After The Games

Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

I wake up.

"Katniss! You okay?" Peeta asks. "Fine," I say, "just a --"

"Bad dream?" Peeta interrupts. "Yea. Just a dream."

I entangle my fingers with his and kiss his lips. They are soft and warm. Peeta pulls away from me. I am confused. Did I do something wrong? No. The corners of his lips rise into a slight smile.

"I love you" Peeta whispers.

A smile crosses my face as I stare deep into his  eyes.

"I love you too" I say before I kiss him again.

+++++

When my eyes open I see rays of sunlight creeping in from a gap in the curtains. I roll over and standing there in front of me is Peeta. He is turned away, back facing me, only wearing his jeans and now sliding on a plain grey shirt. The sunlight shines upon his back, it looks smooth and soft. He turns around as he pulls the rest of his shirt over his stomach.

"Morning," he says.

"Morning," my words are almost like a whisper as I stumble to sit up. "What time is it?" I ask. "Almost eight. I'll go --" before he can finish Willow and Rye come rushing in, smiling and laughing at something unknown. " -- wake up... the kids" Peeta continues and looks to me as to ask why they are so happy but I just shrug and we both smile. Willow pulls open the curtains and the sunlight blinds me. I rub my eyes and brush the hair off my face with my hands.

"Why are you two all cheerful?" I ask. "School mum" exclaims Willow, "it's Eye's first day of school! I can't wait this is going to be awesome!"

"Right, come on then," Peeta says as he picks Rye up and onto his shoulders, "you come help me with breakfast while your mother does Willows hair." Peeta smiles as he walks out with Rye and Willow jumps up onto the bed with me. She's already dressed in her school clothes and just sits there smiling in silence. Her golden brown hair falls neatly over her shoulders. As I begin to brush her hair, I notice that she is humming something but I can't quite put my finger on what it is.

The Panem national anthem.

No wonder I could hardly recognise it, no one sings it much anymore around here. I still remember the words just not so much the tune.

I braid her hair into two French braids down either side of her head just like my mother would do for Prim. My eyes sting and begin to water and the thought of Prim.

"There we go," I sniff a little and wipe my eyes free from the tears that were forming, "all done." Willow turns around and kisses me on the cheek. We both get up and walk towards the door.

"Thanks mum" she says as we walk out.