A/N: OMG there's no warnings this time! :D

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Chapter Twenty Eight- Kids play Parents

Peeta:

"I just couldn't do it, Finnick," I mutter as we walk along my street. It's late and dark; the only light being provided by the wide pools the streetlights provide. His arm feels heavy around my shoulders, like a dead weight I don't want or need. "I just couldn't get into it."

Tonight was a bad night. Jennifer has been suffering from nightmares and I have to take care of her since Katniss has to wake up early in the morning to clean Cray's house. I've had jobs all day, ending with Finnick as he always asks for time spent at night, and all I've wanted to do tonight was go to sleep, making my body unrepsonsive to whatever Finnick did to me. This made him angry since he couldn't make me cum and has been fuming the whole walk home.

"I'm going to have to figure out a way to fix that," he murmers, running a hand through his hair.

"There's no fix to it," I reply. "I was just too tired, therefore unable to get into the moment."

"I'm losing my touch," Finnick says. I roll my eyes at the statement and squeak as he pulls me tighter against him. "I used to be able to make girls scream even when they were tired. Guys as well. It doesn't make sense."

We walk up my driveway and he reluctantly removes his arm from around my shoulders as I unlock the front door. He pinches my ass and I jump, spinning round on my heel to glare at him. He just blows a kiss at me and winks as I enter the threshold of my house.

"Have you ever stopped to consider that maybe some people just aren't attracted to you?" I ask. A hard slap burns across my cheek and catches me by suprise, making me stumble back on impact. Finnick grabs the lapels of my jacket and pulls me forward against him, kissing me on the lips hard.

"Everyone is attracted to me," he says slowly once he pulls away, as if speaking to a child. "Got it?"

"Sure," I reply, rolling my eyes, ignoring the stinging that's expanding from my cheek to creep around the entire left side of my face. "Whatever."

"It doesn't look very good if I can't get my little pet horny is it?" teases Finnick.

"I'm not your pet," I scoff. "You don't own me. What would you do if I moved away?" Finnick chuckles and shakes his head.

"You'll always be mine, and I'll always find you," he says.

You'll always be mine and I'll always find you.

You'll always be mine and I'll always find you.

You'll always be mine and I'll always find you.

I wake up with a gasp and bolt upright on the bed, a sheen of sweat coating my body and my breath coming out in short, erratic pants. The sleeves of my baggy shirt slip down my arms and the chilly night air makes me shudder. A pair of arms wrap around me and I instinctivly panic, thinking it's Finnick. I cry out, struggling against them.

"Peeta," the person whispers, holding me tight and rocking back and forth slowly. "Peeta, shush, you're OK. You're safe now." I suddenly recognize the soft voice and my body relaxes, melting against them wearily. Cato. He wipes the damp hair off my forehead and shushes me gently.

"I'm sorry, I woke you," I whisper, holding onto his arms tightly as he holds me.

"Don't start," Cato warns. "You know I'd rather have you wake me than have you suffer through a nightmare."

It's been two months since I was rescued from the Mafia Headquarters and I have had nightmares every single night since. Most of them starring Finnick since I know he still out there somewhere, waiting for me. The thought makes my heart pound and terrifys me to my very core. Cato has been with me every step of the way of it and hasn't complained once. I'am greatful to have him in my life. I can't believe at one point I thought I was going to lose him.

Katniss immediately went to Prim's house when we returned to 12 to see the kids but I still haven't been able to gain the strength to face them again. I feel dirty and degraded and it feels like if I went to see my children then they'd be able to see it all in me. Know that I'am truely a horrible person and never want to have anything to do with me again. The thought breaks my heart.

Marvel. Enobaria. Finnick.

They are all that's left of Snow's Mafia. All on the loose somewhere. Still seeking to free Cornelia from jail because the girl still knows the secret, whatever it is. Cato took care of Gloss, Delly and Johanna's bodies and settled it with the police force, explaining everything.

