The aroma of fresh coffee brewing roused Katniss from her restless sleep. She had tossed and turned all night again, and welcomed the excuse to get out of bed. She climbed out and made her way towards the kitchen, and found Prim standing at the stove cooking eggs. The sun had barely started to rise outside. Winter was already starting to close in, and the mornings were getting darker and colder.

"Good morning," she greeted Prim as she poured herself a large cup of black coffee from the pot on the counter.

"Morning," Prim replied, eyeing her sister up and down, noting the dark circles under her eyes. "How did you sleep?"

"Better, last night," Katniss lied. The truth was she hadn't slept properly since she came back and she was exhausted. Whenever she closed her eyes she was tormented by dreams of Peeta walking away from her.

"Any nightmares?" Prim asked.

"No more than usual," Katniss replied, blowing into her coffee cup to cool it. She could feel Prim's eyes watching her carefully as she sipped her coffee, trying to keep her face neutral. There was nothing to gain in her sister worrying about her any more than she already was.

"There are cheese buns, if you'd like," Prim offered "or there's eggs and toast ready..."

"Definitely not cheese buns," Katniss grimaced. "They might choke me. Where's Rory?"

"He's already gone to work. He has a double shift today," Prim replied, carrying two plates of scrambled eggs and toast to the table and setting one down in front of Katniss.

"So, are you going to try and talk to Peeta today?" Prim asked as they ate.

"Yes, though I don't know what good it will do me. He hasn't returned any of my calls since I got back, and I don't really want to confront him at the bakery, or at home in front of the kids."

"He's probably just licking his wounds. Give him some time," Prim answered.

"I want to see the kids Prim," Katniss frowned, putting down her fork. "I'm starting to get worried that if he goes through with the divorce he might try to make it difficult for me to see them."

Prim stopped chewing and put her coffee cup down heavily on the table. "He wouldn't do that, would he?" She looked stunned at the idea, "Not Peeta, he's not that guy."

"How can I be sure what guy he is anymore, Prim?" Katniss shrugged, meeting Prim's concerned eyes. This was a fear she couldn't hide, it was written clearly across her face. "I never would have thought that the Peeta I know would have reacted the way he did when I came home. But, he's changed, and it's not his fault. It's my fault. It's all my fault," she pushed her eggs and toast away, what little appetite she had disappearing.

"I'll talk to him," Prim reached out and covered Katniss' hand with her own. "That won't happen. He can't keep the kids away from you. You're their mother."

"No, I don't want you to do that Prim," Katniss shook her head. "I'll try to talk to him again today, and we'll see what happens. I'll give him another few days, then I'll go by the house or the bakery if I have too. Like you say, he is probably just cooling down. It's only been a couple of days since I got back."

"He shouldn't start playing games though Katniss," Prim answered. "That's not right either..."

She was cut off by the insistent ringing of the doorbell startling them both.

"Who could that be?" Prim wondered out loud, glancing up at the clock hanging on the kitchen wall and getting up from the table to go answer the door, "It's barely past 7am."

Katniss stayed at the table sipping her coffee until she heard a deep male voice asking, "Are you Katniss Mellark?" in an official sounding tone.

She put her cup down and followed Prim to the door, where a tall, smartly dressed man stood with a buff envelope in his hand. An envelope just like the one Peeta had tossed at her the day she got home. She sucked in a breath.

"I'm Katniss Mellark," she identified herself, her voice shaking slightly with nerves.

The man proffered the envelope towards her, and she automatically reached out and took it from him.

"You've been served," the man said, before nodding briefly, and turning and walking briskly away.

"Well, I guess it's official" Katniss turned and offered a sad smile at Prim, as she felt tears pricking the back of her eyes for what felt like the thousandth time that week. She forced them back. She was so sick of crying.

"He's going through with it."

Peeta was keeping himself busy in the store front, constantly wiping down the counter, re-stocking the shelves and wrapping orders. It was late morning, and it had been four days since Katniss had come home from Seam.

He would have preferred the relative quiet of working in the kitchen today, but talking to the steady stream of customers that came through the bakery door helped to distract him. It stopped him from dwelling too much on what was going on in his own life. It also made it easier to avoid talking to Rye and his Dad. They had both been asking about what had happened since Katniss came home. He knew they were just concerned, but he still hadn't figured out how he was going to break the news of the divorce to them.

