We get to meet up with Katniss and Peeta once more 3 years after the battle. And we get to discover what was on that paper Katniss saw Peeta holding so long ago.

I do not own the Hunger Games

Three Years later,

July 4th, 77th Year

The moon was out and a cool summer wind rustled the green leaves on the tree. Katniss stole into the Mellark's backyard. Stealthily she made her way to the tree. She hadn't done this in years.

Katniss buttoned up her sweater before slipping off her slippers. She couldn't climb in her slippers. She relished the feel of the grass on her bare feet.

There was a point in time when she thought she would never see the spring again. The cold snap didn't go straight away. The earth took time to bounce back.

The year after the battle, during the summer months, the temperatures warmed a fraction and freezing rain fell from the skies. That winter was freezing, but the temperatures did not dip back into dangerous levels.

The provisional government made huge craters where the snow was piled up and as it slowly melted, the craters became man-made lakes.

The following year they had spring-like weather throughout the summer months.

This year, the third year, people were cautiously optimistic.

Just yesterday the temperature was so warm people walked around without a sweater or light jacket. It still got colder earlier and winter lasted longer, but there hadn't been a constant winter since the 74th year.

Katniss looked up as she began to climb the tree behind Peeta's house. As she climbed, many memories surfaced as she made her way up the tree trunk.

"Damn this tree," Katniss muttered to herself. A small branch poked her in the stomach as she climbed.

When she made it to the first thick branch she took a break and sat back. She was winded. Katniss asked herself how she had made this trek time and time again as a girl. She looked down at the maze of tables and chairs that lay in wait for tomorrow afternoon, decorated with pristine linens and bouquets.

Nostalgia came in waves as she recalled there was a time when she had to be wary of a state-imposed curfew. Back then, Katniss had to watch out for the Peacekeepers who could arrest her for coming to this side of the District in the middle of the night.

It was so different now.

Tonight she had walked across the district without a care in the world. Katniss still had to climb the fence, but she was unafraid of Boudica and her antiquated beliefs. Peeta's mother declared it was bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other the night before the wedding. Her mother argued against it too. Lavender claimed it was a time-honored tradition.

Katniss argued Gale and Delly had seen each other the night before they married. Boudica triumphantly pointed out that Gale was injured as a result. Katniss couldn't sleep without Peeta. It's why she stood on the branch to continue her climb upward. She chuckled to herself thinking of the thousand times she snuck out of her comfortable bed to catch a glimpse of the man that she loved.

Those were poignant, but more complicated times. Innocent, but oppressed times. Katniss wouldn't change what she had today with the way things had been.

So much had changed since the Capitol had been defeated.

Madge and the provisional government had their first challenge just weeks after their first meeting in the Capitol.

The leader of District Thirteen, a woman by the name of Alma Coin, presented herself as a benevolent soul who reached out to the Capitol. The woman supposedly wanted to help the fledgling government. Madge and several others didn't trust the woman.

Coin came with large promises to assist. But when they met in District Thirteen, Madge and Paylor, the representative, and former rebel leader from District Eight, saw that the woman was no better than Snow. Madge told Katniss that District Thirteen was a colorless environment where everyone walked around like mindless mutts. There was no music, no laughter, and no individualism among the people who resided there. Neither woman saw any children.

Coin ran District Thirteen with a tight military precision on her autocratic orders. Both Paylor and Madge kept their opinions to themselves. Once they were safely back at the Capitol they described the system to Haymitch and he said what Coin practiced was an authoritarian leadership.

Madge was certain Coin would try to make a bid for power. Sure enough, the woman had the audacity to try to say they should lean on her leadership and make her the head of the interim government. They tried diplomacy, stating that they did not need help, but they wouldn't mind open trading with the District Thirteen. Coin tried to threaten them.

Madge and Paylor shut the woman down and told Coin that they didn't need another dictator, calling the woman's bluff. They threatened that they would use the Capitol weapons on them if she tried anything.

In the end, a trading pact was made.

They traded hydroponic technology for medical technology for the pox that had nearly eradicated their society. It was a victory for their government. It also cemented the astute leadership of both Madge and Paylor.

