The air is bitter cold. I can see my breath, even while sitting inside of Gale's truck. The sun is setting in a clear sky. I chew on my nails for something to do. Something that Gale failed to mention was that he was bringing someone, other than me, to Finnick Odair's party.

"So, Katniss, do you have a boyfriend?" Madge sits between Gale and me. Gale has been talking to her, but apparently she couldn't stand someone being left out of the conversation. I shake my head. "Don't worry. Your prince will come!" Her hand pats my shoulder. I jump and press myself as far into the car door as possible.

Madge looks at me, her eyes wide. "I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you," she says. "You'll have to forgive me. All of my friends are really touchy-feely like that; it became a habit."

"No problem."

After a pause, she asks,"Are you interested in someone?" I look over to her. Her smile is gentle. I can tell that she isn't just being polite, and her interest is genuine. I nod and force out the best smile I can muster.

"It can be hard when you're a quiet person. Believe it or not, there are many days when I would prefer to be like you, but with my friends it's really difficult. Not that I don't love them! Anyways, sorry. Why do you think it took me so long to get with Gale? I was afraid, and, well, being overly cautious."

I'm not sure if she's lying just so she can establish rapport with me, but I look to her and say, "I'm going to try." Her smile widens. She grabs Gale's hand and sighs. Gale looks at me and shrugs. I think she feels like she made some progress with me or something. I decide to play along.

"Madge, tell me about homecoming. How was it?"

She turns to me in surprise. The rest of the car ride was full of stories about Gale and how much of a sap he is. It was something I never realized. She discloses a lot more than I would to a person that I just met, but regardless, I can tell she is better than the girls she hangs out with. She is smarter, and much more kind.

Gale isn't looking at us, but he is listening. He has a stupid "I told you so" grin. Yeah, maybe there are worse people at our school than this girl.

Finnick Odair lives on the outskirts of town in a very large house, with a very large yard, and an extra long driveway. The house is blocked from view by a mass of pine trees. If we had a broken down car, a thunderstorm, and a need to use the telephone, we could star in our own horror movie.

Gale pulls into what seems like the only available parking spot near the house. I knew that there would be a lot of people here, but I didn't imagine seeing this many. The house looked like it was overflowing. I could see people in the windows, people on the balcony, and people standing outside the front door.

On our way in, we pass a guy holding a cigarette who is talking to a group of people in a very serious tone. "I wasn't convinced of it at first, but at the end he said, 'You love me, real or not real?' and she said, 'Real.' She said, 'Real,' guys!" He takes a drag from his cigarette while the group chuckles at their, obviously, intoxicated friend.

I shake my head and enter the house with Gale and Madge. The house is humongous. A grand staircase sits in front of the door with a chandelier hanging from above. It feels humid inside, almost like being inside of a mouth. Rap music is being played loudly. People are dancing in random places around the the lobby. No one notices that people have arrived.

"MERRRRRY CHRISTMAS!" Finnick Odair slides down his stair railing and hops down in front of us. Very smooth. I wonder how long he has been waiting to show off his "mad railing skills", as he put it, when he began talking with Gale. "Help yourself to whatever." He notices me. "Katniss Everdeen?" I nod, trying to smile. "Well, I'll be damned." He shakes my hand. "You can help yourself to whatever you would like, too. It's nice to finally meet you. Gale has told me so much about you." I wonder what the hell that means, but decide not to let it distract me.

"Thanks."

"My house is your house. LET'S PARTY!"

A series of hollers erupt around the house signifying that the crowd is in agreement. Gale says to me, "Hey, Madge and I are going to get something to drink. Would you like to come with us?" I shake my head. Gale nods knowingly. "Good luck." I wave them goodbye and begin my search for Peeta.

At first, I'm not sure where to start. If I were Peeta, where would I be? It dawns on me almost immediately: the kitchen. I begin asking random people where I can find it, and after a lot of obscure hand motions and yelling, I eventually end up there. There are some people in front of the fridge looking for something to eat. I see him bent over the counter next to the stove, working on something. His hair is disheveled, and he looks like he is deep in concentration.

I hesitate, but I quickly decide to approach him. I do so quietly as not to break his concentration. He is slaving away over a tray of sugar cookies, carefully putting icing on each one. The majority of them are finished, and they are beautiful. I've come to expect nothing less.

"You're such a party boy, Peeta Mellark."

He looks up with a start and grins. "Katniss Everdeen, the anti-party girl. I never thought I would see you here."

I try to play it cool. "Gale said it would be good for me. What's a party without a person who doesn't want to be here, right?"

He snorts, "Yeah, I guess." He continues working diligently on his cookies, so we stand in silence for a few moments.

I take a deep breath and nearly choke. "Peeta," I almost shout. He looks up at me questioningly.

"Yeah?"

"Will you go on a walk with me?"

"Are you sure you want to? It's pretty cold outside."

"Come on, let's go." I motion toward the door.

"Alright, if you insist. It's starting to get really hot in here, anyways." He grabs his jacket, and we make our way to the front door. I'm surprised it was almost effortless to get him to agree. I make him lead the way because I don't think I can find my way back.

When we step outside, Peeta turns to me and asks, "Where to?"

"Let's just walk down the drive way some."

We walk in silence until we reach the tree line. Peeta looks up and says, "Wow. It's so clear out here. You can actually see the stars."

"I'm glad you noticed. I actually wanted to show them to you."

