Alright fantastic readers of mine, I am going on vacation this weekend and I'm not sure if i'll have time to post so I'm aiming to post a few before I leave. Here is a nice long one for yall and if I get some reviews (some equals 8 ;) I will post another one before I leave on Sunday! Enjoy! XOXOX

Finn clings to my legs as I hug Annie. None of us want to say goodbye and I have been chewing in my tongue the whole way to the train station.

"Thank you for everything," Annie says in my ear. As she pulls away and picks up Finn, I let out a deep sigh. They are almost to the train when I yell it out.

"You can have my old house!" She stops and I bite my lip. That's not how I wanted it to come out. She turns and gapes at me, her brow furrowed.

"What do you mean?"

"I…um…" she walks back and I see the conductor give an impatient sigh.

"Katniss?" I look up at her and shrug.

"You and Finn mean the world to us. And I think you're lonely in 4. I want you to come here, to 12. You can have my old house and can come help me at the orphanage and…" I trail off, looking down. Annie is staring at me like I'm crazy. Maybe I am. I did just offer my house to her and her son.

"Katniss, you have become one of my best friends," she says softly. "I…I would love to come here to be with you and Peeta and the rest of 12. But 4 is my home. It's where…god, there weren't a lot of happy memories but I feel like leaving it would be like leaving Finnick." I nod, understanding. I don't know if I could leave 12. As many painful memories as there are, it's still home.

"I will think about it, ok?" I nod again and she kisses my cheek. I watch her and Finn climb aboard and wave goodbye. I turn on my heel and start back toward home.

The bakery is on the way back to Victor's Village so I stop in for a moment. Riley and Branelle are at the front and both smile when I enter.

"Hey there Katniss. How are you today?"

"Doing well, Riley. Is Peeta in the back?"

"Yep. A couple came from 2 came in for a wedding cake and he is working on the designs." I hesitate, not wanting to disturb him but Riley shakes his head.

"You know he always has time for you. Go on back." Branelle lifts the barrier and smiles as I pass by her. I head into the kitchen and Dane and Rory both look up to nod at me but everyone looks extremely busy. Rory gestures toward the office and I knock lightly.

"Yeah?" I hear Peeta's voice, sounding slightly irritated. I open the door just a crack and see him hunched over the desk, papers spread all around. He looks up, prepared to yell, it seems, and his face changes when he realizes it's me. I can honestly say this makes me happy, that I can chase those clouds away from his eyes. His face continues to soften as he rises from his chair and wraps his arms around my waist, pulling me in for a hug.

"Hey beautiful, this is a nice surprise.

"I'm sorry, I know you're really busy."

"Never too busy for my favorite girl. Here, come on in." He closes the door behind me and gestures for me to sit down. I glance at the designs and frown.

"Diamonds?"

"Her name is Diamond and she wants a cake covered in them! I suggested something more classy, like wrapping the jewels around the layers and then maybe some elegant swirls on the side. I'm coming up with some different designs to offer them next week. They're paying a lot of money and I want them to be happy with them but their proposed design was the tackiest I have ever seen." I bite my lip to stifle my laughter. He smiles and sweeps his hair out of his eyes.

"So Annie and Finn are gone?"

"I didn't want to go home to an empty house," I confess. "It'll be weird without them around." He nods, playing with his pencil.

"Yeah but you still have the woods with Rory. You still have the orphanage and all those little ones counting on you. I'll be getting out of here around 6 tonight."

"I asked Annie to move in next door," I blurt out. I see him freeze and he cocks his head.

"Did you now?" I nod and he raises a brow. "And what did she say?"

"She said that 4 is still home. And that she would think about it. She and Finn just seem really lonely, Peeta. I hate to think about them in Victor's Village by themselves, with no one to talk to. It's sort of like…like when we first moved to the Village. And we weren't really talking." He clears his throat uncomfortably.

"Least I had Haymitch," he says in a fake cheery voice. I bite my lip and hang my head low.

"Hey," I hear him get out of his chair and he comes around to face me. He kneels in front of me, taking my hand and looking up at me.

"I'm sorry. That was dumb of me to say. I keep telling you not to blame yourself for how things were and here I am, bringing them up again. I'm sorry."

"But you're right." I have to fight back the tears and Peeta leans up to press his forehead to mine.

"It doesn't matter," he says softly. "You're here now. We're together. That is all that matters in the end." He takes my face in his hands and kisses me softly. My hands come up and cover his and he leans against me again and closes his eyes.

