Welcome to my new readers! So pleased and grateful to have you here! Thanks for the continued support and amazing reviews! Hermiowne, I hope you think the same about Gale after this chapter too. I enjoyed writing his dialogue a lot because this is an opinion I have had since reading Mockingjay!

Some explicit "smutty" love scenes coming up...just a warning! ;) You've been warned. Now enjoy!

XOXO

I shower quickly so I can get back downstairs to help Katniss. The sight of her so domestic really makes my heart race. It's almost like seeing her with a baby in her arms. Something so unexpected yet beautiful. I hurry to the closet and pull on some grey jeans and a blue sweater that Katniss loves. I lace up my brown boots and hurry downstairs.

Katniss is leaning against the counter, her arms crossed over her chest, and her eyes narrowed at the oven. I have to stifle a laugh. Watched bread will never rise, my father always used to say. I cross over to her and wrap my arms around her waist, pulling her in to me. She leans in close and I swear she is smelling me, her arms settling around my neck. I can't blame her. I have to sneak a whiff of her hair, always burying my face in her dark locks so I can inhale her scent. I grin down at her and feel her fingers in my hair.

"Hi," I say softly. She smiles and leans up to kiss me and my grip on her waist tightens. I wonder how long we have until Annie brings Finn over. And how inappropriate it would be for me to take Katniss right on the kitchen table.

"Did you have a good day at work," she asks, interrupting my thoughts.

"Yeah, it was good. We stayed pretty busy. What about you? Did you take Finn and Annie to the orphanage?" She nods, her face getting softer and I swear, lovelier.

"They all loved Finn. You should have seen Lara, the way she was protecting him. Annie was crying, she was so happy to see him with kids his age."

"That's great." Finn is smart for his age but he is the child of two Victors and I know life can't be too easy for them. From what I saw on our honeymoon, Victor's Village has become somewhat of a pilgrimage site and Annie's is the only home that is occupied. I wonder, had 12 not been destroyed, if certain landmarks would have become historic sites. Katniss's home in the Seam, maybe. The bakery. Our school. Here is where the Mockingjay went to school. Here is where she lived with her mother and her sister, sharing one room and one very small kitchen. Here is where she fought to keep her family alive.

I can just imagine the Justice Building. Look everyone, here is the stage where the Mockingjay took her sister's place at the Reaping. Here is where the Mockingjay and her husband became district partners and he swore to protect her with his life.

Yeah. I can see the history books teaching that one day.

Katniss leans back and studies me intently.

"You ok?"

"Yeah. Sorry, zoned out. When are Annie and Finn coming over?"

"Around seven." I glance at the clock and see we have a good hour before dinner. So I pull my wife over to the table and sit down in front of her. She looks down at me, a slight bemused frown marring her lovely features, and my hands rest on her hips. Slowly they make their way up to her breasts and I see her close her eyes and release a sigh. I lift her shirt up a little so I can kiss her flat stomach, and my tongue dips into her bellybutton. I push her shirt up over her head and fling it aside, my arms wrapping around her and bringing her closer to my mouth. I kiss her stomach up to her bra and I pull the cups down so I can access the luscious flesh hiding underneath. I reach out and tentatively lick around her nipple and feel her shiver in my arms. Her fingers wind around my hair and she throws her head back and moans.

"Peeta," she sighs. The sound of it always makes me harder. I take her nipple into my mouth and my teeth gently graze it as I suck on her whole breast. She squeals and my hand moves down to the button of her pants. I pull them down around her ankles and help her step out of them. She looks back down at me while I lean in to kiss her clothed center. I can see a wet spot on her satin underwear and I let out a little groan against her skin. I rub the spot before my tongue is on her. I continue to tease her until I feel her fingers pulling at my curls.

"Peeta," she says sharply. I grin at her impatience. I move the panties aside and take a long lick, my nose hitting her clit just right. I lean her back against the counter and drape one of her legs over my shoulder so I can get closer. As I devour her, I look up and moan in longing. Her head is thrown back, her back arched, and her toes are pointed as her foot is pressed against the chair I'm sitting in. Her skin is a gorgeous shade of pink and tiny droplets of sweat drip down her breasts. I reach up and squeeze one as I flick my tongue over that bundle of nerves. Her hips jerk and I notice her legs shaking.

