Thank you so much to my reviewers, favorite-ers, and followers.

Thank you to my regular, extraordinary betas kismet4891 and katnissinme. I would also like to thank my sub-beta for this chapter and consummate cheerleader Court81981. They are all very talented and wonderful ladies go and find their many works, you won't regret it!

In Name Only-Peeta's POV

Part 7

Peeta looked out the bakery window; the November day was deceptively cold, despite the sun shining outside. He was helping customers, trying hard to be his usual pleasant self, but he was terribly distracted. He checked the clock on the wall; it was nearly ten o'clock, well past Katniss's usual arrival time.

He couldn't come up with any more excuses for delaying Thom's deliveries, so Peeta sent him out and was left alone at the bakery. On a typical day he liked to keep Thom there until Katniss left so that Peeta could spend as much time with her as possible. The customers had cleared out and there was a lull in the morning rush. The bell rang out, and Deputy Darius sauntered in and greeted him. "Good morning, Peeta."

"Morning, Darius," Peeta returned. "How many bear-claws today?"

"Um, two," Darius said after a moment of thought. "I think I might hide out here and eat them, too. I don't feel like entertaining people at the moment. Everybody wants to know about what is going on at the Everdeen place and I don't have the heart to gossip about those ladies."

"What's going on with the Everdeens?" Peeta demanded urgently.

Darius gave him a shocked look and replied, "Haven't you heard? That old bitty Mrs. Cartwright called the county and reported Mrs. Everdeen and now she is getting hauled away to the loony bin. The truck passed through town about an hour ago. They say she's not spoken two coherent words together in the last year. Usually that isn't enough to get someone put away, but I think that ol' bastard Snow helped to have her taken away. Thread is going to have to evict the girls today. Probably have to take the little one to the children's home…this is one of those days when I hate my job."

Suddenly Peeta remembered what Finnick had told him months ago – that if Katniss were married, then she would be left alone and Prim could be kept with her. It seemed like a long shot, but one worth taking. "If Katniss were married, would Thread take the little girl away?"Peeta questioned.

"Um, it would depend," Darius shrugged. "If it were some boy, like say Thom, most likely yes. If it were a man well-known in the community, Thread would most likely let them stay together."

That settled it. Peeta was going to find Katniss right away and ask her to marry him. He had been toying with the idea for a while. Peeta hastily put together a plan in his head. He took off his apron, threw it on the counter and all but ran to the door and flipped the sign to "closed." "Lock the door on your way out, if you could please, Darius," he asked of the bewildered deputy, and then left him slack jawed in the store front. Peeta briefly poked his head through the door. "Oh, and help yourself to the bear claws."

In the kitchen, he took a sheet of paper and scribbled a note for Thom explaining that there had been an emergency. He then walked home as quickly as he could. He knew that his leg would pain him later, punishing him for abusing it.

Once home he called Finnick. As soon as he picked up Peeta hastily explained, "I might be getting married today, I need you and Annie to witness it."

"What!?" Finnick sputtered.

"Oh, and I may need you to help me talk to the Sheriff so he doesn't take Primrose to the children's home," Peeta added.

"What in the hell are you talking about, Peeta?" Finnick wondered. "Have you lost your mind?"

"Katniss needs help, and marriage looks like her only option at the moment," Peeta paused. "So I'm going to ask her to marry me."

"You know, when I said 'ask her' I meant to like the church luncheon, not for her hand in matrimony!" Finnick exclaimed.

"Sorry, Finnick," Peeta sighed. "I don't have time to discuss this, I've got a girl to propose to. If she accepts, then I'll be over to pick you and Annie up later. Can I count on you?"

Finnick took a deep breath and agreed, "Yes."

He then took a shower and put on his finest suit. If I'm going to do this, I need to look like I mean it. Peeta went to his bedroom and opened his sock drawer, pushed aside all its contents and pulled out the velvet box that had been hidden at the bottom for ten years. The last time he saw it he had showed it to a banker as collateral for his first business loan. If he had access to any other ring he would use it, but he didn't, so this one would have to do. I hope I have better luck then I did the last time I proposed to someone. Peeta could feel his leg already stiffening. With a heavy heart he picked up his cane. He had envisioned his proposal to Katniss before and there had never been a cane in sight, but it was better than the alternative of falling on his face in front of her. He got his best fedora and left his home.

While driving to the Everdeen house his mind was frenzied. I truly am willing to marry her to protect her? This will not be real; I will only offer Katniss a home for her and Prim until she is twenty-one, and then I'll help them find a new home. This is for Katniss and Prim, not for me. These are Harland's daughters. Peeta was already trying to distance himself from Katniss. Kitty, the little girl with pigtails who once gave me dandelions to cheer me. Kitty, the awkward youth who sang so beautifully in church. Don't think about Katniss, glowing in the summer heat and visiting with you on her own in the bakery.

He pulled into the Everdeen driveway, and for a moment thought very seriously about turning around. This is never going to work. Peeta gripped his cane tightly and got out of the car. It required every ounce of courage he had to climb the porch. He took a deep breath and knocked on the weathered door. It took a few moments for her to answer the door.

