A/N: Wow. This took long. But thank you all so much for your patience, thank you for all the reviews, and all those who encouraged me to keep writing this story. It really means a lot! This chapter gets into the fluff, finally right? But Obviously there will be other bumps in the road and what not. I believe I have at least 2 more chapters plus a lead up to the Epilogue, but I'm not completely sure. Either way, I hope you enjoy this one. Please keep in mind that when I upload the chapters, no matter how much I edit and comb through, FFnet likes to eat letters and words and it's annoying as hell, but bear with me.

Enjoy it, review it, share it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We see Delly off two days later. And before she leaves she wraps me in a hug and whispers something in my ear.

"Peeta loves you, Katniss. If you love him too, let him know."

I blush wildly and stare at the ground as she says her goodbyes to Peeta. She thanks us for being so hospitable, making no mention of my little scene, and promises to visit soon. Peeta and I walk back to my house side by side and as we do I notice people in town whispering and pointing.

"Looks like we are the talk of the town…once again." He says.

"Must not have anything better to talk about." I say letting my gaze fall to the ground.

In the weeks that follow our routine falls back into place. I go out hunting most mornings and he bakes, and after dinner we sit together and work on our book. Our relationship begins to slowly develop, but since I stole that kiss in my drunken stupor, the only time we touch is when Peeta wraps his arms around me at night. I don't push him or ask for more because I'm not ready to move in that direction again, and I am just grateful to have him close.

One night we drift off on the couch and I wake up in a fit of tears after watching my sister die in my nightmares. He puts his arms tightly around me and I sob into his shirt hoping somehow he can erase the images from my mind but he can't. I look up at him through my tear-streaked face and we are so close I think we are about to kiss, but something inside me is yelling at me to stop. This isn't how I want things to proceed. I don't want to move forward when I'm vulnerable and grief stricken, I don't want him to think I want him close because it's convenient. So I do the only thing I know how to do and I run away to my room where I hide until the next day. The following day, Peeta is nowhere to be seen and I'm afraid I've chased him away again, and who could blame him when I go from hot to cold in a matter of seconds. He doesn't come to dinner and he is not there when I go to bed. I try to find sleep but it doesn't come because my mind is too busy thinking of him and how confusing all this must be, so I get up and walk to his house in the dark. I knock softly at first but when there's no answer I let myself in. From the bottom of the stairs I can see that the lights are on in his room so when I walk in I'm not surprised to find him awake with his sketchbook on his lap.

"Why didn't you come to bed?" I ask from the doorway and he jumps, startled because he hadn't noticed me.

"I thought I'd give you some space, after last night."

"I don't need…space." I blurt out, suddenly angry at his insistence on giving me space.

"You are just so…hard to figure out." He says, the frustration in his voice evident.

He is right. I am so damaged and confused and so bad at saying what I feel, because I don't really understand what it is I feel. I sit on the edge of the bed facing him.

"I…know… and I'm sorry. I just…"

He looks up from his sketchbook and there's a crease on his forehead. Like he's looking at a puzzle, trying to figure out how the pieces fit together.

"Tell me what you want, what you need, and I'll give it to you Katniss." He says, placing his hand behind my head and pulling me to him. Our foreheads are touching and our eyes are locked on each other.

"What do you need?" he whispers again closing his eyes.

"I need you." I say and his eyes fly open.

He sighs and I can see he's ready to say something but I stop him by speaking again.

"And…I need time, and I need you to come to bed every night because I can't sleep without you." I say, surprised I've actually managed to say something pertaining to what I want and what I feel.

He sets his sketchbook and pen down and wraps me in his arms, where I sleep every night that follows.

Peeta is still busy getting his bakery ready so most mornings he is gone by the time I wake up. If I didn't know any better I'd think he was trying to avoid me, but I know he isn't because he comes home for lunch everyday. He tells me about his day at the bakery and different things he's changed around, though he refuses to show it to me until it's completely finished.

He finally takes me to town on the day before the grand opening.

