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Katniss immediately notices the flashy decor when they step inside Dr. Effie Trinket's office. Peeta looks at her with his eyebrow raised, obvious skepticism showing on his face. The salmon colored walls and lacy curtains aren't typical for a doctor's office, but Effie isn't a regular doctor.
She's known in the medical community for her eccentric ideas and beliefs in a more holistic approach to medicine. No one denies that she's brilliant, but she's out there. Peeta instantly wonders if he's made a mistake agreeing to use Effie's office for his study.
A petite woman with curly blonde hair and bright pink lipstick emerges from the back, a welcoming smile on her makeup covered face. "Hello! Welcome! You must be Dr. Mellark." Effie extends her hand to greet Peeta who returns a polite smile.
"I really can't thank you enough for this," he says gratefully. "You are doing me a huge favor."
She waves her hand to indicate that it's no big deal. "My dear, I will do almost anything if it means pissing off Haymitch Abernathy." She leans in closer. "You and I have some things we should discuss."
Peeta nods, unsure exactly what she means, but he goes along with it. "Are you aware of what's going to be studied here?"
"Dr. Mellark, I am very aware of your human sexuality study," Effie tells him with a straight face, not even batting an eye. "I don't live under a rock. I wouldn't have agreed if I didn't fully support what you are doing."
Katniss covers her mouth to hold back a laugh. Peeta continues to stare at Effie with a puzzled looked, but Katniss sees that he's warming up to her.
"We really appreciate this, Dr. Trinket," Katniss tells her with a gracious, polite smile. "You're going to be part of something really special."
Effie's eyes light up as she pulls Katniss into a tight hug. "I'm here to help in anyway I can," she says, choking back tears. "I've needed some excitement in my life."
Effie shows Katniss and Peeta the rest of her office space with the same enthusiasm she greeted them with. Having space to conduct the study makes Peeta realize just how much he was missing it.
His eyes linger over Katniss who listens intently as Effie explains the different herbs she uses to promote a healthy, happy lifestyle. Katniss nods politely, but Peeta sees the annoyance behind her eyes. Effie is quite the chatterbox. It's going to be interesting working with her even if Peeta believes it will have some benefits.
Katniss and Peeta walk back to his house with their hands clasped together. The brisk winter air stings their lungs with every intake of breath. Katniss catches herself watching Peeta closely. His once dull eyes have brightened considerably since meeting with Effie. It's obvious that his work brings him to life.
"How are you feeling?" Katniss asks, breaking the silence between them.
Peeta shrugs wordlessly. "It's all a bit overwhelming, but I'm happy."
Katniss stops and turns to face Peeta, wrapping her arms around his neck. Her lips barely touch his. "I'm so proud of you." She presses her body to his with a devious smirk. "You are going to change the world, Dr. Mellark."
"Why do you always have such faith in me?" he asks, pushing a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
"It's impossible not to," she says with a shy smile. "I love watching you work. I've learned so much from you."
His hand rests on her cheek, the feeling of overwhelming gratitude showing in his pale blue eyes. "What if I fail again?"
"Failure isn't in my vocabulary, Peeta," Katniss says sternly. "We are getting a fresh start, and you need to make the best of it. Now is not the time to hold back. If you want to make a statement, then you need to push the boundaries. I believe in you. Now it's time you believe in yourself."
The local coffee shop only a few blocks away from Peeta's house is one of his favorite places to sit and relax. He enjoys reading a good book while sipping a warm cup of coffee. Peeta leans back in his chair, flipping through his research materials as he prepares for his first official day of restarting the study.
"Dr. Mellark?" a female voice asks softly. Peeta looks up from his papers and sees a face he never imagined he'd see again. "I'm not sure if you remember me…"
"Johanna Mason," he says with a smile, standing up to greet her. "I could never forget you. How are you doing?"
She shrugs her shoulders with a sigh, a noticeable sadness lingering in her eyes. "Physically, I'm doing great, but everything else is a giant mess."
"What's going on?" Peeta questions earnestly. "I'm sorry that I haven't been around to check on you."
Johanna sits across from him, a smile on her lips. She looks so much healthier since the last time he saw her. "You saved my life. I can't even begin to thank you for what you did."
"There is no need to thank me, Johanna. I was just doing my job."
She rolls her eyes while huffing out a breath of air. "Stop being humble. You were the only doctor that would even consider taking me on. I know what people say about me and how they view me, but you're different. I never felt like you were judging me."
"My only concern was you and your baby's health. I don't care about your upbringing or what your current situation is," he tells her truthfully, remembering the way his nurses treated her when she first came in. "I became a doctor to help everyone."
Peeta sees the tears glistening in Johanna's eyes. He remembers when she came to him as a new patient. Young, pregnant, and alone. Peeta saw a girl who needed help, and he was going to do just that. "I heard they fired you. It's such bullshit."
