Author's note: So excited to share more of this with you! The reception of the first chapter was amazing and I was so happy every time I got an email about this story. Thank you so much for all the positive feedback.
Just want to make sure you all know, I am going to steer well clear of the cheating angle. It will make it all the more difficult for our couple in other aspects, but that won't be part of it. Please don't expect the worst for this. The bad things happened before the story began and it only gets better from here (maybe a smidge bit of angst here and there).
I want to say a huge thank you to my beta Everlylark! Go and read her stuff once you get this done.
Happy reading!
Chapter Two
Peeta handed each of the three girls a cookie and then turned to Annie as they scurried off. The adults were finally alone after the cookies had cooled enough for the girls to "test them out."
"I need to ask you something." Peeta said softly, glancing toward the living room where Maggie and Pearl argued about what to watch on TV. Callie just munched her cookie. "And I need you to keep it between us."
"Sure. Anything." Annie leaned closer so Peeta could lower his voice more without their daughters hearing. "What is it?"
"Was it an electric shock? When you and Finnick touched the first time?" He swallowed and watched her anxiously.
She smiled wistfully. "It's like that every time we touch. I just don't always register it anymore. Why?"
He turned and finished dropping chocolate chip cookie dough onto a cookie sheet before he went on. "Because I felt it." It was a few more heartbeats before he was able to say, "She's married, Annie."
His friend's face dropped. "Oh. Well, that's not good." Annie started filling the boxes with cookies. "Did she notice?"
Peeta laughed derisively. "She sure as hell did."
She chewed her lip uncertainly. "So what are you going to do?"
He shrugged and slipped the cookie sheet into the oven. "What can I do? I can't date a married woman."
"Soulmates can just be friends." She pointed out. "Look at Cinna and Mags."
Peeta grinned. "Cinna is gay and Mags is everyone's grandma."
"Cinna is bisexual. And the bond with Cinna is a stronger one than anyone else has with Mags, grandma or no." She leaned close. "Johanna and Castor are another good example of soulmate friends."
"Yeah." He shrugged again as he went on to his next task. "I guess I should go out with that girl you've been trying to set me up with to keep me from the romantic feelings." He groaned. She's so... And I just… And there's Alex."
She rubbed his back. "Alex has only been gone a year."
"A year and three months." Peeta corrected. "My dad remarried Cara ten months after my mom left."
Annie waved her hand. "Your mom was a bitch. I'm sure your dad was ready to get back into the dating pool the second she packed her bags."
He nodded, a grin on his face. "You're right."
She pressed a quick peck to his cheek. "You don't have to do anything you don't want. And that includes dating and spending time with that soulmate of yours." She chewed her lip a moment and then asked, "No chance of you telling me her name?"
He swallowed and pressed his mouth close to her ear to whisper, "Katniss Hawthorne."
Annie let out a sharp gasp as he pulled away and covered her mouth. "That was very unexpected."
"Who were you expecting?" Peeta took out a new bowl and started mixing up the sugar cookie recipe off the top of his head.
She laughed. "I was kind of thinking about Delly. Wouldn't that be a trip?"
He shook his head in amusement. "I would have known a long time ago if it was Delly."
"True." Annie leaned against the counter and rubbed her bulbous stomach. "Thank you so much for your help with this. These cookies will make a great profit for the carnival."
"No problem. I love helping out." The first set of sugar cookies went in the oven. "You should sit down for a while." He eyed her stomach and the pained look on her face.
"If I'm on my feet, maybe it will push me into labor. Two weeks left to the due date. I need this baby out yesterday." Still, she rubbed her lower back.
Peeta chuckled. "I wish you the best."
Brendan crashed through the front door followed by several friends and all their swimming gear, dropping it just inside the door. They raided the refrigerator as Peeta handed out cookies. He watched the kids barreling through the house to get up to Brendan's room, still working hard on the cookies.
