The news of my pregnancy travels like wildfire. Wherever we go, people congratulate us, ask questions, and look at us like we're a figment of their imagination. Haymitch explained that we were so utterly famous, so talked and wrote about, so photographed that we had achieved an almost mythic status throughout the Districts.

Honestly, though, Peeta and I just want to get back to our life.

A few days ago, we strapped the twins to our backs and hiked out to the lake. We picked a perfect spot to build our house, and then enjoyed a picnic, just the four of us. It was perfect.

We're working with an architect, who's from District 7, to design our new home. We'll keep our house in Victor's Village of course, but we're more than excited to live by the lake. Peeta promises me it'll be ready before the new baby arrives.

That's another thing. Seeing as how one of our guest bedrooms is still occupied by all the equipment and bed from when I gave birth to the twins, Dr. Sutherland and Dr. Gaius make house calls to check on me. I'm coming along great, they tell us.

While Peeta and I are absolutely thrilled that we're expanding our family again, we're both acutely aware of how hard it's going to be with me being pregnant and our infant twins. But if anyone can do it, it's us. We have such an amazing support system.

Our support system is so large now because when the war ended, Finnick, Annie, Johanna, Beetee, and a few other Victors decided to make District 12 their home. Now they live in our neighborhood in Victor's Village, and Peeta and I call out teasing remarks to the O'Dairs about when they're going to have a baby from our porch. We love having our very best friends so close.

One of the first things we did was start to rebuild. The town and the Seam were decimated by the Capitol's bombs.

We use the opportunity to not only rebuild, but to improve. The new school will be magnificent, with any and all tools for the kids and teachers to use. We're rebuilding most of the stores, including the jeweler's, where our wedding rings came from, the general store, and even a brand new 'department' store. d

The bakery, of course, is in the process of coming back to life. Peeta helps out, but he usually gets shooed away by his brothers, telling him to go home and be with our family. He doesn't resist.

The design process for our new home has actually been a blast. We're building our dream home. It will be cozy but not too small. We'll draw geothermal power and freshwater from a well. Beetee is setting us up with all kinds of technology, from a fridge that alerts when the milk is low to a direct connection to pretty much anyone.

Prim and my mom work at the new hospital, still treating a large number of severely wounded from both sides of the war. They offered Victoria, Snow's granddaughter, a full-time position and she accepted. She's a great doctor, my mom tells me. Peeta and I kept our pledge to her, not telling a soul who she really is. She deserves a fresh start like everyone else.

Haymitch has been traveling a lot, going from District to District to visit with the people, find out what they need, and begin the task of starting a new era for Panem. We see him on the news almost daily. The funny thing is that if the twins are with us when he appears on screen, they obviously recognize him. It's adorable.

Peeta and I have been discussing what we want to do in the future. Of course, he can always go work at the bakery. Especially now that his mother is, well, a completely different person. But when we do move out to the lake, that would be quite a trek for him just to get to work.

He's adamant anyways that all he wants to do is raise our children with me. We've received a hefty sum of money, both reparations for our involvement in the Games, and all the backpay we accumulated in 13 as Generals. Coupled with the money we had before the Quell, we really don't have to work. We'll never have to worry about money ever again.

I can't say I'm not excited at the prospect of spending every minute of everyday with him and our kids. It's almost intoxicating to even think about. Since we worked together in 13, we've become even more, well, attached. It's rare for us to spend any length of time apart, and when we do both our hearts ache for the other one.

Right now, we're spending a lazy Sunday at home. It's been raining steadily all day, so we sit on the porch, each of us with a twin in our lap as we sit in matching rocking chairs side-by-side. The rhythmic pitter patter of the rain lulls the twins to sleep.

"Do you want a boy or a girl?" Peeta asks. I glance at him and smile. Eve's nestled tightly into her daddy, and he's slowly and tenderly stroking her hair the same way he does with me. I know how comforting it is, so it's no surprise she's fast asleep.

"I don't really know yet," I shrug. Looking down at our son in my arms, I know that if we have another girl, he's going to always be there to protect both his sisters. I already know he's inherited Peeta's selfless trait and my fiercely protective nature. Even now, he tries to protect Eve in the cutest ways. "What about you?" I ask.

