Knocking. I can faintly hear someone knocking, pulling me out of my slumber.

I can't remember waking up at all in the night. It must be the first time since the Games I've slept through a whole night. That means Peeta did too. I guess my idea wasn't so far fetched after all.

I open my eyes just a slit, the sunlight piercing my gaze. I guess we slept later than sunrise. Neither of us has made a move and I can now hear the knocking clearer.

"Baby, go get the door," I groggily mumble into his chest.

I can feel his head snap to attention and I know his eyes were open now.

"What did you just call me?" He asks incredulously.

"The door is a more pressing issue," I point out.

Peeta grumbles, I chuckle, and he maneuvers out of bed, softly laying me back down. I hear him snap his prosthetic leg back on and leave the room. He's only gone for a few seconds before I decide there's no way I can sleep here without him, and get up to follow him.

I can hear him talking, distinctly hearing a female voice, both of them agitated. When I reach the top of the stairs I can clearly hear his mother.

"We needed you at the bakery two hours ago," she snarls.

"Sorry, Mom, I overslept," Peeta tries to appease.

Rubbing my eyes to try and rid them of the residual sleepiness, I start plodding my way slowly down the steps, not even fathoming the possible outcomes of my actions.

I am halfway down the stairs when she sees me.

Her eyes bug out of her head and her gaze snaps back to her son.

"What is she doing here!? And this early in the morning!?"

"Mom –," Peeta starts.

"Don't even try," his mother interrupts. "We are working hard at the bakery and you're here sleeping with Seam trash? How dare you?"

"How dare I?" I can tell Peeta is at the end of his patience, which I'd previously thought endless. Maybe not when it comes to me, I hope. "Katniss has done more for me in the time I've know her than you ever did."

"Excuse me young man?" She retorts. "I will not have any son of mine be seen with someone like her. She will leave this instant and you are forbidden from seeing her."

I am frozen on the stairs, unsure of what to do. On one hand, this seems like a family issue. But on the other, it is expressly about me, and there's no way I'm leaving Peeta alone with her. I've seen firsthand what she's capable of.

"Katniss is not going anywhere," Peeta states defiantly, causing my heart to burst.

"And why not?" His mother mocks.

"BECAUSE I'M IN LOVE WITH HER!" Peeta yells.

What? Did he – did he just say he's in love with me? Oh, Peeta.

While my mind tries to process the fact that Peeta is actually in love with me, and just admitted it out loud, my eyes process the fact that his mother just slapped him across the face. Hard. Before I can stop myself, I am down the stairs and stomping towards the front door, rage all I can register.

"DON'T YOU TOUCH HIM!" I scream. I try to get at her, but I can feel Peeta's arms wrapped around me, holding me back. I am thankful, because I'm not sure what I'd do if I did get to her. "IF YOU EVER HIT HIM AGAIN I SWEAR I WILL KILL YOU! I DON'T GIVE A SHIT IF YOU HATE ME! BUT I WILL NOT STAND HERE AND WATCH YOU ABUSE THE MAN THAT I LOVE!"

When my rant is finished, all three of us are standing there, speechless. I rewind in my head and realize I just blurted out that I love Peeta. It's not that I don't, because I'm sure that I do, it's just I wanted to tell him in a better setting than me trying to kill his mother.

"Get out of my house, Mom," Peeta says quietly. "Please, just go. Tell Dad I'll talk to him later."

His mom opens her mouth, probably to continue insulting us, but she takes one glance at the look in my eyes and shuts it. She nods and turns around without another word.

Peeta gently closes the door and backs up against it, sighing heavily.

"That was not how I wanted this morning to go," he jokes.

I grunt, agreeing. He looks at me, and can see the turmoil. He wordlessly opens his arms and I fall easily into his embrace.

"Thank you," he whispers into my hair.

"For what?" I ask.

"Nobody's ever stood up for me like that before. Especially to her."

"Peeta, I will not let her touch you ever again. I will always protect you," I tell him. "It's just – my parents never even came close to hitting us. I can't believe a mother would do that to her child."

Peeta sighs again.

"She's always been that way. I guess I just accept it for what it is. I can't help but to love her, she's my mom."

I nod, understanding his point of view.

"I know that you love her Peeta, but if she ever even tries to touch you again, there's nothing in this world that will be able to stop me from tearing her apart piece by piece."

"I know that. That's why I love you," Peeta says quietly.

He just said it. Sure he yelled it to his mom, but he just said it to me. His tone was so soft and full of love. I try to open my mouth to respond and it feels dry as a desert.

Finally, I remind myself why I came here in the first place last night. I'm done letting my head overpower my heart. I'm done letting my insecurities get in the way of my happiness.

"I love you too," I tell him, confidently.

I can feel his smile against my hair, and I know I made the right choice. As if there ever was a choice to be made.

"Let's go back upstairs," I suggest. "She interrupted us."

