Epilogue

Peeta leaned into Katniss as they sat in the warm library with their friends. It was far too cold to be outside for lunch.

Katniss phone buzzed in her pocket and she took it out.

She laughed. "Your dad said to check your phone."

Peeta scrambled in his pocket until he found the new phone. "I totally forgot this was a thing."

Annie chuckled. "I almost sent a text to your dad for you yesterday."

Madge nodded. "Yeah, we're all so used to Peeta No-Phone."

"I'm not." Katniss said, sending Peeta a wink that made him blush. She a message on her phone.

Peeta opened up a message of his own from Prim.

Katniss let out a surprised squeal and turned to Peeta. She covered her mouth at the librarian's scrutiny.

Peeta glanced up at her a moment and then back down at Prim's message. It contained a picture of a piece of paper and the words, "In remission." He looked to Katniss. "You got this?"

Katniss nodded.

"What's going on?" Annie asked.

"Prim's cancer is in remission." Katniss explained as she sat back and typed a reply.

Peeta did too, "Congrats! Did you tell Landon yet?" He asked Katniss, "Do you think this is a good excuse to sign out and go home?"

Katniss laughed. "I'd say so. I'm not going to be able to focus this afternoon." She called her mom and got permission to leave. She started gathering her things.

Peeta did the same, his phone going off with the reply from Prim. "Yes. After Conrad and I told Mom."

Annie asked, "Will there be any victory sex in the car."

Katniss and Peeta both blushed.

Peeta said, "That wasn't the plan."

Annie and Madge both giggled as they headed out the door. They signed themselves out and hurried to Katniss's car.

Katniss asked, "Do you want to have sex in the car?"

Peeta laughed. "How about we hang out with our crazy mixed-up family for the rest of the day and then we can go out to the cabin for the sexy times?"

Katniss grabbed his face and kissed him hard. "Yes, please."

They made it to the bakery just as a flashy pink sports car took a spot. Peeta grumbled.

"What?" Katniss asked.

"That's Effie's car." He pointed.

"Oh, that's right. Is that getting serious?" She got out and waited for Peeta to make his way around.

He slipped his hand in hers and leaned her against the car. "Not as serious as us." He kissed her softly.

"I guess we're pretty serious." Katniss laughed and pushed him away. "So what are you going to do if Effie becomes your stepmom?"

Peeta cringed. "Don't mention that to me again. I don't need that image. Her wedding dress is going to highlighter pink or something."

She kissed his hand before opening the front door. Prim came bounding over, waving the piece of paper. "Take a look!"

Landon called from behind the counter, "At least they're interested, Prim."

Prim turned. "Everyone else was interested, too."

"Bakery customers are here for pastries, not to have a puny teenager wave a piece of paper in their face." Landon shot back.

Prim rolled her eyes. She waved the paper at Peeta and Katniss again. "Look at my report."

Peeta took it and smiled. "This is great, Prim." He pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you."

The door opened and Effie came tottering in on eight inch bright yellow heels. She took off her gray coat to reveal that her outfit was the same shade of yellow. It was like she was trying to summon spring two months early by her outfit alone.

Katniss snorted at the sight and quickly covered her mouth. She pressed her eyes into Peeta's shoulder. "Oh, my god."

He laughed along with her, but hid it by pressing his face into her hair. Eventually they were able to control themselves and moved apart.

"Oh, I'm so ecstatic for you, Primrose!" Effie said, clapping her hands. "This is a big, big, big day!"

"It is." Conrad wrapped an arm around Effie's waist. "Hey, Katniss and Prim, your mom just called. She's getting off a couple hours early. She'll be over in a bit. We're going to shut this place down a little early, too, and celebrate."

"Are we making pizza, Dad?" Prim asked.

Conrad tweaked her nose. "You bet, Rosy. You and Landon can go down to the grocery store and pick up the stuff. Peeta and Katniss, too. If you want."

"Sure." Katniss said. "We could do that."

Peeta nodded. "Yep."

"I'm driving!" Prim announced.

"You aren't even fourteen, Rosy." Conrad scolded playfully. "I don't think so."

Prim sighed. "Worst. Dad. Ever."

Landon leaned in and stage whispered, "Don't tell Dad, but I'll let you take a turn around the grocery store parking lot."

"You better not." Conrad warned.

Landon winked and took his dad's offered keys. "What happens in the car, stays in the car." He shook the keys and headed for the door. "Text the list."

Peeta rolled his eyes. "What's happened to you, Landon?"

"Life is great!" He said as he reached for the door. But his face fell as he looked out the window. "Maybe not so much."

Everyone followed his gaze and saw Sam making his way across the parking lot. Landon stepped back, an uncertain look on his face. Peeta felt himself collapsing when the door opened. Only Katniss's hand in his kept him from completely falling apart. He always felt like he was okay until he saw his oldest brother.

Sam stepped inside. He looked around the group. He swallowed. "Dad, could I have a word with you."

Conrad nodded. "Sure." He stepped forward and motioned for Sam to follow him into the back.

"Not alone." Landon said, just a step behind them.

Peeta let go of Katniss's hand and took up the rear of the group.

The three gathered in the room just off the main lobby where they did most of the cake decorating.

The four looked among themselves before anyone started talking.

Sam started, "She said…" He looked down. "She told me you never wanted me. She told me that all the time. Every time you weren't around. And after a while I started to believe it."

"I always wanted you, Sam." Conrad said gently.

Sam nodded. "I know that now. At court the other day… It clicked." He turned to Landon. "I know I have a long way to go to win back your trust." He looked to Peeta. "And I don't ever expect to earn yours back." He returned his gaze to Conrad. "But you're my family. And I want to try to make it right. I didn't know what I was doing when I was little and then it just became life. And, I'm so sorry, Dad."