Peeta had deliberately avoided speaking to Katniss since he had left her behind at Prim's house and walked away. He never replied to the text message she sent that night, and he hadn't returned any of the calls she had made to him since then either. He told himself he was doing it to give himself time to process everything, but underneath, he knew he was being petty - he was punishing her by not returning her calls. On some level he wanted her to feel just a little bit of what he had felt when she had shut him out.

But, he knew he couldn't continue shutting her out forever. It would only make matters worse, and it wasn't fair on the kids. They would have to talk eventually. He sighed out loud and made up his mind that he would call her when he got home from work and arrange for her and the kids to spend some time together. Skye wanted to see her mother and had asked him every day since she came home when she could go see her again. He really wanted things to go better with Aran the next time he saw Katniss, too. He had seen what Aran's rejection of Katniss had done to her, and even though she had brought it on herself, the heartbroken look on her face when it happened had killed him. Regardless of what was happening between them, he knew he couldn't deny his children time with their mother.

Peeta's lawyer, a very efficient man by the name of Seneca Crane, had called him earlier to confirm that Katniss had accepted service of the divorce papers at Prim's house, and that everything had gone smoothly. Their separation was on the way to becoming official. Even though he had known it was going to happen, he had been expecting the call for days - he couldn't ignore the hollow ache in his chest he got from knowing that the legal wheels that would end their marriage had begun to turn. He had half wondered if Katniss would try to refuse service, if she'd try to fight him. When he had started the proceedings he had been so angry, but now that Katniss was back and it was suddenly all so real, all he could feel was sadness and confusion. He didn't know how to feel about that. Being angry at her was easier.

He glanced up as the bell over the door chimed again, but before he could say anything, an angry voice rang out loudly, "What the hell Mellark?" startling both him and his customers.

Stunned, Peeta watched as a very angry looking Primrose Hawthorne came bearing down on him. She stopped on the other side of the counter facing him, hands on her hips, one booted foot tapping the floor. She practically had steam coming out of her ears.

"So it's true, you're really going to divorce my sister?" she challenged him, pinning him in place with her furious stare. For once, Peeta could see the similarities between Prim and Katniss very plainly. There was fire in Prim's blue eyes.

"Um… Prim, can we talk about this in private, please?" Peeta asked, conscious of the curious looks of the customers he had been serving. He gestured towards the door to the kitchen, indicating that Prim should go through. "I'll follow you when I'm done here."

"Fine," Prim tossed her blonde hair back over her shoulder and marched across the store, pushing her way through the door marked "Employees Only".

"Sorry about that," Peeta smiled nervously at his customers, hurrying to complete their purchases before ushering them out the door and locking it behind them. He flipped the sign to closed.

He took a couple of deep breaths to steady himself, ran his hands through his hair, and headed towards the kitchen. It looked like it was all about to hit the fan.

"Primrose, how nice to see you!" Rye looked up from where he was frosting a tray of cupcakes and grinned cheekily, wiping his hands on his apron.

"You too, Rye," Prim replied, smiling back "but this isn't a social visit. I'm here to knock some sense into my brother-in-law's thick skull, would you care to assist?"

"Why, what's going on?" Rye asked, the smile on his face quickly changing to a concerned frown, "is everything okay? He hasn't been very talkative since Katniss got back."

"You mean he hasn't told you yet?" Prim replied.

"Told us what?" Michael Mellark joined them, the sound of Prim's voice drawing him out of the small office at the back where he worked on the books.

"That I'm divorcing Katniss." Peeta's voice came from where he stood in the doorway to the kitchen. "She was served with the papers this morning."

"At my house" Prim added.

All three pairs of eyes turned towards Peeta - Prim's angry, Rye's shocked, and Michael's sad.

"Fuck." Rye's words came out stunned, "what does that mean, exactly?"

"It means we've separated," Peeta answered him.

"Oh, son," Michael said, sitting down heavily on a chair by the prep table and rubbing his face with his hands. "How did it come to this?" he looked up sadly at Peeta.

"Look, I really don't want to talk about it." Peeta said firmly, looking between his brother and his father and then back at Prim. "I've made my decision, and I'm not going to go back on it. Prim, I understand that you're upset, but this should really remain between Katniss and me."

