Hello J Hope everyone had a lovely holiday! I did! I would love it if you please reviewed, and if you have any suggestions I would love to hear them! Sorry if it is really bad I have the whole story planned out just not this part so I had some writers block.

Suzanne Collins

Chapter 8, Thief In The Night

An eleven, he really got an eleven. We all stare at the screen in shock and disbelief, he got an eleven. I look to Peeta who has his mouth open.

"Peeta, is that right?"

"I think so, I hope so" We look at each other and then back at the TV that has now gone black.

"Well I guess I should be getting home," says Peeta he starts to get up when my mother pipes in.

"No, you are staying right here with us. That Mother of yours needs to be taught a lesson, you stay right here" She gets up and grabs a pillow off of the bed and grabs a blanket and motions for us to stand up. She then lays out a little bed for Peeta on the couch.

"Thank you Mrs. Everdeen"

"No problem sweetheart," she goes over to him and kisses the top of his head.

"Come on girls off to bed," she shoves us off to the bedroom.

"Night Peeta," calls out Prim. I dodge my mother's arm and walk over to Peeta standing near the couch.

"Goodnight Peeta, see you in the morning" I give him a quick kiss on the lips and he returns the kiss.

"Goodnight Katniss, look forward to it" He sits down on the couch and swings him legs up and cuddles up in the blanket and closes his eyes. I lean down and kiss the top of his head. Then I walk into the bedroom and get into the bed with Prim.

"I think he is gonna do it," whispers Prim.

"What's that?" I ask her.

"I think with the eleven Gale is going to win"

"I think he will too, now get some sleep," She turns over and soon drifts into sleep, and soon I do too.

I wake up to a loud whispering and some thrashing. It must be the middle of the night, I look around and Prim is still asleep and so is my mother, that only leaves, Peeta. I jump out of bed and grab the dull arrow I had to sharpen from under the bed and run into the other room. I see Mrs. Mellark dragging an unconscious Peeta out of my house.

"Put him down" I say.

"What were you doing with my son in your filthy shack?"

"Keeping him safe"

"From what? His own mother? I brought him into this world I can do whatever I want with him"

"No you can't!"

"I can't? Are you telling me what to do you dirty seam brat?"

"Yes I am, now give him back to me and we wont bother you anymore" She drops Peeta on the ground and I run to his side before she can harm him anymore.

"What are you doing in my house?" I turn around to find my mother standing in the room with her hands crossed and ready to hold her own.

"Getting back my son, what were you doing with my son?"

"Taking care of him, doing what you never could or will be able to"

"Are you saying I am an unfit mother?"

"Yes, and an unfit wife. I know your secret and am not afraid to tell the town. If that's what you want" Mrs. Mellark's face went white and she took a few steps back.

"You wouldn't"

"Oh, but I would, now leave my house now and your secret will be safe. That is unless I ever find out that you hurt your sons or my daughters" Mrs. Mellark glares at her son and at me then at my mother. She looks around the room then leaves.

"Mom that was, wow"

"Thanks, now let's get him on the couch again" We manage to pick him up, and get him on the couch. My mother gets a cold cloth and I sit right next to him whipping the hair out of his eyes. After a while with the cold cloth on his head he comes to.

"What? What happened?"

"Your mother came and knocked you out, she was going to take you away and then my mother showed up and saved the day"

"How?"

"She said she was going to tell everyone her secret, do you know what it is?" He thinks about it for a minute then shakes his head. My mother is sitting at the table with a cup of tea and I ask her what the secret was.

"Well, Peeta, your mother isn't from the town. She came from the Seam"

"She did" he asks in shock.

"Yes, she was raised to be ashamed of it and when she was old enough she used her looks to get your father interested which he wasn't. Then some things happened and they ended up getting married"

"Wow I never knew that about my mother" My mother just smiles at him and I and walks back into the bedroom to check on Prim. Peeta looks up at me and sighs and it's not hard to guess why. I just smile at him and rub his hand.

"How about you get some more sleep and then later I can take you somewhere"

"Where would that be?"

"Well if we are a couple, couples usually go on dates and I have an idea for one," I say as I begin to get up from the couch.

"Oh really? Then I am looking forward to it"

"Now close your eyes and get some sleep and I will go get everything ready for later" He obeys and begins to fall asleep. I put a fresh braid in my hair, having no time to bathe and throw on my shoes and head out to hopefully brighten Peeta's day.

When I finally get back to the house Peeta is at the table with my sister playing a card game. My mother is knitting on the couch. They hear the door open and look at me, I hold up my hunting bag and throw it at Peeta, he catches it with ease.

"What's this?" he asks while he begins to rummage through it.

"Clothes, I had your brothers get me an extra pair for you. Go put them on and meet me in the meadow when you are done" He gives me a look and then goes into the bedroom, and Prim comes over to me.

"Where are you taking him?"

"I'll tell you later, but I just hope he likes it"

"Even if you went down into the mines I'm sure he would love it because he is with you"

"I doubt that Prim"

"I don't, he loves you Katniss. I asked him if he had any idea and he said he didn't care just as long as he would be able to see your eyes and feel your hand in his" I blush, I never knew he liked me that much.

As I stand in the meadow waiting for Peeta I notice that many dandelions, i decide to pick some. There bright yellow stands out against the grey gloom that is ever-present in District 12. When I have finally gotten a big bundle of the golden weeds I sit down on the grass and set them next to me. I then lay back and stare at the clouds, envying the freedom that the clouds have. I then close my eyes and imagine a world where being as free as a cloud is possible. Then something is pressing against my lips, I open my eyes to find Peeta. I grab his face and sit up. He pulls away a bit and smiles at me and the dandelions that are caught in my hair.

"This is off to a good start" I stand up and hold out my hand for him, and he takes it.

"Now, you have to trust me. Can you do that?"

"Sure" We keep walking to the fence, and Peeta looks up and his hand tenses in mine.

"Trust me still?" I ask. He just nods in response.

"I am going to go under right here, follow when I am on the other side, ok?" He again just nods. I should have rethought this. I easily slip under the fence and motion for Peeta to do the same. He manages, but still gets a little dirty. I dust him off and take his hand again.

"I think you are going to like what I am going to show you. I haven't shown this to anyone. My father showed it to me" After a twenty-minute walk we are just out of sight of our destination.

"Ok, close your eyes and let me guide you the rest of the way. It is right through these trees"

"What is right through these trees?"

"You'll see" He closes his eyes and I lead him to the lake my father showed me years ago. Earlier today I went into the little cabin on the edge of the lake and lit a fire. When Peeta opens his eyes his jaw drops and he looks at everything and a smile gradually grows on his face.

"Katniss, its beautiful"

"I'm glad you like it" We then go into the cabin to rest and we talk about this and that. Then we go swimming in the lake, well I swim and Peeta stands near the shore line and splashes me. We then go back to the cabin and dry by the fire, then sit out on the grass and look at the stars that have come out.

The perfect way to spend time with the man I love.