The bakery is located near the newly rebuilt town square. He takes me around the back and unlocks the white metal door. The back room is big and spacious, there's a high table in the middle, where I assume Peeta will be kneading dough and decorating his cakes. Counters and cabinets line the room, and there are 4 ovens total plus the stove from his house.

"You haven't baked anything for tomorrow?" I ask noticing it is close to dinnertime.

"No, I want my first few customers to have fresh bread. I think I'm going to prepare things tonight, and bake early tomorrow morning." He says and I am taken aback.

"You're not coming home tonight?" I ask and I feel a blush creep up to my cheeks as I realize the words I've just spoken.

In my mind, my home has become Peeta's home, but I feel as if I overstepped a boundary by assuming that is the way he feels too.

"I'll be home tonight. I can't promise I'll be there when you wake up though." He says and I'm relieved.

"I'm used to it." I say looking up to meet his gaze.

Truth is, I feel as empty as his side of the bed when I wake up without him. I'd grown accustomed to waking up in a ball of warmth and wanting to stay in bed with him holding me for as long as I could. But nowadays I want to be out of the bed as soon as I realize he's not in it.

"Yeah, sorry about that." He says bringing his hand up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

"Come on, let me show you the rest." He says taking my hand.

The front of the bakery is painted orange, bringing a feeling of warmth and homeliness.

"Orange…like sunset." I hear myself say as I look around.

"Yes, exactly. How did you know?" he asks confused.

"It's your favorite color." I say smiling.

I look around some more, noticing he's used his own paintings as decorations. I study the ones on the wall behind the counter. One of them is a painting of two tall blonde boys, an older man and woman. He watches me as I study the picture and when I turn to look at him there's sadness in his eyes.

"Your family?" I ask.

"Yes. Did I get them right?" he asks.

"It was hard to recall what they looked like?" I ask.

"I don't have any pictures. I'm afraid I got things wrong."

"No, you got them right. You got your father's kind eyes, your mother's serious stare. And your brothers, I didn't know them, but they always had this mischievous glint in their eyes, you got that right too." I tell him.

I move on to another painting and staring back at me I find Peeta, Haymitch, and myself. We are smiling; we look okay, not torn apart by war, not damaged beyond repair. I give him a questioning look because I'm confused as to why there's a painting of us three hanging up on the wall. His answer nearly knocks me off my feet.

"You're all the family I have now." He says looking down.

I feel selfish and ignorant because I had forgotten about the fact that Haymitch and I are all he really has left. I drop my head feeling ashamed.

"I'm sorry…" I say staring at my feet.

"Don't be, you've helped a lot." I'm sure he means to be reassuring but as I think about it, I can't think of any way I've really helped him cope with losing his family, and the guilt I feel intensifies.

With a surge of courage I close the distance between us and wrap my arms tightly around him. I look up to meet his eyes and place my hand on his cheek feeling awkward because I don't know how to be myself and be affectionate at the same time. The only time I was ever this way with him was when I had to put on a show for the cameras.

"You can talk to me about them, you know. You're always there for me…let me be there for you."

He grabs my hand and moves it to his lips, placing a small kiss on it.

"You're there when I wake up from my nightmares…that's really all I need." He tells me.

I shake my head because it's not fair that he should do so much for me when I don't do much for him.

"Promise me…you'll wake me up next time."

"Katniss, you don't have to worry yourself with that."

I shake my head

"Promise me." I insist until he finally gives in and he promises.

I leave Peeta to his work and walk back to my house by myself. When I walk in the door I find Greasy Sae is already busy cooking.

"Peeta's not coming home for dinner tonight." I tell her.

She gives me a questioning look and I explain further.

"He's busy preparing things for tomorrow's grand opening."

"Oh, of course. That boy's been putting his heart and soul into his bakery." She says.

I nod and help her setting the table. My mind is elsewhere during dinner and though she tries to make light conversation, I can't seem to focus.

It is later than usual when she finally leaves, and I guess part of the reason she stayed is because she didn't want me to be alone. I decide to watch TV for a while because I can't bare the thought of going to bed when Peeta is not there. Buttercup snuggles up next to me and we both drift off to sleep.

