PEETA

I stared at Katniss' sleeping body for a moment. I gently brushed my hand along her waist already picturing her swelling with our child. I longed to go lay in bed with her, but I knew the Bakery wouldn't run itself. I placed a gentle kiss on her forehead before raising from the bed. I heard her move in her sleep. I turned around and saw her snuggle against my pillow. She sighs heavily in her sleep. A small smile spreads on my face. Then I quietly closed the door to my, no wait, our, bedroom. I walk down the stairs and into the Bakery. I go up front and change the sign to, 'Open'. I return to the kitchen and start kneading some dough for a batch of specially ordered lemon poppy seed cookies. After I get the cookies on a baking sheet I hear the bell above the door ring. I go up front and say,

"Hello, how may I help you?" When I look up I see the postman. He smiled, he was used to my asking him.

"Nothing today. Here's your mail, son." I nodded and took the envelopes.

"Thank you, see you soon." I told him as he left, he nodded. I looked through the mail, there were the usual bills, a letter from my brother and another letter with thicker paper. I opened the envelope and saw in fancy calligraphy 'To Mr. Peeta Mellark'. I unfolded the paper and read the letter.

'Dear Mr. Peeta Mellark,

You have been awarded Baker of the year from District 12, you are being asked to represent district twelve in the annual bake off of panem. It will take place in the capital this year. The prize is not only a job at the prestigious bakery of Panem but 5,000 dollars as well. The trip will be all expense paid, the opportunity is yours to pursue. Please reply to this letter within 7 days of it being received. The bake-off takes place in a month.

Yours truly,

Plutarch Heavensbee'

Baker of the year? I thought. I had no idea this competition even existed. The prize was such an enticing thing to think of, it was almost frightening. With the job and the money, I could take Katniss away from District 12, away from her problems. No one would see our relationship as such an anomaly if we don't say it. All her worries and fears, I could take them away. I was pulled from my thoughts when the bell once again rang.

"Hello, how may I help you?" I told the woman who stood behind the counter.

"Hello, I have the order of lemon poppy seed cookies, I hope it's not too late," she glanced at the clock, so did I. It was 4:30, later than I thought. "But I will need another two dozens." I nodded.

"So in total, you want five dozen lemon poppy seed cookies?" The woman nodded. "Okay just pay 35 dollars tomorrow when you come to pick them up." She nodded and left. I went up front and put up the closed sign.

I went into the kitchen and began Katniss' favorite lamb stew hoping I can have her in good spirits when I tell her about the bake off. The smells of it, even its process, was amazing. No wonder Katniss loves it so much. When the stew is done I walk upstairs to wake Katniss.

"Katniss," I said sitting on the bed next to her. She didn't reply, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her tightly. She hummed slightly but didn't wake. "Katniss," I repeated, she just snuggled into my chest, telling me she was waking up but didn't like it. I pulled her chin up and kissed her, her soft lips didn't react at first but once they began moving against mine I pulled away.

"Peeeeetaa," she moaned. I smiled and hugged her tightly.

"Hmm?" I asked. She opened her eyes, the silvery grey irises looked into my eyes. She pulled my head to hers, she kissed me, more like pecked my lips a couple times.

"That wasn't very nice of you." She said, then she kissed me for real. I smirked and pulled away.

"Neither is this." I hopped out of bed and grabbed her. I pulled her out of the bed. She groaned. "Come on now, I made dinner." She perked up a little bit but she was still moving slowly around the room. "It's the lamb stew you love." When those words escaped my mouth she was quick to dress and rush out of the room. I followed her down the stairs and into the kitchen. Katniss sat there swinging her legs happily as I poured the stew into bowls for the two of us. As we ate our stew I finally grew the courage to tell her.

"Guess what I got in the mail today?" I asked her.

"Um, bills?" She said with a smile. I looked down and smiled too.

"Yes and no, yes we got bills but that's not what I'm talking about." She raised a delicate eyebrow at me.

"Well, what did you get?" She asked.

