Yes! I'm still writing!

This is what I wrote for the amazing sohypothecially and her Mores2sl fundraiser. We raised over $3000 for childhood cancer!

I need to thank Notanislander, Gentlemama and Titania for helping me plot. I love you dears! Then there is my fremus. Thank you for reminding me that I can do this, but I have to put words to paper in order for it to work. Then my friend Cole. She made sure those pesky commas knew where they belonged!

Enjoy!

"Peeta! What are you doing?"

Those hands, those hands that are the strongest things she knows, grabs her arms and gives her a little shake. He rests his forehead against hers, and his exhale is ragged as it leaves his body. His nose, the very tip of his perfect nose that she loves so much, touches hers. His lips find hers while those same hands pull her tight against him.

"I don't know—" he mutters, his words seeping into her soul. "I don't know what I'm—"

She doesn't let him finish his anguished confession as she claims his lips. His grip relaxes, freeing her arms. In a moment, her arms are around his neck, pulling him close- as close as she can get him.

His hands find her hips, and even as she runs her hands through his too long summer waves, his grasp tightens. She knows that there will be bruises, proof of his touch, but that's ok with her.

Like she could ever erase his fingerprints from her heart.

He stops kissing her long enough to growl, "You're mine, aren't you?"

"I only belong to you," she agrees before their lips meet again. He backs her up until she bumps into the bed behind her. In a flurry of practiced movements of two people who have made love with one another many times, his shirt hits the floor first, followed by her shift dress. Shorts, then underwear lands in their own little piles.

Katniss can't stop her moan at the touch of his skin on hers. They land on the full bed, the same one they learned what the other likes as touches are followed by kisses and nibbles. Her nipples harden as he licks then sucks them reducing her into a quivering mass. His fingers find her clit among her folds as she grinds against him.

"I need you, Peeta," her groan makes him grin through his tears against her breast. That moment is quickly over as his face grows serious, making her own tears gather again. He kisses the same nipple he was just teasing a moment ago before he sits up. In that brief moment that he isn't touching her, the coldest chill she's ever felt passes over her.

He crawls in between her legs, and she reaches for him. "Come here, you."

Her heart breaks as his own face crumbles. She cups his cheeks, as his hardness eases into her. Her thumbs wipe away his tears, as he fills her. His forehead touches hers as he begins to move.

His movements are slow, gentle even. More tears run down her face as she realizes that this will be the last time she gets to hold him, her boy, as Uncle Haymitch likes to tease. Her boy with the bread who always watched her all through school, his presence even then was comforting.

She has to tighten her jaw so the words, the words that she waited to hear him confess, won't leave her lips instead—pieces of her heart begging him not to leave her—to tuck her against his side as he goes forward to conquer and heal the world.

But no—even as she watches the darkest part of those Carolina blue eyes widen as he begins to chase his pleasure—he will go on without her. Her heart nearly beats out of her chest as she wants to scream, rail at him that he can't leave her. Who will protect him then? Who will chase away her bad dreams when he is gone?

Who will love the other like only they can when he is gone?

He starts to say something, but her touch stops him. He comes close and touches his lips to hers while he snaps his hips in that certain way that he knows will make her crash around him. It doesn't take her long so all she can do is hang on to him, as her world comes tumbling down in a giant wave of pleasure.

They come together, each one holding on to each other lest they wash away. Peeta collapses on his side, pulling her into the crook of his arm. The silence in the room isn't awkward, but comforting in these final moments.

"When do you have to be there?" She's never asked before now, but doesn't want to admit how many times she's looked at the school's website.

"Orientation is the third. I'm going to fly out tomorrow—"

"Tomorrow?" She chokes back. Somehow, she is able to hold in her sob, but lets her tears escape. "That soon?"

"Mother said—"

She should have known. Of course, she would hurry and push him out of the only place both of them have ever lived. She lifts her head so she can see him, in these final moments.

He feels her moving, and his words fade away. She scrambles to her knees, crawling over him. In the dim light of the sunset, the shadows of her room dance across his face. There are so many things she wants to say, to beg him to take her with him, to never let her go—

His hands caress her back, touching everywhere he can reach. When he gets up to her head, he nudges her close. Claiming her lips like he never has before, she can feel him bruising her in that moment.

With a gasp of surprise, he rolls them both over in a move his high school wrestling coach would have been proud of. Her legs part, welcoming him into the cradle of her tights. His hardness finds her center, and with a simple thrust, he finds his home.

He stills only for a moment, then pushes her knees until they touch her chest. When she is open to him, groaning at the feel of how deep he is inside, wider than she's ever been before. He freezes above her and her heart skips a beat at the tortured look he has.

Before she can say anything, he begins to move. This time his love making is marked with an urgency that has never been there before. His roughness makes her come quickly, but instead of slowing down as she crashes, he speeds up. She begins to climb again, and he lets her calves slide down off his shoulders.

He leans over her where his thrusts start to rub her clit the right way. Warm tingles only add to the overwhelming euphoric feeling already flowing through her.

Peeta slowly sinks into her, and she drapes her arms around him, welcoming him. He grunts into her ear, his hips moving more sporadically and she knows that he is about to come.

A moan, then he stiffens and softly says, "Damn, baby," in her ear.

She wraps her legs around him as he continues to shudder in her arms. When his breathing returns to normal, he starts to lift himself off of her. She, in turn, tightens her arms and legs holding him in place. "Not yet. Please, don't leave me yet."

"I'm squishing you—"

"Never." She kisses his ear. "You will never be too much for me."

She feels his kiss, and he shudders in her arms. "You don't know how glad I am to hear that."

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The dawn comes too early for them. Katniss watches him dress, and she wonders if that will always be the case for them. "I can take you to the airport—"

"Dad wants to take me," his voice is muffled as he buttons his shorts. Next, his t-shirt is back in place then he turns to meet her worried gaze. "I know—"

"No, Peeta. You're probably right. You don't want your now ex-girlfriend-" her voice cracks on the last syllable and she is too tired to stop the tears that begin to run down her cheeks again. "Damn it," she cusses.

He is back on the bed, kissing her before she has a chance to do anything. His lips are barely there when he pulls away. Resting his forehead against hers, he whispers, "I'm not that strong. I can't walk away from you like I think I can. But I can't leave you behind, waiting for me. I won't do that to you- to us. You deserve so much more than waiting for me to finish med school. I love you, Kitten."

She soothes the waves away from his forehead then kisses it. "I love you Peeta Mellark. You are going to do so much good in the world. I know it doesn't matter, but I am so proud of you. I wish I had the right words—"

His lips find hers again. They both taste the saltiness of their tears, mingled in their sorrow at what they were having to do. This time, when they pull apart, they know that that was the final one.

His eyes don't leave hers as he grabs his shoes and walks to the door. Somehow, she keeps it together until he shuts the door behind him. The stairs creak as he walks down them, and in that moment, she knows that she needs to see him, taste him one more time.

She jumps up, wrapping her sheet around her. The door flies back and she runs down the stairs. The front door clicks behind him and she makes it down in time to jerk it back open. He stops, jaw dropping at the sight of her.

Her sob is loud in the dawn's early light. He catches her and holds her tight. She isn't sure how long they stand there, but she knows that she never wants to let him go. When he does back up a step, he clears his throat— she starts shaking her head and cries, "Please Peeta. Unless you are going to finally ask me to go to California with you—I can't. I just can't."

His mouth opens and shuts. Then he does it again. Finally, he chokes out, "I love you, Katniss." Then he turns on his heel and walks away from her. He doesn't look back until he is in his truck. He freezes, watching her as she sinks to the top step of her old wooden porch.

She wishes he'd come back to her, but instead he shifts the vehicle into reverse and backs out of her narrow driveway into the street. He pulls away from the curb and fades into sight.

But there she remains. Still wrapped up in her sheet, that's where her sister, Prim finds her. the younger one takes a long look at the elder and joins her on the step.

Silent tears have been running down her cheeks but it's not until her Little Duck wraps her arm around her shoulder that the sobs begin.

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"Oh hell. He didn't ask you to go with him?" Johanna Mason, one of her oldest friends asks.

She shakes her head. "Nope. I really thought he would—" her words are cut off as Jo throws her arms around her neck. The uncharacteristic gentleness from her friend makes her tear up again.

