In keeping with my 90s movies and songs theme, I have chosen the song "Truly, Madly, Deeply" by Savage Garden. This song is from a 1998 movie named Music From Another Room starring Jude Law, it's a weird but sweet film and I recommend it.

Anyone who cares knows the deal here. I do not own THG, any of its cast or wonderful characters. I also don't own the song that you'll see the lyrics of, or the movies they belong to.

Light In The Dark

'I will be faithful 'cause I'm counting on a new beginning, a reason for living, a deeper meaning...'

Katniss glances over at the radio on the desk beside her, her hand paused in its position where she's putting her earring in. "Panem Radio, narrating Katniss Everdeen's life since she got here." She comments, listening for a few moments to the song that radio station has decided to play for what must be the third time today.

Her situation is eerily similar to one she was in on her first day of work at the diner, but she dismisses it as nothing as she pushes her earring in and puts the back of it on.

Why does she listen to the radio? She could very easily get music on her phone and connect it to the high-end, super powerful, super clear, sharp sounding- whatever else Finnick said it was- speaker in her room. Panem Radio is the only radio station that's available in town still, and usually she doesn't mind the fact it has that irritating presenter Ceaser Flickerman, sometimes accompanied by Claudius Templesmith, but today they're both on and have decided to play the same song over and over again.

Apparently, or at least according to them, it's the twenty-third anniversary of the song being released and it's one of Ceaser's favourites so he absolutely has to play it repeatedly until the lyrics all blur together.

Luckily, for her at least, she won't be at home have to listen to it for much longer. Had it been a normal Saturday night, she probably wouldn't even have it on, but she likes hearing the radio- any radio station or music- when she gets dressed. It makes her feel like she's in some kind of romantic movie, especially because of why she's dressed up.

Tonight was her first date with Peeta.

Even thinking about it gives her a thrill down her spine, and she has to ignore the way her heart pounds in her chest, her hands feeling clammy as she rests them on her knees, staring at her reflection in the mirror.

Two days ago, he had been sat with her on a bench outside of the Emergency Room, and asked her on a date, and admittedly she's slightly ashamed of her reaction.

"Will," He sighed, trying to think of the right words and trying his hardest not to freak her out or make her think he's pushing her too hard. This, she, is so important to him and he'd rather hurt himself than scare of hurt her. "Katniss-"

"Seriously, you know I usually love your pauses and your sheepish attitude," She pointed out, a small smile on her face, but her eyes were concerned, scared suddenly of whatever he was planning on asking her. "But you need to spit it out, you're scaring me-"

"Would you like to go on a date with me?"

Staring at him for a long moment, Katniss suddenly looked behind her, a smirk on her face as she checked behind both shoulders, as if she was checking for cameras. "What?"

"I-" Peeta frowned, knowing he had to be careful not to push her too much, and her heart had begun to race in anticipation. "I asked if you would like to go on a date. With me, not anyone else, but you probably knew that, I-"

"Peeta," She rested a hand on the arm that was linked with her own, a grin on her face. "Are you sure?" She quirked a brow, concern in her eyes despite her joyful expression. Katniss was overjoyed he was asking her on a date, never having expected it yet, thinking he wasn't interested despite all their previous encounters, assuming he only wanted her as a friend and nothing else. "I mean...I'm me, I'm Katniss."

"And I'm Peeta." He shrugged, a crease between his brows, as if who she was mattered little to him, and she knows him well enough to know he doesn't see a persons class, their job or title, he just likes a person and that's it. "It's really fine if you want to say no, I completely understand."

"I know-"

"I just don't want you to think I'm trying to push you or-"

Taking his hand in hers, she smiled even though she was nervous and completely terrified of what his asking her on a date meant. "I know." Katniss reassured him. "I just...are you sure? I'm really, really not someone that someone like you should date, are you entirely sure you want to...do that with someone like me?"

"Someone like you? A really nice person?" He nodded, confusion and yet a glimmer of hope in his eyes, and she found herself getting lost in them for a long minute before she was brought back to reality.

"I mean...someone as," She struggled with her words. He's always been better with words than her. "Broken, damaged, ruined as me." She finished, hating herself for the way her words made his eyes cloud over with something she can't place.

"Katniss Everdeen, you are worth so much more than you think you are." He squeezed her hand, sighing softly as he didn't know how to make her see her words weren't facts, only things that have been spewed at her in angry, hateful rants. Peeta still doesn't know about her past, not all of it, but he knows enough to hate whomever it was who has made her feel so badly about herself. "Let me try and prove that to you?"

