Good news everyone- I wrote the final chapter to this fic today and then wrote the first chapter of the sequel! It's official: I won't be finished with these wonderful characters any time soon ;) So here's a chapter to celebrate! I have to split Peeta's chapter into two parts because it's so long. I'll try to post the 2nd part by this weekend! Have a great week!
XOXOXO
Soft whimpers wake me up and all I see is darkness. Something is covering my eyes and I toss my head, trying to regain my vision. I try to speak but there is rope cutting into my mouth.
"What are you doing," I hear a voice not far from me.
"What does it look like I'm doing," another snaps and I hear more whimpers and muffled cries.
"You're an idiot. Her husband is sitting right across from you!"
"And he's sleeping. And tied up. Here girlie, stop struggling." I hear a sharp slap and I am incensed.
"You used to be quite a looker, little mockingjay. Now you're just one big mess of scars. Are those scars all over your body though? Let's see how far down they go." I am sure they will hear my heavy breathing and my pounding heart. I hear one of the men whistle.
"Now that's a nice rack and it's not completely damaged. I could put a bag over your head and be just fine. Bet your mouth works just fine, though, don't it?" I start in my ropes as I hear a zipper and another sharp slap.
"Please don't do this," I hear my wife's trembling voice. They're speaking in hushed voices, as if not to wake me.
"Oh I'm sure you're used to this, now, aren't you? He don't make you do this?"
"He's my husband," Katniss snaps. "He doesn't make me do anyth-" her words are cut off and she is gagged by something. I feel a sick feeling in my stomach as I imagine I know exactly what that something is. I twist around in my ropes, trying to be subtle and quiet. I won't listen to these men violate my wife. I'm going to kill them both with my bare hands.
"You fucking bitch," he yells followed by several loud slaps. I smile in spite of myself, knowing Katniss must have bit him. I hope he bleeds.
"You bite me again and I will put a bullet into his pretty little head," he growls. Doesn't take a genius to know who he is referring to.
I hear Katniss gagging and the disgusting sound of her choking on something.
"Shit yes," the man grunts. I fight with my ropes even harder. Grunts and groans fill the room and I try to squeeze my eyes shut, wanting to block out the sounds. Wishing I could block them out. Katniss's soft cries come soon after and she lets out another surprised cry. I hear thumps against the wall and her gasps.
"No! No don't do this! Get your fucking hands off me!"
"Hand me that bag. It'll muffle her cries." Enraged, I struggle in my ropes and yell into my gag.
"Oh. Looks like someone is awake." A hand buries itself in my hair and pulls upward, yanking me to my knees. My blindfold is ripped off and I blink, trying to regain my bearings. My eyes narrow on the sight before me. Katniss is naked, with ropes wrapped around her chest and legs, her hands bound behind her back. She is bent over the feeding trough, with a rough bag stuffed over her head. I scream obscenties into my gag and try to stand up but the hand that still holds my curls pushes me back to the ground. One of them comes into my sight and approaches Katniss. My blood boils when I see him run his hands down her back and slap her ass. She jumps and tries to arch her back but he holds her head down. All I see is red. I have never wanted to kill anyone more than I do now. The man who holds me down chuckles softly and I wince at the familiar soft laughter. The smell of roses invades my nostrils and I scream when he lowers his face in front of mine. Snake-like lips that turn up in a poisonous smile. Eyes glittering with malice. I gag at the smell of roses and he chuckles softly.
"Well well, Mr. Mellark. What have we here? And here I thought you would do anything to protect Miss Everdeen." I hear her scream against the bag and I refuse to look her way. Snow's hand grips my curls and yanks my head up.
"I will destroy you both," he says with a cruel smile. I remember those words so well. He walks away from me and goes to stand next to Katniss. I don't see what happens but the splatter of blood that appears on the floor of the barn makes me sick to my stomach and I collapse on my stomach.
I wake in a cold sweat, panting and heaving for breath. Something warm stirs beside me and I look over into Katniss's sleepy eyes.
"Peeta, what's wrong?"
