Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or The Vow.

Disclaimer 2: It's been one year since I published this story (:

Katniss' POV

The first thing I'm aware of is that I feel sore. I groan and force my eyes open. The roof above me is white. Where am I? I try to sit up, but someone gasps and pushes me back down.

"Katniss! Thank goodness you're awake, you've been out for the past three hours!" I hear a high pitched voice say softly. I look to my left and make out a woman with brown hair. I stare at her for a little while before my eyes adjust and a smile claims my face.

"Annie." I say, my throat is sore, and it's the only thing I can manage to say at the moment. She smiles at me and brushes the hair from my forehead away.

"You're baby's waiting for you Katniss. She's a gorgeous little girl. Finn's sure to love her. He's always wanted a baby sister, but I've told him many times that he's my one and only baby. But really, I could never have a child with another man. Anyway, would you like to see her? Your mother and I are the only people they've allowed to carry her." Annie explains softly and I nod.

Her eyes sparkle in excitement as she walks over to where my feet are. There seems to be a little cradle placed near my feet where my bed ends. I hear a baby's soft coo as Annie speaks gently into the cradle and lifts up a little bundle. My eyes begin to swell with tears. Annie gently rocks her as she brings her over to me and gently places her in my arms.

I hold her just as my mother showed me when Prim was a tiny little baby. It surprises me how I can remember something as little as that, but not many of the important things I forgot that took place just a year ago.

I look at her little face and I smile wider than I ever have before. This is my baby. My baby. No one can take her from me. The Hunger Games don't exist, they never will again. My baby will forever be safe.

"You passed out right after she was born. I was so scared. The machines started beeping like crazy and you stopped responding. I thought you were going to die, and all I could think about was who I'd already lost. I didn't want to loose you too, Katniss." Annie says with tears in her eyes. I give her a sympathetic smile.

"Thank you for caring, Annie. When can others come to see her? Oh, and where's my mother?" I ask her. Annie can't possibly know everything, but it's worth a try.

"Your mother was called in to help out in some emergency. But they escorted Gale out and only let me stay after you passed out. They didn't want extra people in here. They actually wanted to take me out too. But I refused and your mother backed me up. I can go get them if you'd like." Annie asks. I consider it, and nod my head. She smiles gently and assures me she'll be right back.

I look at my sleeping baby once again. She's so precious. I kiss the top of her head and she begins to wiggle in my arms. I smile and hug her a little tighter. Her hair is black and curly, a trait mixed of both Peeta and I. The color from me and slight curliness from Peeta.

I hear a soft knock and Annie enters with an excited little Finn trailing behind her. After him, is Peeta and Gale. Finn immediately runs over to me and begins to ask questions. I chuckle and shake my head.

"I just woke up sweetie, you'll have to ask your mother for answers." I tell him with a smile. He looks a little dissapointed and turns to Annie who's taken the seat to my left again.

Finn then begins to attack her with questions and I let out a small laugh as she looks to me and mouths 'thanks'. I mouth back 'your welcome' and turn back to my baby.

"She's beautiful, Katniss. Have you decided on a name?" Gale asks. I turn to look at him and find him standing beside the door. I simply nod my head and turn to Peeta. He's standing near the little cradle and looks slightly uncomfortable.

"Would you like to hold her?" I ask him softly. I'm not sure if he's mad at me for leaving District 12, he didn't really talk to me when he arrived in District 4 except to ask how the baby was. He gives me a hopeful look and nods his head. I hold her out slightly and he comes over to get her.

He takes her gently and a sweet smile takes over his face. I hear him whisper words to her, but I don't quite catch them. I then notice her little eyelids begin to move and slowly, she reveals her little eyes. Annie gasps and squeals. Peeta looks over at me with an excited grin.

"She wouldn't open them for your mother or me. I was hoping she'd open them for you Katniss. But she opened them for Peeta! Oh, they're beautiful." Annie says softly. The color of her eyes match the blue pools that are Peeta's and tears fill my eyes.

Seeing them so close together pulls something in my heart and I bury my face in my hands. She has his gentle features, his eyes, and his curls. The only thing she has that's mine is the color of her hair.

