Author's Note: Here it is! The last chunk of chapters! Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement and kind notes here as well as on tumblr. I appreciate the feedback and look forward to your reactions to the closing out of "Reprieve." If you're so inclined, a playlist that coincides with the story themes is also on my tumblr. To emarina, thank you for your friendship! It has been a pretty awesome discovery.

Part Three

Chapter One

Two months later, Peeta and I have found a sort of routine in our new surroundings. Somehow it feels different than when we lived at the apartment, and certainly different than when we lived at Haymitch's. In Madison we did what so many undergrads did: we played house. Just the prospect of not living in the dorms or the houses we grew up in was enough to satisfy us until we excitedly looked for a place off campus. That in of itself was so "grown up." Our parents might not have liked it, but we didn't care. We were in love with the idea of perfecting our roles as dutiful boyfriend and girlfriend.

Haymitch's was a completely different ball game. There, we tiptoed: around each other, around Haymitch as his "guests" and around the predicament we found ourselves in. We were (mostly) on our best behavior. It was a safe house. It was a bridge between where we had been and where we wanted to be...someday.

But Shattuck Road is its own ball of wax. We've lived together long enough (and under such different circumstances) that the novelty has somewhat dimmed. Not in a bad way, but in a mature way. That's not to say that we didn't act like complete morons the first weeks. It started with shutting the door the first time we were "home" and yelling at the tops of our lungs, knowing that no one else was there to complain or laugh. We played music constantly, impulsively dancing instead of making dinner. One of us would come home and the other would make a tackle the minute we were in the kitchen, propriety out the door as clothes went flying. We sat around in our underwear and ate what we wanted until the craziness was, for the most part, out of our systems and we returned to the real world.

Totally blissed out.

…

"This might not end well, you know."

I slowly spin in a complete circle from my spot near the kitchen to survey the situation. Our postage stamp-sized house plus Peeta's coworkers plus my coworkers plus Annie, Prim and Rory. All under this miniscule roof for what we then thought was a brilliant idea.

"Maybe they won't all come?" I suggest, trying to make the best of the situation. "Or maybe they won't all come at once?"

Peeta stands in the middle of the kitchen and tugs on his shirt collar. "But if they do, then what?"

I laugh, "Um….then you and I will hide upstairs?" I shrug and walk over to him. "It's only for one night. How often will all of our worlds collide like this? Besides, what's the worst that can happen?"

He kisses me and leans back to ask, "Remind me exactly how I got you to agree with this?"

"I think the key is to make suggestions while spooning, post-orgasm."

"I should write that down."

Annie, Prim and Rory will be flying in to Bradley the next day and we've decided to have a party that night at our place in order to merge all of our lives. I like the Henion folks a lot and Peeta's interactions at Esselon were pretty positive, minus the occasional inappropriate grab of the ass by Johanna. It is the first time that some of the most significant people from Madison will be here in our newly-created reality and we are anxious to make good impressions.

Peeta and I take off of work: we both need to prep some last minute things for the party and I am going to drive to the airport solo to pick up our three houseguests. It might not be the Weston but we offered to let them crash at our place for the weekend. After borrowing two air mattresses, designating the couch as a bed and temporarily moving some things upstairs, we at least had places for them to sleep.

"Hey did you stop at Liquors 44?" Peeta calls to me as he's rummaging through the refrigerator.

"Yeah, everything is in the garage. We're totally set there. Soda, too." I yell back from the living room where I'm pushing everything against the walls. Something about creating the illusion of space. "What about the food?"

"Katniss, we have enough food to feed a freshman dorm. Toilet paper?"

"Under the sink."

An hour before I'm supposed to leave for Hartford we sit, exhausted, just looking around. For now, everything is clean. I lean into Peeta and sigh.

He turns to kiss my forehead. "Something on your mind?"

I try to gather my thoughts, but it isn't working. "I'm not exactly nervous, but I'm…I don't know. Do you think that people will see that we're happy?"

"Since when do you feel like we have to prove anything?"

"That's just it. I don't really feel like we do. It's weird; I can't quite put my finger on it."

"Maybe it's the fact that Rory will be here? This is the first time you'll see him as Prim's boyfriend. Plus there's the Gale thing."

Right. Gale.

For someone who was so firmly entrenched in our lives, we haven't mentioned him once since we left Madison. Not since he made it quite clear that he was removing himself from the entire situation. We've both kept in touch with our families and with Annie, but certainly not our former best friend.

"Do you ever miss Gale?"

"Every once in awhile I wonder what he's up to. But he made his feelings known. He did some things that I have a tough time forgiving, you know?"

I nod. "Sometimes I feel like Madison is there, waiting in the wings. Like we should deal with it at some point."

"You mean we should deal with the people there?"

I nod again. He continues, "We promised each other that we'd give everyone the finger, remember?" I laugh and he squeezes my side. "Everything will work itself out. We've proved them wrong, they just have to see it. They'll eventually come around and this weekend is a good step in the right direction."

We sit in silence for a few minutes. I murmur, "Hey."

"What?

"I love you, you know that?"

"Love you too, babe."

…

Two hours later and I'm pacing near the bottom of the escalators at Bradley. The plane was slightly delayed but the monitors tell me that they should be here any minute.

Any minute now.

"Katniss!" I look up and Prim's dancing on the escalator, either really happy to see me or really in need of a restroom. She launches herself into me and I soak her in. My baby sister.

