The sun streams across the bed creeping ever so slowly toward the sleeping couple. If the sun could see, she would notice how her light plays along the king's tousled curls, while it lights up the new queen's gentle chocolate waves. Her long, warm fingers caress their cheeks, waking them with her kisses.
The new royal couple turn to each other, greeting each other with a kiss of their own. Hands find secret spots, and once again, the king claims his new queen with his passion, leaving behind his seed that will bring forth new life to the castle in nine months.
By the time they arise, the sun is higher in the sky to see who else she can wake up with her early morning light.
After Peeta finishes tying her laces on the other new dress Cinna left for her last night, they go to Violet's and Ethan's rooms to check on them. There they find Effie has them already up, dressed, and ready to join their parents for breakfast.
Peeta gives Effie a bow, and asks the children, "Shall we eat breakfast downstairs, or back in the sitting room where we ate last night?"
Violet grabs Katniss' hand, and Peeta doesn't miss Ethan getting the other one. He doesn't miss the nervousness in his new wife's face, so he suggests, "The sitting room?"
Effie asks, "Do you want me to tell them in the kitchens?"
Peeta nods. "If you would." He reaches down to hold Violet's other hand and they cross the hall to the royal suite. They help the children find their seats at the small table.
As soon as they are all seated, it's Ethan who speaks first. "Daddy, what do I call Katniss? Violet calls her Mama. Is she to be my Mama too?"
Peeta clears his throat, but it's Katniss who says, "I know that I'm not your mother. But I do hope that one day, you will see me as a good friend who loves you as if you were her own son. So call me Katniss if you want."
Ethan jumps up, and in just a moment, has Katniss in a hug. She hugs him back, and tears spring to her eyes when she hears him say, "I'll call you Mama."
Violet interrupts them when she asks, "What do I call Peeta, Mama?"
It's Ethan who answers her, "He's your Daddy now. I don't think our other parents will mind, will they Daddy? You know if I call Katniss, Mama and Violet calls you Daddy?"
Peeta's grin matches Katniss'. "No, Mac, they won't mind at all."
It takes Katniss and Violet several days to become accustomed to living in the castle. Of course having Sae so close was a big help, along with Effie, who is starting to teach Katniss what she needs to know to be queen. Peeta still hadn't brought up when that is going to happen.
Lily and Prim come with Cato on his day to work in the castle gardens. Peeta stops him before he gets a chance to start, pulling him into the library to talk. Katniss leads her sister and mother, followed by a dancing Violet and an excited Ethan to the family sitting room where Katniss and Peeta had breakfast with their children.
Violet takes her Grandma Lily across the hall showing her and Ethan's suite, while Katniss pours Prim a cup of tea. Prim stirs it, and with a voice full of wonder says, "The palace is amazing."
Katniss nods. "I'm afraid that I'll get lost. Peeta wants to show me all of it, but it's Ethan who has been dragging us all over. You are welcome to come and stay anytime."
Prim smiles over her cup of tea. "That would be nice. Right now, I'm still tending to a couple of men who are still hurt from the mine. Has there been any more attacks?"
"No, thank goodness." Before she can say anything else, Peeta, who is followed closely by Cato, bursts into the room.
Peeta comes over and steals a kiss from Katniss and then beams proudly at Prim. He holds out is hand for hers and she places it in his. He bows over her hand and says, "My dear Countess Everdeen." Prim's mouth falls open, while Katniss grins in surprise at Peeta. He goes on to explain, "We will be having Katniss' coronation soon. We are waiting for certain persons that Effie insists need to be here. Meanwhile, we are going to sign the papers to make you a countess and when you marry Cato, he will become a count."
"But—what about the village? What about my patients?" Prim asks, concern filling her voice.
"You can still work as a healer. And we will build you a grand house in Gual if that is where you want it."
Prim looks to Cato, who is shuffling nervously beside Peeta. "Is all this alright with you?" She asks.
Cato swallows hard and comes to her, gathering her hands in his. "If this is what you want. As long as I'm with you that is what matters to me."
Prim throws her arms around his neck and Katniss smiles as he hugs her back. Peeta comes to stand by her, and she whispers, "You didn't tell me you were going to do that!"
