So I have a ton of stuff to say...
First and foremost thank you so much for reading and reviewing, you are all spectacular people who make my day...
I am sorry this is so horribly late. I probably have the same excuse as everyone else which is the holidays crept up on me, but I am still sorry. I had the worst time getting this chapter down. I was going to add more to this one, but today I just had to throw in the towel so I am sorry it is a little shorter than normal, but I have already started the next chapter and hope to have that one up on time. Hopefully you guys don't mind this chapter which consists of a ton of fluff...
Next to the guest reviewer Leeg50 I wanted to be able to answer you questions... One I am still pregnant (due the beginning of Feb.) Two using the word telegraph was a slip on my part. It was only meant to be a letter. And three Cigars had been smoked in the colonies since the 1730's. In 1760 a tobacco mill was opened in NY. They shipped cigars throughout the colonies, and in my head this is where Finnick has his shipped from. Thanks so much for reviewing...
If you guys are looking for a dark Everlark tale may I suggest Misshoneywell's oneshot Butterflies... So good!
Also if anyone is interested in Beta'ing this story on a regular basis please let me know
And since the last time I posted I did set up a Tumblr account if anyone would like to stop by... www dot streetlightlove1 dot tumblr dot com
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and please know my head is back in the game I promise!
June 1772
"Mother, I need to ask you something." I stiffen at Katniss' words; this must have to do with Rhode Island. We discussed that we would have to have this conversation with her family as soon as possible, but I wasn't expecting it to be right now. I feel ill-prepared and absolutely terrified. I am not sure if that is because of Mrs. Everdeen or because Gale is joining us for dinner this evening. For the love of God, Katniss, thanks for the heads up.
I watch as Mrs. Everdeen places her fork gently on the table before lifting her napkin to her face, delicately dabing the sides of her mouth. I try to catch Katniss' eye from across the table, just for reassurance that I know what this conversation is about. Katniss, however, seems to be deliberately ignoring me. I guess I should take that as the best confirmation I could ever get. I turn my attention to Mrs. Everdeen, who is regarding her child in a curious, if not weary, way.
Once she has her mother's attention, she seems to falter slightly. Her cheeks blush, and she is is suddenly looking at her fingers, which are furiously rubbing at the grain of the table. This action unfortunately grabs the attention of both Gale and Prim, who have stopped eating and are now waiting to hear Katniss' question. Well that isn't going to make her anxiety any better.
"What is it Katniss?", Mrs Everdeen's voice is sprinkled with annoyance and maybe a touch of worry. Katniss begins to stutter.
"Uh... uh... uh...umm. Umm." This is all she gets out before completely freezing up. In what seems like a last ditch effort, she raises her eyes to meet mine. They plead and beg. Out of the corner of my eye I see this gesture has not gone unnoticed by Mrs. Everdeen, who has straightened herself in her chair, looking back and forth between us. Damnit! I clear my throat.
"Mrs Everdeen." I feel all eyes except Katniss' cloudy grays burning holes into me. I am staring into Mrs. Everdeen's questioning pale eyes. "I was informed that I will be traveling to Rhode Island at the end of this week. I am not sure all the details, Mr. Abernathy is supposed to be bringing them to me in the morning. Well, I have good friends, basically family, that I would be staying with while in Providence and I asked if Katniss would like to join me." I know I am talking too fast, and my voice sounds higher in pitch than normal. Mrs. Everdeen's eyes narrow at me immediately and I feel Gale tense at my side, his hands ball into fists and are placed precariously on the table.
Mrs. Everdeen continues to hold my gaze prisoner. I want to yell that I love her daughter, that I would never do anything to shame her. I want to tell her that I would marry Katniss in a heartbeat, but for some reason I can't find the words under her scrutiny. I wanted this to go so much differently. Mrs. Everdeen takes a deep breath, finally releasing my eyes before setting her sights on Katniss.
