A/N: Happy Monday! This is a huge chapter in terms of the Everlark relationship. Some people may think I'm moving them along too quickly, but I don't care. It's much too fun to write and not do this. Hope you enjoy.

I'm figuring this story out as I go, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the Quell and President Snow yet. I'll think of something.

WARNING: This chapter contains graphic sexual scenes.

Edited: 10/15 10:35 EST. I realized I never had Katniss sign the name change form! I added it in. Also, I've gotten a few negative reviews telling me about how OOC the characters are, and how I'm ruining it. Well, tough shit. If you don't like it, don't read it. I didn't write it for everyone to like. I wrote it for fun. I'm not trying to be Suzanne Collins. I'm just writing a fun, silly, happier interpretation of THG. I'm sorry if you feel that way, but I'm not going to adjust my writing style if you don't like it. I even put "Wildly OOC Katniss" in the story description! That should've given you a hint!

Enjoy!

The birds outside pull me from my peaceful slumber, beckoning me to start the day. I realize how tired I am after the activities of last night and early this morning, and try to shut my eyes to reclaim some semblance of sleep. I can hear Peeta's heartbeat, and it soothes me like no other thing in the world can. I notice that we're both still naked, and I can't bring myself to care. In fact, I feel the complete opposite about it. It's freeing, and it simply feels right for some reason.

I drift in and out of consciousness for about twenty minutes before I feel Peeta's breath hitch, and I know he's awake. I open my eyes slowly and am met with the piercing blue gaze of his eyes. He's looking down at me with such love in his eyes, it's almost intimidating. Involuntarily, I blush yet again.

"Good morning, beautiful," he whispers, laying a soft kiss on my head.

"Morning, honey," I say back softly.

"So, last night…," he begins unsurely.

"Yeah, last night….," I repeat.

"You don't regret it do you?" He asks, seemingly afraid of my answer.

"What? No, never Peeta! It's just – a little awkward, that's all."

His face softens at my answer, and he smiles. I smile back.

"No need to feel awkward, Kat. You're gorgeous, and last night was perfect."

"Really? I was, um, okay?" I ask hesitantly.

"You were amazing. It was both of our first times, but I think by the fourth round we got the hang of it, don't you?"

"Absolutely. And we'll only get more comfortable with each other from now on," I point out. He nods enthusiastically at my insinuation that it wasn't a one-time thing. After the way we made each other feel last night, I'm sure it'll be a struggle to keep my hands off him.

He grips my torso and pulls me up towards his face, and I dip down for our morning kiss. It's passionate, but soft, and of course loving. I flashback to the previous evening, and I can't help the shudder that runs through my body, or the heat that begins to rise in my core.

Peeta must feel the same way, because we both deepen the kiss. I tangle my hands through his hair, and he has one hand on my upper back and the other on my lower back, skirting my butt. I giggle at his hesitation to touch me intimately, especially after what we've shared. I take my right hand out of his hair, grab his hand that's on my lower back, and place it on my rear. He gasps in surprise, then smirks. I run my right hand over his toned chest, tickling him with my fingertips. I know it drives him wild. He removes his lips from mine, to my displeasure, but makes up for it when he nibbles my earlobe, sending me over the precipice.

"Peeta," I beg.

"Kat," he whimpers.

"I need you," I whisper, "inside me."

He nods slowly, unable to find any words to answer my demand. Instead, he expertly flips us over, and I'm suddenly on my back with Peeta hovering over me. He kisses me all over. He kisses my closed eyelids, my nose, my cheeks, my lips, my neck, my ears, my breasts, the hollow between my breasts, and my stomach. Finally I can't take it anymore.

"Now, Peeta," I say firmly.

"Anything for my girl," he answers. I can't help the smile that spreads across my face when he calls me his girl.

Next thing I know we're face to face and our lips are locked again. I feel Peeta enter me, and I feel complete again. It's like a part of me is missing when we're not together like this, like Peeta is my other half. Our kissing becomes more and more passionate as we writhe in sync, both of us intent on pleasuring each other as much as possible.

