Sorry for the long update! But, alas, here it is.

Enjoy!

Gale had gone home a week ago, and I found out that he did in fact hear. Interesting way I found out, too, but Peeta always tells the story better. I called Johanna back the day after, feeling sick to my stomach and like I hadn't had water in days. She'd doing well – better than well, apparently. She told me about the new guy in her life. Johanna and I have always been alike in the sense of romance, so when she told me I was pleasantly surprised; not only because it was something I did not expect, but because when someone like us lets our guard down, it means that whoever responsible must be pretty damn special.

It is now Peeta's birthday. He's still working today, and he hasn't even brought it up, so I wonder if he even realizes it. Either way, with him working I can start getting everything set up for the surprise dinner I had decided to throw him a couple days after Gale left while talking to Haymitch. Therefore, I have to invite him, but Peeta would probably want him there, anyway.

I'm just getting back from hunting, catching a wild goose – hopefully not one of Haymitch's – to cook up for tonight. I've planned on the goose, potatoes, and some vegetables from the small garden we had planted out back; we need to use up what's out there right now, since winter is coming up quickly. I throw my gear down next to the front door and hang my coat on the hook, heading into the kitchen to pluck and gut the goose. While I do this, I finish planning the dinner in my head. My eyes widen in realization; the cake! Obviously I can't have Peeta make it…

Guess it's time for my second baking experience.

Peeta keeps all of his family's recipe books on a shelf in the study, so once I've finished the goose up and stashed it, and sterilize the kitchen, I head in and pull out one. "Hmm." I flip through, looking for a decent cake. I know his favorite is the white cake with chocolate frosting, so I'm happy when I find a recipe for the cake in the first few pages. Now, frosting. I grab a separate one, full of different fillings and frostings, and find one with the term fudge in it. Must be good, then. I shrug and head back to the kitchen to embark on the culinary adventure of my life.

I keep both books open on the kitchen table and take out all the appropriate ingredients for each recipe, separating the products unless they're used for both. "There's such thing as cake flour?" I shrug and reach in, grabbing a pink-tinted box with a white cake on it. "All right Katniss, don't mess up." I take a deep breath and take out a multitude of bowls and pans.

I get to work, and at first it seems pretty easy. The directions are simple to follow, and as long as I get the measurements right, things go smoothly. This is before I get to the flour. "Slowly…" I pour a little in the mixer, then turn it on the lowest notch. It mixes in nicely, and I slowly add the rest. I smile at my handy work; I'm actually pretty proud. I bet Peeta would be, too.

This was before I got to the frosting.

It called for what's called cocoa powder, and apparently it's just as difficult as flour, which would have been nice to know before I redecorated the kitchen in brown. "Dammit." I sigh and wet a washcloth, cleaning up the mess I made before continuing. I guess on how much more powder to put in since I'm not exactly sure how much I lost. In the end, it tastes good, so I'm satisfied.

When the cake comes out of the oven I let it cool for longer than is probably necessary, since I'm too scared to take it out of the pan. In the end, part of it came off, but I stuck it back on with frosting, and when I cover the rest of the cake as best as I can, it's mostly not visible. At least, to the eye of a non-baker. "Everything went better than expected." I put the cake aside and begin to clean up the kitchen.

"Katniss?"

My eyes widen. Shit. I turn to the clock and see that it's already five o'clock. "Uh, in the kitchen! But don't come in yet!" I cringe; not exactly subtle. I begin to panic because I haven't even began to cook dinner. Maybe...Haymitch! He can go hang out with Haymitch for a while. Yeah. I rush out of the kitchen and over to him, giving him a quick kiss and keeping him from taking off his jacket. "Haymitch actually asked me to tell you to go over to his place when you got home. Completely forgot."

He raises an eyebrow, and I'm sure he's not buying it until he shrugs his shoulders. "All right. I'll be back, I guess." He gives me a quick kiss and heads back out the door, and I sigh in relief. I know Haymitch will catch on, so I don't have to worry about calling him in warning.

I cook everything up as quickly as I can, and just in time too, because they're walking through the door the second I put the plates down. Peeta blinks and looks up at me.

I smile and wring my hands. "Happy birthday."

I feel nervous when he continues to stare, but then a broad grin breaks out on his face and he gives me a hug. "This is great, Katniss. Thank you." He looks over my shoulder and sees the cake, making his smile even larger. "And you baked a cake!"

I nod and look down at the floor, suddenly feeling embarrassed. "Yeah. But we have to eat dinner first!" I motion for everyone to sit down and serve out the food.

"This is great, Katniss. Really."

I smile at Peeta and reach over to grab his hand, giving it a small squeeze. "I'm glad you like it."

I hear Haymitch scoff to my left. "I didn't come to watch you two get sappy on me, Sweetheart."

