That evening, after the bakery is sparkling clean again, Peeta and I walk back to Victor's Village together. My gloved hand is wrapped tightly in his and the icy wind bites the parts of my face the scarf doesn't cover.
"I'm going to go to my house and take a shower." Peeta yells over the rustling branches and groaning trees.
I nod and turn to go to my house, but before I can Peeta kisses me on the forehead again. It warms me from the inside out as I walk away. I can't believe how normal Peeta seems or how happy we are when we're together. I don't know what to call us anymore. We're certainly more than friends, but are we a couple?
I push open the door to my house and pace around the living room for a few minutes and quickly figure out its no use. I decide to just go back to Peeta's and wait for him there. I quickly dash across the few yards in between our houses and find the front door unlocked. It's mercifully warm inside. I take off my coat and scarf and drape them over the couch. I'm about to sit down when I notice at least fifty paintings stacked in the floor of his dining room, but the most intriguing thing is the single painting that's hanging on the wall. Curiosity gets the best of me; I walk over and turn on the light to get a better look at the painting.
My jaw drops as I see a full length painting of myself in one of the wedding dresses I modeled for the citizens of the capitol to vote on. This must be the one Peeta would have chosen. It's the creamy, lace, floor length dress. The sleeves gently fall over my shoulders and the skirt flows out just enough. In my hands are a bouquet of pink roses and my hair falls around my face and neck in soft ringlets. It's a stunning picture, but I think Peeta paints me prettier than I really am.
"Do you like it?" Peeta asks quietly. He's getting better at walking quietly. I never even realized he was there. I turn around and find his face inches from mine.
"This one, I like." I tell him in a voice as quiet. "When did you paint it?"
"The night they aired all of your dresses and we found out about the Quarter Quell. I couldn't sleep anyways."
I wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his next. I don't want him to see my emotions that I can't seem to keep locked inside. The embarrassment at only thinking of me when Snow read that card and the joy mixed with a little sorrow of discovering this new painting. I thought I had seen them all. He must not have taken this one to the capitol.
Peeta holds on tightly to me. He smells clean and fresh, like morning. "I thought I was going to lose you." He whispers, and for once I know the right thing to say.
"You're never going to lose me." My lips find his and with this kiss I finally realize all of the emotions I've tried not to consider. I really do love Peeta Mellark. I've loved him from the minute I found him in our first games. Now there are no games, no wars, and no Gale to stand in the way of me seeing this. A part of me wishes I could have accepted this sooner. I move my face back to see his wonderfully blue eyes. "I love you, Peeta."
For a moment his arms tighten as if he's afraid I'll run away again. When he sees I'm not going anywhere his grip softens and he whispers back, "I love you too, Katniss."
It feels like a million wings are beating around inside of me. Telling him that I love him lifts all the weight of the wars, deaths, and future off my chest for a moment. This emotion can only be one thing, happiness.
"I used to stay the night with you and it helped with the nightmares. Real or not real?"
"Real." I say. It's all I can think of to say right now, but I know he doesn't need an explanation.
"Why don't you stay the night with me this time?" Peeta says, leaning his forehead against mine.
"I'd like that." And before I know it he's holding my hand and leading me upstairs.
His room is mostly plain, a bed against one wall, a dresser across from it and a closet in the corner. The only personal thing is a framed picture on the dresser. I pick it up and find me and Peeta looking happy together at the party in the Capitol.
"Effie gave it to me." Peeta says simply. He hangs his robe in the closet and sits on the bed. "She thought I would like it."
I join him on the edge of the bed and lean my head on his shoulder. I can't think of anything to say and I don't think he expects me to say anything. He knows I'm useless with words.
"Why don't you find something to wear?"
"I'm fine in this." I tell Peeta.
"I have plenty of stuff in my closet. Go find something." He practically shoves me off the bed and I grudgingly move. For some reason I'm nervous. We've spent the night together quite a bit before. I guess since I told him I loved him that changed something. I try and shrug it off as I halfheartedly rifle through his clothes. I find one of his shirts that should be okay. I take off my sweater and pants, but leave on my underwear and pull the shirt over my head. It's long on me and covers everything, but I still feel embarrassed. I grab the robe he took off and wrap it firmly around me. It's a bit better. I step out of the closet and find him pulling back the covers and fluffing the pillows.
I walk quietly to stand beside him. "Do you always go to this much trouble?"
"Only for you." He glances over at me. "Are you going to sleep in my robe?"
"No," I say looking at my toes. "I just wanted to wear it."
He laughs at me and I feel a blush creeping up my face. "Get in." Peeta gestures to the bed and I crawl in, pulling the covers up to my chest. "Give me the robe."
I take my time unwrapping myself from it and grudgingly hand it back. Peeta throws it towards the closet and climbs in after me. "You forgot your braid." He takes the tie and gently starts combing my hair out with his fingers. I sigh and close my eyes. This is how it could be every evening; just me and him.
After he finishes brushing my hair he kisses my cheek and lies down. I snuggle up next to him and he wraps his arm protectively around me like he always used to. "I love you." He whispers.
"I love you too." And within minutes I'm fast asleep.