Yay! I was going to try to get it all in this update, but you will see at the end that it's a natural stopping point. So there will be one more, and I have it figured out, I just have to write it. I'm also working on a brand new one! I'm still working on a title, but as of right now, it's going to be called The King and the Huntress. I wrote the first two chapters for camp nanowrimo and when I get the third one done, I'll start posting. I think you will like it… I hope anyway!
Thank you again for reading. It means a lot that you are here; you humble me. You are the reason I'm still doing this, well and stupid but wonderful songs like, "Come Over", by Kenny Chesney. Where Gary Allan was Peeta's voice during the break up in Twisted, Kenny's voice in "Come Over" is his, at least in this chapter.
And all my love and thanks to Norbertsmom. Think of her this week, please. She isn't feeling too good so hope for a quick recovery. And thanks to notanislander for encouraging me! And I don't own anything!
Katniss wakes up when she hears the heat in Peeta's apartment kick on. She keeps her eyes closed while she reaches across the sheets for him. Finding the other side of the bed cold, she finally opens her eyes to see that he is, indeed, gone.
She lays her arm across her eyes, fighting the tears that don't want to leave her alone. She knows that he had to go and start the ovens, but disappointment still washes over her in a bitter wave. She sits up and before she can set her feet on the floor, she notices two perfect, sugar dusted, chocolate filled doughnuts sitting on the night stand on the side of the bed she woke up on.
She shakes her head and stands. Finding her clothes folded neatly on his dresser, she grabs them and goes into his bathroom. She quickly dresses, and tries not to think. She doesn't want to think about how it felt when he touched her all over last night. She doesn't want to think about how he groaned her name when he came last night. She doesn't want to think about how he kissed her all over. She doesn't want to think about how tight he held her last night while they dozed off, exhausted but happy.
She comes back out of the bathroom, and grabs her bow case and her quiver. She looks at the doughnuts again and sighs in defeat when she goes down the stairs. She stops on the landing with a door on either side. One door will take her into the bakery where she can see Peeta and talk things out with him. The other door will take her outside. After a moment's deliberation, she reaches into her dad's old leather jacket and pulls out her cell. She quickly sends Peeta a text, feeling awful for taking the coward's way out, and opens the door that leads her out to the back of the bakery.
He hears his phone chime, but is talking to Mrs. Norton who can hardly hear him anymore when he tells her what she specials are, even though he has told her many times, she just will not read where he patiently wrote out that raisin and nut bread and bagels were the new additions this morning.
Right behind her, is one of the many teenage girls who have started coming in this year. They giggle while he or Vick takes their orders. Today he isn't in the mood for them, but suffers anyway since Vick won't be in until lunch.
He runs upstairs, an expectant smile on his face hoping to still find her there. He heads to his bedroom, and freezes in the doorway, when he sees rumpled sheets, and untouched doughnuts. His face falls, regret filling his heart. He pulls his phone from his back pocket and reads:
Katniss: I don't know what to say anymore, so I'm going home. I guess I'll see you later.
He leans against the doorway, defeated and heartbroken. He tries to call her but when the call goes straight to her voicemail, he thinks that she doesn't want to talk to him. Which is true because at the same moment, she is so deep in her woods that her phone doesn't work anyway.
Delly decorated the office in fall colors when the leaves first started turning. Now that Thanksgiving is just weeks away, she has added little turkeys to the leaves littering the office not that Katniss would ever admit it, but she likes it.
As she sits down at her desk on that Monday after Halloween, she is surprised when Delly follows her with a package. She can't stop the smile when she recognizes Prim's handwriting. She slides her scissors along the tape, and opens the box. In amongst the packing peanuts, is a note.
Katniss-
I know I probably could have waited till I got home, but this was too perfect and after they offered me free shipping, well, I knew I just had to go ahead and send it.
We'll be home sooon,
Prim and Rye
Katniss digs through the bubble wrap and finds another box. She slowly pulls it out, tears that have been too easy lately prick her eyes. Inside is a Christmas ornament of Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She smiles through the tears at the memory of when the movie first came out on video, she must have made everyone watch it at least ten times. She refuses to stop watching it and it ended up being her and Peeta watching the video. She smiles even more when she sees that it's from her favorite scene, when Belle is feeding the birds in the snow. Her brows furrow when she looks into the box for Beast. That's weird, she thinks. Beast should be part of this too since the birds are eating out of his hands.