"An invitation to the bake-off of Panem, I was awarded baker of the year from District Twelve." I said, well murmured. I'm not sure why but I was worried about telling her. But when she smiled so brightly my worries faded.

"That's great Peeta! Finally you are recognized for all the hard work you do!" She said, then her smile faltered. "How does the bake-off work? When is it?" Katniss questioned me.

"Well, the letter was very vague but it would take place in the Capitol and it's in about a month. But you won't believe the prize, it's 5,000 dollars! And a job at the prestigious Bakery of Panem!" As I said it I allowed myself to fantasize what would happen if I did win. What would happen if I could take Katniss' pains and worries from her. I watched as her excited eyes faded, the silver turning grey, then her eyes grew excited once again. In these moments when her emotions changed so quickly it reminded me that she was still a teenager, no matter what we did or how we acted. I was still 28, she was still 16. I shook the thoughts from my head as she replied.

"This is a great opportunity Peeta, but will I go with you or should I stay here and run the Bakery? I'm going to miss you but there is no way I'm letting you pass this up. I'm thinking I should stay here and run the Bakery, we still need money even if you're going to go and make me proud." She told me, I smiled at her and hugged her. She ran her fingers through my hair.

"I don't want to leave you behind, the Bakery will be fi-" I told her but she cut me off.

"No, the Bakery will be fine but we won't if we go and don't make any money for who knows how long. If anything happens you can just ring me, okay?" She was so persistent I couldn't tell her no, but I can hardly imagine doing this without her. I nodded.

"Okay," I stuck my face into the crook of her neck, I kissed the soft skin there. "I love you so much, thank you for being here." I said. She looked at me with hunger in her eyes bright as day. It took less than a millisecond for her hungry lips to attack mine, causing my thoughts to blur.

She peeks up at me and I'm so busy watching her pink tongue slide across her bottom lip that I hardly notice her eyes closing and her inky lashes falling against her cheek. Our lips meet, then part. She takes my bottom lip between her own, and I sigh in relief. My hands weave into her hair, cupping her head in my hands, as she clutches at my shirt while our mouths press and cling; as we gasp for air and dive back in.

I slips a hand from her hair to bring it around her back, holding her tighter than I ever had before.

I turn us so she's pressed down onto the couch, our bodies aligned. Hands slide and explore. The curve of her waist is the perfect resting place for my palm. Katniss's fingers feel like tongues of fire as she glides over my back and flexes at my hips. Her breath falls in short, jerky pants in my ear as my mouth journeys along her neck and dips into the collar of her sweater. I ruck my shirt up out of my pants, silently begging for her to touch my overheated skin. I feel her hands trace downward, slipping under the hem of my shirt, her fingertips skating along the sensitive flesh just above my pants.

A whimper of longing slips from my lips, and I dare not breathe in case she changes her mind. I can feel the moment of her decision, when she gives in to the urge to touch me, and then the flat of her hand roams upward along my bare skin, skimming over the muscles of my back. A groan sounds from some primal place inside me and I bucks against her. She gasps and grasps my hips.

I'm harder than I've ever been in my life. I wait, lifting my head to watch her reaction carefully. Her face is flushed, her pupils are wide, but she is not pulling away. Instead, she bites her lip, reaching up to brush a lock of hair from my face. And then she rubs herself against my iron-hard cock.

"Unf. Peeta," she whispers, gyrating upwards again. I met her this time, grinding down into her softness. She tugs at her sweater where it's jammed between us, pulling it up so the soft skin of our bellies is touching.

Fuck. The feeling of her flesh against mine is almost enough to send me spiralling into oblivion. I swallow her gasp the next time our centres collide, reaching up underneath the wool as my hands explore her slender form beneath the bulky fabric, my thumbs tracing along the elastic of her bra and then brushing over the lace covered mounds.

She tears away from my lips as a startled 'oh' escapes from hers when my hands close over her breasts and then tweak the sensitive tips.

"Did you like that?" I murmured.

