Sorry for not updating regularly I've had some family emergencies. It's my hope to begin to post on Wednesday once more. Thank you for your patience & special thanks to all of my friends and followers who've been so supportive and wonderful. Especially my beta Norbertsmom & Buttercupbadass thank you, ladies, for being there when things were just hard.

The bakery was quiet. The rays of dawn were slowly cresting over the wintery streets of town. The snow fell quickly overnight. It piled on top of the heaps of snow. The district was nearly unrecognizable. It looked like a foreign world outside, the worn down charcoal hues were replaced by the glistening white snow. The bitter wind blew icicles hanging from the business that clinked like wintery wind chimes.

Peeta was outside with Rye shoveling the snow. This morning he had gotten up before anyone else, making sure the ovens were prepped and ready for use, but was surprised when his brother joined him to shovel snow.

"I hate snow, I hate snow, I hate snow, I really, really hate snow," Rye sang in a monster voice.

Peeta looked over his shoulder and chuckled at his brother's song. The front of the bakery was done, they still needed to do the back. It was necessary to make a path from the back to the shed and to the pigs to feed them. He glanced up at his window and smiled.

Upstairs in his room, Katniss was surely waking up. The thought caused him to smile. She surprised him by bringing eggs for him and his family. Peeta hadn't been expecting her to come, especially after Rye's warning to her and Gale. They'd seen Peacekeepers in action. Rye warned them to stay away from the Hob and to be careful when trading, as well. The Peacekeepers were watching and monitoring all transactions.

It scared Peeta to think of Katniss being arrested for trying to put food on the table. Her focus was to take care of her family, and this winter had been unforgiving thus far. She was trying to make do with the little she possessed. Peeta didn't think he or his brother would be able to survive the way Katniss and her family did on meager rations. The Mellarks were stretched tight, but the Everdeens had even less. Peeta wanted to help her as much as he could. It was why he had baked special hearty bread for her in exchange for the eggs she brought with her last night.

Katniss was so special to him and his heart did a little flip-flop in his chest as he wondered if she was still sleeping in his bed. One of his favorite things was to see Katniss wake up in the morning. There was nothing lovelier. Her dark tresses were askew and her lips were pouty. Her cheeks had a slight flush from sleep, and Peeta couldn't believe that the girl he'd dreamt of since the age of five was in his bed. He still couldn't believe they were friends.

When she snuggled closer to his side this morning he couldn't help but sniff her hair. She smelled heavenly, like crisp fall winds and fresh flowers. He loved her dark tresses. The way they flowed and their silky feel made it difficult for Peeta to keep his hands to himself. Katniss was the most beautiful girl he'd ever set eyes on. He constantly reminded himself to remain the gentleman to Katniss before his teenage-girl-crazy hormonal body took over.

She'd come right before the snow got so heavy. And while he was happy to see Katniss, Corky wasn't having it. He stuck his tail in the air and stomped away. Shirley stood up on her hind legs and squealed something to him. Corky put his little head down, wiggled his nose then gave Katniss a curious look before he scampered away.

Corky was causing all kinds of havoc in the bakery, much to Peeta's amusement but his father's dismay. But Peeta couldn't allow the little guy to stay outside in the harsh weather. He couldn't think of Corky or Shirley perishing because of neglect. Neglect was the silent killer. To Peeta neglect meant indifference, the indifference shown by the district when Katniss' dad died could have also killed Katniss, her sister, and her mother.

Peeta was tired of the way things were. They were surviving, but at what cost? You would live but you would lose your soul, like most of the population. He was sure it was worth standing up and going against the grain. Just being friends with Katniss, a girl who was neither Seam nor Merchant, taught him about the district class divide. Just because she looked Seam, people categorized her as untrustworthy and dirty. Peeta didn't believe that of anyone in the Seam. He wished he could tear down the class divide so that his friendship with Katniss could be out in the open.

He stopped shoveling and looked around. Peeta could hear others shoveling the snow as well. They were almost done. He wanted to run upstairs and give Katniss bread.

A snowball flew past him.

"Rye, really," Peeta deadpanned.

"You look like a constipated old fart."

His brother always had a way of making him laugh. Peeta packed snow into a snowball, and threw it and was greatly satisfied when the snowball hit Rye in the mouth.

"There is the Peeta I love."

"Let's finish up before mom gets up." Peeta grabbed his shovel and began to make a path from the back porch to the tree.

"Speaking of mom, she was funny last night."

