So sorry it's taken me so long to get this last chapter up! I was kind of at a loss for this one… so let me know what you think, pretty please! I think it turned out okay! xoxoxo

CHAPTER 4 – Letting Go

Peeta was right. Teaching him to swim was even harder than teaching him how to keep his feet quiet while we trek through the woods. Eventually, he could tell I was getting frustrated and simply floated on his back while I dunked myself, the cool water feeling amazing as my hair soaked it up.

This was perfect. Everything was out in the open. No more secrets. No more tip toeing around each other's feelings. I could finally have what I know we've both wanted since he came home; each other.

I smiled as I realized this. There was nothing standing in my way anymore. I was Peeta's and he was mine. Why didn't I see this before?

At that moment, Peeta got up to stand uneasily on the lake bottom. I waded over to him, wrapping my arms around his head. "Peeta," I whispered, looking straight into those blue eyes, which had once held distain for me, but I knew now held nothing but love.

"Yes, love?" He asked, bending down slightly to kiss the tip of my nose.

"I love you."

He raised his eyebrows as he smiled at me. "This may come as a bit of a shock to you, Miss Everdeen, but I love you too."

I laughed and jumped up so my legs wrapped around him, his arms coming around my back to support me. "That's a relief," I teased back, happy to have this moment after all the horrible ones we had encountered. Especially, it seemed, when I was just starting to feel something towards him. Here though, nothing was going to interrupt us. "I was worried there for a second."

The playful smile vanished from his face. "I'm not leaving, Katniss," he whispered, completely serious and misinterpreting my earlier statement.

It was sort of cute.

"Peeta," I whispered back, brushing his wet hair away from his face. "I know. And neither am I."

I think that was all he needed. Without warning, both of us were out of the lake, my back pressed against the soft grass, and him kissing me. Everywhere.

That feeling was back. The hunger from the Quell struck me and I knew that this time there was no holding back. Everything I needed was right here. Peeta held my heart in his hand and even though that scared the hell out of me, I was finally ready to take the risk.

My hands reached up to his dirty blond hair as he continued to kiss my lips, my cheek, my neck. I heard a strange noise and looked around for a split second before I realized that sound had come from me. "Peeta," I moaned into his ear. I didn't want him to stop, but he did. He pulled back and looked me in the eye.

"I…I'm scared," I whispered honestly. I didn't know what to do. I trusted and loved him with every ounce of strength I had left in my body, but this was something new. What if I wasn't good enough for him? What if I just didn't know what to do? What if…?

"Do you trust me?" He asked quietly, his eyes penetrating mine.

I nodded, unable to speak.

"Then let go, Katniss."

His words released something in me. I smiled up at him, and it was me who pressed my lips back against his.

As he continued to kiss me, I thought about everything that I loved about this man. How he constantly made me feel better about myself. How he reassured me. How he listened and painted while I recalled memories. How he baked. How he slept with the windows open. How he never let anything get in the way of him reaching his goals. How he loved me unconditionally from the time we were five years old.

And I knew, for the first time since my sister's name was called at the reaping two years ago, that I was safe. He would never hurt me. He would always, even on my bad days, love me completely, scars and all.

And that's why I followed his words. I totally, completely let go.