A/N: Sorry that I haven't updated in a few days. I do taxes for a living. Considering today's date, that should explain it all. Very busy chick am I! Sorry to disappoint but no Haymitch/Effie babies in this fic. I swear I have nightmares about having more kids at my age (only 37 years young but still) so I'm not going to torture any older characters with it. Enjoy and review, review, review!

Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games.

Chapter 14

Two Years Later...Peeta POV

I open my eyes and find Katniss gazing at me. Her hair is a mess, all over the pillow. She looks so beautiful when she wakes up in the morning. I lean in and brush my lips to hers. This is my favorite time of the day. I pull her closer for a hug and continue to kiss her good morning. I bury my face in her hair. I love her scent and take a deep breath. Then I rest my forehead on hers. "Hey beautiful" I murmur as I trail kisses on her cheek and trail down her neck. "Morning Peeta" she murmurs back.

When I get to her breastbone I look up to meet her eyes for permission and she stops me. "Payson is going to be in here in a minute. I hear him in his room. Five, four, three, two..." she says and then the door bursts open and our son comes barreling in. He pulls his blonde self onto the bed and smashes

down in between us. He gives Katniss a kiss and then speaks in his sweet voice. "Mommy, did you tell Daddy yet?" Katniss turns pink and says "I didn't get the chance to. I'm not good with words, why don't you tell him for me."

Curiosity peaked, Payson jumps on me and throws his arms around me, then leans into my ear. "Daddy, can I tell you a secret?" He asks. I laugh, hold him close and respond "Of course Pay. You can tell me anything." He laughs and lets it out in a whisper. "I'm going to be a big brother." Payson doesn't even wait for my reaction. He's so stoked about his own good fortune that he starts jumping up and down on the bed with excitement. Katniss is laughing and I am just as enthusiastic at the scene before me. I roll over to her, doing my best to not get trampled on. "Is he serious? Are we having another baby?" I ask. Katniss smiles and brings my hand to her stomach. She leans in and kisses me and when she parts, she whispers "Yes" into my lips. I'm so excited that I hop up and start jumping on the bed with Payson.

We get dressed and head downstairs for breakfast. Effie and Haymitch will probably be joining us soon and we want to share our good news. I begin making eggs and bacon and Katniss comes up behind me and plants a kiss on my right shoulder while hugging me. A few minutes later, the door opens and it's a very pregnant Johanna with Jade. "Morning! Mind if we join you? Gale had to be into work early this morning." I give her a kiss on her cheek. "Not at all Jo, have a seat." I pull her chair out for her and get her a cup of decaffeinated coffee. She's adapted to it while being with us. Katniss and Johanna are attached at the hip. Katniss sits down and takes Johanna's hand in hers before Payson can spill the beans to Jade. "Jo, I'm pregnant!" Katniss announces. Johanna gets up and the two women embrace.

"Oh I'm so excited for you guys! How cool is that? Our kids get to grow up together. Who knows, maybe they'll even date when they get older?" Johanna looks at me and smiles. Johanna likes to get me going. I'm not opposed to the kids dating each other, I'm opposed to potential complications arising in all of our friendships if it went south. I can already see that Payson is fascinated with Jade, still. I see it in his eyes. Katniss and Gale's friendship hit rocks for many reasons but it began with him having feelings for her. I don't know if lightning will strike twice. "Keep it up Johanna." I tell her. She smirks at me.

Johanna continues. "Oh Katniss! I'm so excited for you! Gosh. This weekend will be even more fun for us! We can get some more baby things for you too while we're in District Seven shopping. Annie is gonna be so excited! Did you tell Effie yet?" She asks. "No, I didn't She should be here any minute. I'll tell Annie this weekend. I'll surprise her. Oh! My Mom and Don! I'll have to call them later too." Katniss says.

I take a deep breath. More baby shopping only this time, the girls are going, Effie included, and Gale and I are on kid duty. Annie and Finnick are coming here with Finn. Gale and I haven't seen Finnick in so long. They're also going to be coming out when Johanna has the baby in a few months and staying for a bit. So us guys have planned to lay low and have a relaxing weekend with the three kids. Maybe play a little poker. Be on our best behavior.

Effie and Haymitch don't show up for breakfast. He calls us rabbits, but he's really talking about them. Of course they're delighted at the news and the girls squeal over all their weekend plans.

