AUTHORS NOTE: How's everyone liking the new follow up story? Is it okay? Because i'm pretty excited about how it's turning out. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Onwards with the second!
Also, it's been a little bit, so you might want to skim over the first chapter again to remember everything. Sorry about that wait, but life's been super stressful and I just haven;t been able to write/ haven't been in the mood. But don't worry, I could never leave my Roads universe alone! Happy reading!
"Avery, what did I tell you about running by the pool!" Peet shakes his head, shifting in the chaise beside me. Avery takes a running dive into the pool, completely disregarding Peeta. I shake my head, turning to face him.
"Are you just going to let him ignore you like that?"
He sighs. "I'll deal with it later."
I raise my eyebrows, narrowing my eyes. "Will you?" I ask.
"Yes, Katniss." he huffs, running a hand through his mussed hair. My eyes widen, completely taken off guard by his sudden attitude. "He's my son. I'll handle it." His eyes widen as soon as the words leave his mouth, his head turning to stare at me. "I—I'm sorry, I didn't—"
"It's fine," I mutter, struggling to push myself up from the chaise. I push the stray hair from my face, matted and sticky from the heat. I feel a hand wrap around my arm as I begin to stand, but I pull it free, not bothering to look down behind me.
"Katniss wait—"
But I'm already gone, pushing my way through the sliding glass door and into the house. I can hear the muffled sounds of that stupid Disney princess movie that Maria insisted Prim watch with her for what has to be the hundredth time in a row. Shaking my head, I make my way through the den, past the kitchen, and into the living room, where I find Maria cuddled up with Prim on the couch. Maria's head is in Prim's lap as she weaves her hands through her hair, creating a single braid down her back.
Prim notices me first, greeting me with a small smile. "Hey," she whispers, patting the spot next to her. Maria looks up, then, her face lighting up immediately.
"Mommy! Prim braided my hair like Elsa!" I cringe at the mention of the name, trying my hardest to keep my eyes from straying to the television where that god forsaken movie is playing. I'll forever curse Gale for buying that for her for her birthday. Not to mention he got the sing-a-long version.
"Is that so?" I ask with forced enthusiasm. "It's very pretty. Prim did a great job."
"Thanks mommy. I want to talk to you but Elsa's about to sing "Let It Go", so you gotta be quiet!"
This fucking kid.
"Okay, well do you mind if I borrow Prim for a second? I promise she'll come right back"
"That's okay." She doesn't even turn her face to me, but keeps it glued on the television. Prim and I make a run for the kitchen as soon as "Let It Go" begins playing.
"Thank you for saving me," she whispers, pulling me in for a hug.
I hug her back. "I could tell you needed saving. I could sense it."
"Could you? Or…is there something else going on?" she asks. I give her a steady look, trying to keep my face stoic. It's eery how well she can read me, though.
"It's nothing. I'd rather not discuss it right now."
Prim takes a breath, then, leaning against the counter. Her eyes drift to my growing belly. "So, how far along are you again, now?"
"Nineteen weeks."
"When do you all get to find out the sexes?" she asks.
"Next week," I mutter, plucking at my t-shirt.
"You're nervous."
"Kind of. A little bit." She gives me a look. "Okay, a lot."
"Why? They're both perfectly healthy, right?" I nod. "Then there's nothing to worry about. Just…think positive."
"I mean, I'm nervous for a good reason. I guess— I guess it just feels weird, you know? Twins. It's so…it's weird. Is it weird that I think that?"
Prim laughs, dropping her hand to my stomach and rubbing gently. "No, it's not that weird to think that. I mean, it's weird that you of all people are having twins, or any children at all, for that matter. But other than that, it's perfectly normal to feel nervous."
"Yeah," I whisper. "I guess I'm just not prepared to take on two babies. I mean, I was barely prepared enough for Maria. Now look, I've gone and created an entirely new situation."
She scoffs. "Yeah, well you probably should have thought about that before you and Peeta—" My hands fly to her mouth.
"Little ears!" I warn. "Maria's got ears like her father— can hear anything from a mile away." Prim rolls her eyes, prying my hands from her mouth.
"Sorry," she giggles. I shake my head, though my face falls as I peer around her to stare out the window to the back yard. Peeta sits, still, and I watch as his eyes skim over Avery as he cannon balls off the diving board, coating Hayden in a wave of water as he does so. Her shrieks can be heard from all the way inside the house.
"Hey, you okay?"
I blink a few times, my eyes finding Prim's curious ones. "Uh yeah, I'm fine. It's nothing."
"Nothing my ass. Come on, you can tell me." Pressing my lips together tightly, I inhale through my nose deeply, blowing it out before opening my mouth to speak.
"I just— I guess I feel a little overwhelmed. I mean, I look at Avery and see so much of his father, yet I see so much of me. He's not even biologically my son, yet he's so much like me."
"Katniss, blood relation has nothing to do with how a child turns out. It's all about the environment that they're raised in. You've been a good mother to him. You're basically the only mother he's really known for more than half his life."
I sigh. "But I'm not really his mother."