"I am so sorry he did that to you. I have family in Oregon. They would be more than happy to go kick his butt for you."

Katniss' laugh is hoarse, "Oh, Jo. Just don't let them hurt his hands. He might decide to be a surgeon."

"I'll just tell them to take his knee out again." The friends chuckle as they pull away. Katniss looks at Jo again and the concern in her eyes makes her tears start anew.

"Oh, brainless," Jo murmurs then leads her to the old couch in the old farm house. Prim graduated high school in May, and Lily Everdeen packed up her things and moved to the gulf coast leaving the girls in the house their Grandfather Everdeen built. Jo leaves her on the couch and walks away. She returns quickly with the bottle of wine she had left the last time she was here. "Drink," Jo commands giving Katniss the bottle.

The old friends share the bottle. "He just walked away from me," she whispers as she leans towards Jo. Her head lands on Jo's shoulder. "I can't believe that he did that."

"I can't believe he didn't ask you to move."

"Maybe he was afraid that I'd expect him to marry me or something." She sniffs and wipes her nose. "I just wanted to see where this could go—you know?"

Jo pats her leg. "I do." She passes the wine to her and Katniss takes a long swallow. "Are you going to be ok?"

Katniss shrugs. "One day—"

"I have to go. Daddy needs me at the shop." Jo pauses, then hesitantly asks, "Now that you aren't going to California, what are you doing to do?"

"What do you mean?"

"Job-wise."

Katniss' lips form a perfect O. "I don't know. Uncle Haymitch offered me a job. Third grade needs a teacher."

The front door slams shut, and Katniss doesn't even have to turn around to know who is standing behind them. "Hello, Prim."

Those same feet bring her around where she collapses in the chair across from them. "I have to tell you something."

Katniss rubs her forehead, willing the gathering pain to go away. "If it's bad news," she mutters, "I don't think I can handle it, right now."

"It's not. At least to me it's not." Prim inhales deeply, "I got accepted to the nursing program at ABTech."

"You did?" Katniss squeaks out. Her sister grins and bounces in the chair. "What about UNCA?"

"I'll get there. Right now, I just want to start helping people as soon as possible."

"I thought you were going to med school? Be a doctor and all that?" Johanna asks.

"I got a scholarship. I wasn't as lucky as Katniss, who got the scholarship to the university." Prim shrugs.

"Pish," Katniss scolds. "You go to school where you want to, do what you want to do." She pauses long enough to wipe her nose. "I'm proud of you baby-sis."

Jo offers the wine bottle to Prim and Prim takes it. Katniss manages a small smile as she takes a sip. Maybe everything will be ok after all.

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Katniss starts teaching that August. Grateful to Uncle Haymitch, the principal of her little elementary school, for giving her the job, she soon becomes used to hearing little voices saying, "Miss Everdeen—Miss Everdeen."

Prim starts school, Johanna takes a job out of town and Katniss still cries herself to sleep every night. The weeks pass and the leaves begin to change color when Katniss wakes up one morning and barely makes it to the bathroom.

After she empties her stomach, she only has strength to call out for a still sleeping Prim who is only home because it's Saturday. After a long minute, her sister stumbles into the bathroom. She takes one look at Katniss, lying on the tile, and wets a washcloth.

The blessed coldness on her forehead helps Katniss come to her senses. "What did you eat?" Prim asks.

Katniss shakes her head, groaning at the sudden movement. "Nothing. I stayed home last night and fell asleep on the couch watching The Walking Dead."

"Can you get up?"

Katniss opens one eye to see her sister's hand extended. She takes it, and Prim helps her get to her feet. The sisters stumble to the bed, where Prim tucks Katniss back in. Prim then takes the washcloth and disappears back into the bathroom. Katniss can't keep her eyes open anymore, but sighs in relief when Prim washes her face. "Thank you," she whispers.

The bed sags, and she knows that Prim sat down beside her. "Can I ask you something?" Katniss nods. "When was your last period?"

That question makes Katniss move the cloth off of her eyes and stare at her. "What?"

"When was your last period?"

"Fuck," Katniss whispers. "I don't know."

"Are you?"

For the first time in her life, Katniss is truly speechless. Prim stands up and walks out to only return a moment later. She gives her a plastic wrapped stick. It takes her a moment to realize what it is. "Why do you have a pregnancy test?"

"They gave it to us in health. Go pee on it."

Katniss slowly gets up, but for some reason her legs don't want to work. "You know, I'm probably not. One of the kids stayed home yesterday from the stomach bug—"

"Go pee on the stick. Make sure that it is the stomach flu."

Katniss nods. "Alright. Ok. I'm about to take a pregnancy test."

Prim takes her hand and pulls her back up with her. "I'm here for you. Now, go!"

She goes, and it's a small miracle that she even hits it, but she does. Prim lays it on a paper towel and they watch it as a plus sign appears.

A sob escapes, and Prim catches her. Not letting her sister fall, Prim leads her to the bed. Katniss sinks down into the pillows. Tears leak down her face and her sister lays down beside her. Prim is quiet while Katniss cries. When she manages to breathe almost normal again, the question comes.

"What are you going to do?"

Katniss exhales a shuddering breath while her hand goes to cover where the baby would be. "I'm going to keep it."

Prim squeezes her hand. "Are you going to tell Peeta?"

"One day. Not today, probably not tomorrow, but one day—"

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The morning sickness eases up in the next couple of weeks and for a little while, Katniss lets herself become so busy, she doesn't give herself time to think. She did make the recommended OB visit and tried to hold her tears in as Dr. Cinna told her when the baby was due, when it was conceived, and when she will start feeling the butterfly kicks.

"Thank you, Dr. Cinna." She stands and turns to go.

"Katniss? Sit back down, will you?" She sinks back into the chair and he continues, "If I may be so bold—where is the father?"

"He's in California."

"Does he know that he's a father?"

Katniss shakes her head, and it's not until the gentleman in front of her hands her a Kleenex that she realizes that she's crying again. "You would figure that I would be all cried out by now," she admits through her tears.

"It's understandable dear. What are you going to do?"

Her sniff is loud in the room. Somehow, as she runs down the options that are open to her, only one makes sense. "I'm going to keep her—him—it. I'm keeping my baby."

Dr. Cinna stands and comes around his desk. He offers her his hand, and when she puts it in his, he pulls her to stand. He puts his arm around her shoulders, pulling in for a half hug as he says, "I've been your doctor ever since you were old enough to need me. I've been your friend even longer than that. I just want you to know that whatever you need from me, or even from Portia, we are here for you."

"Thank you," she whispers. After clearing her throat, she asks, "See you next month? That's when I come back, right?"

"Yes, Wiress will make the appointment." Katniss grabs her purse and turns to walk to the door. "Katniss?" she turns to meet her old friend's eyes again. "I know that you are healing your broken heart, but try to get some rest. I have a feeling this little one, will be a bigger blessing than you could ever imagine."

Her hand flutters to her stomach, willing to feel the new life stirring there. "I hope so, Dr. Cinna, I really do."

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"No, try it again, Daisy. You carry the three, and then add—" what can only be a kick interrupts her. "Oh," she exhales, enjoying the flutters against her hand.

"What is it, Miss Everdeen?" The little girl asks.

In that moment, the knowing that life will indeed go on, gives her a new hope while scaring her to death at the same time. She pats Daisy on the back, and smiles, a real one for the first time in what feels like forever. "Hope, I feel hope."

Daisy smiles at her, then asks, "Then can I have some hope that I can add all these numbers?"

Katniss' chuckle makes the other students stop their work and look up. She stretches and says, "Let's hope for some math hope for all of us."

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By the time the trees are bare, Katniss' baby bump is there for everyone to see. "I wish someone would have told me how impossible these kids were going to be before Thanksgiving break." Madge Undersee, one of the other teachers groans. "I didn't get a damn thing done today."

"I didn't either," Katniss agrees. Her hand covers the increasing flutters and she can't help but to smile. "I just don't know why, Haymitch called this meeting. I'm ready to go home."

Several of the other teachers sitting around them nod in agreement. "I guess I can't hope that he has a raise for us?" One of them asks.

"No, raises, but I got us a Christmas party booked down at one of the breweries," Haymitch grunts from the doorway. He walks on in, and stands in the front of the teachers' lounge. "One of the dad's offered it to us, along with some free beer."

