The shrill sound of the siren sounded in Peeta's ears as he lay on a gurney inside the ambulance. But the noise couldn't drown out the memory of his mother's words as the attendants carried him out of the house.
"You idiot. You've ruined Christmas Eve and made a lot more work for the rest of us."
Peeta had been trying to be helpful. The star at the top of his parents' Christmas tree had stopped lighting even after he'd put new batteries in the remote control, so he'd set up a ladder to take it down and check for a loose connection.
The ladder was short, so Peeta stood on the top step. Unfortunately, just as he was about to remove the star, his nephew, Rye Junior, lost control of the kickflip he been performing on his skateboard. Rye Junior fell on his butt while the skateboard careened across the family room and slammed into the ladder, knocking it over and launching Peeta into the elaborately, decorated tree. Gripping the tree's narrow trunk, Peeta clung tightly as both he and the tree toppled onto the overturned ladder.
The crash brought his mother Greta and his sister-in-law Delly out of the kitchen and into the family room. His mother ran to her grandson to chastise him for skateboarding in the house. Then she turned toward the tree and let out a shriek when she saw that several of her Delft Blue Christmas ornaments lay broken on the floor.
"I've had them ever since I was a little girl," she wailed.
Meanwhile, Delly pushed the tree upright, only to find Peeta lying on the fallen ladder, his right leg bent at an odd angle.
"Oh, no," Delly whispered. "Does it hurt?"
Peeta could only groan.
"I'm calling 911."
His mother launched her parting words at Peeta as he was carried out of the house.
"What a bitch," the paramedic mumbled under his breath when they cleared the front door.
The insult caused Peeta to smile despite his discomfort. He hadn't ruined Christmas Eve for his family, only for himself. No one would care if he didn't attend the family's traditional dinner that evening; although his mother was right that his injury would make more work for his brother Rye over the coming days. His parents were leaving on the 26th for a 10-day cruise. He and Rye were supposed to manage the bakery until they returned, but now Rye and Delly would be stuck doing all the work themselves.
Maybe I'm not hurt too bad. But the ache throughout his body, especially the sharp pains shooting through his leg made him think otherwise.
It was all a blur once he was wheeled into the hospital emergency room. He was put in a curtained area and a male nurse placed an intravenous line into his arm, and then took him for an x-ray. After a long while, Delly appeared followed by a doctor.
"We're going to admit you to the hospital," the doctor said. "Your leg's broken. We need to put you under to set it."
Tears formed in Delly's eyes, as she squeezed Peeta's hand. "I'm sorry about all this. I should have been keeping a better eye on Rye Junior."
"It's not your fault," Peeta said. "You were helping Mom in the kitchen. Besides Rye Junior didn't mean it to happen."
She squeezed Peeta's hand and told him she had to go back to his parents' house to help with dinner preparations, but she'd pass along the news to the others.
After a long wait, Peeta was wheeled into another room and given a sedative. He fell asleep, only to awake in a hospital bed overlooking the street. His right leg was in a cast and elevated via a pulley-type contraption. The other bed in the room, close to the door, was empty.
A trim nurse dressed in green scrubs stood at the foot of his bed. Her dark hair was pinned in a low bun at the nape of her neck, her eyes were a unique silver color that matched the stud earrings she wore, and her skin was a dusty olive hue.
Have I died and gone to heaven? She's as pretty as an angel.
"Good, you're awake. I hate having to wake people up to take their vitals." She took his temperature and then his blood pressure, before typing the results into a computer that sat on nearby wheeled cart. Then, she turned and smiled at him. "Mr. Mellark, I'm Katniss. If you need any help just hit the button on the side of your bed." She pointed to the call button. "Now get some rest. I'll be back to check on you later."
Peeta dozed off with a smile on his face. He woke later to see flashes of light dancing on the walls around him. The sun was already setting, igniting the sky in an orange flame. He glanced at the wall clock across from his bed. 5 p.m.
The first Christmas Eve I've ever had off and I spend it in the hospital. It was disappointing because Christmas was his favorite holiday. He liked the special foods, the giving and receiving of gifts, and the spirit of cheerfulness that permeated the world.
Katniss soon appeared with a tray of food. She set it on a bedside table at his right.
"Sorry, it's not much of a dinner. But Dr. Latier said a clear diet would be best until the sedative is completely out of your system. You'll get solid food in the morning."
Katniss reached over the side of his bed rail. "Let me get you into a seated position so you can eat." She pushed a button on the rail and his upper body rose. She pushed a button on the pully mechanism to lower his leg slightly. Then she pulled a lever on bedside table so that it lay across his mid-section.
Peeta glanced the tray before him. Broth, orange gelatin, apple juice, and coffee. A small paper cup with two pills in it. His stomach growled in protest at the lean pickings.
I'd be having prime rib, mashed potatoes, green beans, cheese buns, pecan pie, and eggnog if I were at home and healthy.
