A/N – Hey again everyone! So after several requests for more from this world, here it is. This first chapter is set pretty much directly after the last story ended. I think this story will stand up on its own, but if you'd like to see how they got to this point then check out my fic Sabotaged Heart. Each chapter will be a snapshot into a moment of their lives over their first year together. And if you missed them, I also posted a couple of submissions for Prompts in Panem's Seven Deadly Sins Challenges from this universe. The First Hurdle was for Wrath, and Strange Bedfellows was for Gluttony.

Huge huge HUGE thanks go to Court81981 for being an awesome Beta and inspiration.

So, anyway, as always, I don't own the Hunger Games, not making money etc etc. Hope you enjoy :)

I'm on tumblr by the way alatarielgildaen dot tumblr dot com so feel free to drop by and say hello!

August

"So, what did you think?"

Katniss seemed to be choosing her words carefully. "Well, it could have been worse."

He couldn't quite believe what he was hearing. "Well, of course it could have been worse. When something is perfection, it could only be worse."

"I think 'perfection' is something of an exaggeration."

Back to the Future had just ended, the credits were rolling and Peeta had turned to the woman curled up next to him, a boyish grin on his face, expecting to see a similar expression on hers. Instead he saw her brow knitted slightly in confusion, evaporating that hope in an instant.

"You didn't like it."

"It's not that. I mean it was fun, I just… I don't really get it."

"What's not to get?" he asked, slightly exasperated.

"Well," she began slowly, clearly not wanting to offend him when their delicate connection had only just been rebuilt, "logically it just doesn't make any sense."

Laughing in earnest he said, "Of course it doesn't make logical sense. It's about time travel!"

"Yes," she agreed, "but even within those parameters, it doesn't make logical sense."

"Why not?"

"Well, for a start, he goes back in time and prevents his mother and father meeting. The second he stopped his mother and father meeting he should have ceased to exist, which would mean that he wouldn't get the chance to go back in time and stop them meeting. In trying to stop his dad getting hit by the car he would have immediately created a paradox that could potentially have destroyed the universe."

"Would have made a pretty shit film though. Generally speaking when I'm watching a film, I like there to at least be a tiny part of the universe in it. Not, you know, nothing."

"I know, but even ignoring that gaping scientific flaw there are so many bits that just couldn't have happened. Like, he's carrying around this photo of his family. But they start to fade so they no longer exist in the photo. But the photo still exists. So who took it, why did they take a photo of that door with no one stood in front of it, and how has it come to be in Marty's possession?"

"I don't understand wha—"

"And ok, he manages to change the past. Which means he would have been raised by the 'cool' versions of his parents, right? His brother and sister are completely different people now, so why does that photo still show them as the doofuses they were in the parallel world? And how come Marty has turned out the same? I know there's a certain amount of 'nature versus nurture' in the way we turn out, but if his brother and sister are such completely different people, why isn't he? And if it's because he came from the other parallel 1985, why isn't there a version of him who was raised in that world? And don't you think it's an absolutely amazing coincidence that in the alternate timeline, even with their different lives happening, with his dad becoming an author instead of working in that office with Biff still bullying him, Marty's parents must have decided to have unprotected sex at the exact same moment in time so that those precise same sperm cells could meet with the precise same eggs and create those children. And really? One punch in the face turned Biff from being that crazed potential rapist bully in to a fawning puppy dog? It literally makes no sense."

"It's just supposed to be a bit of fun, Katniss," he said, trying not to dwell on the now obvious flaws that he had never really thought of before, and thinking that if she found that much wrong with the first film, the second one would be likely to give her an embolism.

"I know, and it was fun. It just doesn't make any logical sense. If you have to include something like time travel, you should at least try to make it make sense, like in Harry Potter."

"Oh come off it!" he cried. "If you're talking about the third film it makes as much sense as Back to the Future!"

She shook her head vehemently. "No," she replied, "It's totally different. It shows you that you simply can't change the past. The past has already happened and there is nothing you can do to alter it."

"But they do alter it," he protested. "They stopped that bird thing being killed, that was the whole point of them going back in time."

"Yes, but they had always saved him. Their future selves were always going to be at that point in time to stop him being killed. They didn't actually change anything."

"Yes they did," he said adamantly. "That executioner killed him."

"Did it ever actually show him dying?" Katniss asked.

