Chapter 17: Mrs. Mellark, the Baker's Wife

I watch fondly from my desk in my classroom as my students stream out into the hallway to go to recess, the last chimes of the bell fading on the air. Once I am alone, I make a few corrections on a spelling test before standing up to wipe away the chalk on the blackboard.

If I had been paying better attention, I would have heard his heavy tread come in. He still hasn't learned from our time in the arena, or from watching me hunt, but I'm so focused on preparing for the next lesson that I don't clue in to his entrance…

At least until hands suddenly brace against my hips, his stiff arousal pressing into my rear, and a warm pair of lips that I would know anywhere dip into my neck.

I halfway let out a surprised yelp, spinning about in his arms and deflating in relief when I see it is Peeta.

"Oh! You startled me!" I laugh weakly, pulling him into a hug. Rearing back out of the embrace, we smile into each other's eyes before leaning in and sharing a chaste kiss.

"Hi" he murmurs.

"Hi," I giggle, running my fingers along his toned biceps. "What are you doing here?"

"Brought you your lunch," Peeta holds up a pail with a grin. "You left it on the countertop this morning. I found it when I stopped by the Village to let Buttercup out."

Mashing his face in my hands, I stand up on my tiptoes to kiss him firmly again. "You're such a dear. Thank you." Stepping out of his arms, I circle back around to set the lunchpail on my desk. "So you're on your break?"

"Damien has the kitchens well in hand. Ovens firing on all cylinders. We're getting good customers off the pastries, now that it's springtime."

I chuckle. "They must ogle at the windows and see a flower instead of a cupcake. Or is it the other way around?"

He chuckles right along with me. "Sounds like someone else I know."

I blush pink. "You remember that? Prim and I used to stop and admire the cakes all the time; she would drag me to the window some days. I didn't think you noticed."

"I noticed everything about you. You just weren't paying attention." His blue eyes are smoldering, and I feel myself grow very wet between my legs. I'd take him right here, over my desk, if the door wasn't still wide open. I settle instead for floating over to him and kissing him softly again.

It's hard to believe that I'm already at the end of my second year of teaching. It's been a little over two years since Peeta returned to Twelve, and in that time, we've been slowly healing and making our way back to each other. He still gets flashbacks now and again, but has learned techniques to fight through it, although sometimes he'll order me to retreat to our room and lock the door until it passes.

In spite of these little reminders, we've been building a really good life together. The real issues are at night, when I've been waking up from terrors more and more frequently. Peeta always holds me and whispers comfort to me… and sometimes even soothes me with his body if I have the urge to climb on him and make love, just to feel him under me and know that he's still there.

In spite of everything, I know I'm happier than I've ever been… and in some ways that terrifies me. I know I can lose it; I've seen how it can be done. Slowly, I loop my arms about Peeta's neck, playing with the nape there, and he grins down at me with such love I feel I could burst.

"Will you marry me?"

He says it so softly, I almost miss it. Even as my grey eyes expand in shock and pleasant surprise, however, I purse my lips and thought as I run my fingers through his blonde hair, amused to a degree, sizing him up. Gazing into his orbs as blue as a summer sky, I dare to smile.

"OK. I, I mean… yes. Of course, yes."

Peeta seems equally shocked that I would accept, and taking me by my waist, he kisses me deeply. My lashes flutter shut and I purr as I kiss him back, sagging against him. "Hmmm….."

"…. Miss Everdeen?"

Peeta and I break apart abruptly, our arms still around each other, turning to behold one of my little students, Lila Rose, bent over her satchel bag, something round clutched in her hand. She's rooted to the spot, surprise and curiosity on her face. Evidently, she didn't expect to walk in on anyone.

I glance between her and my…. fiancé, sighing. "Lila Rose, sweetie, what are you doing here?"

"I… I came up here to get my ball for recess. I left it in my bag." The darling little one looks near tears. "I won't tell about you kissing the baker man!"

Behind me, Peeta is chuckling. "Better than Lover Boy…"

"Oh, hush, you," I turn back to him, smirking. Crossing over to my student, I kneel at her level. "It's all right, baby, you're not in trouble." I suddenly grin conspiratorially, and a memory surfaces about how I once smiled like that at Rue, a lifetime ago. "Can you keep a secret?"

Her angelic blue eyes go huge, and she nods eagerly.

"The Baker Man and I are gonna have a Toasting! And I think I just found my flower girl."

Lila Rose's eyes sparkle as she gasps once she gets my meaning. Squealing, she throws her arms around me and jumps up and down. "Thank you, thank you, Miss Katniss! I won't ever, ever tell!" And she dashes out of the classroom.

Peeta is chuckling again as I stand up and turn to him. "I'm surprised she seemed so shocked when she caught us. Pretty much everyone knows we're together…"

I shrug. "Well, she would have only been a toddler when we were competing in our first Games; she might not remember it…"

"Oh, trust me, I thought it was cute! But you know, she's never gonna be able to shut up about that…"

"Hey, now, give her some credit! Little kids can be known to take secrets very seriously…"

Peeta just grins handsomely as his arms encircle my waist and mine find their way back over his shoulders. "What about you, Girl on Fire? Any secrets worth my time?"

I shake off the stab of pain as I remember telling him the story of how I first met Finnick. "I'm an open book. Most people know my secrets before I know them myself."