Katniss picked up the tiny paper cup on the tray. "Take your meds first."
Peeta tipped the pills into his mouth and then picked up the cup of apple juice to swallow them. "I was hoping for eggnog given it's Christmas Eve," he said as he set the cup back onto the tray.
Katniss grinned.
What pretty teeth she has.
"Those pills pack more of a punch than any eggnog we can serve here. But you'll likely get something festive tomorrow when you're cleared for solids."
"Can I get some food at midnight? That's tomorrow, isn't it."
She chuckled and shook her head.
It made him feel good to make her laugh. "Well, I tried." I must be starving because the apple juice tastes delicious.
Katniss left the room leaving Peeta to his liquid supper.
I didn't notice a ring; I wonder if she's got a boyfriend.
Shortly after Peeta finished his meal, a tall, dark-complexioned male nurse came into the room. "I'm Thresh," he introduced himself. He re-arranged Peeta in his bed, raising the pulley contraption for his leg and lowering the upper portion of the bed so Peeta could rest. Then he carried away the empty tray.
Of course, Katniss has probably gone home for the evening. I wonder how she's going to spend Christmas Eve.
Loneliness swept over him. Peeta knew it was silly. He'd just met Katniss. But even in that short time, it seemed to him like they'd hit it off. She laughed at my joke. I even thought she was flirting with me a little; but maybe she does that with all her patients.
He closed his eyes and fell into a light sleep. Thresh woke him a couple of hours later to take his vitals.
"Good thing the caseload is low tonight," Thresh said. "Because with this snow coming down, a lot of staff has called out."
Peeta's eyes flew to the window. Heavy flakes were falling.
Never would have suspected snow was in the forecast with that gorgeous sunset. I hope Katniss made it home okay.
"There aren't many patients, then?" Peeta asked making small talk while Thresh took his blood pressure.
"Oh, we'll likely get some folks in here who were in accidents because of the snow, but elective surgeries ended a couple of days ago," Thresh explained. "This unit will be fairly quiet through New Year's."
"Will I see Katniss again before they kick me out of here?" I can't believe I said that aloud.
Thresh raised an eyebrow. "You'll see her sooner than you expect. Katniss elected to stay over for a double shift to help out. She's eating dinner now and will be back on the job soon."
"It's kind of her to stick around on Christmas Eve when she could be with her family," Peeta said, hoping Thresh wouldn't see through his obvious attempt to find out more about Katniss' personal life.
"She said it wouldn't be a problem."
Thresh exited the room leaving Peeta thinking about his own family. He imagined they'd already eaten dinner and were now opening presents.
I hope Rye Junior likes the paint set I got him.
It didn't take long for Peeta to doze off again. He woke to the sound of a man's loud voice. "You don't understand. I can't stay here. I've got work to do tonight."
The overhead light switched on, and a curtain was drawn between Peeta's bed and the other bed in the room, which was now occupied.
Peeta closed his eyes and tried to fall back asleep, but the light kept him awake. He looked to the wall clock. 9 p.m. He listened as Thresh tried to get his neighbor settled.
"Mr. Abernathy, you bumped your head," Thresh said. "Calm down. I'll be right back with an ice pack."
As soon as the nurse left, the patient hollered, "Hey roomie, can you lend me a hand."
"I have two working hands," Peeta called out. "Unfortunately, my leg is out of commission so I can't be of any assistance to you."
A pot-bellied man with white hair and whiskers dressed in a hospital gown suddenly appeared from around the curtain. He stood at the foot of Peeta's bed. "You weren't kidding about that leg."
"Are you supposed to be out of bed?" Peeta asked.
"Nope, he's not supposed to be," Thresh said, coming up behind the man. He set his arms on the patient's shoulders and steered him out of Peeta's sight. Conversation continued behind the curtain.
"Stay in bed and hold this icepack to your head."
"I told you I can't stay. I need to talk to the doctor."
"He's making his rounds," Thresh said. "He'll be here soon. Now, be a good boy for goodness's sake."
A minute later his roommate's voice called out again from behind the curtain. "What's your name?"
"Peeta."
"Peter?" Peeta could hear the excitement in his voice.
"No, Peeta. And you're…."
"Haymitch. What happened to your leg, Peeta?"
"I fell off a ladder attempting to remove the star from my parent's Christmas tree. It stopped lighting and I was going to check the connection."
Haymitch let out a loud guffaw that irritated Peeta.
A broken leg isn't funny. Still, he remained polite. "How'd you bump your head?"
"It's an interesting story. I was getting out of my sleigh when I slipped on some loose coal that fell out of my fool assistant's sack. I tripped and slammed my head into a chimney. My noggin took a big chunk out of the brickwork."
Right. "I see we're keeping to a holiday theme here, but what really happened?"