Peeta racked his memory before answering. "No, but it was a kids' film, they're not going to show something as violent as a beheading. But they showed the kids' reactions. He was killed, definitely."

"Peeta," Katniss said patiently, "Have you ever read the books?"

"No, I don't have time to read."

"Rubbish! You've got filled bookshelves at home, I've seen them!"

"Graphic novels and comics, Katniss. It's quicker to read pictures than words."

"Well, you should make time. And make Harry Potter your number one priority. It was much better explained in the books than in the films. No, Buckbeak was never killed because Harry and Hermione were always there to save him. When Harry thinks he sees his father save him and Sirius across the lake, it was his future self. During that time there were always two Harrys and two Hermiones hanging around."

He closed his eyes and tried to process that information. "Nope," he said after a little while. "No, too hungover to understand that right now. I think we should just have to agree to disagree on this one."

"Wait, you made me watch this, you can't get out of reading Potter. It's a fair exchange."

"One film for seven books isn't a fair exchange."

"Believe me, Peeta, you'll thank me."

His phone beeped with an incoming text message, saving him from having to answer. A one-word message from Finnick that read, 'Well?' The time on his phone read 21:41, and he hadn't as yet told either Finn or Annie what had happened. "I need to make a call," he said, disentangling himself from her embrace.

"It's getting late. Do you want me to order dinner?"

"That would be amazing."

"What do you fancy?"

"Other than you?"

She rolled her eyes and said, "To eat?"

"Can I get away with saying 'you' again?"

"Peeta…."

He thought about it a moment. There was no way his stomach would cope with anything too elaborate at the moment. "Pizza?"

"Pizza?" She sounded sceptical.

"Yeah. No cheese, obviously, and can you make sure there's no egg or milk in the base?"

She let out a long exhalation of breath. "It seems like a tall order, but I'll see what I can find."

"Thank you," he replied, indicating that he was going out into the hallway to make the call.

It only took one and a half rings before Finnick answered. Before his best mate was able to lay in to him for leaving it so late to call, Peeta spoke up.

"I know it's late, I'm a jerk, and I'm sorry."

"Where the hell are you? What's going on? Is everything ok?"

"I'm fine. I'm… I'm staying here tonight."

A moment of silence before his friend spoke again. "You know we're working tomorrow, right?"

"I know. But it's fine. I'll be back early, you won't have to do a thing, I promise."

"Is this a good idea, Peet?"

"I think so. We're gonna start again."

He heard Finnick's slow exhalation down the phone. "I'm glad it went well, Peet. Don't get hurt."

"I won't"

"Good. Don't."

"I won't. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?"

"Sure thing, bud. Have fun."

Katniss voice came through from the living room. "Peeta? Come here a sec."

"Gotta go, mate. See you in the morning."

"Don't be late, Peeta, or I'll kick your scrawny little arse in. See you."

After tucking his phone in to his jeans pocket he returned to Katniss, who was sat cross legged on her couch, the home phone tucked under one ear. "I found these guys," she said, one hand over the phone's mouthpiece, the other extending towards Peeta, offering him the menu. "It's sourdough pizza, and they've assured me the bases are ok. What do you want?"

Peeta took the menu from her, scanning it quickly. There were three vegetarian pizzas and the one that caught his eye was the Spicy Deluxe; garlic, onion, jalapenos, sun dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, aubergine and spinach. His mouth began to salivate at the thought of the first proper food he'd had all day.

Taking a seat next to her, he pointed his choice out to Katniss who nodded. "Same here." He rested his hand on her thigh as she took her hand away from the mouthpiece. "Two Vegetarian Spicy Deluxes, one with no cheese." She listened for a moment then said, "No, one with no cheese…. Why not?" She looked at the menu again, her brows knitting. "Ok, I see it… Ok, but doing it that way, it'll cost an extra fiver…..But it's exactly the same in every other way…..You can't charge more for less, it's criminal….."

"What's wrong?" Peeta asked her. Now that the prospect of food had appeared on the horizon he was realising just how hungry he was and didn't need any added delays to it.

"Just a second," she said to the person on the other end of the phone, shaking her head as she did and replacing her hand over the mouthpiece, a look of sheer disbelief on her face. "They're saying that having it without cheese is going off menu, so you have to have it as a customised one. They do a cheeseless margarita pizza, so they're saying you have to order that, and order the individual toppings as extras. And they cost a quid each, so instead of it being an eight pound pizza, it's going to cost thirteen."