Soon, I feel the pressure building up, starting in my abdomen. I can tell Peeta is close too, as he is almost frantically kissing me. When we finally both release, magically at the same time, I can't help but feel like my life is finally perfect, like I've never been more happy than at this exact moment. I've been feeling like that a lot lately. We've found a way to somehow block out the pain and trauma of the Games. We'll never be able to forget, we both know that, but we're learning how to live our lives, together.

When we're finished, which saddens both of us, Peeta collapses beside me. I roll over and splay myself over him, wanting to feel close to him again. I softly kiss his bare chest, and taste the light sheen of sweat. We rest for a few minutes, catching our collective breaths and reveling in the afterglow.

"I'm going to hop in the shower," Peeta finally declares.

"I'll join you," I spontaneously say.

He looks at me in surprise. Before last night, we'd never seen each other completely naked, and now I'm suggesting we take a shower together. Yet, again, it just feels like it's right.

We make our way into the shower and Peeta makes sure it is a comfortable temperature for both of us. I grab my shampoo, but Peeta snatches it out my hand.

"I've always wanted to wash your hair," he says.

"Please," I reply.

Peeta runs his hands through my hair, lathering the dark locks. He massages my scalp, and it is one of the most intimate moments outside of the bedroom I've ever experienced. He treats me with such care, like I'm the most important thing in his world. Nothing makes me feel happier.

Once my hair is rinsed, I return the favor, washing Peeta's blonde hair thoroughly. We hold each other's gaze as I do this, with an intensity I didn't know existed. When his hair is clean, we begin to slowly wash each other. We both pay a good amount of attention to certain parts of each other's bodies that we have become familiar with in the past day. I am struggling to not demand he make love to me again, right here in the shower. We both are enjoying washing each other, and I fear it would ruin the experience, at least while we're still lathering. We rinse off, and I realize that means I've also rinsed off the traces of Peeta on me. It feels wrong.

Suddenly I turn to him and kiss him hard. He responds automatically. I hoist myself up and wrap my legs around him, locking my ankles. He takes the hint and backs me up against the shower wall.

The next half hour is a mix of pleasure, raw passion, and unadulterated love. When we've both released, me having done it twice, we stand under the water for a minute to cool off.

Peeta steps out of the shower first and grabs my towel, holding it out for me. I step out and he wraps it around me, using his hands to dry me off. He gently dries my hair, and I'm reminded yet again of how much he really does love it. I secure the towel around me, and grab Peeta's, drying him in the same manner. We're both giggling and sneaking kisses throughout, unable to keep away from each other. If this is what being in love feels like, I never want it to end.

We finally dress and head downstairs to replenish our depleted bellies. We've worked up quite an appetite, and I help Peeta as we make scrambled eggs, cheese buns (Peeta knows they're my absolute favorite), and an old recipe called pancakes, which we find delicious. We ravenously eat it all, washing it down with copious amounts of orange juice.

As we snuggle on the couch digesting, I reflect on the changes to our relationship. I now live with Peeta. We've become intimate, leaping off the proverbial cliff, something I will never regret as long as I live. I wish I could go back in time to talk to myself a month and a half ago. I would smack some sense into me. Now that I am discovering what being with Peeta is really like, not what I had thought it would be like, I am overcome with shame and guilt yet again at my actions.

"Peeta."

"What is it, baby?"

"I'm sorry."

"What do you possibly have to be sorry for?"

"I'm sorry it took me so long to realize how much I love you."

"Oh, Kat, we've been over this. We're together now, and that's all that matters."

"No, Peeta, let me say this." He nods. "During the Games, everything you did was purely out of love. I was acting for the most part, in the beginning, on survival instincts. I was so confused about how I felt for you. I honestly think deep down I knew I was in love with you, but I suppressed it. I was terrified of what that meant. I know it's an excuse, and not a very good one, but I didn't want to end up like my Mom. I thought love would just destroy me, like I told you. But in the past month, you've proven to me how wrong I was. There is nothing in this world that I want more than you. You are the center of my universe, the reason I get up in the morning. I just want you to know that I'm in this just as much as you. I'm yours as long as you want me."