"And you accepted this proposal, Katniss?", her voice is eerily calm. Katniss simply nods, but I watch her sit higher in her chair, straightening her shoulders. Her chin raises just slightly. Apparently she has rediscovered her bravery. Mrs. Everdeen turns back to me. "And who did you say you were staying with?" She brings her fingers to the bridge of her nose, rubbing the area as she shuts her eyes tightly.
"With my good friends Finnick and Annie. They recently had a son and they were asking me to come meet him anyways. Their house is very large, and there are plenty of unoccupied rooms to stay in." I hope my last point conveys what I want it to.
"They are the ones you stayed with for Christmas a few years ago, right? The housekeeper's daughter and the wealthy gentlemen?"
"Yes ma'am.", I respond. Mrs. Everdeen lets out an exaggerated sigh, turning back to Katniss.
"Have you really thought this through?" She doesn't sound upset, but firm.
"I know I will have to talk to Rue, to make sure she can get by without me." Katniss speaks for the first time in awhile.
"I can help out Rue.", Prim interjects, her face beaming. She catches my eye and I give her a small smile of thanks. Her smile falls when she looks at Gale, who is radiating anger. It hits me in waves.
"I am not speaking of Rue.", Mrs. Everdeen answers Prim, her eyes never leaving Katniss. She takes a deep breath, and her exhale comes out as a loud sigh. "Katniss, darling, what I am trying to say is, have you thought about what you are doing?" Katniss looks to her mother, confusion apparent on her face. Mrs. Everdeen shakes her head gently before continuing, "You want to accompany a man who you are not married to, not even engaged to, during his travels to another colony. Do you understand how inappropriate that will appear to others?" Katniss takes a loud breath through her nose.
"Mother I don't care about any of that, you know I never have. I just... It's just...", her voice is pleading, "I can't be without Peeta."
The room is completely quiet, while everyone digests what Katniss has just confessed. She didn't say she loved me, but she might as well have. The silence is finally broken by Prim's nervously gleeful giggles. Mrs. Everdeen reaches over and cups Katniss' cheek in her hand.
"I love you Katniss. I've said my piece. I trust you.", she looks over to me, "Both of you." She looks back to her daughter releasing her face. "You are 20 years old. If this is what you want, you have my blessing." A smile begins to erupt on Katniss' face, but it is short lived when a yell comes from my right side.
"Aunt Lily you have got to be joking! Please tell me I heard you incorrectly and you are not about to allow your daughter to traipse around the countryside like a …"
"Gale Hawthorne!", Mrs. Everdeen screeches. "How dare you question me? The last time I checked, I was the head of this household. You will abide by my decision, and that is final. Now either sit there and act civil or leave."
"I...", Gale begins before he is out of his chair and storming out the back door. Katniss is out of her chair next.
"Gale!", she calls out to him before pursuing, followed shortly thereafter by Prim. I stand myself, ready to follow the crowd, knowing I am the one he is actually mad at. Mrs. Everdeen reaches out and grabs my hand. I look down at her.
"I should..." Go let Gale beat me to a pulp. But Mrs. Everdeen's eyes implore me.
"Do you love my daughter, Peeta?"
"Yes, more than anything." A slight smile tugs at her lips.
"Then take care of her, keep her safe for me."
"Always." I try to infuse the word with everything I have in me. I need her to know that I will never do wrong by her daughter, that it is my heart to break. Mrs. Everdeen pats the top of my hand with hers before releasing me. I head out the door, and walk down the stairs, not finding anyone in sight. My eyes scan the street in front of me. Not a person, not even the sound of voices in the distance. The sun is hanging lazily low in the sky. After walking up and down the street, I reluctantly head back to the house. I walk into my room and collapse on the bed. I want to stay awake to talk things out with Gale. I want to tell Katniss goodnight, to make sure she is alright after everything that happened today. I want to kiss her and tell her I love her. Yet my eyelids betray me as they slowly cover my tired eyes. My brain begins to become fuzzy and soon enough I drift off.
