Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. It belongs to the talented Suzanne characters and plot are used for the sole purpose of entertainment. No profit is made from this.

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I'm 17 years old and I have survived the vicious capitol torture known as the Hunger Games. I'm also engaged to one Peeta Mellark. The two of us are being forced to marry thanks to President Snow. He wants me to convince him and everyone that I am deeply in love with Peeta, because of my stunt with the berries in the arena. He reminds me with genetically enhanced roses left in every room I stay in while I was on tour. I know that the life of my family, the very life of District 12 rests on my shoulders. I'm just a child. For the first time in my life I feel like a child. I want to curl up in my bed and have my mother brush my hair and tell me that it's all going to be alright. But that's not going to happen. I have to face the fact that I have to marry a boy who I pretended to love to stay alive. Peeta knows my feelings for him in the arena were all an act. I hate that he knows it. He could be happy, he deserves to be happy with a girl that can return his feelings. I care deeply for him, but it's like family. He's like a brother to me, but there is still that underlying emotion I felt in that cave. It's a feeling I've never felt, not even with Gale. Maybe I could love him in time, but is it fair to him?

I stand in the living room of my house in the victor's village, staring out into the small green square. Prim has done so much with the flowers and herbs here. It's something I look at when the nightmares of the arena become too much to handle. Today they are no help. I look out into the garden and see the small white blooms of Queen Anne's lace and begin to cry. I'm reminded of the way I covered little Rue's body in those very flowers. I pull close the curtains and sit down on the couch. I place my face in my hands and let the sobs take over. I barely notice the door open and my guest sit next to me. What pull me from my hands are the firm arms that circle my shoulders.

"Katniss?" the voice next to me whispers. I would recognize that voice anywhere. It was that same voice I head on my nights during the tour. The voice that made the nightmares go away. I look up into the pale blue eyes that I awakened to in the cave during the games.

"Peeta." I stutter out though my sobs.

"Are you okay?" he asks, running his hand down the long braid down my back. I nod, wiping the tears from my face.

"I was just thinking of the flowers Prim planted outside and it reminded me of Rue and I lost it." I tell him. He nods his head in understanding.

"I brought you some cheese buns, fresh from the oven." He says, placing a basket on the table. I smile and pull a bun from the basket and break it open.

"Thank you Peeta." I bite into the bread and savor the warm grains. I place the bread on the table and look to Peeta.

"You are always here when I need someone the most. How do you do it?" I ask, laying my head on his shoulder. I feel him shrug.

"Just lucky I guess." He whispers. I can't help but laugh at him.

"Do you think we'll ever be the same?"

"I hope so but I doubt it. I don't think I can ever forget what we went through. I don't want to."

"Me either. I just wish that we weren't being made to do this. You deserve to be happy, Peeta." I say, looking at him. He takes my hands in his and our pale eyes meet.

"What makes you think I'm not happy, Katniss? I'm marrying the girl I've loved for my entire life. I know it's not ideal, but I'm truly happy Katniss."

"But Peeta.." I begin but he softly touches his lips to mine and I stop talking. There's just something about his supple lips that just make me want to forget the whole world. He hand twists around my braid and he deepens the kiss. I hear a moan come from somewhere in the house and then realize the mundane sound came from me. I stop breathing for a split second and press my hand against his chest, pushing him away. He turns away from me, his face a deep pink.

"I'm sorry, Katniss. I shouldn't have done that." He says and starts to get up. I grab his arm and tug him back down to the couch.

"No, don't apologize." I say and bring his lips back to mine. I feel his shoulders go rigid and I pull away.

"Katniss, what are you doing?" he asks. I smile at him and for the first time I really think that I could be happy with him.

"Let's get married." I say.

"We are getting married, Katniss."

"No, I mean just us. No capitol, not being primped and prodded to look like the capitol freaks. Just you and me and the woods." I say, turning to look straight at him.

"Katniss, are you sure about this? I'm not saying no, because right now all I want to do is call you mine forever. But I don't want you to do something just to defy the capitol."

