➶ I take Peeta's hand across the table and lead him upstairs to our bedroom. I slam the door shut and lock the knob with a swift movement of my thumbs. We take a seat on the edge of our bed, and I stare into his soul through his innocent blue eyes. "Gale kissed me..." I state. His jaw drops and he pulls me into his arms, wiping away my now tear stained cheeks. "How did- where? What... When did this happen?" I can see he's now frustrated, his eyes now fiery red. His anger is boiling up and his breath very heavy. "When I took R-rye to the w-woods, he was standing by the t-tree filled with my bow. I asked him what he was doing here, and he just blandly kissed me." ❁❁➶❁❁ I tell Peeta everything that happened. Why I took Rye out, why I practically kicked Gale's ass, and how frightened I was as I ran through the door, even my trembling legs underneath the table. Peeta shows no sign of anger towards me, but deep down, past all the sensitivity and kindness... I know Peeta wants to rips Gale's head off. They say your eyes are the window to your soul, and the window was wide open when I looked. He was clearly protective, wanting no one to make me feel uncomfortable, and Gale being there did exactly that. When Gale moved to district two, I had to forget, and seeing him in those woods was something I certainly won't forget. Even the time I brushed right past him, when I was running with Peeta, and again when he showed up in the woods when I was pregnant. He seems to just think that the woods is the only place I won't be protected from Peeta, giving him the opportunity and courage to approach me. He was defiantly approached by my hand when I smacked it across his face last time. He now just someone that I used to know, and Peeta realizes that the only way to get over the grief was to be with him, marry him, and have two wonderful children with him. And I knew Peeta was going to get Gale back. After our discussion, we quietly sneak back into the dining room, slip into our seats, and calmly finish dinner until dusk. ➶
➶ The next morning as the sun rises, I turn to Peeta. He pulls me closer under our bed sheets, and we relax for a while. It's a Monday, and Peeta took the day off to spend some time with me being since he's been working so much. I was thinking we could maybe bake, watch a movie... You know, things like that. But today I have something else in mind that I think he might like better.Once Willow and Rye are all dressed and ready, had breakfast, and put on their shoes, Peeta drops them off at school. Before he leaves, I tell him to meet me in the woods, so I gather my boots and leather jacket. Once I think I'm ready, I head out. ❁❁➶❁❁ Within ten minutes, I'm already under the fence, and trotting down the steep hill for the hollow log that contains my bow and arrow. I catch Peeta's glance, and wave for him to come over. He nods back, acknowledging my presence. Peeta fumbles as he passes through the fence, and can't keep his balance as the runs down the hill, something I learned from my father not to do. I start to laugh, and Peeta's cheeks start to turn pink. "What?" He asks. "You think you pull that off better than I did?" He walks over to me, one hand on his hip, all sassy. "Yes, yes I do." I state, a little attitude mixed in my words. After our pep-talk, I decide to tell him what he's actually doing here, learning to hunt. I don't think I'll ever forget his face when I told him, and how frightened he looked. I reassure him it will be fun, and take his hand leading him over to the hollow log. He take the bow in his hand, already preloaded, as I teach him some of the basic skills and maneuvers of hunting. After about an hour or so, he gets pretty good. He shot a squirrel in the side, and I managed to get another in the eye. We stayed in the woods for two hours, then finish up and placed my bow back in the log. Peeta and I lock hands as we walk back to our place, noticing how hunting wore us out. "You know, maybe I'll be able to get Gale next time with those skills you just taught me." Peeta states. "We'll see." I say, laughing a bit. ➶
While Peeta's off at work, I decide to spend some time with the kids due to their week long break from school. Peeta leaves us all breakfast for the morning before he leaves at six-thirty, so by the time we get up we are ready to eat. Today, he left the kids pancakes, including a freshly frosted cinnamon roll hot out of the oven. I seat my kids at the table, and manage to get an cranky Rye into his high chair. Willow slides into her seat, smoothening out her dress as she sits cross-legged underneath the table. She reminds me of a female Peeta, except with my hair and toned skin. She does have his eyes though, sparkling with delight as she innocently speaks and plays like the young child she is. Rye on he other hand, exactly like me. Rye displays an always peevish, tired being that doesn't want to leave the house unless you throw them out the window. Though Rye is a baby, he's got the personality of a older, stubborn me. After that fiasco, I get the chance to lounge in my seat and shove my cinnamon rolls down my throat. ❁❁➶❁❁ As the day goes on, I feel like I'm forming into a kid again. With my children, I have successfully colored five drawings of sketches Peeta gave Willow for her fifth birthday, two excruciating rounds of tag, and one full game of Find Willow and Rye. By the time we're done, I barley make it over to the couch before I dive into the hardwood floor from exhaustion. The kids have worked me to the bone, to tired to even put up a finger. Within about a half an hour of resting and watching some baby shows with the kids, Peeta come busting through the door... With a smile plastered across his face. After a twenty minute conversation about what happened, Peeta pulls five hundred dollars out of his pocket, and waves it around in excitement. "Apparently, someone who came in today ordered half of the goods, and at the end of the day when I went to check the cash register, it was half open because money way oozing out of it!" Peeta exclaims. "Guess where we are going tonight!" I state, a smirk pasted across my mouth. ➶
