Chapter 15: Date Night

It has been several months since I wore this dress - the blue one in which I visited Peeta and ending up sucking his dick the way a baby would its mother's breast. But, tonight I have something special planned for Peeta, and am grateful to Mother that she had the tailor make some adjustments. "Don't worry, we can shrink it back to normal once the baby's born," she told me.

Tonight, I'm taking Peeta to a party in the Hob to show him my world - the Seam one I grew up in. It'll be a night of music and dancing and lots of fun. Never mind that I am due to give birth in 10 weeks or so. This winter party may be one of the last chances I have to go out before I am ordered to bed rest.

Peeta is pleased to have some relaxation, especially after a long Friday at work, and we head for the Hob giddy and happy.

Unfortunately, that's shattered for me when we get there. Right away, I can tell that the presence of a Merchant, or "Townie" as some Seam folk like to slang, makes the district's poorer folk uncomfortable. Ripper, the alcohol dealer, takes Peeta's order for a small shot glass with "What'll it be, stranger?" Others, when trying to get by in the crowded market, say, "Excuse me, Townie."

I can tell Peeta notices the way people look at him, but he takes it all in stride, if nothing else to be polite. I am embarrassed for him, and am astonished in his ability to act as though this clear….. discrimination isn't bothering him.

Then, something happens that turns the whole thing around. Cray enters the party, already drunk. He is shouting something unintelligible, being rude and belligerent, and it's all people can do just to get out of his way. I instinctively move closer to Peeta, and he puts his arm around me protectively. I know Cray sees me at one point, but he does not come near. Perhaps in his stupor, it does not register for him that it is me. Suddenly, the Goat Man bumps into Cray while trying to avoid him.

"You sonofabitch! Don't you dare block my path! I'm the fucking Head Peacekeeper, dammit!" Cray seizes the poor Goat Man by his shirt collar and others, expecting a fight, are uncertain whether to make room or close ranks to protect one of their own. It is actually Peeta who makes the first move, and he jumps right into the fray.

"Mr. Cray, sir. You're drunk. Why don't you….. head on home? You can stop by my place if you want, ask Dad for some Aspirins or something. I'm sure he'll give you some."

Cray eyes Peeta for a long, tense moment, before sighing wearily and nodding. He releases the Goat Man and claps Peeta on the shoulder. "I might just do that. Thanks a lot, neighbor." Then, he stumbles out of the Hob, muttering and swearing under his breath.

Greasy Sae breaks the silence. "Well, you sure know how to defuse a powder keg there, Merchant! Say, you're one of them baker boys, aren't you? What's your name?"

"Peeta Mellark," my living companion answers with a smile. Sae laughs.

"Mellark, huh? That's a good name. Quick thinking and smart with your mouth too, Peeta Mellark! Here. Have a chicken leg!"

With this gesture, Sae signals to the others that with Peeta, there is no longer anything to fear. As people now come up to the young man warmly, I can't help but smile. Seam folk may be poor, and thus defensive, but if you stand up for them, they'll back you to the hilt in return. The baker's son has now earned that most sacred trust.

I join the group congregating at Sae's stand, but soon enough the men have dragged Peeta onto the dance floor and are teaching him a Seam jig, usually performed on holidays like this one. I am left alone with the old woman, my eyes only for the blond fellow I have come to know so well, my heart full of love.

And something else that I can see in my mind's eye, but can't dare express….

"Want him to fuck you?" I turn and gawp at Greasy Sae, astonished that she could possibly know what I was thinking. She just smiles a toothy grin and shakes her head.

"Girl child, I was young once, too. We women, our hormones - especially when pregnant - are powerful. Besides, he has a good soul. And he's handsome, too!" She winks.

Just then, the tune changes to a classic District 12 folk song. Greasy Sae nods to me. "Go get him, dearie, or I just might carry him off!" I scamper onto the dance floor as quick as I can despite my pregnant belly and grab Peeta in the crowd.

"What dance is this?" Peeta calls over the music.

"It's one we Seam folk usually play at weddings, but it's good for any celebration. Come on, I'll teach it to you!" I smile. I show him the steps, and he copies me. Pretty soon, Peeta is dancing it so well, you might think he was from the Seam were it not for his skin tone and hair color. He's pretty light on his feet, actually.

As dance partners, we get lost in the music, and I find that I am grinning so much, my face might break. The tune gets faster and faster, but neither of us stops. At last, Peeta twirls me over and over before finally dipping me with a flourish. I feel safe in his strong arms.

When I come up, I discover that we are inches away from each other; so close that I can feel Peeta's breath tickle my skin. I can see every detail of the freckles on his cheeks. I can feel his hands not leaving my waist, my arms draped across his neck. My breathing becomes deep, and I feel my eyes growing heavy. This physical closeness, this…. intimacy, this…. tension with Peeta is new to me.

And most exciting of all, I can sense him drifting in, pulling me closer. I barely have time to take a breath before his lips seal around mine, in a heavy, sensual kiss that soon has my world spiraling out of control. I can only grip Peeta closer, weaving my fingers through his blond curls and playing with them. Feeling him against me, feeling his hands buried in my hair, dancing across my skin, his tongue exploring my mouth, is the only constant I now have in my senses, as my eyes are firmly closed and I don't care if I ever open them again. Far, far away, I hear fireworks explode in the nighttime sky above the Hob, but it seems to exist in another, parallel world. Peeta is my world now. He is mine. I am his. Anything else is unthinkable.

My heart has been lost to me. I have fallen hopelessly in love with Peeta Mellark.