"I'll always want you with me, Katniss. Never ever doubt that."

My breath hitches at his statement. Does that mean…..no, it's way to early for that. Right? Before my mind can stop it, my mouth blurts it out.

"Marry me," I whisper.

"What?" He asks.

"I said, marry me," I firmly say.

"Kat, are you serious right now?"

"Deadly."

"Is this because of what we did last night and this morning? I don't mean it as an insult, I'm just wondering where this came from," he says with concern.

"No, Peeta. This is because I want to spend the rest of my life with you," I tell him honestly. "I just realized that I never want to apart from you. I want to be able to claim you as mine for eternity, and to me that means a lifelong commitment. That means marriage. I know I've told you I was against it, but I've really changed lately. I want to be your wife, Peeta. Please let me be your wife."

"Pinch me."

"Huh?"

"I must be dreaming," Peeta stutters. "Katniss Everdeen just asked me to marry her. I must be asleep. This can't be real."

"It's as real as it gets, baby," I say with a smile. "And you still haven't given me an answer," I ask him impatiently.

"Yes, of course it's yes! I'll marry you every day for the rest of our lives."

I laugh heartily.

"I think just once is all it takes, Peeta."

"Fine," he admits with a smile.

"But Peeta, I want to do it soon. Like as soon as possible," I say shyly.

"Anything you want," he whispers.

"I don't want a big wedding," I blurt out. "I just want to legally get married and have a toasting with just me and you. Is that okay?"

"That sounds perfect, Kat. Do you think we should tell people though?"

"Well we'll have to tell my Mom and one of your parents, because they'll have to sign our marriage license. But I think we should keep it a secret for now. We don't know what the Capitol has in store for us, and we're going on our Victory Tour in a few months. We might be able to use it to our advantage."

"That's my girl, always thinking about all the angles," Peeta says proudly.

I blush again, and Peeta kisses my cheeks lovingly.

"Let's do it today," I state confidently.

"Really?" I nod.

"Okay," he agrees with a grin. I think he still thinks I'm not serious.

"Let's go talk to my Mom," I suggest.

We walk over to my house, well my old house now, and find Prim and my Mom in the kitchen. Peeta and I sit down, and I can't help the swell of nerves in me. I latch onto Peeta's hand and squeeze for dear life. He looks at me, and I know he sees my hesitation.

"Mrs. Everdeen," Peeta begins. I am thankful he took the lead. "We came to ask you an important question."

My Mom sits down and nods for him to continue. Prim seems interested as well.

"Well, you know I love your daughter more than anything."

"I think all of Panem knows that, Peeta," Prim teases.

"True. But I just want you to know that she truly is the most important thing in my life. Having said that, I would be honored to have your permission to marry Katniss."

My Mom and Prim's jaws hit the floor.

"Are you two sure you're ready for this?" Mom asks. "You've been together a short while, and you're both only sixteen."

"Mom, we're sure," I interject. "Peeta and I love each other, and we want to commit to each other for the rest of our lives. Please, please, please, tell us we can do this."

"Okay, Katniss, if this is what you truly want. If this will make you both happy, I can't deny you that."

I can't help but think there has been a monumental shift in my Mother's personality, as well as my relationship with her. My guess is that when I went to the Games, and she was faced with the very real possibility of losing me, she finally fessed up to herself how she had failed me and Prim. It will take me a long time to forgive her completely. I might never, but that doesn't mean I can't have a relationship with her.

Before I know it, I'm hugging my mother tightly, and Prim wiggles her way in. I look back towards Peeta, and he has a face splitting smile plastered. I match it.

I go back around the table and sit down.

"Mom, I have a couple favors to ask," I tell her. She nods again, giving me permission to ask.