She nods frantically, whipping the sweater over her head and tossing it to the floor. My shirt soon follows. Her skin is flushed, a red path meanders down her neck, ending between her breasts, her nipples have hardened into nubs, poking out under the bra. The urge to draw them into my mouth overwhelms me and I lower my head to suck one between my lips through the lace.

She hisses and threads her fingers through my hair to hold me there, even as our hips continue to move in tandem. I claw at her bra strap, freeing her breast from its hold, only to cup it in my own hands and tease the tight dark peak with my tongue. Her hands move to my lower back to press me against her. It feels so good. Too good.

I cup her face in my right hand and stroke the blush that continues to spread. I kissed the tip of her nose, her chin, her jaw, the hollow of her throat before returning to her lips. She parts her legs to cradle me against her, entwining her legs in mine, drawing me closer.

We both heave a deep breath at the contact. My hand returns to her breast and we move together, sucked down a tunnel of mindless need. Lips tangle, teeth clash while I plunder her mouth, seeking pleasure. Giving it. She arches beneath me, clutching me to her, nibbling my jaw, laving and sucking the hollow beneath my ear. Her sharp, pants send shivers down my spine and my balls tighten.

"Unf! Don't stop," she begs. "I need... I mean, I'm almost... I don't know," she groans in frustration.

A familiar tingle begins at the base of my spine and I surge forward.

"Ah," she grinds out. "Peeta!"

That does it. I press into her - hard - again and again, as I am overtaken by the power of my climax. She moans and writhes against me, her back arching in surrender.

Her body is still shuddering when I bury my face in her neck, trying to grasp at the wispy ends of my senses. It takes a few tries. Katniss is still lying limply beneath me when I finally stirs.

"Katniss?"

"Mmm?"

"We should get up, go to bed, probably." I sit up, realizing my underwear is a sticky mess. I've got a spot on my pants, but it doesn't appear to have soaked through onto Katniss's jeans. I can be grateful for that at least. I stand and pull her to her feet, in a hurry to get upstairs before she notices the state I'm in. "C'mon. I've got to, ah, get cleaned up."

The fire has burned down to coals and I decide to leave it, turning to go up the stairs. I tug on Katniss's arm. She still seems a little dazed. "Time for bed, Sweetheart." She lays her head on my shoulder and wraps her arm through mine. We climb up the stairs in the dark, stopping at the head of the stairs, outside our room.

I kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, Katniss."

She blinks at me, her silver eyes wide and round. I led her into our room. I push my hair back out of my face and clasps the back of my neck. "I'm just gonna get cleaned up." I nod towards the bathroom door. "'Night."

"Okay," she says softly, and turns away.

I heads into the bathroom and peels out of my pants and shorts, throwing them into the wash for later. I washes up and slips on the pants and the t-shirt, then brushes my teeth while watching myself in the mirror, the events downstairs playing like a movie in my head. An erotic movie. With Katniss.

I spit my toothpaste down the drain and rinsed out the toothbrush before going back into the bedroom to crouch by the fireplace and light the fire. When it's blazing merrily, I crack the window just enough to allow fresh air into the room and crawl onto the four poster bed. Trying not to wake Katniss, who is out cold. Most likely from pleasure. I pull up the covers and stare at the ceiling, listening to the flames pop and crack and the small noises of Katniss next to me shifting. She's dead asleep. I roll over and look at her. She looks so peaceful in her sleep. I brush a strand of loose hair out of her face. A small sleepy smile grows on her face. I roll back over. I feel the bed move more and her slender arms wrap tightly around me and she pulls herself into me. She nuzzles her head into my back. I can't help but smile and place my hand on hers around my waist. I slowly drift off.

~A Month Later~

We hardly slept that night, even with the time we spent this evening together. Katniss tosses and turns and when I try to comfort her she pushes me away, moaning and groaning about her stomach. I stayed up to see if it'd ever pass. I could sense her pain and discomfort. It hurt a little, knowing she didn't want my help. Even though I wanted to help her. The sun rises painfully slowly it seems. We manage to sleep a little bit. At the crack of dawn, Katniss leaps from the bed and runs to the restroom. I follow her and see her throwing up into the toilet. I pull her hair back and glance at the clock, it's 6:15 in the morning, the morning I have to leave for the Capitol for my Bake-Off. Once Katniss sat back seemingly done with her throwing up I pat her back.