"I think I want another girl," he answers. "I just love both my girls so much already that another one would make me so infinitely happy."

"And your girls love you right back," I smile.

"I just can't believe you're pregnant again," he sighs happily. "I know, I know, we'd agreed to try back in 13. But sometimes, I don't know, it seems surreal almost. I'm just now getting used to waking up in our own bed in our own home."

"God how I missed our bed." We both chuckle at the obvious reason why. "Do you think we could have the twins sleep with us tonight?"

"Of course they can," he instantly responds. "I love having all three of you close. I feel like, I don't know, I can protect you."

"I feel so safe when you wrap your arms around us," I tell him honestly. "Like nothing can touch us, nothing can happen to us as long as my husband is with us."

Before he can answer, the phone rings from inside the house.

"I'll get it," I wave him off as I stand up. "Here, why don't you hold both your kids for a bit? You know how much they love that."

He grins as he envelops Josh into the warmth of his arms, right alongside his sister. We've gotten so good with them that neither of them even remotely stir.

I go through the front door and grab the phone off the wall in the hallway.

"Mellark Residence."

"Is this Katniss Mellark?"

"Speaking. May I ask who's calling?"

"This is Bartleby Bedford. I'm the Deputy Director of District Affairs."

"So what do you need Mr. Bedford?"

"President Abernathy has tasked us with finding and appointing worthy and capable citizens to a brand new political office. We're calling them 'Governors'. They'll be the top official in their respective Districts, reporting directly to the President."

"I see. How exactly does this pertain to us?"

"President Abernathy recommended we ask you and your husband to aid us in our task. Would you be willing to do so?"

"Would we have to leave 12?"

"No. We will either bring the candidates to 12, in order to meet both you and the President in person, or we will use videoconferencing."

"I can't speak for my husband, but I think he'd agree that if we can help, we will."

"Wonderful! There is one more item I need to speak with you about."

"Go on."

"At first, we wanted to appoint either you or your husband to be the Governor of 12. When we brought the idea to the President, he explained that you both would be reluctant, as you are focused on raising your family."

"He was right. Peeta and I, while immensely honored, just want to live our life as normal citizens."

"The President said you'd say that," we both chuckle. "He did, however, give us another recommendation."

"Who?"

"Madge Undersee. I understand her father was the Mayor before the war?"

"Yes, he was, but he's retired now."

"Looking over Ms. Undersee's file, we are impressed. She was promoted, joining the officer corps after enlisting as a Private. Her work training new recruits was deemed excellent by no less than three separate evaluations. At least on paper, she looks like a perfect candidate."

"She would do a great job. She truly cares about the District and the people who live here. She's a natural leader like her father. When Peeta and I were promoted, she was the only real choice to take our places training recruits."

"Great. Thank you for your time, Mrs. Mellark. I'm sure we'll speak again in the future."

"Of course."

While I'm flattered that they'd think of us for the job, I'm secure in my decision to turn it down. I'm almost sure Peeta will agree, but I won't know until I ask.

Walking back out the porch, I find my three favorite people. Peeta has apparently joined our children, all of them sleeping peacefully.

I sit back in the rocking chair I was in before and revel in the simplicity and bliss of our life.

"Kat?" Peeta softly says after a few minutes. "Who was on the phone?"

"The Deputy Director of District Affairs."

"Oh. What did he want?"

"They're appointing 'Governors' for each District."

"I see. What does that have to do with us?"

"Well they want our help interviewing and vetting candidates. I told them we'd be happy to."

"Sure," he nods.

"They, um, " I stumble over my words a bit, "they also said they wanted us to take over for 12."

I nervously await his answer. I don't know why I'm nervous. I know Peeta. I know all he wants to do is spend every day with me and our kids, filling the hours with laughter, love, and happiness.

"I hope you told them no," he smiles, assuaging my inane fears.

"I did," I confirm.

"Good. I mean, unless you were thinking about doing it?"

Of course he'd say that. I know, in my heart, that if I said I was even slightly interested, he'd encourage me to do it. He just wants me to be happy.

"Are you kidding? Besides, you think I'm going to let you have all the fun at home?"

His smile is radiant, and I lean over and kiss him.

"They asked if I think Madge would be good for the job," I tell him when we part.

