"When I'm in my sweet daughter's eyes, my heart is now ruined for the rest of all times."

The Avett Brothers, "A Father's First Spring"


The act of being born is one that unites all races and ethnicities, tying all humans together. Every human has been through the tiresome yet invigorating process of being welcomed into the world.

It is a time filled with joy, sadness, anxiety, and all types of feelings on the continuum of human emotion.

Ultimately, though, it is just a day. While it may be important to those directly affected, the revolution of the world remains unaffected despite it feeling like a major shift has occurred to those who are irrevocably impacted by this new beginning.

The day Maddix Mellark was born was like any other day.

It was a nondescript Tuesday, there were no fireworks, nor an alignment of the stars, nor anything else to signify that she was now an inhabitant of planet Earth. She arrived sometime around midday, and while her arrival was unnoticed by most, it was still an event marked by tears of all kinds.

Her father unashamedly spilled tears of joy, disbelieving and believing all at once. Her mother did not appear to actually cry, because the tears she shed were silent, wracking her insides as she warred against the conflagration of elation and despair threatening to overtake her. Maddix cried as well, boisterous wails announcing her arrival and dislike for the new, cold, bright world she now inhabited.

When the brightness of the lights had lessened, and her skin had finally adjusted to the new temperature, Maddix calmed in the arms of her father. He spoke softly to her, whispering sweet nothings about how beautiful, special, and loved she was. The voice was familiar, even though it was not the one Maddix had become accustomed to hearing through a wall of fluid and flesh. Still, it held comfort. The brand new baby felt her father's reassurance powerfully, despite not understanding the words being spoken.

She was safe.

She could relax.

He was comfort.

He would take care of her.

Peeta was completely taken with the child in his arms. He stared into her eyes, marveling at the blue. He caressed her soft hair, noticing how dark it was. He counted all of her extremities. He sighed heavily at the noises she made when he put the nipple of the bottle to her lips. Peeta couldn't believe how red her skin was, so much so that he asked a nurse if this was normal. The nurse patted his arm, assuring him it was quite normal and would fade. All the while, Maddix remained curled up into herself like she was still in the womb. (These were things that all babies did, but were rarely spoken of; the nurse, however, did not have the heart to tell the young man that the piercing blue of her eyes and dark shade of her hair were also most likely not permanent.)

One would expect that following a traumatic experience such as birth the participants involved would be allowed quiet respite. This was not the case. Nurses bustled in and out, and the birthing suite was quickly exchanged for a small room in the maternity ward. Visitors of all types that had nothing to do with the medical profession came in, the most concerning being the mother's aunt, who arrived with a social worker in tow.

It should be noted at this point that Maddix was not yet Maddix. She was still referred to as 'Baby Mellark'. The mother refused to assign the child a name, citing that Peeta could do it before tucking herself in under the covers. She only insisted that whatever name he chose, he did not choose anything related to bread. Peeta eventually stumbled upon the name Maddix and affixed it to his little girl, but before this happened she spent a full day being just 'baby'.

For the purposes of the tale at hand, though, she will not merely be referred to as 'baby'. Without a doubt, Maddix is who she is now, therefore it would be ridiculous to refer to her as anything else.

Things in the tiny room were tense at first.

The mother was agitated and in pain, while Peeta floundered to say the right thing while attending to the needs of the littlest Mellark. For the most part, taking care of Maddix was easy. He fed her every two hours and changed the subsequent diapers. Unlike her daughter though, the mother was quite difficult. Dissimilar from most new mothers, she did not want much of anything to do with her newborn. Peeta suggested that she hold the baby against her bare skin, it was not an unusual or weird request, even though the mother deemed it both. Peeta's cheeks flamed as he recalled the information that he had learned from the books he read, pushing the matter, surprising both the mother and himself.

Peeta never pushed matters with anyone, especially not the women in his life, his mother and girlfriend.

Many moments could be selected to demonstrate the slow and steady shift in Peeta, the shift that denoted his new status as father. This one in particular sticks out, because it was no longer about pleasing his girlfriend, but rather what was best for the dear child in his arms.

He persisted in trying to persuade her differently, while quoting the books he checked out from the library. The nurses agreed with him, and he even had the doctor mention the importance of the skin-to-skin contact when he made his rounds.

Peeta had become a bit of a self-taught expert on prenatal development and post natal care (well, not really an expert, but he had much more knowledge than most eighteen-year-old boys, and even some fully grown men). He related everything he knew about the importance of skin-to-skin contact for bonding and attachment purposes. Alas, it was blatantly obvious that Maddix's mother would not be swayed.