Katniss laughs as the others cheer. She vaguely listens as he goes on. Before she knows it, everyone around her is standing. Madge lingers like she wants to say something. In spite of their rooms being beside one another—and graduating high school, Katniss has only talked to her a couple of times. She remembers that Madge's parents both died while they were in school.

"Hey, do you have some place to go for Thanksgiving?" Katniss asks.

Madge looks down, studying an invisible something on the floor. "No, not really."

"Well good. you are coming to my house. I'm not sure who will be there—" Her voice trails off as memories of last Thanksgiving run through her head. Peeta slicing the turkey while she finished up the gravy. Feeding each other pumpkin cheesecake. Licking the whipped cream off of Peeta.

Katniss blinks, snapping herself out of her daze. "Sorry," she breathes. Not wanting to draw attention to her hot cheeks that she knows are red, she coughs and then says, "But you are welcome to come over."

"Thank you, Katniss. I'll be there," Madge says with a curious smile.

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"You forgot to set the timer, Prim!"

"Crap! What does the thermometer say?" Prim hollers from upstairs.

Katniss bends and opens the oven door. The buttery whiff of heat caresses her face. Instead of making her hungry, it makes her stomach lurch. She barely makes it to the sink where she empties her stomach of what little bit that was in there.

She grabs an ice pack and stumbles to the table. Sinking down into a chair, she rests her forehead on it while setting the ice pack on the back of her neck. Her eyes shut, willing her stomach to cooperate.

"Oh no. You can't be feeling sick, today?" Prim's voice startles her. She starts to nod, but even that hurts since now, her head is pounding. Her sister's hand rubs in between her shoulder blades, and she whispers, "Come on now, let's go upstairs."

Not moving, Katniss groans, "What about dinner?"

"I'll call Hazelle and Posey. They were coming early to help anyway, I'll just give them a heads up and see if they can come sooner."

They make it to Katniss' room. Prim helps her undress, at least down to her sleeping shirt and panties. When Katniss is curled up on her side, Prim replaces the ice pack, then tucks her in.

She hears her leave the room. Opening an eye slowly, Katniss says a grateful, "Thank you," To whatever prompted Prim to close the curtains. It doesn't take long for her to drift off to sleep.

A ripple of pain grabs her swollen belly. A gasp is on her lips as she wraps her arms around herself. Perhaps if she can hang on to the babe still in there- the pain will stop.

The pain eases up, and Katniss breathes a heavy exhale. Taking another deep breath, she begins to look around. Immediately she knows that she's never been here before.

The trees blending into the shadows around her, makes the hair on her neck stand up. A feeling of overwhelming urgency washes over her, and she just knows that she needs to get out of there.

She puts her hand down on the damp ground, and she touches her dad's old bow. A small smile appears. "Thank goodness," she whispers. Before she can get up, another pain starts. She crosses her legs under her and begins to rock as the contraction wipes everything else away.

"Not now, baby, please not now." It takes a little longer this time but when the pain stops, she stumbles to her feet. With the bow in her hand, and the quiver that appeared after she picked up the bow, she stumbles through the forest.

When the contraction starts again, she can't help but to sink to her knees. She begins to pant, trying to breathe through the cramp, but a shrill whistle rents the air. The woods fall silent.

There is a rustle to her right. She looks that way, trying to see something, but it's not until the sound gets close, that she realizes who is coming for her.

"Peeta? What are you doing here?" She asks this version of Peeta. It's him, but then—something about him seems—off. Something deep inside tells her to get far away from him.

His eyes grow round at the sight of her. "I was at the airport—what are you doing here?"

The cramp grows and she feels a rush of water in between her legs. "I think I'm having a baby—"

A growl comes from her former lover. Her eyes meet his, and in an instant, they begin to glow bright red. He continues to growl as he comes closer to her. "You are having my baby you mutt! Keeping her from me! What in the hell do you think you are doing?"

She shakes her head willing herself to wake up if this is indeed a dream, a horrid nightmare. "You don't want us. You left. You can't have her damn it!"

He keeps on getting closer, as his features begin to change in the growing shadows of the woods. "Give her to me—give her to me—"

"No, no, no! You can't have her Peeta!" Her scream wakes her up.

"Catnip?" Strong hands grip her shoulders and pulls her tight. With a sob, she grabs onto him tight.

"Gale! What are you doing here?" she asks, her voice muffled against his chest.

He leans away from her, but only so he can look at her. He takes her in, and when her old friend's gaze lingers on her stomach she wants to push him away. What she does do is tug up the covers to cover her. "I came in for Thanksgiving break. Mama said that you were pregnant. Is she right?"

Katniss hadn't felt ashamed of what happened until now. "I am," her voice is small in the silent room.

Gale swallows hard then runs his fingers through his hair. "What is Mellark going to do about it?"

Her chin lifts a notch. "Nothing. It's not his."

Gale's hoarse bark of laughter sounds evil and hurt at the same time. "Don't bullshit me, Katniss. What is he going to do about it?"

She wraps her arms protectively around her middle, right over the flutter kicks she's been feeling. "I'll take care of it. It's my life, my baby. Now stop giving me a hard time, Gale. You only get to come home once in a while from Harvard." His eyes give her a pained look, and she continues, "It's ok. We'll be ok."

"Yeah, that I don't doubt. Do you feel well enough to get dressed and come down to eat?" She can hear how weary he is.

"I'll be down in a minute." She waits for him to shut the door behind him before she stands up. It only takes her a moment to redress now that the nausea is gone. By the time she descends the stairs, she hears the deep baritone of her oldest friend and her new one.

"You do too know me! I was in freshman choir when you were a senior."

"You expect me, a senior, to pay attention to some freshman?" Gale's fake snootiness makes everyone laugh along with him. "Wait, were you the blonde who followed me around everywhere?"

Katniss comes around the corner and replies, "No you dork, that was Glimmer Roberson. She had big plans to marry you."

Hazelle snorts as she walks to the table carrying a big bowl of mashed potatoes. "Yeah, over my dead body, that slut would have married my Gale."

Everyone laughs as they take their seats. Katniss doesn't miss how Gale maneuvers to claim the seat by Madge. She also doesn't miss the way Madge looks at Gale when he's not looking.

She smiles and spreads the napkin in her lap. At least someone will be happy if it can't be her.

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Katniss walks into the grocery store, out of the cold. The last day of school before winter break and though she would like nothing better than to go home and sleep until New Year's—she could think of no better way than to avoid painful memories—she had to buy food. Prim is out of town, going skiing with a new boyfriend, Cato or something silly like that, and won't be back until Christmas Eve.

She pulls out a buggy, and heads for the fruits and veggies. Following her craving for oranges and mushrooms, she quickly grabs her quota and starts to move on. Before she can get too far, she hears a familiar shrill voice. Like a deer caught in headlights, she wants to run far away, but can't seem to move from her spot in front of the apples.

"Yes, my Peeta is still in California. He's driving me crazy because he can't seem to decide on a specialty."

Katniss can't quite make out what the other person says, but when Mrs. Mellark replies, "He'll be home for Christmas," Katniss steals a glance at her through her loose waves and jumps in shock when steely, ice blue eyes are staring back at her. "And he called last night to say that he's bringing home his new—" she pauses, and Katniss swears that a hateful smirk flashes before she softens her smile to fool whoever Mrs. Mellark is still talking to. "Fiancée."

She doesn't hear anything else as she grabs her purse and stumbles to the exit. Snowflakes land on her eyelashes as she walks carefully through the parking lot. She reaches her truck and hops in.

Her phone vibrates in the pocket of—she can't even do anything when realizes that she'd grabbed his college wrestling hoodie that morning. It's not until a wet spot appears on the pocket—not wanting to think about the tears running down her cheeks—she digs her phone out.

Flipping past the email notification, she quickly finds his name. Her stomach rolls, dread making everything that she managed to keep down want to make a reappearance/see the light of day again.

"He needs to know anyway—" she whispers trying to calm her shaking. Her breath leaves her chest as she tries to inhale. With a glance at her screen, she sees where it says, ringing. She lifts the phone to her ear. Instead of him saying, hello, don't call me, or even fuck you—she hears, "This number is no longer in service—"

She moves it so she can see the screen again, and pushes the red button. This time, she dials the number he's had since he was sixteen and saved enough money to buy a phone and have his own plan.

