Author's note: I am so happy with all the love you guys are giving this fic! Thank you for the follows, favorites, reviews, and reblogs and likes on Tumblr (booksrockmyface). Thank you, thank you, thank you! You all rock! Hope you guys are ready for the aftermath of the previous chapter.

Happy reading!

Chapter Twelve

Katniss rolled over and watched Peeta's back for several minutes. The scars were visible in the darkness. She reached out her hand and traced a tentative finger over a long one that ran from his shoulder diagonally across for several inches.

"That one got infected." He said, startling her.

She jerked her hand away. "Sorry, I didn't mean..."

He looked over his shoulder. "It's fine. Examine them if you want."

She reached out and traced the same one as she moved closer. "Just this one?"

"Many of them from time to time. Not too bad. It all depended on how well they were tended. My dad cleaned them for me when she let him." He sighed. "I think he was finally ready to go when it happened."

She tugged on his shoulder and he rolled onto his back. She stretched her arm across his torso as she snuggled closer. "Do you miss him?"

"Every day." He kissed her forehead.

"I'm starting to forget my father." Katniss admitted. "We have pictures and I look at them all the time, so I'll always know what he looked like, but I can't remember the sound of his laugh, though I sometimes think that Prim has the same one. And I start to forget the way his eyes would light up when he was proud of me until I look in the mirror after thinking about Prim's latest accomplishment."

Peeta trailed his fingers down her arm. "I'm so glad you stayed tonight. I don't know if I would have rested at all if you handn't." She moved to hover over him. Her hair fell down around her face. He raised his hands and tangled his fingers in her hair. "The sex part is pretty great, too."

She snorted and leaned down for a kiss. Their mouths danced together for several moments. She loved the feel of his lips against hers and the taste of his tongue as they slid along each other.

She broke the kiss and kept her mouth close. "Would you like to go again?"

"A third time, Katniss? Are you certain? You're going to kill me."

She grinned. "Or we could keep talking. I like talking."

"But the sex is great." He repeated.

She giggled and kissed him again. "Foreplay? Or just get right to it?"

"I'm ready now." He smoothed his hands down her chest and stomach and finally dipped a hand between her thighs. "Feels like you are too."

She grinned and kissed him softly. "I've been like that since I first took my shirt off."

He chuckled. "Good to know."

She kissed him again as she fumbled in the night stand. They moved faster this time. The first two times had been steady and sensual, this time was hungry and almost desperate. There had been many smiles and laughs the last times; this time was all seriousness as they worked toward mutual end. She was first, but not by a very large margin. She collapsed on his chest with a content sigh. They both were on the brink of sleep when Katniss decided to roll away.

Peeta followed, snuggling up behind her.

She sighed. "This is nice."

"Mm-hmmm." He kissed the back of her neck and pulled the blanket up to their shoulders.

She said just before she fell asleep, "I'm so happy."

He smiled against her shoulder. "Me too."

They awoke and made love once more the next morning, slowly and gently and with very little noise save their labored breathing and a few soft moans.

Katniss slid her hand over his back. "Do you want to meet my uncle and aunt?"

Peeta chuckled. "I suppose I should. We've been doing this long enough." He tangled his fingers in hers. "And now we've had sex."

She laughed, "You're pretty proud of yourself, aren't you?"

"Maybe a little." He kissed her softly.

"Want me to wait here while you shower or do you want to just come over to my place once you're dressed?"

"Well considering showering is difficult enough on my own..." He smiled and kissed her. "I'll be over in about an hour. Should I make something to bring to your uncle and aunt's house?"

"I think you'll be fine. But if you want to make more of those shortbread cookies, I won't complain."

"Those are cookies I'll only ever make with you again." He kissed her and then rolled out of bed. He stood and stretched.

She watched in wonder. "Your balance is amazing."

He chuckled. "It's taken a lot of practice."

She pushed herself up and kissed him. "I'll see you in a bit."

"Not quickly enough." He kissed her again.

She stood and started gathering her clothes. "Now, don't get all mushy on me, Peeta."

He smiled and grabbed her around the waist from behind and kissed her neck. "How's this? Tonight, I'm going to screw your brains out."

She laughed and leaned back into him. "Hell, yes." She chuckled. She turned. "Love you." She kissed him softly and then finished dressing.

