Special thanks to Norbertsmom for her excellent Beta skills and to all of the reviews. I don't own the Hunger Games

Its still Peeta's Birthday...

It was still dark outside when Peeta woke up. Katniss face was tucked into the curve of his neck. Her one leg rested between his, while her left arm was slung over his chest. Waking up like this was something he could get used too. Even though it was Sunday he always woke up at the same time. Sunday was the day he got to sleep in late, and this morning he would delight in it.

His blue eyes flickered to his open window. The night sky was inky black. It must have been like three in the morning. He knew it was still too early to wake up Katniss. Peeta did not want to disturb her sleep. By the dark circles underneath her eyes, it was evident she needed it. Peeta closed his eyes intending on resting his eyes but he fell asleep once more.

Hours later the apartment above the Bakery was beginning to stir with life. Rye was in his room lazily scratching his face. The clock read five-fifty-five. For a few moments, he relaxed slipping his hand underneath his head. Sunday mornings were the best now that he had his own room. His brother married the woman their mother chose as soon as she turned nineteen. They were officially out of the reaping.

Rye moved out of the small room he shared with Peeta into his older brother's room and it was great. The space to be able to shut out the world without sharing was something he thought would never happen. Rye sighed contentedly. Last night he taught a group of rebels how to pin an opponent. The men he taught didn't see him as a bratty Merchant kid.

He learned from them as well. Anything could be used as a weapon, a pickaxe, a broomstick, a knife, anything as long as you knew how to manipulate it. From Bristel he learned how to make dynamite. She was a wiz at creating flammable weapons. The small group had grown exponentially. They gathered in the large basement of the Apothecary. Then they split into groups, Darius would teach one thing, Purina another, Bristel other stuff, he taught wrestling and so on and so forth.

Madge was the coordinator and people respected her. Rye couldn't believe shy Madge was a rebel leader, but Rye was hopeful for the future. Though they had to be careful as the Capitol presence was heavy, tripled in size in less than seven months.

Their treatment of defenseless people had pushed Rye to want to do something. It was Purina who told him about the meetings one day after he'd been harassed for drinking. He wasn't a heavy drinker, but for some reason, he had a reputation for being a callous partier, but he wasn't, not anymore.

His eyes drifted closed as he snuggled into the blankets. They got to sleep in until six maybe even six thirty when their mother was in a good mood.

Today, however, the silence was torn by the screeching angry voice of the witch. Suddenly his peace and quiet were broken. Rye heard his mother argue with his dad in their bedroom. Rye groaned into his pillow. It was not going to be a good day. When their mom woke up in such a foul mood it meant everyone was going to get it.

Rye was about to pull the blankets up his chest when he heard the conversation roll around to his baby brother. Rye sat up. Of course, their mother was berating Peeta. Their father was trying to defend why Peeta was the better baker.

Of all of the Mellarks, Peeta was gifted exceptionally when it came to baking. Their mother, on the other hand, refused to believe it, even though she demanded Peeta make and decorate the cakes and other popular items.

"Don't you dare toss him out. He is the best amongst us." His father sounded angry.

Hearing his father bite back gave Rye pause, lately, his father wasn't acting meek.

"I don't give a damn. It's about time that boy got tossed out. He's a good for nothing moocher. I spend more money feeding that boy of yours than I make money from him," his mother screeched.

"Boudicca, listen to me, you get out of this bed, and tonight you are sleeping downstairs!"

Rye heard a scuffle coming from his parent's room. It was then Rye recalled seeing Katniss sneaking up to see Peeta. There was a chance Katniss had already left, but he wasn't sure. Rye immediately rolled out of bed intending on warning his brother. He seldom did things like this, but his brother needed him. He rushed to the end of the hallway to the short flight of stairs to the room that should have been a storage room, but it was the bedroom he had once shared with Peeta.

Opening the door he hoped to find Peeta sprawled out on his stomach drooling from his mouth, Katniss usually had already left by this time. Instead, he discovered Peeta kissing his girlfriend. Rye shook his head thinking he was seeing things. Then he saw her, Katniss lying in bed with his little brother. Her hands were clutching his brother's curls and her slim shapely legs were wrapped around Peeta's torso.

Momentarily Rye was proud of his little brother. Peeta was the only one amongst them that had the guts to sneak a girl into this house and possibly got laid. His glee then turned to reality when he heard his mother yelling again. This was not the morning to be caught with a girl, and not just any girl.

Katniss Everdeen the one girl in the district that every guy lusted after but no one dared cross. First off there was Hawthorne who everyone thought she was with, and secondly, she was a deadly hunter used to killing things. Yet his sweet mild-mannered brother was canoodling with her. Rye uttered, "Darn it Peeta."

At the sound of Rye's voice, Peeta immediately pushed Katniss behind him. "Rye!"

"Look, we have got to hide her." Rye harshly breathed, shutting the door behind him quickly.

Katniss was not sure what was going on. She had woken up to Peeta placing kisses on her face. Somehow his lips latched onto hers and the rest was history. She watched Rye take her clothing and boots and throw them in Peeta's dresser drawers.

"Quick, get under the bed."