"Well that doesn't make sense."

"That's what I keep saying!"

"Ugh, Katniss, I'm too hungover to deal with that kind of nonsense, if it's too much effort I'll just have the plain one."

"But that's not what you want is it?"

"Well, no, but—"

"Then don't just settle for crap, don't let them walk over you, leave it with me."

He felt the corners of his mouth twitch upwards ever so slightly. "Is this some kind of valuable life lesson you're trying to give me?"

With a returned smile she replied, "Take it that way if you like. I just hate bureaucracy, and that's all this is. Bloody jobsworth." Returning her attention to the person on the other end of the phone, she said, "Hi, yes, you're not going to charge us extra. You're just going to give us the pizza we want, but without cheese….. ..I don't care if there isn't a button for that option on your till, you make the pizzas fresh, right? So, when you make one of them just don't put it on, it's really very simple….That really isn't any of my concern…. Just tell him….Ok, look, do you have a pen and paper? You do? Ok, good, put it through on your till as a regular Vegetarian Spicy Deluxe, then write an actual physical note using that pen and paper to the chef to leave off the cheese….. My friend here is highly allergic to dairy, so if our specifications aren't followed to the letter we'll know and you'll be hearing from us further…... Thank you…. Forty five minutes? Perfect, thank you."

After placing the phone back on the hook she turned to Peeta. "Don't let people walk all over you, ok? I know I'm guilty of it, I daresay given recent events I'm more guilty of it than most, but that ends now."

A small chuckle escaped his throat. It did seem a little strange to be taking advice on self-confidence from the woman who had almost knocked his long recovery back to square one. Although he couldn't help but be plagued by at least one worry. "You know they'll probably have spat in it after you spoke to them that way."

"What we don't know can't harm us, Peeta."

"I guess. Unless they're carrying a highly infectious disease."

"Well, if we're still alive in the morning, then I guess we're safe."

"Look, if we're gonna die, I need to get home first. Otherwise Finnick will kill me."

At his words the two of them burst in to laughter, and with their arms around each other fell back on to the couch. Peeta felt such comfort in her warm weight pressed against him; the turmoil of the previous week and a half already beginning to feel like something that had happened in a half forgotten nightmare. The feeling could be recalled but not the details. Closing his eyes and pulling her closer in to him he began to idly trail his fingers up and down her back, feeling his heart rate quicken as he did. A small, contented sigh escaped her lips, and Peeta felt the heat of her breath warming his chest through the fabric of his t-shirt.

His lips brushed over the top of her head and in response she tightened her grip on the front of his clothes. She lifted her head off his chest and their gaze met for a moment before she gently pressed her lips into his. It didn't take long for the softness of their kisses to grow into something more desperate, Katniss winding her hands in to Peeta's hair, drawing his bottom lip into her mouth and gently scraping her teeth along the sensitive flesh. His body began to react to her and as he gently rolled his hips up to meet her she moaned her approval in to him. One of her hands slid down his torso, drifting ever lower, coming to rest over the very apparent bulge in his jeans.

"Don't mind me." Johanna's voice cut through them, jolting them back to reality as she sat down heavily in the armchair. They held each other's dilated gaze, breathless, and Peeta couldn't help but feel the sinking disappointment at their interruption. "My turn for control of the TV. The Only Way is Essex is about to start."

"Jo, you do watch some real shit, you know that?"

"Be grateful Big Brother isn't on at the moment."

"I am, believe me. Every single day."

Katniss laid her head back down on Peeta's chest and he took the opportunity to shift his hips slightly to make his erection less visible to Jo. The shift in his position pressed his arousal further into Katniss' side and in response she began to draw lazy circles over his collarbone with her fingertips. Their hearts hammered in their chests and Peeta was uncertain where his drumming pulse ended and hers began. He was so comfortable. So warm, and comfortable. And despite the nap they had taken that afternoon, tired too. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep his eyes open and as the Essex girls on the television droned on, his mind began to slow down as much as his body.

A shift in Katniss' warm weight against brought him back to consciousness as she sat up straight. He moaned a little at the lack of contact and tried to pull her back in to him, although her words woke his mind and body immediately. "Pizza's here. You'll have to let go of me if you want it."

