I wake before Peeta, which sort of surprises me. I glance out the window and realize it's the first time I have woken up before the sun in a long time. I give him a soft kiss on the cheek before I slide out of his arms and my feet hit the cold wood floor. I quickly dress and hurry downstairs, grabbing my bow and game bag and quietly as I can, slip out the door.
The morning proves successful as I make it back to Victor's Village with two rabbits and a turkey. I know Sae will be able to use most of this meat but it will make some good dinners for Peeta and me as well. I stop to talk to Thom before heading back and I tell him of Haymitch's idea. He agrees and promises to gather the Mellarks' remains and dig a gravesite at the meadow for them. I thank him and tell him I will tell Peeta about it today. Perhaps we can have a funeral at sunset, which is Peeta's favorite time.
Remembering yesterday's incident, I walk into my old house and lock my door behind me and set to skinning and preparing the animals. When I finish, I go up and take a shower and hurry out of my quiet house. It's too eerie to stay over there by myself for long. But if it's what I need to do to keep Peeta and I safe, I'll endure the silence for a few hours.
Peeta is kneading dough when I walk in and he looks up and smiles in relief. I take a moment to appreciate the view, as he is leaning over the counter in only his blue boxers. The way his muscles flex as he kneads and the way he leans into the counter, makes me remember how he looks when he is leaning over me, thrusting deep into me over and over.
"Hey you." I make my way to him and kiss him briefly on the lips before I deposit my game bag on the floor.
"I'm sorry I left before you woke up but I wanted to really hunt today."
"I was worried for a second but then realized where you must have gone. Any luck?"
"Lots," I say with a smile as I hold up my full bag. "Rabbit and turkey. I'm going to drop one of the rabbits at Sae's. Would you like to come with me?"
"Sure. I called Thom and asked him to meet with me about the plans." I raise my brow and want to ask but don't know how. As usual, Peeta knows exactly what I'm thinking.
"We're meeting him at the Hob. I can't…I don't want to go the bakery again just yet. Give myself a few days." I nod and lean in to kiss him again. This one is longer and I let him know how proud I am of him with this kiss. How much I love him. He smiles and looks a little dazed when I pull away.
"I think that's smart," I say softly. "Do you want me to go with you?"
"I was hoping you would. We can drop the meat by Sae's before we go." I nod and wrap my arms around his bare waist.
"That means you'll have to wear clothes." He pretends to pout, which just makes me laugh.
"And here I thought I could just stay in my underwear all day."
"I'd much prefer that but if we are going to leave the house, we should probably be decent."
"Who expects decent? I'm a raving mad Victor, remember?" My smile falls and I know he senses the tension.
"Don't, Peeta," I say softly, almost warningly and I see his Adam's apple bob up and down nervously.
"What are you baking?" It's a terrible attempt at changing the subject but I can tell we both need it. He's looking quite strained and I imagine I probably am too. He returns to his kneading.
"Just making a tart for dinner tonight."
"I wonder if Johanna has left yet." He nods.
"She called me earlier to let me know she's stopping in 4 to see Annie. You know she had her baby, right?" I feel my throat tighten and nod. The news had come not long ago, from who else but my own mother. She wouldn't stay and care for me but she went to 4 with Annie and took care of her. I suppose I'm selfish to say I was angry with her. My own mother caring for another woman. But I have to remind myself that Annie was all alone, after Finnick…
So was I. I was all alone, damn it. Peeta stayed in the Capitol and I had no idea if he was coming back. I'd been used to my mother's lack of maternal care by the time of the Reaping. But this was a different kind of hurt.
Peeta, always in tune with my emotions, reaches out to me and pulls me to his chest.
"Hey," he says soothingly. "We don't need her around. We've got each other. I can protect you just fine."
"I know you can," I agree with him. "But…it just hurts that she-"
"I know. But we're doing fine, aren't we?" I reach up and caress his face and watch him relax.
"We're more than fine," I assure him. He smiles and leans down to kiss me, his hands running through my hair.
"Let me just get dressed and we can go. Can you grab the plans for me?"
"Of course." His footsteps are heavy on the stairs as he rushes up to the bedroom to change and I find the rolled up blueprints in the living room. When he comes back, I bite my lip and stare at the floor. I feel him watching me.