"This number is—"

"What did he do," she sobs. Not sure what else to do—she gets on her Facebook. She types "Peeta Mellark" into the search bar, to only have it show a blank icon. Next, she opens up messenger and searches for him again.

Nothing.

Her key is in the ignition, and before she knows it, she's sitting in her driveway. Stumbling out, she makes it into the house. She makes it to the couch, before she collapses on it. Laying on her side, her head on the arm rest, she lets the tears and the sobs come.

Even the fluttering in her stomach is still for the first time today.

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"Katniss! Katniss wake up."

Her eyes flutter open. "Haymitch?"

"Good, my favorite niece and third grade teacher is alive." He sits down on the coffee table and gives her a glass of ice what she hopes is water. She scowls at him, accepting the glass anyway. "It's water." He glances at her stomach. "Can't be hurting my grand-nephew or niece."

Grateful, she begins to drink. The water decides to go the wrong way, and she begins to cough. He helps her to sit up and that helps a little. When she can breathe normal again, she says, "Thank you."

He nods. "What happened?"

"Nothing—"

"Look, your mom might be at the beach, living out her dream so I'm all you have left." His voice softens, "I know you didn't want to take the job, thought you were moving with that boy." He moves so he can sit beside her on the couch. Then, he wraps his arm around her shoulders. "What happened?"

"Oh, Uncle—" she starts sobbing again. In that moment, she's reminded of why he's always been her favorite uncle. Starting at the beginning, she tells him everything.

When she is done, she feels strangely better. He pulls her close, and kisses her forehead then stands up. He offers her a hand, and he helps her up. "You know, it will all work out."

"It will? But how?"

He shrugs. "I don't know. It's a mystery. Now, go get some more rest, and I'll see you tonight."

Haymitch heads for the door. "Wait, what's tonight?"

"The teacher's party at the brewery. You need to come and get your bonus."

"Really?" She groans. All she wants to do is go sleep in her bed now.

"Really. See you later."

He turns to leave, and she grunts at him, "This bonus had better be worth it, old man!"

Kpkpkpkp-

Katniss smoothes the sweater dress over her hips after she slides out of her Jeep. After she shuts and locks the doors, she swallows hard as the wave of nausea washes over her. "I shouldn't have come tonight. I'll go in, get this so-called bonus, and hurry home," she mutters to no one in particular.

The parking lot looks full, it took a couple of minutes to find her parking spot and it's in the back. She hears some voices and breathes a sigh of relief when she sees that she isn't the last teacher to arrive.

She lets them enter the building first, with them holding the door open for her. "Thank you," she whispers. Not really noticing her surroundings, she follows the others. They don't go far, but to the great room with the doors open wide.

A small smile lifts the corner of her lips and she goes to the bar. One of the bartenders lifts a brow in her direction, and she answers with, "A water please?"

"You don't want anything stronger?" the young man asks.

"No, not tonight. I'm driving and besides, I'm pregnant," she admits. When he grins at her, she relaxes a little bit. He's the first person that isn't in her close circle of friends that she's told.

He fills the glass with ice. "That's awesome. Congratulations!"

She takes a sip, and then says, "Thank you."

"I don't think the pregnant ones are supposed to be at the bar—" a familiar voice whispers in her ear.

She whirls around. "Hey! What are you doing here?" she looks past Gale's shoulder to the blonde behind him. With a raised brow and a knowing smile, she greets, "Hey Madge."

"Blonde invited me, and I was in town. Why are you at the bar?"

She holds up the glass. "Water. This nice gentleman here gave me water."

Madge and Gale order refills, and the friends head over to an empty corner. "Has Haymitch given out the bonuses yet?"

Madge shakes her head. "He said something about waiting for everyone to arrive before he did all that."

A guy wearing jeans and button-up shirt with the brewery's logo on it walks up to the three friends. Madge and Gale smile their thanks and reach for something that smells really bad to Katniss. She steps back to put her hand over her nose in an effort to block whatever that is that is making her stomach turn, when she glances up.

She inhales quickly, then starts to cough when she sees those same Carolina blue eyes, that she's been dreaming about, staring back. "Rye! What are you doing here?"

His eyes soften as he takes her in. "Hey, Katniss. Well," he mutters, shuffling his feet. "I took out a loan for way too much and now, I'm one of the owners."

"That's great," she answers wanting him to just go away. But something inside her wants to keep talking to him. "I remember how you, Peeta, and John Cartwright were always brewing something in the basement. I'm glad that something worked."

Rye nods, then Katniss feels his gaze take her in. She's glad now that the sweater dress is black and covers the tiny baby bump. Gale steps closer, but Rye doesn't move while Katniss tries not to cover her stomach like she wants to. She ends up doing it anyway in an effort to protect her little one. That movement makes Rye look at her even closer.

His eyes narrow and he hisses, "Are you?"

She shrugs and tries to appear nonchalant even though she wants to hide behind Gale. "Yes."

"Is it Peeta's?"

"You know what, Rye Mellark?" She asks through clenched teeth. "This is my baby, that's who it belongs to."

"You should tell him."

"I don't have anything to say to him," she bites back. "He doesn't want me, remember? I know he told you, he tells you everything." She turns away, dismissing Rye. "I don't feel so good. Bye Gale, bye Madge," she says to her friends, dismissing Rye. Gale scowls at Rye, while Madge looks like she wants to ask her a million questions, but instead gives her a little wave.

Katniss turns to go back towards the entrance, when someone grabs her elbow. She looks behind her and jerks her arm out of Rye's grip. He nods towards the back of the great room where other waiters and waitresses are walking in and out.

He turns away from her, and then looks back. When he sees that she's not following, he gives her the same sad eyes that Peeta would when he wanted her to do something she didn't want to do.

He mouths, "Please?" She rolls her eyes and follows him. He leads her towards the back of the room where she can hear the clanging of dishes and pots and pans. He turns and gives her a smile. "You did follow me." She shakes her head and takes a step away from him. "Katniss, please. Talk to me for a minute."

"Why?"

Rye's eyes blink in the dim light. "Just humor me, alright?" He doesn't wait for her to say or do anything to continue, "Look, he didn't tell me word for word what happened, but I have a good idea of what he said to you. I called him an idiot when he told me what he did." Katniss looks away from him, wanting to walk away, but unable to. "He's wanted to be a doctor ever since I can remember."

"Don't you think I knew that? I'm the one who filled out the applications for him to go to Southern Cal. I'm the one who found the scholarships so he wouldn't have to ask your bitch of a mother for any more money. Dumb, stupid me thought the dumb ass would have asked me to go with him," she growls through gritted teeth. "Are you done?"

"Are you going to tell Peeta that you're pregnant?"

"No, and neither are you."

"Katniss," he exhales her name in frustration. "What are you going to do now?"

"Now? you want to know what I'm going to do now? I'm going to go home so I can take off these stupid tights, watch the Walking Dead, and eat something that the baby wants." She steps closer to him, pointing him in the chest. "And you, you will keep your big mouth shut."

She turns and walks away. No one talks to her, each one too busy in their own conservations and holiday revelries to notice her as she slips by.

Kpkpkpkp

She tries not to think about anything but the fact that Negan is an ass and that Rick needs to man up. But it's not working.

She rubs her bump, and smiles when she feels the flutters. There is a knock on the door, making her jump. A quick glance at the clock tells her that it's almost eleven-thirty. She looks at the front door, and wonders if she can make it upstairs, when she hears, "Katniss. It's me, Rye. I know you're there, I can see you sitting on the couch."

It's not until he knocks again, that she stands up. When she reaches the door, she jerks it open. "What are you doing here?"

"It's almost midnight, why are you opening the door?"

"What do you want?" She replies, not bothering to answer his question.

"You didn't eat." He lifts up a white paper bag. "I brought you something."

"No, Rye," she says, "Go away, Rye," as she tries to close the door.

He stops the door with his hand. In his hand is the familiar white bag with black lettering. "There are cheese buns from the bakery."

Katniss lets the door swing open. She takes in Peeta's older brother. The same waves wave across his forehead, just a slightly darker blond. Her breath catches as she realizes that the same Carolina blue eyes are looking back at her. She shakes her head, and moans, "Rye. I just—can't. I told you to leave me alone."

"Mother kicked me out," his whisper is as harsh and cold as the December night air coming in. Without thinking, she grabs his arm and pulls him in. She doesn't stop as she pulls him over to the couch.