When I wake it is dark. I haven't a clue of the time. But I hear footsteps coming down the stairs. I assume them to be Katniss. I feel out of sorts falling asleep before having a chance to talk to her, so I am glad for her arrival.
I briskly walk out of my room, needing to feel her in my arms, needing to taste her breath, needing to see her eyes. I am completely lost in my thoughts of her while turning the corner to the stairs that I fail to notice that it is not in fact Katniss until my jaw is burning and I have stumbled back a few steps.
Before I can take the time to recover I am shoved up against a wall. The force knocks a small painting of a dandelion off the wall. I look up to meet his hard stare. I know I am strong and broad. Between the bakery and the docks I am basically all muscle, but that doesn't mean that when looking up at an angered giant like Gale, that I am not completely petrified. His intense quiet scare me most of all. I feel my jaw click as I clench my teeth, preparing to get hit again. But he just stares at me silently. When I finally will myself to speak, the only words I can think to say are the truth.
"I love her Gale." I look straight into his dark gray eyes and I hope he can see the sincerity and commitment behind those words. Gale's stare is stone for just a moment longer when it begins to soften right before my eyes. Gale pulls his fists off on my shirt, and steps back releasing me from the wall. He looks down to his shifting feet.
"In all those letters you sent me you couldn't have once told me that you were in love with her?"
"I...", I stop there because he's right. I guess I never felt right about telling anyone until I spoke to her in person, but Gale saved my life, he's my closest friend. I should have said something sooner.
"Instead it gets sprung on me while eating..."
"Gale, I swear to you I was planning on speaking to you about this, all of this. I had no idea Katniss was just going to bring it up like that." I am cut-off by Gale's low chuckle.
"Well, get used to the unexpected, Pretty Boy, that's how Katniss operates." If only you knew. I begin to chuckle as well, when suddenly Gale is in my face again, his stare cold like the gray of his eyes. "You better cherish her, be good to her and do right by her, because if you don't so help me God, Mellark, they won't be able to find your body until your water-logged, bloated, blue remains decide to float to the surface of Boston Harbor. Do you understand me?" I nod carefully.
"Yeah, that's pretty clear."
"Good", he smirks at me before hitting my shoulder with his hands, "Stay safe Peeta."
The next morning I can feel Katniss' eyes burning into the already swollen flesh of the left part of my jaw. The bruise was setting in when I awoke this morning. No one says anything though, and Gale and I eat our breakfast as if nothing has happened. When we are done eating Mrs. Everdeen hands me a satchel of herbs, telling me to hold it onto my face. The swelling is all but gone by the end of the day.
The next few days go by incredibly slow. Katniss and I get no more than a quick kiss here and there privately as we pass by each other. There were times when I thought I could give and take more, but I held back not wanting to disrespect the kindness of Mrs. Everdeen or rattle the delicate truce between Gale and I. Katniss, of course, doesn't help matters at all when she bites her lip and gives me longing eyes from across the table during meals, or how she doesn't hold back her gasp at the electricity bounces between us when we brush by each other. Everytime I see her I want to thrust my fingers into her hair and tug her towards my mouth. I want to taste her so very badly that I find my hand down my pants more often than not as I lie awake at night.
Finally the day comes that we are to leave. I have received all the information I need from Haymitch. Apparently this visit has to do with a British ship called the Gaspee. I am to be filled in fully once I arrive. Finnick has already written back, letting me know that he and Annie will be expecting us at their home in Providence, a wedding gift from his parents. Rue has assured Katniss that she can get by one her own, and Primrose will be going by a few days a week to help out anyways
Mrs. Everdeen and Prim pull us both into strong embraces, while Gale shakes my hand sternly giving me a look that says I dare you to forget what I said. Katniss has been beaming all morning, and I can only think of all the ways to keep that smile to her face.
