To clear things out a little, this is a story where Katniss lives in District Twelve. She is rich and lives in a mansion, but she is in love with a poor man Gale. Peeta was a worker in a farm in District 11, and now he is inhaling everything due to his father's death. Now Peeta is a rich man, he owns a whole farm. The relationship that Katniss and Peeta will have in this story is at least in the beginning a love hate relationship, but Katniss will learn to see the other side of hate. Overall it is an Everlark story, with a slow beginning.
It was early morning and it was time for the funeral of Mr. Benjamin Mellark. Peeta was standing in his room, taking a deep breath, wondering how on earth he was going to get trough this, when he heard a knock on the door. Reluctantly he moved to open his door, and he learned that it was Father Anselmo, who was standing outside of his door.
"Good morning Peeta. Are you still not ready? Outside people are waiting for you." Father Anselmo informs the young man.
"Yes, I was just about to leave." Peeta answers bluntly.
"Peeta, you're going to have to leave this room of service, and move into the main house, as you are the only son of Mr. Benjamin, and it is your obligation to live there. Now you are the owner of this farm."
"I'm still doubting the whole fact that that man really left me all of this." Peeta tells the priest. He can't bring himself to say the word father. Mr. Benjamin could be many things, but being a father to him, was not one of them.
"Well you are wrong. Your father, thank goodness, had enough living time to change his testament. Your father told you the truth Peeta. He named you the only heir of all of his property."
No one could ever understand how much hatred and anger this causes Peeta. A man that was never anything else but a patron to him, was now remembered as his father. His father, who recognized his son, seconds before his death, baring him no answers.
"I don't want a single penny from that man." Peeta says coldly. Father Anselmo tells him that he should think things trough, but Peeta doesn't want, nor does he need to think about anything.
Now Peeta riced to his feet and as anger took hold of him, he was yelling now. "I never needed a father, nor did I ever need any money. I have always worked for myself!"
"I know this son, I know. That is why I have always felt very proud of you. But try and understand that Mr. Benjamin wanted to be fair towards you, with his only son, in the last minute of his life!" Father Anselmo's voice had risen a little in the end, but it was no where near yelling.
"Fair? Fair!" Peeta says that word cringing. "He even had the nerve to say to me, that if my parents would to be alive, they would be proud of me. That is fair to you?" By the end of the sentence Peeta was yelling again.
"Try and understand me son. By the end of his life your father was very regretful towards the things he had done."
"Well he started to feel regretful too late, don't you think? What I would have wanted from a father is love. What I needed was affection, a simple hug. And that I never had. And that I never will have." at this point Peeta is just beyond tired and he feels a lump in his throat, and tears that he has to swallow.
The priest slowly places a hand on Peeta's shoulder and reminds him of his grandfather, who had taken care of Peeta when he was a little boy.
"It's been many years since my grandfather's death. Did he know that I was Benjamin Mellark's son?" Peeta asks.
"I don't know. The only thing I know is that your grandfather never really got over your mother's death." is the only simple answer Peeta gets. One that he has heard many times before.
"You once told me that my mother had been a worker in this farm. Tell me something. That miserable" Peeta struggles with what to call his father. "did he ever take advantage of my mother? Did he benefit from her only being a simple worker?" Peeta asks.
Father Anselmo's silence is more than an answer to Peeta, who now suddenly hates Benjamin Mellark even more.
X
The Everdeen's are enjoying their breakfast but Diana Everdeen finds starring at her daughter Katniss, as something more appealing. As soon as Marvel had heard the phone call that Katniss had with Gale, he had obviously told his mother about it. And well now, Diana wants to somewhat play with Katniss.
"Your father would love it if you where to travel somewhere, and I think it's for the best. Were would you like to go, Katniss?" her mother smiles a cold fake smile.
"Quite honestly I wouldn't want to leave District Twelve." Katniss carefully says.
"Why not? If you're not going to marry Sebastian anymore." Diana really is enjoying this. "So for all I know, nothing should stop you."
Katniss takes his fathers hand in hers. "My fathers health. You know that he has been quite delicate lately."
"Don't you worry about me Katniss. I'm fine." Charlie squeezes his daughters hand reassuringly with a smile.
"You should go to District four, If I remember right your mother has friends there. Oh and I'm sure they would gladly welcome you. And besides, I've heard there are some really good looking men living there. Perhaps you could find someone and fall in love." Effie can't help but jump in. Katniss rolls her eyes.
"There is no hurry for that Effie. Katniss just ended one relationship, she should enjoy her freedom. Katniss, promise me, that you won't pressure yourself into having to be in a relationship, right at this moment. That will come with time." Charlie softly but firmly states.
