The Lumber Tycoon's Daughter Chapter 10
Katniss wakes up still wrapped in Peeta's arms. She rolls over to where she is looking at him straight on. She nuzzles in to him gently not wanting to wake him.
"Good morning Katniss" he says eyes still shut.
"Good morning Peeta" Katniss says quietly. There's the soft pattering of feet on the floor then the covers lift and a small body slides into the bed next to Katniss who smiles.
"Good morning little-duck" Katniss says as Prim snakes her arms around Katniss.
"Good morning Katniss" Prim says nuzzling into to her soon to be sister-in-law.
"Morning Peeta" Prim adds looking over at her brother.
"Morning Prim" Peeta says. They all get up and dress. Katniss gives Peeta some of max's clothes, jeans and black shirt. Max isn't in the house having gone to work at a earlier hour. And she lends Prim some of her close. A pink shirt and black Capri's.
"Thanks Katniss" Prim says. "You know that looks better one you then it ever did on me. You're a Everdeen-Mellark now why not look like one?" Katniss says getting dressed in jeans and a forest-green shirt and placing her ring on her finger, while teasing Prim who just smiles.
"Come on let's go get breakfast" Peeta says holding both of his hands out for Katniss and Prim to take,which they do almost immediately. They walk down to the kitchen to find a breakfast consisting of cold cereal, orange juice, hot-chocolate and a fruit plate. "This looks great" Peeta says as they all sit down. Peeta sits next to Katniss on her right, Prim on her left. Katniss and Peeta both choose cheerios hot-chocolate and orange juice. They both pick at the fruit plate. Prim on the other hand pours herself a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch, and hot-chocolate.
When they are all done head outside when Katniss remembers that she only has her motorcycle.
"Here Sweetheart take my jeep, I'll use your motorcycle" Haymitch calls from the door throwing her his keys. "Are you sure Haymitch?" Katniss asks as she catches them and unlocks the car. "It's all good Katniss, it will be a nice change from being cooped up in the jeep. Now go get out of here" Haymitch's says going back into the house.
They all pile into the jeep. Katniss in the drivers seat, Peeta in the passenger seat and Prim in the backseat in the middle seat. As they drive down the road Katniss speaks. "Hows your head Peeta?" she asks as they come to a light. "Feels much better then yesterday Katniss" Peeta says smiling. "Good glad to hear that." Katniss says as the light turns green. "We are going to have fun today and it's going to be better now that you are going to be helping out today Katniss" Prim says happily which makes both Katniss and Peeta smile. "Have you told your dad about our engagement?" Katniss asks as they near the bakery. "No I haven't" Peeta says taking her hand in his. "I did" Prim pipes up causing Katniss to blush and Peeta to turn to his little sister. The last few minutes of the drive pass in silence. They reach the bakery, Katniss parks, takes the keys out and they climb out of the car.
"Hey Prim" a voice says as they walk to the bakery causing all three to turn around.
"Rory!" Prim says as she bolts over to the boy coming up the parking-lot. Rory opens his arms as Prim approaches. "I've missed you" Prim says once she's in his arms. "I've missed you too Prim" Rory says. "What are you doing here?"Prim asks "Well I'm here to help you with the bakery."Rory says. Peeta clears his throat, Prim and Rory looks at him. "Katniss and I are going inside, good to see you Rory" Peeta says as he takes Katniss's hand and guides her into the bakery. Once they are inside and the door is shut both Katniss and Peeta let out a laugh.
"Who was that guy?" Katniss asks as she laughs. "That would be Rory hawthorn, Prim's boyfriend" Peeta says as he struggles to breath as he laughs. "Prim's got a boyfriend?" Katniss asks as she starts to calm down. "Yeah she's known Rory when we lived in rock springs, his family moved a month before we did, Prim and Rory were close." Peeta says as they make their way towards the back room hands still entwined. They find Josh Mellark laying out paint. Peeta clears his throat which makes Josh turn around.
"Oh Katniss, Peeta, good to see you" He says getting to his feet and coming over.
"How are you feeling Son?" he asks putting his hands on his sons shoulders.
"I am feeling much better dad" Peeta says. "All thanks to Katniss here" he adds putting his arm around her. Katniss loves it when he does this. She always feels safe whenever she's in Peeta's strong arms.
"Glad to hear that son, thanks for taking good care of my son Katniss" Josh says smiling over at Katniss. "It was my pleasure Josh" Katniss says.
"Where's Prim?" the patriarch of the Mellark family asks looking for his youngest daughter.
"Prim is outside,Rory is here...Again" Peeta says.
"I think that girl is smitten" Josh says smiling.