Max, my regular driver, arrives with the carriage. I help Katniss in while Max loads our belongings. When I climb inside the carriage myself taking a seat in front of Katniss, I see that she is looking around.
"I've never ridden in a carriage before.", she tells me matter-of-factly as we pull away from her house.
"Well, if you enjoy it I'll make sure you ride more in the future." I smirk at her, and she rolls her eyes in return. We look at each other, smiles on our faces. Katniss' smile eventually drops from her face as she stares at me intensely. Her fingers are curled tightly around the bench on either side of her.
"Come here." I beckon to her, holding out my hand. She grabs it quickly and I pull her onto me so that she is straddling my lap. We are eye to eye. Her lips are slightly parted, her breath tickles the corners of my mouth. My hand snakes up her back and nestles in her hair. I bring her mouth to mine, drawing in her bottom lip and sucking on it gently. She moans into my mouth. I pull away to look at her beautiful face once more before claiming the rest of her mouth as my own.
After a good long while filled with deep kisses and touches kept to over our clothes, we sit side by side. Katniss' head rests on my shoulder as she takes in the passing scenery. Our hands lay entwined between us.
Time passes and Katniss hasn't moved in a while. I wonder if she has fallen asleep, as I place a kiss on her head.
"I'm glad you came.", I hum into her hair, "I love you." I feel her squeeze my hand tighter.
"I...wait.", she sits up suddenly. "Stop the carriage!" She hollers to Max.
"Kat...", but she is already out of the carriage before the horses have even halted. I move to the opening. Max is already at the door looking at me curiously. "I don't know.", I mutter out loud while watching Katniss run into an open field of blue flowers. She stops within the patch, bending over and delicately picking a flower from below. I see her take a heavy breath as she heads back to the carriage. She is smiling at me as she walks. When she reaches the me she extends her hand, and I pull her in. Max pokes his head inside.
"Am I ok to go now, Miss?", he asks. Katniss blushes furiously.
"Yes, I am sorry. I was rude earlier, I just needed to see something." Max looks to me and I shrug in return. A moment later we are moving once again.
"What did you need to see?", I raise an eyebrow at her.
"This.", she says as she leans forward, placing the flower at my temple. The petals tickle my skin making my eye twitch. Katniss' gaze goes between the flower and me a few times before a triumphant smile take hold of her face.
"I knew it!", she exclaims gleefully, "Same exact color as your eyes."
"What?", I begin to laugh. Katniss pulls the flower away and looks at her lap. She seems embarrassed but a smile still tugs at her mouth.
"Your eyes.", her voice is shy, "are Cornflower blue."
"Is that what that flower is called?" She nods at me, finally lifting her silver eyes to mine.
"My mother uses them in tinctures for eye ailments. I confess when I first met you I thought of this flower. I love your eyes." The last part is so quiet I barely hear it over the rolling carriage. I grab her forearms and pull her into my lap. Her legs hang off the side of mine.
"Your eyes,", I nuzzle my nose into her neck, "are the color of an impending storm and molten silver. Your eyes are the color of slow burning insanity, claiming everything I was before I ever had any chance to escape. I love your eyes too." I kiss the side of her neck, while rubbing small circles into her lower back. I feel her shudder under my touch, a quiet gasp escapes her.
"You know what else they say about Cornflowers?", her voice is deep and sultry.
"What?", my words tumble into the flesh of her neck.
"They are worn by men in love." Our eyes connect. My stomach flips and my chest feels burdened. I reach out and take the flower from her hand, slipping it through a buttonhole of my jacket. Soon after her lips crash into mine.
Next up: The Gaspee Affair and the Odair's (my apologies to xXNicklezxX who I told that this chapter would have Finnick... Next one I swear)
Fun Fact: Katniss was right about the folklore surrounding the cornflower and young men in love, however if the young man's cornflower wilted prematurely his love was unrequited... sad!
Thanks for reading!
