A/N: Thanks for reading that last chapter! This one will be kind of like a part two to the last chapter! I hope you enjoy it!
Peeta's POV – Flirt
As Katniss and I walked back to Victors' Village hand-in-hand, I couldn't help but wonder if that wink was to flirt or if Jennifer was just excited about our plans later. Katniss was practically skipping again and I smiled down at her. I love her so much.
Katniss seemed to register that, "I love you too." She smiled.
Every time I heard those words come out of the girl I was in love with since I was five, I get giddy and all I want to do is kiss her. Honestly, I couldn't wait to the wedding and I am honestly at that point where I was going to toast us here and then just be done with it.
My thoughts halted as Katniss stood on the tips of her toes to reach me; staring into those beautiful grey eyes I kissed her. This was Heaven, right here with her arms wrapped around me and our lips locked. There couldn't be a better place on Earth than being right here in her arms as our bodies fit together like a puzzle. I sighed contently.
Katniss pulled away and smiled, "Let's get home."
I smiled back against my will, she had said home. We, technically, were going back to her house but she called it home.
"Home." I repeated as I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. Her hand came up and grabbed the one that was around her shoulder as we started walking again.
Once inside our house, we walked into the living room and sat down in a comfortable silence. Katniss sat on my lap while I stroked her hair; kissing her body on occasion.
"Peeta?" Katniss asked, how I loved the way my name rolled so lovingly off her tongue.
"Yes, love?" I responded, kissing her shoulder where there was a red permanent scar.
"I was thinking about getting Jennifer to be one of my bridesmaids," Katniss trailed off.
That brought my mind back to Jennifer's wink; she had definitely done it to me and not to Katniss. Was she flirting with me? If so, I had to tell her in as gentlemanly was as possible that I was Katniss's and only Katniss's forever. Katniss took my pause as a bad thing.
"Never mind, she doesn't have to be one," Katniss started, "I can just have Prim and Effie."
I placed my arm around her shoulder, started to rub her arm, and rested my head on the shoulder nearest to me, "Katniss, if you want Jennifer to be a bridesmaid then ask her to be."
"Are you alright with it?" She asked, looking over at me to get my full emotions.
"Yes, Katniss," I replied somewhat exasperated. We have been over this I am not your parent and you can decide on things without me. Katniss glared at me. "I'm sorry."
She kissed my nose, "Peeta you are the most adorable man alive." She whispered against me, "I forgive you, will you forgive me?"
I trailed both of my arms around her neck so she had no escape, "For what, love?"
Katniss grinned and kissed my cheeks, then my forehead, and my nose again, "We have been over this I am not your parent and you can decide on things without me." She quoted my thoughts exactly.
I chuckled, "I think you were just forgiven." I told her before her lips crashed down onto mine.
In an effort to not let me escape, Katniss brought one of her hands to the back of my head; intertwining it with my hair and the other to my cheek and started to stroke it. Damn, I loved it when she did that. Her tongue traced my lower lip and I opened my mouth all too eagerly.
Soon, our tongues were battling and I was winning, however she seemed to be letting me win in a way. My tongue invaded her mouth and I searched every inch of it; tasting and loving that she was mine. Then, I pulled my tongue back and kissed her softly again.
"I love you." I whispered while I kissed her.
Before she could respond there was a knock at the door, Haymitch. She rolled her eyes before getting up and opening the door; Haymitch barreled through to the kitchen before Katniss could even say hello.
"Do you have any alcohol?" Haymitch asked raiding our kitchen.
Katniss glanced at me, "No, Haymitch. We are seventeen."
Haymitch turned to Katniss, "It didn't stop you before, sweetheart."
Katniss glared at him, "That was a life or death situation."
I wrapped an arm around her again, "Do you need anything else, Haymitch?" I interrupted them.
"Can't a guy just come and see his favorite neighbors?" Haymitch asked.
"If that guy is you," Katniss asked, "No. What do you want?"
"I just wanted some food because I haven't been to the store lately and I –"Haymitch started.
"Take it." Katniss replied not wanting to hear his excuses, I guessed.
As Haymitch started to steal our food, I led Katniss back to the living room and sat her down on my lap once again.
"Now where were we?" I asked, about to pull her mouth back to mine.
"It's time! Look its six o'clock! It's time to take this bandage off and put the lotion on!" Katniss yelled, getting a glimpse of a clock and darting off my lap into the kitchen, where she had left her purse with all the products to help a new tattoo.
After she ran into the kitchen, I groaned before getting up and walking after her. Katniss was in the middle of taking her bandage off and Haymitch looked on curiously.