"She did what?"

Rye sinks down into the couch without waiting for an invite. "I told her."

Katniss sinks down beside him. He's scrubbing his hands through his waves, making them stand up. She's known Rye as long as she's known Peeta, which is about fifteen years at this point in time. "You told her what?"

He looks up at her. "That I was gay. I told her right after Peeta left, I've been sleeping at the brewery ever since."

"Oh, Rye," she whispers, and reaches out to rub his back. She's known deep down that he was. She figured everyone knew since she was able to figure it out. "I don't know what to say."

He shrugs, then settles against the cushions beside her. "I guess that's why I want to know the baby." His harsh chuckle sounds out of place among the Christmas decorations that Prim put up. If it had been left up to her- nothing would be in place. "There is no telling what Mother told Peeta or Bram. Neither one will call me back."

"That's ridiculous."

"That's what I think too. So, will you accept my offering of cheese buns?"

She nods and digs one of the bag. Before she sinks her teeth into the warm deliciousness, she asks, "How did you get these?"

"Haymitch, he ordered them." While she eats, Rye begins to talk. His soothing baritone, so much like his brother's, combined with just how exhausted she's been lately makes her eyelids oh-so-heavy. She tries to keep them open but in matter of minutes loses the battle.

Kpkpkpkp

That Christmas at the Everdeen house is a strange gathering of people. Uncle Haymitch comes to hold down the couch where he sips his version of Christmas punch and fusses at the football game that's on. Madge is there, since her parents are long gone. Gale shows up with the rest of the Hawthorne's following close behind. Prim comes in with her new weird boyfriend Cato. Gale and his brothers along with Cato join Haymitch on the couch where they discuss the bowl games that will be taking place next week while the women gather in the kitchen.

Then there is Katniss with a baby belly that is really starting to show.

They are setting up the last of the dinner when there is a knock on the door. Primrose shoots Katniss a questioning look. The older sister shrugs and goes to the door. The crowd behind her quiets down while she opens the door.

For a moment, all Katniss sees is the blond waves that the frigid wind is blowing. Her heart lodges itself in her throat and words, the words she's wanted to say for so long can't come out. The figure straightens itself out, and her stomach drops when she realizes that the wrong Mellark brother is huddled against the wind on her front porch.

She scowls in an effort to hide the disappointment making her stomach churn. "Get out of the cold, you dork," she scolds, holding the door for him.

He gives her a weaker version of the trademark smile the three Mellark boys all share as he walks in. Everyone is silent and Katniss does the only thing she knows how. "Look, it's not what you think. He told his mom a big secret—"

Rye shrugs. "I told her that I'm gay."

Pity shows up on Prim and Hazelle's faces, while Madge's brows furrow in anger. The rest of them continue listening to Katniss. "So, he had nowhere else to go except an empty brewery, so he came here."

Rye holds up two boxes Katniss didn't notice. "I even brought a red velvet cake and a pecan pie."

"Well then, let the boy come in and get warm," Haymitch grunts. He pats the empty chair beside him. "Come sit, the game is still on."

"It's time to eat, Haymitch," Hazelle corrects, "Everyone go wash." She waits for the guys to disappear down the hall, before she turns to Katniss. "Are you ok, with him being here?"

Katniss shrugs. "Yeah. It's not like he's talking to his family. They won't even answer his calls, or texts. I'm not sure what the witch is telling Peeta, but you know it's about me."

Kpkpkpkp-

"Mom, where's Rye?" Peeta asks. He just got home the day before and no one, Dad, Bram, or Mother has mentioned the other Mellark. He noticed right away as he was putting his own clothes away that Rye's were still hanging up in the same spot they always did.

Mrs. Mellark- Tiffany to the ones who know her well- smirks at the pasta shelf in her pantry. She checks her face in the little mirror she keeps in there, and tries to look sad. Which is a little hard when everything she worked so hard for is finally falling into place.

She turns and walks out of the pantry to see her youngest now sitting at the high counter. Peeta came in last night with dark circles under those stupid Mellark eyes- why didn't she marry Bruce Cartwright like he begged her to? He's jet lagged is all. And he better be studying, especially after Graham took out that second mortgage on the bakery.

"Oh Peeta," Peeta's brows arch at the saccharin dipped voice. "I have some news."

He ducks his head, his stomach churning at her words. He's had a constant stomach ache since he left at the end of July.

And he thinks- and dreams about her constantly.

He hears her sing song voice, the same one that used to call the birds when they would go four wheeling in her dad's old truck up and down Onion Mountain. He misses the way her silver eyes would meet his, the way they would crinkle at the corners when she smiled. He closes his eyes and remembers the last dance they went to—

"Peeta! Listen to me damn it!"

His eyes fly open at her screech, and he cringes out of old habits that even after all this time, are not forgotten easily. "What Mother?"

Her eyes, strange dark eyes that always scared him, narrow in anger. "I said that bitch is now dating your brother. You can probably find him over at the Everdeen house."

After all these years of trying to forget the influence she had on him, his mother who was supposed to be sweet and loving. Kind and forgiving. Cheerful and patient. Who instead, became the voice in his head that always makes him doubt, - and even hate the life he'd been given. Content to find his refuge in the arms of his Katniss— anger washes over him-

"What do you mean, she's dating Rye?" He says through gritted teeth.

She, that witch as his—was she still his—Katniss used to say, leans against the counter, and that same smirk that she always gave him instead of a real smile makes her lips curl up. "Go ahead. You can use my car since your truck is in California. See if they are there."

More for wanting to leave this house and never come back again, ever, he grabs the keys off the tile counter top. Thankfully, she doesn't say anything as he stomps out of the house. Without really thinking, he is soon on the way to her house.

He drives down her street, some drives crowded from the Christmas gatherings, some are empty. When he spots her old farmhouse, everything else is forgotten as his heart speeds up wanting to see her, touch her, taste her.

All that changes when he sees his brother's green Nissan among the other vehicles. The cozy feelings turn to ice in his veins, and a flash of white hot anger explodes in his head. He stops in the middle of the road unable to do anything else.

The door opens and all of his decisions are taken from him the moment he sees Rye, followed closely by her step out onto the wide country porch, the same one where she, the love of his life ran after him, wrapped in nothing but a sheet for one last kiss.

The sound of his mother's car door slamming echoes in the chilly evening. The two of them—how can they—how can she, that bitch be right? Looking up at him, the same expression on their faces as the deer he used to see nightly when he would be returning home late.

Peeta manages to choke out a ragged, "What?" Before Rye joins him in the road. His brother lifts up his arms with the same easy smile they share—when Peeta is backing up. "No—what the fuck are you doing here? With her?"

Rye freezes and throws up his hands in easy surrender. He glances at Katniss—Peeta wants to rip his eyes out for even daring to look at her—then looks back at Peeta. "It's not—"

Thwack! Echoes across the neighborhood as his fist makes contact with his brother's jaw. "Peeta!" Cries that sweet voice that he dreams about every night.

He makes eye contact with her, and she freezes where she is, halfway across her yard. Rye stumbles somewhere behind him as Katniss' eyes widen and if he's not mistaken—is her lip quivering? It must be because of the winter night. He shrugs off whatever feelings he may still have for her, and grunts, "You two can have one another."

"Peeta!"

Her cry stops him just like it did that hot summer day. His eyes clench closed as his heart continues to break. Still hungry for anything—the sight, hearing her voice, his nostrils flare trying to catch a whiff of her—he turns around anyway.

Her hair hangs loose down her back—it looks so much longer than it did on that last July morning—those eyes that always arrested him—those hands that still hold his heart—he stumbles catching himself before he takes those final steps to be back in her arms again—

"Peet—it's not what it looks like—"

Still watching her face, he looks for something, not sure what when Rye says those words. He wants to give in—reach for those same arms that he longs for—

"She's dating Rye—" echoes in his head and stops him in his tracks.

"Is it true?" He asks whoever will answer him. Out of the corner of his eye, he sees Rye give Katniss a look that he can't decipher. He wants to rip his brother apart when she bites her lower lips like she does when she's nervous and shakes her head once.

"You bitch! She was right about you after all," he sneers. Instead of narrowing in anger like he expects, Katniss blinks fast like she's going to cry. And for what? For breaking his heart?

