Each new day is so different. I've started to get big enough that everywhere I go I get stopped by people commenting on how I look. I know they are being nice, but it gets irritating quickly. I also notice I'm pretty moody. Well, more than usual. Sometimes I just don't understand how Peeta puts up with me. He is still overjoyed and excited, ready to do anything for me in a moments notice. I think he realizes that while this is just amazing for him, its still difficult adjusting to the changes for me.
"Two more months huh? Where has the time gone." Haymitch says as he leans back in his chair. "Two more months and I'm free." I say seriously. Haymitch gives me a funny look. "Oh it can't be that bad..." He stops when he notices the look I'm giving him. He doesn't even realize that my body is no longer my own, I'm always hungry, or hot, or my back is hurting. Really it could be a number of things all at once. I'm definitely ready for this to be over.
I close my eyes and put my feet up. "So have you guys thought of any names yet?" Haymitch asks. "Names? No, not yet." I reply peeking an eye open and looking around the quiet bakery to see if Peeta is around. "Really? I would have thought you'd have one or two picked out by now." He says. I think for a moment. "Nope, I don't have a clue what I want. Peeta and I surprisingly haven't talked about it." I say.
"Talked about what?" A voice asks as the sound of footsteps follows. I open my eyes to find Peeta walking towards us. "Baby names, the girl tells me you haven't even figured that out by now." Haymitch says. Peeta rubs the back of his head. "Well we've been a little busy getting the room together and all that. I guess I just haven't thought about it at all.
"I place my hand on my pounding head. That's one of the more annoying symptoms I've been having lately. "Well I think I'm finished for today, I'll close up so we can go relax for a while." Peeta says before flipping the sign in the window to 'closed'. "I guess I'll be out too, I'm running pretty low on the booze." Haymitch says.
I say goodbye before I push myself out of the chair to make my way to the house. Sleep tugs at my eyelids so I lay on the couch to take a short nap before Peeta gets here. I sleep quietly for a while before I hear Peeta come inside and figure it's probably time to get up. I peek open my eyes and find him tending to the fire. "He's right, we probably should start thinking of names." I say.
Peeta doesn't say anything until he's finished with the fire, then he gets up and sits on the end of the couch. "Well I kind of figured that it was obvious." He says. Obvious? "What do you mean? I have no idea for any names." I say. He looks at me and raises an eyebrow. "Well I just assumed you'd name it after your sister if it was a girl or after your dad if it was a boy." He says a little uneasily.
I think about it for a bit. If I had a girl and named her Prim.. I don't think I could do that. "Peeta I don't think it would be a good idea to name he or she after anyone. There was only one Prim, or one Rue, I don't think I could stand to have the memory of someone I lost attached to the thought of my child." I finally say. Meeting his eyes I can see a trace of relief. "I thought that too, but I wasn't sure how you would feel about it." He says. I'm glad he agrees. It just doesn't make sense to name him or her after someone else, nothing can take their place. No, this baby will have a name to itself.
"Now the only problem is to think of names." I say. Peeta nods and I begin to go through a list of names in my head. "Well what do you think of keeping the tradition of flower names for girls?" He asks after a while. "Rose, Violet, Daisy..." I trail off. "Is it just me or are none of these working?" I say. Peeta gives me a knowing glance. Something about those names just sound so.. Capitol for my taste. "Well we don't necessarily have to do flower, I'm named after a root more or less. We can just try something plant like or something along those lines." I say and see Peeta's brow furrow in concentration. Who knew this would be so much work.
"Ivy, Jasmine, Holly.." His voice intertwines with mine as we spit out names left and right. We've been at it for more than an hour but haven't found anything. "It isn't that I don't like any of the names suggested, it's that nothing has seemed to 'click'. " I say in retort to Peeta's comment about my indecisiveness. He smiles to indicate he's just teasing me. "You always were bad at decision making" He says. I give him an angry look but he knows I'm not serious.
"Okay." He says with a deep sigh. "Clover, Weed, Flower, Tree.." He says and gives me a sideways glance. "Yes I'm listening!" I tease. "And no, none of those are going to work." I say. I'm getting exhausted for the night. "Well why not Pine, Birch, Willow.." Peeta continues, but I can't get that out of my head. Willow. I like that, not too Capitol-esque but not too weird. "Peeta, what about Willow?" I stops and looks over at me. "You liked that one?" He says as though he just can't tell if I'm joking or not.
"No I actually like it. It reminds me of something, peaceful. I don't know. Do you even like it?" He seems to think for a moment. "Would it be for a boy or girl?" he asks. Girl definitely. "Girl." I say. A look of realization seems to come over his face. "Are you sure Katniss? Doesn't that have any bad memories attached to it?" He questions. I run through my list of people. "No I don't recognize it at all, why what are you thinking about?" I ask. He shifts uncomfortably. "Well it's just, in that song you sang, to Rue." he says. Oh, the lullaby.
