Hi guys! It's chapter 10! I don't have much to say except for thank you because I was not in the writing mood for a while (as you can see cause it's been nearly a month) and I read your reviews and it really just made me want to pick up my computer and write so thank you.

I also looked at my story page thingy and I saw I had 60 followers! So thank you for all your support and stuff

One more thing! Catching Fire is out today and I am excited! I couldn't watch it tonight so I'm watching it tomorrow evening.

But anyways on to chapter 10…

Chapter 10 (Peeta POV)

I rang on Katniss's doorbell, running a hand through my hair, and effectively making it look even messier than it already looked.

That afternoon I had found Katniss sitting on the beach dunes with Eddie sprawled across her lap. She had a distant faraway look in her eyes and gave me a small as she saw me walk closer to her but it wasn't the same. I decided to ignore it for now. I had a mission and intended to complete it, even if the first time I tried we almost broke up and she almost died.

I was going to ask her to come to dinner with me.

I sat down next to her and gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Are you okay?" I ask apprehensively.

"Yeah. I was just talking to Gale."

Gale? Why would she be upset talking to Gale? "Did he say anything to hurt you?" I asked my voice hard with anger.

"No!" She exclaimed, "No, it's just we were talking about my mom and I got upset. It's not a big deal."

I nodded and took a deep breath. It was now or never. "Well I came here to ask if-if you would like to have dinner with my family tonight." She was about to say something and I quickly added in. "I know it's a short notice but I was going to ask you on the night of the accident. That was why I texted you to meet me at the dock but then Glimmer happened and-"

She cut me off with a breathtaking kiss and pulled away after a few moment to breathe. "I would love to have dinner with your family Peeta."

I leaned in for another kiss but Eddie chose that moment to decide he wanted to be a part of the love fest and started licking our cheeks.

I silently groaned. I really liked Eddie but at times like this I found myself wondering why I even brought him here. Then I heard Katniss's joyful laugh and I realised that if the only way to make Katniss happy was for me to jump off a cliff, I would do it. It was a scary thought that I could love someone that much and I loved her too much to let her go at the end of the month.

Katniss noticed me staring at her and her lips quirked up into a small smile. "What? Is there something on my face?"

I shook my head. "But even if there was, you would still be the most beautiful girl I have ever seen."

Katniss, never the one to take complements, hit my arm. "Well I better go get ready for tonight." She got up and started walking away with Eddie following after.

"We're something pretty." I yelled just before she got out of earshot.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when the door opened revealing a sluggish looking Haymitch Abernathy.

"Katniss is getting ready. Come on in." He said.

I entered their very pristine house; Effie's doing no doubt, and sat on the couch.

"How's your family doing?" Effie probably told him to make small talk with me because if it were up to him he would be cradling his finest bourbon like it was his baby.

"They're good. My dad is really excited to meet Katniss and my mom is warming up to it."

He heard footsteps coming from upstairs then sat up and said quickly and quietly. "Listen boy, I'm only going to say this once. Don't hurt her."

"I won't. I love her with all my heart."

He gave a satisfied nod and leaned back on the couch just as Katniss and Effie walked down the stairs.

Everything I was about to say was stuck in my throat. She was breathtaking. It was nothing special; a short, short sleeved red dress with black polka dots and a thin black belt to go with it but she still looked like the most beautiful thing to walk the earth.

She got to me and gave me a hug. I wanted to kiss her so bad but I knew that I couldn't with Effie staring and Haymitch boring holes into my head."

I cleared my throat and finally got out the words, "You look gorgeous."

She blushed a little and started to lead me out the door. "I'll see you guys later." She called out as we went out the door.

When we got into my car I surprised her with a kiss.

"What was that for?" She asked, confused.

"For agreeing to have dinner with my family tonight."

We pulled out of her driveway and made our way to my house in a comfortable silence.

In less than twenty minutes we were at the front porch of my house. "Before we go in I just want to say that you shouldn't take it personally if my mom is cold to you at first. I know she will warm up to you when she gets to know you better."

She nodded nervously. "Is there any other Mellark information I need to know?"

"Nope, let's just go in and enjoy ourselves." I pulled out my keys and slowly opened the door.

My dad rushed over to us as he saw us come in. He looked at Katniss with joy in his sapphire eyes. "Hello, you must be Katniss. I'm Caden." He said, reaching out to take Katniss's hand.

