The Day of the Festival has arrived and there is so much riding on the next three days, it is also a litmus test on Katniss and Peeta...will they survive-
I do not own the Hunger Games
First Day of the Festival
The morning of the Fall Festival the Everdeen's and the Mellark's were all present in the bakery. Katniss's mother was wrapping up the smaller loaves of bread. Lionel, River, and Peeta were working on the last of the baking. Carlton and his wife, Mathea, were transporting the display stands and cases to the booth. It was important to make all the food look appetizing. They had plenty for sale, but they were also going to give out free samples of the seasonal goods they would have for sale during the winter and holidays.
Katniss and Prim were wrapping up cookies in clear plastic bags with twine. They sat in the back. Katniss enjoyed watching Peeta in his element.
While everyone worked, Elieen was a pain in the neck. She walked about with a clipboard barking orders.
Katniss was ready to either hit her with a baguette or stuff it into her mouth to keep her from speaking. When she left, Katniss sighed. No doubt Eileen was going to go check the booth for the hundredth time.
The festival was beginning that afternoon. Around town, there was a spirit of joy and revelry in the air. The mines and all of the shops were closed for the next three days. The festival allowed the residents of the district to mingle.
In the past before the district was liberated, the Fall Festival was limited to a half-a-day event that was heavily restricted by the Peacekeepers. After the liberation, the festivities grew into a three-day event. It was one of the most anticipated times of the year, besides New Year.
Peeta gave Katniss a hopeful look, then pointed to the tray next to him.
"Should I?" Peeta mouthed.
"Go ahead," Katniss mouthed back.
"Okay," he mouthed.
She smiled and shook her head as Peeta approached his father with a tray of the goods made from Tesserae.
"Hey Dad, you know how I've been tinkering in the kitchen with the Tesserae?" Peeta asked.
"Yes," Lionel said.
"Well, I wanted you to try it before we sell it today," Peeta said, cutting a piece of the small loaf and handing it to his father.
Lionel took the bread, he sniffed, squeezed it slightly, and inspected the slice visually before taking a bite.
"What do you think, dad?" Peeta asked his father.
Lionel took a bigger bite and chewed carefully.
Peet worked hard creating a few products made of Tesserae grain. He ground down the Tesserae to create a fine flour. He made small loaves of bread, small biscuits, and /cookies with nuts and raisins. Lionel was tasting the food for the first time. Peeta first tested it with Katniss before giving it to Maggie, Prim, Carlton, and River.
"Everything Peeta made is cheap to source. Thanks to Katniss and her mother's input on the Tesserae grain he was able to make a tasty product. The bakery can make a tidy profit while providing the district an economic baked line," Carlton said.
"It's easy to make, and even I can't mess it up," River added.
"I figured we could debut them today and then add them to our regular line, afterward," Peeta said as Lionel tried the cookies next.
"Well, Dad?" Carlton and River asked simultaneously.
"Son, these are amazing and will be a hit with the folk who are on a budget," Lionel boasted.
"Really, you think so?" Peeta looked so relieved.
"Of course, you're a baker at heart; it's why I wanted you to have the bakery."
Peeta grinned broadly at his father's compliment. It didn't last long because, with a bang of the screen door, Eileen was back.
"Carlton the 'M' in Mellark needs to be bigger; you need to repaint that," Eileen said.
Carlton rolled his eyes.
"The 'M' is fine dear," Lionel said as he packed up a crate with the cookies Katniss and Prim were packaging to take to the stand.
"No, it is not Lionel." Eileen stared at the sign that listed the baked goods that were being sold. "Do you think that sign will be visible at night?"
"Eileen," Lionel began. "Everything is fine…and we're not selling anything at night. You know that at sundown everyone gets to enjoy the festivities. I was hoping I could get you to dance with me at the couple's dance tomorrow."
"Oh," Elieen huffed. "Lionel now is not the time for your diversions."
"Dear, the sign is fine. Everything will be great. We are going to make more than enough money to help pay for the taxes."
"I do not like the sign on the booth. I want it to be changed." Eileen turned to Katniss and Prim. "Are you only packing 3 cookies…"
Elieen snatched up a package inspecting them closely.
"This needs to be changed. I need you to undo all of them immediately," Elieen said imperiously.
Katniss's ire spiked. She was about to say a few choice words to the woman. She wasn't about to undo all the packages she and her sister had done.
