Hi guys, I know long time no update. I am very sorry, I could bore you with excuses but instead I'll get down to business.

Many thanks to Louezem and ackennedy for being my cheerleaders and encouraging me to keep writing, love you ladies. I also want to proclaim my vast appreciation to Court for who is a beta rock star, thank you so much my friend!

The Reconstruction of a Heart

Part 5

Katniss

September 1865

Katniss felt herself being carried, and for a single moment her heart soared. Peeta is carrying me to bed and the last few days have been nothing but a terrible dream. Although the arms that held her were not those of her comforter and protector; instead she opened her eyes to see her oldest brother-in-law carrying her to the house. Defeated, she forced her eyes shut and fell into a listless state.

Rory set her down on her bed. Prim tried to rouse her, to which Katniss replied, "Leave me alone."

Prim sighed heavily and covered her sister with blankets.

Katniss stared out the window and watched the clouds roll by for hours. She couldn't summon up the strength to feel anything other than beaten down. She was numb; too angry to cry, too sad to rage. Prim was in the kitchen and Katniss could hear her working. Posy and Vick came in for lunch. Posy had questions, but Prim cut her off. The younger children were chased out of the house after the meal in order to give Katniss some peace.

Sometime later, the front door opened and Prim exploded, "What in the heavens were you thinking Rory Hawthorne? How dare you bring that Jezebel here?!"

"Prim, I had no choice," Rory said defensively. "She has no kin. She openly helped the Union forces in Tennessee, so her neighbors consider her to be a traitor. I couldn't leave my own flesh and blood like that…Katniss taught me that you never leave family behind."

"How did you even find her?"

"I ran into some soldiers who served with Gale. They told me about rumors that he fathered a child. I found Gale's old commanding officer, Boggs, and he said that it was most likely true. When I was released, the first thing I did was to find her and learn the truth. I found the boarding house and a woman all on her own with a baby only days old. When I saw him and heard his name I knew that he was a Hawthorne. I saw my brother in that little child, Prim. I couldn't leave him friendless and with no onebut his mama…what would happen if she perished? None of her neighbors would even speak to her. She'd already had threats on her life. All the windows were broken out of her house. She wasn't safe there."

"How do you know that it is Gale's child?" Prim spat.

"Johanna…I mean Mrs. Mason, had several letters," Rory paused. "I knew they were written by his hand. It was his signature, and turn of phrase. Prim, I never would have brought her here if I had not been certain."

"Missus?" Prim scoffed. "Where on Earth is her husband?"

"Dead, since before the war," Rory explained. "He was much older and from what I from what I gather not at all kind to her."

"I really do not care what her troubles were. She doesn't belong here…hasn't Katniss suffered enough?! Did you never think about what this would do to her?" Prim accused.

"I did, but what was I to do?" Rory questioned; frustration laced his words. "Where was I to take them?"

Katniss, despite her anger, understood Rory's position. He idolized Gale and thought him to be without failings. Many times over the years, Rory praised his older brother and was proud of his every accomplishment and promotion. After Gale died, he instantly became a mythical hero in Rory's eyes. Finding out that Gale might have fathered an illegitimate child must have been a blow.

Gale may have had a child.

The full realization hit her hard and if she had anything in her stomach she would have most likely thrown it up. The pair outside her door continued to argue, but she shut out the voices. She knew that she should be crying yet she couldn't summon up the tears. The man who betrayed her was not the man she had known or loved.

Gale had always been selfish in some ways; she had known that. Often he thought that his opinion was the only one that mattered. But she never dreamed him capable of infidelity—it never even occurred to her. Although now having possible proof in the form of a baby, she was able look at the past with clearer eyes. Thinking of Madge, she wondered if Gale had made her a promise or otherwise had made her believe that he intended to marry her.

Katniss was so confused and overwhelmed. She wanted Peeta there to hold her and to tell her that everything would be alright.

There was a knock on the open window and someone spoke her name. She saw Vick looking in.

When she met his eye,he took off his hat and asked cautiously, "Is it safe to come in yet? Prim sent me to town with Posy. I heard Rory and Prim arguing so I thought that I should check in before I let Posy in."

Prim could be heard still giving Rory a scathing lecture."That was the problem with Gale too, you never think before you act!"

Vick looked somewhat in awe at the door. "I have never seen Prim so upset. What is going on?" The concern in his voice was tangible.

"If I understood myself, I would tell you," she told him and patted down some of his wayward curls. She remembered Vick being a baby and as the little boy who watched her in admiration when she skinned animals and did the work of a man. Of all the people in the household, he was the one most like her:quiet, pensive, and a hard worker. He couldn't have been more a brother to her if he'd been born to her own parents.

"Gale did something awful, didn't he?"

"I don't know for sure yet," she said, trying to be optimistic. Katniss gave him a forced smile. "Now go do the chores, I will settle things in here."

Vick nodded and held out a letter to her. "I got this in town. It's from Peeta."

Katniss took it from the boy and held it to her chest without realizing what she was doing. Vick smiled at her and left her alone.

She opened the letter.

Dearest Katniss,

I hope that this letter finds you well. How is everyone doing? Has Rory arrived home yet? I wish him a safe and speedy journey.

Katniss rolled her eyes and read on.

My mother has passed. We will have buried her by the time you will have received this. I have come back to a place that is foreign to me; my family is all but strangers. I want to come home to you as soon as I can, but I have some business to attend to here first. Mother's affairs have to be put in order and the will is to be read tomorrow. I expect nothing but I have been asked to stay nonetheless.

