Once again thanks for the wonderful reviews! Chapter 20! I really didn't think I would get this far, but I did! Enjoy and let me know what ya think with a review!
I'm sitting in the nursery rocking Willow back to sleep. I just feed her so putting her down for her nap shouldn't be too hard, I hope. She is almost a month old, and she only wakes up about two times a night. We have her on a schedule where we put her to bed around seven thirty, and then she naps at around one o'clock in the afternoon. Peeta has gone back to the bakery now, and barely makes it a whole work day without coming home to see her. Some days he comes home out of breath from running home. When he is home all he wants to do is hold her. I barely ever have to change a diaper when he is here. He offers to do everything for me, and it gets kind of aggravating at times because I feel kind of lazy.
I continue to rock Willow and finally her eyes slowly close. I get up from the rocking chair and put her in the crib. I turn on the baby monitor that Effie sent me from the Capitol, and head down stairs. When Willow is sleeping I have really nothing to do. I clean the house, but since it's only the three of us. It's never really that dirty. I have been wanting to go hunting, but I hate to leave Willow alone with Haymitch for three hours. Even though he never drinks around her I don't think I could leave her. I know that if I ask Peeta he will offer to stay home while I'm out, but he needs to work at the bakery.
I hear Willow start to whimper over the monitor and head up stairs to get her before she starts to scream. She defiantly doesn't like to be ignored.
I run in her scoop up the squirming little girl.
"Awe, baby girl don't cry," I coo to her. I start bouncing her up and down. She doesn't need a diaper change, and she shouldn't be hungry yet. I guess she just wanted some attention. She calms down, and just stares at me with her big eyes. I smile down at her and shift her so she can look around. She hates not being able to see where she is. Willow turns her gaze towards the painting of the lake, and starts to smile and moves her hand towards it.
"Someone likes the lake don't they," I chuckle and kiss her on the forehead, "I have a feeling you would like the real lake a lot more," I say and get an idea. Peeta shouldn't be home for three hours so that gives me just enough time. I put Willow back in her crib and start digging through the closet full of baby supplies until I find what I'm looking for. It is something my mother gave me before Willow was born. It's a fabric wrap that is almost like a sling and it goes over one shoulder and crosses my chest. I throw it over my shoulder and it forms a small pouch that will carry Willow. I first find some thermal clothing to put her in, and once I have her changed I put her in the small pouch, and she fits perfectly. She is tight against my chest and it's just like I'm holding her in my arms.
She seems to like the cozy pouch too. I find my heavy jacket and zipper up half way. Just open enough so I can see Willow's face. I put on my hunting boots and find one of Willows fuzzy hats and put that over her brown fuzzy head. I leave a note for Peeta on the table and head out the door towards the woods. The air is frigid and the sky is gray. As we pass by Haymitch's house I decide I should stop by and tell him that we are going on a hike. I knock on the door, and Haymitch quickly answers it.
He looks a little surprised to see me," What can I help you with sweetheart?" he asks.
"Nothing, I just wanted to tell you we are going on a hike to the lake," I answer and he still looks confused.
"Who is involved in the "we", because you're alone?" I smile and shake my head.
"I have Willow right here," I say and unzip my jacket so he can see her wrapped in the sling.
"Only you would find a way to take a one month old into the woods," he says with a chuckle and I zip my jacket back up.
"Oh, shut up," I retort and scowl at him, "well if Peeta comes over here tell him to expect us back before dinner," I say and walk down the steps of his front porch.
We walk through town, and no one seems to notice Willow under my jacket. I haven't taken her out of the house since she was born. So this would be her first official outing I guess. I get to the gate and easily open it and walk through. I look down at Willow and see that she is smiling up at me and I smile back her. We continue to walk, and I start to realize how out of shape I am. By the time we reach the lake I am breathing heavily, but it feels good. I unzip my jacket and take Willow out of the sling.
"Willow this is the lake," I whisper and her eyes wildly move around looking at all the new things. I can't help but be proud of my little girl, only a month old and already likes the outdoors. I don't want her to get to cold so I set her half way back in the sling and zip up my jacket. She can still look around which keeps her happy. I walk along the bank and just enjoy being out in the woods again. After I few minutes I head back in the direction of home. Willow continues to look at all the trees, and when a she sees a squirrel she makes some sort of wired noise and kicks her feet. I laugh and continue the hike home.