"It's the truth," Haymitch insisted. "I'm Santa Claus and this is my busiest night of the year."
Oh, brother. He must have hit is head good.
"I can prove it," Haymitch continued. "When you were six years old, Peeta, you wrote me a letter asking for an Easy Bake Oven."
An icy shiver went down Peeta's back. I did ask for an Easy Bake Oven. But Mom said that was a girl's toy. Dad said to wait until I was bigger; then he'd let me use the big oven at the bakery.
"Did you like it?" Haymitch asked.
"I never got it," Peeta mumbled. But Delly, who lived next door to us, got one. I wonder if my parents passed mine along to her.
From behind the curtain a new voice, that of an older man, sounded. "How are you doing,Mr. Abernathy? I'm Dr. Latier. I want to keep you overnight for observation."
"Doctor, you've got to release me. I can't stay overnight. I need to get out of here now. I need to get back to work."
"What's your job, Mr. Abernathy."
"I'm a delivery driver. A lot of kids won't be getting anything for Christmas if I don't get back to work."
"It's almost 10 p.m. Doesn't your outfit have back-up drivers when something like this takes place?"
"Nope."
"Look I can't in good faith release you to drive a vehicle with a head injury. You wouldn't be safe on the roads, especially in this weather."
"I wouldn't be on the roads. I'd be flying over them."
"That's why I'm not authorizing your release, Mr. Abernathy. You bumped your head and you're clearly not making any sense. Delivery vans don't fly."
The doctor stepped past the curtain and peered in Peeta's portion of the room. "And how are you feeling, Mr. Mellark?
"Hungry. I'd like some real food."
"You wouldn't be able to hold it down, with the meds you're on. You'll get some solid food in the morning."
Well thanks, doc.
"That doctor's getting coal this year," Haymitch muttered when Dr. Latier had left the room. "What do you mean you never got your Easy Bake Oven? I distinctly remember placing it under your family's tree right next to the Darth Maul figure for Rye, and the Gameboy for Phyl."
Huh? How does this guy know all this stuff?
"At any rate, I'm sure you'll enjoy this year's gift."
"What gift? What do you mean?"
"What have you been thinking about ever since that nurse in the green scrubs took your vitals and brought in your pathetic dinner."
"A decent meal?"
Haymitch guffawed. "Oh, you're hungry all right but it's for more than prime rib and mashed potatoes. You've got a yearning for a sweetheart, and Katniss fits the bill exactly."
Can he read minds?
At that moment a voice called out. "Good evening Mr. Abernathy. I'm Katniss. I'm here to take your vitals."
Oh my gosh, I hope she didn't hear that old coot.
"I have a Christmas gift for you, too," Haymitch said.
"Really," Katniss answered.
"I think you'll take great comfort in my gift."
"Be quiet while I take your blood pressure," Katniss warned. "It goes up when you talk."
Once she'd finished with Haymitch, Katniss came around the curtain to check on Peeta. "Still awake, Mr. Mellark?"
"It's kind of noisy in here with all the talking going," Peeta replied. "Did you stick around to bring me my midnight eggnog?"
Katniss giggled.
I love the way her face scrunches up when she does that.
"The snow caused an abrupt change in my plans. So, I'll be here all night."
"Well, I'm glad to see you."
"Maybe not, as I have to take your vitals again."
"I need to get up to the roof," Haymitch shouted out as Katniss put the blood pressure cuff around Peeta's right arm.
"Mr. Abernathy, even if I was willing to take you up to the roof, there's no way you can get up there," Katniss called back. "You couldn't walk up a flight of stairs in your condition."
"I was thinking I could use the service elevator," Haymitch responded.
"You need a special code for that elevator. None of our maintenance staff is currently on duty, and they don't share the code with any of us nurses."
"I know the code."
Katniss' lips pursed, and she winked at Peeta.
She so playful.
"How do you know the code?" she teased back.
"I work in delivery. We use the same codes all over town."
"Well, even if you know the code, I can't take you up there. It's freezing. Snow is still coming down."
"I can handle the cold just fine. And you can wear your leather coat lined with squirrel fur to keep warm."
A confused look crossed Katniss' face.
"Do you have a coat like that?" Peeta whispered.
She scowled. "I do. But how would he even know about it?"
"Take it from me, that guy knows stuff."
"Maybe he saw me walking to work this morning," Katniss spoke aloud to herself. "The coat is unique, but there's no way he could know about the squirrel lining."
She looked at Peeta. "You should probably get some sleep now, Mr. Mellark. It's late."
"Call me Peeta."
"Alright then. Get some sleep. It's almost Christmas."
Are you going to be here when I wake up? He almost said the words aloud, but something stopped him.
"I'll try." He closed his eyes and dozed off.
Peeta hadn't been asleep long when he felt himself being gently lifted into a wheelchair. He opened his eyes to find Haymitch beside him fiddling with a metal leg extension to rest Peeta's cast on. His roommate was dressed in a Santa suit.