"The hell it should," Prim challenged him again. "We're a family. This doesn't just affect my sister, it affects my niece and nephew too." She took a step towards him. "Peeta, you know she loves you. Why are you really doing this?" she pleaded.

"I'm sure Katniss has told you why. You know what she did, Prim. You were there, you saw what it did to me these last few months." Peeta responded, his tone bitter. While he didn't expect Prim to take his side, he had thought she understood how betrayed he felt.

"Yeah, I know what she did, and she told me about your fight when she got back. But Peeta, I think it's crazy that you are giving up so easily. And I'm here to tell you that I think it's really shitty that you're not prepared to give your marriage another chance before you give up on it," Prim shook her head, and folded her arms across her chest, her disapproval clear.

"You don't understand Prim, there was more to my decision than just Katniss leaving..." Peeta stuttered, dropping his gaze from hers. He had not expected to be attacked by Prim. He could feel himself getting angrier. Why should he be the one defending himself?

Rye and Michael watched dumbfounded, as Prim continued her angry tirade against Peeta.

"You're damn right I don't understand it Peeta. You've got twelve years of history and two kids together. Yes, Katniss fucked up. But you can work it out. Or you could at least try to. What Katniss did to you was wrong, and I've told her that to her face, but this is wrong too."

"What is there to work out Prim?" Peeta snapped angrily. "Katniss left me. She shut me out. From where I'm standing it's pretty clear who is at fault here," he growled.

"Is that why you haven't been answering any of her calls since she came back Peeta? Are you punishing her now? Playing games with her?"

Peeta winced at Prim's accusation, knowing deep down that punishing her was exactly what he had been doing for the last few days.

"If you start making my niece and nephew pieces in some game you're playing with Katniss, then you are not the guy I thought you were," Prim turned away in disgust.

Peeta's head snapped up. "Enough Prim, okay? Back off," he hissed, struggling to keep his voice calm. "I know, I should have answered her calls, but I'm still trying to process all that has happened this week too, so give me a goddamn break, alright?" He reached up and began running his hands through his hair over and over again, a sure sign he was reaching the end of his tether.

Michael recognized the signs that things were getting out of hand and stood up, walking over to stand between Peeta and Prim, placing his hands gently on Peeta's shoulders.

"Okay, enough" he said firmly in a quiet tone. "You need to calm down son," he said to Peeta and turned to look at Prim, "you too Primrose. Whatever has happened, you two yelling at each other is not going to help anyone."

"I'm sorry," Prim exhaled loudly, pushing her hair back off her red face and wiping at her eyes. "I didn't mean to start yelling. I'm just upset. "

Peeta, seeing how distressed Prim looked, felt his anger deflate. This girl was like his baby sister and he was yelling at her. "I'm sorry, too," he said roughly.

"Peeta, you should have told us what was happening," Michael stated, disappointment in his voice. "Your brothers and I want to help, but I'm confused. What's this about the kids? Why hasn't Katniss seen them? I thought she was back home with you?" Michael asked.

Peeta shook his head. "Katniss is staying with Prim. I asked her not to come back to the house when she came home. The kids are still with me," he said in a low voice, trying not looking at his father. Strangely, he felt ashamed admitting this to Michael, yet resentful at the same time. His father had never given up on his mother, no matter how bad it got sometimes living with her. Secretly, there were times when Peeta had wished he had.

"You mean, you wouldn't let her stay with you when she came back home," Prim snapped.

Peeta saw the looks of genuine shock on both Michael and Rye's faces at this revelation. He hadn't told them until now that he wouldn't let Katniss come home.

"Is that true, Peeta?" Michael was clearly struggling to believe that Peeta had refused to allow Katniss come home.

"Yes, it is," he replied.

"Katniss really wants to see the kids Peeta," Prim spoke up, softly this time. She fastened her gaze on his face. "She wants to see you too," she added.

"I don't know if I'm ready to see her again, Prim," Peeta answered honestly. "I don't know how to do this either."

"Okay. Then how about I collect the kids and take them to my house for the day on Saturday, like we were doing while Katniss was away? It will give Katniss a chance to spend some time with them," Prim suggested.

Peeta looked over at her, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. "Did she send you here to ask me that?"

