AHH…love.

The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy do not belong to me.

Fated to Love

Part Two, Part Twenty-Four

The studio was a beautiful mess.

Paint brushes rested on the kitchen table, mixed in with remnants of a half-eaten sandwich dinner. A copy of Vogue magazine, opened to a Caesar Flickerman advertisement, sat on the entryway table next to a tray with two sets of keys thrown haphazardly onto its center.

Then, there was the painting of the boy. His eyes were warm and his cheeks were full. His smile was a mix of mischievousness and charm—part his father and part his mother.

He lorded over the studio, his spot on the old canvas like a throne as he kept a watchful eye on the couple asleep in the bed.

His mother and father, newly reunited, held on tightly to one another.

Katniss breathed heavily into Peeta's chest, taking in his scent and remembering the mornings when they would wake up to one another in their marital bed. Her eyes fluttered open and her gaze went to the painting.

Making sure that Peeta was comfortably asleep, Katniss gathered herself and sat up. She was still disoriented from it all. Had it only been yesterday when she barged into a press conference to confess her feelings to her ex-husband?

There was a beep on her phone and she looked to find text messages from their family: 'What the hell?'…'I didn't think that you had it in you!'…'When you're done doing my cousin, we need to talk!'…

Not like Katniss minded, but motherhood did not seem to temper Johanna one bit. It was nice to know that, in the craziness of what had occurred, there were still some constant personalities in her life.

Turning on the coffee maker in the kitchen, she pulled out a chair at the table and looked to Toad.

"Your father is home, Toad," she whispered, her eyes filling.

Strong arms wrapped around her from behind and a tender kiss was pressed to her temple.

Peeta smiled down at her before looking to the painting.

"I'm home, son."

"Stop staring."

Peeta put down the newspaper, giving Katniss a mock glare from the kitchen table. "I'm not!"

Katniss chuckled, going back to the sketch pad to concentrate on the commissioned sketch. She had planned to work on it during her stay in Manhattan. As it happened, plans changed and now Katniss was relegated to planning the portrait for the daughter of District 11's Mayor from the alcove of her studio.

It was difficult—especially when there was a very good-looking man trying not to peer at her from his seat.

"May I sit?" Katniss looked up to see Peeta beaming at her. She patted the seat and he joined her, sliding in before placing her feet on his lap and wiggling her toe. "I'm an expert at reflexology, you know."

She rolled her eyes at him, an amused smile rising from her lips. "Sure, sweetheart."

Beginning to shade the skirt of the young girl's dress, Katniss bit her lip, fighting to concentrate, as Peeta pushed his thumb into ball of her foot. The pressure of his caress sent a shiver down her spine and she closed her eyes with a sigh.

"Peeta." She placed her sketchpad down and looked to him. "I need to work on this."

"I'm bored!" Peeta whined plaintively. "I don't have a job and I have nothing to do!" He leaned forward, brushing his mouth to hers before giving her a winning smile. "Let's do something."

"And, what exactly do you want to do?" Katniss asked.

"Bake bread."

She guffawed in disbelief. "You're joking."

"You weren't joking." Katniss pounded the dough in front of her, frowning at the imprint her knuckles made. "I don't think I'm doing this right."

Peeta joined her at the counter. Her kitchen was tiny; barely enough room for herself much less her broadly built…boyfriend?

Katniss wasn't sure what they were and was in no rush to discuss it.

"Let me help you." Peeta wove his arms around her waist, pressing her back against his chest…his very strong chest. He laughed into her neck and she steadied herself, the heated sound caressing her body. It suddenly felt much warmer in the small space. "Just let me…" His hands covered hers, guiding her hands towards the ball of dough, and pressing the heels of her palms into it. "Push forward…"

"Show me again," Katniss demanded breathlessly.

Peeta acquiesced, assisting her in kneading the dough, and moving it back with the heels of her hands once more.

He met her eyes, smiling at her. "Do you think you can do this by yourself?"

"It's amazing that you can still remember all of this," she told him.

"I remember doing this with my Dad," Peeta said, his blue eyes drifting off. "It's like his legacy to me."

