Inspired by Zalfie's advent calendar.

It was her first year celebrating Christmas in Twelve. With him. With the children.

It was his first time celebrating Christmas. Religion wasn't a big thing in Twelve when you spend most of time trying not to starve to death. Religion meant hope. And hope wasn't a thing they were allowed in the Districts.

It was different in the Capitol though. Christmas was big and almost everyone celebrated it.

She thought she would make his first Christmas special by preparing an Advent Calendar for him.

24 days. Each day with a different clue and a different gift. She thought he would like that. She wanted to make his first Christmas special.

In actual fact, she was doing it more for herself than him. She wanted to do something to keep herself occupied. There wasn't much you can do in winter in Twelve. So she spent her time preparing gifts. She already knew what she was giving him on Christmas day. She had been preparing since the start of November. Christmas would be the perfect day.

Day One

She made breakfast, pulled him out of bed and explained all the rules of how the advent calendar works.

She sounded so excited, he couldn't help but play along even though he didn't understand the occasion. He knew how much effort she had put into preparing his advent calendar. It was good to see her bubbly self again.

Each day there would be a clue to the gift hidden somewhere in the house and he would have to solve it to get his gift. She explained.

Day one would be easy. Just a warm up. She exclaimed excitedly as she watched him open the envelope to the first clue.

Written in silver ink on red paper.

"Santa's beard show us that he is quite old

Your gift is hidden where we keep our food cold."

There in the fridge. Wrapped in simple brown paper and decorated with some string and ribbon.

"Guess what is inside." She said as he took out the gift from the fridge.

He tried feeling it. Squishy. Slightly bigger than his palm.

"Gloves? Socks?" Not that hard.

"Open it then."

It was a pair of dark green woolen gloves.

"You know it defeats the purpose of it when you keep it in the fridge. Now its all cold." He teased.

"You are suppose to say thank you when you receive a gift. Not criticize it. If you don't like it, give it back then." She replied pretending to be annoyed.

"You are welcome, Sweetheart." He laughed. Pressing a kiss on her cheek.

Over the days he got more presents. He didn't realise he had come to look forward to every morning where he gets to solve each clue to get her presents. Over the course of the next twenty days, he received tons of gifts. A pair of socks. A Christmas jumper. A black scarf. A box of cookies. A hand woven beanie. Books. Candles.

Some days he wondered how many different gifts can she get before she ran out of ideas. Little did he know that she had planned 24 different gifts a month ahead. Even his Christmas gift was one of a kind.

Day Twenty Two

Now with it being so near Christmas Day, he had ran out of ideas of what she could actually give him. After the tenth day mark, he just gave up guessing altogether.

He woke up to find her in the kitchen as usual. Table set with his clue waiting for him in front of his plate of breakfast.

"Do this one before breakfast." She smiled.

"You are going through these clues at a good pace.

This next one is hidden in the fire _."

He got to the living room to see a neatly wrapped box beside their fire place. Small but it has some weight.

It was a mug. No wonder he didn't see any drinks on the table today.

"I got us matching mugs! Aren't they adorable?" She exclaimed.

Nothing too crazy. Just two matching Christmas mugs. He quite like it. At least the gifts she bought were quite practical.

"Yeah. Can we have breakfast now? I am starving." Dragging her back into the kitchen.

Day Twenty Three

"Brrr…. Outside is really quite chilly.

Next, check the front porch, but don't be silly."

A pair of new boots.

"Do you like it? I figured we could head out today. You could use all of your new gifts!" She said hugging him from behind.

"You sure? It is still quite chilly outside today. You hate the cold."

"It has been a week since we got out. I am bored to death being inside every day."

It turns out they weren't even out for 30 minutes before she couldn't take it anymore and they headed to the bakery instead. They spent the whole day helping out at the bakery. Even with the freezing weather, the bakery was still buzzing with people. They figured it was because of the Christmas themed baked goods Peeta started making for the season.

"So what have you prepared for Effie?" Katniss asked as they stood arranging the freshly baked goods on the shelf.

"Nothing. Have you prepared anything for Peeta?" He looked over at Peeta and Effie standing behind the counter packing cookies and shot back her question.

"Not yet. But I have something in mind. Peeta said he got me something. I bet Effie has prepared something big for you too."

"Almost everything you see on me right now is from her." He replied. Maybe he should get her something too.

"Are you serious?" Eyeing his entire outfit. "And you never thought of getting her anything?"

"I mean what is lacking? She has everything she needs."

"There is always something you can get her." She said as Peeta called out for her. She patted him on the shoulder as she made her way back to the counter.

Maybe he could think of something. Two days left.

He did have something he always wanted to give her.

Day Twenty Four

"Don't give up! You are almost done!

Find your gift under the tree and start unwrapping the fun!"

Last day. Today's is the biggest package he has received throughout these 24 days.

Big and squishy. A new winter coat. It was so soft and warm.

"I hope you like all the gifts I have prepared through this month." She said as they sat snuggled on the couch enjoying their hot chocolate.

"I do. Thank you." He said quietly.

"That's a first. It is Christmas!" She chuckled.

"I love you." She whispered, resting her head on his chest.

She knew he couldn't say it but it is okay. She felt his arms wrapping around her. He pressed a kiss on her head. That was as good as it gets.

She was nervous for tomorrow.

Christmas Day

He woke up much earlier today to surprise her. Breakfast in bed. She would like that.

Eggs, toast, sausages and fresh apple juice.

He finished preparing just as she made her way down into the kitchen. He tried to get her back up into the bedroom but she argued that it would ruin the sheets if they ate in bed. So they had breakfast in the kitchen instead. Not that much of a breakfast in bed but he hoped she enjoyed it anyway.

"Thank you. I loved it." Kissing him on the lips as they put their dishes away.

They just finished cleaning up when she passed him an envelope.

"We are doing this today too? I thought yesterday was the last?"

"This is your Christmas gift. I wanted to give it to you before the party tonight."

It wasn't really a party. Just a small gathering with the kids and their friends at the kids' house.

"Santa Claus wears a bright suit made of red.

Now go look where you rest your head."

It was below his pillow. Another envelope. Red with copper lining. Different from the ones she had given him for the previous days. On the front, "With love, Effie" was written in gold ink.

He examined it and looked at her expectantly. He had absolutely no idea what was inside.

"Go ahead." She wrung her fingers together.

He carefully tore the envelope open and slid the contents out.

It was a - photograph?

Black and white and blotchy. What? Part of him thinks he knows what this is but...

His fingers brushed her name in the corner.

"Is it - " He lifted his head to see her in tears.

"Why are you crying?" He brushed her tears away and gathered her in his arms.

"I am pregnant."

"Yeah. I figured." He said calmly.

"Are you happy?" She asked.

"Are you?"

"Yes."

"Then I am too."

Maybe I will continue with a Part Two for the Christmas Party. Hope you like this fic. I thought it was really cute.