The mother's behavior was unusual, but the nurses had more concerning things to attend to, and assured him that it was possibly just a little bit of the 'baby blues' (as they exited the room they would tsk their tongues over how young she was and what a shame it was). Peeta was rapidly becoming concerned about his girlfriend's deterioration. She had no interest in holding the baby or being near her. When the baby cried it irritated the mother, and Peeta wasn't sure what to do. He tried talking to her and comforting her, but eventually the baby would cry, and he would be torn between the two.

Maddix quickly became the obvious choice.

The girl's aunt was the first in an onslaught of unexpected visitors, but before the words that were said and the hurt that was brought during her visit can be mentioned, focus should be given to those who were there to help Peeta.

There were many visitors, and they broke down into an unspoken classification really, one that could be sorted into why they were there.

Visitors like Gale and Hazelle Hawthorne were there to meet the precious baby and bring congratulations to her father. Gale was eager to hold the bundle swaddled in a bright pink blanket. He cooed and complimented, and he embraced Peeta, for the first time ever, in a quick one-armed hug, congratulating him and asking if there was anything that Peeta needed. Hazelle mirrored this sentiment as she taught Peeta her secret swaddling technique. When she hugged Peeta she wrapped both arms around him, sharing the warmth of a mother's love that he could never remember truly feeling, and told him that he had done well.

Even now, after time had dulled the memory of that embrace, it's possible that Peeta would never admit that he had been in desperate need of that hug. Hazelle was just being kind, it was something that she would do for anyone, but in that moment it was exactly what he needed.

For, when the aunt and the social worker arrived, they found the mother sleeping in bed and Peeta shirtless with the baby resting comfortably on his chest with a blanket draping them. Peeta was unable to muster a genuine greeting when the aunt introduced the social worker, seeing as he had not yet slept.

The aunt was concerned.

Concern was quite necessary given the fact that Maddix's mother wanted nothing to do with her. However, instead of assuring Peeta that it would be fine, and that they would work things out, the aunt insisted the right thing to do would be to allow Maddix to be adopted by a family that could love and care for her properly. Peeta's heart stopped and he had to remind himself to breathe. He had never once considered that they would give up his little girl.

"You aren't taking her from him," the mother finally spoke up. "It's clear that I'm not cut out for this, but Peeta will be just fine. I'll sign whatever I have to. Just don't you dare talk to him about taking the baby from him." Everyone in the room looked at her in shock; this was not something they expected from her, not even Peeta.

He was grateful, the others were stunned.

The mother had known for quite a while that this would be the only option. She did not want to be a mother. She understood that it was best for her and the child to separate, even though it made her sad. It's why she had been so distant and insistent that Peeta do everything. He did not disappoint, holding fast to the promise he made her months ago. He was there by her side, supporting her, and already doting on the tiny child she bore.

Peeta would be a wonderful father, even if she was not around to see it.

With her words, her aunt and the social worker left, with promises to return while asking that she really think about the decision she was making. It didn't matter though. The mother offered Peeta a weak attempt at a smile, "I'm sorry, Peeta. I can't do this. I'm going to college." He gripped the baby tight to his bare chest and stood to walk to her bedside, nudging her so that she would make room. The girl shifted uncomfortably on the bed and Peeta lay beside her, trading the arm in which he was holding Maddix so that he could snake it under her shoulders, bringing her close to him.

It was the closest that Maddix came to contact with her mother, as she laid her head on Peeta's chest sobbing quietly, a hand resting on the infant, but never actually making a move to hold the child. Peeta stroked her hair, but did not have words as she confessed things to him that he was not ready to hear.

She could not do it.

She did not want either of them, but she was sorry.

She knew it was selfish, and for that she would never forgive herself, but if he wanted the responsibility then she would do everything in her power to make sure that Maddix went home with him and no one else.

Peeta was hurt by her words, realizing that his dream of a family was not to be. However, he did not think the mother selfish, and told her so. He reassured her that this was much better than staying with a child she was not ready to raise. Peeta knew what it was like to be raised by a mother that clearly did not want him. He would never want that for his daughter.

Despite his reassurances to the mother, his heart was fracturing in his chest. The room felt short of air as Peeta realized that his girlfriend didn't really love him and that he would be doing this alone.

It would be an understatement to say that Peeta was terrified.

He would take the pain of doing this alone, to ensure that Maddix never felt that sad emptiness of knowing that she was a burden to the one person who should love her the most. His little girl came first, and she was loved and would be taken care of in a way that he never was.