She sets Belle beside her computer, and reaches for her phone. She shoots Prim a quick text, thanking her for the package, and asking when they were going to come home. She looks at the ornament again, wondering if Beast is indeed missing, and neither Prim nor Rye thought check the box when they bought it.
That same morning, Peeta is standing at the back door, signing for the deliveries when he notices a smaller box than what is in his normal order. He picks it up, and smiles when he recognizes Rye's handwriting. He tucks it under his arm and says, "Thanks again, Bristol. Don't forget your doughnut."
Bristol nods as he gets back into his truck, and Peeta watches him drive through the parking lot. Then he shuts the door behind him, picks up his mug of tea, and goes back to his office. He smiles wondering what Rye and Prim could have sent him. After sitting down, he quickly has his pocket knife out, cutting the tape. His note reads,
Hey baby bro-
We saw this at Disney and picked it up for you. When the woman behind the counter said that it was free shipping, we decided to go ahead and ship it! We'll be home soon, I think.
Rye and Prim
Peeta pulls out the huge bubble wrap, catching the small box before it hits his desk. When he sees the cover of the box, he opens it quickly. The figurine falls onto the palm of his hand. It's Beast for the movie, 'Beauty and the Beast' and he is feeding the birds in the snow. Peeta smiles fondly when he remembers that it's Katniss' favorite part of her favorite movie. That she made them all watch it over and over growing up. After the second time of rewinding the tape in the VCR his brothers and Prim all went off to play, leaving him and Katniss curled up on the couch. The two six year olds watched the movie two more times before Lily came in to turn it off. After that, Katniss would make him dance with her while she would sing:
Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly…
And his little six old heart, never stood a chance. It's a painful memory when he remembers how he told his dad that night that he was going to marry Katniss one day. He sets the Beast down on the shelf behind him, and sighs.
He jumps when his cell phone rings. He doesn't recognize the number, but he answers, "Hello?" anyway.
"Hello boy, this is Haymitch."
He runs his hand through his flour dusted curls. Why did he have to pick up the phone? "What can I do for you?"
"I called Sweetheart."
"She said that she talked to you."
Peeta doesn't hear the smile in Haymitch's voice when he asks, "When did you see her?"
Peeta clears his throat. "She helped with me here in the bakery, with the Halloween crowd. What happens now?"
He hears Haymitch sigh, "Are you sure you want this? I mean everyone knows—"
"What do you mean everyone knows? They know what?"
"Calm down, boy. They know what you two have been through. I've done too many divorces because the couple forgot how to be friends. This might be the perfect marriage because you are friends."
Peeta shakes his head, even though Haymitch can't see him. "She doesn't want this. She would have told me."
"Have you given her a chance? I know it's none of my business, but don't screw up a good friendship because you think you know what she does or does not want. She is a woman. Always ask," Haymitch says. "I can file separation papers then in a year, we can file for divorce."
Peeta looks at his clock above the office door and for a moment wonders if eleven a.m. is too early to start drinking. "If that is what she wants do to." he answers, not realizing how pitiful he sounds.
"Peeta talk to her, I mean really talk to her about this. Make sure this is what you both want," Haymitch urges him.
"Thank you, Haymitch."
He isn't sure how long he sits there after he hangs up, but he can't seem to stop the memories that are running through his head. It's not until Hazelle knocks on his door frame an hour later that he sees how long he's been sitting there.
She looks at him closely, and says, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, just thinking. What's up?"
She comes in and sits down across from him. "Delly called me this morning wanting to have a reception for Prim and Rye at the bed and breakfast. Has she called you yet?"
He tries to keep his face neutral as he wonders why Katniss didn't call him. "Let me check—Vick! Come in here, please!"
Vick pokes his head around the doorway while Hazelle rolls her eyes at them. "Did Delly or Katniss call?"
