Destiny - Heart of a Baker, Soul of a Hunter

by SalaciousNothings

Peeta Mellark, the baker's son saved Katniss Everdeen's life at the age of eleven when he threw the burnt bread one rainy day. She never thanked him let alone acknowledged his existence. She hated owing him but knew there would come a day when she would repay him. Little did she realize that her life was bound to his forever. It was inevitable. AU HG, OOC Everlark

8. Chapter 8 - Dreams, Nightmares & Reality

Chapter 8 – Dreams, Nightmares and Reality

AN: Thank you for the positive responses for the last chapter. I apologize for not updating sooner for it has been a very busy week. My eternal thanks for those who reviewed, commented, favored and alerted 'Destiny.' Thanks to Lhaine07, WhosJazzy, Tea4e, LACR, pumpkinking5, 32sheshe, Shellibug, FlyingfaeriesDance, Dalton Wolfe, Addicted2Vamps, Lauren and guest for all the comments and reviews. Wowie. Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins. This chapter is rated PG. There will be rated M in future chapters. You've been warned. POV's in this chapter are from our beloved Peeta and Katniss. Please excuse me for any errors or grammatical errors found. It's been a long couple of weeks.

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Peeta POV––

The burning and painful sensation on my back woke me. As I opened my eyes, I saw the ground below me in motion. Inches of dirt crowded my vision. I blinked my eyes to focus and cleared my head as I tried to register what was happening. I felt nothing but pain on my back radiating down to my legs and arms. Then, I felt something in my hand, a light squeeze from a hand darker and smaller than my own. I blinked my eyes to refocus as I twisted my head. I called out the one person I needed. The one person who I depended on even at the times he failed me.

"Daddy?" I couldn't find him but I heard him as I stared at the person clutching my hand. I blinked my eyes trying to focus the vision in front of me.

"Yes, son," he returned in shaky but soft tone. A sharp pain shot from my back to my legs and neck. The pain so intense I felt as though I was on fire. "Hurts," I voiced in agony. I fought to breath through my nose but settled gasping through my mouth.

"I know you're hurting. Just hold on, Peetie. I'm not leaving you alone. I'm right here. Rye is here too." His words took a while to register in my head but I knew I had to ask if what I felt and saw was real.

"Am I dead?" 'Please tell me if this was real.' The words formed in my head. My mind scrambled to focus.

"Why do you say that, Peetie?"

"Katniss," I sighed. She was a vision; the one person in my life that excited and intimidated me at the same time. She was my boyhood dream, my teenage fantasy and my greatest failure and disappointment.

"What about Katniss, son." She was my sun, moon and everything in between. She was heaven and hell.

"She's…she's holding my hand." I sighed again wondering what I had done to deserve this and wondered what I could do to attain this…this…fantasy forever.

"She is holding your hand, Peeta. You're not dreaming." Another voice interrupted my thoughts.

"I like this dream. I don't want wake up," I returned. This had to be a dream. But it felt real. I dreamt of her for so long that my mind couldn't accept the possibility. I wasn't that lucky.

The next time I woke up the world felt and looked hazy. I couldn't distinguish what was real. But the one thing I was certain was that I felt pain. Every time I woke it was all I felt from my back, to my legs and the throbbing in my head. It was pain I had never experienced before. And with pain came the fantasy that she was there hovering near me like an angel. I awakened once to feel a sharp stabbing burn all over my back as if my skin was ripped from me. The pain flashed me back to a memory when my mom placed a scalding hot pan on my arm but this pain was all over my back melting my skin. This feeling was a thousand times worse.

I thought I saw Dad and Katniss' mother. I couldn't focus. All I wanted to do was die so I could leave the world of pain every time I woke up from my nightmare. This couldn't be real.

Dad's voice faded in the background. "Lily, give the cup to Katniss." Katniss? She was here again in my nightmare.

Her voice hung in my head. She was my beacon in a dark night. "Peeta, drink it. It'll help you feel better." In my dream, a Katniss-like angel held a cup to my lips. I drank from the cup for there was little else I could do but obey her command. My dream Katniss comforted me, cared for me. I struggled to keep my eyes open from the dream-fantasy-nightmare. I felt pain in my dream. That had never happened before whenever I dreamt of her. Then I felt hand on my head and I was lulled into a deep dreamless sleep.

I woke up gasping from another nightmare. In this dream my spine was ripped from my body as Cray held it in his hand. I could hear his menacing laugh echo in the air. Blood oozed in between his fingertips as he cradled the column of bones and flesh. "For the death of my nephew I take your life and the lives of those you loved." I cried out as I looked behind him. My dad, Graham, and Rye swung with a rope around their neck as their lifeless bodies swayed below a tree branch. I looked around for Delly, Sonja and Tyler, my nephew. Cray laughed as I tried to get up. "You're spineless, Mellark. No one can save you. No one." I felt my skin burn realizing that I was on fire. The pain so great that I had awaken with the same intense feeling on my back.

Everything and everyone ceased to exist as I felt nothing but sheer agony. I was in another nightmare I was sure of it. I heard voices yelling and screaming around me when suddenly Prim's sweet face came into view. Her small hands cradled my face. She had tears in her eyes. 'Why is she crying?' I wondered in my nightmarish haze. 'Where's Katniss?' I panicked then relaxed as her face replaced Prim's. Her gray steel eyes blazed with fire as she stared into mine.

"Peeta, it's me Katniss." I blinked my eyes and adjusted my focus. She wasn't real, was she? "Don't move, okay. You're only hurting yourself. Stop moving or you'll open you stitches."

I had… "Stitches?" I didn't know what she was talking about but I only knew and felt on thing. "Sti…stitches? It hurts––"

"I know that it hurts. But listen, I want you to stay still. Can you stay still for me? Can you do that?" I closed his eyes and wondered if she was real, but I nodded as I felt soft wisp of her breath on my heated face. In my mind I focused on her soft voice. "Hey, open your eyes for me."

She placed a brown bottle on my lips and the next thing I knew the world disappeared. The next few hours I'm in and out of consciousness. Two things I realized, one I'm not at home and two I was propped on top of a table laying on my stomach with no clothes on. I couldn't feel legs but I felt hot and cold at the same time. I clearly heard several voices––Rye, Mrs. Everdeen, Prim and Katniss. I had no sense of control as Mrs. Everdeen gave me a white pill and a glass of water. What I swallowed I knew not what it was but I took the pill without any argument. I was too tired to resist anything or anyone. I just wanted the pain to stop.

I took several deep breaths. My only thought was the painful ache on my groin. I needed relief so tried to rise from the table only to stumble back realizing that I had no strength to move. With enough embarrassment I could endure, my issue was resolved as quickly as possible with the help from dad and Mrs. Everdeen. Nothing in my life at the moment made any sense. The days and nights blended together that I lost track of time.

In my sleep or awakened state I heard voices. I heard whispers in the dark night and mumblings in the light of day. I was still lying on the table and naked but covered with a blanket.

For the first time in days, I woke up without any pain radiating from my back. The solid table underneath me felt warm and sticky. My sense of smell was assaulted with the aroma of…fresh bread, honey and…some kind of stew filled in the air.

"Hey, Peetie," my dad greeted me. He looked tired…no he looked exhausted as I noticed dark circles underneath his blood shot eyes; his skin paler than usual. "It's about time you woke up. How are you feeling?"

My eyelids felt heavy adjusting to the light in the room. My throated was parched. "Tired," I rasped. He nodded with a small smile on his haggard face. There was a look of relief behind his tired eyes. "Thirsty." My throat felt like sandpaper. It was difficult to swallow.