"Peeta," she moans. "Peeta, please."

"Say you're mine, Katniss," I growl before I take her into my mouth again. Her hips jerk and she squeals.

"I'm yours!"

"Say I am the only one who makes you feel this way."

"Oh, g-god. You're…you're the only one!"

"Only one what?" She bites her lip hard as I pull her clit with my teeth.

"Fuck! You're the only one who can make me feel this way! Peeta! Fuck!" I reach up and rub hard, watching her hips jerk uncontrollably. I put my mouth back on her and then Katniss does something she has never done before.

She grinds against my mouth as hard as she can and emits a shrill scream. At the same time, I feel a rush of fluid pour into my mouth and I have to keep from gagging as it is unexpected. She literally starts to fall forward and I hoist her up onto the table. I had only meant to make her come, and then perhaps come back to this later but her powerful orgasm leaves me wanting my own release and I grip her hips as I shove my pants and boxers down my hips, only far enough to free myself. I easily slide into her, giving her no time to recover. She's limp underneath me but she whimpers and moans as I plunge in and out of her. I imagine she is incredibly sensitive and I should probably be much gentler but I'm not thinking of any of that at this moment. I reach down and grip her breast as I thrust in and out. My hips are slamming against hers and she has no strength to meet me. I feel myself seizing up about a second later and I collapse on top of her. Her breasts are heaving as she struggles to catch her breath and me lying on top of he is probably not helping her breathe any easier. Once I find my strength, I move off of her and glance at her clothes on the floor.

"Umm, we should probably shower real quick before they get here," I mutter. Katniss nods but doesn't move. Smiling, I lift her in my arms and carry her to the bathroom down the hall. I don't have enough strength to take us to the one upstairs and we have to be quick. This bathroom is less luxurious, with a smaller shower that I have never used. She leans against the wall while I soap us both up, then I allow her to move under the water to rinse while I brush my teeth. While she goes upstairs to get dressed, I tie a towel around my waist and clean up the kitchen. When she comes back downstairs, she throws a clean pair of underwear in my face.

"Didn't think you'd want to put the dirty ones back on."

Since you nearly made me come in my pants? I don't speak my thoughts but I smirk as I drop the towel and she averts her eyes. I have to laugh as I dress quickly. When I button my pants, she shoots me a glare. I raise my brow.

"Still so pure, after everything?"

"No," she says through gritted teeth. "You just…don't need to be standing naked in our kitchen, is all."

"You were't complaining when you were standing naked in our kitchen," I say slyly. I laugh when she blushes bright red.

"Dinner better not be ruined," she snaps and hurries to the oven. She lets out a sigh of relief when she pulls the fish from the oven and waves her hand over it. I cross over to her and move her wet braid off her neck, kissing her skin softly.

"Am I to believe you don't want more orgasms like that in the future?"

"You'd better watch it or you won't get anything from me for a long, long time." I gulp. Now that's a threat.

I start to wonder if she is upset that I finished inside her. She has been asking me to pull out ever since her pregnancy scare and I've obeyed her wishes. We even used a condom the other night, although both of us agreed we hated it. I love nothing more to be inside her without any barriers. But I'll do whatever it takes to make her feel comfortable and safe. With her new birth control, I assumed everything was ok. I bite my lip and push a strand of hair behind her ear. She still looks very flushed.

"Katniss? Was that, umm…was that alright?"

"What do you mean?" She doesn't look at me as she shoves a spoon into the vegetables. I gently turn her to look at me and she looks surprised.

"We haven't…I mean, I haven't," I sigh deeply and run a finger through my damp hair. "That's the first time I've…you know, when I was inside you...in a long time. I just…didn't know how you feel…you didn't say anything or ask for me to…well, you know." And they say I am the one with all the words. Ha.

"It's fine Peeta," she says softly. "I'm ok. I trust this shot. And you. And I've missed…that," she blushes but I won't let her. I kiss her deeply and step back to help her finish dinner. She gives me a shy smile and goes about plating the fish. I heat up the bread and start to set the table.

"I'm, um…sorry," she says softly and I look up, frowning. She gives me a pointed look and I gape at her. I remember she looked so embarrassed the last time she…um, squirted? That's what my brothers used to call it. I guess she doesn't understand how intensely proud it makes me feel. I set the dishes on the table, go to her and take her hands, making her look at me.

