A/N: So, the first chapter wasn't the best, but it was just a starter chapter so I didn't have to do tons of flash backs in this chapter. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy it. Review and let me know what you think.

4 years later

I wake up to my mattress moving up and down. I knew for a fact I wasn't late for school, because the sun wasn't even streaming through the window yet. I groan and open my eyes to find Prim bouncing excitedly on the bed.

"And is there a reason, you're so bouncy this early?" I ask arching an eyebrow. She looks down at me with a wide grin. I was a little irritated because she had interrupted my dream. I could feel my cheeks burn red when I think if the dream. I dreamed of Peeta almost nightly.

"Happy birthday, Katniss!" Prim says in a singsong voice. Oh, right. Today was my sixteenth birthday.

"Go back to sleep Prim, you can get all happy and bouncy about my birthday in a couple hours." I say closing my eyes again, but she shakes my shoulders.

"We only have forty-five minutes until we have to be up anyways." She says still enthusiastically. I shake my head and give in.

"Alright. Let me get dressed and I'll be out there in five." She grins down at me pleased she had won the argument. I roll my eyes with a slight laugh as she all of dances out of the room. I find that even my mother is absent from her bed. I was only turning sixteen, not getting married. I still couldn't help but smile.

I slip out of my pj's and pull on a red v-neck with black jeans. I tug a brush through my hair, and examine it in the mirror. I decide to let it wall in brown wavy cascades down my back. Peeta always commented how he liked it better down anyways. A wider smile creeps onto my lips at the thought of Peeta.

"Katniss!" Prim calls in a whiny voice pulling me out of my thought. Quickly I pull on a pair of boots and exit the bedroom. I'm shocked when I see they had a cake and everything. There was even two presents and a card on the table.

"What is all this?" I say releasing a breathy laugh. My mother walks over to me and pulls me in to a hug. I don't reject it. I was trying so hard to let her back in, but it was easier said then done. She had shut down and left Prim and I on our own. I was finding it hard to forgive her, but I had too sooner or later.

"We wanted to do something special for your birthday." Prim beams and comes in for the next hug. I smile and return her hug.

"Well thank you." I say to both of them. I wasn't really into celebrating birthdays. Even though I did celebrate Peeta's with him every year.

"Look at the cake!" Prim says bouncing. I wonder idly how on earth they could afford a cake, then I remember Peeta is quite fond of my little sister, he pretty much adopted her as his own little sister. I grin and open the top of the white box, peering inside at the carefully decorated cake that I could so easily identify as Peeta's work. The cake was a forest green, with yellow dandelions here in there.

Another smile creeps onto my lips. I had been embarrassed explaining to him why I liked dandelions so much. He thought it was cute of course. He thought everything I did was cute. In neat careful frosting handwritten on the cake is

"Happy birthday to the most beautiful girl in Panem."

"Oh, Peeta." I say the smile unable to be removed from my face now. Prim holds out the card for me, and I take it. "Is this from you?" I ask and she shakes her head. I glance to my mom arching and eyebrow and she shakes her head as well. I fight with the envelope for a moment before just ripping it in frustration. I pull out the card carefully.

The front of it is forest green, just like the cake and has some silly poem all cards had. Really, they were meaningless. I only card about what the person had written. I open it to find the familiar handwriting I had memorized. Peeta's handwriting. In careful neat print he's written:

"Hey birthday girl. Eleven years ago, I fell in love with a little girl who had a voice given to her by angles. To little braids down her back and a wide smile on her face. Four years ago I made the best decision in my life, by tossing that burnt bread to that girl I was in love with. It brought her to me. That girl is you, but you knew that. Katniss Everdeen, I would protect you with my life, give up everything for you. Promise me you'll never leave me. I promise in return to never leave you. I love you, my dear Katniss. I also promise to make this the most special birthday.

Love,

Peeta."

I reread it smiling like an idiot feeling my heart flutter and my stomach turn with butterflies. Prim watched me with a grin.

"Can I read it?" I nod and hand her the card a stupid smile plastered to my face. Really, Peeta Mellark was more than I deserved. My mom hands me her present as Prim reads the card. I open the bag to find a pair of black leather hunting boots. I look up at her.

"They were your father's." She says quietly, and suddenly the boots have ten times more meaning, then just another gift from my mom. It was like a gift from my father as well. I silently lean over and give her a hug.

"Thank you." I say and she gives me a sad smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes.