I don't realize I'm sobbing until I hear Annie begin to whisper soothing words in my ear as she tries to pry my hands away from my face. I shake my head though. Seeing Peeta and my baby together only makes my heart hurt in a way I've never felt before. Maybe it's because I know that in a week I'll be taking his baby from him.

It takes a good fifteen minutes before I finally take my hands off my face. My tears are still running down my cheeks, but I'm no longer making those awful choking sounds that usually come when I cry.

"I have to go home with Finn. We need showers and breakfast. He's been hungry, but I didn't want to leave until you woke up. You'll be okay, right? I won't be gone too long, two hours at most." Annie says softly. I'm worried and keep quiet for a while. Finn shakes my shoulder after about two minutes of silence though and begins to plead. I laugh and give in.

"We'll see you later then, Katniss. Take my seat, Peeta. Don't stress her out, or I'll get you when I come back." Annie warns with a wink before Finn drags her out. Peeta takes her seat and I look at my baby in his arms.

"So, what do you want to name her?" Peeta asks after a moment of silence. I don't look at him though. I just smile.

"Willow. Would that name be okay with you? I want to make sure you're okay with it because she's your baby too. It wouldn't really be-" I begin to ramble, but Peeta silences me with a stare.

"It's perfect. But I also-" Peeta begins. But this time, Gale cuts him off.

"Her last name. Is it going to be Everdeen or Hawthorne?" He asks. I'm stunned. He wants me to name her after him? Even though she's not his?

"I mean, if we're going to get married she might as well have my last name, right? It wouldn't be right to just give her your last name. She'd wonder why she doesn't have my last name. I will be her father figure after all." Gale states. I can't respond though. My mouth refuses.

"Katniss?" Gale urges. I somehow find the courage to speak.

"We're not getting married, Gale? When have we ever talked about marriage? You know better than anyone that I never wanted to get married. I didn't even want children, but here I am just hours after giving birth to one." I say, my voice barely audible.

"But Katniss, I figured since you were living with me, and we were going to raise a baby together that we would eventually get married too. You've already been married. I thought you'd given up those promises. You're not going to name her after Mellark are you?" Gale says in exasperation. I begin to bite my lip.

"I, um. I did want to give her Peeta's surname, but I guess if you think that's better..." I trail off and look at my hands.

"Katniss, that's your decision. Not his, you don't have to give her Gale's last name if you don't want to. It's whatever you want." Peeta tells me gently. I'm about to respond, but Gale walks over to us.

"But she was just deciding that she did want to give the baby my surname. Don't change her decision." Gale threatens.

"No, Gale. I, um. I did want to name her Willow Mellark at first. That's what I'd been planning to do. It wouldn't be fair to give her your surname, right? Because you aren't really her father." I say softly. I look at him, but I can't hold his angry stare.

"She's going to grow up with me as her father though. Not Peeta. What good would that do her, Katniss? What if we have children, she'd be the odd one out with her eyes already, do you seriously want to make her feel even more left out with a different surname?" He asks. But I'm starting to get angry.

"But we're not going to have chilren Gale. I came to live with you for support in raising my baby. Not to... get married or have children. I wanted support from my best friend." I say, angry that he's putting these ideas in his head.

"But I'd mentioned starting a family, and you agreed to it then." Gale pleads. But no, I won't give in.

"No, Gale. Please drop it. I don't want that. I just want to raise her the best I can." I tell him proudly. Because as much as I didn't want children, I can now raise Willow without having to worry about The Hunger Games.

Gale's about to continue, but I just bury my face in my hands again. Our conversation is over. I'm not getting married. I'm not having more children.

"That's enough, Gale. Annie said not to stress her out." Peeta says harshly. I don't dare look up from my hands, but I don't hear anything else after that. Only a couple footsteps before the door opens and closes. I bolt upright after that.

"It's fine, Katniss. Calm down, do you want her back?" I hear Peeta's gentle voice as I stare at the door. I look to my left to see that Peeta's still here with my little Willow. Gale must be the one who left. I nod and hold my arms out to hold her.

