Fighting For You: Forever

Chapter 3

"Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep balance you must keep moving."

Peeta POV

I slump back on a stool, wiping back my sweaty fringe with my hand causing a fine layer of flour to settle over me. I employ two others, old residents of the pre-bombed Seam and I've paid one of them extra to stay on a bit late so I can leave early.

I'm getting more worried by the minute and I know worrying isn't going to help the situation what so ever but I can't help it. Katniss is the only person I've ever wanted to even consider marrying and if she rejects me, I literally don't know what I'd do with myself. I'd be broken into little pieces, that's for sure.

I'm trying to make everything perfect. Whenever I've had a free moment in the day, I've been baking her favourite dish of cheese buns or some iced buns or delicate little cupcakes. I've also purchased a small, pretty box for the ring which is presently in my back pocket; I'm picking up flowers for her on the way home too. I've planned this night to the very last second yet I'm still shaking with fear at the thought of getting down on one knee and pouring my heart out to the girl I love when there's a chance that's she's just going to tear me down.

When the clock hits half four, I shout a goodbye to my employee and head to the flower shop on the other side of the square. The town square has come a long way in three years and it now has the range of shops it used to have before the rebellion with a butchers, sweet shop, shoe shop, grocers and even a mini supermarket, just to name a few.

I always have loved the little flower shop. It's just a square wooden shack that's tacked on to the grand clothes shop and even though its small, pokey and probably falling apart, it's every surface is overflowing with flowers and plants that really brighten it up; it smells amazing too.

I collect the flowers I'd preordered from the old lady behind the counter; they were a real mixture of plants from primroses to dandelions to daisies to carnations and they colours were a mixture too.

I really hope she loves them.

Katniss POV

I'm sitting on our bed when I hear Peeta come through the front door so I immediately get up and race down the stairs. I throw myself into his arms and I hear him chuckle in response as he wraps his strong arms around me.

'Hey, you alright ' he asks in a soft voice that makes me shiver in pleasure. I nod in reply and wiggle deeper into our embrace; he moves one of his hands from my waist and raises it up to fiddle with my side braid absent mindedly.

'I missed you too Kat, but I need to prepare for our date tonight.' His statement makes me raise my head from its comfy place on his chest.

'Prepare? It's only me Peeta, I've told you before, it doesn't have to be that special.' I mean it's true, we've been properly dating for three years yet he still makes such an effort. And even though its so sweet and I love it when he does it, I don't want him going to any extra effort just for me. I'm nothing special.

'What? You did not just say that! Of course it has to be special! Katniss, I've loved you since I was five and its always been my dream to be able to spoil you and treat you perfectly, so every date we ever has is going to be very, very, very special.'

I grin at his utterly sweet response and kiss him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He smiles into the kiss and pulls me closer to him; we stay like this until we hear Johanna and Annie enter through the front door and we jump apart.

'Hey Lovebirds!' Johanna calls to us as she walks straight into the kitchen. 'Ooh! Who are all these baked things for? Can I have one? Or like ten?'

'What! No! Johanna leave them alone!' Peeta calls back before facing me again. 'I'll go get it all ready, should be done in like ten minutes?'

And even though I hate seeing him go, even if its just to the kitchen, I nod and go to wait on the sofa where Annie joins me a few moments later, Finley balanced on her hip.

'Hey Katniss!'

'Hi Annie, and hi Finley!' I say, stroking his chubby fingers softly. Even though he's three, he's really small and under developed for his age, this is why he's only just said his first word. The doctors say its because Annie went through so much stress in her first trimester of pregnancy; they also say that he'll catch up to all the others kids by the time he's five so its okay.

Finley responds to my action by wrapping his whole hand around my index finger and he starts shaking it up and down, laughing as he does so. Annie smiles and hands him to me where I perch him on my knee.

'He loves you Kat!' She smiles as Finley suddenly lets go of my finger and starts softly tugging on the end of my braid, clearly fascinated by it.

'Maybe, but he loves Peeta more!' I reply because its true but then again everyone gets on with Peeta so it's not very surprising; plus, he's great with kids.

Finley suddenly pulls my hair tie free from my brown locks and happily chucks it over his shoulder; as I bend over to pick it up, my knee goes up and down making Finley jiggle a bit causing him to laugh. Amused at his reaction, I start bouncing my knee up and down making him laugh sweetly again. Annie smiles at the two of us and holds Finley's hands to stop him falling off as I continue to bounce him up and down.

I don't know how long we go on like this: me bouncing, Finley laughing, me and Annie smiling, over and over again. It's only when I raise my head that I see Peeta standing in the kitchen doorway watching me and Finley with a look I couldn't quite read on his face.

'Peeta? How long have you been standing there?' He simply smiles and shrugs in response. I'm intrigued by the look on his face though, it was definitely a happy one but I still couldn't quite understand it exactly.

'What you thinking about?' I ask.

'Oh just how happy you look with- never mind. You ready?' He smiles his sweet smile, the one that makes me melt a little inside, as he raises his hand to show a picnic basket.

'Sure.' I reply as I hand Finely back to Annie and get up to leave with Peeta.

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Hey guys!

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🙈I really hope you like this update, I'm sorry if not that much happens but, as you can probably guess, quite a lot will happen in the next chapter🙈

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Olivia x