#mega-aulover

Katniss scaled the apple tree in the back of the bakery. She sneezed consecutively, feeling awful. She wanted nothing more than to be in the arms of one person in the district that could make her feel better.

Climbing the tree, she lost her footing and lost a slipper. “Oh well,” she muttered as she pushed her aching muscles up the tree. The sleep syrup and the medicinal tea Prim forced her to take made everything wobbly and distorted.

Katniss was determined to get to her boy with the bread, one Peeta Mellark.

Peeta and she had gotten closer during an air raid before the 74th Hunger Games. They had spent several days in the reinforced bunker at the school, unable to get out. They slept in each other’s arms, shared food, and got to know one another.

Unbeknownst to District Twelve, District Eight led a rebellion under the leadership of the newly voted President Paylor. They managed to win the hearts of District Two. Once Two became part of the rebellion it was only a matter of time before the other Districts fell in line. With Transportation and Power in their grasp, they attacked the Capitol.

District Twelve, being the poorest of all the districts and the furthest outlying district, had no clue what was going on in the rest of the country. It wasn’t until the Capitol bombed the districts in a last-ditch effort did District 12 learn about the rebellion. Once the raids stopped, they crawled out of the basement to a new world.

President Snow died during the bombing of the Capitol, and without his leadership, the Capitol crumbled and quickly gave up.

It was suddenly a new era. Everything that came before ended. Tesserae was freely given to stop hunger and not for slips in a bowl. With the old system gone, Katniss had to readjust her way of thinking. There had been a price, the Mayor’s mansion was bombed and sweet Madge didn’t make it; she’d been home sick. Had she gone to school there was no doubt Madge would’ve survived. Peeta lost his older brother Wheaton and his wife. Delly lost her brother Terry and Gale lost Vick, both had been playing hooky from school.

But for the most part, the District survived and now two years later the District thrived.

Katniss discovered that she could daydream. She could finally want things for the first time in her life that had nothing to do with survival. One of those things was her boy with the bread.

They banded together closer so much so that either he snuck into her home or she’d sneak into his window. Tonight Katniss was cranky, tired, and feverish. She couldn’t rest in her own bed, not without him. So she’d waited until her sister and mother left in an emergency then she took off to be with Peeta.

Katniss made her way into town dressed in her house slippers, flannel pajama bottoms she’d stolen from Peeta, and one of his comfy wide shirts. She wore a gray sweater because she was cold. Climbing the tree had been a feat. Had she the wherewithal to resist the temptation, she should have stayed home. But her drive was to feel his solid arms around her and breathe in his calming scent.

When she got to the window it was closed, but she didn’t notice and bumped her head. “OWWWW,” she cried, rubbing her head.

Katniss sat on the branch perplexed as to why the window was closed. It was unfathomable that the window was closed. Katniss frowned, “it’s open, always,” she muttered.

Her mother and sister often complained that when Katniss wasn’t feeling well, she turned into the biggest baby who had no sense whatsoever. Her mother described it as giving a stick of lit dynamite to a drunk. No good could come of it. Katniss peered at the window and noticed the curtains were drawn. Through her blurry vision, she could see the silhouette of two people. One of them she recognized as Peeta’s.

Katniss reached out and knocked on the window. “Peewa,” she said as she sneezed and proceeded to cough.

“What is that?” The sound of his mother’s annoying voice could be heard from the other side. Muriel Mellark always sounded like she was yelling at people. Katniss was too far gone to realize the woman was in Peeta’s room.

“Nothing, it could be a squirrel or some animal,” Peeta said from inside of the room.

Determined, Katniss knocked on the window again.

“Don’t tell me I heard nothing! I heard something!” Muriel shouted with alarm.

“Mom, it’s probably a branch,” Peeta said.

Katniss sneezed loudly.

“That,” the harpy yelled.

“Mother it could be Haymitch’s geese getting loose in the yard again,” Peeta said. Katniss could make out his shadow in front of the curtain.

“Those geese are a menace! I have half a mind to put in a complaint at the Justice Hall,” Muriel complained.

The geese were a menace; they ganged up on her as she had made her way into town. They chased her, thankfully even in her weakened state she was able to outrun them. The window opened a crack and Katniss, seeing her opportunity, scuttled forward.

“Peewwwaa,” Katniss cried. She put her hand in through the slit in the window. Peeta’s hand brushed her aside. Katniss narrowed her eyes as she tried to concentrate and grab his fingers. She wanted her boy with the bread. Had she been feeling better she would’ve been as quiet as a mausoleum. But she wasn’t and right now she had tunnel vision, and her focus was on getting to Peeta.

“That wasn’t one of the darned geese!” His mother cried.

“MOM!” Peeta yelled, just as the curtains were pushed to the side and the window opened.

Mrs. Mellark’s red face stuck out of the window and she came face to face with Katniss.

Peeta hovered right behind her. “MOM!”

“Helwo,” Katniss said, then sneezed twice. “I wan Peewa,” she mumbled as she yawned.

“Isn’t that?” Mrs. Mellark said.

“Yes,” Peeta firmly pushed his mother out of the way. “Katniss, I thought you were sick?” He reached out to her.

Katniss gratefully grabbed onto him as he gently pulled her inside. “I’m not feeling well,” she whispered. His arms were warm and she sighed the moment her head found purchase on his neck.

