Reading Rainbow

     The day had started out with a chill in the air, but he had never minded the cold. The cold was  P U R E  because with it, it brought snow that blanketed the ruins that he once called home; making him forget the tragedy that occurred there, if only for a moment. Upon waking, he found Katniss sound asleep in his arms, thus he slipped from beneath her to go to the kitchen and prepare the dough for their breakfast bread. Baking for Katniss in the morning had become a tradition, a tradition that kept his mind from wandering to the horrors he had witnessed only a few years since they reunited in their home district. As he tossed the dough, his fingers became loose with the memory of the past, the smells of his families’ bakery filling his nose despite it not being real. 

     Just when he slipped the bread into the oven someone else’s voice filled the silence that had lingered within the Mellark house. A voice he had grown used to, one that was soothing to his ears and pulled him from his episodes even when he was at his worst. 

          “Yeah, I’m in the kitchen.” 

     He called out to her, his voice echoing through the empty halls. The two had grown  T O G E T H E R  since they returned to twelve a few years ago. It had taken a lot of convincing, but the two had finally gotten married. He was still doing his best to convince her to have children with him though, he guessed her apprehension still lingered from another, darker time before all of this happened- thus he wouldn’t pressure her too much. 

Katniss grinned when she slid into the kitchen, taking a couple strides to close the distance between herself and her husband before capturing his lips with hers in a deep kiss. She was practically vibrating with excitement. For years Peeta had wanted to start their family, and as much as it scared Katniss she knew how happy it would make him.

“Peeta bread I have news,” Katniss grinned, her arms looping around his neck and keeping him close as her grey eyes gazed into his blue. Yeah it was a dumb nickname, but it was something she called him only at home. Only the two of them. Affectionate, yes. Logical? Nah. Nothing about Katniss’ love for Peeta was logical. And she was okay with that.

Katniss never really liked the cold, but then again it was better than heat. The heat reminded her of the fires in the arena and the bomb that exploded and took Primrose from her. Cold she could deal with so long as she bundled up and had Peeta nearby for extra warmth and comfort. It had become a tradition over the years for them to get as much done as possible in the morning and early afternoon so they could come home, make dinner together and sit in front of the fire and stay close until it was time to go to bed.

She took a deep breath of cool fall air and a hand moved to gently lay over her stomach when she made it to the front porch. This will be.... interesting, to say the least. When she felt the life stirring inside of her, it filled her with a panic as old as time, but she knew with Peeta she could handle it. They could handle anything together.