A glass appeared before me. Mrs. Everdeen tipped the glass towards my dried lips. "Don't drink too fast. Just take small sips." After a few sips, my stomach lurched and grumbled. The ache in my throat lessened. "You haven't eaten in days and the medication I gave you will make you queasy so I need you eat a little."

I ate little and slept a lot. There was little else I could do but reflect and heal. I remembered my hours with Cray as he interviewed me. Then the memories of being stripped down and bound against a post. I lost count of the lashes I received and everything after that was hazy. I looked around me Dad was talking to Mr. Everdeen.

"…has confirmed that everything is in place," Dad said. "Young Hawthorne volunteered like you thought he would. I'm not surprised that he did."

"There's no going back, Jimmy," Mr. Everdeen returned. "Once we do this, we're committed."

"I know. I know." Dad sounded tired, weary. 'Shouldn't he be working at the bakery?' Who's manning the shop? I was about to call out and ask him when the next sentence he uttered shocked me.

"Graham wanted to volunteer. Since we first started talking about it, he was adamant in volunteering but I talked him out of it. He knows nothing of the forest or the way to District 13. He wasn't qualified to volunteer. He was upset about it."

"It's still brave of him to volunteer."

"No he was reckless. He has family and a baby to take care of. I know his heart was in the right place but…he's not the right person for the mission." 'Huh.' Are they really talking about the rebellion? I knew about Dad, Haymitch and Mr. Everdeen's plans. It was careless of them to talk about it while I was upstairs in my room eavesdropping. I knew there was more to their 'card game' night at the bakery.

"Besides, after the past couples of days with almost losing Peeta, I couldn't stand it if anything happened to my boys and girls. I have to prepare them for the upcoming rebellion."

"How do you think Rye and Peeta will react once you tell them?" Mr. Everdeen asked. He shifted in his chair. I kept my eyes closed but listened. I guessed that they thought I was too out of it and was still sleeping.

"With Rye I'm not sure. He never talks about it. I mean he has heard of the rumors and gossip but I don't think he has any opinion."

"And Peeta?"

"Peeta's not a fighter," Dad started.

"I disagree. I mean he went against Ivan when he saved Missy Franklin. Ivan had a weapon and was trained to fight but your son fought someone bigger because he saw a girl in trouble. A seam girl." So I now I knew the name of the 14 year old girl I saved. "You don't know how thankful their family is for Peeta to have done that. Peeta may not be a fighter but he will fight if necessary."

"Peeta hates confrontation of any kind, but he'll fight if he sees injustice. He hates bullies. I'm proud of him but I'm also scared for him."

"Why? Looks like he can take care of himself," Mr. Everdeen said.

"He thinks with heart first and it usually gets in trouble. He's very passionate in the things he believes in. He won't agree to join the rebellion but he'll fight for the people he loves."

"I know, Jimmy. There was no doubt why he took those lashes. I…Lily and I can never repay him for protecting and saving Katniss. I'll be eternally grateful for saving my daughter"

"You as well as I know how he's always felt about her," Dad muttered. Mr. Everdeen laughed. I cringed. Oh my God, Mr. Everdeen knew of my…crush for his daughter Katniss? How embarrassing and humiliating.

"You remember that day when I took Katniss to the bakery to pick up her cake?" he reminisced. "She was turning 8 and Peeta was already 6 at the time." I smiled at the memory. She and her dad walked in the bakery while I was up front with my Dad. Rye and Graham had lunch in the kitchen upstairs with mom.

That day she wore a dark green plain dress with a yellow bow around her waist. She held Prim's hand as they walked up to the display case and ogled at the pastries and cookies.

"Prim was four years old at the time and started to cry because she realized that the cake wasn't for her but for Katniss. Do you remember what Peeta did when he saw her crying?"

"Yeah," Dad chuckled. "He ran past the counter and hugged her telling her not to cry and that it wasn't only fair that Katniss gets a cake since it was her birthday and not Prim's."

"That didn't make Prim feel any better," Mr. Everdeen reminded him. "Your boy was so sweet with her."

"So my six year old Peeta pointed to the display and asked her to pick out any cookie that she wanted. I nearly had a heart attack because you know if Evelyn was there she would have been livid." Dad laughed at the memory. "But not only did he give her a cookie he also gave one to the birthday girl. One cookie with a pink flower and another cookie with a green one."

"Jimmy, your boy has to have one of the biggest heart I know. You would have ran out of business if you put him in charge." Both men laughed.

"That's what worries me, Garrett," Dad sighed. "His big, wonderful and generous heart is open to hurt and rejection. It's already been battered because of his own mother and…it's been hard watching him…"

"Don't let him give up," Mr. Everdeen said.

"That's what I'm afraid of. This incident…I don't want him to lose that part of him that makes him special. There are so many things going against him. How much more can he endure before he gives up?"

"He won't give up," Mr. Everdeen reassured him. I didn't have much in my life to give up anyway. 'What did I have to lose?' Nothing and no one accept my family and the bakery. They were all I had. Was it wrong of me to want more? To want her?

"Peeta is strong and resilient. He won't give up because it's not in him to give up," Dad added. "But this…I don't want this to change him." Too tired to listen I fell asleep. When I woke up Dad was gone.

"Where's my dad," I asked in panic. Mrs. Everdeen explained that dad never left my side but since I was recovering she had convinced him to go home. I bit my lower lip feeling ill at ease alone with the Everdeens.

"What's wrong Peeta are you still in pain? I don't have anymore morphling to give you" I shook my head. The pain in my back was manageable. It hurt but not like before. I still couldn't sit up but I did have some range in motion with my arms and legs.

"I want to go home. I want…to sleep on my bed," I said. "I don't want to take anymore of your time, Mrs. Everdeen." I was an intruder in their home eating their food and taking up space.

"Peeta, you're still on the mend," Mrs. Everdeen said. "If you want to lie down, Mr. Everdeen and I can set you up to lie down on the couch. If that'll make you feel more comfortable." It didn't. I wanted to go home. Being here was…confusing. I saw and heard Katniss but she was elusive and quiet around me. I felt like an intruder in her home.

I bit my lower lip. "I want to go home." I wanted my things around me; my bed, my pillows, my things and privacy as well.

"You can't just yet. I don't feel comfortable sending you home until the stitches are fully healed."

"Okay," I sighed in resignation. It wasn't as if I had the energy to leave on my own steam. My legs felt wobbly and any movement caused my back to stretch. I tried not to blush red at the memory when I woke up to find her washing my body with a washcloth. It was soothing but uncomfortable when she removed the sheet from my lower body. At least I was on the couch and not propped on top of their dining table. That was embarrassing. And, I finally had some clothes on. Though they had a fire going for most of my stay it was embarrassing knowing that I had only a blanket to cover me while I only wore my boxer shorts. That's another thing who changed me? I remembered wearing another pair of shorts.

When Mrs. Everdeen dressed me with a shirt, boxer shorts and pant with such care and gentleness I wondered if Katniss and Prim knew how lucky there were to have her for a mother. She was loving and kind. Nothing I experienced from my own mother. I missed mine. I missed seeing her even when she only tolerated my presence. She was still my mother after all.

I wanted a bath, a hot bath where I could 'sink-my-body-underwater' and feel the heat rise from the water, but I knew it was impossible. Then, my head itched. I realized that it hadn't been washed in close to four days. It was Prim who noticed my discomfort. "What, Peeta? What's wrong?"

"I…I…my head itches," I admitted. My hair was long. It grew to a length I was not accustomed to. The strands blocked my vision and the tips started to curl. I hated when it did that. And, the itchy feeling on my skull was driving mad.