Conrad pulled him into a tight hug. "I love you, Sammy."

Landon and Sam embraced after that. "All is forgiven." Landon assured him.

Finally, he turned to Peeta. "I'll work hard to make it up to you, Peeta."

Peeta shrugged. "You can't make up the past. But you can try to be better from now on. And you have to accept Prim. She's our sister."

"I know." Sam nodded. "I want to get to know her and get to know you and become like those cheesy families you see on TV sitcoms."

Conrad chuckled. "We are kind of like that."

"We're more like a soap opera." Landon said. "Peeta's dating Prim's sister."

Sam smiled. "Is that right?"

"And Dad's with Effie Trinket." Peeta added.

Sam made a sour face. "Are you really?"

"She's sweet." Conrad said defensively. He smiled at Sam. "Would you like to join us for supper? We're closing down early and making pizza."

Sam nodded. "I'd like that."

They all returned to the lobby where Katniss hurried forward.

"It's okay." Peeta said, wrapping an arm around her waist.

"Good." She hugged him close. "Conrad, is this a private family thing or can we invite some friends?"

"Invite everyone. Let's fill this place up." Conrad said. "The Hawthornes, Haymitch, Annie, Finnick, Madge. All of them." He pointed at Prim. "Who was that little girl I met when I picked you up from school last week? Rue?"

Prim nodded.

"Invite her, too. Invite all your friends." Conrad pointed at Landon. "Call your girlfriend." He spread his arms wide. "Party at Mellark Bakery because Prim is better!" He hoisted the girl up onto his shoulders and marched around the room.

Prim grabbed him around the head. "Dad, don't drop me!" She squealed as he pretended to. And then he slowly lowered her to the ground.

Iris came in just then. "What's going on here?"

Prim threw her arms around her mother. "I wish you could have been there, Mom."

"Me too, baby." Iris kissed the top of her head. "But I'm here now." She smiled at Conrad. "Prim said we're making pizza?"

"We still need to go for ingredients." Prim said. "And Landon was going to let me drive in the parking lot."

"He most certainly is not. You're only thirteen." Iris scolded. She looked to Landon and was about to say something when her eyes landed on Sam. "Hello, Samuel." Her voice was icy.

Conrad held up a hand. "It's okay, Iris. We're all going to work on getting better, especially him."

Iris nodded. "Good." She gave Prim one last squeeze and let her go. "How are you today, Effie?"

Effie smiled. "Fantastic, Iris! Thank you!" She made her way across the room and gathered Iris into a hug. "I'm so happy for Primrose."

Iris rolled her eyes. "Thank you, Effie." She gave Conrad an exasperated look before Effie finally let go. She looked around the room. "There's more to celebrate today." She took in a deep breath and let it out. "I'm going to start working in the hospital in two weeks. They are going to pay part of the tuition for nursing school while I work. I'm going to become an RN."

Prim threw her arms around her mom. "Then you can be my nurse when I'm a doctor."

Iris laughed. "What if I become a doctor first?"

"Then we can open our own practice." She nodded toward Peeta. "Peeta can decorate. And Dad can bake cookies. Landon can be an assistant."

"And what am I supposed to do, little duck?" Katniss asked.

Prim watched her for a moment. "You can run the place. Aren't you going to school for business?"

"That's the plan." Katniss grinned and wrapped her arms around Peeta. "Someone around here needs a practical degree."

Peeta grinned. "I can get an art degree because I'm going to be working at the family bakery until I can't move my hands anymore." He stole a kiss and rested his head against hers. "I need practice for the cakes anyway."

Katniss laughed. "I guess I'll stop teasing you then."

"I guess you better." Peeta chuckled and stole another kiss.

She pushed him away. "Enough of that."

Prim said, "Yeah, yuck! My brother and sister are dating."

"Well, when you say it like that it's gross." Peeta said. He walked forward and threw Prim over his shoulder. "Grocery shopping time, guest of honor." He trudged toward the door. "Landon, you have the keys." He called.

Prim reached down and tickled Peeta, causing him to almost drop her. He sat her down, but wrestled her to the floor, pinning down her arms as he tickled her.

Katniss rolled her eyes and looked to Landon. "We better go and end this."

Landon shook his head. "We should let them duke it out. Years of missed sibling rivalry and all that."

"Then I get to drive." Katniss hurried out the door.

"You always drive." Landon snatched Conrad's keys from the counter and dashed after her.

Peeta looked up and let Prim go. He ran out after them calling, "Shotgun!"

Prim rushed out last. "Landon promised I would get shotgun next time we went anywhere."

They both stopped short when they saw Katniss in the passenger seat and Landon behind the wheel. The pair inside both pointed to the back seat at the same time. Prim and Peeta grumbled and climbed into the back.

Author's note: This has been a wild journey, hasn't it? I'm so happy you came on it with me. So thank you for all the words of encouragement throughout. It is much appreciated.

Don't worry, I haven't finished exploring fanfic starring Katniss and Peeta! I have a story called Cheese Buns and Bad Puns that's nice and fluffy and there are already 4 chapters! And I am planning a Reconstruction Era AU when I get some other WIPs out of the way. So keep an eye on my profile. You can also keep up by following the tag HPfanonezillion on Tumblr or following me. I'm booksrockmyface over there.

Finally, I want to give a huge shout-out to LavenderVanilla. It was my first experience working with a beta and it was a very good experience for me. This story was shaped with much help from her. Now, really go read her stuff! But make sure you've got tissues ready if you read Love Bites.

Thank you all.

Happy reading!