A/N: Good Evening. I apologize for the rant I went on last chapter, but I was frustrated. I don't want to sound like an asshole, but I know I did, so I'm sorry. I really do appreciate everyone giving me reviews, and all the kind words about my writing. It helps more than you know.

Anyways, here's chapter 36. It start where we left off last chapter, with the family on the way to the bakery.

Fair Warning: This chapter ends with a sweaty, smutty, graphic, XXX-rated sex scene. You've been notified.

Enjoy!

We make it to the bakery, and are pleased to see it's not crowded at all. Rye and Nan see us, and almost jump across the counter trying to get to their niece and nephew. The twins giggle at their Uncles, they really do love them.

"What, no love for mommy and daddy?" Peeta teases when neither of them even acknowledge our presence.

"Shh," Rye says without even looking up.

Peeta and I look to each other, smile, and shrug.

We hang out for a few minutes, Rye and Nan playing peek-a-boo and other silly games with the twins. Peeta and I are sitting at one of the tables, holding hands, just enjoying the family time.

I hear footsteps coming down the stairs from the apartment, and I can easily tell they're Peeta's mothers. She appears at the bottom of the stairs. She takes in the scene in front of her – Peeta and I holding hands and sitting incredibly close, Rye and Nan playing with the babies on the floor. She scowls a little, but doesn't say anything. She gives me a small glare, nothing like the hate she used to throw my way, and disappears into the kitchen.

"Peeta, where's your dad?" I ask.

"He should be in the kitchen. Why?"

"I think we should talk to your parents upstairs," I tell him. His eyes widen.

"Katniss, why would you want to do that?"

I just glare at him and stand up.

"Rye, Nan, can you guys watch the twins while we talk to your parents?" They nod. "Thanks, guys."

Peeta and I walk behind the counter and are almost to the kitchen when Rye calls out.

"Wait, did you say parents? As in plural? Be careful, guys."

I nod gratefully, and we enter the kitchen.

Peeta's dad is making some loaves of sourdough and his mom is going some general cleaning.

"Mr. and Mrs. Mellark," I say. Wow that's weird to hear coming out of my mouth, I usually answer to that. "Can you please join me and Peeta in the living room upstairs? I think we should talk."

They both look surprised. Like completely surprised. His dad recovers quicker, and nods, while his mom takes a moment. She eventually nods without looking at us.

"Katniss, how many times have I told you to call me dad?" Peeta's dad asks.

"I'm sorry," I tell him with a smile, "dad."

He smiles and Peeta and I lead the way upstairs. His mother is the last one up. Peeta and I sit on a couch closely, hands together. His parents sit on the opposite couch, both looking confused.

"What did you want to speak to us about, Katniss?" Mr. Mellark asks.

"Look, Peeta and I are leaving for the Capitol in two days. Wait, dad, did you tell her what we talked about?" I'm referring to the conversation about the rebellion, of course.

"I did," he answers. She nods in agreement, but stays silent. She could at least be grateful we're saving her damn life.

"Okay, good. Well like I said we're leaving in two days, and everything's going to change. Look, I understand that you have your issues with me Mrs. Mellark, but the truth of the matter is I'm your daughter-in-law, and that's never going to change."

"What's your point?" She says quietly. It's the first time she's spoken to me in a normal voice with hate laced into every word. Progress.

"My point is that you're Peeta's mom. And as crazy as I think it is, he loves you. So I want to have at least some kind of relationship with you. At least be able to be in the same room with each other. Our kids love Rye and Nan and dad, and I want them to know their family."

I look to Peeta, and his face shows complete surprise. I didn't tell him why I wanted to talk, and now I'm trying to reconcile with his mom. It's shocked him into silence.

She stays silent, but she's not glaring at me. Just looking off blankly.

"Maybe it would help if you told me why you don't like me," I suggest.

"Mom, if you took the time to get to know Katniss, like dad, Rye and Nan have, you'd find that she's the opposite of everything you accuse her of," Peeta adds softly. I squeeze his hand in thanks and mouth 'I love you'.

"You're from the Seam," she says quickly.

"Not anymore," I reply. "Peeta and I live in Victor's Village."

"So? Just because you won the Hunger Games. You were still raised in the Seam."

"So?" I repeat. "Why does that matter? My mom was from town, and moved to the Seam for my dad. I love Peeta and he loves me. Shouldn't that be what matters, not what side of the District I'm from?"

She scoffs.

"It matters," she says defiantly.

"Why mom?" Peeta asks.

She opens her mouth to reply, but nothing comes out. She tries again, and still can't come up with an answer.