"I'm sorry, Peeta," Prim returned. "She couldn't wash your hair since you've been sleeping for the past couple of days. Do you want to wash it now?" I bit my lip in resignation. I couldn't ask since I was demanding more from her family. I didn't want to complain and take advantage of their generosity. "It's not an problem if that's what you're worried about. I could help you."

"I'm sorry…I want to do it myself but…" I said disappointed. Then I caught Katniss staring at me and blushed from embarrassment. With my complexion I hoped I wasn't too red. She didn't looked please but hell, it's my hair and I felt dirty.

"Don't be silly, Peeta," Prim interjected. "I'll help you if you want." So I caved. With Mr. Everdeen and Prim's help my hair was washed and I felt better. It was also a relief to be off the table and reclining on the couch. The table was hard and uncomfortable and I was constantly lying on my groin which being around Katniss all time made me…I was relieved at some point that I was situated on my stomach. Granted I am a healthy sixteen-year old boy who was naked around the girl I had fantasies for a major portion of my teen life. Sheesh! I didn't have the strength, energy and any privacy to relieve myself. No amount of pain in my back could circumvent how my body reacted whenever she was near me. I concentrated and filled my head with thoughts of anything but her.

Being around Prim made me wished I had a little sister to take care of. Now, I understood my mother's wish that I had been a girl. It didn't make it any less hurtful but the realization of her desire for a girl made me understand her a little better.

Prim was sweet and gentle. Her personality made her perfect for a healer like her mother. Katniss was strong and proud. Her strength and passion was what drew me to her. I saw it when I first heard her sing the Valley song when we were kids. Her voice mesmerized me. I had never heard anyone sing like that before. I realized that she got it from her father.

That night I dreamt that I was lost walking in the dark. There was no sun or moon to guide me. There was nothing in the landscape but pitched darkness. The place scared me. I called my dad for help. None came. In front of me I saw blurred image of a road that led to nowhere but I followed it hoping for some escape. Then out of nowhere I heard a voice, a sweet voice that I knew so well. I followed the sound and was led to a meadow. Above me the sun appeared lighting my surroundings. I recognized the place; it was the meadow I had painted weeks before. I gasped in shock for in the middle of the meadow was Katniss. She was sitting on a blanket with me or an image of me. My head was on her lap as she played with my hair. This was the Katniss I dreamed about. She was sweet and soft her hair cascaded down her shoulders as she smiled down to me.

"Peeta." Her voice was gentle unlike anything I ever heard before.

"I...I don't know how to…what I'm trying to say is…thank you. Thank you for saving me that night. Thank you for watching over me even though…I've been…" She continued to speak as she traced a finger on my brow down my nose and my lips. I envied dream Peeta lying on her lap.

"You saved me…you saved me years ago and I never thanked you. You saved me from Ivan and I never go the chance to thank you. I don't know why it is that you're there whenever I…needed you."

I stood paralyzed watching them dazed at the scene before me. I wanted to run to her and tell that I'm here awake not sleeping on her lap speaking to me.

"What is it about you that makes me want to throttle you and hug you at the same time? Why do you have…an affect on me? No one aggravates me the way you do…"

"You're the only person, boy to have ever shattered my resolve about things in my life. Things I dare not want or dare to need. Things that Gale wanted…no demanded with me." I shouted at dream Peeta to wake up and talk to her knowing that this was my chance to finally tell her what I longed to say to her for years. My feet was rooted on the ground my voice silenced as the world around me turned dark.

I awakened in a dark room. I focused my eyes seeing an outline of Katniss sitting on the floor next to me. The soft sound of breath telling me she was asleep. I dared not touch her incase she woke up.

'Damnit, it was nothing but a dream,' a voice shouted in my head.

The next morning when Katniss and Prim were at school, my stitches were itching and burning. Mrs. Everdeen ran out of morphling. The pain was so great that the sleep syrup she gave me couldn't knock me out. Tears ran down my face as I tried not to yell in anguish. Then, I heard someone singing. I also felt a hand on my head rubbing my hair in a soothing pattern. It was Mr. Everdeen. His voice was gentle. I felt my eyes drooped by the timber of his voice. It was comforting.

The next thing I knew Prim shook my shoulder. "Hey, sleepyhead, you need to eat. You can't sleep all day," she chortled. I noticed that Katniss was nowhere in sight. I sighed in disappointment but wasn't surprised. I was in too much pain to eat but ate nevertheless. I couldn't appreciate the heartiness of the rabbit stew Prim fed me with. It smelled wonderful but my stomach had other ideas. I wanted to sleep all day and stay immobile. Hours and days had slipped by me that I knew not what day it was.

During those I hours I managed to look around the home where the Everdeens lived. The house was small with two bedrooms. The living room and dining area was in one open space. The furniture was old but well cared for. It was…homey. It was a place where a family lived and a space that exuded love, unlike my home where it felt cold and empty.

On the…I don't know what day it was. I was allowed some mobility as Mr. Everdeen and dad both lifted me off the couch and walked me to the bathroom. We entered a small room which I assumed was Katniss and Prim's room. I concentrated on my movement not taking any notice of my surroundings as I entered their bedroom. Someone was knocking on the front door. A few seconds later, I heard Mrs. Everdeen speaking to someone.

"Garrett, can you come over here please?" Mrs. Everdeen shouted.

Once inside the bathroom dad helped me with my business. I sighed in relief that it was dad and not Mrs. Everdeen or Mr. Everdeen assisting me.

"It good to see you up and about, Peetie," Dad said. He looked tired but happy. I leaned against the sink washing my hands as dad kept his hand around my waist just in case my legs caved in.

"It feels good to be standing again," I agreed with him. My body ached from being immobile that my legs felt weak. I couldn't raise my arms higher than my hips. I could tell that I lost weight from not eating so I lacked strength even just to comb my hair. The movement stretched my back pulling my stitches. "Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I go home soon...like today?" Despite the fact that I couldn't work I missed the smell of bread and yeast in the air. I never realized how much I'd missed the bakery.

"I don't know, Peeta," he sounded uncertain. "It depends on what Mrs. Everdeen says."

"I want to go home, dad," I asserted. "I…I'm doing better and…and I want my own bed Dad. I don't want to be an in convenience anymore." My legs started to buckle that Dad caught me before I stumbled over.

"Hey, let's get you to the couch and we'll discuss it."

Resigned, I wobbled over to my makeshift bed. "What's wrong Peeta?" Mrs. Everdeen inquired.

"Mrs. Everdeen," I started but jumped when the front door opened abruptly. Katniss' dad walked into the house. His face was hard his lips in a thin line. Her focus and concentrated diverted as he slammed the door behind him.

"What's wrong? Everything okay, Garrett?" She turned to her husband concern etched on her face.

"He's trying my patience," he said in a mysterious manner. 'Who?' I wondered. "I told him to wait outside."

"Oh," Mrs. Everdeen reacted. 'Who visited?' I wondered. They spoke to each other with their eyes as if they could read each other's minds.

"Is he here for…?" Mr. Everdeen nodded his head. I couldn't understand what was going on so I chose to ignore it. I had other concerns.

"She has been avoiding him for days, Garrett," she reminded him. "She has to talk to him sooner than later. The longer she waits the worse it'll get for her." 'Her?' Who is her they were talking about? It was really none of my business but I was bored and I missed my friends and school too.

"When Katniss is ready to talk to him, they'll talk," he stated. "You know how she gets when she's cornered." Mrs. Everdeen sighed.

"I'm sorry, Peeta," she returned her attention to me. "What were you going to say?"