"I…I just…"
"Come here," she holds out her arms and I nuzzle into her. Her heart beats underneath my ear and I sigh at its strength. She runs her fingers through my hair and I pant against her chest. My throat is on fire, as if I have been screaming the whole time. I think I may have. I never did before. I mean, whenever I had nightmares, I woke up tossing and turning and was better when I saw Katniss next to me. Now that the nightmares are so vivid and it takes me a moment to realize most of them are not real, I wake up screaming and thrashing. Katniss reaches over to the table and brings a cup of water to my lips. I sip gratefully and sigh as my parched throat relaxes.
"You're ok," she whispers into my hair. "I won't let anything happen to you." I wrap my arms around her waist, not having the strength to correct her. She should know my most terrible nightmares are when something happens to her, not to me. But I don't argue. She gently rocks me back and forth and I feel myself drifting off again. When I wake up, we are sleeping face to face, our arms wrapped around each other. I raise my head off the pillow to see her face just inches from mine. I turn to glance out the window and see the sun is already up. I gently disentangle myself from her embrace and hurry down to the kitchen to start on breakfast. While the bacon is cooking I hurry to the study to call the bakery and let them know I won't be coming in again. My employees understand that my wife comes first and Rory tells me to tell Katniss hello.
When I come back up with a tray of food, I see she is sitting up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
"I slept so late," she complains.
"You did not. It's barely past 8. And you need to rest more. I already called into the bakery so I'll just stay in bed with you if that's what you want. Here, why don't we have some breakfast?" I climb onto the bed and set the tray on our knees. She pouts a little and I frown.
"What's wrong?"
"I haven't gotten a good morning kiss in awhile." I roll my eyes but laugh. I'd have never expected this much affection to come from Katniss Everdeen. But I have to say Katniss Mellark loves to show me how much she loves me. I have to say, I love who this beautiful woman has become. I lean over and kiss her and despite the morning breath that neither of us can hide, we linger and I deepen the kiss. Her hand rests on my cheek and I take it and kiss her palm. I reach over and grab the bottles of pills from the table, pouring several into my hand and passing them to her.
"Take these with breakfast."
"Peeta, I can't eat all this."
"Eat what you can. I wasn't sure what you would want." I kiss her forehead before I dig into my pancakes. She tosses the pills back and takes a gulp of milk before she grabs a piece of bacon. I know her appetite hasn't completely returned yet but Mrs. Everdeen stressed the importance of keeping food in her stomach. I watch her to make sure she eats and smile when she devours the pancakes completely. When we finish, I take the tray back downstairs and climb back into bed with her. We haven't gotten to do this in such a long time, and it's nice to just enjoy her company. I am spooning her with one of my hands resting on her stomach and the other entwined with hers on the pillow. I inhale her sweet smell as her hair is spread over the pillow. I move closer and move her hair aside so I can place soft kisses on her neck and along her jawline. She moans and presses back against me, eliciting a soft groan. She glances at me over her shoulder and raises her brow.
"Do you think this counts as strenuous activity?" Despite my current arousal, I nod.
"Sex is exhausting. And I don't need you more tired and to get sick again. We can wait." She pouts and I laugh. I swoop down and kiss her lips and settle back behind her.
"Rest Katniss. Rest and get better. Just think of all the sex we will have to make up for lost time." A little sound escapes her throat and makes me clench my jaw. She presses against me and her hips are cradled in mine. Dammit I need to go back to sleep or we will have some major problems. She sighs and settles in my arms, gripping my bicep as she drifts off to sleep. I'm not far behind her.
The next several days go by slowly, especially for Katniss, who has never done well with resting and lying around the house. She always needs to be up doing something and we both go crazy if we are stuck in the house for too long. I carry her downstairs so she won't feel confined to the bed but I still don't want her to leave the house. Annie, Finn, Johanna and George all joined us for lunch yesterday and Katniss seemed to smile a lot more. Finn clung to her legs and begged her not to go anywhere again. She looked like she would cry as she bent down to hug the little boy.