Finnick walked in much more slowly and stepped into the kitchen. Placing a hand on Annie's stomach, he kissed her softly. "How do you feel?"
She grinned. "Pregnant. How about you?"
Finnick laughed and kissed her again. "Tired. But ready to take over with the kids so you can get off your feet."
She shook her head. "I'm walking until this kid comes out. I'm done."
Finnick leaned down and spoke to his wife's pregnant belly. "You better make an appearance soon, baby girl, or your mother is going to murder me."
"Another girl?" Peeta asked, shocked. They'd been keeping the sex of their baby a secret, wanting to surprise everyone.
Finnick looked up and grinned sheepishly. "Didn't do so good keeping it to ourselves, did we?" He plucked a cookie out of the box Annie was filling.
Annie shrugged. "I was doing a good job."
Finnick stole another kiss. "I'll keep an eye on the kids." He took another cookie and walked out of the room.
"What does that feel like?" Peeta immediately asked.
Annie laughed. "Like my whole body is vibrating." She pulled a stool over and perched on it. After watching him a moment, she said, "You should talk to her."
"Talk to who?" He knew perfectly well who she meant, but pretended he was distracted by the cookies.
"You know!" Annie groaned. "Aren't you doing a play date?"
He sighed and leaned a hip against the counter. "For one thing, her husband will be there. And for another, I don't think it's right to even discuss this when there are kids around anyway."
"You're right." She said. "But you can't just put it off if you're going to spend time with her because of your daughters." She leaned against the counter and rubbed her stomach. "And she's married. So what? Friends who are soulmates are super close. You've seen it. You'll probably be closer to her than you and I are. I might be a little jealous." She stuck out her bottom lip in a fake pout.
Peeta patted her arm. "You never need to feel jealous."
"But talk to her, Peeta. You can't run from this." Annie reached out and grabbed his arm, shaking him playfully. "If you don't talk it out it'll just be weird between you two."
He nodded, a laugh escaping him. "I know. I just don't know how or when to bring it up."
She rubbed his arm. "You'll know when the time is right. You've always been great with words." She groaned and rubbed her stomach. "Baby is hungry." Ambling toward where she'd left her phone, she yelled, "Who wants pizza?"
From other parts of the house, she heard choruses of "I do!"
Peeta chuckled as Annie made the call. He busied himself with the final batch of cookies and then began cleaning up the mess he'd made. He was pretty clean for a baker. Even his father made a messier kitchen and he's been doing the work longer.
Annie hung up the phone just as Finnick came back in. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered something in her ear that made her grin and grab his face for a deep kiss. It went on so long Peeta started to grow slightly uncomfortable. It was often like that with them. Everything was intense. Even with three kids and another on the way, they were still very much in love.
Peeta assumed that had everything to do with the soulmate bond. Because as much as he loved Alexandrea, there were often days where the only touches they shared were their arms pressed together in their bed at night.
Peeta cleared his throat and the pair reluctantly ended the kiss. "So what time is this thing tomorrow?"
Annie leaned against Finnick as he continued to kiss her cheek and neck. "The whole thing starts at noon." She answered. "So get there when you can. I have Delly signed up. And Katniss Hawthorne." She gave Peeta a pointed look which made him squirm.
Finnick rubbed Annie's stomach. "I hope there are chairs everywhere so you can sit down."
"Why?" Annie asked. "So we don't have to trust our spawn to your sister?"
Finnick laughed and kissed her temple. "So you don't tire yourself out."
"Because that's your job, right?" She laughed and pulled him in for another kiss.
Peeta sighed. "Do I need to take the kids and go somewhere?"
Finnick groaned and finally pulled himself out of Annie's embrace. "The girls asked me to have a tea party anyway." With one last lingering kiss, he walked out of the kitchen and settled into the living room with the three girls.
Annie grinned after him and then turned to Peeta. "Pizza will be here in ten minutes."
"I'll finish in here then. You go to the tea party or spend ten minutes alone."