When they heard about Finnick's infactuation with me the force asked me if I wanted to be put on a twenty four hour watch to protect me. I turned the suggestion down. I don't want to have people watching me to make sure that a guy who has an obsession over me doesn't return to . . . what exactly could Finnick accomplish from coming back for me exactly? He no longer pays me and he doesn't have the Mafia to keep me trapped in a holding cell. He literally has nothing to keep me with him.

"Was he there?" Cato asks. I swallow and nod my head. He sighs and rest his forehead against my bare shoulder. "I should have shot that bastard when I had the chance."

"He would have shot you back," I reply quietly. "I don't know what I'd do with myself if he did." Cato smiles against my skin and softly kisses my shoulder. The spot tingles and I lean back against him, tilting my head to the side to give him more room. He chuckles and bestows a kiss on every available piece of skin on my neck. My eyes drop closed and I sigh in content. We sit like this for a while, I'm not sure how long. But when Cato's kisses begin to get more hungry and demanding, my heart begins to pound in a panic.

I haven't been able to engage in anything remotely sexual since being captured by the Mafia because everytime I try to it brings back old memories and makes me afraid. So when Cato grazes where my neck connects to my shoulders with his teeth my entire body tenses, my mind flashing back to when Finnick did it to me in the holding cell.

He immediately stops, resting his head against mine and nuzzling his nose behind my ear. "I'm sorry," he whispers. "I got too carried away."

My heart swells and guilt washes through me. I feel bad for being such a coward. I know Cato has as much needs as any other man does and I can't furfill them because I'm too chicken. Because everytime he touches me in that way all I can see is Finnick smirking at me.

"No," I reply. "It's my fault."

"Don't every say that," Cato near growls. "It's never your fault."

"But I shouldn't be so scared," I answer. "I know you'd never hurt me and yet I still can't do it."

"It's OK," Cato says. "I'd never push you towards anything you don't want to do. Plus it means you'll owe me a bunch when you're ready again." I flush and bite my lip, thinking of the many possiblites behind his words. I have no such problems with things such as masturbation or anything, as long as it's my hands doing it. I can't have anyone else touching me in that way yet. I didn't even have a problem when Cato walked in on me two days ago . . .

"It's ten o'clock," Cato says.

I suddenly notice the sunlight shining in through the window and a part of me dies. Another whole day of staying inside, afraid of going outside and getting bombarded with questions. The police couldn't prevent the story getting leaked to the public and people have been dying to know the full story. They've tried asking Katniss. Madge. Rue. Even Cato. But they have all kept their mouths zipped and haven't breathed a word about the gory details of my time in the Mafia's custody.

"I need to go and check on Rue. Will you be OK here?" he asks. I nod, immediately feeling cold as he lets go of me and get off the bed. I love the way he cares so much about the little girl. She doesn't have a family and is too young to care for herself so she was admitted to a Home. Cato checks on her everyday, making sure she's alright and checking she has everything she needs.

I can't help oggling him as he gets changed, blushing and averting my eyes bashfully as he turns round and catches me. He chuckles and plants a kiss on my head before leaving. I have a shower and get changed before making a cup of tea and sitting out on the front porch. Cato's house is away from the pier, out of sight of prying eyes, in a forest. I can hear the waves in the distance, an odd sound due to the fact I'm surrounded by trees.

I clutch the mug of tea in my hands and take the occasional sip, basking in the warmth it spreads inside me. In stark contrast to the cold making goosebumps prickle along my skin, the heat is comforting. Katniss suddenly appears out of the trees, silent as a hunter tracking down game. She smiles when she sees me and hurrys up to the porch.

"What's this?" I ask as she hands me a file.

"Divorce papers," Katniss smiles. "All I have ever wanted is for you to be happy Peeta. I now know that's not going to be with me and I can accept that." Tears well up in my eyes as I stare down at the file in my hands.

"Thank you Katniss," I whisper, looking up at her through my hazy eyes.

