Author's note: Sorry for the delay. You'll have another chapter in a bit. Just a little warning (and you may know from Tumblr) that things are going to get serious soon. So we will soon get more information about Katniss and Peeta's rocky childhoods. Enjoy these next two chapters until then.

Thank you so much for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing. I feel the love! And I love you back!

Happy reading!

Chapter Fourteen

Katniss packaged the latest order and turned to the counter. She smiled when she saw Finn standing there with a storage container. She leaned over the edge. "Hey, Finn. What are you doing?"

He held up the container. "Peeta sent these for you."

"For me?" She smiled. "What are they?"

"Cheese buns." The boy explained. "They're delicious! He let me help. Mom and Dad did, too. Mostly Dad watched, though."

Katniss motioned with her head. "Come to the door." She took off her gloves and met the boy at the door. "Is Peeta outside?"

Finn smiled. "No, Mom came to do some shopping. He said to give this to you. And he tucked a note in the side. I'm sure it's full of hearts and mushy stuff."

She chuckled and took the container from him. "Well, thank you for bringing them to me. And thank you for helping make them. I'll probably eat the whole container-worth." She winked. "Tell your mom and dad hi for me."

Annie stepped around the aisle and waved. "Hi, Katniss."

"Hello, Annie." Katniss smiled. "Can I interest you in some steaks? We got some really good cuts today. Lovely marbling." She leaned over the container and Annie leaned with her. "My boss is standing over there." She said softly.

"Those steaks do look delicious." Annie said loudly. Softer she said, "Peeta cannot stop talking about you. You are some sorceress or something. He has never been this excited about anyone."

Snow stepped up to them. "Miss Everdeen, how are things in the meat department?"

"Very well." She stood and shoved the container of rolls into Finn's hands.

Snow looked between the customers and his employee. "I trust you will make a proper sale, Miss Everdeen."

"I will do my best, sir." She said, a little defiance in her voice.

He looked them all over once more and then walked away.

Katniss let out a slow breath. "I wish I could leave."

Annie patted her hand. "I'll take six of those. As long as you and Prim come for supper one night this week. Peeta's usually around. Not so much since he started dating you."

Katniss walked back through the door and packaged the meat. "I work early the rest of the week. I'll talk with Prim about her schedule and get back to you. Thank you for the invitation." She smiled. "I like him a lot, too. He's a great man."

"He is. And he deserves the happiness you're giving him." She took the package of steaks. "Let me know what night works for you." She motioned for Finn to put the container on the counter and walked away.

Katniss took the container and called over her shoulder to Cato, "Taking my break."

Cato called, "But I was about to go."

"Sorry, but you were just gone for a half hour sexting Clove in the middle of the rush. I will take my fifteen minute break and get off my feet for nobler reasons." She walked into the back and scrubbed her hands. She opened the container and took out the note along with a roll still warm from the oven. She opened the note as she took her first bite.

"Mmmm." She said aloud. She blushed and looked around. "Hope the surveillance cameras don't have sound." She mumbled as she opened the note and read. "Cheese buns were always my favorite breakfast. The one thing my mom passed down that I'm proud of. But I say mine are better. Don't bother calling or texting when you're done, just come over. I'll be waiting. I've been waiting for you for a long time. If there are any of these left, bring them with you and we can used them for fuel later."

She chuckled and finished her bun. She reached for another as she pulled out her phone. "Thank you for the cheese buns. It's an orgasm in my mouth."

His response came quickly. "lol, Oh, really? ;) I'll be certain to give you one elsewhere later."

"I look forward to it. I miss you."

"I miss you, too."

She kept herself busy the rest of her shift and gathered her things for quick departure.

At Peeta's door, she tapped excitedly. He opened the door and pulled her into the apartment and into his arms.

"I've been on the other side of this door waiting since ten." He said before he kissed her.

"Well," she looked up at the clock, "it's just now seven after. Didn't have long to wait." She rested her forehead against his and rubbed his back. "Let me get my coat off and put my things down." She brushed her lips over his and stepped out of his arms.

He took the container of cheese buns from her. "Did you really like them?" He opened it and chuckled. "Never mind, you don't need to answer. I sent a dozen."

"How many did I leave? I couldn't stop eating them." She put her coat on the hook by the door and sat down to take off her shoes.

"There are three." He showed her the container.

"That won't work for refueling at all." She said with a smile as she stood to meet him in the middle of the room. "Would you be angry if I said I was too tired for much?"

He shook his head. "You just got off work. And we had plenty of fun last night. I hope we can still make love before you collapse."