"I think at some point, you and I need to sit down and have a conversation about our…intimacy."

"What? Why," she asks, her voice breaking. I can only grin.

"Because we need to discuss what we like and what we don't like. We can't be embarrassed about this, Katniss, our sex life is nothing to be ashamed of. I want to hear you say what you like in bed. And I will tell you what I like and want with you. And I will tell you now, I don't just like it…I LOVE when I make you come like that." She blushes a bright red and I grin as I kiss the corner of her mouth.

"We have to come back to this conversation later. You've been pleasuring me with your mouth forever and I've never asked you if you like it." If possible, she blushes even deeper.

"I love it," she says in a low voice that makes me want to take her upstairs and forget all about dinner. I shift uncomfortably and notice that my jeans are way too tight now.

"Damn it," I mutter. "Go finish making dinner. I need a second to…compose myself." She grins and her eyes flit downwards. My eyes narrow at her as she slinks away, her ass shaking more than it usually does when she walks. I shake my head and move away from her, going to the cupboard to get plates. Breathe and think of something else…think of…dammit Katniss! I glance at her out of the corner of my eye and see her licking the spoon that she's used for the glaze. Her tongue rakes along the silver and she closes her eyes, as if she is savoring the flavor. I bite down on my lip and feel all the blood rushing to my groin.

"Damn you, Katniss," I say as I stomp off across the room. I swear I hear her giggle. People say we are in our prime when we are in our 20's. I hope that I never have any issues with my vitality because Katniss will always drive me mad. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

Annie and Finn talk about how much they love the district and the orphanage and the bakery and I just smile. Finn sits on his chair, his tiny legs dangling. I was so proud when Annie walked in, holding his hand and he came limping through the door. It will take some time but the little guy is a fighter, like his mama and daddy. I could almost see Finn's fierce determinaton on his pudgy face. When we finish up dinner, I cut the pie and offer everyone a piece. I brought Finn a special gigantic chocolate chip cookie and he devours it, getting chocolate all over his face. We all laugh as he grins goofily at us.

It's a pleasant evening and I'm sad to see our friends go. Katniss promises to take them to the train station in the morning but I have to say my farewells now. I hold Finn in my arms and he leans up to kiss my cheek.

"Love you Uncle Peeta," he says sleepily. I hand him to Annie as he nods off and kiss her forehead.

"Come back any time, Annie."

"Thank you, Peeta. You both have been so wonderful, I don't know what Finn and I would do without you." She squeezes my hand and gently pats the sleeping baby's back as she makes her way back to Katniss's old house. As I am about to close the door, I notice someone making their way through Victor's Village. I frown as I watch him get closer, wondering what the hell Gale Hawthorne is doing on my lawn this late at night.

"Um, Katniss? Gale's coming to see you." I try to keep the uneasiness out of my voice. I hear Katniss curse.

"Damn. I forgot to tell you! He wants to talk to you before his train leaves." Surprised, I turn back just as Gale is coming up the stairs. His hands are shoved in his pockets and he clears his throat.

"Evening Peeta."

"Good evening," I nod to him. Why is he here? And why didn't Katniss tell me he was coming? Granted she just said she forgot but, well, I feel like I needed more of a warning for this.

"Can we, uh, can we take a walk?"

"Sure." Does he want to kill me away from Victors Village, where he can hide my body somewhere? I sigh and follow him down the steps and across the lawn, toward the entrance to Victor's Village. It's freezing out and I wish I had grabbed my coat. I shove my hands in my pockets and let out a breath, which I can see in the cold night air. Gale sighs.

"I uh…I wanted to apologize for the way I acted. I shouldn't have stormed out of there like I did. It just…hurt to hear Posy say that about the guy I always felt was living my life." I stare at him, confused.

"Come again?" He sighs again.

"Look Peeta, I get it, alright? Katniss and I wouldn't have worked and that's before the bombs. Now she can barely look at me because of what I did to her sister. But you have to understand…when we were growing up, it was just us. I protected her, and we kept our families alive. Together." I nod. I know all of this. I watched her for years. Watched her with him, and wished I could be him.