"Where are you taking me?" Peeta mumbled sleepily.
"To the roof. It's time to give you your Christmas present."
Haymitch wheeled him out of the room and along the corridor in the direction of the elevator bank. They passed the empty nurses' station.
Where is everyone? Where are Katniss and Thresh?
Haymitch pushed the chair past the main elevators and around the corner into a small alcove where another elevator's doors stood open. He wheeled Peeta into the freight elevator and hit the single button on the console.
The elevator slowly rose upward.
The door opened to reveal a winter wonderland. The snow had stopped falling, but the roof looked like a snowy field. A blast of cold air hit Peeta as Haymitch wheeled the chair forward.
Dressed only in a hospital gown, Peeta shivered uncontrollably. "It's freezing. Take me back to the room."
Haymitch reached for Peeta's right hand. The potbellied man squeezed it and - whoosh -warmth flooded through Peeta's body, beginning at his fingertips, rushing through his hand, up his arm, into his chest, then spreading to his other arm and hand, and then through his lower body all the way to his toes. The sensation was so amazing that Peeta was in awe.
I feel as if I'm sitting in a warm house looking through the window at the snow.
"Feel better now?" Haymitch asked, as he unclasped Peeta's hand.
"How'd you do that?"
"It's the warmth of human kindness." Haymitch then reached into his pocket and handed Peeta a single, pearl stud earring. The pearl was surrounded by a silver filigree pattern that sparkled under the lone light that hung on the side of the small structure that housed the elevator shaft.
"Is this my Christmas present? Am I supposed to get one of my ear's pierced?"
Haymitch's eyebrows shot up. "You're full of jokes, aren't you? No, it's not for you. It's for…"
But whatever Haymitch said was drowned out by a loud whoosh as eight reindeer pulling a large red and black sleigh landed on the edge of the roof.
Haymitch caught Peeta's eyes. "Didn't believe me son, did you?"
Peeta gave him a weak smile.
Haymitch looked to the elevator. "Now where Peter? I'm already behind schedule."
At that moment, the load groan of a door opening sounded. Katniss rounded the corner of the structure that housed the elevator and apparently a staircase as well, followed by Thresh.
She hurried over to Peeta. "You must be freezing." She removed her oversized leather jacket which hung below her hips and draped it over Peeta's chest.
"Really, I'm not cold at all," Peeta said. "I feel as toasty as if I was sitting in front of a fireplace."
Katniss put her hand on Peeta's forehead. "Oh no, you're flushed with fever." She reached for the wheelchair handles. "I need to get you downstairs immediately."
"But don't you see it – the sleigh?"
"What?" Katniss looked up and across the roof. "Oh my…" her voice dropped off. "How did animals get on the roof?"
Haymitch and Thresh climbed into the sleigh. After a minute of arguing, Thresh took the reins and the sleigh levitated upward a couple of feet, and then it soared forth into the night.
From behind him, Peeta heard Katniss sigh audibly. "I must be dreaming."
"Can we both be having the same dream?" Peeta asked. "I think it is real."
"I'm taking you back to your bed," Katniss said. She wheeled the chair to the door that she and Thresh had exited, before her hand went up to slap her forehead. "Oh, that's right, your leg. Where exactly is the service elevator?"
Peeta pointed to the other side of the structure.
Katniss wheeled Peeta to the elevator door. She stared at the keypad next to the button. "So, what's the code?"
"I have no idea. The doors were open when Haymitch wheeled me into it."
She frowned. "I need to figure out some other way to get you downstairs." She wheeled him back to his previous position on the roof. "I'm going downstairs to get help. Don't go anywhere."
Peeta chuckled. "Is there anywhere else I can go?"
"I guess I didn't think that one through. Don't worry I'll be right back."
She headed for the stairwell as a balmy breeze blew past Peeta.
That's weird. It feels like I'm at the beach, not on a snowy rooftop.
He looked overhead. The clouds had parted revealing a portion of sky with shining stars. Crazy to think I wouldn't be here if I hadn't tried to make a star shine.
Peeta opened his palm and studied the earring Haymitch had given him. Why did Haymitch give me this thing? He shoved it into a pocket of Katniss's coat for safekeeping.
He was dozing when Katniss returned. She tapped him on the shoulder to wake him. She was wearing a fluffy, down jacket, and a bag hung over her shoulder. In her arms were a couple of blankets. "Sorry I took so long."
"Is everything okay?"
"I can't find any nurses on the floor," she explained. "I checked all the patients' rooms. I don't understand why they left me alone like this. I had to call another floor for reinforcements."
She threw a heated blanket over Peeta's lap and then a second blanket over that one. "That should keep you comfortable for now, although the air seems to have warmed up considerably. Maybe I didn't need to appropriate someone's coat after all." She unzipped the jacket.