She smiled and kissed him deeply. "I definitely not too tired for that. Something light, but still fun. But quick because I have to open tomorrow."

He made a face. "That doesn't seem fair."

"I'm one of the best, so Snow keeps me busy."

"He works you like a slave."

She chewed the inside of her cheek and nodded. She took his hand. "No more talk of Snow and my crappy job." She pushed him onto the bed and dropped to her knees.

He smiled. "You eager little minx."

She smiled seductively. "I wasn't the one begging a tired woman for sex."

He pressed the button to release his prosthetic. "We'll do it your way. You deserve it however you want it since you were the one who was just working."

She pulled the prosthetic off and set it aside. She removed the other layers and then leaned forward to press a series of soft kisses up his leg. She looked up when she reached the end of his boxers and grinned. She pushed him back and straddled his hips.

He tried to sit up and she put her hand on his chest. She shook her head and leaned down for a kiss. Then she sat back and pulled her shirt over her head. Peeta's hands roamed lovingly over Katniss's stomach and cupped her breasts over her bra.

"Want me to take it off?" She asked.

"You're the one in charge." He said with a grin.

She stood and finished undressing. "I'm not into a ton of seduction tonight. Maybe next time."

He nodded and threw away his final article of clothing. She stretched over him again and kissed him slowly. Her hand moved down his body between them until she found his erection.

He moaned. "Are you going to take forever?"

She chuckled. "No. I'm not in a forever mood tonight." She reached into the bedside drawer as she kissed him and groped for a condom.

When they finally came together, they both sighed in contentment. Katniss looked down at him with a smile. She began moving slowly, leaning over him. Peeta's hands stayed at her waist and he let her take control of the whole thing. His grip tightened as he grew closer. She leaned over him and kissed him slowly through it.

She collapsed on top of him and panted. They lay in contented silence for a long time as they regained their normal breathing and heart rates. Eventually she rolled away.

"You didn't finish." He pointed out.

"I don't need to." She yawned.

"None of that." He rolled over on top of her. "Brace yourself, beautiful."

She laughed as he moved lower and then gasped when his mouth made contact with her clit. Once he started, as inexperienced as he was, it didn't take long for her to meet her climax. She gripped his hair and moaned loudly as her body shook with pleasure.

He trailed his mouth up her body, ending in a deep kiss. He stretched out beside her and slipped his hand into hers.

Katniss yawned and pressed her eyes into Peeta's shoulder. "I have to leave." She groaned.

He kissed the top of her head. "I could run down to the laundry room with your clothes. It's a uniform. No one would ever have to know they were today's clothes."

She thought about it a moment and then nodded. "Thank you. I'll call Prim to let her know I'm staying." She sat up. "If I can find my pants to get my phone."

Peeta chuckled and rolled out of the bed. He picked a pair of kakis off the floor and found the phone in her pocket. "You call Prim and then go to sleep. I'll be right back." He sat down on the side of the bed and put on his leg and then some clothes.

She sighed when he was covered and dialed Prim's cell. "Hey, you."

"You're staying with Peeta?" Her sister asked in greeting.

"Yep. I work the early shift tomorrow."

"That's so not cool. How can Snow expect quality work if you work the late shift one night and the early shift the next?"

"He just wants everyone to bow to his every whim." Katniss grumbled. "Anyway, I'll be home around eleven. If you need anything in the morning, call Haymitch."

"What about clothes? Do you need me to bring you anything?"

"Nah. Peeta's washing mine. Thanks, though." She yawned. "I love you. Get Jason out of the house, he has his own and you need to get to bed."

Prim sighed. "How do you know he's here?"

"Because I know you want to spend time with your boyfriend. So tell him to put his pants back on and take a hike."

"Why can't my boyfriend stay over of you're staying with yours?" Prim asked.

"Because I'm a tax-paying citizen. You're a high school student. And isn't he still seventeen?"

Prim sighed dramatically. "He's leaving."

"Do I need to send Haymitch over to check?"

"No. No, he's really leaving. Haymitch would kill both of us." She whispered on the other side of the phone. Katniss could hear the front door close. "Okay, he's exited."

"Lock the door, turn out the lights, go to bed. I love you."

"Love you, too."

Katniss ended the call and then sent a text to Gale, "Mind running by my place in the morning and checking on Prim? I'm staying with Peeta."

He replied, "No problem."

She thanked him and then rolled over and dozed. She felt the bed shift and she snuggled against Peeta.

Her phone's alarm went off far too early. She rolled over and turned it off and then sat up. For a moment she was confused. This wasn't her bedroom. Then she looked down at the man sleeping on the other side of the bed and smiled. Peeta. She leaned down and kissed his temple before she climbed out of bed and headed for the shower.