I kept quiet not knowing how not to be ungrateful and rude as I chose my words. "Um…I…I'm very grateful for all you've done for me, Mrs. Everdeen."

"No need to thank me, my dear," she responded back. I was stunned for a few seconds as her words tore at my resolve. 'Dear, she called me dear.' How sweet and so motherly she sounded.

"But I feel that I'm well enough to go home and––"

"Peeta, I still need to make sure that you don't get an infection," she explained. "You're still weak and you have a slight fever." She raised her hand on placed a palm over my forehead. Her hand was cool. It was comforting to feel her hand on my heated skin. But I couldn't in good conscience stay over too long. "You're still too warm and I don't like the idea of you moving to much. It's too soon."

"Dad can watch over me. All I do is sleep anyway. I could do that at my home," I begged. "I promise to stay in bed and not move. I promise."

"Peeta," Dad debated. "Listen to Mrs. Everdeen. If she says you're not ready to go home, you're not ready." I was about to argue when…

I heard voices outside. Two people were yelling. One voice stood out. I recognized that voice anywhere. The other I strained to recognize. It's Katniss and Gale having an argument.

They argued for a few minutes exchanging words back and forth. Their conversation was heated and I could hear everything they were saying. All of us heard what they were saying––Mr. and Mrs. Everdeen, dad and myself.

Both Mr. Everdeen and Mrs. Everdeen were shocked and displeased at Katniss arguing with Gale outside their house in front of their neighbors. Dad was mortified.

"I need to know…I need to know the truth that what you said about you and Mellark was true," Gale shouted. "That you have been seeing Peeta Mellark." I blushed and turned to look at Katniss' parents. Their face showed no emotion or reaction.

"And why is that any of your business?" Katniss yelled back.

"It is my business since you're been telling me that you never wanted to get married or have children––"

"And I still don't,' she returned. I wanted to find a closet and hide. This was embarrassing. I didn't want to be anywhere near Gale. I remembered how he literally called Katniss a liar in front of everyone. She was obviously trying to protect me from Cray. Gale's main concern was my 'relationship' with Katniss, which he had to know, was not true but…he was willing to cover the truth that it was he who beat up Ivan. His jealous rage blinded him from the truth. He was willing to put the blame on me.

"So you're with Mellark because––" he continued.

"He has a name Gale! He's name is Peeta."

"You tell him, Katniss,' her dad cheered her on as he walked over to the window to peer outside.

"Garrett, this is not funny," Mrs. Everdeen chided him. "And get away from the window. They're trying to have a private conversation."

"Oh for…they're broadcasting their 'conversation,' Lily," he scoffed back. "The whole neighborhood can hear them."

"It doesn't mean you should be spying on them either." She turned to Dad and me. "I'm sorry, Peeta, James," she said. "I can't believe that they're–––"

"I don't care. All I know is that for months you've been telling me that you didn't want to get married and have children. So I realized that you've been lying to me," Gale shouted so loud that you could have sworn they just outside the door.

"I haven't lied to you. I don't want to get married or have children. Just because I said that didn't mean that I didn't object to anything else." My eyes grew wide at her implication. What did that mean 'anything else?' I felt uncomfortable knowing that we were eavesdropping. Granted that they were yelling at each other but it was still intrusive.

"So what you're really saying is that you don't want marriage or children but you're having a relationship with Peeta Mellark?" I flinched at his accusation. I hoped that Mr. and Mrs. Everdeen knew the truth that Katniss and I never had a relationship. Saying that we were sleeping together was horrifying as she implied it in front of her parents.

"Yes," she lied. Dad coughed. He looked amused and uneasy for he knew the truth about my 'relationship' with Katniss. We weren't having one to my displeasure. 'If only it was true,' I wished in my head.

"Why didn't you just…for months I've been waiting for you to change your mind. That if I wanted long enough you'd see that 'we' belong together. And all this time you've been…fucking Peeta Mellark. The youngest and most pathetic Merchant boy in the district." Dad's humor turned from uneasiness to anger. I was too tired to react in any way be it anger, jealousy or hate. Mrs. Everdeen looked horrified while Mr. Everdeen's face indicated he was about to lose it as his wife placed a hand on his arm.

"Don't go out there," she told him as he shrugged her hand off his arm.

"I will not stand and let Gale talk to her like that," he gritted his teeth as he was about to open the front door.

When to my astonishment I heard a sound. It sounded like a slap.

"Don't you ever talk about Peeta that way ever?" Katniss screamed in my defense. I felt warm and…hopeful.

"Peeta is the sweetest and kindest boy I know," Prim added. "You're just jealous of him." Sweet, Prim.

"Jealous?" Gale scoffed. "Why should I be jealous of him?" If anyone was jealous, it was I. I envied their friendship and their relationship. There was camaraderie between them that was solid and real forged by time and circumstance.

"Because Katniss likes him and he's our friend. You don't like Katniss having friends especially if they're Merchant," Prim returned. "You don't any right to tell Katniss who she likes and who she can be friends with." I was grateful that Prim was defending me but I didn't want her relationship with Gale to suffer because of me.

"So you like Peeta––" Gale started.

"Prim. Go inside the house, I need to talk to Gale alone," Katniss ordered her.

A few seconds later, Prim entered the house. The look on her face was priceless. Her eyes were huge and her mouth shaped like an 'o.'

"Peeta, you're awake," Prim started. Katniss' voice broke through the awkwardness that hovered in the air.

"I'm sorry Gale, I should have been honest with you from the start." Her voice was calm and apologetic.

"Are you in love with him?" I closed my eyes and waited for an answer. This was not happening. How could he ask that? She barely knew me not the way I knew her. She was smart, strong and beautiful. A couple of times a week she traded with dad in exchange for bread and each time her kills were clean and perfect shooting her game through the eyes. The fur stayed intact without a hole or tear from the arrow that Dad traded the skin for leather goods such as shoes. Katniss was fierce in devotion for the people she loved. I watched her from a distance all my life never having the nerve to speak to her. And I knew that I loved her. She rarely smiled and the few times she had her smile lit the room.

"What?" I could tell she was shocked and embarrassed by his question.

"With Peeta Mellark. Are you in love with Peeta?"

"I'm not in love with him," she confessed. My heart broke into a million pieces. I was prepared for the answer but hearing it was like being stabbed in the chest. It was illogical to think that she would profess her love for me when she tolerated my existence. My encounters with her taught me that. I wasn't even a friend.

Suddenly, I felt woozy but I was also determined. "I want to go home, Dad," I insisted. "I can't stay here anymore." The Everdeens looked sad. They pitied me and I couldn't stand it. I didn't want to be in this house being pitied and tolerated.

Gale and Katniss continued to argue but my mind went blank. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing. "I want to go home," I repeated over and over. I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Prim. She had a sad smile on her face.

"Peeta, you're not well yet. I want you to stay so I can take care of you." She felt sorry for me.

"I don't want to be here." I held back the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes. I refused to cry in front of them. Not in front of the parents of the girl I was in love with. I felt humiliated. "Dad, please."

"Okay, Peeta," he sighed in resignation. The relief I felt was palpable but the ache in my chest remained. I wanted…needed to get out of here before I broke down. It was useless to think that Katniss could feel something for me. I had not expected her to love me but…

For the next few seconds the atmosphere in the house was quiet and still.

"I'll send Rory to fetch Rye," Mr. Everdeen suggested.

"I'm going to check on Katniss," Mrs. Everdeen said. "Prim get Peeta's things packed."

"I wished you wouldn't leave, Peeta," Prim said. "You're not…fully recovered yet."

"I'll recover better at home, Prim," I expressed. "I can't do it here." I turned my head to avoid her eyes.

