Six months into her life with Peeta, Katniss discovers that there is a side effect to being around Peeta.

I Do Not Own The Hunger Games

Six months into their agreement, Katniss found herself often distracted. Her thoughts frequently concentrated on Peeta. That seed that was interred within her bosom didn't fan out; it consumed her. The knowledge she acquired by living with him was fuel to the fire that burned in her heart and soul.

Katniss couldn't sleep, as the time between them came closer to the end she found herself unable to stop thinking about the decision she needed to make. Should she walk away or should she stay?

Glancing at the alarm clock showed it was four in the morning. Peeta normally would be up by this time getting ready for the day, but she didn't make a move to wake him. Last night he worked late with his father making cakes. There was a rush of weddings this week as the warmer days were ending, and all of the brides wanted to take advantage of the good weather.

Katniss sighed contentedly, pressing her head against Peeta's chest. That warm feeling she'd felt so long ago was lingering. In his sleep, Peeta's arms pulled her closer. Katniss closed her eyes tightly. She was selfish, loving the feeling of security she found in his arms. Things were changing between them, they were more connected. She didn't talk with Peeta about these changes. Instead, she shut them inside of herself. It wasn't like talking to Gale. In hindsight, she realized she was friends with Gale, but her conversations with him lacked the intimacy she had with Peeta.

Katniss weighed the decision. If at the end of the year, she opted to leave Peeta, she would never again have the same access to him. If she opted to stay, they would have to consummate the marriage. The thought of Peeta's hands on her body, of him squeezing her sent an electrical current throughout her body. The surge did funny things to her body and it caused her to disengage herself from Peeta's arms. She jumped out of bed trembling with some unknown need.

It didn't dissipate, in fact, she longed and ached to get back into bed and snuggle up to him. It caused her to become feverish all over. Her heart raced and her palms were sweaty. The impulse to gather Peeta up and hold him and have him hold her shocked Katniss. She'd never experienced something like this. It frightened her.

Panting, she needed to leave, to get out of the room, out of the bakery. Her brain frantically looked for an excuse. She recalled she needed to get some herbs for her mother and needed to go hunting with Gale. With that excuse in mind, Katniss quickly dressed and slipped out of the house, running through the darkened streets of town. When she reached the woods she did not feel calmer.

She wandered around the woods for a bit, collecting the herbs her mother needed. Her hands still shook. Katniss decided to walk to the lake. It took her some time, but the arduous hike did manage to finally temper her body's reaction to the thought of Peeta doing things to her, of doing that with Peeta. Katniss questioned what was wrong with her. Was she coming down with something? Maybe she needed to talk to her mother about it. As a healer, her mother would know what was going on with her body.

A day later Katniss found herself at her mother's house.

"Thank you for the herbs, I was running low," her mother said as she cut strips for gauze.

"Mother," Katniss began. Her voice was shaking.

"What's wrong, Katniss?" Her mother stopped cutting and put the scissors down.

"Well," Katniss felt her face heat up. She was sure she was blushing more than her sister when caught lying.

"Katniss, you look like you're coming down with something." Her mother put her hand on Katniss' forehead. "You look flushed."

"Yes, I think I am!" Katniss was relieved. She was certain her reaction to Peeta had to be some bug she had caught.

"What are your symptoms?"

"Well, yesterday I was laying in bed and suddenly I felt hot all over and it didn't stop after I left the bed. I had to walk all the way to the lake before I felt cool enough."

"Hot all over," her mother said, withdrawing her hand.

"I got feverish, and it felt like, well, it feels," Katniss stammered. She paused momentarily, as she tried to come up with a way to describe the physical need to get closer to Peeta. Of how her body reacted to the idea of him just squeezing her or touching her. It was like being starved and not being able to eat the food before her. "I feel jittery and shaky."

"You mean like getting the chills?"

"No I don't run hot and cold, I just run hot," Katniss said, as she was trying to explain that she wanted to be squeezed by her husband. Her cheeks were burning by this point she could feel the sting of the heat on them. "I get very hot."

Her mother's eyebrows rose, she stood and looked at her display of medicine.

Katniss had seen her mother do this whenever she was stuck and was trying to figure out what was wrong with her patients.

Her mother touched the various apothecary jars, vials, and glass containers on the shelves of her medicine cabinet. Her hand paused on a large amber glass bell jar. She cleared her throat, "Erm, when does this happen, Katniss?"

"It only happens whenever I'm really close to Peeta! Is there something wrong with me?"

Her mother's hands stopped touching the jars and she turned around to face Katniss, her cheeks were pink. "Katniss, you are experiencing something normal. It means you and Peeta are growing closer."

"Will this happen to me every time I go near him?" Katniss couldn't help the way her jaw hung open.

Her mother chuckled. "Katniss, you've never been close to a man who made you feel, how did you say it, hot all over."

Katniss frowned. She didn't want to admit to her mother that she was right.

"Now, don't try to say no. You know I'm speaking the truth. It's why you came here to talk to me."