"I still love you though," she says. "You'll never stop that." She smiles and turns to leave. She reaches the trees again before stopping and turning around again. "And Peeta?" she asks.

"Yeah?" I ask back.

"You have to explain to the kids about your sudden sexual epiphany," she grins. I chuckle and shake my head.

"I'm sure I'll manage," I reply, grinning back at her. Oh joy, that shall be fun.

The next day:

"Hold on, hold on a moment," Josh says, running a hand through his hair and pacing back and forth behind the sofa Jennifer sits on. I knew I had to see the kids at one point and I thought the sooner I tell them the truth, the better. Cato sits to my left and Katniss to my right, both clutching my hands, encouraging me and keeping me leveled. "Let me get this straight. You're gay?!"

"Well . . . yeah," I answer.

"Since when exactly?!"

"Um, a couple of months?"

"Well blow me down with a feather," Jennifer murmers before lifting her eyes to meet mine. "I'm happy for you dad." Josh groans and throws his head into the cushion pillows, his body hanging over the back of it.

"Does this mean you're leaving mum?" he asks, his voice muffled through the fabric.

"No, I'm leaving him," Katniss answers.

"What?!" Jennifer exclaims. "Why!?"

"What did you think we were going to do?" Katniss frowns. "Stay together? That's not fair on anyone." Josh lifts his head up from the cushions to stare at the three of us with a confused frown. Jennifer rubs the back of her neck, a frown of her own on her face.

"So, does that mean we get, like, two birthdays?" Jennifer asks, obliterating the tension in the room. We all laugh and Katniss and I shake our heads. Typical Jen.

"No, we're not going to split completely," Katniss chuckles. "We're still going to be friends. Still the one birthday, sorry."

"OK, OK, I've got a question," Josh says, climbing over the back of the sofa and plopping down beside Jennifer. He opens his mouth to ask the question and then shuts it again. "Nope, sorry. It's gone." Jen scoffs and shakes her head. Both kid's eyes slide over to Cato, both of them eyeing him warily.

"So, you're the one who turned him then?" Josh asks. Cato grins and nods his head.

"Uh-huh, that's me," he says. "I don't think I've officially introduced myself. I'm Cato Hadley, your dad's boyfriend." He holds his hand out to them and Josh immediately shakes it. Jen does the same, blushing when he kisses her hand. When they let go, she gasps and whispers something into Josh's ear. His eyes widen and he grins before nodding. Katniss, Cato and I stare at them, slightly confused, before both of them scoot closer, sit up straight and place their hands-which are clasped together- on their laps.

"Here's how it goes," Josh says. "No late nights, you have to be back in the house by nine o'clock."

"You're not allowed in any bedrooms together," Jen continues. "Living room at all times." Katniss sniggers and covers her mouth with her hand as she chuckles softly. My children are actually giving me my own new boyfriend speech!

"And you're both still young so beware when it comes to any sexual activities," Josh says. I nearly choke on my own spit and Cato's eyes widen.

"We know we can't stop you from doing things," Jennifer says, putting on her best Katniss voice. "Because we know you're both at the peak age for hormonal control, all we ask is that you be careful and be safe." Katniss is cackling now, leaning back in the seatte and clutching her sides.

"And you," Josh says seriously, locking eyes with Cato. "If you do anything, and I mean anything, to hurt our dad-"

"We'll run you all the way down to China Town," Jennifer says just as seriously as Josh.

"China Town?" Josh scoffs. "I'll cut your head off and stick it so far up your ass your mom will feel it." Katniss barks out another laugh and Cato chuckles, shaking his head.

"Don't worry kids," he says. "I don't intend to do anything to hurt your dad in any way. I love him." I smile at him and he squeezes my hand encouraginly. It couldn't have went any better. I was worried that they'd freak out but they took it more calmly than I expected they would, which is great.

"Well that went well," Katniss grins as we stand outside the house later.