"She was."

"Seeing dad lose it," Rye said, "was pretty epic."

Last night Corky was at his worst. Once more Corky did the impossible and stole from his father's precious nuts. He'd been upstairs with Katniss when they heard a loud crashing noise. It sounded like baking pans falling onto the floor. It was when Peeta heard his brother run out of his bedroom followed by his mother's shriek, alarmed that perhaps something had gone wrong, he and Katniss made their way out of his room. When they near the landing Katniss hung back on the stairs while Peeta rushed downstairs to find his father sitting on the floor with a colander on his head, a ladle in one hand and grater in the other. At the memory, Peeta began laughing which caused Rye to laugh.

"The kitchen was a mess," Rye said.

There were baking sheets scattered everywhere. Peeta wondered how twenty-five neatly stacked baking sheets got out of the cupboard and ended up scattered on the floor. He checked out the cupboard, there weren't any holes or little corners where Corky could have hidden or escaped through.

"Hearing dad shout that he was attacked by a vicious beast who steals his nuts..." Rye couldn't contain his laughter, his shoulders shook so much he had to lean in on the handle of the shovel to stay upright. "What got me is when he started shouting," Rye's eyes watered up as he shouted, "MY NUTS, MY NUTS, SOMEONE STOLE MY NUTS!"

"Mom's response though," Peeta wiped his face.

"No one wants your old nuts," Rye imitated, causing them to laugh harder.

When the laughing hysteria died down both grinned like fools at the other. With all the tension in the district, it was good to laugh, since they were always mindful of their behavior due to the harsh treatment of the Capitol.

"That's not the only thing that happened last night."

"What else happened?" Peeta wondered if something else happened after he had gone to bed.

At that moment his window opened. Peeta's heart got caught in his chest.

"Last night I swore I saw someone hiding in the shadows."

"In the shadows?" He was too caught up in watching Katniss shimming out his bedroom window and onto the tree branch.

Rye came to stand by him. "Yeah for a minute I swore I saw a long braid whip around the corner of the stairwell."

Peeta felt his entire body turn red as mortification set into every crevice and his mind raced to find a way to redirect his brother while hiding Katniss who was on the branch above, displacing snow. "Ah," Peeta desperately tried to regulate his voice from cracking like when he was thirteen and his voice began changing. "Rye, why don't we go inside and warm up?"

"We're almost done," Rye pointed to the path they'd been working on.

"I could use a cup of hot tea."

"You, hot tea? You sleep with your window open." Rye grinned.

"I might sleep with my windows open but." The wind was whistling through the tree branches. It must have muffled their voices because he watched Katniss begin her assent down the trunk. "I really think I need some tea." Peeta was panicked he had to get Rye away from the tree. The wind blew and Katniss lost her balance, he was afraid the wind was too rough and she was going to fall from the tree.

"Why the rush?" Rye leaned on his shovel. "Don't you want me to meet your girlfriend?"

"What?"

"Your girlfriend climbing down the trunk of the apple tree." Rye pointed to Katniss. "I think Katniss needs a hot cup of tea. Making her sneak out through the window in this cold weather is horrible and not at all Mellark thing to do."

"Katniss," Peeta sputtered, his voice cracked.

"Your girlfriend."

"She's not my girlfriend, she's my friend," Peeta said.

"Your friend." Rye raised an eyebrow. "So that's what you kids are calling these days…," as Rye kept on speaking he raised his fingers in the air making quotations, "…friends, who share a bed, and make googly eyes at the other when nobody's looking."

Peeta was speechless as Katniss came down the tree. He couldn't think of another way to hide Katniss. Helplessly he watched the scene unfold before him. He just hoped Katniss wasn't going to be mad at him.

"Good Morning," Rye said cheerfully.

Katniss jumped down and her eyes opened wide when she saw Rye standing there with the biggest grin.

"Peeta wanted to know if you wanted some tea before you left."

Katniss mutely nodded. Her eyes shifted between Peeta and Rye.

"Well come on we're burning daylight." Rye led the way.

As they walked inside the back of the bakery, Peeta whispered, "I'm sorry."

"Is he going to tell your mom?" Katniss whispered as she walked side by side with Peeta.

"I would never do that," Rye said without turning around, "I've been rooting for you both."

Next, to Katniss, Peeta relaxed his shoulders slumped and his smile blossomed. Katniss, however, wasn't sure what to make of Rye's statement. On the one hand, Katniss was glad Peeta wouldn't get in trouble for her coming over, on the other hand, she wasn't sure what Rye felt toward her, as many Merchant's looked down on friendships between the two classes.