I cannot sleep at night so I have been working on some ideas for our house. I hope that you like them when you see them. If you don't, we'll think of something else.

My dearest wish is to hear from you. I miss you and all of the others.

Your constant admirer,

Peeta

Katniss felt guilty. She had been ready to drive Peeta away for the sake of a dead husband who may not have been faithful. She needed to speak to Peeta. He would know if what the woman—Mrs. Mason—claimed was true or not. Although if he knew Gale was unfaithful, then why didn't he tell me?

The thought caused her too much distress so she simply pushed it aside. The argument in the next room demanded her attention. Bickering would solve nothing. She knew that Prim was defending her, but there was nothing to defend against an offense that was long since committed. The offender was with his maker and had received his judgment.

Katniss took a deep breath and walked out into the kitchen, making the arguing couple pause to stare at her.

"Katniss," Prim said in surprise. "You're up? Let me get you something to eat."

"Who could sleep, with you two carrying on like that?" Katniss retorted and sat in a chair. "Get me some coffee too, please. Why don't we wait to talk about this further, and more civilly after the children go to bed?"Prim agreed and began to throw together a hasty dinner.

Katniss turned to Rory, who was sitting across the table. "Where are the woman and her child?"

Rory looked as if he'd aged ten years since last winter. "I took them to Haymitch's and got them settled in."

Katniss had a shiver of fear.The wrong people could see her and the family secret will be out. She did not care about Gale's reputation, but she did care about his siblings'.

Prim broke in from over the stove. "Haymitch won't breathe a word and has plenty of spare room, since Madge and Miss Trinket left."

Katniss felt a slight measure of relief; Haymitch was the family's biggest ally and he would protect their secrets.

As Prim worked, Rory told Katniss the story of how he'd come to find Mrs. Mason. She listened silently and chewed on her lip. Rory explained he nearly had to beg for Mrs. Mason to come with him; she was proud but she only agreed when Rory pointed out the dangers to her son.

"You said earlier that there were letters?" Katniss said when his tale was finished. "What sort of letters?"

Rory's face flared red and hesitated before saying, "Love letters, I guess they could be called."

Katniss let out a bitter laugh. The thought of Gale Hawthorne writing a love letter was ridiculous. Perhaps he could for someone else.

"What do you think we ought to do?" Rory asked Katniss.

"I don't know," she shrugged. "Do you truly believe her claims?"

"I have travelled with her for weeks and I have found her to be sincere and honest, almost to a fault."

"She can't stay here," Prim broke in.

"That I agree with," Katniss said.

Rory nodded in agreement and excused himself to clean up for supper. The younger family members were called in for a tensely silent meal. By the look on Posy's face Katniss could tell that the girl had a thousand questions but wisely stayed silent. Vick and Posy went to bed with the sun.

Katniss knew that the family couldn't keep this up for long. She remembered the years she and Prim spent tiptoeing around her mother after their father died. Katniss could not live like that again, especially if she were the pitiful creature that everyone coddled. She had to get to the bottom of this. She had to know what Mrs. Mason was expecting of them. She also had to speak to Peeta to see if there was any possibility of Gale not fathering the child.

Prim glared at Rory. He looked despondent. This obviously not the homecoming he was expecting.

Katniss knew that this had to be resolved, and soon. "Tomorrow I am going to over to Haymitch's, I need to speak to Mrs. the child is family we ought to know. We'll see what she has to say when I tell her that Mr. Mellark can confirm or deny her claims."

The next morning, Katniss arose early. She put on her black cotton dress. The material was rough from being worn, washed, starched, and ironed. It didn't feel right to wear anymore, in more ways than one.

She had Rory's horse saddled and was heading towards town before anybody else was even awake. She arrived in town just as the post office opened. She had written Peeta a letter the night before. She'd written it several times but it still didn't seem right. What they had to discuss could not be done through letters.

The telegraph office caught her attention instead. The cost to send one was more than Katniss wanted to think of, but she couldn't put a price on what Peeta's counsel would mean to her now. Also, he could answer questions that no one else could.

The message had to be subtle so not to imply that they were more then friends, nor did she want to mention Mrs. Mason. After some thought for a few moments, she scribbled a message.

Peeta—You have our condolences STOP Rory has returned home STOP You are missed STOP Come back very soon STOP Please STOP I must speak with you STOP- Katniss

After her business in town was finished, she rode to the Abernathy farm. She wanted to face Mrs. Mason on her own.

Mrs. Seeder wore a sympathetic smile when she let Katniss in. Katniss straightened her skirt and held her head high. There were cheerful voices carrying on in the parlor. Haymitch's gruff laugh rang through the room. The voices hushed when Katniss was announced.

"Hello, sweetheart," Haymitch rose to greet her.

"How are you Haymitch?" she asked as politely as she could.

"I've had an interesting time." He flashed half a smile. She noticed that he seemed genuinely in a good mood, which was rare for him if he had a guest.

Mrs. Mason sat in a high-backed chair at the far end of the room. She wore a brave expression. For some reason Katniss had a feeling that it was only a mask. She knew because she often did the same thing.

She measured the woman up; she was bit shorter that herself but far more womanly,likely because of her recent pregnancy. Her hair was dark auburn and was pulled back into a high bun. Her clothes were a bit threadbare and were plain in construction.

"I doubt that you two have been formally introduced, so I will do it for you," Haymitch announced. "Mrs. Hawthorne, Mrs. Johanna Mason. Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Katniss Hawthorne. I will not interfere with your conversation, but I am here to mediate when necessary. Mrs. Mason, don't not underestimate my friend here. What she lacks in physical presence she makes up for in fieriness."

