Title: Hope in the Meadow
Author: Poly
Category: Peeta & Katniss
Warnings: spoilers for Mockingjay
Rating: K+
Chapters: 1 - oneshot
Complete: [X] Yes [ ] No
Summary: Just a simple song, with a meaning beyond the lyrics.
Hope in the Meadow
The first time that he heard the words, he felt like being carried away to a different country in a time farther behind. It was a melody with such a softness and so pure in its innocence, that it couldn't belong to that age of craziness or country of fools.
He had just came up the stairs coming from the kitchen were he had put a cake to bake. And in the exactly position that he was, he stopped. Just realizing how uncomfortable it was for his prosthetic leg when he finally moved.
In the same sudden way that the song began, it ended. And Peeta, in a rapture, internally asked for more.
With soft steps he followed the source of the song, stopping by the door of the colorful room. And, for his great joy, the song began again.
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
Katniss ended the song with a long note and then raised her eyes, smiling.
She had already sang that song to him. One or other time, this or that verse. But he had never heard her singing with so much feeling, with so much... hope. The scene made him believe that everything that they fought for, everything that they suffered, was worth it. It was worth it because it brought hope to people, it brought hope to her.
Here is the place where I love you.
She sang the last verse again, this time staring at Peeta's eyes.
He finally snapped out of his dreaming state.
"Katniss, that was beautiful."
She shrugged.
"It worked to get her to sleep."
He looked at the little girl on her lap. The eyes closed but the lips still in a little 'o', from the feeding before the nap.
Peeta crouched near the two of them, softly drawing his finger along the dark hair of the little girl. He looked at Katniss and knew it. It wasn't just a song to get Rosie to sleep. There was a much deeper meaning for her. And for him.
"Did you ever lose hope? - she asked in a whisper, aware of the asleep child between them.
He almost answered 'Never' without even thinking about it. That was how he was. But he decided to think about the subject, so he could give her a completely honest answer.
He thought about all the wounds, the people they lost, all the destruction, despair, the powerless feeling. He didn't lose hope in any of this moments. But then there was certain period of time, the most obscure one in his life. The time that he was under the Capitol's guard. The moment that he came back to District 13, and committed the only act that he would never forgive himself of.
Did he lose his hope then? If he did, he wouldn't have find his way back to Katniss. He wouldn't be by her side at that moment. He wouldn't be the daddy of little Rosette.
"Never."
A/n: A short story with lots of fluffiness that popped up in my mind. Hope you liked it. Reviews make my day!