"Are you okay?" I asked her. She nodded. She looked me in the eye and said,

"Don't you dare think that me being sick gives you a reason to not go to the Capitol." I gave her a pointed look, as if those weren't my exact thoughts. She knows me so well.

"But Katniss," I started. She stared me in the eye, and I understood her. "Okay, can you promise to go to the doctor today and ring me what the doctor says." Katniss looked down. Then it dawned on me, her mom was the doctor in District 12. "Okay, scratch that, just tell me if you don't get better. Don't work too hard, alright? I can't go and bake my heart out if I think you're miserable." She nodded, she wrapped her arms around me. She snuggled her head into my chest.

"I'm going to miss you. So, so much." She said. I nodded.

"I'm going to miss you too." I looked at the clock. "Oh wow, come on let's get me ready to go. The train leaves at 8:00." Katniss nodded. I stood up and helped her stand. We grabbed my suitcases and headed to the front door. We made it to the train station ten minutes early. I turned to Katniss and wrapped my arms around her, she squirmed and didn't return the favor.

"Come on Katniss, no one is here no one will see. Besides, why not let them see, will it be so bad to let them see?" I told her, she looked up at me.

"Peeta, they can't see. You saw the way Prim reacted, if my own sister reacted like that, how will others react?" I sighed, she had reason to worry I just wish she wouldn't so I never have to see her upset.

"Okay Katniss. I understand, let's talk about something else. I don't want to leave us on bad terms." I told her, putting my head in her hair.

"Okay." I looked at her. I pulled her to a discrete section by the train tracks. She looked at me, her eyes still sad from our conversation. I kissed her lips, she smiled sweetly when I pulled back to look at her. This time she was the one who leaned in. We kissed passionately, until a whoosh of air came. Katniss pulled back, she patted the back of her head.

"I guess that's our queue, I better get going." I said to Katniss. She nodded, she kissed me quickly, then ran off. She turned back and waved, I waved back. I was curious as to why she was rushing off but I had no time to be curious, I have to get on that train.

As I hopped on the train and found my designated quarters. The bed, big enough for two, makes me just miss Katniss and worry about what could be wrong with her.

The Bake-Off I figured out has three stages. The first you have to bake simple bread, they haven't given details yet so you can't plan ahead, the second you have to bake a miniature pastry or bread, the same thing with no details and the final one will be a large cake that has to fit into a category, of course the category is a secret.the competition lasts three days and there is three judges. I am yet to meet any of the competitors but I hear they are intense.

My heart swells when I think of a sick Katniss running the Bakery on her own, the thought of anything happening to her is frightening. My mother could come and kick her out saying she is taking the bakery from me. Gale could come and threaten her, Prim could come and make her have a mental break-down. I took a deep breath and cleared my thoughts. In no way would this help me win this Bake-Off for her.

When I arrived in the Capitol, I was bombarded with paparazzi. "Mr. Mellark! Mr. Mellark!" They shouted. I put my head down and walked quickly over to a car, the man standing outside of the car had waved me over.

"Your Mr. Mellark I assume?" I nodded. "The Bake-Off starts tomorrow, today you will be doing interviews before the competition. You will have one hour of prep at the hotel." I nodded. The man put my bags in the trunk of the car as I slide into the backseat. When we pulled up to the hotel I was mesmerized by the size of it. The Justice Building was smaller than this. The inside of this hotel was full of chandeliers and expensive furniture. My room, compared to the rest of the hotel, was quite simple. A bed, a television set, a phone and a simple dresser. I went over to the phone and dialed the bakeries phone number, I stood listening to the ringing until I heard her voice.

"Mellark Bakery, how may I help you?" I smiled and replied.

