Ok, it's been so long since I've updated, *slaps myself in the forehead*. I'll try to make it up to you with a good chapter or two (hopefully at least).

Ok, by the way, thanks to all the reviewers out there, you don't know how happy it makes me! And its interesting to see that there are some guys out there who enjoy this sort of stuff. It takes a real man to read fluff! XD (I hope I'm not offending anyone, btw, cuz if I am, sorry. You never know when it comes to people)

By the by, this is a continuation of the scene from the last chapter. If you need to refresh your memory then go back.

PEETA POV

I don't deserve this girl. Seriously, how can Katniss deal with me? All I ever do is cause her pain. But, unbelievably, Katniss loves me back. A warm feeling of gratitude washes over me, and I get the sudden urge to hug Katniss.

"Peeta?" Katniss says. "You okay?"

I look up to see Katniss' concerned eyes watching me carefully. I study her face, and I see what I've felt for her all these years. Her eyes show love and compassion, and also worry.

Not being able to constrain myself, I grab Katniss by the shoulders and hug her. I bury my face in the crook of her neck and try not to cry. Some traitor tears escape, and I pull back slightly so I don't mess up Katniss' shirt.

"Sorry," I say.

Katniss shakes her head. "It's not your fault, Peeta." She caresses my cheek. Her touch gives me great comfort. Sometimes it still shocks me to see how much Katniss has changed from not letting anyone in, to being so much more open.

Katniss pulls me up to stand. She takes the shirt I'm still holding and puts it into the drawer. Then she turns to me. "So…Greasy Sae loved the squirrel I caught today. She has a new recipe that she wants us to try out, and…" Katniss just babbles on and on, and I realize she's trying to forget about what just happened.

She becomes more and more uncomfortable, and as much as it amuses me to watch this, I attempt to take her out of her misery by interrupting her.

"I love you, Katniss."

She just looks at me. "Um, I love you too. But why did you just say that just-"

I kiss her. I take her by the waist and touch my lips to hers, feeling a shudder run down my spine. Katniss complies, and wraps her hands around my neck. This is what I needed to distract me from the horrible flashbacks; the feel of her lips on mine.

KATNISS POV

Peeta had surprised me with the sudden love declaration. Then he just kissed me. Even though I was confused, I let him kiss me, kissing him back. I'm actually thoroughly enjoying this myself.

When Peeta comes up for air, he leans his forehead against mine. "Now that was a distraction," he says huskily.

Oh, I get it. He needed something to distract him from what just happened. I admit it was kind of sudden, but whatever.

I smile mischievously. "You need more distraction?"

Right then, I swear his eyes turn a shade darker. Reluctantly, I notice, he lets go of me completely. "Katniss, if you distracted me anymore, I don't think I'd be able to control myself."

I feel my cheeks heat up. I look down, and feel Peeta's hand touch my cheek. "I love it when you do that," he whispers. This makes me turn even redder.

…

Later, we return back to my house and Peeta decides he should give Haymitch a visit. He says that he hasn't seen him in a while and that if he doesn't deliver the bread he made to him, Haymitch may not be feeding himself correctly.

"I'll come with you," I say.

"Are you sure? I'll be quick. It's just to deliver the bread, check on him, and leave."

I nod. "Yes, I'm sure. I could pay him a quick visit, too. Though I'm not sure if he'll be happy to see me."

"Oh, come on. Haymitch likes you now." He puts the bread loaves into a bag.

I scoff. "Yeah, sure," I say sarcastically.

We both put on a sweater and exit my house. Peeta takes my hand as we walk to Haymitch's place. When we arrive, we knock and wait before trying to open the door. We walk in, and look around for Haymitch.

We enter the kitchen and find him snoring away, a knife in hand. Peeta goes to put the bread on the table. I walk over to Haymitch and shake him gently. "Haymitch? It's us, Peeta and Katniss."

Haymitch stirs, mumbling something about needing more beer. I shake my head at Haymitch's drug abuse. I shake Haymitch again, a bit more rough this time, and he jumps up, swinging his knife around.

Peeta immediately pulls me away, shouting, "Haymitch! It's just us! Be careful, you almost hurt Katniss!"

Haymitch sees it's us and drops the knife. "Oh, it's you two." He notices our position, Peeta with his arms around me, protective. "I see you're still infatuated with this one." He nods toward Katniss.

Peeta lets go of me, but takes my hand in his. "We're official, Haymitch." He says.

