A/N: Alas my loyal readers, we are now at the end of MOMENTS. It's time for me to focus and finish NOW and then move onto my new AU stories, which I am certain will become your new favorites.
Please do me an incredible honor and review this Epilogue or the story in general. It would mean the world to me. If you haven't read my other stories, please do and also review.
An author alert probably wouldn't be a bad idea so you get an alert when I post my new stories. Also, feel free to check out my profile page for all of my favorite stories and authors. I even have fave stories I deleted because there were so many and they were complete. Start with the authors and read all of their stuff. There's TONS to read.
AU WWII story isn't ready yet. I have more research to do. I MAY post a different one before it. Just an FYI. I want to be factual and not do a crappy job on the historical part.
Without further a due, the conclusion of MOMENTS.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games.
Epilogue
Peeta POV
The sun hits me square in my eyes and stuns me. I look for Katniss and see her five platforms to my left. I am surrounded by water. It's deep. Even with my very limited swimming capabilities, I know that I won't make it to the Cornucopia without sinking like a stone. I have to protect Katniss. I have to...
It's finally here, the Quarter Quell. It's tomorrow. Katniss, Haymitch and I have trained like Careers the past six months. We're ready. As ready as we could ever be. I take a deep breath and I can taste the air in my lungs. It won't be much longer. It won't be much longer that I'm with her. I'm not going to make it this time. I love her so much that I am knowingly going to sacrifice my life to get her out of this mess.
We're not married yet but we've lived by our toasting vows. I confessed all during my interview last night with Caesar Flickerman and even told an outrageous lie about Katniss being pregnant in the hope that it would spare her from these cruel games. No such luck. If anything, it's made for even more drama and fodder that a supposedly 'married' and pregnant seventeen year old girl is forced to compete in these barbaric games.
A part of me wishes that Katniss was really pregnant. The thought of getting pregnant mortifies her. I can't help but be somewhat offended by this view considering it would be my child growing in her womb. Katniss professes her love to me but doesn't want a part of me growing inside her and being born into this world to love her? I know her fears are real about the world but I always hope for the best.
I glance at my watch and see that it's nearly noon and time for lunch. I haven't laid eyes on Katniss all morning and my stomach is twisting in knots. The realization that this could be our last twenty-four hours together terrifies me and I intend to make the most out of it. I buzz an Avox and ask him to please find Katniss for me. About ten minutes later, she enters the room with a worried look on her face.
"Peeta, are you okay? What's wrong?" She asks concerned as she embraces me. I start to relax when I see her. "I'm done with all of this bullshit. I want you all to myself the rest of the day. I'm anxious and I just need us to spend this time together." I explain and then pull her into a tight hug. Katniss sighs and holds me close. "I feel the same way Peeta." She says softly into my ear. I scribble a note for Haymitch stating the obvious. "We're done for the day. Personal time." I then hand it to the Avox and instruct him to flash it whenever someone comes looking for us.
Katniss and I gather up some food and a blanket and retreat to the roof top. We spend the afternoon eating, playing and making out in the sun. I feel normal. I feel like a teenager. It's ironic that it's taken me so long to achieve this feeling and within days, my life and these moments with Katniss will be over.
Katniss eventually falls asleep with her head in my lap and I spend the next couple of hours running my fingers through her hair and tracing the outlines of her olive skin. She's beautiful. I think back to District 12 and wonder what our lives would be like right now if we were never reaped. Would I have gotten up the courage to speak to her? Ask her out eventually? Would my family have ever approved? Would I have given up the Bakery and gotten a job in the mines, just to be with her? We could have had our own little house in the Seam and lived a peaceful little existence without the games.
My one regret is that we didn't marry officially. I wish that we could have done that legally. Been introduced to the world as Mr. and Mrs. Mellark just once. It doesn't matter though. All that matters is that we are here together right now. The sun is beginning to fade and my favorite shade of orange has appeared to take the sun to bed.
I gently shake Katniss and help her stir so she doesn't miss this peaceful sunset. I know that she would find it breathtaking and personally, I want to share this with her. I hope she's tucked away as many memories of me as I have of her. I shiver at the thought of her adding me to the memory book but when she does, I hope I've earned a few pages.
Katniss wakes up and immediately puts her arms around me and wipes the sleep out of her tired eyes. I motion towards the setting sun with my hand and I see tears form in her eyes. "Oh Peeta." Is all she can mutter from her exquisite lips. She leans her warm body into mine and rests her head on my right shoulder. It's coming to an end. I know this and the fear begins to grip me. I hold her tighter.
When the sun is gone and we can barely see each other, the anxiety sets in again. "We should head downstairs and ready for bed Katniss." I announce. She says nothing but helps me gather our items from our picnic and holds my hand as I lead her down the stairs to her room. The room that has officially been ours since we arrived in the Capitol.