"Peeta, there's something that you should know." He's silent, waiting for me to continue.
"Since the bakery site is being cleaned up for you, Thom, um…Thom found your family." He tenses and his eyes are wide. I immediately to go him and wrap my arms around his waist.
"We thought…it would be nice to have a little funeral and put them to rest. Properly." His eyes are filled with tears and I hold him tight. I feel him starting to shake and I pull him even closer.
"You don't have to, of course. I just thought it would be nice-"
"No," he croaks. "I want to do it. I need to say goodbye to them."
"Peeta-" I start but I realize I don't know what to say. What is there to say really? How would I feel if I were burying Prim? Well...I don't know what ever happened to all those bodies in the Capitol. I never asked.
I bite my lip and feel him stroke my cheek.
"Thank you, Katniss. For always thinking of me." I feel intensely guilty at his words. He and I both know I haven't always thought of him. He's too kind for saying so. But I don't correct him. I take his hand and kiss his palm and bring it back to my cheek. He kisses the top of my head before he takes my hand and leads me outside.
We hold hands the whole time we are in town and I notice we are getting even more stares. Sae is excited that we have brought her meat but her hand flies to my cheek and she looks worried.
"Child, what have you done to yourself?" Peeta tenses up next to me and I squeeze his hand.
"I fell when I was out hunting. But it doesn't hurt, Sae. Peeta has been taking wonderful care of me." Sae smiles and gently pats his cheek.
"Of course he has. You're a good boy, Peeta. You take care of my Katniss, you hear?"
"Always will, Sae," he assures the old woman. Sae smiles and returns to her customers and we say our goodbyes.
"I'm glad to see Sae is doing well with her restaurant," Peeta says as we make our way to the Hob. I nod in agreement. Sae decided to open a restaurant several months ago and Brent helped her with obtaining land. Now that she doesn't have to cook with scraps of whatever we can find, people actually love eating her food. And it gives her something to do besides watching her granddaughter all the time.
"I'm glad to see the district is healing," I say quietly. "It's not just us but the entire district. I don't recognize so many places. Look at the Hob! I have never seen it this busy." We watched as people rushed by, holding onto their purchases or running over to particular stalls. It was no longer a black market. People could actually buy and trade now. We were right. Panem was truly healing and it was because of us. Us and all those that we have lost. Peeta squeezes my hand, as if he knows exactly what I'm thinking, and he spots Thom at one of the stalls.
"Morning Peeta! Miss Katniss," Thom nods to both of us. They shake hands and I hand Thom the plans that I am carrying. While they look over the sheets of blueprints, I wander to the many stalls that are now set up. I'm amazed to see what people are selling. It's not just odds and ends anymore. It's home-made items, like blankets and drapes and furniture. Glenn Brells, who was a miner with Gale, has always been wonderful at carpentry. He has an entire stall set up with wooden furniture and woodcarvings. I wander from stall to stall, transfixed.
At the end of the row I stop next to a stall that is selling beautiful glass art. I stare at a delicate glass flower, amazed by how the sun hits it and sends rainbows all over the ground. At first I was afraid that it was a rose but upon closer inspection, I discovered that it is closer to a primrose than an actual rose. It's beautiful and the craftsmanship is extraordinary. I feel rather than hear him come up behind me and feel arms wrap around my waist.
"That's really beautiful," he whispers into my hair. I nod.
"All of these glass things are. But this is my favorite. If only they had a dandelion," I grin as I turn into him and kiss his cheek. He smiles, his eyes still on the glass flower. The woman comes over to us and bows her head.
"I'd like this one please," Peeta says loudly, motioning toward the flower and pulling out his wallet. My hand flies to his wrist.
"Peeta, no. You don't have to."
"I know I don't. But what is the use of having all these winnings if I can't spend them on pretty things for my girl?" I can't help but smile. Most Seam people could never accept a gift like this. Especially from a Merchant. But his words are what makes it ok, his term "my girl" make me giddy. So I smile and kiss him and he pulls back, breathless.
"If you're going to kiss me like that every time I buy you something, I'll buy you this whole market." I grin and wrap my arms around his waist. He accepts the box from the lady and nods his thanks before he wraps his arms around me and leads me out of the Hob.