Thank you to my excellent Beta Norbertsmom who always keeps me accountable & to you the readers who always give me the most amazing reviews.

Last week we saw how Gale and Delly reconnected, the Citizen is still at large and Peacekeepers are getting worse, but what about Katniss & Peeta

One Month later

"Happy Birthday!" Prim exclaimed as she jumped on her bed.

Katniss shivered in the room, no matter how they tried to insulate the house it was cold. By now the trees should have been green. The rivers and the lake should have been defrosted. Everything was still frozen. Last night another foot of snow fell. It felt like spring was hidden in some corner of the earth refusing to leave her den.

Katniss peeked outside. There still wasn't any sun.

"Prim, it's still dark outside," Katniss groaned.

"I know but it's your birthday, and momma and I have been hard at work. You'll want to get up for this!"

Closing her eyes she wanted to frown, but her smile won out. Her sister looked like she had a good night's sleep. "Okay, okay, I'm getting up."

"Momma and I made you a hot bath, and some pancakes."

This had Katniss up quickly. "Prim, where did you and mother get the flour?"

"We traded for it." Prim bounced out of the room.

Katniss frowned wondering how or who would have traded for such a valuable commodity. Flour was rare and few people had access to it. Getting up, she padded across the cold floor to the bathroom, where a small tub with a piping hot bath waited for her. Quickly she disrobed and slipped into the hot water and began scrubbing.

Today she turned sixteen.

All she wanted was for it to be a semi-normal day. She didn't want to worry or think about the Peacekeepers and the nervous pulse that ruled in their once peaceful district. Sure it had always been the district where you could quietly starve to death, but at least there wasn't any anxiety in the past. Those in charge were lenient; these new Peacekeepers were anything but strict and harsh.

There was a rumor that a full squad of Peacekeepers harassed a girl, injuring her solely because she tripped and fell before them. Katniss didn't know if it was true, but the way things in the district were going, it didn't surprise her.

Her mind wandered to the upcoming months.

She only had three more reapings, but Primrose had all seven ahead. Katniss shivered from the frightening thought that she had to watch for four years without the ability to do anything. This was one of the reasons she never wanted to have children.

Peeta felt the same way. He didn't think he could watch a child of his going through the reaping. Rye, on the other hand, wanted to have a half-a-dozen kids. Katniss sighed. Rye was one in a million. Peeta always had a Rye story. Two weeks ago he nearly started a fire in the kitchen because he got distracted and let the caramel he was making burn. Last week at school Katniss was the unfortunate witness to his dumbest stunt ever. Rye sat his bare behind in the snow on a dare, nearly getting frostbitten.

Katniss laughed now in hindsight but at the time it was highly embarrassing having to look at Peeta's brother in the face when she knew he had been naked, even though she had not seen his ass. Her friend Madge thought Rye was incredibly childish, gorgeous, but childish. It was funny when Rye turned around and turned red when he saw Madge was in the group. Madge asked Rye when he was going to start acting his age, and Rye didn't have an answer. Katniss had never seen Rye sputter before.

Her smile faded when she thought of Gale.

Lately, he'd been distant. Katniss hadn't seen Gale for weeks. He didn't come over as often, and when she did see him he was distracted. She knew Gale was struggling just like everyone else in the district. There were times, however, that his whining and complaining about how his family was suffering made her mad. She didn't want to hear his rants about the Merchants or how easy they had it.

Frankly, Gale was a negative-Nelly. Katniss preferred Peeta's quiet positivity. He filled her with the hope that tomorrow would be a kinder future. She needed that. Her world was filled with uncertainties and the pain of the past. Holding onto him helped her navigate these hard times.

Still, she missed hunting with Gale, and the easy companionship they shared in the woods. There were times she wondered what he was up to.

Sure they saw each other in school, a lot of parents were sending their children to school as it was the only place they received a free meal. The Capitol was offering one free lunch, since, things were so hard because of the snow. The Seam and the Merchants alike sent in their kids in. Katniss favorite was the macaroni and cheese. Prim preferred the potatoes with hotdogs. Even if it was hot gruel, or a butter sandwich with a slice of baloney, for a lot of kids it was the only meal they would eat that day. The only one they all universally disliked was the creamed chipped beef on a single piece of hardtack.

Katniss hoped that wasn't on the menu today. As hungry as she was, it was totally gross. On those days she missed Greasy Sae's hardy mystery meat stews.

Getting up from the bath her body froze. She quickly grabbed the towel and dried off. The water was still warm enough so that Prim could take a bath if she wanted to. Katniss sprinted to the room, where she found a newly knitted grey sweater and a gently used pair of black corduroys. They were both soft.