We enter the room and I place everything in my arms down onto the table, Katniss doing the same. I put my lips to hers and kiss her hungrily but slowly. I'm not in a hurry to rush one single moment of this goodbye. I begin to remove her clothing and she follows suite in assisting in the removal of mine. When all articles are gone, we just continue to kiss. I trace my fingers slowly down from her cheeks, to her collarbone, to her breastbone and breasts, feeling her stomach and hips and then pulling her hips flush with mine. Katniss trembles beneath my touch and I can't help but feel the weight of our time together now.
I pick Katniss up and guide us to the bed, carefully placing her down onto it. We kiss and touch everywhere. Pleasuring each other in ways that feel fresh and new. When the time has come for me to enter her softness, I almost hesitate. As much as I want her. Wanted her my entire life. I don't want this moment to ever reach it's conclusion. I don't want the sun to rise. I just want it to be tonight, now, for forever. I don't ever want to be without her and I don't ever want her to be without me. The pain would be unbearable for both of us. Unless we both didn't make it of course. I push that horrid thought to the back of my mind. I feel confident that Haymitch would never let that happen. He promised.
I enter Katniss and instead of just staying still for her to adjust a moment, I instantly begin to thrust. I don't pound into her, but my moves are needy with want and I need her. I need to feel my release, feel hers, feel what I do to her when I'm inside of her. I cup her face in my palms and kiss her, getting greedy. I'm overwhelmed with emotion and love for her. I feel the tears well up in my eyes and when I fear that they're going to spill over, I notice that one has already escaped Katniss's eye.
I push into her until I feel her contract around me and she digs her newly groomed nails into my back. I push deeper into her and bring her left leg up closer to my hip to enhance the deepness. My cock is ready to burst with my orgasm when I feel her come for the second time. I'm holding back in the worst way and Katniss looks into my eyes, willing me to take part in our pleasure and let go. I'm determined to hold on for as long as possible and ensure she comes as many times as possible.
I want her to remember tonight. Remember my love for her and how I made her feel. I shudder to think of another man in this spot but I don't think there ever would be. I don't wish that for Katniss but I know that it's a possibility. When I hit her spot for a third time, Katniss begs me to fuck her. Hearing those filthy words out of her mouth sets my blood on fire and I pound into her, making her come a fourth time before I explode inside of her.
I don't break the connection. I never remove myself from her. I couldn't, even if I wanted to. Bodily fluids be damned. I'm sure the Avoxes will hate us after having to clean these sheets. I could care less. Katniss and I fall asleep almost immediately, limbs entangled.
When the morning sunlight hits my eyes, a new panic sets in. I wake Katniss by kissing her fiercely. Within moments the door opens and Cinna and Portia are there, solemn expressions, to escort us to prepping. I hold Katniss's face in my hands and just keep kissing her. Portia clears her throat and I'm forced to part from Katniss's lips and don a robe. I follow her out of the room and say to Katniss on the way out the door. "I'll see you soon." She nods and I can tell she's on the verge of tears.
Portia dresses me, gives me a hug and then shows me to my tube. I take a deep breath and then enter the tube that will take me to certain death. The door closes around me and Portia waves goodbye.
I enter the Arena and the sun hits me square in the eye.
The End.
This fic was inspired by "Moments" by One Direction. Sweet song.
"Moments"
Shut the door
Turn the light off
I wanna be with you
I wanna feel your love
I wanna lay beside you
I cannot hide this
Even though I try
Heart beats harder
Time escapes me
Trembling hands
Touch skin
It makes this hard girl
And the tears stream down my face
If we could only have this life
For one more day
If we could only turn back time
You know I'll be
Your life
Your voice
Your reason to be
My love
My heart
Is breathing for this
Moment
In time
I'll find the words to say
Before you leave me today
Close the door
Throw the key
Don't wanna be reminded
Don't wanna be seen
Don't wanna be without you
My judgment's clouded
Like tonight's sky
Hums are silent
Voice is numb
Try to scream out my lungs
It makes this harder
And the tears stream down my face
If we could only have this life
For one more day
If we could only turn back time
You know I'll be
Your life
Your voice
Your reason to be
My love
My heart
Is breathing for this
Moment
In time
I'll find the words to say
Before you leave me today
Flashing lights in my mind
Going back to the time
Playing games in the street
Kicking balls with my feet
There's a numb in my toes
Standing close to the edge
There's a pile of my clothes
At the end of your bed
As I feel myself fall
Make a joke of it all
You know I'll be
Your life
Your voice
Your reason to be
My love
My heart
Is breathing for this
Moment
In time
I'll find the words to say
Before you leave me today
You know I'll be
Your life
Your voice
Your reason to be
My love
My heart
Is breathing for this
Moment
In time
I'll find the words to say
Before you leave me today