He didn't need asking twice. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he sat up and swinging his legs around to the front, he at once fell back against the cushions as a wave of dizziness threatened to overcome him. He brought his eyes into focus on the television and immediately wished he hadn't. While The Only Way is Essex had finished, Jo was now watching I'm a Celebrity and a pair of hapless Z-listers were sitting down to eat a meal of still living witchitty grubs and raw kangaroo testicles. "Shit, Jo, change the channel, we're about to eat," he gasped, averting his eyes, clutching his stomach and desperately fighting the nausea that rapidly rose up inside him.

"Spoilsport," she chuckled, just as Katniss re-entered the room.

"Turn this shit, off Jo. How you can watch this and actually have the audacity to call me 'brainless' I'll never understand."

With an exasperated sigh Jo switched channels, allowing them to watch the much less appetite-ruining QI while they ate.

"So… tomorrow…." Peeta said, as soon as he swallowed his last mouthful of pizza.

"What about tomorrow?"

"Will you be sticking around once you've dropped me off?"

"Well," she said, her voice thoughtful and delicate, "It is a long way to go. I don't know if I'd want to get straight back in the car after such a long drive."

"I wouldn't want to send you straight on your way, anyway."

"That's good to hear," she replied, a faint pink tinge creeping across her cheeks. "I'm wondering if it's better to come a little prepared. Maybe bring a change of clothes? I don't want to get caught out again, like last time…."

She was insinuating that she may be in for a long stay again. And Peeta found that he was entirely ok with that. "You know, I don't mind you wearing my clothes," he said with a grin.

"If you two are going to be discussing your kinky sex life, either take it elsewhere or get me involved," Jo piped up. "I know which I'd prefer," she finished with a lewd wink.

"I'm not entirely sure I'm too happy sharing Katniss with anyone, to be honest," he countered. "Definitely not now I've got her back." His hand found hers, their fingers intertwining together before he leant in towards her for a kiss.

"Ugh, ok, I'm done. Sex talk I can handle. This mushy shit, no way. You two want to carry on like that, you do it in your own time, not on my watch."

Ignoring Jo, Katniss squeezed Peeta's hand slightly. "What time do you need to get back tomorrow?"

He thought about it a moment. Finn would need to leave his no later than 8:30 if he was to get to his job as a swimming instructor at a local pool for a 9 a.m. start. But if he left it that late to come home his best mate would probably be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. No, he'd need to return a lot earlier than that if he wanted to live to see another day.

"Um, probably about 7, to be honest."

She let out a long sigh just as Jo snorted, "Yeah, good luck with that."

"Will that be ok?" Peeta asked, worry creeping in to the edges of his voice.

The pause she gave before answering made his stomach drop even further. "It'll be tough, but yeah. Doable. Just. We'll have to leave here about quarter past 5, though."

"That's ok."

"For you, maybe. I'll need help in the morning. And we should probably go to bed sooner rather than later."

"Jesus, you two, seriously, if you want to get in each other's knickers then just fuck off and do it, don't make out like you need an excuse," said Jo, rolling her eyes.

Without missing a single beat and without breaking Katniss' eye contact, Peeta said, "If we don't need an excuse, take me straight to bed."

"It would make sense, if we have to be up early."

"Ugh, god, get the fuck out of here! Go!"

Katniss chuckled as she stood up, holding her hand out towards him. With a smile he took hold of her as she helped him to his feet and led him away from Jo's knowing smirks. "It was good seeing you again, Jo," he said, pausing in the doorway. "We'll probably be gone before you get up tomorrow, so—"

"Get out of my sight and get her into bed, Loverboy."

He grinned as he allowed himself to be led away once again. Once sequestered away in her room, Katniss turned to him and placed a hand on his chest. His heart began to race at her touch. Wordlessly she slid her hands up over his body and around his neck, claiming his lips with her own. He melted in to her and deepened the kiss, probing her mouth with his tongue while his hands drifted lower over her body, coming to rest over her backside.

She pulled away from him with a little gasp as she caught her breath, taking his hands in her own and walking backwards until she reached the bed. She spun him around and pushed him down on to the bed before beginning to undress. He swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat before pulling his t-shirt up and over his head. The sight of her in her underwear, dropping to her knees in front of him, sent a spasm of pleasure straight to his cock, leaving him entirely breathless.

His eyes fluttered closed as she began to undo the button fly on his jeans and his breath hitched in his throat as she encouraged him to lift his hips before pulling his jeans down. "Can this come off again?" she asked, indicating his leg.

