Companion
AN:
Meeting Haymitch, the English Setter.
Coming home.
Special thank you to my dear friend, GinnyGinervaWeasley, for betaing my story.
P.S. I love the Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins owns everything!
CHAPTER 15
"Haymitch!" Peeta greets his hairy baby. "I miss you, boy! I miss you so much! he repeats while ruffling his dog's doughy face. Haymitch healed up fully and stayed with Dice while Peeta was in the hospital. Dice had taken such good care of him that he even gained some weight.
"He's been really excited to see you all morning," Mattea says and hands Peeta the leash. "Andi has been walking him around the lake every morning. At first, he had unsure reactions when he passed the spot where the incident happened. Eventually, Andi was able to train him. 'Dog Behavioral Therapy,' she says."
"Thanks, Matea. That means so much to me," Peeta expresses gaily while scratching Haymitch's neck.
Peeta clips his leash on his electric wheelchair and asks Haymitch to sit. He follows eagerly, even answering with an enthusiastic bark. "I want you to meet someone, buddy. This is Katniss Everdeen," he says, then takes Katniss' hand for Haymitch to smell. He wags his tail and pushes his nose up in the air, inhaling her scent and locking it in his faithful memory. The eagerness of his nostrils tells everyone that he likes what he is smelling.
Katniss kneels down on one knee and extends her hand for him to sniff even further. Haymitch actively does, then licks the whole of her hand while slobbering wet saliva all over it. Everyone in the hospital room laughs at his chummy behavior, and Peeta allows him to go to Katniss. He gets a whiff of her hair and shirt before licking her jaw and face zealously. She's an instant hit, and he already adores her.
"I think that's a good introduction," Dice chuckles.
"How could he possibly resist?" Peeta teases, admiring what he sees.
Haymitch barks like he found a juicy steak and wags his tail in wild agreement. Everyone is happy.
The welcome party was full of giggling and celebration. Elrick somehow managed to bake a decadently moist chocolate cake, and there was nothing left to pack up after lunch. He's becoming such a versatile young man, cooking, baking, woodworking, and more. Dice tagged along to Twelve with the promise of continuing Haymitch's 'Dog Behavioral Therapy' and of interning at the orphanage. She used her 'I'm-an-only-child-and-I-need-a-life' card to convince her parents to let her work in a 'very respectable institution full of children.' Elrick nearly sprinted when Dice stepped off the hovercraft. Gale arranged special transportation for Katniss and Peeta's swift return to Twelve. Annie was close behind Elrick, carried by Timothy. Katniss ran towards the red hair, hugging her and showering her with tiny kisses. Annie giggled and squealed with the billowing joy of being smothered. Katniss missed her so so much.
The children play with Peeta's chair, pressing all the buttons as they are whizzed through the long hallway. It sends Katniss into worry, thinking they might break it but Peeta assures her that Beetee designed it himself, so it can withstand the children's playfulness. Elrick shows Dice around, introducing her to everyone, especially to Delly. Her piercings and colored hair are a little too much for conventional District 12 citizens, but her kind eyes win them over. The children take turns walking and scratching Haymitch - the English setter and not the mayor, they tease among themselves. Everyone adores the friendly orange Belton. Even Buttercup keeps himself quiet around him.
"They're beautiful," Sae says and pats the purple and white flowers.
"Jonathan said that you love wild orchids," Peeta explains. "He visited me, you know?"
"I know. He told me," Sae replies spiritedly, then cups Peeta's chin. "He said you're a handsome man. I told him he's more handsome, of course!"
"I won't argue with that," Peeta replies with a chuckle.
"You two dears should go home. It's getting late. Can your chair handle the snow?"
"You'll be surprised what it can do, Sae."
"Go on then. Go home. Rest. Sleep."
"I'll just say good night to Annie, Peeta," Katniss says before running upstairs.
"Will you give her a kiss for me, Katniss?"
"I will."
The fine snow, the cold breeze, the quiet meadow hibernating until spring, the clear sky peppered with bright stars, and the house, no, the home with a single warm yellow light at the door makes everything feel right. It's been too long since Katniss and Peeta have been home.
Leroy, and surprisingly James, who has managed to stay in Twelve with Sarah for a month now, have built a ramp going through the kitchen door. Sarah and Sae organized the guest room downstairs for Peeta to sleep in comfortably. They moved some of the furniture to accommodate his wheelchair and have installed safety handles in the bathroom to help Peeta when he bathes. There are drawings around the house from the children, and Annie's knitted animals are quaintly placed on the coffee table by the living room. Everyone helped prepare for Peeta's return.
"I feel so loved," Peeta says softly. He's holding a letter from Elrick and is glassy-eyed.
"You are," Katniss simply replies and brushes his curly hair.
Katniss helps Peeta to bed and gives him his medicines and supplements. She rubs his shoulders lightly, soothing him further to relax.
"Thank you," Peeta says, then leans back on two big pillows.
"Are you comfortable? I could put another pillow under your leg?" she offers, reaching for another pillow. Peeta takes her forearm before she can grab it then pulls her down to him for a kiss.
"I don't need another pillow. I just need you," Peeta says lovingly before pressing his lips on hers again. The familiarity of everything and the comfort of being in the house once more urged them to deepen the kiss. They've missed each other so much. Sharing only chaste kisses while at the hospital made them hunger for more time alone. Katniss leans on the bed to support herself and runs her hand over Peeta's jawline, which is now covered with a short dark blonde beard. She changed her mind about shaving him and asked him to keep it until winter's end. Peeta gladly obliged. They melt into each other's lips, feeding greedily from each other's heat. She bites him lightly, and he fervently responds. Their breathing quickens, and tendrils of flame creep from their bellies to their chests and into their necks. Soft moans escape Katniss' lips, answered by Peeta's low grunts. He knows that pain will come soon enough, but he ignores it if only to keep her lips on his for longer.
"Ahhhhh! Ssssshhhh ..." Peeta finally lets out when the pain becomes unbearable. They break off their kiss. His heavy and hard breathing and the contraction of his abdomen are shooting sharp pains to his ribcage. He leans his head on Katniss' shoulders, miserably trying to calm himself down.
"I'm sorry, I got carried away," Katniss whispers while rubbing circles on his back. It's not helping. She, unknowingly, is sending more shivers all over his body. She doesn't know the effect she has on him at that moment.
"Me too. I think we need to take things slowly, or I will pass out," Peeta half teases half whines. "I won't be much fun then."
"Right."
"Right," he grumbles.
This is such a short chapter but aren't you happy that they are finally home? It's implied but Peeta already considers Twelve his home even before the blizzard.
Thank you for reading! Please review!