She didn't argue, leaving him alone to his thoughts. They drifted to Katniss, and not for the first time. What was she doing now? Was she thinking about him too? Wondering what it would be like to touch him again?
Peeta looked down at his hand, remembering the tingle in his fingers after touching her. And then he rubbed his chest where the line had snapped when Katniss had closed her car door.
What was he going to do? He didn't know, but he was sure going to try to avoid being alone with Katniss at all costs until he figured it out.
Callie was always wound up after a day with the Odair girls. They were a wild bunch and it rubbed off. It took Peeta three stories and a promise that she could sleep in his bed before she finally settled down, crashing as soon as her head hit the pillow. Right in the middle of the bed.
Conrad leaned against the counter as Peeta finished the dishes. Peeta and Callie had moved back into the small house behind the family bakery after the accident that had taken Alexandrea and broken Peeta's leg in three places. There was no way he would have been able to take care of Callie on his own in that condition.
"Are you going to be able to finish that wedding cake tomorrow?" Conrad asked.
Peeta nodded and put the last pan on the drying mat. "I don't have much left on it. I'll be able to finish pretty quickly." He dried his hands. "I promised Annie I'd help at the bake sale table at the carnival tomorrow afternoon. Is that still okay?"
"As long as that cake is done, you can go." Conrad clapped him on the shoulder. "You okay? You've been a little out of it lately."
"It's nothing, Dad." Peeta sighed. "I'm just…" He shook his head. "I don't want to talk about it."
Conrad squeezed his shoulder gently and then stepped away. "Early mornings call for early bedtimes." He walked into the living room and Peeta watched him lean over the couch where his wife Cara lounged reading a book. He kissed her cheek and then walked toward his room. She very quickly followed.
Peeta rubbed his face. There was no way he was going to tell his father about the situation with Katniss. He didn't believe in the soulmate business. He figured it was because of how much his first wife had hurt him. How could you ever believe in your perfect match under such harsh treatment?
Peeta checked all the locks and turned out the lights before he made his way to his bedroom. He watched Callie sleep for a moment. She was so peaceful in slumber. It was a miracle he was still around to see it and he took advantage of the opportunity often.
After he changed, Peeta climbed into the bed with Callie, pulling her close to his chest and falling asleep almost as quickly as she had.
He was in a sealed cave. The darkness and air were thick. He could feel the rough walls against his hands and the backs of his bare legs. And he felt her beside him. Her touch was like lightening striking the Nile. He wanted to speak, but his lungs wouldn't allow it. And then the final breath left him.
His eyes popped open and he looked around his small room. Callie had moved sideways in the bed and her feet pressed into his side. Gently slipping his hands under her arms, he moved her back onto the pillow and then looked at the clock to see it was almost four, his normal time to wake up. What was five more minutes?
Peeta pressed a kiss to his daughter's forehead and got out of bed.
Conrad was already in the shower, so Peeta had to wait a few minutes outside. It gave him a moment to reflect on the dream. He'd never noticed someone else in the cave before, just the darkness and the thick air.
Was that Katniss? What did the dream mean? Did it change the meaning with her there now?
Conrad stepped out of the bathroom rubbing a towel on his hair. The men exchanged a tired nod and switched places.
Peeta propped his foot on the side of the bath tub and traced the scars from the surgery. Pins were still inserted in his bones. On cold days or when a storm was on its way he could feel it. He predicted the weather better than a meteorologist.
"It's going to rain soon." He mumbled to himself as he got into the shower.
Peeta heard his father and Cara speaking softly behind their door as he stepped out of the bathroom. He made his way back to his bedroom once more and leaned over Callie. He whispered, "I love you, Cal-pal," and kissed her temple.
"Love you, Daddy." She mumbled as she rolled away and pressed her face into the pillow.
Some mornings Peeta wished he didn't work in the bakery. He could wake his daughter up every day and not expect someone else to do it. They could have longer evenings. He backed away, softly closing the door behind him.