"I have heard of Mrs. Hawthorne. She's a good hunter," Mrs. Mason said in an even tone. "I would not purposely cross her."

"Other than the fact that you had a boarding house in Tennessee, I have never heard anything more of you until yesterday," Katniss replied. "What do you anticipate accomplishing by coming here?"

Mrs. Mason's hard exterior appeared to soften some. "I want nothing from you but the permission to give my son his father's surname. It did not seem right for me to just give it to him without the family's knowledge."

"I'm surprised that you are asking," Katniss said haughtily. "You certainly didn't mind carrying on with Gale withoutpermission."

Mrs. Mason looked as if she was going to say something smart, but then her smirk faded. She had enough shame to hang her head a bit. "I did not know that he was married until after we were…involved. By then it was too late; the damage was done."

"What if I told you that I know a man who could confirm or deny this story—a soldier who served with Gale and stayed on your property?" Katniss questioned.

"Who is this soldier?" Mrs. Mason replied curiously.

"Peeta Mellark."

Mrs. Mason chuckled. "He would know better than anybody. He walked in on us. Mellark is the only reason that I found out that Gale was already married."

Katniss was stunned silent and could not respond for many long moments. The implications were enormous. Peeta knew and didn't tell me? He lied by omission. Why did he not tell me?

The tense silence was broken by the sound of a baby crying. Mrs. Mason rose in an instant to get her son. She soon returned to her seat with the fussing infant in her arms and she quieted him with a few words. Katniss looked at the child. His little grey eyes were open. She wanted Peeta to come back and proclaim Gale's innocence, but the more she stared at the child the less likely that need became.

As much as she looked for the face of a stranger, all Katniss saw was family—not just Gale but the others too. She saw traits of the other people that she loved so dearly. His black hair curled like Vick's. His lip pouted just like Posy's did. His little nose was straight just like Hazelle's.

Katniss suddenly felt empty and wondered if her daughter would have resembled this child in anyway.This is the grandchild that Hazelle wanted so badly.

Katniss collected her senses and evenly as she could manage, asked, "What are your plans?"

"I have none at the moment, other than heading out west somewhere." Mrs. Mason's lighthearted demeanor left her. "I had to get out of the South. We weren't safe there. I had enemies."

"How could a sweet little woman like you make enemies?!" Haymitch said sarcastically.

"I invited a slew of Yankees to stay on my property. My neighbors didn't take kindly to that."

"You also invited Gale to partake of your personal assets as well, from what it sounds like," Katniss said lowly. The room got very silent. Haymitch watched the two women with wide eyes.

Mrs. Mason's mouth curled into an amused grin. "In all the things I've heard about you, Mrs. Hawthorne, I've never heard that you had a sense of humor."

"You flatter me," Katniss said icily. "I never imagined that a man would speak much of his wife to his mistress."

"Gale didn't speak of you at all until he had to." Mrs. Mason cocked an eyebrow. "It was Rory who told me all about you. He's a good kid, and from what I've heard you've raised a good family. You're very lucky. You're very highly thought of."

Katniss was stunned to hear a sincere compliment from her. The woman did not seem like she was trying to be insulting towards Katniss. While she was uncouth, Mrs. Mason not cruel. The baby began to cry again. Unabashedly Mrs. Mason began to open her blouse and she pulled out her full breast for the child to latch onto.

Katniss's jaw dropped. She'd never seen any woman nurse so openly in front of strangers. She turned to Haymitch to gauge his reaction. His eyes were wide and a goofy grin appeared on his face.

"Y'all seen a calf nursing off a cow. This ain't no different," Mrs. Mason teased and attended to her son.

"Excuse me," Katniss whispered and all but ran outside. Haymitch was close behind her.

She gasped for air, trying to fight off the urge to cry or scream. Intellectually, Katniss knew that this woman was not to blame for the infidelity, although her heart wanted to blame Mrs. Mason for seducing Gale.

"What do you think of Johanna?" Haymitch questioned.

"She's something. What that is exactly I don't know," Katniss muttered. Then she turned to her mentor. "What am I to do Haymitch? What if she wants more than she says?"

"I honestly don't know, sweetheart," he confessed. "Her legal claims are slim to none and even if she had much, there isn't much to get. I don't get the feeling that she wants anything other than a name."

"You seem pretty friendly with her," she pointed out.

Haymitch shrugged. "She makes me laugh. She says what most people think but are too afraid to say. It's refreshing, especially after the company I had to entertain all summer."

Haymitch cleared his throat. "Are you going to give her permission to give the child the Hawthorne name?"

"If Peeta can confirm her story, they can both have it for all I care," Katniss said bitterly. "I won't want the name myself anymore."

"Maybe you'll have a new name soon too," Haymitch offered in a happier tone. "I know of someone who would be glad to give one to you."

"I cannot think of that until I have this mess sorted out."

"At least you're willing to think of it now." Haymitch grinned.

Katniss tried to scowl at him, but she really couldn't draw up the anger to do it properly. "If what that woman says is true then Peeta lied to me."

"He may have been trying to save you this pain," Haymitch suggested.

"Peeta ought to have told me," she persisted.

"Would you have believed him?"

Katniss hung her head. She knew that before yesterday that she wouldn't have. She sighed and said, "I drove Gale to do it. I was so cross with him when I last saw him."

Haymitch gently lifted her chin so that she would have to look at him. "You did not drive Gale to anything. He was a grown man. Katniss, things happen in war that would not happen in any other circumstance. You cannot blame yourself; none of this is a reflection on you."

