NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Not even a week in , and I've already failed on my "Post a day" promise! Anyways… Merry Christmas day four (or, day 5)! So, there have been a lot of requests for some clato lately! I promise you all that sometime before Christmas there will be a whole chapter dedicated to Clato, so stick with me! I've also gotten some requests for Everlark. I'm workin' on it, I promise! So, here y'all go!

Chapter 21: Deck the Halls with Boughs of Peeta

Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiing! Diiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiing!

'Ah, music to my ears!' Peeta remarks to himself, swooping over to the oven.

He grins. The Christmas cookies are looking quite spectacular.

He pulls the tray out of the oven in one smooth motion.

The kitchen is warm, and the delicious smells of all kinds of Christmas cookies fills the air.

From the time he got home from school on Friday, the kitchen has been his and only his territory.

Now, he starts whipping up some homemade icing, putting all combinations of food dyes in.

He hears the doorbell ring.

Peeta licks the bright green icing from his fingers, grabbing a rag and opening the door.

"Eric! You're home!"

"Let me in! It's cold and snowy!"

Peeta hugs his older brother, in the spirit of Christmas, and lets him into the warm house.

"Smells good!"

He picks up an angel cookie and pops it into his mouth.

"Eric! Those are for other people!"

"Like you haven't been picking at them all day!"

Peeta chuckles sheepishly, "You caught me."

"Where's the general?"

"Who, Mom? Haven't seen her all morning."

Then, a blonde-haired, blue-eyed girl follows.

"Peeta, this is Cashmere. We've been together now for…"

"Almost three months, but who's keeping count?" she winks.

"Well, we can chill in the living room, if you want."

"Sure."

He picks up a star-shaped cookie for himself and a bell for Cashmere, and they go to the living room.

Peeta continues frosting.

He just finishes when he hears another knock.

He licks his fingers, neglecting to dry them off, and opens the door.

"Alex! You're early this year!"

"I missed a class or two, but General doesn't have to know."

Peeta hugs his other brother, letting him in.

"Smells like girl scouts in here."

Peeta scoffs, "Haha, very funny. Eric and his new girlfriend are in the living room."

"When is Eric without a girlfriend?"

They both laugh, "Never."

Peeta gets out some boxes. He labels each one with a name of a close friend the contents of the box. Then, he fills each one with cookies and sweets.

Then, he fills his wagon up with the boxes, and sets off.

Peeta feels like Santa Claus, stopping at every house to drop off presents of sweets and goodies for his friends.

He knocks on the door of his best friend, and Mason opens the door.

"Hey."

"Hey. What's up?"

"I heard about your fight with Nathalia."

"She's having a fight. I'm just fine."

"Well," says Peeta, smiling, "I'm glad to hear that." He picks up a box with a bunch of thick Christmas cookies inside.

"I know you like the fluffy ones. Merry Christmas, Mason."

"Merry Christmas. We'll get together later, I'm sure?"

Peeta winks, "You got it."

And then he plows away.

He runs into a group of carolers, and gives them each a cookie from his box labeled, "extras."

He keeps on going, through the park. On the sidewalk beside, is the place of those less fortunate. A bunch of run-down old wooden shacks, some dirty old trailers.

Then, his eye is caught.

+"Peeta!" Poppy waves, "Merry Christmas!"

She runs up to him, and hugs him.

"Poppy! What are you doing around here?"

"This is where I live, silly! With all of these nice people. Oh, the little ones! They're so rosy and jolly!"

Peeta, out of the goodness of his heart, holds the rest of the "extras" box out to her.

"You take this."

"Really? Wow, thank you!"

"Talk to you later."

The joy in her eyes is more powerful than Peeta thought.

"So long! Happy Holidays!"

Now, Peeta stops at the last house on his list. When he rings the doorbell, Primrose answers.

"Hey, Prim."

"Hey!"

"Who is it?" asks a voice from inside.

"Katniss, it's Peeta for you!"

Katniss stands up, and comes to meet him.

"Hi, Peeta."

He hands the box to her. "I made these for you. Merry Christmas."

"Aww," Katniss is really touched, "Merry Christmas. Please, come in. You must be freezing."

"Well-"

"Come on!"

He follows her inside.

"Sit here," she points.

"Ok, but-"

"Mistletoe!" she shouts, tackling him in a Christmas kiss.