"Peeta." Cara called softly from down the hall.
He looked over his shoulder.
She smiled. "I'll send her over as soon as she wakes up."
He nodded. "Thanks." Pushing away from the wall, he pressed a kiss to his stepmother's cheek. "She really loves that her grandma gets to take care of her every morning. She's lucky."
"I'm the lucky one." She squeezed his upper arm and smiled. "I'm just so happy you two are well and that you live here. I'm not nearly as close to your brothers and I find that very sad."
"But they love you, Cara. Just as much as I do." He stepped away. "Dad's probably ready to eat me. I'll get you a bagel as soon as you come over." He hurried out the door and threw himself into the bakery kitchen.
"There you are." Conrad pointed to one of the large mixers in the corner. "Cheese buns."
Peeta pulled the ingredients he needed toward the mixer and got to work. "I promised Cara a bagel."
Conrad grinned. "That's why I'm making them."
Peeta's oldest brother Graham came into the bakery and went toward the second mixer. "Donuts?" He asked as he took his own bag of flour toward the machine.
"You got it." Conrad said.
They worked for a long time in silence until Ryan finally breezed in. He apologized profusely. "The kids are all sick. Delly and I were taking turns cleaning up puke all night."
"Bake cakes." Conrad said. "There's a list by the cooler of orders. Peeta will decorate."
"Dad, the carnival." Peeta reminded him.
Conrad nodded. "I know, son. They're all simple designs. What you don't finish, I will. I mostly need that wedding cake."
"Then I'll get this rising and go to work on that." Peeta pulled the hook out of the mixer and covered the top of the dough to rise.
Decorating cakes was a calming practice for Peeta. He preferred the ones he decorated with a piping bag and different colored frosting to the ones covered in fondant and gum paste. This was one of the latter, though, and he took great care to get everything right. Irises that he'd crafted by hand to perfection, would be placed all down the side and pool at the bottom of the three tiered cake.
Callie's blue eyes peered over the table at him as he tried to figure out where the next flower should be placed. He smiled and pressed the iris into the second tier. "Good morning, sleepyhead."
"Grandma let me sleep in." She smiled sheepishly.
Peeta chuckled. "You deserve it. One of these days you'll work in this bakery too and have to be in here by four thirty to get the bread started."
She made a face. "Do I have to work here when I grow up?"
He stuck another flower into the cake and sat back. "You don't have to if you don't want to. What do you what to do?"
Callie shrugged. "I don't know yet."
"Well, you have plenty of time to decide." Peeta went back to decorating. "You want to pass me flowers?"
She nodded enthusiastically and pulled another stool closer. She handed over the irises until they were all gone and then rested her head on her father's shoulder. "It's so pretty, Daddy."
He kissed the top of her head. "Thanks, baby."
She sat back and looked up at him. "Will you make my cake when I get married?"
"I sure will." He pressed his forehead to hers. "But wait until you're at least ten to talk about getting married again. Okay?"
She giggled. "Okay."
Conrad walked in wiping his hands. "Looks good, son." He pointed to the clock. "You don't want to be late to the carnival."
Peeta looked up. "I didn't finish those other cakes."
His father shrugged. "I'll get your brothers to do them. Between the two of them, I'm sure they will look halfway decent." He clapped Peeta on the shoulder. "I expect you to work harder next week."
"Don't you worry." Peeta hung up his apron and swung Callie up into his arms. "Let's get going, kiddo!" They barged out of the bakery and toward the shiny orange sedan. Peeta had purchased it the month he was cleared to drive after his recovery.
It was still frightening starting up the engine with Callie in the back seat, but it got easier every time and he pushed himself to drive just a little farther. The trip to the school was one he made every day, so it was the easiest one for him.
Still, at every stop sign in the three block journey, he looked both ways several times before he eased through the intersection. He still sometimes blamed himself for the accident that took Alex, even though it wasn't his fault.