Her hand squeezed his and she nodded. "Okay." She grinned, finally able to accept now that she's sure he knows what he's asking, that her understands her hesitation. He certainly isn't the problem, only her, and she's terrified of messing this up. "I would like to go on that date, with you, not anyone else." She winked.

Admittedly, her reaction could have been far worse. She could have gone into a long rant about how awful she is, she could have rejected him purely because she isn't worthy of his time, his attention, his...affection? She isn't sure of the right term.

Leading up to their date, he had been rather vague, which was surprising considering the fact she knows Peeta hates keeping secrets or lying, even little white ones, despite how good he is about spinning tales to get out of trouble. All he told her to do was to take whatever dress Madge shoved in her hands and wear it if she wanted to.

She was surprised Madge got involved, considering she barely knows her apart from in a work capacity, but that morning, Madge had turned up with a pure white box tied off neatly with a bow. "For you, chosen by me at the request from Peeta to get you something you would like." She stated, before writing her phone number on the box- most women would hate that she ruined a clean box but Katniss hardly cares about things like that- and telling Katniss to let her know how it goes, and then she just winked, leaving as quickly as she came.

Inside the box, she had found a dark blue velvet dress that had long sleeves and a boat neckline. After she had put it on, she realised it was far too similar to the dress she wore to the party Finnick and Annie threw her, but she realises Madge did it to give her some better memories of a dress like this than the one she had. Or well, she thinks that's why Madge did it. Or maybe it's because it's the only dress Madge had ever seen her in and just assumed it was her style.

Sparing a glance to the now empty box again, she realises its come from some kind of designer brand she doesn't recognise, but she knows the name someone. "Cinna's." She muses, rolling the name on her tongue. Unsure of how she knows that name, she shrugs it off, figuring it must be nothing more than a fluke.

Katniss Everdeen is certainly not the type of woman to know or wear designer brands. In fact, she's fairly certain this may be the first time she's ever worn something designer and not off the rack. Admittedly, she isn't sure where the dress Annie got for her is from but she's certain Annie would never buy a dress Katniss would feel bad for wearing, knowing how much money had been spent on her.

Then again, Madge isn't the sort of person who would buy such an expensive dress, having come from Twelve just like her and definitely not having the funds for it as she's a waitress in Sae's just like Katniss was. Designer brands aren't something she would have ever been able to afford on those wages, even the wages she'll be on now at the hospital.

There's only one person she knows who would have those kinds of funds and she hates him for even thinking she would be shallow enough to accept nothing less than a designer dress. It's sweet of him, but she doesn't want Peeta to think that's the only reason she's going on this date. Then again, Madge said Peeta had only said to get her a dress Madge knew Katniss would like, not what it had to look like or what it had to cost- just something she would like.

If there is one thing she knows about Peeta Mellark, it's that he would never in a million years dictate what she wore or how much it costs, but she imagines he must have given Madge some kind of budget in mind. She had no clue. Also, why would Peeta trust Madge with his card? Unless he knew the person in the store she got it from and intended to pay for it later.

Why she's worrying about the cost of a dress, she doesn't know, but she is. Back at home, she could probably afford dinner for a month on how much something like this would cost, and she vows right then and there to wear this dress as often as she can so that at least she feels marginally better for having so much money spent.

At home, the most someone ever spent on her was something close to twenty dollars, and to her that was excessive enough, and it was when Gale had treated her to dinner so it wasn't even a physical item, more food.

Peeta isn't the type to spend frivolous amounts of money either. He came from the same place as her; he knows how money can be tight for people there and how many people starve. Something doesn't quite add up and she isn't sure why. Maybe she's overthinking it, maybe she's paranoid or just nervous and it's making her think like a crazy person.

The chimes of the doorbell breaks her away from her thoughts, and she hears Annie answer it before Katniss has even made her way fully down the stairs. "I'm not late, am I?" She asks, shoving on a black high heel shoe she can barely walk in but knows makes her legs look longer- if what Annie say's is anything to believe, which she thinks it is.

"No, I'm early." Peeta quickly assures her as she walks over to the door he's now closing, a bouquet of flowers in hand. A flash of a camera makes them both turn around to face the source, seeing Finnick grinning from ear to ear.