When Paylor ran for the presidential seat, Madge gave her public endorsement. Paylor won and was a good leader. The policies made under her presidential term were thus far fair and effective. Panem was still not completely out of trouble. There were areas in the northern districts where the weather was still harsh and unpredictable.

Katniss was glad District Twelve was further south and the weather was far more stable. She reached for the next branch determined to get to Peeta's window. Licking her lips, she climbed higher, inching her way until she reached the branch that led to Peeta's window. She deftly moved along the thick branch that stretched out toward his room. She swallowed as she finally got the view she was looking for. She gazed into his bedroom window from her hidden perch in the tree.

She wasn't supposed to come to the bakery tonight. Katniss didn't care. She just needed to look at Peeta.

Just one peek she told herself and then she'd go home.

Peeta lay on his bed, just like all those times when she'd snuck up the tree to see him. He lay with his arms folded up underneath his head. The moonlight made his blond hair appear to glow.

A small sigh escaped her lips as she gazed at his perfect, blue eyes. His eyes were so blue that Katniss still had not found one thing in nature to compare them to. Those eyes still made her heart want to jump out from her chest and latch on to his heart.

He turned his head. As soon as he spotted her, he raised his eyebrows.

Katniss felt her cheeks heat up.

Peeta sat up and shook his head before opening the window. "Fancy meeting you here?"

"Hi," Katniss answered.

"What is it with you and this tree?" Peeta asked, pointing to the tree she climbed. The wind blew again and Katniss shivered.

"I like the view," Katniss shrugged as she looked down. Her nightdress slipped up her thigh as she sat astride on the thick branch. She looked down at the decorated backyard, before shyly looking back at him.

"Oh really," Peeta said leaning out of the window and giving her that trademark smile that turned her knees to jelly. They had kept their vow of celibacy. It was not an easy thing to do, Peeta smelled so good. There were mornings when Peeta had to excuse himself from the bed to cool down. However, with only one day to go, she was craving the intimacy that came with being with Peeta.

"I have a thing about stalking bakers apparently," Katniss said. Ever since Gale's comment, her friends and family had been joking about her persistent need to check up on Peeta.

Peeta chuckled.

"So are you going to invite me in?"

"Do you know how beautiful you look sitting in that tree," Peeta said.

"You can invite me in and show me," Katniss said.

"I would, but you know, I'm engaged to this huntress," Peeta said. "And she wouldn't take it well if I invited a wood nymph into my bedroom.

Katniss laughed at his antics.

Just then Corky scampered down the tree and stood between Peeta and Katniss. Corky looked at her with narrowed eyes. He squealed at her and placed his hands on his furry hips.

"Corky, what's wrong?"

"I've got it," Katniss said, pulling out a few nuts and berries from her sweater pocket. "Here you go, gatekeeper, now let me get through to my fiancé."

Corky made a high-pitched noise and Katniss watched as Timmy appeared.

Corky gleefully accepted the berries and nuts. He handed some to his son. As soon as Katniss' hands were empty, Timmy ran away. Corky looked at Peeta and then wagged his tail before he scampered away from the window.

"Are you guys ever going to get along?" Peeta asked.

"Probably not," Katniss shrugged. "Well are you going to invite me in, it's chilly outside."

"Come on," Peeta said, holding out his hand.

Katniss took his offered hand and scooted in through the window. The warmth of the bakery stung her cheeks.

Peeta placed a blanket over her shoulders.

"Please tell me you didn't come all the way here without shoes on?"

"No, I took my slippers off before I climbed the tree."

She looked around at his childhood bedroom before climbing into his bed. So much history had happened between them here. Her confession of love, her first kiss, her first everything.

Peeta closed the window. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see you." Katniss sat on the bed and leaned up against the headboard.

"Katniss, our mothers are going to kill us," Peeta said quietly, watching her.

"You know I think it's a stupid practice that we have to spend the night before our wedding separated."

"It's tradition," Peeta said, settling in beside her.

"It's stupid," Katniss muttered once more as she settled into his side and put her head on his chest.

"Katniss," Peeta said in that calm yet firm voice that always let her know she was wrong.

"I tried," she grumbled. She did, she had every intention of staying the night with her mother and sister. But halfway through the night, she could not find a comfortable spot in her bed. She decided that she needed to see him, even if it was just through the window.

