Here it is. You might be upset with me later…no, you most likely will be.

The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy do not belong to me.

Fated to Love

Part Two, Part Twenty-One

"Let's go over the list." Rue picked up her steno pad, following Peeta into his office. "Crib is all set-up. Bassinet is in Johanna's room. There's a spare bed in the nursery which both parents are bound to use. Changing table is prepped—"

"We'll need extra preemie-sized diapers," Peeta informed her, adjusting his tie. "Also, I want an air purifier put into the nursery—a strong but silent one. We can't be too careful."

"Mason is at thirty-six weeks?" Rue confirmed and he nodded. "He's in better shape than before." She sat down on the couch. "And, the rest of the family?"

"They were supposed to be checked out of the hospital last week, but Johanna had slight…tearing," he replied, uncomfortable at mentioning Johanna's lady parts.

It scared the living daylights out of his cousin and it was the first time in the last few weeks that Johanna had actually cried. She was ready to leave and the setback had caused a mini meltdown. Katniss and Haymitch had been there when Johanna got the news, helping her calm down with deep breathing techniques and, at his Katniss' suggestion, some much needed comfort food from Arena.

In-between tears, Johanna managed to wolf down the fried chicken and macaroni and cheese that Prim had sent over.

Fortunately, Dr. Paylor had examined her yesterday and declared the new mother fit to go home with minimal movement.

Mason was doing well, breathing on his own and nearing a lucky seven pounds. Peeta's nephew was growing strong and seemed to be much more alert—his motor-skills on par with his development. It was a great relief to the whole family.

Peeta couldn't help but feel that surge of tender protectiveness, seeing those large grey eyes staring up at him whenever he held Mason. He felt the same for Sammy, Jace, Sparrow, and Lacey, but there was an extra bit of need to keep the littlest of the group sheltered. Maybe it was leftover anxiety from Toad, but it was the reason that he was going over the nursery with his assistant.

"Everything should be all set," Rue assured him. "Also, the party will be great. I just went over the setup with Glimmer, your Uncle's party planner. Pretty hot, that one. You think she's into chicks?"

"Ask her at the party," he replied offhandedly, sitting at his desk and opening up his portfolio. "Anything else?"

Rue sat in the chair in front of the desk, her eyes anxious. "There is one more thing that popped up on my calendar. Funny thing is I didn't realize it until I was putting the 'Welcome Home' party into my calendar."

Peeta met her eyes, giving her a calm smile. "What?"

"Your wedding anniversary," Rue started. "Well, what would've been your anniversary."

Peeta nodded, closing the portfolio. "Our…fifth, I believe." He sighed, losing himself in the thought. "Do you think Katniss remembers?"

"Of course, she does," his assistant replied. "But, she probably didn't drown herself in whiskey like you did every time it came around." Rue gave him a calculated look. "You planning on doing something about it?"

There wasn't a doubt in his mind.

"Call Glimmer. I'd like to request something—and have her come before lunch," Peeta instructed.

Rue nodded, writing quickly on her pad. "Of course. But, why?"

He grinned, seeing her flushed cheeks.

"Because after I make my request, you're going to invite her to lunch."

Katniss never realized how difficult designing a baby bag could be.

She shaded in the bottom corner of the bag on her sketch pad, debating what would be functional for Johanna and her Uncle. It would need pockets, of course. Maybe bottle holders on each side and multiple straps so they could change the bag's design. She knew that her Uncle Haymitch liked to hike, especially around Seam Island, so using it as a backpack would good for him.

Katniss was willing to bet that, at some point, Johanna went on one of those hikes—and, returned to Panem with Mason inside her.

"Maybe add some compartments inside." Gale suggested, sitting across from her in the gallery breakroom. "For diapers, wet naps…"

"Good idea," Katniss replied, jotting it down at the corner of the page. "Maybe I can figure something out so that the compartments can be resized if needed." After writing the note, she closed her sketch book and met his eyes. "I'm hoping to have this done by next week for the party. Are you going?"

Gale shook his head. "No. Madge and I are just going to hang out at home."