"Are others coming to carry me downstairs then?"
"We don't have enough staff at present. I'll camp out here with you until everyone gets back from whatever party they all ran off to."
She reached into her shoulder bag and took out a thermometer. "Can't forget your vitals." She ran the thermometer across his forehead. She beamed. "Good you're normal. I was worried."
Worried about me? He found himself foolishly happy that she was so protective of him. "Good thing you worked a double shift. Otherwise, I might be stuck up here alone."
"I can't figure out why Mr. Abernathy took you up here with him."
"He said he was taking me up here to give me my Christmas present."
"Did he give you anything?"
Peeta shook his head. But the thought struck him suddenly. He did! He said you're my Christmas present. He gave me the opportunity to spend some time alone with you.
But Peeta knew he couldn't say that to Katniss without sounding like a creep or a stalker or both. "He's given me a memorable Christmas Eve," he finally said.
Katniss shoved her hands into the pockets of the down jacket. "Memorable is a good word. But nutty is even more descriptive. This whole situation is so weird and dreamlike. I'm sure I'm going to wake up at any moment."
Peeta agreed with Katniss about the surrealness of what had occurred, but he also knew that his time with her was limited.
If it's a dream, I'm going to wake up, or if it's real someone is bound to be up here to retrieve us both soon.
Peeta wanted, no needed, to find out more about Katniss while he had her all to himself. He had to pour on the Mellark charm, as Rye would put it, fast.
"So, what would you do if you knew none of this was real – that it was all a dream?" he asked. "Would you try to wake yourself up, or would you simply go with it?"
A thoughtful look came over Katniss as she considered the question. After a long pause she spoke. "I guess I'd go with it. Because if I woke up, I'd need to get back to work but if I'm dreaming anything is possible. I could sing loudly, have a picnic under the stars, waltz across the roof."
Peeta nodded. "Go ahead then. Sing a song."
She gave him a curious look. "But you're watching."
"If you're dreaming, then I'm not really here in person, only in your imagination."
She broke into a sweet, low cadence. "Silent night. Holy Night. All is calm. All is bright."
When she was done with the first verse, she launched into a second and even third verse, her voice soaring across the roof. To Peeta's ears he could hear an orchestral accompaniment behind her.
She not only looks like an angel; she sounds like one, too.
When Katniss had finished singing, she looked at Peeta sheepishly.
"You have a beautiful voice, Katniss, and that was a very fitting song for Christmas Eve."
"It's past midnight. It's already Christmas Day," she said, sidestepping the compliment.
"So, I can have something solid to eat, then?"
She laughed. "I don't have any eggnog, but I have some hot chocolate in a thermos here."
"That'll do."
She reached into the canvas bag on her shoulder and pulled out a thermos and two styrofoam cups. She handed them to Peeta. "You hold and I'll pour."
Soon they were both sipping at their chocolate.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Katniss handed Peeta her cup for a moment as she reached down and pulled a shortbread cookie from a plastic bag. She pulled it out and broke it in half. "Here's something solid for you."
He dipped the cookie into his chocolate and took a nibble. "Love this. Did you get it at Mellark's?"
Katniss' eyebrows raised. "Oh, my goodness, are you related to those Mellarks'."
"Yep. I might even have baked this very cookie."
Katniss ate her cookie half. "I have such good memories surrounding your bakery," she said when she'd finished. "When we were little, my dad used to take my sister and I there after church on Sundays for a treat. My sister always picked a cinnamon roll, but I liked the cheese buns."
"Both good choices. Have you been there recently?"
Katniss shook her head. "Not in years. It wouldn't be the same… anymore."
Peeta wondered at her comment. "We haven't changed the recipes, although I suppose they might taste different if you haven't had them in years."
Katniss took a sip from her cup and looked away for a moment. "My whole family's gone now. It wouldn't be the same."
Whole family gone. Peeta didn't know what to say. His automatic reaction was to reach for her hand. Katniss gave it willingly.
Peeta squeezed it. "I'm sorry. He paused. "Is that why you volunteered to stay tonight?" His voice was low.
"It's better to keep busy," Katniss said. "I was going to have brunch with some friends tomorrow, but I'd be the third wheel, so now I have an excuse to cancel and sleep through the holiday instead."
Peeta nodded. He knew the feeling well. When everyone was already paired up and he was alone… they meant well when they invited him to celebrate with them, but sometimes it left him feeling desperately lonely afterward. But at least he had immediate family around.
Still, the idea of avoiding the holiday altogether and sleeping through Christmas saddened Peeta. Christmas is the birth of hope. It's meant to be celebrated. A reminder of all the good things in life – family and food and the joy of being alive.
"Well, I'm glad you volunteered for the extra shift. Because you're making this Christmas memorable for me. I never expected to be drinking hot chocolate and eating shortbread under a starry sky with a beautiful woman."