His hand snakes around her waist and he pulls her tighter. "I thought it would be a nice surprise."
She nods, then she throws her arms around his neck, humbled that he is taking care of her family too.
The young man runs across the dock chasing the kitten for his little sister. Sae, from the castle gave it to them only this morning and even now, he can hear his sister crying from his house by the sea.
The black ball of fluff runs to the end of the dock, finally stopping before she falls into the water. This time she allows the boy to gently pick her up and cradle her to his small chest. She lays her ears back when she hears his heartbeat pick up in its cadence. He whispers, "Mama." He then turns and runs back to his home, where his mother is starting to roll out her bread, so he can tell her about the mighty ships with flags that don't look like his are filling the harbor.
Finnick strides out into the garden, his eyes seeking Peeta out. The Duke smiles when he sees his old friend sharing a laugh with his bride and new family. He watches for a moment, smiling along when the musical giggles of the children reach his ears, which makes him hate even more what he is about to tell his King. Before he has a chance to approach them, Peeta sees him and waves him over.
Finnick walks across the flagstones, but he hasn't reached them yet, when he sees Peeta looking behind him. The king throws up his hand, so Finnick pauses and turns to look, his heart nearly stopping when he sees who is behind him. He stops and greets him with his left arm across his chest, and bowing his head in respect.
Peeta mirrors Finnick's greeting and says, "Gentlemen. If my old friend, Finnick the Duke of Mara is here at the same time as Queen Alma's right hand, Boggs is—" his words trail off and Finnick sees the worry fill the King's eyes. By now, Katniss rises to stand beside her husband. Finnick is proud of her for that, and he can see it in Peeta's eyes. She slides her hand into her husband's.
Peeta turns to her and says, "I need to go and talk to these gentlemen. I'll be back when I can."
Katniss steps closer to him, and Finnick can hear her whisper, "Is everything alright?"
Finnick doesn't hear what Peeta whispers back to her but he hopes along with them as he watches Peeta kiss her on the nose. The men return to the castle, and follow Finnick to the study where the King always holds his meetings. Peeta pauses in the hallway so he can speak to Pollux. "Send for some tea, hell, some wine, too. Whatever Sae wants to send? Be quick, then make sure no one comes in unless I have sent for them."
Pollux's gaze drifts over all of them, and he nods sharply, then turns on his heel. The men watch him walk down the short hallway until he rounds the corner leading to the kitchens. Peeta then walks into the library, not even looking back to see if anyone follows him.
The men are silent as they wait for Pollux. The servant returns quickly, Finnick suspects that he must have ran the entire way. He sets down the tray, and waits for Peeta to nod and say, "Thank you Pollux. No one, no one at all may enter."
Pollux nods and closes the door behind him. Peeta fills his goblet with wine, drinks it quickly and fills it again. This time he sips before he fills their goblets. As much as Finnick wants to drain his like Peeta did, he only sips.
The King, takes a deep breath, and says, "Alright. Both of you are here. Who wants to go first?"
Finnick gazes at Boggs but he nods towards Finnick, signaling for him to go first. Finnick asks, "Are you sure?" Boggs nods, so he continues. "Sir, the harbor has several ships from Caipitil. Some of the guards reported that there were even more just beyond the bend before you enter the harbor."
Peeta finishes this goblet of wine. He looks to Boggs. "And you?"
Boggs smirks. "I have an army of a thousand men right outside of your little village of Gual."
Finnick grins, Peeta gives a small smile, relief evident on his face. "How did you know?"
Boggs shrugs. "Our spies heard about it a couple of days ago." Boggs pulls out his pipe, and begins to fill it. "Snow is not as happy as you are with your new bride." He lights it and draws on it until Finnick can see the red embers inside. "He is coming to show you why you need him and what he tried to offer you."
Peeta shakes his head, determination making his voice strong, "I'll be damned if I let him take her away from me, or my kingdom." He stands up, and walks over to the window. Finnick sees what he sees, Violet and Ethan still playing while Katniss watches them. "Finnick, get our troops ready, we will ride out to meet them before they have a chance to set foot on our soil."