"Look it's only for one night, and after tonight it's just going to be me and you, running this place."

Katniss sighed, "I know you're right."

His hands gently caressed her back. "I'm never going to be able to say no to you, am I?"

"Maybe," Katniss said.

"I also owe Gale ten coins," Peeta said.

"What?" She sat up and looked at him incredulously. "I can't believe you were betting on me."

"To be fair, I thought you'd be able to resist me…" Peeta grinned, giving her that smile that set her blood on fire. "You live right next door at the Apothecary."

Katniss rolled her eyes. "My sister and my mother live in the Apothecary, I still live in the Seam."

"Really?"

"If you want, I'll leave." She began to get up.

"Not just yet," Peeta said, pulling her down.

Katniss harrumphed as she lay back down next to him and put her head on his chest.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?"

Katniss smiled, "No."

"No?"

"No," Katniss said resolutely.

"I thought you never wanted to get married?"

Katniss leaned up. "That was when Snow was in power and the Hunger Games were still around."

With the death of Snow and the burgeoning of the new government, the Hunger Games were abolished. No longer will the children of the district fear the night before the fourth of July. Children would no longer be killed in an arena, or used as commodities by the Capitol when they won the horrid bloodbath. The brush with near extinction changed the mindset of the Capitols.

The game makers were tasked with reimagining the concept of a united Panem. They made propo's promoting a unified country. Since people were stuck at home, education was done over the television. The game makers made different programs to entertain, instruct, and as weather warnings.

The entire system used in the Hunger Games was changed. The system that had once promoted the barbaric competition that resulted in the death of hundreds of children now focused on saving the country. The arenas were torn down. The labs where the mutts were made were destroyed. In their stead, scientists worked on solving the issue of hunger. They worked on fixing the damage the catastrophic weather made, and food was being carefully rationed.

With the Hydroponic technology provided by District Thirteen in the trade agreement, greenhouses were constructed in the districts with the warmest climates to grow enough food to feed all the districts. Beetee designed something akin to the conservatory, huge pens where livestock was kept warm during the long winter months. Fresh grass and hay were grown to feed the animals that were humanely raised for consumption.

Many people turned to a vegetarian lifestyle as meat wasn't readily available.

The food wasn't plentiful, but the rationed food that was given was healthier than the Tesare. Wages were raised across Panem. New homes were being constructed to withstand colder temperatures.

"Yeah I remember I felt the same way," Peeta said.

"A lot of people didn't feel that way though," Katniss said.

"You mean Gale."

"Yeah," Katniss scoffed. "Can you believe there was a time he thought me and him belonged together?"

"I'm glad he fell in love with Delly."

"They do have the most beautiful kids," Katniss said.

A few months after the battle, Delly discovered she was pregnant. Their eldest son was a gentle boy who took after Delly's father. They named him after Peeta's brother Rye. Then two months ago she gave birth to triplets, a girl and two twin boys.

"I'm not surprised that Delly named her daughter after her mother Tilda. Naming one of the boys Darius was a nice touch." Darius was one of the reasons Gale fell for Delly. "I didn't expect them to name the other twin Corky, after the squirrel."

"What did you think they were going to name their kids?" Peeta asked.

"I don't know," Katniss said. He smelled of citrus, because of his love of oranges. "Gale does love citrus."

"Wait, did you think they'll name their child Lemon or Orange?"

Katniss paused and made a funny face. "No."

"Well, his name is Gale…and he has a sister named Posy."

"Peeta," Katniss said laughing. "You do realize you're named after a type of bread?"

"I thought you loved my name."

"I do, but it's just, you know, calling a donkey big ears when you're a rabbit," Katniss said.

Peeta turned them around using his wrestling moves and Katniss landed beneath him breathless.

"Who's got big ears now?" He playfully growled.

Katniss had learned a few things from Peeta. She easily escaped his grasp and ended up on top of him. She wiggled her eyebrows and said, "You forget hunters eat bunnies for breakfast." Katniss then proceeded to tickle Peeta.

"Okay," Peeta gasped. "Okay, I surrender."