"Peeta!" Rye has his arm again, and Peeta shoves him. Rye trips and falls on the snow-covered ground.

"You," He screams at Rye, "Don't ever talk to me again." He glares at Katniss. "I guess one Mellark is as good as another? You two can have each other for all I care."

He throws himself into the car and the loud squeal of the tires skidding on the wet pavement resonate through the neighborhood.

Kpkpkpkp

"You need to eat," Prim murmurs. The light from the hallway behind Prim only adds to the headache she's had for three days. Or has it been longer?

The baby kicks reminding her that she needs to sit up and accept what Prim is bringing. A tray is set down in her lap, and Katniss picks up the spoon. She dips it into the bowl, and brings it to her mouth. The stew has no taste, nothing has since the night of the incident.

The bed dips as Prim sits down on the edge. Katniss blinks as she focuses on her, but the shadows from the snowstorm raging outside keep the natural light at bay. "Turn on the lamp, please," she whispers, her voice rough from disuse.

The light is soft, and much more welcome than the light in the hallway. She feeds herself another spoonful of stew. "Rye is still here. Is that ok?" Prim asks. "He said that he has nowhere else to go. He won't talk about it, but I don't think the brewery is making enough yet to pay for him an apartment."

She nods, not really able to do anything else. She wouldn't make him go back to that mess at home.

"I know you love him, or did at one time, and I know that he is the father of my sweet little niece or nephew but I don't think Peeta Mellark deserves either one of you."

Tears, those damn tears gather. You would think after crying for three days, there wouldn't be any left. As usual, Katniss is wrong about something else. "He doesn't."

Prim grabs her hand. "He doesn't what?"

"Deserve me, or the baby." She clears her throat, "He can go to hell for all I care."

"I hate them all," comes from the doorway.

"Oh, Rye," she sobs.

He comes into the room and pulls up the chair that sits in the corner. "I'm glad that you're awake." She shrugs, and his chuckle sounds strange to her. "Eat, Everdeen." She gets another spoonful. "Thanks for letting me stay here."

"It's not like you can go sleep on the streets," Prim replies.

Katniss swallows. "Yeah, you're welcome as long as you need a place."

"It won't be long, the brewery is picking up, and I can start paying myself soon." Katniss manages a weary smile, while Rye and Prim chuckle. When they are quiet, she can feel Rye's gaze on her. "Are you alright?"

She ducks her head, at that moment preferring to fish a piece of carrot out of her bowl instead of meeting their gaze. "Yeah, I will be."

"Hey, I guess it's up to me and Prim to take care of you and Little Bit."

She looks up to meet the eyes of her sister, and her baby's uncle. In that moment, while she doesn't feel better since her heart is broken into a million pieces, it does feel good to know that they will be here if she needs them.

Kpkpkpkp

"Crap," she whispers. She's been crampy all day, but it's only January. While Dr. Cinna and the baby books say now is about the right time for Braxton-hicks, she is certain that blood in her panties shouldn't be there.

She fumbles in her pocket and pulls out her cell. Since she is in the middle of her school day, there is no one else to call but Mrs. Corbin, the secretary that was here when she went to school.

"North Ridge Elementary School, how may I direct your call?"

"Mrs. Corbin, it's Katniss Everdeen."

"Katniss? Why ever are you calling me?" Her gasp is loud and sudden concern makes her voice rushed as she breathes, "What's wrong dear?"

"I'm in the teacher's bathroom—and I think something is terribly wrong—"

Mrs. Corbin says something but Katniss doesn't hear her for the sudden wave of dizziness that washes over her. She reaches for the stall wall, but instead black dots dance before her as she sinks onto the floor.

kpkpkpkp

"Katniss? Honey, I need you to wake up now," A familiar gentle voice reaches her. Her eyes flitter open and while it takes a moment for the rest of the room to come into focus, she does recognize Dr. Cinna standing over her. "There you are. What happened?"

She quickly looks around and with the white sterilized walls and the antiseptic smell, she moans. "Are we at the hospital?"

"We are. The school called 911 when you wouldn't wake up. What happened?"

"I've been feeling crampy all day, when I went to the bathroom, there was blood—"

"That's what they told me. The baby is alright. I went on ahead and did an ultrasound. She looks perfect and everything—"

"She?" Katniss interrupts, grabbing onto his arm.

"She, yes, you are having a girl. Are you ok—"

She wipes her nose as more tears begin. "It seems like all I do anymore is cry. I'm sorry Dr. Cinna."

His brow rises to his hairline. "Now tell me, what really happened?

Once she starts, it surprises her how quickly the words come tumbling out. He hands her a tissue, and she wipes her eyes. "I want you to stay overnight so I can push fluids. While she is doing fine, the amniotic fluid was low. When you are released tomorrow, I want you to go home, get in the bed, and stay there. You can get up to go to the bathroom and shower. And to come see me again in a week. If anything feels off between now and then, I want you to come back here immediately. Do you understand me?"

She nods as a nurse comes in. "Thank you, Doc."

He nods. "Feel better Everdeen. You have a beautiful baby girl coming. You don't have time for all this."

Kpkpkpkp

"You know, whoever ends up with you, is going to be a lucky man."

He finishes fluffing the pillow, then settles it behind her while chuckling, "You're just saying that because I make you stew whenever you want it."

Her breath is harsh, as she tries not to cry—again. "Hey, hey—no more tears. You have to think of Little Bit, ok?" Rye's reassuring voice makes her want to cry even more. She's been on bedrest for two weeks now, and while she's not spotting anymore, Dr. Cinna wants to her to stay put for now.

"Thank you for taking care of me. I know you don't have to do this—"

He sits down on the bed beside her. "Katniss, hush. This little baby, and you need me right now. There is nowhere else I'd rather be."

"I'm glad you're here, then. How was work?" She asks before she gets another bite.

He shrugs. "I made some phone calls, counted bottles, stuff like that. What did you do today?"

"You know, I knitted a quilt and all that." Rye rolls his eyes at her and she shakes her head, willing herself to feel better. She sits her spoon down, unable to eat anymore.

"You need to eat," he encourages.

"I'm not hungry anymore."

"But I made chocolate cake."

"Oh Rye—" her voice cracks, "I just—what is he thinking? Has he called? What happened?"

He takes the tray from her, and then crawls up on the bed beside her. She leans into him, and he wraps his arm around her. "You know, when we were little, he would come home from school talking about you. Even from kindergarten, he would tell me about how you would sing to him during recess. I didn't think anything of it until he started telling Dad. Then Dad asked him one day what your name was, and Mom overheard it."

Sudden nerves for her little five-year-old Peeta makes her shake. "What did she do?"

"First, she beat Peeta with a wooden spoon. He was sick with the "flu" for a week after that. I dragged him upstairs and helped him into a cold shower. Bram came running up as soon as he got home. Mother destroyed the kitchen, and gave Dad two black eyes."

Her stomach rolls, threatening to make the stew show back up. "But—why?"

"Your mom. Dad still had a torch for her, and Mother never forgave him."

"I knew they went out, I never knew that. That's awful. No one ever guessed—"

"No, abuse victims learn from the others in their family how to deal and how to hide the signs. Honestly, Mother must have told him a whopper of a lie for him to act this way. Which is sort of surprising, he knows not to listen to her."

They fall silent, the only sound is Katniss sniffing. "I remember one time in elementary school when Peeta came to school with a black eye. He said that you gave it to him, but I know that you didn't."

"No, I didn't give him that. There was a bake sale or something like that— "

Awareness washes over her. "The bake sale?" Her voice cracks, "That bake sale, it was for me."

"What?" He whispers.

"It was right after Daddy died. The school, Mr. Plutarch found out that mama wasn't doing well, so they organized a bake sale."

Rye runs his free hand through his waves. "I'll be damned. Peeta was caught getting the stale bread and the cupcakes Mother was going to throw out."

"Damn it," she swears as her throat thickens. She sniffs again, "He was always looking out for me."

He squeezes her shoulder. "It will all work out."

"How do you know?"

"Because if he doesn't straighten out, I'm his brother, and I'll kick his ass." Their chuckles feel almost foreign in this space.

She allows herself to snuggle into his embrace and for the first time, in a while, she feels loved.

Kpkpkpkp

"You're dilated, but not in labor."

Katniss picks her head up off the exam table to scowl at Dr. Cinna. "What? Is that possible?"