"I'm not going anywhere, little guy," she assured him. After they left, Katniss wanted to take a bath and I agreed to help her since her arm is still in the cast. She's getting stronger as the days pass.
Gale has stopped by several times, but I always tell him Katniss is still in bed. I know he wants to question her about her kidnapping and I tell him not right now. He's angry with me, I can tell, but once upon a time, he did actually care about her health and sanity. I'm sure he still does. But he's pissing me off every time he comes asking if she's ready to talk. I'll keep him away for as long as I can. Katniss doesn't seem to be in any hurry to talk about what happened to her and I won't push her.
About a week after she was released from the hospital, Katniss sits up in bed and I set my book aside and reach out for her. She lowers into my arms and lays her head on my bare chest.
"I need to get out of this house, Peeta," she says softly and I sigh.
"Babe you're still not 100% better-"
"Please. You can carry me everywhere if you want to. I just need some fresh air. We can go see Delly and the baby," she suggests and my heart skips. I'd forgotten we promised Delly and Brent we would be by to see Dex. Finally I agree and we hurry to get dressed. I make sure she is bundled up well and I carry her out to the car. The district is covered in a blanket of fresh snow and I shiver as I close the door and start the car.
Delly and Brent don't live too far from the bakery. There were discussions of them rebuilding the Undersee house but Delly asked Brent if they could build elsewhere. Brent agreed and as Brent's brother, Thom was in charge of the construction. Katniss stares out the window as I drive in silence.
When we arrive, Katniss starts to get out but I lay a hand on her arm and she looks at me questioningly.
"You said you would let me carry you." She rolls her eyes and shakes her head at me.
"I was joking, Peeta, I can walk you know."
"I know. But I'd still like to carry you. You agreed." She throws her hands up in the air and shakes her head.
"Fine." I get out of the car and go to her side and bend down so my face is inches from hers.
"Allow me the luxury of protecting my wife, please?" And I kiss her before she can protest. Her lips twitch and her eyes sparkle as she stares at me.
"Alright. I'll allow it." Smiling, I gather her in my arms and kick the door closed behind me. She reaches out to ring the bell as I hold her against my chest. Brent opens the door and gives us a broad smile. I can detect dark circles under his eyes. The joys of a newborn, I suppose.
"Peeta! Katniss, it's so wonderful to see you both. Please come in. Delly will be so pleased to see you." He leads us inside and I marvel at the size of the house. It's not far off from our Victor's houses and I briefly wonder how Brent feels living here. I had a hard enough time adjusting to the sheer size of my new house and I wasn't from the Seam. I remember Katniss telling me she needed other people to live there with her so it wouldn't seem so big. I didn't have that luxury. I had of course invited my family to live with me as soon as I returned from the Games. Mother would have nothing to do with Victor's Village.
"I won't live so near to Seam trash," she sniffed and I had to keep myself from slapping her.
"I'd watch what I say from now on," I snapped. "She's a Victor and deserves to be respected as such."
"Oh she's just after your money," she said nastily. "A greedy little Seam harlot looking for more money." I had lost it at that moment. I told her under no circumstances was she to ever step a foot in Victor's Village again. I invited Dad and my brothers but they rarely visited me. If I wanted to see my family, I had to make the trip to Merchant Circle. Before we left for the Quarter Quell, I had tried to leave the house to Dad but of course the Capitol had rules against that. If anything happened to Katniss, Prim and her mother would have to move back to the Seam too. Such was the way of the Capitol's rule over us.
I feel Katniss's hand on my arm and my head shoots up. She looks up at me with concern but I shake my head, assuring her I'm ok. Brent leads us into the living room where Delly sits in a rocking chair with her sleeping son in her arms. She smiles up at us and looks exhausted.
"Oh it's so good to see you," she whispers. "How are you feeling Katniss?"
"Much better, Delly, thank you. How's the little family doing?"
"We're perfect. Espeically since we finally got him to sleep," she shoots her husband a smile and he perches on the arm of the chair, draping his arm around his wife. I feel bad for breaking into the personal time. With Dex asleep, they could have a few minutes of sleep. I don't bother to sit down. Delly looks up at me and motions for me to sit but I shake my head.
