Author's note: A couple big things happen here. One is a little traumatic (trigger warning for aftermath of abuse). But it's preface with a little loveliness, to soften the blow.

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Happy reading!

Chapter Twenty-Two

As the pie cooled, Katniss dozed on Peeta's chest on the couch. A movie played on the TV. He wasn't paying a lot of attention. He combed his fingers through her hair and down her back. He enjoyed having the weight of her on top of him. It was a comfort to know he wasn't alone. If he had been at home by himself, he would have made something simple for supper and already been asleep in bed.

Katniss stirred and looked up at him. "Hi." She smiled.

He smiled. "Hi."

"I fell asleep. I'm sorry."

"I don't mind." He kissed her forehead.

"Is that pie ready yet?"

"I believe it may be. But you have to get off me to check."

She pressed a kiss to his lips before she sat up and stretched.

He watched her. She still wore only his shirt and her panties. Her thighs and hips were visible. He reached out and ran his hand down her leg. They leaned in at the same time and met for a kiss.

"Pie or make out?" She asked.

"That's a hard one." He kissed her again. "I did a lot of work to make that pie perfect."

"You did. But it will still be there in a few minutes." She reclined on the couch and pulled him on top of her.

Their mouths met as their hands began to explore. Peeta's hand moved under Katniss's shirt and cupped her breast. She moaned and pressed herself up into his touch. He lifted the shirt until her breasts were exposed to the air. He dropped his head and rained kisses over both the mounds. She wiggled beneath him as the heat rose in her body.

"Peeta, please?" She whined.

"What do you want?" He took her nipple into his mouth and sucked. He twirled his tongue around it as he massaged the other.

She shifted underneath him and removed her underpants. She took his hand from her other breast and slipped it between her thighs. "Keep your mouth where it is."

He hummed his assent and sent a jolt to where his hand moved against her. She bucked her hips against him and he added pressure and speed. He lifted his head and watched her for several ragged breaths. Her eyes were closed. She spoke a string of unintelligible words. He smiled and pressed his lips to the valley between her breasts and over to the other to give it the same attention.

As soon as his lips made contact, she let out a loud moan and pressed every bit of her into him. Her senses exploded and her eyes popped open. She gasped his name as she met her climax. He brought his mouth back to hers and kissed her lazily as she came down from the high.

"You going to leave your hand there all night?" She asked with a smirk.

He chuckled and slowly moved his hand from her warmth and up under her waist to hold her close. "Sorry."

"It's fine." She kissed him again and slipped her hands under his waistband. "Stand up."

He did. She grabbed his hips and pulled him in front of her as she sat up. She unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them down. She swallowed as she looked at him. She felt suddenly unsure if her own intentions.

He dropped to his knees in front of her. He smiled. "I know you want to reciprocate, but I see that you're thinking about something."

"I don't know if I can do… Are you partial to blow jobs or can we take those off the table?"

"Gone. Anything else?" He kissed her hands.

"Do you want something else?"

"Are you up for it?"

She opened her mouth and shut it again. "I'm sorry." Her face contorted.

He cupped her cheeks. "It's fine. There's still pie."

"To put your dick in?"

He chuckled. "To put in our mouths." He stood and pulled up his pants. He made an uncomfortable face as he fastened them around his erection.

She pointed. "That's not okay."

"It's not. But it will be."

She shook her head. "Why do you have to be so difficult?"

"It's not being difficult, it's being accommodating." He walked toward the kitchen.

She followed. She took his hips and backed him against the counter. She pressed her palm over his erection as she put her mouth over his.

Peeta's arms clutched at her as Katniss continued to caress him. He pressed into her touch and moaned into her mouth. He came rather quickly and leaned back against the counter. "God, Katniss."

She looked down. "Better go change those."

He followed her gaze. "Probably should. Good thing I'm staying the night."

She moved away and got two plates from the cabinet.

"You didn't put your panties back on."

"I didn't." She took out a knife and started slicing the pie. "Got a problem with that?"

He smirked and shook his head. "No, ma'am." He stepped up behind her and gently grabbed her hips. "How about we eat this in bed and then fall asleep tangled in the sheets?"

"Okay. You go change and I'll be in in a couple minutes."

"Sounds good to me." He kissed her cheek and stepped away.