Before I know it, Friday is here and we're standing at the train station. Annie, Finnick and Finn get off

the train and we all embrace. They look amazing. All the sea water really does them good. District Twelve's population has grown in the last couple of years and our celebrity has died down just a bit. People are used to seeing us out and about and in our shops. However, now that Finnick has arrived, every girl in town is going to swoon, even though they know that he's happily married. Payson and Jade have maybe seen Finn only once and they were babies so this is really the first meeting for all of them. Finn falls right into step with the two of them and they get along great. The gleam in his eye when he sees Jade for the first time does not escape mine or Gale's notice though.

Katniss is preparing to leave now. Katniss and I haven't been apart for even a day in the last five years. This is a true test of our strength. "It's just a few days" I tell her. "Have fun with the girls." I lean in and give her a very passionate kiss right there on the platform. She melts into me, in a very unladylike way but I restrain us both and begin to pull away. "Just a few days" I say. "I love you Peeta. Take care of our son." Katniss says. I give her another kiss and off they go onto the train. I pick up Payson and we wave her off.

I look over at Gale and Haymitch while holding Payson in my arms. He's scrambling to get down and hop in the stroller with Jade. Once on his feet, he does just that. "Please move over Jade." He says to her and although she doesn't have much room, she does and pulls him to her. Payson puts his arm around her and they begin to talk about nothing of importance but it means something to them. Finn just kind of watches them.

Gale looks at the kids and then at me. "I feel history repeating itself Peeta."

I look at the kids and then back to him, taking a deep breath. "Yep." Is all I answer.

That evening, we all eat a great dinner of fried fish and potatoes that Finnick cooks up at my house. After dinner, the kids take off running to play in Payson's room and us men sit down and bullshit with each other. Haymitch speaks up. "How long has it been since you old men got good and wasted?" He asks. I laugh. "Haymitch, you would know my answer." I laugh at him. "Forget you Peeta. You are so whipped. You can't hang anyway." He says. I'm offended. "What do you mean I'm whipped? What kind of remark is that Haymitch? Yes, I love my wife but I am not whipped." I exclaim.

Haymitch smirks. "Peeta, we all love our women, I will be the first to openly admit that. But you my boy, take the cake. If I open a dictionary and look up 'whipped' your picture is there." I shake my head.

"I'm not that bad Haymitch. Not now. Maybe when I was a horny teenager, okay, but not now." I say.

Gale is laughing so I turn to him and then look at Haymitch. "And how about Gale? I don't ever hear him speak up to Johanna. Think he's whipped?" I ask. Gale smiles. "Mine carries an ax Peeta. I do like I'm told. It's all good though. A happy wife is a happy life." I look over at Finnick.

"What about you Finnick? You think you're whipped?" I ask. Finnick laughs. "Oh I know I'm whipped Peeta. I won't even deny it. You're only getting picked on because you denied it. Nothing wrong with loving your wife. The only nightmares I have are of her leaving me. It's been so long since we've been apart that even this weekend is making me anxious. I see you have a bottle of booze Haymitch, what's your plan?" Finnick asks him.

Haymitch smiles. "Boys, anyone up for a game of Black or Red?"

We all take turns looking at each other. Haymitch breaks the silence. "Boys, we can just shoot the shit. You know, bitch or brag about our wives. Basically, it's just an excuse to get drunk and tie one on. Cut loose for a change." We all laugh and say yes. I get up and check on the kids. They're playing nice in the playroom now, not fifteen feet from us behind the door. All is good.

Haymitch is dealer. We're playing in teams. I'm with Finnick and we're red. Haymitch and Gale are black. I grab some shot glasses and Haymitch fills us up. Before we start, he goes over to the cabinet and pulls out another bottle. "Just in case." He says. We're men and it'll probably take a bit to get drunk. We all take a shot together and then Haymitch deals. It's black.

Haymitch smiles. "Okay boys, men, whatever. How many times you get laid in a week?" Haymitch is such a pig. I go first. "Fifteen at minimum." Then I down the shot. "There's no fucking way Mellark. You're lying already!" Gale says. I shake my head. "No seriously, she made a vow at our toasting. At our first toasting it was twice a day and the second time we toasted, she promised three times a day. She's pretty consistent." I look at Finnick. "Five to ten. Varies." Finnick downs his shot.

Haymitch deals again. Red. "How about you two? How many times a week?" I ask. Haymitch takes his shot. "One to three but I'm older. I don't have the stamina you youngsters have. It's more about the companionship at my age." I raise my eyebrows at Gale. "I would say anywhere from seven to ten. Sometimes more. Depends on the mood she's in." Gales says and downs his shot.