She nodded, knowing that he was right, but it didn't spare her feelings. "I have to leave. I will be back when I have thought this through."

Haymitch called after her, but she did not heed him. She left hastily as tears began to sting her eyes. It was only when she got on the horse and was well off the Abernathy property that she began to shake with anger. Who she was more upset with, Gale or Peeta, she did not know.

She rode the horse hard into the woods of her own land, eager to hide from any prying eyes. Without even realizing where she was going she somehow found herself heading towards the family burial plot. There were a dozen or so headstones marking the resting places of her ancestors. The four newest stones belonged to her parents, Hazelle, and Gale. While there wasn't a stone, Katniss knew that her child lay between own mother and Gale's. She'd never said it aloud, but she liked that Prim and Rory put the baby there. It was like there was family to watch over her and she'd never be alone.

Her eyes moved towards Gale's stone, the largest and most elaborate. It was the closest thing to a hero's monument that the family could afford. She had a sudden urge to smash it to pieces. She threw the first stone she could find and yelled,"You didn't deserve all this!"

She slung another. "I trusted you."

Finally she allowed herself to be angry at the unfairness of it all. She battered the marker with stones and screamed at it, until a pair of arms wrapped around her from behind. Rory's voice begged of her, "Katniss, be still. It's done now."

She struggled against him, but he held fast. Exhausted and flustered, her rage turned into tears and she slumped against him. Rory set her on the ground and sat next to her. They sat there together Rory sat silent while Katniss sobbed.

"I wanted to do that too when I first found out," he said after she'd cried herself out. "I was so mad at him. Last winter I left here thinking that my brother was among the best men who ever lived and now…now I consider him to be a scoundrel."

Katniss wanted to think of Gale as evil, but even in light of his infidelity, she knew he wasn't. She remembered her childhood best friend, a boy who did whatever it took to feed his family and the man who saved Peeta's leg and possibly even his life.

"He was a terrible husband," she admitted, "although he was a good brother and soldier." She looked at the headstone. All of her rage and fury she took out on it yielded very little result. The only visible damage was one small chip out of the corner.

Rory stood and offered her a hand. "We'd better get you home to your sister. You frightened Prim when you were nowhere to be found this morning." They began to walk to the house, arm in arm. Usually she wouldn't do such a thing, but she was so drained that she was thankful for the help.

Rory cleared his voice. "I take it that you went to see Johanna?"

"Yes, I saw her and Asher," she shared. "She truly has no kin?"

He was somber. "From what I understood, she was an orphan and worked as a servant for room and board. She worked for the man who became her husband. He compromised her and told her that she had to marry him or else he'd tell everyone that she was a harlot."

Katniss had a feeling that 'compromised' was synonymous for rape; such things were not unheard of. Her sympathy with Mrs. Mason was growing. "You did the right thing bringing them here."

"You believe that Asher belongs to Gale then?" Rory ventured.

"I will wait for Peeta to say for sure, but I am fairly certain that baby is your nephew."

"Is Mr. Mellark returning soon?"

"I hope so," she said wistfully.

"Prim said that you and he are close," he said kindly. "That is good. I have heard nothing but excellent things about him."

Her heart skipped a beat at the mention of his name. What she wouldn't give to have him here now, although she didn't know if she'd kiss or slap him when she saw him again for the first time.

Peeta

Will this journey never end?Peeta wondered as the sun began to make its descent and he urged Demeter through a deep stream. He was within a few miles from the Hawthorne homestead, but there still did not seem to be an end in sight. Some of the fields that he had passed had corn bundled up in shocks and it only reminded him how long he'd been away.

For what must have been the hundredth time he read the telegram Katniss had sent him. Initially he had been thrilled to receive word from her, but after realizing how particular it was that she sent a telegraph instead of a letter, his instincts told him that there was something seriously amiss. If someone were ill, she would have said.

The moment he received the message he hastened his return to the Hawthorne homestead. Leaving his family would not be difficult, and he felt as if when he left them that it would be for the last time. They did not need him in anyway; they had their own lives and responsibilities. They had never been particularly close and the years and miles of distances had not changed that.

His oldest brother Bert was kind to him but he had a store to run and a family consisting of four children and a wife. His other brother, Johnny, hardly spoke to him, although his wife, Delly was uncomfortably friendly with Peeta. All she wanted to do was talk about old times, back when they had been sweethearts.

When his mother had passed, he had been shocked to learn that he'd been included in the will. He'd never been his mother's favorite, although he'd come to find that since he'd left that his brothers had lost her good opinion as well.

Albert had left the bakery and went out on his own and was never really forgiven for not carrying on the family trade. John stayed with the bakery but soon his lazy nature had it losing money and he took a job at his father-in-law's shoe shop. He and Delly had one child, which in private, old Mrs. Mellark accusedwas not any relation to her. When Peeta met his red-haired, brown-eyed nephew he suspected much the same, especially after seeing how flirtatious Delly was with not only him but with almost everyone that she came into contact with.

Peeta had been left the tidy sum of five hundred dollars, which was a shock to him. As a youth he'd always been led to believe that his family lived hand to mouth. He clearly recalled wearing holey shoes and clothes until he started using his meager allowance to buy his own. She'd never put anything more than a penny in the church collection plate and had never given to charity. She did all this in the name of thriftiness and took none of it with her to the next life. Now that she was gone, he could pity her.