"Did you get some ink done, sweetheart?" Haymitch asked her, looking over her shoulder.
"Yes." She replied shortly reading the instruction sheet.
"Don't read that," Haymitch moved the sheet away from her, "Just put on some unscented lotion."
"How would you know?" Katniss asked sounding irritated.
"Sweetheart, I happen to have my own ink." Haymitch told her proudly.
I picked up the sheet for Katniss, "You do?" I asked Haymitch as Katniss thanked me.
"Yes, I do. Don't ask me what they are, but it is right here and another right here." He pointed to his chest and to his triceps.
Katniss and I nodded and Katniss read the sheet again, grabbed a paper-towel, and started to dap the lotion onto the tattoo, "Ouch." She whispered.
I was at her side in an instant, rubbing her shoulders, "Does it hurt?"
Katniss shook her head, moving the lotion over the words, "No, it just stings a little." She shrugged.
"It will do that for awhile." Haymitch interrupted, taking some bread that I cooked earlier.
"What did you do when we didn't live here?" Katniss asked.
Haymitch grunted, "I don't like your attitude, sweetheart."
I came to her defense, "I think that is a pretty valid question though. Did you starve?"
"No, I had some servants get me food." Haymitch shrugged and then left the house with our food.
"You're welcome." Katniss said bitterly watching him leave; she returned her attention to the tattoo. Then, after a few more minutes of silence and me kissing her neck, she was finished. "Look."
I looked up at the tattoo and saw that the redness had gone down but it was still swelling, "That's great love." Then I whispered in her ear, "You are sexy already."
Katniss laughed and shook her head before climbing up the stairs to her bedroom, "Doubtful."
I followed her, "I'm serious, Katniss. Everything about you is alluring." I looked over her body.
Katniss shook her head again, "Peeta, I am already engaged to you and we live together, you don't have to keep trying to woo me."
I laughed, "Beautiful, gorgeous, amazing, and brave." I whispered walking up to her and rubbing my hands up her sides. She gulped as I smiled and continued, "Stunning, perfect, and strong."
Katniss shook her head, "Thank you."
"You don't believe me do you?" I asked her.
Katniss shook her head once again, "No."
"Let me show you how sexy you are." I whispered starting to kiss her, rub her body, and tell her everything perfect about her.
"Peeta it is almost time to meet Jennifer at the restaurant." She whispered breathlessly after our amazing moment. I parted from her and let her get ready.
"Peeta?" Katniss asked a few seconds later. I had taken of my shirt and she was only in her tank top and pants when she returned to the bedroom.
As I saw her arms for the first time, I had to hold in a gasp. Being that the Games had only ended days ago, Katniss still had several cuts and wounds but her scars are what terrified me the most.
There was an outline of two claws on her bicep, from the lion, there were burn marks on forearms and chest; also there were several tiny bruises and cuts all along her arms, neck, face, and the exposed part of her chest. If this is what her top look like, I didn't know if I wanted to see her legs.
She was staring at me as well, she had seen me without a shirt on of course, but those were in the middle of deep passionate kisses so this is the first time she had really seen my scared and beaten up chest as well.
"Yes?" I responded to her earlier question.
Katniss had to tear her eyes away from my chest, "Never mind. I just… never mind. Thank you." She muttered awkwardly, turning to walk back in her closet, before turning back around to kiss me with one hand rubbing my chest lightly, and then she walked back into the closet and shut the door.
Once she was out of sight, I collapsed on the bed. All those scars, I hope she is not hurt. Still, even with all those cuts, she was stunning. Effie was right when she said her powers should be able to pull anything off, because Katniss was absolutely gorgeous in anything she wore.
What was that kiss about, though? Don't get me wrong, I will take anything she gives me; especially kisses but she kissed me after she saw my horrible chest. I wondered what that meant, as I quickly took off my artificial leg, hopped over to the drawer where I had brought some of my clothes over and put on some new pants and shirt.
But, I was in the middle of putting back on my leg when Katniss walked back out. I closed my eyes, expecting her to scream or gasp, but she didn't and I felt her hands helping me put my leg back on. She looked up at me in the middle of screwing it in and smiled, blushing. I smiled back.
"I thought you would be scared of it." I whispered amazed.
"How could I be?" She asked, looking back down at the leg, "It makes you Peeta; my Peeta." She announced smiling at the leg and rubbing what was supposed to be my kneecap.
I stared at her for a long while, "You are amazing." I whispered, not able to find my voice.
She smiled up at me, "Thank you." Then she looked down awkwardly, "I'm sorry you had to see my scars, I should've been more careful." Katniss apologized.
