Standing across from him, Katniss notices that Peeta's changed, too. A blue button down shirt that matches his eyes, and khaki colored dress pants. He's even gelled his hair to the side. If she's honest with herself, she likes it better when it's unruly, but she'll never admit to thinking that.

Through the whole ceremony it's as if she's on autopilot. She muddles through it, barely hearing what the officiant is saying. She's not afraid, no; she's just overwhelmed. It hits her suddenly, as she's repeating what the official is saying to her, that this is her repayment to him. Finally, after all these years, she's got something of equal value to the lives of her and her family. And then she wonders why Peeta hadn't simply come to her house and demanded her hand in marriage in return for saving their lives. Except, she knows the answer to that one, at least. Peeta's not cruel or demanding. He could never take away a choice like this from anyone, much less someone he... Loves.

She still can't wrap her mind around that. He's got to be confused. And one of these days he's going to wake up and realize he made a horrible mistake.

A pen is placed in her hand and she bends over the table that's in front of her and signs where the finger points. She's not even sure who's finger it is at the moment, she's still so out of it. But she signs regardless, and with the last crooked letter, an odd feeling settles over her. There's no turning back now; She is Peeta Mellark's wife.

"Katniss," Peeta says, finally breaking through the mental fog that had wrapped itself so tightly around her. She notices the official bundling up to head back outside into the cold. It must be even colder now, being later in the afternoon. "We- We can wait to do a toasting, if you want..."

Katniss nods, the feeling of being overwhelmed coming back twice as strong now that the cushion of the mental fog has dispersed. Carefully, Peeta steps forward and wraps his arms around her. She tenses at first at the unfamiliar contact, but soon relaxes into his hold. She can't quite understand why this feels so soothing, but she decides not to question it right now, when there's so much else to deal with in that moment. When he's sure she's not going to pull away, Peeta pulled her in tighter and began to run his fingers through her loose hair. The feelings that overcome her almost cause her to break down in tears, but she's stronger than that, and she refuses to let Peeta see her cry and think he's upset her. This was her decision as much as his, and she's going to make the best of it.

When she opens her eyes again, it's to see that everyone has made themselves scarce. She's lost track of how long they've been standing there with him holding her, but that's what makes her lift her own arms and wrap them around his midsection. She hears Peeta's breath catch, and thinks back to what he said the night before, about the effect she has on people. She concedes that he was at least partially right; she has absolutely no idea the effect she has on him.


When she wakes the next morning, eyes opening to the tops of gilded trees, she's almost confused as to where she is. But it's those trees that remind her of the sunny boy who she now lives with, who painted her an entire room just because he wanted to.

She gets up slowly and rubs at her eyes, feeling well rested for the first time in God knows how long. She cringes as she realizes that she fell asleep last night in her mother's wedding dress, but at least it's only marginally wrinkled. As she's digging through her box of clothes, she decides to open the closet, just to see how big a closet in a house like this will be. But instead she's met with a closet full of clothes. Her mouth drops open as she steps inside, reaching a hand up to touch the nearest sweater, and almost quaking at the soft, soft feeling of it. She immediately pulls it from its hanger and looks for a pair of pants. She picks them out the same way she picked out the sweater, and ends up with a pair of sweatpants that absolutely do not match, but what the hell? She's decided she doesn't really give a damn.

After she's dressed she sits at the vanity and stares at herself in the mirror. Her hair held up pretty well through the night, but she releases the pearls and the braid anyways. She drags a brush through the long strands absentmindedly. Instead, she's wondering what that amazing smell is coming from. She knows it's unlikely it's her mother's doing, so that leaves Prim or Peeta. She could definitely see Prim getting up early to make them all breakfast in her excitement, but something tells her it's not Prim.

She steps off the last stair at the bottom and comes around the corner into the kitchen. She was right; it wasn't Prim or her mother in there. Peeta stands with his back to her, his hair once again mused and free, wearing a cream colored pullover and slacks. He turns with a rack in his hands and nearly drops it when he sees her standing there.

"Katniss," he gasps. "I didn't hear you come down."

"Sorry," she mumbles, ambling closer to the island counter. So that's what was making that wonderful smell.

"It's alright." His face breaks out into an impish grin. "I see you found the clothes."

She looks down at herself, trying to find an ounce of care that she looks ridiculous, but she can't, 'cause she's warm and cozier than she's ever been. "You didn't have to get them. I have my own clothes."

His face turns a little pink and he shrugs, turning back to the oven. She watches as he puts another tray of whatever those buns are into the oven. "I know."

She waits for him to say more, but when he doesn't, she takes a seat at the counter and studies the buns. "What are these?" She asks.

He turns back around after closing the oven. "Cheese buns," he says simply. "They're still a little hot, but-"

She reaches out and takes one carefully, half waiting for him to stop her. When he doesn't she brings it closer to her, the smell filling her senses. Remembering that he said they were hot, she gingerly takes a bite, having to shove down the moan that arises as it hits her tongue. She can't help the way her eyes flutter closed, however, as she chews what must be the best thing she's ever tasted in her whole life.

After she's eaten two more on her own, Peeta cracks a grin and asks, "Do you like them?"

She at least has the decency to blush. "I've never tasted anything better."

His grin widens. "Good. I wasn't sure what to make, but I figured everyone loves cheese buns, so..."

"Aren't you going to eat any?" She asks.

Peeta shakes his head. "I'm taking a break from bread," he says with a chuckle.

"Oh, right. Because you grew up in a bakery."

"Although now I can have fresh bread whenever I want, but to me bread's kind of lost its magic."

Katniss frowns. "You couldn't have fresh bread before?"

"It was more profitable to sell everything that was fresh. Mostly we ate what got too stale to sell, or the stuff that didn't come out right."

"Oh..." She mumbles, feeling dumb. She should have known even the merchants wouldn't get the privilege of their own products. She feels bad now, because at least the food they ate was always fresh. Sometimes so fresh it tried to run away.

Thankfully Prim came bounding down the stairs and into the kitchen at that moment, saving Katniss from making a bigger fool of herself.

"It smells so good in here!" She exclaims, coming over to stand next to the counter.

"I made cheese buns. You better get some before your sister eats them all, though," Peeta said with a grin. "But don't worry, there's plenty more coming."

Prim squeals in delight and rushes around the corner of the island and throws her arms around Peeta, surprising both him and Katniss.

"Thank you, Peeta!" Prim gushes, her face scrunched up in a wide smile.

The smile that graces his face in response to her sister chips away at the ice just a little bit more.