King Peeta shifts his weight in the saddle, getting used to being back in it. There is a slight pull where he was stabbed, and Bishop huffs below him. Peeta finally finds his seat and rubs his old friend on the neck.
"Are you sure you need to do this?" Finnick asks.
Peeta touches his sword that's strapped to his side, and nods. "The archers are ready?"
"They have been watching since this morning," Finnick says.
"My armies are just outside the gates waiting our signal," Boggs adds.
Peeta gives a sharp nod. "We are just riding out to welcome unexpected company." Finnick snorts, and Boggs coughs to cover his chuckle. "Come now gentlemen, I have a new wife I need to get back to." This time, his royal guard hears their king and chuckles along with them.
One of them, Jackson, who has been with the royal guard since Peeta became king, raises his voice so he can be heard, "Aye, Sire. We don't want to make the new queen upset with us."
Katniss looks nervously to Prim. Her sister glances back, and Katniss sees that her sister is scared, too. Even Lily, who is almost stoic in situations like this, is pacing behind them. The silence from outside the castle walls overwhelms the ladies as their ears strain to hear anything.
The ladies startle when the first sword clash reaches them. Katniss jumps up, and flies to the window. From there, she can see over the walls into the fields surrounding them. "I can't make out who is fighting," she says as her family joins her.
They don't say anything as they watch the happenings below them.
Peeta isn't sure who draws their sword first, but he has his in his hand before the echo stops moving through the trees around them. He leads the charge, and in a fatal swoop, his men cut down more than half of Snow's men, while the other half retreat back to their ships. They don't make it far as Trideag's fighting men cut them off, capturing all of them.
The King, flanked by the Duke and Boggs, approach the captives. "I know that you have been sent from Caipitil. Where is your Captain?"
The men look around, confusion evident on their faces. One of the older ones pipes up and offers, "Prince Gloss is not here, neither is General Brutus."
Finnick swears under his breath while Peeta meets Boggs gaze. The men don't have to say anything as Boggs rides to meet his men, and they disperse into the woods going towards Coillte. Finnick rides forward to the captives, and starts to usher them to the dungeons so he can question them. Some of Dosean's army follow Finnick, while others follow after Boggs. Soon it's just Peeta and his general, Darius.
"Something is wrong," Peeta says looking around.
Darius starts to search the landscape, trying to see what is troubling his King. "Should we ride to Gual? Do you think they went that far inland?"
Peeta nods. "I'm going to go check on Katniss and the children, be safe my friend."
Darius nods, and his men follow him as they ride towards the future Queen's home village. Still unable to shake his worry, King Peeta turns Bishop towards the castle.
Lily grabs her bag that she always carries with her. Katniss knows that it's full of everything she needs to nurse anyone back to health. She doesn't even have to say anything as her daughters follow her out the door.
Katniss has to walk fast to keep up with her, and it's not until Lily pauses at the bottom of the stairs that Katniss is able to catch up. "They are probably putting the wounded in the rooms beside the kitchens."
Katniss watches her mother and sister disappear down the hallway. She knows that they will find Sae, and she will take her family to the ones who need them most. It's not until they are gone that she realizes that she hasn't seen Ethan or Violet in a while. She picks up her skirts, and goes back upstairs to see if they are in their room.
"Ethan? Violet?" she calls out. Curious, she walks through the rooms and finds no one. "I wonder where they could be," she says out loud, her voice sounding strange in the empty space. She has the nagging thought that something is wrong, but she sees movement outside Violet's window.
Disappearing into the woods behind the castle, as fast as they can go, are Violet and Ethan.
Violet's giggle follows them as the walk through the forest. She isn't sure at first where she is going, but Mama always knows where she is going and right now, she is going to be like Mama. Ethan grabs her hand and it makes Violet feel braver especially since there are so many strangers around.
"Are we there yet?" Ethan whispers.
She pauses for a moment and she asks, "Is the lake that way?"
"I thought it was that way," Ethan grunts, pointing in the opposite direction.
Violet shrugs, not really sure, now that they are in the woods, which way they are supposed to go. "Alright, lets go."