He stands up, pats her on the knee and tugs the sheet in between her legs. Extending a hand, she takes it, and he helps her to sit up. "It's very possible. She will get here when she gets here. You can go home, and drink lots of water and walk."

She glances out the window behind him. "It's snowing!"

The doctor's eyes widen. "Well, I'll be damned. An April snowstorm. Do you want me to admit you?"

"What?" Her voice doing the weird squeaky thing it does when she gets really, really nervous. "I just want to go home."

He picks up her chart and flips through some of the pages. "I can break your water here, and send you on to the hospital. She'll be here by in the morning."

Her heart sinks, and for one foolish second, she hopes and wishes that Peeta could be here. But with a shattering breath, she shakes her head. "I want to go home. I'll go to the hospital if contractions start."

Cinna stops and she can feel him studying her. She knows he's worried about her, and every time she's been here, he's made his feelings known. "Do you have a four-wheel drive?"

"My Jeep."

With a weary exhale, he closes her chart. "The minute the contractions—"

"Thank you, Cinna."

"I want you back here on Monday, bright and early. Do you understand me?"

"I do."

"Have a good weekend," he sings over his shoulder as he heads for the door. He pauses and meets her eyes. "Get plenty of rest. And drink lots and of lots of water."

"Yes, sir."

Kpkpkpkp

"Your cooking gets better and better, Rye."

He smirks. "Why, thank you Prim. I think you like me cooking for you so you can take your boyfriend upstairs to make out instead of going out."

Katniss smiles at her sister who's mouth falls open and Cato who grins like the cat who just ate the canary. "Rye Mellark!" She sputters out when she can talk again. "Let me tell you something—" she says as he follows him into the kitchen.

"Those two fight like brother and sister," Cato says as he starts to pick up their plates. The blue and blond-haired guy that Prim brought home months ago turned out to be a pretty nice guy. But Katniss continues to sit, as a weird pain travels across her bulging stomach.

He turns to walk past her into the kitchen. "Hey, Cato?" she asks, choosing to ignore what could only be a Braxton hick's contraction. He stops and glances back at her. "Thank you."

His features soften then his brows knit in question. "Thank you?"

"For loving her," she whispers. "If you ever hurt her—"

He glances at her tummy then back at her eyes. His eyes soften as understanding sinks in. "I'll never hurt her." A goofy smile curls his lips. "In fact—"

He's unable to finish because Prim comes barreling out of the kitchen followed by Rye. Their laughter dies down as they look from Cato to Katniss then back to Cato. Katniss smiles and Cato steals a kiss from Prim.

Katniss meets Rye's gaze and rolls her eyes. His chuckle makes her smile bigger. She starts to scoot back from the table but her chair gets caught on that piece of hardwood she's always meant to sand down. She grunts in frustration, her swollen stomach making it nearly impossible to stand by herself.

Rye grins at her frustration and heads her way. As soon as he frees her from the bind she's in, and she's on her feet, another cramp makes her stomach tighten. She exhales loudly, making Rye's hand tighten on her elbow and Prim shoot her a look.

Katniss opens her mouth to say something, when she feels wet down there.

She can feel her cheeks heating up. She knew she had to go to the bathroom—" Katniss?" Prim interrupts her thoughts. "Did your water just break?"

"Oh, that makes sense-" she breathes as relief that she didn't just—" What?"

"Your water. Just broke." Prim breaks out into a wide grin. "She's on the way!"

"I'll get the car!" Rye calls out.

"Where's the bag?" Cato answers.

"You help her," Prim orders Cato, the nurse in her already taking command. "And I'll go grab it."

"My bag is in my Jeep. I just need my pillow. Is it still snowing?" Katniss asks as she rambles.

Cato walks to the front door, and opens it. His low whistle is loud in the quiet house. "Shit," he swears then shouts, "Rye! Come here!"

Katniss doesn't even pay the guys any attention as she heads for the bathroom. Prim stops her. "Where are you going?"

"Bathroom."

"Let me get you a change of clothes?"

"That would be amazing—" She stops talking as another contraction steals her breath. When she can inhale, she tries to do the deep breaths she learned in her childbirth class.

Prim grabs her hand, and then starts rubbing her shoulder as Katniss leans into her, resting her head on her sister's shoulder. the sisters breathe together at the end. Prim waits for her to lift her head again before she asks, "Alright now?"

Katniss nods and tries not to wish for Peeta.

"Go on to the bathroom, and I'll get you something more comfortable."

"Bring the nightgown on the bed?"

Prim's brow raises to her hairline. "The nightgown? What nightgown?"

"I'm birthing this baby. I'm going to be comfortable, damn it."

Prim smiles and shakes her head as she turns away. She glances at her sister and whispers, "Are you ok?"

She shakes her head. "He should be here damn it," she hisses.

"Do you want me to call him?"

"No—" she murmurs. The guys hear her, and of course they come over. The wrong blond head appears in her view. The hair, the same stupid eyes makes her heart hurt too much as another contraction ripples across her abdomen stealing her breath and distracting her from her heartbreak.

Prim grabs one hand, and Rye, sweet, kind Rye grabs her other one. When there is air in her lungs again, she looks at her companions. "I think we need to get to the hospital."

"We have time for you to change. Rye, Cato? Go get the Jeep ready?" Prim orders.

Wanting to help, but too nervous to stay, they run to do Prim's bidding. Katniss goes into the downstairs bathroom and takes off her wet clothes. Curious about what's happening, she feels in between her legs and her hand comes away a little slimy. "This has to be the amniotic fluid?" She asks herself.

The doorknob rattles, and she opens the door. Prim sticks her arm through with the gown in her hand. "You can come in."

Prim's face appears around the door. Without a word, she unfolds the fabric and helps Katniss to put it on. A simple gown that reminded Katniss of something their Nana would have worn- just a lot shorter when it stops above her knee.

Katniss washes her hands, while Prim picks up the clothes she just took off. "Hmmm—" she grunts as another contraction, this one a little more painful than the last one, hits. She vaguely feels someone, who could only be Prim rubbing her back.

"We need to go."

Katniss lifts her head to ask, "What?"

"Your contractions are five minutes apart, lasting for five minutes. Someone wants to come meet her Aunt Prim."

Content to let Prim take care of her, she lets her sister lead her out. Cato comes walking back in. When Prim asks, "What's wrong, Honey?" Katniss looks up to see very nervous looking blonds.

"There is about a foot of snow on the ground," Cato answers.

Katniss' heart sinks. Prim says, "You've got to be kidding me! Snow? It's April!"

Rye comes in behind Cato. "I don't think we can get out."

Katniss ducks her head, more tears gathering in her eyes. "Hey, Sis!" Prim coos. When Katniss meets her eyes, her sister smiles. "Let me make some phone calls. Why don't you," she turns to find Rye and she beckons him to come closer. When he closes the distance between them, Prim moves and puts Rye's arm in the way so Katniss can grab ahold of him. Prim whispers, "Keep her walking."

They don't even make it two steps when another contraction starts. This one is much, much stronger than the others and Katniss has to stop so she can bend over and breathe. Someone, who could only be Rye, starts rubbing her back. When she can straighten back up, Prim is standing before her.

If Katniss had been anyone but her sister, she would have missed the signs. How her breath is heavy, like she's been running. How she bites her lip, just like she does. "What's wrong?"

"Do you feel like trying to make it to the hospital?"

"I think I'd rather be there? Wouldn't you?" Katniss asks.

Prim blinks and lifts the phone that Katniss didn't see to her ear again. "The roads are ok?" Katniss can hear someone on the other end, but can't make out who is it. "Ok, we are leaving now, once I get her in the Jeep. You'll follow? Thanks Darius." Prim hangs up. "Ok, let's go. Cato, you drive your truck, Rye you're driving the Jeep."

Katniss manages to make it to the Jeep before another pain makes her stomach tighten. Prim reaches for her hand as Rye eases out of the driveway. Katniss waves her away. Her eyes close as she focuses on her breaths. She can hear what Prim and Rye are saying, but can't make out the words as she tries to will away the pain. "Are we there yet? I need to walk—" she grunts as she shifts in her seat trying to do something to make the pressure ease a little.

"We're almost there, Katniss," comes from the front seat.

