Okay, so I decided to post two chapters today! I took the advice of one review to try to make the chapters longer, so thank you for that!
I will be gone on a trip until Friday, so while I will continue to work on the story, I don't think I'll be able to post any more chapters. I might post one final chapter tomorrow before I leave.
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoy! -Phily
Chapter Four
•Katniss•
I wake up and immediately get out of bed, the smell of cheesy buns wafting through the house and smelling strongest in the kitchen. "Good morning," I say happily as I kiss Primrose and Jack on the top of their heads. I walk straight to where Peeta is standing, and I give him a quick kiss. "Good morning," I say to him, and in response he envelops me in his strong, steady arms. "Good morning, Mrs. Mellark," he whispers in my ear, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
I don't want to let go, but eventually I have to eat and then go straight to packing. Over breakfast, Peeta tells me about his day in the bakery with Rose, and I share my day with Jack. Of course, the kids have their input as well. Once finished, I trudge up to the bedroom to begin the wary task of packing, but I am immediately surprised to find that Peeta has done almost all of it for me. I finish up my suitcase, and bring it downstairs to put with the rest of the family's.
The kids go into Rose's room to have some downtime after they've bathed, and I find that I have some time alone with Peeta. "Thank you. For everything," I say, thinking of all the little things he's done since last night. "You're welcome," he replies with a hint of something in his blue eyes. We enjoy our time alone together until it's time to leave.
"Grab your backpack, sweetie," I say to Jack, exasperated. Peeta's gone over to Haymitch's house with directions on what to do with Buttercup while we're gone and to say goodbye, while I have to get everyone out of the house in one piece. Primrose has already fallen and scraped her knee, and Jack has certainly been in better moods. After a painstaking twenty minutes, I'm able to carry out our suitcases and everyone else. Peeta returns, and I gratefully hand Jack to him along with one of the suitcases. I pick up two and Rose decides that she wants to be responsible for her own, which is fine by me.
•Peeta•
As a family, minus Buttercup, we walk to the train station and arrive just in time. The train car is exactly like the one that brought Katniss and me to the Captiol for the Hunger Games, as well as the one carrying us around on the Victory Tour, but the interior is somewhat different. It has a muted version of the old Capitol flamboyancy, and I take note of the mahagony tables, thinking of Effie Trinket. The train also moves at a swift speed, but, like the old one, I cannot feel it.
We head straight to our room, and I have a flashback of one night in Katniss's room on the Victory Tour. She's screaming, her nightmares filling her head with the horrors of the arena. "Peeta, will you stay with me?"
It lasts for only a second, and my mind is then brought back to the present. I place Jack on the ground and put his suitcase in the adjoining room. Katniss walks in with Primrose, and she places our two suitcases in the first room. I watch as Rose dashes into the room she'll share with Jack, and I turn to face Katniss. "Just like the on the Victory Tour," I comment. She looks at me in confusion, then registers what I said. "Yes," Katniss agrees, but says nothing more.
We both put Primrose and Jack down for naps, and Katniss and I decide to explore the train a bit. Katniss takes my hand and entwines it in her own. Hand in hand, we make our way through each train car, and before long we find ourselves in the last one. She's pulling me towards the circular sofa, and the next thing I know she's kissing me. She starts at my forehead, moving across my face until she reaches my lips. She wraps her arms around the back of my neck and I pull her close. It's not a hungry kiss, but rather a soft one. I run my hands through her thick, brown hair, but untangle them soon after. I pull away enough to look into her grey eyes. She cups my face in her hands, and gives me one final kiss. "I love you, Peeta," she says, and I feel my heart skip a beat. They're simple words, but from her they mean everything. "I love you, Katniss. Always," I reply, bringing her back into an embrace. It only lasts a minute though, because we both remember our sleeping children. We need to be back when they wake up. Hand in hand once again, Katniss and I make our way back to our room.
"Peeta! Katniss!" I hear a familiar voice exclaim. It's Delly Cartwright, my old childhood friend. We used to make chalk murals on the sidewalk, and sometimes we'd play in the old Mellark Bakery, forming little dough boys and girls from the excess materials. Delly was an essential person in trying to get me back to my real self, rather than the shattered, hijacked person Snow had turned me into. I feel lucky to know a person like her.
Putting on my warmest smile, I give my friend a quick hug. "It's so good to see you Delly! What a surprise we're on the same train!" Katniss gives her a hug as well, and the three of us engage in light conversation. The topic of children comes up, and Delly explains that she has a four year old son. We make plans to have them meet tomorrow, and we exchange goodbyes.
•Katniss•
Peeta heads back to the room, but I hold back and wander down the other hallway, the one Peeta and I didn't walk down. When I see there's nothing but bedrooms, I turn to go back when suddenly I'm grabbed from behind. At first I think it's Peeta, but our embraces are never so forceful or restraining. I feel very uncomfortable, and I can't get out of the person's grip. "It's been a long time, Catnip." Only one person calls me that, except, he isn't allowed to do so anymore. I turn around sharply, and I elbow him in the stomach, taking him by surprise.
"Don't touch me," I spit, my voice rising. "And don't you dare call me 'Catnip'!" Gale is an unshaven mess, and it looks like he's had one too many drinks today. His eyes are bloodshot, and he looks unsteady. Before I can even blink he kisses me, hard. I'm taken completely off guard, and I instinctively kick him in the groin. He falls, his form now in a crouched position against the wall. I turn without a second thought, before he can see the tears rolling down my face.
When I finally make it back to the room, I find Rose and Jack ganging up on Peeta in a tickle fight. He raises his head, as if beckoning me to join, but then frowns. He knows something's wrong. "I'll be right back guys," he says. "Come on Dad!" they try to argue, but he repeats himself and starts walking towards me.