Peeta woke up needing to use the bathroom, but with Katniss draped over his chest, he didn't want to move. He lay there a few more minutes until he couldn't stand it anymore. He gently pushed her off to the side and hurried from the room.

He returned to find her curled into a tight ball on the other side of the bed. He wrapped himself around her and she immediately started screaming and lashing out.

He grabbed her wrists. "Hey, Katniss. Calm down."

She only thrashed even harder.

He moved away. "Katniss, wake up."

She opened her eyes and looked around wildly until she figured out where she was. She rolled over and pressed her face into the pillow and sobbed heavily.

"It's okay." He slowly moved closer and wrapped an arm around her.

She moved and pressed her face into his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"It's okay." He rubbed her back.

She looked up. "Did I hurt you?"

"No. Did I hurt you?"

"No." She rested her head on his chest again. "I don't think I can get back to sleep."

Peeta picked up his phone. "Well, it's almost five."

"You slept in." She teased.

"I did. It feels good. You want me to make breakfast?"

"Fresh cinnamon rolls." She sighed.

"Yes. It'll take a few hours."

"Sounds good to me. I'll watch you work."

He gently took her face in his hands and kissed her softly. "Will you go somewhere with me later?"

"Where?"

"The cemetery. I want to…I'm going to let her go."

"You don't have to do it right away."

"It's time I did. And I want you there."

"What about the kids?"

"We can pick them up and head up there." He kissed her again. "What do you say?"

"Okay."

They spent the rest of the morning being as close to each other as possible, even showering together. Somehow they managed to wash between kisses.

"What's that?" Katniss pointed to a scar running across Peeta's knee as he propped his leg up to dry it. "I didn't notice it."

"The lighting is better in here." He smiled. "I played football in high school. But when I was at the end of my junior year season, I took a bad fall and tore my ACL. Had to get surgery and everything. I never played another game again." He wrapped a towel around his waist. He trailed his finger along a scar on her stomach. "C-section?"
She nodded.

"Stretch marks." He touched a few. "You have a bit more character than me." He held out his hands. "A few burns. That's it for me."

She turned and pointed to her shoulder. "I got shot by a kid once."

"Whoa!" He touched the spot and then kissed it. He wrapped his arms around her. "Beautiful."

"So are you." She leaned against him a moment and then stepped away. "We should get dressed. Have to get our kids and go to your errand."

He nodded.

She cupped his cheek. "Let me know how I can help you."

"I will." He turned his head and kissed her palm. "Bathroom is all yours." He stepped out.

They finally were headed out. They picked up Caleb first. He saw Peeta and ran into his arms, bypassing his mother.

"Why are you here?" He asked happily.

"Your mom and I decided we wanted to get you and Callie and take a small trip that's very important to me." Peeta explained.

Katniss kissed her son's head and walked a little farther into the house. She wrapped her arms around her sister. "How did he do?"

Prim hugged her tightly. "He did really well. Didn't want to go to sleep. Gale ended up sleeping with him."

Gale shrugged. "It was fine by me. Caleb doesn't hog the blanket."

"I get cold." Prim defended.

"So do I. And I can't help it that you're not a cuddler."

Peeta chuckled and exchanged a look with Katniss. "We need to go get Callie."

"We do." Katniss kissed her sister's temple. She patted Prim's stomach. "This one can stay with me any time."

"I'm going to be begging you for that, I'm sure." Prim chuckled.

"Caleb, tell your aunt and uncle thank you."

Caleb took turns hugging each of the other adults. They then picked up Callie who happily greeted Caleb and Katniss as she got into the car.

Peeta leaned into the car and kissed her cheek. "I missed you, kid."

"Missed you too, Dad."

He looked between the other two and then back to his daughter. "You want to go see Mom?"

Callie looked around the car and then nodded. "Yeah. We haven't gone in a while."

"It's been too long." He kissed her forehead and closed the door.

Caleb had one of Peeta's hands and Callie had the other as they picked their way through the graves. Peeta and Callie knew the way. Katniss trailed behind, wanting to wrap her arms around her friend's sagging shoulders.

"Here." Callie said.

"Alexandrea Marie Mellark." Caleb read.

Callie read the rest. "Beloved daughter, wife, and mother." She sat down in front of the headstone. "Hi, Mom."