"Argh! Prim! I am so happy you're here!" She pulls back and I wrap Annie in a hug as well. "I can't believe you're here. It's been way too long!" Finally I look up and see Rory—the spitting image of Gale, standing awkwardly in front of me—and give him a gentler squeeze. "It's so good to see you. All of you."

Their bags are all collected and I lead them to my car, Prim and Annie gabbing the whole way.

"Oh my god, and the guy next to Annie was so gross!" said Prim.

"Katniss, he took his socks off. It was offensive."

"Right? I mean, who does that in public?"

We fit the luggage in the trunk and begin the short drive back through Connecticut and into Massachusetts. Prim squeals and points things out that she remembers along the way.

Annie is in the passenger seat and looks over while I'm driving. "You're looking good. How's Peeta?"

"Thanks." I quickly look her way and smile. "Peeta is great. He's at the house getting the food ready for tonight." I look in the rearview mirror and add, "He's excited to see you guys."

I fill them in on who will be coming tonight and their relationship to both of us. "Everyone is really nice. Jo will try to shock you but she's basically harmless. And tomorrow we can drive to Boston…we'll check out some touristy stuff before the BC/BU game."

We pull in to the driveway and I honk the horn. Peeta rushes out of the house with an apron around his waist and grabs Annie in a hug. Prim runs over, too and gushes over him before Rory extends his hand. Peeta contemplates this for a split second before shaking it and welcoming everyone inside. I round the car and he waits for me, pulling me in for a kiss. He whispers, "Okay?"

"Yeah, okay." I look down and smirk. "The apron is pretty sexy, you know."

"Want me to get grabby with my flour-ey hands?"

"Get in here, you dork."

He smacks my butt anyway.

…

The grand tour takes all of two minutes. The luggage gets thrown in the den for now and we decide that Annie and Prim will take the couch and mattress in the living room. Rory will eventually end up in the den. No way am I cool enough to let Prim and Rory canoodle.

Each of them takes turns showering before everyone else starts to arrive so Peeta and I spend time chatting with everyone in turn. Prim and Rory haven't gotten their dorm assignments yet, but hope to be fairly close to one another. It's cute how they keep their distance when other people are in the room versus fawning all over each other. Not that I'm complaining.

"Rory, have you decided on a major?"

"Microbiology. I'll be pre-med."

Rory has always been quiet, but Prim more than makes up for that. "That or Neuroscience, right? Rory got a full scholarship, too." He turns red but Peeta bails him out by asking Prim to arrange crackers on a tray.

"Is that right? Wow, congratulations, man. Your mom must be proud."

He's a little noncommittal. "Yeah, I think so. One less thing to worry about."

Rory exits as Annie joins us, grabbing a glass of water and leaning against the counter. She's even more beautiful than I remember if that's possible.

"How's work?"

She takes a sip and shrugs. "Alright. Things are busy, but a little bit predictable, you know? I figured it would be a little more exciting, but there's a lot of paperwork." Annie pauses and then blurts out, "I'm actually looking for something else."

Already? That's not like Annie. Peeta echoes my sentiments when he says, "Oh really? That's kind of…fast."

"I know it's quick, but I just have a gut feeling about this, guys. I don't want to be pushing papers around that much longer. I'm not saying that I should have an office with a view, but I need something a little more fulfilling, you know?"

I chime in with, "No, it makes sense. It's important to like what you're doing and you've never been one to just work for a paycheck. Do you want to stay in Madison?"

Her head slowly leans toward one shoulder and then the other. "I'm not sure yet. We'll see what's out there."

Rory lets Prim know that the bathroom's free and says he'll be making a call in the den. The three of us converge on a platter of veggies and continue our conversation.

Peeta says, "Well we wish you the best. Someone will be lucky to have you."

"Speaking of lucky, how are you guys?"

I look at Peeta and he looks at me, both of us smiling and raising our eyebrows at the other. He begins, "Pretty great, if I do say so myself."

Annie asks us how we like our jobs and we try to give her more detailed descriptions of who she'll be meeting over the course of the evening. Prim and Rory are a little young, but I'm not too worried about them feeling left out. Speaking of Prim—.

"Prim! Are you done in there? People will be here soon."

"Some of us do our hair and makeup, Katniss!" Fair enough.

…

The small house gets smaller with every ring of the doorbell. The Henion folks are here first, punctual and dependable like the bakers they are. Cinna, Peeta and Beetee discuss food in the kitchen while Rue, Annie, Portia and I talk with Prim and Rory about college life: the freshman 15 (or in my case, freshman 20), dorm life, why not to skip class and homesickness.

Johanna doesn't even knock. She comes in and grabs a beer before swatting Peeta's butt and yelling, "Brainless! Where's this sister I've heard so much about?!"

Prim's eyes widen and I introduce everyone to my mouthy coworker. Rory looks like he's looking for any excuse to abandon ship but Annie seems to take it in stride. Rue and Portia have been to Esselon before so they're familiar with her unique appeal.

Jo takes a break from storytelling and asks, "Where's Finnick? You did invite him, right?"

"Of course. He said he'd be here. Thresh was on the fence…I bet he backs out."

The doorbell rings again and I get up to answer it. "Hey Finn," I greet. "Come on in. Everyone, this is Finnick." He steps into the house and nods his greeting to the guys before saying hello to the ladies. "You know Rue and Portia, but this is my sister Prim, her boyfriend Rory and my friend Annie."

For once, Finnick is quiet. And Annie blushes.