"Katniss?" Prim and I turn to watch Peeta push through the sliding door. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" he asks, standing in place. "And Prim, would you mind watcher Hayden and Avery for me for a little while? I don't want them getting into any trouble. It would only be for a few minutes. I promise."
Prim nods, raising her eyebrows at me before walking towards the door. "Sure thing."
Prim gives me one more small hug before passing Peeta and walking out the door. That leaves Peeta and I at a stand still, neither of us really knowing what to do. But after a few more seconds of unbearable silence, he speaks up, holding his hand out towards me.
"A minute, please?"
I nod my head, following him through the kitchen and into the dining room. He pulls out a chair for me at the table before pulling out another beside mine and sitting himself beside me. I sit back, crossing my arms against my chest, resting them atop my stomach. I wait for him to begin his apology, though it's several quiet minutes before he finally speaks.
"I'm sorry," he whispers, lifting his head to look me in the eyes. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean what I said earlier. You're every bit Avery's mother. I…I misspoke."
I eye him carefully before my eyes fall from his face, finding them tracing the pattern of the wooden table. His apology rings in my ears for several moments before my eyes lift back to his own. Those bright, blue eyes usually filled with so much sparkle now hold a sorrowful gaze as they search my face.
"I'm really sorry, Katniss. I—I really don't know what I was thinking." He pauses, taking one of my hands into his own and letting them fall into his lap. "I love you, okay? Don't think anything otherwise. I'm sorry if what I said upset you. You know Avery's been stressing me out lately…" his voice trails off, and so do his eyes and they fall to the floor. I know exactly what he means. This isn't the only time that Avery has acted out, or talked back to Peeta like this. It's getting worse as he gets older.
"It's okay, Peeta. Really, it is." As much as I want to stay upset, I really don't have the energy to be. I'm far too tired, and these twins are leeching every bit of energy that I have left straight from me. I'm lucky if I can move five feet without getting winded now.
"It's not." He squeezes my hand a little harder. "It's really not. I don't ever want you to fee like you can't call yourself his mother. You've been the only mother he's ever really known, and he loves you. You know that, he knows that, and I know that. So please, I'm sorry."
His words linger in the back of my mind, a smile creeping upon my lips as I think of all the times he's actually called me "mom". Those have been some of the best times, and I don't think I'll ever tire of it.
"Alright," I whisper. "I know. And I'm sorry for…over exaggerating. I'm a little bit emotional these days, if you can't tell."
"I know," he chuckles, reaching out with his free hand and running his fingers through my hair. His thumb peaks out and runs itself along my cheekbone softly. "It's alright, though. I wouldn't trade your emotionalness for the world. Especially since it results in two little me's."
I quirk my eyebrows. "Hey now, don't be so full of yourself. You don't even know if one of them is a boy, let alone both of them."
"You never know," he smirks.
"You're right," I admit. "You never know."
"Alright Hayden, thanks for stopping by," I say, watching her blonde curls bounce as she passes through the door and out onto the porch. "Tell your mother we say hello."
"I will, Mrs. Mellark. And thanks for letting me come over and swim." Her voice is quiet, shy as her lip half curls into a small smile. It's been a few weeks since she's known us, yet she's still as shy as ever. The most we've heard from her is from her conversations with Avery. She's not much of a talker when it comes to anyone else.
"Any time," I respond, watching her stalk down the steps, across the yard, and across the street. I stand there and watch until I see her walk through her door before turning and walking back into the house. Dinner ended about an hour ago, yet the delicious smell of melted cheese and garlic bread still waft through the air.
I decide to take a detour back through the kitchen, my growling stomach going against any of my better judgements that I shouldn't eat again this late. But fuck it, what have I got to lose at this point. Plus, I'm eating for three.
I dig through the fridge for leftovers, though end up opting for chocolate ice cream once I discover it's place in the freezer.
"Ah—ha." I turn suddenly, almost bumping into Maria as our bodies collide. It's then that I realize that I've been caught red handed. "You said I couldn'ta have any ice cream tonight. But you're eating some. So that's not fair."
"Life's not fair little lady." I turn to look behind my to find Peeta strolling into the room. "And if momma said you can't have ice cream before bed, then you can't have ice cream before bed."
I smile, though as I look down at my daughter, he little face crinkles and her eyes fall sullen. "But…Papa…" She's got those eyelashes batting so fast, and those puppy dog eyes sparkling, that when I turn to watch Peeta's reaction, I see his eyes lit up like the sky and know he's a lost cause.
"Peeta…" I caution, raising my eyebrows, trying to seem stern. But his smile is contagious, and I feel myself falling for it.
"Babe, I think we've lost this battle," he whispers, stepping around me and reaching into the cupboard, pulling out three bowls.
"Three?" I ask, raising my eyebrows.
He only shrugs. "I might as well join you." Is his simple reply.
"Oh, you're the best papa!" Maria exclaims, running up to Peeta and lifting her arms to be lifted. He hoists her onto his lap, ruffling her raven locks. She smiles up at him and my heart leaps out of my chest. I never in a million years thought Maria would become so attached so fast. Though I guess she's like me in that way. It's so easy for someone like Peeta to root themselves so deeply inside of you that you have not much of a choice but to let them inside forever.
