Chapter 14- Months

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE HUNGER GAMES OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS IN IT, THIS IS SIMPLY A FICTIONAL WRITING WRITTEN FOR PURE ENJOYMENT. THANK YOU.

NOTE: OKAY, so first sorry, again, for not updating. It was break! I also noticed that I had put that it was New Year's Eve then another date, not sure what I was thinking. Will change that now! Anyways- I truly am sorry. Hope you all had a safe NYE and a fun one too J

I walk into Peeta's room. Head held down on my shoulders. I am sad, relieved, and worried all at once.

"Hi" He says warmly.

"Hello…" I say solemnly.

"What's wrong?" He asks, motioning his hand on his bed, patting next to him, signaling for me to lie down with him.

I lie down and put my head on his strong chest. I listen to his heartbeat. It is a soft, slow heartbeat. It reminds me of the rain. The rain that Peeta walked out into and fed me the bread in. He always sacrificed himself for me. I could never pay him back for the pain he has gone through for me. I lie there for a while and just hold him.

"Katniss- what's wrong?" He asks me, worried, he strokes my hair.

"Well, there is great news. Although, there is a downside…" I start to tear up.

"Katniss- can you please tell me?" He asks, I can tell he is frustrated behind that soft, kind tone.

"Well they found a cure for your… condition, permanently-"

Peeta cuts me off, "That is great news!" He sounds so excited.

"Well, this is the bad part…" I say looking down. "You have to stay here for 8 more months until the procedure is done. I just can't wait that long Peeta. I thought you were only going to stay in here for a couple months. Eight? That is a long time… I am going to have such a hard time living without you and what will the press say? I don't want to tell them you are in the hospital, they will start asking questions. Then Gale… And you. You are going to be living in this hospital for 8 more months Peeta. 8. That's nearly as long as a pregnancy might be. I don't want to plan the wedding without you Peeta… I want you to make our cake, and I want you to pick out what flowers we want. I want you to tell me where to sit everyone and talk to everyone about everything. I want you to talk to me, about everything, in person, so I can be with you. I need you. I can't be without you." The sudden burst of words came out of my mouth so quickly; I had no time to filter. It wasn't in his control, and I was making him feel bad about it. The tears are bursting out of my eyeballs and I can't control my emotions any more. "Peeta, please don't leave me."

"Katniss…" He sighs and hugs me and kisses my neck. "I would never leave you, never in a billion years. This is not in my control, you know that… Listen, Katniss, we can do something, okay? We will figure it out. I don't want to be without you either, but if it means that it will ensure your safety from whatever is happening to me, then so be it. I would rather have you safe in sacrifice for 8 months than to be worried all the time that you might die." He holds my hand and strokes my fingers. He releases from the hug and gives me a sloppy kiss. We would have good-looking kids, they would be kind, and strong… I snap out of it. We still needed to get married.

"I know. I know you wouldn't. I just- I can't stand being away from you. I want to figure something out…"

"You could live with your mother…" Peeta suggests.

I ponder. I could, would she be able to handle it? My nightmares, remembrance of Prim, yelling Peeta's name? I am not sure. Would she crash like the way she did when my father passed away? I didn't want to risk anything, but if it meant being closer to Peeta and having a ride to the hospital everyday…

"I could…" I say, thinking about the subject still.

"We still have a while to talk about this. It is New Year's Eve, let's enjoy it together." He smiles.

"That is a great idea." I perk up.

"Well it is 9:00 PM, Ms. Everdeen soon to be Mellark!" He says jokingly.

"How about some dinner? Mr. Mellark?" I ask following the tone.

"Well the Jell-O is pretty good here." Peeta says.

I laugh, "Jell-O it is."

We eat our Jell-O; I got his to be orange, like Effie's hair. He doesn't like that shade, but it was the only orange they had. I got the green flavor, which tasted like lime. We ate while talking, about our lives, great childhood memories, that one time where Peeta peed his pants in the 1st grade because he didn't want to disrupt the class, and the time in 2nd grade where I was chasing the rabbits into the trap I had made out of sticks. I never noticed Peeta. He always blended in with the crowd, which was one of the great things about him, he knew how to talk, socialize. He would swoon anyone with the subtle movement of his lips. His lips were perfect, round, full, soft, kind, gentle, and all great things, inside of his lips. This made me happy, to see him happy, and cheerful. He was the only reason I smiled.

After we finish talking and our gourmet Jell-O, I stare at the clock, it's 11: 59 PM.

"It's almost 12:00!" Peeta says.

"Darn, I don't have a kiss. Too bad, I was really looking forward to finally having someone to kiss this year…" I say.

"Yeah, me too, too bad my perfect, beautiful, tough, endearing, courageous, kind, caring, amazing fiancé isn't here to give me one."

"I know, it's so annoying that my fiancé isn't here to give me one, you should talk to him sometime, he's really cute, considerate, handsome, talented-"

We hear over the loudspeaker as it cuts me off: NEW YEAR IN 3, 2, 1! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"Happy New Year." Peeta kisses me and I melt inside.

I really hope that months will turn to days, and days will turn to minutes, and finally, finally I can hold my love once more.