"No she didn't," Prim scoffed. "She doesn't even know I'm here talking to you. In fact, she specifically asked me not to. She wanted to try talking to you again herself. I'm going to catch hell from her when she finds out, but I came anyway because I care about my sister, and I care about you and I care about my niece and nephew too," Prim responded. "Unless Katniss seeing the kids is going to be a problem for you?"

"No, of course it's not, Prim," Peeta shook his head quickly in denial. "I've no intention of making it difficult for Katniss and the kids to spend time together. In fact, I was going to call her tonight to try and figure something out. I want them to see each other as much as they want, Prim. I mean that. I hope we'll be able to share custody equally. Of course they can go over on Saturday."

"Good. I'm glad you feel that way. Thank you." Prim replied. An uncomfortable silence started to descend over the kitchen. Rye was staring into space looking uncomfortable and Michael just looked sad. Prim looked at her watch and fixed the strap of her purse over her shoulder.

"Look, I'd better go. I have to get back to work," she said. "I'll see you when we come for the kids on Saturday Peeta. We'll come at the usual time, okay?"

"Okay," Peeta nodded. Prim smiled goodbye at Rye and Michael and headed towards the store front, snatching a cupcake off the tray on her way out.

"Huh!" Rye smirked at Peeta, a thoughtful look on his face.

"What Rye?" Peeta snapped, rolling his eyes at his older brother.

"Nothing!" Rye put his hands up in a defensive gesture, turning back to his task. "Just, who'd have thought that someone who looks as sweet and angelic as Prim Hawthorne had such spunk? Damn, she's a little spitfire!"

Peeta glowered at him angrily as he hurriedly pushed his way back through to the store front, following Prim, hoping he would catch her before she left.

"Prim, hold up!" he called after her.

Prim was still trying to figure out how to unlock the deadbolt on the front door when Peeta caught up with her. She turned around, a questioning look in her eye. "Did you forget something Peeta?" she asked.

Peeta hesitated, not sure what way Prim would take it, if he asked what he wanted to ask. He wasn't even sure he should ask. Everything was different now. He dropped his eyes to the floor.

"Peeta, what is it?" Prim prompted. "Spit it out. You obviously have something on your mind."

"Is she... is she doing okay?" the question came out as a whisper, as he raised his eyes slowly to meet Prim's.

Prim tilted her head as she looked at him, her eyes softening a little.

"How do you think she is doing, Peeta?" she answered quietly. "She came home to throw herself on your mercy and in one fell swoop you validated all the reasons she ever had for not believing in love and marriage before she ever met you. She is trying to hide it from me, but I know my sister. She's barely hanging on."

Peeta looked down at his feet again. He knew that before they met, Katniss had never wanted to marry or have children. Her mother's deterioration into mental illness and eventual institutionalization after her father's death had affected her deeply. Not long after they first met, she had told him that she believed loving someone as deeply as her mother and father had loved each other was too risky, that it inevitably ended badly, leaving someone devastated and alone. It had taken him months to convince her to take a chance on dating him, a year to convince her that he loved her, and another year before she could say it back to him. He remembered the first time she'd said the words, he sworn he would never let her go...

...

It was very early in the morning on Christmas Eve and they lay wrapped around each other in Katniss' bed, naked and blissfully satiated from their lovemaking. In a few hours, they were leaving to drive home for the holidays. Katniss was going home to spend the break with her family and the Hawthornes in Seam, while Peeta was heading home to his parents' bakery. It would only be a couple of days before they would see each other again, but neither was looking forward to being separated from the other, even for a short time.

"I wish we could just stay here and hibernate for the holidays," Peeta had groaned. "I'd much rather stay here with you and eat junk food and watch old movies in bed, than make polite conversation with my mother's friends, while she throws Delly Cartwright at me."

"I know, me too," Katniss replied snuggling closer to him and rubbing small circles on his bicep in a soothing gesture, "but it's only for a few days. I'd stay here, but I can't leave Prim alone with Haymitch. He'd forget to feed her. She spends most of her time at Hazelle's anyway. At least we're guaranteed a good meal at the Hawthorne's. Hazelle makes an impressive turkey."

"Hmm, where Gale will no doubt be drooling all over you," Peeta huffed. He had only met Katniss' best friend a couple of times, and he didn't like the possessive way Gale watched Katniss when she wasn't looking.