"Okay, Peeta. I understand."

Prim packed my clothes while Mr. Everdeen walked over to the Hawthornes to send Rory to the bakery. He couldn't help with the stretcher since he was handicapped. He wouldn't dare asked Gale for assistance. I wouldn't put it past him to inflict some injury on me while I'm hurt and defenseless.

"What's going on?" Katniss asked as she walked into the house with her parents behind her. I closed my eyes and dared not look at her.

"Peeta is going home," her mother explained. I turned my head so I couldn't see her reaction not that it mattered.

"I thought…is he well enough to go home, mom?" Katniss inquired.

"Peeta needs…his father can take care of him at their home," she announced. Mrs. Everdeen packed two small vials, which I assumed were sleep syrup and ointment for my stitches. "I'll stop by after lunch to check on him."

"But I thought––"

"Can I come by to visit you, Peeta?" Prim asked. She looked sad and worried.

"Of course, you can Prim," dad answered. "You can come by anytime to visit. I know that Peeta will appreciate it." I focused on the floor in front of me. Soon, Rye appeared at the front gasping for breath.

"Is it true? Peeta's coming home," he asked as he knelt down beside me and ruffled my hair.

"Yes, your brother is coming home today, right now as a matter of fact," Dad added. "It'll be good to have him back." He looked relieved and happy. My emotions were mixed between sadness and anticipation. I was finally going home to my own bed.

"I need to tell you something, Dad," Rye said. He looked ill at ease.

"What now?" Dad placed a hand over his forehead. He didn't need any more bad news or stress.

"It's mom, she came over and she was really mad that there were…um…people in the bakery," he said. People? I assumed she meant Seam. People she hated and I knew why. It was all because of the fact dad was in love and was in engaged to Mrs. Everdeen before he married mom.

"What happened?" Dad looked calm but underneath his demeanor I detected weariness and anger.

"Graham threw her out and told her never to come back. He told her that the bakery belongs to dad and she had no right to order anyone around." Graham? He threw mom out of the bakery? Her favorite son defied his mother? "She kept screaming at everyone making a scene. Graham finally told her that if she doesn't stay away he would never let her see Tyler ever again. I think his threat worked because she left soon after." Then Rye looked at me as if he wanted to say something but he stopped himself.

"What else Rye?" Dad asked.

"She wanted to see Peeta." I didn't know what to feel––happy, hopeful or scared. 'Did I want to see her?' "I was afraid she was over here to see him after arguing with Graham." 'Mom would never set foot in the Seam.'

"She's not getting near Peeta if ever," Dad uttered under his breath. "So, kiddo you ready to go home?" I nodded my head.

"Now, lift him by his arms and don't let anything touch his back," Mrs. Everdeen instructed as Rye and dad lifted me off the sofa to sit down. It was the first time in days since I sat up. My legs tingled and ankles felt sore. Mrs. Everdeen had lathered ointment on my stitches an hour before so my back felt numb. It was cold in the house but I didn't feel the slight chill in the air as I observed everyone wearing a heavy jacket. The fire on the fireplace smoldered and there was barely any heat rising from it.

Prim knelt before me and placed socks on my feet while her mother tucked my shirt together but not buttoning it. "It's a little chilly outside."

"Thanks, Prim." I smiled at her. She and her mom were the two people I would miss when I got back home. With Katniss, she was someone I'll always want and desire. Missing her was obvious.

"Don't weary anything tight fitting for a while. Try to stay off your back or getting it wet. You can't shower or take a bath yet," her mom continued her instructions. Ugh…I guess my dad will have to wash me until I recovered. "I'll come by to give you a sponge bath tomorrow since we skipped today." I blushed thinking about her washing me again. She usually waited when Katniss and Prim were at school.

"If she's busy we can always send Prim to help," Mr. Everdeen joshed his eyes twinkled with amusement. Mrs. Everdeen hid a smile behind her hand.

"Peeta, you dog," Rye teased me. "You got these lovely ladies taking care of you. Here I was worried that you were lonely for company." He snuck a look at Katniss. She scowled back not amused.

"Rye, stop teasing your brother," Dad berated him with no anger. It was funny, sort of. It made my dad smile. It was worth it to see him chortle at my expense.

Before we departed, Prim kissed my cheek and said her goodbye. "I'll come by tomorrow and see how you're doing. Just in case you may need anything."

"I look forward to seeing you," I returned. Rye and dad lifted me on to my feet and placed me on the stretcher face down. That activity in itself tired me out but I reached out my hand to Mrs. Everdeen. It was all the energy I could muster.

"Mrs. Everdeen?" I muttered.

She bent down so we were face to face. "Yes, Peeta?" I stared at her face for a few seconds. I could see why dad fell for Lily Everdeen. Underneath the tired blue eyes, her hair spun like gold and her skin marred from years of struggling in the Seam. She was still beautiful.

"Thank you for taking care of me," I said. 'And thank you for marrying Garrett Everdeen because without him there wouldn't be Katniss Everdeen,' my mind wandered as my eyes sought out his face. Mr. Everdeen walked over and leaned down and whispered in my ear. He was a handsome man with dark hair and steel gray eyes. The same color eyes that had mesmerized me for years.

"Thank you, Peeta," he said. "Thank you for watching out for my girls. Thank you for saving Katniss." Mrs. Everdeen squeezed my hand. My throat felt dry as I struggled to find words. They didn't have to thank me. I would save Katniss over and over relive the beatings and lashes to keep her safe.

"Thank you Peeta," she returned. I closed my eye and took a few deep breaths. I never realized how hard it was to move as I tired myself just getting up and lying down on the stretcher. Dad thanked the Everdeens for their kindness and hospitality.

"Thank you for taking care of my boy," he said. "Maybe sometime in the near future I would love to have you over for dinner in my home, all of you." He shook Mr. Everdeen's hand.

"That would be great, Jimmy," Mr. Everdeen returned. "Just tell us when and we'll be there." 'Oh my God, did dad just…holy… What the hell is going on?' No, no…this couldn't be happening now.

"Are you ready to go home, Peeta?" Rye asked. I was more than ready as I nodded my head in shock, relief and sadness. I was leaving Katniss.

"Bye Peeta," she replied as dad and Rye walked out the house.

"Bye Katniss," I returned. I watched their figures diminish in the horizon as we left the Seam. As I left Katniss, it was time I faced reality. My dream was over.

---

Katniss POV ––

'What the hell happened?' my mind screamed as I watch Mr. Mellark and Rye take Peeta home on the stretcher. I thought I had more time, time to talk to him. Now I'm stunned and confused. My confrontation with Gale exhausted me emotionally. He caused me to evaluate my feelings towards Peeta. I knew that I owed him for saving my life. I was grateful. But when Gale asked if I was in love with Peeta. The question more than paralyzed me. Love? What did I know of love? I loved my family––mom, dad and Prim. I had no time or desire to love anyone like the way mom and dad loved each other.

I couldn't find it in me to love Gale that way. Sure, I loved him but like family, a brother and best friend. But to fall in love…it was too scary to grasp. How could I love Peeta when I didn't even like him in the first place? But after everything he's done for me without expecting any thing back, how could I not like Peeta? He's kind and loyal, someone I could rely on as a friend. But love?

Had Gale eased me into the idea of marriage I could have married him. I thought it was what my parents expected. We were both Seam and we have been companions for years so the idea to marry was possible. It would have taken time for me to get used to the idea but Gale pressed on the matter. He wanted marriage right away. The more he pushed the more I pushed away. But now I realized I would have done a disservice to Gale if I married him. He wanted romantic love not one out of companionship, which I would have accepted.

