A/N - Sorry, it's been a few days. Back to back shifts at work and family to keep fed and clean keeps me pretty busy. Enjoy!

CPOV

Well, I guess this means I'll be going back to District 12. I haven't been there in a long time, since my parents adopted me really. I thought about doing some kind of business out there too, but couldn't bring myself to do it. I am curious how much it's changed since the rebellion though. Katniss seems to like it and though she's lived there all her life, she has known the pleasures of the Capitol and still chooses home over it.

"Okay, well, let's see what District 4 has to offer before I go getting tickets for the train. I do want to know how your mother knew we were coming here still." I tell her as we head back downstairs.

"True, especially since this trip was so last minute. I wish you didn't have to plan for the train, but I know it's necessary. But for now, let's just walk around, enjoy what's here." Katniss agrees as I take her hand in mine. I really don't like to not have some contact with her.

"Yes, I'll get a hold of Taylor tonight; make sure he checks out everything. I won't tell him we'll be leaving tomorrow though. I'll let him know once we're there, just in case the phone lines have been bugged or something." I explain.

Katniss looks up at me, "Do you think that this has to do with me?"

"What do you mean?" I ask her, shaking my head.

"Well, it's my mom who has gotten involved here and even though I don't know how Effie found out, she had to hear it from someone and that someone could have bugged your place." She's thought about this and I wonder why.

I look down at her just as the elevator doors open. We walk out of the hotel, heading toward the town's tourist spot. "I guess it would be possible if I didn't have Taylor as head of my security. He is very efficient and no one new has been in my apartment, well, besides your stylist, and Effie had already contacted me by then. No, I don't know how anyone would have bugged my place at all. Only Johanna knew you were specifically coming to see me?"

"Yeah and Johanna knows how to keep a secret. There has to be a reason why someone is even taking the time to know where we are." Katniss looks around, I'm sure she's checking her surroundings; see if anyone looks out of place.

"Katniss, no one followed us here if that's what you're thinking. It had to be over the phone if your mother knew we were coming here. Nothing is faster than that." I remind her. Even with all the new things that District 3 can make, nothing has ever beaten a simple phone call.

She nods her head in agreement, "True. But then why? Or better how? How did Effie know I was here? And to tell my mother. Effie knows that I haven't talked to her in months. Effie was in town longer than my mother after Peeta died. She helped take care of some things with Haymitch."

"When was the last time you talked to Johanna?" I have to ask, if she is the only one who Katniss told.

"Ummm, the day before I came to the Capitol. She knew I was going to be with Effie for a couple of days and then with you. But even she hadn't seen you since her time with you."

"Point well made, Katniss. I'll make my call later. Taylor and Mrs. Jones aren't ones to gossip, not in all the time I have employed them. And they'd have plenty to share." I add, giving Katniss a wink. She giggles and pulls me to the side, having spotted a small shop full of leather goods.

"C'mon, I need a new pair of hunting boots." As soon as we walk in the door, the smell of the leather hits my nose. She drops my hand as she makes her way to a wall housing shoes and boots, while I wander to an area that has whips and even spot some leather bracelets.

The shop owner, a middle-aged man with a sad receding hairline comes over to me. "You own livestock? These are usually bought by cattle or sheep owners. Sometimes horse owners. Made by a woman in 10 whose family has been doing this for years. She and her family have been making this stuff for years."

I look down at him, shake my head a little, "No, I don't own cattle, but I do have an interest in fine leather. My girlfriend over there is looking for new hunting boots, she probably needs your help more than me."

He nods and takes his dismissal just fine, walking over to Katniss and showing her the newest boots. It seems like she's more interested in the ones that he isn't trying to show her though. I get closer to listen in, but don't interfere. He's trying to sell her hiking boots even though she is specifically asking him for hunting boots. I personally don't understand the difference until she grabs one that she likes the look of. It's longer, lighter, and softer looking leather than the hiking boots. Now I understand, clunky boots won't work in the woods if she's going to hunt. Katniss catches me watching them and smiles.