“She doesn’t look too good?”

“She’s been sick with the flu,” Peeta said. “And before you ask, yes we’re together.”

“Is she the reason,” his mother said.

Just then there was a loud crash. Peeta’s father held up a broomstick in his hand, ready to fend off whoever was in the room. “What in tarnation is going on here? I looked up and saw a figure climbing through our son’s window.”

“Oh great,” Peeta said as he walked Katniss to the bed and sat down. He held Katniss on his lap, her arms were thrown around him.

“I’m cold, Peewa,” Katniss whispered.

Peeta’s father paused talking when he saw Katniss. Turning to his wife he said, “Muriel, is that Meadow’s oldest?”

“Now, Samuel,” Muriel said.

“She’s going home right now, back to the Seam,” Samuel said.

“No,” Muriel said.

“No,” Samuel muttered.

“I think we ought to be neighborly to the Mockingjay,” Muriel said.

“You say they call her the Mockingjay? Seems more like a Honey Badger to me,” Samuel said laughing.

“Samuel,” Muriel warned. “This child kept all of the children bunkered at the school calm and collected while we were being bombed. She sang songs and helped ration out the food. And afterward,” Muriel said.

Samuel became quiet.

“When we lost Wheaton, she…sat by me…sat by you! She became a beacon of hope during those days. She hunted in the woods bringing the entire district meat, wild fruit, and medicinal herbs,” Muriel spouted as she patted Katniss’ cheeks. “She saved us all. She’s our Mockingjay, not a honey badger…”

In her altered state, Katniss laughed. A combination of sleeping syrup, her tiredness, and some medicinal tea her sister forced down her throat, Katniss was flying high.

“She’s not a honey badger,” Peeta said.

Although Katniss had never seen a honey badger, Prim told her badgers were small fierce creatures that could be found in District 10. She sang, “HOMEY BADGER, honey pots, honey bear,” before placing a kiss on Peeta’s cheek. “My honey beautiful, are you my homey badgers?

“She can’t stay here, not in her condition,” Samuel said.

“Of course she can, they’re practically engaged.”

“Mom,” Peeta said.

“Well aren’t you?” Muriel turned her beady eyes at Peeta.

“Yes,” Katniss answered. “We’re gonna have a Toasting soon,” she added in a sing-song voice.

“There you see,” Muriel said.

“But she’s sick and she can get…”

“Her maw will tend to us for free, we’re practically kin. Now,” Muriel pushed Samuel out of the door. “Let’s leave the lovebirds alone.”

“But,” Samuel said.

And suddenly Katniss was all alone with Peeta. “Sleep,” she muttered.

“Let’s get you into bed,” Peeta said.

Katniss muttered an unintelligent reply as her world was turned on its side. She sighed when she felt the bed dip and Peeta’s warm arms gathered her close.

Two days later the dim sunlight peeked through the window. The day was overcast and dreary, the muggy air drifted into the dry cool room. Sundays were always a day meant to sleep in late. Katniss snuggled closer to Peeta Mellark.

She put her ice-cold feet on his muscular calves.

“Mmmph,” Peeta sleepily murmured.

Katniss snuggled closer.

“Katniss,” Peeta said, opening up a bleary eye.

“No, sheeps.”

Peeta chuckled.

She pressed her nose into his chest. Katniss always sounded childlike when half-asleep.

“Kat-kin, it’s time to get up.”

Katniss grumbled as she clung to Peeta. She’d been staying at the bakery ever since she’d gotten caught sneaking into his bedroom. It wasn’t her fault either. Peeta had the blasted window closed. She was feeling better, and to her surprise, Peeta hadn’t gotten sick.

Last night while her mother was in the room checking up on her, Katniss heard Muriel demand that Peeta have a Toasting with her. Surprisingly, Peeta’s father opposed the marriage.

Her mother had waited until Muriel, Samuel, and Peeta were out of the room before she asked if that is what Katniss wanted. Katniss affirmed it and hearing her words, her mother acquiesced.

“You know my mother is downstairs as we speak, arranging our Toasting tonight,” Peeta said.

“I know,” she said with her eyes closed. She felt Peeta gently let go of her. His fingers traced her mouth and chin.

“Are you,” Peeta paused, “Are you sure you want this? Me?”

Katniss heard his insecurity. Letting her lashes fall open she sighed. Peeta was staring down at her with fear in his eyes.

“Do you doubt us?”

Peeta’s face became red. “No.”

“I chose you Peeta.” She lifted her hand and placed it on his cheek. “I’ve chosen to be with you. I chose to make the trek from the Seam into town to be with you, whoever saw me be damned. This is a new world and you and I have the right to be happy. We have the right to dream. Have the right to want and be wanted.” She gave him a fierce look before saying, “I want you Peeta. I want forever with you, and if you’re okay with that, then I’m okay with your mother planning our toasting.”

Peeta smiled. “I’m okay with that. Though you should know, I think my mom’s got a crush on you.”

Katniss laughed. “She’s already hinting at grandkids.”

Peeta turned pale.

“Don’t worry, I told her we’re working on it…”

“You did,” Peeta gasped.

“Yup in about five years or so when we’re damned ready.”

“Thank goodness,” Peeta said.

Katniss smiled, “Now shut up and let me sleep…”