"Aw, I have to send that one to the Everlark group chat, they'll freak out. Well, Thresh definitely will." Finnick explains, his camera still up and ready. "Katniss, Peeta, go stand by that white wall, I can get some cute shots!"

"Finnick," Annie scolds, and for a split second Katniss thinks she's about to defend them. "Get them to stand in the garden, we have all those lovely roses we planted last year that have bloomed. And they're red, red means passion, true love, romance and desire!"

"Guys," Peeta goes to interject, but Annie holds up a hand to stop him, obviously not finished with her rambling at Finnick.

"When red roses are used for a bridal bouquet," Annie begins, making Katniss splutter behind her as the other couple leads Peeta with them alongside Katniss to the garden against their will. "They represent bliss in the marriage as well as true respect and appreciation toward one another-"

"Seriously-" Katniss tries, sending Peeta a look of 'what can you do?' which makes him grin despite their friends overbearing nature.

"You look beautiful, by the way." He whispers softly, quiet enough so only she can hear, and she blushes deep red but accepts the compliment. "These are you for you, by the way. Haymitch said I had to bring you flowers no matter what, not that I intended not to, but he made it clear if I didn't he would punch me."

Snickering, Katniss takes the flowers when he offers them to her, nodding slowly. "They're beautiful. What flowers are they?" She asks, knowing she knows them somehow but is unsure of how.

"Oh, well," He points at one type of flower, the one that seems to be less included compared to the other but still beautiful. "These are ivies." He informs her, before pointing at the others and looking nervous. "I know...you said you miss your sister but I-"

"Primroses?" She whispers, biting her bottom lip as tears come to her eyes.

The fact that he looks terrified when he nods makes her smile, knowing he means no harm in getting her primrose flowers to remind her of her own sister, and the knowledge that he thought of her family, knowing how much she misses them and wanting them to somehow be apart of their first date.

"There is also some Iris's in there." He admits with a shrug of his shoulders, like it's nothing when it truly means everything to her. "For Prim and your mother."

A tear leaks from her eye that she quickly wipes away, bringing the flowers to her nose to inhale them. "Ivy, Primrose and Iris." She whispers, a smile coming on her face. "I love it, thank you."

Seeming surprised by her delight, he grins, though it's obvious that he wasn't expecting that much of a happy response. He hoped that she would be happy, but he wasn't sure, and the thought of her hating them had made him so nervous he nearly didn't bring them. But, it worked out, and he's made her happy, so he'll call that a success.

"-So it will be adorable when they get married, their first date having red roses and their wedding day having red roses!" Annie finally finishes, her and Finnick having been discussing the importance of roses from when Katniss and Peeta chimed out till now.

"I can't wait to see their wedding-"

"Alright, that's enough." She mumbles, standing tall as she coughs loudly to get their attention. "I don't like roses, red or white or any colour. And it's a first date, lets not get carried away." Katniss reminds them, her tone firm but friendly enough to let them both know she wants to drop it but appreciates their support.

What she neglects to mention is the fact she can't get married until she's had her divorce come through. She's already married to a man no one can find. Though she did become aware, thanks to Effie telling her, that she can get a divorce without knowing where Gale is, and she had planned on filing the second she could afford it.

"Who doesn't like roses?" Finnick frowns, taking another photo of her holding the flowers before she can even blink.

"Overrated." She comments, but fakes a smile when he takes another photo of her.

Admittedly, with the white wooden trellis behind them and red roses intertwined with the squares, she knows the photos will be beautiful, if not over the top. It's a first date, but the way Finnick and Annie act is like they're going to Prom or getting married. She knows they're just excited as they both want it to work out between her and Peeta, she wants it to work too, but this is over the top.

"Okay, just few more, stand together in front of the roses and smile." Finnick requests, making them do as he says.

She feels Peeta's arm wrap around her slowly, unsurely, but she leans into his embrace with the flowers he gifted her in one hand, the other resting over his chest, feeling his heart thudding steadily under her palm. After a moment, she smiles just in time to see the flash, before Finnick proceeds to take nearly two hundred photos more without flash if the sound of the camera going off is anything to go by.

"How many are you taking?" Peeta asks, his smile faltering slightly, and she can't help but laugh out loud, her hand holding the flowers covering her mouth, and the sound alone makes Peeta turn his head toward her, his eyes finding hers, letting out a soft chuckle of his own. She hears the distant sound of Finnick's camera clicking away but ignores it in favour of grabbing Peeta's hand. "We should probably...go." He announces to them, his eyes still on hers. "Reservations and all."

