My dandelion-Everlark fanfiction

Chapter 37

No matter where I look first, my gaze always seems to end on my left hand. I am engaged. To Peeta Mellark. And for real, this time. It's funny how I once swore I would never get married, never get involved with a love that could possibly lead to children. I never understood the people who did, who could be so foolish and then have to bring children into the horrid world we live in. But now I understand why they would risk it. Why they risked the love.

Luckily Panem has become less horrid, a better place to live. People can choose, they have options, they are free. You can get hold of many, many different things we couldn't before. I still don't want any children, mostly because I'm afraid. Afraid of being a bad mother, not being able to take care of them, afraid to commit to such a thing.

We're walking hand in hand from the meadow and heading home. As we cross the gates to the Victors' village I have a thought. "We should let Haymitch know", I say and Peeta kisses my forehead.

"Of course. I can't wait to brag about my fiancé." Fiancé. I taste the new word. Fiancé. Fiancé. A smile creeps onto my lips. I like it. I am Peeta's fiancé. And he's mine.

We knock on the door trying to ignore the quacks of his three geese. He needed another distraction besides drinking, so he got himself three geese to raise. He still drinks. Way too much, Effie visits and sometimes stays for longer at his house. When she's around Haymitch drinks less, but the bottles are empty not long after she leaves back to Capitol. Then he just sits around raising his geese, waiting for the Effie to arrive with a train sometime soon.

Before we can just go in ourselves, the door is opened by Effie. "Oh, Hello", she chatters and gives us both a hug. "And happy birthday, Katniss." I thank her and she fixes a wrinkle on my shirt.

"Hello Effie. We didn't know you were here again", Peeta says.

"Well, I came yesterday evening, because I wanted to come here to congratulate you today", she says looking at me. "Oh come in", she says and skitters to the living room where Haymitch is sitting, pouring a drink for himself.

"Well hello there", he says and places his flask away. "Oh, and happy birthday to you."

"Thanks", I say smiling. I feel Peeta walk next to me and wrap his arm around my waist. Both Effie and Haymitch are staring at us.

"You are in an oddly cheery mood", Haymitch says, rising his brows, no doubt directing the question for me, smiling like an idiot.

"I think my fiancé has something to show you", Peeta says.

"Fiancé?!" Effie shrieks. I hold my left hand up so they can both see the ring. "Oh my godness! Congratulations!" Effie rushes to give us one big, excited hug. Even Haymitch puts his glass down to hug us.

"Finally had the guts to pop the question, huh?" Haymitch asks Peeta as they share a man hug, patting each other on the back.

"Finally?" I ask raising my eyebrows and poking Peeta's side with a finger. "Nervous much?" I tease him.

"He's had the ring for months now", Haymitch laughs. "He asked me right after New years if it would be too soon." I turn to look at Peeta. After the new years?

"Peeta?" This would mean he had had the ring for like five months. "You knew I was gonna say yes, right?" Was he doubting if I would? Have I given him reason to doubt it? We fight sometimes - like any couple does - but usually about nothing serious and we always make up. Is this just something every guy is nervous about? To get it done right?

"Well yeah I mean I thought you most likely would, but you had said you never wanted to marry so..." he answers and I sigh.

"That was years ago", I say laughing a little. That's why he was acting a little nervous today. And now that I think about it, there have been a couple other moments.