If there was ever a time when she wanted to hide and deflect it was now. But she couldn't because her mother was not just her mother, she was a competent and respected healer, much the way Katniss was a hunter. She grumbled, "Fine."

"You're going to have to make a choice. If you want to further explore what you're feeling or if you want to deny it. I'm not going to tell you what to do, because you're an adult now. But either decision has consequences."

The truth wasn't easy to listen to. She wanted someone to tell her what to do. Her mother was correct. She needed to make that decision. "You could also talk to Peeta."

"About me and wanting to squeeze him every time I feel hot!"

Her mother's eyes brimmed with mischief. "I bet Peeta will want to squeeze you too."

"MOTHER!" Katniss bristled. "No, he wouldn't!"

Katniss was absolutely scandalized to think that Peeta wanted to get that close to her or touch her, or that he became warm all over like she did. Yet even as she thought this she could not deny that when they were in bed, Peeta did hold her closer. Just this morning as Katniss lay thinking if she wanted to stay, Peeta snuggled closer.

"Katniss I think he would, you are a very loveable person. He'll want to be able to grow closer to you, the same way your body is letting you know that it wants to be closer to him. You're going to feel hotter, you're experiencing the heat."

By now Katniss was uncomfortable in her seat, and the heat in her cheeks had traveled up her chin and onto her ears. They felt warm too. She knew all too well what happened when an animal was in heat. She had taken Lady, Prim's goat, to the Goatman, every spring. Lady's bleats became unbearable. "What am I going to do?"

"You'll figure it out, and if you need something to prevent a pregnancy, come straight to me."

Katniss nodded.

Her mother gave her a lot to think about. Predictably her mother's warning was coming to life. There were days she couldn't help but stare at Peeta, her mouth became dry when she watched him pipe frosting. She shivered.

Thankfully she was able to spend time outside hunting. It helped her calm down and recenter herself. The weather was becoming cooler and it helped calm her heated body.

Today was a splendid day outside, still warm enough that she didn't need her jacket. She was waiting for Gale to arrive so they could hunt together. The sun still hadn't touched the sky. Calmer, she turned her attention back to Peeta. There were a few things Katniss couldn't deny she loved. She loved the feel of his warm body next to hers. The sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear was as sweet as the sound of doves cooing. Katniss contemplated her state as she watched the sunrise.

Peeta was kinder than what she originally thought. He was a good listener and was good with words. Peeta always knew what to say to someone to make them feel better. He was like her sister Primrose, a good person. He was also sexy. Katniss found herself openly gawking at him whenever he lifted those heavy bags of flour and sugar. The way his back muscles rippled left her feeling tingly all over. Katniss's imagination actively pictured him carrying her over his shoulder. Katniss loved to watch the way he kneaded the dough. The strain and tension of the muscles in his arms in contrast with those large supple fingers of his made her toes curl up in her boots.

His laughter made her happy. He was funny, and he always found a way to make her laugh. He knew small things about her like how she preferred to wear pants during the day, but at night she loved a good soft nightgown. Peeta bought her one with a green ribbon and a green and orange rose. It was softer than anything she owned and she loved wearing the gown at night, and she wondered if Peeta liked seeing her wear his gift.

Once more she felt that thing she'd felt earlier this morning. But out here in the woods, without anyone to observe her, Katniss let her mind wander. She often found herself staring at his lips, but she never acted on her instincts to kiss him. Though there were days she pressed her lips against his pillow trying to imitate the kisses she'd seen others share. It wasn't a satisfactory solution to quell her curiosity, but his scent did cause a tingling sensation in areas that were unexpected.

Katniss then recalled their agreement and she became saddened by the idea of them splitting. It drove her to the woods, deep into the forest to the rock where she and Gale met. Katniss sat there with her bow in hand.

Her emotions and sense of purpose were askew. Every day she spent with Peeta caused her to want to stay with him, to forget the contract between their mothers. But yet she was scared of falling and ultimately losing. Losing him or even losing herself. Katniss told herself there was no reason to feel upset, but if she stayed she would be tempted to continue living with him and possibly end up like Delly, pregnant. This scared her most of all and she didn't know how well Delly was facing that situation. Katniss fretted about the possibility of a child. Would she be good enough as a parent?

Katniss was thinking about this when Gale showed up. "Hey, Catnip."

"Well if it isn't my old hunting partner Gale Gaylord Yancy Hawthorne."

"What did I tell you about calling me that?" Gale whined.

Katniss shook her head. She then grinned to herself as he continued.

"Ever since my mother called me that in front of the entire world, everyone's been picking on me."

"I am sorry Yancy, did you say something."

"Ugh, Catnip," he bemoaned.

Katniss laughed.

"You're trouble," Gale pointed his bow at her. "Let's start hunting before I decide to shoot you through the eyes."

"Ha, you couldn't hit the side of a barn on a clear day from ten feet away."

"Fine then I'll make a trap big enough to catch you."