"Exactly," Peeta points out. "Katniss had a hard life growing up mom, a very hard life. But she persevered, had the courage to take care of her entire family when she was only eleven, and has kept me alive and sane. Aren't you thankful she saved your youngest son's life?"

"I guess," she mutters.

"Of course we're thankful," Mr. Mellark tells her. "Honey, they're not lying. They're in love. I've never seen two people more in love than these two. They would never hurt each other. Ever. They're great parents. Why can't you see past the stereotypes and accept her?"

"I don't know," she says honestly. Now we're getting somewhere.

"Why do you think I'm a whore?" I ask her. "Why do you think I'd cheat on Peeta? Why do you not want us married?" I'm not asking angrily, I truly want to know.

"That's how I was raised," she admits. "Girls from the Seam will always take advantage of Town boys. So when Peeta fell for you, and then I saw your little act in the Games, I wanted to do everything in my power to keep him away from you. It didn't work."

"No, it didn't. It never had a chance of working," Peeta says bitterly.

"Mrs. Mellark, I want to be completely honest with you," I say. "At first, in the Games, I was acting. That all changed when we were in the Cave. I realized that I had fallen in love with your son. Everybody thinks I pulled those Nightlock berries out to defy the Capitol, but that's just not the truth. I pulled those berries out because if one of us wasn't leaving the Arena, then both of us weren't leaving the Arena. I can't live without him, and that's the truth."

"Is this true?" She quietly asks Peeta.

"Every word," he nods. "And just to clarify, I can't live without her either."

"So why was my son depressed when you returned?" She asks, frustrated.

I sigh and use my free hand to rub my eyes.

"I lied to him," I admit. "When we got back, I got him alone, and told him I was acting the entire time. That I didn't have feelings for him. I told him to forget about me and move on."

"Why would you do that?" Mr. Mellark asks.

"Selfishness," I shrug. "I was insecure, selfish, and had no idea how to be in any kind of relationship. So instead of doing what I should have, talking to Peeta, I made the decision for him and made both of us miserable."

"But she came over, admitted it, told me why, and that's when we got together….for real," Peeta adds.

"I see," she nods slowly.

"Mrs. Mellark, I would never leave Peeta," I feel the need to say. "I would never even look at another man. He is my husband, my soul mate, my best friend, and the father of my children. I love him with all my heart, and I just want you to understand that."

She's silent, and I can see her thinking. We let her contemplate in silence.

"I was wrong about you, Katniss," she finally says quietly. That's the first time she's ever called me by my name.

"R-really?" I stutter.

"Yes. If what all of you are saying is true, which I'm inclined to believe, then I have been wrong all along about you. I just didn't want my son to be cuckolded or heartbroken. I thought you were just using him."

"I would never do that," I say sadly.

"I see that now," she affirms.

"Thank you," I say sincerely. She nods.

We're silent again, but it's a much more comfortable silence. I see a small smile on Peeta and dad's faces.

"Mrs. Mellark," I start, "when Peeta and I came over a few days ago, and I threatened you with my bow, I realize I may have taken it a bit too far. But you have to understand how much it hurts me to see him in any kind of pain. And I was telling the truth then, ma'am. I will not tolerate you ever touching him again like that."

She actually looks proud of me. Huh? She looks over at the wall, where the two holes from my arrows are still showing.

"You are quite good with that bow," she says.

"You have no idea," Peeta says with pride. "She taught me how to shoot too. We go hunting together all the time."

"That's great, son." Dad says.

"You made me realize a lot of things that day," she tells me softly. "You made me look at my actions towards my children. I know it's too late, but I am ashamed. I am sorry for everything I did, but I know I can never take it back. I did those things, me. And I have to take ownership of that."

"Yes, you do," I say. "But it's good that you realize that."

"Yes. I'm lucky to have such forgiving sons. They should rightfully hate me," she says sadly.

"I could never hate you, mom," Peeta says quietly.

She nods gratefully and I see tears in her eyes.

"Katniss, can you forgive me?" She looks me in the eye.

"For what?" I want to hear her say it.

She sighs.

"For everything I've done to you. Taking out my anger at you by hitting Peeta. Calling you horrible names. Calling your children bastards and accusing you of sleeping with other men. I know I don't deserve it, but I would be very grateful if you could find it in your heart to forgive me. I am truly sorry."

I can tell she's being sincere, that's not the issue. The issue is am I willing to forgive her for all the pain she's put us through, mainly Peeta? I can take the name-calling, but she physically hit him because of me.