Peeta wanted her, more than he had ever wanted anything before, and he pushed the disappointment and heartache away, not allowing himself to really feel what his heart was screaming at him to feel.

These were the occurrences that preceded the Hawthorne's visit, and ultimately what caused Peeta to break down at Hazelle's whispered reassurance. Peeta needed to hear her words to know that things would be okay, and after hearing them he felt a little better.

He felt stronger.

Peeta felt like he could face the next day when he would take his little girl home.

He and Gale needed to have a conversation first, because in all of the scenarios of what his daughter's birthday would look like, Peeta never thought he would be the one taking Maddix home. He had incorrectly assumed that his daughter would go home with her mother until he could get a place set up for all three of them.

Peeta took him into the hall and hurriedly admitted these things to Gale. He hated being away from his little girl, but knew she was safe in Hazelle's arms.

Gale was angry.

This was not unlike Gale, his first response to most things that were stressful, or involved change, was to become furious (his father had been gone for two years, and Gale was still not capable of speaking about his absence without an edge to his voice and a clench of his jaw).

He was not angry with Peeta, but with Peeta's now ex-girlfriend.

"She doesn't want her own daughter?" he spit out incredulously before Peeta reminded him of where they were. The truth of the matter being that Gale had become quite tired of parents not wanting to care for their daughters. His best friend and her sister had been practically left on their own after the car crash that claimed his and Katniss' fathers' lives. It is something that Peeta would not admit, but Gale's anger at his situation made him feel good. He wanted to get angry and curse and live his fury, yet he couldn't, so it was nice to have someone who cared enough about him to do it on his behalf.

Peeta timidly asked Gale if it was okay that he and his daughter stayed with him until they could find a place of their own.

Despite the fact that Gale had wanted a bachelor pad to get away from the noise of his mother's house, a place to relax and bring home the occasional girl, he told Peeta that he would love to have Maddix there.

And he meant it.

There was another sort of visitor, the mother's friends. They came in groups, never stayed long and spoke in hushed tones as they passed the baby from person to person. Peeta did not like this type of visitor. He did not like the pity on their faces or the way they looked at Maddix with relief, like she was a disease they had managed to avoid.

The last person to visit Maddix on that day was the one who ultimately helped Peeta name the small girl. "You can't just call her baby, Peeta! She has to have a name." At fourteen, Primrose Everdeen was much more knowledgeable about the workings of the world than most would believe.

Prim wanted nothing more than to meet tiny Maddix and was incredibly disappointed to learn that the Gale and Hazelle had gone visiting while she was at her piano lesson. Everyone had met the baby but her, and that just would not do. Prim had been prepared for the wee one's arrival for weeks, and used her chore money to buy the baby an itty bitty onesie with the words 'Daddy's Girl' embroidered on the chest.

It had been very difficult for her to keep the onesie a secret - she had almost given it to Peeta several times - but she always stopped herself, knowing that it would mean a lot more on the day of the baby's arrival.

The eldest Everdeen sister was not of the same persuasion.

She did not want to go to the hospital, she did not want to hold the baby and count all ten fingers and all ten toes, and she certainly did not want to see Peeta Mellark. It wasn't that Katniss didn't like babies - she had grown up with her sister and the Hawthorne clan so there had always been a baby in her life.

Really, it had little to do with the baby and more to do with the father.

Katniss still wasn't sure why her family had latched onto the youngest Mellark and adopted him as their own. His family had money and means, and bringing him in as part of their business just meant one more salary to fill. If Katniss were being honest with herself, which is something she really didn't want to do, she would have acknowledged that her feelings were more about the guilt she felt for choosing to leave for college.

Perhaps that is why she felt so strongly about not seeing the baby. She was worried about her role in her makeshift family being usurped by the affable blonde boy who clearly needed them more than she let on she needed them. Peeta replacing her while she was gone. Everyone already loved him and talked of him kindly. She even had to share her graduation party when his grades were only passable, at best.

He'd had his time to shine in high school with amazing feats of athletic prowess on the baseball field and wrestling mat. Having to share her graduation day with him, when she wore the valedictorian hood and he just a regular robe, was almost insulting.

Perhaps that was it, or perhaps it had more to do with the way his eyes found hers from time-to-time. Or that at one time, before he had a girlfriend, Katniss thought he was possibly interested in her, even though she wasn't sure why.

