I walk with Peeta back to the house our fingers intertwined. I can't completely get the image of Spencer watching us from afar out of my head. Her words echo in my head, "I'll get you girl on fire." Peeta glances over at me and I can tell my face shows what I'm thinking when he stops.
"Katniss." I continue walking but he steps in front of me forcing me to stop. I sigh slightly and look away. "What's wrong?" he asks and I shake my head. He takes my face between his hands forcing me to look at him.
"It's just," I pause unsure really what my problem was. Why did I care if Spencer hated me? Then it hits me. "I'm afraid Spencer will hurt you or PrimRue to hurt me." I say and drop my gaze. It was even painful to imagine Peeta and PrimRue being harmed in anyway. I look back up into his blue eyes filled with concern.
"Katniss, you should be more worried about yourself. Although, I did tell her she wouldn't touch you. I made that very clear. No one will hurt you. Ever." I shake my head pulling away. It wasn't me I cared about.
"Peeta, I don't care about me. I care about you and PrimRue. I swear to God if she touches either one of you..." I tail off and he pulls me into his arms wrapping me up in his embrace. I close my eyes burying my face in his chest. His lips press to the top of my head. The feel of his arms around me and his lips against me are calming.
"I'm not going anywhere, and neither is PrimRue," he says and I nod. "I love you, Katniss. Always, always, always" I lift my head from his chest and kiss him deeply. His arms fall wrapping around my waist.
"I love you too," I say pulling away slightly, my voice just above a whisper. He smiles and kisses my forehead. "Peeta, can I ask you something?" He nods looking at me slightly confused. "Why didn't you give up on me? Anyone else in your position would've labeled me a lost cause." He looks at me almost in disbelief and I arch an eyebrow.
"You have no idea how much I love you, do you? Katniss, during the quarter quell when I told you if you die and I live, there's no life for me back in District 12 because you are my whole life, I meant that. That wasn't for the cameras. It's never been about putting on a show, and playing it out for the cameras. Everything I've ever told you had been real, it's been true. I never in a million years would give up on you." Suddenly Haymitch's voice is ringing in my head. 'You could live a thousand life times and not deserve him'.
I always knew this was true, but now he's spot on. I've put him through hell. I almost killed him. I know everyone says it wasn't my fault, but how can it not me? It was my fingers that locked around his through, not President Snow's. Mine.
"He was right," I whisper.
"Who was?" Peeta looks at me with a puzzled expression.
"Haymitch. He said I didn't deserve you, and he's right. I love you beyond belief and I would put your life way before mine, any day. But I tried killing you, when you told the world you were in love with me I shoved you into a flower pot. I fought and fought my feelings for you. Starting from the first games and I hurt you in the process." He shakes his head stopping me with a kiss.
"If anyone doesn't deserve the other here it's me who doesn't deserve you." I put my hand over his mouth frustrated. What was he talking about?
"Peeta, you saved my life when I was a starving twelve year old. From the beginning of the first games you put my life over yours. From the moment you were reaped. I didn't chose your life over mine until I realized that you were working with the careers to save me. No, even then I just wanted a way for both of us to live, but in the cave I knew if you were to die I would never really leave the arena. I'd be trapped forever trying to find a way out. I'd be damaged beyond repair." This time he puts his hand over my mouth pulling my hand from his.
"You're not going to change my mind, Katniss. Alright? I love you more than anything, and I know you love me. Nothings going to change any of that. Ever." I smile and he removes his hand from my mouth. I lean in kissing him. I don't know why Haymitch's words from the victory tour were bothering me now. Peeta was right, we love each other and that's all that matters. I reach up and kiss his cheek. He smiles down at me but as he looks up his smile drops and his expression turns hard. I could feel his body go stiff.
"Katniss, go home I'll be there in a few." I look at him confused and turn around to see Spencer standing at the end of the street. I've about had it with her. I walk down the street towards her ignoring Peeta completely as he tries to get me to stop. A smirk is placed on her lips, irritation clearly pained on my face.
"Just leave already," I snap at her and she laughs without humor.
"Why am I bothering you?" Peeta is just catching up trying to get me to go home.
"Yes actually you are," I snap at her. She narrows her eyes into a glare at me.
"And you've bothered me from the moment you volunteered for your sister." Peeta tried to step between us but I don't let him.
"You're just pissed you didn't get what you want." She grabs my necklace pulling me close almost choking me. As she does this Peeta pushes her off me my necklace snapping off as she stumbles backwards. I gasp taking in air. I push Peeta aside and smack her across the face with as much force as possible. My necklace clatters to the ground her hands going to her face. When she moves her hands I can see the red marks across her face. We both ignore Peeta too angry with the other.
"Listen, you little bitch. Do it again and it will be lover boy over here that I get." Anger flares up in me and I lean in close. My expression almost deadly. It has the desired affect because she steps back.
"I swear to God if you touch my family I won't hesitate to send an arrow through your heart." She turns, clearly defeated and Peeta grabs me by the waist putting me over his shoulder. He knew me too well. He knew I would go after her. I object trying to get him to put me down but he doesn't listen. I watch as she disappears. Something tells me this wouldn't be the last time I see her. Peeta sets me down once we're in the house. Annie looks at us curiously.
"I'm sorry, Peeta. It's just..." He stops me with a kiss.
"Nothing to be sorry for. I just wish you would've listened to me and have come here." I nod.
"I may have over reacted." He shakes his head.
"No. I did when I pushed her though" Now I shake my head.
"No, she was choking me. I would've done it if you hadn't." He opens his mouth to object but I put my finger to his lips. "Shush," I say before pulling my hand away and kissing him gently.
"Katniss-"
"No." I stop him from arguing and I could see he gives up.
"Are you guys okay?" Annie's voice snaps me back to reality.
"Yeah, just Snow's granddaughter..." I trail off and she nods understanding. PrimRue looks at us from Annie's arms. Annie leaves and we eat dinner back to the same feeling we had earlier in the bakery. Once we put PrimRue to bed we lay on the couch. His arms wrapped around me tightly, my head laying against his chest. I stare at the fire before us. We sit silently wrapped up in each other, no words needed. Somewhere between watching the fire and smiling up at Peeta I fall asleep. I wake up when he carries me upstairs.
"Peeta?" I say sleepily.
"Shh," is all he says and kisses my forehead. He lays me on the bed sliding me under the blankets. "I love you," he says and I catch his hand.
"Stay with me" I whisper my eyes sliding shut.
"Always," he replies and smiles sliding into bed next to me, his arms automatically wrapping tightly around me. Just like the days on the train, and in the cave.