The walk through town seemed like an eternity. The trip from the gymnasium to the bakery could be made in minutes. Today, that distance seemed never-ending. Peeta felt a thousand thoughts tumbling hither and yon as he followed her through the square. He couldn't fathom why she was so insistent on speaking with his mother. He has suspicions but nothing concrete. That uncertainty curdled his stomach and set loose an unaccustomed trembling in his limbs. He eyed Finnick curiously as the man silently kept pace. Feeling his gaze, Finnick quirked a questioning brow which caused Peeta return the gesture. Finnick had been with her in the bakery. He knew more than he was letting on.

"This little backwater vacation has turned out to be much more interesting than I thought," Johanna's rough cadence broke the two men's unspeaking exchange. "I don't understand why this place isn't a regular tourist attraction." She rolled her eyes at Finnick's dismissive chuckle. "Don't laugh, Odair. This place is more than meets the eye. Not even the Capital has this kind of action."

Finnick laughed outright at that outlandish statement. "Jo, I doubt that the usual brand of tourist would be interested in your kind of action. Usually, it makes them run the other way as fast as their legs can carry them. Not everyone shares your interesting ideas of what is entertainment."

Johanna snorted derisively. "That, my friend is what's wrong with the world today. I am able to glean pleasure from the most simple of pastimes. In the last few days, I've gone on an enjoyable date, performed admirably at my chosen profession, made a couple of new friends and seen Doll Face here throw a most excellent tantrum." She paused to laugh appreciatively at the glare Katniss leveled in her direction. "Relax, fireball. I'm not trying to get your back up. I think it's admirable that you stood up to daddy dearest. You certainly shocked the hell out of him. I was impressed. I didn't think you had it in you. Throwing stuff was a nice touch but your aim is better than that. He would have taken you much more seriously if you had actually tossed them at his head."

Katniss actually grinned and shrugged flippantly. "He took me seriously enough. I'm still here, aren't I?" Her gaze touched briefly on Peeta then flitted away. "It got my point across all I wanted to do, Johanna. Anything else is just a bonus including any respect that I've earned from you." She smiled slightly. "You know that was my main goal all along. Your opinion means so much." The two girls shared a look of perfect understanding. It was an unnerving change.

The canopied entrance of the bakery loomed in the distance. His steps faltered as his eyes traced the familiar store front. Seeing his hesitation, Katniss turned toward him and silently held out her hand. She didn't speak or offer any kind of reassurance. She let her actions speak for her. She wanted him to trust her but she wouldn't force the issue. He either would or he wouldn't. His eyes darted from the bakery to the girl he loved standing wordlessly before him with an outstretched hand. His heart pounding mercilessly in his chest, Peeta did the only thing he could do. He clutched her hand in his and offered up a tentative smile. Her answering one was blinding in its intensity. "You won't regret it, Peeta." She whispered.

The bell over the door tinkled merrily as they made their way inside. Per Katniss's request, Johanna and Finnick positioned themselves just outside the main door. Johanna gave the two of them an encouraging nod. Finnick lounged casually against the wall, his expression bored and indifferent. Peeta schooled his features into a blank mask but the tightening of his fingers gave him away. Katniss squeezed his hand reassuringly. Her face was impassive but the gray eyes shone with determination. Whatever her purpose with this visit, she had a specific outcome in mind. Judging from the intent look in her mercurial eyes, she wouldn't accept anything less. It was all or nothing. He gulped a breath past the sudden lump in his throat and wished that he was anywhere but here. Her fingers tightened on his almost to the point of pain drawing his gaze to hers. She stared at him unblinking as her eyes bore into his. He could hear the words as clearly as if she spoke them. Stay with me. Trust me.

"Always," he mumbled inaudibly. She dropped his hand to cup his cheek gently, fingers tracing the line of his jaw. He nodded once and smiled to see the pleased expression blossom on her face. That look. He would do anything to get her to look at him like that. Anything.

Approaching footsteps drew his attention to the adjoining door so he was the first to see her practiced smile as she entered the display area. Her steps faltered a brief expression like panic flickering swiftly across her face. All too soon, the mask was firmly back in place. Maura Mellark looked from one to the other, her eyebrows raised questioningly. "I was told that Seth was resting comfortably. Has something happened? Is that why you've come here unannounced?"

Katniss shook her head and took a half-step forward, pulling the woman's confused gaze to her. "No, ma'am. Nothing has changed with Seth's condition. As far as we know, he's sleeping with a guard on his door to make sure that he's not disturbed. I'm here on Peeta's behalf."