Peeta pushed his blond hair out of his face. "Rye what the hell?"

"Mom's on her way here, Peeta. She's on a rampage! The last thing she needs is to find your," Rye pointed at Katniss all the while winking at her salaciously, "Friend here in bed with you wearing your clothing." Rye looked at Katniss and said, "I am sorry but you have to hide under the bed."

Peeta understood. "Katniss, I am sorry, but it's necessary. I don't want my mom to hurt you."

It only took Katniss moments to picture the witch hurting Peeta because of her. That was the last thing she wanted to do. Katniss nodded and quickly hid underneath. There was a reason they called that woman the witch. It was not lost on her when Peeta had come to school a few times bruised and it had nothing to do with wrestling practice. No one dared confront the woman. The only time she became soft was when the Peacekeepers showed up to their home.

"I'll tell you this much, she's got fantastic legs."

"Rye!" Peeta exclaimed.

"Oh right," Rye said as he pulled the blankets down over the side of the so that they covered Katniss up and made it look like he had dragged his little brother out of his bed. Then put Peeta in a headlock when the door slammed open. From her position, Katniss was able to see everything as Peeta had a mirror above his chest of draws.

"Why are you," At the sight of both her son roughhousing with Peeta she calmed. Boudica narrowed her eyes. "What's going on here?"

Rye looked up surprised. "I was getting lazy bones out of bed."

"Let me go!" Peeta struggled to show his mother Rye was in control. Rye was older and taller than him and at the moment was deliberately holding him tighter.

"Good! I want him to clean the ovens today." Boudica lifted her nose in the air. "Ugh smells disgusting in here. Make sure thing he cleans this pigsty!"

"Sure thing, I'll make sure he does it, mom, after I finish with him here." Rye smiled that winning smile of his that his mother ignored as she stormed off.

The room rattled with the force of the door slamming.

Rye still held Peeta in a headlock.

"Are you going to let me go now?"

"Is she gone?" Katniss asked from underneath the bed.

"Yeah," both boys said.

"So you owe me," Rye said as he watched Katniss crawl out from under the bed. It was not lost on him that she was wearing Peeta's clothing.

"Do not look at her that way." Peeta easily got out of the choke hold and slammed his brother onto the bed.

Katniss eyes went large when she saw Peeta easily lift Rye and dump him on his bed. A small appreciative smile played on her lips. She knew Peeta was strong, but seeing him like this was genuinely impressive. He would be very useful in the woods.

"I am sorry about this," Peeta turned around to face Katniss who was shyly looking at him.

Rye lifted his head and groaned. "I forgot how freakishly strong you are."

"We got to get Katniss out of here without mom knowing she was here."

"I will just climb down the tree," Katniss said right before becoming self-conscious. Peeta's brother was staring at her with a lazy grin.

Peeta stood in front of her acting as a barricade while giving Rye a dirty look.

Rye smiled having accomplished his task. "You both really like each other, huh?"

Peeta flushed and Katniss scowled.

"What do you have in mind, Rye?" Peeta asked.

"Easy, we get a squirrel or rabbit, she goes downstairs and then she pretends to knocks on the back door for a trade."

"I don't have my game bag."

"Peeta can lend you his bag." Rye pointed out to the bag Peeta had hanging on the wall. "You can return it to him later."

"Rye, Katniss doesn't have her hunting stuff, how is she going to find a rabbit or squirrel in the middle of winter?" Peeta proposed.

"Dad has a rabbit he been saving out back in the icebox."

Peeta turned to Katniss. "Only if you want to do it."

"I'll owe you guys…" Katniss whispered. She hated owing people.

"You can give it to Peeta. He'll trade with you…" Rye spoke but neither Peeta nor Katniss paid attention. They only had eyes for each other.

Peeta's eyes implored her to do it. "Okay."

Less than fifteen minutes later the boys were in the bakery nervously waiting for Katniss' knock. Their father came downstairs just as the knock came. "I'll get it.."

"NO!"

At their reply, Eugene Mellark gave the boys a curious look. "No?"

"Ahhh dad, it's okay. I've got it." Rye stepped forward, but it was too late. Their dad opened the door.

"Good morning, Katniss." Eugene smiled warmly.

Katniss face slipped momentarily before she spoke, "I have come to trade."

"I was hoping you would stop by. I have some bread, it was baked yesterday. Peeta why don't you take what she has to offer to trade. Rye can you please get me some wax paper?"

"Ahhh…sure dad…" Rye said walking out of the room.

Katniss and Peeta exchanged a look, as she took the stiff rabbit from the back.

"Thanks," Peeta murmured trying to keep his horror from his voice.

Rye returned with the paper bag in hand. "Why don't you put that in the back freezer Peeta?"

"Sure," Peeta immediately went to the peg taking his coat he jammed his jacket on and left for the outside.

"It's nice to know you're still hunting," Eugene said smiling politely, though there was a look in his eyes.

"Yes, thank you, sir," Katniss nodded and stepped outside.

Rye thought for a moment they had gotten away with it but his dad uttered. "Really interesting that Katniss had Peeta's bag, don't you think?"

Rye stood there wondering if his dad knew about Katniss and Peeta.