Two Months Later

We finished the book today, this morning actually.

Or rather, we added everyone we could think of and tucked it away until there came a day when we had to add someone new.

It looks beautiful. Peeta was able to flawlessly capture every single detail of every person, place, and object involved, whether it was the color of Finnick's eyes or the texture of Rue's hair or the full, infectious smile of my father, a man he had never even met.

I closed up the store early and decided to head over to the bakery to surprise Peeta. It was March 8th, his birthday. Only he didn't know that I knew it was his birthday. I had snuck a peak at his form when we filled out our marriage certificates. I wasn't sure if he knew mine or not, but I didn't care about that. I wanted to surprise him. I wanted him to have this.

I came in through the back entrance. Mica was kneading a ball of dough with his back towards me. I cleared my throat, and he turned.

"Hey, Katniss!" he greeted me cheerfully. I pressed a finger to my lips and motioned for him to be quiet.

"I'm going to surprise Peeta. Where is he, out front or in his office?"

"Um, he's working the counter," Mica replied in a whisper. "Why are you trying to surprise him?"

"It's his birthday. He turns nineteen today."

It struck me then, the absurdity of our situation. At nineteen years old, we were married and each in charge of our own businesses. It was incredible, our success, but also left me with a hollow feeling. If there had never been a Rebellion, Peeta would have probably be working for his parents and I would have been...who knows where I would have been. I probably would have married Gale and he would be working in the mines.

I shook the thought from my head. That was the past- a fake past, a past that would have never worked. I loved my present. I loved my husband. And despite everything that had happened, I am learning to truly love my life.

I tiptoed through the doorway on hunter's feet. Peeta had his back to me, talking animatedly with a customer. I craned my head to see who it was.

Ophelia Ray was niece of the apothecary owner. Her mother had died in childbirth and her father was killed during the bombings. She was three years older than Peeta and I, and had just returned to the District last month. The new surplus of food had served her well. I took note of the voluptuous curve of her waist, the healthy glow to her skin, and the ample cleavage that was angled at my husband. She had hair a burning red that twirled across her shoulders and down to her waist and a pair of ruby red lips to match. Her blue eyes blinked furiously as she shamelessly flirted with my husband.

"I just love your muffins, Peeta. They taste simply divine. I just wish you could work in my house and bake them for me all day," Ophelia giggled. "It would be nice to have some company in that big, empty house of mine."

"Well, maybe you should get a pet, then," I snapped, walking forward. Peeta jumped and gaped at me.

"Katniss!" he gasped in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Oh, I just thought I'd come pay my husband a nice visit," I said as I stalked up to the counter. I shot Ophelia a glare as I wrapped an arm around Peeta's waist. he looked down at me with a smile.

"Well, anyway, Peeta," Ophelia tried to continue, "I was thinking that maybe you could come over one day and maybe teach me how to make them?"

"I don't think so," I said before Peeta could open his mouth. "You see, that's a Mellark family recipe, and you are not family."

Ophelia's face twisted into a frown. "Excuse me, you little bi-"

"Ophelia!" Peeta exclaimed. "How about I give you a few muffins on the house. I'm sorry, but we will be closing early today and I want to get this place cleaned up."

Ophelia pouted, but nodded and Peeta went to grab her a few treats. She shot me a nasty glare as soon as his back was turned.

"I'll get my bow," I whispered sweetly, plastering a fake smile onto my face. Her frown wavered, and she ran a hand through her hair nervously.

"Here you go, Ophelia!" Peeta said, presenting her with a small bag. "Take care now."

"Thanks, Peeta," she said sweetly, albeit less enthusiastically. She took the bag and sauntered towards the door. "I'll be back soon!"

"Like hell you will," I grumbled. Peeta's arms encircled my waist and pulled me close. The door jiggled as Ophelia slammed it behind her, and I turned to face my husband.

"I don't like her," I snapped. Peeta chuckled.

"That's stating the obvious," he murmured. "But may I ask why?"

"Why?" I exploded. "She was obviously interested in you, Peeta! I mean, she's gorgeous and single and has beautiful, unscarred skin and is not screwed up in the head. She was asking you to live at her house, Peeta! And you're-"

"A married man who loves his wife more than anything and wouldn't trade her for all the women in the world." Peeta finished for me. "Ophelia is nothing to me, baby. I didn't even think she was that pretty."

I scoffed. "Of course she's pretty, Peeta. She's practically perfect. And I bet you she doesn't have days of catatonia."

"Where is all this coming from?" Peeta asked worriedly. I shuffled my feet and played with the tip of my braid. "Are you jealous?"