Deep in the meadow,
Under a willow,
A bed of grass,
A soft, green, pillow.
Lay down your head,
And close your eyes;
And when you awaken the sun will rise.
Yes I remember. The song my father would sing to me, that I sang this to Prim when she was little, then again sang to Rue when she died. But somehow for me, it doesn't hold a bad memory. It reminds me of peace. Of three special people I loved so much. It's perfect. "I love it Peeta, what do you think?" I ask. "I like it." He says. "I was just worried it would upset you." I smile at his thoughtfulness and think back to the days of me and Gale and an old willow tree that was in the forest.
Suddenly I'm struck with an idea. "Peeta tomorrow I want to go see the old willow tree in the woods." I say. He looks at me funny. "Are you sure you can make it that far. Your 7 months pregnant!" he replies. As much as I hate to admit it he has a point, but I am determined to see the tree. "I can do it Peeta, besides it should be flowering by now." I say. "I'll be fine." I comfort when I see the worried look on his face. "If I get too tired we can come home, okay?" He rolls his eyes and relents. "How did I ever think I could say no." He says with a lopsided smile.
"Well we have a girls first name picked out then, what about a middle name?" Peeta says as he gets up to put more wood on the fire. I reposition myself on the couch and begin to think again. "Well, actually that one is pretty easy. I want to have a part of Prim in her name, but I don't want it to be very obvious, so what about Willow Rose Mellark?" I ask. Peeta turns around and leans on the mantlepiece. "Willow Rose Mellark huh?" He says as he mulls it over. "Actually, I really like it." He says with a smile. "Willow Rose, Willow Rose," He repeats again and again trying to get the feel of it.
"That's her name, don't wear it out!" I say. "Oh you're so sure its a girl now? Well what if its a boy? He teases before coming back to the couch. "Well lets see, we did my family tradition with flowers and plants, what's your family tradition?" I ask even though I already know the answer. "Bread. Not much of a surprise there huh?" He says with a twinkle in his eye. "Well theres, Bagel, Baguette, Dosa, Naan, White, Wheat, Rye, take your pick!" He says sarcastically, but then seems to be considering them.
"Peeta you're not actually considering any of those names are you?" I say with a laugh, all of those names seemed weird. "What about Rye?" He asks. "Could be worse." I say teasing him, but I can tell by the look on his face that he's serious. "Why Rye?" I ask. Peeta throws another log in the fire and comes to sit next to me. "I remember reading somewhere about a man in my family being named Rye. My Grandfather, Great- Grandfather, I'm not sure who, but I like the name. Do you?" He looks at me questioningly. Despite my earlier teasing, I do like the name. Not too Capitol-ish, not too plain either. A nice, strong, name, and Peeta seems to like the fact that it ties in with his family too. "Alright, but see if you can find a middle name that will fit well." I challenge. That will be the hard part considering I've been thinking of one since Peeta first brought up the name and I still haven't thought of anything. Then I have it. "Peeta why don't we use your fathers name?" I ask. I'm not sure how well he will take the question. He and I both understand not wanting to use a loved one's name but this might be the exception. I see a smile dawn on his face. "It's perfect." He says. "Rye Aven Mellark."
I didn't hear Mr. Mellark's name but once while growing up, but that was when my Father was referring to him when he was talking to my mother. Even after I was an adult I only heard it a few times. Peeta's father isn't a subject we like to bring up often, it's like me having to talk about Prim. It might have been years ago, but we still miss them so much. "Alright so, Willow Rose Mellark for a girl and Rye Aven Mellark if its a boy?" I ask. Peeta takes me hand and brings it to his mouth planting a gentle kiss on the top. "Sounds perfect to me." He says. I nod my head in agreement. I'm glad we were able to pick out the names in an evening, and I'm so happy with how they turned out. Tomorrow though, I am going back to see my willow.
So sorry I haven't uploaded in almost a month, its been hard for me time wise, but also to try and figure out what I want to do with the story and all that fun stuff! If you enjoy this story please follow and favorite to keep up to date, if you would be so kind as to review I would love that as well. Again, I have a hard time writing this story and I love to hear your feedback to let me know what you think.
So a question for this chapter: What did you think of the names? I love them (but of course I picked them!), I have to admit though, I was a little worried about choosing Willow because I keep thinking of Willow Smith (If you don't know who she is Google her). So let me know what you think, I hope you liked. I will try to upload more, I'm a bad author! ;) Until Next Chapter! ~Nan0min