"Thank you," she said.
"So now that you've sung a song and we've shared a picnic, I guess that only leaves one thing left to do."
Katniss' eyes narrowed.
"The last item on your dream wish list. Waltz across the roof."
"I'm not waltzing by myself," Katniss said firmly.
"You don't have to dance alone. I'll dance with you."
Katniss side eyed Peeta. "I guess I could push your chair around, although the snow is already mushy. It won't roll very easily."
"No need for that." Peeta reached down to lower the leg extension on the chair.
"No, Peeta, that's not safe."
"But it's a dream, remember? My leg may be in a cast. But that doesn't mean I can't dance with you. We'll just have to limit our moves." Peeta grasped the arms of his wheelchair and pushed himself forward to a standing position.
Katniss gasped. "You shouldn't be putting any weight on your leg like that."
"But you're dreaming, remember?"
Katniss shook her head. "What if I'm not? What if this is truly happening?"
"You really need to make up your mind." Peeta reached out and pulled Katniss into his arms. She put her arms around his neck.
"Don't fall over because you'll knock me down, too," she mumbled into his broad chest.
Slowly they moved in a circle with practically no steps at all. It was the kind of dance that could be done on a pie plate.
Neither spoke for a while. Then in a strained voice, Peeta said, "I think I need to sit down."
"Oh, no," Katniss said. "Your leg…"
"I'm a little lightheaded is all. My leg is fine."
Katniss maneuvered Peeta back into his chair. She set up the leg extension. She picked up the blankets that had fallen onto the wet roof when Peeta stood up. "I should go downstairs and see if the others are back now. Maybe I can get some people to carry you downstairs and into bed."
"All right," Peeta said. As his eyes watched her leave, his vision darkened, and the world faded away.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Merry Christmas, sunshine," a cheery voice called out. "I'm Effie, your nurse. Now let's get some vitals taken."
Peeta's eyes opened abruptly. "Where's Katniss?"
Effie ran a thermometer across Peeta's forehead. "That poor darling went home to sleep. She worked for over 24 hours." Effie wrapped the blood pressure cuff around Peeta's arm.
"Did Thresh ever get back?"
"Thresh? I don't know him."
"He was a nurse on duty last night with Katniss. Big, tall fellow with dark skin."
Effie shook her head. "We don't have anyone on this floor by that name, although he might normally work on another floor. At any rate if he was working last night, his shift would already be over."
Okay. "But what about Mr. Abernathy who had the other bed in this room?"
Effie shook her head. "I heard about him. Seems he checked himself out of here last night against the advice of Dr. Latier."
Peeta sighed. It must have been a dream, then. Probably the best dream of my life.
Effie input Peeta's vitals into the computer and left the room.
He turned toward the window. It was a beautiful, sunny Christmas morning. He glanced at the clock on the wall. 10 a.m.
I haven't slept this late in ages. Of course, I was up long past midnight.
Effie soon returned carrying a tray of food. Real food. Oatmeal, and buttered toast, and cut fruit in a cup. Coffee and cream, and orange juice.
Peeta dug in. He was halfway through his meal when his father and Rye came into the room.
"How are you feeling son?" his dad asked.
"Better now that they're feeding me solid fare."
His father reached into his pocket, pulled out a paper sack, and handed it to Peeta. "Didn't want you to miss out." Peeta opened the sack to find a large gingerbread man with his name written in icing on it. His mother used the cookies as place settings each year at the big Christmas Eve dinner.
Peeta dipped the head of the gingerbread man into his coffee and then took a bite. "Now it feels like Christmas."
"I'm sorry we couldn't get over here last night," his dad said. "The weather and…"
"Mom," Rye added. "She was on the warpath."
"I told her we should cancel the cruise," his dad explained.
"Don't do that," Peeta said. "You could use the break."
Rye frowned. "Easy enough for you to say. You're not the one who will have to do double duty. When are they letting you out of this place anyhow?"
"I don't know."Peeta paused as a he remembered the previous evening. It may have all been a dream, but Haymitch knew stuff. Stuff he had no right knowing.
"Dad, do you remember that Christmas Rye got the Darth Maul figure, and Phyl got the Gameboy?"
"That was years ago, I can't remember all that stuff you kids got," his dad answered.
His brother's eyes narrowed. "What about it?"
"Remember I wanted an Easy Bake Oven that year."
Rye snorted loudly. "Like that was going to happen."
"Delly got one. Dad, did you give my Easy Bake Oven to Delly?"
A troubled look appeared on his dad's face. "We weren't sure how that particular gift got under the tree. Your mother thought it was a fitting present for a young girl. But Delly let you play with it, didn't she, son?"
Delly and Peeta had baked sugar cookies in the tiny oven, and even a tiny cake that tasted like cardboard.
Still, it was my gift. I guess Haymitch knew the score about that Christmas. "Who gave me the oven, anyway?"
