I really enjoyed reading reviews for the last two chapters, which I posted at the same time. I am glad no one objects to pointless chapters. That takes a load off my shoulders. Hehehe well, I hope the next few are okay, with Katniss' surgery and all! But I'm not going to give anything away, so I'm gonna shut up and get on with the chapter. Love you guys! (btw things are going to be in Katniss' point of view until further notice so I'm not going to keep say it.)

Soggybug

oOo

Waking up took longer than usual today. When I first revived consciousness, the only thing I was very aware of was my back pressed against Peeta's chest, his arms around me. I couldn't quite open my eyes yet; they felt like they were glued shut. But that was okay with me, honestly. Peeta's arms were all that I really wanted right now. Who needs sight anyways?

He stirred in his sleep, arms tightening around my waist. I felt him subconsciously bury his face in my neck, but he kept on sleeping, breath tickling my hair. While he slept, I was thinking.

So, today was the day before my surgery. The important, life-changing operation would be tomorrow afternoon. Suddenly, I remembered that I had to scrub that weird disinfectant soap into my hair before tomorrow. I should do that now.

As gently as I could, I slid out of Peeta's arms and tiptoed into the bathroom. After stripping off my dirty clothes, I stood naked in front of the mirror. The days in the loony bin had taken their toll on me; all of my ribs could be seen and my once-flawless, olive skin had gotten lighter (from the florescent lighting, probably), resulting in a weird off-olive color. Looking away from the mirror, I shook out my braid and stepped into the shower.

On the ledge of the shower was a small, white bottle that I immediately assumed was the mixture of shampoo I was supposed to cleanse with. I dumped the whole three-ounce bottle of sticky clear stuff into my hair and scrubbed. It smelled like hospitals. Yuck.

Once my two minutes was up, I dried myself off with a towel. But my clothes were already stuck in the hamper, so I couldn't even did out my underclothes to wear them until the new ones came. Signing, I poked my head out of the curtain to check the time. Still fifteen minutes to go until the breakfast bell sounded. Hopefully Peeta would stay asleep until then.

Fifteen minutes went by sluggishly, and I was grateful when I heard the 'ding' announcing the arrival of food and clothing. Quietly so I didn't wake Peeta, I snuck across the room and opened the box. But unfortunately, it wasn't exactly as silent as I hoped.

"Katniss?" Peeta's slurred voice came from the bed. "Izzat breakfast?"

Letting out a muffled shriek, I spun around, nearly dropping the towel I had around me. He was sitting up in bed, rubbing his eyes which had a hard time focusing on me.

"Don't look. Close your eyes. Go back to bed." I ordered frantically, self-consciously gripping the material to my chest. It wasn't really as if Peeta and I haven't seen each other naked before. It's just that when we did, that was a horribly stupid decision on my part and I regretted it too this day. No more of that kind of stuff until I was ready. Or thirty. Whichever one.

"Sorry." He mumbled, closing his eyes and laying back down. But I could tell he was snickering, judging by the noiseless shaking of his shoulders.

Content that he was no longer looking, I dropped the towel and dressed in the new clothes as quickly as possible. Once I had my shirt tugged into place, I picked up the breakfast tray (the things on it looked excruciatingly unappetizing) and crawled onto bed with it.

Peeta peeked open one eye. "You good now? Can I open my eyes?"

I took a little nibble of my grain mush. "Yeah. Sorry about that."

"Don't be." He grinned lopsidedly. "Your reaction was priceless."

"I'm glad I amuse you." I couldn't help but smiling as well.

I got done with breakfast, and when the silver tray was back in the box, I settled myself next to Peeta, as always. But when his arms went around me, his thoughts seemed elsewhere.

"What are you thinking about?" I was very curious to know, and judging by that intense look, it must be important.

"Nothing of importance."

Psshht. Yeah right. But since it was our day together, I didn't push it. Instead, I reached up and kissed his cheek. "Okay. If you insist."

Peeta looked mildly surprised I gave up that fast. "You aren't going to force me to tell you?"

I shrugged, and then nodded.

Smiling slightly, he brought his lips down on my forehead. "Okay. I'll take that."

But while his lips were still on my temple, I reached up a little farther until we were kissing. It wasn't anything special, really. Since we practically do it every day, I don't really remember each and every time we have kissed. Unless it was genuinely memorable. Recalling yesterday, I smiled a bit against Peeta's mouth.

He drew back. "What?"

"Nothing at all." My fingers trailed against the skin of Peeta's bare shoulder, letting myself get absorbed by the memory.

