This chapter is dedicated to Legolas' Girl 31, my faithful reviewer. I would love to thanks her very much for her support.

Now on to the rest of the story, this covers year two, and what is in the gift sent by Cinna. I hope you enjoy it and it would be lovely to get a review. They make my day very enjoyable!

Chapter 3

Beneath the Papers…

By the time the second year had rolled around they had managed to grow together enough to involve some physical intimacy, though it was still only kissing and some straying of hands. They had not fully consummated the relationship. That was still too much for their healing emotions to handle quite yet, and both were hesitant to bring up the suggestion for fear of how it might change the relationship, and break it if the other rejected them.

It was actually Haymitch who helped push them to the next level once again. "I thought this mentoring crap would be over once you left the arena." He had grumbled more than once in various stages of drunkenness. This usually left either Katniss or Peeta with a smile on their face, though it was not always shown to their mentor.

He actually asked off handedly one night at dinner why they just didn't make the whole thing official and be done with it. They were already a married couple at least in practice (despite their lack of physical intimacy- though he didn't exactly know that). This had left an awkward silence that hung pregnant in the air that night after he had mentioned it. It took them three days of troubled sleep to finally sit down over tea in the kitchen and discuss the possibility and the issue of possible children. It was decided that Peeta was allowed to pop the question but he felt he wanted to do so on his own, in his own manner. He wanted to make it something special for her, for them both.

And so it was on New Years, a few weeks later that Peeta had popped the question and Katniss has said yes, and they had both cried in each other's arms, over whelmed by the feeling of love and hope and a future that they had previously not even hoped to have glimpsed. They still had a long way to go to heal, but they would do so together and they would survive.

They had called all their living friends the next day and that is where the problems started. They had wanted originally a small private toasting with a few people. When they encountered Effie, this seemed to fly out the window as fast as they had told her. She then told Plutarch and then he called them and then, the media got involved. Lovely….

They wanted to originally throw a Capital wedding for them, but that was vetoed as Katniss was still confined to District 12, though she didn't seem to have a big problem with not going back to the Capital ever again. So it was decided and negotiated that they would have a largish, televised capital style wedding in 12. This was to 'help show the healing and rebuilding of the country,' and 'it shows that if you two can make it and marry that everyone else has a shot was well.' 'It will lift general moral' and her personal favorite (because it seemed so absurd), 'it will bring everyone closer together." Well at least she could make sure that everyone in the district would have enough food for at least one day. Even though things had not been as bad as they had in the past, it was still rough going as there was still a steady supply of people coming into 12 and rebuilding the infrastructure, it all needing to be supported as things were once again built from the ground up. The winters had not been easy, but they were certainly not as bad as some she had seen as a kid.

They were to be married in the middle of April; just as the snow was gone and the grass turning green again. And that was when the dandelions were due to begin blooming again. They were to be married in the meadow, despite the fact that it was a graveyard for all of the people who had died in the fire bombings. It was still the only wide open area big enough to house the media circus and the ceremony that was being planned, with much help from Effie who knew how capital weddings worked. Peeta and Katniss decided that they were going to have an extremely private toasting after the big party off to the side with the people that they cared for the most.

Once the news had gone out to the rest of Panam there had been an explosion of pandemonium, of a good nature. It really did seem to bond people together and bring general moral up as a whole. It also meant that there was a huge influx of mail to both Katniss and Peeta. Everyone it seemed wanted to help out, send wishes or some token to the star crossed lovers of District 12 and the Mockingjay.

It had become routine to get a cart full of packages with the arrival of each train, and as they were getting closer, it seemed that they had now increased to a steady two carts with each train of things people wanted to give them. It soon became apparent that they were not going to be able to keep everything that was sent to them and after the first cart load, it was decided that they were going to use Katniss's old home as a staging ground for it all. That way they could still move around in their living space and sort through what they were being sent. It just ended up making sense.

And so it was, on the second train from the capitol, that this package came to rest in Katniss's old home. It was one of the larger boxes that had come on the cart, wrapped in brown paper and string, very understated and not at all flashy and bright like many of the other packages. Also unlike nearly all other packages this was addressed solely to Katniss. As Peeta had rebuilt and reopened the bakery for the district, it fell to her lot to sort through and open most of the correspondence and tokens sent to them during the day, as the weather was not favorable to hunting, and they had enough food without for the time being.

