I'm back! I also know that this is 2 days late but because of the crazy week I had and the Oscars being Sunday I chose to wait. However I am so beyond excited to share this chapter because it's a big one! Make sure to follow me to twitter for updates and sneak peeks; TributeGirlEm or on tumblr for a visual aspect of the story GuardingDaisies . As always thank you to these lovely people for reviewing my story! Ryden20, BookLover, AlwaysReal, Hodgeheg, lila88, HealthyHungerGamesObsession101, CrazyFangirl, Fangirling Banana, cchester1985,PEetAkAtniSS 3,Nightlock Eater , Sugarcube01 ...ENJOY!

****Important clarification to last chapter****

I got a few comments on this last chapter so I really wanted to clear it up! Please know however that it is not your fault but mine! If something gets taken out of context it is 99% of the time the writers fault! Anyways it is in regards to Katniss and Peeta questioning the car seat for the baby and what to do with it. It was not meant in any way to make Katniss and Peeta looks clueless or dumb as parents! I also did not really mean for it to be funny? I wanted to show you just how deprived people where during The Hunger Games era. They didn't know you have to but an infant in a car seat because they never owned cars. They are both just still learning how to drive. The first time Katniss and Peeta road in a vehicle was when they were reaped. I also wanted to display that the government is now providing for it's people and Katniss and Peeta are leaning along side this advancement. But please in know way was it meant to make them look dumb! I think its clear that both Katniss and Peeta are incredibly smart characters, they just grew up in a time where simple technological advances did not exist for them. Please remember that even simple things like baby toys, swings, cribs are for the most part new to these people! They barely had food prior to the rebellion let alone infant baby seats! I hope this helps clear things up and sorry for any confusion! XO

"Katniss, it's been two weeks. You can't avoid him forever." Peeta says as I help him assemble our daughter's highchair.

"Believe me, I can." I snap back.

"Well, Haymitch has tried calling here six times now and every time you refuse to speak to him."

"I have every right to refuse to talk to him!" I yell. "Peeta, do you really want someone like that around our child?"

Peeta looks up at me, "No, I don't. But I think if anyone does deserve a second chance, it's Haymitch. We owe a lot to that man, Katniss."

I roll my eyes and bury my face into my hands because it annoys me how Peeta is always right in these situations. I hate believing that he is right, because I am such a stubborn person and I have been working on improving that, but I know he is. I owe my life and Peeta's life to him. And I guess if I put it that way, my daughter also would not have been here today if it wasn't for him.

"Well, I don't know what you want me to do?" I tell him.

"Talk to him Katniss."

I let out a sigh and look out the window to see the melting snow; an early sign of spring.

"Plus, when you get back, I have something to show you." Peeta says, reaching for my hand.

I nod my head and smile at him. "Alright... but under one condition." I begin.

"Anything."

"You let me walk there."

"No!"

"What happened to anything?" I demand.

"I didn't think you were going to suggest that!" He replies "Katniss, it's over a half hour walk."

"I'm pregnant not crippled!"

"I know you're not hun, but that's a long way to go carrying another person inside you."

"Peeta, I think you know me pretty well by now, I can't just sit around and do nothing. I need to be up and out. I need to be on my feet. I'll go crazy if I'm not."

He sighs. "I know you do. I just worry."

I can't help but chuckle. "I'll be just fine."

I throw on my spring jacket because thankfully, it is starting to warm up outside. Soon, all the snow will be gone and the District will be green again. It feels good to be outside walking. I am sure to walk at a slower pace because of the baby, but just moving my legs around feels good. By the time I get to Haymitch's house, my feet are a bit sore, but I don't mind; I needed it. The baby also stops kicking while I was walking which is a nice break. My mother told me it is common for that to happen because walking usually helps rock a baby to sleep.

When I walk inside, I am surprised to be greeted by Hazelle Hawthorne.

"Hello Katniss. You're looking quite pregnant these days."

I give her a friendly smile. "32 weeks and counting."

"That's exciting!"

Hazelle had stopped cleaning houses a little while after the rebellion when my mother was able to get her a job as a secretary in the medical center. However, she still on occasion would go over to help Haymitch when his house got extremely unbearable. I know it had been awhile since she had been over, so it was an interesting surprise to see her there.

"So, where's Haymitch?" I question.

"He was in the kitchen last time I checked."

I throw my jacket onto the coat hook and walk over to the kitchen. I find Haymitch standing in front of the sink pouring a bottle of water down the drain.

"So, Hazelle's helping you get this place all cleaned up again." I say walking towards him.

He turns around and faces me, and for the first time, I see that he is not pouring a bottle of water down the drain, but white liquor.

"What are you doing?" I exclaim.

"Saving myself." He bluntly tells me.

I don't know how to respond because I never thought I would see this day.

"I started seeing this counselor about a week and a half ago. I'm getting there, Katniss."

I nod my head and give him a small smile."Why now?" I ask.