"Oh nothing today, just wanted to see how you're doing." I heard her suck in a breath.

"Peeta?!?" I smiled, imagining her face.

"Hm?" She laughed her beautiful laugh. "So how have you been, kid?" I smiled as I called her kid, knowing the reaction I will get.

"Peeta Mellark, you do not call me a kid! I've been well, Bakeries are a lot of work though," she said with a chuckle. "I have good news though, my stomach bug is already gone so the Bakery won't have to have any surprise closed days. How have you been? What are you up to?" She told me excitedly.

"I've been well as well, I miss you. I have some interviews in an hour and the Bake-Off starts tomorrow so, yeah." I could hear the smile in Katniss' voice when she replied.

"Well what questions will they ask? Can I help you practice?" She proposed.

"Yeah I have a list, but aren't you supposed to be running a Bakery?" I told her with a laugh.

"Yes I am, but I'm on lunch and I have time to talk to my soon to be famous husband." I smiled as she called me her husband.

"Okay then, the first thing on the list is 'Is your bakery family owned? If so, why are you the baker of the year?" I told her. "Well I guess it is a family bakery, it's run by the Mellarks, and I got baker of the year because my wife only began baking a few months ago. Is that a good answer Katniss?" I spoke through the phone, wishing I could see her reactions in person.

"Yeah it's great, we shouldn't talk about your mother or brothers because they might try to take away some of your winnings, also should we announce our marriage like this? Over national television? I have a few people to talk to if we are doing that." Katniss said. I thought of what could happen when she told her mother officially, her mother would probably be angry and do something rash. If she told Gale who knew what he would do to her and well maybe telling Madge could be good for Katniss, but if I just said wife, It'd only be a burden to me, only I would get bombarded with questions.

"Maybe I just say wife, so that you don't have to tell anyone anything without me there and when I get back we can tell people together. Although I think Madge might be supportive, it might be a good idea to talk to her about this." I suggested. I heard her sigh.

"Okay, yeah let's do that." I nodded even though she couldn't see me. "So what's the next question?" She asked me.

"Well let's see, 'What is my signature baked good?'" I knew her answer before she said it.

"Cheese buns." I laughed and she replied with, "People have come in and asked for those specifically then tried to walk out without buying anything else! It's not just me! But others have come in with specialty orders and I have no idea how to make the stuff, when on earth have you ever sold lemon poppy seed cookies?" I smiled remembering the morning when that woman came in asking for two more dozens of those exact cookies.

"Like you said, they are special orders." I told her.

"Well, why have five families come in asking for them?" She exclaimed. I laughed, I'd been gone all of two days and five families had come in?

"Well, I don't know, maybe we should make them a regular item. Oh goodness Kat, the next question is 'Who would take over your home-District Bakery if you were to win?' what would I say? It's technically not even my Bakery!" Katniss sucks in a breath.

"What? Peeta, what do you mean it's not your Bakery?" Crap, how could I not have told her? And then tell her like this.

"Oh Katniss, the Bakery is my mom's, she won't put the Bakery in my name. I'm sorry I didn't tell you." I could almost imagine her standing there by the Bakery phone, her teenage emotions raging.

"Peeta, how could you not tell me? And now you just left me here alone? What if she came here and wanted to take over? She could just kick me to the curb!" Then I could tell Katniss was really upset because in her next statement her voice cracked. "What would I do?" After that I heard a sob escape her lips.

"Katniss-" I started, then when she replied I wondered how her emotions could change so quickly, even as a teenager this wasn't normal.

"NO PEETA! DON'T 'KATNISS,' ME! WHY HAVEN'T YOU TOLD ME THIS?!? I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU! I THOUGHT WE TOLD EACH OTHER EVERYTHING!!" she screamed. I sighed.

"Katniss please, let me explain. I know you're mad and upset but I-" I started hoping I could calm her down.