"You have no idea, how many times I wished I could do that."

"And now you can, whenever you feel like."

"Is that an invitation?" I smile as our lips meet again. There's a soft knock at the door and Peeta stands up and calls for them to come in. Dane comes in, looking apologetic.

"Sorry to interrupt but Peeta, there is another couple asking for a consultation for a wedding cake." Peeta sighs and nods and I quickly stand up.

"I'll leave you to your work. I'll see you tonight?"

"I'll be home for dinner," he promises and he walks me to the door, kisses me goodbye and lets me hold him for just a moment. I don't know why I'm feeling so emotional this morning but it needs to stop. I go home to gather my bow and arrows, and spend the entire day in the woods. I bring down a turkey, which I hurry home to prepare and cook for dinner. Peeta loves wild turkey and I quickly prepare a rice dish to go with it. When Peeta comes home from work, he looks exhausted but he quickly perks up when he smells the turkey cooking. After dinner, we take a bath together and he carries me into the bedroom and disappears between my legs. Too tired for anything else, we both fall asleep in each other's arms and my last thought is how content I would be if this became my life everyday.

I love Sundays. Peeta doesn't go to the bakery and it's our day to sleep in, take long showers together, and just enjoy each other's company. It's funny that just a few years ago, Sundays were still my favorite day but for a different day. It was my day with Gale, spent in the woods. If someone had told me then that I would be spending my future Sundays with the Merchant boy who I traded bread with, I'd have shot them through the eye. Yet here we are. And I have never been happier.

This morning, I wake up before Peeta and think how hungry I am. It would be nice for me to fix breakfast in bed and surprise him. But then those thoughts are pushed from my mind as I notice how he is tangled in the sheets. Summer is brutal here in 12 and we sleep naked almost every night. He's lying on his back, with his arm thrown over his face and the blanket is barely covering his stirring cock. He has taken to sleeping with his prosthetic leg on and it is currently dangling off the bed. I bite my lip as I watch him sleep, his strong chest moving up and down to the time of his breathing. His arms are even stronger with the added work at the bakery. I'm a little surprised to see how hard he is right now. He's told me before that this happens for a lot of men. That it is completely normal to wake up aroused in the morning. It makes sense, thinking back to mornings with him on the train. He blushes when I mention it but I just fire back that it's nothing to be ashamed of. I move in closer and leave soft kisses across his stomach, moving up to wrap my tongue around his nipple. I hear a soft gasp and he shifts his legs. I glance up to make sure he is still asleep before I kiss my way down his stomach. I mark his pale skin with my lips, leaving a bruise here or there on my way down to my destination. When I reach his cock, he is harder and seems to be squirming in his sleep.

"Katniss," he whines above me and I have to smile. A year ago I would have been embarrassed that he dreams about me like this. Now it makes me feel powerful, worthy, and complete. I continue my gentle kisses, across his tip and down his shaft. He lets out a deep groan and jerks his hips. I lick my palm and take him into my hand, moving up and down while my tongue flicks across his head. I hear him curse softly and have a feeling he is finally awake. The sheets rustle as he moves around and I glance back at him, my hand never ceasing its actions.

My husband is beautiful in the morning. His blonde curls are tousled and mussed, his blue eyes are hazy and clouded with sleep. His long lashes rest on his cheeks as he throws his head back and moans my name. I lower my head and take him into my mouth and hear a thud as his head hits the wall. I hollow out my cheeks best I can and travel up and down. I can't go all the way down because he is so big but I take as much of him into my mouth as I can. I feel him pull my bottom half toward him and I shift around on my knees. I feel his hand on my cheeks, his fingers teasing my entrance. He can feel how wet I am for him and I blush.

"Fuck Katniss," he says in a low voice. He growls and leans up a little. My back arches as soon as his tongue touches me. His hands spread me wide and I feel his tongue thrust in and out and I momentarily have to pause my actions as Peeta is driving me crazy. I suppose that was his intent because he is pulling me up to straddle his face and his hardness slaps against his stomach. His hands come up to rest on my breasts and he moans against my flesh. I toss my head back and reach back to grip his hair. My thighs are squeezing against his ears and still he consumes me completely. I come, screaming his name to the room and completely forget that we have left the window open. At this moment, though, I could are less. I move off his face and down his body, taking his cock in my hand and impaling myself. His fingers dig into my hips as he moves me up and down and I reposition myself, resting my feet on his knees. He thrusts up into me and one of his hands comes around to squeeze my nipple again.