This package was four feet long by two foot wide and a foot thick. Wrapped in brown paper and tied with simple twine. Nothing fancy or over done. Written in neat script was: Katniss Everdeen, District 12 Victor, Fragile, Handle with Care. Examining the box it was quite large for something so plain and yet when she picked it up it weighted no more than fifteen or twenty pounds. What could be so large and yet so light? Curiosity getting the best of her she cut the twine and removed the paper to reveal a large white cardboard garment box. Lifting the lid she saw layers of tissue paper with a large envelope sitting in the middle of the top. Picking up the envelope she saw that it was heavy and of a high quality paper, something that would be used for official business in the Capital. Breaking the wax seal on the back she pulled a few pieces of equally fine paper from the envelope and began to read.

Dear Katniss Everdeen,

If you are reading this I would like to congratulate you on your most wonderful and magical day of your life. Believe me when I say, from my heart that I wish only your very best and most sincere happiness. I have only wished your very best for health and happiness from the moment I met you. I would also like to extend my deepest regret and great sorrow that this is the only way I can communicate with you now. As if you are the recipient of this letter it means that I am dead, likely at the hands of President Snow. Believe me when I say that I wish dearly that I could be present to be with you on this day, but as it stands I will offer what services I still can.

Do not be sad upon receiving this letter, for I was well aware of what I was doing when I designed, modified and put you in certain ensembles. The anger and agitation that some of these outfits may have caused was many times fully intended, and I was aware that it would likely come back upon my own head. Fear not that you have caused whatever has befallen me. Just as you had your part to play in the rebellion, I had mine as well. Just as I hope and believe that you will have seen the work I have done for the Mockingjay, and that it has served you well as you stepped into that role; I hope this small token of my own devotion will help carry you most graciously as you step into a different role, that of wife and possible mother in the future. I hold out every hope that this missive is in relation to a certain blond haired young man from a previous game, though after the announcement of the Quarter Quell and what it will entail, makes this likelihood seem less and less likely. Although I am still betting on you, and him as well as I have seen you work so well as a team. If only one of you made it out of what is to come, alive, than believe me he died happy knowing you were safe.

Peeta really did love you, more than life itself, I saw this in his eyes that first time you laid eyes on one another in the tribute parade, and watched it grow steadily with each meeting we had. I also saw that you loved him too, though you did not know it at the time. I truly hope you have found happiness together. It seems strange to be writing of a past that is still in the future from this writing, but I feel that you need to know this.

I know that if you are receiving this than you have found someone that you trust and admire and truly love, for I know that you would not marry any one that did not fit that description. I would also like to congratulate you on whatever head way was made in the ensuing rebellion. I am sure the world is a much better and safer world that it was before, if not immediately, but it will grow to be that way with time. I wish so very much that I could be there to see you off and see the glow of your eyes when you accept the man you love as your husband. But alas it is not to be. I give you my final parting gift to you, the wedding dress I know you would want and deserve on the day that you choose, not the bidding of the capital.

Just remember I am still betting on you, Girl on Fire, Victor, Mockingjay .

With love,

Cinna

There was a touch of gold eye shadow in the bottom corner and what almost appeared to be an old tear stain.

The paper was wet. Why was the paper wet? It was then that I realized I was crying and with that realization came even more tears. I had been standing beside the kitchen table where I would open and sort gifts, making notations of who, what and where for the obligatory thank you cards to be sent out. I sank to the floor clutching the note to my chest as cried, a wail of many emotions escaping as a flood of memoires came over me. Cinna comforting me and coaching me during my first game, the beautiful dresses he made for the victory tour, the amazing array of dresses he had made for the capital wedding that Peeta and I were to be forced into. The last time I saw him, bloody and dragged out by the peacekeepers while I could do nothing to help. My amazing Mockingjay outfit, what I always believed was the last thing he had ever made for me. The amazement of reading this letter written by another ghost from my past, another killed for being associated with me, but a small comfort to know that he already seemed to know he was going to die, and yet still wanted to be part of my life until the end.

I don't know how long I was on the floor, clutching the letter to myself, my arms wrapped protectively around my torso, as if I was trying to comfort myself as my body was wracked by heart wrenching sobs. But presently I felt strong arms encircling me and the warm comforting smell of Peeta bringing me back to the here and now. He was clutching me close, comforting me as he always did when I woke in a nightmare. Looking up I saw the pain and confusion in his eyes seeing me in such a state. Seeing his pain made me cry harder and clutch him back as he situated himself on the kitchen floor more comfortably and drew me into his lap.