Katniss bangs on the window, screaming, "Violet! Ethan!" even though she knows that they can't hear her. She turns and runs out the room, her feet fly down the staircase and she throws open the front door.
In no time at all she is across the field, and entering the woods right where the children did. She pauses for a moment to catch her breath and to get a look around. Right away, she sees their little footprints and broken twigs leading away from her. Violet's giggle reaches her ears, and she signs in relief.
She heads off in the direction of their voices, happy that she found them so quickly. Instead of catching right up to them, she follows behind them wondering where they are off to.
She is steps away from them when Ethan pulls Violet to a stop. "I think we are lost. Why didn't we wait on Mama?"
Violet huffs, "I told you, Mama is busy with all of those strange men. 'Sides, we know where we are going."
Ethan shakes his head. "No, we don't. Let's just go back."
"It's just a little bit further, that way."
It's then she steps out from behind the tree. "Actually, if you are going to Gual, then you need to keep going that way," Katniss says as she points in the right direction of the village.
"Mama!" Violet says, throwing her arms around Katniss' legs. "I knew you would find us!"
Ethan throws his arms around her waist. Katniss rubs both of their heads. "What are you two doing out here?"
Ethan looks at Violet who looks sheepishly at her mother. "I got bored, Mama. Sae told us to get out of her kitchen when they started bringing in those men. So I thought we could go swimming."
Katniss stoops down, so she can look her daughter in the eyes. "That's fine, just next time, ask me or Peeta?"
Ethan asks, "You're not mad, Ka—Mama?"
Katniss smiles at him, trying to reassure him. "No, I'm not mad, just worried. Let go on back to the castle—"
She hears the leaves crunching behind her before Ethan or Violet does. "I know that he is the Crown Prince, but pray-tell sweet lady, who are you?"
Katniss whirls around, grabbing Ethan and Violet and tucking them behind her. Her eyes flit quickly over the man in front of her, noting the desperate look in his eyes and the sword in his hand. She feels Violet bury her face in her skirts and Ethan grabbing her hand. She wishes again for her bow when she says, "It is no concern of yours, sir. We are just on our way home." She turns away but keeps her eyes on him while she nudges the children to go ahead of her.
She watches them start to run and a measure of relief blooms in her heart until she hears the man say, "I asked you, who are you—" she hears the familiar swoosh sound cut him off and she turns at the same moment to see the arrow sink into her shoulder. The force of the hit makes her fall back as she blinks in confusion. Her eyes search the trees behind the man, and she spots the archer in the huge oak behind him, notching another arrow. Before he can release the second arrow, she hears hoof beats approaching them. Katniss fights against the pain now threatening to overtake her as she gets to her feet. With a glance behind her to make sure that the children are hidden, she stumbles to her knees trying to get out of the archer's line of sight.
Blackness invades her sight, making her unable to get back to her feet. She hears her husband bellow, "Katniss!" right as she passes out.
He still isn't sure what lead him to this part of the forest, but as he watches the arrow sink into Katniss' shoulder, it feels like it's his heart being shot instead.
"Katniss!" He cries and Prince Gloss whirls around. The last thing he sees is King Peeta of Dosean's sword cutting through the air, taking off his head with a fatal slice.
The King turns Bishop back, and sees the archer climbing down the tree. He kicks his horse and in just a moment he is in front of him, stopping him in his tracks.
"Brutus! Why in the hell did Snow send you?" Peeta growls while he raises his sword, ready to hurt him just like he did his Katniss.
Brutus barks a sharp laugh. "He knows how weak you are, and means to make Dosean his." He throws down the bow he is still holding. "Get off that damn horse, you poorly planned, ill-conceived spawn of hell."
Eager for his enemy's blood, Peeta is off of Bishop, and advances on Brutus. Brutus throws the first punch, and Peeta swerves, catching him with an upper cut to the chin making Brutus step back.
"We have to go back! Mama needs us!" Violet exclaims, pulling Ethan back.
"She told us to go," Ethan says, tears in his voice.
"I heard Daddy call for her. Something has happened and we have to go."
Ethan takes a deep breath and looks around, his eyes on the forest floor. He quickly picks up a fallen branch that fits perfectly in his hands and grabs her hand again. "Let's go help, Mama."