"A little 'Netflix and Chill'?" she joked wryly before putting her hand up. "No, don't tell me. I opened a door I don't want to walk into."

"First off, is 'Netflix and Chill' even a cool saying anymore?" Gale asked. Katniss shrugged, earning a laugh from her friend. "We're actually just going to plan a little trip."

"A trip, huh?" Katniss raised a brow. "Sounds serious."

"We're not going to get married like a certain other couple who knew one another for a day." He eyed her with a grin. "But, I'm thinking of taking her to Seam Island to meet my mom." Gale let out a small breath before giving her a nervous glance. "Also, don't be upset."

Folding her hands in front of her, Katniss pursed her lips. "What?"

"I'm thinking of moving back home," he said. "Kind of ready to leave the city—settle down and such."

"And, Madge?"

"That's up to her," Gale declared. "But, I'm hoping that this trip could get her to warm up to the idea."

"I'll miss you, but I understand the need for the quiet life," Katniss told him. "I've been needing something like that for a while now."

"No time like the present to get away," Gale said. "Johanna and Haymitch are going to be taking care of Mason, who is doing great. Arena is doing well and so is the purse line. Your pieces will be heading to New York in two weeks. It's a good time to go on vacation."

"Peeta is so busy at work and my family might need me," she reasoned.

"You have to make time for yourself, too," her friend lectured. "You're going to burn out if you don't get some rest. I worry about you. I'm sure Peeta does, too; the guy is head-over-heels in love with you."

Her face went red-hot at his statement. The word was used sparingly during her and Peeta's marriage and then it had all fallen apart so fast. Now that they were taking things slow, she wondered if those feelings were developing just as slowly for him.

Katniss loved Peeta. She was in love with him, but the words had never come out of her mouth.

She made every decision with him in mind. Was he doing the same?

"By the look on your face, you don't believe me," Gale continued. Reaching into his bag on the floor, he pulled out a set of prints from the 'Happily Ever After' shoot. "Take a look at this candid print."

Pushing the photo towards her, Katniss looked at the photo of Peeta watching her as she was touched up. His smile was gentle and there was awe in his gaze.

"That's the look of a man who can't believe that he's gotten so lucky."

"I want to believe you, I really do," she admitted. "But would you hold it against me if I'm afraid that he doesn't feel the same as I do?"

"No, not at all," Gale assured her. "But, he's going to tell you he does…eventually."

"Yeah." Katniss gave him a half-hearted smile, opening up her sketch pad again to distract herself. "Eventually."

"Be careful with him!"

"Johanna." Haymitch carried the car seat holding Mason in his strong grip. He stopped on the top step of the porch, turning to her. "He's fine, sweetheart. In fact, he's asleep."

"You're really poking the bear," Peeta warned the man, his arm around Johanna's waist as they joined him on the porch. "You both have some late nights together coming up. Don't spend it arguing over whether or not Mason is okay. He has more than enough."

''Uncle Snow took care of everything," Katniss added as she carried the post-recovery bag that the hospital had given Johanna. "My mother has knitted enough hats to last him a lifetime and the kids have drawn pictures to decorate the nursery."

"They did?" Johanna's dark eyes were suddenly teary. "That's so sweet!"

The hormones were really getting to the new mother.

"Okay, darling," Haymitch called out. "Let's get inside and put this boy in his new room."

They didn't need to wait for anyone to get the door before it burst open and Sammy, along with Lacey, stepped out.

"Oh!" Lacey squealed as she stared down at the baby, asleep in his car seat. "He's so tiny." Her large eyes looked up at Haymitch worriedly. "He'll grow bigger, won't he?"

"Of course," the man assured her, his large hand patting the top of her braided hair. "In fact, he was a lot smaller a few weeks ago."

Sammy joined Johanna's side, wrapping an arm around her waist to help her inside along with Peeta.

"Hey Johanna," the young boy greeted her with a shy smile. "Congratulations."

She reached over, ruffling his hair. "Thanks, sweetie. I feel like it's been forever since I've seen you. You must have grown at least an inch since I've been in the hospital."