I laughed and picked her up so that she was in my lap again and I kissed her, "You are beautiful, Katniss Everdeen; scars and all." I took her scarred hand and held it against my heart.
Katniss wrapped an arm around me and rubbed my back, "You are too." She whispered in my ear before kissing my cheek.
I started to move her jacket upward so that I could see her damaged arms again; I bent my head down and started to kiss her everywhere there was a mark. After I was done with that arm, I moved to her other arm. When I was finished, I looked back up at Katniss and found her silently crying.
"You are so perfect." Her voice broke on and off from her crying.
I smiled at her and moved away her tears with my lips. After she was done crying, she hugged me around the neck and kissed my hair and temple over and over again.
"I could live a thousand lives and not deserve you." She whispered.
Instantly, I pulled her away from me and shook my head, "Katniss, don't you think for a minute that I am more important to you than you are to me."
Katniss didn't reply but she kissed me passionately, telling me everything she was thinking. After our kiss, I was slightly lightheaded but she looked up at the clock.
"I suppose we need to get going." She shrugged, getting off of my lap, and pulling me up with her.
Katniss locked the house and we started to walk to the restaurant in silence, but as we neared the restaurant Katniss linked her arm with mine and leaned against my shoulder. I smiled at the gesture and opened the door for her.
As soon as we entered the room, everyone was staring at us, but Katniss told the hostess that we were here to see Jennifer and she led us to a secluded area with only one booth; where Jennifer was sitting look at a menu with a man to her left.
"Jennifer?" Katniss asked, walking up to the table with me. Jennifer looked up and ran into Katniss's arms again and she hugged me as well; looking me up and down.
"Hey you two! I'm glad you could make it!" Jennifer led us to the table. The man was staring at us in awe. I groaned internally.
"Thank you for getting a secluded table, Jennifer." I honestly thanked her. She nodded.
"Of course, when I said I would be meeting you two here the hostess tried to place us in the middle of the room but I told her no and that we needed this table." Jennifer pointed at the table. "Katniss and Peeta this is Paul Smith. Paul this is Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark."
Jennifer introduced us to what I supposed to be her date. I glanced down at Katniss before shaking his hand.
"Pleasure to meet you Paul." I shook his hand; Paul smiled back but didn't say anything.
"It's nice to meet you, Paul." Katniss shook his hand as well, Paul didn't seem happy, but I liked that she did that, "Are you two on a date?" She motioned between Paul and Jennifer.
"It's a great pleasure to meet you as well, Katniss." Paul only looked at her and I instantly didn't like him, "Yes. We are." Paul wrapped an arm around Jennifer.
Katniss glanced at me before she scooted down into the booth on the other side of where they were eating, I sat next to her; sitting as close to her as possible so maybe Jennifer would get the hint. Katniss is supposed to be her best friend and I am engaged. Paul and Jennifer sat across from us. Paul looked at Katniss in a way that I did not approve of. I had to look up at the light in an effort to not burn him to ashes and I also grabbed Katniss's hand; which calmed me immediately.
After the waitress came back and ordered our drinks and meals, Jennifer turned to us.
"So what are you two going to do now that the games are over?" She asked, staring at me for a long while.
Katniss noticed and looked between us before responding, "I don't know, I think I am going to back into the photography business and Peeta said he is going to work back in the bakery."
"Photography?" Paul asked, finding an excuse to look at Katniss, "You take pictures?"
"My Katniss," I glared at him, "takes excellent pictures." I smiled down at Katniss and kissed her temple.
"Great," Jennifer smiled at Katniss, "I have always loved your photos."
Katniss nodded smiling back, "Thanks."
I looked down at Katniss and thought, "You do, love. You take fantastic pictures. I love you. You look so pretty."
Katniss gave me a look that said what did you do? I just smiled at her, shook my head, and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. She smiled at me for a moment until her head darted to Paul and then she scooted closer to me which almost landed her in my lap.
"I just loved in the Games, when you stopped the water; to help your friends across. Do you remember that?" Paul asked.
Katniss gave him an incredulous look, "Yes, I think I remember that."
"Kat! Did you get a tattoo?" Jennifer pointed to her left wrist.
Katniss looked at her wrist, "Yes, today, actually before we saw you." She smiled, holding her wrist out to Jennifer.
"I love it!" Jennifer then looked at me, "So, Peeta, I have seen some of the cakes you have made in the newspaper. You are so talented." She sighed, staring at my hair.
"Thank you," I looked at Katniss as I responded, "I appreciate that." Katniss looked between us again. "I love you so much. I could live a thousands lives and not deserve you." Itold her in my head. Katniss looked up at me and shook her head.
Then, she looked back at Jennifer about to ask her a question when Paul interrupted her.