They are back to the clearing in just a moment, and they go to Katniss. "There is an arrow—"
Violet wipes her tears off her cheeks before he can see them. "We have to get her to Aunt Prim and Grandma. They will save her." The sounds of the fight happening on the other side of the trees reaches them. "Who is that?" Violet whispers.
Ethan shrugs. "I'll go look—"
"No you won't. We'll go together." Violet glances down at her mother, and tries not to worry when all she wants to do is hug her and cry for her to wake up. "We have to hurry."
Ethan nods, tears in his eyes as he watches Katniss sleep. He follows Violet, they both hides behind trees until they can see the fight. Its Ethan who chokes out, "Dad—" when Violet slaps her hand over his mouth, hushing him. They watch dumbfounded as the king beats one of the strange men. All of a sudden Daddy stops, and drops the other man onto the ground. He stands there, and Violet can hear him trying to catch his breath. She steps away, and turns to go back to Mama.
She doesn't look back to see if Ethan follows, but she knows that he is. This time, Violet isn't afraid to touch Mama as she sits beside her, taking her hand. The forest is quiet when she begins to sing, "Deep in the meadow, under the willow. A bed of grass, a soft green pillow. Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes. And when you awake, the sun will rise."
"Oh, Katniss." Violet sees Daddy drop to his knees beside them. "We have to get you to the castle." He looks up at the children and has to blink several times before Violet can tell that he finally sees them. "Ethan, go get Bishop. Violet help me with your mother." He looks at Mama again. "We've got to hurry—"
Peeta gently gathers her in his arms, his tears falling as freely as the children's. It's not far to the castle, but when she groans from what he is sure is the pain from the arrow buried in her shoulder, his heart feels as if it is breaking. "Ethan, I need—" he looks around helpless not sure what to do. "Let's just go home as quickly as we can."
"What about that man?" Ethan asks.
"He won't be bothering us anymore." Peeta takes off walking through the woods with his wife in his arms. He doesn't even have to look behind him to know that they are following him through the brush.
The children run forward without him having ask them to, with Bishop trotting after them. He watches them disappear into the castle walls and he pauses in his walk to look down at his wife. His guts twist when he sees how pale she has grown. He pulls her close and kisses her forehead. He whispers against her, "I promise you, my love, if you die because of Snow, I will find him myself and rip his throat out."
Finnick must be done with the prisoners because he comes with Violet running across the field. Ethan come behind them with Prim by the hand.
Peeta straightens up and meets them somewhere in the middle. Finnick's eyes grow wide at the sight of the future queen wounded, while her sister wants to take her from him. If he would have let her go, that is.
Instead Prim lays her hand on his shoulder. "Let us go quickly, Sire. My sister needs my help."
Prim follows her brother-in-law up the stairs to his bedchamber. He hurries into the room, and then oh-so-gently lays Katniss on their bed. Prim rushes around to the other side so she can start assessing how her sister is. "How much does my sister like this dress?"
Understanding dawn's on Peeta's face as he pulls his knife from the sheath at his waist. He gently slices through the arm of her gown, shift, underthings in one swoop. Prim eases the material away from the arrow and Peeta begins to feel weak when he sees the blood running under the bodice of her gown and down her arm.
Prim runs her hand under Katniss' shoulder. "Can you roll her towards you? I need to see if the arrow is coming out the back."
He nods and eases her over. Katniss doesn't make a sound until Prim touches the tip poking out from underneath her shoulder blade. The blood drains from Peeta's face when he hears Katniss' moan. "I need mother," Prim says. Someone clearing their throat behind Peeta gets their attention. They both look up to see Pollux. "Can you go fetch her?" Prim asks.
He quickly exits, and Peeta sets her back onto the mattress. Prim glances at Peeta who is paler than normal. "I need you to break the shaft so I can pull the arrow head out."
Peeta's stomach drops. "I've seen men on the field with this same injury. Never a woman, never my wife. She will recover then?"
Prim nods, though she has to blink through her tears. "As long as we can get her through the fever, she will live." She wraps her hand around the rod closest to her sister. "Break it as close as you can."