Katniss nodded then settled herself back on his chest. Peeta's hands lazily traced the contours of her back.

"So did you really come here to see me?"

"I was only going to look at you, to be honest, and go on my merry way," Katniss said, yawning. "But I couldn't resist your charming smile."

"You know, if you want, you can run away with me instead of your fiance?"

"Oh, I don't know. He's got a lot of attributes that I love," Katniss said, snuggling into his chest.

"Hmmm," Peeta said quietly.

"Hmmm," Katniss echoed Peeta as she wrinkled her nose. There was another reason for her coming tonight. For weeks there was something that was bothering her, but she didn't know how to voice what it was. It didn't help that leading up to the wedding most of her day time was taken up by Elieen and Lavender's wedding planning. Then there was Effie Trinket, the former Hunger Games escort, who was brought to District 12 from the Capitol to give their wedding a 'sophisticated air.' Frankly, by the time Katniss was finished, she was so drained, that all she wanted to do was sleep.

"I know that Hmmm, what are you thinking?"

Katniss sighed. "It's silly."

"Katniss," Peeta said gently gripping her elbow, prodding for her to speak.

She took a deep breath and it came out in a rush, "I'm thinking of the cameras tomorrow capturing our wedding and broadcasting it to the nation."

Right before Effie Trinket arrived, Cressida came with a large man who called himself Plutarch. He and Cressida were looking to see if they could film Katniss and Peeta's wedding. Cressida said people were asking about what had become of the star-crossed lovers.

At first, they said no, but Plutarch said now that the nation of Panem needed to see people thriving. The Capitolites needed to see that the people of the districts were the same. It seemed Snow did an excellent job of propagating the idea that those who live outside of the Capitol were barbaric.

Katniss and Peeta both warmed to the idea but were still unsure. It was Gale who came up with the idea to make a list of concessions that Plutarch and his team had to adhere to before they would agree.

Cressida and Plutarch made promises that the cameras wouldn't be intrusive. They also promised that they would not make use of the film or their image for fiscal gain. Nor could they use their images for other reasons without consent. Katniss and Peeta did not have to promote the wedding. The Capitol would help with the dress design, with Katniss's approval, as long as the entire district was fed with a sumptuous meal with wedding cake. Lastly, once the wedding was over, the camera would leave District 12.

Katniss hoped it was enough.

"It bothers me too."

Peeta's confession made her feel better. She leaned up to look at his face. "You too?"

"Yeah," Peeta said, nodding. Those wonderful blue eyes were like radiant beacons of warmth and caring. "I don't want tomorrow to turn into a circus."

"I feel the same way."

"I know Cressida and her team are supposed to be discreet about filming, but I don't want our friends and family to feel obligated to speak to Cressida.

"I agree." Katniss sighed, hearing his concern.

"I want to make a pact with you Katniss."

Katniss frowned and leaned up to look into his eyes. She raised an eyebrow.

"Tomorrow we're getting married with Toasting and everything."

Katniss waited for Peeta to continue.

"I don't ever want to go to bed angry at each other."

"Okay."

"I want to make all of our decisions together. And if one of us has to make a choice without the other, we need to be honest and tell each other the truth."

"Alright." Peeta wasn't saying anything Katniss didn't agree with.

"Katniss, I mean it! Full disclosure. We have to be honest with each other."

"My parents were that way," Katniss said.

"They were?"

"Yup. They never lied to each other, no matter how hard things became. They always sat down and talked at the kitchen table."

"That's the way I want it to be between us. I want our marriage to be real, not based on physical stuff only."

"Though that is nice," Katniss said with her cheeks tinged with heat.

"Yes, that is nice." He waggled his eyebrows at her.

"Alright, I want to add a few things of my own to this contract between us."

"Okay."

"Children."

Katniss watched Peeeta's face go carefully blank. Ever since they had become free Peeta expressed wanting to be a father.

"I know you want to be a father one day. But I'm still scared; it's only been three years since we won."

Peeta opened his mouth.

"Let me finish," Katniss looked at him.

Peeta nodded.

"While I am not ready to have children now, that doesn't mean that it won't happen."

Katniss watched Peeta's eyes light with warmth.