"We should have called, I'm sorry."
"Nonsense Peeta. You're welcome to sit and stay awhile."
"You should take advantage of his quiet time," I say, glancing down at the sleeping babe. "If you're feeling up to it, we would love to have you over for dinner Monday night."
"We'd love that," Delly says softly and I nod with a smile.
"Great. We will see you then. Get some rest, Del." She grins and blows me a kiss as she gazes down at her son. Brent is staring down at the babe as well and I hurry to excuse myself from the private moment. Katniss's arms wrap around my neck and she leans up to kiss my cheek as I carry her back toward the car.
I start to drive back home when I hear her breath hitch.
"Peeta…can we…stop at the Square?" I shoot her a surprised look, my brow raised high, but I nod and change my course. She doesn't look at me and continues to stare out the window. I wonder what is going through her head. Why she all of a sudden wants to stop and see the memorial.
Paylor was true to her word and started construction on the memorials in each district about a year and a half ago. I was the one who designed the plans, with help from Haymitch. Who knew he was such a designer? I asked Katniss for her input but she shut down every time I brought it up. I submitted the plans to Paylor's office eight months ago and a construction team came the very next day for a consultation. I was personally shocked at how quickly they finished. Paylor herself came for the unveiling and asked me to make a speech.
Katniss would not leave our bed. I begged her to be by my side, that this was to honor everyone we had lost, and still she didn't move. Everyone in 12 had come out to hear my speech and to see the memorial unveiled. No one left the Square with dry eyes. Everyone commended Haymitch and me on our work. And they could not stop thanking us for our part in the rebellion. But to this day, Katniss has not gone near the memorial.
So I'm sort of shocked that she wants to see it today. I don't hesitate though. I drive straight to the Square and park the car at the end of the path. Katniss hesitates as she opens the car door and I hurry around to her side to help her up. She leans on me but gives me a look and I don't try to lift her up. She holds my arm as she leans against the car for a moment, her eyes traveling up the stone path.
The pathway leading up to the memorial is made of concrete squares with names etched into each one. The names of the fallen mark the path all the way up to the great stone figures standing in the center of the town square. Primroses of every color are planted along the pathway and candles sit near the memorial, ready to be lit each and every evening. Brent helped me locate old records that somehow survived the bombing, with names of the residents of District 12. With Paylor's help, we were able to discover who were the deceased and etched their names into the stone path. Trembling fingers close around my arm and we slowly make our way down the pathway. I wrap my arm around her waist and she leans into me, and I can feel her shivering. We stand in the middle of the square and she gazes up at the three figures who stand, hand in hand, on top of the pedestal. She lets go of my hand and walks closer, standing directly in front of the statues.
A little girl with her hair in two braids, her shirt slightly untucked from her skirt in the back. A tall man wearing an apron, with a kind face and gentle eyes. And lastly, a little boy with long hair and baggy pants, a mischevious smile playing around his lips. The man stands in the middle and holds the hands of the children, protecting them. Around them, are smaller busts of other familiar faces. Finnick, Rue, my brothers, my mother, Madge, Cinna and Portia, Boggs, Leeg, Lavinia and Darius, Messala, Mitchell, and Castor, Cora's brother Carlo, Althea, Mayor Undersee and his wife, Wiress, the two Morphlings, Haymitch's mother, and so many more. Katniss has silent tears running down her face as she reaches out to touch her sister's stone face. I had drawn Prim with soft features and a kind smile because that's how I'll always remember her. I had an easy time with my father too but Haymitch had to help me draw his brother. In the end, he said it looked perfect but I was scared I wouldn't get it right. I think the artist did a great job on the busts too. So many to honor for their sacrfices and so many we still couldn't thank in this memorial. I put my hand on her shoulder and she turns to look at me with glassy eyes. I motion for her to follow me and I lead her around the back of the memorial. Near the edge is a bust of another kindly-looking man. I'm not sure how she can tell, since it is stone and all I had was an old picture to go on, but she immediately knows who it is and falls to her knees. I kneel beside her and cradle her in my arms. She turns and weeps in my shirt and I tighten my hold around her.
