Author's note: So ready for you guys to read this one! Thank you so much for all the reads, reviews, follows, and favorites.

Happy reading!

Chapter Twelve

Peeta was just finishing putting the grill in place when Katniss pulled into the driveway. Caleb launched himself out and ran over.

"Peeta, Mom let me bring my water guns!" The boy exclaimed.

"Awesome! I have some water balloons Callie spent most of the morning filling. And Finnick said they'd bring a sprinkler." He looked up when Katniss walked over with a container and a bag slung over her shoulder. "Hi."

"Hi." She stopped short and indicated the container. "I brought potato salad. But it's from the grocery deli. I couldn't make potato salad to save my life. And extra clothes for me and Caleb, just in case. I hate to be wet."

He chuckled. "You can stash that potato salad the fridge until time to eat. And your clothes can go in the bathroom. There's a hook on the back of the door."

She nodded and stood awkwardly for a moment. She pressed a quick kiss to his cheek and then hurried inside. "Why did you do that?" She asked herself as she opened the fridge.

"Did you say something, Katniss?" Callie asked.

Katniss closed the refrigerator door. "Just talking to myself."

"I hear that's not healthy." The girl said with a grin.

Katniss laughed. "It's just a thing that people do sometimes." She draped an arm around Callie's shoulders. "So, Miss Calliope, what do you know?"

"Not much. You know no one calls me Calliope." She said.

"Sorry. If you don't like it, I won't do it again."

Callie shrugged. "Most people say it wrong anyway. But if you want to call me Calliope, I wouldn't mind." She gave the woman a bright smile. "I like when you're around. Dad's eyes aren't quite as cloudy."

Katniss gave her a squeeze. "You and your dad are great friends to Caleb and me."

"Yeah." Callie sighed. "Oh, hey, Finn is here."

"Awesome." She patted Callie's back as she walked away.

"Katniss!" Finn called and ran over to meet them. "Did you bring your bow?"

Katniss laughed. "I don't carry the bow with me everywhere, kid. Sorry."

Annie said, "Don't be a bother, Finn." She threw an arm over her son's shoulders. "This one grew a new appreciation for you, Katniss." She leaned in and stage whispered, "And I think he's a little in love with you."

"Mom!" His cheeks turned bright red and he grabbed Callie's arm and pulled her away. "Let's help my dad set stuff up."

Both women laughed. Annie turned to Katniss and said, "So how's it going?"

"Not too bad." Katniss said. "Caleb and I have been hanging out and sleeping in the last couple weeks. Well, I want to sleep in, but my body and my kid won't let me half the time, but I'm trying."

"I hear ya." Annie said with a chuckle. "But Finnick brings me breakfast in bed about once a month. And I get to be pampered for just a few minutes."

"Lucky woman." Katniss looked toward Peeta a moment. Caleb stood at his side, asking questions. Peeta was patiently answering.

"You could be a lucky woman, too." Annie said. "I'm sure Peeta would pamper you every day."

Katniss shook her head. "I don't date. And I know Peeta doesn't either."

Annie shrugged. "That's fine. But don't completely discredit him. Or yourself."

Katniss nodded and followed Annie toward the grill where the others gathered.

Peeta smiled and said, "After this thing warms up, I'll get some burgers and hot dogs on. Caleb said he was ready for water time."

"Me too!" Finnick exclaimed.

Finn gave an evil grin and pulled a water balloon out from behind his back. "Then you should probably run, Dad." He threw the balloon and took off for the other end of the yard.

Katniss laughed and took off after the rest of them. She and Finnick teamed up against the kids and lost horribly. By the time all the balloons were gone, they were drenched. Annie handed them each a towel and they left the kids to play with the water guns and the sprinkler. They sat at the table near the grill.

Gale and Prim arrived shortly after. Prim sat beside Katniss with a groan.

Gale said, "We're late because the morning sickness is terrible. And I didn't realize morning sickness was all day."

Katniss made a sympathetic face at her sister and rubbed her arm. "I'd hug you, but I'm soaking wet."

"I don't care." Prim moved her chair closer and curled up against Katniss's side. "I feel like shit. I've barely left my bed except to puke up my guts in the bathroom. And that grill is about to kill me."

"Peeta, do you have some peppermint extract?" Katniss asked.

He nodded. "I do. At the bakery. Why?"

"If she drinks some peppermint in tea, she should feel a little better. I hope." She kissed her sister's temple and squeezed her.

Peeta nodded. "I'll get it and be right back. Finnick, will you keep an eye on this?"

"No problem." Finnick stood and took the spatula.

"Katniss, there are some tea bags in the cabinet above the stove. The kettle should be ready to go."

Katniss smiled. "Thanks." She gently pushed Prim away. "Cuddle with your husband."

Prim grumbled some more. "Why would I want to do that? That jerk got me into this condition."

Gale said, "Don't blame me, I wanted to wait." He pulled her onto his lap and rubbed her back. She fit perfectly under his chin.

Katniss and Peeta went in separate directions. Katniss put the water on to boil and then let herself into the bathroom to change out of her wet clothes. She started singing softly to herself and continued the song as she walked into the kitchen to make the tea.

Peeta stood there. He shook himself. "You're like a siren."

"A siren? Those sea creatures that led sailors to their deaths?"

He smiled. "You could very well be the death of someone." He poured the water from the kettle into a cup and then put a few drops from a peppermint vial into it. "Alex never got sick."

