Author's note: Sooner than I expected! So there is just a touch of talk about Cato's abuse in this one. And it is a little heavy toward the end. But I promise good things are coming your way.

Thank you all so much for the love you are giving this! Those numbers go up every day and it is all very appreciated.

Happy reading!

Chapter Twenty-Five

"I know why you're mad at me, but can we at least talk about how to fix it? Instead of you ignoring me." Peeta put the plates in the sink and watched Katniss put the last piece of chicken in the fridge.

"I don't know, Peeta. Maybe the fault was in not talking about if that was going to be okay or not."

He nodded. "I'm sorry. He's my oldest and closest friend and I didn't feel right keeping it from him. He was joking about it and I wanted him to have the facts."

She sighed and looked into the back yard where the kids sat with Lady. "You're forgiven, but I'm still mad."

He tugged on her belt loops. "Want to punish me?"

She laughed and pushed him away. She started loading the dishwasher.

Peeta leaned in. "You know, if we tell Annie, we can probably get them to organize something with the kids whenever we want some alone time."

Katniss laughed. "Booty call babysitters?"

He laughed and nuzzled her neck. "Yes. What do you think?"

She pushed him away. "I'm still not happy with you doing this."

"I know. Let me make it up to you."

"Tomorrow. Caleb is definitely feeling better. He should be able to go to school."

"Mmm." He ran a hand over her bottom. "I'm pulling out all the stops. I'm going to have you writhing and moaning beneath me. You're going to be pleading for me to end it all. And then you'll come so explosively you won't know what hit you."

She laughed and rested her head on his shoulder. "I can't wait."

"So what will you do to me?"

She laughed. She pressed her hips into his. "You'll just have to wait and see." She slanted her mouth across his in a soft kiss that quickly deepened. She quickly stepped away when the back door opened.

"Dad, can we get a goat?" Callie asked.

Katniss went back to the dishes.

Peeta chuckled. "You don't need a goat. I'm sure Katniss will let you come play with theirs."

She sighed dramatically. "Okay."

He looked at his watch. "We should go. I have a few hours of work to do."

Katniss nodded. "You'll be back for more painting tomorrow?"

Peeta grinned. "Yes. Painting. I'm almost done."

"Okay."

Caleb wrapped his arms around Peeta's waist. "Thank you for staying with me, Peeta."

"I was happy to." He combed his fingers through the boy's hair. "I hope you keep feeling better."

"Me too." Caleb looked up and smiled. "I love you, Peeta."

Peeta got down on the boy's level and kissed his forehead. "I love you, too."

"I'm glad you got to come over, Calliope." Katniss said with a smile.

Callie lit up. She really liked when Katniss used her full name. "I'm glad, too." She hesitated a moment and then hugged Katniss.

Katniss hugged her back. "Practice a little with your bow this week, okay?"

"Can you come over and help me a little?"

"I can probably arrange that." She and Peeta locked eyes.

"Good." Callie said. She looked at her dad. "I have some homework to finish."

"And I have a cake to work on. Go load up."

"Okay, Daddy. See you later, Katniss and Caleb." She walked to where her backpack hung by the front door.

Caleb followed.

Katniss stepped close to Peeta. "Be prepared for something big tomorrow."

"Yeah?"

She nodded. "Oh, yeah." She kissed him quickly and stepped away. "See you in the morning."

"Bright and early. What if I come by and get Caleb for school?"

"Okay."

"That was quick."

She shrugged. "I can use all the help I can get."

"I'll help you, all right." He rubbed her back. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Katniss pulled Caleb against her chest on the couch once they were gone and kissed his cheek. "You look like you're feeling better."

"I do. Lots better. Peeta took good care of me." He looked up at her. "You kissed him."

She swallowed and nodded. "I did."

"But he's not your boyfriend?"

She shook her head. "No, he's not."

He scrunched up his face. "So why did you kiss him? You never kiss Uncle Gale."

She smoothed her hand over his hair. "I really like how much he cares for you. And I wanted to show him my appreciation."

"But Uncle Gale cares for me too."

"He does."

Caleb shook his head. "I'll never understand grown-ups."

Katniss laughed and hugged him close once more. "I'm a grown-up and I don't understand grown-ups."

They watched TV for a while before it was time to get ready for bed. Having slept most of the day, Caleb was reluctant to get to sleep at his bedtime, even though he was still a little tired from being sick. Katniss just sat with him until he finally fell asleep. And then she went right to bed herself.

Peeta dropped the kids off, with a big hug and a loud, "Thanks you!" from Caleb. He hurried back to Katniss's house to see her duck back inside. He got out of his car and saw something was on the door. He walked up to the landing and saw his name in big, blocky letters written on an envelope.

He opened it and found a key and a small square of plastic. He took out the square and nearly fell off the landing when he realized what it was. On the inside of the envelope, she'd written, "Come inside."

He slipped the key into the lock and stepped inside. "Katniss?"