"Don't be like that," Katniss murmured, pressing a kiss to his shoulder. "I'm not jealous of your mother throwing Delly Cartwright at you. I know you're mine. And you should know by now that I'm yours, too."

"Delly is not interested in me like that, we've been friends since we were kids. It would be weird, like hooking up with my sister," Peeta shuddered at the thought.

Katniss smiled. "And it's the same for Gale and me. We're just friends Peeta, like you and Delly."

Peeta looked down at her, "Are you sure he feels that way too, Katniss?" his blue eyes searching hers.

Katniss raised herself up on her elbow and looked into his eyes. "Yes, I'm sure," she stated firmly. "Gale and I are close, I won't deny that, he has helped me get through some tough times in my life. But even if he did have those kind of feelings for me, you have nothing to worry about Peeta. I'm here with you, aren't I?"

"Well, I don't have much competition here," he says, only half joking, reaching up to cradle her face with his hand, stroking her cheek gently with his thumb.

"You don't have much competition, anywhere," she answered as she leaned in and captured his mouth with hers, stroking the seam of his lips gently with her tongue, seeking entrance.

Peeta granted it, tangling his hands in her hair and kissing her back fiercely. He knew he could trust her. He had no reason to doubt her. It was Gale he was suspicious off. The way he looked at Katniss was anything but brotherly, and it made him uncomfortable. Katniss just wasn't paying attention.

"Do you want me to give you your present now or in the morning?" Katniss asked softly, breaking their kiss and moving to nibble at his jawline and slowly let her hands wander across the broad expanse of his chest.

"You mean that last time wasn't it?" Peeta smirked at her, shifting and pulling her on top of him, wrapping his arms tightly around her, lowering his head to suck gently at the soft skin behind her ear, he knew that drove her wild.

"No it wasn't... cheeky," she laughed breathlessly, pulling away and sitting up, straddling him. "Come on. Let's go and open our presents now," she grinned at him.

"What, now? Are you serious?" Peeta replied, letting his hands wander from her thighs to her hips and up to her ribs, his thumbs just brushing the curve of her breasts, "but it's cold out there!"

"Oh c'mon Mellark!" she winked at him, "I promise I'll keep you warm. Where's your Christmas spirit?"

"It was just getting ready for round two..." he raised an eyebrow suggestively, letting his eyes roam her naked form with open appreciation.

She smirked as she jumped off him and out of bed, pulling on his discarded sweatshirt and boxers and throwing his sweatpants at him, despite his protests.

"Time for that later. C'mon, it'll be fun. Didn't you ever sneak downstairs in the middle of the night on Christmas Eve to open your presents when you were a kid? I could never wait until Christmas morning."

"You're crazy Everdeen, you know that?" he laughed at her, giving in and sitting up to pull on his sweatpants. He loved seeing her happy and playful like this. It was a side of herself she rarely showed to anyone but him, and he loved indulging her.

"And you love it Mellark," she reached up to tease his lips with hers again.

"I do," he had agreed, stopping to wrap his arms around her waist and deepen the kiss.

Laughing she swatted him away and grabbed his hand, tugging him behind her towards the living room of the small apartment she shared with her roommate, Annie.

Kneeling down in front of the small Christmas tree, Katniss flicked on the lights, and pulled a medium sized package out from the small pile of wrapped parcels piled underneath it.

"Here," she handed the gift to Peeta, "this is for you. Merry Christmas, Peeta."

Peeta smiled at the sight of the gift, sloppily wrapped in bright Christmas paper, with a large lopsided bow on top.

"What's this?" he asked, lifting it to his ear and shaking it.

"Open it and see, dumbass!" she replied, beaming at him like an excited child.

Carefully, Peeta began to slowly unwrap the present, trying not to rip the paper. He knew it would drive her mad.

"Oh just rip it!" Katniss cried impatiently.

Peeta grinned as he tore at the paper, ripping it all off in one go. Inside was a highly polished dark wooden box, with a brass catch. On the lid, was a small brass plate, engraved with his initials, 'P.M.'. Peeta was quiet as he ran his finger over the engraving, admiring the craftsmanship of the box, before opening the catch and lifting the lid to discover a beautiful set of the finest paint brushes, everything an aspiring artist could hope for.

"Katniss," he raised his eyes to hers, exhaling slowly, "this is absolutely beautiful. It's the best gift anyone has ever given me. Thank you."