But the reality of the situation had we married, he would have grown bitter as he demanded and expected children in our union. I never wanted to have children so they could be ripped from me. The reapings would have torn my heart open never to recover. After turning eighteen I was safe but Prim was still eligible. The reaping ceremony was in a few weeks and the anxiety and fear in me has already grown. I couldn't volunteer if she was chosen. I would die if I lost my little sister.

No, I would never marry and have children. The idea in itself frightened me. The sight of Mr. Mellark and Rye leaving the Seam with Peeta left me...I couldn't tell what I felt. What will happen to Peeta? I felt anxious all of a sudden for his safety. Was he safe from Cray? Why does his mother want to see him?

I turned to look at my family. Prim and mom were sad while dad had a look of discomfort on his usually calm face. Something happened. Why did Peeta leave suddenly and most of all…how could mom let him go back home? I knew that he had not fully recovered because he was still susceptible to infections.

"Mom, do you think it was a good idea to let Peeta go home?" She turned to me with a look on her face I couldn't decipher. She shook her head.

"No, but if Peeta needed to be home to recover then there is nothing I can do to stop him," she replied. "Besides, his recovery…for him to heal is dependent on his emotional state. He's not in good spirits right now."

"I don't understand."

"His body will recover, Katniss," she continued. "It's his mind that has to heal as well. The incident with Cray also mentally injured him as well. He didn't come out of that experience without traumatizing him in some way." I didn't think of it that way. That Peeta's scar would also be emotional and mental. The thought brought anger to surface. I'm angry with Gale and myself for not speaking up sooner. But I'm mostly angry with Gale.

That night the atmosphere in the house was quiet. Too quiet. Even Prim's behavior unsettled me. She barely spoke or looked at me since Peeta left. "Are you all right Prim?" I asked my little sister. She nodded her head her smile sad. Mom and dad went to bed early leaving us alone.

"I was surprised that mom let Peeta leave before he fully recovered," I started.

"It was best that he did," she answered her back facing me as she continued to read her book. "It was too…difficult for him to be here." I scrunched my brows in confusion.

"What do you mean?" She was cryptic, as she if she knew a secret.

Prim sighed in frustration. "Katniss, if you can't see what's in front of you then I'm not about to tell you." 'In front of me?' What could she possible be telling me?

"Prim?"

"You're so clueless sometimes," she exhaled a long breath. "It either that or just…"

"What?" Now she was making me mad.

"Or you're just mean…cruel," she said in timid voice as if she was afraid to voice her opinion. 'What the hell does mean I'm cruel?'

"Prim, I can't believe that you'd say that about me," I stated with a tinge of anger and frustration. "I'm not cruel or mean." Then a thought struck me. She was talking about Peeta how I've been treating him for the past few weeks. I cringed inside.

"You barely talked to him when he was here," she said. "I mean, he got hurt protecting you and all you did was…stare at him while he tried to recover here." She placed the book beside her and ran her hand down the spine. "You even got upset that I washed his hair."

I thought about that incident how her washing his hair made me uncomfortable. Seeing them together as if they were friends and were at ease with each other. I knew she had many friends but they were mostly Seam, but to have Peeta Mellark as her friend, the one Merchant boy that every girl adored both Seam and Merchant. I didn't like the idea. Did she have a crush on Peeta? Something in me turned to look at Prim. 'Oh, God did Prim have a crush on Peeta?'

"Do you like Peeta?" I screeched.

"Yes, I like him," she answered nonchalant like it was obvious. "He's been really nice to me and––"

"No I meant like do you have a…crush on him?" I love my sister but the thought of the two of them together…hurt, like a kick in the stomach.

"What? No, Katniss," she denied. "But come to think of it, what if I did? I mean he's not that much older than me, and he's sweet and kind. Dad likes him." 'What? Dad likes him?' Dad got along with everyone whether you Seam or Merchant.

"You can't." The words blew from my lips.

"Why not?" She scrunched her brows.

"He's…Merchant," I cringed.

"Oh Katniss," she said in a frustrated tone. "I don't care. He really nice to me and…"

"You can't…you just can't––"

"My chances to have a better future with someone like Peeta…" Her voice faded in the background as I thoughts of my little sister and Peeta filled my head. She was right. She had a better chance to live a better life with a Merchant. She looked Merchant. But the thought of Peeta with…Prim? I couldn't fathom the idea.

"Katniss, are you even listening to me?" she asked. I felt sick. If she wanted Peeta...How could I deny her that opportunity? "I just can't believe that you don't see what's in front of you."

"Huh?"

"Peeta. You have to know that he likes you. Has had a crush on you for a long time?"

"What?" I went from sick to stunned in mere seconds. Peeta, Peeta Mellark, the baker son likes me? The Boy with the Bread who saved my life twice. "You're…wrong." I felt relief, scared and some other emotions I couldn't identify. Peeta liked me?

"Sheesh, Katniss. Are really that blind?" She was frustrated. I could tell by the wrinkles that formed on her forehead.

"If he liked me, then why did he leave?" I asked myself not realizing I had verbalized it.

"It wasn't as if you let him feel welcomed, Katniss."

"But I didn't do anything," I defended myself. I was confused with the feelings I felt around him. Talk to him? I didn't even know what to say…what I said to him that night when he slept was difficult but to have a real conversation?

"That's the point, you didn't do anything…you didn't talk to him while he was here. And you haven't even thanked him for saving your life?" She was right. All week after the incident I wanted to talk to him, to thank him for saving me again. I wanted him to know that I didn't forget the bread he tossed all those years ago and how he saved me from Ivan. But when he was finally in my home, I froze him out. I was speechless and cold around him.

"I wanted to Prim, but I just didn't know what to say," I admitted.

"I don't understand. Why do you find it difficult to talk to him?" she inquired. "He's the nicest person ever and so easy to talk to." He was the nicest Merchant boy I knew. I couldn't argue with that. "Katniss, you have to know why you act the way you do around him?" She implied about something that I couldn't voice out loud, not even to her. I still have yet to acknowledge it to myself because voicing out loud would make it real.

"Just think about it, Katniss," she implored. "You need to ask yourself why you act the way you do around him." She waited for me to respond to at least acknowledge that I would think about it. "Ugh, you're being stubborn. I'm going to bed."

The next day my classmates still gossiped and whispered behind my back. One rumor I heard was that Rye debated whether or not he wanted to go back to school after Peeta's beating. He didn't see any use for the formal education if he was to work at his father's bakery after graduation. It was only a few more weeks for graduation and the Reaping ceremony. Rye and Delly Cartwright were to marry one-week prior the event. So he was worried for his fiancée since she had three tessarae in the lottery. Merchant and Seam who had as little as four were still chosen. It didn't matter how many you had. I wondered how many Peeta had. Prim had one tessarae but one was enough for us to worry over.

"How's Peeta?" Madge asked during lunch.

"I don't know," I answered. "His dad and Rye took him home yesterday."

"Were you ever going to tell me about you and Peeta?" she inquired. "I've been waiting to talk to you about it."

"Nothing to talk about," I evaded her. It was easier to say nothing than completely lie to her as I ignored her.

Everything and everyone around me looked back to normal, but it wasn't. Everyone went back to their own lives as if Peeta's whipping never happened. I hated them for them for it. I looked around the school ground for Prim. I was worried about her since she was unusually quiet as walked to school together. Since my last conversation with Prim, I tossed and turned in bed mulling over what she said. Peeta liked me as in having a crush on me. It was unimaginable since we had never existed in each other's circle. Yes, we had a class or two together but that was it. How is it even possible to have a crush on someone if you hadn't interacted with them? I just didn't understand it.

