disclaimer; I don't own anything.
A/N: so this'll be the last chapter with Peeta/ Felicia but it still won't include Peeta/ Katniss that'll be next chapter. As for the review saying Peeta's going to do something he really regrets, he wont. In the books it was always made out that Katniss suffered more that Peeta, well she didn't. Think about it, the only thing she really lost was prim, Peeta lost everything and more so I wanted to give him some happiness before he went back. However in saying that this chapter will be short, so that we can get onto Everlark stuff next chapter.
Year 8.
I can't stay.
The rain pours down, the cold air that blows stings my face, tears mixing with the rain. I can't take my eye's of the sign in-front if me-
Felicia Mellark
wife, mother, daughter
will always be loved and remain in our hearts
I just can't believe it, my Felicia taken from me. I just stand there not moving, not doing anything. A strong hand comes to rest on my shoulder breaking me out of the nightmare I was caught in.
"Peeta... let's get you inside the rain, it'll do you no good and right know you need to stay healthy and strong. You know she'd want that." I let the words sink in, yes she'd want me to stay strong, to live and move on. It's what she said before she left me, before she died. I nod turning and following Mr Rosewood down the path back to Kirkwall hall. As we enter the building, Mr Rosewood handing me a towel to dry myself with I hear the high pitch cries of a child, a child mourning the loss of her mother. I walk through the doors to see my mother in law holding my daughter, trying her best to calm her down but Arya Mellark can't be calmed by anyone other than me or Felicia. I walk over to her, upon seeing me Cassandra stands and gives me a sad smile, tears already running. She hands me Arya and I gentle rock her back and forth, instantly see begins to settle down, her cries becoming sobs, then whimpers before silence Arya finally resting in my arms, the only place I feel safe having her, knowing she protected in my arms, my last promise to Felicia. I'll keep our daughter safe and happy.
The day my daughter was born was the best and worse in my life, nearly 2 years I was happily married to Felicia, the news that we'd be having a baby sent me over the moon, I couldn't be happier. The pregnancy went by great for her, only a short amount of morning sickness and no problems were detected on the ultra sounds. They just never found an under lying blood condition. Thrombocytopenia, some medical condition that thins the blood. The delivery was difficult for Felicia and her inside walls were torn partly ,the bleeding it just didn't stop. She knew she wouldn't make it and she made me promise to live life, protect our daughter and be happy. Me promise her that was our last words, two our later I was holding my daughter crying as the doctors explained it all to me, Edward and Cassandra. Their daughter, the one I love and swore on our wedding day to love and protect was gone and I couldn't help but blame myself. The rest of the reception went about as expected, people giving their condolences, telling me how sorry they where, none of it mattered.
I walk myself home carrying Arya, finally she's asleep, entering the house I'm met with all the ghosts of the past, everything reminds me of me short life with Felicia and everything brings me pain. In putting Arya to bed I've already made my mind up, I'm leaving Kirkwall was the start of my new life, my amazing life but know this place hurts me more that anything did before in Panem.
Three days later I take Arya and head over to the mayor's house. Entering I find them both at the kitchen table, sitting I gently rock Arya back and forth before speaking.
"I've made my mind up, I'm-"
"We know Peeta." Cassandra speaks softly the tears already showing. "We've both known for a couple of days now, your leaving to go back home."
"No here will always be home but the memory, the pain it's too much for me. Every where I look I see the life I had and could have had with Felicia and it's killing me slowly, soon I'll become nothing more than the town drunk if I stay, I can't let that happen not with the promise I gave Felicia. She asked me to live, I will but no one, ever will replace Felicia and Arya will know all about her mother and grand parents and don't think for one second that because I'm moving back I'll be letting you stay out of her life, you'll be there for all the important moments, birthdays, Christmas and any other day you or we want you there. Your my family and we're yours nothing will ever change that."
"Thank you Peeta, for everything. Our daughter may be gone but you in the years you where together you made her the happiest person alive, I know she or we wouldn't change anything of how you met and lived. We just wish she was here to see her little girl grow up." Edward finishes and Cassandra nods in agreement.
"Thank you, and she will see her daughter, I know Felicia and she'll always watch over her, always make sure she's safe and sound. Then one day we'll all meet again. I promise you that I'll always love your daughter, I'll always remember her and some day we'll meet again I know we will, just not yet."
"Not yet." Cassandra replies. I stay with them a little while longer, they each hold little Arya, each telling how much she is loved and that he mother will always love her. Soon though we have t leave, I'll need to see a few people to tell them of my decision.
