There are time skips after every "Real or not real" this chapter. I hope it isn't too confusing!

What's Real

~Epilogue~

She'd grown since she'd woken up from her coma, and in more ways that one. She'd strengthened her friendships with Finnick, Annie, Johanna, Madge. She took care to talk to those who were with her since day one of school, like Madge and Rye and Gale and Thom. She rebonded with her mother and shared her happiness with her sister and father. She'd become more open hearted, less closed off. No longer did she need to act with caution and a closed heart; this wasn't the Panem of the dictator President Snow. She could be free and happy. She could love without fear.

Of course, she knew that bad things could happen. Something did happen to her, after all. But there were worse things to go through- worse games to play- and Katniss felt as if she should make her life worth the pain and suffering she went through within her head for five years.

She had so much to live for, so many friends. Her world was so much better than she could have hoped for, what with her loved ones surrounding her and supporting her through her therapy and nightmares. And with Peeta by her side, she couldn't have been any happier. Her 'Boy With the Bread' was her most important person. She couldn't live life without him, couldn't survive. She was happy she didn't really lose him when she woke up. She just needed to win him over. And it wasn't even a challenge; he was already hers from the beginning.

Of course they'd have their fights. Of course Katniss would have her days of frustration or depression or mornings when she didn't know where she was. But having him by her side through it all made it all so much easier. And as she grew with him, she couldn't wait to get back to the point where she'd left off in her head with the family she'd made with Peeta.

Real or not real

"Katniss, wake up," Peeta's voice was soothing yet slightly panicked.

Her eyes snapped open and she struggled to control her heavy breathing. She hadn't had a nightmare like that in almost a month. Luckily, she was with Peeta when it occurred.

A couple years back, Katniss was able to graduate high school with her peers. And it was all thanks to the non-stop tutoring Peeta, Delly and Madge gave to her when the Principal pulled her into the office to discuss her graduation path. Katniss had been faced with the possibility of being held back a year if she couldn't get her grades up (she wasn't the best student) and school was proving difficult due to the fact that she'd lost years of studying. Thus, she'd poured her heart and soul into her studies, going to the free tutoring center in town, going to extra classes at the community college, even giving up her first summer vacation back to catch up on the classes she'd missed. Her friends were by her side the whole time, so her victory at graduating with her class was celebrated as if it were all of theirs as well.

However, despite her scholastic comeback, Katniss didn't have it in her to go to college. The rush of getting into a good college or university overwhelmed her. She just didn't have the time to fill out the applications while she was already taking extra classes and spending time with tutors. She didn't even know if she wanted to attend! So much had happened to her already, she couldn't even convince herself to want to go away to college when she just got back to her life with her family. When she discussed the dilemma with her parents, they supported her with the decision to take a couple years off to think about whether or not she wanted to go to college or not.

After a couple of years, Peeta became a sophomore in college and Katniss got a job as an archery instructor at the local athletics center. He'd gone to a university a couple hours away from their small town, so they were apart much more often than Katniss felt comfortable with, but they compromised with nightly video calls and texts sent sporadically throughout the day. And, of course, they'd visit one another (although Katniss did most of the visiting).

She sat up slowly and rubbed her eyes. "I'm sorry."

Peeta looked at her, concern etched in his features. "Don't be."

She blinked slowly and tried to settle her mind. "I was having a nightmare."

Peeta smiled ruefully. "I know."

He scooted closer to her on the bed and encompassed her in his arms. She fell into his embrace easily, breathing in his scent as she calmed her racing heartbeat. They sat in silence for a while until her nightmare was practically forgotten.

"Were you heading to class?" Katniss asked, pulling back slightly to look into Peeta's eyes.

He smiled down at her softly. "Yeah. But I can stay if you want."

She shook her head and untangled their limbs. "No, don't miss class because of me. I'll be fine."

He furrowed his brow. Pursing his lips, he replied, "okay. I'll be back in a couple hours."

Katniss smiled and nodded. She watched him with a dazed look on her face as he gathered his books into his backpack to take to class. And when he left the room after planting a lingering kiss on her lips, she got out of his bed and stretched her arms over her head.

As she went through her morning routine, Katniss thought back on the nightmare she had: the mutts from her first games. It baffled her that she still dreamt of that time, seeing as she'd left that horrible world almost 4 years prior. Then again, the trauma she'd gone through upon falling into and waking from the coma was horrific and no one could blame her for still experiencing the residual side effects that she had. However, her life was turning out better than she could have ever hoped for and she felt that she got better as each day passed.

Katniss left Peeta's dorm as she waited for his classes to be over. She walked around the campus, waving 'hello' to those she recognized from her hometown and those who were introduced to her as she spent more of her time with Peeta. She made her way to a drink vendor who set up shop in a food cart near the campus. She was happy to find out that the drink vendor was Haymitch Abernathy- her uncle who lived in the college town and owned a bar that was opened during the evenings for those who were seeking a bit more entertainment. He hadn't had the chance to visit her when she first woke up until she'd been a few months into her senior year. However, the reunion was just as she thought it would be: full of awkward hugs and even awkward ear conversations.