He shrugs. "Delly did, I think. Hey Mom. Wiress might have talked to her." Then he disappears again.
Peeta picks up his phone and dials Katniss' number. "Let me just call Katniss."
"Everdeen Surveying," Delly answers.
"Hey Delly, it's Peeta."
"Hey! Did Vick tell you I called?"
"No, Hazelle did. Can I talk to Katniss?"
"Hang on," Delly tells him. "She is on the phone. Can I help you?"
He tries not to think about his heart sinking at Delly's words. "Why is this the first I'm hearing about a reception?"
"It was my idea actually. I talked to Hazelle, and we are going to have it there at the B and B, and I need you to cater it, is that ok?"
Peeta reaches for his legal pad that he uses to plan events on. "When is it?"
"Do we know when they are coming home yet?"
For the first time since Halloween he chuckles. "That I don't know. I'm thinking it might be next week. Is the reception a surprise?"
"Oh," Delly answers, a little unsure. "I don't know. Here comes Katniss—"
"Let me talk to her," he commands.
"Ok, here she is."
"Hello?" her honey voice calms his nerves in one breath.
"Hey," he softly replies. He doesn't notice the difference but Hazelle notices right away as he looks down and picks up a pen to start doodling. "Why didn't you take the doughnuts? I got up to fix them just for you."
"Peeta," she says, and he can hear the uncertainty in her voice as she whispers harshly, "I'm sorry. I don't know how to do this right now." Then she clears her throat. "Did you need me Peeta?"
His heart sinks. "Yeah, have you heard when Prim and Rye are coming home? We need to pin point a date…."
Katniss pulls up in her driveway, and smiles when she sees Max Patch laying there. Gale must be working late or over at Madge's house. Since Hazelle took over the bed and breakfast in town, she and Posy have moved in there, leaving Gale, Vick and Rory the house. Rory is off at state, and Vick works at the bakery while he figures out what he wants to do.
Max greets her with a happy pant and an easy tail wag when she gets out of the Jeep. She sits beside him on the porch step, he scoots close to her, lying his long collie nose in her lap. "Hello, old man. How are you?"
He answers her with a thumping tail and a grunt as she scratches his ears. "That good, huh?"
They both look up when a truck pulls up into the drive. She sighs, "Why is he here?"
By now, Max is up, and answers her with a soft, "woof" and greets Peeta as he walks up to them sitting on the porch step.
"Hello, Peeta." she greets, the tiredness she feels on this Monday telling in her words.
"Hello Max," he says, as the big old dog has left the porch and now bumps against his legs. "Hello, Katniss."
She still makes no move to get up when she asks, "Whatcha' doing?"
He shrugs, giving her a small, shy smile. "I wanted to see you."
The cold from the wood she is sitting on is seeping through her jeans and she shivers. "Do you want a cup of tea?" He nods and holds out his hand. She looks at it for a moment and then puts her in his. He tugs her up and she thinks her heart skips a beat when she looks into his eyes. Instead of saying the hundreds of things she really wants to say to him, she fits her key into the door, and lets them in.
She goes to the kitchen and she can hear his heavy footsteps behind her. She sits her stuff on the kitchen table and fills the kettle. She jumps a little when his hands settle on the sink, one on either side of her. She closes her eyes when she feels him stepping into her, and burying his nose in her hair. She turns the water off, and turns in his arms so she can see his eyes. The love and the want she sees there makes her knees go weak. She reaches up and cups his face, her eyes never leaving his. Neither one of them says anything as she runs her thumb over his lips and they both groan when he catches it his mouth and nips it gently.
She opens her mouth, wanting to say something, but before she can, his lips are there, claiming hers in her mama's kitchen like both of them dreamed about for years. She melts, they melt into each other as they claim one another.
When he pulls back, all he lets her squeak out is a weak, "We—" before he is scooping her up and taking her upstairs to her room. The hallway is dark, but he knows the way. He sets her down once he is inside, and she turns the lamp on. She feels so uncertain, and not for the first time in her life, she wishes she was a lot better with words. She looks down, and starts to undo the buttons on her blouse. His hands are there to help her finish. She finally dares to look up at him, and all she can see is blond curls as he focuses on her buttons.
