My Dark Past [Completed]

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Wedding Plans

My dad is finally out of the hospital after spending so long in there for his cancer and now he's resting at home but very weak, luckily mom has everything under control, Prim sadly wasn't able to come home this Christmas but she's promised that she'll be here in the summer for Peeta and I's wedding. I've finally found a dress for the wedding for both myself and the bridesmaids which is a relief because now all Peeta and I have to do is find a venue and reception then we're done, I can tell that Peeta is nothing but excited for the wedding to come and I'm the same but the thought of my dad not making it till then always runs through my head and makes me feel upset if he never gets to walk me down the isle.... I know he's strong though, he'll fight for us and for me.

I sit on the fire escape looking down as cars drive by every now and again, Peeta is still at the bakery and I just needed air because of my thoughts that we're starting to get to me, especially the ones about my dad.... what if he doesn't get to see Peeta and I get married? Or Prim get married and have kids? That's something that runs through my head almost everyday and for some reason I feel like that it's going to happen but I don't want it to because he's my dad and I can't imagine life without him.... but I have Peeta, he makes me feel that I can move on if my dad does pass suddenly and in a way he's prepared me for it which is the reason why I'm marrying him, why I might consider starting a family with him after we're married.

Peeta eventually gets home and joins me from where I sit on the fire escape but says nothing knowing that I like it when we have our silent times together but I do lean into him as we both look at the lit up night sky

"Do you know how your dad's feeling?" He asks

"He's doing better, he's just in need of a lot of rest. Mom doesn't let him do anything that isn't relaxing" I reply

"Well that's good, that means he can get better quicker, right?" Peeta says

"I guess, he's strong but he's like me, he hates showing that he's weak. That's the best thing about him, he loves being strong for the people he loves" I admit

"That's definitely what you do even when you don't have to, like right now. Katniss, I know your having trouble processing this and it's hard on you definitely but it's hard on everyone, you don't need to compress your worries and stress to act strong, especially around me" He replies and kisses my temple

"I know.... it's just hard, I can't imagine life without my dad. He's my best friend and he always has but I never want him to leave me, my heart aches at the thought" I finally open up to Peeta and my tears start falling, Peeta pulls me closer to him and it feels like my dad giving me a hug, I realise that if my dad did die suddenly that I'd still have my other best friend to help me

"It's a hard thing to think about... but we can get through it together, okay?" He reassures me

"Yeah, together" I smile and give him a kiss

"Together and always" he sighs, I lean more into him and we sit there in more silence just enjoying each other's company.

+++++

As I do my usual study of new discovered plants and animals a voice over the intercom calling all staff to the conference room by our boss, with an annoyed groan I make my way to the conference room but when I walk in I almost run out because next to my boss is Terri from college, the one who pretty much admitted at destroying Peeta and I's relationship. I take my usual seat and wait for everyone to sit around the table, whispering about who on earth Terri is

"Everyone! This is Terri Hilton, he's going to be a new employee here and I want him treated with the same respect that you have for each other" Mr Rowd announces and I mentally groan knowing that this can't end well. I spend my work hours examining a deer that accidentally ate a daffodil, it sounds like I'm a vet I know but that's also part of this building, high tech vet clinic, I work with wild animals who need a chance to live which is why I love my job so much, I'm able the extract the poison out of the deers body and get her stitched up, I walk out and sign the papers about the dears progress

"You done amazing in there" I hear Terri say next to me

"I guess, I've been doing it for a few months now. I've got a wedding to save for" I reply

"Wedding? Oh that's right, you and Peeta got engaged at graduation" he chuckles

"Why are you in town? I know that you've got no family here, in fact your family live no where near here" I scoff

"Is this how you greet an old friend?" He asks

"You're not my friend, never will be" I scoff

"I didn't mean to get in between you and Peeta, I swear, my jealousy just got the better of me...." he admits

"That's nice but I really don't care, I don't want us talking at work unless it's to do with work, okay? Not a peep about anything else or it'll be your turn to regret ever meeting me" I growl, I push past him and continue down the hallway, fucking dick wad, thinking he can just come here and be friends, not a chance.

+++++

Peeta does this often, taking me out to the same restaurant that we went to as an engaged couple but the problem is that it's expensive and even though I hate Peeta spending his well earned money on me but he loves it which makes me happy which leads us to both being happy and that's how I want it to be. During our night Peeta and I discuss on different places to have the ceremony and reception because there's only three months till the set date that we wanted, eventually we agree on a ceremony and reception, we start talking and of course we get onto the subject of the future

"So, do you see us having kids one day?" Peeta asks, I knew that he'd ask this eventually.... and I just shrug

"I'm not too sure, I'd love to give that to you but I feel that if we did have a baby that something bad would happen to him or her which worries me because knowing my luck. I don't think it's a possibility Peeta, I'm sorry" I reply with a sigh and he frowns, I really do wish that I could promise him a definite but I can't but I know what I can promise him...

"Listen, after we get married, we just have a few years as a married couple and then maybe I'll think about it, maybe, it's not a definite" I reply feeling defeated, this man is my weakness and back when I first came here it would terrify me but I've got a change of thought even though the things he somehow gets me to agree on is just so unbelievable to me

"You'll never believe who's started at my work as of today"

"Who?" Peeta asks

"Terri from my college. I couldn't believe my eyes" I admit

"What?! Did you tell your boss? He sees you as a daughter, he must've done something" Peeta says

"Well, he said that he couldn't just fire him just because of that but he's made sure that Terri and I work on the same days as less as possible and made sure it was different departments" I reply

"Okay, good. If he tries anything then I'll be down there in a flash" Peeta says with relief in his voice

"Trust me that asshole will have nothing to do with me, ever again"