"Only the best for my little woman," he responds, kissing her forehead before setting her on a stool off the island. "Now, who's ready for some ice cream?"
The three of us sit in relative silence as we eat, though I don't miss the kicking contest between Peeta and Maria going on beside me.
"Hey dad, have you—" The three of us turn and watch as Avery stops in his tracks, his face falling stoic as he sees the three of us sitting together. "Wow."
"Did you need something?" Peeta asks. Avery just stands there, his arms now crossed against his chest, his face turning red as he swallows hard.
He continues to stand there silent as he stares at the three of us before muttering something that sounds like "bullshit" under his breath and stomping out of the room.
"Woah!" I yell, trying to stop him form leaving. But it's too late, and he's already up the stairs, his prominent, loud footfall being heard from the wooden floor above us. My head whips to Peeta's, but he's already on his way out of the room before I even get a chance to say anything.
I quickly wipe Maria's face, ridding it of chocolate before lifting her from the stool and ushering her up the stairs to her room. I opt to bathing her in the morning, and quickly dress her into her pajamas, kissing her on the forehead and promising that I'll be right back, but to stay in her bed until I come back to read her a story. Mommy's gotta go help Peeta.
Quickly, but quietly closing Maria's door on my way out, I walk towards the end of the hall to where Avery's room is located, resting one of my hands atop my rounded belly as I push through the door. Both Peeta and Avery are facing away from me, but it's not hard to tell that Avery's been crying due to his body language. He's curled up in himself beside Peeta, his arms crossed against his chest as he looks away from him.
I knock once before entering, Peeta turning to face me. And as our eyes meet, I know it's something serious by the way his eyes flit away, his mouth falling into a frown. I walk— waddle at this point, to the edge of the bed before sitting down next to Peeta. He breathes a heavy sigh before speaking.
"We have a problem," he whispers quietly. "Avery doesn't think we care about him as much anymore. He doesn't think he's important."
"What?" I ask. "What— why?"
Avery interjects, his voice broken, yet strong as he speaks for himself. "Dad never spends time with me anymore, and if he does, it's only when it's all of us together. All he cares about is you and Maria anymore. And when the babies get here, I'm going to be invisible, and nobody is going to care about me anymore."
"I—"
"There's no point in trying to tell me I'm wrong. I already know I'm right. I'm already invisible."
"Avery…" Peeta starts, his voice much gentler that Avery's, which is hot, and full of anger and spite. "You know we could never forget about you, right?"
He scoffs. "Whatever."
"Hey, don't "whatever" me. I'm being serious, okay? You're so important to me. To the both of us— how could we forget you?"
"You already have!" he exclaims, this time, his voice breaking. "Just now, downstairs. Neither of you even told me that you were all eating ice cream. But— who got to? Maria. She's all that you care about and nothing is going to change. It's only going to get worse. So just…Just leave me alone."
He gets up to walk out of the room, but Peeta catches his arm and stops him. He turns to me, then.
"Maybe you should just go put Maria to bed. We have an early appointment tomorrow, and I think it would be best if everyone was in bed a little earlier tonight. Is that okay?" My gaze flickers to Avery before falling back on Peeta. His usually sweet, calming face is now twisted in agony and I know he needs his time alone with his son.
"Alright. I'll meet you in bed."
"Wait wait wait…" I whisper, moving his hand around atop my belly. "They're right…here." I stop his hand right below my ribcage, though it's not hard to find them once they start getting hyper. Which, just so happens to be around the time we're supposed to go to bed.
Peeta's face lights up with elation, his eyes fixated on the swell of my stomach. "It's almost like it's not real…" he trails off, his hands still holding on.
"What do you mean?"
He looks up at me, then. "This," he says, his eyes falling back down to my belly. "And you— I'll never know how I became so lucky."
A smile finds its way to my cheeks, lifting my lips. "Right place at the right time, I suppose."
"You mean with Prim at your restaurant? I hardly call it the right place." I chuckle, the memory replaying my mind a thousand times over.
"Well, why?" he asks.
"Because— I was pregnant, and you had no idea. It wasn't fair to you."
"Oh, I don't think that matters very much now, does it? I mean, look at us now. It doesn't matter how we met, all that matters is that we're together now."
I smile, the warmth from his own leeching onto me. I roll my eyes, pulling him up by the collar in order for our lips to meet once.
"You've always been the smooth talker, now haven't you?"
"Yes ma'am," is his simple reply. "Now, let's get some rest so that I can prove to you tomorrow that those little life suckers are both miniature me's."
AUTHORS NOTE: Hey all, sorry for the wait, but life got in the way :( I'm in the process of going through all of my shit, because I'm going to University soon! I know, UGH. But life happens, and it sucks. But I hope you enjoyed the chapter (though I'm sorry a lot of this is filler so I can get to the next chapter) The next chapter, though, will be much longer. I promise.
Any who, next chapter we get to find out the gender's of the twins! Aren't you excited?!