"Mom, we're doing packages of two, three, and five. So that people can buy them at different price points," Peeta said in a gentle, but stern voice.
"Fine," Elieen said and walked away.
Katniss's hands shook. She stopped wrapping the cookies and walked outside through the back door, letting the screen door swing shut. She walked to the apple tree and put her head against the bark. She needed a break from Elieen and her nitpicking.
The slow squeaking sound of the screen door being opened had Katniss looking over her shoulder to see Mathea approaching.
"I know how you feel," Mathea said softly.
Carlton's wife was a soft-spoken, statuesque blond with large black-framed glasses that covered her face.
Katniss turned around and faced the other woman. "I'm sorry."
"I said," Mathea began, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "I know how you feel. Eileen is not an easy woman."
Katniss snorted. "She isn't."
"She likes you, and she never likes anyone. Eileen is a hard woman to impress. It took me a year and a half before she called me acceptable for Carlton. You did it in less than thirty days."
"She's just so…"
"Annoying," Mathea supplied.
Katniss chuckled.
"I'm not going to sugarcoat Eileen's motives. Her methods are horrible. But she loves her boys and there isn't anything she wouldn't do for them. And she will go to war with anyone who tries to harm her family."
"You should have seen her on Wednesday," Katniss said.
"She was fit to be tied. But when I saw her yesterday, she was all smiles, singing your praises. Said you made Peeta a man and that he would be stupid to let you go."
Katniss wrapped her arms around her middle. "Really?"
"Katniss, you're amazing. I wish I was more like you."
"Me, you're the one who should be given a medal. You've been dealing with her for longer."
Mathea laughed.
A thought came to Katniss and she blurted, "How do you deal with her?"
Mathea dug around in her pocket and opened her hand to reveal earplugs.
Katniss started laughing.
The screen door opened once more. Both Katniss and Mathea looked to see Peeta walking toward them.
"Hey," Peeta said.
"I better get back," Mathea said, leaving her and Peeta alone.
"You, okay?" Peeta asked.
"Just needed a small break," Katniss answered.
"It's always chaotic on Festival day," Peeta said. "You look like you could use a hug."
Katniss nodded, and when Peeta opened his arms, she stepped into them gratefully. She sighed when his arms wrapped around her. She laid her head on his shoulder and inhaled his familiar dill and cinnamon scent.
"Hey lovebirds," Eileen bellowed. "There's no time for neckin'. We've got work to do!"
Katniss groaned. Peeta let her go but he kept his arm around her shoulders as they moved back toward the back door.
"Don't worry, she'll be better tomorrow," Peeta said as they walked inside.
"We need to finish up packaging those cookies," Eileen said to Katniss. "River what are you doing…" Eileen went after River.
River winked at her as Eileen was telling him how to pack the crates.
Katniss sighed in relief as she sat back down next to her sister.
By mid-morning, they were almost done. The boys had taken most of the goods to the stand. Eileen was still fretting.
"Eileen, would you like a cup of tea?" Maggie asked.
"Why yes, that would be most cordial, Maggie. I am parched," Elieen said following Maggie upstairs.
Katniss wished her mother would put a drop or six of sleep syrup in Eileen's tea. Mathea gave Katniss a small grin, and Katniss couldn't help but marvel at Carlton's wife. The strength of character it took to deal with Elieen deserved a medal. The woman deserved a holiday named after her.
"We should get dressed," Prim said.
Katniss stood, looking around the room. Everything was done. After weeks and days of prepping, the time had finally arrived.
"I can't wait to wear my dress!" Prim squealed as she helped Katniss clean up. Young girls always wore a pretty shirt and skirt to the festival, a child's uniform was pieces of clothing as they were easier to mend.
A dress took a lot more altering, and the fabric was expensive, so it wasn't something adults invested in for their girls until they were older. In District Twelve, over the years, a dress was a sign that a girl was leaving her childhood and entering her role as a young woman. For the girls in the Seam, most of the time their first dress was their wedding dress or when they aged out of the reaping.
Katniss shuttered at the thought of the Reaping, glad that Prim had never partaken in one.
The world as they knew it took a spin for the better, and now her sister was blossoming in a world without fear. The biggest worry was for the dress.