"Besides the millions of dollars?" she remarked.

"Money is—surprise, surprise—inconsequential," he explained. "I had hoped to teach Toad all of this." Katniss let out a breath and Peeta smiled tightly at her. "But, maybe there will be others to teach…one day."

She turned, pushed up on her toes, and kissed him thoroughly.

After, Katniss whispered wetly against his mouth:

"One day."

"They've finally emerged!" Prim pounced on her sister, pulling Katniss into her embrace. "You've been MIA for nearly two days. We were about to send out a search party!"

"What exactly were you two doing?" Johanna asked as she greeted the two.

"Baking bread," Katniss informed them.

Her Uncle, who had been sitting at one of the tables, raised a brow. "That better not be a code word for sex."

"Says the man who knocked up then married my cousin," Peeta retorted. "Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black?"

"Okay, let's not get into the weird logistics of this family," Uncle Snow interrupted as he emerged from the kitchen along with Cato. The two were carrying trays of food for the reinstated Sunday night dinner. "It'll just give me and everyone else a headache."

Cato placed his tray on the table before leaning down to give Katniss a kiss on the cheek and then clapping Peeta's shoulder.

"You two know how to set the media on a rampage," he told the couple, setting a newspaper between the couple. "This is just one of the papers that they're selling out on the stands."

Peeta groaned, looking at the photo of their kiss on the front page. "Don't they have anything substantial to report on?"

Katniss looked around, noticing the missing members of the family. "Where are Jace and Mom?"

"Jace took a scrape to the knee and Mom is taping him up in the office," Prim told her.

Nodding, Katniss went towards the double doors to the kitchen. Her mother and Jace were just coming out of the office and her nephew beamed excitedly at her.

"Hey, Aunt Katniss!" Her tow head nephew hugged her waist. "Where's Uncle Peeta?"

"In the dining room with the rest of the family, of course!" she replied with a smile. "Go say hi!"

Jace bounded through the double doors in excitement, leaving the mother and daughter on their own.

"He is really excited to see Peeta," Katniss remarked with a chuckle. Her mother smiled, albeit a little half-heartedly, and she couldn't help but notice right away. "What's wrong?"

Hani sighed; she knew that her thoughts would not come off well. "I just have concerns."

Katniss cocked her head in confusion. "About dinner?"

Her mother shook her head. "No—about you and Peeta."

"I thought you would be happy." She looked to her mother, her brow furrowing. "You know how miserable I've been without him."

"I know that," Hani replied calmly. "That's exactly why I'm so concerned. You two are so tenuous—one minute, you're deeply in love, the next minute, you're not talking to one another. You wouldn't understand; you weren't here those four years…"

"I know and I am sorry for that," Katniss said tightly. "I needed time to get myself together and heal."

"Yes, but you left a lot of devastation in the wake. Not just Peeta, but us as well," her mother related. "Now you two are back together, but what now? Will you be moving back to the Mellark Compound? What about your career? Do you both know what you want out of this relationship?"

"We've been together for two days, Mom," Katniss pointed out. "We're not there yet."

"That's exactly my point." Hani approached her daughter carefully, her hands going to Katniss' shoulders. "You two have not been the best of communicators and it's gotten you in trouble. What happens if you get in a fight tomorrow? You'll get hurt. You and Peeta are complete opposites. He knows how to hurt you and I can't watch it."

Katniss stared at her in disbelief. "I thought you liked Peeta…loved him even."

"I do, sweetheart." Hani reached, cradling her daughter's face, her blue eyes pleading. "But, I love you more." She stepped back. "That's why I can't support this relationship—not after all that's been said and done."

"I can't believe this." Katniss wiped her eyes. "I'm happy, Mom. Why can't you be happy for me?"

"Because I've been there when you weren't happy and I can't stand to see that anymore."

Katniss' spine stiffened. "Then we have nothing left to talk about."

"Katniss—"

She turned, pushing open the double doors and rushing out, her mother following behind her.

Peeta immediately met Katniss' eyes, rushing over as she gathered her things. "What's going on?"