Peeta squeezed her hand as they walked to reassure her all would be well. His calm presence was one of the reasons Katniss enjoyed spending time with Peeta. He was wonderful and slowly becoming a very important person. She often rolled her eyes at the girls in school who gushed over boys, now she understood why, but it wasn't for vapid reasons. Peeta was someone who treated her with respect, honor, and equality. As she became closer to him she found she wanted to spend more time with him.

Last night she couldn't put into words why she felt the need to come here with him. It was a need like breathing air. Katniss couldn't sit still, she couldn't concentrate on her homework assignments. She picked up and put down her Romeo and Juliet book more than once, reading about how desperate Juliet and Romeo were to be with the other, didn't help bolster Katniss mood.

Her mother seeing the restless state allowed Katniss to leave shortly after dinner, of scrambled eggs and toast, to see Peeta. Her sister Primrose cheeks had turned rosy, and she'd giggled. Katniss told Prim, her friendship with Peeta, was a secret. Since it was already dark outside she was able to make her way to the bakery without being detected hours before the curfew. Katniss couldn't wait until she could bury herself in his sheets and take in his familiar scent. There was something appealing about the combination of Peeta's natural scent combined with cinnamon and dill. It felt like home to her. His arms were a safe haven.

Once she's arrived, Katniss climbed into his bed and once surrounded by his sheets and blankets she dozed off. She'd surprised him, his eyes had gone wide on his face and his face had lit up brighter than the stars in the sky. He hadn't counted on seeing her as the snowfall had increased. They hugged, and she'd buried her nose into his neck taking in his warm comforting scent.

Last night was special and this morning reality set in. She didn't hear Peeta and his brother speaking because of the wind plus that little furry rascal Corky was up to no good. He was dropping snow on her head. She was trying to hang on, now because of Corky Peeta's brother knew and Katniss wasn't sure if she could trust Rye to keep their secret.

Rye started the tea. "Look, from now on let's not try to scale the tree. It's too cold and you'll get your clothing wet from the snow and that can be dangerous in this cold."

Katniss glanced down at her jacket, although it was leather what Rye said made sense.

"I'll go get you one of my sweaters." Peeta squeezed her hand before going upstairs.

She stood alone with Rye Mellark wondering what he wanted out of this. She trusted Peeta but she didn't know if she could trust his brother.

"Now that he's gone let's have a heart to heart," Rye quietly said pouring tea into a cup.

Katniss braced herself for the whole 'you're-from-the-Seam-and-therefore-not-good-enough-for my brother' speech.

As if reading her mind, Rye explained, "I don't care where you come from. Personally, I don't buy the whole one side is better than the other. Peeta is special and as his big brother, I have to watch out for him. Right now he's happy and as long as my brother is happy, then I'm happy." Rye handed her the cup. "Be careful with his heart, he has a good one."

Katniss released the breath she held in her chest and nodded. She could understand where Rye was coming from as Peeta was truly remarkable. He was sweet, kind, generous, and a good person. She respected Rye for looking past the divide between Seam and Merchant and focusing on his brother's happiness. She would do the same for her sister, to protect her from harm as much as she could.

They heard Peeta coming before they saw him.

"I personally don't understand how you can stand thunder feet when you're so quiet."

Rye's words caused a smile to appear on her face. Peeta was loud, but she knew he was never going to go into the woods while she was hunting. The idea of him hunting reminded her of the Games. Peeta wouldn't survive in the Hunger Games, just like Primrose wouldn't. They would need to make an alliance to be able to make it out alive. Thinking about the Games made her shiver. A bad feeling settled over her.

"Here you go," Peeta said.

"Thank you," Katniss could feel a flush growing on her cheeks. She could feel Peeta's brother staring at them and she felt self-conscious. She quickly removed her father's leather jacket and slipped on the sweater. Peeta's scent enveloped her.

"Okay," Rye said, "I'm going to go upstairs and run interference." Rye paused before going up the stairs. "Katniss."

"Yes."

"Be careful," Rye warned.

Katniss nodded, the feeling of dread came over her.

"Hey Rye, I'm going to walk Katniss home, I want to help her shovel."

"Okay," Rye said from the stairs, "Just take a few deliveries with you."

"Here I made these for you in exchange for the eggs."

Katniss took the brown paper bag.

