MangoMagic- I've taken your suggestions and wrote the ending accordingly. I think it meets all the criteria, except the part about it being rushed. I'll let you read and decide. You know that I'm never one for long chapters or intense character development, lol. Regardless, I've always appreciated your honest reviews. Thank you.
abugsaunt- If you were dying after I left you before, then I really hope you're not dead now as I've been away for so long. I'm glad you like Haymitch and Effie. There's another tidbit of them in the ending here too that I put in just for you. As my story is now finished, let me promise you I will be keeping an eye out for yours. I really do enjoy reading it, just like I enjoyed reading all the wonderful reviews you've given me. Your insightful questions on where the story would go next had really helped me ask myself those very same questions. You've prompted me to go in a different direction on several different occasions throughout this story and I'm so glad you did. Whenever ducks quack, I'll think of you :)
sysi huhu- I could never even try to make anything similar to the greatness that is Harry Potter, lol, but how about a little epilogue to close things out? I might just have to do another Peeta/Cato fanfic in the future if a story comes to mind. If so, I'll definitely let you know. Thanks for the kind words.
The Play of Pessimism- Haha, I aim to please. I really started this story just for fun, but as the reviews came in, I ended up turning it into an unhealthy challenge where I took reviewer suggestions and twisted everything to fit what they wanted. It's definitely turned into a different story than the one I had first envisioned, but I find that awesome. You caught me with Cato's parents. I was kind of over the whole district 2 thing, seeing that Gale ended up there in the book. It just wasn't something I wanted for Peeta. He's the 'dandelion' for goodness sake! Oh, and you seem to have been outvoted on the tragic ending by everyone else, lol. Rest assured, when you asked for one, I immediately started picturing these twisted and horrific endings. If I end up writing something else, I'll definitely be coming to you for advice. Thanks for the offer.
CupcakeSprinkles14- I'm a fan of happy endings myself. Like if a movie has a sad ending, I'll stay up all night rewriting an ending I like better in my head and then convince myself that's how it really ended. Pathetic, I know.
HungerWho37- Duly noted on the soft ending. If I didn't wait so long to write this, I would've tried to work in the Christmas theme too. Nevertheless, I hope my 'first reviewer ever' likes what I came up with. Thanks for sticking with me from the very beginning.
Psi-lent Knight- I'm glad you liked it. I think the little things like that are my favorite parts for a lot of stories.
sundragons9- You're absolutely right on being "addicted" to someone during the honeymoon phase. And I took the advice in your review.
kaesaku- Aww, thank you. I'm glad you loved it.
Insanitywriter- No! I didn't kill Rue! Rue and Pip write to each other and Rue drew herself sleeping in the orchard's flowers. Just sleeping, not dead. I made the drawing tie back to what Peeta had done in his session with the gamemakers in Catching Fire, minus the death part. I'm sorry if I wrote it misleadingly. When you read this chapter, you'll see she is still very much alive! Please forgive me for making your feels go all over the place on that one. Regardless, I am happy to hear that this moved you in some way while reading it. That makes me feel great. I hope you like this last chapter, even if it means I won't be a sexy unicorn :(
Leaving Cato behind in 2 proved to be a difficult task for Peeta, both physically and emotionally. He knew his nightmares of flames and death would return to haunt him without Cato's warm embrace keeping him safe at night. The nightmares were often of his lost loved ones, of the tributes and people he killed, and sometimes they were of losing Cato. Peeta never dared to speak of them aloud for fear of them coming true.
"When will I see you again?" Cato asked as he held Peeta's hand at the train station.
"I'll come back next weekend. Sound good?" Peeta replied, lifting his hand up so he could kiss Cato's.
"Next weekend it is. I love you, Peeta."
"And I love you."
Peeta had to struggle against Cato's firm grasp on him as he boarded the train that would take him back home to 12. It was also a struggle against Peeta's own desires, for it seemed so wrong to fight Cato's hold on him. The Career eventually let go, begrudgingly, and stood at the platform to see Peeta off as the train pulled out from the station and left district 2.