Peeta laughs and leads me up the stairs, both of us giddy. I cannot describe the feelings inside me. I love him and he loves me. We're in love. We only admitted it seconds ago but I'm already questioning why I ever tried denying myself this.

Soon we're back in our previous positions in Peeta's bed, and all is right in the world again. Slowly I drift off into a dreamless sleep.

When I wake up again, I am alone in bed. I momentarily freak out, but then I can hear pots and pans clanging downstairs and I smile. I get up and change out of Peeta's clothes and back into my own. When I'm changed, I look in the mirror, and re-braid my hair as a good portion of it fell out during the night.

"Hey," I say from the doorway when I reach the kitchen. Peeta's back is to me, and I can tell he's baking some bread from the smell and the flour everywhere.

He spins around and smiles wide when he sees me.

"Hey you," he says. "Sleep okay?"

I nod enthusiastically.

"Best sleep since the cave," I admit.

"Same," he smiles.

An awkward silence comes out of nowhere, and we stand a few feet apart, neither one of us sure of what to do or say. Finally we burst out laughing at the same moment, able to see humor in our situation.

"What are you doing today?" He asks when we finally stop laughing.

I shrug my shoulders as I sit down at the kitchen table.

"Dunno. Haven't really done all that much since we got back. What about you?"

"Well I'm not going to the bakery," he jokes. I scowl thinking of what happened this morning. "Hey, Katniss, I'm okay. Really. Promise," he assures me as he sits down opposite.

I reach across with my hands and he grasps them with both of his. A lifeline to each other.

"Wanna go on a date?" He asks excitedly.

"A date?" I question.

"Yeah. A date. I am your boyfriend after all. I'm pretty sure that's what boyfriends do," he laughs.

"Okay," I smile. "What do you have in mind?"

"Let's go for a walk and then a picnic," he suggests. It sounds perfect to me so I nod in agreement. "I'll make us some food and then we'll be on our way. Do you want to go home in the meantime?" He asks, unsure.

I shake my head vehemently. Leaving Peeta, for any reason, is the last thing I want to do right now.

He smiles and stands back up, flitting around the kitchen, preparing our picnic. I sit and watch him, marveling at how the grin never leaves his face. I'm sure if I looked in a mirror mine would show the same.

After a few minutes he tells me he's ready. We're going to leave the picnic basket here and go for our walk, he explains, then pick it back up when we want to go eat. He suggests the meadow for our picnic, and I agree.

We walk out the front door and I wait while he closes it. He turns around and immediately latches on to my hand and threads our fingers. I grasp as tight as I can. We slowly walk through Victor's Village, where only three of the houses are occupied by me, Peeta, and Haymitch.

"We should check on Haymitch soon," I point out. "I haven't seen him in a while."

"Okay," Peeta agrees. "But not during our date." I can't help but smile at this.

We make our way to town, sauntering around, chatting amiably. Our hands never part the entire time. A lot of the other residents are staring at us. I'm not sure if it's because we just won the Hunger Games or because we're walking around holding hands smiling like idiots. I don't honestly care.

When we near the bakery, I can feel the tension rise in Peeta.

"Hey," I soothe as I stop and tug him back to me. "It's okay. I'm right here. We don't have to walk by if you don't want to."

"No. It's okay. I don't care what she thinks. I love you, and that's all that matters."

I can't help but lean up and kiss him hungrily.

"I love you too," I whisper against his lips. He beams back at me.

We walk by the bakery and Peeta doesn't take his eyes off me once. I'm so proud of him. I can see the windows of the bakery behind me, and plainly see his mother frowning out at us. My smile only gets bigger.

Soon we're at the town square, which is bustling with activity. We're still getting sideways looks and blatant stares. They don't affect either of us. We're in our own bubble, blocking out the rest of the world and only focusing on each other.

That's why I didn't see him until he was right in front of us.

"Hey, Catnip."

I snap my head around from talking to Peeta, and Gale is standing not five feet in front of us. His gaze falls down to our locked hands, and a puzzled expression comes across his face.

"Hi, Gale," I respond.

"Can I talk to you for a minute? Alone?" Gale anxiously looks between us.

"Um, sure," I answer.

Peeta slips his hand from mine and I can't help but feel his downcast mood. We're supposed to be on a date. He turns to leave, but I grab his wrist before he can move away from me.

"Hey," I force him to look at me. "I'll be done in a minute. Then we can go for our picnic."

Peeta nods and turns to leave again. I'm still grasping his wrist. He looks at me, questioning.

I shake my head with a small smile. I thought he knew what it was like to be a boyfriend?

I lean up and plant a sloppy kiss on his lips, which he returns instantly. We both smile against each other's lips. I reluctantly let him go and he turns and walks away. I can't help but feel I've still done something wrong.

I sigh and turn back to face Gale.

"What's up?" I ask him.

He's speechless.

"Um," he begins, "what was that all about?" He motions towards Peeta.

"We're on a date," I shrug.

"What do you mean, on a date?" Gale asks, his voice starting to rise.