Katniss followed inside the house, finding Enobaria and Brutus greeting Johanna and Haymitch while the kids gazed down at the newest member of the household.

Peeta met her eyes, joining her side, and put an arm around her. "You okay?"

She nodded, swallowing her sorrow. "Yes. It's just that whenever good things like this happen—"

"You think of him," Peeta finished. "You wonder how Toad would fit into this picture." He turned to her, taking her hands in his. "I think like that, too. Sometimes, I see Sparrow with Seneca and I remember that dream of my son coming to work with me, seeing him drink chocolate milk from a Mellark Corporation mug, watching him pretend to stamp contracts."

Katniss saw the blankness in his eyes—that curtain that covered all of the pain that Peeta was hiding.

"Katniss!" Lacey rushed over to them. "I want to show you my picture in Mason's room!" She took the woman's hand and pulled her up the stairs. "You can tell me how much you like it!"

Winking at Peeta, Katniss let the little girl lead her up the steps towards the nursery.

"She is really proud of that drawing," Sammy told Peeta with a grin as he walked over. "It's a picture of everyone in our family."

"Oh yeah?" Peeta smiled at the thought. "How about your picture?"

They walked up the stairs at a much slower pace. "I drew a picture of the garden during spring. The garden was Johanna's mother's favorite place, then Johanna's, and then Katniss'. It's my favorite place in the compound, too. Maybe one day, it'll be Mason's."

"It's my favorite place, now that I think about it," Peeta said as they reached the top of the stairs.

Sammy laughed. "Dad used to tell me that your suite was your favorite place—when Katniss was still living here." He looked to Peeta. "I always thought it was your bad place, especially when she left. It became your prison."

For being so young, Sammy was an insightful boy.

"You still remember Katniss living here?" he asked.

"Yes, because it was the only time you really smiled," Sammy responded, eyeing him. "Do you think that will happen again? Katniss back to the compound?"

In front of the open double doors of Mason's nursery, Peeta spied his girlfriend. She was sitting against the wall, Lacey in her lap, and a sketchpad in front of her. Haymitch and Johanna stood in front of their son's bassinet, arguing over whether or not he needed a blanket.

Katniss looked up at their entrance, giving him a bright smile, before going back to her drawing.

She belonged here with their family. With him.

"I have hope," Peeta told Sammy.

Because she gave it to him.

The young boy nodded in understanding. "Then I will, too."

"Would it be too late to ask if you would be my date?" Peeta asked as they laid in her bed, later that night.

"Isn't that the perk of being in a relationship?" Katniss responded, twisting so she could look at him. "An automatic date to all family events?"

"I'd never assume." Peeta reached to tuck her messy tendril behind her ear. She breathed in at the sensation of his touch, watching his mouth widen seeing her in such disarray. "Things like that often get me in trouble."

"I can see that," she said. Pushing herself up on her elbow, Katniss leaned down to brush her lips to his. "Yes, I'd love to go with you."

Pulling away, she could see how Peeta's eyes darkened and she was sure that her own eyes reflected that latent hunger that only they could bring out of one another. It had always been him; he was the only one who had ever seen that side of her—that part of her that felt that raw longing.

"Sammy said something to me today," Peeta suddenly began, interrupting her reverie. "About how much better it was when you were living in the Mellark Compound." He hesitated for a moment, his blue eyes tense, before going on. "And, he's right—it was. I mean…what I'm trying to say is that…do you think we're moving in that direction?"

Katniss beamed at his nervousness.

Peeta Mellark ran his corporation with an iron fist, but he couldn't build up the nerve to ask her about moving back in.

"Well, I put you into account when it comes to a lot of my own decisions," she explained. "Are you doing the same?"

"I see a future with you," Peeta told her. "And, I make plans with you in mind."

"And, how do you feel about me, Peeta?" Katniss asked bluntly.

Peeta smiled. "Are we having 'the talk'?"

"And, what if we are?" she countered.

"Then I would say that you already know how I feel," he countered. "And, if you don't, then you'll just have to wait."

