We Will Always Be Together - sequel to Life Will Go On

Chapter 13

A/N: Oh wow.

81 FREAKIN' REVIEWS ON THE LAST CHAPTER! i guess i understand why, though. you have no idea how bad my conscience gets when i read your comments :'( i hope you haven't given up on me completely because i now have decided to be a good person once and for all and give you a few chapters! i seriously HOPE this makes up for it, even though i don't think so. i'm forever sorry.

Katniss

Ivy and Gray catching me and Peeta kissing in the bakery made me a little guilty, to be honest. Even though I know me and Peeta shouldn't stop showing our affection in public, we maybe should, for Ivy's and Adrian's sake, save the kissing sessions for the bedroom. They don't have to see everything. And I imagine how it must feel to have your crush see it too.

Peeta is currently standing at the counter, smiling towards a woman who is purchasing cookies for her children. He looks at them with such admiration, and I am once again reminded of the time when the kids were little. Peeta had never been happier. Of course, he is no less happy now. It's just that the reality of them growing up and leaving us at some point is pretty much unbearable. Our past and what we've gone through has made us both very protective of our loved ones, which includes each other and our children. We never travel without each other, because we can't. Sometimes I wonder if I have kept Ivy and Adrian under my wing for too long, that they won't be ready when they grow up and have to fend for themselves. But when I start thinking dark thoughs like that, Peeta always notices and comforts me. This time is no different.

As soon as the customers have exited the bakery, he turns around and dusts his hands off on his apron. Immediately he sees that my demeanor has changed, and walks up to me, taking my face in his hands.

"What's wrong, honey?" he asks with his gentlest voice. I swallow hard.

"I just... I don't want the kids to grow up." I say sadly, looking at the ground. Peeta opens his mouth slightly in realization and kisses my temple.

"Nor do I." he answers. There is a silence.

"Katniss, I think we dwell on this too much." he finally says.

Then I remember. We had this conversation just days ago. And I realize he is right.

"We'll just take the days as they come, and cherish every minute we have with them. Besides, even though they're going to fly from the nest one day, they'll always be our babies. We can visit them as often as we like." he says and then, smirking and raising one eyebrow says: "And think about it, we won't have to wait until they're sleeping to satisfy our desires."

I laugh and give him a short kiss.

"I love you so much, you know that Peeta Mellark? Yes, you do." I say, and he nods and kisses me back.

"I certainly do. How could I forget?" he whispers, and just as I think he is going to kiss me he lowers his hands to my waist and tickles me. I burst into laughter and grip the edge of the table to steady myself. Just then, we hear our son's voice at the door.

"What are you guys laughing so much about?" he says, smiling a little. I calm myself enough to be able to speak normally.

"Your Dad told a funny joke." Peeta snorts playfully and rolls his eyes. Adrian walks closer and stops in front of us.

"I think Ivy's really got the hots for Gray." he says with a low voice. Me and Peeta get surprised expressions on our faces and look at each other.

"Where did that come from, son?" Peeta says with a smile and ruffles Adrian's hair. He shrugs.

"Don't know. Guess I just noticed and... well I'm happy she found someone. She's been bothered by the fact that she'd never found a good boyfriend-candidate before." he says with a smile. Peeta's eyes fill with love and adoration when he looks at Adrian.

"You have an enormous heart, Adrian." he says, pulling him into a hug. Adrian looks a little uncomfortable, he's never been very cuddly with Peeta, even though I know Peeta would have liked if he were. I guess he's more like me at a young age, private and self-protective.

"I wonder where he got that from." I say, smiling towards them. Peeta snorts and releases Adrian.

"That's obvious isn't it?" he says, winking at me.

"Okay, will you stop now so that I can grab some food?" Adrian says with an annoyed voice, though tinted with amusement. Peeta grabs my waist and lets Adrian come through to the bakery kitchen. We stand there for a while, leaning our heads against each other, until Peeta speaks.

"What do you say if I say that we invite Gray's family over for dinner tomorrow? I could cook something really nice." he says. I smile and press a kiss to his neck.

"You're precious. And yes, I think it's a great idea. I think there's something going on for real between Ivy and him."

"I agree. Even though I don't like it. She was always Daddy's little girl..." he trails off. I poke him in the side.

"Hey. Don't grieve over the fact that your daughter's finding other men who can take care of her and protect her. You've still got me, you know." I tell him.

Peeta's face lights up and he looks at me.

"You're right. I shouldn't. That Gray guy seemed nice enough. He'll protect her, I'm sure." He almost sounds as if he is trying to convince himself. "And yes, my dear, beloved Katniss, I'll always have you. And don't think for a second that you're not enough for me. Because you are. Even if we never would've gotten kids, I would've been okay. The days would've gotten boring though, without any screaming villains in the stairs." he says with a wide and genuine smile on his face. I nuzzle his neck.

"They would've. I'm glad we had them." I say, reaching up to pull my hands through Peeta's curls. His breathing gets slower and deeper, and soon it seems like he has fallen asleep. But the next second, he picks me up and kisses my temple. I squeal.

"We're closing the bakery. I want to spend some time with my wife." he says, walking over to the door and turning the 'open'-sign to 'closed'. He tells Adrian the bakery is closed and to do what he likes. Adrian nods enthusiastically and Peeta smiles, telling him to be good, and then leaves through the back door still with me in his arms. I am surprised he manages to carry me all the way to the meadow with his bad leg, the muscles in his arms must've gotten stronger after running the bakery pretty much on his own during all these years. When we have passed through the gate and are in the middle of the sea of flowers, he sets me down and lies down, pulling me with him.

"I want to, just for this moment, feel young again with you." he says, looking into my eyes. Like really into them. Suddenly I feel naked under his gaze, but I don't shy away. Instead, I cuddle up against him like I used to when we were teenagers still, grieving our loved ones and suffering from trauma.

To stop the angst from taking me, I grab the necklace Peeta gave me after I gave birth to Adrian. When I turn it around, I can still see the words 'I love you' engraved to it, despite the friction it has received during the past decade that has started to wear on it. But the words are still there, clearer than ever.

I also look at my wedding ring and enagagement ring, that sit next to each other on my left ring finger. The pearl and the tiny diamond beside each other match perfectly. The pearl symbolizes pureness and the diamond beauty. Peeta has made jokes about them symbolizing me. But then, I have drove him to bed and showed him exactly how 'pure' he thinks I am.

I smile to myself.

"You're perfect to me." Peeta mumbles with his eyes closed. I smile even wider and hum in answer. I'm getting sleepy.

"Can we take a nap?" I ask, and almost immediately Peeta answers:

"Yes, we can."

A/N: I know this was almost too fluffy and cheesy and everything, but I had to do some catching up on this story and get into it, and this helped me do that. Now, I can start with the plot that I have been planning. Next chapter will be up sometime, I can't say exactly when, but my guilt probably makes me write it sooner rather than later. Feel free to leave comments, they help me continue.