She runs her fingers through those curls, those sweet curls that she grew up loving. He finishes the job and meets her eyes with his easy smile that makes her heart stutter. This time, with her fingers still in his hair, she pulls him to her. Still so very aware of her inexperience, she lightly presses a kiss to his lips. It's his tongue that teases her lips, until she opens up to him. She grows even bolder and she takes charge, coaxing his tongue into her mouth, then sucking on it until he groans that groan that makes her oh, so wet.
She pulls away and lightly pushes him onto the bed. He sits down on the edge, and she pushes him until he topples on over. She crawls on top of him, they still don't say anything, but when he tries to pull over on top of her, she stops him when she puts her hands on his chest. He looks at her questioning, but she crawls up beside him and starts unbuttoning his jeans instead.
She doesn't miss his wolfish smirk when she finally gets them undone. She tugs and he raises his hips so she can pull his jeans on down. She is somewhat surprised when she sees the blue flannel boxers that she got him last year for Christmas. She glances at him out of the corner of her eye, and is proud that she is causing the look of total awe on his face.
She tugs down the boxers and inhales quickly when his dick springs up. She bites her lower lip, wondering if she can really do what she has been thinking about, but not knowing if she would get a chance to try it.
She wraps her hand around the base, and without a second thought gives him a wet lick. It's him who breaks the silence when he says, "Oh fuck, Katniss."
She sneaks a glance at him, and he steals her breath by the way he is looking at her. His pupils are so dilated, his sweet Carolina blue eyes are almost black. She doesn't look away, but lowers herself to where she is face level with him again.
This time, she takes his head into her mouth, and swirls her tongue around it before she starts to gently suck.
"Katniss," he pants her name, which does something to her insides. "What are you doing?"
She lets go of him with a loud pop. "Do you want me to stop?" she asks, worried that she was hurting him.
He shakes his head. "Oh no. that feels amazing. You don't have to is what I'm trying to say."
"But I want to," she replies and takes him again in her mouth. His musky scent that she loves so much tickles her nose, making her even more ready for him. She takes him into her mouth too deep, coughing as she gags on his length.
He sits up and grabs her arms. "Are you ok?" he asks, as she tries to breath normally again. She nods and he kisses her on the nose before he flips her over onto her back. "We can work on that later, right now it's your turn."
"But I wasn't done—"
He kisses her quiet. "I will come if you keep on doing that, and there are things I've been thinking about doing to you all day long." He unclasps her bra in the front and eases it off of her slowly, like he does his birthday presents from her, like they are a precious gift. When he freezes for a long minute, she tries to cover herself back up and scoot out from under him. He stops her with a simple shake of his head and that damn easy smile. "You are so beautiful. Please don't hide from me."
She runs her fingers through those damn curls when he lowers his mouth to her breast. She arches into his mouth when he lazily runs his tongue all the way around it, but it's not until she pulls his hair, guiding him to her nipple that he finally starts sucking on it. Instead of finding relief she moans as her desire builds. He bites it gently, pulling it, then it's his turn to release it with a loud pop.
"Please," she gasps.
"What is it, Kitten? What do you want from me?" Even in their hormone driven minds at that moment, they both stop and think for maybe an instant of his double meaning. For Katniss, it's like a bucket of cold water is thrown over her and those damn rebellious tears are starting again. She goes to roll over, but he lays on top of her to keep her on the bed. "I didn't—"
She lets her head drop in defeat. "Please, kiss me."
He rolls her onto her back. He scoots back over her, and their lips meet helping them both forget for a little while longer that they really do belong to one another.
The alarm is too loud the next morning and too early. She reaches for the snooze button, but rolls into a naked chest instead. The night before comes rushing back, and she can't stop the silly little grin that is on her face. "Peeta, turn off the alarm."
He answers her with a grunt and pushes it off. Then his arms tighten around her, pulling her into him. "Good morning," he whispers against her hair.
"You're still here," she answers.
"I always slept better here. Its ok, isn't it?"
"Yeah, you know that. Do you have to go open the bakery?" she murmurs against him.