"I really want to kick you out of this bed," she groused through her smile.

Peeta grinned, cockiness in its rise. "But, you won't."

"Why is that?"

He didn't reply.

Instead, his hand reached for the nape of her neck to bring their lips together.

"Your cousin is home. Mason has been home for a week and your Grandpa Snow has pulled out all the stops for tonight."

Peeta stared at the painting, flat-backed against the wall and whiskey glass in his hand. Those eyes—his eyes—stared back at him, frozen in innocence.

Outside, the event crew was setting up in the courtyard in the back of the house. The party, which was supposed to have been a baptism party, had turned into a welcome for the newest resident of the Mellark Compound. The guest list was in the hundreds and his Uncle had spared no expense.

"Tonight was supposed to be your mother's and my anniversary," he continued. "I don't know if she even remembers."

There was a knock at the doorway and Peeta found Rue approaching him, eyes full of concern.

"Band is here," she reported. Holding out her hand, his assistant helped him up, her eyes on the painting. "It's scary, you know. This is really how I imagined Toad would've looked like. Katniss really had the surety of his smile. It looks like yours."

"I'm going to tell her," Peeta said as he stood up.

"Not when you look like this." Rue undid his bowtie, beginning again. She bit her lip as she crossed the two ends. "How do you think she's going to react?"

"I don't know," he answered. "I imagine she'll be angry, hurt—even embarrassed. Katniss confided in Mamie, not me. It would be right for her to feel all of that. Because there are worse things that could happen."

"Like what?"

"Don't ask me to say it." Peeta walked out of the room with Rue following after him. "Is everything ready?"

"Yes, but there are a few things that need to be confirmed," she reported as they headed out of the suite and down the hall where the elevator was. "Glimmer wanted to know where the extra outlets are in the courtyard, just in case of a power surge."

"Brutus could probably tell you—" he replied. They stepped into the elevator and Rue pressed the button for the main floor. "—though I know there is an extra set of outlets in the north quadrant of the lawn, next to the large willow."

"That's not going to help me," Rue retorted. "Glimmer is stressed enough."

"And, when did she become so important?" Peeta teased.

The woman could not meet his eyes. "This is kind of like a second date. I don't want to fuck it up."

The elevator door opened and Katniss stood before him.

Katniss in a red gown, floaty and flowy with a gauzy skirt. She had put her hair in a low bun, showing off her sculpted shoulders and slight cleavage, cradled in the embellished V-neck top of her dress. Her slender figure was accentuated with a cinched waist and silk waistband.

She was breathtaking.

Peeta looked to Rue, her own eyes appreciative of Katniss' beauty.

"I don't want to fuck this up, either."

"You clean up real nice," Katniss said to her Uncle. She held her glass out to him. "And, you make an adorable baby."

Haymitch smirked, glass in one hand and Mason cradled in the crook of his other arm. He wore a black tuxedo, hair combed-back and beard trimmed.

"This adorable baby just threw up on me an hour ago," he replied. Her Uncle pressed a tender kiss to his son's forehead. "But, I couldn't love him anymore than I already do."

"And, his mother?"

She looked to where Johanna and Peeta were mingling with some of their work colleagues. It was hard to believe that Johanna had even given birth; her figure was still slender except for the extra cup size that she had earned due to lactation. The black gown she wore clung to her body with the exception of the deep-V, just dipping down to the top of her stomach. Her dark hair was pulled back in a chignon with a familiar-looking pearl clip.

Katniss turned to look at her Uncle. "Where did Johanna get the clip?"

He coughed roughly, his pallor darkening. "It was my mother's—your grandmother's—clip. Your grandfather gave it to her…as a wedding gift."

"Are you engaged?" she asked suspiciously.

"Would it bother you if we were?" he retorted.

"A little…I mean, Peeta and I have been dating longer than you've been…whatever." She looked over to the cousins, seeing them begin their walk over. "I mean, I don't know."

Uncle Haymitch swayed slightly to rock Mason, his stare on his flustered niece.

"Are you bothered because you're not engaged to Peeta?"