"No," her voice was barely above a whisper. "Peeta, I'm more than mad and upset, I'm furious and heartbroken. You told me that being with you, you would make me happy and protect me from all that. But if you can't even protect yourself from your own family how are you supposed to do that for me? And knowing this, that your mother can kick us both out whenever she pleases, and you completely forgetting to tell me makes me furious because I have always told you everything and now I'm beginning to wonder if you've done the same to me." I sighed. I hate how hurt and wounded her voice sounds.

"I'm so sorry Katniss, I know right now you're not in the mood to accept any apologies but that's all I can give you right now. If I could I'd go straight home to you and protect you from anything you feel you need to be protected from. But I can't because the possibilities here would be even better than my arms around you, I could take you away from the pain, I could protect you so much better. I know my word won't be good enough right now but I hope that you all forgive me soon, but always remember I'm doing this for you. Always remember I love you Katniss, always."

I heard her take a deep breath, her voice still shaky from crying. She said, "You're right, right now your words aren't enough, I will try with all my might to forgive you but give me time okay?" Her voice broke and my heart melted, oh how I wished I could wipe away her tears, oh how I wish I hadn't caused them.

"Okay," I said as she hung up the phone. I heard an insistent knocking on the door.

"Mr. Mellark! You have to come out now!" I looked at the clock and it was five minutes past the hour.

"Oh! I'm sorry here I am sorry I'm late, I was on the phone with my wife." I said as I opened the door the same man who drove me to the hotel was there and he quickly walked down the hall. I followed him trying to keep up with his fast pace.

"It's fine Mr. Mellark, we just need to hurry. Can't be late now can we?" I nodded and ducked into the car. We drove quickly, I hardly had time to admire the city. I couldn't help but feel uneasy about my conversation with Katniss and how it ended. When I entered I saw 11 other people, a dark haired girl was being interviewed by a blue haired man.

"Now, Mr. Mellark, you wait here and soon enough it will be your turn for pre-show interviews. Also just a heads up you will have another longer interview after you are finished with the Bake-Off." The man who brought me her told me I nodded. I sat down at a table, I watched as people were interviewed. The first few people were very competitive like they knew they were already winning. The rest of the people were like me, they hardly knew what they were doing in such a magnificent place.

"Hello, sorry bother to you but have you seen a lady in her eighties? She can't talk and she is a wanderer. She's my grandma. I call her Mags." A golden skinned fair haired guy in his twenties asked me.

"Oh um yeah, I'm pretty sure she went into that door over there." I said, pointing towards a door I saw the woman wander into.

"Thanks alot, I'm Finnick by the way." He told me.

"No problem, I'm Peeta." And with that Finnick ran off in hopes of finding mags. After another of waiting it was finally my turn.

"Hello Mr. Mellark, it's so nice to meet you. I am Caesar Flickerman. The official interviewer of the capital!" The blue haired man told me.

"Hi Caesar it's a pleasure to meet you." He smiled.

"Okay, okay sooo let's get to this." He turned to the camera and pulled out a marker and clapped it. "Action! Okay Mr. Mellark, you run a bakery back in district 12, describe it to me, what do you sell, does it have dining options? Things along those lines."

"Oh yeah, I run Mellark Bakery, it's pretty small. There is the kitchen and the counter with the pastry display and a few two seat dining options. We sell any baked good you can imagine, any request you have. From lemon poppy seed cookies," I referenced the cookie Katniss now said was very popular, "To cheese buns and regular loaves of bread." Caesar nodded thoughtfully.

"So lots of options I see, what would you say is your most popular item?" Caesar asked me.

"Well, my wife would say the cheese buns, but according to what I last checked, our chocolate chip cookies are the bestsellers." Katniss, just thinking of her made me want to hop on a train and leave and go to her, but thinking of her makes me want to push harder in this bake off.

"That brings me to my next question, the Mellark Bakery, is a family bakery correct?"

"Yes, the Mellark Bakery is a family" the next question, this next one could change Katniss' life forever.

"So, why did you win the award, why not say, your wife?" I looked down and took a deep breath.