I sense someone nearby and I hide her in my chest, ready to defend her if need be. I catch sight of a young boy and a young girl standing at the end of the path, looking hesitant. The girl is a Merchant and the boy is from the Seam. They look at me nervously before they move forward, holding a lit match away from their bodies. I watch them light the candles and finally, they light the large candle in front of the memorial. They both give me small smiles before they move away. I rock Katniss back and forth and encourage her to lift her head, to see the beautiful glow around us. She sniffles and gasps when she notices the candles are lit. I lift her up and carry her back around to the front of the memorial and settle on the cold pavement, helping her get comfortable in my lap. We stare up at Prim, my father, and little Ralph for the longest time. Only when I do notice it has started to snow do I move. I grasp her hand and squeeze.
"Ready to go home?" She nods and I lift us to our feet. She leans into me and I wrap my jacket around her as we make our way back to the car.
When we pull up in front of our house we see Haymitch pacing on his front porch, wringing his hands nervously. Katniss and I exchange puzzled looks. I don't think we have ever seen him like this. I wrap my arm around her as we make our way over to him. His head shoots up as if we startled him.
"Where you kids been?"
"Went to see Delly and the baby," I mutter, glancing sideways at Katniss. "And the memorial." Haymitch's brow raises.
"Oh yeah. What'd ya think, sweetheart?"
"It's so beautiful," she says softly. "You all did a wonderful job."
"It was all your boy. I just helped acquire records from the Capitol. I think it's pretty perfect though," he says with a nod in my direction. I give him a grateful smile and Katniss leans into my side.
"Uh, what are you kids doing tonight?"
"I was going to make some dinner while Katniss takes a bath," I say, raising my brow at his nervous tone.
"Why don't you come in for dinner? Effie cooked and I don't want to be the only one dropping dead from food poisoning."
"I just spent a week in the hospital, Haymitch," Katniss says crossly. "If I drop dead, I will spend the afterlife making your afterlife hell." I try not to laugh while Haymitch shakes his head.
"I don't doubt it sweetheart. She's actually a great cook. How do you think I have lost so much weight?" He pats his stomach, which was once a lot plumper than it is now. He's right, he has maintained a healthy weight and I haven't once seen a drink in his hands since Katniss and I were rescued. I'm truly happy they have found one another. He's still sarcastic and rude but I know she has softened him up. He holds the door open for us and gestures us in.
Effie enters the room looking beautiful in a simple blue dress. Her hair is a normal shade of blonde and is curled around her shoulders. I'd never realized how pretty she is, without all of the Capitol décor and make up and wigs. She leans in to kiss Katnis'ss cheek, then mine.
"I'm so glad you darlings could come tonight." Haymitch wraps his arm around her waist and smiles nervously. I look from Effie to Haymitch and back to Effie, wondering what is going on. Haymitch clears his throat.
"I'm starving, so let's hurry up and eat!" I pull the chair out for Katniss and sit beside her. Effie and Haymitch set platters on the table and I raise my brow at how grand ths meal seems. Katniss looks up at Effie with a quirked brow.
"Rack of lamb?"
"Mm. I've developed quite a fondness for it as well," Effie says, bowing her head. Haymitch pops a cork and holds the wine bottle out before pouring a glass for Effie. He offers it to Katniss and me but we both shake our heads. Katniss is still on several medications and I don't want to be light-headed in the slightest. Haymitch sits and raises his glass to Effie.
"To Princess here. To you, Sweetheart. And to you kid. My family. I would honestly be lost without you all," he drinks quickly, his cheeks flushing at his own words. Katniss looks at me, a worried frown forming between her brow. We lift our water glasses and I find her hand under the table and rest them on my knee. We eat quietly, Effie asking Katniss how she is feeling, or asking me how the bakery is going. When we are finished, Haymitch takes our plates away and offers more wine. We all decline and he takes a deep breath as he picks up a covered plate.