A new story about Katniss and Peeta. This story is set in an AU where Katniss has returned back to her home district following her mother's death at a mental institution (more would be explained as the story goes on). She finds herself meeting Peeta again after breaking things off with him five years prior. Enjoy.
The alarm rang, a hand immediately hitting the snooze button blindly as they settled back into sleep but when the alarm blared thirty-five minutes later, Katniss shot up like a light.
"Shit!" She cried out, grabbing her phone to check the time.
7:41 AM
"Shit, shit, shit!" She continued to squeal as she jumped out of her bed and rushed into her daughter's room. "Willow, darling! Time to wake up, it's your first day of school!"
"Katniss!"
Katniss winced at the sound of her sister yelling out her name.
Willow looked up, her bright blue eyes glinting with mischief. "Aunt Prim sounds really maaaaaaad!"
"Well, Mommy will be mad too if you don't get out of bed and straight in the bathroom, young lady."
"I'm five years old!" Willow cried out, struggling to get her comforter off her legs. "You can't be mad at me!"
Katniss chuckled, deciding to help her 'independent' daughter after all as she carried her into her arms and gave her a small cuddle.
"Come on, Lulu."
"You know I don't like that name, Momma." Willow frowned.
"I know. But I like it."
After setting her daughter on her stool in front of the bathroom sink with her toothbrush, Katniss took the time to check on her sister.
"I'm sorry," she mumbled.
Prim glared at her. "You know that you should always write down what we need so I don't have to wake up to an empty milk carton! I really needed this coffee if I was going to pull off a twelve-hour shift at the hospital!"
"Sorry. I-I forgot, okay?" Katniss frowned.
Prim sighed, rubbing her head with the hand which held her sparkling but simple engagement ring. "It's fine, Katniss. I'll stop by Rory's before I get to work."
Katniss gave her a small smile, offering her purse. "Buy something, on me."
"You have to save every penny you have for Willow. Speaking of saving, haven't you got that job interview today?" Prim asked.
"No... They said that I wasn't what they were looking for after all." Katniss sighed, rubbing her face as she began to head back to the bathroom to get ready alongside her daughter.
"Kat..." Prim called out. "There will be something."
Katniss nodded, refusing to reach her sister's eyes. "I know."
"Until then, how about you work on Mom's-"
"I'm good," Katniss cut her off, rushing back to the bathroom just as her daughter finished brushing her teeth. "Well done, Lulu."
Willow gave her mother a wide gap-filled grin as she picked up her duck covered flannel towel. "I use this now?"
Katniss smiled. "Yeah, time to wipe you down with Mr Duckie," she replied, hearing the front door shut loudly.
Sighing, she washed her daughter by the sink, wondering how her life ended up like this.
...
After dropping Willow off at her new school, Katniss made her way over to the bakery across the street. She smiled when she realised that it was probably a good publicity stunt, setting up shop in front of a school where many young children would swoon at the endless sweet treats it had to offer so they could beg their parents relentlessly until the adults gave in.
It was only when she glanced up at the bakery's name, she realised she recognised it.
"Mellarks'... But weren't you guys by Merchant Street?" She mumbled to herself.
"We are!"
Katniss jumped, turning around to face a familiar face, blue eyes glistening with happiness and recognition as that large toothy smile nearly caused Katniss to look away as it glinted in the sun.
"Delly! Delly Cartwright!" Katniss breathed out, shocked when the blonde hugged her tightly before letting her go. "How are you?"
Delly grinned. "I'm great! I'm actually the manager of this particular joint. Didn't you know Mellarks' expanded as a chain four years ago?" She asked.
Katniss was surprised. "Well, a lot has seemed to happen in five years..."
Delly's eyes suddenly glossed over. "Oh, Katniss... I'm so sorry. Your mother was a wonderful woman. Such a great nurse-"
"Thank you." Katniss swallowed deeply.
"How are you doing? I didn't even know you were back in town. Well, you didn't come back when she was admitted..."
Katniss scowled, her defences immediately doubling up. "I'm fine thanks. If you must know, I couldn't get any time off work but I've only just quit my job. The timings were becoming inconvenient for me."
"I'm sorry." Delly winced. "Uh, do you want to come in? We have a new cupcake line you have to try out. Mellarks' Marvellous Melon Cupcakes. There's watermelon, yellow melon..."
Katniss faltered, ignoring Delly's listing. She hadn't stepped foot in a Mellarks' bakery in years, not since she broke the heart of a certain heir of the bakery. She was sure she could compare the bakery to a church and herself to a vampire as if she stepped into it, she'd burn up in flames.
"I'm sorry. I've actually got-"
"Come on, they're on the house. A full set of twelve so you can take home to Prim and even Rory!" Delly tried, a small smile gracing her lips as she held her hand out to hover over Katniss' shoulder.
It was then when Katniss noticed a diamond ring on her left wedding ring finger.
The blonde noticed, a brighter smile gracing her features. "I'm engaged. Soon, I'll be a proper Mellark!"
And Katniss' heart dropped.