I glare in his direction and go back to my dinner, not looking at either of them. Haymitch and Peeta make polite conversation as I begin to clean the table and put out smaller plates. "All right, cake and then presents."

Peeta raises his eyebrows. "I get presents, too?"

I roll my eyes at him. "Of course. It's you birthday. Now, cake." I bring the cake over and am about to cut it, when Haymitch clears his throat. I give him a hard look. "What?"

He raises an eyebrow. "Aren't we supposed to put candles in there?"

Oh, right. I glare at him one more time, not wanting to admit he's right, and go to grab the birthday candles. I stick them in and light them with the matches in one of the kitchen drawers, and place the cake in front of Peeta. "I think you make a wish." I also think there's some song to go with it, but I never had cake growing up so we never did the traditional birthday party. I know Haymitch won't say anything since he probably hates singing, and Peeta's too nice to correct me. He blows out the candles and I serve the cake.

"Wow, Katniss. I'm impressed." Peeta smiles at me. "Maybe I should hire you at the bakery."

I scoff. "Yeah, this is a one-time thing. It was hard enough as is." I decide to leave out my little mishap with the frosting.

Haymitch nods at Peeta's comment. "Gotta admit, it's pretty good."

I smile. "Thanks." It's not everyday Haymitch gives a compliment, after all.

We finish in silence and Peeta starts to the collect the plates. I grab his arm, and he looks at me in confusion. "It's your birthday, Peeta. You get to relax." I push him toward the living room. "You and Haymitch go out in the living room." I turn to Haymitch. "Go grab the presents."

They leave and I finish up cleaning the table and do the dishes quickly, so I don't have to do them later. When I walk into the living room, Peeta sits up a little straighter and pats the spot next to him on the couch. I smile and sit next to him, then motion toward the presents. "Go ahead. Do Haymitch's first." He nods and grabs the poorly wrapped one, opening it up in one tear. I blink, then turn to Haymitch with bemusement.

It's a bottle of whiskey, something neither of us drink. Peeta scratches his head and smiles at Haymitch. "Ah, thanks- wait." He shakes his head and motions for Haymitch to take it. "Here ya go."

Haymitch grabs it and nods toward Peeta. "Why, thank you."

I roll my eyes. "All right, grab the other one."

He chuckles and takes it in his hand, being more gently with this one. When he finally gets it open, he blinks. "Wait, isn't this…"

"The locket you gave me in the Quell? Yeah." I nod toward it. "Open it up." I bite my lip nervously, afraid he hates it, but when he opens in up, he smiles. I put a picture of us in it when we were at the lake together.

"Katniss, this is wonderful. Thank you." He leans in and gives me a lingering kiss and we ignore Haymitch's gagging noises. "I wonder what we should put in the other side."

I shrug. I couldn't think of anything – or anyone – to put in the other one. I thought about having a picture of his family, but I didn't know where to get one without asking him. "I guess we'll figure it out some other time." I smile and run my thumb over his hand, and he smiles back.

"Well, if we're done here, I have a date with this one right here." He holds up the bottle and stands up.

"Yeah, we're done. Bye." I'm happy to get rid of him; it really is hard to spend a long amount of time with him. He waves to us and heads out, leaving Peeta and I alone.

"I really do like this gift, Katniss. Thank you." He looks me up and down, his sweet smile darkening. "But, I was wondering if I could have one more gift…"

I raise my eyebrows, surprised at his boldness. I then smile and push him down on the couch, laying on top of him to kiss him full on the mouth. "Maybe I have something else in mind." He raises an eyebrow when I climb off of him and pull him to he's sitting up. I almost laugh at how wide his eyes get when I sink down to my knees and start to unzip his pants. I look up at him innocently as I pull down his pants to his knees, grabbing him in my hand. He's already half hard.

"Oh, Katniss." He lets his head fall against the back of the couch with his eyes closed when I take him in my mouth. I'm pumping him in and out, using one hand to where my mouth can't reach. I listen to his moans, figuring out a good pattern. He's running his fingers through my hair, being careful not to push me down, though I can see it's taking restraint.

I moan, and the vibrations cause him to gasp and then moan low in his throat. I take my mouth off of him and pump him a few times before diving back in, sucking the top, then moving back down his length.

"Katniss, I'm about to…" He's trying to move me away, but I push his hand back as I suck him harder, encouraging him to finish. When he does, the taste isn't as bad as I expected, and when I wipe my mouth and look up at him, he's looking back in wonder. "That was amazing." He lets out a breathy laugh, pulling up into a kiss.

I smile against his lips. "I'm glad."

He grabs onto me and hoists himself up, carrying me bridal style toward the stairs.

Next chapter: Christmas time!

I'm going to try and get it up before Christmas, so I can work in a New Year's one too.