"We weren't fond of Merchants, you see. Your dad was different, of course. But most of them…they spit on us when we came into town. They snarled at us when we wanted to trade. Katniss started to trade at the Hob because that's where her father used to trade. Trading with your dad and Madge, though, kept us alive. It kept Prim and my brothers and sister alive."

"I doubt that. You were both hunters. You fed your families yourselves."

"Yeah but you kept Katniss alive," he says pointedly. I look down at my shoe and scuff the ground.

"It's not like you knew about that. Or that she knew why I had done it. Hell, I don't think she knew I burned the bread on purpose until that night in the Cave, when we talked about it. She thought it might have been an afterthought on my part."

"Peeta, I'm not talking about just that," he says delicately and I frown.

"Ok. What are you talking about then?" He runs his fingers through his dark hair and seems to be searching for words.

"Remember in Tigris's basement? I said that I should have volunteered for you and you told me she would never forgive me because her family meant more to her than her own life?" I nod slowly. My time on the star-squad is fuzzy but I remember that conversation with Gale. He had woken up to find me staring at Katniss. After a few minutes of watching me, he offered me a drink of water, which I eagerly accepted. I was handcuffed to the stairs and could barely move so he held the flask to my lips and allowed me to drink my fill. We discussed Katniss, which one of us she really loved, which one she would choose. I swallow, feeling my throat become dry.

"You kept her alive. I watched those Games, hating you because you were protecting her. I never realized I hated you because I knew I wouldn't have done the same." Wait. WHAT did he just say?!

"When you teamed up with the Careers…well, some people whispered that you were obviously doing it to keep them away from Katniss. Some of us said you were a traitor and we cursed your name. Katniss's face when she realized you were part of their group…my god, I'd never seen so much pain in someone's eyes. They showed a real quick clip and she covered it pretty well, putting on this sly smile as if you had planned it together. But I knew her. I knew she thought you had betrayed her." I wince. Why is he telling me this? Did he bring me out to freeze my ass off and recount the most painful memories possible? Let's bring up my dead family next!

"I'm sorry to bring this up," he says quickly, catching my expression. "I guess I'm not getting to the point fast enough."

"What IS the point Gale," I ask, irritated.

"The point is, that entire time, all you were thinking of in the arena was her. She was thinking about getting back to Prim and you were thinking of getting her back to Prim. That wouldn't have been my only thought. I would have been thinking of Posy and Vick and Rory and my mother. Of how they would starve without me. I have a feeling that you when you entered the arena, you were pretty resigned to the idea of dying." He gives me a weak smile and I bite my lip. He nods, as if in understanding, before he continues.

"I would have done whatever I could to protect her. But I'm afraid if it came down her and me and the Careers, I would have saved myself. I wouldn't have done it myself, I don't think I could ever do that, but I wouldn't have given my life for hers. But you, you took a sword to the leg. You took a mutt ripping at your flesh and that Career nearly killing you, and you actually told her to kill you at the end. You put that bow in her hands and told her to do it. I couldn't have done it, Peeta. Katniss would have died if I had volunteered for you. You kept her alive. You love her more than anything, more than I ever could. I can see that now. Now that I'm not blinded by rage and hatred and fear, I see things clearly and can see that you are the one who saved her in the end. So I have to thank you for that. For keeping her alive, when I couldn't. For always putting her first. For doing something that I could never do: loving her above all else." My wide eyes register him holding out his hand and I cautiously take it and shake. He gives me a smile and his grey eyes gleam in the moonlight.

"See you around, Peeta." And with that, he's gone. I gape after him, long after he has disappeared from my sight. His words swirl around my head, making me blink in confusion. Did that even just happen? Did Gale Hawthorne actually thank me for keeping Katniss alive? The girl I have loved longer than he'd even known her. Slowly, I turn on my heel and look back at Victor's Village. The moon is high in the sky and I can just make out Katniss's silhouette on our porch. I heave a great sigh and my boots crunch the snow as I make my way back to the house. She watches me anxiously as I stomp the snow off and follow her inside. She pushes a mug of hot chocolate with lots of tiny marshmellows into my hand and pulls me into the living room, where a roaring fire greets me. She kneels in front of me and takes off my boots and my wet socks and I shiver as I feel her hands rubbing feeling back into my numb foot. My entire body is numb. Whether from shock or the cold, I sit motionless on the couch. Katniss watches me from the floor, concern etched on her face.