Prim was excited because this was the first time she was going to be wearing her own dress. Prim was supposed to wear one of their mother's old Merchant dresses. But Lionel had splurged and purchased a tea-length light pink eyelet dress for Prim, something they wouldn't have been able to afford in the past.
It was a sweet gesture and another reason why if she had to leave, it would be devastating to her family. Prim and her mother were welcomed by the Mellarks. They were treated as if they had always been family. The boys were becoming closer to Prim even going as far as walking with her from the school to town.
While Vick was sweet toward Prim, Rory was another story. He was taking after Gale.
Katniss sighed and rubbed her back. She was going to have to dress up for the festival. It was her debut as not just the huntress or that Everdeen girl. Tonight she would be representing the bakery and most importantly, Peeta. Katniss wanted to look presentable. Unbeknownst to anyone, she'd shaved her legs again.
Katniss headed upstairs with her sister. It was odd seeing her mother and mother-in-law sitting together as if they had always been friends.
"I know it's so weird, right," Prim whispered as they walked toward the bathroom. The boys were getting ready at Carlton's place. The women were getting ready here.
Mathea was coming out of the bathroom in a pretty pale peach dress, with a ruffled panel down the front. Prim smiled and went into the spare room where she often stayed. Katniss made her way to her bedroom. Tonight she was going to wear one of her mother's old dresses. A blue one, it was the fanciest thing she'd worn since her wedding gown.
Tomorrow she was going to wear a dress Mathea said her mother gave her but never wore. It was hemmed, and drawstrings were put in at the sleeves and neck so that it could fit her smaller frame. The dress looked new and Katniss couldn't wait to put it on.
Katniss grinned as she thought of the ridiculousness of dress-wearing. But it was her way of showing Peeta that she wanted to stay with him. Her heart lurched in her chest from the pain of need. She was beginning to need him, and this was dangerous. Katniss couldn't help the way she felt though.
There were only six days left before they either decided to stay together or split. Katniss was nervous because they hadn't talked about the marriage. Unbeknownst to everyone, she was going to use the couple's dance tomorrow night as a litmus test. If Peeta took her out onto the floor to dance, she knew he wasn't going to let her go. If he didn't, then she knew that it was going to be over between them.
Katniss dressed with care, braiding her hair in a coronet. Once dressed, she joined the other women outside. Prim had boundless energy and was spinning showing off her dress to their entourage.
"Alright little duck, time to get goin'," Katniss said.
Together they all set off for the festival that was being held in the meadow.
It was the first time Katniss had seen the space. She gasped at the site. The entrance was lined with small kiosk-like booths where the Merchants and those from the Hob sold their goods. She could smell Greasy-Sae's fragrant soup, fried apples, boiled corn husks, and the sweet smell of the baked goods the Mellarks sold.
Beyond that, there were rides and fair games set up for the town patrons. The goat man had a petting station for his goats. There were horse-drawn hayrides that trekked through the meadow where the trees could proudly display their festive foliage. From where she stood, she could see the path was decorated with a bright fragrant garland, and at night it would be lighted with twinkling lights.
"I can't wait," Prim squealed. "There's a maze made out of stacks of bales of hay, a pumpkin carving station, and there's even a face painting booth for children. I heard there's going to be all sorts of contests and the Mayor invited traveling troubadours, and a circus!"
"Calm down child, you sound like the Cartwright girl," Elieen said, though there was no bite to her bark.
"Yes ma'am."
"You raised a good one, Maggie, she's respectful," Elieen complimented Prim.
Prim and Katniss exchanged a look.
They arrived at the Mellark booth at the end of the row. There was already a line of people.
"I best go help," Katniss said.
"You'll do no such thing," Elieen said, stopping her.
"But they need help," Katniss said. "I can do math faster than any of them."
"Well, I'll be," Eileen said. "A hard worker…"
Katniss didn't listen to the rest as she walked up to the booth. She quickly donned an apron.
"The food made with the Tessare is a hit!" Lionel said gleefully. Katniss nodded and began to help. Soon she wasn't the only one helping out. Even Eileen was chipping in.
The other popular items sold beside the loaves of bread and cookies made from Tesserae were the two-ingredient oatmeal cookies made with oats and applesauce, Peeta's goat cheese and apple tarts, strawberry tarts, and raisin cookies.
They were selling Prim's goat cheese with sliced tomatoes from the bakery's garden and their mother's garden. Her mother had her own smaller adjoining booth where she sold medicinal herbs, other savory dried herbs, and fresh mint tea.