"We're not wanted here," Katniss said harshly, ignoring the woman behind her. "Let's go."

"I'm sure she didn't mean it, Katniss," Peeta argued. He slid into bed next to her, his arms going around her waist. "Hani wants us to be happy."

Katniss wiped her eyes. "I'm sure she does. Just not when we're together."

"She has a point." Peeta retreated as Katniss whipped around to glare at him. "We're not the best at communicating and we are opposites." He lifted her chin. "But, we are working on it and we want to be together, right?"

She nodded in agreement. "Right."

"I don't know if you've thought about it—" he continued. "—but, we should talk about what we want out of this relationship."

"I thought it was pretty clear cut," Katniss replied. "We want to be together. We want children."

He pressed his lips to her. "Yes, I agree. Do we want more though? Commitment? Forever?"

Katniss reached for him, her hand resting to the nape of his neck.

"Let me be clear with you, Peeta Mellark. You're it for me. I want to be with you forever."

Peeta kissed her forehead. "I want to be with you forever."

"Then we're in agreement," she concluded. "But, my mother does not seem to understand that."

Peeta urged her to lay back, his hand tenderly traveling the contours of her face.

He loved her and promised himself that he would do anything for her.

"Then I will just have to make her understand."

"Stop laughing, Gale!"

From inside the board room, Katniss glared at the computer screen as an image of her big-headed business partner bellowed at her. She had just regaled him with the tale of her fight with her mother, after telling him everything that happened during the press conference.

"It's not like I'm laughing at you two. I'm laughing because you ignorantly thought that this whole thing would be easy," Gale said to her. "Did you think that Hani was going to be fine with all of this? She's your mother and does nothing but worry about you as well as Prim."

"I understand that—" Katniss responded tersely. "—but, I need her support. Like you said, she's my mother."

"Give her time," her business partner advised. "Once she sees how smoothly everything is going between you and Peeta, she'll calm down."

Katniss snorted. "Anyway, how is everything going with yourself and Madge?"

"We watched a musical, had dinner, and she's actually with some of the girls from her old troupe," he told her. "I have just gone over the layout with the curator and we are all set for the opening. If you could, I'd like for you to record a greeting for opening night. Tell them that you're hard at work instead of sulking like a teenager."

"I think I can help with that." Delly stuck her head in front of the screen after closing the door to the room. Sitting in the chair next to Katniss, she placed the steaming mug she had brought with her on the table before continuing. "We're in the process of opening a small studio here in the office for commercials. Katniss can be our first victim."

"You're a lifesaver, Delly Crane." Gale gave her a salute and then look to Katniss. "Be patient. I'll call you in a day or two, okay?"

"Have fun," Katniss replied with a groan. "Say hi to Madge."

"Right-o!" With a final wave, her blissfully cheerful partner disappeared from the screen.

"I'm sorry that it's been so difficult for you and Peeta," Delly said sincerely.

Katniss smiled ruefully. "Thanks."

"And, can I say—you two put on a damn fine show," her friend continued with a smirk. "I must've watched that whole press conference a million times on YouTube!"

"It's on YouTube?" she cried out. "I cannot believe this."

"The best video is the one where they use 'My Heart Will Go On' before you two kiss," Delly told her lightly. "Cheer up, darling. There are better things to look forward to."

Katniss looked to her in frustration. "Like what?"

Delly took a sip from her mug and beamed at her friend.

"I'm pregnant."

"Welcome home, darling!"

Katniss tossed her bag onto the table and went to Peeta, who was busily mixing something in her kitchen. She placed a quick kiss on his lips before looking at his work, her gaze curious at the lavender-colored dough in the metal bowl.

"What are you making?"

"I thought it could only help our case to bring something to your mother," Peeta informed her. "Hand me the cling wrap." Katniss complied, reaching into the bottom drawer and handing him the cling wrap box. He covered the metal bowl and then looked at his watch. "Now, we just have let it rise."

They went to the small table and Peeta took her hand, tugging her gently so she would sit on his lap.

