Sorry it has been so long since the last update, I hope to update as often as possible.

Our first week together flies past, but we only get one day to our selves. The day after Haymitch's warning the reports turn up, they stay for four days, but it feels like so much longer. For four days we can't open the door or look out the window without a camera flashing or reporters asking questions then just when I start to worry that it will never end, they all pack up and leave, some couple in the capital have had a baby and we finally have room to breathe.

With our new found freedom we take the chance to escape into the woods. We head straight to the lake where we spent our first night of married life to escape once again. Its unusually hot for May and by the time we reach the lake we are ready to melt from the heat.

"Come on," I say to Peeta with a playful grin, "lets swim," I turn away from him and start to peel off my clothes and head towards the lake. When I'm down to my underwear and at the edge of the lake I turn back for Peeta and find him staring at me from where I left him still fully clothed. "what?" I asked now feeling more than a little embarrassed that I just striped off in front of him, with this Soulmate bond I feel so close to him that I forget that we have only known each other for a week.

Peeta senses my unease and quickly explains.

"Sorry it's just that... err... I can't swim" he blushes a little at this confession. I smile a little remembering that most people in 12 never learn to swim as there are no lakes or rivers or even pools in 12 so there is nowhere for them to learn. I quickly go back to Peeta and take his hands in mine and start to lead him to the water.

"That's ok, I can teach you," he nods and reaches for his shirt. I know I will get distracted if I watch so I turn back to the lake and move to dip my feet in, the cool water rushes over my feet soothing them from the heat and the long walk we had to get here.

Suddenly Peeta arms are around me and I can feel his bare chest against my back; I lean my head back against his shoulders and take the chance to enjoy this moment.

"So..." Peeta whispers in my ear, "how are you planning on teaching me?"

We spend the next few hours cooling in the lake, Peeta kind of get the basics but he is by no means a good swimmer so we end up more splashing than swimming.

Since I married Peeta I can't believe the effect he has had on me, I don't know if its Peeta or our Soulmate bond but I have never been happier. I find myself smiling for no reason and for the first time in years I don't have to worry constantly about how I will feed Prim and my mother.

Thinking of my mother I remember our talk two day earlier.

I haven't been able to hunt today, what with all the reporters watching our every move, I'm starting to feel a bit trapped but Peeta assures me it will only be for a couple of days. Because I can't hunt it means we have to buy food from the market for mom, Prim, Peeta and myself, I might not live at home but they are still my response ability. I didn't want to go to the market and would have been much happier to go to the hob and trade with Sae for food but Peeta insisted that we had the money so we should use it. For the first time in my life I have bought meat from the butcher and beef at that, can you believe it real beef from the butcher.

Peeta suggested that we make the most of it by inviting my mom and Prim round for dinner, he said 'Why don't you invite your mom and sister, I can cook up a roast and you can be my beautiful assistant', I scoffed at his compliment and blushed but here I am now on the doorstep to my old home.

Peeta is standing beside me and squeezes my hand reassuringly, I'm a little lost as to what I should do, should I knock? I never had to knock before, but then I lived here before. Sensing my uncertainty Peeta makes the decision for me and knocks on the door.

A minute later Prim answers the door and we are bombarded with questions about our house and marriage and every little thing that she can think of. Peeta is a natural people person and dives in answering all her questions while I slip away to find mom.

I find her in the small kitchen sorting though some healing herbs and Haymitch's words come back to me ' Your mom, sweetheart, is the strongest woman I know to have lived this long after the death of your father'. My guilt for the anger I felt before floods me.

"Mom?" I manage to say, my voice trembling a bit with emotion. She looks up worry creases her brow as she takes in my expression and stands up. I run to her and wrap my arms around her waist like a child, "I'm sorry," I breath just loud enough for her to hear.

"Katniss?" concern thick in her voice, "what's wrong?"

"I'm sorry," I repeat, "I didn't realize before, I didn't understand your pain. I'm sorry I was so angry, I'm sorry." I sob a little into her shoulders and her arms wrap comfortingly round me.