I turn my head and look at Peeta. He's looking at me with hopeful eyes. He's praying I forgive her. I can see how much this means to him. That's why I did this in the first place, right? For him? I've known all along he wants me to get along with her, and this is me trying. If I'm not able to forgive her, then what was the point?

I turn back and look her in the eye.

"Yes, I forgive you."

She smiles.

Peeta's mom actually smiled.

At me.

What. The. Hell. Is. Going. On.

"Thank you," she breathes a sigh of relief.

"So you will be nice to me from now on?" I ask, only half serious.

She widens her eyes and actually looks a little scared.

"After I saw what you can do with that bow, I wouldn't even dream of saying a bad word about you."

We all laugh.

"No, but seriously," she continues, "I know I have a lot to make up for, to you and my entire family, but I'm going to try. Thank you for helping me get to this point. Both of you."

"You're welcome," Peeta and I say in unison. We do that a lot. We're on the same wavelength I guess.

"Um, Katniss?" She asks nervously.

"Yeah?"

"Can I – can I – um, uh, can I meet my grandchildren?"

This is something I didn't even think of. Before they were born, Peeta and I decided unanimously that she would never have any interactions with her. But that was before this. Before she actually seems remorseful, like she might actually be able to change.

"Not today," Peeta says surprisingly. "You haven't proved yourself yet."

She nods her acceptance and looks at her feet.

"Maybe when we get to 13," I tell her. She looks up hopefully. "It depends on what Rye and Nan and dad tell me, but I'm not going to outright say no right now. You are their grandmother, and you have a right to see them. I want them to know their family, like I said."

"Who are you and what did you do with my wife?" Peeta jokes.

I turn and scowl at him.

"There she is," he smiles wide. I giggle, and give him a quick peck on the lips.

When I turn back, BOTH of his parents are smiling at us. This is like the twilight zone. It's surreal.

"Well, we have to get going," Peeta says. "But I think this has been really good for all of us. I think we're in a much better place than before."

"Definitely," I nod.

"Thanks again," dad says.

"Thank you," she says very quietly.

I nod and Peeta and I get up to leave.

"Will we see you both for dinner tomorrow night? We're inviting all our friends and family. The twins will be there, so you can at least see them," I ask. Peeta is again taken aback at my forwardness.

"I would be honored," she says sincerely. This is going to be interesting…..

Peeta and I walk back downstairs, and he has a huge smile plastered on his face.

"What are you smiling about?" Nan teases.

"Katniss and mom made up," he grins.

"Wait, what?" Rye looks up in disbelief.

"It's true. Crazy, right? Katniss sat her down and said it was enough, that we're all family, and we should be able to get along. We got through to her eventually."

"How did you do that?" Nan asks in awe.

"I think when Katniss almost shot her the other day – twice – she finally started to understand our commitment to each other. Then today, when it was Katniss' idea to sit down and talk, I think she realized she'd been wrong all along," Peeta explains.

"Wow, sis, that's – well – that's amazing," Rye says gratefully.

"I just want my family to get along with each other," I shrug.

"But she hasn't proved she's changed yet," Peeta reminds everyone. "We have to wait and see what happens."

"Got it," Rye and Nan say together.

"Now where are my babies?" I ask with a smile.

"Right here!" Rye holds them up hilariously. Their faces light up when they see Peeta and me.

"Come to mama!" I tell them and take both of them in my arms, covering them with kisses as they giggle in baby language.

Peeta is standing next to me with that dumb grin he gets whenever I'm in what he calls 'Kat's mushy mommy mode'. I don't care what he calls it, I'm with my children and my husband, and that's all that matters.

"Where do you want to go, Kat?" He asks. I hand him Josh and he kisses him on the head, then leans over and kisses Eve.

"Hmm," I think. "I guess home?"

"Sure, let's go home," Peeta nods.

We say goodbye to Rye and Nan and remind them about dinner tomorrow. They say they can't wait to see their mom there. We all laugh. We strap the twins back into the stroller and we're soon on our way home.

"Kat," Peeta gets my attention, "thank you."

"I did it as much for me as I did for you."

"I know, but it still means so much to me, you have no idea," he says sincerely.

"Well you're welcome," I say with a smile. He gives me a sweet kiss on the lips and I savor it.

"You really are the best wife in the world, you know that?"

Usually I would deny, but after our talk earlier, I realize he's right about my self-confidence.

"Thanks, Peeta," I surprise him with my answer. His eyebrows shoot up. "You heard me, don't make me say it again," I mutter. He laughs.

We walk a couple more minutes in silence, both with one hand on the stroller and our other hands firmly intertwined, before Peeta speaks up again.

