A/N: Hey guys, Thank you so much for all your support and reviews so far. They mean so much to me. I try to respond to every one of them. They really motivate me to write faster. I actually had this written out only a few days after I posted chapter three, but I lagged it with typing it up, and actually posting it.

This one's a lot shorter than previous chapter. I didn't add anything to make it longer because 1.) It would have messed up the beginning of Chapter Five that I've already got, and 2.) there's actually a lot of ground work and information in this chapter. New introductions, and a lot of emotions, so I felt like I could safely keep it a shorter length and still call it a decent chapter.

Lastly, thanks so much to my beta, everlarkcheesebuns. And you guys should totally follow me on tumblr (raetakestheworld) for everlark and joshifer goodness. Also, Six Sentence Sunday (SSS [which I didn't actually do today.]) and teasers for this story. I'd love to hear from you guys over there too. As always, enjoy, and R&R.

Love ya

The Inevitable

Part Four

Mellark

'Will you go out with me?' The words echo back to me in her quaint office. I immediately regret them as they fly off my tongue. How could I be so stupid?

Just do it. Let me down easy.

"Peeta..." That's all she says. That's all she needs to. She lets my name hang in the air. It was a mistake, I know. "We slept together."

That wasn't what I was expecting. "You remember that?" The words tumble out over my loose lips.

"You remember that?" She shot back.

"Of course I remember Katniss. I wasn't that drunk. I never said anything because I didn't know if you remembered or not."

"I didn't at first." She shook her head slowly. "It just came back to me a couple weeks ago."

I nodded, "So you didn't know it was me the first time you came into the bakery?"

She shook her head again. "Look, Peeta, I am so sorry. I don't usually do stuff like that. I don't drink a lot, let alone go home with random guys."

"I don't think that of you..."

"Good." She interrupted me, nodding her head curtly. "So do you think we could just forget about the other night and focus on your project?" She spoke with finality but wouldn't dare look at me. She kept playing with the black pen in her hands.

"I don't want to forget about it, Katniss." That gave her pause. "I mean... I wish it had happened differently but I'm glad it happened."

She finally looked up from her hands. Her steel eyes were clouded with confusion. "I really think we should focus on the bakery. We don't want to waste any time if you plan on opening before the end of the year."

I let her steer the conversation towards the project. We discussed color scheme, image, and slogan possibilities before she stacked her notes and placed them into a folder. She wrote on the margins "Mellark."

"Okay. I think that's all I need."

I nodded, wiping my clammy palms on my jeans. "Would you like to exchange numbers in case either of us have further questions?"

"Of course." She flipped the file open and posed her pen ready to receive the information. I rattled off the numbers of my cell phone and the bakery. Then she handed me a business card. It had her name, work number, and email. But not a cell phone number.

I guess she really does want to keep this professional.

But would I allow it? Absolutely not. Not after all this time. I finally had her in reach and I wasn't going to cower this time. Katniss would be mine by the end of this project.

I tucked the card into my wallet. As I stood from my chair I cleared my throat. Shoving my hands in my front pockets I looked at her quizzically. She looked up from her desk. Her eyes sparkling with uncertainty.

"Is there anything else Peeta?" A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.

God, I want to kiss that mouth.

"Yeah. You have my cell number. Call me when you're free to go out. Anything you want." I didn't know where this brazenness was coming from. Was I sounding like an ass? I hoped not.

She stared at me blankly, her face heated in a delicate blush. I wanted to brush my thumb against her soft flesh. Across the apple of her cheek, maybe even trace the line of her bottom lip. But I think my cocky words were as courageous as I could be at the moment. I spun on my heels, not giving her time to respond or outright reject me, and left her office.

I hoped she would call.

That evening I joined Finnick and Annie at their house. It was a decent sized starter house, enough for them and a new baby. The house resided on the outskirts of town. Annie had wanted a suburban setting for raising their children. Finnick wanted whatever Annie wanted. He was on a mission to make her happy, whatever it would take.

"Pete!" Finnick answered the door after I knocked.

"Hey." I greeted him with a smile and a firm hug before moving into the house. "Smells great in here."

"Annie's making clam chowder." Finnick smirked showing off his deep dimples. "Her great-grandmother's recipe. You're going to love it."

"I don't doubt that." I chuckled. Stepping into the kitchen I saw Annie at the stove. Her back was to me. "Hey mama." I called to her.

She turned with a wide smile. "Peeta!" She walked toward me with one hand on her rounded belly, and the other outstretched beckoning me forward. Something pulled at my chest. Then she was embracing me in a soft hug. Her protruding tummy made it harder to envelope her in my arms. When she pulled back I saw a flash of dark hair and quick silver eyes before I blinked and Annie was Annie again.

My breath hitched as I imagined Katniss in Annie's position and me in Finnick's. My heart fell into the pit of my stomach. It felt like it was burning in stomach acid. I was nowhere close to that dream. That fact saddened me, but also hardened my resolve to make Katniss mine. I had no high school insecurities to hold me back. I was not that shy, beaten boy anymore.

"So we are going to paint while Annie cooks." Finnick pulled me out of my head and into the present.