"Have you tried calling your Mom?" he asked, his blue eyes roving over her.

"No," Katniss declared. "I'm not wrong."

"Haymitch is saying that she is saying the same thing," Peeta replied with a gentle smile. "Like mother, like daughter." He tucked a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. "I hate that it's come to this."

"We just have to show her that we mean business," she said resolutely, her arm draping over his shoulders. "You with me?"

"Always," he told her, his forehead pressing into hers. "I love you."

"I love you," Katniss whispered against his smile. "Now, can you tell me why you're making purple bread?"

"I was talking to Haymitch today and he mentioned something about your parents," he explained. "Your father used to make your mother this purple sweet potato bread for your mother. It was what she used to eat when she pregnant with you as well as what they had at their wedding."

"I didn't know that." She fixed her gaze on Peeta. "It seems like something my father would've done. He was a very romantic man." Her hand went to his hair, playing distractedly with the soft tendrils. "How about your dad? Was he romantic?"

"I'd like to think so," Peeta said. "We used to go on picnics and I remember that my dad would make daisy chains for my mom. He would lay his head on her lap and just work on them until he fell asleep."

"That sounds nice," she replied. "I'd like you to make me a daisy chain one day."

Peeta grinned sheepishly. "I'm not sure if I'd do very well, but I could try."

"That's all we need to do." She looked to the kitchen. "Don't you have to check on your dough?"

"Oh yeah." Katniss stood to let Peeta go, but he grabbed her hand. "Come on."

"What are you doing?"

Peeta smiled charmingly, his blue eyes shining at her. "Every baker needs a taster, right?"

Taking a deep breath, Peeta took a step into Arena.

He waved to Cato and then Haymitch, both of them quickly disappearing through the doors to the kitchen, leaving him and the other lone occupant of the dining room together.

Hani.

She was folding napkins, her gaze going warily to him before continuing her task.

Undeterred, Peeta pulled up the chair across from her, placing the wrapped box on the table. He waited for her to speak, watching her hands—so much like Katniss'—skillfully crease the cloth napkins.

When Hani remained silent, he decided to bite the bullet. "I brought you something."

The woman looked up at him and, with a somewhat exasperated sigh, reached for the box. Nervously, Peeta watched her lift the lid and held his breath as she looked inside.

Hani sighed in remembrance. "I haven't had one of these in long while."

"I made sure that it looked exactly like the ones that you used to eat," Peeta told her. "Sent Haymitch a picture and everything."

Hani looked to the back of Arena where the kitchen doors stood slightly opened.

"What do you want, Peeta?" she asked bluntly.

"I want your approval," he replied.

"You're an adult. So is Katniss." Hani placed her hands on her lap. "You don't need my approval."

"It's important to me," Peeta said. "I've always considered you a mother to me and I understand that this is scary. I haven't been the best husband or boyfriend for that matter—but despite all of this, I have always loved Katniss."

"You hurt her and you lied! She might have learned to move past these things, but I haven't." Hani looked to him, her blue eyes firm. "I can't give my approval."

Peeta stared at her for a moment, trying to see if there was any hope.

However, Hani's stare was absolute.

"Alright, then." Peeta stood up. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Hani's eyes widened. "What do you mean?"

"You seem to think that I'm just going to step aside," he told her. "I'm not even close."

With that, Peeta walked out of the restaurant.

"You have to give it to him." Haymitch said as he approached his sister. "He's persistent."

Hani tore at the golden loaf, her eyes watering at the lavender inside. Her late husband took so much pride in making the bread and it wasn't an easy job. She remembered late nights hearing him bang about their kitchen just so she could have the bread she desperately craved during her pregnancies.

"Don't I know it," Hani said to herself.

"How long are you going to make him wait?" her brother questioned.

"I don't know." She took a bite, savoring the taste. "I just don't know."

"Hi honey! I'm home!"

Katniss found Peeta in the kitchen busily stirring away, his expression distracted.

"It didn't go well, did it?" she asked as she approached him.

"No. It didn't go anywhere, really." Peeta sighed, looking dog-eyed at her. "But, I'm not done yet."