"Talk to me. I'm your friend, Katniss," she reminded me. "Or at least I thought I was. You could have told me and I would have kept your secret." She looked hurt. "Did you think I'd disapprove of you being with Peeta?" I turned to her. "You had me totally fooled, you know. All this time I thought you were clueless to the way he looked at you." I was stunned at her admission.

"You knew?"

"Oh Katniss, everyone with eyes knew. Why do you think all those girls over there kept giving you a death glare?" My throat suddenly felt dry and my hands sweaty. I turned to the mentioned table and as I expected they were glaring at me. "I can understand why you two kept it a secret. I mean his mother probably had a heart attack." His mother, another person I didn't consider. Even Mr. Mellark was surprisingly calm and accepted our lie that his son and I were together. I wondered if he knew the truth about us.

"I'm sorry, Madge," I confessed. "It's just um…we wanted to keep it a secret. There were too many obstacles against us. It was easier this way."

"You're very lucky, Katniss. You really got a good one."

"So you don't mind that Peeta and I are…together?" She surprised me.

"Why should I? I mean Peeta is sweet. I bet he's a really great boyfriend."

This conversation was more than I could handle. Everyone thought Peeta was my boyfriend and the people who mattered to me didn't even blink. It was accepted so readily as if it was true. Prim loved him. Dad accepted him. Mr. Mellark was pleased. The only person who hadn't voiced her opinion was mom.

Before I knew it school was over. I don't recall any of my classes since my mind was befuddled with thoughts of Peeta wondering how he was doing and Madge acceptance of our 'relationship.'

Prim was fast on her feet as she passed me by. "Prim? What's the hurry?" I called after her and then I noticed that three Merchants girls in the way. Prim stopped and waited for me to catch up to her.

"Everdeen?" The tallest and the leader of the pack called me. She held her books close to her chest. All three girls were pretty with their luscious blond hair and blues eyes. They were girls that I could see Peeta with. The thought made my stomach lurched.

"What do you want?"

"We want to talk to you," she replied back. She was very sure of herself since she had two other girls behind her. Their presence angered me for I had never spoken to any of them. Now they wanted to 'talk.' I had an idea what they wanted to talk about. I accessed their posture ready to defend myself.

"Get out of my way," I said. "I don't want to talk to any of you."

"We don't how you managed to get Peeta but you should let him go," the other Merchant girl spoke and went straight to the point. She was a slight girl that I could easily knock over if necessary. "He belongs with his own kind."

"Peeta seems to disagree with you," I stated. If I was to play the doting girlfriend, I at least should defend our fake relationship. "Since you know, he's with me."

"He deserves better than you," the third girl added. I gritted my teeth. She had not been the only person who had ever said that to me. The comment grated my nerves.

"If you don't move aside, I'll rearrange your face first," I said to the last girl who spoke out. She gasped in disbelief. This incident was why I wouldn't 'date' a Merchant. The social barrier made it difficult to cross it. Not that I would have.

"Come on," the second girl said. "She's not worth it. In time Peeta will see what type of girl she really is." I was itching for a fight. The last two weeks left me anxious. I couldn't hunt, I was almost raped and Peeta nearly died because of me. I watched them leave as they left me feeling angry.

"Katniss, let's go, I promised Peeta that I would visit him after school today, remember?" I paused and stopped as I watched my little sister walked towards the bakery. 'Oh hell, I did forget.'

Prim walked through the bakery with ease as she greeted Mr. Mellark. "Hello, Mr. Mellark," she said with a cheery disposition. He smiled back the weariness in his eyes still apparent.

"Hi, Prim," he returned. The bakery felt light and airy as if a ghost had been exorcised. Even the baker looked better. There was a bright smile on his face when he addressed her. "What can I do for today? Would you like to try our cheese buns?" Cheese buns sounded lovely and delicious. I smelled cheese and garlic in the air. "They're Peeta's creations. We haven't been able to…" He stopped himself. "Please try one."

"I'm here to see Peeta if he's up for visitors," she explained. "I told him that I would visit him today."

"Oh, I'll go check if he's awake. You're mom was here earlier to give him a sponge bath," he mentioned as if it was a normal thing to say. I was relieved that there were no other people inside the shop besides the two of us. "You just missed your parents about ten minutes ago."

"Mom and 'dad' were here?" I muttered out loud. Mom visiting Peeta I understood but dad came with her?

"Drop by to see her patient and your dad stuck around until she was done," he narrated. "I'll be right back. Rye, can you come out here for a few minutes. I'm going upstairs to check on Peeta." He disappeared and ran upstairs.

"Hello Katniss, Prim," Rye greeted us.

"Hello, Rye," Prim returned. "We're here to see Peeta."

"Oh, really?" He looked amused as he had a twinkle in his eye. "Came to visit your 'boyfriend?" Before I could respond Mr. Mellark came back down the stairs. "I'm sorry but Peeta is…asleep right now. Your mom had him walking for about 5 minutes before they left and it really tired him out."

"Oh," Prim said. She looked disappointed. "Can I come by tomorrow?"

"Of course, you can come by anytime," he said. "Both of you are welcome to come over anytime you want." He had his eyes on me when he spoke. I felt like a trapped animal for some reason. The next few minutes Mr. Mellark packed us four cheese buns. He refused payment stating that taking care of his son was all the payment he needed. Just as we were about to leave Peeta screamed at the top of his lungs and a loud thud crashed on the ceiling. "Peeta," his dad cried with fear.

He ran upstairs with Rye right behind him. Scared, I ran after them not caring that I was trespassing their residence. "Katniss?" Prim cried out in surprise but followed me.

When I reached the top of the stair Mr. Mellark had barged through what I assumed was his room. Peeta was on the floor face down wearing only his blue boxer shorts. On his feet were black socks. There was blood dripping on his back. Prim immediately ran to his side. "Peeta, what happened," Prim asked him as she rubbed a hand on his head.

Peeta responded with a painful sob. "I…had…had a ba..bad…bad..d..dre…dream," he stuttered. It must have been bad since his stutter returned. I had overheard mom talking to dad one night talking about his speech impediment. How Mr. Mellark explained that his stutter all disappeared once his wife left the bakery and his life. Mom explained that it was probably caused by extreme stress in the presence of his mother who had abused him both mentally and physically. She also explained that the incident with Cray had traumatized him. "I dreamt he..ca…came back for me. Don't let him fi…find me." There were tears in his eyes. I longed to touch his face and comfort him.

"You're okay Peeta. It was just a dream. You're safe. No one is going to hurt you anymore," his dad comforted him instead. "I promise you."

"Peeta, you opened a couple of stitches when you fell," Prim told him.

"We need to get him off the floor, Mr. Mellark," she suggested. She turned to his brother. "Rye, can you go get my mom, please. She'll need to re-stitch some stitches." Without a word, he took off running down the stairs. "Katniss, can you help Mr. Mellark put Peeta back to bed?" Dumbfounded at the turn of events, I grabbed Peeta's arm and lifted him off the ground with his father's help. Once he was situated she turned to his father. "Can you get me a bowl with warm water and wash cloth, Mr. Mellark?"

"I'll be right back," he answered in return.

"Are you in any pain, Peeta?" she asked him as she rubbed her hand on his head for comfort. I envied her gentleness and compassion. She was definitely destined to become a healer like mom. I was proud of her.

"Yes," he groaned. While he lay in bed, I turned my head. I couldn't continue looking at his half naked state. I think I've seen more of Peeta than I ever anticipated. We weren't even in a real relationship but I knew he had a birthmark near his groin. I blushed thinking about it.