"Katniss?"

"Hmm?"

I look at him, and he looks really, really, really nervous. What is this about?

"The other day when were in the tub, did you mean what you said?" He asks shyly.

I think back to the bath we took together and the mind-blowing sex. I said a lot of things, so I need clarification.

"Which thing are you talking about?" I ask.

He sighs.

"Never mind," he mumbles.

"No, it's okay, Peeta, tell me. Please."

"Did you mean it when you said I could, um," he looks around to make sure we're all alone. Then I realize he's worried about the twins.

"Peeta, they're a month old. They can't understand what we're saying. Not really."

He sighs again and runs his hand through his hair.

"Why is this so hard to say?" He asks. "Did you mean it when you said I could come inside you every time we have sex?" He blurts out quickly.

Now my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. I don't know what I was expecting him to ask, but certainly not that. It's not like I don't want to answer it, it just caught me off guard. Of course, he misinterprets.

"Sorry. I'm an idiot. Forget I even said it," he says sadly. I feel like I've crushed him, again.

"Of course I mean it," I tell him firmly. His head whips around. "I wasn't lying, Peeta. I love it just as much as you do. Actually, it's my favorite way for you to come."

"God, you're sexy," he mutters. I blush and giggle.

"Right back at ya."

"Why aren't we home yet?" He complains hilariously.

"Good things come to those who wait," I tell him. He used to tell me that all the time.

He nods, but he still looks like he can't wait to get me home.

We both pick up the pace, and we laugh when we realize what we're doing. We make it home, and when we go to pick up the twins, are overjoyed to find them fast asleep. We creep up the stairs as silently as possible and tuck them in.

I close the door gently, and Peeta's hands wrap around my waist from behind. He kisses my neck and then my earlobe gently. Then he whispers in my ear.

"Where would you like to go, Mrs. Mellark? Ladies choice."

I think for a minute. There's always our bed, which is classic and never gets old. There's the shower which is always an adventure. There's the couch which gets both our juices flowing. We've only had sex once on the kitchen table, but it was explosive. We've even had sex in his art studio, him sitting on his chair and me riding him into oblivion. I told him he was never to paint it. He just laughed.

"Back porch," I whisper.

"What?" He blanches.

"Back porch," I repeat louder.

"You can't be serious," he mutters.

"Oh, I'm deadly serious," I tell him, turning in his arms to face him.

"Kat, it's the middle of the day," he points out.

"And we don't have any neighbors," I retort.

"What if someone comes over?"

"They'll knock on the front door, and when we don't answer, they'll leave. Besides, Haymitch, my mom and Prim are in town until dinner. Who else would be knocking that we'd actually care about?"

"But – but –"

"Shut up. Let's go," I say, taking him by the hand and pulling him down the stairs. He still looks like he's in shock.

We open the sliding door and come out onto the back porch. We have lawn furniture back here, a table with chairs and some chaise lounges around a fire pit. I turn him around to show him how alone we are. I even brought the baby monitor out.

He sighs in defeat, knowing I'm going to get my way no matter what.

"Fine. How are we doing this?" He asks.

"If you don't want to have sex with me just say so," I tell him, peeved at his lack of enthusiasm.

"No, no, no, no," he backtracks. "I'm sorry honey. I'm just – a little nervous, that's all. But I'm in. Let's do it."

"You'd better be," I point at him. He chuckles and kisses me, hard.

He backs us up to a chaise lounge and he lies down on it, me on top of him. We make out, and it quickly escalates. I can feel his hand slip down the front of my jeans, quickly unbuttoning them. He slips two fingers inside me and I moan.

I start my own journey south, snapping open the button on his jeans and lowering the zipper. I pull his boxers down and pull his erection out. He looks a little nervous at first, but relaxes when I start stroking him.

"One sec," I whisper into his mouth. He nods.

I stand up and slide my jeans off. I take my shirt off, leaving me in my bra and panties. His eyes go glassy and his jaw drops. Every time I get naked, no matter how many times he's seen me naked, this is always his reaction. It bolsters my confidence every time.

I kneel on the lounge and take his length in my mouth. He groans my name loudly. While I suck him, I massage his sac with one hand, and aid my mouth by stroking him with the other. His moans get louder, and I know I'm driving him crazy.

"Kat, if you don't stop, I'm not going to be able to stop," he tells me.

In response, I take his entire erection in my mouth, all the way to the base, then repeat. Then I keep stroking him and take his sac in my mouth, using my tongue to caress it.