"Reservations?" She asks, never having had a table booked for a date before. But then again, her first date was in the back of a bowling alley where the bins were, drinking gone off beer and eating trashcan pizza because they couldn't afford anything else. They aren't days she likes to remember. "Where?"

Smiling, he lets her link her arms with his, leading her slowly toward the front door with Finnick and Annie trailing behind them. "Effie recommended it to me, it's a place called Lavinia's?"

Annie gasps loudly, her hand coming up to cover her mouth. "You managed to get into Lavinia's?" She asks, her eyes widening when he nods. "Oh that place is gorgeous, the food is amazing, the staff are so friendly, expensive but worth the money. I thought it was notoriously hard to get into though?"

Shrugging, Peeta smiles sheepishly. "I didn't book it, I didn't realise how hard it was to get into, but Effie knew the owners so she booked it. I am a fraud."

Katniss nudges his side. "At least you're honest." She comments, allowing him to help her pull on her coat. "I like that."

By the time they have- by they she means Peeta- driven to the restaurant, she's already laughing at a story he's telling her about work, her mouth open wide as she can't help her fits of giggles. "Thresh really fell into the tray and knocked it over?"

"There were bandages everywhere." He confirms, wiping the tears of mirth from his eyes as he leads her into the restaurant, giving his name quickly before they're brought up some stairs to a more private section, the tables being further apart and the atmosphere slightly darker to give a more romantic feel to it. "Wow." He whispers to her.

"I know. I feel like I'm wearing a tracksuit compared to that lady dripping in diamonds." Katniss comments, both of them glancing at each other before they laugh, having to sober themselves up quickly when a waiter places menus on the table intended for them.

Said waiter pulls out her chair, and she does an awkward half dance, half waddle until she's in her chair with it pushed in. She certainly doesn't belong in this atmosphere and, by the look on his face, neither does Peeta. "Effie did not mention how fancy this place was, then again, I asked Effie Trinket for date advice and now I feel like an idiot for thinking she would pick something less extravagant."

Nodding slowly, Katniss shrugs. It's not that she doesn't appreciate Effie's contribution, but she clearly doesn't know either of them well enough if she assumes this is what they would be in to. Sure, she's impressed, but it isn't the kind of place her or Peeta would ever frequent normally, and it's over the top for a first date. Nevertheless, she finds it endearing he asked for advice, as if having this date go well means something to him. "I think it's fun to watch you squirm surrounded by people like you." She smirks.

"People like me?" He asks, a confused, dopey, grin coming up on his face. "I'm nothing like these people."

Pursing her lips, she pokes her tongue in her cheek. "You are." She states simply, but the look on his face still tells her he doesn't understand so she elaborates. "You're handsome, rich and successful, everyone knows who Dr. Mellark and Dr. Odair are." She informs him, not bothered by it but she can't believe he didn't know that. "You are in the same class as these people."

"Except I'm not." Peeta frowns, almost seeming offended at the insinuation. "I don't waste money like they do, I come from a town, like you, where people starve every single day. These people drink this bright pink concoction named ipecac that makes them vomit so they can eat more."

Reaching over the table, Katniss takes his hand in her own, knowing he was nothing like that, and it only adds to her confusion as to why he would allow Madge to spend so much money on a dress for her, why he would pay god knows how much money on getting them dinner, fully well knowing it was expensive. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it in that way-"

"I know." He squeezes her hand, exhaling slowly, before his gaze finds hers. "Sorry, I just-I want this...us to go well, and now I feel like I may have gone over the top taking a suggestion from Effie."

Grimacing, she nods, knowing she can't lie or act to save her life so she's honest. "Yes, this is over the top for a first date. But there is nothing that says we have to stay. Why don't we grab a couple of drinks and head to some pub and get dinner?" She suggests, knowing they would both be more comfortable. They have to stay long enough to be polite, as much as she hates it, but they could still have fun. "I fancy a cheeseburger with a big plate of fries."

Peeta is obviously in agreement if the way he grins is anything to go by, and she can tell he's glad for her suggestion. It thrills and terrifies her to see how much of an effort he's making for their relationship, if there even will be one, but she knows she wants it to well too, so she understands his concerns. He just wants her to be happy, trying to treat her and give her things no one else ever has done before. Katniss just wants him. If she has him, she'll be happy.

"You read my mind."