Her eyes are wide open and curious about the comotion that Gale and I had started. I chuckle and stroke her little cheek as I hug her tighter.

"I'm sorry, baby. I didn't mean to scare you. Your... uncle Gale and I just got in a little argument." I tell her softly. She just looks up at me with her bright blue eyes.

"I knew you'd always make a great mother." I hear Peeta say softly. I look over at him to find a sad expression on his face with tears in his eyes. I'm not good at comforting anyone besides my little sister, so I just extend my left hand and place it on top of his right.

"Not really. The only person I was really good at taking care of was Prim. I'm sure you'd make a great father though. You're a kind and gentle soul, anyone would be lucky to have you. I was lucky you were willing to try and help me recover some of my memory when I woke up. I'm sure you won't have any trouble finding a wife." I assure him, but my words don't seem to do any good because he just leans his forehead on my bed and begins to cry silently.

I don't know what to do after that, so I begin to pull my hand away to try and pat his back, but he grabs my hand tightly and interlocks our fingers. I don't want to upset him further, so I allow it for now.

"You don't understand, Katniss. I don't want any one else. All my life, you've been the one I loved. But now that we were finally beginning to settle down, you slipped away from me. I tried to keep at least a little hold on you, but Gale took you away. Only he didn't just take you away, he took away something that was supposed to be ours too. Do you really want her surname to be Mellark?" He asks softly. My instict is to fire back a mean retort, but he didn't seem to be saying it in a mean way.

"Of course I want to give her your last name. She'll always be yours. But I thought it'd be better for me to raise her with someone I knew. And he offered. I would've gone with my mother too. Maybe even Annie now." I say. Willow begins to fuss, she must feel that Peeta's sad.

I begin to rock her with my one free arm, and she begins to calm down again.

"You didn't even give me a chance, Katniss. You hadn't even been awake for a week before you decided to leave with Gale. He just wants to take advantage of the fact that you don't remember why you hated him. He thinks that he finally has a chance with you now. And maybe he does." Peeta says softly before crying again. I bite my lip. Does my leaving really hurt him?

"I'm sorry, Peeta. Really, but I just don't know what to do about that. It honestly hurts me to see you this way. I don't want to take her from you, but like I said before-" I begin. But Peeta cuts me off as he looks back up at me.

"Maybe it's not better to be with him. He's demanding and more often than not, he's trying to force you to do something you don't want to do. Will you please at least consider moving in with me, maybe being in your old house can help you. I don't want her to grow up with just seeing me on her birthdays." He pleads. I don't know what to say, but for some reason, looking deep into his bright blue eyes that match Willow's make me want to agree to moving in with him.

"Okay." I say. He wipes away his tears with his free hand and a beautiful smile blooms on his face. Maybe moving in with him is the right decision.

"Then you'll allow it?" He asks, a hint of recognition in his voice. I speak without warning, not even thinking about my words. They come out on their own.

"I'll allow it." I say. Peeta jumps up from his chair and engulfs me and our baby in a hug. I notice that tears are once again falling down his cheeks, but he doesn't look sad this time. The hug seems to last forever before he sits down and asks to hold her once again.

After she's back in his arms, he looks at her for a long moment. It's nice to see them together, the love he already has for her is clear and obvious. I can't take this away from him.

"You know, we said those same exact words two days before our second Games. I didn't think you'd give me the same response as before." He says, a hint of admiration in his tone and I smile.

"I didn't even know what I was saying, it's as if my response was automatic. Funny to know that my mind reacted immediately to your words." I say with a chuckle. Peeta looks up at me, face serious.

"I think it's amazing. It..." He says before trailing off. I notice that a slight blush begins to creep on his cheeks and he looks away from me and back to our daughter.

"It what?" I ask. He doesn't look up at me, and instead stays silent. "Peeta?" I ask impatiently. I hate it when people do that. He finally looks up at me and a sheepish smile takes over his face.

"It, um, it gives me hope that maybe one day you can remember. Maybe being with Willow can help you too. And if you really meant that you'd consider moving in with me, and you do, maybe that can help you too. I just can't help but hope that it helps, at least a little. Because even remembering a little of what we used to be is better than nothing." He says, his last sentence barely audible.