"Well it's hard not to fall for a Mellark" Katniss says wrapping her arms around Peeta's torso.
"You really mean that Kat?" Peeta asks as he wraps his arms around Katniss's waist. "Yeah I do, Peeta, I mean when I met you I fell hard however it wasn't until we reunited last week I realized that I want to be with you" Katniss says leaning forward and kissing Peeta.
"I remember the first time I saw you Katniss" Peeta says as he goes into the story that happened when they were five years old. "And when Mrs. Green asked who knew the valley song your hand shot straight up. Mrs. Green placed you on a stool and you began to sing and when you finished everyone in the room and even the birds outside had gone silent. That's when I knew I need to get know you because from that moment I knew I was a goner." Peeta says as he kisses Katniss again.
"Alright you two crazy love-birds let's get to work."Josh says as he brings them back to reality.
"Alright so today we and when I say we I mean you and Katniss are going to paint the shelves" he says as we turn to look as he gestures. "Alright we can handle that" Peeta says looking over at Katniss who nods. "Alright now get to work."Josh says as the three lay a tarp down. Katniss's eyes keep going to the door way and Peeta notices this as if he can read her mind he asks the question.
"Dad where's mom?' he asks. Josh looks up.
"She's on a business trip and won't be back for a few days." he says.
"Why didn't you go dad?" Peeta asks.
"I wanted to use the time while she's gone to bond with my kids and new soon-to-be daughter in law. " Josh says smiling and winking over at Katniss who is wearing a relieved look on her face. "How did you?" she begins "Oh right Prim told you" Katniss says smiling as she remembers the conversation in the car this morning. Josh comes over and hugs Katniss tightly
"Welcome to the family Katniss Everdeen-Mellark" he whispers. "Thank you Josh" Katniss whispers back. "Katniss you can call me dad" Josh says smiling. "ok...Dad" Katniss says as a smile smile plays across her face. "Your taking this better then my dad did" Katniss says as she rolls up her sleeves and puts a smock on so she won't get paint on her clothes.
Peeta's wearing an identical one. Josh doesn't question it he just says "As long as you and Peeta are happy who am I to stand in your way" Katniss looks over at Peeta and smiles. Katniss and Peeta are just beginning to paint.
Prim enters the bakery she's grinning from ear to ear. Katniss looks up and see's Prim's face. Katniss smirks as she nudges Peeta who looks at her as Katniss jerks her head towards Prim. When he looks at his sister he gets a case of the giggles that makes Katniss laugh in fact it gets so bad that they have to go outside to calm down.
"Did you see the look on her face when she came through the door?" Peeta whispers they both calm down. "Yeah I did" Katniss whispers. "Alright alright calm down we need to get back to work" Peeta says. It takes them ten-minutes for them to call down because every time they got close to maintaining their composure they think about it and it begins again. Finally they regain it and walk into the bakery hand in hand. They find Prim who is still smiling and staring out the window, clearly in the middle of a daydream. When the daydream is obviously over Prim sighs and stands up.
She must have still been in the daydream because she blushes when she see's Katniss and Peeta standing in front of her. "Good daydream little-duck?" Katniss asks looking at Prim who just blushes as she nod, which makes Peeta and Katniss stifle their laughter which turns into a cough. "Prim, Katniss and I saw the look you had on your face when you came in." Peeta says kneeling in front of his sister. Katniss does the same. "You looked excited little-duck" Katniss says kindly. "So what happened to make you act that way?" Peeta asks. Prim gives them a embarrassed look. "Come on you tell us" Katniss urges. Prim says something that comes out inaudible. "What was that Prim we didn't hear you" Peeta says smiling.
"I said Rory asked me to go out with him on Friday and I said yes" Prim says not making eye-contact with her brother and soon to be sister-in-law.
"Prim that's wonderful, I am happy for you" Katniss says hugging her.
"Thanks Kat" Prim says hugging back. "what do you think about this Peeta?" Prim asks looking at her brother.
"Well I'm just going to say what dad told Katniss and I earlier which was as long as you are happy who am I to question it?" he says hugging his sister.
"Thanks Peeta" Prim says smiling but that smile is quickly replaced by fear. Peeta is about to question it but Katniss beats him to it.
"What's wrong Prim?" Katniss asks
"i have nothing to wear" Prim says as she looks up at Katniss sheepishly. Katniss just smiles.
"I'm sure we can find you something you are an Everdeen-Mellark you know" Katniss says taking her little-sisters hand in a comforting grip.
"Come on you two lets go paint those shelves" Peeta says as he holds out a hand for his sister and his fiancee which they walk back out into the main room of the bakery.