We get to Victor's Village and I see Peeta running towards us.
"Katniss," he yells and runs faster towards us.
"What is it Peeta? Is something wrong?" I ask.
He grins and looks down my jacket at the smiling baby. "Nothings wrong. Just saw you walking up here and I couldn't wait to see you guys," he gushes and takes Willow out from underneath my jacket. He covers her face in kisses and holds her tightly to his chest.
"Well let's actually get home. It's getting colder out," I suggest and we head towards our house. We get inside and the fire is burning away in the fire place and I smell food cooking in the oven. I take off my jacket and hunting boots. Peeta is already with Willow in the living room sitting on the couch. I hear him just talking to her and tickling her belly. She gurgles and smiles at him. I knew Peeta would be a great father, but it still fills me with joy when I see how he is alone with her. I decide to let him have some more alone time with her. So I go into the kitchen and fold some clean laundry.
"There's mommy," Peeta says I turn around and open up my arms.
"Katniss I can't hug you I'm holding Willow," he teases and I just roll my eyes.
"Just give me Willow and finish dinner. I'm starving," I demand and he hands her to me. He goes over to the oven and takes out a covered dish with some kind of pasta with red sauce. I sit down at the table and let Peeta bring over two plates filled with pasta. I give him Willow, and he starts to eat with one hand while the other holds her.
"So how was the hike Katniss," he asks.
"It was great we went to the lake, and Willow was smiling the whole time," I say smiling at Willow.
"Maybe you could do that more often with her. Just go out for hikes, and when she gets a little older you could bring her to the bakery," Peeta says.
"That sounds fine. I don't see why I wouldn't take her there," I reply and Peeta smiles satisfied that I agree with him. We finish eating dinner and I offer to clean up the dishes while he gets Willow ready for bed.
I wash the dishes, put them away in the cabinet, and head upstairs to the nursery. The door is cracked about four inches and I can see Peeta sitting in the rocking chair talking to Willow. I stop walking and silently listen to what he is saying.
"You know Willow your mommy really misses hunting, but she also loves you so much that she doesn't want to leave you. I know how she feels, because that's what I feel everyday when I have to go to work and leave you two here," he pauses and Willows eye lids are growing heavy with sleep. He slowly stands up and gently sets her in the crib and continues to talk only in a soft whisper, "But don't worry baby girl. I'll figure out a way to get her back to hunting." He gently gives her a kiss on the forehead, "I love you Willow." He starts to walk towards the door and I don't want him to know I was eavesdropping, but I have to go in and say goodnight to her. He opens the door, and I guess he didn't expect me to be standing in the dark hallway.
"How long have you been standing?" He asks me with a sly grin.
"Just long enough to know that you think I should start hunting again," I say wrapping my arms around his neck. "I would love to go hunting, but like you said to her. I love her to much to be away from her for more than an hour."
"Katniss I love her too, but you can't just sit around the house. I know you to well. It's not like you to spend this long inside without hunting," he insists and I nod my head in agreement. He is right I have to do something or I might go crazy. There is only so much you can do with a one month old besides hold her and watch her gurgle and smile. Then I get and idea.
"What if I took Willow with me to hunt," I suggest and Peeta pulls away from and gives me a serious look.
"You can't do that. That is way too dangerous," he states.
"How? I would put her in the sling, and I already know she loves the woods so it's not like she wouldn't be happy," I pause and see that Peeta still doesn't get the point I'm trying to make, "Peeta, would I ever put our daughter in harms way on purpose?"
"No," he sighs.
"Exactly, so if I thought it would be dangerous to take her with me then why would I even suggest it? I have been hunting for years just trust me. Please?" I beg because this is the only way for now I will get to hunt.
"Alright, but if she even gets a scratch then she can't go anymore," he says.
"Thank you. Now can I go say good night to her quickly? I will meet you in bed," I say and walk into the nursery. Willow is deep asleep and looks so precious. I gently kiss her head and mumble, "Love you baby girl," and head to our bedroom.
I see Peeta already under the covers. I change and climb in next to him, and his arms instantly open and take me into a strong embrace.
"Peeta guess what I'm doing tomorrow," I say.
"What?" he replies.
"I'm taking our daughter hunting."
"Well I wouldn't expect anything else Katniss," he says with a light chuckle.