"I don't know," Katniss admitted. "That's what's bugging me. I don't know how he feels about me. So are you engaged or not?"

"We're not," her Uncle assured her. "You know Johanna and me. We don't do things half-assed." He pressed a kiss to top of her head. "You're completely insane if you don't think that man isn't crazy about you." Haymitch nodded at Peeta as he made his way to Katniss' side. "Also, why would I give a wedding gift to my fiancée?"

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"I'm going to make sure Johanna is getting enough to eat before we put this guy down to bed." Her Uncle placed his glass on the table, next to them, and winked at her. "I'll see you two later."

The man walked off, leaving Katniss in a confused daze.

Peeta took her hand. "What was that about?"

"Have Johanna and my Uncle disappeared anytime this past week?" she asked.

"I don't keep tabs, but I'm pretty sure that they've been at the house this whole time," he told her. "I mean, we separated from them for a bit when they went to go see your mother after Johanna's discharge—"

"That's just wonderful!" Katniss said in annoyance. "We're probably a little bit related or my Uncle loves to upset and confuse me."

Peeta placed his hands on her shoulders before giving her a quick kiss. "Calm down. If there's anything I've learned, it's that we have to just accept what's happening. Whatever is meant to happen will happen."

Katniss took a deep breath. "You're right."

She looked around at the large crowd; everyone seemed to be having a great time. Her eyes caught with Delly, who was dancing with Seneca on the makeshift dance floor. The couple waved to her before going back to their messy waltz.

Prim and Cato were sitting at one of the tables, eating from the same plate of cake. They looked lovely and golden, her sister's ivory gown catching the richness of her hair and crème skin. Cato looked dapper in his suit, his short locks brushed and styled.

Her mother was talking to one of Uncle Snow's colleagues; a man who Katniss recognized as a member of the board. She recalled his last name being Boggs or something of that sort. Her mother in her deep-blue off-the-shoulder gown looked nothing like a mother of two and grandmother of a boy in the middle of Kindergarten. Boggs or whoever seemed enamored with her pretty mother and it warmed Katniss to think that maybe her mother wouldn't be alone anymore.

Uncle Snow was in his element. He was now holding Mason, rocking the infant as he sat in the table where Johanna and Haymitch were. Her Uncle was gazing at Johanna, that tender expression of wonder that one gets when they can't believe how lucky they got.

And, she recognized that expression from somewhere else—the picture that Gale had shown her.

The one of Peeta looking at her.

"You look lost." His whisper brought her back.

Back to him, back to where she belonged.

"But, you'll always find me," Katniss replied.

Peeta colored slightly, nodding shyly. "Always." He pressed a deep kiss to her mouth before quickly pulling away. "Wait here, okay?"

She raised a brow. "Why?"

However, her boyfriend had already left, heading towards the bandstand in front of the dance floor. The music quickly quieted and an attendant placed a microphone in front of Peeta.

"Good evening, everyone," he said into the mic. "On behalf of Johanna and Haymitch as well as my Uncle and the Everdeens, I'd like to thank you for welcoming Mason home. It's been a rough few weeks and I'm happy to report that my nephew is doing wonderfully." There was a full round of applause at his words. "His parents—not so much."

The crowd chuckled and Johanna pressed her face into her Uncle Haymitch's suit jacket in embarrassment.

"Anyway, besides telling everyone how grateful we are, I wanted to wish someone a happy anniversary—or what would've been an anniversary." Peeta looked to her, his blue eyes full. "Katniss, about five years ago, you turned my whole world upside down. Literally—I mean, why the hell were you carrying such a large basket of fruit?"

"Because of this guy!" Delly yelled, pointing to her husband, who bowed his head in shame.

"Sorry to bust you out, Seneca," Peeta continued with an easy smile. "Anyway, thank you for bumping into me." He approached the edge of the dance floor, reaching for her. "And so tonight—on what would've been our wedding anniversary—I'd like to ask you to dance with me."

Someone—Katniss was sure it was Rue—pushed her forward.