Her arms went around his waist. "You don't have to do this."

"Yes, I do," he replied stubbornly. "It is important to me that we stay a family." Turning, his arms encircled Katniss' waist, pulling her flush against his chest. "When you were gone, being with your mother and everyone else—it's what kept me going. Family is important to me and I know it's important to you."

"I know…" Her hand went to his cheek. "But, I don't want you running yourself ragged."

"I won't," Peeta assured her. He leaned down, giving her a kiss. "How was your day?"

"Meeting with Caesar went well," she recalled. "I sent my commission off to District 11 for approval and hung out with Delly and Sparrow for a bit. We're going over the schedule for post-Baby Girl Crane."

"You have babysitting duty?" he asked.

"I will be heading over to the house when Delly goes into labor to keep Sparrow company." Katniss grinned at him. "You're invited, of course." She sighed happily. "They want to name her Lily. I love flower names. I remember helping my mom and dad pick out Prim's name. We were walking a trail on Seam Island and at the end of the path was primrose. Prim kicked my mom's stomach for the first time when she heard her name, you know."

Peeta smiled at her expression, beautifully lost in this golden moment. "I could believe that."

Katniss shook herself from her daze and beamed at the man in front of her. "So, do you want to go out to dinner?"

He shook his head, instead lifting her up from her waist. "I'd much rather avoid the cameras and stay here with you."

"And, what will we do?" she asked.

"Bake cupcakes," Peeta replied.

Katniss bristled, her hands going to her hips. "Like, really?"

"No." Peeta carried her out of the kitchen, heading towards their bed. "I can bake the cupcakes—" He laid her down gently onto the mattress. "—after."

"These look beautiful, Peeta!" Prim squealed as she looked down at the frosted cupcakes with fondant primroses. She then looked to her mother, who eyed the pretty yellow flowers carefully. "May I take one?"

Hani waved her hand over the plate. "By all means."

Her daughter grabbed one and quickly took a bite, her blues lighting up as she sampled.

"This is delicious," Prim told Peeta, who sat across from her mother once again. "If you ever want to be our pastry chef, let me know."

"I might actually take you up on that," he replied. His gaze went to Hani, who looked quietly unsettled. "You better get going, Prim. I think your mother needs to have a word with me."

Distractedly, Prim walked away, still gobbling up her cupcake.

"How did you come up with this?" Hani asked.

"Katniss told me the story about how Prim's name came about," he explained. "And, it just came to me."

"I applaud you, then," she said limply. "You have a talent, Peeta."

Peeta stared at her for a moment, shoulders drawing down. "But, you still don't approve."

"You have to understand that I'm just looking out for my daughter—"

"If you're looking out for her, you should know that you're hurting her, too," Peeta suddenly said. "Last night, after I finished these cupcakes, she looked at them and started to cry. She misses you and just wants you to share her happiness."

He held Katniss for the rest of the night, letting her cry herself raw before she fell into a fitful sleep. Moments like this were when Peeta saw the cracks in that hard veneer that she presented to everyone else. He worried that it would become too much on her and could see that she was slowly wearing down.

"How can I be happy when I worry about her? About you?" Hani questioned. "You've both been through so much drama."

"And, it's only going to make us stronger in the end," he declared. "And, if there is anyone that I want by my side during the tough times, it's Katniss—because she is the strongest person I know." Peeta placed a hand over Hani's. "But, the strongest people have the most fragile of hearts, and that's why they have to fight to protect it."

Hani had to admit that Peeta knew her daughter more than she realized.

Reluctantly, her other hand reached for a cupcake and as she took a bite, a flash of a young Katniss running around the woods of Seam Island flashed in her mind—her daughter's smile the mirror image of her late husband's.

Tears filled Hani's eyes and she looked to Peeta.

"Prim is right. This is delicious."

"You look frustrated." Peeta looked up as Katniss joined him at the table. She gave him an empathetic smile. "It's difficult, isn't it?"

He stopped, sitting back in the chair. "What?"