"Well it's just my wife and me running the bakery, and well my wife has only been baking a few months so she isn't all that good yet." Caesar nodded. He looked down at his paper.

"You know what, let's forget the questions, I want to know more about your wife." The blue haired man said, worrying me.

"Oh well, my wife and I are like any other couple, we love each other and are very happy with our calm life." Caesar gave me a questioning look.

"Hmmmm, so little details, and you see the good stuff is in the details. Tell me more about her, about your relationship." He pursued the topic I felt we couldn't have left fast enough.

"Well for her own privacy I won't say her name but she is a beautiful lady. Our relationship was a surprise to both of us, a very happy surprise, it pulled us both out of very hard times in our lives." Now Ceaser nodded, I hoped he was satisfied.

"Okay thank you Mr. Mellark now we are going to shoot a quick clip of you introducing yourself and your Bakery. Just say your name, District, Bakery name and say it in an interesting way." I nodded and when he pointed at me I said.

"I'm Peeta Mellark and I run the Mellark Bakery, I'm representing District 12 in the Bake-Off of Panem." Caesar smiled and praised me. Soon enough I was allowed to return to my hotel room and I saw that everything was just as I left it. I laid in bed, mentally preparing myself for tomorrow.

~

I woke up in the morning to a pounding on my door. What time is it? My sleepy brain thought. ught. I turn over and look at the clock that reads 5:30. Shoot! I have to get ready or I'll be late. I run over my schedule in my head. Shower, get ready, eat a small but satisfying breakfast, and go to the T.V. station. I get up and trudge to the shower. The hot water wakes me up and I cleanse myself until my skin's raw. I get out of the shower and put on a grey shirt and brown pants and put an extra apron into my bag. I go out to the kitchen and start making some eggs and the phone rings.

I pick it up. "Is this Peeta Mellark?" The caller asks.

"Yes, this is he." I answer.

"You have five minutes," The person says.

"Hi, Peeta. They let the competitors talk with their family." a different voice says. Katniss.

"Hi, Babe. How are you?" I say while cooking my eggs.

"Good except for the little bug I must have." Katniss says. "I threw up this morning."

"Oh, Hon, you okay?" I ask concerned.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I just wanted to tell you good luck. Bye!" She says.

The connection goes out. I sprinkle a little cheese on my eggs, put some salt on them and eat. I look at the clock. It's now 6:45. I have to be at the station at 7:15. I grab my bag and go to the car. A song on the radio came on.

I, was the knight in shining armor in your movie

Would put your lips on mine and love the aftertaste

Now I'm a ghost, I call your name, you look right through me

It wasn't that bad, maybe one of the better Capitol songs. I started humming to it.

You're the reason I'm alone and masturbate

I, I've been trying to fix my pride

But that shit's broken, that shit's broken

Lie (lie, lie), lie, l-lie, I try to hide

But now you know it

That I'm at an all time

Low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low

Low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low, low

I was the prototype like 3 Stacks on that CD

An example of the perfect candidate

Now all your girlfriends say that you don't want to see me

You're the reason that I just can't concentrate

Before I knew it I was at the T.V. station. "Name?" One of the guards said. "Peeta Mellark. I'm here for the baking competition." I replied. The guard opened the door and motioned for me to walk in. I walked to the room that we were baking in. Eleven competitors were all setting their stations up. One competitor from each District. I walked to my stand and put on the apron that was given to me. After about thirty minutes we were told the competition was staring. Caesar, a woman with bright yellow hair, and an older man that I assumed to be Plutarch Heavensbee walked out. "Welcome!" Caesar boomed. "Welcome to this special baking competition! We can't wait to see your creations!" The other man said. "For the first stage you will be baking a bread you feel represents your District." They told us.

And so it began, I baked a regular district eleven grain bread that was very common in twelve, being that all of our produce, including flour and grains, comes from district eleven. To give the bread a District Twelve flare I smoked it, to give it a ashy look and smoky taste. By the time I sliced my loaf the time was up and each District presented their bread. The only bread that looked unique at all to the others was District Four which had a significantly more green color in the bread that all the others. When I presented the bread to the judges they all ate it properly with a fork, which made it less District Twelve. The judges said four people would be cut, they slowly ticked off District Three, Seven, Eight and Ten.

