Author's note: My entry into the Christmas Challenge of The Everlark Games. I got second place. There were a lot of great stories presented, so I'm really honored! Must have been a tough vote for all the readers.

The Twelve Days of Christmas start on Christmas Day (Dec 25) and move on to the eve of Epiphany (Jan 5). I decided to do take the song and have Peeta show Katniss some attention every day in the best way Peeta can: with food. All the days are broken into their own chapters and include extras that weren't present in the challenge entry.

Happy reading!

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me a partridge in a pear tree.

Katniss stepped into the cafeteria in her ugly Christmas sweater and looked around nervously. She always found Gale and Prim in the crowd first and spent most of the evening with them until it was acceptable for her to leave. She walked toward the table and sat down the pot of beef stew she'd put together for the potluck.

Peeta Mellark, the cute head of food service, came in with a large box and sidled up to Katniss at the table.

"Did you bring cheese buns?" Katniss asked. When Peeta took over the kitchen earlier in the year and started making cheese buns, it became Katniss's main diet.

Peeta chuckled. "Not this time. But I'll make sure to bake extra in the morning." He took the lid off the box to reveal a tree-shaped pastry with a small bird hidden in the leaves. "It's pear. You know how Christmas day is only the first day of Christmas?"

She shrugged. "I guess I never really thought about it."

He leaned in, "Wonder who will get the bird?"

"It's supposed to go to your true love, isn't it?" She could feel her face heating up.

"I guess it all depends on who gets to it first." He winked and then pointed to her sweater, adorned with blinking lights. "Bet you win."

She looked at herself and then up at his. It had an image of Darth Vader dressed in a Santa hat holding the reigns to a set of Stormtroopers wearing reindeer antlers. "Yours is pretty awesome."

"Thanks. Still hope you win. It really catches the eye." He gave her a megawatt smile.

"Hey, Peet, you made it!" Finnick called from across the room.

Peeta raised his hand and waved at his manager. "I hope to see you a bit more tonight."

"I'll be here all night." Katniss said, maybe a little too enthusiastically.

Peeta smiled and wandered off to talk to Finnick and his girlfriend Annie. Both of them worked in the kitchen.

Katniss turned and saw Prim and Gale walking in hand in hand. Her sister had a huge smile on her face. She walked over to Katniss with her left hand held out. Katniss saw the sparkling diamond and pulled Prim into a happy hug.

"So happy for you, little duck." Katniss said in her sister's ear.

"Thank you." Prim whispered.

Gale wrapped his arms around both of them. "She wanted to tell you first."

"I'm so happy for you." Katniss said.

"Thanks." Prim beamed. "Me too."

"Gotta go tell my folks." Gale said, pulling Prim away.

Katniss was left alone again. She was for most of the night. The company was large, but it was a family. Even so, Katniss had never been good with small talk. She ate in the corner and watched everyone else have a good time. Prim stopped by and sat with her for a while. She let her sister talk about her preliminary wedding plans while she smiled and nodded. She really was excited for Prim, but Katniss knew these plans would change at least a dozen times before they were final.

Peeta stepped over with two plates and held them out. "Someone decided to cut into the tree."

Prim smiled and stood, "Thanks, but I think I'll skip the sweets this time." She gave a little wave and wandered away.

Peeta offered the plate to Katniss again. "Please don't tell me you're going to skip it?"

Katniss shook her head and took the plate. "Would you like to join me?"

"Sure." Peeta sat beside her and watched her anxiously.

Feeling self-conscious, she looked down at the plate and noticed the little bird sitting in the center of her portion.

She looked back up at Peeta who smiled. "Merry Christmas, Katniss."

"Merry Christmas, Peeta." Katniss took a bite of the pastry, her eyes falling closed as the taste met her tongue. She let out a soft moan. "Oh, my god, you taste so good!" Her eyes popped open. "I mean, this tastes good." She felt her face heating up again. She was always saying the wrong thing in front of him.

He chuckled. "Thanks."

They ate in silence until the ugly sweater vote was announced. Peeta won. He got up to accept his prize and Katniss left before she embarrassed herself anymore.