Peeta began to gather the deliveries and pack them up for the clients.

"I'll wait for you outside." She just wanted to go home to her mother and sister. She wanted to shelter them. The clouds outside hung like a dark gray uninviting curtain. Something in her gut didn't feel right. She wanted to get home quickly.

While Peeta was inside gathering the deliveries for this morning, she walked out of the bakery and into the street. What surprised Katniss was how still and quiet it felt. The wind rustled and Katniss heard a distinct crunching sound, but when she looked toward the sound, she saw nothing. It sounded like footsteps on the pathways. Katniss walked to the small alleyway that was between the bakery and the apothecary. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a shadow.

Then she felt as if she was being watched, much the way a predator watched its victims in the woods. Her hunting instincts took over as she pressed herself up against the bakery fence. She thought she could hear breathing, but the wind began blowing.

Taking a deep breath of her own she jumped up to peer over the fence, but all she saw was a muted shadow running across the large wall that ran along the back properties of the Merchant's homes. With her keen hunter's sense, she tracked the sound, rounding the corner where she'd seen the shadow. When she made it around the corner to a long stretch she found nothing. It was as if what she was chasing had disappeared.

Katniss scratched her head. It was as if what she had seen and heard was a figment of her imagination, but yet again she knew what she saw and experienced was real. Confused, she looked around trying to find footprints but she found none as the strong wind swept the white powdery snow away and any evidence disappeared. It was as if she'd manufactured the sound she heard. The experience didn't sit well with her and added to her sense of overwhelming foreboding.

Katniss slowly made her way back to Peeta's yard. She was puzzled by what happened

"Hey, there you are," Peeta said finding her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I thought I saw, well actually I heard something." Katniss looked back from where she had come.

"Come on, let's get you home." Peeta extended his hand to her and she took it. Together they headed out to the Seam. The wind whipped up in the meadow.

"It's cold," Katniss murmured, glad that Peeta had lent her the extra sweater.

"Come here." Peeta put his arm around her shoulder.

Katniss grunted at the feel of the warmth coming off of his body. They doubled their efforts to move quickly past the meadow.

He cleared his throat. "How funny was my dad last night?"

"Corky needs to behave." Katniss was witness to the lighter moments Peeta had with his family. She had followed him downstairs and stayed in the shadows of the stairwell and watched the entire thing while trying to hide her laughter. Katniss saw the Mellark family dynamics and how Peeta fit in. He was loved by his brother and father, though it was clear his mother didn't quite know what to do about Peeta. He didn't appear tough like his older brothers.

"I don't think he can," Peeta joked. "He's just a troublemaker."

"Your mother was laughing Peeta, laughing. I've never seen your mother laugh." Last night Katniss wondered how she would fit in Peeta's family, or if they would ever accept her friendship with Peeta. She knew his father would accept their special friendship, and now after the talk with Rye this morning there was no doubt Rye accepted her and her relationship with Peeta. His mother was a harder one. Peeta was convinced he could wear his mother down. By the way, Peeta acted, he would be willing to go war or even die, if necessary.

Once more, the foreboding sense of doom entered her being as her dream came to the forefront of her memory. The idea of Peeta dying gripped her heart and she snuggled closer to him. There was no danger of anyone seeing them as they made their way into the Seam. Katniss noted all of the roads were neatly shoveled.

When they arrived at the house, Peeta quickly set about shoveling the snow. He had to be quick. Her mother hummed and her eyes glowed when she saw Peeta. Her sister gave him the biggest hug. Between the four of them, they cleaned the snow within a half-hour. Her mother made him some tea to warm him up before he left. He thanked her mother for the tea and Katniss watched her mother blush.

He stood outside on the porch. "Your mother is sweet."

"Yes."

Peeta grabbed her hand. "Your hands are cold." He began warming them with his warmer ones.

Katniss didn't want to let him go. Rye's warning, the shadow she'd thought she saw, the stillness in the air, and the overhanging clouds. She felt as if she wouldn't see him again. "I'll see you tonight?"

"See you tonight," Peeta said.

Impulsively she leaned up on her tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. "Stay safe please, watch out for the Peacekeepers."

"Promise," Peeta said.

She watched him go, and as he left she realized what had her uneasy. She hadn't seen any Peacekeepers, not a single one since they left the bakery. Not a single one during the time she was walking around the back streets in the Merchants quarters or in the Seam. Her gut tightened as she glanced up at the churning sky something bad would happen Katniss was sure.