"Wanting people's approval," she replied. "I was constantly trying to please other people when I was an assistant—so much that I forgot to make myself happy."

"I remember," Peeta replied. "But, you were always the worthiest of people." He reached for her hand, lifting it to kiss her knuckles. "I'm sorry if I didn't notice at first."

"What are you talking about?" Katniss smiled gently. "You were the first person to see me. Remember? You held your hand out to me in that hotel room and made me stand up for myself."

"I just showed you what was already in you," he told her. "And, you showed me that there was still hope."

Peeta reached into his pocket, pulling out the Mockingjay pin. She stood up and went to his lap, her arms winding around his neck as his thumb caressed the grooves of the bird's wings.

"Because it's what we do. We lift the other up. We take care of one another."

He pressed a kiss to her neck. "Exactly."

She beamed at Peeta before looking to the recipe book in front of him.

"What are you going to make my mother for tomorrow?"

"I don't know." His hand went to the tip of her braid, examining the thick strands given to her by her father. "Will you talk to me more? Tell me more about your life?"

Katniss tilted her head in interest. "Like what?"

He kissed her deeply before pressing his forehead to hers. "Tell me how you came to be Katniss."

She laughed. "That's a long story."

Peeta undid her braid. "We've got all night."

When Peeta arrived at Arena, a small group had gathered.

This particular concoction had been difficult to conceive and it had taken him longer to make than his previous creations. It was already evening when he walked into the dining room of Arena and the dinner crowd had already formed.

Prim—looking impressive in her chef hat and coat—was already there with Hani at her usual table. Cato stood behind his wife in anticipation as Haymitch and Johanna sat at the adjacent table with Uncle Snow.

"Full house," he remarked, placing the familiar pastry box on the table.

"I'm just having dinner with my husband and my father," Johanna responded casually. "We just happen to be seated next to you."

"I'll tell you the truth," Cato told him. "I just wanted to see what you brought."

Nodding, Peeta moved the box towards Hani; she raised a brow before opening the box and letting out a gasp.

"Katniss and I had a nice long talk," he explained. "And, she told me about how she used to go camping with her father on Seam Island. How he named her after the plant—"

"Because as long as she could find herself, she would never starve," Hani responded thickly. "He wanted her to know that she didn't need anyone else but herself to survive."

"And, she doesn't," Peeta replied. "That's why I love her so much."

The Katniss cake had to be crafted by each individual white petal. The three petals were then connected by its yellow, bulbous center, also made of cake. The creamy, white icing was smoothly thick and was made of buttercream, but tasted light, according to Katniss.

Hani looked to him, a full smile gracing her lips for the first time during their meetings.

Peeta took this as a good sign. "May we have dinner? On me?"

"Can we have drinks?" Hani retorted.

He chuckled. "Whatever you want."

She nodded. "Fine. Let's have dinner and talk."

Katniss quickly paid for her taxi before rushing to the doors of Arena. Knocking, Cato immediately opened the door and ushered her inside.

"What is going on?" she asked, approaching the table where her mother and Peeta sat.

"Your boyfriend and your mother just racked up a $500 bill," Cato informed her with a grin. "A third of that is in alcohol."

"Oh my God, how are they not dead?" Katniss stopped in front of the two. "Mom? Peeta?"

"My love!" Peeta rose, swaying as he did, embracing her. "God, you are beautiful."

"And, you smell like a distillery," she responded, trying to not laugh at Peeta looking so unkempt.

"You guys can stay at our place," Cato offered. "I'll help your mother and you can hold onto Peeta."

"No…no…no…" Hani attempted to stand, waving her son-in-law off. "I want Katniss to help me…"

"Alright, Mom." Katniss went to her, encircling a hand around her waist, and anchoring her mother's arm around her shoulders. "Let's go."

Peeta seemed to be standing with less assistance so after Cato quickly locked the doors, they made their way over to Prim and Cato's place—the longest two-minute walk of Katniss' life.

"Why did you let them drink so much?" she asked her brother-in-law.