"I think it's the Everdeen genes. I was almost constantly ill the first month with Caleb." She took the tea from him and their fingers brushed.

"Maybe Alex got sick and I never knew." He shrugged.

She stepped closer. "Thanks."

"You're welcome." He grinned and tilted his head to the side. "What about one of those bad idea kisses?"

She shook her head and stepped away. "Not right now." She turned and hurried out to hand Prim the tea. "Drink that. Maybe it will help."

Prim took the cup and sipped. "Hot tea reminds me of Dad." She continued to lean against Gale and sipped slowly.

Peeta came out of the house with his arms loaded down with side dishes and condiments. Annie hopped up and helped him put everything out.

"Do you need anything else from the house?" Katniss asked.

"Yeah, the paper plates are on the counter and some forks are…" Peeta scrunched up his face. "I forgot to get plastic forks. We'll use actual forks. I have a dishwasher."

"I remember where the silverware drawer is." She started to head to the house.

"How many times have you been over here?" Finnick asked with a cheeky grin. "I hope you are being safe. And waiting until the kids are asleep."

Peeta shoved him. "Shut up, man. We're friends."

The kids paused in their playing long enough to eat then immediately went back to the water. The adults watched them a while as they ate a more leisurely pace.

Finnick said, "I have a serious question I have been thinking about for a while, Peeta."

Peeta and Annie exchanged a look. Peeta sighed and said, "I shouldn't say this, but what is the question?"

"How do you how do you handle your sexual desires?"

"Finnick, that really isn't appropriate." Annie said.

"No, but I'm curious." Finnick said. "You can't have gone nine years living as a monk."

Peeta blushed. "Not that it's any of your business, but I haven't needed a woman to fulfill those needs. It would be nice, but no one has ever matched up to Alex."

Finnick shook his head. "You were eighteen."

"And so was Annie when you married her. You have gone nine years with the same person. I'm sure it's close to the same thing." He looked pointedly at Annie. "Except we know it happens every once in a while."

Annie patted her husband's hand. "Stop."

"But I wanted to ask Katniss." He whined.

Katniss looked down. "All of my experiences with sex weren't positive. So it's not been a big sacrifice for me to be celibate."

"Like you didn't get off?" Finnick asked.

She looked in in the eye. "Like I was forced." She got up and mumbled about needing to use the bathroom and walked quickly away.

There was an awkward silence.

Finnick said, "I didn't know."

Prim said, "Hardly anyone does. You all just assume Cato's abuse was in the form of hurting her when he thought she stepped out of line or yelling at her. But it was everywhere. He had control. She hated that he had control and it took her a long time to get hers back."

Peeta got up and followed. He found the bathroom door closed and heard Katniss on the other side saying something to herself.

"My name is Katniss Everdeen. I'm twenty-seven years old. My son is Caleb. My sister is Prim. My best friend is Gale."

"Katniss?"

She stopped abruptly and opened the door. "I'm okay. I just don't like to think about it."

He nodded. "I understand."

She twisted her hands. "I'm fine."

"Are you really?" He stepped closer. "Because I have ears waiting to listen."

She took a deep breath and nodded. "I'm fine."

He placed a hand on the side of her face and rubbed his thumb over her cheekbone. "Want to follow a bad idea again?"

She smiled. "Yes."

He leaned close. "You don't mind a kiss?"

"I don't." She met him the rest of the way for a soft series of kisses.

He finally stepped back and leaned against the opposite wall. "You want to hang out one of these days? Just us?"

"I don't date, Peeta. And you don't either."

"Friends can hang out. Friends can see movies together, grab a beer, talk. A man and a woman can be friends and spend time together and it not be a date." He wasn't sure exactly who he was trying to convince.

She nodded. "I'll think about it."

"Good." He nodded. "And the kids like to hang out. So we can do things all together." He smiled. "Can I have another kiss?"

She shook her head. "Caleb and I should get going."

"Yeah, okay." He motioned her ahead of him.

She stepped out of the house and called, "Caleb, get your things together and say your goodbyes."

Finnick met her. "I am so sorry, Katniss. I can be an asshole sometimes."

Katniss shook her head. "It's something I don't think about most of the time and I don't even talk about it. Don't bring it up again and we'll be okay."

"Promise." He leaned in, "Gale and I can figure out a way to kill him or at least maim him."

"I'd help." Peeta said with a reassuring smile. He reached over and plucked something off her shoulder. "You had a piece of fluff."

"Thanks." She smiled.

Caleb threw his arms around Peeta. "I want to come back soon."

Peeta dropped to his knees in front of the boy. "I'll talk with your mom about that. I liked helping you decorate the cake the other day. Maybe we can do that again."

"I'd like it." Caleb looked up at Katniss. "Mama, please?"

"Sure." She smiled at Peeta. "I'll text you."

"Good." Peeta ruffled Caleb's hair as he stood. He said softly, "I'll be waiting patiently."

"Get it." Finnick said.

Annie slapped his stomach with the back of her hand. "Stop it, Finnick."

"Yes, dear." He rubbed his stomach. "You're so mean to me."

"Well, if you'd keep your mouth shut sometimes, I wouldn't have to clean up your messes." She gave him an adoring smile. "Your cute mouth."

He grinned and covered her mouth with his.

Katniss shook her head. "We'll see you around." She and Caleb finished packing up and left. She kind of wished she had let Peeta have that last kiss.