Before I get lost in the memory of her death being announced, the video that they had shown me of her in the Capitol getting caught by the bomb explosion, I shake my head and open my eyes. "Oh, yeah. You're right. How could I have forgotten?" I give a little laugh to try to cover the ache that's entering my chest. It's not the sharp, splitting pain it was months ago. It's dull now, just an ache, but it's an ache any memory of Prim will always bring back. After all, broken hearts can be mended, but they will always be scarred.

Peeta shakes his head sadly. He gets up, comes around to the other side of the table, and sits down next to me on the bench. "You're still a terrible liar," he says as he wraps his arms around me. He rests my head on his chest, his hand stroking my hair. "I know your birthday makes you think about those you lost. It's okay to hurt about it. Remember though, you have a spring birthday. Spring means fresh starts, new beginnings. It doesn't matter how cold and bitter the winter was, spring comes eventually with warmth, green, song, flowers, and new life. You'll be okay. It won't be as bad as you think it will be. I promise."

I twist myself so that I can look into his face. "You paint pictures with words just as well as you do with a paintbrush," I say softly. He looks intently into my eyes. "We both lost a lot Katniss. However, we don't have to let that break us." He gently pulls away, then takes my hand and we stand up together. We step away from the table, then Peeta stops. He turns arounds so that he is directly in front of me. I look questioningly into his beautiful blue eyes. He takes a deep breath. Then he says, "Katniss, you know that I love you. We have no Capitol now. Snow can't dictate what we must and must not do anymore. So now, I want to ask you something again. I've asked it before. This time though, it's for real, and I want the answer to be real." My breathing quickens and becomes shallow. My heart begins to race. If I'm wrong about what's going to come next, I have never known Peeta Mellark. Holding both my hands in his two large, strong ones, Peeta sinks down to one knee and looks up at me through his golden eyelashes.

"Katniss, can we live this new beginning, this spring in Panem's history, together? Katniss Everdeen, will you marry me?" "I love you Peeta. Yes, I'll marry you." Tears are beginning to course down my cheeks. They are a mixture of happiness, loss, and relief. I nod my head. "Yes, of course I'll marry you. I love you." Why shouldn't I say yes? We love each other. I realized in the Quarter Quell that I love Peeta just as much as he loves me, and I can't live without him. Especially not now. With Snow dead, the Capitol government ended, and the Hunger Games abolished, I have no reason to refuse him. Peeta smiles so brightly. Then he's pulling me down to him and kissing away my tears as I let myself be wrapped in the embrace of my fiancé.

Soon Peeta is helping me to my feet. "Come on, your surprise isn't over yet." We walk out my front door hand in hand. Peeta looks back to Greasy Sae and nods. She follows us as we walk to Peeta's house. Peeta makes me turn my back to the door. I hear Sae open it and go in. "I'm going to cover your eyes. Then you can turn around and go in," says Peeta, with a hint of playfullness in his voice. He places his large, warm hand over my closed eyes. With the other he gently guides me into his house. He walks behind me, careful to warn me that we'll be turning after a few steps. We go down the hall, and Peeta has me turn left, which means he's led me to the sitting room. He slowly takes his hand away and whispers into my ear, "Open your eyes, Katniss."