It still felt strange to him, allowing her to see him without his prosthetic. Just a couple of months prior, the idea of anyone seeing him that way was an absurd fantasy, something he couldn't foresee that he would ever allow. And now here he was, acquiescing to her request. After removing the leg and rolling off the liner he lay back against her pillows and put his arms out for her to join him. She rested her head against his chest as he buried his face in her hair.

"I don't ever want to have to move," he said, his voice slightly muffled by the top of her head.

Outside the rain picked up again, beating its relentless tattoo against her bedroom window and Peeta was beyond thankful to be indoors, in the warm and dry, with the woman of his dreams curled up in his arms. He looked at Katniss' bedside alarm clock. It was just before eleven o'clock. They would have to leave in a little over six hours if they were to get back to his on time, and knowing how bad Katniss was at early mornings that would mean settling down for the night now.

With a deep sigh he said, "Do you want to get under the covers?"

"Doesn't sound like you want to."

"Katniss, I want to stay up all night banging you senseless, but I need you to be able to drive tomorrow."

"You don't think I can do both?"

He chuckled, a deep rumbling sound which resonated through his chest and into Katniss, into her resting head, causing her to chuckle in response. "No, Katniss, I don't think you can do both. I've seen you in the morning, don't forget."

She playfully pushed him away in mock offense. "Stop it. It's not too late for me to throw you out."

"You wouldn't."

"Do you really want to push your luck?"

He held her even tighter, his arms wrapped around her and pinning her to his body. "I don't want to do anything to risk losing you again."

He felt her breath, warm against his chest, as she sighed. "Peeta, you won't lose me. But you're probably right. I need sleep if I'm going to be human in the morning."

"Don't worry, I'll wake you up when I need to."

"You'll make me coffee?"

"Better than that," he said, his hands drifting lower, squeezing her backside gently. "I'll wake you up in a way that'll give you a grin all day."

"Sounds great," she beamed. "I look forward to it." She rolled over and set her alarm clock. "I'm setting it for four, and we'll need to be up by half past. Is half an hour enough for this wake-up call?"

"Should be ok."

She reached up and kissed him deeply while he held her close, his heart pounding harder and faster than ever. As they climbed under the covers, and Peeta threw his arm over her, spooning her back, he couldn't believe his own luck. He'd gone to bed the night before, desperately drunk, depressed and alone, unsure if he would ever see Katniss' smile again, worried that he was doomed to a life of solitude, and now here he was, cuddling the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen. His eyes fluttered closed, a slight smile on his lips as he allowed his body to drift off to the first peaceful sleep he'd had since discovering the initial truth behind Katniss' motivations for being with him.

Almost as soon as his eyes closed the alarm awoke him with a jolt. He could hear Katniss quietly protesting with a few sleepy moans as he reached over her body to turn the alarm off. Despite how dark it was outside, he was instantly awake. These early morning starts were ingrained in him since childhood.

"Katniss?" he said softly, trying to gently rouse her. Tendrils of hair were cascading over her face and neck, and he tenderly swept them to one side so his lips could connect with the soft skin hidden underneath. As he kissed a line down the side of her neck, she rolled on to her back, and Peeta placed his hands either side of her, supporting his weight as he watched the sleeping goddess beneath him. "Katniss?" he tried once more, placing his lips on hers. She stirred slightly underneath him, her eyes opening momentarily before fluttering closed once again. "Katniss?" he tried again, a little louder this time, before pressing his lips to her pulse point, sucking the skin, laving it with his tongue and dipping his head lower, leaving a trail of kisses in his wake.

He was rewarded for his efforts with a sleepy, contented mewling sound as Katniss brought her hand up to rest against the back of Peeta's head. "Katniss? I need you to wake up, beautiful." He dropped his lips to her collarbone and began to leave a path of kisses ever lower. When he reached her abdomen he heard her whisper, "Peeta," as her fingertips gently massaged into his scalp.

Taking encouragement from her pleasured sighs he dared to venture even lower, hooking his fingers over the waistband of her underwear and pulling them down. It was a bit awkward as Katniss was still half asleep and not helping him at all, but with a bit of effort he managed to wiggle them down past her hips and pulled them free of her legs. The languid smile that spread over her face as he pushed her legs apart and settled in between her knees made his stomach do backflips. "Katniss? This is your early morning wake-up call." Her dipped his head to the apex between her thighs and deftly ran his tongue over her folds.