"Can you go to the Justice Building and get us a marriage license and a name change form? Please go straight to Mayor Undersee and speak only with him. We want to keep this a secret from the Capitol for now, so the only people that are going to know are the four of us, Peeta's dad, and the mayor. We might tell Haymitch, we haven't decided yet. Can you also go to the jeweler's and get us two gold wedding bands and two gold chains? We want rings, but if we can't wear them yet, we want them around our necks and near our hearts." Prim and my mom seem taken aback by this, emitting soft "awws".

"Sure, Katniss," she says quickly. "It would be my pleasure."

"Thanks Mom," I breathe a sigh of relief. This is actually happening, I tell myself, and I can't help but feel like today is turning out, yet again, to be the best day of my life.

I run upstairs and get a good amount of coins to give to my mom for the rings, and extra to ask the jeweler to keep it a secret. He's an old friend of my dad's, so I'm sure he'll keep it to himself if we ask him to.

Next, Peeta and I head to the bakery to speak with his father.

"Peeta, let me talk to him," I plead. "I want him to know how much you mean to me. How serious I am about this."

Peeta beams at me, giving me a soft kiss.

"You know, the only bad thing about all this is I only get to call you my fiancé for one day," Peeta jokes.

"True," I admit. "But tonight you get to call me your wife."

"Wow. Katniss Everdeen, my wife."

"No, Katniss Mellark," I correct.

"You don't have to take my last name, you know. I know how much your family means to you. Not to mention how famous your name is now."

"Peeta, it isn't even a question. I want to be known as Mrs. Mellark. I promise to be a better one than my predecessor. When we finally tell everyone, I want the whole country to know that I belong to you. Forever."

"What did I ever do to deserve you?" He asks in awe.

"I ask myself the same thing every day," I tell him honestly.

We arrive at the bakery, and Peeta instructs me to wait out back while he gets his dad. They join me after a couple minutes.

"Is your mom around?" I whisper to Peeta. He shakes his head. I let out a sigh of relief.

"So what is it you needed to talk to me about, Katniss?" Mr. Mellark asks me gently.

"Mr. Mellark, I love Peeta with all my heart," I begin. He smiles genuinely at me, giving me courage to continue. I let it all out. "I know we're young, and we've only been together for a little while, but Peeta and I want to get married. Today. We need your blessing, but that's not the only reason we're here. I want your blessing. I want you to want me as your daughter-in-law. It's important to me to have your approval. Please understand that Peeta is truly my world, my other half, and I will spend the rest of my life proving that to him and everyone else."

His jaw, like my mom and Prim's, hits the floor. He digests everything I've just spilled out, and his smile only gets wider. I take that as a good sign.

"Peeta," he asks his son, "Are you both one hundred percent sure about this?"

"Yes, Dad," Peeta instantly answers. "We're sure."

"Okay then," Mr. Mellark says. "Let me know when you need me."

I cant' help myself, and take two long strides and wrap my arms around the man who once loved my mother as much as Peeta loved me. Poetic, in a way, that I'm marrying his son. I feel him hug me back, and I find myself heartwarmed. There's something about these Mellark men and their effect on Everdeen women.

"Dad, there's one more thing," Peeta says when I return to his side and take his hand. "We need you to keep this a secret for the time being. We don't know when we're going to announce it. The only people that will know are us, Mrs. Everdeen, Prim, and Mayor Undersee. Is that okay?"

"Of course, son. Whatever you two want."

"Thanks, Dad. Meet us at our house at seven tonight. Please don't tell Mom," he grins.

"Wouldn't dream of it," his Dad answers, assuaging my fears. "Wait, your house?"

"Oh, yeah, Katniss moved in," Peeta shrugs. His dad smirks at us knowingly. I blush deeply and shift my gaze towards the ground.

"I want you both to know I think you're perfect for each other, and I couldn't be happier for you," his dad says, the truth in his voice undeniable. He's honest, just like Peeta.