"I've moved on to different things, and I'm happy." Losing his job was difficult, but Peeta knows that it was for a reason. He's able focus more on his study. "I hope that you're happy, too."
Johanna laughs bitterly, shaking her head. "I gave the baby up for adoption and some days I regret it, but I wasn't ready to be a mother."
"Do you have any family or friends that you can turn to?"
She chews her lip nervously. "I guess you can say that," she laughs to herself. "I'm living with my girlfriend."
Her honesty is refreshing. Peeta is used to people hiding their sexual preferences, afraid of scrutiny, but Johanna tells him without batting an eyelash. "Johanna, I'm going to ask you something, and it's okay if you say no, but I believe this may interest you."
"I'm all ears."
Katniss' hands run up the length of his muscular back, the feeling of his smooth skin on her fingertips causing them both to shiver. The goosebumps on her skin from the open window cause Peeta to laugh. "I'm sorry you're so cold."
She presses her lips to the back of his shoulder, wrapping her arms around his torso. "It's fine," she whispers. "I know you will be warning me up soon."
Peeta groans, his cock twitching in his underwear. "I can do this with you forever."
"I sure hope so," she says jokingly. "Peeta, I need you."
He turns to face Katniss, bringing his lips to hers quickly. Their tongues fight for dominance as they back up on his bed, Peeta's erection pressing into Katniss' bare thigh. "I want to tell you something," he says between kisses. "I've been wanting to tell you for awhile, but the moment was never right."
Katniss wraps her hand around Peeta's shaft, stroking him with a devilish grin. "What do you want to tell me, Dr. Mellark?"
He releases a shaky breath, hoping this doesn't scare her away. This feeling is new and terrifying, but Peeta needs her to know. "I love you," he tells her with a shy smile. "I think I've loved you for awhile, but I was never quite sure how to tell you. Katniss, you brought me back to life."
"You…you love me?" she asks timidly. "Are you sure?"
"It's the only thing in my life that I've never doubted."
Katniss wraps her arms around his neck, needing to feel his body pressed against hers. "I love you too," she whispers against his soft, supple lips. "You reminded me that life can be good again. All I needed was to find the right person."
They no longer need words to express how they feel; their bodies can do all the talking. Peeta slips his hand between the juncture of her thighs, finding her slick with arousal. Katniss moans as his thumb presses on her clit, and two fingers plunge into her sex.
His cock aches to be encased by her walls, the tightness gripping him until he can't take it anymore, but the wait makes it better. Peeta watches Katniss' face as his fingers quickly bring her to the brink of insanity.
"Peeta, I need you," she begs. "Please make love to me."
The head of his cock pushes through her folds as Katniss wraps her legs around his waist, waiting for Peeta to finally push into her. He looks her in the eye, marveling in the unique shade of grey that never leaves his mind. "I love you."
He pushes inside her slowly, savoring the moment for all eternity. Making love to Katniss is always incredible, but it's different now. She knows his true feelings, and she loves him back.
They move together in the familiar rhythm that has always come easy to them. Katniss matches Peeta's thrusts with equal enthusiasm, needing to be filled to the hilt.
It's only a matter of minutes before Katniss cries out, her walls clenching around Peeta's cock as his semen spurts into her hot and fast.
He feels the difference between them, and Peeta hopes that every other aspect of his life goes just as smoothly. Having Katniss by his side makes it easier.
The real work is about to begin, and Peeta's ready for it.
Effie greets Peeta warmly the next morning, ready to begin their first official day. He's decided to come alone to talk with Effie. He figures if she's helping him, he should make an effort to get to know her.
It's obvious she's a unique, lively woman who marches to the beat of her own drum. It's refreshing to meet a doctor who is willing to take risks. "I'm still so happy you decided to use my office!"
She hands Peeta a steaming cup of tea, smiling brightly. "Tell me dear," Effie leans in closer. "Are you at all familiar with Haymitch?"
"Not really," Peeta answers. "We worked together, but it was always strictly professional."
Effie raises her drawn on eyebrows with a chuckle. "I thought it was absolutely awful that he fired you." She reaches for his hand and squeezes it tightly. "He has many secrets that I'm sure he would want to keep buried."
"You two were close?"
"Haymitch and I were engaged for quite some time, but I broke it off when I found him in bed with another man." She delivers the words with no hesitation. "I was shocked and devastated, but I really should have seen it coming."
Peeta gulps, trying to process the information shared with him. This isn't what he was expecting. Not in a million years. "Haymitch…he's a homosexual?"
"Uh huh, and he will do whatever necessary to keep that secret."
He runs a hand through his curls with an exasperated sigh. "Why did you tell me this, Effie?"
"Do you want your job back at the hospital and full funding for your study?" she asks curiously. "I know you miss delivering babies."
"Of course I would love that, but Haymitch is never going to change his mind," Peeta reminds her with a frown.
Effie stands from her seat, making her way over to Peeta. She places her hand on his shoulder. "You have leverage now, Dr. Mellark. I suggest you use it."