"Peeta?" I vaguely register her saying my name but all I can do is blink. She takes the mug from my hands and sets it down, before she climbs into my lap and takes my face into her hands.

"Are you alright? What did he say to you?" I blink up at her, her grey eyes narrowed in suspicion. I reach up and take her braid into my hand, gently pulling the band from the end and allowing the silky strands to fall around her shoulders. She continues to watch me, baffled.

"Peeta, please, talk to me," she urges and now she is looking a little scared.

"I'm ok," I mumble.

"You don't look ok. Did he say something to upset you?" I shake my head. How do I tell her? How would it make her feel? How does it make ME feel? I had a family to come back to as well. But I know they would have been fine without me. After all, isn't that what I told her in the Quarter Quell? Her family counted on her. Mine didn't. My mom often reminded me of how useless I was around the bakery. I didn't have Bialy's talent in the kitchen or Ryean's charm. I was good at school, quiet, and pretty good at sports. She thought being on the wrestling team was a waste of time, even though Ryean was on it with me. She often smiled with Bialy but I rarely saw it directed at me. Would she have been happy if I had died in the arena? Maybe. I don't really think so. Dad cried when my name was called at the Reaping. Mom didn't shed any tears when they came to see me off. Ryean was crying, apologizing for not volunteering for me. The sight of Katniss yelling after Prim and throwing herself toward the stage plays in my mind. Those last few moments with my family, hearing Mom's words.

"Well, District 12 might finally have a winner after all these years." I looked up at her, hardly daring to believe it. My brothers and my father were all watching her too. Mom sniffed.

"She' s a fighter, that one. She's too stubborn to die. And he's stupid enough to help her live. This fool will probably sacrifice himself to save Seam trash." I couldn't stand it. I leaped at her and screamed at her to get out. Dad actually told her to wait outside and the three of them just held me.

"Just come back to us, Peeta," Bialy muttered in my ear.

"Don't make it all about her," Ryean whispered. "Save yourself. For your family." After they left, Dad looked up at me, silent tears streaming down his gaunt cheeks.

"I know you will do everything you can to save your songbird, Peeta. Just remember, she isn't the only one with family waiting back here."

"I know that Dad. I'll try to win. I promise."

"No you won't son. You'll try to help her win. I know you. I see it in your eyes. And I won't begrudge you for it." He pushed a bag of cookies into my hands and I looked up into his tear-filled eyes.

"Give them to her. Please." He nodded, understanding.

"I'll make sure the little girl has enough to eat," he leaned in to kiss me on the cheek, and then left. I stared at the closed door with shock and growing fear. Katniss had a chance to win. And I would make sure she did. I wasn't coming back. Dad knew that. My whole family knew that.

I feel soft hands in my hair and I notice Katniss pushing my curls out of my eyes, her eyes soft and loving. I reach up and bring her hand to my lips.

"Are you ready for bed?" I nod and she pulls me up the stairs and into our bedroom. I start pulling off my shirt but her hands stop me and I watch her curiously. Her hands slip my shirt over my head and make quick work of the buttons on my pants. She never breaks our gaze as she drops to her knees, slowly inching my pants and underwear down my legs. I stumble slightly as I step out of them and her hands travel up and down my legs. She stands up on her knees and I watch her tongue inch out of her mouth and across the head of my cock. I let out a hiss as she kisses me lightly, teasingly, but she never looks away from my eyes as she takes me into her mouth. The sight of her pink lips wrapped around my dick and the way her eyes are smoldering with love makes me cry out her name as I come alive under her ministrations. I stop her before I get too close, gently pushing her back onto the bed and helping her with her clothes. I climb over her and we never look away as her hand gently strokes me, then guides me into her. It's the opposite of what we had done earlier in the kitchen. It's slow and gentle and I pour every ounce of love and reverence I have for her into her when I find my release and likewise I see the passion flowing from her eyes. I sit up and pull her into my lap as I lean against the headboard, her legs wrapped tightly around my waist. I'm still inside her and we stay connected for as long as we can. I kiss her deeply, sated and surrounded by her love.

"Will you tell me one day?" her voice is soft and I just nod. She climbs off of me and pulls me down to lie with her, her head resting on my chest, her ear directly over my heart, which has always and will always beat only for her.