"That's good," she whispers. She inhales quietly, letting the moment with no pain wash over her. A glance out the window tells her that it's still snowing. In that moment of the snow-covered lawns passing by, when the world looks clean again, free of its sin, she wonders if she should call Peeta.

Before she allows herself to think too much, another pain shoots across her. She moans, "Are we there yet?"

"We are. Rye park there in emergency and I'll run in to get a wheelchair," Prim says as the Jeep comes to a stop. She jumps out even before it comes to a complete stop, the frigid air hitting Katniss in the face.

Rye turns around, and concern makes his eyes seem bigger in the shadows. "Katniss—"

Her exhale is heavy. "Rye, this hurts—"

The door opens and he disappears from her line of sight. Her door eases open and he's there. She breathes with the pain and tries not to think about the other blond who should be here instead.

The need to move overrides everything else as she moans, "Help me?"

He offers her his hands and with his assistance, she is able to clamber out of the SUV. She smiles as the pain lessens and looks up at Rye. "Thank you. That feels much better."

"Let's get you inside—" his nerves making his voice higher.

Running footsteps sound behind them, and they both look behind Rye. Katniss smiles as Rye's tense face relaxes as Cato runs up. "Hey, man. Do you want me to move the Jeep and you take her inside?"

Rye nods, and Katniss answers, "Bring my bag and the pillow, please?" Cato nods but before he moves the vehicle, he offers her his arm. With a hand on each of the guys, they help Katniss into the hospital.

Kpkpkpkp make this Portia? She's the midwife?

"3-2-1, breathe Katniss," the red-haired nurse encourages Katniss.

"Is it too late to get the epidural?" Katniss mutters.

"You're past seven centimeters. Way too late big sis." Prim leans over the bed. "Do you want to get up?"

Katniss looks at the nurse who shrugs. It's three a.m. and it's quiet on the delivery floor. "Can I?"

The nurse- who Katniss is sure Prim called Sherry- asks, "Can I check you?"

Katniss nods and waits as she puts a glove on and moves to the end of the bed. Prim, naturally moves too, and by the way her sister's eyes widen, she knows that she's not going to be able to get up anytime soon. "Is it time?" she asks.

Prim nods. "I can see her head." The needle on the monitor speeds up signaling another contraction starting.

Katniss exhales, "Go get Rye."

Prim nods, and trots to the door, as Katniss closes her eyes in an effort to control the waves of pain. The red-haired nurse pats her knee, and says, "Push, Katniss. Let's get this baby out."

Chin to chest, Katniss pushes with everything she has. When the contraction ends, she opens her eyes to see Prim, Rye and Cato standing around her. Granted the men look like they would rather be anywhere else but she's still glad to see them. "Rye?" He steps closer and she reaches for his hand. "Call him?" She chokes out past the new tears that are gathering in her eyes. "I want him-"

Rye wipes the tears from his own eyes and reaches for his phone. Another contraction starts, distracting Katniss from what else may be happening in the room. The stretch she feels is even greater than the pain of the contractions as she pushes.

Instead of easing up like the other labor pains, this one keeps going. With a gasp, Katniss tucks her chin to her chest, and somewhere, dimly she hears someone encouraging her as she pushes. "Breathe, Sissy," Prim's voice somehow reaches her through the endorphin induced haze surrounding her brain. She gasps, and pushes again. "I can see her head!" Prim gushes, "Come on, Katniss."

Someone grabs her other hand and Katniss looks up to see Rye standing there. "You're doing a great job."

"Her head's out," the nurse says.

Someone opens the door, and Dr. Cinna appears in front of Katniss. "You didn't want to wait on me?"

She releases the breath she was holding and inhales deeply. "It's not me, that little girl has to come out."

Dr. Cinna looks down as he pulls on some gloves. He pats her leg and puts her in the stirrups that seems to have magically appeared. Prim helps him with the other one and the stretch actually feel kind of good.

Rye's grip loosens and he opens his mouth. Katniss says instead, "Mellark, damn it. Don't you even think about leaving me now. Just stay up here and you don't have to see anything you don't want-" her words are interrupted as another contraction starts.

Dr. Cinna sits down and smiles. "Come on now, Katniss. Let's meet your daughter."

With a deep breath, she pushes. Everything else fades away as she does. There is a burning- "Ahhh—" she exhales as Dr. Cinna does something—Rye winces and Prim says, "He's getting her shoulders out—" she pauses as Katniss grits her teeth from the pain.

Suddenly, she can breathe again as Dr. Cinna stands. She blinks trying to focus then that wet, blue thing that was in his arms is on her. Letting go of their hands, she catches—her.

Swollen eyes squint up at her as tears, happy tears for once gather in hers. "Hey you," she whispers as others continue to rub the little one on her chest. Someone above her suctions out her baby's nose and mouth, and finally, a cry escapes from her sweet lips. Katniss answers, "I've waited for so very long to meet you." She pulls her up so she can kiss her forehead. The thin kitten-like cries grow quiet as Katniss snuggles her.

"Who do you want to cut the cord?" Dr. Cinna asks, interrupting Katniss' inspection.

She looks up to meet Rye's eyes. "Rye can do it."

Tears well up in his as the red headed nurse hands him the scissors. With a shaky hand, the cord is cut, Katniss puts her baby to her breast and Dr. Cinna and the nurse begin to clean up.

"What's her name, Katniss?" Prim asks.

Unable to take her eyes off of the bundle in her arms, she answers, "Penelope Elyssa Everdeen—" she ignores the strange cough that comes from Rye's direction. "And we shall call her Poppy."

Kpkpkpkp

"It's ok if you put her down," Prim chuckles.

Katniss, still unable to stop looking at her Poppy, says, "No, I want to hold her just a little bit longer."

A knock on the door distracts Katniss long enough to look up while Prim says, "Come in."

Rye peeks around the corner and gives her a shy smile. "Hey," Katniss says, "Come look."

He comes around the corner of the bed, eyes wide on his new niece. Katniss pulls the blanket away from her face so he can see her better. He clears his throat, and says, "She's beautiful, Katniss."

"I think so." Prim and Rye chuckle along with her. He offers her the flowers in his hand that she honestly didn't notice. "Thank you, Rye."

"Sit, sit," Prim ushers him into the seat under the window.

"Do you want to hold her?" Katniss asks.

"You mean you are letting go of her?" Prim says, mock shock making her eyes wide.

Katniss sticks out her tongue at her sister but Rye shakes his head. "I'll wait until she can hold her own head up and stuff."

Prim pops back up and slides a hand under Poppy's bottom and the other under her head. "If he doesn't want to hold her, I will," she announces as she finds her seat again.

Rye admires the bundle in Prim's arm, and Katniss lets her eyes drift shut. It only feels like a moment that she allows herself to doze when Rye is nudging her. "Katniss? I think Poppy is hungry."

Her eyes snap open and she glances at the clock. "An hour? I slept for an hour?"

"Well, more like you passed out for an hour." Rye bounces Poppy shifting from one foot to the other. "She's nuzzling me and keeps on putting her hands in her mouth. That means she's hungry, right?"

"What?" she whispers then remembers something from the lactation class she took two months ago. "Yeah—" she says as he hands the baby to her. Not even realizing what she's doing, she kisses Poppy, who nuzzles her back. "I know, you need me." She looks around the bed, momentarily lost.

Rye must have been paying more attention than she thought. He grabs an extra pillow at the end of the bed, and lays it in her lap. He shrugs. "When Bram and Delly had their kid, I was there at first too. Delly always nursed this way."

He helps her to lay the baby down. When Poppy is on the pillow, she lets out a pitiful little mew cry. Katniss moves her gown out of the way, and offers Poppy her nipple. It takes her a minute, but she finally latches on. Katniss scowls as a weird sensation pulls on her breast. "I hope that's what I think it is," she mutters.

Rye claims the chair closest to the head of the bed, but watches the silent picture on the TV instead of meeting her eyes. He waits until she moves Poppy to her other breast before she says, "I tried calling Peeta like you wanted me to. His number is still disconnected. So, I called Dad. He didn't answer. Then I tried Bram. Nope, nothing." he looks at her, sorrow making his eyes sad. "Do you want me to go by the bakery?"

"I don't know, Rye." She murmurs watching her Little Bit nurse. "I just don't know." She watches the baby nurse, and mutters, "We'll get in touch with him soon, just not sure when."