"So you two just got together, right?" Paul asked, motioning between us.
"A year ago, but we are getting married." I held up Katniss's hand that had the ring on it. Paul was speechless.
"It's beautiful." He faked a smile as he grabbed Katniss's hand and observed the ring.
Paul ran his fingers over hers and then rubbed her hand as if she were cold. Katniss pulled back, hearing me gasp, she grabbed my face and kissed me fully on the mouth with intense passion. I was about to respond when she broke away.
"I am going to the bathroom." She whispered. I nodded, letting her out of the booth, and staring at her backside as she walked away.
Jennifer practically pushed Paul out of the seat, "Honey, don't you need to go to the restroom as well?"
Paul looked down at her oddly then he registered, "Oh yes. I will be back soon."
"You don't have to go." I pleaded as he shook his head and practically ran into the boy's restroom.
Hesitantly and slowly, I turned back to Jennifer who gave me a grin and sprayed some bad smelling perfume on herself. She then leaned forward on the table and laying her head elegantly on her fingers where she locked them. Jennifer blinked a few times as if she had something in her eye.
"So, Peeta Mellark, how are you?" Jennifer asked, bating her big brown eyes.
"Great, how are you?" I asked tentatively. Jennifer's hand started to get nearer to my over the table and I pulled back immediately.
"Peeta, you don't have to be so scared." Jennifer persistently tried to grab my hand. I placed mine under the table in my lap.
"Jennifer, listen-" I tried but she cut me off.
"Let this happen, Peeta. Let us happen." Jennifer winked at me.
My mouth gaped open, "I beg your pardon."
"Peeta, Peeta, oh sweet adorable helpless Peeta." Jennifer shook her head, her hand started to reach across the table to move my hair out of my eyes.
"Jennifer, you know I am engaged and in love with your best friend Katniss, right?" I asked, pulling away from her hand as it started to stroke my cheek.
"Look, I know you are in love with my best friend because she is famous, but feel free to come over to my work anytime." Jennifer replied.
"Jennifer, I have been in love with Katniss Everdeen since I first saw her when I was five years old." I defended my love for Katniss.
After that, Jennifer sat back in her booth and Katniss walked up as soon as the food came. She sat down beside me, not making me get up and I glanced at her before looking back to Jennifer. The waitress came with our food.
"Excuse me, miss, can we get this as a to-go order?" I asked the waitress pointing to Katniss and I. Katniss looked at me questioningly. The waitress nodded and brought two to go cases. I filled my food in one and Katniss's in the other.
"We will see you later, Jennifer. Give Paul our best." I told Jennifer not looking at her, pushing Katniss lightly out of the booth as I could tell she was mad at me.
"Bye." Jennifer acted as if she were confused. Katniss and Jennifer hugged before she followed me out wordlessly.
As I carried the food, Katniss and I didn't speak but I kept making sure she was behind me. At one point, I transferred the food into one hand and hesitantly grabbed her hand with my free one. She didn't resist my hand but she did give me a glare.
"I'll explain when we get home." I told her honestly.
We arrived back at the house as I thought of a way to explain this to her without hurting her. I laid out the table and set our food up on the table with care. We ate in silence as I thought and she was left in complete darkness. I sighed as I set my fork down after I finished my last bite.
"I'm sorry I dragged you out of there so fast." I apologized looking up into her grey eyes.
"Why did you do it?" She asked, her eyes filled with confusion. I sighed again.
I looked away from her, "I don't know how to tell you without it hurting you." I played with my fork as I pushed my crumbs around in the plate.
"Peeta, you can tell me anything." She whispered, coming up, around the table, and sitting on my lap.
I looked at her for a long time moving a strand of hair to her ear, "While you were in the restroom, Jennifer might have said some things."
"Like what?" She asked. "Did she say she didn't like us together?"
"Kind of..." I thought about what to say. "Katniss, she kind of... flirted with me."
Katniss looked down and shook her head. "She does that all the time." She whispered.
"What?" I asked.
"She does that all the time. Every-time I get close to a man, she flirts with them and then tries to convince them to leave me for her! She did it to Gale." Katniss flew off of my lap and started to pace beside the table.
"Why does she do that?" I asked, dumfounded.
"I don't know, Peeta. I don't know." Katniss looked back at me, "It's like she doesn't want me to be happy and right when I feel happy she takes it away instantly!" She yelled fully annoyed.
I rose from the chair, "Katniss, I'm sure thats not it." I told her calmly.
"Yes it is! What else could it be, Peeta?" Katniss asked, not looking for an answer, "Did she say
'I know your dating my best friend but you can come by my work any day'?" She demanded.