When it got dark, Peeta declared the booth closed. They all wandered around the festival grounds, marveling at the string of twinkling lights and the colorful displays. They were led by Carlton and his wife. Katniss and Peeta followed behind. Prim and her mother were behind them. River was walking alongside his parents who made up the rear.
Katniss turned around and caught Prim gazing toward the tented dance floor.
"I think she's nervous," Peeta said.
"Well it's her introduction," Katniss said.
"You never went out on the dance floor when you were her age."
"I had other obligations," she looked down momentarily.
"If I had asked you to dance with me would you?"
Katniss thought about who she was before this and she considered that she would have possibly as a way to pay the debt. And knowing Peeta, he would have charmed her, and they would have somehow become friends maybe more. "Yes."
Peeta smiled widely.
The troubadours struck up the music and Mayor Undersee took to the podium the townsfolk gathered round.
"I want to welcome you all to our annual fall festival. We're a strong district, a little wild, and proud to be an outlying district. We do things the way we want to here in D12. We're going to start tonight's festivities with the traditional debutante dance. Maestro of the Gray Birds, if you please."
The leader of the band stepped up to the microphone and began a lively tune. Prim stood with them watching as fathers took out their daughters for the dance. Prim's face was crestfallen.
This was the hardest part. Their father was long gone.
"Ahem," Lionel said, stepping up to Prim. "I know I'm not your father, but I'd be rightly honored if you'd allow me to have this dance."
Prim's pale eyes turned to their mother first and then to Katniss. Their mother nodded and Katniss grinned.
"Thank you, I would love to," Prim curtsied before being escorted out to the dance floor by Lionel.
Peeta stood behind Katniss and laid his hand around her shoulder. "My dad wasn't sure if it would be okay. I told him you girls would be fine with it."
"Thank you," Katniss said, reaching up to squeeze his hand.
Prim sparkled with the vibrancy of innocent youth. Katniss laughed and clapped as she watched her sister dance with all of the Mellark men. One by one they asked her to dance. Prim's cheeks were pink from exertion as Peeta spun her around the dance floor. Prim extended her hand out to Katniss but she was reluctant. River gave her a gentle nudge and Katniss soon found herself dancing with her sister and Peeta. She laughed gleefully as Peeta made a ridiculous dance move.
It was all so beautiful, and splendid.
They were taking a break drinking warm mint tea when Prim saw Vick Hawthorne standing by the dance floor. His dark hair was swept back and he was a tall lanky boy, his cheeks were red as he stared at Prim. He had with him a small bouquet of late-blooming flowers.
Katniss watched the younger boy make his way toward Primrose.
"Hi Prim," Vick greeted.
"Hi Vick," Prim said.
"These are for you," he said, thrusting the flowers at her.
Everyone around them was smiling at the scene developing before them.
"You sure look pretty tonight," his voice trembled.
"Thank you," Prim said bashfully. "You look handsome."
"Vick Percival Hawthorne," Hazelle's shrill voice called out from the dark.
Out of the ether, the rest of the Hawthorne appeared. It was a miracle the music didn't stop. Katniss took a step forward, but Peeta held her back.
"What are you doing with the likes of her?" Hazelle questioned.
"I was just complimenting Primrose, maw," Vick said quietly.
"More like slumming it," Rory maliciously said.
"Get over here, Vick," Gale demanded.
"Rory's right," Hazelle smeared.
Katniss made another move forward, but Peeta gently squeezed her shoulder. The boys had taught her a few defensive moves after she'd gotten better. If not for Peeta's gentle reminder to keep her cool, she would have shown Hazel that her hands were not just good for nocking arrows.
"There are better Seam girls for you to be acquainted with, this -."
"Maw," Vick cut her off in a pleading voice.
Katniss sensed that Vick didn't want any violence. She was glad Peeta was holding her; she had half a mind to slap Hazelle silly.
"Ma'am, I hope you folks have a good evening," Vick said as he nodded politely toward them. He stepped back and walked to where his family was.
"You stay away from my son," Hazelle hissed at Prim.
Before Katniss could speak, Elieen stepped up. She looked at Hazelle up and down and planted a smile on her face. In a sweet voice, "Vick, you can come over to the bakery any time you like. You hear."