Shivering, she quickly dressed in her new clothing and went to the kitchen where her sister and mother were waiting for her.

Primrose squealed as she hugged her. "You look so pretty."

Katniss hugged her sister, who looked healthy, and all because of Peeta's generosity. "Thank you, Little Duck."

"Happy birthday." Her mother smiled softly, joy radiated from her pale blue eyes.

A single tear slid down Katniss cheek, as the enormity of seeing a glimmer of the parent she once had before losing their father. All three embraced. Katniss felt as if some of the burdens she carried lifted. Her mother was now her parent again and not just another mouth to feed.

As they separated, her mother whispered in Katniss's ear, "I'll understand if you want to slip away today to see that young man of yours."

Katniss cheeks burned brighter than the single birthday candle on the stack of pancakes. She nodded, unable to find the words to speak. Not being an emotional person she battled her tears as her mother and sister sang to her. Blowing out the single candle, her single wish was for her sister and Peeta to be safe from the upcoming reaping.

They each had one pancake, and she shared her second pancake with her mother and sister. Katniss' stomach was full and she thought about how, although it was below freezing outside, it was warm enough to have school today so she was going to have two meals in one day. This was enough to put her in a good mood.

When she arrived at school Madge was waiting for her at her locker with a brown paper package. "Happy Birthday!"

"Madge, you really didn't have too?" Katniss was embarrassed by the attention, the apples of her cheeks were bright red.

"You're my only friend, Katniss. If not for you no one would talk to me. It's not easy being the Mayor's daughter. Everyone avoids me, because they think I'm a snitch that is going to tell my father, a Peacekeeper or the Capitol. You, on the other hand, accept me, and make me feel like I'm normal, well whatever normal is."

Katniss was flabbergasted by Madge.

Madge reached into her backpack and handed her a few vials and a medicine bottle. "It's morphling and some sleep syrup. I figured your mom can give them to Prim to calm her down or fall asleep."

Katniss didn't know what to say. Morphling was very expensive and since the snow began she hadn't been able to get the ingredients necessary for her mom to make the sleep syrup. "Madge, are you sure?"

"Katniss, your mother showed up at my house a few weeks ago during a blizzard when my mother was acting up. Consider it a payment. Now open your birthday present. I'm dying to know if you like it."

Katniss slowly opened the package. She wanted to save the paper. When she opened the box it was a pair of fluffy warm socks. Katniss smiled. Madge knew just how much she hated the cold weather. "These are great."

"You're always complaining of the cold so I got you thermal socks. They'll help you keep your feet warm as you, ah...move about the…the," Madge gave her a pointed look, "you know...the district."

Peeta walked by and grinned and winked at her. Katniss could feel the heat burning her cheeks. She looked down and tried to hide her smile.

Madge rolled her eyes. "I saw that, Everdeen," Madge smirked.

"What?"

"That public flirtatious behavior," Madge teased.

Katniss scowled.

"That withering look doesn't do anything, Everdeen. I ain't scared."

"That's because I ain't armed, Undersee," Katniss mock threatened.

"Thank goodness. You have such a sour disposition sometimes I think you'd shoot your enemy through the eye if you could!" Madge rolled her eyes and began walking.

"Would not," Katniss muttered after her.

"Would too," Madge countered back.

Katniss caught up and saw Gale walking down the hallway. He was frowning. "No, I wouldn't. Gale, however, he'd set a bomb off."

Madge tilted her head as she considered Katniss last statement. "Yeah, you're right. Gale's a hunk but he's way too angry. He needs someone to soften him up the way Peeta softened you up."

Katniss frowned as she thought about what Madge said. Her eyes scanned the hallway. Gale was too much of a player to settle down with one woman. There were rumors that he slept with a handful of girls, both Seam and Merchant alike.

If it was true it that he was messing around with Merchant girls, then it was was hypocritical of him to bash the Merchants for their way of life. Gale knew nothing about the Merchants or the way they lived.

Katniss noted he wasn't present at lunchtime, and today there was a great lunch. Hotdogs and boiled potatoes were served, and everyone's spirits were high. Katniss focused, however, on meeting Peeta in the janitorial closet. Madge slipped him a note just like the last time. When they met up they stood there simply taking each other in before they rushed into each other's arms.

"I've missed you so much?" Peeta whispered.

Katniss nodded.

Unlike the last time their lips met. It escalated quickly, as it was a frantic reunion; she pushed him up against one of the racks, her hands pawing at his shirt. Since his birthday nearly two months ago they hadn't seen the other as much as they wanted to. The threat of the Peacekeepers and the inhospitable weather prevented her from seeing Peeta.