"Shit Katniss! Shit!"

"Let go, Peeta," I purr and feel him shake his head. He's trying to hold on longer, to make sure I come before he does. Peeta is predictable in the way he loves me. Anything he can do to put me first, he'll do it. He definitely puts my pleasure before his own. He reaches around and rubs me fast and hard.

"God Katniss!" He cries out when he feels me clench around him, and I spread my legs, watching his seed seep out of me and onto the sheets. Exhausted, I lean back on him and his shaking arms wrap around me, holding me in place. My legs are screaming at me when I move them and I move to his side, burrowing my face in his chest.

"Holy shit," he pants into my hair. "What an amazing way to wake up." I grin and look up at him and he kisses my nose.

"I was going to get up and make breakfast but now I don't think I can move."

"Let's sleep awhile longer," he says, already drifting off. I nod in agreement, snuggling deeper in his arms.

When I wake up again, it's because the phone keeps ringing and I feel Peeta getting up. He grabs a pair of boxers and runs to the study. The phone stops ringing but then I hear him calling for me.

"Katniss, can you come here?" I pull on a pair of panties as I walk and button up one of his shirts as I approach the study. Peeta holds the phone on his shoulder and he gestures for me to join him.

"What's going on?"

"Hey brainless! I wanted to talk to you and bread boy together! You sitting down?"

"Just tell us, Johanna," Peeta says tiredly.

"You're no fun," Johanna retorts but she sounds quite cheerful. "Fine. Katniss. I'm calling to ask you if you would be one of my maids of honor. And Peeta, I'd like to ask if you would give me away." It takes a moment, I'll admit. Peeta's wide eyes meet mine and I gasp.

"Oh my god, Johanna! George proposed!" Laughter comes through the phone and Peeta gives me a broad grin.

"He did. I'm pretty nervous about it too. Never thought I was the marrying type."

"Well I said the same thing about myself," I remind her. "Now look at us."

"Well how about it, Mellarks?"

"I would be honored to walk you down the aisle, Johanna," Peeta says fondly.

"So Annie and I are your bridesmaids?"

"Well, yeah, I guess but I just decided to have two maids of honor and no bridesmaids. Although George's niece will be our flower girl."

"Who's making your cake," Peeta asks eagerly.

"Oh, this baker we found in District 5 last month." Peeta's face falls and he bites his lip. Just as I am reaching out to comfort him, Johanna laughs.

"I'm kidding, baker boy! Of course I want you to make our cake!" I roll my eyes but Peeta grins and nods.

"I'd be honored."

"You should call Effie," I tell her. "She helped me so much when we were planning our wedding."

"I might do that. I don't know where to begin."

"You've already begun," Peeta says with a smile. "You've started calling your family. We're so happy for you, Jo."

"Thank you Peeta. I never thought…I didn't think I would be this happy. I didn't think I would…well, find anyone who could put up with me. George…he changed my life."

"I know the feeling," Peeta says softly, his eyes meeting mine. I wrap my hand around his and squeeze.

"I need to go. Maybe I'll call Effie when George finishes calling his family. I'll be in touch!" We say goodbye and he hangs up the phone, shaking his head.

"Wow. Never imagined Johanna a married woman."

"And you imagined me a married woman?" He looks at me quickly and his face falls only slightly.

"I guess I always pictured you married to Gale. Even when we were engaged, I had a hard time picturing you married to me. I sort of assumed we would work out some kind of deal when we lived in 12, you know, so you could…be with Gale on the side," I take his face in my hands and kiss him on the lips, silencing him. His hands cover mine and he closes his eyes. Our rings clink against one another and I smile as I press my forehead to his.

"I was going to ask you if you were ready to eat breakfast but I'm suddenly hungry for something else." His brow quirks and he looks smug.

"And what would that be?" I pull him out of the room and back to the bedroom, my fingers playing with the waistband of the boxers that are riding low on his hips. I lean up and bite his lip, tugging it into my mouth and he gasps.

"My husband," I say slyly as I pull him down to the bed with me.

It's the first day of July when Peeta and I are jolted awake by the phone ringing. I grumble and throw the pillow over my head but Peeta leaps out of bed and runs to the study. Glancing at the clock, I grumble even more seeing that it is nearly 3 in the morning. I hear Peeta's hushed voice and I wait to see if he will come back to bed. When he does, he has a broad grin on his face.

"Cora had a healthy little boy." My irritation disappears and I actually feel myself getting giddy.