In defiance of the stingy way he was raised, he couldn't resist the temptation to use some of his inheritance to buy gifts for his friends waiting for him in Seam. He bought bolts of fabric, balls of brightly dyed yarn, yards of ribbon and lace for the girls, and a set of pen knives for the Hawthorne brothers.

He smiled when he thought of the gift for Katniss that he carried in his coat pocket. It was a shell cameo broach set in gold. The finely wrought relief was in the image of two doves perching amongst flowers. The moment he saw it he knew that he wanted it to belong to Katniss. Peeta had seriously considered buying her a ring, but he thought that it was too presumptive given the way they parted.

The landscape became more familiar just before the sunset. Peeta came across the field where he first met Katniss, just a few months before. When he first arrived the field was empty and barren; now it was full of corn, nearly ready to be harvested.

Peeta thought that he was dreaming when he spied her standing at the edge of the field, wearing her faded blue dress and inspecting an ear of corn.

He urged Demeter where Katniss stood. When she lifted her head, he called out, "Excuse me, miss, could you direct me to the Hawthorne place?"

He dismounted horse and approached her. She gaped at him. "You're back."

He took off his wide-brimmed hat and told her, "I just got back. I got on the train first thing this morning. I would have been here sooner but it was delayed along the way."

No longer able to resist, he dropped the hat, moved towards her and scooped her up in his arms and kissed her. It was bold of him, he knew, but he wanted to kiss her before the others could interrupt them or before Katniss could think of reasons why they should not.

There was no hesitation in her return. Her hands were buried in his hair and she held him close. They stayed like this for many long moments and kissed, until Katniss suddenly halted and pushed herself out of his embrace.

"Peeta, stop," she insisted, suddenly sounding exasperated. "We have to talk."

"Katniss, what's wrong?" His heart sank at her tone. Upon closer examination, he saw that she looked like she'd not rested since the day that he'd left.

She turned from him and the words poured from her mouth. "Rory came home and he brought a Mrs. Mason home with him…along with a baby. Who she claims is Gale's child."

Peeta felt as if the wind had been knocked out of him. "A child?" he breathed.

"A baby boy," she elaborated. "There is a very good possibility that it is Gale's son, isn't there?"Katniss turned back to him, her expression was begging for him to deny it. As much as he wanted to he couldn't lie to her.

"Yes, there is. Katniss I am so sorry…" He searched for the words but none seemed appropriate.

Katniss stared at him. "So it is true, then. Gale was unfaithful. And you knew all this time and didn't tell me."

"Katniss, I…"

"I have too much proof of his guilt to question his innocence. Although what I do not know is," Katniss let out a sad sigh, "did you know that she was with child?"

"No, I had no idea," he promised. "I would have helped to take care of her if I had known."

"There is no one else that could have been responsible?"

"No, there was no one else that I know of and there weren't even rumors of there being a possibility of Mrs. Mason being connected in that way with any other soldiers."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Her voice warbled with hurt and she crossed her arms defensively.

"It was not my place, Katniss," he insisted. "What Gale did was wrong and I was angry with him for it. In fact, we hardly spoke in the last few days of his life. Although when I saw him bloodied on the ground, I overlooked his transgressions. Gale asked me to take care of his family and I did not think telling you of his sins would be beneficial to you in any way."

"I deserved to know!" she bit out.

"To know what?" he demanded. "That your husband was a jackass? You appeared to be well acquainted of that fact the day that I met you. Believe me when I say that I wanted to tell you, but I didn't want to hurt you any further than he already had."

"I understand why you acted so nobly," she said heavily. "Why do you have to be so unfalteringly good?"

"I am far from good," he said humbly. "And if I were, you say it as if it were a terrible flaw."

She looked at him and shook her head. "You make it hard for me to be angry at you."

"Do you want to be angry, or do you want to move on and be happy?" Peeta was confused; she was so contrary.

"I never would have sent for you if I didn't want to be happy," Katniss blurted out. "This is such a mess Peeta and I… for the first time in my life I don't know how to fix it."

He dared to approach her and reached out to cup her cheek. "Why do you have to?"

She buried her head in his shoulder and mumbled, "I'm so glad to have to you back."

Peeta put an arm around her and held her tight. "How is everybody?"

"Posy and Vick will be happy to see you. The last few days have been tense in the house. I think that Prim is even more upset than I am and Rory is on the receiving end of her wrath." Katniss told him. "You have a way of cheering up everyone and we need that right now. Prim is so beside herself in anger, I hardly know her."

They walked side by side on the path, with Demeter following behind.

Peeta wondered aloud, "Where is Mrs. Mason staying?"

"With Haymitch," she replied. "He enjoys her company too much for my liking."

Peeta had to smile. He could imagine that Haymitch would be a kindred spirit to the feisty Southerner. "I'm sure that they are keeping each other entertained."

"What was your impression of Mrs. Mason?" Katniss asked.

He thought for a minute or two. "I always thought despite her brash nature that she was a good person. She helped several escaped slaves get up north at great risk to herself and was always good to the soldiers. She shared everything down to her last stick of firewood."

Katniss suddenly changed the subject. "How was your trip?"

He gave her an abbreviated version of his trip, leaving out about what he'd been left in the will and how overly friendly Delly had been. Katniss listened as they walked. When he told her about his mother's death, Katniss took his hand and squeezed it. "I am so sorry," she offered at the end of his story. "Did your brothers even ask for you to stay longer?"

"No," Peeta nearly laughed. "They don't care about where I go or what I do. I could disappear and it would be years before they wondered why I didn't write anymore."