Peeta didn't miss the concerned examination that his mother gave him before her attention swept back to Katniss. A confused furrowing of her brow was the only outward sign of her shifting moods. "He seems to be just fine. I was told that he wasn't harmed during the incident."
Katniss shook her head slowly, her expression taking on a frustrated edge. Peeta had to fight back the urge to seize Katniss's hand and head for the nearest exit. Regardless of how much she thought that he needed this, Peeta was unwilling to let his mother's bitterness spill over onto Katniss. He subconsciously stepped to her side and placed himself protectively between her and his mother. Katniss made a protesting noise but it was his mother's reaction that took Peeta completely by surprise. She smiled. A broad pleased grin cut through her usually stoic expression. The cynical façade fell away. In its place, Peeta was stunned to see genuine relief and happiness on her face. His mouth fell open disbelievingly as he looked to Katniss for an explanation. Seeing her return his mother's unexpected smile with one her own, Peeta was even more lost than before. What was going on?

"You're going to stay here then." His mother stated; her eyes steadfastly fixed on the girl. "It's been decided."

Katniss nodded shortly. "My father had some objections but I managed to overcome them relatively easily. He has agreed that it is the best for all of us if I stay here for the duration."

Maura let out a delighted laugh, which further confounded her son. He gaped at her incredulously. He had never heard her make such a sound. It was a startling change. He listened in awe as his mother's amusement rang through the bakery. "How many dishes were broken before he came around to your way of thinking?" She questioned archly. Katniss flushed uncomfortably drawing forth another amazing burst of laughter. "Come now, Katniss. I knew your mother after all. Hyacinth has an unparalleled talent for dramatics. It's only natural that her daughter inherited the ability. I will be so disappointed if you tell me that you didn't."

Katniss's lips quirked unashamedly. She finally relented, "It was only a vase and a bowl. There wasn't anything impressive about it. I think Peeta's calm rational arguments held more sway than my performance. Dad didn't know what to do with both of us."

The look his mother turned on him held more than a touch of fondness. She almost looked proud. He couldn't keep the confusion from registering on his face. She never looked at him like that; not for the highest marks or the best wrestling performance. And yet, here she was and he didn't know how to respond. It was all so baffling. She clearly followed his train of thought because the fond look became tinged with regret. Her atypical display of emotion was fast disappearing behind the usual stoic mask. Peeta almost wept to see it. He looked at her with beseeching eyes, willing her to stay open and unfettered. She saw the look and seemed to fold in upon herself; a hand pressed painfully to her stomach.

"Mom, please don't," he pleaded clumsily. He stumbled toward her, his eyes glazed with unshed tears. "Please just don't." For once in his life, Peeta's golden tongue failed him. He couldn't find the words. Oddly enough, she seemed to be following his disjointed appeal perfectly.

Her lips curled into a bittersweet smile, unshed tears of her own making her eyes gleam jewel like. "Precious boy," she murmured. "Always so open and trusting even when it's undeserved." Her anguished eyes darted from him to the girl who stood silently watching. "I should have expected this. I asked you to give him everything. You don't do anything by half measures, do you?" Katniss wordlessly shook her head. "No, I didn't think so." Maura murmured. "What do you want from me?"

Katniss gave her a gentle smile as she linked her hand with Peeta's once more. "Only the truth, Mrs. Mellark. Tell him what he deserves to know. I know how hard it must be for you but it will be so worth it."

His mother looked from one to the other intently and then dropped her head into her upturned palms. She rubbed her eyes reflexively and let out a shaking breath. Her eyes held steely determination when she looked up. "I let you down, Peeta. From the moment you were born, I let you down." Her hand stretched entreatingly toward him. "I had a difficult time with you. I was sick during most of the pregnancy. The midwife told Pryce that it would be dangerous for me to become pregnant again. When he told me, I wept for days. I knew that this was my last chance to have the one remaining dream I had left." She folded her arms across her stomach and hugged herself tightly. "I had known since my wedding day that I didn't have your father's whole heart. I foolishly convinced myself that it didn't matter. I thought I had enough love for both of us. I thought he would come to feel the same in time. I was taken in by fairy tales and blinded by silly dreams." Her voice broke on a stifled sob as she pressed a clinched fist to her lips. She visibly bit back tears but waved Katniss away when the girl stepped inadvertently toward her. "The last sliver of those fickle hopes was having a daughter of my own. I thought if I could have that, it would be enough. When you were born, something collapsed inside of me. It was a week before I pulled myself together and went to your room. Pryce had somehow managed despite me. I watched you sleep for hours and cursed myself for not being there when you needed me. The guilt ate me alive. I had put up a wall between me and my son and couldn't see any way around it. I didn't know what to do or how to fix it."