"I want this Peeta. I didn't know I wanted it until now. Peeta, you know me better than anyone here. Better than maybe even Prim. You know why the nightmares come. You know how to make them go away. I can't imagine going to bed for the rest of my life and you not being there to make the nightmares go away." I say and hug him tightly.

"Okay." He whispers. I smile up at him and grab the basket of bread. He takes my hand in his and I let him lead me out of the house. I lead him to a weak spot in the fence and take him to the small stream where Gale and I fish. He go about gathering things to make a fire and I catch a few fish and gather some roots and plants for a feast. By the time I've returned, he's made a beautiful fire and placing a single cheese bun on a stick. I grin and place the food in the basket and take a seat next to him. He hands it to me and I take a bite then he takes a bite. I lean into him and kiss his soft lips and together we place the stick and the bread into the fire and watch as the fire engulfs the bread, stick and all. Peeta pulls me into his arms and we watch as the flame burns the bread to a crisp. He presses his head to mine and I feel his nose nuzzle into my hair. I look up and him, placing my arms behind his head and bring him to meet my lips. He moans as I slide my tongue into his mouth. I turn around in his arms and push him to the ground. His blue eyes look up at me in surprise.

"Katniss, what are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" I say and straddle his waist. He doesn't bother with another question. I grind my hips into his and I feel him go stiff beneath me. He sits up and flips up easily. I am grateful for the soft moss near the stream. He kisses me softly and then his tongue begins to explore my neck and collar bone. He then lifts me up slightly and pulls the simple t-shirt over my head and tosses it to the ground. He stares at my body and I swear I can feel my entire body begin to blush. Peeta takes his finger and traces the small mound of my breast then down the valley between them. I arch my back into his touch, gasping. He grins and reaches behind my back and removes my cotton bra. My blush deepens and he takes one of my nipples into his mouth and the releases it with a pop. Oh my god! I feel like my stomach is on fire. His hand massages my left breast as his mouth pays attention to the right. It's all I can do to not scream for him to stop and just take me. I place my hands on either side of his head and bring his lips to mine. When he comes up from air, I pull his shirt over his head. I trace the sculpted abs that have become more defined since being home.

"Peeta, please." I say softly. His face softens and he moves off of me and removes my pants and his own. I know now that my entire body his at least the color of the blood. My skin burns with my blush as I take in the site of his naked body. He crawls up my body and kisses me. I don't know what I'm doing, but I take him in my hand and lead him to me. He stops me before I urge him to enter. He licks two of his fingers and then moves them to my center. I take a sharp breath as his moves his fingers between my folds then moves them inside of me. I feel him curl them inside and I jump in pleasure. Whatever he's done makes me beg for more. He obliges. He moves his finger swiftly in and out of me and I feel like my entire body is about to explode. Before I reach that peak he removes his fingers and I whimper, wanting it back.

"Katniss, look at me." He whispers. I open my eyes, not realizing I had closed them

"I'll be gentle. I promise." He assures me. I nod and spread my legs further for him. He rubs his tip around the outside of my opening and I brace myself for his entrance. He gently pushes forward and I bit my lip to not scream at the pain. The look on my face must show the discomfort and he stops. I grip his arms and shake my head.

"Don't stop." I beg him. He pushes in further and the pain subsides and I'm filled with the most amazing sensation I've ever felt. Pure Happiness. He gently rocks with me until I beg him for more. Soon he's covered in a glistening layer of sweat as he moves within me. I wrap my legs around him and pull him deeper into me. Now I can't help but scream out his name as my body takes over. My stomach contracts and I feel the fire build and explode. I shudder slightly as the sensation works through my legs and to my toes. I feel him go rigid above me and feel a warmth fill me. He's finished. He collapses above me and my hands find his hair. I look down at him and I can't imagine a life with him not in it. He's my hero in every since of the word. I start to say something but the warning call of a mockingjay pulls both of us from our sweet bliss. We both jump and dress quickly and run to the fence. Just as we step into the Meadow, the hovercraft appears. I look up and then to Peeta. Our journey has just begun.