"I need to. Wiress is opening too." Katniss shivers from where his fingers are tracing invisible patterns against her back.
"Well, go then," she says with a smirk that he can't see.
"Are you trying to get rid of me?" he asks with fake hurt.
"I usually sleep until seven, not five." She then pushes herself up, scowls at him before she turns her back on him and lays back down. "Lock the door behind you when you leave."
She wonders if he is going to take the bait when he jumps on her and starts tickling her. Breathless, she tries to wiggle away from him. "Peeta—" she almost screams, "Let me up, I need to pee."
In a move that she saw him use many times in high school and the same one he practiced on her, he flips her and then in a heartbeat, he straddles her waist pinning her down. She catches her breath, and they both realize that they are both still naked.
She can feel her embarrassed flush move up her chest until her entire face is burning and she doesn't miss that his face is bright pink too. She also doesn't miss his length growing hard along her stomach. She finally dares to look up to his Carolina blue eyes, and her heart skips a beat when she finally sees him looking at her the way she always dreamed about. "Peeta—"
"Shhh, Kitten," he hushes her. "I know there are things that we need to be talking about and not doing this," she is listening to his words, but she can't help but to notice how he is rubbing his length on her, and it feels so good. He leans down to claim her lips, in a wet, sloppy kiss. He must have used her mouthwash last night, because there is no tinge of morning breath. "—but, I can't stay away from you. Now that I've had you, I think I will crave you forever."
She blinks fast to keep the tears from falling. She doesn't know what to say to him, words were always his strength, not hers, but he saves her from saying anything when he kisses her tears away, and whispers, "Don't cry. It would break me if I knew I was hurting you."
She can't say anything now, so she pulls him down onto top of her and tangles her hands in his hair. She moans when his lips meet hers. She isn't sure who pushes or pulls who, but he finds his home deep inside of her core, and they make love, not until they both shout, but until the shudder gently together, getting lost in each other's eyes.
The rest of the week passes by with Katniss working way too late every evening on the property lines for the new condos on the other side of town, then she had to finish up the work for the Biltmore house. She let Delly finish the planning for Prim and Rye so she and Thom could do their own.
Peeta would text her throughout the day, and she would answer him when she could, but its Friday night and she is still at the office, by herself working, when there is a knock on her door. She jumps at the sudden sound, and opens her top drawer so she can see her daddy's old handgun. As soon as she looks through the glass, relief washes over her when she sees Peeta standing there with a pizza. She unlocks the deadbolt and lets him in.
"I drove by your house—"
She runs her hand over her braid, not ever remembering being this nervous around him. "I've been swamped. I was finishing up some paperwork… you brought pizza."
She can't help but to notice that he looks like a lost puppy when he says, "You didn't answer my texts today. I thought—"
"You texted? She steps back to her desk and looks for her phone. She picks it up and shows it to him. "The sound is turned off. See? I have missed calls and texts from Prim and Jo, too."
"So you aren't mad at me?" he asks and she can see that he is troubled about something.
"Honestly, Peeta, I've been working. Why would I be mad at you?"
He sets down the pizza on top of her papers, and runs his fingers through his already messy hair. Now that she sees it, she sees how he has been worrying it. He shrugs but still doesn't say anything, so she crosses silently to the kitchen in the corner of the little space and gets them some napkins and Pepsi's out of the refrigerator. When she comes back he has the box open and waits for her to pick her first slice before he gets his; just like he always has. She gets a slice but doesn't eat for a moment, but watches him instead. There is something bothering him, so she decides to just finally say something. "Peeta, what we have been doing since—"
He sighs, "I know—"
"No, Peeta, you don't know. You agree to go get married, then we have incredible sex, granted I was a virgin, but it was still pretty damn spectacular. Then you tell me that you want to get it annulled—" he doesn't even let her finish before he is standing up and grabbing his coat.
"I know that you didn't really want to get married!" his voice slowly getting louder. "I shouldn't have made love to you. That is what made all of this complicated."
"Peeta," she softly says fighting her sinking heart. "That's not what this is about—"
He shrugs it on and mutters, "I'm sorry I interrupted your work." And turns around and stomps out of the office leaving her sitting there confused as hell about what just happened. By the time she gets up and makes it to the door, he is pulling out of her parking lot.
