Chapter 20: Comfort
Peeta meets Katniss at the train station. She is so happy to see him. It has been three days since they were together last and, in spite of revelling in the high fashion stakes of the Capitol, Katniss has missed him.
"Well, how was your trip?" asks Peeta.
"Exhausting" says Katniss. "You wouldn't believe how many stores there are in the Capitol that sell wedding dresses and I think Effie took me to them all!"
"That sounds like Effie, alright. She still wants to bask in the glow of her Tributes from District 12", but he said it kindly, and with humour. They both knew how excited Effie had always been to put on a good show. They were a reflection of her, and Peeta was hoping she hadn't tried to influence Katniss too much in her choice of wedding dress. He couldn't imagine how Katniss would look if it was left up to Effie! Cinna had been a different story. The wedding dresses he designed for her had been beautiful, but still marked by the stain of Snow and the Capitol.
"How is baby Prim?" asks Katniss.
"She's fine. She has been good for your mother, but I think she missed you. We couldn't get as many smiles out of her and she was harder to settle. Somehow, she seemed to know you weren't around".
Katniss couldn't wait to take Prim up in her arms again and smell her lovely baby smell. She would just tuck her head into little Prim's neck and breathe that smell in deeply when she got home. It was so comforting. Peeta collects Katniss' bags and they walk home together. She has not brought her wedding dress home yet, although Peeta assumes she has chosen something already. He forgot to ask.
When they arrive, Prim is in her cradle fast asleep. She looks so beautiful and peaceful. Katniss' mother will stay one more night before she heads back to District 4 tomorrow. That way they can spend some time together and Katniss can discuss the dress with her. After giving Katniss a kiss, Peeta goes back to the bakery to begin preparations for the next day. He tells her he won't be long.
Katniss and her mother sit down to talk about the wedding.
"How are the preparations going?" asks her mother.
"Good. We have gotten the invitations out and should be getting some replies soon. We sent yours in the mail, too. The dress is being prepared and Peeta is baking the cake, but he won't tell me anything about it" says Katniss.
"I'm sure his cake and your dress will both be beautiful" her mother says. "How are you coping with the baby? What about Peeta?"
"Prim is such a good girl. She only really cries if she is hungry or tired and sometimes when she wants to be held. She sleeps so well and so do I now. I haven't had any really bad nightmares for a long time" says Katniss. She hopes it stays that way. They were so draining and the only thing that had ever really helped was having Peeta by her side. Once she had woken baby Prim up with one of her nightmares. Katniss had been screaming for her sister and Peeta had not woken quickly enough to keep Katniss from waking the baby. Prim's cries had snapped Katniss back to reality. Peeta had picked Prim up from her cot and held them both in his arms for the rest of the night. His arms were always so comforting.
"Well, I am glad that you seem to be turning a corner, and Peeta, too. He is so good with Prim and wouldn't let me do anything when he was here. The only time I really got to spend with her was when he had to go to the shop and then he was reluctant to leave. He is so devoted to you both" her mother said.
Katniss knew this and felt the same about him. At least her mother could now review her thinking on Peeta, what kind of man he was, what kind of husband he would be, and father. Katniss was happy that her mother had been able to spend the time with him on her own. She had never really known Peeta before this, only in a very distant sense. The fact they had been neighbours in the Victor's Village didn't really make a difference because it had been such a short time between the Victory Tour and the Quarter Quell. There had been very little time for them to get to know each other at all.
The phone suddenly rings and Katniss answers. It's Peeta.
"Katniss, I have left the details for a cake I am baking in the study. Any chance you could bring it up to me quickly?"
"I will check that Mum is OK to stay with Prim while I will bring it up" she says.
"Thank you. See you soon" Peeta replies.
Katniss checks with her mother and then looks for Peeta's drawing. It is on the top of his desk, so she grabs it quickly and makes her way to the shop. When she gets to the bakery she sees what looks like candelight in the window. That's strange. She can't see Peeta, but walks in to find the candles marking a path to the back of the shop.
"Peeta?" she calls.
As she walks to the back she sees a table set with more candles and flowers. There is wine and food prepared.
"Peeta?" she says again.
Suddenly, he scoops her up from behind, turns her around and sits her on the table. Without hesitation, Peeta kisses her deeply. Katniss responds. She has missed his touch so much.
"Peeta" she breathes.
"I love you, Katniss", he says. She knows. She knows he loves her with all of his being and he is showing her again tonight.
"I love you, too" she responds breathlessly.
Peeta draws her closer. His kisses ignite her passion. Katniss doesn't want the food, the wine. She just wants him. It becomes another moment of joining together that the two of them will never forget. Katniss could not love Peeta more.