"It's mahogany. I saw it and I just knew you'd love it," Katniss shrugged, sitting back on her heels, a pleased smile on her lips.

Peeta put his gift carefully to one side and pulled her onto his lap. "I do love it. And I love you," he declared, closing his eyes and pressing his forehead against hers. This was where she would normally say something like 'I'm crazy about you' or 'you mean so much to me'.

He wasn't expecting her to say it in return. He thought she wasn't ready yet. He was patient, he could wait for the words. Katniss showed him she loved him all the time by her actions. For now, it was enough that she was here with him.

So, it came as a total shock when he heard her whisper the words "I love you too, Peeta," back to him.

Peeta froze, his eyes flying open. He stared into her molten silver eyes, as she smiled knowingly up at him.

"What did you say?" he gasped, feeling his heart begin to race in his chest. Surely he had misheard her?

"I said, I love you, too, Peeta" Katniss reached for him and wrapped one hand around the back of his neck, the other burying itself in his curls.

"Say it again," he pleaded, searching her eyes for any sign of hesitation or doubt in their depths.

"I love you, Peeta Mellark," she laughed softly, confidently returning his gaze as she said it, pulling him down to meet his lips with hers. "I do," she repeated against his lips. "I love you. Do you believe me now?"

Peeta shuddered as he felt his heart expanding, filling with joy. A massive grin broke out on his face. She was everything he had ever wanted, he'd known it the first time he'd seen her, and now she was saying she loved him too.

"I take it back. That's the best gift you could ever give me," he said, pulling her tightly against him. "Now I'll never let you go," he whispered as he captured her lips with his again and again, pouring everything he was feeling into his kisses.

"Hmm, didn't you say something about round two...?" Katniss murmured into his ear, when they eventually came up for air.

"I thought you wanted to open your presents first?" he asked "You haven't opened yours yet..."

"I've changed my mind," she leaned in closer to him, "I think I want to unwrap you first..." Peeta didn't argue as he swung her up into his arms and carried her back to her bedroom, the rest of their gifts lying forgotten until morning...

...

"She's coping, Peeta," Prim's voice jerked him back to reality. He nodded, twisting his hands together in front of him. "That's good I suppose," he said gruffly, diverting his eyes, the sudden pain of his memories crashing into him. He turned away so Prim wouldn't see.

He jumped a little when he felt Prim's arms coming around him, pulling him into a hug. Despite himself, he felt himself relax slightly, accepting the comfort offered. He hadn't felt so desperately in need of someone to physically hug him since he was a child.

"I meant it when I said I care about you both, you know?" Prim sounded like she was about to cry. "I grew up watching the two of you in love. You two set the standards for me and Rory. It kills me to see you tear each other apart like this."

"I know," he replied quietly. "I'm sorry."

"I'd better go. I'll see you Saturday, Peeta," Prim repeated, releasing him from her hug and pulling herself away, wiping her eyes as she did so.

Peeta was too choked up to saying anything else, so he just nodded and unlocked the door to allow Prim to pass through it, closing it softly behind her.

He stood alone in the storefront, watching Prim as she climbed into her car and drove away. As he flipped the sign on the door back to 'open', he heard the sound of his father's heavy footsteps on the wooden floor behind him. He exhaled a shaky breath.

"I'm really not in the mood for explaining myself, Dad" he said in a tired voice, without turning around.

"I'm not going to ask you to explain anything Peeta, I just want to ask you one question." Michael spoke quietly, and Peeta could feel his father's eyes watching him intently. "Are you sure you're doing this for the right reasons, son?"

Peeta sighed out loud, letting his head roll back and closing his eyes, as he let Michael's question sink in. Was he sure? After a few seconds, he turned his head to meet his father's gaze. "Dad, I feel like I don't know Katniss anymore. She must have been unhappy for so long to do what she did, but she never told me. I don't know how she could turn her back on us like that. That's all there is," he shrugged, but deep down, Peeta knew there had to be more to it than that.

Michael nodded. "I understand that's how you feel now Peeta, and I don't want to pry between a man and his wife, but Katniss is like a daughter to me. Those kids... my grandkids, they mean everything to me. They are like a second chance, I get to spoil them and do things right with them, that I did wrong with you boys, growing up," he smiled gently at Peeta.

