Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Eighty-Four

Peeta POV- (A week later, June 25th. Mellark Ranch)

"I remember the first time we came out here. You asked me out on our first 'official' date. You were so nervous." Katniss says, laying flat on her stomach on the picnic blanket we have spread out, overlooking the quarry.

"I was VERY nervous." I laugh, remembering my sweaty palms and shaky words.

Katniss smiles admiringly at me.

"Why? You already knew that I loved you."

I shrug, "I guess it was because I wanted it to be perfect and it was the first time I had asked anyone out."

She gives me a shy smile, "You made it the most perfect first moment for us."

I chuckle, "To many more come." I say, taking a sip of sugarless tea.

Katniss scoffs and glances about the view.

The vines and grasses and wildflowers are just perfect.

They pop up in between the large rocks in many shades of green, some pink, purple and yellow.

I look down at Katniss who doesn't see me watching her. Everywhere her eyes move, they find something they like as they grow involuntarily bigger.

I bite my lip, to hold back laughter.

"Katniss, you know that no matter how much we fight I will never stop loving you." I tell her, leaning over and kissing the tip of her nose.

Her long eyelashes flutter shut and she gives me a soft smile and turns over on her back, taking my hand in hers.

"Come here." I say and she sits upright.

"What?" Katniss asks, giving me a look.

I laugh, "Just come here, put your head in my lap. Just look up at the clouds." I tell her and she does.

I unravel the long braid she wears and run my fingers through her soft, brown hair.

It smells so good, like it always does.

I lean down, kissing her cheek, mostly to get a whiff of her hair and partly because I love her.

"What are you doing?" She laughs, looking back at me.

"Nothing, just relax." I say, combing through her hair with my fingers and leaning down, resting my lips on her forehead.

She moves her hands to my cheeks and squishes my cheeks together and giggles.

Then takes my deformed positioned lips and presses them to her own.

"I love you so so so much, Peeta Mellark."

I feel my already hot face redden, "I love you too, Katniss Mellark."

She gives me a cheesy grin, "It's weird still, being Katniss Mellark. I mean, being married to you is just normal but being Katniss Mellark is weird. I don't know how to explain it." She says, staring up at the sky.

I chuckle and look up too, "What are you looking at?" I ask.

She yawns, "Nothing. The clouds. The color of the sky."

"Do you see anything up there?" I ask, meaning if she sees any shapes in the clouds.

"Not in the clouds. But I see something in the color of the sky that's comforting." Katniss says sleepily.

I push some hair back out of her face, "What's that?"

Katniss takes a deep breath before mumbling: "The color of the sky is the exact same shade as your eyes."

I don't know how to verbally reply to that so I don't.

I just let out a breathy laugh and give her a look of admiration, then look curiously into the sky.