"Yeah," she agreed, "I can't be around the paint fumes. It's bad for Jr. here." She smiled as she rubbed her swollen belly.

"Shall we get started?"

I nodded my head at his request and followed him to the second floor. The room had already been prepped, the tarp lay out on the floor, with tape around the trim and doorways. All we had to do was paint it. They had decided on an ocean blue color.

"Hey Pete?" Finn called.

"Yeah?" I crouched over a bucket of primer about to open it.

"Do you think you could do something for me? Something extra for the room?"

"What did you have in mind?"

"Well I know you're a really good painter with details and all that. I was wondering if you could maybe paint a school of fish. Maybe some turtles?"

"That's a really good idea."

"So you will?"

"Yeah."

"Cool," he smiled, "thanks Peeta."

"No problem."

"Don't tell Annie." He says a few minutes after we start priming the wall. "I want it to be a surprise."

"She'll love it."

By the time we were done priming a wonderful aroma from the soup had wafted up stairs. My stomach let out an animalistic growl. My mouth was drooling.

"Let's get some grub and work on it some more another day." Finnick suggested.

"We have to let the primer dry anyway." I agreed.

We both raced down the stairs like we were kids on Christmas morning. Annie had already set the table when we got down there. Her face broke into a smile as she glanced at her husband. He knelt down and nuzzled her baby bump, kissing her over her shirt. I looked down to the floor feeling like I was intruding on a private moment. I heard them murmuring 'I love yous' and a sound of a kiss. My stomach twisted in longing. I wanted that. I wanted a family, a wife. I wanted a home with children running around causing chaos.

Finnick clapped me on the back and sat down at the dinner table. I followed him. Annie made her way to the table with two bowls of soup. She sat them in front of us then went back for her bowl. I reached for a bread roll from the middle of the table.

When Annie sat down Finnick motioned to her. "Chef first." He smiled and winked her way.

Annie slowly brought a spoonful to her mouth. She gently blew on the hot liquid before she tried it. She moaned and nodded her head in approval when the chowder hit her taste buds. Finn and I dug in after she consumed the bite. I hummed in delight. The creamy texture coated my tongue.

"How's the room coming?" Annie asked around a mouthful of bread.

"Good." I nodded.

"Should take a couple more days. We have to let it set too." Finnick added.

"Sounds great. Thank you so much, Peeta, for helping Finnick."

"Its no problem at all." I shook my head.

"Still, it's very sweet of you."

I smiled and continued eating my meal. "So, Pete, how was the meeting?" Finnick asked then sipped on his glass of water.

I choked on my soup as it went down the wrong way. Finnick reached to pat me on the back. I sputtered. "It was interesting."

"Interesting?" Finnick quirked an eyebrow.

I nodded. "Yeah. The agent assigned to our bakery is Katniss."

"No way!" Finnick barked after the information sunk in.

"Way."

"What are the odds?"

"Who's Katniss?" Annie chimed in.

"Katniss is Peeta's unrequited crush from high school, I told you about."

I glared at him.

"Oh right, sorry. That must have been awkward for you."

I nodded ashamed. "I asked her out on a date."

"You did?!" Finnick's spoon clattered to the table. "What did she say?"

"She didn't really answer." I paused and glanced at Annie. "She said-" I breathed deeply. "Does she-?" I asked pointing to Annie.

"I know you two slept together." Annie confirmed.

I sighed heavily. "Apparently Katniss knows too. She called me out after I asked her."

"Wow." It was clear neither of them knew what else to say.

"Worst of all was afterward, after the meeting and all the awkwardness, I was such an ass."

"What did you do Peeta?" Annie's voice was soft.

"I said she had my number and could call me when she wants to go out." My head hung as I fisted my hands into my hair.

"You didn't!" Finnick chortled. "You cocky bastard."

"I know!" I whined, refusing to believe I could be so brazen.

After my confession Finnick and I switched to business mode. We discussed that meeting more professionally and decided Finnick would have to sit in on a couple meetings at least. We also went over the difficulty of running two shops. Finnick knew he would have to step up his responsibilities at the old shop while I was running around trying to get the new bakery up and running.

When we were finished with dinner Finnick and I cleared the table and did the dishes. Annie went into the living room to relax after being on her feet all day. When we were done I told him I was heading out. I just wanted to get home. I gave them both a hug goodbye and thanked Annie for the meal.

On the way home, as I drove in silence heading towards an empty house, the desperate, lonely feeling seeped into my bones again.

I stripped out of my clothes and climbed into bed. The cool sheets felt good against my heated skin. As I turned over onto my side I wished I had someone to wrap my arms around. I pulled the other pillow close to my face and inhaled hoping some of Katniss' scent was still clinging to the fabric. I knew after several weeks it wouldn't be and decided that I needed to let it go. I'd wash my sheets in the morning.

I turned onto my back and closed my eyes. As I drifted to sleep an image of Katniss with a rounded belly surfaced in my mind. I could picture her laying by my side, her hand rubbing circles on her swollen stomach. I could almost feel her heat, hear her singing softly to our unborn child, with that angelic voice I knew she had.

Yet, when I woke the next morning I was still alone.