"He's going to need some too, but maybe a little thicker." She says as I go to her side. She takes a look at the whip in my hand and gives me a sly smile. "I see you found something you like too."

"I was thinking of adding it to the collection." I tell her honestly. She takes the end of it in her hands, rubbing her fingers over the leather. She nods; apparently I passed some kind of test.

"Take a look at the boots; you can't go in the woods with low, dressy shoes. I suggest something lightweight, won't make as much noise." She informs me as she turns back to the owner. She has a boot in hand and gives it to him. "I want these in a size 8 please."

"Yes, ma'am. What about you sir?" He asks me even though I haven't looked at anything yet.

"Go ahead and get the lady's first, I'll look around." I tell him. The old man kind of takes a bow and walks into the back store room. "Okay, you'll have to tell me what I'm looking for here because I have no clue."

Katniss giggles and grabs three pairs of boots. "These are better fit for hunting; the hiking ones are just too heavy."

I take a seat on a bench and look at each one as the old man returns with Katniss' choice. As she pulls hers on, I tell him, "These three in a twelve."

"Yes, sir." He goes back into his storeroom, probably wishing I had just picked them out when she had. By the layer of dust on some of the shelves, he must not get many visitors, so he's probably getting more work than he has in the last three months.

"Oh, these fit great!" Katniss exclaims as she puts her feet out, covered up in the boots. They go up over her calves, lacing the whole way. I get an idea for the next kind of store we should try and visit.

I nod, smiling just as the owner comes back out. I try on each pair, finally deciding on the second ones. They are the most comfortable and go up higher than the other two. "We'll take these two pairs and the whip."

"Yes sir." He smiles, revealing a missing tooth.

I'm pretty sure we have made the man's week as we leave with our purchases. Katniss even found a nice headband as we were at the register. It seems her hard moment with her mother is all but forgotten for now.

We walk around some more, one of my hands full of our bags, the other holding her soft yet calloused hand. I'm looking for a particular store, though I haven't said anything to her yet. I'm beginning to become disappointed when I spot what I want at the end of a small alleyway.

"Come on, there's a store down here I want to check out." I tell her as we turn suddenly. Her steel eyes are full of curiosity but as we come up to the shop's window, she blushes.

"Really, we're going in there?" Katniss asks as I open the door. A little bell sounds to announce us and a white blond older woman comes forward to greet us. She's seen a bit too much of the sun for her own good.

"Good afternoon. Is there anything I can help you two with?" She asks us, looking me over a little bit too much with just a quick glance to Katniss.

"Not yet. We'll just look around if you don't mind." I reply.

Katniss is dumbfounded, but I see her eyes looking around, taking all the lace, silk, and leather in. "Am I picking something out, or are you?"

"I figured we both could." I tell her easily. I know exactly what I want to see her in; it's just a question if this shop has it. I go up to the counter and the woman gives me a big smile.

"Yes, sir? What can I help you with?" She practically purrs.

I shake my head slightly and her smile fades just a bit. "Can I leave our bags up here while we shop?"

"Of course, sir." She answers, her voice showing her disappointment.

"Thank you." I turn around, finding Katniss looking at some silky pajamas. I'm surprised she's looking at them, but I watch her as she runs the fabric through her fingers, feeling it. I smile at her as she catches me looking at her and turn my attention to what I want to get her. In a small corner is where I find exactly what I need. I don't know that she'll go for it, but one can hope. The only real decision now is what color. Luckily, as soon as I see a deep blue, my choices narrow down instantly. She will look sexy and gorgeous and I can't wait to see her in it.

"I think I found something I like." I hear Katniss say from across the shop. It's not very big, but has a lot of intimate apparel covering the floor and walls.

"Good, I found something too." I say as I grab the correct size and walk to the counter. The woman looks at my purchase and gives me a sly smile,

"Very nice, sir. Would you like me to wrap it or does she need to try it on?"

"No, no, just wrap it. I know her size." I inform her. She nods and pulls it out of Katniss' sight just as she comes up behind me.

