Beacon of Hope

Chapter One <3 I Love You

I still hunt. Gale doesn't. I still climb over the fence and pretend nothing has changed. But it's not true. It's a ruise. Everything has changed.

Gale doesn't hunt anymore because he can't. He's busy working the mines. And, however much I fight it away, I still have the image of the mine collapsing around him. The ringing of his screams for help in my ear.

I don't ever catch much anymore. I guess I don't try very hard since I don't depend on it anymore.

I brought Peeta with me today. Big mistake. He seems to stand on all the weak twigs, and they snap under his weight, causing any game within a five mile radius to bolt.

I sigh as Peeta snaps another twig. " I'm sorry, Katniss," he whispers. I roll my eyes and nod at him. He chuckles, trying to be quiet of course.

I tell him we should just go home. I tell him it's because the weather isn't good enough, so as to not hurt his feelings. We climb through the hole in the fence. It's late evening when we get to my house.

" Ok, Katniss," says Peeta. " Goodnight."

Before I can stop myself, I'm grabbing his wrist. " Wait!" He whips around, his eyes full of concern. I stand up on my tip toes, so we're face to face. Then I kiss him.

Stop! Katniss stop! But I can't stop now. He's kissing me back, and it feels so right. He pulls away, his big blue eyes drilling into mine.

" Katni-" He starts, but I interrupt.

" Peeta," and it's out before I know what I'm saying. " I love you."

Shock registers across his face and he takes both my hands into his. He only has time to say, " Katniss," before I engulf him in another kiss.

This one is more passionate. More firey. This time I'm the one to pull away, grab his hand and pull him inside. He stops me when we get up stairs, spinning me around. He asks me if it's what I want. It is. He nods and follows me into my bedroom.

- - - * * * - - -

I don't have any nightmares tonight. My mind is on Peeta, and I dream of butterfly's, swirling to the sky, and up towards the sunset.

When I wake up, Peeta has his two strong arms wrapped around my hips and is breathing quietly in my ear. He pecks my cheek and a smile spreads across my face. He grabs his hand in mine, massaging my fingers. Then he massages my stiff shoulder blades till the muscles loosen.

" Morning, beautiful," he trills quietly in my ear. I spin around to face him and kiss him quickly before replying.

" Morning, handsome," I smirk. Peeta nuzzles his nose against mine and we lie, facing each other, for I don't know how long. I'm just taking in every glorious aspect of him I can; his eyes, his lips, his muscular arms. . .

Eventually, Peeta asks me if I'm hungry. I'm ravenous, but I don't want this to end, so I simply shake my head. He knows I'm lying - of course he does - and he grabs my hand a scoops me up. Then he carries me down stairs, into the kitchen.

Peeta opens the cupboards and scans them for food. " There's cake?" He says, and I laugh, nodding my head. He pulls out a big, vanilla cake, iced delicately with chocolate icing. How did Peeta get this in my house? As if reading my mind, he says, " I brought it yesterday, before we went hunting, and hid it for you."

My face goes bright red and I kiss him on the cheek. This man, he's always loved me and I feel so bad that last night was the first time I said it back.

" I love you so much, Katniss,"

I take a deep breath. " I love you too,"

- - - * * * - - -

1 week later

There's a knock at the door. Peeta puts his fork down and stands up. He runs out the room, presumably to answer the door. I continue to eat my roast pork until I hear Peeta growl, " What are you doing here?"

I frown, arising from my chair. Peeta must hear me walking towards the door because he says, " Katniss, don't come out here!" which only makes me walk quicker.

But I seem to freeze when I see him at the door.

"Hello, Girl on Fire," President snow snarls.