"She'd be great," he immediately replies. "She's well liked, respected, and fair. Just like her father was as Mayor."

"I told them the same."

The next day, we spend hours with various officials of the new government reviewing case files for the high-ranking individuals of the former regime. We're starting to filter through all the data and officially charging them with various offenses, anything from simple assault and battery all the way up to murder and treason. It's a daunting task, but it's vital to the rebuilding of the country.

"They were just doing their jobs."

"Their jobs involved directly influencing murder!"

This has been going on for a good five minutes. Plutrach, for some reason, is defending the Gamemakers. He thinks they should be, at the most, imprisoned for short periods of time before being pardoned. Peeta, Haymitch and I vehemently disagree.

"Plutarch, I get that you worked with some of these people," Peeta says calmly. "But look at it from our perspective. Our lives were in their hands when we were in the Arena."

"Have you forgotten about the time I woke up and the fucking forest was on fire?" I harshly ask Plutarch. "Who do you think did that on their fancy little computer in some air-conditioned room in the Capitol?"

"They were just following orders," Plutarch tries to appease.

"So was Francis when he tried to murder Peeta!" I shoot back. "He got the death penalty, remember?"

He sighs, coming to the realization that we refuse to budge on this issue.

"They don't deserve to die," he almost whispers.

"Now there's where we agree," I nod. "We don't want to seek the death penalty. We just want them to pay for their indiscretions with appropriate sentences."

"Very well," he gives in.

It goes on like this for hours - we review a file, argue, and finally come to a solution that everyone is okay with. Only a handful of Snow's inner circle will be put on trial with the prosecution outright seeking the death penalty. We don't want to start off the new era of Panem by doing the same things Snow did. But, some of these people did heinous, disgusting, horrible things and need to face justice for the country to heal properly.

I'm relieved when we finally get home, almost collapsing onto the couch. Eve and Josh are with their Aunt Annie and Uncle Finnick, and won't be home for a few hours yet. Peeta chuckles and sits next to me. When I look at him I realize he looks even more exhausted than me.

"Come here," I tug him down, putting his head in my lap. He stares up at me smiling softly.

"Long day," he whispers.

"Long year," I counter.

"Did you ever think that we'd be the ones helping to make Panem a better place?"

"Not really, no," I shake my head. "Sometimes I wonder why we're in the middle of all this in the first place."

"We did kind of spark the whole thing when we gave the Capitol the middle finger and left the Arena together," he smiles.

"Yeah, but that's just it. All we did was act out of love, and suddenly, we're the faces of a Rebellion?"

"I think what happened was that everyone had become so accustomed to the raw violence, the sheer horror of it all, that when you and I won the Games using love and not hate, it made them realize the Capitol could be thwarted."

His explanation actually makes a lot of sense.

"Either way, I'll always be so proud of everything you've done Kat," he goes on. "And I don't just mean all the amazing work you did as an officer. You carried our twins for nine months. You went through labor and gave birth to not one, but two babies. You were simultaneously a wife, best friend, general, and mother. But not once did you ever complain it was too much or that you were sick of it. Your strength, inside and out, will always be one of the things I love most about you."

Needless to say, after his little speech, we were happy to be alone in our home. And also happy we'd drawn the living room curtains.

Later, after the twins are home and safely sleeping in their cribs, Peeta and I crawl into our own bed.

A few hours later, I wake to the soft cries of Eve. Without waking my husband, I slip out of bed and retrieve our daughter. She needs a diaper change, so I oblige, being careful not to wake her brother or daddy. When I'm done, I sit in the rocking chair and lull her back to sleep.

Standing over their cribs, I remember what Peeta said to me earlier.

I decide it's time to revive one of our traditions, one we haven't done in months.

After getting what I need, I sit back in the rocking chair between my babies and begin to write, letting my heart dictate the words.

Dear Peeta, my husband,

First and foremost, I love you. I could tell you every minute of every day for the rest of our lives and never come close to showing you just how much.

I still remember the first time we ever said it. It was that first morning after I'd come over and admitted to lying to you. Your mom showed up, pissed beyond belief when she saw me. First, we both blurted out our love for one another while screaming at her. Then, she left, and we quietly said it again. The first time I heard those three words come out of your mouth, I thought I was going to suffocate. You took my breath away. Not twelve hours before, you'd thought I had played you, faked my love. But, through it all, you continued to love me. I don't know if I'd never have the strength or the fortitude to do that, but I'll always be grateful that you do.