"I want children, but I'm not ready either. We're still too young, and as much as I love the Hawthorne-Cartwright clan, I don't want three kids before I'm twenty-five."

Katniss sighed, glad she and Peeta were on the same page.

"I also expect you to keep me well fed, a kept man even…" Peeta grinned.

Katniss hit him playfully. "More like you have to make sure to make me all of the cheese buns I require."

"Only cheese buns?"

"Well I have a list and that may or may not expand depending on what you make in the future."

"I'm on retainer?" Peeta raised an eyebrow.

"Indefinitely." Katniss smiled down at him. He reached out and pulled a lock of her hair away from her face. He cupped her cheek, his eyes filled with awe and wonder as he beheld her. His eye color became richer, almost as dark as the inky sky.

"I can't wait to marry you tomorrow."

Katniss pressed a small kiss in the palm of his hand before laying her head on his shoulder. They had chosen to be celibate waiting to be with the other until after their wedding. It had been a very long three years. But so much had happened.

They lived in the bakery for nearly two years. In that time, the bakery was a hub of activity. Katniss learned the ins and outs of baking. The provisional government paid them handsomely for their service to the community.

When it began to get warmer outside, the Hawthornes and the Cartwrights moved in together into the shoe store. Their business picked up pace because the salt used to melt the snow in the streets damaged boots and shoes. The Everdeens took over the apothecary. The townspeople helped bring the old shop back to its former glory.

"I never expected Madge to be a great politician," Peeta said.

"She's helped facilitate so many changes." Katniss thought of all of the things that happened when Madge got to the Capitol.

"She's great at her job. But I know, she still misses my brother."

Katniss turned her face toward Peeta. "Do you remember the night he stuck me in the pantry…"

Peeta chuckled. "He was so quick too."

Katniss recalled that night with clarity, reminiscing about the buttery warm flaky biscuit she ate while she waited for Peeta and Rye to let her lose. The rush of Peeta and Rye's heavy footsteps as they rushed over to the pantry. She wasn't surprised when the door opened suddenly flooding the small room with the light from the outside. Katniss was surprised by the way their faces were filled with concern, as they jammed up against the door to glance down at her. Their blue eyes filled with anxiety, most likely thinking she'd been hurt when Rye pushed her into the pantry.

"You know, until that moment, I had never realized how big and stocky you and your brother were." From her perspective, Peeta and Rye were like two blond giants.

"You might be diminutive in size, but you can move mountains…" Peeta said, yawning.

"Do you know Gale finally heard from Rain," Katniss said quietly.

"Really?"

"Yeah, he and Corin are doing great."

Peeta yawned once more. "I can't believe he moved out to be by Corin."

Katniss remained quiet. Then she thought of the scare Delly had. Thinking of Peeta getting hurt caused her heart to race and her hands to become cold. As much as she wanted to sleep in his arms, she didn't want to tempt fate. "Do you think…we'll have bad luck like Gale and Delly?"

Peeta chuckled then got out of bed. "I'll sleep in the living room."

He bent down and kissed her forehead.

Katniss watched him go and burrowed into the blankets. She was asleep within minutes. There was something about Peeta's scent that always made her happy and relaxed.

Peeta made his way to the living room and found his father and Madge talking with cups of camomile tea.

"Madge!" Peeta was surprised to see the dynamo woman who could literally rule all of Panem. "You made it. I thought you couldn't come."

"And miss your wedding," Madge said.

"Why are you up?" Madge asked.

"Katniss," Peeta said.

"Pay up," Eugene said, putting his hand out.

"I'll pay you tomorrow," Madge said over her cup of hot tea.

"Dad!" Peeta said not expecting his own father to be betting against Katniss.

"I know my daughter-in-law well, she loves you, son. If she didn't, she wouldn't have stalked you."

Madge snickered over her cup of tea at the mention of Katniss's stalking. Peeta sat down.

"So she's in your bed right now?" Madge wiggled her eyebrows.

"Yes," Peeta sighed, thinking of Katniss's pureness. As much as she wanted to subvert the entire suspicion, she didn't want anything bad to befall him. "How is the newest legislation going?"