I wake up to Peeta's voice and Buttercup's hissing.

"Buttercup, it's me." He tells the cat but the hissing continues.

"You know…you didn't have to wait for me." Peeta tells me picking up Buttercup, who doesn't stop hissing, and putting him on the floor before he takes a seat next to me.

"I wasn't waiting for you." I lie, feeling embarrassed.

"I was talking to Buttercup, he clearly…has grown attached to me." He says and I can't help but laugh because the cat can't stand him.

"Come on, let's go to bed." He says holding his hand out for me to take.

I do not protest, I simply take his hand and let him lead me to bed where I proceed to pass out seconds after my head hits the pillow.

I feel the bed shift and open my eyes to find him sitting on the edge with his face in his hands and I become angry because I'm sure he's just had a nightmare.

"Peeta…you promised you'd wake me." I scold him, but I notice he is shaking and I get out of bed quickly and go stand in front of him.

He is completely gone and when I lift his eyes to mine they are wide with terror.

"Peeta…" I say terrified.

"Mutt…"

"No…Peeta. It's me. Please." I say desperately trying to think of a way to bring him back.

"Take your hands off me…" he says gripping my wrist so tight I wince in pain.

"No." I say desperately.

He keeps on shaking and I'm so scared I don't know what to do. He hasn't had a flashback in months and I'd forgotten how horrifying they were to both of us.

I place my hands on his cheeks and look into his eyes.

"You are Peeta Mellark, you're almost eighteen. Your favorite color is orange…like sunset. You are opening your new bakery in a few hours. I'm Katniss…you love me. And I think I… "

"I'm sorry…" he says letting go of my wrists.

His gaze falls to the floor and I can tell right away he is ashamed.

"Don't be sorry. These…these things happen." I say trying to be reassuring.

"Did I hurt you?" he asks getting up to turn the lights on.

"No" I say placing my arms awkwardly behind my body but he grabs them and examines my wrist.

"I can't live with myself if I hurt you Katniss." He says looking at my reddened wrists.

"Please don't beat yourself up over this…I'm not hurt." I say trying to get him to look at me but he remains focused on my writs.

"I should go, I'll need to start baking soon." He says before he turns the lights off and walks out of the room. I sit at the foot of the bed with tears rolling down my cheeks as I hear him shuffling around downstairs until I hear the door close.

When the sun comes up and begins to shine through my window I finally get up from my spot and decide to take a shower where I concoct a master plan to lift Peeta's spirits. I braid my hair and reach deep in the back of my closet for one of the dresses Cinna so graciously made for me and there I find the simple yellow dress I wore after the first Hunger Games. I put it on and hope it goes with the shoes I've picked because I've never concerned myself with fashion before.

I shuffle through my house trying to find the box where my mother kept part the money I won from the first hunger games and I find it in the drawer of her nightstand. I grab a small amount of cash and head towards town. I don't know what time Peeta's bakery is supposed to open but I'm sure it's sometime soon.

I walk feeling self-conscious is my dress and grateful that there's barely anyone but the construction workers around, though one of them shouts something about my legs, making blush all the way until I reach the bakery. I open the door making the tiny bell that sits above the door ring.

"I'll be right with you." I hear Peeta shout from the back room.

He stops dead in his tracks when he sees me.

"I hear your cheese buns are to die for…I will take six." I say placing the money on the counter.

"Katniss…you don't have to pay…" he says and it surprises me that he is struggling with his words because he never does.

"I wanted to be your first real customer." I say pushing the money towards him.

"You…dressed up…to come buy bread?" He says scanning me from head to toe.

"I thought we could both use a laugh…I look ridiculous." I say.

"You look beautiful." He whispers this and I feel chills run down my spine.

The way he is looking at me makes me so nervous I feel my palms begin to sweat and my heart start to beat so hard in my chest I fear it might jump out and run away.

"The cheese buns won't be done for a while…and technically you'd be my second customer because one of the construction guys came in here not so long ago." He says and my face falls.

"Why don't you stay a while though, I could use the company." He says motioning for me to join him in the back room.

I sit on the counter and watch him work for a bit.