They end up in the back of a pub eating off of each others plates not even two hours later.

She says eating off of each others, but it's more her stealing his fries even after she's finished her own. They got the exact same thing, cheeseburgers and fries that came in large portions, something they would never get in an expensive restaurant that charged him nearly fifty dollars for two drinks- she tried to pay but he wouldn't let her, and it infuriates her because she knows she'll never win.

He wouldn't let her pay for their food in the pub either, even though it's cheap and something she could definitely afford, nor their drinks there too. His excuse was, "I was raised a gentleman, I will continue to be one, and I will die a gentleman."

Originally, she had scoffed and punched his arm, but she secretly likes the fact he takes it so seriously, takes it to heart to be a good man. Then again, she hates it, not wanting him to think the only reason she was friends with him and is now on a date with him was because he picked up the bill. That doesn't even cross the top two hundred reasons she wants him in her life.

The pub they ended up in was small and cramped, with the tables and chairs so close together that whenever someone passes, they knock into Peeta- who said Katniss could sit with her back to the wall to avoid being nudged and pushed. It's cosy and warm, with them being sat near a fireplace, and it has such low ceilings that even Peeta and her had to duck before walking in. It's completely full, seeing as it's a Saturday night, and run by an Irish woman that Katniss didn't catch the name of, but she flits around the tables chatting to everyone as if she knows exactly whom it is.

It reminds her of Twelve, with everyone knowing one another and being friendly, if not actual friends, and she wonders if this is what it's like in the pubs there too – seeing as Gale never let her go to one. It makes her miss home, but only enough to be nostalgic instead of sad.

The whole pub is full of working-class people, instead of the upper class snobs she usually hates, and she loves the fact Peeta has felt comfortable enough to take off his grey suit jacket, looking relaxed and much more like himself.

It's bawdy, loud, and completely not what a first date should be. She loves it.

There is no unnecessary politeness, no one pretending to be someone they aren't or heading to the bathroom to be sick so they can eat more.

No, it's drinks flowing with people buying drinks for people they don't know and will never see again, only because they met that night and decided they wanted to be generous- and she can tell there are no ill intentions, men buying for men, women for women, men for women and vice versa. Someone even bought her and Peeta a pint of Guinness each when the man had asked if the pair had even had a pint, and since they hadn't, one was bought. Peeta had paid for a round of drinks for that mans table, and every so often, she hears them call to them just so they can raise a glass. It's strange, but she finds she enjoys it. There is no attention on her, and they won't be remembered tomorrow, but for now, it's light hearted and fun.

She hasn't had fun in so long.

"Your man walks into a pub and he says to the lady at the bar," A man on a small stage right near them begins a joke, having just finished a song, a pint of Guinness in one hand and the microphone in the other, speaking to the room as a whole. "What's the quickest way to Dublin? She turns to this fella and 'are you walking or driving?' she says."

Peeta raises an eyebrow, as if he's genuinely curious to hear the end of the joke, and she can't help but watch him for a minute, completely carefree and happy, far different to how nervous he was before. She much prefers him this way.

"Your man replies 'driving'," The man by the microphone states, placing his pint down on the small table beside him. "She says 'sure now, that would be the quickest, yeah'."

Rolling her eyes, Katniss can't help but laugh, seeing Peeta do the same before turning back to her, and the man on stage begins to sing, the words familiar to her, and she realises it was on the radio earlier, except the way he sings it is far more upbeat.

In front of them, people begin to move, and Peeta slips out of his chair to come sit next to her so there is more room, his chair being swiftly move away. Within a few seconds, a large space of the cramped pub has been made, and there are a few couples up dancing.

Seeming nervous, Peeta coughs once before glancing at her. "Katniss, I know you don't really do-"

"Yes, I would love to dance." She quickly interjects, not wanting him to take her silence as off-putting and forgetting the question. She wants to dance, especially now, on their first date in a tiny pub full of people they don't know. To feel him close to her surrounded by others, the light low, the fire warm on them and everyone else, merriment in the air.

'I will be faithful 'cause I'm counting on a new beginning, a reason for living, a deeper meaning.'

Smiling softly, she takes his hand, leaving their half drunk drinks on the table without a care, not even bothering to hide her bag like she would have in that posh restaurant. She has a strange sense of belonging, of people taking care of others, and she knows the people whom Peeta bought drinks for are keeping an eye out on their table just like her and Peeta did for them when they went to the bar- an unspoken agreement, a contract to make sure the other is okay.