Vick didn't dare nod. As he was pulled along by his family.
No one said a word as the Hawthornes disappeared into the darkness. Everyone was in shock. No one knew quite how to deal. When Delly Cartwright appeared, her brother Phill was directly behind her. He gave Prim a friendly smile.
"Miss Primrose Everdeen you look as pretty as a flower. I was just over there with my family, and I decided to make my introductions. My brother Phill has been singing your praises all year long. And I know my brother is too timid to ask so I have to ask you for him."
"Delly, I can do it?"
"Really, is that why you were fit to be tied when Vic Hawthorne came over here with flowers for her?" Delly questioned.
"Delly!" Phill said turning red.
"Well don't just stand there, ask Prim to dance," Delly said.
"Ah, Miss Primrose Everdeen, would you do me the honor of dancing with me?" His voice cracked as he spoke.
"I would," Prim said.
Phill extended his arm to her and led her out onto the floor.
Katniss was sullen because of her the boy that her sister liked would never step that line. Vick was no Peeta; he wasn't capable of standing up to his mother for something he wanted. Vick was going to toe the line of whatever his family demanded of him.
Prim's dance card that evening was full but the rest of the evening wasn't as bright or as cheerful. The walk back was quiet. Since her sister and mother were staying in the bakery, Katniss was in the kitchen when her sister approached.
"I'm sorry, Prim, it didn't go like you wanted," Katniss.
"You know, despite the whole Hazelle debacle. It was a nice night, and at least no one came to blows," Prim said.
"True," Katniss said.
"It went better than what I thought it would," Prim said.
"Really?"
"I thought no one was going to dance with me," Prim said.
Katniss frowned. "Why would you think that?"
"I'm not exactly very popular, you know. Even though I was born in the Seam, I don't look like them. And at the same time, I was raised in the Seam and I have nothing in common with most of the kids from the Merchant side, even though I look like them."
"I know how you feel," Katniss whispered. "You and I are kind of similar. Until Peeta, I felt like I didn't fit anywhere."
"I need a Peeta…" Prim sighed.
Katniss chuckled; most women needed a Peeta too. She took a deep breath, winding herself to speak about the important stuff. "What Hazelle did was stupid…"
"Katniss before you start, just listen. What she did was wrong." Prim gave her a pointed look. Katniss opened her mouth and shut it as Prim continued speaking, "I know you are worried about me, but I don't want you to worry. I'm okay. And I had a good time." Prim's cheeks turned pink, "I danced so much my feet are sore. Besides, what Vick did was incredibly sweet, and he's probably in a lot of trouble. And then what Delly did afterwards dragging Phill to dance with me. So thoughtful."
"Phill looked so mortified when Delly kept on talking."
"He was," Prim said, smiling.
Katniss grinned and hugged her sister. "I love you little-duck."
"Quack," Prm responded.
"Quack, quack," Katniss responded. She watched her sister retire to the spare room.
Katniss walked into her own bedroom where Peeta was waiting. His hands were shaking. Katniss had not seen this energy from him since the Gale incident. Peeta was upset.
"Hey," Katniss said.
"Hi," Peeta said, fluffing up the pillows in an aggressive manner. The current pillow he had was taking a pounding.
"I think that pillow is sorry," Katniss said. "It won't ever go flat again."
Peeta's shoulders slumped at her words. He chuckled and he shook his head. He dropped on the pillow on the bed, and said, "I think you're right."
Katniss chuckled as she turned to get her pajamas from the drawer. She was extremely tired. It was a long day. She headed for the bathroom but didn't close the door. She left it partially open to hear him.
"I don't know how you are so calm, but I am livid. How dare Hazelle Hawthorne do…say that to Prim, of all people. She's so kind…to everyone." The mattress creaked heavily, she looked out of the slit of the open door, Peeta was laying on the bed with his arms under his head.
Katniss was flattered that someone like Peeta was outraged by what happened tonight. His indignation showed how much he cared about her baby sister and that she could let others defend them. If she were being honest with herself, Katniss shouldn't have been surprised by his behavior. Peeta was protective, generous, and kind by nature, and he was even more so with his family.
"I'm just glad the night is over," Katniss said as she undid the buttons of the blue dress.
She slipped out of the dress and under things and sighed out of pure relief. They were delicate silky things, unlike her sturdy cotton ones.