"Oh goodness that's wonderful! How are they?"

"They're both doing great. Dane says Cora is resting and little Nathan is being tended to by the midwife. They're both healthy and well." He holds me tight when he gets back into bed and I feel myself already slipping back into my dreams.

"We should go to town and get them something. I know Rory and I built that crib for them but I want to get something for Nathan."

"The crib is for Cora, then," I tease through a yawn and I feel him gently tug my hair.

"No Smarty pants, I just mean I want to look at the baby store for some kind of toys or something."

"Ok. We'll go on your lunch break if you want."

"You'll come with me? Baby shopping?"

"Why not," I reply. "Might be good practice." I hear him gasp and don't really register what I'm saying as I fall back into his arms, dead to the world.

I try to pull down my dress more as I approach the bakery. I'm wearing a pretty summer dress that George and Johanna sent for me for my birthday but it's much too short and shows off my scars. Still, District 12 is blazing hot this summer and I appreciate the cool breeze as I hurry along the road. I peer inside and see Peeta and Branelle behind the counter, talking to customers. I slip inside and stand near the wall. Peeta lifts his head and his eyes meet mine, softening immediately. When he finishes the transaction, he hands over the package and lifts the barrier so he can move from behind the counter.

"Wow," he says softly as he reaches for me. "You look beautiful."

"You say that everyday," I tease, leaning for a kiss.

"It's true but I love that dress on you. You look so care-free." I know he's referring to my scars. I still have a hard time letting people see. But District 12 is scarred. Our neighbors are scarred. If we're going to put ourselves back together, we do it as a district. As a nation. As a family.

Peeta tells Branelle and Rory that he's taking his lunch and we grasp hands as we make our way towards town. There's a new store that was just built that carries everything you could possibly need for babies. I try to ignore the way Peeta's face lights up when we enter and he drags me toward the toy aisle.

He's like a kid in a candy store, I swear. I have to constantly remind him he only gets an hour for lunch, but he keeps finding new things to attract his attention. By the time I am able to drag him toward the check out, he has a basket full of toys, stuffed animals, a teething ring, rattles, and brightly colored bottles.

"I hope Cora and Dane have enough room for all this stuff," I playfully poke him and he gives me a look.

"It'll go in the nursery, Katniss. That's what nurseries are for. Cribs and babies and all their stuff."

I don't know why I ask. It's one of those moments when I wish I could stick my fist in my mouth to stop the words from coming. But they come out anyway.

"Have you thought about what…our nursery would look like? If we ever…you know?" He glances at me quickly, his brow raised in surprise.

"I'd be lying if I said that I didn't," he says quietly. I want to ask him what he would decorate it with. What it would look like.

But we're never going to have one. Because I never want children. Therefore he will never put those ideas to use. Perhaps when Johanna and George have a child, they'll ask Peeta to decorate the nursery. A feeling of guilt gnaws away at me and we are both silent as we make our way back to the bakery. Because of the many shopping bags, we aren't holding hands and it makes me feel more closed off from him.

When we reach the bakery, I offer to take the bags home until we can go to Dane and Cora's house later after he gets off work. He starts to protest but I slide bags on my arms and his lips clamp immediately. I give him a quick kiss on his cheek and turn away before he can say anything.

That evening as I am cooking dinner, the phone rings. I glance at the boiling sauce and lower the heat before I run upstairs to the study.

"Katniss, it's Rory." I grip the phone with white knuckles and I feel my heart start to quicken.

"What's wrong?"

"He's ok. He just…had an episode. He wants to know if you'll come walk with him. I offered but he only wants you."

"I'll be right there."

I completely forget about the food cooking as I run to the bakery. I clutch a stitch in my side as I rest on the front porch, leaning against the door. The bakery is closed and empty of customers but Rory opens the front door and gestures me inside. I am panting and heaving for breath as I run back to his office.

He is sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall. His face is bloodless, his eyes red from crying. His curls are on end, probably from him pulling at them. I see scratches on his face and neck. I fall to my knees and pull him into my arms. He hesitantly lifts an arm and brings it around my waist. I hold his head to my chest and stroke his hair, burying my face in his soft curls.

"I'm here, Peeta," I whisper soothingly. "I'm here and I love you." He pulls away and blinks up at me. His eyes are still startlingly blue, though a little hazy. He looks confused and I brace myself for a difficult game of 'Real Not Real'.