He takes a deep breath, and in a brisk movement, snaps the shank. Katniss, for the first time since he picked her up off of the forest floor, opens her eyes and screams.
Peeta grabs her arms and tries to calm her down. "Katniss, it's alright. You are safe now."
Her eyes find him, and she sags in relief even though she whimpers, "I hurt."
"Yes, love, you have an arrow in your shoulder. I do believe that Prim is going to pull it out now."
Katniss moans. "That is going to hurt, isn't it?"
"Do you want me to hold you?" Peeta offers.
She nods. He gathers her so gently onto his lap, and kisses her nose. "I wish I could take the pain from you."
"I do too. The man who did this—"
Peeta cuts in, "He is dead."
"Sister, this is going to hurt," Prim says.
"Just hurry. Hold me Peeta." He squeezes and Prim has to push the shank on through so she can grab the arrow head. Peeta looks down and is grateful that Katniss is out cold.
Prim notices and asks, "Can you hold her just a moment? Let me get her cleaned up." Peeta nods, content to do something to help. Lily comes in with one of his bottles of whiskey. "Oh, good, I was needing that."
Lily picks up a towel and starts to clean Katniss' wounds while Peeta holds her and begins to pray just like she did over him not too long ago.
He keeps his vigil throughout the night, silently counting her breaths while murmuring quietly to her. Sometime during the night, he must have crawled into the bed with his wife for he wakes in the morning to her curled into his side. "Katniss?" he asks. He waits a moment to see if she is going to wake up and that is when he notices how warm she is.
Peeta starts to scoot out from under her when Prim and his mother-in-law come in. Prim hurries over to the bed, and helps him with Katniss. Once he is on his feet, Lily asks, "Has she woken up any?"
He shakes his head and is unable to keep the worry out of his voice, "No, and she feels warmer than normal."
Lily leans over and presses her lips to her daughter's forehead. She nods at Prim and she starts digging in the bag he just now sees hanging from her side. He takes a step back, wanting to give them room to help his wife, when there is a knock on the doorframe. He turns and almost breathes a sigh of relief seeing Finnick standing there. The ladies don't even look up when he goes to his friend.
"You are needed in your study," Finnick says.
Peeta nods while looking back at his new family. Prim pipes up, "Go, we will stay with her until you return."
"Thank you," he offers. He happens to glance down and sees how rumpled he is wearing the same blood stained shirt he had on yesterday. "Let me change, friend."
After he cleans up a little, he presses a kiss to his wife's feverish brow and follows Finnick down the stairs. Before they reach the bottom, Peeta inquires, "Who is here?"
Finnick smiles. "An old friend." Peeta doesn't get a chance to reply, because they are entering the room. There, sitting in a chair in the corner, is a beat up Seneca Crane with a gag in his mouth and his hands tied before him. It's not until Peeta hears someone clearing their throat that he glances at the others.
"Prince Henry?" Peeta steps forward, offering him a handshake when he stands to meet the king. "What a wonderful surprise."
"I am so sorry to hear about your bride. She will recover?"
Peeta nods. "She will, her own mother and sister are nursing her back to health even now." He doesn't say anything else because he feels the tears threatening to escape. He glances at Crane again while he asks, "What brings you gentlemen here today?"
Finnick motions towards Peeta's chair. "Sit, your Majesty. We have a treaty to work out."
"Katniss, why are you here?"
"Mitch? Is that you?" She asks into the mist. "Where am I?"
Her dead husband materializes out of the mist, walking towards her with a baby of about six months on his hip. "I-I-I know this child," she whispers.
Big blue eyes that look just like Peeta's and Ethan's blink at her and chubby arms reach out for her. "Not yet, baby. She will hold you soon enough." Mitch returns his attention back to her. "You need to go back."
She nods. "It hurts so much there—"
"It will all be worth it, but now, you have to go and help Peeta lead."
She looks again at the little one. "How much longer before I get to see this little one?"
The mist comes and overtakes them again. "It will be very soon—"
Searing pain, shoots through her chest and down her arm making her want to go back into the mist. After all, she didn't hurt when she was in it. Another wave of pain makes her open her eyes with a gasp and she tries to catch her breath. "That hurts really damn bad," the raspy sound that is her voice, surprising her.