"I'm sorry about this morning." He says after a few minutes of silence.

"Peeta, I'm fine really." I say hopping off the counter and stepping towards him.

"When you have those flash backs," I begin drawing a deep breath in as I will myself to continue speaking.

"The thing that scares me the most is not whether or not you'll hurt me, it's whether or not you'll come back to me. I can't lose you. I wouldn't be able to go on without you." I say and I find my eyes are welling up with tears at the thought of a life without him.

"It's your voice that helps me come back, you know. It's the feel of your hand on my shoulder, on my cheek." He says placing his hand on my shoulder, then moving it to my cheek. As his eyes meet mine I feel my heart begin to race again and for a moment I find myself feeling as if there are eyes on us, just as there always have been when we have moments like these. When I realize we are alone in his bakery I let out a breath of air and close my eyes just in time to feel his lips touching mine for the first time in weeks. He immediately draws back and rests his forehead on mine.

"I'm sorry…" he whispers.

"Don't be." I say and with that his lips are on mine again.

This is the first kiss Peeta has initiated, the first kiss where we are both conscious and dry and not confused. This is the first kiss that makes me feel like I'm happy, like there's life after the devastation from the war, like I can breathe again. He moves his hands from my cheeks to my hips and I wrap my arms around his neck as he pulls me close. As I feel the heat from his body radiate onto mine, I feel the hunger inside me growing and I deepen the kiss. I am lost in the way his hair feels as I run my fingers through it, and the way he leaves a trail of fire behind when he touches me. When we finally pull apart, we are both gasping for air and our faces are flushed.

"I missed that." I blurt out.

He smiles and places another very small kiss on my forehead.

"Me too."

The oven begins to beep bringing us back to reality and he pulls a tray of fresh bread out.

"Your cheese buns are ready." He says

"Finally…you've kept me waiting long enough." I say rolling my eyes.

We wait for the cheese buns to cool down a little bit and when I offer to keep him company the rest of the day, he refuses saying it would just be awfully boring for me and suggests I go haunting and try to catch him a squirrel. I take his suggestion and make my way into the woods once I've changed into my regular hunting clothes. I don't succeed in catching a squirrel but I do shoot a rabbit and take it home for dinner.

Peeta arrives right as Greasy Sae and I are busy setting the table and when he walks through the door I greet him with a smile and catch myself before my lips touch his. Greasy Sae's granddaughter is the only one who notices but she just smiles and returns to playing with her dolls. During dinner Peeta tells us about his day at the bakery. Greasy Sae asks questions about the business and says she's been thinking of opening a small place where she can sell different dishes and soups. She says it would be a good business especially now that they've announced the medicine factory they will soon be building in the district. Peeta encourages her to do so and he offers to help with whatever she needs, but she tells him it's just a thought she had.

I busy myself cleaning the dishes and Peeta offers to help but the shadows under his eyes tell me he's tired and I tell him to go to bed.

"I can wait for you." He says leaning against the wall in the kitchen.

"No, it's okay, you look like you're about to fall asleep standing up. Go on to bed. I'll be there soon." I say as I rinse a dish.

He approaches me and places a hand on my hip, spinning me around to face him.

"Don't be long." He whispers in my ear and then takes my breath away with a quick kiss.

When I finally make my way upstairs and climb in bed with him, I lie awake for a while listening to the steady sound of his breathing. I feel something stir in my stomach as I watch his chest rise and fall with every breath he takes. I don't know what drives me to do it but the words come out without effort.

"Peeta,I think…I love you." I say as I move a lose strand of hair out of his face.

I'm not sure if he can hear me, I hope he can't, but I feel a weight lift as soon as the words leave my mouth. Peeta stirs a little and my heart speeds up thinking he is awake and he's heard what I just said.

He doesn't wake up, he just wraps his arms around me and pulls me close and in his sleep he whispers, "I love you, too."

A/N: Fun fact: The idea for the last line came from my husband. When he is asleep and I'm awake I tell him "I love you" and even in his sleep he tells me "I love you, too." It's downright sweet.

I will update sometime in January!