"Grr, don't remind me. Do you know what it's like dealing with Johanna, Chaff, Finnick, and Haymitch?" Madge said, putting down the cup of tea.

Despite all of the good Madge did, she wasn't interested in running the country. She preferred her seat as a Senator for the District. She was focused on making sure the laws being created were equitable to both the Districts and the Capitol. The first thing that changed, after the legislation was passed to deal with feeding people, was the wording. No longer would the people living in the District be considered residents. To call someone a resident meant they were considered foreigners in their own nation. All peoples were now considered citizens. The second thing she did was to remove the restrictions for people to move about the nation. People could now move to the Capitol if they so desired or to another district.

Already there was a migration from the Capitol to the warmer climates. And from Districts One and Two to the Capitol. The newest legislation was to build a national university where the brightest minds could come and study. Primrose was one of the candidates who would benefit from the university.

"What is Finnick like?" Eugene asked.

"Great when he's not on television. As soon as you point a camera at him he becomes the biggest preening peacock you've ever met." Madge said, rubbing her temples. "He has great insight though and has the ability to read people. Helpful in negotiations."

"Well at least you have Haymitch," Peeta reasoned.

Eugene poured more tea into her cup. "Haymitch is just grumpy all of the time."

"I think he has a thing for Effie Trinket." Madge shook her head and then continued. "He's great except for when he gets together with Chaff. They start goofing around like a couple of kids, and it gets worse when Finnick joins in on their fun. But it becomes explosive when Johanna Mason becomes part of their little group." Madge's face soured when she mentioned the diminutive Victor. "This one time I found all of them drunk as skunks trying to figure out how to blow up an arena that was designated to become a food storage. Thankfully they only had three sticks of dynamite."

Peeta laughed.

"Hey does Katniss realize James the Peacekeeper is wooing her mother?"

"Katniss is turning a blind eye, but Prim has become his secret cheerleader. He's invited to the wedding, but he's staying in the barracks."

Madge whistled. "He's going to have to win Katniss over if he wants to date Lavender."

"Lavender is partial to James," Eugene said.

"I know, but she isn't sure if she should be. After all, she loved Katniss's father a lot…" Peeta said.

Madge yawned. And that was the signal that they all needed to go to bed.

"Why don't you take the extra bedroom," Peeta suggested.

"That's his room?" Madge said quietly.

"Yes, it's the room that once belonged to Rye. It's also the room the Everdeens shared when we were all stuck here."

Madge nodded. "Thank you, that would be nice."

As he watched Madge head up the stairs, Peeta knew how much Madge missed his brother. Madge confessed to Katniss she still mourned for Rye. And as far as Peeta knew, she wasn't even dating anyone. Though not for the lack of people trying. It seemed to many that Madge was a fortress, but on the inside, she was a girl who lost a boy she loved.

"That was awfully nice of you son."

Peeta nodded. "I'll help you clean up."

They both cleaned the kitchen. "Your mother and I are excited to be moving into the small house downstairs."

As soon as they could, they built out an extension to the bakery. His father and mother were officially moving downstairs tomorrow. It had a galley kitchen with a small living area, a compact bathroom with a shower, and an adjoining bedroom. It was perfect for both of them. It was the perfect solution, now that Peeta's older brother elected to go to the Capitol to make his fortunes. His mother was oddly stoic when his older brother left. His brother still held onto the old ways, and after what they'd been through, his mother couldn't stomach that.

"Good night son," his father said.

"Night Dad," Peeta said, going to the closet where the extra blankets and pillows were kept. As he settled himself on the sofa he couldn't wait until the sun came up. Taking out the old folded piece of paper, he grinned. It was the list he made after he had heard Katniss singing. He had to hide this from her. But there, written in crayons was his list of the things he wanted in life. He put stars and hearts next to each to rank their importance. He wanted to be the best baker in the world, and he wanted to run the bakery. And the one thing on his list with the most stars and hearts was, he wanted to marry Katniss Everdeen.

Next week the Epilogue and Katniss and Peeta's wedding. Sigh will Katniss & Corky ever get along...&What did you think of the last mystery -what Peeta was looking at al of those years his 5-year-old manifesto...lol with stars and hearts

Special thanks to my beta and bestie Norbetsmom