Caleb sat beside her and watched her as she traced the letters and numbers. He reached up and traced them, too. "Do you miss her?"

"I never knew her. So not really." Callie admitted.

"I never knew my daddy."

Peeta covered his face with his hands and leaned forward. His shoulders shook.

Katniss reached out and rubbed his back.

He looked at her. "Do you think I could get some time alone here?"

"Sure." She squeezed his shoulder and then kneeled down beside the kids. "Hey, let's take a walk. Sometimes I like to find names I've never seen before."

Callie stood and pointed toward the entrance. "There's one over there with the name Verity."

Katniss held out her hand. "Why don't you show me?"

Peeta watched them walk away. Caleb looked back over his shoulder for several steps and Peeta gave him a reassuring smile. He sat down in the spot his daughter had just vacated. He reached out and dusted the grass clippings and dirt off the base of the headstone.

"Hi, Alex. That woman is Katniss. And the boy is her son. And I like them a lot. She doesn't think she likes me yet, but I hope she changes her mind." He traced her name slowly. "I'm here to let you go. I hate to." His voice broke. "But I can't keep holding onto the past. I'll tell Callie about you whenever she asks, but I won't be loving you the same anymore. Or worried that I loved you at all. It was so long ago, wasn't it?" He felt the tears rolling hotly down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Alex. I'm so tired. I'm tired of this weight I have from you."

He looked over when he heard the kids laughing. They leaned close to a headstone. He saw Katniss had a look of playful disapproval on her face.

He whispered, "I think I love her."

Peeta felt his shoulders lighten at the admission. But he didn't know how he would ever convince Katniss. He'd just follow in her lead and see where their friendship took them. As long as the things they did last night could be repeated, he knew he'd probably never be completely satisfied. But if that was what satisfied her, he would let it continue for years.

"I'll bring Callie to see you. And we'll definitely still keep in touch with your folks. But I probably won't come back. I'm moving on." He leaned forward and pressed his lips to the cold stone and stood.

Katniss watched as the kids played leap frog near the entrance to the cemetery. Peeta slipped his hand into hers and squeezed it.

She wiped his cheeks with her thumb. "Better?"

He nodded. "I will be." He watched the two play for a while then he looked back at her. "I need a kiss."

She smiled and placed her hand on his cheek. She pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. She whispered, "I'll give you a better one when we're alone."

He squeezed her hand again. "Thank you." He smiled and ran forward. He took a giant leap over both kids. "Who's hungry?"

The kids chorused, "Me!"

Callie asked, "Can we eat with Grandma and Grandpa?"

"I'll invite them. I think we need to go to that pizza place you like. The one with the games."

Katniss said, "Peeta, are you sure?"

"I am." He put his phone to his ear. "Hey, Al, how's it going?"

"Oh, pretty good. Just setting up the grill. You in town? Want to join us?"

"We were going to get pizza, but I think your hamburgers will be better."

Callie nodded enthusiastically.

"Callie agrees. Can we bring two guests?"

Al chuckled. "Sure can. Katniss and Caleb?"

Peeta paused. "Yeah. Is that okay?"

"It's fine. So are you dating her yet?"

He chuckled. "I'll talk with you about that one when I get there. Fair enough?"

"Sure. See you in a bit."

"Change of plan. Al makes the best burgers. He seasons them just right and he stuffs them with cheese. Mm, they are so good."

Katniss smiled and nodded. "Sounds good. Should we go pick something up to share?"

Peeta shook his head. "They have everything. But I'll be helping with the grill. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine."

"Load up." He told the kids. He took Katniss's hand and led her several feet away. "If they make you uncomfortable, let me know. After I tell them about this, they're probably going to push me to date. And they may look to you."

She nodded. "I'll be fine." She rested her hand on his chest. "Are you going to be okay?"

He placed his hand on top of hers. "I already am. I actually felt my shoulders get lighter."

She reached up and wiped at a wayward tear. "I'm always available to talk."

"I know." He looked over her shoulder and pulled her behind a small brick wall. "Can I get proper kiss?"

She nodded and parted her lips just a little. His lips made contract with hers and their tongues slid together slowly. He pulled away and kissed the tip of her nose.

"Thank you." He stepped away.

"You're welcome."