The moment Peeta returned home to 12, his joy and rejuvenated soul took a quick nosedive. The boy's heart sunk the instant he saw his still sorry-state-of-a-district and so he immediately went back to work. There were genuine moments of contentment in spending time with Prim and Mrs. Everdeen. Peeta also felt a tender flood of warmth at the happiness he saw between Katniss and Gale as their relationship grew. It further proved to the young rebel that not every life was destroyed by the atrocities that occurred. There were plenty of people who picked up their lives and managed a bright future. Peeta solemnly wished the same for himself, although the consistent freak-outs from the incorrigible Effie Trinket did manage to give the baker boy a healthy dose of comic relief to brighten up his day.
"Oh no!" Effie cried as she stood up from her spot where she was "busy" choosing a color scheme for the new Schoolhouse being built. "Haymitch, darling, I seem to have scuffed yet another one of my heels. Can you take me back home to change?"
"Sweetheart, it's just a shoe," Haymitch dismissed. "And if it's that important that you change shoes, I'll just go run home by myself and get another pair for you."
"Oh, no no no," Effie began. "If I change my heels, then I must also change my outfit to match, of course."
"Of course. How stupid of me," Haymitch sarcastically replied with an eye roll. Peeta was next to him, putting hinges on the schoolhouse's door, and began to snicker at the absurdity of the older couple's banter.
"You are not stupid, my dear," Effie comforted Haymitch, the sarcasm completely lost on her as usual. "You'll learn about fashion soon enough, just you wait. In fact, over dinner tonight, let's go over your fashion choices. We can plan a whole new wardrobe for you. Ooh, I can't wait. We'll have so much fun!"
Haymitch groaned as Peeta's snickers broke into full laughter. "You hear that, Haymitch?" the boy teased. "Sounds like you have quite the date night planned this evening. I'm so jealous."
The worn mentor scowled as he lightly punched his young tribute in the arm. "Watch it, boy. Keep it up and I'll talk her into having you join us for dinner. I'm sure she'd love to give you fashion advice too." Such a threat stopped Peeta's laughter dead in its tracks. The young blonde didn't dare poke fun at his mentor the rest of the day.
When the next morning arrived, Peeta returned to the schoolhouse to start working on building new desks and chairs. When he reached over for a hammer, a huge shadow overtook him to hand him the tool. As Peeta looked up to thank who he thought was Haymitch, he was met with those familiar emerald eyes he saw in his dreams.
"Cato!" Peeta cried as he flew up to embrace the taller blonde. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to help you rebuild district 12."
"What? Are you serious?" the smaller blonde questioned incredulously.
"Completely serious. You told me you couldn't just leave these people here. Well, I can't just leave you. And I remember a night long ago, right after the bombing when I found you in the hangar at 13, grieving, you feared that you were all alone. I had told you that you weren't. I meant it. If you're staying here, then I'm staying too. I caught the first train I could."
Peeta absorbed Cato's words, his intentions, and his heart. He smiled at the absurdity that only months ago, he saw the boy from 2 as nothing more than an egotistical and heartless Career. Everything had changed. This tall, green-eyed Adonis was now Peeta's confidant and soul mate who continuously gave more and more of himself to be what Peeta needed. Cato was now giving up his entire life back home with his own family to be Peeta's family.
"I love you, Cato," Peeta choked, mist in his eyes, "with all my heart and all my soul. I love you."
The Career smiled. "And I love you, Peeta. More than anything in this world. My home is wherever I'm with you."
The two embraced again and kissed each other passionately. Cato raised his hand to caress Peeta's soft cheek and felt a tear slide suddenly onto his thumb.
"Peeta, everything's okay now," the Career whispered soothingly as he broke the kiss to stare into his lover's pained eyes.
Peeta swallowed hard and blinked furiously to fight the tears away. "It just means everything to me that you came, Cato. I've been… struggling. I walk past where the bakery used to stand all the time and it isn't getting any easier."
Cato grabbed Peeta's hand and tugged him away from the schoolhouse to go on a walk and get some fresh air. "Just give it some more time. Time will ease your pain. Things will get better. I promise."
"With you by my side, I know it will," Peeta stated adoringly to the taller boy.
