~ 1 Week Until Christmas~

Katniss's P.O.V.

Christmas is on its way. I am excited and nervous. Excited to spend time with my family. And nervous for me. I have yet to figure out what to give him. Even though he has said I am all he needs... I can't not get him something. I love him too much for that. I have asked my mom for ideas, along with Haymitch. I have looked all over 12 for something. I couldn't find anything for him. My mom suggested I give him something from the heart. And I've thought a lot about that. But the thing is, I'm not as talented with creating things like Peeta is. He can paint, draw, bake. All things that I could never do even if I tried. All I do is hunt. I can't bring him home a dead animal for Christmas. I am not good at anything creative. I can't knit, draw, cook, sew... all things that make great gifts from the heart. So I am at a loss. I couldn't learn how to do those things in a week. Maybe if I tried really hard, but I can guarantee it wouldn't turn out how I would like it to be. So I keep brainstorming. I spend the day with my mother in 12. Most of the public is too busy with their holiday to care that I am present. Mom is looking for things to get for her, me and Peeta. I give her ideas. And I ask what she would like. I get enough ideas for her. I plan to come back when she is home. We stop by the Bakery on our way home.

"I'll get Peeta for you." His worker, Dallan says when he sees me.

"Thank you." I say.

He goes to the back and to the kitchen. Peeta appears momentarily.

"Hey Kat." He says.

He gives me a hug.

I kiss him. "Hi." I say.

"Just stopping by?" He asks and lets me go.

"We were window shopping." I say.

"Found anything you'd like this year yet?" He asks.

"A few things." I say.

"Good. Now I can get you something great." He says and smiles.

I smile a little. "When will you be home?" I ask.

"Couple hours. Around five, I think." He says.

"Okay. Well... I'll see you then." I say.

"Alright. Don't get cold out there. More snow is going to come, according to the news." Peeta says.

"I'll keep the fire going." I say.

I pecked his lips, then leave. I spent the afternoon with my Mom. I help her decorate her house and have lunch with her. Things have been a lot better between us since she has moved back home. We are closer. And have a stronger relationship as a mother and daughter.

"Mom, I need your help." I say.

"Of course, Katniss. With what?" She asks.

"I want to give Peeta something. But it just can't be anything. Like you told me it should be from the heart. But I'm not good at things that are usually given from the heart." I explain.

"Would you like me to teach you something?" she asks.

"I doubt you could." I admit. "Even if I got the hang of something, I wouldn't like the result."

"I know something that is hard to mess up." She says.

She gets up. "Come here, I'll show you."

I get up and go follow her. She takes me to the office. She gets a basket with yarn and thread and other sewing materials.

"Mom, I can't sew." I say.

"I'm not teaching you that. It's something way easier." She says.

I follow her back to the living room. She sits down on the couch and I sat next to her. She pulls out a circle object. There is some fabric on it.

"It's called cross stitching. Very simple and straightforward. It's almost impossible to mess up." She explains.

She hands me the circle with the fabric. There is a pattern on it. It's just flowers. It comes up from the fabric a bit. I flip it over. It looks weird.

"I think I could do this." I say.

"I'll teach you. It's a lot less confusing than the back makes it seems." She says.

I hand it back to her.

"I'll show you." She starts. "So you'll thread your needle. Then situate your fabric in the hoop. You'll push the needle from the back and then put it in the front. You'll go back to the stitch you just finished and then go on from there. Over and over. Now you try."

I do what she told me to do. It turns out to be easy. "What do I make?" I ask.

"Whatever you want. I could give you a pattern or you can make something all your own. Words, nature, anything you'd like. Do you think you could do this?" She asks.

"I think so. Thanks, Mom." I say.

"Of course, sweetie. If you mess up, you go back from the stitch you were through the back." She says.

"Thanks, I think I can do this." I say.

"I can't wait to see what you do." She says and smiles.

'Me too.' I think. 

~ Few Days Later; Christmas Eve~

Peeta's P.O.V.

I've been up since midnight to prepare for tonight's dinner. It's Christmas Eve. And I am very excited. I got Katniss a gift I know she'll love. I found her pearl I gave her around a few weeks ago. I had it put on a bracelet. Now she can always have it close.

It's five in the morning. The turkey that Katniss got is almost done. I'll start on the breads and other things when it is out of the oven. Daisy comes into the kitchen and sits next to me on the floor.

"Hey girl. Where's Katniss?" I ask and pet her head.

I hear the stairs creak.

'There she is.' I think.

Katniss comes into the kitchen a second later.

"Morning. Merry Christmas." I say.

"Morning." She says and yawns. "The smells woke me up."

"Sorry." I say.

"No, no. It's fine. I can wait until tonight." She says.

"You'll have to." I say and smile.

She smiles a little. "Do you need help?" She asks.

"Nope. I know you'll only snitch from the food." I say.

She scoffs and glares at me. "That was only one time." She says and pouts.

I laugh. "I'm kidding. I'd love the help of my beautiful fiance." I say.

"You better. I'm not leaving." She says.

"I wouldn't want you to." I say. 

~ Time Skip; Later That Evening ~

Katniss's P.O.V.

Dinner is all ready. Peeta and I spent the day cooking and decorating. Mom and Haymitch came to pitch in. I am getting ready in my room. I wear a blue dress that is showing my skin around my neck. A bow is tied around the waist. It goes to my knees. I put my hair up in a bun but twist it in some ways to make it look different. I don't do makeup. I don't need it.

I go downstairs and join everyone. Peeta just finished pouring the water and the champagne in some glasses. I sit next to him at the side of the head. My mom sits in front of me, and Haymitch beside me. We all enjoy the night as a family. It is a very great night. Haymitch and Mom give us our gifts and then they go to enjoy their nights. It is just Peeta and I. And of course Daisy too. We sleep on the couch that night. And the fire keeps us warm.

~

"Katniss, wake up." I hear Peeta says.

I slowly opened my eyes. I see Peeta standing in front of me. He has a small box in his hands. Daisy is sitting next to him on the floor.

"What is this?" I ask and sit up.

"Your christmas present from me, of course. It is Christmas." he says and smiles.

I smile. He sits beside me and puts the gift in my hand.

"Open it." He says,

I tore off the wrapping paper. I open the small box. I feel my heart lift.

"Peeta.. I- I don't know what to say." I say softly.

I take the bracelet out of the box. It is my pearl. The pearl I will forever and always treasure. And I will even more.

"Give me your hand so I can put it on." He says.

He puts the bracelet around my wrist. I lean in and kiss him. Then hug him tight.

"Thank you, Peeta. I love it. And I love you." I say.

"I'm glad. I love you too." He says.

I let him go. "I'll get yours." I say.

I go to the tree and get my present for him. I set it in his lap. He unwraps it.

"Wow.. Katniss. Where did you get this?" He asks.

"No where. I made it." I say and smile.

"That's... it's beautiful, Kat." He says. "Thank you."

I got the right thing to come to me. I wrote a saying that I came up that is true about Peeta to me.

"Of course. I wasn't sure if you would. Took a couple of attempts. Now it's easy." I say.

"Well I think it's perfect." He says.

"Merry Christmas Peeta." I say.

"Merry Christmas Katniss." He says.

Daisy barks. I laugh a little. "Merry Christmas to you too, Daisy." I say.

HEY ALL! WHAT DID YOU THINK!!?? I HOPE YOU LIKED IT!! I KNOW I DID!! SO CUTE!!! ^~^  ❤❤❤ Plz vote and comment. Give me feedback or whateve. I'll update more later. Also, I am making this book only 15 chapters. Then the sequels will be longer. Love you guys!! 

-Zeffie