I don't know if it's because I've just given birth and my emotions are out of control, but hearing him say those words make something deep in my chest ache and I begin sobbing. I hate crying, those awful choking sounds that I make are terrible.

I can tell Peeta's at a loss. He can't really comfort me because he has the baby in his arms and I'd probably push him away if he tried. The look on his face makes me cry even harder, he looks helpless.

"Katniss?" He asks gently, but I can't respond. Any attempt at talking is futile, it'll only make my crying worse. I then hear my baby begin to cry and I try my best to calm down, resorting to silent tears and the occasional choking noise.

Peeta manages to get Willow to calm down soon after my crying subdues and I just stay with my face buried in my hands.

"Katniss, please don't cry." Peeta says softly. His words don't help though, they just make me ant to start sobbing again. But as I look over at a sleeping Willow in Peeta's arms, I know that it's not an option.

"I'm sorry. It just hurts to know that I'll never be the same Katniss you loved, moving in with you will probably only give you false hope. I'm sure you can find someone else who'll love you more than I ever did. Someone who'll love you more than I ever will again." I whisper, silent tears running down my cheeks again.

Peeta gives me a weak smile and shakes his head.

"Katniss, I could never love anyone else. You're the only person I've ever loved, and the only person I ever will love. No one compares to you, no one will ever be able to replace you. You've a permanent spot in my heart that will never go away, and you leaving has only left a huge hole that can only be repaired by you." He tells with silent tears of his own.

"As far as I know, I've only ever loved my parents and Prim. Now Willow. I don't doubt that I did love you now that Willow's here in her entirety, but I'll never know how much I loved you. And I'll never be able to love you as I did before. To be honest, I'm surprised I haven't tried to run away at the mere mention of love." I say with a soft chuckle.

"I don't expect you to. It took a long time before you finally admitted to it, and I expect it to take just as long now. That is, if you ever do love me again." Peeta says softly.

"I'm sorry." I say after a moment of uncomfortable silence. He looks genuinely surprised by my apology and I frown.

"Why would you be sorry?" He asks with a chuckle and my frown turns into a scowl.

"You don't deserve this. My mistakes must have caused you so much pain. How can you so easily forgive me after I just left you without giving you a chance?" I ask bitterly. I don't intend to be bitter, but my scowl seems to have affected my tone of voice. Unsurprisingly though, he's not affected by my harsh tone.

"I absolutely deserve it after leaving you alone when you finally realized you loved me. I mean, it wasn't my choice, but I still left you." Peeta says sheepishly.

"What? How could something like that not have been your choice?" I ask incredulously. He chuckles and shakes his head. A sad look in his eyes.

"After the Capitol changed me." Is all he says. I'm confused at first, but after I realize what he means, I scurry out of my hospital bed and engulf him in a hug.

"Oh, Peeta. You can't compare my foolish accident with something you couldn't control. I don't understand how you ever ended up with someone like me." I whisper. My arms are tightly around his neck and he leans his head on my shoulder.

This feels right somehow, and I find myself never wanting to let go. Maybe it's meant to be this way, I think.

I eventually let go when Willow begins to stir once again and I get back into my hospital bed. I hope I can get out of here soon, I think. I want to raise my daughter in peace.

Just then, I hear someone enter my room and turn to find my mother.

"Gale said he went to get something you left at my house? But, I'm glad you're awake now. Let's register this little beauty." She says.


I hope this chapter made any of you who hate me after the last chapter... hate me less, haha. I just had to have her move in with Gale. Now let's see if she agrees to move back in with Peeta now. (;

On another note, it's been exactly one year since I published this story and I'm beyond excited at what it's become! Thank you all so much for reading what I've written so far and hope you guys enjoy all chapters that will come after this. This is the longest chapter I've written for this story, haha!

Oh and congratulations to us for winning 'Fandom of the Year' at the MTV Fandom Awards. It's a silly awards show, but I was still proud to find out that The Hunger Games won. (:

Xoxo, Daisy