His dad rubbed the back of his neck. "We never found out. Your mother blamed Grandma Griet, but my mother swore she never bought it. I don't know."
It came from Santa - Haymitch.
Effie popped in for a moment to take Peeta's vitals and then left. As soon as she was gone Rye made a face. "Too bad you don't have a sexy nurse, instead of some old grandma."
"Rye," Mr. Mellark snapped. "Stop talking about women like that. You've got a beautiful wife at home."
I'm glad you didn't meet Katniss. Your vile ways would scare her off.
"Yeah, and I gotta get back home soon," Rye responded. "We're going to dinner at the Cartwright's house this afternoon. Can't say I'm looking forward to it. That's one grandma who needs to learn how to cook."
I wonder if I get a special dinner tonight at the hospital. "What about you and Mom? What are you two doing today? Peeta asked his father.
"Eating leftovers and packing. Your mother insists I bring my suit. She says they dress up on cruises. Doesn't sound like much of a vacation if you need to dress up to eat your dinner. Maybe she should go with her sister, and I can stay behind and take care of you," his father suggested.
Peeta ran his hand through his hair. It needs combing before I see Katniss again. If I see her again. "Please Dad, go with Mom. Otherwise, she'll be blaming me for the remainder of my days."
His father grinned. "You're right about that."
After a few more minutes of conversation his father and brother left, leaving Peeta alone. Eventually he fell asleep only to be wakened by Effie to take his vitals once more. Later she brought him lunch. An open-faced turkey sandwich covered with a thick gravy, and cranberry sauce on the side. Dessert was a slice of gingerbread.
I guess this is my Christmas feast.
"Will a doctor be coming by later?" he asked when Effie took his tray away. "I'd like to know when they're letting me out of here."
"Dr. Latier will come by early this evening."
But Peeta was asleep when the doctor stopped by. Later that evening a new nurse came on duty – a tiny, dark-skinned woman who looked like she'd just graduated from nursing school. Her name was Rue. Rue told Peeta that he would be discharged the next day.
"So soon?" He'd hoped to see Katniss before he left. I want to ask her out.
But things didn't turn out as he hoped. Katniss apparently had the 26th off as well. Dr. Latier appeared right after breakfast. "We called your sister-in-law. You'll be released this afternoon."
Delly picked him up and drove him to his parent's house, which didn't have stairs, unlike his apartment. The house was already empty as his mom and dad left that morning to catch a flight to the coast to board the cruise ship.
"The fridge is full of leftovers. If you need any help, call the bakery and I'll be right over. I'll stop by tonight to check up on you."
Peeta thanked his sister-in-law profusely. Poor Delly stuck working in the bakery and keeping an eye on me as well. Fortunately, the Cartwrights had volunteered to take Rye Jr. for the next week.
Peeta settled on the sofa, watching television, eating, and napping. He was happy to see that the star on the top of the tree was lighting properly now. He guessed his father had fixed the loose connection. But mostly he spent time thinking about Katniss.
I need to see her again. Ask her out.
He tried to call the hospital on more than one occasion, but no one answered his calls. He supposed he could just show up at the hospital, but it would be a while before he could drive. And even if he was to show up, Katniss might not be working that day, or might not appreciate him interrupting her at work. So many what ifs…
Within a couple of days, Peeta was bored silly and ready to go back to the bakery.
Delly picked him up the next morning at 6 a.m. He perched on a stool in the bakery's kitchen and decorated. Cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. Rye did all the mixing and baking and lifting.
Delly ran the register and kept the front cases stocked. After the bakery closed for the night, she drove him back to his parents' house.
An hour before closing on New Year's Eve, Delly came into the bakery's kitchen. "There's an attractive woman at the front looking for you. She said she was your nurse at the hospital."
Katniss!
Rye, who was wiping down the kitchen counters, gave a loud wolf whistle and slapped Peeta on the back with his dirty, wet towel.
"Do you want me to bring her back here?" Delly continued. "It would be easier if she came to you rather than the other way around."
Peeta looked to his brother. "Do you mind?"
Delly grabbed her husband's hand. "Peeta needs his privacy. Come with me out front for a while. You can wipe down the display cases."
His brother left with Delly.
"Just go in there," Peeta heard Delly say.
Katniss entered from around the corner. She looked different than she'd had in the hospital – even prettier than in her green scrubs. She was dressed in a long fisherman's sweater that fell mid-thigh over her worn jeans. Over the sweater she wore her leather jacket, the one she'd covered Peeta with on the roof. She had brown boots on, and her hair was out of its bun and hung loose down her back.
Peeta stifled a gasp. "You don't know how happy I am to see you."
Katniss stiffened for a moment.
Maybe I'm acting too exuberant.
But then she gave him a shy smile. "I hope you don't mind that I tracked you down, but I had a few questions about what you remember about Christmas Eve."