Katniss's voice came from the back of the house. "My bedroom. Lock the door back."

He did as she requested and dropped his keys, including the new one, on the table beside the door. He kicked off his shoes. He walked into the bedroom and leaned against the doorframe. He held up the condom. "Are you sure about this?"

She looked up from where she lounged on the bed. "I'm sure I want to try."

He walked in and sat beside her on the bed. He looked between the item in his hand and her. "This is a giant step. And I don't want to cause you any undue trauma. So if you want this, I'm good with taking our time. But if you're not entirely sure, we can do all that we've done before."

She took the condom from his hand and placed it on the bedside table. "You are too perfect." She pulled him on top of her and brought his mouth to hers. She rolled him beneath her and slipped her hands under his shirt. She ground her hips down into his growing erection and swallowed his moan.

She sat up and pulled him with her to remove both their shirts. They crashed back together in a tangle of arms and legs. They rolled back and forth as they removed the rest of their clothes. She ended up on top and kissed her way down his neck to explore his chest with her hands and lips.

"Katniss?" He asked softly.

She looked up. "What?"

"Do you—do you mind if I put my hand on the back of your head?"

"I don't mind." She smiled and went back to her exploration.

Peeta combed his fingers through her hair and stroked her shoulders and back.

She pushed one hand away. "Too much."

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry." She moved lower. She kissed his stomach and smoothed her hands over it. He jumped a little when her fingers glided over his side. She chuckled and made her way down to his hip. She paused and looked up at him, resting her chin on his thigh. She smiled and stroked his length. "What would you like?"

"Just keep doing that." He let out a soft moan and his eyes drifted closed. His grip tightened on her hair.

"Let go, please."

It took him a moment to process her request. He loosened his grip and moved his hand down to her back. "I could do you at the same time, you know?" His voice hitched a little at the end and he let out another moan.

"But then I wouldn't get to watch you." She pushed herself up a little and quickened her pace.

He thrust up into her hand and his moaning grew louder. She leaned over and kissed him through his orgasm, catching the exclamations in her mouth as he cried out over and over. He collapsed on the bed, his eyes still completely unfocused. He jumped when he felt a cloth touch his stomach.

"I decided to be a little more prepared this time." She smiled. She finished cleaning him off and then stretched out beside him to watch him a while.

He gently touched her face. "Sorry about being so handsy."

She shrugged. "You fixed it. No harm done."

"I can't imagine someone being so rough. Especially with you."

"Well, he was."

"I promise to always be gently with you." He rolled to his side and slipped his hand between her legs. "What would you like?"

She smiled and draped her leg over his. "I think I'd like it like this." She cupped his face and kissed him softly. She moved her hand over his back. She bit her lip and rested her head against his. "That feels good."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah." She kissed him again and pressed into his hand.

He loved the way her face changed. Her breath grew ragged. She ground her hips down into his hand. He moved faster.

As she got close to her orgasm, he whispered, "I love you, Katniss."

"You can't." She panted.

"But I do." He kissed her face.

"No." She moaned. She pressed a clumsy kiss to his mouth as she came and then rolled away. She covered her face with her hands. It took Peeta a few breaths to realize Katniss was crying.

"Hey." He pulled her hands away. "Talk to me."

She shook her head and rolled to her opposite side.

He moved behind her and rested his hand on her hip. "I shouldn't have put that on you, I'm sorry."

A sob escaped her. "You can't love me."

"Why not?"

"Because you just can't." She cried.

"Can I hold you?" He asked softly.

"I don't know if I want that or not." She sniffed and wiped her eyes. She rolled to her back. "Are you sure?"

"I think I am."

She shook her head. "You can't." She said again.

He moved hair out of her face. "Should we back off?"

She swallowed. "I think so."

He nodded. He kissed her cheek and rolled out of the bed. "I'll go work on the painting." He dressed in silence and left the room.

In Caleb's room he stared at the wall for several seconds without focusing. He really didn't have much left. He probably had two more days of work. He turned back to Katniss's room. "Why did you give me a key?"

She turned and watched him. "Because I want you to feel at home here."

"Why?"

"Because you're my friend."

He clenched his teeth and looked away. "It's so not fair, Katniss. Do you know that? You don't make sense."

"I'm sorry. I don't know what to do."

"I do. But I won't force you. I'm not Cato. I'll never do anything to hurt you. I'll never intentionally upset you. And when I told you I love you, I didn't do it to hurt you or manipulate you. I did it because I wanted you to know how I feel. We can keep going as we are. I don't mind it. But we need to be honest with each other. And I need to be honest with myself."

She nodded. "Okay."

"Okay, what?"

"I still need some space. But I get what you're saying. And now that you have a key, if you want to come back when I'm gone to finish up the wall, you can."

"I think I just might." He turned and went back to the living room to get his shoes. He paused at the door and listened. She was crying again. But she had made it clear she wanted to be left alone for the time being.