At first, Katniss didn't think she would be able to stay in 12. Death was everywhere and she felt guilt every time she looked out the window. But then Haymitch had informed her she had no choice… she had been exiled to her old home. Peeta had been livid to hear this at first but Haymitch assured them this was the best thing Paylor could have done and reminded them that Katniss could still be sitting in a cell, awaiting a death sentence. This made Peeta fall silent and he crossed his arms over his chest, staying quiet.
They had moved into Victor's Village, right across from Haymitch. It had been Paylor's idea. She had pointed out that the village was full of empty houses and Peeta and Katniss had done so much for the war that they could be treated as Hunger Games Victors. They didn't have much stuff to move in and Katniss thought the house was much too big for the two of them. But they spent the days cleaning and removing the years of dust from the floors. It was better than going outside, they had decided. Their district had been burned to the ground and bodies still littered the streets.
Slowly, people started to return to 12. Rye and Madge moved into another of the Victor's Village houses, after Madge had discovered that her childhood home had been destroyed. After thoroughly cleaning their own home, Peeta and Katniss helped Rye and Madge clean theirs and Peeta eagerly accepted their request to paint murals for the nursery.
Clean-up crews began to rebuild the district. Peeta insisted on helping but Katniss still found it difficult to travel into town. She would visit with Madge, and they were sometimes joined by April and Kisra, while Bing helped his brothers with the construction crew.
More than once, Bran had called Peeta to ask him to come back to 13. He had returned to his wife and Margaret had insisted on making a new life there rather than returning to 12. Bran had explained that the memories were too painful for Margaret, which only infuriated Peeta and he would refuse his father again and again.
Prim had decided to stay in the Capitol so she could continue her education in medicine. Paylor, who had quickly been voted in as Panem's new president, had established a new school that would allow anyone to study what they wanted. District citizens started to flock to the Capitol in search of new opportunities. Katniss missed her sister dearly and Prim promised to visit 12 soon. But Katniss knew the memories were painful for her sweet sister too. 12 is where she had grown up with Rory, and she knew it would be difficult for her to return. Their mother had elected to remain in the Capitol as well. Katniss pretended that this didn't bother her but Peeta knew her mother's refusal to return stung a little. In his mind, he questioned why his father had returned to his mother, when it seemed that he and Katniss's mother were getting close again but he didn't question it. He decided to focus on his life with Katniss, and their future.
Peeta still struggled with his prosthesis and Katniss had nightmares, mostly of her husband burning alive. He held her tightly while they slept and whispered soothing words of love when she would wake up in a sweat. He was unbelievably frustrated about his libido, or lack thereof, but was still determined to please his wife every night. He wouldn't let her fall asleep without giving her at least two orgasms, sometimes more. Katniss felt grateful for such a giving husband but had to admit, she missed having him inside her. They tried once, right after they had come home but it had ended in disaster and left Peeta feeling more frustrated and worthless. Katniss had held him that night, assuring him of her love.
A month after their return to 12, Finnick and Annie came to visit, after making a quick stop in 13 to pick up the rest of their belongings. They also showed up with two additional District 12 citizens. Peeta froze at the sight of them in his house.
"Rosalie," he whispered, his eyes darting from hers to the bundle of blankets in her arms. Rosalie smiled and rushed to embrace him and Katniss.
"Rosie, she's so beautiful," Katniss cooed, motioning toward the baby.
"Rosalie wanted to bring Phoenix home to 12," Finnick explained with a smile. "I told her she could of course travel with us. Annie and Rosie became good friends while they were in 13."
"I'm so thankful you're safe," Peeta said, stroking the baby's cheek. Rosalie squeezed his hand before sitting on the couch that Katniss gestured to.
"So you're staying here in 12, Rosie? I thought you maybe wanted to stay in 13." She shook her head and gently bounced her daughter.
"I get it," Katniss nodded. "12 is where we grew up. The Seam is destroyed, you know. And they didn't rebuild it." Rosie cocked her head.
"The district is no longer segregated," Peeta explained. "There is no more Seam. Everything is District 12, and the center of town is City Circle, rather than Merchant Square." Rosalie pointed toward Peeta and signed something. Peeta smiled and shook his head.
"We haven't rebuilt the bakery yet but we will. Katniss has been kind enough to be my taste tester when I bake at home."
"He's making me fat," Katniss said grumpily.
"Sunshine, it's nice to see you with some meat on your bones. When I first met you, I could tell you had starved as a kid."
"Nice Finnick. When I first met you, I could tell you never left the ocean, with your skin being so wrinkled."
"Touche Mellark," the Victor winked.
Peeta insisted they all stay for dinner, and soon Haymitch, Rye, Madge, April, Bing, and Kisra joined them. Annie bounced Kisra on her lap while April laughed with Rosalie and Madge. Peeta refused to let anyone help him in the kitchen, so Katniss helped set the table and smiled at her husband when he started to plate the food.
"It smells amazing," she told him.