"Do I at least get to see what you're going to make me wear?" Katniss asks. I turn to her and shake my head. She puts a set of satin baby doll chemises on the counter. One is in a rosy pink, the other a deep purple. Then, I notice her blushing as she puts two more items up on the counter. A lacy, very see-through bra and matching black panties. "I figured I should get a new set."

I lean down so that I can whisper in her ear. "I like your choices." I feel her shiver and smile.

The woman puts my now wrapped up in an oversized box with a gaudy red ribbon and giant bow purchase on the counter and takes Katniss' items. I hand her my credit card. "It's all together."

"Christian, really, I can pay for my own things. What else am I going to do with this money?" She tells me, pulling out her own money.

"Well, then you can pay for lunch, how about that?" I counter, nodding to the woman to just take mine.

Katniss gives me a scowl, but puts her wallet away. The woman behind the counter wraps everything else up in tissue paper and puts it in a wide blue and black striped bag. Once I'm finished paying, we take our things and head out to find some place to eat.

We find a quiet little café and munch on croissants and fruit as our lunch. Normally I would push for more but as we're at the beach, I don't think heavier food is necessary. Although on our way out, we do spot an ice cream shop and Katniss talks me into getting some.

"I haven't had an ice cream cone in a long time." I tell her as we walk in. It smells of sugar and something else I can't place but I know it has something to do with the ice cream.

While Katniss is busy looking at the sign that tells customers what flavors are available, I look at what else they have. Chocolates, candy-coated apples, and a few different types of cookies. A little bit of anything decadent is in this shop. Katniss comes up to my side, "Do you know what you want to get?"

"Yeah, but I think I want to get some of these chocolates to go too. Maybe for later tonight?" I tell her as I turn my attention back to the ice cream board. The kid behind the counter looks a lot like the one who brought us our breakfast this morning and I give him a look, trying to figure out if it is.

"You're looking at me like you've seen me before. You're staying at the hotel, aren't you?" He asks me. I just nod and he smiles, "Then you met my twin brother."

"That explains it." I reply and then look at Katniss, "Go ahead and order, Sweetie."

"I'll get the strawberry ice cream in a small waffle cone." She says, pointing to the cones sitting out. That explains the smell, they make the cones here.

"And I'll try the coffee ice cream, same kind of cone. I also want a half dozen of those chocolate-covered strawberries and a half dozen of the chocolate-covered cherries that you have over there packed up, please." I tell him now. He nods and gets to scooping our ice cream and giving us that before he packs the chocolates up for us. I add the small boxes to our bags and we take our treats outside to continue walking.

The ice cream is really good, creamy, flavorful, delicious. I can tell Katniss is enjoying hers as well and I'm getting excited watching her lick the few drops that slip down the side. She catches me doing this and smiles. "Jealous?"

"A little." I admit, because hell, I am.

She cocks her head to one side, looks me up and down, and licks her lips. "Well, when we get back, maybe, just maybe, I'll make you my ice cream cone."

It's a tacky but sexy as hell statement and I want to lift her up and run back to the hotel, but do her one better. "I could eat you right here and now, Sweetie, if I could."

She raises a dark eyebrow, "Hmmm, interesting challenge. If I wasn't wearing sandals, I would race you to the hotel right now."

"So, take them off, we're not that far." I counter.

"I'll win, Christian. Believe it or not, I know my way back." Oh, she's tempting me with a very interesting proposition.

"What about the bags?" I ask her, because I'm not about to leave them anywhere, not when I have an outfit in here that I want to see her in later.

She shakes her head. "Oh well, I was looking forward to getting past you….again."

I know my jaw drops this time, as hers has many times in the last few days. "Why, Miss Everdeen, I do believe you are goading me."

She just smiles, "Maybe. We can do this when we get to my house though. Course, I'll have the advantage and that wouldn't really be fair. Maybe we'll have to do this while we're here, but later on, after we've dropped everything off."

"I think that if we go back to the hotel room right now, we won't be making it back out today." I admit because I want her so bad right now and I my shorts are feeling rather tight at the moment.

She laughs and skips ahead of me, carefree, beautiful. "Come on then, Christian, let's get back."