The labor had been difficult, but worth it.

Katniss was sitting on the edge of the hospital bed looking down into her little girl's blue eyes and thinking back on how they got this far.

Only three years ago they were married, she and Peeta.

The ceremony was beautiful. Since Peeta knew she had no father to walk her down the aisle, he made it a point to make her father as present as a dead man could be.

They were married in their meadow, behind Katniss' childhood home, where they had shared their first real kiss as a couple after the Gale fiasco, and they would have their first kiss as man and wife there.

It was also a special location because she and her father used to go and pick the wildflowers there in the spring, Katniss coming home with an armful of flowers, most certainly leaving a trail behind her.

Her mother would beam at the sight of her and her father walking through the door, and Kaniss would look back to her father and see a look on his face as he looked at her mother. She could never place it, being so young. He would walk over and hand his wife a small bouquet of daisies and kiss her on the cheek, the smile never leaving his face.

I want that someday, Katniss would think, and she had forgotten all about it until Peeta looked at her that way. He probably had all along, but she had never cared or dared to notice.

Peeta also made sure they were married in front of a willow tree, due to her favorite lullaby her father used to sing, "Deep in the Meadow".

Only their closest friends and family were there, Mrs. Mellark's seat noticeably absent, and an empty chair beside her mother with her father's photo on it.

Haymitch walked her down the aisle, and when asked, "And who gives this woman away?" announced, "She ain't nobody's to give, sir, but if someone must, I volunteer as tribute." dragging a few laughs from the audience.

He turned to her with that crooked, cocky grin, despite a tear rolling down his cheek as he lifted her veil. "Nice dress, sweetheart."

Katniss smiled as she whispered back, "Thanks. Any last advice?"

Leaning very close to her ear, he mumbled, "Stay alive," and kissed her cheek before going to his seat.

The ceremony was short and sweet but still too long for Katniss.

They were pronounced man and wife and kissed as the sun set. Their wedding portrait was beautiful; the green of the willow with the backdrop of orange from the sunset, and the two of them in front of it all, kissing as if they were the only two in the world.

Katniss smiled at the memory as the newborn squirmed in her arms.

"She's got your hair," Peeta said from behind her.

Jumping slightly, she looked over her shoulder and smiled. "I know. Poor kid. At least she's got your eyes."

"True."

Katniss leaned back into him. "I thought you would be gone longer. Traffic 'was hell' according to Johanna."

"Nah. It's fine. I grabbed something in the cafeteria instead, though. I don't want to miss a moment."

She looked up at him and smiled at the face looking down at her, smiling itself. "I told you years ago Katniss, I'll stay with you. Always. Just look over your shoulder, and I'll be there."

"Always." she said as she looked down at the baby, who was starting to fuss.

She began to hum 'Deep in the Meadow', and as she trailed off after a couple bars, the baby started wailing.

"Sing, Katniss!" Peeta said calmly.

She looked to him frantically, "Why? What will that help?"

"Because when you song, even the birds stop to listen."

She swallowed hard and turned back to their daughter as she gently bounced her in her arms.

"Shhhhhhh…." And then she sang that song, like he had all those years ago to Prim, and once again she felt safe.

"Come stop your crying
It will be alright,"

Just as Peeta said, the baby stopped immediately and stared intently at it's mother.

Katniss had tears forming. Why this song? Of all songs, why this?

"Just take my hand
Hold it tight," Because, she realized, it's true. It's love. It's real.

Her voice shook as she continued,
"I will protect you
From all around you
I will be here
Don't you cry"

"Protecting you. It's what we do. Protect each other."

"For one so small,
You seem so strong
My arms will hold you,
Keep you safe and warm
This bond between us
Can't be broken
I will be here
Don't you cry"

The baby's eyes started to droop as she felt Peeta's arms wrap around her waist and his chin rest on her shoulder. She continued, her voice getting stronger.

"'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more"

"You'll be in my heart
No matter what they say
You'll be here in my heart, always"

The baby was on the verge of sleep, so she lowered her voice, singing like she used to when Prim was little.

"Why can't they understand the way we feel?
They just don't trust what they can't explain
I know we're different but deep inside us
We're not that different at all"

"Told ya," Peeta whispered in her ear as the baby began to snore, his lips brushing against her ear, she could feel his smile.

"And you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
From this day on
Now and forever more"

He buried his head in her neck, and she was still able to feel his smile, as it continued to grow.

"Don't listen to them
'Cause what do they know (what do they know)?
We need each other
To have, to hold.
They'll see in time
I know"

She looked over her shoulder to her husband, who was looking at their little girl with tears in his eyes. She remembered all those years ago,
"Do I really have a friend in you?"

"When destiny calls you
You must be strong (you gotta be strong)
I may not be with you
But you've got to hold on
They'll see in time
I know
We'll show them together"

He kissed the top of her head so softly, she wondered if she had imagined it.
"You have to ask?"

"'Cause you'll be in my heart
Yes, you'll be in my heart
I'll be there from this day on,
Now and forever more"

Their daughter now basically asleep, her mind drifted as she finished the song.
"So you'll stay with me?"

"Oh, you'll be in my heart (you'll be here in my heart)
No matter what they say (I'll be with you)
You'll be here in my heart (I'll be there), always
Always
I'll be with you
I'll be there for you always
Always and always
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
Just look over your shoulder
I'll be there always."

She laid the baby down in the bassinet beside her bed.
"Always."

Peeta leaned over the bassinet with her and whispered, "Goodnight, my little angel."

Smiling, Katniss turned her head to look at him, speaking softly. "I love you."

He smiled back, his eyes twinkling as he softly replied. "Always."

"So you love me back?"

"Dumb question. Real."

"Really?"

"Really really."

"Really really real?"

Peeta enveloped his wife in a giant hug as she quietly shrieked in joy and terror and the plopped down on the bed. "Always."