I am back. Here is a chapter to my story.

Chapter 32: I Knew You

Peeta's POV

I wake up to a dark sky and moonlight shining through the window of my room, our room. Katniss sleeps peacefully next to me in her own slumber. Knowing well it is 5 in the morning. I am so used to a bakers routine. I could relinquish my time here with Katniss, now that we will be living together. But I decide to stop by the bakery today. I take one long look at Katniss to see how she is sleeping. Her breath is even and she snuggles closer into the pillow that she is holding.

I get out of bed to get dressed to leave. I head downstairs when I'm done dressing. I walk into the kitchen, and start a cup of tea. I hear the rustling of the trees in the wind. Winter is a toll here in District 12. Cold and hard to survive for those who do not have enough resources for food. I put on my coat, and find a scarf at the door. I grab my cup of tea.

I open the door and brace the cold wind. It is not cold enough for snow but we know very well it is bound to come. I walk carefully to the bakery, holding my cup of tea carefully in my hands. It should be cold by the time I reach the bakery.

I head towards the back of the bakery, and enter through the back door. The door creaks and I see the room lit while my father kneads dough. He looks towards the door and I see his face lit up to see me.

"Peeta! What a wonderful time for you to join me!" he says.

I hug my father as he approaches me. "Hi, Dad. I thought I could come and help for a bit."

"What about Katniss? He asks. "I heard you both are living together now. How is that going?"

I sigh, "Well, it's fine. We are together and that's all that matters."

He sighs and touches my shoulder with his warm hand. He looks at my face as if he is trying to read me. "Something must be going on with you for you to be here instead of being at home with that pretty lady of yours." he says, his voice full of concern.

This man reads me so well. "I'm fine, Dad. I'm just not ready to talk about it at the moment."

He nods and heads back to kneading his dough. He tells me, "I have some cookies and a cake I would like for you to frost. Rye doesn't have a steady hand like you do."

I spend hours of my morning at the bakery. Trying to distract my mind from my real concerns. The concerns of Katniss, on why she is wanted so much by President Snow, on what she is not telling me. My mind tells me to calm down, to trust her, but I trust her, it is the world that I do not trust.

I hear footsteps coming down and I know it is my mother. She comes down and smirks when she sees me.

"Morning." She says with a serious face. I respond, "Morning, Mother."

She snickers, "I was talking to your father. Since you are never around anymore."

I know I should hold my tongue. I know I should not look for more confrontation. She comes close to me and watches me frost.

"You're only good at that. Frosting like the artist you are. Those Capitalites think you're a top notch here in the district because you can… frost."

I sigh knowing her snickering was going to happen. My father intervenes, "Leave him alone. He is just trying to help. Let him come and help. This is his home too."

She laughs, "No, no. His home is over there in the rich village, with that Seam whore."

I put down that frosting bag and I hold on to the table, knowing my anger is boiling inside.

She sees how her words have an effect on me. "Oh, did I hurt your feelings? Because I said she is a Seam whore."

I get a flashback, I am in District 4 with Katniss admiring the sea. Feeling the warm, salty air. I stare at her features. I feel love for her. And I want anything but my family to love her the way I do. But with my mother it is always another story.

I come back to reality, my mother says, "Why do you keep soiling our name? We shouldn't ever have to mix with them." I grit my teeth, trying to hold back.

"You've always been soft. You're too soft, just like your father. He knew better to also get away from that other Seam whore, the mother of your 'fiance'. You're disgusting Peeta."

My father yells at her, "Will you shut up?! You have no right to talk about those women that way. They are wonderful people and you choose to not see that."

She goes up to him, "But here is your son in love with that creature, bringing all these problems with him, using up all his time out of this district. We needed him here to do the labor but he is not even good for that."

I decide it is enough. I say quietly, "Enough."

She laughs, "You really thought you were doing good coming here."

I walk to her with the courage I should have had these past years. I begin my speech.

"I have endured your abuse enough. I am not your puppet. I am a man, a man who deserves to be loved. And I can be loved by anyone and I can love whoever. I'm sorry I have a life out of this bakery. I'm sorry you don't. This is how things are, Mother. Whether you like it or not. And I am going to keep loving Katniss, for as long as I can. I don't care what you say anymore. You are just upset because you know that you can no longer control me. I am trying to fix myself and yet you are here trying to bring me down. Aren't you tired, Mother?"

She sneers, "You cannot talk to me like that, I am your mother."

I say with fierce courage, "A mother loves, I don't know what you do."

With that I walk to the back and put on my coat. She stands there starstruck at what I have said. I tell my father, "Goodbye, Dad. I will come back soon."

I walk out of the bakery, knowing it is best to get out of the environment. I walk home, to my new home, with Katniss in it. I remind myself why I try every day. Why I try to keep myself sane. I smirk as I walk home.

Thank you all for reading. I really appreciate you, my readers. I have been making this story for too long, and now I am back at writing it. I will try. I have started my career but I will make time for what I love to do as well. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. (Cardigan by Taylor Swift)