Author's Note: So last chapter didn't have a good response :(. I didn't get as many reviews as I used to. Was it that bad? So anyway, this is the chapter preparation for the time of our lovers' lives. I really hope you like it and please let me know what you think. Here is chapter 29. Enjoy.

I don't own The Hunger Games

Chapter 29

Katniss's POV

My eyes open and I find it hard to focus, all I see is black and darkness. It takes me some time to realize that I'm lying on Peeta's bed and I just woke up in the middle of the night and I can't remember any nightmare. I roll over and reach for Peeta but I only find emptiness and a cold spot. I sit up and try to force my eyes to adjust and that's when I see a silhouette sitting on the edge of the bed,

"Peeta?" I whisper, my voice is hoarse and my throat is dry. No answer, he probably didn't even hear me. "Peeta, is that you?" I try again.

"Yes. It's alright Katniss, go back to sleep." He says. His voice sounds like he is in pain and is trying to force the words out. I feel my heart racing, could he be having a flashback? I thought they were under complete control since he is taking the medicine for that. Maybe he just had a nightmare? Before I can think twice I crawl on the sheets until I reach him. I gently place my hand on his back and feel his entire body tense up.

"Are you having a flashback?" I ask

"No...no, no please just go back and lie down." his voice is even worse now, it sounds like he is about to cry.

"Peeta, what's wrong? please let me help you." when there is no answer I slowly crawl back and turn the night light on. The scene before me makes my eyes water, Peeta is hugging his torso where the white bandage is and I can see blood coming from the incision he got from the surgery to reconstruct his ribs. "PEETA, PEETA WHAT IS HAPPENING?" Tears are making my vision blurry. I don't know what is wrong with him but I know that he is in pain.

"I forgot to take my painkiller before I went to bed. It feels like everything is ripping inside of me." He cries. I'm so desperate that I don't know what to do.

"I...I...DO YOU NEED ME TO CALL SOMEONE? I'M GOING TO CALL HAYMITCH OR GREASY SAE OKAY?" I'm trying so hard to keep myself together but I can feel my world falling apart. He is crying out and writhing. Seeing Peeta in pain is worst that feeling pain myself, I don't know what is happening and how bad it is.

"No. No, baby. There is no reason for that. Can you walk to my bathroom and get me my bottle of pills and the first aid box with the bandages?" I just nod and half walk half stumble towards his bathroom. I can barely see what is in front of me. My vision is blurry because of my tears and I see dark spots everywhere, my lungs feel like they are on fire. Save Peeta. That is the only thought on my mind right now, so I hold myself together and find what he asked as soon as possible. I run back to the bedroom and handle his his pills.

"Thank you baby." Peeta takes two pills and takes deep breaths. The pills seemed to have worked because he starts to unroll the bandage almost right away. I try to look away but I can't, I want to be ready if he needs something. The bandages fall off leaving his torso completely bare revealing some bruises but It doesn't look as bad as I thought it would, I'm guessing the problem is inside. The incision is bleeding but it's not completely opened, the stitches are still there.

"I think I pressed a little too hard on it, but it's fine. I just need to cover it up and everything will be fine." His voice sounds a little better and He applies some kind of ointment before covering it with a bandage. "Do you think you could help me with the big ones?" Peeta asks. I just nod and try to help rolling the bandage around his torso, but my hands are shaking too much and I can barely hold it. Peeta drops the bandage and grab both my hands in his.

"Hey, hey, hey. Calm down. Breathe okay? Everything is fine, calm down baby." he is looking straight into my eyes but I'm having trouble believing him. I came too close to losing my boy with the bread too many times. Without saying another words I let go of his hands and get back to work, slowly I get a hold of the bandage and get it around his torso. After I'm finished I grab the box and the bottle of pills and bring them back to where the belong in the bathroom. When I walk back in the bedroom Peeta is already lying on his side of the bed propped up on one elbow facing my side waiting for me, I slowly make my way towards the bed and lie down next to him. Immediately Peeta pulled me into a warm hug.

"Thank you. Everything is okay now I promise, I'm going to be more careful next time not to forget."He promised, I just nodded. I hugged him back as tight as I could and that's how, after some long minutes, we finally fell into a not so deep sleep.

I woke up in the morning with warm hands caressing my arm, Peeta definitely has the best ideas on how to wake someone up in the best way possible. "Good morning' he whispers. "Morning" I answer. The events from a couple hours ago come back to my mind and I can't help but tense up.

"Don't even start thinking about it. I already told you, it was an accident. It won't happen again, don't worry." I decide to drop it for now, at least I know that he is okay and that is what matter, To change the subject I decide to inform him of my decision.

"I think I'm going to go talk to my mother today." I say and suddenly I feel my cheeks turning a deep shade of red. I can't talk to Peeta about this, at least not right now.

"Is everything okay? I mean you aren't thinking about talking to her about what happened, are you? Like I said I have everything under control." Only if he knew what I need her for...

"I just want to check if everything is okay. You know, now that she is working in the hospital. I kind of miss her a little." I'm sure that Peeta can see straight through me and he knows that either I'm lying or hiding something from him, in this case I'm doing both. I barely talked to my mother after my father's death but she is the only person I can trust to bring up such embarrassing subject. I think I may need to start somewhere if I want to reconstruct my relationship with the last alive member of my family.