"You were pregnant in the Quarter Quell. Real or-"

"Not real," I cut him off. "It was a lie you told to stop the Games. We had never done anything like that until you came back to District 12. Our first time together was at your house, the morning after I spent the night. Do you remember?" He frowns and my heart plummets.

"We didn't… on the train?"

"No. We only slept. You held me and chased away the nightmares." He nods, his brow still furrowed. I stroke his cheek and he leans into my palm, closing his eyes.

"You would have had a family with Gale, if he had stayed in 12."

"Not real," I almost yell. He recoils and I sigh deeply, taking his hands and kissing his knuckles. "I didn't want Gale. I don't want Gale. I want you. You are my family."

"You weren't pregnant," he says softly, almost to himself. "It wasn't real." I shake my head no.

"Snow told me you were and it wasn't mine. He showed me videos of you and Gale and he laughed at me how I defended you in front of the world, telling everyone that you and I were having a baby. Then I saw a video of you very pregnant and you took a knife and cut out the baby. You were screaming that you would rather die than have my child inside you."

I am horrified and my face must show it because he looks apologetic.

"N-not real, Peeta," I stammer, blinking back tears. He reaches up and uses his thumb to wipe at the corners of my eyes. I hold onto his hands and stare into his eyes. The cloud of confusion is drifting away and is now replaced by tears.

"I always see you like that. In my dreams I mean. Pregnant and glowing and so damn beautiful. But something always happens. You claw at your stomach with these two-inch nails. Or you cut it out with a knife. Sometimes you even throw its tiny body at me while I am crying. I hate myself so much, Katniss." I start as he throws himself in my arms and his body shakes with his sobs. I hold him tight and cry silent tears.

"Peeta I don't want children because the pain of losing them is just too great. But if I ever had a child, I want it to look just like you. Your kind smile and your beautiful eyes and your golden curls and your sweet heart." I start to think about Peeta holding a baby in his arms. How beautiful that would be. And I start to wonder.

I reach up and take his face in my hands.

"Not right now, Peeta. But maybe someday. Maybe. I promise I will think about it." He buries his face in my shirt and holds on with a death grip. After awhile, he falls asleep in my arms and I have to rouse him with soft kisses before he opens his eyes. He groans and pulls me up with him.

"Damn I'm sure we'll both be sore tomorrow. I am so so-"

"Don't even say it," I say sharply. "Stop apologizing. Please." He falls silent and he nods and I open the office door. Rory is the only one here and he is cleaning the counters.

"Oh Rory I'm so sorry. Go on home, I didn't mean to keep you here this late," Peeta says softly.

"Don't be stupid, Peeta. I wasn't going to just leave. And it's no problem. You two want to lock up?" I nod and give him a look of thanks. He nods to both of us before he hangs up his apron and backs out of the door. Peeta sighs and runs a hand through his hair.

"I was planning to go see Cora and Nathan but now I am just exhausted."

"Let's go home and have some dinner. We can go see them tomorrow, ok?" He nods and allows me to lead him back home.

His nose wrinkles when we walk through the door and I gasp and run to the kitchen. Well, the food is destroyed, that's for certain but I'm extremely grateful that the house didn't burn down. Peeta comes in after me and his eyes go to the stove.

"You left everything cooking?"

"No lectures," I snap. "I was worried about you." He comes over to me and wraps his arms around my waist.

"I know," he says softly. "Thank you for loving me that much." I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down for a kiss. I hear both our stomachs growling and he breaks away, grinning.

"I can whip us up something pretty quick. If you want to clean this up, I'll have dinner ready in ten minutes."

We work well in the kitchen together. We have this familiar dance that we have perfected. If he needs something, I plop it in front of him without him asking. Likewise, we shuffle around each other, him stealing a kiss every now and again as I set the dishes in the sink to soak. Soon, I'm smelling the dinner and realize how hungry I am. I set the table and he brings over the dishes. He's made some kind of hash out of the waterfowl I shot yesterday and has combined it with potatoes and carrots. He sets some toasted baguettes on the side of the plate and sets it in front of me. My mouth waters.

"Why do I bother trying to cook when you can create these kinds of dinners in less than an hour?" His eyes sparkle as he takes a bite.

"I love when you cook. You make a mean squirrel stew that I could never perfect." I roll my eyes.

"Yay, one dish, Peeta. You're the cook from now on."

"I thought that was the agreement when you moved in," he chuckles. "You just all of a sudden started to cook all the time."

"Fine. I'll hunt, you cook. And bake. I still need my cheesebuns." He grins as he cups my chin.

"Deal."