"Unfortunately, I think that's true…" And Peeta dips his head down to kiss me. I hold back for a moment, and then surrender.

I stand before the mirror in the attic of Peeta's and my mansion. I'm wearing my wedding dress, studying my reflection with a critical eye as I swish this way and that. I've always been more of a simple girl in my tastes, but I couldn't honor Cinna if I just let those old Capitol bridal gowns hang in my closest collecting dust. Besides, Mother says it's a great thing to use as something old. A final gift from an old friend…

I turn back to gaze at my mother, who is also watching me and not even bothering to hide how she's teary. "Katty…. You look beautiful."

I smile wetly. "Thank you, Mother." We've reached a place of peace ever since I caught her with Beetee. It allowed us to clear the air on other grievances as well. I may not forgive her just yet for abandoning me and Prim when Daddy died… but now I at least understand why she did what she did, and I don't resent it so much anymore. If I lost Peeta in that way… I probably would want to forget the world too.

I shudder at the possibility, and Mother drifts forward. "What is it, dear? Pre-wedding jitters?"

I shake my head. "No. It's just… get me down to that Justice Building soon so I can get hitched!"

Mother smiles dryly. "Never thought I'd hear you say that…"

"Well, when I'm wrong, then I say I'm wrong. It was wrong to think I couldn't fall in love with Peeta. He's always… affected me. He… crept up on me."

"Love can be like that sometimes." A summer breeze blows in from the attic's open window, and I move to shut it. Chancing a glance outside, I can see into the Village green below and out to the gates… where a very familiar woman in a gaudy wig is addressing the two designers behind her. "Stop! Breathe it all in, my lovelies! History was made here!" Even from this far away, I can see Effie Trinket wrinkle her nose, grinning and bearing it. "You'll get used to the smell!"

I break into a beaming smile of happiness. "Effie…."

Behind me, Mother is smiling. "I'll go let them in. You know she'll want a big reveal."

I laugh. "She will at that!"

And indeed, moments later, Effie is staring at me absolutely speechless and with tears streaming down her face.

"Oh, Katniss… you really are the most beautiful bride…."

I beam. "Thank you." We kiss cheeks lightly. Taking a deep breath, I get a firm grip on my bouquet. "Well, are we ready to make an honest woman of me?"

"I suppose so, though I can't imagine why you would want to get married in this heat!" Effie bemoans.

Thank goodness for air conditioning, then. When my escort, my mother and I arrive at the Justice Building, Haymitch meets us and ushers us into a back room adjacent to the District Clerk's office. The doors will apparently open onto the makeshift aisle that Haymitch will escort me down, in place of my father.

I feel my heart hammering in my chest, and I'm beaming. Just on the other side of that door, my Peeta awaits. What will he think when he sees me?

Behind the door, soft music begins to play, and Haymitch offers me his arm. Taking it gratefully, my prep team opens the doors to allow Effie and Mother to walk down first. Just ahead of them is my little student, Lila Rose, casting the flower petals down onto the floor.

When Haymitch and I step into the small room converted into a chapel, Peeta and I lock eyes and I can see him lose his breath.

Haymitch passes me off to my future and goes to stand off to the side, doubling as Best Man.

"Dearly beloved: we are gathered here today…."

The District Clerk is efficient as he guides us through the ceremony. I have eyes only for Peeta, and only really pay attention when it is time to give my vows, and also when the Clerk says, "If there is anyone here who thinks this couple should not be wed, let them, by the State, stand up!" No one does, and forever hold their peace.

Peeta and I then sign the marriage license so that we shall be legally married in the eyes of the law. Then, Peeta lifts my veil and bends forward. I sway into him, closing my eyes and when our lips meet upon being declared husband and wife, I drag him closer, deepening the kiss and petaling my mouth open to greet his eager tongue.

Everyone in the congregation bursts into applause and cheers, and I hear the Clerk announce us for the first time as "Mr. and Mrs. Peeta Mellark!"

My new… husband and I depart the Justice Building and stroll arm-in-arm through our home and up to the Victors' Village, pursued by a crowd of well-wishers. When we reach our mansion, I squeal in surprise as Peeta sweeps me off my feet and carries me across the threshold while Mother and Haymitch lead the others in the traditional district wedding song.

Immediately thereafter, Effie and my prep team whisk me back up into the attic to change into my blue Reaping dress, while Peeta is similarly sequestered separate from me. Gliding serenely down the stairs about half an hour later, I enter our living room to find a blazing fire going in the hearth, Peeta standing by in a pressed shirt and slacks.

Kneeling before our fireplace, Peeta and I carefully toast a bit of bread over the flames and feed a piece to each other. Then, leaning in, the smoke causes my eyes to tear up again, my love and I kiss deeply to scattered applause. I moan into Peeta's mouth and clutch him tighter, not wanting our wedding kiss that seals our marriage to end.

"I love you! I love my husband," I whisper into his lips, my voice strangely hoarse.

Peeta just chuckles, sweeping his tongue along my lower lip and I melt up into him, soft and pliant. "I love my wife."

Wife. I am Peeta's wife. I am married. Mrs. Katniss Mellark. It has a nice ring to it. And, as we break the kiss at last, and I stare down, smiling at my left hand, I think that the only ring that's better is the band now adorning my finger.