"You mean when you joined me on the hospital roof and sang, and we drank hot chocolate, and danced."
She blushed. "It really happened, then?"
"Yes. And we saw Santa and Thresh fly off the roof in the sleigh."
"I remember Mr. Abernathy was dressed like Santa. But who is Thresh?"
"The nurse that took over while you had dinner. He was a tall fellow with dark skin."
Her forehead wrinkled. "That doesn't sound like anyone who works on the floor with us. I guess he could have come up from another floor to help."
"That's what Effie, the Christmas morning nurse, said."
Rye popped his head around the corner. "I couldn't help but overhear what you said, Peet. They must have given you some mighty strong drugs to hallucinate all that. But maybe the guy who flew the sleigh was Zwarte Piet? Remember when we were little Mom would threaten Black Peter would bring us coal if we misbehaved."
Rye stepped completely into the kitchen and grinned smugly at Katniss. "I'm Peeta's handsome brother Rye." He put out his hand. "And you're…."
"Katniss," she said, keeping her hands at her side. "I was Peeta's nurse on Christmas Eve."
"Oooh, and you're here to check up on him to see how he's doing?" He winked at Peeta. "Was he a memorable patient?"
Peeta glared at his brother. Get lost now, Rye.
As if she could read Peeta's mind, Delly shouted from the front of the shop. "I need you out here right now, Rye."
Katniss waited until Rye left to speak. "I have another question, which is even stranger, if that's possible." She put her hand into her pocket and removed the earring that Peeta had put there on Christmas Eve.
"Do you know anything about this? I found it in my pocket when I got off work on Christmas morning."
I forgot all about that. "Haymitch gave it to me on the roof. I put it into your pocket because I didn't have a one of my own."
Katniss' voice wavered, as if she might break down. "It matches the one my sister lost down the drain in our childhood house years ago. I still have the mate… Prim could never throw anything away."
Wow, that is weird. "Do you remember Haymitch said he had a gift for you." Peeta reminded. "He said it would bring you comfort."
Katniss inhaled deeply. "But how would he know about my sister and the earring? Nothing makes any sense about that night. The way the weather changed so suddenly….it wasn't even supposed to snow."
She stared at the decorated cupcake in front of Peeta, seemingly fixed on the delicate yellow flower he'd piped on top.
She looks like she might start crying at any moment. Clearly this has affected her deeply.
"How did I get back to my bed?" Peeta asked, in an attempt to redirect Katniss' thoughts.
Katniss raised her head from the frosted flower to look directly at Peeta. "You know, I'm not sure. I can't even figure out why I even went up to the roof in the first place to look for you. For the last week I've been thinking about everything that happened, and I can't make sense of it. I was hoping you could clear things up for me. There must be some logical explanation. But you seem as confused as I am." She took a step backwards as if she was going to leave.
"Wait," Peeta said, his heart racing. I can't lose her now. "Let's get together and talk it over. Haymitch told me some other things, too."
"There's even more?" Katniss exclaimed.
Peeta saw his moment and went for it. "I didn't tell you about the Easy Bake Oven, did I?"
Katniss shook her head.
Peeta continued speaking. "Don't we owe it to ourselves to start the new year on a less confused note?" He reached for the crutches beside his stool. "I'm finished here. Let's go next door and grab a pizza."
A hint of a smile appeared on Katniss' lips. "Okay, but only if I can purchase a cheese bun before we go. So, what's this about an Easy Bake Oven?"
They left the bakery together intent on solving the mystery of their Christmas Eve. It was a topic even their grandchildren long speculated on. But somethings can't be explained logically. Especially things that begin on Christmas Eve.
The End
Author's Notes: A kickflip Is a skateboard trick in which the skater jumps vertically, then uses his/her front foot to flick or "kick" the board so that it spins in the air before the skater lands back onto it.
Delft Blue Christmas ornaments are traditional Dutch, blue and white glass ornaments. They have many different shapes, including stars, windmills, and snowmen.
The Easy Bake Oven is a working toy oven first introduced in 1963. The original toy used a pair of ordinary light bulbs as a heat source; current versions use a true heating element. The oven comes with packets of cake mix and small round pans.
Darth Maul is a character in the Star Wars franchise. He first appeared in the 1999 film The Phantom Menace. He is a powerful Sith Lord and Darth Sidious' first apprentice.
Gameboy is a handheld game console introduced by Nintendo in 1989.
The tradition of Zwarte Piete or Black Peter began in Holland in the 15th century. Described as tall and dark-skinned, he was a menacing assistant to St. Nicholas. While St. Nicholas would hand out presents to good children, it fell to Black Peter to dole out coal (and sometimes knocks on the head) to children who misbehaved.
Dear Readers, I hope you enjoyed reading this Christmas fanfiction written especially for you. Here's wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2024! - MTK4FUN