A/N: Salutations! Welcome to Fleeting Moments, a collection of drabbles, one-shots, and poems! I will take requests, just leave a review! I'm a new writer and I would love feedback, good or bad. This is my first time ever writing in the second person, what do you think? Have a nice day!
You gulp before raising a balled up hand to knock on the door. You haven't seen your daughter in what? Fifteen, twenty years maybe? You know you have to do this. You can't keep your not so little secret any longer, if you do you feel as though you would burst. The young blonde next to you gives you a reassuring smile, and you swallow your pride and knock.
"Just a minute!" You hear her voice and it sinks in what this means. You are really going to talk to Katniss.
Katniss appears; belly swollen and a chubby toddler on her hip, and are clearly gob-smacked when she sees who is on the other side of the oak door.
"Mother." She greets icily, having gathered her composure. "Please, come in." You walk in; stepping over dolls, blocks and other toys, and Katniss speaks again. "Who's your friend?"
You somehow find your trembling voice. "Katniss, meet your half-sister, Rose." She trips, and you're ashamed to admit that you're not worried. Katniss quickly regains her balance, shifting the little boy to her other hip. She ignores the name you gave her.
"Who's the father?" She asks, her eyes running over the girl. Dirty blonde hair, emerald eyes, slightly curvy figure, and long legs.
"Boggs." Katniss nods and you feel the need to ask about your grandchild. "What's his name?" You ask, stepping closer to the boy, who earlier you thought was a toddler, but turns out to only be about a year, maybe a year and a half old.
"Rye. Willow's upstairs.''
Rye pulls his head away from his mother's side for the first time and shyly looks at his guests with his big, blue eyes. "Peeta's?"
"Yes." Katniss sits, and you do the same. She wordlessly hands your grandson over and tears pool in your eyes. "Willow!" Katniss calls. You hear a little tumbling of feet and a black haired little girl of about five comes sliding down the banister. "Willow," Your daughter scolds, "I've told you before not to do that, it's dangerous!"
"Yes, mama." The dark haired child says. She too, has her father's eyes. Same as Wheaton's. In your head says. Yes, Peeta got his father's eyes. The eyes of the man you courted for so many years. The man you were supposed to marry. The man you left for a coal miner. It was worth it. Yes, it certainly was worth it. Or was it? If you had married Wheaton, you would've had more years with a man you loved, but you never would've loved him nearly as much as you did Cedar. You decide it was worth it. Itswasworthititwasworthititw asworthitworthitworthitworth it.
"Mother?" Katniss' voice pulls you out of your revrie.
"Oh. Yes?"
"I asked if you would like tea."
"Oh, yes, please."
You and Rose follow her to the kitchen, and Katniss looks at you before speaking. "Would you hold Rye?" she asks. You're shocked. Flabbergasted, really. After all of this, abandoning her twice (One of which you did have control of, didhavecontrolofdidhavecontr olofdidhavedidhavedidhave), keeping a very large secret from her, never even mothering her, and she'll still trust you with her child. Tears pool in your eyes and you nod. Katniss hands him over and you hold him close while she fills the old silver tea kettle, something that came with the house. She watches on quietly as you hold your grandson close, tears streaming down your face. The shrill whistle of water boiling reminds you to wipe your face and compose yourself.
Katniss grabs three mugs and the same number of teabags, pouring the scalding water over the tea and into the mug. She grabs sugar and puts two spoonfuls into each, them all varying from the two others. A clamor arises from near the door and a shrill voice calls out.
"Daddy!"
A hearty laugh fills the house and for a moment you're impossibly jealous that they can go on, can move on, and can be so unbelievably happy when so many will never smile again.
"How's my little lady today?" Peeta coos.
The corner of Katniss' lips curls up, and she waddles out of sight to meet Peeta. A moment later his laughter is joined by something softer, more melodic, but still has a weary undertone. Peeta comes swooping in, having picked up his wife as if she weighed nothing more than a feather. Her face now is completely lit up as he sets her down gently on the kitchen table. He kisses her neck and she light heartily scolds him.
"Peeta, we have guests!" You watch as his head snaps up and his cheeks flush as he finally realizes that he's not alone with his family.
"Mrs. Everdeen." He greets you, putting on one of the most charming smiles you've ever seen.
He shakes your hand, and you reply, giving a dismissive wave. "Oh, please. Call me Lilly. We're family, after all."
"All, right, Lilly." He gives you a warm smile that you can't help but return. "And you are?" His voice is warm and questioning when he turns to Rose, and gives her a smile.
She sticks her hand out. "Rose."
"It's a real pleasure to meet you Rose." His voice catches a minuscule amount on the word, and you realize it must be because it reminds him of President Snow.
"Rose is my half-sister," Katniss says, rubbing her baby bump idly, trying to calm the kicking baby. "That my mother never told me about." She's struggling to keep the emotion out of her voice. She doesn't want Rose to feel unwelcome, but she's mad that you not only abandoned her, but kept a secret from her too. She's also hurt that you just left. Just got up and left her to deal with the demons you couldn't face yourself. There is nothing you regret more than leaving.
Peeta saves you and everyone else from silence. "Welcome to the family!"
Yes, welcome to the family. You think, Welcome to the family Prim never had. And with a family like this, may the odds be ever in your favor.