Eileen gave it to her, a belated wedding gift the woman had muttered under her breath. The underskirt was so pretty she'd never had anything so fine. The top was silk, the bottom was tule with soft lace detail at the end of each layer. It was beautiful craftsmanship but it weighed her down, even though it gave her dress a fuller shape.
Katniss put on her nightgown and loved the feeling of not having to wear so much clothing. She wasn't used to using so many undergarments. Sitting down, Katniss slipped out of her shoes and wiggled her feet, feeling giddy as her cozy socks warmed her feet.
Standing up Katniss grabbed her toothbrush and began to brush her teeth.
The bed creaked when Peeta sat up.
Katniss could hear his heavy footsteps and the sound of the drawer as it opened and closed. She heard his heavy tread as he approached the bathroom. She opened the door for him.
Peeta walked into the bathroom to brush his teeth too. He put his pajamas on the shelf. Prim and she had installed a small shelf over the toilet bowl so that Katniss could put her clothing there.
This was one of the things that they had started to do together. In the beginning, they never shared the bathroom. It had been awkward in the beginning to share the sink as they brushed their teeth, but now it was commonplace and comfortable.
She hadn't seen him nude, but she had seen him without a shirt. Peeta was far more casual about nudity than she was. Katniss wasn't there yet and he always waited until she was dressed in her nightgown before joining her to brush his teeth.
"How is Primrose?"
Katniss rinsed out her mouth before answering. "She's fine. I just spoke to her. She said that despite what happened, she had the best time."
"Really."
As she washed her face. "Can you believe Prim was nervous no one would dance with her? Your father stepping up and dancing with her was so magical."
"My dad wasn't going to let her miss out on the father-daughter dance," Peeta said, as he finished brushing his teeth.
"It was very sweet," Katniss said, coming out of the bathroom. She gently shook out her dress and undergarments. Katniss hung up the dress, she was going to wear it again on Sunday. She took sprigs of dried lavender and hung it with the dress.
She then folded up her underthings and put more lavender inside of the dresser as well as some cinnamon and cloves.
Peeta left the door partially open. She heard the thud of the belt and pants as they hit the floor. Heard the shuffle of his feet as he got into his pajama bottoms. He then closed the door to the bathroom for privacy.
Katniss removed the bobby pins from her hair and put them in the small decorated metal tin Peeta had surprised her with to put her hair things. She grabbed the brush from the top of the dresser and brushed her hair out. Katniss hummed to herself as she loosely braided her hair.
This seemed so normal and there was a real possibility that in less than a week everything was going to change. No more bed-sharing, none of this easy normalcy. She'd have to go back to her mother's house. To a lonely bed, and deal with Buttercup. Katniss wrinkled her nose at the thought of the ugly beast.
She would take Peeta any day over her sister's cat.
Peeta opened the bathroom door. He yawned and stretched as he walked. His hair tended to curl when it got wet.
"It was very nice of you and your brothers to dance with her afterward," Katniss said as she rubbed lotion onto her hands.
Peeta shrugged. "Every girl should have her first dance be fun and exciting. I'm glad Prim had fun."
"Prim was glad it didn't come to blows."
"I had to hold you back," Peeta said as he opened the window by the bed.
"You did," Katniss agreed. "I was surprised by your mother though. I can't believe your mom invited Vick to the bakery."
"She did it to get under Hazelle's skin," Peeta said.
"Still, it was nice," Katniss said, lingering by the foot of the bed.
"What's wrong?" Peeta asked.
Katniss sighed as she walked over to the dresser. She needed time to figure out her words. "I'm just sorry that because of what happened, Prim will never be able to be with her first crush. He must have escaped his family to bring her those flowers. I feel as if it's my fault."
"Katniss," Peeta said, as he got out of bed.
"I feel like Gale's scapegoating on anyone I care about."
"Hey, this isn't your fault," Peeta said, coming to stand by her.
"But…"
"It isn't. Gale is the one having a hard time accepting what we are."
Katniss realized this was the moment she could ask Peeta about what would happen between them in less than a week.
"Peeta," Katniss began.
"No, let me finish." Peeta slid his hand up her shoulder onto her neck until he cupped her chin.
Her heart was pounding her chest at the contact.
"Gale has done this to himself. He's bitter and has been lashing out since discovering you wanted to marry me. He's like a petulant child in the midst of a major tantrum. Who knows what lies he's been telling his family? We know the truth."