"I'm dating Peeta, Gale," I tell him evenly.

He scoffs.

"Really?" He asks incredulously.

"Yup," I say. "He's my boyfriend."

He turns and leaves without another word. I'm confused. I thought he was my friend, but when I tell him I'm dating someone he just leaves like that? That's not fair. He's never been anything but a friend to me. He's helped me when my family was starving, and for that I'll forever be grateful. But can't he see that I'm happy?

I shake my head in disbelief and turn to walk to Peeta. He's patiently waiting twenty or so feet away, his hands shoved in his pockets, his eyes fixed on a pebble he's kicking with his shoe.

I walk up to him and he doesn't move. I reach out and grasp his chin with my thumb and index finger, forcing him to look up at me. I hate the look in his eyes. He's hurt.

"Peeta, what's wrong?" I softly ask.

"What did he want?" He answers with a question.

"I don't know. He stormed off after I told him that I'm your girlfriend."

This causes him to smile. There's my Peeta.

"Really?" He asks.

I nod, smiling.

"Now can we please continue our date? I'm sorry about that. I feel like a horrible girlfriend for talking to another guy in the middle of our date."

"No no no, Katniss," he assures me. "Gale is your friend. I'd never want you to stop talking to your friends because of me."

"Thanks, Peeta. That means a lot to me."

Peeta leans down and I meet him halfway. He starts pulling away after a quick peck, but I'm not done with him yet. I snake my hand around his neck and keep his head firmly in place, his lips planted on mine. Our mouths open slightly again, and that wonderful feeling returns. We stand like this, in the middle of town square, making out. I can only imagine what the rumor mill will do with this. Yet I can't seem to bring myself to care.

When we part, I look deeply in his eyes. That shade of blue that intoxicates me, pulls me in and makes me never want to leave his side.

"You know I love you, right?" I ask.

"I love you too," he tells me with a grin.

He takes my hand again. We start to walk back towards Victor's Village. We stop quickly at his house and pick up our picnic basket and make our way to the meadow. While Peeta unpacks the basket I spread out a blanket for us to rest on. He's brought us a couple sandwiches, some water, and a couple pieces of pie for dessert.

We eat, talk, laugh, snuggle, kiss, flirt, and just enjoy each other's company. It comes so easily that I wonder what I thought the big deal always was.

After we finish dessert, which I wasn't surprised to learn Peeta had baked just this morning while I was still asleep, I lay my head down in his lap. He strokes my hair lovingly with one hand while the other is firmly in my hand's grasp. He trails his fingers down the length of my braid, a look of wonderment etched on his features.

"What is it?" I ask.

"You're just so beautiful," he tells me honestly. I blush deeply.

"You know, you're not so bad yourself," I retort.

He scoffs.

"Yeah, with half a leg and nightmares from the Games. A real catch," he self-depreciates.

"Peeta….," I warn. "Don't you talk about yourself like that. I see everything good in this world in you. I love you for everything that you are. Never forget that."

"Wow, Kat, and I thought you said you weren't good at 'saying something'."

I laugh and shrug.

"Wait, what did you just call me?" I ask.

"Kat. I don't know. I was just trying it out. I won't call you that if you don't want," he carefully says.

"No, I like it," I smile. "I did call you 'baby' this morning. And I hope you liked it, cause I know I did."

He nods enthusiastically.

"Good," I tell him.

We continue sitting there for a long time, talking about everything and nothing. We had been thrown together in the Games, so it's nice to just talk without any external pressures or time restraints. Not to mention fear of imminent death.

Soon I notice the sun has started to set. We spent most of the afternoon here in the meadow, and I wouldn't trade this date for anything.

"That's my favorite color," Peeta says.

"What is?" I ask.

"The sunset. It's always changing but perpetually beautiful. Kind of like you."

I look up at him from my spot in his lap and he's looking down at me with a fierce look of love in his eyes. I hope I'm returning it.

"Thank you, Peeta."

"You don't have to thank me, it's the truth."

"No, not just for that. Thank you for being here with me. For forgiving me. For always believing in me even after I lied to you and broke your heart. Thank you for loving me."

"I will always love you, Katniss."

"I will always love you, Peeta."

He beams down at me and leans down for a sideways kiss. I could get used to these dates, I think.

"So what's for dinner tonight?" I ask.

"You want to have dinner with me?"

I look up at him scowling, asking silently how he could even doubt that.

"Okay, okay," he concedes. "Why don't we have dinner with your mom and Prim? And maybe Haymitch if he's alive?"

I laugh and nod. We gather up our stuff and make our way back to Victor's Village hand in hand.

"So what did you think of your first date?" Peeta asks.

"It was perfect Peeta. Thank you."

A/N: And there's the third chapter. This is becoming more fun to write than I imagined. I am strengthening their relationship early on, to prepare for the action and drama to come. I'm known for my apparently good fluff writing skills, but this is The Hunger Games after all, and it wouldn't be right without any kind of violence. Read and review! Thanks! Until next time!