"Trust me Dad, I'm trying my best to avoid making the same mistakes you made," Peeta snapped back, the words coming out much more harshly then he meant to say them. He regretted them the moment they were out of his mouth. He saw Michael stiffen, visibly hurt by his words.

"Dad...I'm sorry, I didn't mean-" Peeta started to stutter an apology, when Michael put his hand up to stop him.

"No, don't apologize. I probably deserve that. Peeta, I know I made mistakes, and you boys bore the brunt of that, I should have protected you better. But Katniss is nothing like your mother. I just don't want to see you making a mistake you will regret afterwards. Just, please - be sure. Before you do anything permanent."

"It's too late Dad. What can you do when trust is broken?" The raw pain he heard in Peeta's voice nearly broke Michael. He took another step towards Peeta.

"It's never too late if you love each other son, never. Where there is love, there is hope..." he trailed off as the bell over the door rang, interrupting them. Peeta was never so glad to see customers in his life.

"Um, I'd better get back to work," he gestured awkwardly to the customers.

Michael nodded, "Do you want me to take over out here for a while, so you can take a break?" he offered.

"No, I'll be okay. Work distracts me," Peeta shook his head.

"Alright. We can talk more later, if you want son. You know where I am. Anytime. You hear me?"

"Sure Dad," Peeta nodded, his anger gone. "Thanks." He felt ashamed of the way he had lashed out at his father and at Prim. He was doing that a lot, with everyone lately.

Michael patted Peeta's shoulder reassuringly, before making his way back through to the office.

When he next got a quiet moment, Peeta couldn't help but let what Michael had said about love and hope go through his mind. He knew he still loved Katniss. Was he doing the right thing? All those years ago, he'd sworn he'd never let her go and now he was doing exactly that. Everyone, including Prim, seemed to think he was making a mistake, giving up to easily, judging Katniss too harshly.

Well, maybe this crisis would prove once and for all, whether she really wanted to be with him or not. For a second, Peeta allowed himself to feel a glimmer of hope. If she truly loved him and wanted to be with him, the way everyone else seemed to believe she did, she wouldn't give up fighting for them after the first try, right? Maybe if he opened the door back up a crack, she would try to walk through it.

Before he could overthink it, he took out his phone and dialled Katniss' number. He listened as it connected, ringing once, twice, three times before going to voicemail. He wondered what she was doing that she couldn't pick up the call.

"Hey Katniss, it's me," he began, trying to keep his tone level and even. "I'm sorry I haven't picked up your calls. I was still, um, upset, but I've calmed down a lot now. Prim came by today and we talked a bit, and I think it would be great for you and the kids to spend Saturday together. Um... I know you were served with the papers this morning, too. I guess there are still things we need to talk about, so... call me when you're ready to talk, okay? I lo...bye."

It had taken Katniss over an hour to reassure Prim that she was going to be okay, and convince her to go to work after she had taken service of the divorce papers that morning.

"I'll be fine Prim, you're already late for work," she argued, trying to keep her voice calm and not break down in front of her sister again. It was hard trying to keep a lid on her emotions around Prim. She had been fighting all week to control the sudden crying jags that hit her randomly, so she wouldn't upset her sister. Right now, if Prim went to work she could just let it out and get it over with.

"I don't see how you can be fine, Katniss. He's divorcing you! I can't believe he's going through with this, it just isn't fair," Prim fumed, pacing up and down the kitchen, her arms crossed in front of her chest.

Katniss looked down at the table, biting her lip. "He seems determined not to give me another chance," she replied, "he must have been unhappy with me for a lot longer than I realized," her voice barely above a whisper.

Prim stopped pacing and turned towards her. "That's not true," she said, looking up into Katniss' eyes, "Don't believe that. Anyone could see how crazy he was... is... about you by the way he looks at you."

"Well, he's not looking at me like that now. Go to work Prim. There is nothing you can do by sticking around here today," Katniss said tiredly.

"Are you sure? I mean, I can call in, get someone to cover for me if you want me to stick around?"

"No, Prim," Katniss shook her head firmly. She got up and went to her sister kissing her on the cheek. "I love you, but I could do with some time on my own to think. You go to work. I promise I'm not going to have any more meltdowns," she tried to smile reassuringly.