People where shocked to learn of my leaving but they all understood why I had to do it, I had to be the best father ever and to do that I needed to leave, to let the hurt and pain go. So over the next week I pack my belongings and the most important belongings of Felicia ready to be shipped with me back to the capital, the rest of the belongings are being placed in storage until I decide what to do with them.
The day that I leave is emotional for everyone, tears all around and every one wishing me good luck, Cassandra and Edward both vowing to come out to the capital within the next 3 or 4 months to see how me and Arya are doing. I thank them all for everything, for all the wonderful memories and I promise them that one day we'll both be back to check up on them. Boarding the hovercraft, the door closes and I feel it lift of into the air taking me away from Kirkwall and back to Panem.
2 Years later- the capital.
"Daddy, daddy, daddy." the tiny little foot steps came running down the hall bursting through the door to the art studio. I turn leaving the picture of the capital at night and pick up Arya. Arya is two now, almost three, she has her mothers features but a mixture of mine and her eye's and hair colour. her eye's are impossible blue, so deep and bright. her hair is bright strawberry blonde, a mixture of both her parents, call be biased but she's perfect.
"Hay hay, what's wrong little princess." I ask her as she nuzzles into me.
"Daddy somewon on the pwone, pwesient paywor."
"President Paylor?" in the two years I'd been back I hadn't really talked to her, or anyone one else for that matter, being a full-time dad is a lot to deal with. I had help from Edward and Cassandra, they'd visited us each time on her birthday, Christmas, new year and three separate occasions, they just wanted to see the grand-daughter. Though last time they gave the real reason, they where moving away from Kirkwall, away from Panem. Moving across the sea to another town that they'd traded with in the past, the memories, the same for me where too much. I was beyond sad that they'd be leaving, they already knew I couldn't go with them this was home, maybe not in the capital but Panem is. That had been awhile ago and know this call from Paylor ? I walk through to the living room picking the phone.
"Hello, president Paylor."
"Yes Peeta I'd like to ask you to come to a meeting, in an hour. It's important Peeta."
"Alright but I'll need to bring Arya with me."
"Yes that fine, the car will be there in 15 minutes." I put the phone down, sighing.
"Arya, we're going out for a little while, let's get you dresses." 10 minutes later and we're waiting for the car to pick us up. The journey through the capital just highlights for me the changes in the past 10 years. More, grander buildings have been built, monuments of the hunger games placed around the city in parks and other places.
Sitting, waiting for the president to call us through. Soon though she does call us through, unlike last time it's just me her and Arya in the room.
"Ah Peeta, please come in and sit down." I do as she says, sitting in-front of her desk, Arya sitting on my lap, already her eye's droop sleep threatening to take her.
"What's this about president, I don't mean to be rude but we haven't spoken to each other in over one and a half years."
"Yes I know that but this year is important. In the next week it will mark 10 years after the fall of snow and the end of the war, the capital has put together a party to celebrate this and honour the past victors, who'll all be attending. I would like you to attend as well."
"Do I have any real choice in the matter?" I ask, already sure that I know the answer.
"Not really we need you there, know as for your daughter she may cause a problem between you and some other victors so it think it best if she-" I cut her off, I'm extremely pissed now.
"My daughter will be right here, with me, in my arms. I couldn't care less how the others feel. I promised her mother, my wife that I'd look after her and keep her safe I plan on doing that. So she'll be with me at this party, until she can't stand it or she falls asleep. I don't care if that's during a speech, interview or anything, the moment she wants to go we'll go. That's my terms for agreeing to this." I end it leaving it clear she accepts or I don't go.
She lets out a deep breath. "I thought as much, I didn't expect you to agree to my boards proposal. I agree to your terms, I'll also have a couple of guards, that I fully trust with my life shadow you. The other victor's being there, well some problems could arise."
"Why? I thought after the talk with Haymitch all those years ago, I thought they'd moved on."
"No far from it, I still get daily calls asking about you, information about her and how she's doing, they haven't been great and most reports involve your name being mentioned."
"Alright I understand a bit but should they try to harm or upset Arya, I'll not be held responsible for my actions."
"I can understand that, if problems do arise, I'll have the guards take you and your daughter home, nothing will happen to either one of you. Although before you go a report from the doctor did suggest that perhaps it would be best if you where to talk to them."
"I'll think about it, good day president Paylor." with that I leave, taking a sleeping Arya with me. The car journey back to my house and for the rest of the day only one thought goes through my mind, I'm going to meet the again.
Haymitch, Johanna, Gale, Prim, Finnick, Annie and most of all Katniss. This'll be interesting to say the least, crowded party, them finding out I'm married and have a daughter yeah nothing could go wrong.