When she stepped out, she found a towel and her clothes waiting for her on the back of the toilet and a note in the mirror. "Help yourself to breakfast. I love you."

She smiled and dressed quickly. Thankfully, Peeta's apartment was much closer to work than her own house was. She could stall a little getting ready.

In the kitchen, she found a loaf of bread with the end cut off, but nothing else. She was a little unsure how to cut it without messing it up. She only ever got bread pre-sliced. She somehow managed and popped two very uneven slices in the toaster. She was just sitting down with a cup of coffee and her toast when Peeta hopped into the room. He wore his boxers and nothing else. She liked his rumpled look, it was endearing.

"What are you doing up?" She asked as he leaned in for a kiss.

"I heard you rattling around in here and wanted a couple more minutes with you." He sat beside her and leaned his head sleepily on his hand. "How did you sleep?"

"No nightmares." She smiled.

He gave her a puzzled look.

She swallowed her latest bite and said, "I have these recurring nightmares where Prim is killed or taken from me or I'm taken from her and there's no way for me to stop it." She sipped her coffee. "But these last couple nights, nothing. So I think you calm that part of me."

He put his hand on top of hers and squeezed. "That's good to know."

"So what are you teaching today?" She asked as she took another bite of toast.

He told her about his lessons for the day as she ate and sipped her coffee. She sighed when she looked at her phone and saw it was time for her to leave.

"I wish I didn't have to do this." She said as she stood.

"If you don't like it, you should start figuring out how to change it." He said.

She nodded. "You know, Gale and I used to have this dream..." She shook her head. "It's dumb."

"I want to hear it."

She pulled on her coat and looked at him. "Gale and I used to talk about getting a summer day camp together for kids and teaching outdoor skills and maybe a little archery and knife skills. But it was always just a dream."

Peeta cupped her cheeks and pressed a kiss to her lips. "You can make your dreams come true, I know it. I'll help you figure it out if you want."

"Thank you." She smiled and kissed him once more. "Will I see you later?"

"When do you get off work?"

"Eleven."

"Can I buy you lunch? My free period is that time. And then it's my lunch. I can pick you up."

"Thanks. I'll see you then." She kissed him once more and headed out. As she walked, she sent a text to Prim, "Please bring me a different shirt before school? Just leave it in my car. Thanks. Love you."

"She hates it there." Peeta told Finnick as he watched his friend set up for his first gym class.

"I would too. She closed last night and had to open today? That has to be some sort of violation. There should be a day off between or a middle shift, at least. That's bullshit." Finnick sat out the last cone and stepped back. "She does archery, right?"

"Yeah."

Finnick nodded. "There used to be a 4-H club for that. But the sponsor got tired of it or something. Maybe she could take over that. It's not a paying gig, but she could go to school. She said something about it to Annie. School during the day and a few afternoons a week teaching kids archery." He shrugged. "Should say something to her. She may be interested. And Finn was pretty interested in learning. He asked her to show him sometime."

"I'll talk to her. I'm taking her to lunch today." He looked down at his watch. "Better go open my classroom." He wandered off and found Prim waiting outside already.

She gave him a teasing glare, "I hope your intentions with my sister are pure."

He chuckled and unlocked the door. "The purest. Come on in." They walked in and Peeta threw his coat over the back of his chair. "She get to work okay?"
"I guess." Prim sat her bag on the closest desk and propped herself on top of it. "Her car was right where it normally is when I stashed a shirt in it." She leaned forward. "I picked one that shows a little cleavage."

He chuckled and the tips of his ears got red. "Okay, good. So, um, I have a question."

"Shoot."

"Do you think Katniss would be upset if I talked about college opportunities?" He stacked textbooks on the corner of a back desk.

"She's never really told me if she wanted to go to college. I mean, she mentioned being jealous when I started getting early acceptance letters, so she may be okay if you bring it up. Why?"

"She hates her job, I can tell. And she's talked about it quite a bit. But it's just a job. So I want to help her change that. Find a profession and a life she enjoys."

Prim threw her arms around him. "You are a Godsend, Peeta!"

He patted her back. "What makes you say that?"

"No one's ever said those things. Not even Gale. But it's what she needs, a kick in the pants from someone she cares about. She won't listen when I say it. She always tells me it's because she has to take care of me, but I can take care of myself more now." She finally stepped back, a little embarrassed. "Annie said I could help her over the summer. She said she could use my help with some school-age kids. I'll make my own way."

He patted her shoulder. "Tell Katniss."

The bell rang and Prim picked up her things. "I will. And you talk to her about college. She needs it."