Haymitch doesn't look very surprised. "Yeah, but does Katniss know?" he laughs, but I don't find it very funny, so I scowl. "I'm kidding, sweetheart. I knew you'd come around."

Peeta laughs. "I'm still a little shocked myself, I admit. Sometimes I feel like Katniss is going to change her mind and regret our relationship."

I look at Peeta, shocked. Does he really think that? How could he doubt my love for him, after everything?

Peeta looks like he didn't mean to say all that. His cheeks turn pink, and he looks down.

In my head I want to comfort him, so I do. I need to convince him someway. So I take Peeta's face and kiss him passionately on the lips. He kisses back. I flashback to what Peeta and I were talking about earlier, and how he wanted me, but I said no.

Maybe that's what he needs, for me to convince him, once and for all, that I'll always love him. But, should I?

I immediately ignore these feeling of uncertainty and decide I will. If it's for Peeta, I'd do anything.

Peeta pulls away first. "What was that for?"

Ignoring the question, I say, "I love you."

Peeta gazes at me with those blue, intense eyes. Haymitch clears his throat. "Peeta, can I speak to you for a second?"

Confused, Peeta says, "Sure, why?"

"Just come."

Peeta follows Haymitch into the living room, and I sit, trying to figure out how I'm going to seduce the boy with the bread.

PEETA POV

I have no idea what Haymitch would need to speak to me alone about, but I follow him nonetheless.

When we get to the living room he gestures for me to sit. I take the long couch, but he stays standing. He walks over to the fireplace and grabs a box off the mantle. He opens it, and is quiet for a second.

Abruptly, Haymitch turns to me. "Do you want to spend the rest of your life with Katniss?"

I'm shocked, but I answer anyway. "Yes, of course. You know that."

He nods, knowing I would say that. "Do you want to marry her?"

"More than anything. But only if she wants to marry me."

Haymitch sighs. "Stop kidding yourself, boy. I can see how much Katniss loves you. If you want to marry her, she'll marry you."

"I wouldn't be so sure. And anyway, where is all this coming from?"

Haymitch looks back at whatever is in the little box he's holding. He looks like he's not sure about saying something, but then he speaks. "You know, I had a girl once." He laughs, but its void off all humor. "I loved her. I didn't realize it at first, of course, since I was too naïve to notice such things."

I nod. It reminds me a lot of Katniss.

Haymitch continues. "I wanted to marry her, too. But then she…well you know."

I stand up and move towards Haymitch, but he shakes his head. "I'm fine," he says. I sit back down. "The reason I told you all this, Peeta, is because I want you to be happy. I think you should marry Katniss before you lose the chance. You never know what could happen." Haymitch shakes his head again, lost in his memories.

Then he walks over and sit next to me. He hands me the box, which I take. "I want you to have this."

I open up the box, and inside is a ring. A simple, but beautiful ring. It has a small diamond in the middle, and it's in the shape of a heart. "It's beautiful."

Haymitch nods again. "It was my mother's. She gave it to me, since I was the oldest. As you know, I never got the chance to use it." He smiles sadly at the ring. "And so that's why you deserve it. Propose to Katniss. I don't need the ring anymore."

I shake my head in disbelief. "Haymitch, I can't accept this."

He's already waving away my protests. "Don't even, Peeta. Just shut up and accept it." He smiles at me, and I'm surprised at how sober he is.

"Thanks, Haymitch. I really appreciate it." I admire the ring, already fantasizing ways to propose to Katniss.

Speaking of Katniss, I hear her call from the kitchen. "Peeta? Is everything okay?" I hear footsteps as Katniss walks down the hallway to the living room. Quickly, I pocket the box with the ring, and stand up.

When she comes in, I smile. "Everything's fine."

Haymitch stands up and pats Katniss on the shoulder, smiling. "Peeta and I were just having a nice man to man talk. Right, Peeta?"

"Right," I say. Katniss narrows her eyes at us, but surprisingly, she ignores it.

"So, you ready to go home?" she says, taking my hand. Her hand warms my own, and I smile down at her.

"Yup. I'm ready." Yes, I'm ready. Ready for us to be together, for good.

Ohhh, I bet you weren't expecting that, huh? SO, will Katniss seduce Peeta? How is he going to propose?

Review, please. It's my own personal entertainment reading your reactions to my chapters. I especially want to read you reaction to this one!