Peeta was popular, handsome, and in every way a person she knew would not be interested in her, but that hadn't stopped her from hoping. Like many other girls, Katniss had noticed Peeta's broad shoulders, brilliant blue eyes, and winning smile. He was a beautiful boy, and it appeared that his obvious good looks were only accentuated by the fact that he was a genuinely good person.

He was polite and respectful to teachers, never had a cross word to say about anyone. Peeta never picked on other students like some of his friends (not even the school pariahs who were bullied for ridiculous reasons) and he volunteered at a local soup kitchen, despite not having the grades to be in the service society (which meant that he did it because he wanted to and not to pad college applications).

Peeta Mellark was different, and even though she doubted she would ever even talk to him, let alone go on a date with him, when his eyes found hers in the crowded lunchroom she blushed.

She had banished those thoughts, though, when Gale first approached her and pleaded Peeta's case.

Gale told her that his girlfriend, his extremely beautiful, cheerleader girlfriend, whom Peeta loved dearly, was pregnant. Katniss wasn't sure why her heart clenched at the thought; it wasn't as though they had spoken to one another at the time.

It hurt nonetheless.

Not only did he have a girlfriend, he had been having sex with his girlfriend.

At the time, Katniss Everdeen's feelings about sex were like many seventeen-year-old girls, she was perplexed by the act, and never having had a boyfriend (she was much too busy with school to allow for frivolous things like boys) she didn't really understand the appeal. She had never fallen victim to the hormone wash that comes with attraction and kissing and other things that happen in the back of teenagers' cars.

It hurt looking at him, and she was convinced the last thing she wanted to do was be around him and his girlfriend as they showed off their new baby. It should be mentioned that had Katniss paid attention when around Peeta and Gale she would have recognized that things between Peeta and his girlfriend were really never ideal.

Peeta was always with Gale, working.

Peeta was never on his phone texting or communicating with his girlfriend, as most enamored teens do.

Peeta never talked about the girlfriend, mostly just the baby.

The girlfriend didn't even show up at the graduation party held for Peeta and Katniss.

Prim pleaded, as baby sisters often do, she whined and begged and implored Katniss that she just had to see the baby. Eventually Katniss acquiesced to take Prim to the hospital, with one stipulation: that she didn't have to go up. She would drive Prim, but Prim would go up alone.

It just so happened that the tiny pink onesie Prim brought was the only item of clothing that Maddix Mellark owned. She would wear it home and then many more times, until the bright of the pink was faded and worn. Peeta would acquire many more outfits for the little girl, but there was something about the onesie that made him smile, and it was the one he put her in the most often.

The blonde teenager was awestruck by the tiny bundle, rocking her gently and patting at the downy soft dark hair on her head. "She's so precious Peeta, just perfect. The name has to be special, really befitting how wonderful she is." Peeta couldn't help but agree. His little girl was perfect, and Prim was right - she was in need of a name.

He ran through the options, and there were so many, yet one kept popping up. It really wasn't a name like he had heard before, at least not as a first name. Also, he was sure it wasn't appropriate to name a little girl after a baseball player, but he really loved the way it rolled off his tongue.

When he was much younger, Peeta and his brothers were given a dog. Peeta wanted to name the puppy Maddox after his favorite athlete, a pitcher from who had numerous awards and even a World Series win. It was not to be, though - his brothers were determined to call the dog Ace. It was one of those things where the name stuck, and Peeta assumed that he would someday give the name to a son.

It was not a little boy that Prim cradled carefully in her arms, however, it was a little girl.

Even though he had just become a father, and a man, in a matter of months, Peeta was still so unsure of himself in many ways. So when he finally found the nerve to ask Prim what she thought of the name, he was relieved when she gushed over it, telling him it was perfect.

It was unique and beautiful, Prim reassured before tucking the bundle back in Peeta's arms. She really had to be going, she explained, excusing herself because Katniss was waiting down in the car.

Peeta did not expect the mention of Katniss to have an effect on him, but it did. He suddenly wondered why she did not come up. What had he done to make her hate him? It was one of those things that made him sad. It wasn't as if he held notions that they would one day be together. Rather, he simply felt he just needed another friend, someone to rely on, and who better than Katniss Everdeen?

But this was something that would soon escape Peeta's thoughts, as he had much more important things to attend to now.

He had Maddix.


Thank you so much for the wonderful reception for this story! I really could have never anticipated it and every single review was incredibly dear to me. A huge thank you to my betas! You can find me on tumblr (kismetff) and Ao3 (kismet4891)...Thank you!