She sat on the stool that Haymitch started bringing along for her when she first showed up while she was waiting for Peeta's lecture to convene. She kept him quiet company and he let her help out when she wanted to. The arrangement allowed them both what they needed: company and something to do.

"Back so soon, Sweetheart?" Haymitch called gruffly as she approached the cart.

Katniss shrugged and sent him a grin as she stood right beside him. "I just can't stay away."

He barked out a laugh before he set her to work, a crowd of students making their way over after their lecture let out. "Well, you can't stay for free. Get to work."

Real or not real

Peeta picked her up from the cart after holding a short conversation with Haymitch. The two of them walked together back to his dorm silently, hand in hand. Katniss appreciated the comfortable air that ran between them. She was always the most comfortable when he was right beside her.

As they made their way up the stairs, she decided to speak. "Hey, Peeta?"

He looked at her with a questioning smile as he dug in his pocket for his keys.

"I think I want to start taking some online classes. Environmental sciences."

His eyes lit up and he pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. "Really? That's great!"

She felt his scruff against her cheek as he held her close. Unable to contain her smile, she replied, "just a couple classes. I feel like it would be good to start doing more for my future."

He pulled away, his smile never leaving his face. "Have you figured out which school you want to attend?"

She bit her lip and shook her head. "I was hoping that you would help me out with that…"

He opened up his door and placed his hand on her lower back as the two of them entered his dorm. "Of course."

She sat on his bed and watched as he placed his bag beside his desk and remove his textbooks from it. She waited impatiently until he flopped onto the bed beside her. And when he did, she wrapped herself around him and sighed deeply as he wrapped his arms around her.

"I feel like things are looking up," Katniss whispered, closing her eyes and burying her face into his neck.

He placed a kiss on her temple and held her closer. "I felt that when I heard you woke up from your coma."

She shifted her body so she could look into his eyes. "Really?"

He nodded, tightening his grip around her waist. "When you woke up, I knew I couldn't just let you slip away. All through elementary school, I was too scared to approach you. I couldn't do that again knowing that you could be taken from me at any moment."

She leaned in a pressed a soft kiss to his lips, feeling content with the place she was at in her life.

Real or not real

"Where are the kids?"

"Delly and her girlfriend offered to babysit for us tonight."

Katniss grinned, stepping behind Peeta and wrapping her arms around his waist as he cooked at the stove. "So it's just us?"

Peeta turned his head around to draw her lips into a light kiss that left her breathless. "Just us."

Katniss bit her lip, trying to contain her smile as she moved around to put away her purse and coat. "We haven't had 'us-time' in a while. Remind me to thank them."

He placed the food onto plates as he finished up cooking the meal. "Don't worry, I sent some cheese buns home with them. As a thank you."

She playfully gasped and shook her head in disappointment. "You know those are only for me!"

Peeta laughed as they both sat down on the couch, plates in their laps. "Don't worry, I made a batch just for you."

Grinning, Katniss dug into the food, humming as the taste settled on her tongue. She noticed Peeta had yet to touch his plate and placed her attention onto him. She noticed his eyes were a slightly darker shade, portraying his desire for her. And when he pulled her into a passionate kiss, their food was forgotten.

Real or not real

She watched them play in the meadow, chasing their father as they played a game of tag. Katniss would never get used to the overwhelming love she felt when she saw her family this way. She felt so complete, so whole when they were with her. The love she had for her family was unlike anything she'd ever felt. She was so happy that things were back to the way they were supposed to be.

Peeta jogged to where she was standing as the two little ones began playing together, exploring the grasses and trees with child-like wonder. Sweat dripped lightly down his forehead and a cheek-splitting grin was etched into his face. He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her sweetly as he greeted her.

They turned to the children and watched in silence as the young boy played with his younger sister. The warmth in her heart grew as she watched her boy carefully hand the girl a small dandelion. She couldn't keep the smile off of her lips.

She sighed as she burrowed deeper into Peeta's arms, lightly wrapping her hands around his forearms. She remembered the feeling of bliss she'd had while in her coma when Peeta'd asked her if she loved him and she was able to confess her true feelings to him at last. The feeling she had while watching her children was very like that feeling. But this time, the circumstances were real. So real. And she wouldn't have it any other way.

End

This story isn't as long as I'd originally intended it to be, but hopefully you readers like it despite that. I once again apologize for the long hiatus and the spaced out updates, but with my schedule, it's the best I can do.

In a few months, I'll be posting a new story. I've yet to make a name for it, but I have the main plot down and I can tell you that it's a love story between a mermaid and a baker. Keep an eye out for my name if you're interested! And until then, happy reading.

-PaintingReality