Some time when I was back in yesterday, I heard muted laughter. Hmm? Even though it was hard to bring myself back into reality, I managed. Peeta was holding me in his arms, laughing. I noted silently that when he did, his nose wrinkled up. It was really cute.

I frowned at Peeta, though it was hard to frown when the person next to you was having hysterics. "You're laughing. Why are you laughing?"

"Your-your body just went kind of-kind of floppy and unresponsive, and-and when I pulled back to look at you," he was having trouble talking in between his chuckles, which he attempted to keep quiet. "your eyes were crossed. All the way to the middle." He pointed his finger at the bridge of his nose to show me.

Okay, I had to admit that was pretty funny.

He grinned, seeing my laugh as well. "What were you thinking of?"

I rolled my eyes up to the ceiling and pretended to give his question some consideration. Should I answer honestly? Telling him the truth would just make him laugh more. "Well… I was kind of thinking about yesterday. Meaning I wasn't here. At all."

Peeta snorted and trailed a finger under the edge of my jaw gently. "Typical Katniss. Always in another dimension, trying to escape reality. I don't blame you at all. But sometimes you just get so involved with your other world I can't find you at all. I wish you'd take me with you…" He trailed off with a slight wistful quality to his voice.

"But I do take you." I closed my eyes and leaned my forehead against his. I could feel his warm breath on my face. "You're always in my head."

Our lips just barely brushed; so soft I almost didn't feel it. Peeta smiled against my mouth. "Too bad I'm not really there."

"Mm…" But to be perfectly honest, I wasn't exactly listening to him. All I could hear was a distant humming noise. "Wait—What?"

Peeta laughed, and I felt it vibrate through him. "That's exactly what I mean."

Oh well. I didn't linger on Peeta's odd behavior long. Shrugging slightly to myself, I let my hands slide down the length of Peeta's back. His unblemished golden skin was smooth under my fingertips.

His hands curled around my hips and pressed my body to the bedspread. Both of our hearts could be felt pounding irregularly through both our tops.

"Remember what I was saying a while ago about having our marriage annulled and us starting over again in District 12?" Peeta said between kisses.

I paused. "What about it?"

"Well, once we marry again we could consider ourselves officially grown-up. You are always saying how we are just adolescents and such, but when we get married again I want it to be when you are ready. I don't want anything in our way when we live together. No more using our age as an excuse."

This was unusual, Peeta asking this. "Well, of course, but why would you bring this up now? What does it have to do with anything?"

A faint streak of crimson crept onto his face.

"Oh…" After feeling slightly stupid and unperceptive, I kissed Peeta's cheek to make him feel better. "Don't worry. Once we're in District 12 we'll be thinking straight again. I promise you that when I actually agree to marry you is when I'm ready. I won't hurt you again by agreeing before."

Now it was Peeta's turn to be confused. "You didn't hurt me."

"Yeah. I did." But instead of clarifying for him, I just pulled him on top of me again and drown out all previous thoughts with kisses.

Three hours went by in a flash, and before we knew it, it was eleven o'clock. I was dozing lightly on Peeta's chest, both our eyes closed in contentment. The next time they were opened, is when Peeta twitched and began to get up.

"Mmm… No don't go." I tightened my arms around his undressed waist, preventing him from getting up any further. "Stay here." I commanded.

Peeta seemed to be fighting with himself over something. Finally, after a few more minutes of having his eyebrows scrunched into near oblivion, he seemed to have made up his mind and laid back down. "Okay. I won't leave you."

"Good…" I mumbled and closed my eyes, aware of how worn-out I was. Going to sleep at ten and waking up at 6:30 in the morning. You would think that eight-and-a-half hours of sleep would be enough to get through your day, but with the stuff going on in my life it wasn't at all sufficient. I felt so tired; I could just fall asleep in Peeta's arms…

In fact, Peeta seemed intent on making that a reality. His finger brushed in my hair, over and over, and soft as a light summers' breeze. Lie last night; he was humming, low and soothing. How could I possibly stay awake if he was doing this? No, I would have to have fifty cups of coffee to resist Peeta's tranquility. He was just so…

My head began to not work at all and for a moment I just felt Peeta's fingertips brushing against my hair, and his lips to my throat, but once the blackness set over my eyes, all hope was lost. I drifted off to sleep.

oOo

I will give a prize to anyone who counted the times I ended a chapter with falling asleep, passing out, or saying 'I love you'. Well, glad you people have been reading my story! Love you all so much. Keep posted 'cause I'm going to have a party at the 100 mark!