"Oh my god," he groans. "I'm almost there, Kat. Please don't stop."

I lick his sac once more and look up.

"I want you to come in my mouth," I tell him. His eyes widen and he looks at me.

"What?" He mutters.

"I want you to come in my mouth," I repeat, still stroking his erection and sac.

"Seriously?"

I nod, then bend back down and take him again in my mouth. After about a half a minute, he speaks up again.

"I'm there, Kat. I'm going to come," he tells me breathlessly.

I feel his body tense and release, and I feel his load hit the back of my throat and slide down slowly. I taste the now familiar taste of his come, that slightly salty and warm tinge to it.

I slide up and down, making sure I get every bit of his load. I look up at him, and he's grinning at me in awe. Then I swallow, and he looks like he just can't believe it.

"Oh my god," he mumbles. "Oh my god."

"What?" I ask innocently, then quickly clean his length with my tongue.

"You just – you just – you just swallowed all of that."

"I did," I nod.

"You've only done that a few times."

"Well I like it," I tell him.

"You're amazing," he mutters.

I blush and giggle.

"Okay, now let's have sex," I announce. I swing my leg over and straddle him. He reaches up and quickly unsnaps my bra, letting it fall of my breasts. I get on my knees and slide my panties down, then flip over quickly and slide them off. Peeta grabs them and brings them up to his nose, inhaling like he likes to do.

"Wow, Mrs. Mellark, you're wet today," he teases.

"Are you going to take advantage of that, or waste it?" I tease back as I face him again.

"Point taken," he grins.

He grabs my hips to help position me, and I hover just over him. I know that he just came, and he needs a little time, but we've established long ago that doesn't mean he can't be inside me.

I lower myself down and we moan in unison. His right hand dives down to help, causing me to shudder. It only takes him about three minutes to get me to come. That's gotta be a record for us.

"Please don't stop," I beg him quietly. He smirks.

I can feel him inside me, and after a couple minutes, I can feel his erection returning to full strength. I smile, and begin thrusting. He grips my breasts and massages them, tweaking my nipples with his thumb and index finger. I put both my hands on his chest to steady me. He's still wearing his shirt, so I tell him to take it off. He quickly does. His jeans and boxers are around his ankles, and that's fine.

Every time I thrust down, and he's all the way inside me, I move around in a little quick circle, which drives him nuts. Then I raise myself back up to the point where he's almost not in me anymore, then repeat.

After a few minutes, I quickly hop off him and take him in my mouth again, then take his sac in my mouth. Then I quickly hop back on and pick up where I left off. He looks like he's stunned, but I've done that before.

A few minutes later, I come again, and it's more explosive than my first one. I bend over and lay my head on shoulder, biting my bottom lip as the orgasm racks through my body. He puts his arms around me, holding me close. I can feel my breasts pushing up against his chest, and I can feel him inside me. He starts sliding in and out, prolonging my orgasm and making me moan into his shoulder.

I sit back up straight, and resume my riding. I go faster and faster, bringing him closer to the edge. I can tell he's close to coming again.

"Do you want to come inside me baby?" I quietly ask him.

He bites his bottom lip and shyly nods. I nod back.

"I'm almost there," he groans after another minute.

I look him dead in the eye and whisper to him, knowing how much it drives him absolutely crazy.

"Come inside me, Peeta. I want to feel your load fill me up. I want to feel the warmth of your come in me. Please, baby, please come inside me. Let it go. Let everything go."

He groans and grabs my hips, and I know he's there.

I can feel him come, and make sure he's buried as far in me as possible. I thrust a couple times to ensure I get his full load. He has a bewildered look on his face, which just causes me to smile.

"Ohhh," he moans.

"Was that as good for you as it was for me?" I joke.

"Mmhmm," is all he can say. I laugh.

"Well I'm just going to sit here for a few minutes," I inform him.

"Fine by me," he whispers. Of course it would be fine by him, he's still all the way inside me.

"Thought you'd like that," I smirk.

"Thank you Katniss," he says sincerely.

"You don't have to thank me baby," I tell him. "I love doing all that for you. For us."

"Well either way, thank you. You have no idea how amazing both those orgasms were for me."

"If they were anything like mine, then I should give myself a pat on the back."

We both laugh.

"I love you," I tell him when we've stopped chuckling.

"I love you too," is his instant reply.

"So I told you the back porch would be fun," I tease.

"I know," he admits. "You're the wife – you're always right."

"Don't your forget that," I warn. He smiles.

"I won't," he assures me.

"Good. So, back porch – check. Up next, front porch."

His eyes widen.

"Katniss….."