The declaration seemed to loosen whatever hold she maintained on her wavering emotions. Tears beaded up and flowed unheeded. Peeta dropped Katniss's hand and reached unconsciously for his weeping mother. She raised her own hands in a staying motion and backed away from him. "Not yet, Peeta." She choked out. "You need to hear it all. She's right. It's been long enough." He shook his head, his own eyes wet and swollen. "Let me do this while I still can." She seemed to steel herself before continuing. "I couldn't get past what I had done. I wanted to be your mother the way that you deserved but nothing I did ever seemed good enough. Not to me. When you started drawing, I couldn't believe it. Dodson or Seth had never shown an interest. You, however, dove right in and didn't look back. I wanted so badly to share that with you. I tried a few times to give you a canvas or paints but I couldn't. I don't have any excuse except that I was afraid that you wouldn't want them if they came from me. I gave them to Mrs. Evangeline so that she could pass them along. That went on for years. I didn't work up the courage to face you openly until your tenth birthday."

"The pencils," he breathed. "You gave them to me at breakfast." His sudden grin lit up his face. "You made me scrambled eggs. That was a bigger shock than the present."

She chuckled softly under her breath. "Your father was dumbfounded. I had never raided the bakery stores before. He didn't know what to think." She stared at her folded hands. "Those pencils were given to me by your father on our first date. It seemed fitting that you should have them." She raised her eyes hesitantly up to meet his. Her tone was tentative as she continued. "I don't have any excuse and I can't ask you to forgive me. You deserve every good thing that this world has to offer, Peeta. I'm sorry I wasn't the mother that you should have had. I wanted to be. I just didn't know how."

His shoulders slumped, folding in as he absorbed her words. Katniss, her own eyes burning, slid her arms around his waist and rested her head on his back. Neither of them spoke as the minutes ran one into the other. Maura leaned against the counter no longer fighting tears that threatened to overwhelm her. Her face held such misery and regret that it hurt to look at her. Watching her son's demeanor as he struggled to process what she had told him was something of a revelation. Hurt and bewilderment were obvious. Understanding and acceptance were there but so was a hint of bitterness and long seated rancor. She had hurt him deeply through no fault of his own. It would take more than a heartfelt confession and admission of guilt to mend what years of neglect had wrought. Maura closed her eyes as the possibility that he would hate rose to the fore. If that happened, she wouldn't blame him nor hold any ill will. She didn't deserve his forgiveness.

Peeta tossed Katniss a grateful look as he stepped out of her supporting embrace. The tiny smile that touched his lips briefly showed his thanks more clearly than words ever could. She smiled back and nodded briefly in encouragement. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to the still weeping woman. "It isn't about what I did or didn't deserve," he began haltingly. "I always thought it was something I had done to make you hate me so badly. I wasn't good enough or smart enough; that I disappointed you." The woman furiously shook her head and he held up a staying hand. "I didn't know that you were hurting. I only knew that I wanted you to love me and you didn't. I didn't think you even cared." His eyes briefly flicked to Katniss. "She told me that I was wrong but I didn't really believe her. How could I?" He stepped quickly to the counter and clutched his mother's hands. She gaped at his sudden movement, clearly caught off guard. "Listen to me," he stated fiercely. "I don't need the mother that you think I deserve. I don't want that. This was the hardest part, mom. It took a lot for you to open up like you have." Hopeful blue eyes peered into an identical questioning pair. "Can you meet me half way? Can we start over now with a completely clean slate? I want to. Do you?"

Tears overflowed and ran down both faces but neither looked away. She drew in a trembling breath and whispered, "I don't deserve a second chance, son. Even I know that."

The returning smile that he gave her was heartbreaking in the tentative hope that was so blatantly clear. "I don't care about that. You have it if you want it." His fingers slid to her wrists as her hands rose to cup his chin. Her answering nod was small, timid but he saw it.

"I want it," she said softly.

"Okay," He answered his smile radiant as the sun. "Good." He leaned into the palm that was still pressed to his face. "Thank you," he murmured quietly.

Maura laughed freely and openly for the first time in ages. "I think that I should be thanking you, son." She fondly patted his cheek and then dropped her hands. "Enough of that. Why don't you show Katniss all of those pretty paintings that you have stashed away in the basement? The sketches don't do her justice." At his surprised look, she laughed again. "I know I wasn't supposed to know about them but my curiosity got the better of me. Some of those landscapes would look beautiful in the bakery, Peeta. Pick out a few and I'll have your father hang them." She chuckled to herself and disappeared back into the kitchen.

Peeta turned shocked eyes on Katniss who wore a broad grin of her own. "What just happened? Is this real?" He asked in a doubtful tone.

She threw her arms around his neck, laughing gaily at his bemused expression. "It's definitely real, Peeta. I told you."

He pulled her tightly against him, burying his face in the swaying curtain of dark hair. His lips grazed her forehead, an unaccustomed lightness filling him up. "This is what happiness feels like," he murmured. He felt her arms tighten in response. Colors seemed to brighten around them, the air shifting and changing as they stood arm in arm. The moment seemed to flicker; shiny and luminous in its perfection. They moved slowly, carefully as to not break the fragile sense of peace that had blossomed in the wake of such turmoil. If this was a dream, Peeta prayed never to wake from it.

End Part 11