"It's nice to meet you too. You have a very lovely house." She said awkwardly. I noticed how nervous she was and gently took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. She visibly relaxed and I noticed dad smiling as he saw it.

"Well," he said, "Your mother, Rye, Prim and Rue are in the kitchen. Dinner is just about ready."

We made our way to the kitchen and I could tell Katniss was trying to, with little success, calm herself down. I gave her a quick kiss on her temple to sooth her nerves.

When Prim saw Katniss, you would have thought that she hadn't seen her in years. Even though she saw her last week, when Katniss was still on bed rest. She squealed and gave her a bone crushing hug.

"Hey Prim." Katniss said, smiling.

"Hello Katniss." Rye said standing next to Rue. She was a small African-American thirteen year old with dark brown hair and chocolate eyes.

"Hey." She said before looking at Rue. "Hello. What's your name?"

"Rue." She said, shyly.

"Rue is Thresh's sister." Prim said. She seemed pretty happy that we were all getting to meet each other.

"Well I don't want to be forgotten in this meet and greet." My mom spoke up from behind all of us.

I saw Katniss tense up but she turned around and gave her a painful looking smile then thought better and decided to say, "Hello Mrs. Mellark, I'm Katniss. Thank you for letting me come for dinner."

"Don't worry about it. Peeta has said so many good things about you and I wanted to put a face to the girl my son seems to be so taken with."

I started to blush at my mom's words and Katniss looked at me, smirking. "Mom don't you think it's time to eat?"

She looked at me with wide eyes as if suddenly remembering. "Oh! I nearly forgot. Everyone to the dining room. Now!"

We all shuffled over into the dining room and sat down quietly. The food, as always, smelt great. Cheese buns I made this afternoon where sitting on a plate and had gone a bit stale but no doubt still tasted good.

"So Katniss," dad said after a few minutes, "how are you liking it here? It was probably a big change moving from a big place like Montana to here."

"Yeah it was but I really like it here and I think it was just what I needed to get my head screwed in the right direction."

Rye gave a loud yawn. "How much longer do we have to do this cause I've got to meet up with Darius soon."

"Well maybe you shouldn't make plans on nights you know there will be a family dinner." She said while glaring at him.

Trying to diffuse the tension I knew was brewing I turned to Rue. "So Rue are you excited to be going to high school in a few months?"

She grinned and looked at Prim who had an equally big smile. "Prim and I have planned out everything we're going to do. The parties we're going to throw, who we're going to invite-"

"Woah, woah, woah!" Mom cut her off, "There will be no parties in this house and yours too Rue."

Prim sighed and her shoulders slumped.

We continued to eat in silence until mom spoke up. "So how is your dog doing? What was his name again?"

"Eddie." She said, "And he's doing great. I'm glad Peeta brought him to me."

We continued dinner talking about different things and only a few more incidents coming up. When dinner was over I dragged me upstairs to see my room.

After several suggestive comments from Rye, we finally made it to my room. She looked around in awe. I never really thought much about my room; it was painted sunset orange with sketches I drew and original paintings everywhere. Katniss stepped to a covered painting against the wall. She was about to uncover it when I quickly stopped her. "Hey don't look at that."

"Why?" She asked teasingly. "What deep dark secret is hidden under the sheet?"

I sighed. "If you must know… I painted a picture of you the day I met you."

I uncovered it and she gasped in surprise. My painting was simple yet technical. I had just drawn her face so that I could be reminded of her beauty in case I never saw her again. I had focused mainly on her stormy gray eyes and the way her mouth was set into a permanent scowl. And her braid which was just carelessly thrown over her shoulder like it was in real life.

She looked at me with wonder in her eyes. "I love you." She whispered as she flew into my arms.

"I know," I mummered into her hair, "I love you to."

She shook her head firmly. "I mean it. I love you. We don't have much time together so I want you to remember that I love you, no matter what."

"I know we only have a month but I think that is more than enough time to figure out a plan."

"That's the problem Peeta." She took a deep breath and then said. "You know when I told you that Gale called and I seemed pretty upset?"

I nodded.

"Well while we were talking he told me that my mom said that she's coming in two weeks. Not a month."

And right there, I felt my heart stop beating.

Hey guys sorry for the late update and the probably crappy chapter. It's been pretty much a month and I just wanted to get it out.

Anyways, Review, Favorite, and Follow and just tell me what you think.