Chapter 68: Real
It is a perfect time to be in District 4. The sun is shining and the sea is crystal clear. Like a breath of fresh air, it helps the Mentors to relax and begin to enjoy the experience. Prim is as excited as any child could be with the newness of the ocean, the waves, the sand and the creatures. Peeta starts to show her all the interesting things that can be found on the beach and they gather some shells to bring back to Annie's later. Sometime soon they will take them home to District 12 and it will be the beginning of Prim's first collection…creating memories and teaching her about the world.
Katniss sits on the beach with Pik and watches them. She loves to watch Peeta and Prim together. He is such a good father and her heart swells with pride. She can't believe how lucky she is…that Peeta is hers and he is here. The threat of one of his flashbacks had affected Katniss more deeply than she realized, taking her back to the time when Peeta was held captive in the Capitol and she didn't know whether she would ever see him alive again. Pik is resting peacefully in her arms and she holds him closer. Peeta looks across at them and he is holding up a conch shell that he and Prim have found. He smiles at Katniss and it reminds her of the moment he had found the pearl in the shell at the Quarter Quell. It's the little things, Katniss thinks, and smiles back at him.
Haymitch is testing the water with Gale, Annie and Finn. Finn, of course, is a natural in the water and it's not long before Prim wants to join him, splashing in the small waves breaking on the shore. Peeta leaves Haymitch to watch Prim and goes back to join Katniss on the beach.
"I think Prim likes it here" Peeta says.
"it's wonderful" says Katniss. "So different to District 12. I think I will miss it when we leave".
"Well, we don't have to leave just yet" says Peeta as he takes Pik out of Katniss' arms and encourages her to join Annie in the water. There is plenty of splashing and laughter as Haymitch, Katniss and Prim vs Gale, Annie and Finn in a contest. Peeta looks down at Pik who is beginning to stir. It's not the noise that has wakened him and, sadly, he will never hear the sounds of their laughter or the waves lapping on the shore. That realization feeds into Peeta's resolve. The resolve that reminds him he could have lost Katniss. They may never have had Pik. And there was no going back in their quest to bring Snow to justice.
Several hours later, the group return to Annie's for something to eat before putting the children down for an afternoon nap. Haymitch decides to take a nap, too. Katniss, Peeta, Gale and Annie enjoy cool drinks and some lively conversation. It soon becomes apparent that Gale and Annie are enjoying each other's company in a way that Katniss had not expected. Gale is relaxed and less serious while Annie responds to the better side of his nature as he recounts stories from their past. His and Katniss' past. Peeta can see a realization dawning on Katniss as she becomes more subdued and starts to argue different points of the stories with Gale. He decides Katniss needs time out from the company, and Gale and Annie need some time alone. This is not what he had expected either, but it is high time that Gale and Annie moved on with their futures, too.
"Katniss and I are going for a walk" Peeta says.
Katniss looks at him reproachfully. She doesn't want to go for a walk.
"Come on, Katniss. Let's see if I can find you another pearl on the beach" Peeta says.
That comment wins her over and the two of them leave Gale and Annie to spend some time alone.
"You're jealous" Peeta says to Katniss as they head down to the water.
"No, I'm not!" she refutes him.
"Oh, yes you are…" Peeta teases her.
Katniss doesn't know how she feels, but she knows she doesn't feel comfortable about Gale and Annie becoming closer.
"It's just…well, Gale is not Annie's type" she says.
"Who's type is he?" asks Peeta, challenging Katniss to think about how she is feeling.
Katniss doesn't know. She never thought about Gale loving anybody else.
"Annie is too soft and caring for Gale. She will only get hurt" Katniss tells him.
"I think you are underestimating Annie and maybe she is just what Gale needs. Someone to soften him up a bit" says Peeta.
Katniss knows she is not the kind to soften Gale up. She had never tried to in the past as the two of them had mainly focused on their survival. That always meant toughening each other up, for whatever lay ahead.
"Katniss, I know you love Gale. He is your closest friend. Annie is your friend, too. They have both helped us so much. We need to let them become friends now and maybe they can have something like we have, something that is life changing and real" Peeta tells her.
Real. Real or not real? Katniss remembers Peeta's words to her. They held such significance and such expectation and they take her right back to the moment of that awakening. Silent tears begin to fall down her cheeks. Peeta holds her close and wipes her tears. What they have is real. He knows it. Katniss knows it. It goes to the depth of their being and now maybe Gale and Annie would have something real, too. But, it means letting go and continuing to embrace what they have…real or not real. Real.
Peeta and Katniss continue their walk along the beach and eventually find an alcove of rocks where they decide to sit and shelter from the suns warm rays. They listen to the waves lapping on the shore and hear the distant sounds of children playing in the sea. Once before, they had sat on the beach together in a moment like this, when Peeta had prepared to give up everything for Katniss. It was the moment Katniss realized that only one person would be affected if anything happened to Peeta. Her.
Katniss turns towards Peeta.
"I need you…" she tells him again. With that, she kisses him deeply, with a longing she had felt ever since that day. Peeta responds in kind. Hidden in the shelter of the rocks, it feels like only yesterday and the moment is as precious to them now as it was then. Peeta and Katniss are in love. That is all that matters.