Diana looks at her daughter with viciousness. "Don't worry Charlie. If there was someone special in the life of our daughter, we would already be aware of it. Isn't that right Katniss?" the mother asks, locking eyes intensely with Katniss.
When Katniss says nothing in return, Diana continues.
"Or do you have more surprises for us, Katniss?"
All eyes are on her on the table, and just when she starts to shake her head no, the attention is not on here anymore, as there is a loud thud that comes from someone slamming the door. In walks Marvel, all bruised and beaten up. Diana is the first one up running towards her son.
"My baby, what happened to you? Are you okay?" she asks all worried.
"Just look in what state you come home! After spending the night, god knows where. You are one irresponsible man! Nothing surprises me anymore!" It's Charlie who yells at his son, while Diana just holds Marvel, glaring at Charlie.
Never taking her eyes off of Charlie she states that she will take care of his son's bruising's. Then she walks away with Marvel.
Katniss instead rises to give her father a hug, and she tries to calm him down by kissing him on the cheek, and telling him to finish his breakfast.
Later when she finally gets some peace and quiet, Katniss sits in her bed and thinks about the day in the beach with Gale. She checks her phone, and her smile turns into a frown as she wonders where Gale was last night and why he didn't show up. Or why he hasn't even called her.
But at the very same time as Katniss thinks of Gale, Peeta Mellark sits in the stairway of the main house. His house for that matter, although he feels strange to refer to it as his home. He sits and thinks about the beautiful girl he met last night at the beach. The girl with the brown hair that was pulled into a single loose braid. The silver eyes that consumed him. The way that she hugged him, although thinking he was someone else she did still..
"Peeta!"
Peeta is brought back from his daydreaming when he hears a familiar voice call his name. He stands up and for the first time in ages feels a little better as he pulls his close friend Finnick Odair in for a hug.
"They told you already?" Peeta asks.
"Yes. Father Anselmo told me everything this morning." Finnick smiles.
"Thank you for coming." Peeta genuinely is thankful.
"Don't thank me. That's what friends are for right?"
"I've really missed my best friend." Peeta states.
"Well don't you worry there Peeta Bread, because I'm gonna be staying for quite a while. Things didn't go that well in the Capitol. Got fired after two weeks." Finnick smirks as he talks.
"Well, that's where you have me. I have your back for whatever you need man."
"Thank you. Well look at how things are now. I'm here all broke as shit, and you're the owner of all of this."
"Nah. I don't feel like this is mine. I don't even want it." Peeta says now in a much more serious tone.
"That's not true Peeta. We grew up here. The only reason why Benjamin got rich is, that he took advantage of his workers. But now, with you owning this, the whole farm and it's workers future's are in your hands." Finnick says, and this causes Peeta to start thinking that maybe Finnick is right, and he should take this as a positive thing.
A little while later Benjamin Mellark's funeral starts, and once Peeta gets there, a familiar face approaches him.
"It's nice to meet you Peeta. I'm Seneca Crane, district twelve's leather factory manager. I am at your service, and I hope I can work for you as loyally, as I did for Mr. Benjamin Mellark." Seneca tells Peeta, as he shakes hands with him. But on the other side of the room, Delly's uncle Brian gives a silent chuckle at Seneca's words.
X
Katniss frowns as she tries to call Gale for the seventh time with no answer. As her aunt Effie walks into the room, she asks Katniss who she is trying to call.
"Oh just Annie. I wanted to know if she's back from her honeymoon already so that we can see each other again." Katniss lies.
"Katniss..I want you to know that you have mine, and your fathers back. But I would like to ask you to be honest with me. You know I've always been on your side Katniss, and whatever it is that you are hiding, it will come out at some point. Why did you end things with Sebastian?" Effie asks.
Katniss takes a deep breath, before she realizes it is time to speak the truth. "You're right aunt. And it's time for me to speak to my father." Katniss starts walking towards her fathers office, ignoring her aunts yells about Charlie being busy at the moment.
She pushes the door open and when she enters she feels her breath being sucked out of her as she finds Gale there talking with her father.
"Katniss, you know that you should knock. Don't you see that I am talking with the marine Hawthorne?" Charlie asks sternly, and with this Gale turn to look at Katniss with a smile. The two look at each other, before Charlie speaks again.
"Why do I feel like you two know each other?" he asks.
"No, no we've never met." Gale calmly answers.
"And can I ask what is the reason for your visit?" Katniss asks, but it is Charlie who answers.