We both hug him again, and make our way back to our house, giddy with excitement.

"I can't believe this is actually happening," Peeta says with disbelief as we come through the door.

"Me either," I agree. "I never thought I'd get married."

"What changed?"

"I fell in love with you," is my simple, truthful answer. He kisses me immediately.

"I love you," he whispers.

"I love you," I whisper back.

We spend our day together, taking a long walk around the District, relaxing in the meadow, and making lunch and dinner cooperatively. It feels so incredibly normal that I feel the need to point it out to my soon-to-be husband. He smiles at me and concurs, telling me this is the life he always dreamed of. A life with me.

Before we know it, seven o'clock has rolled around. My mom, Prim, and Mayor Undersee appear at the back door. I told them to come this way to reduce the chances of them being seen by anyone. Peeta's dad comes through the front door. It's not unusual for him to be visiting his youngest son.

Mayor Undersee walks into the dining room, taking a folder out of his briefcase and spreading the papers out on the big wooden table.

"Now, Katniss, you will you be changing your name?" He asks me. My mom and Prim eye me with anticipation.

"Yes," I reply simply. They smile. Peeta kisses me yet again.

"Very well. That is an extra form to fill out. Now I need your parents to sign the marriage license first, then Primrose as a witness."

My mom and Peeta's dad step up and take their turns singing the license. My marriage license. I'm having trouble comprehending the reality of the situation. It's not cold feet, I'm just amazed at my good fortune.

"I thought we'd have signed one of these years ago," Peeta's dad jokes to my mom. She smiles up at him.

She surprises me by telling him, "they deserve this." His dad nods in agreement.

"Primrose, your turn," the mayor holds out the pen to Prim. She steps up quickly and signs her name along the appropriate line, smiling back at me and Peeta when she's finished. I envelop her in a tight hug.

"Thank you, Prim," I say.

She nods with tears in her eyes. I wipe them away with my thumb and give her a kiss on her forehead.

"Okay, Peeta and Katniss, your turn," they mayor says.

Peeta hands me the pen.

"Ladies first," he bows slightly. I giggle.

I step up and sign the name 'Katniss Everdeen' for the last time. When I've finished, I feel like I'm dreaming. Can I really be marrying the love of my life, my boy with the bread? Does he really want to spend his life with me? I sure hope this isn't a dream. I swear, if I wake up right now, I'm going to throw a fit.

"Here, Peeta, sign this now," I demand. He chuckles and takes the pen from me.

He signs 'Peeta Mellark' on the line marked 'Groom', and we're legally married, just like that. The mayor stamps the license, and it's official.

Next, the mayor has me sign the name change form. At the bottom, I sign 'Katniss Mellark' for the first time. It seems unreal. I can't believe I actually will be known from now on as Mrs. Peeta Mellark.

"Okay, please face one another," the mayor asks. We do. "Are there rings?"

Prim produces two gold wedding bands, and I gasp at the realization that this is actually happening. This is the ring I will wear for the rest of my existence. This is the ring that will let every other person know that I belong to Peeta. That I am his wife. His soul mate.

I take Peeta's ring, and he takes mine.

"Very well," the mayor says. "Let's begin. Peeta Mellark, do you take Katniss Everdeen to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, through sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"

Peeta looks at me with a steely determination that fills my heart with joy.

"I do," he tells nobody but me. I beam at him, tears filling my eyes.

"Katniss Everdeen, do you take Peeta Mellark do be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, through sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"

I look up at Peeta. My life flashes before my eyes, and I remember everything we've ever experienced together. From the shock of the Reaping to his admission of love in front of the whole country to my realization of love in the Games to me lying to him to us getting together to the bliss of the last month. I have never been more sure of anything in my entire life.

"I do." I look Peeta in the eye as I utter the words that bond us together. He lets out a breath, like he can't believe I actually went through with it. Silly boy.

"Please exchange the rings," the mayor interjects.