Peeta took the impromptu walk as an opportunity to give Cato a tour of the renovations happening in 12. He showed the Career the new hospital and pointed out how comfortably close Dr. Aurelius and Mrs. Everdeen were getting. He also walked Cato to the old coal mines that had been shut down since the rebellion. Once 12 was up and running again, the district would be making medicine to ship to all the districts.
"Katniss is so happy that the mines won't be reopened," Peeta told Cato. "She smiles a lot more these days. It does me good to see her and Gale out hunting without the penalty of death for being caught."
Peeta ended the tour by stopping at the new orphanage being constructed. It was a wonderful improvement to the abomination it had been previously. As Cato stayed by Peeta's side to help restore 12, the two boys ended up spending a lot of time there. The stray children at the orphanage delighted in their new home, and Peeta found himself spending all his free time reading to them and baking fresh bread for them while Cato became a human jungle gym for the kids to play on. Cato's presence seemed to awake a new spark in Peeta to keep him going, but the spirits of his lost childhood home still haunted him. Weeks had passed, and Peeta had anticipated on eventually reopening the bakery, but as time went on, he found it much too difficult. It was too hard to deal with. District 12 held so many heartbreaking memories now and it wasn't getting any easier like the young baker had hoped. Cato could see the frustration written all over Peeta's face.
"I think it's time you take another break from this place," Cato suggested as he rubbed the tension out of Peeta's shoulders.
"We could go back to 2 and visit your family if you'd like," Peeta offered.
"We'll definitely have to do that. And we can check in to see how Clove and Marvel are doing too."
A light bulb went off in Peeta's brain and he turned to face the taller blonde to wrap his arms around his neck. "Could we take a trip to visit all our friends, then?"
"I think that sounds like an excellent idea," Cato confirmed with a kiss.
The two boys later approached Katniss with the offer to join them as they traveled across the districts to connect with old comrades. She took along with her Gale and Prim. Having Prim out of the house for a while would give their mother and Dr. Aurelius some more personal time. They started at the Capitol to find that Cinna and Portia had become fashion sensations with their line of faux-flamed clothing inspired by Peeta and Katniss' parade ensembles. And with Paylor as president, the city took on a whole new aura. There were no different levels of social class anymore; everyone was equal. And, much to the teens' relief, the Capitol lifestyle, as well as their outfits, weren't nearly as garish.
The next stop was to district 1 to visit Marvel but they found he wasn't there. Cato laughed when he spoke to Marvel's parents.
"Looks like Clove won the bet," he told the others with a grin. "His parents said he went to district 2 last week and hasn't been back since."
Sure enough, when the group arrived in 2, they found Marvel already had a place of his own to be closer to Clove.
"You're back!" Clove exclaimed when she opened the door to see Cato standing before her.
"We came to visit my parents for a day and they pointed us to Marvel's new place. I figured you'd be here with him. Care for some company?"
Clove poked her head around Cato to find Peeta waiting with Katniss, Gale, and Prim. She excitedly led them all in to where her and Marvel were previously sitting in the living room.
"Nice place, man," Cato commended Marvel.
"Thanks. Let me show you around," Marvel offered. The couple gave their guests a tour of the home and it ended with the girls chatting in the garden and the boys sitting in the kitchen.
"You were just visiting 2 not too long ago and now you have your own place here. That's a pretty big step," Cato told Marvel.
"Yeah, well, the next step now is the ring, boys," he whispered with a wink to Cato, Peeta, and Gale.
"A ring already?" Gale questioned, happily shocked.
"Maybe Marvel just moves fast, like he does in the sack," Cato teased. The boys laughed.
"Like you would know, douche," Marvel bit back. "It's called 'I know what I want and I know when it's right.'"
"Well, all joking aside, we really are happy for you two," Peeta assured with a warm smile. The others agreed.
"So when are you gonna pop the question?" Cato asked.
"I'm thinking the next time we have dinner with her parents. Something private, ya know? I just know that if I make a big deal out of it, Clove will just get embarrassed and probably punch me for it later."
"That sounds like Clove," Cato agreed with a hearty chuckle. "Good call, man."
"Well, if everything goes as planned, you can all definitely expect an invitation."
"We look forward to it," Peeta replied sincerely.
After visiting everyone in 2, the teens later continued their trip to district 4 and it seemed that marriage was in the air because they arrived to find the newly wed Finnick and Annie Odair.
