Forever (Sequel to Always)

Chapter 15

Katniss P.O.V.

"Peeta, slow down," I say. Peeta and I went walking around 12 today and he keeps getting too far ahead of me. I have no clue where he's taking me, and I don't want to get lost. There's a lot more traffic in 12 now than there was five years ago.

During Peeta's first year as president, reconstruction on 12 really picked up. It started with just a few stores and a couple houses. It rapidly grew from there. It looks more like a town now than it ever has.

Peeta turns around and smiles at me. "What's the matter?" he asks. "Can't keep up?"

"You're too fast," I say when I finally catch up to him.

"You're too slow."

"I'm seven months pregnant." He laughs and wraps an arm around my shoulders. We start walking again, but at a slower pace. "Where are we going anyways?" I ask as we round a corner.

"It's a surprise," Peeta says.

"Peeta, just tell me. You know I don't like surprises."

"And you know I don't like ruining surprises," Peeta says with a grin. I sigh and we keep walking. A few minutes later, Peeta stops walking and turns around. I look at him, expecting him to say something or start walking again. When he doesn't, I start laughing.

"This is what you're wanting to show me?" I ask. "An abandoned building?" He shakes his head. "Well, if we're done sightseeing," I say as I roll my eyes, "let's go home. Your wife and baby are getting hungry."

"Hang on a second. Let me explain," Peeta says.

"Well, hurry up."

"Impatient," he mumbles. I scowl at him. "Okay," he laughs. "The other night when we were talking about moving back to 12, I got to thinking about all the money that we're going to have after our house in the Capitol sells and everything."

"So?" I ask. "That still doesn't explain what we're doing here."

"I'm getting to that. I then got to thinking about what we would do with that money." I give him a questioning look. "I'm wanting to buy this building and turn it into a bakery to manage after we move back to 12."

"Really?" I ask. "Well, I want to know what you think, of course," Peeta replies. I look at Peeta for a minute, and then I look down at the ground. "Hey," Peeta says as he puts a hand under my chin and tilts my head up so I can see his face. "Katniss, it's okay if you don't want me to. It was just a thought."

"It's not that I don't want you to," I say truthfully. "I just thought that you'd take a break for a while." He smiles at me.

"You mean stay home with you everyday?"

"You could," I say. "I mean we still have a lot of money saved up, not including what we'll get from the house. Right?"

"Well, yeah," Peeta replies. "But Kat, that money isn't going to last forever. Especially not when we have a baby on the way. And it's better to do something with the money now while we can than it is to wait until we're running low."

"I think you should go for it," I say.

"Don't say that just because I have a very valid point."

"I'm not," I say while laughing. I really want you to. I think it would be good for both of us."

"You're sure?" Peeta asks.

"I'm sure," I say before I reach up and kiss him.

"I'll be remodeling it for a while, but I promise I'll take off a few weeks before and after the baby is born."