"Yeah," I reply, shivering as a cold wind makes my shirt flutter and tickle my skin. I've lost a load of weight since being in the Mafia's cell as they didn't really feed me a lot and now all my clothes hang off me. Cato even had to poke new holes into my belts to keep my pants up. I'm just glad the kids didn't notice.

"The divorce shouldn't take too long," she continues. "Since we're both doing it on equal terms." I nod and Cato wraps his arm around my shoulders, a happy smile on his face. Katniss' eyes flick momentarily to his arm, then to my face, and suddenly I'm yanked forward and her lips are on mine. My eyes widen in shock as she licks her way into my mouth and maps out the inside as if comitting it to memory. When she pulls away she hugs me tightly. "I'm sorry, I just had to do that one last time," she says. I smile and pat her back. "I'm going to miss you."

"You'll see me again," I say. "We're going to be friends, remember?"

"No, I'll miss being with you," she says. I sigh and continue to pat her.

"I'm sorry Katniss."

"Don't be stupid," Katniss laughs, pulling away from the hug and swatting her hand at my chest. "I want you happy, you hear me?" I nod and she smiles, nodding back.

"And you," she says, turning to Cato. "You look after him, you hear me?"

"Yes ma'am," Cato replies, doing a mock salute. "I'll protect him to the ends of the earth."

"That's what I wanna hear," Katniss grins, hugging him too.

Cato greatfully returns it before re-wrapping his arm around me, both of us walking down the footpath. I smile and lean my head again Cato's chest as we walk, maybe I can finally pick up the pieces of my life and begin for real this time. Maybe things can be good again.

"You look after that ass Mellark!" Katniss calls down the street as we reach the end with a grin, waving like a maniac. "I want it to be just as hot when I see you next!" I blush and hide my face in Cato's chest. I can feel the vibrations as he chuckles.

"Don't worry! I'll make sure he does!" he calls back up to her. I slap him lightly but he just laughs at me. I hear Katniss doing the same up the street.

"God, you two need to grow up," I murmer after we wave out last goodbyes to Katniss.

"Aw, did we embarass poor wittle Peeta?" Cato teases. I slap him again and he grins, slipping his hand down to rest on the small of my back. He lowers his head so that his lips are inches from my ear before whispering, "You have to admit though, your ass is hot." I scoff and shake my head.

"Shut up you perv," I chuckle.

"I'm not a perv," Cato says, holding his hand over his heart, feigning hurt. "I like to call it appreciating the sexiest body in the world in an very open way."

"You're starting to sound like Katniss when she was hocked up on Johanna's drugs," I laugh. "It's the exact sort of thing she'd come up with." Cato grins and pinches my cheek like a mother would do to a baby.

"You look so cute when you're blushing," he says teasinly.

"Shut up," I reply, batting his hand away. He pecks me on the lips and pulls my head back down to rest on his shoulder. "Do you think we're going to be alright Cato?" I ask.

"Yes Peeta," Cato answers without hesitation. "We're going to be just fine."

A/N: There's only a couple of chapters left of this story but I'm definetly writing a sequeal so yay! ^_^

Teaser:

"This is ridiculous!" he says from behind the door. "I look like a kid outta Fame!"

"Let me see," I say. He comes out of the bathroom and I have to bite back a snigger.

"Are you sure these are the only small clothes you've got?" Peeta asks, plucking at the black leggings that hug him just right. He's right though. With my old black leggings and his baggy white sleep shirt that has slipped down his shoulder again, he looks like something out of a cheesy musical.

"Uh-huh," I answer, my eyes getting distracted by the way his shirt rides up at the back, displaying the perfect curve of his backside showed off by the tight leggings. "They're from when I did a high school school play."

"Oh joy. I'm wearing teen clothes," Peeta mutters.

"Aw, don't feel bad, they look good on you," I grin.

If you can't tell already, next chapter is going to be a more humourous and light one.

Please R&R! :D