"No."

"Katniss..."

"No, Peeta, I'm not." I spat.

"I think you are," Peeta whispered, pressing a kiss to the skin below my ear. "But do you want to know a secret?"

I grunted in response.

"I hate it when we go into town because you are the most stunning woman I have ever seen, and the other men take notice. Don't you see the way they look at you? It makes me want to strangle them all if they so much as glance your way."

My husband nipped the skin of my neck and my knees wobbled.

"I think you're pretty biased," I hissed. Peeta chuckled against my throat.

"I think you're jealous," he responded. He pulled back and looked at me strangely. "Not that I'm complaining, but why are you here? Don't you work the store until five today?"

I shrugged and offered him a small smile. "Maybe I wanted to help my husband celebrate his birthday."

"My birthday...? Oh! Katniss!" Peeta pulled me tight against him and kissed my forehead. "I didn't know you knew it was my birthday."

"I know you didn't," I mumbled against his chest. "I wanted to surprise you but I ruined it by being jealous and crazy."

Peeta chuckled. "So you are jealous, hmm?"

"Hush."

"Hey, Mica!" Peeta called. Mica poked his head around the corner. "Would you mind running the store for the rest of the day? My wife and I have some business to take care of."

"Alright, Boss," Mica said, suggestively waggling his eyebrows. "I hope you take care of all your business."

I blushed furiously, and Mica laughed. Peeta grabbed my hand and dragged me out the door.

%&*(IJH$)Y(*G

"Well, happy birthday to me," Peeta said breathlessly. His bare chest heaved up and down, and his blonde curls stuck to the sweat on his forehead. I I crawled up the bed from my spot below him and pressed a kiss to his lips. My muscles felt shaky and I didn't trust myself to hold up my body, so I collapsed on top of him.

"Do you want your present now?" I murmured.

"My present?" Peeta asked. "First of all, you didn't need to get me anything, Katniss. And secondly, I think this was a gift in itself," he said, gesturing to our naked bodies.

"Of course I needed to get you something," I replied. I raised a finger to my lips and blew, and a low whistle rang through the house.

"Um, Katniss...?"

"Just wait," I told him. Soon there was the sound of tiny paws against the floor, and nails scratching at the door. I reached down and grabbed Peeta's boxers off the floor and slipped his shirt over my head. Then I gradually stood and on shaking legs went to open the door.

The small, golden puppy trotted into the room.

"A dog?" Peeta asked in disbelief. "You got me a dog?"

I picked up the little guy and placed him on Peeta's lap. "He's super well-trained. He stayed in the guest room all day and didn't move until I called for him."

"What's his name?" Peeta asked, scratching behind the pup's ears.

"That's your decision," I said. "He's yours."

Peeta paused, rubbing his chin. "I think I'll call him Benji," he said, "and he is ours."

Benji barked at the sound of his name. "I think he likes it," I laughed.

"Thank you, Katniss," Peeta said seriously. "I love him."

"I figured that he would be a nice addition to our family," I mumbled. "I know you want kids and I'm not ready yet, but I feel like Benji could be like our baby until I'm ready."

Peeta was reaching across the puppy and pulling me close to him. His mouth found mine and he kissed me tenderly.

"I love you so much," he whispered.

"I know," I whispered back. "I love you, too."

Benji jumped off the bed and started pacing the room and whining. Peeta looked at me curiously. "What's he doing?"

"I don't kn-Oh. Oh, no."

Benji squatted down in the corner.

"Shit," Peeta mumbled.

"Oh yes he is," I mumbled back. Then I looked at him. "He's your dog."

"He's our dog."

"I don't want to clean that up!"

"Do you think I do?"

I groaned, and looked at Benji who was giving us a sheepish look. "Why don't we both just do it?"

"Together?" Peeta asked. I grinned, and kissed my husband tenderly.

"Together."

We both groaned and pulled ourselves out of bed.

$%^&YH)(*&YTFDE$%^

That night we held each other close. Benji was asleep at the foot of our bed, and my head was tucked into Peeta's chest.

"This was the best birthday ever," he said. I grinned.

"I'm glad you liked it."

"You're the best wife ever."

"I wouldn't go that far."

"I would."

I chuckled into my husband's chest. "You're biased."

"You're beautiful."

"What has gotten into you?" I asked. Peeta smiled down at me.

"I just realized how happy we're going to be."

I smiled back at him. "We're going to be okay, aren't we?"

"I think we'll be just fine as long as we're with each other."

I held out my hand. "Together?"

Peeta knotted his fingers through mine and kissed my knuckles.

"Together."