Always

Chapter 5

Katniss P.O.V.

When I get back to Haymitch's house, I set two bottles down on his table.

"Is that all?" he asks. "What will I have to do next time to get more?"

"Don't even go there," I warn. I turn to Peeta who's standing behind Haymitch smiling. "Where's the game bag?" I ask.

"Here," Peeta says as he hands it to me. As soon as I take the bag, me and Peeta start fixing lunch. When we get done, I hand a plate full of food to Haymitch. He takes a big bite.

"Good grief!" Haymitch screams as he spits his food out of his mouth. "You two haven't been married for thirty minutes and you're already trying to kill the poor boy," he says as he turns to Peeta. "It's not too late to get a divorce you know," he teases.

"Be quiet and drink your liquor," I say.

"You know something? That's the best advice you've ever given to me sweet heart," Haymitch says as he opens a bottle of liquor.

"We'd better go," Peeta says. "It's getting late."

"Thank you Haymitch," I say as I pick up my game bag full of leftovers.

"You're welcome," Haymitch says as he smiles. I grab Peeta's hand and we go walking out the door.

"Which house are we going to live in?" Peeta asks.

"I don't care," I reply.

"How about yours?" he asks. I kiss him.

"You mean ours?" I say. Peeta just smiles.

When we walk in, me and Peeta start putting our leftover meat and berries away. I hang my game bag on the coat hanger and turn around. When I do, I bump right into Peeta.

"Sorry," I say. Peeta puts both of his arms around my waist and pulls me in close as he leans down and kisses me. For a few seconds, both of my hands rest in his chest, then he pulls me back a little.

"What are we going to do with ourselves now?" he whispers.

"I don't know," I say. "I've never been married before." Peeta smiles at me.

"Me neither," he says. After a few minutes of standing there in silence, he whispers something that I knew was coming soon. "What about kids?" He asks. My muscles tense up as I back away, shaking my head.

"No," I say as my voice cracks.

"Why not?" He asks. "We wouldn't have to worry about them going through the reaping or anything like that."

"I know," I say understandingly. "But, Peeta, just because we left the arena, doesn't mean the arena left us," I say referring to the nightmares and hijacking relapses. Peeta knows exactly what I mean. "Peeta, I'm not saying I don't want kids, I do. But I'm... I'm just scared," I finally spit out. It's true. There's no telling how many ways the hauntings from mine and Peeta's past could scar our children, if we have any that is.

"I'm scared, too," he says. "But we're going to have to overcome that together if we're ever going to be truly happy again," he says as he lowers his voice to almost a low whisper, walks over to me, and wraps his arms back around my waist.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "All right," I say.

"Really?" Peeta asks.

"Really," I reply with a smile as I look into Peeta's eyes. Usually his eyes are full of kindness and compassion and understandment, but I now notice something else in them. And it's not anger or hatred.

It's love.

"I love you," I whisper.

"I love you too," Peeta whispers back as he kisses me. There's that feeling back. Except now, I've finally figured out what I've been craving. And for the first time, my hunger for more is nearly satisfied.