"What happened?" he asked between soothing whispers and sounds as he stroked my back and I tucked up under his chin, sobs now little more than hard breathing and sniffles. "How can I help you? I hate to see you in such a state."

"It's Cinna." I whispered back. "It's Cinna."

"Your stylist from the games?" he asked confused. "But he did not make it out of the rebellion alive. How can he be causing you so much distress now?" He stroked my chin and brought it up so that he could look into my eyes. "Are you having some sort of flashback yourself? You are under too much stress; we will have someone else sort through this so you have less to worry about. We can call Dr. Aurelius about this in the morning, perhaps he can help too."

"No, no." I croaked, brining my hand to brush the bangs from his eyes. "That won't be necessary. I… I just was surprised by one of our gifts. This is not bad." I kissed him softly on the lips. "Here.' I told him, retrieving the letter from the floor where it had been discarded as I had been gathered into his lap. "This should help you understand. Please. Read it."

Peeta looked as if he didn't believe that anything good come from what had caused my emotional release not long before, but obliged me and read what I handed him. I know I now felt better after the cry. It was almost the same as when I had finished Cinna's page in the memory book. It had been hard, but it had also brought a measure of healing.

I watched as Peeta read the letter and I also saw tears well in his eyes. He looked back at me, silent tears running down his face as he set the letter aside. It was my turn to hold him to my chest as he cried. Hot tears wetting my shirt but I didn't care, it was his turn to have comfort.

"He really was amazing." Peeta said after a few minutes, pulling back to look at me. I knew he had a way with cloth, but he also seemed to have a way with words as well." I nodded. "You really don't understand the power you have over people." He shook his head with a small smile creeping out from behind the tears, leaning into me for a kiss. "You have had many admirers, and those willing to die for you and you have hardly noticed. I feel honored that you noticed me."

"I have never wanted nor sought such attentions or admirers." I said.

"That's what makes you that much more alluring. That you don't even know that you're doing it."

"And Peeta. I more than just noticed you. I chose you, I want you, I love you and no other. I may not have always known it myself, or even admitted to it when I finally did. But you are my only choice. You are my boy with bread. My baker, my painter, my rock, my dandelion in the spring. Don't ever sell yourself short."

In response to my declaration he pulled me in for a heated kiss, tears springing anew from both of us. We parted shortly after and he tucked me back to his chest. "I love you Katniss Everdeen, and I always will."

Sometime later we both rose off the floor. I carefully placed the letter back into the box and put the lid on. I would look at the contents the next day when I was alone so that it would be a surprise for Peeta. We went back to our home and when it was time for bed I was surprised when the night mares did not come. Though Cinna did come to my dreams that night, it was not to accuse as I had feared, but with a smile, a hug and words of comfort and encouragement as he had done before each of my games. And on that night I was able to let him go. One less ghost to haunt my dreams.

The night of the wedding, after our private toasting and the guests had gone back to the revelry in the meadow Peeta and I made another addition to the memory book even though it was very late. Together we placed the letter and the sketch of the wedding dress by Cinna's hand in the book behind the page we had made for him already. We would create another page for him later, but somehow it felt right to put these things in our book before we did anything else, fresh tears within both our eyes.

Once we closed the memory book and had put it aside Peeta gathered me into his arms. "Come Mrs. Mellark, there are other things to attend to now." He said with a husky tone I had not heard from him before. Looking up I saw his eyes held a fire that I know was reflected in my own and the clouds of love and lust floating through.

"Yes, yes there is." I said in an equally husky tone, with a great big smile that I could not contain. I pulled out of his arms and grabbed his hand, leading him out of the door and towards the stairs. He surprised me and scooped me up in his arms and carried me up the stairs into the master bedroom suite. Closing the door with his prosthetic leg he carried me to stand beside the bed where he put me down. Looking deep into each other's eyes we kissed and caressed, letting the fire build between us until it consumed us both.

Before the night was through one final gift from Cinna was viewed and then placed aside as passions grew. Beneath the dress there had been found another article, beautiful tasteful lingerie that was fit for a Mockingjay, the Girl on Fire and her husband. It would be brought out more than once in the future. always a sweet reminder of an old loving friend and of new beginnings to look forward too.

Well, that is it. I hope you all enjoyed it. I know I enjoyed writing it, the first of my Hunger Games fan fics. Perhaps I will write some more sometime in the Hunger Games fandom, I certainly enjoyed playing with these characters. There is much that can be done with theses two. Leave a review to tell me what you thought. Live, Laugh, Love. Dragon's Quill