"Katniss wait," Peeta gasped, pulling away. His voice sounded rough, "We should slow down."

She panted, not wanting to slow down, but it made sense. His arms went around her right before he kissed her. This kiss made her hungry.

His lips were warm and tasted of cinnamon and caramel. His hands were traveling up and down her spine. She felt warm all over. Her heart hammered against her chest and she just wanted to keep kissing him. When he tore his mouth away, she groaned in frustration.

They held each other, soaking in the essence of the other, as they did not know what the evening would bring.

"If the weather's not too bad, do you think you can sneak out tonight?"

Katniss turned pink as she recalled what her mother had whispered to her. "Yes."

"Really?" He sounded surprised.

"Yes."

"I have a surprise for you, but I didn't want to bring it to school."

"What did you do?"

"I made you a cake."

"Peeta!" Even a small cake was extremely costly. The price of everything in the district had doubled since things were harder to get.

"It isn't big and I bartered for the ingredients I needed from the Alcatel's Grocery. I promised Mr. Alcatel that I would make him a portrait of his pregnant wife. I also got goats milk from Prim and your mom."

Katniss chuckled. She wondered when her intrepid little sister had the time to trade Lady's milk for flour, but it explained the pancakes. "I see you and my family have been busy."

"Do you know how hard it is to get things done behind your back. You just creep up on people with that silent panther like walk of yours."

"Panther like?"

"You tend to just poof, appear," he moved his hands and crouched like a predator. "And no one ever hears you coming. I have been paranoid for two weeks, thinking you were going to show up and catch me!"

She chuckled at his expressions and mannerisms. She missed him terribly, and just to be with him was making this the best day of her life. Glancing up at the clock, she bemoaned that time had flown by so quickly. "Peeta, we have to go back."

"Here, this is for you from Corky. He wishes you a happy birthday, too." He handed her a small package.

Katniss grinned, there were almonds in the small little box. "I still think he'd be fantastic in a stew."

"Katniss! How can you say that of my best friend!" Peeta whispered as they left the janitorial closet.

"You should hear what I tell Buttercup."

"No wonder that cat dislikes you so much." Peeta grinned.

They stood in the hallway, neither one wanted to be separated. Peeta cupped her face before placing a simple kiss on her lips. "Happy birthday."

She felt butterflies in her stomach as he pulled away. Katniss took a step back and sighed before running down the hallway toward her class. She counted the hours until she could be reunited with Peeta.

That night she was still full from lunch and the hearty breakfast. Her mother made a simple soup as all the Hawthorne's but Gale showed up at her house. Hazelle said Gale was helping out a friend with something. Katniss internally was a little bothered that he hadn't shown up to her party until she remembered she didn't want his negativity. By the end of the night, her mother was watching out for the Peacekeepers to pass so that she could make her way out of the house.

It was cold and it felt as if the weather was going to take another bad turn. She quickened her steps as she made her way through the dark meadow, toward town. It was dark and it sounded as if the fence was off.

Katniss ran. She knew that if it was off then that meant there was a squad nearby fixing it. When she arrived in town she ducked and weaved her way to the bakery. She didn't feel safe until she slipped over the fence. She glanced up at the tree. This is where her story had begun all those years ago.

Skillfully, she climbed the tree and found his window open. A candle was lit and Peeta was waiting for her with a small cake. Her smile was instant just like when she went into the wood.

"Hi," Peeta greeted.

"Hey," Katniss said. The cake was decorated with a picture of the woods, a white and blue sky with pine trees, Mockingjay's, bears, turkeys, a squirrel. Her namesake flower sat on top. "You made that for me?"

"Yes."

Katniss bit her bottom lip. "I don't know what to say?"

"You don't have to say anything, just blow out the candle."

Katniss blew out the candle then reach over to kiss him. That small peck on the lips left her feeling parched, but not for water, for Peeta. She took the cake and put it on his desk, tugging him toward his bed. She wound her arms around his neck, standing on tiptoe she shyly glanced up at him before he lowered his head and quenched her barren land.

They landed on the bed and for those few hours that they touched and kissed all of their worries were forgotten. She allowed herself to be carried away. For the first time since her father died, Katniss got to be a normal teenage girl.

As she sleepily drifted off to sleep, she smiled. Dressed solely in one of his shirts, she thought to herself this had been the best birthday ever.

"Goodnight Corky," Katniss whispered. Somewhere in the room, Corky twitched his nose. His job was nearly complete.