"Because it didn't start out that way," Cato told her. "They had dinner, they had the Katniss cake—delicious, by the way—but we didn't realize that they had been having cocktails in-between. Then they had after-dinner drinks plus Peeta paid for some other people's drinks."

Katniss looked to her mother, who was on the verge of falling asleep.

"Did they look like everything seem alright between them?"

"They seem fine." Cato propped Peeta against the front door of he and Prim's place. "There were a few laughs but also some serious moments from what I could gauge whenever I checked on them. After we cleaned up, Prim had to tuck in Jace, so I called you to come and rescue your man."

Cato opened the door and led Peeta inside. The living room light was already on and Cato easily maneuvered Peeta onto the couch as Katniss moved her mother to the loveseat.

Hani laid back, stretching herself against the seat.

"It looks like she's comfortable," Cato said. "We'll move her to her room tomorrow."

Prim emerged, dressed in her pajamas. "How is it going?"

"Both nice and sloshed," Katniss informed her sister. "I guess we're staying here tonight."

"I'll grab some pillows and blankets," Cato said and disappeared down the hall.

When they were alone, Prim went to her sister, giving her a hug. "Peeta sure does love you."

"Do you think that all of this helped our case?" Katniss asked tentatively.

"I don't know," her sister replied. "But, whatever happens, I've got your back."

Katniss embraced her. "I love you."

"I love you, too," Prim replied. Cato returned, placing the pillows and blankets on the empty space on the couch. "Just knock on our door if you need anything else."

Nodding, Katniss shooed them away. "Good night."

When the couple had left, Katniss turned off the light in the living room. Then, taking a pillow, she placed it under Peeta's head before draping a blanket over him.

Going to her mother, she carefully did the same, before removing her mother's shoes and placing them to the side of the loveseat.

"I made him promise."

Katniss looked up from her spot on the floor to see her mother watching her, blue eyes shining in the lone light of the moon coming from the windows.

"What?"

Hani took her hand. "I made him promise that he would never hurt you." Katniss rose, sitting on the coffee table in front of her. "I can't lose you again."

Katniss' chest ached at her mother's words and, without another thought, she scooted into the small space next to Hani. Her head went to her mother's chest and Hani's arms wrapped around her daughter, drawing Katniss close.

"You will never lose me," Katniss whispered against Hani's chest. "I am always with you."

Her mother pressed a kiss to her forehead. "And, I'm with you." Hani ran her hand through Katniss' hair, instantly calming her daughter. "Peeta is a good boy. You chose well."

Katniss smiled. "Thank you, Mama."

Closing her eyes, Katniss succumbed to the gentle motions of her mother's touch and the quiet hum of an old lullaby.

The soft sunrise rouse Katniss from her sleep.

She found that she was no longer on the loveseat but on the couch. Her mother was now gone and her head now rested on Peeta's chest.

"Morning." Looking up, Katniss found Peeta smiling down at her. "Your mom woke me up and insisted that I take over Katniss-cradling duty, before going to her room." He brushed his mouth against hers. "A duty that I'll gladly fulfill."

Her hand reached to caress his chin. "Thank you."

Peeta smiled tiredly. "For what?"

"Just being you."

He nodded, his hand moving to the small of her back as they lapse into a content silence. Katniss closed her eyes laying her head back on Peeta's chest.

"Katniss?"

"Hmm?" Her eyes remained closed, following the rise and fall of his shallow breaths.

"Will you marry me?"

She grinned against him.

"Yes."

This was a favorite chapter of mine. I love the thought of Peeta trying to court Katniss by gaining favor with Hani.

Also, just letting you know—there has been no "knocking boots"…yet.

The purple bread is a sweet potato Hokkaido bread and if I had the patience, I'd totally make it. The recipe is actually on Pinterest.

Thank you for your support as I take care of all my personal things. I recently just found out that I had an infection and am now on antibiotics. It just really wrecked me and I'm pretty frustrated.

Anyway, please send out good, healing vibes because I'm hoping for a healthy 2017.

I will tell you that we have two chapters until the end.

Feedback is love.

Next, Part Twenty-Five: The missing bride and groom.

Till then, JLaLa