Her Fathers Eyes

The days go by in a haze sometimes I'm aware enough to hear people talking softly by my bedside about the search through the rubble of the arena to find any survivors. So far nobody has been found alive. They found several bodies but the tributes must have scattered when the bombing started because none of them were in the same place.

Every time I haze back into reality I can feel someone sitting there holding my hand but before I'm too out of it to care who it is. All I know is I've never woken up to anything but that hand so steady and calming.

They must be reducing my sedation because this time when I come to I can feel someone kissing my hand and there is something warm and wet: tears? "She is waking up oh thank God she is waking up at last" What was this person talking about?" Of course I'm waking up you idiot they sedated me so I would stay calm while they searched" I think to myself.

I am swarmed by doctors and nurses shining lights into my eyes and asking me what my name is and all sorts of dumb questions. I turn to see who the owner of the hand that has been there all this time is maybe they will know what is going on. "Gale?" I say in surprise. "What's the matter Gale you are crying? The baby Oh my God did they do something to my baby?"

"No Kat the baby is fine I was the one that took her I knew you were fixing to do something stupid and you would not think to send her away I did it for her safety and yours. And you could not know about it you know what a terrible actor you are." At this he smiles a little bit I reach up and Wipe away a tear from his eye. "So what's the matter then Gale?"

"Oh Kat I'm so sorry I don't know how to tell you this but Peeta did not survive they found his body two days ago. He dies protecting the youngest tribute in the arena a little girl names Rayla Sparks. She was just 14 years old and when the bombs hit Peeta hurled himself over her and saved her life."

"Peeta… is…dead?" I asked in a raspy voice "No, not Peeta he is a husband and a father how could he leave us like this?" Gale held be in his arms while I sobbed he stroked my hair and told me it was ok to cry I did not always have to be so strong. I could feel his own tears mingling with mine somehow it made it better to know I was not weeping alone that night.

Haymitch walks in about an hour later holding my baby girl in his arms. I squeal in delight to see her again and cry more tears as I hold her close and tell her how I will never let her go again. She has grown so much in the almost two weeks since I have seen her she almost looks a healthy newborn weight now. She opens her tiny eyes and looks up at me and then I swear she recognized me because she gave me the most adorable infant smile. Those eyes staring up at me so helpless and so full of love are the exact eyes that started up at me last year in the Hunger Games arena when I was nursing Peeta back to health. Yes my little girl has her father's eyes and even though I know I will never see him again on this earth I know that every time I see her smile, look into those blue eyes, or hear her musical laugh he will be there with me enjoying every moment of our baby girls life. I suddenly know what her name is how could I not have thought of it before. I turn to Gale, Haymitch, and my mother and say "I would like to introduce you to the newest member of the Mellark family; Little Miss Ryely Primrose Rue Mellark. We will call her Rye for short her daddy always wanted to name her after bread the way he was and now she will be. Just then little Rye gives the whole family a beautiful smile and Gale puts his arms around me see catnip she has her father's eyes.

Sorry this was such a short chapter I just decided yesterday not to to the Peeta gets back and they live happy ever after ending so now I will be adding in one more chapter before the epilogue. I know a lot of you will not be happy with this chapter but I'm wanting this to be very different from the original books so sorry )= I would rather Peeta have lived too.