"If it is any consolation, you were very much missed here," she said sincerely.

"I was starting to wonder when I never received a letter."

"Peeta…I'm so sorry. I started nearly a dozen letters but they didn't seem right. I was so conflicted when you left."

"And now?" he asked hopefully.

"Now,"she gave an encouraging small smile, "I am certain."

The house was in sight and their conversation halted. The doors to the house opened and Posy rushed out followed by the rest of the family. Posy hugged his waist tight. Vick greeted him with a hand shake. A tired looking Prim embraced him and introduced Rory.

Peeta was struck by how much the young man looked like Gale. Rory gave him a firm handshake and said, "I'm pleased to finally meet you, Prim has told me so much about you."

While the adults visited, Vick and Posy attended to Demeter. "Peeta, what is all this?" Posy wondered looking at the loaded-down saddle.

"Gifts for everyone," he said proudly and began to loosen parcels from the saddle.

"Which can wait until after dinner," Katniss proclaimed with a slightly annoyed look on her face. Peeta knew that Katniss would not initially like that he'd brought gifts, but he hoped that she'd forgive him when she saw what he'd brought her.

Everyone squeezed around the table and enjoyed hot meal. After dinner, Peeta felt like Father Christmas handing out gifts. The brothers thanked Peeta for their knives. Prim and Posy marveled over the fabric and ribbons and already were making plans for dresses and curtains.

"Peeta, this is too much!" Katniss half scolded as she inspected a bolt of purple damask striped fabric.

"After all the kindness you've shown me, this is nothing. You are more like family now than my own family is." He thought briefly about giving her the cameo, but he knew that now was not the time. She had too much else on her mind.

Rory pulled Peeta aside and asked him if he wanted to join him outside for a smoke. He agreed and the men went outside.

The two men carried on a polite conversation. They were far from being strangers, having been told about each other for years, but they had never met before that day.

"Quite the mess my brother left for us to sort out," Rory said out of the blue. Peeta couldn't think of anything appropriate to say so he simply nodded. Rory took a long pull from the cigarette and said, in a low tone, "The thing that made me the maddest was when I read his letters. He told Johanna that if she came up pregnant that he'd marry her and go out west after the war. I'm telling you only because if I didn't share it with someone I think that I might burst. I don't want the others to know, not Katniss, not my brother or sister…and definitely not Prim. "

"Why tell me?" Peeta questioned.

"Because you knew Gale at his worst and you still felt compelled to keep your promise to him. That's the kind of man Katniss deserves. I suppose what I am saying is that when the time comes, I will give my blessing. Although with Katniss, what anyone has to say will have little effect on what she does when her mind is set."

"What her family thinks means the world to her," Peeta gently corrected. "Your blessing means much to me, also."

Storm clouds began to roll in and the men went back into the house. Peeta told the family about his journey, telling them about the stores the he'd visited and the sights he'd seen. He never imagined that a story about a funeral trip would be more entertaining then what had been going on there. But he realized that they all needed a little escape from current circumstances.

As the lanterns began to burn out and everyone headed for their beds, except for Katniss and Peeta. They sat across from each other. Peeta had so much that he wanted to say but knew that it was not the time for much of it.

"Katniss, can you forgive me for not telling you about what happened in Tennessee?" he asked in a soft tone.

"I know why you didn't," she looked up at him. "It wouldn't have changed anything and as you said, it was not up to you to tell me."

"I never meant to hurt you. It was the very thing that I was trying to avoid," he said with sincerity.

She nodded in reply. A clap of thunder shook the little house. Katniss reached across the table and gripped his hand, anchoring him to the here and now. "If you like, you can come to bed with me. It would be just like before." Her voice was soft and inviting.

"Would it be just like before?" he questioned cautiously.

She bit her lip, attempting to hold back a smile. "It will have to be. Rory is a light sleeper and an early riser. He might discover then we would be marched to the church before noon."

"Then I really ought to sleep on the cot. When we get married, I want it to be because we want to, not because we have to. I will be content knowing that you are safe and under the same roof."

"How have your nightmares been?"

"Since I left, my nightmares have been about losing you," he confessed. "That is my greatest fear now."

She rose and walked around the table to his chair and sat in his lap. "You cannot lose me. When you left, I thought that I might never see you again and I realized how much I need you. All I could think of was how much I love you and how I'd treated you so badly."

"Say it again," he requested, wanting nothing more than to here the affirmation again.

"That I treated you badly?"

"No, that you love me. I have been yearning to hear it for so long. I want to make sure that I heard it for real and that I wasn't imagining it."

Looking into his eyes she declared, "Peeta, I love you," and captured his lips with hers in a searing kiss. Peeta had never been so happy, all his past traumas and disappointments temporarily forgotten as he lost himself in her.

"I love you too," he rasped against her lips. He knew that if they continued that it would be nearly impossible to stop. To divert both her attention and his own, he reached into his pants pocket. He pulled out the small box and offered it to her. "I hope that you don't mind, but I got you something special while I was away. I didn't want to give it to you in front of the others."

With trembling hands, Katniss took the box and opened it. Her face was unreadable for a moment that seemed to last for ages. "Oh, Peeta," she gasped. "It's lovely…I don't know what to say."

"Say thank you and that you'll wear it often." He beamed.

She let out an uncharacteristically girlish giggle. "Thank you, Peeta." She took it from the box and proceeded to examine it. "I have never owned anything so beautiful."

"I hope to give you many beautiful things," he told her.

"Will you come with me to Haymitch's tomorrow?" She laid her cheek against his. "I feel braver when you are with me."