"No you were right, I should have been there for you and your sister. You had to grow up so quickly and I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you." By now we are both in tear and just stand there crying softly in each other arms.

Since then mum and I seem to have turned over a new leaf and I'm hopeful that we will be closer now than we have been for a long time.

Peeta and I spend most of the day soaking up the sun and peace at the lake but all to so we had to go back. It's about 3 when we get back and there are still a few hours of light.

"I'm going to hunt for a bit before I go back, I won't be long," I tell him and lean up and kiss him softy goodbye.

"Ok don't be too long and be safe," he pulls me back for a stolen kiss before he lets go and slips under the fence, he looks back once to smile at me and wave before heading home.

I turn back to the woods and start my hunt.

I hunt for a couple of hours, but something felt off. It felt like something or someone was watching me. I stopped every few minutes to look around me and a few times it seemed that prey was spooked by something and I didn't know what. I only manage to catch two squirrels but by then I had enough and just wanted to go back to Peeta.

I turn to go home and freeze. There standing just a few feet away is Gale, watching me with a smirk on his face.

Panic races though my veins, my bow is still griped in my hand and I wonder if I should draw it, would I be able use it if I had to. I haven't seen Gale since the incident behind the hob and I realised then that we could never be friends again, I don't want anything to do with someone who would hurt me like that and I know without doubt that Peeta is the only one I will ever love.

"Katnip, fancy seeing you out here," he is so casual like nothing happened, like it's just another day in the woods. I stay silent wondering if I can out run him.

"Come on Katnip, why so quite," he takes a few steps closer and I stumble back try to keep as much space between us as possible. "Don't be like that, you know I didn't want to hurt you Monday, but you drive me to it, you see that don't you?"

He advances faster and I stumble back and hit a tree, then he there trapping me.

"Relax Katnip, I'm not going hurt you, I just want to talk." He smiles and strokes the side of my face and all I can do if stand the motionless, fearing that if I flinch or make a move to escape he will flip and be the violent man I know him to be. He leans in closer and whispers, "It's going to be ok, we are going to get baker boy out of the way, and then we can be together."

I can't believe what I'm hearing, can he really think that I want to be with him, that I would help him kill Peeta?

"we have to wait a little while," he continues, "it can't be too obvious, and when he's dead you will inherit all his dough," he chuckled at his pun an I had to fight the urge to throw up, "and then you and I can live in that fancy house of yours, you, me and our kids." At this he starts to kiss my cheek and work his way to my mouth.

That's it I can't take it any move.

"NO!" I shout as loud as I can and ram my knew up into his groin as hard as I possibly can. He goes down groaning "I love Peeta and I will Never! Ever! Love you!" I scream at him with all the anger that has built up in me from years of putting up with his abuse because I had to but now I free. I hit him in the face, as he looks up in shook, with all the strength I have. Then I run.

I expect to hear his voice as I run, but its silent. I pause only to put my bow away, then I'm under my the fence and back in twelve. I made it, I will be home soon in Peeta's arms and I slow to a walk feeling my body relax a little.

The first buildings of the seam are just a few feet away when I feel a hand grip my hair and wrench me back. I cry out and my back hits a hard chest and I know Gale has caught me.

"You little bitch," he growls in my ear, "Do you honestly think I'm going to let you go. You are mine! You understand! I am going to kill you little baker boy and then you will be mine and there is nothing you can do to stop me." With that he pushed me to the ground and stormed off towards the seam.

It only take me a second to realize what just happened and I get to my feet and run towards my house.

I round the corner and run strait into Peeta who was running in my direction.

"Katniss," he gasps as he steadies us.

"Peeta," I throw my arms around him and hold him tight to me.

"Katniss, are you ok? I felt like you were in danger like before with Gale."

"Take me home, please, take me home then when can talk."

We go home quickly and Peeta never lets go of my hand, however it's not till we get home that I start to feel safe again.

I tell Peeta everything and have to hold him back from hunting Gale down himself. In the end we agree to go the peace keepers but I fear there will be little they can do.