Together

Katniss was wrapped up in a shroud of bliss, her eyes still closed but she was awake. She was wrapped up in the warmth of Peeta's strong arms, her legs tangled in his. She still couldn't believe that he was with her, that she had fallen asleep and woken up next to him. She let out a happy sigh and tightened her hand around Peeta's, pulling it to her lips and giving it a light kiss.

She felt Peeta's lips press against the back of her neck and then he nuzzled his face in her hair. She turned to face him a moment later. "Hi." She said

"Hi." He opened his eyes and she held his face.

She moved her head closer and kissed him. She pulled away and smiled, and Peeta smiled back. He cupped her neck and brought her face closer to his again. He kissed her so softly and lightly that Katniss thought for a moment that he wasn't real.

She slid on top of him and tucked her hair behind her ear before running her hands over his bare chest. She kissed him harder and he slipped his hands under her borrowed shirt and stroked her back. Wherever he touched her, her skin tingled. She kissed his cheek, jaw and neck while he ran his fingertips over her back. She heard him sigh and it made her body buzz. But this time, she wasn't afraid.

She pushed her fingers into his hair and remembered how she pulled on Peeta's lip last night with her teeth, making him moan and want more. She tried it again. His hands tightened on her back and his breath rushed out. She hid her grin by capturing his lips with hers. She never felt so alive. When she was with Peeta her heart pounded constantly and kissing him like this made her feel like she was really on fire.

She remembered how Peeta had only looked at her last night when she was just in her under garments, and how he had hugged her legs and told her they were nice. She knew Peeta wasn't going to do anything unless she full out told him. She nipped at his lip again and he rolled her over on to her back. He kissed her jaw and she arched her neck and he kissed her there, the way she liked it. Her hands curled into his hair and her eyes fluttered. There was something nagging her in the back of her mind that she could no longer avoid asking him. "Peeta," she said tentatively, her voice breathless.

"Yes?" he murmured, fingers caressing her stomach, distracting her slightly.

"Have you ever though- I mean, have you ever wanted-?" she wasn't sure how to word what she wanted to say, and she wasn't sure she was eluding to the right thing.

"What?" he whispered, kissing her neck again, but this time he seemed hesitant.

"Well, I mean…"

He lifted his face up and looked at her, more blue appearing in his eyes. "What are you trying to say?" he said softly, rubbing his thumb against her cheek.

"Have you ever thought about living together? I mean just you and me. Have you ever thought about us never being apart anymore, free of our parents and their disapproval, their disrespect?" She blurted. Peeta said nothing, just had an awestruck expression on his face, absently brushing his thumb over her cheek, his eyes searching hers. "Never mind it was silly I shouldn't have-"

But Peeta pressed his lips to hers, cutting her off and taking her completely by surprise. "That's not silly at all!" he said after pulling away, his eyes bright. "I don't think you've ever suggested anything better." His voice was full of affection. He kissed her nose.

Katniss smiled and brushed his golden hair out of his eyes. "Do you think so? Do you think we could really do it?"

"I don't know. I hope so; I want to." He said wistfully, stroking her cheek.

"I hope so, too."

He leaned down and kissed her again, soft and sweet. When he pulled away she cleared her throat. "Peeta. Can you get off of me? I would like to use the bathroom." She smiled up at him.

"Oh, I'm sorry." He shifted so he was no longer hovering over her.

"It's okay." She leaned over and kissed him softly before she got out of bed and slipped into the bathroom. She shut the door behind her and gripped the sink, looking into the mirror. Her lips were swollen from kissing Peeta so much and the flush on her face hid the shadows under her eyes and made her cheeks not look as sunken. Her eyes were bright and her hair was tangled. She splashed water over her face and brushed her hair, trying to smooth it out.

When she was done she left the bathroom. Peeta was lying on his back on the bed, his eyes closed. She walked over and lay down beside him curling up against his side and resting her head on his chest. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and she lightly kissed his skin.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah. I'm just thinking. I don't know how we'll manage to live together. I mean, we can't kick our families out of our houses. I don't really know where we could go."

"We can always ask Haymitch." Peeta suggested.

"Oh my god! I never even thought of that. You're a genius."

"Thank you. When did you want to see him?"

"Now! Let's go now!" she said eagerly, sitting up and looking down at him while patting her hand on his stomach urgently.

"Whoa, whoa. I think he can wait for a little while." He held the hand that was on his stomach and interlocked his fingers with his.

"Why? It's not like we're doing anything else."

"Really?" he pulled her down and she squealed as she landed awkwardly on him. "Because I think we are." He pulled her in for a kiss and she let him but reluctantly pulled away. "Peeta come on."

"No, you come on," he said, trying to kiss her again.

She ducked her head and pressed her forehead against his chest and said, "No! Come on, get up."

"But I don't want to." He said, sounding like a whiny child, stilled trying to kiss her.

"Peeta!" she couldn't help but laugh. He showered her hair with kisses. With the hand that Peeta wasn't holding, she blindly reached up and pinched his cheek, knowing he hated that.

He groaned and stopped kissing her. "Don't do that!"

She lifted her head and pulled her other hand out of his and pinched his other cheek as well, laughing. He placed his hands on the back of her neck and brought her face to his, kissing her full on the mouth. Her fingers lost all their strength and she held his face instead of pinching his cheeks. Before she could get too caught up in the moment she pulled away again and tried to push off him but he locked his arms around her back, only allowing her to half straighten.

"Peeta come on, don't you want to be able to live together as soon as we can?" she said, pushing on his chest.

"Of course I do! I just want to kiss you."

Katniss pushed half-heartedly against him. "You can kiss me later!"

"I want to kiss you now. How often do I get you in just my shirt?"

Katniss's face heated. "If we get to live together, then that would be every night." She taunted.

Peeta pretended to think about this, but she could feel his arms loosening around her. "Alright." He let her go. Katniss bent down and kissed once then got off him.

"Thank you. Now come on. Did you want to shower, or anything?"

"Yeah, that would be nice." He said, running his hands through his hair.

"Okay. I'll put your shirt in there once you're in the shower."

"Alright." He got off the bed and stretched his arms in the air, and Katniss could see all of his muscles stretched beneath his skin. She bit her lip and tried forcing herself to look away but she couldn't.

"I'll go get you a towel." She said, getting up and rushing out to the linen closet to get her boyfriend a towel.

When she came back the water was running. She opened the door and threw the towel on the vanity, then took off her shirt and threw it there as well, trying not to think about Peeta being in her shower. She shut the door and then changed into fresh clothes. Grey pants and a light green shirt. She sat down on her bed and waited for Peeta to finish up so they could ask Haymitch if it was possible for them to live together.