I can't believe it's been so long since I've updated this story with anything! I really thought I would write toastbaby drabbles more often, and that it wouldn't go TWO YEARS between updates. But here is one now, celebrating the final weeks before Mockingjay Part 2!
"Kiki," I hear the garbled words come from my infant daughter's mouth behind me. I turn, and see she's standing only a few feet a way from the cat, pointing at him with a fascinated smile on her face. "Kiki," she repeats.
I smile down at her. "Yes. Kitty," I agree with her.
She turns those blue eyes of hers to me in acknowledgement, then turns her focus back to the cat. She steps a few paces closer, then crouches down. Buttercup looks alarmed, and moves to position to run away if necessary, but stands his ground. Dilly reaches an arm out as if to pet him. Something she's never done before, but has watched Peeta and me do countless times in her short life.
With a chuckle, Peeta lowers himself to the ground and sits next to them. With him nearby for protection, Buttercup relaxes somewhat, and even starts purring when Peeta begins scratching behind his ears.
"Do you want to try petting him?" He asks our daughter as he wraps his free arm around her and draws her close. She doesn't move her eyes from the cat, but nods her head.
"Just do it like this," he says, demonstrating how to pet a cat. Dilly watches but doesn't move. Gently, he guides her small hand and places it gingerly on Buttercup's back. He freezes, but since Peeta is supervising the whole thing, he still doesn't run away.
A wide grin spreads across Dilly's face at the feel of the soft fur in her fingers. She closes her fist and opens it again. "Careful," Peeta says. "You have to be gentle with kitties."
Dilly draws her arm back in alarm, but Peeta gives a soft laugh. "Its all right," he tells her. "You can still touch him. You just have to do it softly. Like this." He begins stroking Buttercup's fur, demonstrating how to do it. Dilly carefully sticks her arm back out and tries her best to mimic Peeta's movements.
You and Buttercup are going to be good friends," he tells her after a while. "Many years ago, before you were born, your mama had another kitty named Buttercup. He took care of her when something made her very sad. That's why we named the new kitty Buttercup, too. And he'll take care of you just like the last one did mama."
Dilly's eyes flash to me curiously, but she's too young to really comprehend what Peeta is telling her. But When Peeta's eyes meet mine a few second later, I know he can see the tears threatening to spring forth in them. We hold each other's gaze a minute, communicating something it will be ages before our daughter understands. Then I move to settle down on the floor with them, hands entwining with Peeta's as I do. Our daughter's giggles bring me back to this time, to the family he and I have made together.
Later that night, Dilly falls asleep in my lap as we sit on the sofa. Buttercup is curled up in Peeta's. Peeta smiles at me, then wraps an arm around me as I rest my head on his shoulder. And I would be happy to stay this way forever.