One of my favorite things to do when I was younger was go out to look at stars with my dad. I never thought that anyone would be interested, but I had a feeling that Peeta would be, so I decided to bring him out here to give him a mini astronomy lesson. I need him to see how beautiful they are so that he fully understands what I'm about to say. I show him a few constellations including Aries and Cetus. He listens to me, amazed that I am so knowledgeable in the subject. "Wow. Get you away from a group, and you have no problem speaking. How do you know all of this?"

"My dad taught me a long time ago."

He nods in understanding. He makes a motion towards me, I imagine to offer me comfort, but he quickly lowers his hands and shuffles awkwardly. My heart begins to ache. I don't want it to be like this between us. "What do you say we head back in? I'm starting to get kinda cold," he says.

I nod, and we begin to walk back. I stop in my tracks.

"Wait, Peeta, wait." He turns around to look at me.

"What is it?"

Come on, Everdeen. Just say it. Why did you bring him out here to show him the stars if you weren't going to fucking say it? You practiced this! After chastising myself, I pull it together enough to say, "You…you are stellar, Peeta."

He looks at me, confused, "What?"

I'm a little taken aback by his expression. I feel like the words are forcing their way out of my throat, so I let them spill out. I don't care if he wants to hear them or not. "Every time I look at the stars I think of you. You aren't stellar in the same sense as the stars are stellar, but you are just as amazing, just as outstanding. I don't know how you do it, but when I'm around you I feel like everything is going to be okay. You have been the exception to every rule I have ever made when it comes to relationships with other people. I told you things I have never told another person in my life, not even Gale. I'm sorry that it has taken so long for me to come to you with this. I missed so many opportunities, and I fucked up many others. I don't think I can take being apart from you any longer. Ever since our date I've tried to deny what I feel because it's so terrifying. I'm terrified by my feelings for you. I…I need you, Peeta. I'm in love with you."

He stares at me in amazement. The silence between us is heavy and lasts for about 1,000 years. I'm breathing heavily. He says nothing in response, so I begin to ramble, "I understand if you don't feel the same way. Running away from you was beyond fucked up. I wouldn't want to be around me after that either. I'm sorry that I hurt you. You are so amazing, Peeta. Prim loves you and has given me hell ever since I told her what happened. I just…"

My words are cut short. Peeta closes the space between us and presses his soft, warm lips to mine. His hands find their way to my cheeks. I wrap my arms around his waist, and I kiss him back wholeheartedly. I part my lips and allow him to deepen the kiss. A moan escapes my lips, and I don't try to hold it back. I feel him step closer, so I press his hips to mine.

Time seems to be standing still. He removes his lips from mine. He tastes like sugar cookies. Does this mean I get to kiss him whenever I want now? I think I would be okay with that. We are both out of breath, and I realize that I've been crying. He has a tear on his cheek. I'm not sure if it's his or mine, but I raise my hand to his face and brush the tear away with my thumb. I can't believe I finally said it!

"I think my heart just stopped," he says.

"Really?" I ask.

"It's okay. It's working now."

I laugh through my tears, and then I give him a short kiss. I pull him into a hug.

"I am really sorry about before. I can't believe it took me this long. If I had known that you still felt the same way even after what I did to you..."

"It wouldn't have been any different." He pulls back just enough so he can look in my eyes. "You needed time, which I was more than willing to give. I didn't want to pressure you into something you didn't want. I would have waited forever, too."

I shudder as I feel more tears leave my eyes, "I love you, Peeta."

"I love you too, Katniss. It's always been you." I pull him into another kiss. I can definitely get used to this.

After a few moments we pull apart and walk back up the driveway hand in hand. I glance at him shyly. "Sorry, I tend to ramble when I'm nervous." I wipe my eyes to make myself look more presentable.

"It's okay. There was no way in hell I was going to interrupt you. Not after seeing what you did to Cato." I drop my head and look at the ground in embarrassment.

He laughs and pulls me to him so he can kiss my cheek. "You want to learn how to ice sugar cookies?"

I think back to the last time we baked together. The way he fed me that pumpkin bread was so innocent, but it was sensual at the same time. If I could live in that moment forever, I would. I raise an eyebrow at him. "Do you want me to 'learn' so you have an excuse to feed me again, Mellark?"

He looks smug, "Maybe."

When we reach the front steps, the drunk guy with the cigarette from earlier is sitting on them with his friends huddled around him. "She said, 'Real,' you guys. It's so beautiful!" he sobs.

A/N: *throws confetti* FINALLY! *more confetti*

So this WAS going to be my final chapter, but you're really lucky, guys. My beta, everlarkcheesebuns, convinced me that I need another chapter. Is there anything that you want to know more about? Is there something that you wanted more details on that I forgot about? I have an ending in mind, but I want to make sure all of you are pleased. If I haven't written about something that needs resolved, please, please let me know. I had every intention of resolving it, but sometimes things and ideas slip through the cracks.

I hope that this is what you guys needed to happen between them, and I hope that it lived up to your expectations. I AM SO INCREDIBLY SORRY FOR THE DELAY! I had to finish moving myself for college. DON'T PUT ME IN THE ARENA! (Sorry, Esther.)

Remember, the next chapter will be the last. However, I plan on writing more. I have a particularly humorous one-shot planned (well, I think it's funny), so be on the look out.

You all are fantastic. Thank you for your ongoing support. Here's some more confetti, just for you *throws more confetti*