Her sharp inhalation of breath coupled with her increased grip on his hair told him that his method of rousing her was working. "Oh, Peeta," she gasped as his tongue expertly circled over her clit. His cock was already hard, and he desperately wanted to bury himself inside her, to lose himself as he sought comfort within her, but the sight of her beneath him, the sounds she made as she came, the taste of her, and the sheer eroticism of pleasuring her was just as exciting to him.

He became aware that Katniss' breathing had quickened, that her hips were beginning to roll in time with his ministrations. Bringing his hand into play, he pushed two fingers inside her and curled them forward as he sucked on her clit. Immediately she grasped hold of her pillow and brought it over her face to muffle her cries. It was almost enough to send him spiralling over the edge himself. As her thighs clamped down around either side of his face and her smothered cries rang out, he continued to pump her with his fingers while lapping at her slick folds until he felt her hand on his forehead pushing him away. He slowly withdrew his fingers before sucking at the moisture that clung to them, then crawled up the bed to lie back down beside her, a wide grin on his face. "Morning," he said. "How are you feeling?"

"Mmmm. Far happier than I have any right to be feeling at such a godforsaken hour."

He smiled at the sight of her, basking in the afterglow of her orgasm as he cupped the side of her face and brought her lips to his. "You ready to get up?"

"What about you?" she replied, flicking on her bedside lamp before turning back to him. "I can't let you give me a wake up like that and not return the favour."

He brushed a few loose strands away from her face and looked over at her bedside clock. "Do we have time?" he asked.

She glanced over her shoulder at the time and said, "Depends. How quick can you be?"

"Not sure of the best way to answer that," he snorted.

"Then don't answer," she said as she leant in towards him, her lips parted. As their lips met, he grasped hold of her and rolled on to his back, bringing her with him. His breath caught in his throat as he felt her hand reach down between the two of them and slide under the waistband of his boxers. Her fingers curled around his erection, stroking up and over his length, her thumb smoothing the moisture it found over the head before she withdrew her hand, resting it on his chest as she kissed his forehead.

"Katniss," he moaned softly in to her neck, running his fingers along her spine. "Don't tease me."

Her smile widened as she encouraged him to lift his hips and helped him out of his boxers. "You know," she said, her eyes darkening with lust as she took in the sight of him, "I've wanted to make you come with my mouth again since the first night we slept together. Sit up for me."

Butterflies fluttered in his stomach as he did as she asked. He watched Katniss lower her mouth towards him, then wound his hands into her hair as she wrapped her lips around his cock. "Oh, fuck, Katniss…" he hissed as her tongue ran around the ridge of his head, the searing heat of her kisses draining all rational thought from him. Without relinquishing his grip on her, he tried to sit up straighter so he could watch as she took him deeper and deeper, her hollowed cheeks sucking him harder than he ever thought possible.

If she wanted him to come quickly she was going the right way about it; there was no way he was going to last long with such a sensual assault on him. Part of him wanted to push her away, to make her stop so that he might prolong his pleasure; he was torn between the want of it lasting longer and the need to climax. Need won out over want and he held her steady as her fingers curled around the base of his cock, and she began to slowly stroke what she couldn't take in her mouth. "Oh, Katniss…" he choked out, shuddering as the pressure inside him suddenly reached its peak, radiating outwards in hot waves. He hadn't had time to warn Katniss before his orgasm was torn from his body and she pulled away suddenly, gagging slightly as his semen hit the back of her throat. "Oh, fuck, I'm so sorry," he gasped, breathless and embarrassed.

"It's ok," she spluttered, wiping her mouth on the back of her hand. "Seriously," she said, taking in the look of worry on his face. "I'll take it as a compliment."

"It was pretty fucking spectacular," he said, collapsing back against the pillow.

"Don't get too comfortable," she warned him. "All this early morning sex was for a reason, remember?"

"I know," he sighed. "I just wish we didn't have to rush off anywhere. And I really am sorry. Please don't take it as a sign of things to come."

"I won't," she responded, a twinkle in her eye. "And I guess it helped with the wake-up too. There's no way I'll fall asleep again now."

With a swift kiss to his lips she clambered out of bed and threw on some clothes, Peeta watching her, still in disbelief at his change in fortune. He wasn't sure if he would ever get used to feeling as happy as he did with her, but, he reasoned, that was something he would have to learn to live with.