"But," Katniss tried one more time.
"I know you feel guilty about Prim, but believe me when I tell you, that if Vick is truly interested in your sister and has honorable intentions, everything is going to work out. Look at the way he found a way to escape his family to come and bring her flowers."
Katniss nodded.
"Vick is going to figure out a way to see her, and Gale is just going to have to accept it."
Katniss glanced up at Peeta. The moment was gone. However, what replaced it made her feel tingly all over. There was this magic that happened whenever they were together. It was hard to describe, hard to name. Yet she felt the electricity ebbing and flowing between them.
It was a mystical connection that bonded them in a deep intimate way that wasn't completely physical.
She could feel her heart race in her chest. Her mouth went dry and she licked her lips. She watched his eyes drift down to her lips. She felt warm all over and she wondered why the room was so warm.
He was so close and their breaths were intermingling. She didn't realize that Peeta's face was getting closer to hers.
His free hand traveled up her back, leaving a trail of goosebumps. When he cupped the back of her neck she opened her mouth and his lips swooped down and kissed her.
Katniss gasped and a low moan left her mouth as Peeta feasted from her lips. Her fingers found purchase in his soft hair and she heard him groan deeply. Somehow her feet were moving backward and Peeta moved forward chasing her lips until her back connected with the door with a loud bang, but she didn't pay much attention to the noise. Katniss was too busy concentrating on the man kissing her to care.
Peeta's hands slid up her back and cupped the nape of her neck while angling her head so that they could deepen the kiss.
Trapped by the door she arched her back.
"Katniss," Peeta said into her mouth in a sort of growl and Katniss kissed him back.
This was a new sport, a game where he was suddenly the hunter and she, gladly the prey. Little noises escaped her mouth as he pressed himself onto her. Her body welcomed his weight, Katniss was ready to surrender to him. She felt the stir and rise on Peeta's lower half. Her body arched against his. She could hear his noises blended in with her higher ones. It was an enthralling sound.
"Katniss," Peeta groaned at her action.
She became damp down there, and her breasts ached for his touch. The bubble had burst as Katniss realized she wanted more out of the marriage. It dawned on Katniss that she wanted to be with him and have sex with Peeta. It wasn't unnatural, it was more than instinctual, it was a need. A need that only Peeta could resolve for her.
Peeta pulled away, breath heaving. His smoldering blue eyes were hooded.
The haze lifted a little and suddenly clarity bloomed. The thing poking her lower half was his manhood. The realization left her spinning, but instead of stepping up to him and kissing him back as her body demanded, Katniss pushed back against the door.
Peeta placed his forehead against hers. His breathing was still a little heavy. His rough voice caused another round of goosebumps. "Are you okay?"
Katniss nodded.
Peeta placed a chaste gentle kiss on her forehead before stepping back. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Katniss said, her cheeks were hurting from the fierce blush she was sure she was sporting. Truth be told, she wasn't alright. Her body wanted to launch itself at Peeta. She was filled with a ravenous desire, and what she needed was just out of reach.
"Are we okay?" Peeta sounded concerned.
Katniss couldn't help but smile at his worry. But his stopping caused her to wonder if he wanted her, the way a man wanted a woman. Feeling his, well, "it," didn't mean anything. She knew from rumblings and the things she overheard from other women that men got excited by a cold wind. Katniss guessed this was true because her own body responded to the cold in the same manner.
"Why don't you get under the covers," Peeta said. "You must be exhausted. You were up before me."
Katniss nodded.
"I've got to go to the bathroom. But I'll join you as soon as I'm finished," Peeta said walking into the bathroom.
Katniss stood there until a cold breeze entered through the window. She rubbed her arms before slipping into their bed. She didn't think she was going to be able to sleep. However, the moment her head touched the pillow her body became sluggish and almost immediately she fell asleep, to the smell of her baker.
A baker whom she was more determined than ever to speak to.
We are coming to the end, I am writing the epilogue as we speak...The next update is rough; the story earns most of the tags - Gale returns...
Special thanks to Norbertsmom my bestie and beta, who basically is slowly editing almost 20K of words lol in the next few weeks...now you know why I heart her so much because she makes me sound great...even when I'm a poor excuse for a writer. Sometimes I feel like a sham of a writer and she kicks me in the arse or gives me the comfort that I need.