My fingers gently brushed over Katniss' forehead.
Her skin still felt a little sweaty but I didn't mind at all.
Her chest went up and down while she took deep breaths. Sometimes a small snort escaped her lips.
I couldn't help myself but laugh a little bit.
I always loved watching her sleep.
Suddenly a high-pitched cry interrupted my thoughts.
I almost jumped up and tried my best to leave the room before Katniss woke up.
"Peeta, I think someone wants to see you."
It was Miss Everdeen, Katniss' mother.
I knew she was in the room next to ours. I asked her to stay with Aurelia while I tried to force my wife to get some sleep.
Even though she was in labour for almost 12 hours, she refused to get some rest. After all Katniss was a mother now and needed to take care for her child 24 hours a day. At least that's what she said.
It took me a lot of talking to finally convince her to close her eyes for a while.
When I entered my daughter's room I already saw my mother-in-law holding her.
But it didn't look like Aurelia was about to calm down.
"Seems like I'm not enough for my granddaughter," she said, half smiling, while she walked over to me and gently placed my child into my arms.
It still felt strange to hold her.
I was used to carry heavy bags of flour, but this was something new.I could hurt Aurelia so easily.
"Well, I'm not needed anymore." I heard Katniss' mother say. With this she rushed out of the nursery.
I was so lost in my mind that I didn't realize her walking out of my house.
But suddenly it hit me.
I was alone with my daughter for the first time.
If something happened to her it was my entire fault now. Her life was in my hands.
I fought a countless number of battles, but still – This scared me to death.
"Okay, my little cheese bun. Now it's just the two of us." I said, trying to calm Aurelia down. Confused by my words she stopped crying for a second and just starred at me. Her eyes still watered.
Without thinking I started to walk around and rocked her so she would fall back to sleep.
But after some while she began to make a fuss in my arms again. I could hear her making sad noises.
"You know, I'm not used to this. Please have some patience with me." I whispered. I felt guilty.
I was her father not able to help my own daughter.
My daughter.
Something Katniss and I created.
I felt the corners of my mouth raise to a smile.
"You are everything I ever wanted…and now I don't know what to do with you. I'm scared that you get hurt and I can't help you. I'm scared that I won't raise you to be a good person."
I pulled Aurelia closer to my chest, like she could fly away any moment.
"I asked your mother for 15 years to get someone like you and finally you are there and I'm not prepared."
I chuckled at the thought of the irony.
After five years of marriage I constantly asked Katniss to have children. I knew that I was risking our relationship with this request.
I put Aurelia's head on my shoulder, gently stroking the back of her head.
It was so small compared to my hand.
"I'm terribly sorry for not being a perfect father, but I will try my best to protect you. My love for you is real."
I waited for a cry as response, but the room was silent.
The only thing I was able to hear was the deep breath of my sleeping child.
And I knew I was going to make it somehow.