I looked down, "Yes, she did. She accused me of loving you because you are famous." Katniss shook her head.
"Why does she do this to me?" Katniss asked hopelessly as she sank to the ground.
"Katniss, anyone who breaks down your relationships is not your true friend." I told her softly, crouching beside her and rubbing my hand over her back. I paused, "Just so you know, I love you forever and ever famous or not."
"Yes, I know. I love you too." Katniss laughed then she hesitated, "What else did she say?"
I gulped before telling her the truth, "She told me to 'let this happen, to let us happen,' as if there was ever a relationship between us. Also, when I first met her, as I was hugging her goodbye she winked at me in a flirtatious matter."
Katniss shook her head again, "I don't understand. Why would someone always want to cut you down and step on you, and attack you of all people?" She asked.
I laid her head on my shoulder and rubbed her back, "I don't know, love. I just don't know."
Katniss shifted beside me, brought her head up to kiss me quickly, and then laid her head face down on my shoulder again. "Peeta?" She asked.
"Yes, love?"
"Will you tell me how much you love me?" Katniss asked and I could tell from the way she was saying it that she was embarrassed. I pulled her head back and stared into her eyes as I rubbed my fingers over her cheeks.
"I love you more than there are stars in the sky. I love you more than I ever thought anyone could love a person. Katniss Everdeen, every morning I wake up so tremendously happy just because you are laying next to me. I love you, Katniss. I could never tell you how much I love you, because words can't begin to describe what I feel for you. I love you." I tried to express how much I loved her. Then, I kissed her so passionately that I thought the world would explode.
Katniss pulled back, "I love you too. I'm sorry, I don't know how to respond to that. Thank you so much," She hugged me tightly, "I love you so much. So much, Peeta." She whispered.
"Thank you for loving me. Don't apologize, Katniss. That was a pretty incredible speech," I cracked a smile at her, "but it is all true."
Next, we simply hugged. We hugged for the longest time just telling each other how much we love each other and how thankful we are of each other. Then, I pulled away from her.
"Would you like for me to make you some dessert?" I asked her, wiping away some of her tears.
Katniss nodded, "Sure, I think I am going to bed after. My sleeping patterns are still off."
"Why don't you go get change into some pajamas and I'll make you a dessert?" I suggested. Katniss nodded, kissing me once more, and then she ran back upstairs.
In our manner hours of talking, I had discovered that she loved Bundt cake and chocolate covered strawberries. I started to make it for her as she was upstairs. While I baked, I had to think about how much I loved being here. Being able to wake up to her every day, comforting her during her nightmares, kissing her while she cries, and seeing her excitement as she talked about the wedding. Her excitement to marry me.
I was simply Peeta Mellark. I had scars covering my body. My hair was always in a mess, I had cloudy blue eyes, and an artificial leg. I was nothing compared to the brave, strong, and absolutely stunning woman that I was going to marry. I shook my head as I placed the dough on the cutting board and used one hand to heat it and the other hand to pour chocolate over her strawberries.
After the cake and strawberries were done, I placed them on plates with knives and some virgin alcohol in two fancy glasses then, I waited for a few second; seeing if I should wait down here or if I should feed her in the bedroom. The bedroom, I decided immediately.
Walking careful up the stairs, while I balanced the glasses, bottle, and two plates in two hands, I walked into the bedroom to see a light on in the closet. Katniss must be in there, I thought.
"Peeta?" She called.
"Yes, I am in here, love." I told her sitting down on the bed and making it look romantic.
Katniss came out of the closet in her Capri blue sweat pants and an over sized shirt that looked familiar.
"I hope you don't mind." Katniss told me, pointing to the shirt. "It is yours."
"Mind? I don't mind at all, honey. You look so adorable in it, how could I mind?" I asked.
Katniss smiled and looked at the food, "Peeta, this looks delicious."
I grabbed a strawberry to feed to her, "Thank you."
After that, we spent an hour just feed each other food and laughing. Katniss made me so happy. After the cake and strawberries were gone, I placed them down on the ground beside the bed. We snuggled together and I thanked God for what a lovely girl I had that loved me.
A/N: Thanks for reading! I have to admit that I am not very happy with this chapter! Sorry, but I hope you all enjoyed it! I love you all!
Nikki500 thanks a lot!
You-one-and-only thank you!
VMars lover don't apologize! I actually like readers like you who push me to keep going!
JRKy great! Then I hope you loved this chapter!
Faildown thanks!
Franceca Mellark-Hawthorne thanks!
Fantasyfreak87 thanks a lot!
DuncanamdGwen4ever yep she was! Haha