The Capitol people wrapped it up and headed out.
Once they were gone, and Haymitch had headed home after giving drunken congratulations, Peeta and I turned to face our friends.
I gave an excited squeak and we hugged each other again.
"I say we celebrate this wonderful event with some strawberry ice cream," said Gale with a wide smile.
"I second that notion!" Jade said excitedly.
"Well, the lovely lady agrees with me. I'll make it!" said Gale, dashing into the kitchen.
"I'll help!" Jade said.
"Ooooh!" Clove said, doing a suggestive eyebrow dance.
"Oh shut up," said Jade, slapping her on the arm.
Jade and Gale headed into the kitchen to make some ice cream.
Cat POV
In this exact moment, sitting with my friends and the engaged couple, I was happier than I ever thought I would be after the Games ended.
If I could freeze time and live in this forever, I would.
A/N: HOLY CHIZ. This chapter was loooong!
So I would just like to say that I totally love the idea of Jade/Gale. Anyone else agree with me?
Hope you liked this chapter! I wanted to make it as special as I could. As always, REVIEWS MAKE ME HAPPY! :D