"Just for tonight," Peeta whispers as he slides my ring onto the ring finger of my left hand. I do the same with his ring. Our hands automatically grasp each other, waiting for the inevitable next words.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

I can't contain the smile that spreads across my face, matching Peeta's. I'm sure I've never smiled this big in my life.

Peeta takes my face in his hands gently and leans in, pressing his lips to mine sweetly. I kiss him back with all the love I can muster. It is our first kiss as legal spouses. But I know we won't really feel married until our toasting, which we will do once we are alone.

We turn to our guests, and give them each hugs and kisses in turns. My mom whispers her congratulations, Prim gushes about being Peeta's sister, and his dad tells me to always protect his son. I vow to never let anything happen to Peeta.

We all share a quick snack, and the mayor excuses himself. We thank him profusely, and he promises to keep it to himself. He gives us one of the copies of our marriage license, and tells us he'll file the name change form and the official license discreetly. They're legal, he says, but nobody will know about them until we want them to.

Soon, Peeta and I are alone in our house. I am staring at my wedding ring. I've never worn it before tonight, but it feels like it belongs there, like my finger was always missing something, and just became whole. Peeta takes my left hand and brings it to his lips, kissing my ring softly while gazing into my eyes. The tears I've been holding in fall, and he gently wipes them.

"Let's get married," he says. I laugh. We go to the kitchen and retrieve the bread we baked together this afternoon in preparation. It is the same type that he saved my life with all those years ago.

We build a small fire together in the fireplace and sit facing each other. My nerves return, and I feel the butterflies in my stomach. Sure, we're already legally married, but in District 12, you're not married in your hearts until the toasting.

With one hand, we hold the bread between us, and our other hands are grasped together tightly. Peeta speaks first.

"Katniss. I've loved your for so many years, and I always thought this day would never come. I still am having trouble believing it's real. I promise to always love you, cherish you, protect you, remember your birthday, hold you through the nights, and kiss you whenever you want. You are the love of my life, my true soul mate, and I never want to be apart from you ever again. Thank you for marrying me. You have made me the happiest man in the world."

I smile at him, tears cascading down my cheeks. I brush him away when he tries to wipe them off. These are tears of joy, and I need them.

"Peeta. My boy with the bread. My savior. You have taught me how to love. You have shown me a way of living that exceeds anything I have ever imagined. I promise to always love you, cherish you, protect you, remember your birthday, hold you through the nights, and kiss you whenever you want. Peeta, I want to add one more promise to you. I know I've said I would never do this, but you've changed me so much that I can't help it anymore. I'm going to give you children. I can't wait to be the mother of your kids. I never want to be apart from you ever again. Thank you for marrying me. You have me the happiest woman in the world."

Peeta now has tears falling down his face, and I'm sure I've never had a more romantic, emotional moment.

Without another word, we gently tear the small loaf into two pieces. Peeta puts my piece on a small poker and toasts it above the fire. He turns to me, takes the bread in his hand, and feeds it to me. I feel like we've come full circle. He gave me burnt bread once to save my life. Now he's giving me burnt bread to begin my new life.

I take his piece on the poker and toast it just as he did. I take it in my hands and gently feed it to him. When he's done chewing, he leans in to kiss me. Before we get too overcome with passion, I pull back, and he whimpers.

"Don't worry, we have all night," I tell him with a saucy grin. "And the rest of our lives," I add. "I just wanted to say, I love you, Mr. Mellark."

He smiles wide.

"I love you, Mrs. Mellark."

I love my new name.

We kiss again, and end up consummating our brand new marriage in front of the fire, yet again coming full circle from the first time we held hands at the Tribute Parade. The first time I was known as the Girl On Fire.

As we make our way to our bedroom, our lips locked the entire way, I am sure today is the best day of my life.

Peeta assures me it can only get better.

Just as we are drifting off to sleep, I whisper to my husband.

"I'm yours, Peeta. Forever. And you're mine."

He responds immediately.

"Always."