"Congratulations!" Peeta exclaimed when he heard the news. Annie glowed as she showed Katniss and Prim her ring.
"There's more for us to tell," Annie began. "We're pregnant!"
The group rejoiced and congratulated the newlyweds. Their night in 4 was spent celebrating the deserving couple's happy future.
Over at their next stop in district 6, Pip was excited to see Peeta again but he ended up spending much more time playing with Prim. Peeta noticed the wide smile on Pip's face and the blush on Prim's cheeks. The baker could only shake his head at how fast they were growing up.
"Peeta, I swear if Prim ends up falling in love with Pip and moving all the way out here to 6, I'm gonna hold you personally responsible for taking my little sister away from me," Katniss half-joked.
"Well, 6 is known as the transportation district so I'm sure they could hook you up with a train to come visit anytime you want," Peeta consoled with a smirk. The two tributes reveled in watching Prim and Pip play, happy and carefree. Seeing the young children they cared so deeply for and risked their lives to protect now safe and sound made all their struggles and sacrifices worth it.
Katniss had to practically tear Prim away in order to make the train that would take them to district 7 next. There they visited Johanna Mason who was still as crude as ever wielding her axes around. The trip was definitely turning out to be a success as Cato noticed the tension easing from Peeta body. It wasn't until they made their last stop in district 11, though, that fate stepped in.
The group had departed from the train station and were directed by some friendly locals to Rue's home. As they made their way down her street, they could see Rue playing jump rope outside her house. The angelic girl lit up at their presence.
"Oh my goodness!" She squealed as she ran and embraced Katniss first. The little girl was delighted in the company and held Peeta's hand as she dragged them all to meet her family.
"It's so nice to meet you all," Rue's mother sweetly stated as she brought out refreshments. "What brings you to 11?"
Peeta spoke up. "I had visited Pip in district 6 awhile back and he told me all about the letters him and Rue sent to each other. He showed me a picture of Rue that she drew for him. We've been visiting friends throughout the districts and we just had to stop and visit here."
"Pip wrote to me that you might come see me," Rue beamed. "I'm glad you did. I want to show you all the orchards where my family picks all the yummy fruit!"
Rue excitedly took them all down to the endless acres of the district's orchards. What Peeta saw was breathtaking. The ground was covered in flowers and mockingjays soared above the sky. The orchards were filled with fruit trees of all kinds, but what Peeta was drawn to the most were the orange trees. The ripe fruit was the color of the setting sun. Peeta felt a warmth rush through him at the sight. He felt at peace as he squeezed Cato's hand. The young blonde breathed in the citrus air and smiled.
"Cato, look at all these fruit trees; all these flowers. There's so much life here."
"I'll admit; I'm incredibly impressed," Cato stated. "Thank you for showing us this, Rue."
"You're welcome," Rue shyly replied to the hulking boy from 2. Despite being on the same side in the rebellion, the little girl still felt a slight timidity towards the towering Career. Cato could sense the girl's wariness and smiled warmly at her, dazzling her with his pearly whites. Rue blushed then and giggled. It made Cato giggle too.
"So," Katniss interrupted the special bond taking place, "where in this great sea of trees does your family pick from, Rue?"
The young girl directed them to a long row of lemon trees. "We pick right next to Thresh's family," she informed them. There was sadness as she spoke the words.
"You must miss him terribly," Prim spoke as she hugged Rue.
"I just hate seeing how sad his grandmother and sister are," she told the other young girl. "Whenever they are sad, I climb the trees and sing. The mockingjays sing with me and it makes them happy again."
The group continued down the line of trees as they explored the vast landscape. Katniss and Gale kept an eye on Rue and Prim as Rue tried to teach the blonde-haired girl how to climb. Cato and Peeta quietly slipped away to another part of the orchard where Cato pulled Peeta behind a large orange tree and simply stared into his baker's eyes. He saw vitality and a light within the blue orbs that enchanted him. Peeta reached up then to press his lips against Cato's. The Career eagerly responded and could feel the smile that suddenly graced Peeta's lips. Cato's hands massaged circles into the younger blonde's waist as he pressed the boy against the tree. Peeta's hands rose up to caress the sides of Cato's neck and before Cato could make the next move, he was startled by a gasp from Peeta.
