Aftermath

I love you

I smile to myself, soaking up Peeta's warmth, allowing myself to feel weak in his arms, burying my head into the crook in his neck, absorbing my warm breath as it is reflected off his skin. The fire's roasting my toes and my cheeks are red from the thick wollen blanket wrapped around us.

"You okay?" Peeta asks, stroking my hair.

"Yeah. This is perfect." I say grinning.

"Not too hot?" He asks gently.

"No." I smile, before propping myself up an kissing him. "This is wonderful."

"So? I did good?" He smiles.

"Yes, Peeta. You did good." I grin.

He lets out a sigh of relief. "I can't blieve I had never taken you on a date before, but I'd proposed to you...and we'd both risked our lives for each other at not once had I asked you out." He chuckles.

"I know." I say quietly. "We didn't really have a choice though."

"No." He says. "But do you know what, Katniss? I wouldn't have it any other way. I would re-live all of those years, all of those games, just to be where I am now...with you."

I smile up at him, my heart aching for him. "I love you." I say, the words bursting with emotion and truth,  as though you could burst them and be showered with everything I feel towards him.

Love, nervousness, laugher, kisses, hugs, warmth, kidness, comfort, protection, saftey, the list is endless...

"I love you too." He smiles before leaning in for another kiss.

 "I'm sorry." I say sadly as I rest my head on his chest once more. "I'm sorry I tortured you for all those years."

"Hey." He says softly, holding my chin with his thumb, drawing my face close to his, staring deeply into my eyes. "The past doesn't matter. Right now is what counts, okay?" 

I nod slowly, beofre grabbing him my the scruff of the neck and dragging him into a kiss.