"Next! Now for the second stage! You will make your most popular miniature pastry! Well not exclusively pastries any miniature baked good that you offer at your bakery! Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor!" The blonde lady announced and the clock began.

Cheese buns my immediate thoughts and I began to prepare for another victory, I could actually bring Katniss away from her problems. I began measuring out ingredients after a while I popped the little balls into the oven and began to think of how much more fun this would have been with Katniss here. When my timer dinged I pulled them out and sprinkle cheese on the top, I put them back in the oven. After five minutes I realized something I didn't butter the buns before I put the cheese on, they are going to burn! But by the time I pulled them out of the oven I was done for they were a crispy hard mess. Crap, Katniss usually butters them but she isn't here today now is she. When I presented the ruined cheese buns to the judges they all stared at me.

"I forgot to butter them before I put the cheese on. It's a mess." I told them rubbing the back of my neck.

"Ah, such a costly mistake Mr. mellark." They went on to bring everyone back out and they announced the people not going through. "District One, Six, Eleven and Twelve." My heart fell, although I expected this it still stung. I shamefully went to do my after show interviews and once we were finished they called back all the competitions to announce the winner.

We lined it up and waited for the winner to be announced. "District," Caesar pauses for effect. "TWO! Congratulations and thank you everyone who came." They escort the losers out of the room and leave us to our thoughts. That's bullshit. I should've won! Me not District Two, If it weren't for those dumb cheese buns, I think. I drive back home. When I get home I hear the phone ringing. I pick it up.

"Hi, Peeta, I'm so sorry. You did amazing though." It's Katniss again.

I don't feel like talking so I hang up. I decide that I'm not going to mope around in my apartment. No, I'm going to go to a bar or a club or something like that. I grab my jacket and get in the car and drive to the nearest bar. I walk in and hear tons of noises. I order and sit down. I look around the bar and I see my new friends. I wave at them and they come over to sit with me. We have a many few drinks. I catch myself looking at Annie and Johanna. Wait! What? NO Peeta, you have a wife remember? Katniss. I mently scold myself. Then I hear my phone ring and I look at the caller ID. It's Katniss. I don't feel like talking to her so I ignore her. Before I know it I'm drunk and hanging out with Finnick, Annie, and Johanna. Katniss keeps calling but every time I don't answer. Finally she gives up.

"So, who's your mystery wife?" Finnick asks.

I blurt out before I can help myself "Katniss."

"So her name is Katniss huh?" Johanna asks.

I nodded.

"How old is she?" Annie asks.

"She's 16," I say.

"And you're 28?" Finnick asks.

I nodded.

"Wow, you really robbed the cradle." Annie says.

My confusion must've shown on my face because Annie tells me it's an expression they use in 4.

"Can we meet her?" Annie asks suddenly.

"Umm.. I'm not sure that's the best idea."

"Aw please?" Annie asks.

"Yes. Please?" Johanna asks.

"Fine," I say surrendering.

"Yay!" Annie says.

We talk until it's 3 am and we have to go. Annie and Finnick walk out in front of me and Johanna. Annie has to help Finnick walk in a straight line. When me and Johanna walk out of the bar she asks me how much I love Katniss.

"I love her very much." I answer.

"Oh okay. I guess this will be the first and last time I do this." Johanna says.

"Do wh-" I say but get cut off by her lips on mine.I kiss her back. We kiss for many minutes.

She pulls away and says, "Not bad, Mellark. See you soon."

She walks away. I stay there for a minute still registering what happened. I hear my phone ring and look at it. It's Katniss. OH SHIT! PEETA! WHAT THE HELL MAN. YOU'RE FREAKING MARRIED AND YOU JUST KISSED A GIRL! I yell at myself.

I force myself to take a breath and answer. "Hi, Katniss."