One of her hands rests on his shoulder at first, before she realises it's far too formal and moves so that her arms are wrapped around his neck loosely. His own hands are placed carefully on her waist. "I won't break." She reminds him, even though her heart flutters at how much he cares.

"I just-" He glances down at where his feet are, beginning to sway along with the music with her, and she closes some of the distance between them so that they're chest-to-chest. "Don't want to hurt you."

Katniss smiles, her nose nudging against his, and she leans up to press a feather light kiss to his tip of his. "I know."

'And when the stars are shining brightly in the velvet sky, I'll make a wish send it to heaven then make you want to cry the tears of joy for all the pleasure and the certainty...'

They sway slowly, her forehead pressed tightly against his, and she doesn't think she's ever felt as safe as she does in that moment, holding him close with his arms surrounding her, no expectations or rules, just them enjoying their own moment, with others surrounding them. It's like he's the only person in the world to her, despite the bumping of people against them, and she knows that he feels the same about her by the look in his eyes- solely focused on her.

After a pause of a split second, Katniss does something she hasn't done in years, her voice quiet and unsure, but she hopes he hears it anyway. She sings. "I want to stand with you on a mountain, I want to bathe with you in the sea. I want to lay like this forever, until the sky falls down on me..."

His eyes find hers, his head perking up as if he's listening to her so intently that he doesn't hear the other person, and her voice grows ever so slightly louder so he can hear her better, ignoring the 'aw' she hears from somewhere behind her. It doesn't matter if they hear her; all that matters is that he hears her.

Waiting for a minute, plainly because she doesn't know the next verse despite the fact she's now heard it four times that day alone and for years on normal radio stations and in movies, and she doesn't want to make a fool of herself. She doesn't think he notices, his eyes staring into hers. "I'll be your dream, I'll be your wish. I'll be your fantasy, I'll be your hope; I'll be your love,"

She hears his breath hitch, before his own voice comes out in a whisper, though he isn't singing like her, it's enough for her to know he wants to, but he doesn't want to drown out her voice. He knows she hasn't sung in years, not since her father died, having lost that ability in her grief. "Be everything that you need." He whispers-sings, and she blinks away her tears.

They both know it isn't just a song, not just them being cliché and cheesy by singing to one another, but a promise. A promise to be faithful, to be the person they need in their darkest hour, the person they love one day. But it's the word hope that gets her, thinking of the last person who gave her hope like Peeta does every day.

The last person who did that was so long ago she hasn't even thought of it, having lost sight of it within her grief and despair.

She had been twelve years old, just a slip of a girl; sat outside of a bakery in town she can't remember the name of in the Merchant section on a bench. She had been sobbing so hard she had no breath in her body, her stomach churning and clenching painfully seeing as she hadn't eaten in days. Not since Rooba in the Hob had given Katniss some food, feeling sorry for her and her family after her father had died two weeks before.

All she'd had was a second hand black dress that was in the back of her mothers closet, which was far too big for her but would do considering the day, her braid down her left shoulder, messy and unkempt from her running away from her father's funeral- the pain too much for her to handle, feeling like she was dying inside. Her mother had shut down on her, she had her little sister to care for since her father couldn't do it anymore, and she was completely alone in the world with no money, no food, and no means of providing for her family. She was so lost; she didn't know what to do.

But, in her darkest moment, a boy had approached her, concern in his eyes. He was only a couple of years older than her, she guessed, no more, with curly blonde hair that fell on his forehead in waves, and the most stunning blue eyes she had ever seen in her life. He was kind, asking her what had happened, if she was hurt, comforting her for as long as it took for her to be able to speak without sobbing.

After nearly half an hour in her company, something in him seemed to change, and his eyes clouded over with something she still doesn't understand, but he'd marched away from her and she had assumed she did something to upset him or anger him. She had nearly sobbed again, losing the one person who really, really, listened to her, tried to help without giving a sob story of his own- despite the fact she could see a big, black and blue bruise on his right eye. However, a few minutes later, he stepped out again, with a loaf of bread in hand that he gifted to her.

She didn't pay him, though she offered, and she had no means of ever giving him back something for the debt she owed him, but he asked for nothing and genuinely seemed to want nothing. She had been so thankful, never having had anyone do anything like that for her before, not even when her dear father was alive. In her greatful state, she'd pressed a small, short, tentative kiss to his cheek before she had to go and get the bread to her family.