"What?" Cato asked in concern.
"I think my time in 12 is up," Peeta whispered in epiphany.
"Huh? What are you saying?" Cato inquired, confused.
"What do you think about staying here in 11 with little Rue?"
Cato was stunned at the question. He looked at the smaller boy and felt his face to check for heat exhaustion. "Peeta, where is this coming from? If this is because of me, let me assure you that I'm okay in 12. I didn't come there to try and guilt you into leaving. We can stay."
"No, it's not that. I want to leave that place. I tried for so long and I just can't anymore. 12 isn't the home I once knew. I didn't mean to put you through all of this, Cato. I'm so sorry."
Cato rested his forehead down against Peeta's. "Don't be sorry, Peeta. Every one of your decisions has been made with the best of intentions. You've done a lot for your home and you deserve your own happiness." The taller blonde wrapped his arms warmly around the mournful boy and pledged, "And you know I can't say no to you. I'd take you wherever you wanted to go. So if it's here, then here we will stay. I'll make a new home for us. A place we can fill with our own happy memories."
Peeta looked up and saw the sincerity in Cato's eyes. "I'd like that," he smiled.
And so Peeta stayed with Cato in district 11. Cato's family came to help build a new home for them close to the orange trees. A small cottage of artisan stone shipped from district 2, the two made a life together. They enriched the lives of those around them, too. With Thresh gone, Peeta wanted to be there for Rue and so he went out with her and her family to pick fruit in the orchards. Cato tagged along and found that he helped to fill a void in Thresh's family. Thresh's grandmother and sister were built sturdy like the deceased tribute and they appreciated Cato's own size and strength. His strong presence left them with a calm that their own grandson and brother had once given them.
Peeta felt at peace in 11 alongside Cato. His old home and his families' graves were only a district away. He was even close enough to 13 where Boggs and Mitchell lay in eternal slumber within the evergreen forests. The young rebel always made sure to sit aside time to visit them, Cato by his side.
One day, a letter arrived at their doorstep from district 2. Peeta opened it and eagerly ran to Cato.
"Babe, it's here!" Peeta exclaimed. "It's the wedding invitation from Marvel and Clove. She said 'yes!' Oh man, I wish we would've been there to see her turn as red as a tomato when he popped the question in front of her parents," the younger blonde laughed.
Cato walked over to Peeta's side, gave him a kiss on the cheek, and read the invitation. "Well it's about damn time! I was wondering when they were gonna send this. Before we left 2, I asked Marvel to tell me as soon as possible when they were gonna have their wedding."
"Why?" Peeta asked.
"So I'd know when it would be a good time to have ours."
"Ours?" Peeta whispered as he watched Cato before him get down on one knee...
Epilogue
The little babe stared in wonder at the blue eyes gazing back at him. Suddenly, a gentle tug on his chubby little hand grabbed his attention, and he turned to now immerse his tiny world in the new pair of green eyes looking down at him too.
"Do you think he'll be happy here?" Peeta asked as he bent to gently kiss the child in his arms.
The infant smiled and cooed as he reached up to touch the lips that had just caressed his little head. "Look at that smile and you can't deny he is where he belongs," Cato answered. "He'll be happy here in district 11 with us because we'll always be here to take care of him and give him all the love in the world. You did an amazing thing, Peeta."
"It just seems right, like it's meant to be. This little baby, left orphan from the attack on district 12, is a living, breathing piece of my old life in 12 that I'll carry with me till the day I die. We will raise this child to live the beauty of a life without the Capitol and without the Games. He will be the promise that life can go on, no matter how bad our losses. That it can be good again."
"Looking at our perfect new family," Cato smiled, "I'd say it already is."
And there you have it folks! Was it worth the read? I really wanted to end it here, and if you noticed, Peeta's final lines came from the end of Mockingjay before the epilogue. I loved it so I had to put it in.
If I decide to write again, it will be after a bit of a hiatus because... I am officially scheduled to take the MCAT in March! I haven't started preparing for it so the next few months will be insane. Wish me luck! And thanks for sticking with me these past few months. I love you all.