He sat on the bed and went through the process of getting his leg on. Then he followed her out into the living room where she picked up her shirt off the floor. "I, um..." He cleared his throat. "Me too, Katniss. I..." He swallowed. "I've never said it out loud." He took a deep breath and let it out. "I love you."

She stepped up to him and cupped his face in her hands. "It sounds all right."

They shared one last lingering kiss before Katniss finally made her way out the door.

Katniss let herself into the house and called softly, "Prim, are you up yet?"

Prim stepped into the living room. "Hey, Katniss. Walk of shame looks good on you." She grinned.

"No shame." She looked around. "You cleaned up."

"Yeah, Blaise and Joanie didn't feel like leaving right away and helped clean up. They left around midnight. That's okay, isn't it?"

Katniss nodded and then she wrapped her arms around her baby sister. "I sure do love you."

"I love you too." Prim chuckled.

They hugged for a long time and then Katniss stepped away. "I need a shower and then we need to get ready for lunch. I have to go to work right after." She walked into her bedroom.

Prim appeared at her door. "So tell me! How was it?"

Katniss smiled and dug around in her drawers. "It was nice."

"Nice." Prim plopped down on the bed and patted a spot beside her. "Dish, Katniss. Is he well-endowed? Does he have any deformities? Was it the worst experience of your life?"

Katniss laughed and threw herself across the bed. "It was..." She sighed. "I didn't go over there planning for it to happen. And I'm sure it was the last thing on his mind. But it happened. And it was awkward and sweet and amazing." She looked away a moment and then back, "And then it happened three more times."

"Four times in one night?" Prim shook her shoulder. "My god, woman, how are you still walking?"

Katniss laughed. "Your guess is as good as mine." She sat up. "I'm going to tell you something that doesn't leave this room, okay?"

Prim held out her hand with pinky extended. "Promise."

Katniss hooked her pinkie around her sister's. "He'd never done it before."

"Never ever? Not even a BJ?" Prim's tone was very concerned.

Katniss shook her head. "Never. And I was only ever with Gale three very unsatisfying times. So it was a new adventure. And it was great." She laughed.

"You're happy." Prim said. "I've never seen you like this."

"I am happy." Katniss admitted. "I never felt like this." She looked at her phone. "I need to charge this. And take a shower."

"Wash all those dirty thoughts away, Katniss?" Her sister teased.

She laughed. "But not completely."

She was just finishing up getting dressed when Prim called, "Loverboy's here! He's actually wearing clothes, unlike the last time you saw him."

"Shut up, Prim!" She called back.

He knocked and she hurried to answer. He greeted her with a shy smile and a soft kiss.

"Looking well-rested, Peeta." Prim teased as she walked in the room.

He blushed. "Well, you look… eighteen. How does it feel?"

"Fantastic!" She gushed. "But I missed you. All my friends were looking forward to spending time with you outside of school."

"I'm glad I missed that part. But I brought you something to make up for it." He handed over a gift bag. "Happy birthday, kid."

She opened it and found a set of paints and a note. "Go check the back of the Jeep." She followed the instructions. Katniss and Peeta were on her heels. Prim squealed when she saw it. "Are you serious?"

"What is it?" Katniss asked. She stepped over as her sister struggled to open the back hatch.

"An easel." Peeta said. "She said she wished she had one. This is the kind I have. I really like it."

Prim threw her arms around him. "Oh, thank you, Peeta. No one's ever gotten me anything like this." She looked contrite. "I mean—"

Katniss cut her off. "I know what you mean." She looked at Peeta, "But this is favoritism."

He nodded. "I thought about that. I'm already being monitored. As long as you don't tell people I'm the one that got it, you should be fine."

Prim nodded. "I'm just so grateful."

Katniss said, "I suppose if anyone asks, we can say that I had no idea what to pick and sent you for it."

"I think that works." Peeta said. He squeezed Katniss's hand. "Let her unload that, I have something for you that I picked up this morning, too." He pulled her around to the side of the Jeep and opened the door. "I saw these and the associate told me they were really good for target practice." He pulled out a handful of arrows and held them out.

"You didn't have to get me anything. There's no occasion." She argued.

"Doesn't have to be." He shrugged. "Some girls like flowers, but I didn't think you were a flower kind of girl."

She took one and gave it a thorough examination. "Thank you." She took the others. "We can test them out later. Prim, get that thing in the house, we'll be late. And you know how Effie gets when we show up late."