A lone mockingjay sits on the edge of a branch above a high valley. Down below rests a small lake frozen over. Buds of green plants and flowers trying to grow amidst the melting snow and ice. The mockingjay lifts its head up to sing its greeting to the new morning, and the new life accompanying it.
Not so far away I am doing the same thing. Greeting the morning, for the fourth time today. I open my eyes groggily and look down at the little baby lying in between Peeta and I. Her little whimpers informing me that she is hungry yet again. I comply and focus on the barely awake Peeta who looks to be having a hard time keeping his eyes open.
It's only been a week since Willow was born, and both Peeta and I have loved being parents. Even me, surprisingly. The first few days were the hardest, but since then I've begun to learn her patterns, and what her crying means. Unfortunately for both of us, Peeta and I haven't been able to get much sleep since she seems to like being up in the night more than the day. Every hour or so she begins to cry for food, or to get changed. Peeta has been more than gracious to handle the changing, but I, of course, am in charge of the feeding. Which while was uncomfortable and awkward at first, I've gotten used to after the countless feedings every day and night.
Peeta leans up a bit and checks the clock before sighing and falling back down into bed. He gives another big sigh before leaning over to me and Willow. "Good morning." he says with a sarcastic smile. I roll my eyes in response and tend to Willow who is finally finished with her third morning snack. "And good morning to you!" He says as he leans over to give her a kiss on the forehead. She wrinkles up her nose and gives a little grunt. I laugh at the sight of her cute little face. "Oh didn't like that so much, did you?" I say to her as she looks around the room and gurgles before stretching her arm out towards Peeta's face and grabs hold of his nose.
Then Peeta's wrinkling up his nose and protesting. "Ouch! She's got quite the grip." He manages to get out with a funny voice, and that sets Willow right off into smiling and giggling. I can't help but laugh right with her. After a while, a bump from the other room reminds me that my mother is still here. Peeta remembers too and checks the clock again before sitting up and swinging his feet off the bed. "I better get going if I want to finish early today." He says while getting his work clothes on. I lay there and let Willow grasp on to my finger while Peeta changes. When he's finished, he comes over to pick her up. "I can change her and dress her if you want to take a shower." He says. I lean back and stretch my arms over my head before leaning up. "Sounds perfect, thanks." I say before giving them both a kiss.
I try to shake some of my grogginess of in the shower in anticipation for the day. A few days ago Peeta and I got a call from someone unexpected. Johanna Mason. We've kept in touch over the years. She's come to visit Peeta and I plenty of times, but last we heard from her she was going to head out with some team to explore some of the rest of the world.
After the war, Johanna was forced to stay in the center for a while to undergo some physiological treatment just like Peeta and I had to. After, she returned home to District 7 to help rebuild the new government and help the people there. It was only later, she told me what had happened in the uprisings there and how much she hated being in with the government again anyway, so she decided to trek around the world in search for new places since she had nothing left here but bad memories. Ironically, the people that funded and organized everything were those who were influential in the government in district 7 - the people she told me she hated -. I don't know if they hated her so much they sent her away or if they cared about her so much they wanted to do it for her. Either way, she's been gone for the past three years without a word.
So of course Peeta and I were shocked to hear from her. She said how she's being earning through The Center that the famous Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark had a baby. "I don't like rumours, you know." She said. "So I guess I will just have to come and see for myself." Today, she's scheduled to arrive on the afternoon train. Surprisingly, I'm a little nervous to see her after all this time, but I'm excited to hear about what she's being doing and have her meet Willow.
Finishing up my shower, I reach for my towel and dry off before slipping into come comfortable jeans and a t-shirt. Opening the bathroom door I find the room to be empty, so I move out into the hall. I already begin to feel the heat from the fire in the living room. There I find my mother siting with Willow cooing gently. Peeta must already be in the bakery.
I see a smile come to Willow's face when she sees me. "Hello there." I say softly to her as she flings her little arms around. My mother catches my eye. "Another rough night?" She asks gently. I shake my head with a half smile. " I don't know how you did it. She's awake every hour or two to be fed or changed, and sometimes I think she has nightmares and starts crying just to be comforted." I say.
My mother gives a knowing glance. "I think you just named the three biggest things a baby needs. Food, clean clothes, and security." She says and pauses before continuing. "Sometimes they just want to have the reminder that someone is there protecting and loving them. And..." She stops, looking unsure whether she should continue. "If you ask me, she is a lot like her mother."
Normally, I might be offended at my mother for commenting like that. But right now, I'm too tired to get angry, and honestly, I think she's right. A long time ago I knew that I could't survive if I did't have Peeta. I need his love to remind me that I'm not alone, and I need his protection from numerous things, the Capitols influence was one of them, my nightmares, even sometimes from myself. Willow needs those same things, for different reasons of course.
I nod and begin to make myself some breakfast before trying to get through the next six hours before Johanna gets here. With my mothers help Willow is put down for her nap, the house is clean, and Peeta is finished with his work and cleaned up by the time the clock strikes three. "Better get going Katniss, the train should be here any minute." Peeta urges as he puts his coat on. I follow to do the same as my mother puts more wood on the fire. She offered to stay here and watch Willow while we went out since we did't want to wake her. Finally, Peeta and I leave the house behind and our hands find their familiar place in each others.
The train station looks deserted as we stand in a covered area. The clock to the side of the wooden platform lets us know the train should be pulling in within two minutes. I take a moment to lean into Peeta and enjoy some time alone together, which is something we haven't had in what seems like forever. He wraps his arms around me, warming my body in the cold early spring air. We don't say anything, we simply enjoy each others company and warm.
All too soon we can hear the train whistle from down the track and break apart to greet it. A flash of silver comes around the bend and slowly pulls up to the station before stopping right in front of us. Suddenly the door swings open and out pops familiar short, spiky, hair. "I'm back!" She yells before she saunters over to give me and Peeta a hug that we both gladly return. "Now, before either of you say anything. I have a surprise." She says and we both obey. "You can come out now." She calls over her shoulder and I raise my eyebrows to her as she gives me a saucy grin.
From the same door emerges a man I've never met before. He has dark, ashy hair, with deep blue eyes. Broad shoulders with a muscular build, clad in dark jeans and a black coat. "Everlarks," She addresses us with her pet name she made up shortly after her first visit. "This, is Fletcher." With a pause I see her asses our reaction. I watch as she gives a provocative smile since she hasn't explained just who he is yet. I raise my eyebrows even higher to question her intentions. She gives just enough time between the introduction that it gets awkward, before she finally tell us. "My husband."
A/N: Alright cliff hanger time! Not really but, extra tension right? :) Someone had suggested in the reviews to try and conclude about Johanna, and I figured this seemed like a pretty good time. What do you guys think? I think the hardest part was trying to figure out what to name Fletcher. I wanted something that sounded like it came from the HG universe, but didn't sound Capitol-esque. But let me know what you think!
Some of this chapter, and much of the next has been influenced my some of the reviews and PM's I've been getting lately, so if you have an idea, or want me to write about something, please feel free to let me know! I really do read everything and take it all into consideration.
Thanks for reading! Here's to 2014! ~Nan0min
