The Hunger Games: After Mockingjay 2 Roth's Revenge

New Plans

"MOM!!" Her voice rings out loudly and I quickly turn to the window to see her.

She runs towards me with her long, chestnut locks flying behind her. In her hands, a rabbit and a makeshift bow. The large, olive green, jacket flaps wildly behind her while she makes a beeline to the house.

I dry my hands on dishtowel while turning to face the banging oak door. Her run transforms into a skip across the linoleum and she hums a tune with each step. The furred rabbit smacks the counter and I can hear the snapping of its neck when it hits the granite counter.

"Kayla, try to be a little more quiet next time." I whisper. "Your brother is trying to sleep in the living room."

"Sorry, sorry, I'll try to be silent next time, but I caught this little guy near the fence and I couldn't wait to tell you."

"Well, go get washed up for dinner." I say, returning to the sink.

"Dinner? It is only four."

"Your father and I need to talk about something tonight and I need you to watch over your brother."

"Ohhh, a date night, huh?" She says with interest spiking in her voice.

"No, nothing of that sort. It is...eh... just go get cleaned up."

She giggles loudly before running for the stairs. Her boots clomp up each step and I groan to myself when her door slams behind her. She is only eleven but she should know better.

"So, did you talk to Kayla?" I turn around in a circle in search of the voice. I then notice it coming from the the yard and begin leaning into the windowsill over the sink. "I have the perfect place in mind for this little talk."

"I just told Kayla that she was going to have to watch over Brice." I say. "So, Peeta, you care to tell me what this date consists of and why it has to be so secretive?"

"Don't worry, you will find out." He says with a wide grin.

"Mom! You can go now!" I turn to shush Kayla.

"Kayla, be quiet!" I whisper sternly. "Your brother is trying to seep.

"Isn't he getting a little old for naps?"

"Who are you to complain? You don't have to do anything other than to check up on him every few minutes. Now, your father and I are going to go now and I am trusting that you will take good care of your little brother."

"Don't worry, Mom." She groans while flicking her hand down. "He will be just fine since I am watching him.

I nod to her while exiting the house along the arm of Peeta. He smiles to me while leading the way. He smells of ashes mixing with bread. He has opened a new bakery to begin selling his cookery and is there eighty percent of the time. I very rarely see him until late in the day when he comes home. It's hard without having him around, but it only makes me value the time we do have to spend together.

"So when do you plan to tell me what you are planning?" I ask.

"When we get where we are going I will tell you." He says, grinning.

We walk through the town among side the makeshift houses and shops. He leads me to the fence where we slip through it with ease. I walk swiftly alongside him while he escorts me in the direction of the lake and I begin to grow confused. Why is he taking me to the lake? There's nothing there but lost memories of my father and I.

"Katniss." He begins while turning to face me. "I love you. You know that, but since the games, I want something more. I want something that means something other then an act in front of a few dozen cameras."

"So what are you saying?" I ask.

"We never were truly married,so," he bends down on one knee and removes a black box from his back pocket. "Will you marry me for real this time and not for the act?"

I cover my mouth in shock and not because that is the typical female reaction to something of this mater, but because I am shocked. He is right. We were never officially wed and neither he nor I counted the wedding on TV as an actual marriage. It didn't have much meaning, but this does.

"Yes Peeta. I will marry you." I whisper.

He stands up quickly and engulfs me in a hug while spinning me around. We laugh and I smile while he continues to tell of our future and plans for how the wedding will go. I must admit, I am excited for it. I haven't had much to look forward to in these last few days, so this should offer a change in my boring lifestyle.

"I talked to Haymitch and Effie. The wedding is two Weeks from now. I know it is very last minute, but i was kind of expecting you to say yes." He whispers the last part while scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.

"That sounds perfect." I say and he smiles.

"I'm glad you feel that way." He says while removing the ring from the velvet cushion. He slides it onto my finger and I take a minute to examine it. It is a beautiful diamond ring with a gorgeous silver band. "Come on, let's head home."

"Actually, I think I will stay for a few minutes if you don't mind." I say.

"Oh, okay. That's fine. I will go and relive Kayla of her babysitting duties before she turns babysitting into a literal meaning." He kisses me on the cheek before disappearing and then I am left alone with the silence of the old lake.

I walk to a cracked boulder beside the bank and take a seat on its cold surface. The waves ripple from leaves falling and fish swimming, but my eyes are more focused on the ring. The diamond catches in the diminishing sunlight at just the right moment and I notice something written on the band. Engraved on the back side of the wedding band, is the word Real.