A Mockingjay's Journey

Chapter 24

~1 Month Later~

~Katniss POV~

Finally, after a month of hard work and lots of help from Haymitch, I get the bakery finished! It looks brand new and I just hope Peeta loves it. I think it will give him something to do instead of hovering over me all the time and waiting on me hand and foot. Don't get me wrong, I love how he is such a gentlemen and helps me out, but I want him to be able to go out and enjoy making other people happy with his baked goods. I'm willing to share him with the district.

I wake up to the sound of Peeta's humming. He isn't in the room so he must be downstairs. I slowly get out of bed and make my way downstairs. When I turn the corner I see that Peeta has set up his art supplies in the kitchen. There is a big easel with a canvas on it and paints everywhere. I stare in awe at Peeta painting and humming. He hasn't painted since...well before the quarter quell. He must not have heard me when I came down the stairs because he doesn't notice I'm behind him.

"P-Peeta...thats...it's beautiful," I stammer.

Peeta jumps at my sudden outburst and his face turns bright red. He must not have wanted me to see him painting and is suddenly embarrassed. "Oh! Katniss I didn't realize you were down here!"

"When did you start painting again Peeta?" I ask, still not able to get over it.

"Well I was sorting through the things in the office and I found my paints and I just thought about how much I missed painting and decorating cakes and cookies at the bakery. I really miss it Katniss. The bakery was a part of me. It was always constant and always there and now it feels like some part of me is missing. I know that probably sounds stupid.."

"No Peeta, it makes perfect sense," I say cutting him off, "When I go without hunting for awhile I get the same feeling. Could you maybe take a break from painting? I have something to show you!"

He gives me a questioning look but nods and sets down his paints. I tell him to get shoes and a jacket on and to meet me outside. I step out on to the porch and take a deep breath. I wasn't planning on showing Peeta the bakery today but hey, why not? Peeta joins me on the pouch and raises his eyebrows questioningly. I just giggle and take his hand.

~Peeta POV~

At first I have no clue where we are going but then once we turn down Main Street I get the idea. Suddenly I'm filled with anger. I do not want to go back to that destroyed bakery. Too many memories, good and bad, that were made in that place. And now that it has been destroyed it makes me so angry. The bakery used to be my refuge and now I avoid it at all costs. Katniss must have sensed that I tensed up so she gives my hand a squeeze and a smirk. At least if I have to go back into the bakery, I have her by my side.

My guess must have been right because we come to a step in front of the old bakery. The weird thing is that the signs looks brand new. And instead of saying "The Mellark Family Bakery" it says "The Bakery of District 12." No one else loves their District as much as Katniss do I immediately know it's she who has done this.

She starts to walk up to the door and I stay where I am just staring at the sign in awe. "Peeta,"she says, "I know you don't like to come in here anymore, but trust me. Please come here, just this once."

Her tone and face is practically begging me to follower her in so of course I do just that. And it might be one of the best decisions of my life. The bakery is totally transformed. In the front are a dozen tables with chairs all around them, new curtains on the windows, pictures of Katniss and I, Effie, Haymitch, our families and tons of families from District 12. In the back there are four brand new, giant ovens, refrigerators, display cases for pastries, and all different kinds of new equipment. The walls are painted sunset orange, my favorite color, and the whole bakery just looks so beautiful.

I turn to look at Katniss and I'm speachless. We both have tears in our eyes and suddenly she just starts bawling. She explains how she lied to me about going hunting all this month and has been here, fixing up the place instead. She is hard to understand between sobs and her voice being muffled because her head is on my chest. I just hold her in an embrace for what feels like an hour before I can finally form a sentence.

"Thank you Katniss. Thank you for lying to me and sacrificing your hunting time to create this beautiful surprise for me. It's gorgeous. I'm seriously so thankful that you are my fiancé. I love you so much and cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you."

That makes her cry more. I've never been great with crying girls but I've learned that it's best just to let them cry and hold them and comfort them. So we just sit there in the beautiful bakery while I hold Katniss and she crys her eyes out for the next of the afternoon.

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IM SO SORRY ITS BEEN SO LONG! I seriously have no excuse for not updating! I'm sorry I forgot and I've been reading so much and UGHHHH im sorry! I hope you enjoyed this chapter it took a freaking long time to write! Lol! Thanks so much for reading my story!(: I'm so thankful for each and every one of you guys! Thanks again! ~Jordan