These past months have been the best of my life. Each day I find myself loving you more and more. Each time I hold our beautiful children I thank whatever higher power brought you to me. I am going to spend the rest of my life proving to you that I am worthy of the gifts you constantly give me.

Now, just like before, I'm going to list some of the reasons why I love you, my husband, the father of my children, my best friend, my Peeta.

I love how you call Eve and me 'your girls'.

I love watching you with Josh. You two have such a special father/son bond.

I love how my happiness is always your first priority.

I love when you wake up by kissing the nape of my neck oh so gently.

I love how, in bed, you always put my needs before your own, even if I protest.

I love that you're as ecstatic as I am about our house by the lake.

I love when you make me cheese buns for no other reason than you know how much I love them.

I love how you consider Prim your sister, and the relationship you've formed with her.

I love how after everything that happened, you gave your mother a second chance.

I love how when my life was in danger, you dove in front of a bullet without a second thought. I've never felt more loved.

I love how messy and curly your hair is in the morning.

I love the look on your face when I wear your clothes, even though it happens almost every day.

I love when you take control when we're in bed together. I can't tell you how much it turns me on.

I love your smile.

I love the look in your eyes when you're with our children.

I love your humility.

I love your patience, especially with me.

I love when you finish painting you have flecks of paint in your hair, on your face, on your clothes. Everywhere.

I love the way you protectively hold me when we sleep.

I love that you knocked me up. Again. I can't wait to have your baby.

I love when you call me 'Kat'. Or 'baby'. Or really any nickname.

I love you eyes.

I love your stump. Cleaning, massaging, and kissing it is one of my favorite wifely duties.

I love when you tell me you love me.

I love you.

One day, in the future, I'm going to look back on my life and know it would never have been even remotely bearable without you. You're my rock, Peeta, never doubt that. You keep me grounded, sane, and a whole slew of other adjectives.

Mostly, though, you make me feel loved. Even if we're in a dumb argument, I can always still feel your love. It radiates and envelops me in a cocoon.

When, in a few short months, we become parents again to a brand new, beautiful mix of both of us, I will look at you and thank you. Thank you for giving me this life. Thank you for me giving me our children. Thank you for always believing in me, even when I didn't believe in myself.

Thank you for loving me.

Thank you for being you.

Now, I'm going to seal this letter, address it to you, and crawl back into bed. You're going to take me in your arms, cuddle me close, and I'll feel safe like I always do.

I love you.

Love always,

I remain,

your wife,

Katniss Mellark

I carefully fold the letter, put it in an envelope, and seal it. I address it to 'My Husband', and under that right 'AKA Daddy', smiling. I creep back into our bedroom and find him just where I left him.

Mirroring the last time I did this, I place it on his nightstand where he can't miss it.

Like I predicted, when I get back into bed, his arms snake around me and pull me close.

In the last couple years, my life has drastically been altered.

I went into the 74th Games as a lonely, scared, closed-off girl who didn't believe in even the notion of love.

In the Games, I discovered that not only was love within my grasp, my husband, my best friend, the love of my life, was right in front of me.

Then, I made the biggest mistake of my life lying to him.

Suffice to say, the moment he took me back, I thought my life couldn't get more perfect.

Then we got married.

Then we had our twins.

But, as it seems to always do, the world intervened. We were thrown into the chaos of war. Even though we'd decided to stay out of combat, both of us managed to get shot. Through thick and thin, though, our love remained. Our love blossomed, became stronger.

Now, the war is over. Snow is dead.

Now, Peeta and I build our life together.

Even though we know it isn't going to perfect, that we'll have bumps along the road, we're positive that growing old together is going to be the best life we could ever ask for.

So, with my husband's hand resting protectively on my belly, right over where our third child slowly grows, I can't stop smiling.

Today is the first day of the rest of our lives.

A/N: So there it is. It really was more of a prologue than anything.

After taking into account all the great suggestions for the name, I just came up with my own. It's Latin for 'living truth'.

I honestly have about a million ideas for this story, so we'll see where it goes!

Thanks for all the support!