"Mr. Mellark!?" Katniss gasped. It was obvious that he was not whom she was expecting. "What are you doing here?"

"Katniss," Peeta said softly and took off his hat. "I have something I want to talk to you about. We don't have much time, and Deputy Darius said that the people from the county will be here this afternoon."

He examined her quickly. She was shaken and scared, and for the first time ever, she appeared hopeless. It broke his heart to see her like this. Yet even in her misery she was beautiful; Peeta had never loved her so much.

"Please come in, Mr. Mellark," Katniss said shakily, and opened the door wide for him. Peeta stepped in and set his cane against the doorframe. He looked at the old house; it seemed so empty and sorrowful. Katniss motioned for him to sit in the thread-bare wing chair, and he took the seat. She stood before the old fireplace and asked, "They're coming for Prim, aren't they?"

"Yes, they are," Peeta admitted. "It would save them a trip to evict you and take her at the same time. Sherriff Thread is nothing if not efficient." He stopped and looked at her hesitantly. "But I think I know a way that she could remain with you. I hope you don't mind, but I already took the liberty of speaking to Mr. Odair, and he told me about a possible solution to your problem…I tried to find out if there were any other options, but none could be found that could help you and Primrose immediately."

"What's that?" Katniss asked, and her face lifted hopefully.

"First, let me ask you something." He paused, staring at the hat in his hands as he fiddled with it. He had to make absolutely sure that there weren't any impediments. "Do you have a fella?"

"A what?" Katniss cast him a confused look, as if she hadn't heard him correctly.

"You know - a beau, a sweetheart," Peeta elaborated.

"No," she said softly, as if she were embarrassed by the fact. "No, I don't. I never have. Papa said no courting until I was eighteen."

"Yes, Harland used to tell me that," Peeta chuckled a little, trying to lighten the mood and then caught her eye. He steeled himself. This is for Harland. "I know that this will sound crazy…I would ask nothing of you; it would be in name only." He paused and Katniss gave him a look to urge him on. "I-I would be willing to marry you and have you and your sister come live with me."

Katniss turned away from him and grasped onto the mantel until her knuckles were white. He knew that he would have to make things clear to her. "And then, when you are old enough, I would help you find a place that would allow you to take Prim. You would have more rights at twenty-one, and we could part ways, if that's what you wanted." He paused for a moment to allow his words to sink in; she had to understand his motives were nothing but sincere and that he had no ulterior motives. "This is the only way that Finnick and I could think of to keep Prim out of the children's home. I'm well respected, my business is doing fine, and no one would meddle with you if you were my wife. I just want to help. It would do my heart good."Peeta regretted the words as soon as they came out, thinking they sounded sappy, but he had to sell the idea to Katniss.

The small house was silent. Finally, Katniss cleared her throat and asked in a thick voice, "What is in this for you, Mr. Mellark?"

He had so many reasons but he stuck with the simplest. "My friend's daughters would be safe, and I would have some company in my home," Peeta explained."My father died a couple of years ago and I've been lonely. I just thought that it wouldn't be such a bad deal all around. My house is large and I'm alone most of the time, other than Mrs. Seeder, my housekeeper, and her daughter, and they're only there a few hours a day."

Katniss stayed silent for a few moments. The stillness was deafening. She is revolted by the idea. This was so stupid of me, she'll never speak to me again. He rose and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Miss Everdeen, it was only a thought, I meant no offense by it…I'll be leaving now."

Peeta rose, put his hat on, walked to the door, found his cane, and hooked it over his arm. He turned the knob and suddenly felt two warm hands enclose his free hand and pull him slightly from the door. "Please," she whispered as she choked back tears, "Mr. Mellark, yes, I'll marry you. Please, I would do anything to keep Prim with me. I'll cook, I'll clean, I'll work in your bakery. I'd do anything you wanted."

A part of him rejoiced, yet another was saddened; she reminded him once more of a child."Kitty," Peeta said gently. He wanted so badly to hold and comfort her, but he restrained himself and settled for wiping away her tears with a thumb and gripping her hand firmly. He assured her as much, "I would be happy with your company and nothing more."

"Kitty?" Katniss repeated softly and gave him a genuine little smile. "You haven't called me that in a long time, Mr. Mellark."

"Please, Katniss, call me Peeta," he requested kindly. He had ached to hear his given name on her lips for so long now.

"Peeta," she said experimentally. It sounded as lovely as her singing voice. "I would like to marry you."It sounded so sincere, like it is in my imagination. For a moment, he thought that she was truly happy to marry him, like it was for her and him and no other reason. But it was a brief delusion, and Peeta reminded himself that their marriage's main purpose was to keep the Everdeen girls together.

"Alright, we'll do it," he agreed, and let go of her hand. Remember, this is not real! "Why don't you go put on a nice dress and we'll go to the Justice of the Peace? It shouldn't take long. Then we can pick Prim up from school. If we hurry, we can beat the social workers and Sheriff back here."

Katniss nodded and hurried up the stairs. Peeta let out a shaky breath as soon as she was out of sight. All of his confidence disappeared with her. He sat again in the old wing chair and fidgeted with his cane as the realization hit him. Sweet Jesus, I'm marrying Katniss Everdeen today…though she'll never really be mine.

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