Peeta was suddenly in front of her, his hand out as he led her towards the now-empty dance floor. A slow, heavy guitar began to play and Katniss shakily walked towards the center of the makeshift dancefloor.

"Our wedding anniversary," she said slowly as Peeta wrapped around an arm around her waist. "I can't believe that I almost forgot. We've just been so busy."

"It's alright," he replied. "Rue reminded me since I used to spend this day in my cups."

"For me, it was a dozen chocolate eclairs." Her eyes met his in solidarity and Peeta tightened his hold. "I don't recognize the song."

"You once let me hear a song that reminded you of me," he said, his gaze nervous, but hopeful. "This is the song that reminds me of you."

"It's looking like a limb torn off
Or altogether just taken apart
We're reeling through an endless fall
We are the ever-living ghost of what once was…"

"And, if you don't already know—it will tell you just how I feel about you," Peeta whispered into her ear.

"But no one is ever gonna love you more than I do
No one's gonna love you more than I do…"

Katniss buried her face against his shoulder, her eyes watering at the song's lyrics. They had been through so much and now they were here.

They had made it out, scathed but together.

"And anything to make you smile
It is my better side of you to admire…"

"Peeta, I'm falling in love with you."

It came out without a thought and Katniss couldn't care less if he was the only one who heard her or if the hundreds in the party heard it. She couldn't hide it any longer.

"I'm in love with you…even more than I was before."

Katniss felt him stiffen and gently he pulled away from her with something akin to guilt in his eyes.

"I need to show you something."

"When you came back, I knew that you wanted to have nothing to do with me," Peeta explained.

Katniss stood, stiff and still, staring at the painting of Toad in front of her.

"That didn't stop me from coming to the gallery in hopes of seeing you, but instead I found him," he continued, his gaze on her. "He was the boy in my dream—like you were in my head and just plucked him out and put Toad onto the canvas. I just knew that he needed to be back here in his nursery. It sounds so sick and wrong just saying out loud."

It didn't even look like Katniss was breathing. Her arms, however, found themselves wrapped around her motionless figure.

"And, Mamie—I just wanted to be in a little part of your world," Peeta admitted. "Because it made me feel less lost and it felt good to know that I wasn't the only who felt like their heart was being ripped from their chest. I got to know you, really know you through Mamie, and it just made me realize how good of a person you were—how good of a friend you are."

Like he had told Rue, there were far worse things than having Katniss yell or scream.

This was his nightmare.

This silence.

"And, I tried to tell you so many times…it's not an excuse, but then we'd always somehow get interrupted and then Johanna was pregnant…" He rounded her frozen body to look into her eyes. They were stock-still…unreadable. "And, I can't give you any excuse except for the fact that I couldn't stand the thought of losing you again. Because I love you, Katniss…I'm so deep in love with you that nothing else matters when you're breathing the same air as me—and I never ever meant to hurt you or lie to you."

She looked cold and pale so he rested his shaky palms to her shoulders to warm her.

Her eyes went glassy; the first emoticon of feeling that she had shown in the last twenty minutes since they walked into their son's nursery.

"Please say something…anything."

Finally, her stare went to him, penetrating and unmoved.

And with a sudden breath, Katniss turned and walked out of the room.

I'm literally boo-ing myself right now.

Also, I'm taking a bit of a break—like a week break—as I have a lot of RL things that I need to deal with. Please—if anything, cross your fingers, light candles, and have hope that the good continues for me…

Plus, I need to work on my original.

So, you get a week to speculate on Katniss' feelings and to see what happens with Peeta. You might be surprised by it all.

Or, you could totally guess what happens—I welcome any thoughts on any one of these couples.

I don't have a lot to say about this chapter because I'm still reeling from it all. I honestly did not think that I would get this far with this story, but I hope you're enjoying it.

Is the end near? I have no idea.

As always, feedback is appreciated, loved, and adored.

Music: "No One's Gonna Love You"-Band of Horses (I'm using the Spotify version)

Next, Chapter 22—takes place one week after the party-the aftermath and some after-revelation conversation between our couple

Till then, JLaLa