Author's note: Just one more chapter and an epilogue after this. Are you excited? Sad? Worried? Let me know what you think. I greatly appreciate the reads, follows, favorites, and reviews. You guys rock.

Happy reading!

Chapter Twenty-Four

Peeta watched Finnick and Annie move around the kitchen together like clockwork. Neither said much, they just felt. It was automatic. It came from knowing each other for a decade. He couldn't wait to experience that with Katniss.

His girlfriend exclaimed from the living room, "No! I almost had you!" Then she laughed.

"Another round?" Finn asked.

She nodded. "Sure, kid."

Peeta turned back to the couple.

"So how's it going?" Finnick asked.

Peeta glanced over his shoulder once more and motioned his friend closer. "I want to marry her."

Finnick clapped him on the shoulder. "That seems like a great idea."

"Johanna, you're cheating!" Katniss exclaimed.

"That's nothing new." Finnick called.

"Fuck you!" Johanna called back.

Annie shook her head and wrapped her arms around Finnick's waist from behind. "Stop."

"I know you're ready for her to be gone, too. It's been four months."

Finnick turned around and placed his hand on her bulbous stomach. "Yeah, well, I have you. And once this baby is born, she'll get tired of it crying all hours of the night and finally get her shit together."

"We can dream." Annie sighed. She looked to Peeta. "So when are you gonna do it?"

"I don't know yet." Peeta turned to watch Katniss with Finn, Johanna, and Prim. "Soon." He walked into the other room and sat down in front of Katniss. He slipped his arm behind her legs and rested his head on her lap.

She paused in her playing to kiss his temple. And then went quickly back when Finn started protesting.

They spent a few more minutes all gathered together in the living room before Finnick sighed and said, "I guess I should feed you guys or something." He picked up the burgers and headed out to the patio.

Peeta followed. "Hey, dude, will you come with me?" He asked.

Finnick threw his arms around Peeta. "I thought you'd never ask. Annie will completely understand." He leaned in for a kiss and Peeta pushed him away with a laugh.

"As flattered as I am, I meant something completely different." He looked over his shoulder. "Help me pick out a ring for Katniss?"

Finnick nodded and turned to the dials on the grill. "Totally."

Katniss knocked on the window and said, "You keep your hands off my boyfriend, Odair."

Finnick grinned and slapped Peeta's bottom. "I do what I want, Everdeen."

Peeta pushed him away. "Hey, watch it." He laughed and raised his voice. "At least while Katniss is looking."

Finnick turned back to the grill.

"So will you help me?" Peeta asked.

"Would you let me touch your ass again?" Finnick asked with a smirk.

Peeta shook his head. "Sorry, man, I'm not really comfortable with that."

"Fair enough." Finnick shrugged and went back to cooking. "So when do you want to do it?"

"When are you free?"

"How about Saturday afternoon?"

"Saturday works. We can go do drinks and maybe see a movie or something, too. A guys' day. Hang out. Ogle pretty women."

"Talking about anyone I know?" Johanna asked as she walked up to the pair.

Finnick grinned. "Well, there are plenty of pretty women to go around, I suppose."

"Nope, I think you two got the last of the available ones. At least the ones who are legal. Prim is looking pretty these days." She said to Peeta.

He bristled. "You keep your leering looks away from Prim. She doesn't need your corruption."

Johanna chuckled. "Calm your tits, Mellark. I'm only joking. Have you forgotten I'm a two on the Kinsey Scale. I mostly go for guys. Older ones. With money."

"And you wonder why you're perpetually single and living with us." Finnick pointed out.

She shrugged. "Everyone has a type."

Peeta shook his head. Then he got an idea. "How are you with jewelry?"

"I know what's pretty." She said. "Looking to buy me something, Sexy?" She caressed his arm and he shrugged her off.

"I'm going to propose to Katniss and I want to find something perfect. I want more opinions. Finnick and I are going Saturday."

"I'll tag along. Got nothing better to do anyway."

"You could look for a job." Finnick offered as he flipped the burgers.

Johanna tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I could. But then I would miss out on your lovely company. And your wife's jealous glares."

"Well, pregnancy has a tendency to do that to a woman." Finnick said.

Johanna chuckled. "I guess."

The others came out to see how the meal was coming along. Peeta slipped his arm around Katniss's waist and kissed her cheek.

"Hey." She said with a smile as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Hey. Would you mind if I hung put with Finnick and Johanna Saturday?" He asked.

"Of course. You go do your thing." She turned to the other two and said, "Just figure out keeping your hands to yourself because this one's mine." She brushed a kiss over Peeta's lips.

Annie pouted. "How long will you be gone?"

Finnick patted her stomach. "Just the afternoon. A movie and some drinks. Guy talk." He looked to Johanna. "Well, Jo will be the token girl in the group telling us to stop being misogynistic jerks." He leaned in and whispered something in her ear and she nodded enthusiastically.

"Sounds like lots of fun." Annie said. "Maybe Katniss and I could do something."

