~Chapter 8~

A/N: Hey, you guys! And by guys, I mean girls and guys, of course! I'm in such a great mood. I'm working on my third chapter of a new fanfic I'm working on. It's on Narnia, and it's an Edmund/OC romance. It also includes Peter/OC and Suspian, though the story is mainly focused on Edmund and Avaline (OC). I can't wait to upload it, but I can't bring myself to until I figure out a brilliant title for it. I just can't think… I think I might call it "Just and Justice." How does that sound? When you all review, tell me what you think! And I'd like y'all to please read it once I finally get it uploaded! Anyways, so this is the eighth chapter of Come Morning Light. I'm so happy that I'm finally updating. By the way, I'm so sorry for that. I've had so much schoolwork and stuff on my hands that I haven't had the time! I have a little bit of chapter nine typed up, but I'm not done yet and I don't really have the time to finish writing it and upload it tonight, but I'll try my hardest to do so soon! I promise! So, yeah….Without further ado, I give you Chapter 8 of Come Morning Light! Read and review!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or any of its characters, however I do own Come Morning Light, Jabberjay, and Igniting Sparks, along with any characters I may have created to go with these stories.

"Katniss?"

Someone knocks on the door. It sounds like Peeta. He has the key, why can't he get in himself?

"Katniss? Katniss!" the voice begins to get panicked. "Katniss, open the door!"

I roll over, and unexpectedly hit the floor with a loud bang.

"Katniss!"

Finally I can't take it. "Peeta, can you not open the door yourself? It's not locked," I groan as my sore muscles overwhelm me. Although the couch is very soft and comfortable, laying there for too long can give you a serious case of the cramps.

"Katniss, the door is too locked. Now open up!"

I manage to endure the crick in my neck and stagger over to the bedroom door. I turn the knob, immediately unlocking it, and Peeta opens it before I can blink.

"What are you doing in here of all places?!" he exclaims.

I fumble for an answer that sounds believable, since I obviously can't use the real one.

Wait, the real one? The one involving Gale... Where IS Gale?

"Uh, Katniss?"

"Hmm? Oh, gosh! Sorry, I was cleaning the room, because Annie and Tommy are coming over on Saturday, and I got tired and achy so I laid down and fell asleep on the couch.

"Are they spending the night?" Peeta asks me suspiciously.

"Yeah. Wouldn't you like to have some social time for a change, too? Tell you what, I'm getting tired of laying around all day alone!" I say, throwing my hands in the air.

"Okay, okay, I get it. Sorry!" he says, hugging me with one arm. The other arm holds a shopping bag.

"What's in there?" I ask.

His eyes look down to where I am pointing. "Oh, that? That just a little doll I bought for Maysi for making a good grade on her clay animals assignment."

"Three-year-olds have grades?" I ask. I have absolutely no idea what goes on inside that daycare. I always thought they just played building blocks or colored.

He nods, and I raise an eyebrow. "I know, it's ridiculous," he scoffs.

I roll my eyes, stepping back from him.

"Hey, come back here," he says. I look at him. "I haven't gotten any 'welcome home, honey' kiss yet."

Laughing, I kiss him on the cheek and begin walking back away, but he grabs me and lands a kiss on my lips. Peeta, never having been as daring and flirty as Gale, doesn't kiss roughly at all. As a matter of fact, he never has, that I remember. Always soft on soft, gentle on gentle.

But Peeta doesn't pull away. Never. At least, not as suddenly as this. Usually I can tell when Peeta is getting tired, or when he's about to wrap it up. But now something triggers Peeta's back-off reflex, which I think has happened maybe once since the day I met him, and he steps back from me.

I open my eyes. "Peeta?"

He looks at me, confused. I watch him, more confused than he is times a dozen. He carefully picks up a strand of my hair, holding it between his index and middle finger like it's evidence from a crime scene.

He holds it up to his face, pulling my head forward in the action. Peeta gives the piece of hair a small sniff. He pauses, as if deciphering a difficult word puzzle.

"Peeta? What is it?" I ask.

"Shh," he whispers.

So I have no choice but to wait patiently for whatever he is upset about.

He is still standing, his brow furrowed from the strain. He sniffs again as if he forgot what the scent was, then once more.

Peeta's head raises back up to look at me. "Katniss..." he says unsteadily.

"Peeta, what is it?"

"Katniss..."

"Peeta, what's going on?"

"Katniss, I need you tell me the whole truth. And only the truth," he says. I look into his eyes, seeing pain in an ocean of blue. What in the world could possibly hurt and alarm him so? It's just my hair!

"Okay... But why Peeta? What is it?"

"Katniss..." he trails off. I put my hand against his face, comforting him.

"Go on," I whisper.

"Katniss, were you with Gale today?"

I blink in alarm. Gale. Me. Today.

Oh no.

The tears form.

"Katniss?"

They threaten to overflow.

"Katniss?"

I try to blink them back.

"Katniss, please! Answer me!"

'Too late...' The last thing I think before my eyes close and the tears roll down my face.

"Oh, baby, what's wrong? I trust you, okay? If it hurts you, you don't have to answer. I promise."

My voice tries to respond, but immediately cracks. The lump gets stuck in my throat and I can't speak. Finally, it clears. "Peeta," I say.

"What is it, baby?"

"I... I- Peeta, don't trust me. Just don't. I'm a filthy liar. Can't you see through me to know that? I've been with Gale, okay? And all I've been thinking about lately is how it'll effect me if you find out! Peeta, I'm more guilty than anyone has ever been, alright. I don't deserve you and-"

He cuts me off. "Katniss, stop."

I look up.

"Katniss, I know you've been with Gale, okay?"

Now it's my turn to be confused. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because. Katniss, I'm the one that doesn't deserve you. You never would've loved me if I hadn't have told the world in that dreadful interview. It was stupid, and though I'll never stop loving you, and never forget you, I know that I'm not the one you're meant to be with. I'd I hadn't said anything, you'd be with Gale, hunting in the woods right this second."

"Peeta, don't you get it?! I wouldn't be with Gale! I'd be watching innocent children be shipped off to their death!"

He stands, watching me, and knowing that what I've said is true.

"You're the one that did everything for this rebellion. If you hadn't admitted that you loved me, then I wouldn't have held out the berries to save you. I wouldn't have been the Mockingjay. There would be no rebellion, Peeta. Face it, those five words, 'she came here with me,' saved Panem."

He smiles as he realizes the truth in the statement.

"Come here, you rebel," I say, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward me.

A/N: Sooooo, how'd ya like it?! I'm wayyy too happy today. Haha. Anyways, I won't keep you long except to say that I expect a review. I want AT LEAST five before I update the ninth chapter. I don't want to push you to give me too many at first, so I'll stick with five for now. So anyways, may the odds be ever in your favor and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS! :D