"Of course I will," he promised.

Katniss

The next morning Katniss was awoken to the clatter and excitement of her family's mourning routine. She remembered Peeta promised to hold her until she fell asleep, although she was certain that he'd drifted off before she did. Startled, she looked at the opposite side of the bed, afraid that Peeta would still be laying there and that they would be caught. But thankfully he was missing from the room and she felt a huge sense of relief. She was not ready to announce the nature of their relationship just yet and when they did tell the family she wanted it to be on her and Peeta's terms.

As quickly as she could, she put on her green dress and braided her hair. On the dresser the cameo pin that Peeta had given her sat. She was able to see the details much better in the daylight. She marveled of the pretty pair of doves set against the soft orange background, and knew that the color was in part why Peeta had been drawn to it. Carefully, she pinned it to her collar and smiled with pride when she looked in the cracked hand mirror.

When she opened the door she expected to see Peeta at the stove, resuming his old position as cook, but she only found Prim stirring grits.

Her face fell, although Prim gave her the first smile that she'd seen in days. "Don't look so disappointed. Rory, Vick, and Peeta went to go see how much damage the storm did last night. They will be back soon. I sent Posy for eggs."

"Oh," Katniss said lamely and found her apron and began to help her sister with the morning meal.

"What is that?" Prim gasped and turned her sister so that she could look at broach. Katniss explained that Peeta had given it to her.

"He has very good taste," Prim teased and returned to the stove. "I think that the first thing we should make with all that material Peeta brought is a new dress for you. You've never had a fine dress; it's high time that you had one. Now that you've stopped wearing mourning clothes, you will need some new outfits."

"What do I need a fancy dress for?" Katniss asked.

"Perhaps a wedding?" Prim suggested. "I know that it would make me happy."

"You and Rory set a date?" Katniss evaded the insinuation.

"No, I would like to get one more year of teaching salary and Rory has to get steady work. Even then, I am going to have to think long and hard about marrying him."

"What has brought this on?" Katniss was shocked to hear her sister speak thusly. While she had never been a supporter of the pair marrying so young, she never was unhappy with the thought of them being together. Prim and Rory were very complimentary couple. They were loving and respectful to one another.

"I cannot forgive him for bringing that woman and the bastard here." Prim's voice trembled with frustration.

Katniss took her sister by the hand. "Prim, he did what was right."

"How could you of all people think that? Especially after your…" Prim trailed off, too upset to mention Katniss's baby.

"I am trying not to think of the child as Gale's, but more as the grandchild that Hazelle wanted so much. These past few years have been so filled with death and sadness for everyone. The child is proof that life can begin again and that the people we love are never truly gone."

"So, you have forgiven Mrs. Mason so easily?"

"She did not know that Gale was married until things had progressed." Katniss had begun to have sympathy for Mrs. Mason, a lonely widow all on her own. Katniss knew that it if weren't for the constant presence of her family members that she might have given into temptation with Peeta long before. "Gale was the one who hurt me, not her, at least not intentionally."

Prim looked astonished. "He hurt you so badly. How can you forget all of this so soon?"

"Forgive and forget is what the good book tells us to do. While I haven't forgotten, I also don't want to dwell on it. I've spent enough time angry at Gale. If anything, my knowledge of Mrs. Mason has allowed me to let his memory go. I owe him nothing more now. I can go on with my life now."

Eventually, everyone came back for breakfast. Peeta sat next to Katniss and his hand found hers under the table. She felt her spirits lifting.

After breakfast, Vick and Rory went to see if Finnick needed any help preparing for the harvest. Prim and Posy were going to clean house. Peeta and Katniss hitched up the cart pony and drove to Haymitch's.

The trip was quiet. Katniss was too lost in her own thoughts.

"You make that brooch look even prettier," Peeta commented, drawing her from her ruminations.

"Thank you," she replied with a shy smile. "I adore it."

"What are you thinking about?"

"About what will happen to Mrs. Mason and Asher when they leave here," she confessed. "I cannot imagine how difficult it would be to raise a child alone, and with no family and friends to help."

Peeta gave her a warm expression and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. When Haymitch's home was in sight they inched apart. An unexpected sight awaited them when they got there: Haymitch sat on his front porch in a rocking chair holding little Asher in his arms. He appeared to be having an animated conversation with the infant. He paused to welcome his guests, "Morning, sweetheart. Glad to see you back, Dutch boy."

"I'm happy to be back," Peeta replied. "I didn't know that you were so fond of babies."

"This one has grown on me," Haymitch grinned and looked at the child. "I think that we have a lot in common. We both need naps and get grumpy when we want a drink."

And you both like his mother's bosoms, Katniss mentally added.

"I offered to watch him while his mother helps Seeder wash the dishes. The woman refuses to be idle and insists on helping around the house."

Mrs. Mason shouted from inside the house, "Haymitch, do you want another cup of coffee? There is still some left." She poked her head out the door and saw Katniss and Peeta. "Good morning, y'all. Nice to see you again, Mr. Mellark."

"Lovely to see you Mrs. Mason," Peeta said pleasantly. "It's almost been a year since I last saw you."

"A lot has changed in a year," Johanna commented and motioned towards her son. Katniss watched her closely. She knew that she ought to hate her but she could not.

Mrs. Mason caught her eye. "Good morning, Mrs. Hawthorne. I was wondering when I would see you again."

"Could you and I speak alone?" Katniss requested. "We could take a walk."

Mrs. Mason agreed and asked Haymitch to watch her son. He readily agreed.