"Sure Yancy," Katniss said, hopping off the rock. She'd heard the guys calling him by his middle name in jest. Gale was one of the tallest men in the district. He was also known as a bit of a brute when he fought, so having a name that knocked him down a peg or two was great.

They went deeper into the woods checking his traps, and he caught some pretty big rabbits. She shot down a few birds and got two rabbits clean in the eye. She was by the river fishing because Mrs. Mellark loved fresh fish. Gale came from the woods with a large rabbit in his hand.

"I wish my traps were as successful," Katniss eyed his latest catch. The weather was turning colder and soon the fish and the game would become scarce. She wanted to make jerky for the family.

"I wish I could shoot like you," Gale grumbled under his breath.

"What I don't get is, how your clunky hands make such intricate traps?"

Gale looked at his hands. "Hey, I have manly hands. Hands of a seam cobbler."

"Ugh," Katniss made a face of disgust. "Oh, Gale the Seam Cobbler, he makes such great shoes." She mimicked the women who came into town.

Gale laughed. "You know Delly doesn't mind."

"First of all, EWWWW." Katniss grimaced. "Secondly, thank goodness you're married to Delly and not me. I would have shot you through the eye."

"Only if you could find me."

"Ha, I can find you, you're as tall as a tree and just as clumsy as one Gaylord."

He groaned at her mention of his name. He plucked the rabbit from the snare.

"What are you going to do with the rabbit?"

"I can't take it home. Delly can't stand the sight of blood on me, she faints." Gale handed her the rabbits. "Can you make sure my mom gets these? I swear Vick and Rory are growing up so fast; they're hungry all of the time."

"Huh." What he said about his brothers was true, they were getting bigger and they were hungry all of the time, it was what Gale said about Delly that gave her pause. She thought about the day Delly had a fainting spell.

"What?'

Katniss took the rabbits. "The day I caught Shannon Fig and Amanda Prickett making fun of Delly."

"I've never been so scared in my life," Gale whispered, his eyes getting a faraway look. "What of it?" He said when he came back to her.

"Well, I was coming into town with my game bag. I was walking by and overheard those two talking when I came into the store. Kinda scared them off."

"Thank you for that."

"S'no problem."

"I wonder if my scent caused her to, you know...get worse."

"Catnip, don't even try to blame yourself. If it wasn't for you, my Delly would've been in trouble. I don't even want to think what those two girls were thinking."

Katniss grimaced, she didn't like Shannon or Amanda. They came from District Three just after she married Peeta. They came to see if they could find suitable matches. They were catty girls who were beginning to make a lot of people upset. Including her mother-in-law whose temper toward people who crossed her hadn't changed. Nobody wanted to get on her bad side.

Katniss caught a few fish, glad for the day. The Mellarks were going to be happy with the fresh fish. Her mother and Prim were coming over for dinner.

"So," Gale said, "Is it true you threatened the mean out of that old witch?"

"Be nice, Gale," Katniss warned.

"It's true," Gale hit his hand against his knee. "I knew you'd make that old witch respect you. How'd you make that merchant pay?"

"You're such a kid." It was like speaking to an annoying brother.

"You know you were right about Delly; she really is in love with me." Gale looked down at his hands. "I didn't know what to do with it, you know. I've never had a girl like me for me. When I was with a merchant girl, it was always because I was a good lay. With Seam girls, they saw me as potential boyfriend material, but never a husband. Delly though, she always liked me. I took her to the slagheap and she wanted to talk to me. It was never just straight sex. She has always listened to me...and...she gives me good advice."

"Gale, it's okay to love your wife."

"I guess it's the same with you and Mellark. I see you guys holding hands, making faces at each other. I see the way you look at him. That kid has been a goner since he set eyes on you."

She glanced at him briefly before saying, "Since he was five." Gale's words made her thoughtful about her relationship with Peeta, and how it had grown. She had other questions though, questions only Peeta could answer. Questions she was still too chicken to ask. Katniss wished she had Peeta's ability to articulate her feelings. That he cared for her since the age of five counted for something, didn't it, Katniss wondered.

"Five?"

Her voice was soft, and her heart was full of an emotion she couldn't peg. "Peeta's special like that."

Gale's words about how she and Peeta acted with each other stayed with her.

When eleven months had slipped by Katniss knew she only had a few more weeks to make her decision. But the idea was growing on her, maybe it was okay to tell Peeta how she felt. She just needed to find the courage to open her heart to him.

Our girl Katniss is not going down without a fight lol. The journey of self-discovery is never an easy one, and poor Katniss well - she's not too keen on change.

Thank you so much to my Beta and Bestie Norbertsmom who is a saint and I'm a mess. Without you, I am nothing but scattered letters on a page.

Thank you to everyone who has thus far enjoyed this story and has liked it, next time Katniss runs into Shannon and Amanda...don't know who they are. Well go read the sister story Seam Cobbler and find out, (warning Seam Cobbler is rated M) so mind your eyes.