She goes back to her desk and checks her messages while she cleans up and tries not to worry about what all of that was about. Prim says that they will be home soon, and Jo wonders how she is since they both have been so busy they haven't had time to catch up.
Katniss gathers up her stuff, turns out the lights, and locks up. It's not until she is home that she remembers that she left the pizza at work. Too tired to go back, she fixes herself a turkey sandwich, and settles in front of the TV. She wakes up several hours later when someone is knocking on her door. She briefly thinks about running upstairs but with it being this late, she supposes she should answer it.
It's not until she stands up and glances out the picture window and spots Peeta's truck that she breathes a sigh of frustration, and thinks about ignoring him too. "Katniss, I see the lights are on. Let me in, please."
She opens the door quickly, and she can clearly see relief on his face. "What, Peeta?"
He looks sheepish and looks down. "I came to apologize. I shouldn't have left like that."
She steps aside. "Come in." When he is in, she shuts and locks the door behind him. She waits until he turns around to face her to say, "No you shouldn't have run off like that."
He steps in front of her and his hands find her hips tugging her towards him. She brings up her hands to catch herself and she looks up at him through her lashes. He groans deep in his throat. Instead of kissing her like she expects him to, he watches her. She licks her lips nervously, and she feels like the prey by the way he is watching her. "We need to talk," she whispers.
He bends over, and nuzzles her neck. Her hands fist in his shirt. "Tomorrow. We'll talk tomorrow."
When he picks her up and heads for the stairs, she decides that talking tomorrow sounds like a good idea.
Warm arms tighten around her, holding her tight. She lets herself smile, knowing who is holding her. She might not have all the experience in the world, but she also feels his hardness pressing into her butt. She shifts and he moans in her ear. "Don't move."
She smirks, and says, "What like this?" as she rotated her hips, feeling his erection grind against her cheeks.
He chuckles in her ear and starts kissing her neck. Before she gets lost in the shivers of desire, she hears the front door open. Then the one voice she didn't expect to hear, "Katniss! Are you awake? Where is Peeta?"
"Is that?" he whispers.
She jumps out of the bed, whispering harshly, "Yes, oh fuck, it's Prim! That means—"
Rye's deep baritones drift up to them. "He must have passed out in your old bedroom."
Katniss grabs her panties and jerks them on, then grabs a hoodie lying across the dresser. She hears footsteps on the stairs and glances at Peeta who is still lying in the bed. She picks up his shirt and hits him in the face with it. "Get up," she hisses.
He looks hurt and she pulls on her boxers. "Are we going to tell them what we did? Are we going to be married now?"
She knows she hit a nerve when he won't meet her eyes. He gets up and pulls on his clothes. He looks like he wants to say something, but footsteps in the hallway prevents him from doing so.
Prim's excited face in is her doorway and she heads to Katniss like a bullet. The sisters hug for a moment and Katniss can hear Peeta and Rye greeting each other. When Prim lets her go, she heads to Peeta, while Rye comes and offers her a hug.
"What were you two doing? Sleeping together?" Rye asks.
Katniss looks panicked for a moment until Peeta says, "We were up late last night talking and fell asleep."
Prim smiles. "That's sweet. You two have always been best friends. I'm hungry. What do you have to eat?"
Katniss pokes her in the side. "You don't live here anymore. Go eat your own food," she teases.
Peeta speaks up, "I can go make something—"
Rye interrupts, "You mean Katniss has food? She hasn't been eating at the bakery all week?"
Katniss punches him in the arm. "Actually, I haven't had time for much except for work."
Prim links her arm through hers and tugs her towards the door. "Come on, I know you at least have the stuff you need for biscuits and gravy." She looks over her shoulder at her husband. "We'll make Rye make the biscuits and Peeta can make the gravy."
"But Prim, you know I make a better biscuit than Rye," Peeta whines.
Katniss doesn't see the boys scuffle in the hallway, but she hears them. Prim pulls her towards the stairs not letting her turn around. "Come and tell me what you've been doing."