We can tell this is going to get a little racy now so we all do another shot together for good measure. Haymitch deals. Black. Haymitch smiles. "What's better? Wife on top or bottom?" I turn red and so does Gale. "I don't think I'm drunk enough for this yet Haymitch. I say we all relax and take a couple of more shots before we answer." We all nod in agreement and down two shots back to back. I'm starting to feel it now. I take a deep breath. Katniss would kill me if she heard what we were all talking about. "Top. I love it when she's on top." I down my shot. Finnick speaks up too. "I'm with Peeta. Top is my favorite too." He downs his. Gale answers on his own. "I like the bottom. I like to drive into her really hard." Gale takes a shot. Haymitch takes his and simply says "Top, hands down. I like boobs in my face."

We all laugh. Thank goodness we're all getting really buzzed now because we're all friends with each others wives and this could really be awkward without all the booze. I notice how we're not even saying all the girls names. Trying to keep anonymity with it even though it's impossible. Haymitch deals again, red. I look at Finnick. It's his turn to ask a question. "Biggest turn on. Giving or getting oral?" We look at Haymitch. "Getting. She's a pro." Gale smiles. "I've got to go with getting too." They down their shots. Finnick looks at me. "Giving." It's all I give up on the subject. Finnick says "Getting. Can't beat it." We all take a shot after that one. I'm starting to slur my words now.

Haymitch deals. Its black again. Gale asks. "Birth control. Use it, don't use it? Come inside or out?" I go first. "We use it, normally come inside." I look at Finnick. "Use it, come inside." We both take a shot. Gale says "Use it but I pull out sometimes if it's around her monthly." Haymitch smiles. "Inside. She went through menopause already. You're all in for it."

Haymitch deals again. Black again. Haymitch asks. "Ever seen her masturbate?" He looks at me. I swear if I wasn't so drunk, I would get hard just thinking about it. "Yes. It's a total turn on." I down my shot. "Mine doesn't do that, she only wants the real thing." Finnick says and takes his shot. Gale turns pink. I don't know from the question or the booze. It's warm in here now. "Yes." Is all he says. Haymitch nods yes too. Damn it's hot in here.

"I think I better check the kids." I get up and kind of stumble to the playroom. I rub my eyes and try to focus before I open the door. When I open the door, I can't believe my eyes. I take a step back and walk back to the table. "Haymitch. I think I'm all fucked up. Slap me." Haymitch laughs. "You okay Peeta? What's wrong?" I pull him from the chair and we both stumble to the playroom. Sprawled out on the floor sleeping are all three kids naked. Payson and Jade are actually holding each other in their sleep.

"Holy shit!" Haymitch yells. Gale and Finnick get to the room. "What the fuck?" Gale yells. The kids startle awake and sit up. Jade and Payson hanging onto each other. Payson stares at us, we're all in shock. "What's wrong Daddy?" he asks. "We wanted to play like you and Mommy do." I feel Gale grab my shirt but Finnick holds him in place. We have to be calm. I gather my wits. "Payson, what did you guys do exactly?" I ask. He smiles. "Nothing. We just wanted to see what we looked like so we took our clothes off and went to sleep like you and Mommy do. Why Daddy? Did we do something wrong?" He asks.

What to say, what to say. Gale looks at me. "Um, not exactly Pay but you don't take your clothes off in front of girls until you marry them. It's just kind of the way it is." I explain. Jade giggles. "Well that's good Uncle Peeta because we already got married!" She says.

Before I can even breathe, Gale's fist connects to my jaw.

Finnick pulls us apart while Haymitch gets the kids off the floor and kicks us out of the room. Finnick is the voice of reason here. "Guys, don't freak out! This is totally normal. Kids their age get curious about each others bodies. I read it in one of Annie's parenting books. Don't make a big deal about it." Gales lets his arms down. "Finnick, it looked like an orgy in there with my daughter in the middle! What if they touched each other?" Gales yells.

Finnick takes a breath. "Gale, they were playing house. Acting out what they have seen in their own houses. Even if she touched the boys, they wouldn't know to touch her there. They don't know what's up there. Calm down. At this point, we can only make it worse by making them feel like they did something bad or dirty. Let's just let it go. They'll forget about it. With any luck, by the time the girls get back."

I find my voice. "Finnick is right Gale. I was drinking with you. If you beat me up over something we didn't have control over, you're going to have to explain why my face is a mess. We're friends now. I'm in the same boat you are." Gale lets me go and then turns his attention to the closed door. When he opens it, he finds Haymitch explaining to Payson and Jade that they're not married until they get older and have a toasting with all of their family and friends.

That's when little Finn adds his two cents. "But what if I want to marry her?"