"Awe!" Prim squeals and we both turn to her. I laugh seeing she had finished the card. "You two are just perfect." She gushes and I roll my eyes. I wasn't listening to her gush.

"No gushing." I say and she giggled handing me her present. I pull out a little photo album. On the front page is a picture of me and Prim from last year that Peeta had drawn. My eyes were bright with laughter as I held my sister is a tight hug. I flip through to find pictures of Prim and I, Peeta and I, and my only real friend Madge and I. A lot of Peeta's friends tried to be my best friend when Peeta and I became inseparable, and then later started dating, but Madge was really the only one who was a real friend.

Finally, on the last page is a picture of my father Prim and I. A picture that could so easily break me had I not been in a good mood.

"Thank you, little duck." I say and hug her tightly. We eat breakfast and Prim chatters excitedly, and I wasn't sure what for. My birthday wasn't that big a deal it came every year. When it's time to leave we say goodbye to my mother and walk to school. I shake my head at Prim's excitement unable to contain the laugh that escapes my lips.

"What's so funny?" She asks curiously.

"You're more excited about my birthday then I am. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have even remembered if it weren't for you bouncing on my bed to get me up for presents." I say teasingly and poke her side. A giggle escapes her lips and she attempts a scowl which falters quickly as she grins.

"I'll see you later." She says and bounces off towards her friends. My eyes sweep the school yard for those blue eyes and blonde hair, but I don't find him. I sigh and make my way into the school. I was hoping I was just early. I walk to my locker and open getting lost in thought. I pull out a notebook and the text book for my first class. I close my locker door and jump when I see him leaning against the lockers next to me.

"Ah! Peeta!" I say and shove his shoulder trying to scowl but end up laughing. "You scared me." He gives a chuckle and pulls his hand from behind his back revealing a bouquet of roses, laced with dandelions and a long silver box.

"Happy birthday." He says and leans in giving me a kiss before handing me the box and the roses.

"Peeta, you didn't have to. That card was more than enough. I loved it by the way." He gives me a grin and kisses my nose.

"I was hoping you would." He takes my flowers, notebook and textbook from me, even though I object. "Just open your present." He says and I arch an eyebrow at how demanding he sounds.

"Yes, sir." I say teasingly and he flashes a dazzling grin. I pull off the top of the silver box to reveal a silver necklace placed neatly in the box, held straight. My forefinger traces the P that hangs from the silver chain. I look up at him.

"P for Peeta?" I ask with a stupid smile again. He nods and grins. He somehow managed to free an arm and reaches into his shirt pulling out a long golden chain, that happens to be a locket. I can see the K on the front of it. With my free hand I pop it open and find a picture of him and I inside. I could feel my smile widen.

"Thank you!" I say and throw my arms around him, though he can't exactly hug me back.

"No need to thank me. Here." He hands me my flowers and school stuff taking the silver box. He motions with his finger for me to turn around so I do so. People were starring at us, but I really didn't care. He loops the necklace around my neck and clasps it together. It falls hanging perfectly around my neck. I turn around smiling even wider and give him a quick kiss.

"We better get to class." I say and he nods wrapping and arm around my waist since both my hands are full. The day goes by quickly, with people I didn't even think knew my name wishing me a happy birthday. Madge gives me a golden mockingjay pin for my present, and Delly gives me a charm bracelet which she called a friendship bracelet. It was a little ridiculous if you asked me.

Peeta catches up with me after school and interlocks our hands. Prim comes bouncing up to us giggling. Peeta looks at her with a grin. They exchange a glance and then Peeta nods. I look between the two of them with an arched eyebrow, but don't question it. Peeta keeps me busy with conversation as he walks with me to my house. I find my mother not there and become extremely confused.

"Just put your stuff down, and come with me." Prim is still giggling. Peeta, Prim, and I all place our bags on the old couch in the house. Buttercup hisses at me and I hiss back. I follow him, as he walks to the bakery with Prim behind us.

"Alright. Close your eyes." I arch an eyebrow questioningly. He chuckles. "Fine then." He spins me around and places his hands over my eyes.

"Peeta!" I object but end up laughing which makes me sound unconvincing. I hear him chuckles again and Prim takes my hand leading me up the stairs of the bakery. When Peeta removes his hands from my eyes. The light snap on and my friends and family jump out.

"Happy birthday!" I turn to Peeta narrowing my eyes at him. I mumble under my breath just so he can hear, "I'm so getting you back for this, Mellark." He grins and I can't help but return it.