On her way home, she had stared at the loaf in disbelief. It was fine, perfect really, and she never understood why he would give it to her so willingly, for free no less. On her way home, she had held the loaf close to her chest, practically sprinting home where she knew her mother and Prim would be. It had burnt her skin and she had winced, but looking back now, it was nothing compared to what she later went through.

By the time she had reached home, the loaf was had cooled, but the insides were still warm, smelling so good that she had to force herself not to scoff it in a few bites. As she dropped them on the table, Prim's hands had reached to tear off a chunk, but Katniss had made her sit, forced her mother to join them at the table, and poured warm tea.

They ate an entire loaf, slice by slice. It was good hearty bread, filled with raisins and nuts. It fuelled them with what they needed to get through another day.

Though she had seen him in school once or twice, she had never had a clue who he was, his name, nothing, but she knew that the next time she saw him, she would thank him again. Just because she could and because he deserved far more than a thank you for what he did.

But she never saw him again after that, not for months in school, and when she had left early because she couldn't afford to waste time there anymore when she could hunt and earn a living and get her family food. She never learned his name, never learned anything about him except he was kind.

Then suddenly, she remembers his face, and she's disgusted with herself for not remembering sooner. She remembered the details but not he's actual face, but the second she does know, she visualises him in front of her.

You don't forget the face of the person who was your last hope.

And that face is the exact same as the one in front of her, making her inhale sharply, her eyes catching his as he looks concern, but she doesn't pull away. If anything, she moves closer.

Of course it's him, of course the kindest boy she had ever known turned into the kindest man, the most gentlemanly, sweet, caring, considerate man she'd ever had the privilege to spend time with. She should tell him now, but she refrains, not wanting to bring it up in case he doesn't remember, but she knows Peeta. She doesn't think he would forget the bruise on his eye or the way she had sobbed, but maybe she's wrong. It was twelve years ago now, and he'll have forgotten all about it.

'I want to live like this forever...'

She swallows, her eyes looking into his for a brief moment before she leans in slowly, her lips pressing against his. Of course, it isn't the first time, and she hopes it won't be the last. Every time she kisses him, it feels different, in a good way, like she's opening up her heart to him, giving him special, important piece of her she knows he'll hold onto until she gives him enough pieces to make something beautiful. He's a painter; he should be good at that by now.

Kissing him, despite their crowded surroundings, is like opening up her soul, tasting feeling and seeing every colour of the rainbow in their own sensual way. To her, without sounding cliché, it's like catching a smile in a bottle, capturing the softness and sweetness and keeping it for whenever she'll need it next. For support or comfort, she'll use that smile one hundred times, especially if it's his.

He pulls her closer by her waist, wrapping his arms around her body and lifting her slightly so they're completely level, and now she knows she can be cliché but honest by saying this feels like she's levitating off the ground, floating with him and no one can reach them, with him keeping her safe.

As his lips deepen their kiss, she can't help but compare him to an aphrodisiac, something she can't get enough of, mixed with Pandora's box unopened- not knowing what's inside but she's so, so desperate to. To her, nothing else but them in the middle of the room exists, and nothing she can say will ever be able to put it well enough to describe how safe she feels, the warmth inside her, keeping her protected from any harm. He's keeping her safe, and she knows that will never change.

As they pull away slowly, she realises what all of those feelings mean, and something inside her immediately panics. She's never felt this before, never felt this protected and loved and cared for. She's never felt so warm, so comforted, so...loved. And she knows she can never compare it to anything else. Because despite all her fears and reservations, she can't deny what this truly means.

She can't deny what just wanting to be with him means, what not caring about money or materialistic things means, only ever wanting to be in his company just because she does, because he makes her laugh above all else, he wraps an arm around her when she's sad, he holds her when she cries. He smiles with glee whenever she does, plainly because he's just so happy to make her happy, never expecting anything in return but she just constantly wants to give him even a piece of the happiness he has bestowed upon her.

And now, with him staring at her with the amount of care, almost love she would guess, in his eyes, she knows she can no longer deny it, and she feels like hunger in her belly that she always feels when he gives her this look. The hunger that overtook her in bed that morning she'd pulled him into her arms, and she knows this would have happened anyway.

She loves him.

That was chapter ten of however many I end up doing of this, I am unsure what I will end up doing. Anyway, I've been brushing up on all of my 90s movies knowledge and be prepared to see way more songs, I'm loving this!