Reuniting Our Lives

Epic Part One

The days and weeks went on with the usual routine of Peeta going to the bakery, and me going into the woods to hunt. The more time passes, the more I accept that Finnick is alive, and the more I want for Peeta to propose.

"Katniss, I'm home," Peeta yells as he arrives back home from the bakery. He smells of so many wonderful breads; cinnamon, dill, rosemary, and so many others I can't yet pick out.

I walk over to the door where he's taking off his shoes, and hug him.

"What was that for?" Peeta laughs.

"I just missed you. I miss you everyday you go out without me. The house is so empty without anyone to share it with."

"I missed you, too. I'll tell you what. You go upstairs and get changed into something nice, and I'll take you out tonight. How does that sound?"

I look down at my stained sweatpants and one of Peeta's T-shirts that I'm wearing. "You don't think I look nice?"

"You always look nice, but your clothes don't by some peoples' standards. Hurry up and change!" he whines.

I run up the stairs and go to a part of my closet that I never thought I would use the clothes from. Some of the wedding dresses from when Peeta and I were to be married in the Capitol are still hanging there, along with dresses from the Victory Tour, and others that Effie had either brought or sent to me. I look through them and find a dark orange dress with a collar that I decide to wear. It's casual, but for me, I would consider wearing it at a wedding since it's much more formal than what I usually wear. I put it on, and take my hair out of its braid, combing through it with my fingers. I look in the mirror, and at first glance, I know that Peeta will love it, but the more I look, the more I see all of the scars from the patchwork skin I needed after the rebellion. I wipe tears away and walk downstairs before I could look in another reflective surface, only to meet Peeta wearing a light blue button down shirt with khaki pants and brown shoes. He looks at least ten times better than me, and I just stare at him as he does the same to me.

"You look amazing, Katniss."

"Words can't describe how you look."

Peeta takes a basket from the counter that I hadn't noticed until now, and I get thoroughly confused. I thought he was going to take me out to dinner at one of the fancy restaurants that sprang up in Twelve after the rebellion. I suppose it was just going to be a picnic in the Meadow, which had become a monthly or even weekly thing that I had enjoyed every time we came out.

Peeta laid out a blanket on the ground in the Meadow overlooking the forest, and after I sat down, I couldn't help but daydream about my many hours spent there. I make a note to take Peeta hunting sometime, even if his prosthetic scares away some of the prey.

We eat sandwiches made on cheese buns, some fruit, and water as we watch the sun slowly fall to the horizon. I see why Peeta loves the colour so much. It's such a calming shade of orange that you can't help but fall asleep in its presence.

Peeta and I both lay down on the ground watching the sunset until I start to fall asleep on his shoulder. He wakes me from my daze, and pulls two torches from the basket, handing one to me before helping me off of the ground. At first, I start heading for the District, but Peeta pulls me towards the woods, putting us into a lot of danger. The nighttime animals in the forest are worse than the daytime, and surely will bring back memories of the first games and the muttations.

About an hour later, we reach the lake and the little shack that my father showed me when I was younger. I told Peeta about this place once, but I never knew that he found it. He leads me to the one roomed house and allows me to go in first.

Daisy and lily petals are scattered on the floor, and a small fire lit in the fireplace. I see a small pile of blankets in the corner that I know weren't there the last time I was here. Peeta must've done this and planned something up.

"Peeta," I say turning around, only to see him down on one knee. I can't believe this is happening.

"Katniss, I fell in love with you when I was five years old. Since then, I had tried to work up the courage to talk to you. When I threw you the bread, I never knew how much that would change our lives. How it would keep your family alive, how it would make me love you even more. Because of that, I got to talk to you in person, and because of the Games, I was able to finally tell you of my love for you.

"When I found out that you were just acting in love for the cameras, I hated you. You broke my heart into so many pieces, and I couldn't stand that anyone could be so cruel as to do that, but I knew you had to do it to stay alive, and ultimately go home and keep your mother and sister alive. I had to volunteer for Haymitch in the Quell because there was no way that I could be talking to other people to get you sponsors to keep you alive. I had to physically be there to ensure that you would stay alive, otherwise, you might never have made it out.

"I fought so hard to keep my memories of you intact when I was in the Capitol, but it was too strong. The moment that I realised I hurt you, I tried to hurt myself to feel your pain, and to never let that happen again. Through the hijacking, I had to keep reminding myself that I loved you so much. So so much. And when I got back here after being rehabilitated, I was so excited to see you, but I was also worried that you would've found another man, and that you would've moved on. Never would I have believed that you would be in such a state where you wished you could swallow that nightlock pill.

"These past few months have been the hardest for sure, even harder than being in the Capitol at times, but I know that I could never let my life be without you.

"Katniss Everdeen," Peeta says as he exposes the ring with the pearl on a simple silver band, "will you marry me?"