Yummy

"So how did mom take the news of your engagement?" I was surprised I haven't heard from either of my parents. Except for the brief time I was pregnant my mom has dreamed of Prim's wedding since I threw the bouquet. "I haven't told her yet."

"WHAT? Are you crazy? How come?" I'm stunned that she hasn't found out. Enough people knew. It's hard to believe that someone didn't slip up and say something.

"Well, I wanted to tell her in person. I wanted to see the look on her face when I tell her."

"You better tell her soon. If she finds out from someone else. Oh God! If Hazelle finds out before her you'll be planning your own funeral instead of your wedding."

"Why? She'll just be happy we're getting married."

"Are we talking about the same woman. Don't you remember what happened when I got engaged."

"KATNISS LILY! Get in here! How come I had to hear about your engagement from Corinne Mellark. You know how she irritates me! I walked into the bakery and there goes that which running out of the backroom straight into me screaming how her son is going to marry you. Then she goes into a monologue about how he coulda married this girl or that girl and that you weren't good enough for him. I almost slapped her silly. And I woulda if Peeta Sr hadn't come outta the back to get between us. Oh God Katniss, what were you thinking? Of course you weren't thinking. If you were you woulda told me."

"Oh well... CONGRATULATIONS! AHHHHHHHHHHH!" After a brief pause and a giant hug.

"We have so much work to do. There's the date, the church, the hall, the dress..."

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Prim had a front row seat to this story. She was standing right there when my mom confronted me. I could tell she remembered it by the look of horror on her face. "Holy crap! I remember that. It was a nightmare. I couldn't believe that you walked out of it alive. That was the one time in my life I actually felt sorry for you."

"Well, what are you going to do?"

"I'm going to drive up there now and tell her. Come on, let's go."

"Why do I have to go?"

"Come on. It'll be fun." Prim's understanding of fun is highly distorted. I didn't want to be caught in the fall out. "Please! It'll be a great bonding moment." Bonding moment! What was wrong with her? We might argue, insult and compete with each other but two sisters couldn't be closer. We don't need a bonding moment.

"Come on." Prim begged.

"If I go you'll owe me. And you know one day I'll collect. You can bet your last dollar on that." She thought about that for a moment. Prim hated owing me anything. She didn't like the thought that I might come up to her and demand payback. But that was my price.

"Okay. I'll owe you." YES! "Bring Lily."

I hate to think of Lily as a human shield, but Prim and I both knew that my mother will not yell if Lily was there. I agreed.

"Hi mommy." Our mom came running to the door.

"Oh how are my two girls? What brings you both up here? Where's Peeta and Lily?"

"Fine. Ask Prim. Be inside in a second. Where's daddy?"

"He's out back." I kissed Prim and whispered in her ear. "Be strong."

"Hi daddy." He jogged to me.

"Is it just you? where's everyone else?"

"Prim's with mommy and Peeta will be in a second." Suddenly it started.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"What the hell was that? And who installed a trampoline in the kitchen?" We both looked at the kitchen window. "I didn't know your mother could jump that high."

"Well, Prim has some news. She and ..."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

"Hey look! Hazelle has a trampoline in her kitchen also. What's going on Kit-Kat?"

"Like I said. Prim has some news..."

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" My mother came running out of the back door. I haven't seen her move that fast since she had to chase us as kids.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Hazelle bolted out of her back door and raced across her backyard. They met by the fence between our yards.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" They jumped up and down like lunatics.

"Katniss?"

"Well, before I was interrupted I was about to say that Prim and Rory got engaged." My father beamed brightly. He looked at my mom and Hazelle as they embraced. He was a quiet guy so this was how he acted thrilled. "Wow, that's great."

"Okay, moving right along. Do you want to go hunting tomorrow? I missed all last year with you." My dad smiled. Hunting was a fall ritual that we shared since I was five. At first we hunted rabbits and squirrels with my little .22. Then I graduated to turkey and quail. And now deer with my rifle or my bow. "Maybe Prim would like to join us." He wondered. We both looked at each other curiously. Then we started laughing hysterically. "Oh I'm sorry Katniss, but I couldn't resist."

"That's okay dad. We could always use a big belly laugh. Remember the time she tried to give that squirrel CPR. It took both of us to drag her off it." My dad smiled at the memory. "Peeta would like to come along."

"Peeta who?" My eyes got large but my father truly seemed perplexed.

"Peeta Mellark. My husband. The father of your granddaughter. Your son-in-law that you love and respect."

"Are you sure he wants to go? I've known him for years and he's never showed any inkling in hunting. I even thought he was some sort of veggie lover or something." My dad was partly correct. Peeta never ate as much meat as any Everdeen ever did, but he did partake in the carnivorous eating rituals, eating meat, once in a while. He surprised me when he said he wanted to go. I was so stunned I said okay without asking why.

"Yes daddy, we'll be ready to leave at daybreak." He shrugged. I don't think he believed me!

"Is it always this boring?"

"You have to be patient Peeta." My father said.

"But all we're doing is standing here in the cold. Katniss, can't you track a deer or something?"

"This ain't the movies sweetheart." Peeta, my dad and I stood around in the woods waiting for a deer to shoot. The best you can do is wait and hope that you get a good shot. "Just relax. Deer tend to travel the same path. We'll wait here until they pass by. Then we shoot."

"And they won't come near us if you two don't stop yakking." My dad loved us but this was hunting. The sole purpose is to bring home a deer.

"Shhhhh." I put my finger on his lips. He playfully bit my finger. That's a real turn on, but not now.

My father signaled us. I tapped Peeta and pointed. It was a magnificent beast. It was a doe so it didn't have antlers. It looked like it was only a few feet away when I looked at her through my scope. I gave Peeta the thumbs up. He had first crack at the animal.

Peeta looked at it through his eyepiece. His breathing was slow and steady. Just like I taught him. We were lucky we didn't have to move. Peeta might have gained control of his breathing, but he still walked with a heavy foot.

Shoot Peeta, shoot. I said to myself. ...click ...click ...click ...click He snapped one picture after another. His camera is fast and he had a great eye. He brought his camera down and was pleased by the photos.

My father nodded to me. I brought my gun up and saw it through my scope and ...BANG. "Perfect shot sweetie! You're still a great shot." My dad and I ran towards the downed animal. "It's a good size and your mom's gonna enjoy cooking it." I didn't expect Peeta to join us. And he didn't.

"Did you drop the deer off at Rooba's?" I nodded yes. "Good, she'll butcher it right. How big was it?"

"Peeta, show mom the photos." I said.

"I got some good photos." She looked at the back of the camera. "I especially like this one."

"Very nice dear. Wow! We're gonna be up to our ears in venison. I have a new marinade recipe I'm dying to try."

Peeta started to sulk when he realized a dead yummy deer was more popular than his live deer photos. I cheered him up easily. "This is what's waiting for you tonight." I reached between his legs and squeezed. "Yelp!" That's a sound I love to hear, and make.

"Why wait til tonight?" I jumped when he pinched my butt.

"Ouch. You better have not left a mark." I sat on his lap and wrapped my arms around him. I kissed him and he pulled me in tight. "Let's go upstairs now."

I held him tight. "Yummy!"