Begin Again [Wattys 2013 Finalist]

Chapter 41

Peeta's POV

Asking Katniss to move in with me last week was one of the most nerveracking things I've ever done. Right up there with proposing to her on television, but worse. I knew what she would say then. She had no choice but to say yes. We'd planned it. But this time, I had no idea. At first, I thought she was going to hit me or run away or something. But she didn't. She just wrapped her arms tightly around my neck and said,

"Yes. That seems logical."

That made me laugh, which made her laugh. It was a good night. And today she moves in. She's been bringing stuff over all week, but she wanted to wait until that police officer was done monitoring her, which he is now. She's back to normal, and is consistently taking her medicine. I make sure that she does. I like it when we're both healthy and happy. A couple of days ago we carted over a good portion of her furniture to Delly, who was in need of it considering she just moved into her house. We also brought some to Greasy Sae and her granddaughter. So now Katniss' house is practically empty. It's about 11 in the morning when I see her walk out of her house with the last bag of clothes. I'm outside shoveling away an area of ground to turn into a garden as she tosses her bag inside and runs to hug me.

"You're sweaty," she says.

"It's hot out."

"I live with you now!"

"Are you happy?"

"Yes!"

And she starts to kiss me. I love when she kisses me. I hardly remember the ones from pre-hijacking, so I like to savor her kisses now. I love the way she pulls down on my neck, like she can't seem to bring me closer to her. I love the way we become one person whenever we kiss. I can feel her smiling and, before I can do anything, she collapses down into the soft grass, pulling me with her. I'm not very good one my feet, considering the prosthetic leg, and I was distracted.

"Look who's happy today," I say.

She smiles widely and reaches out for my hands. I take her right hand in my right and her left hand in my left so that our arms are crossed and we pull ourselves up together.

"You're standing on the garden," I say.

"Make me move," she shoots back.

So I run around the side of the house where the hose is located. I grab it and get ready to spray as I round the corner. When I do, she's sitting on the patch of dirt, practically asking me to soak her. So I do.

"Peeta!"

She screams my name and scrambles to stand up against the force of the water. I let her run at me and turn the hose so that its force is on me. As the water drenches every part of my body, I lift Katniss off the ground, causing her to drop the hose. I kiss her again, passionately, a kiss filled with love. The water from the hose sprays up into the air and falls right back down on us, reminding me of our first kiss after the war. The first kiss of our new beginning. And I love her now more than ever.  Her birthday is tomorrow, and I don't even think she knows it. She's ten times better than she's ever been, but the days just kind of blow by aimlessly for her still. When she stops moving her lips and pulls away, I put her down and smile, thinking how happy she'll be tomorrow when she realizes that I remembered her birthday.