Author's note: HELLO, MY LOVELIES! I know you have been waiting for quite a while for this and I apologize! You'll get a bit of an explanation for why Peeta and Katniss broke up in this chapter. And some adorable Lily Mellark.

You can come talk to me about this or anything else (or make prompt requests) on my Tumblr hpfanonezillion.

Much thanks to my beta LavenderVanilla. She's a rock star! Go read her stuff!

Happy reading!

Part Two

Peeta smoothed down his shirt and called, "Lily, did you get your shoes on?"

His daughter appeared at the door to his bedroom. "They hurt my feet, Daddy."

He looked down and smiled. "I can fix that." He helped her sit down and pulled the tongue up out of the end. He helped her put them back on before helping her up. "All better. You ready to spend some time with Aunt Prim and Uncle Gale?"

Lily stuck out her lower lip. "Why can't I come with you?"

Peeta smoothed a hand over her hair and gave her a gentle smile. "Because Mama and I need to talk. Grown-up talk. And we need you to have fun and not worry."

"About the baby?" She asked pitifully.

"Yeah, about the baby. And about Mommy and Daddy."

"I want us all to live together again, Daddy."

"I know, baby. I want it, too." He kissed her forehead. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She mumbled.

"I need to tell you a big girl thing." He said, sitting closer.

Her eyes grew wide with interest. "What is it?"

He cleared his throat. "When Mommy has a baby in her belly, it makes her uncomfortable. Kind of like just now with your shoes. Do you think you'd like to walk around with your shoes on the wrong feet all the time?"

Lily shook her head.

Peeta cupped her cheeks. "That's how Mommy will feel until the baby is born. So we have to be nice to her. We can get mad. It's okay to be mad. But saying mean things to people, especially a mommy with a baby in her belly, is not right."

"Okay." She sighed.

He smiled and rubbed his thumb over Lily's cheek. "When I talked to your Aunt Prim, she said something about the sewing machine."

The girl's eyes lit up. "No way!" She shot up, grabbed Peeta's hand, and tugged him toward the door. "Let's get going, Dad. There's no time to lose."

Peeta laughed and followed her to the door, pausing only for both their coats and his keys. He snagged two boxes off the table by the back door, a box of cheese buns for him and Katniss and a dozen cookies for Prim and Gale's.

Lily bolted out of the car as soon as it stopped, screaming in excitement as she ran to the front door. Peeta was only a few steps behind as his daughter threw the door open and barged inside.

He tapped his knuckles against it as he stepped over the threshold offering up the box of cookies.

Prim smiled and waved him in while Lily hugged her around the waist and talked excitedly about the sewing machine. "Just a second, honeybun." She said to Lily. To Peeta, Prim said, "Breathe a little bit. I promise she's way more nervous."

Peeta chuckled. "I don't know." He patted Lily's head. "We haven't been alone since…" He shook his head. "I'm not sure what I want to say. I mean, I know what I want to say, but I don't know where to start."

Prim pulled Peeta into a hug. "Start with 'I love you.' Then move on to 'I'm sorry.' Everything else should fall into place."

Peeta rubbed her back and stepped away. "Did you tell her that, too?"

Prim shrugged. "Maybe. You know Katniss. Words are hard."

He nodded and gently tugged on Lily's arm until she gave up her grip on her aunt to hug Peeta. "I love you and I'll be back to get you later."

As soon as he was out the door, nerves suddenly hit him. Would 'I love you' and 'I'm sorry' really start the dialogue? Or was he just being naïve? Would they ever be able to fix this?

Katniss took the pan of lasagna out of the oven and leaned over it to breathe in the spicy, herby, cheesy aroma. She and Peeta always agreed that her lasagna was the best. Orgasmic, in fact.

The doorbell rang and her stomach rumbled as she thought, Peeta has cheese buns on the other side of that door. She shook her head and hurried through the house, pausing a moment to smooth her hand over her braid.

She opened the door and froze. She remembered all those years ago when he came to pick her up for their first official date. He'd insisted on doing all the stereotypical things. He'd even opened her car door and pulled out her chair at the restaurant. He'd even brought her flowers.

Tonight he was holding a box of cheese buns. He was wearing a shirt of such deep blue that his eyes looked like the twilight sky behind him. He was just as handsome as that evening seven years before. Maybe more.

He held out the box, breaking her from her appraisal. "The cheese buns I promised. Lily and I made them together."

"Thank you." Katniss took the box and stepped aside. "Please come in."

Peeta stepped inside and shed his coat. "It smells great in here."

"Well, I made orgasm lasagna, so I would hope so." She led him into the kitchen, a smile on her face.