To occupy my time I looked around his room. On the walls were drawings everywhere. They littered his walls. They were mostly of the town, animals and people of District 12. The drawings he drew were amazing as the images were drawn in great detail like the texture of the loaves of bread or the old faded sign in front of the bakery. At the corner of his room was a small drawing that caught my eye. As I focused my eyes I noticed that it was a drawing of a little girl with two braids wearing a plaid dress. I gasped in surprise when I realized that it was me he drew when I was seven years old. 'When did he draw this?'

"Thank you, Mr. Mellark," Prim said as he walked into the room with a bowl and washcloth. She began to wipe Peeta's bloody back gently when the bell tingled downstairs.

"I'll be right back Peeta," he said to him. "No one is watching the store right now. Katniss, can you please join me downstairs for a minute?" I walked out the room right behind him and followed him downstairs. "I need a favor since Rye is not here. Do you think you watch the register?"

"I don't know how––" I started.

"Here, let me show you how," he said. For a few minutes he taught me how the register worked and gave me a list of the bakery items they sold. "It's not that hard, you just need to mark down the items sold once the customer paid for it. It's really simple."

"I don't think I should be––"

"Please, Katniss," he uttered. "I need to be upstairs with Peeta and Rye has to finish the next batch of dough for tomorrow once he gets back. I need your help." I relented and nodded my head.

"Okay," I said. The fact that he trusted me to man the store was overwhelming. Did he not remember that it was my fault that Peeta was upstairs bleeding from the injuries he sustained from Cray? I cringed at the thought when Rye returned with my mother. How would he react knowing I was here to help them?

A few minutes later, Rye and mom walked through the door and ran upstairs. Mom barely nodded her head to me. Rye came back down a few seconds later. "Dad told me that you're helping us out today. Thanks for the help," he said. I was stunned and surprised. "We really appreciate it." Then walked towards the back of the bakery. "Just let me know if you have any problems or have any questions."

So here I was in the bakery praying that no one would come in. I was nervous and scared. What if a Merchant walked in and saw me behind the counter? This was all too surreal. To my dismay and fury the one person I had expected to see today walked in as if she owned the place––Agatha Berridge. She was holding a small pouch and a pot in her hands.

"What the hell are you doing here?" she screeched. Her nose flared and her eyes grew wide in surprise and horror. "Who the hell do you think you are?" I was about to open my mouth when Rye appeared beside me.

"Agatha, how can we help you today?" he asked as he emphasized 'we' to her.

"What is she doing here?" she continued her tirade. Mr. Mellark ran down the stairs after hearing her yell.

"What's going on here," he inquired. I would have laughed at the look on his face when he encountered Agatha's presence. His face turned from surprise, shock and impatience.

"Mr. Mellark, what is she…she doing here?"

"Katniss," he emphasized. "Is helping us out."

"She…she shouldn't be here," she screeched. Rye crossed his arms in front of his chest.

"I don't think that's your call or your business, Agatha," Mr. Mellark uttered. "Is there something I can do for you?"

She was stunned that was certain as she eyed Mr. Mellark, Rye then me last. "Um…Mrs. Mellark said that I could stop by and give this to Peeta." She extended her hand with the pot and bag to him. "I made soup for him and thought he could use some morphling."

"That's very kind of you, Agatha," he returned.

"We heard that he was brought home today and I thought the poor dear needed some comfort and medicine." She spoke in a sickly sweet tone that grated me. "Mrs. Mellark said––"

"Agatha, I don't know what you and Mrs. Mellark are up to, though I do have any idea," he interrupted her. "Whatever agenda or agreement you made with my wife is and will not be approved by me whatsoever. But you can tell her that Peeta is being taken care of. You're…contribution and generosity is greatly appreciated."

"But she said that…that you both agreed," she started. Did she honestly think that Peeta would agree to such an arrangement while I was supposedly with him? Then, again no one knew the truth of our relationship that it was based on a lie.

"You can stop right there and turn around. This discussion is over."

"But Mrs. Mellark said––"

"I think you heard my dad telling you to leave," Rye complied. Agatha turned with an offended look on her face as she made a dramatic exit slamming the door behind her.

"You know, dad. She's going straight to mom," he voiced. "She's going to tell her that Katniss works here."

"What is she going to do, kick Katniss out? This is my bakery. Anyway, she won't dare come in here now. I need to go back upstairs." He left without another word.

By closing time, Prim and mom remained upstairs all attending to Peeta. I made three sales, one Merchant and two from the Seam. I'll never forget the look on the Merchant's face when she saw me behind the counter.

Mom and Prim walked down the stairs as I was closing and counting the money in the register. Mr. Mellark guided me through the process. I didn't think it was necessary since I knew this was a one-time deal. Or so I thought.

"Katniss, how would you like a job?" Mr. Mellark asked. I looked at mom to gauge her reaction.

"A job, here in the bakery?" I assumed in a stunned tone.

"Yes, here," he chortled. "I talked about it with your parents when they were both here and they thought it was a good idea."

"Mom, really?"

"That's awesome Katniss," Prim gushed.

"What about my…" my voiced trailed off. Hunting was out of the question since Cray added the new curfew and armed the electrical fences. A job here was stable and not dangerous.

"You're hours here won't interfere with your school work. Just a couple hours to start after school and when you get more experience we could use a hand in the kitchen," he continued. "You can start today since I did force you to work today." He smiled, the familiar smile I missed from a much younger Mellark. I could see where his infectious and good-natured personality came from. "My eldest Graham now works with his in-laws so I need help and Peeta will be out for the next few weeks. But even when he comes back I still need someone to fill in Graham's spot."

"Mom? Is dad okay with this?" I asked her. She nodded her head.

"Prim can stay while you work. She can do her homework and watch over Peeta for a while. That way when you finish you can walk home together," Mr. Mellark concluded. The proposition was too good to be true.

"It's up to you, Katniss," mom said.

"Say yes, Katniss," Prim encouraged me. "You can still go hunting in the morning once the fences are turned off."

"That's the other thing. Who knows when that will happen since Cray is still trying to find out who killed his nephew," Rye added. I cringed at his remark. I had almost forgotten that Ivan's killer was still at large.

"You're okay with this," I asked Rye. I needed to ask since I was basically working for him too.

"It's my dad's bakery. If he wants to hire you who am I to object." He shrugged his shoulders. "We do need the help, Katniss."

I looked at mom and Prim. Working for the Mellarks would be a godsend. I nodded my head.

"Yes, I'll take it," I said.

"Yes," Prim said as she jumped in place. "That's so awesome."

"Dad," a weak voice floated from the upstairs. It was Peeta calling out to his father.

"Great. We'll work out the other details when you come in tomorrow after school," he said as he shook my hand. He then ran up the stairs.

Peeta. My mind drifted to the Boy with the Bread lying upstairs wearing dark blue boxer shorts. Why that detail flashed in my mind, I don't know.

Not only would I be working with Mr. Mellark and Rye, I would working alongside Peeta as well when he recovered. Hopefully in that time, I'll find the courage to talk to him and say the words I longed to tell him. To thank him for saving me and…that I value and appreciate his friendship that's if he still wanted it.

As I walked back towards the Seam with mom and Prim, I thought about the past few weeks. In that time, I had gained a 'fake boyfriend' and got myself a job with said boyfriend and his family. The turn of event had my mind spinning.

I didn't know if the universe was conspiring to keep him in my life. No matter what I did or where I turned he was there. Despite it all, there was only one thing that I was certain of. Peeta had somehow once again tied his life to mine once more.

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AN: Thank you for reading this chapter. I hoped you enjoyed it. Until the next update, have a great week.