"It's one of your favorites," he grinned, handing her a tray of cheesebuns to accompany the meal. "So don't fill up on the cheesebuns."
"No promises," she said, her mouth full. He rolled his eyes and announced that dinner was ready.
It was a pleasant evening, full of laughter and later, music. Finnick had brought the radio that he'd kept in 13, and found some nice jazz music for them to listen to. He then took his wife into his arms and danced her around the room. Katniss watched Peeta watch the dancing couples, his face soft and his eyes clear. He looked peaceful and happy. She stood and he blinked up at her as she offered her hand.
"Dance with me."
"You know I can't dance."
"I seem to remember you doing pretty well at our wedding." His eyes softened as he took her hand and pulled her into his arms. They merely swayed but Katniss thought it was perfect.
After everyone had left, Katniss helped Peeta with the dishes. They talked and laughed quietly as they cleaned, setting the plates aside to dry.
"Well my love, shall we go to bed?"
"Not just yet." She pulled him into the dining room, where a black bag sat against the wall. Finnick had brought it with him, telling Katniss that he had collected the
rest of her belongings from her bunker. She dug through the bag and tugged Peeta over to the fireplace. The fire was dying but the warmth spread over Peeta as they knelt in front of it.
"I love you so much, Peeta." His smile widened.
"I love you too, Katniss."
"And I would have done this a long time ago but I wanted you to see me do it. I don't want this stupid thing to haunt your dreams any longer. This marriage has always been real to me, from the moment we toasted together." He opened his mouth to speak, his eyes drifting down to the object in Katniss's hand.
Marriage Contract
"Where… where did you get this?"
"Haymitch," she shrugged. "It was in my bunker in 13. I wanted to destroy it, every night, but I kept thinking of your face the night I brought it up and I wanted you to watch me destroy it." She held the paper over the fire and watched the flames consume it.
"You saved my life, Peeta. But more than that, you made me fall in love with you. It's real." His eyes became glassy as he stroked her cheek.
"Wait right here." He jumped to his feet and she watched him jog up the stairs, a slight frown marring her brow. He returned quickly, with something hidden behind his back.
"I… I have wanted to give you this… well, since I first found you in my kitchen that day I returned to 12. I don't know why I didn't but… I guess that contract always lurked at the very back of my mind, reminding me that it didn't start out as a real relationship. But after all that we have been through… all that we have overcome, together, is enough to remind me that this is real. That you love me and are really here with me." He pulled out a box, which he flipped open. Inside was a ring. It wasn't garish or gaudy but simple and perfect for Katniss. A small silver band with tiny green stones, surrounding a single pearl. He took her hand and she noticed his was trembling.
"Katniss Everdeen…Mellark. You are it for me. My world. My everything. Will you accept this ring as a token of my eternal, never-ending love and adoration? I know it's not… common, to wear rings in 12 but–"
"It's beautiful," she cut him off, holding up her hand. Blinking back tears, he slipped the ring onto her finger and pulled her palm to his lips.
"I bought it in 2, when I was told I would be returning to 12. I wanted to present it to you as soon as I saw you again. I've held onto it…through everything. I carried it with me… in the Capitol. I'm sorry it took me so long to present it to you, but I…" he trailed off, gazing into the fire. She moved closer and cupped his cheeks.
"Peeta Mellark, you are my husband, my best friend, my Protector, my everything. I love you." He swallowed before surging forward, his lips smashing against hers. Clothing flew to the side as hands and lips traveled everywhere. Peeta reached for a blanket from the couch and threw it onto the floor before lowering her to her back. He hovered over her, his arms starting to shake as she reached down and stroked him. He hardened in her hand and he squeezed his eyes shut.
"Katniss," he gasped. "Let me get you off first. Please. I-I'm not going to last long."
"I just want you," she whispered as she guided him inside her. He threw his head back and their moans echoed on the walls as they were rejoined. He wanted to take it slow, to savor the feeling but it felt too good and the way her legs wrapped around his waist, the way her heels dug into his back as she urged him to go faster made him tremble from head to toe. He gripped her thighs as his hips slammed into her, before pulling her up and into his lap. She rose up and down as she clutched at his curls, their lips clashing desperately.
"Katniss," he stammered.
"Yes Peeta! Please!"
"Oh…god! Katniss!" Her head dropped backwards, her back arching as he throbbed inside her, their mutual orgasms making them cry out in ecstasy.
After, as he held her in his lap, tenderly kissing her forehead, he sighed deeply into her hair and she moved her hand. The gemstones caught the firelight and made Peeta smile. He knew they needed to move to the bed but he was sure his limbs wouldn't be working for several hours. She had gone limp in his arms, her hair draped over his shoulders as she dozed peacefully. He pulled the blanket over both of them and kissed her between the eyes as he joined her in a peaceful sleep.
It's very short, I know, but another chapter is coming right behind it! It's been a LONG road and it's wrapping up soon so THANK YOU a million times for sticking with me!
XOXO!