We don't talk about it anymore and after eating a delicious breakfast that Peeta cooked I make my way towards my house in the Victor's Village. I knock on the door a few times before going in and looking around for me. Like I suspected my mother is not home, so the only place she would be is at the hospital. I really hope I can find some time and place to talk to her alone.

I make my way to the hospital slowly, thinking and rehearsing what I'm going to say to her. As I walk through the front doors I finally realize what I'm about to do, this is not something I would've done before but I don't think I have a choice. I make my way to the front desk and ask for my mother, they call her and ask me to wait until she is available to talk to me so I make my way to the waiting room and sit on a chair. This room reminds me of the days Peeta was in a coma, the only difference is that we were on the third floor and there was no TV.

"Katniss?" I hear my mother's voice calling me after about 20 minutes waiting. "Oh darling, how are you?" she asks as she hugs me softly. She looks healthier and, may I say, happier than last time I saw her.

"Hi Mom. I really needed to talk to you. Can we go somewhere more private?" I ask right away, I don't want to lose more time. My mother leads the way to her office which is a small white room with a simple desk, two chairs and an examination table. I can feel my nerves tensing up and my hands starting to shake. I remind myself to take deep breaths, you are doing this for Peeta.

"Is something wrong Katniss? Is Peeta okay?" She asks.

"Everything is fine. Peeta is okay too, he is healing fast." I debate whether I should tell her about his "accident" but I decide against it, he told me everything was under control so I should trust him.

"I needed to ask you something." My mother looks straight into my eyes and nod. Here it goes...

"I need you to examine me again and make sure I'm all clear." I'm not sure if I make much sense. My mother looks confused. "I want to know if I'm completely healed already." I say. Mother's face falls and I think she finally understood what I was trying to say.

"Katniss, do you meant that...You and Peeta...you two..." She is having trouble to find the words so I step in "We want to take a step forward in out relationship." I must look red as a pepper now.

"Oh darling, that is a big step. Are you sure you are ready for this? I mean, most people take more time to heal properly." Of course, for a moment I let myself think that this will be the first time for both of us, but my innocence was stolen from me.

"I'm sure mom, we are ready for this and I want it so badly. I want him in a way that I never imagine I would want anybody else." I just forget that I'm talking to my own mother and let everything go. "Whenever we are kissing and he touches me, it's like electricity going through my body. I feel this hunger, this desire to have more.' My mother just nods and smiles, I hope she understands. I don't blame my mother for looking so surprised. After what happened to me I thought that I would associate sex with pain and shame, but with Peeta I know that there is something behind all this.

"Katniss you know that when we talk about sex we are talking about a very mature relationship. From the moment you and Peeta connect in this way you are going to feel very different around each other. I can see that you love him and he loves you but I need to make sure you two are very well prepared for this." How can she talk about this a if she is talking about a flu or any other common subject?

"I know mom. But we are ready. We love each other and we know all we need to know..." I know I didn't sound convincing at all, not even for my ears. We barely know anything about sex, at least I don't, and I'm not even a virgin anymore. All I know is what my teacher used to teach me at school and what I "learned" from that terrible experience with Gale. I really hope I can count on everything I've heard the girls at school saying as I grew up, according to them "making love" to the person you love is the best kind of feeling, pure pleasure. I really want to believe that that was true.

"Know everything, huh? Okay, so what is your method to prevent pregnancy?" And just like that all the blood vanished from my face. I haven't thought about that, how could I be so stupid? I promised myself that I would never have kids, especially not now. "I'm going to take that as none. Alright, I can get you a birth control shot, you know the ones they used to have in the capitol that lasts until you get another shot to reverse it, and I'm also going to give you, or Peeta, some condoms" Some what? Now I'm truly embarrassed.

"Th-thank you" I force out.

"I know you probably don't care but If I was you I would just trust the shot, especially the first time. I'm sure you don't want a barrier between you too and Peeta for sure doesn't want a piece of rubber around him." My mother says with a smile on her face, she is teasing me. How can she be so natural about this? I feel like I'm going to faint. "Anyway, I will make sure to talk to one of the best gynecologist in the hospital and she will tell you everything you need to know plus give you the best option for birth control." I just nod and remain silent. My mother is taking to me just as she talks to any of her other patients.

The next 2 hours go by a blur. I go through embarrassing examination and more awkward talks. The gynecologist, Leila, tells me in detail everything I needed to know and most of the things I already knew. I don't talk to her about what happened to me, she doesn't need to know. I take the birth control shot and she handles me some of that stuff that boys use. When I'm finally ready to leave my mother walks with me until the reception.

"Katniss I really hope you know what you are doing. Please take it slow and make sure you are comfortable with everything. I trust Peeta do take care of you. If anything goes wrong or if you feel the slightest pain come talk to me immediately." My mother says as we hug. I just nod and force a smile. I leave the hospital and start my way towards the Victor's Village. I really hope I know what I am doing...

Here it is. I decided to wait for the big moment of their lives until next chapter. Hope you like it. Please leave me a review. Until next time.