"Okay. But promise me you'll call me if you need anything, okay?" Prim still looked unsure, but she stood up and picked up her bag and keys.

"I promise," Katniss answered pushing Prim towards the door. "See you tonight, little duck,"

"Not so little anymore," Prim smirked at her. "I know," Katniss smiled. "When did you turn into the big sister?"

With Prim finally gone, Katniss went back to the kitchen. She was restless. She was not used to having nothing to do. She got up and washed up their breakfast dishes, and went and straightened her room. At home, she'd had the kids to look after and even during the time she had spent at Gale's, she'd kept busy by going out to hunt straight after breakfast every morning.

Since she came back home, she had nothing to fill her days. Nothing to do, but sit, and think about Peeta and the kids and dwell on the mess she'd made of her life.

Steeling herself to stay strong, she sat back at the kitchen table and opened the buff envelope containing the divorce petition. Reading carefully through the papers, she noticed the date – Peeta had filed exactly sixty days after she had left for the woods.

Tears began to build behind her eyes again, as she read the words "irretrievable breakdown of the marriage" on the page before her. Was that true? Was it irretrievable? Given the way Peeta had torn into her on the day she returned, it certainly seemed he felt that way.

She wiped her eyes. No. She couldn't afford to let her emotions overtake her again. She needed to start getting organized. If this was the way things were going to be, there were things she needed to take care off. It was time for her to let her survival instinct kick in.

Katniss poured herself another cup of coffee, and moved into the living room to the desk where Prim kept her laptop. Opening it, she made a mental note to remind herself to get her own from Peeta's house...when did she start thinking of their house as Peeta's?... as soon as she could. She did a search for lawyers in the area. The papers said she had twenty days to respond to the petition, she might as well get started. There was no point in delaying , she had to deal with this. The sooner the better.

Finding the number of a local lawyer whose name she recognized, she called and made an appointment to see him later that morning.

Next, she pulled up a local rental property listing site. Katniss knew she couldn't stay with Prim forever, and if she wanted joint custody, she would need a place big enough for her and the kids to live. Wherever it was, it wouldn't be as big as Peeta's house, but she could always move again later. Browsing through the listings, she found a couple of promising looking options and she noted the leasing agent's number down to call later.

Finding work would be her next goal. Like Gale, Katniss had qualifications in forest management and horticulture, but there wasn't much call for that type of work in a small town. She decided she would talk to Gale. He had plenty of contacts and might know of something in their field locally, but she might have to consider a change in career, at least temporarily. The employment options available in a small town were limited. She hadn't worked full-time since Skye was born, and had given up completely when Aran came along, but she was never afraid of hard work. She'd do anything. The kids were already in daycare, organized by Peeta, and Skye would be starting school soon. It wasn't what they'd wanted for the kids, they'd agreed that Katniss would be a stay at home Mom until both kids started school before she went back to work, but things were different now.

Katniss made a few more calls, to the Hawthorne's and Haymitch, letting them know she was okay. Hazelle was very shocked, but sympathised and told Katniss to fight her corner, reassuring her that she'd get Gale to call her back as soon as possible.

Haymitch yelled at her and told her she was a damn fool for lying to her husband and fucking up her life. She slammed the phone down on him when he told her she didn't deserve Peeta. Katniss knew it was true, but she didn't need him to rub salt in her wounds.

Glancing up at the clock, she noted the time, less than an hour until she had her appointment with the lawyer. Going to her room, she looked through the limited selection of clothes she had with her. None of them were really suitable for meeting with a lawyer, but they would have to do, until she could get some more of her stuff from Peeta's house.

She took a quick shower, winding her hair into its usual braid and dressing in a pair of narrow black jeans and a cream shirt, teamed with black flats which was the best she could come up with without raiding Prim's closet.

Grabbing her keys and bag, she retrieved the buff envelope she had left on the kitchen table and got into her car, heading towards town. For the first time since she got back, she felt like she had some purpose. It was time for Katniss Everdeen to take back control of her life

I am so sorry for the delay in this chapter, I wasn't really planning on including most of this, until I decided that we should really see some family reactions and it started to grow from there... I hope it doesn't suck, and you keep reading. I promise the next chapter will not take so long!

Thanks as always to my lovely beta Kismet4891 for her advice and her stellar beta work! I'm on tumblr as Louezem. :)