"Sure." Katniss agreed.

"So what are we even looking for?" Johanna asked as they made another round through the jewelry store.

Peeta stopped and pointed. "That one?" He asked the attendant that followed. "The emerald one."

"Where is the rock?" Finnick teased as Peeta picked up the ring.

"She doesn't need anything extravagant. Simply gorgeous, just like Katniss. And green is her favorite color, so that part works, too."

"How sweet." Johanna said with a cynical smile on her face.

"You do think it's sweet." Finnick said. "Underneath that tough exterior lives a sweet little girl."

"Do you do inscriptions?" Peeta asked.

"Yes, sir. What were you thinking?" The man asked.

Peeta talked to the attendant for a minute about his idea.

Then the attendant asked, "What size will you need?"

"Um..."

Johanna offered her hand. "Hold my hand."

"What? No." Peeta said.

She laughed. "We're not breaking your girlfriend's rule. You've held her hand enough to know how it fits in yours, right? So hold mine and compare. Then I'll use the size thing and figure out close enough."

Finnick watched her in awe a moment. "You're a genius."

She shrugged. "I know a thing or two."

Peeta reluctantly slipped his hand into Johanna's. He stood there a moment and said, "I think yours are just a little smaller. Maybe a lot smaller."

They determined the size and Peeta ordered it.

"Okay," Peeta said. "I need a drink and maybe some really good fries."

"I know just the place." Johanna said as they headed out.

Peeta stopped by the door as a necklace caught his eye. He smiled and waved over the attendant. "Could you wrap that up for me?" He asked.

"Right away, sir." The man smiled and opened the case.

"A meat cleaver?" Finnick asked. "Are you serious?"

"Completely." Peeta smiled. "So if she finds out we were here, she'll think it's to get this. I'll give it to her for her birthday."

"Which is when?"

Peeta thought about it a moment. "I think it's in May."

"You should probably figure that one out." Finnick said. "That's my one piece of advice for marriage that's universal; birthdays and anniversaries should always be remembered."

Peeta chuckled as he wrote a text to Prim, "When is Katniss's birthday? Want to surprise her with something special. That also means I need you to clear out on the day, s'il vous plait."

Her reply came quickly. "May 8. I'll think of something. Her favorite dinner of yours is that broiled steak. Just so you know."

"Thanks, kid." He sent back. "I have a month to figure this out. Proposing on her birthday. Two events in one!"

Finnick held up his hand for a high-five. "Best way to do it."

Peeta high-fived him. "Exactly."

Katniss and Annie sipped milkshakes at a small diner. Annie had insisted on sitting at the bar, even though getting up on the stool was a challenge at nearly seven months pregnant, but she swore it would be a lot easier than a booth.

"You're distracted." Annie commented.

"I'm sorry. Just… I'm imagining myself pregnant." Katniss said.

Annie's eyes grew to the size of saucers. "Are you?"

Katniss shook her head vigorously. "God, no! But I may be one day. Peeta and I have talked about it briefly. He wants kids. I'm not entirely sold."

"You'll look great, I'm sure."

"I'll be cranky. Probably snap at anyone that looks at me sideways." Katniss stirred her ice cream. "I take anti-depressants and that's also a concern of mine."

"Oh, I do too." Annie said. Her smile was encouraging.

"Is it safe?"

Annie nodded. "Well, as safe as possible. I talked with my doctor when Finnick and I decided to try for another and we worked it out. He's monitoring me and little Mags here." She rubbed her stomach. "We're both doing fine. I hope it stays that way."

Katniss nodded thoughtfully. Then she realized what she heard. "Mags?"

Annie smiled. "Margaret. It was Finnick's grandmother's name. Everyone called her Mags, so we're going to call her that. But don't tell my husband I told you. He wanted to keep the sex of the baby a secret."

"Thank you for telling me. I feel like we're actually friends."

Annie rubbed her arm. "We are friends."

Katniss turned to Annie. "So since we're friends, will you tell me something?"

"If I have an answer."

"Did the guys and Jo really go to have a guys' day or are they planning something?"

Annie shrugged. "Finnick told me they wanted to hang out. If they're planning something, I don't know about it. Why do you ask?"

"Because every time I asked Peeta, he was really vague. And he hasn't lied to me in all our time together. In fact, I'm pretty sure he told me more in the first month we were together than he's told most people he's known for years."

"I'm sure he did." Annie said with a gentle smile. "He's so enamored with you. I only knew him a few months longer than you and it took us so long to drag his story out of him. From the minute I first saw you together, I could tell he was itching to give you his world. Katniss, he loves you and he trusts you. This is definitely not a fleeting thing."

"That's a lot of faith you have in him."

"Of course. He's a sweet guy and deserves the best. You're it. And I am happy to say that you both seem to be better people because of your relationship. I can't wait to see where it takes you." Annie smiled.

Katniss smiled back. And in that grin, she had a bit of an idea about what she meant. Maybe Peeta was planning something after all. And she knew what she would say.