"I've never had any lasagna that made my eyes roll up into my head like yours." He gave her a smoldering look. "I have missed orgasms from you."

She blushed. "Well, I gave you one a few months ago and we see where that got us." She patted her stomach.

He gave her a concerned look. "Are you feeling okay? Any morning sickness?"

"Oh, it's hell. Usually right before lunch. But I'm trying to snack more through the morning. Eat a better breakfast. It was a little better today." She sat the pan of lasagna in the middle of the table. "Everything else is pretty okay for now."

"Your breasts tender again?" He pressed his hands to his chest.

She laughed. "Well, yeah."

He winked. "Want me to massage them?"

"Stop." She laughed. "That didn't really work, if you remember." She handed him a plate from the counter.

"It always worked for me." He said as he accepted the plate.

She shook her head and they each silently gathered food. Katniss picked up two cheese buns and then reconsidered, putting one back. Peeta shook his head and placed the second one back on her plate.

"You're eating for two." He commented.

She sighed and picked up one of the cheese buns. Breaking it open, she breathed in the steam that escaped. "If our marriage was cheese buns and lasagna all the time, do you think we would have broken up?"

He gave a short laugh. "Well, even the best things get old after a while." He took a bite of the pasta, closing his eyes as he chewed. "God, how do you get the flavor so perfect?" He moaned.

She felt her smile growing. "Practice." She nibbled the bread. "I want to tell you…"

His eyes opened. "Tell me what?"

"You know that this hasn't been easy. Any of it." She nibbled some more of the cheese bun. "Lily sometimes still cries for you when she's with me."

"It's the same when she's with me." He took another bite and chewed slowly, thoughtfully. "I think we need to make her and the baby the center of our priorities."

Katniss shook her head adamantly. "I don't want the bakery to go on a back burner. You've worked too hard."

Peeta smiled and reached his hand across the table. He waited, willing Katniss to slip her hand into his, but she didn't. He went on. "It was selfish of me to be there so much when you were trying to get your business started. And Lily was so small. I missed out on stuff. And I was frustrated when you seemed like you didn't care." He swallowed and started to move his hand back.

She grabbed it. "I'd gone from taking care of Prim to being Lily's mom so quickly that I wanted something of mine. It was selfish of me. I should have had a little more compassion. You were farther along with your plan. I could have held the camp off just a little longer. Just coached like I had been."

He squeezed her fingers. "So, there we have our problems."

"Not all of them." She pointed out. "We fought about a lot."

He nodded. "But it's a start." He kissed her knuckles and kept his hand in hers as they went back to their meal. "I can start to delegate a bit more at the bakery so I can be available some more."

"Can I come to the bakery? In the mornings before my lessons start?" She chewed her lip.

"I'd love that. We can always use help." He grinned. "And I could always use a bit of an audience when I decorate the cakes."

She matched his grin. "Well, it's so soothing."

"It really is. It's been my therapy this year." He watched her and she felt herself shrinking back. "What's wrong?"

"I just… I love you. And I think that forgetting that was the problem." She swallowed back the tears that were more present than they normally would be. "I can't…" She pulled her hand away and wiped at a wayward tear. "This is the part I hate the most."

Peeta sat down his fork and walked around the table. He dropped to his knees in front of Katniss, grasping her hands tightly in his own. "I love you. I never stopped. I never want anything less than being your husband and being Lily's dad. And this baby…" He flattened his hand on her stomach. "I want to fight with you again." His voice was thick. "And make up so we can fight some more. Wake up with you sprawled across my chest. I miss the weight of you, Katniss."

"I miss it too." Her voice was a choked whisper.

"I don't want to rush. It will be too confusing for Lily. But I want to date you again. Can I be your boyfriend?"

She snorted. "I'd like that."

He kissed her hands. "Let's start over." He stood and moved his chair and plate closer, his hand still rested on her knee. "Orgasm lasagna is my favorite lasagna."

She gave a watery laugh. "Well, I've always been good dealing out orgasms."

He laughed and squeezed her knee. "You really have."

She swiped her eyes again and sniffed. "None of those any time soon, though. Just so you know. We're going slow with this, so no sex."

He gave her a wicked smile. "That's not how it went the first time around."

She shrugged. "Sometimes you have to try on the shoe."

The statement tickled Peeta so much that he had to put his fork down and wipe his eyes. He slowly calmed down and they continued their conversation, but he still randomly giggled every so often.

They continued to talk and get to know each other again. When they were done with supper, Peeta washed the dishes while Katniss sat at the bar and watched. She wanted to help, but she'd started feeling a little woozy and he insisted she just sip some water and relax.