"He came to bring me some papers from Captain Plutarch." Charlie says.
"The captain wanted to say goodbye to your father, because we are leaving tomorrow and we will be gone for ten days." Gale continues while looking at Katniss.
"Ten Days!" Katniss can't help but to raise her voice in annoyance.
"The man has his obligations in the navy Katniss. Oh, I just remembered that I have that wine Captain Plutarch had asked me. Could you please give it to him from me?"
"Yes of course." Gale simply answers getting a little nervous.
"Then give me minute, I'll go to the basement to get it. Katniss, please keep marine Hawthorne some company here." Charlie tells his daughter.
"Yes of course father." Katniss smiles a vicious smile when her father walks away. She closes the offices doors and quickly turns around to face Gale, but he is already behind her, and he presses her against the door before he kisses her. She kisses him back but pulls away soon.
"I was waiting for you last night at the beach, and you never showed up!" Katniss whispers as she walks across the room.
"I'm sorry Catnip. I had an inconvenience. Captain Plutarch needed me last night."
"Now that I saw you here talking to my dad I thought for a second that you came here to talk to him about us." Katniss sighs.
"I don't think it's the right time." Gale says stepping closer to her.
"When will it be the right time then Gale?"
"When I come back to district twelve."
"Why can't you just do it now, you're already here!"
"I just don't know how your dad will react. Especially now that you ended things with Sebastian. I don't want to get you in trouble." Gale says and he presses her against the wall and he kisses her again.
"Ten days! I'm going..to miss..you..like crazy." Katniss says in between of their kiss. As soon as they hear the door opening Gale runs behind the office's table and Katniss turns around to face the wall, to hide her blushing face.
In walks Charlie, with the wine bottle. He hands it to Gale and asks him to give Captain Plutarch greetings from his side. With this Gale says his goodbyes and with a small smirk he leaves Katniss biting her lip and Charlie looking at her with a questioning look.
X
It was a rainy day in District eleven, and there was a small handful of people in Benjamin's funeral. Mostly just a couple of workers and of course Peeta Mellark. They all held black umbrellas in the rain as they listen to the priest. No one would really miss him. Delly gently presses her head against Peeta's shoulder and Seneca gives him a curious glare.
Once the funeral is over Peeta stands outside of the main house with his lawyer and father Anselmo. The lawyer is telling him about how he is going to make sure that tomorrow he will do all the paperwork needed to get everything on Peeta's name.
"I'm so happy that you changed your mind." Father Anselmo says.
"Everything will change now. But not only for me, but for everyone. I swear that I won't be the only one who will get something once I get all of that money." Peeta says.
"I know that once in your hands this farm will get very far. And that you will be fair with everyone who works here." Father Anselmo says and it sounded more like a warning than a statement.
"What worries me is the company in district twelve. It has been losing money and if things continue like that, it will go bankrupt." the lawyer informs.
"Seneca Crane is the administrator right?" Peeta asks.
"Yes. But I've never truly trusted that man. They could just be my ideas but, I think that he has been robbing money from your father for years." The lawyer says.
"In that case, I will make my way to District twelve to make sure everything is in order." Peeta tells him.
In the distance Brian secretly listens to the men speaking.
Hours later Peeta stands outside thinking about the girl with the braid and silvery eyes.
"What are you thinking about?" Delly interrupts his thoughts.
"A woman." Peeta simply tells her.
"Oh really? Who, what woman?" Delly smiles.
"I don't know who she is, but I met here when I went to the beach." Peeta says.
Delly's smile turns into a frown. "When did you go to the beach?"
"Last night. I went by horse to district twelve." he tells her.
"District twelve? But that's like three hours away by horse!"
Peeta ignores Delly's statement as he continues to talk about the girl. "You know, you can really see that she has class. Do you think that a woman like that would notice someone like me?" Peeta smiles as he asks this.
Delly sighs and starts smiling again. "That doesn't matter. What really is important, is that you fall for the right girl. Someone who will truly love you and who won't hurt you." Delly says cheerfully.
"And do you think that I really know someone who would give everything away for me?" Peeta asks.
"I don't see why not. The thing is that you have to open your eyes to see where she's at."
Peeta nods. "Well, I'm going to head to sleep. Tomorrow I have a very complicated day. Goodnight Delly." he starts to walk away but Delly calls his name.
"I know that things won't be the same. But I'm really scared that you will change around me." Delly says almost crying.
Peeta shakes his head, and steps slightly closer to Delly. "Don't worry. Whatever happens you will always be my best friend." Peeta kisses her on the forehead and walks away.
Once he is gone, Delly starts crying.