Peeta gave Katniss a pointed look. She knew that he was asking if she was sure. She nodded in reply. The two women set off down the lane.

"I see that you have stopped wearing black," Mrs. Mason observed.

Katniss looked down at her green calico dress. "It didn't seem right to be in mourning anymore."

"I take it that Mr. Mellark confirmed my story?"

"He did." Katniss took a deep breath and confessed, "Although when I left here the day before last I knew that had Gale fathered your son."

"Mrs. Hawthorne, I regret causing you any pain." Mrs. Mason paused and lightly touchedKatniss's shoulder to stop her. "I never meant to hurt anyone, but I am afraid that I cannot be sorry for the life of my son, bastard or not. He is all I have in this world and I can't help but to be grateful for him."

"A child is never anything to be ashamed of," Katniss said softly and began to walk again. "God would not have given him life if he didn't have a purpose." They walked a few more yards and then Katniss asked, "Did you love Gale?"

"He was the first man that I ever wanted, somethin' between love and lust," Mrs. Mason said soberly."It all happened too quickly to know for sure." She had a sort of brash honesty about her that most people would be repulsed by, but Katniss could appreciate it, as much as she didn't care to admit it.

"Have you made any further plans as to what you will do yet?"

"Funny that you should ask. Mr. Abernathy has suggested that I spend the winter here." Mrs. Mason's voice was earnest. "But if you ain't comfortable with me being so near, I understand and will find somewhere that I can clean and cook in exchange for room and board."

As much as Katniss wanted this woman as far from her family as she could get her, she knew it would be difficult for Mrs. Mason on her own with a child. As much as she wanted to the living proof of her husband's infidelity far away from herself she could not exile a blood relative of Rory, Vick, and Posy's without a feeling of guilt. There was also the fact that winter had always been hard on Haymitch too. It was not uncommon for him to spend his days drinking when he couldn't call on his neighbors in bad weather.

After some consideration, she consented, "It is a free country, you may stay. He likes your company and Asher. It would be good for him."

"Thank you. I will not speak a word about Gale to anyone."

Katniss offered her a half smile.

"Now, let's get back to the house, it is well past breakfast time for Asher."

Withholding an eye roll, Katniss turned to go back to the house. Peeta was leaning against the railing and Haymitch was soothing the fussy baby when the women returned. He looked relieved when he saw Johanna. "I think he wants something only his mama can give him."

Katniss was thankful when Johanna picked her son up and took him into the house to nurse. Once Katniss was inside, she sat in the empty chair next to her old mentor. They talked about what neighbor had started harvesting and who would start next.

Katniss changed the course of conversation. "I heard that you may have a full house for a while."

"Would that bother you?" Haymitch asked.

"I don't know, I suppose it would be nice to know that the child was safe," Katniss said thoughtfully. She could not deny Haymitch what he obviously desired. His life hadn't been easy either. He was orphaned young and his wife had been his only family after that.

Peeta gave Katniss a kind smile, knowing how difficult it must have been on her.

"What if they were here indefinitely?" Haymitch questioned in a quiet voice.

"Do you mean what I think you mean? You've only known her a week!" she hissed in a whisper. "You don't know her well enough to think be thing of marrying her."

"I've not said a word to her yet, but I was thinking that it would solve a lot of problems. The baby wouldn't be a bastard, I would claim him and in a few years no one would remember that he wasn't really mine. I wouldn't be alone in this big house. Then, of course, the best part is that when I pass, Madge wouldn't inherit this place." Haymitch grinned cheekily.

"Haymitch this is all very fast. Shouldn't you think about it for a while?" Peeta interjected.

"Not everyone needs the perfect circumstances to make up their minds to get hitched. Not that I'm telling you what to do," Haymitch said, eyeing Katniss. "I'm at the age where I'd better act quickly or I might never get the chance."

Peeta

"Prim will be seething over this," Katniss remarked as they drove home.

"I surprised that you're not," Peeta responded.

"I suppose that other people's happiness and comfort is more important that my anger," she said, and laid her head on his shoulder. "Tell me about our house again. Give me something nice to think about."

He beamed as he told her about some of the details he'd been thinking over, talking for most of the trip. "Iam partial to the idea of built-inbookshelves around the parlor sitting room fireplace…The kitchen would be large. I saw a nice cast-iron stove in one of my brother's catalogs. We should get two, one for the summer kitchen too…I've seen a lot of new house have tall narrow windows, lots of them."

"So much for our 'modest' house," Katniss teased. "How are we to afford all this?"

Peeta was encouraged to hear that she was speaking of them sharing a home. He smiled at her and shared, "I actually have a little piece of news for you." He told her about his inheritance and about how he wanted to use it to build the house and to make some improvements around the farm. "I want to use it to make your life and ours better," he said in conclusion.

"You've made my life better just by being here with me." She pulled the reins from his hands and tugged them to halt the pony. "Let's get married."

"I thought that I was supposed to ask that," he mused. "Get down on one knee and ask your family."

"I don't care about any of that now," she said meaningfully.

"How soon would you like to get married?"

"As soon as the corn is in," she said after brief deliberation. "A cabin will only take a few days to build with several sets of hands. We set up room in the barn until it is done. I only want to be your wife. I don't want to wait anymore, I don't think can."

Katniss then tugged on his collar and her mouth collided with his, demonstrating how eager she was to be with him always.

He dared not to say it, but he shared in the sentiment too. I don't want to wait any longer either.

Thanks for reading.

There will be one more chapter...I hope.

You can find me on tumblr as izzysamson.