"I think I just ate too much." She commented.

He smiled. "I hope the baby doesn't hate cheese buns."

"That would put a huge damper on my diet." She leaned on her hand. "I've had this weird craving on and off for the last couple days."

"Oh?" He dried his hands and leaned forward. "Tell me. I'll make whatever you want."

"Do you remember those cookies your dad made that were covered in powdered sugar? The chocolate ones?" She sighed. "I haven't eaten those in so long."

"The chocolate crackles?"

She nodded.

He smiled sadly. "I tried making them a few times and they never tasted as good as Dad's."

She rested her hand on her stomach. "I'm sorry, I…"

He shook his head. "I can make them for you. I'll go to the bakery right now and make ten dozen."

She looked up at the clock. "It's kind of late for cookie baking."

Peeta followed her sight and nodded. "I'll get Lily." He stepped away from the sink and headed toward the door.

After a moment, Katniss followed. She considered asking him to stay, but that wouldn't be right. Instead, she pulled him into a silent hug. They held each other for a long time.

When Katniss finally pulled away with a smile, she asked. "Want to go to a movie this weekend?"

"Yeah, I hear there's a new Pixar one." Peeta grinned.

She chuckled. "I meant you and me. I was hoping for something that didn't involve talking animals."

He chuckled. "Okay. And I'll bring some of those chocolate cookies to smuggle in."

"You're such a bad man, Peeta." She smirked.

"I have to be bad sometimes." He leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose, making Katniss giggle.

"You have me all giddy. I feel like we're teenagers again."

He leaned in. "Then I'm dead for knocking you up."

"Twice." She rubbed his arms. "Time to get Lily."

He nodded. "You'll come to the bakery tomorrow? Watch me decorate a cake?"

"I'll be there." She stood at the open doorway until he got in his car and started it. She closed the door and locked up for the night. She sent a text to Peeta as she made her way to her bedroom. Call me when you get Lily in bed so I can tell her goodnight?

Peeta replied just as Katniss was climbing into bed. Of course.

She rolled over and looked at the picture that Peeta drew of Lily on the day she was born. Her phone buzzed with a text and she saw her sister's name on the display.

Prim: He was smiling when he got here. Get. It.

Katniss snorted and wrote her reply. There was no sex, just delicious food.

Prim: Whatever. You need to hit that again. Repeatedly.

Katniss rolled her eyes. I don't know what's up with you and sex. It's like you've been hanging around Finnick and Johanna a little too much.

Prim: Maybe I just have a really healthy love life. With your best friend. ;)

Katniss made a disgusted face and was about to reply when her phone rang with a FaceTime call. She answered and saw Lily's tired face fill the screen. "Hi, baby!"

"Hi, Mommy!" Lily said. "Guess what?"

"What?" Katniss settled into bed.

"I helped Aunt Prim sew a pillow." Her eyes were wide.

Katniss laughed. "And was it fun?"

"It was so fun. And Uncle Gale made tacos. And I ate a whole bunch of cookies. And we watched Pocahontas. Mommy, can we have a raccoon? Daddy said no, but he lives in a bakery."

Katniss laughed when Lily finally stopped for breath. "Raccoons aren't the kind of animals that we have as pets."

"Aw, man." Lily yawned hugely.

"Time for bed." Katniss said. "Close your eyes and I'll sing for you."

Lily sighed, which turned into another yawn. She was asleep before Katniss was done with the first verse.

Peeta's face filled the screen and he quickly moved out of the room. "I had a good time tonight."

"I did, too." She said softly.

"You already in bed?" He asked, she could see he moved into his own bedroom.

"Yep." She moved the phone around so he could see the room. "It's pretty late for you. Are you going to be okay tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I've gone with less sleep." He smiled. "Do you remember that night right after we started dating when we snuck out to the meadow? Made out for hours? We left at two in the morning?"

"I remember. You fell asleep in English." She swallowed. "You've always been such a hard worker."

"I'm not the only one." He said softly. He glanced off to the side. "I guess I should try to sleep."

"Yes. And I'll see you in a few hours." She studied his face a moment. "I love you, Peeta."

"I love you so much, Katniss." He breathed. "Will you sing to me, Katniss?"

"Sure." She smiled. "Close your eyes."

Peeta did as she requested and Katniss started singing the same lullaby she had started for Lily. Her husband lasted until the chorus before he was snoring softly.

"Goodnight, Peeta." Katniss whispered before she hung up the phone. She rolled over and fell asleep with a smile on her face.