"Katniss! You are awake!" She hears her sister cry.
She closes her eyes against the bright sun coming in the windows. "How long have I been asleep?"
Someone presses a cold cloth on her forehead and she sighs in relief. "Three days. Are you thirsty?" All of a sudden she is dying of thirst. She smacks her chapped lips together, and someone is helping her to lift her head up. The rim of a goblet is pressed against her lips, and Prim says, "Go slow."
That first sip, even though its water, is rough going down, so it's no surprise when she coughs it back up. Tears fill her eyes, but she feels too weak to even pick up her arm. Prim must have noticed, because after dabbing her mouth, she is wiping her tears. "What happened?" she asks, her voice already sounding better. "Where's Peeta?"
Before Prim can lower herself into the chair by the bed, Peeta comes running into the room. He pauses in the doorway and breathes, "Oh thank God, you are awake!" He comes over to her, and sits by her on the bed after he gives her a kiss.
She reaches for his hand and he squeezes it. "What happened?"
"Do you remember being shot?"
"That is the last thing I remember and it still hurts," she answers her sister.
Peeta says, "After you were shot, that's when I got there. I was able to rescue the children and bring you back to the castle."
Worry fills her features. "Violet and Ethan are well?"
"Yes, love. You saved them by sending them into the woods," Peeta tells her.
"And the men who were in the woods?"
"They were send by King Snow. They have been killed and their bodies are back to Snow even now."
Prim offers her another sip of water, which she drinks gratefully. "Have you declared war, then?"
Peeta shakes his head. "If he accepts the treaty, then no."
"What are the terms?" this time its Prim who is asking.
Peeta grins at the sisters. "Snow has to give up the crown, Prince Henry is going to marry the Princess and both of them will rule. Finnick and Boggs went to Caipitil along with five hundred of Trideag and Dosean's finest men."
Katniss tries to chuckle, but it comes out as a raspy cough instead. When she can talk again, she says, "Well, good. Hopefully everything will go as planned."
Peeta kisses her again. "No more talk of politics. Are you hungry?"
Katniss smiles up at her husband, the King of Dosean and sighs, "I'm ready for anything, as long as I don't get shot again."
This time, his happy chortle echoes all through the second floor of the castle. He lowers himself back to his wife, this time he growls against her lips, "Never again, will you be hurt." Before he claims her lips in a searing kiss.
The End
Yeah, I know. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm a little proud of this one, might even send it to Mama to see if she wants to actually read something I've written.
You've heard/read me say before that writing takes a village. My little village is full of wonderful people who don't mind me asking "What would happen if this happened?" questions. One of my very good friends, Sarah, who I love dearly helped with so many aspects of this. She started as my costume person, then turned into someone to plot this out with. Her love of history and clothes made this so much better. So love, if you do end up reading, thank you! I just wish we wasn't so very far apart. I know two little girls who would love to come and play with you!
I'm also thankful that I know a couple of nurses who don't mind me asking them about their craft. One of them, she also helped a lot with Katniss birthing the twins in Twisted is my friend Brittany. She is a labor and delivery nurse now, and I know she is wonderful. Then my other nurse, Tracey. We never hung out in high school, and now I wish we had. Thank you ladies!
I need to thank my bestie, Missy. She helped with a lot of this, but would never admit it lol. Then there is the mister. I think he is still disappointed that there isn't ropes… and to my ladies of "the other place". Thank you for your randomness. I love you all! Then I need to thank norbertsmom for her hard work, hutchhitched and fanficallergy for everything.
Now, you might be wondering where did I get the idea for this? Believe it or not, the Disney cartoon, "Sophia the First". Yep. Instead of making K&P the kids, for a nice twist, I thought it would be neat to make them the parents. But this is no way a cross over.
Well, now all that's left is you. Thank you my dearest reader. I love you more than you know. Thank you for letting me tell you a story. Thank you to my reviewers. I want to hug you all! I really do. I guess I could at least send cookies? I just want to squish you all and tell you thank you over and over.
Oh, and if you like historical… then how about regency!everlark next?
I love you!
Chele20035