He pauses and looks up at me, setting the bottle down. "Because, I want to be in her life. I want her to know who I am." He pauses again. "She doesn't deserve an uncle who won't even remember her name because of alcohol."

"So you're getting rid of everything?" I ask.

"No, that could be risky. It's a slow process."

I take a step forward and wrap my arms around him. He is hesitant at first, but then reciprocates. "Thank you."

I can feel him shake his head. "Thank you, thank her."

I pull away from our hug. We are both silent for a little while because I am we are both overwhelmed by everything that has just occurred. But eventually he can't stand the silence anymore.

"So, any ideas on names yet?" He asks

"No, not really. I want it to be meaningful. I just haven't thought of one yet."

"Well, I'm sure you two will, sweetheart."

"Are you going to call her that too?" I ask Haymitch with a smile.

"Probably not." He replies back. "I'll think of something else."

I chuckle and grab my coat off of the hook."Why don't you come over for dinner tomorrow? Peeta is just finishing up the nursery; you'll be the first to see it."

"Oh, I'm sure I can fit it into my schedule."

"I'll see you tomorrow Haymitch." I tell him, walking back out into the chilled air.

As I reach the edge of the woods, I know that I am only about ten minutes away from home. My feet and lower back are beginning to ache, so I try to take my time walking. I am also still rather stunned about what just went down with Haymitch. However I am amazed because my daughter is already making such an impact on people's lives without even being born. Every day that passes I become more and more excited to meet this little person inside of me. To discover all of her likes and dislikes, to see how she will become the person she is going to be. I know she will be special, in my eyes she will be perfect.

Suddenly, I hear the noise of a car engine. I turn around and see Gale driving up behind me waving from the driver's seat. He slowly pulls up beside me and rolls down the window.

"Hey Catnip, do you need a ride?"

I smile at him, and nod my head because even though it is nice to be out in the fresh air, there is no masking the pain my back and feet are feeling.

"So, where are you coming from?" I ask.

"The medical center; as always." He replies.

"How's Asher?"

"He good; wonderful actually. Kaitlyn thinks he will be able to come home within the next week."

"Gale, that's fantastic!" I exclaim.

He hesitates for a moment. "I just don't want to leave this place."

I turn to him as he drives onward towards my home. "Then don't."

He chuckles. "Katniss, everything Lila and the children know is in District 2."

"Actually," I interrupt, "everything Asher knows is in District 12, and if you ask me, the children love it here."

Gale doesn't say anything but continues to stare down the road ahead.

"And I miss you; I miss all of you." I tell him. "We used to live so close to each other. We spent so much time together, Gale. We were best friends."

He shakes his head. "Things are different now though, Katniss, and you know it. It made it so much easier for the both of us when I moved."

My heart aches because I know that even after all these years, he is still referring to Prim. This is a subject I try to avoid at all costs, but now it's staring me right in the face.

"At the time, yeah, I'll admit it. When you left, I thought I was going to feel longing or sadness, but I didn't; I only felt relief. But over time, things heal Gale. I'm different now and so are you. But our friendship was and is something solid that I don't want to lose it again."

He smirks. "That's the funny thing, Katniss. Even the years where we weren't speaking, you never lost me. And even if I move back you won't, but Lila's home is District 2, and I'm not sure she's willing to lose that right now."

I turn my head to him as he pulls into my drive way. "I understand that."

I undo my safety belt and lean over to hug him and place a kiss onto his cheek.

He smiles at me. "Thank you."

I return the smile, hop out of the car, and walk up the path as I watch him drive away. I am not sure why but that conversation only seemed to make me sad. The thought of Gale, Lila and the children moving back away is depressing because I have gotten so used to them being here. I want them to be here to see my daughter enter this world and to watch her grow up.

I walk onto the front porch and open the door, I find a trail of pink flower petals with a note that says, "Come find me."

I smile to myself and feel those butterflies in the stomach that you are supposed to get as a teenager. However, I think it is a testament to my husband, and our love, that even after all these years he still loves to surprise me and gives me those giddy butterfly feelings.

I follow the trail of flowers that lead upstairs and down the small hallway. The trail, however, stops right in front of the nursery door. I take in a large breath and slowly open it.

My eyes widen as I see that this room is completely different from when I last saw it. The last time I stepped into this room, the walls were bare and it felt incredibly empty, but now it is transformed. I look up and see that Peeta has painted the ceiling with large stripes of white and a soft yellow. The four walls are a beautiful pale gray colour. The wall with the book shelf in front of it is painted with multiple white aspen trees with tiny pink birds sitting on them. I made sure to tell Peeta I did not want this room dripping with the stereotypical pink for baby girls, so the birds were just the perfect touch of pink. The crib has been stained a pure white colour with yellow flowery blankets inside. Over top of it drapes an elegant curtain that seems to pull everything together. There is also a yellow area rug in the center of the room. The dresser and changing table also sit on the other side of the room next to the large windows. This room is overwhelming; it takes my breath away. The walls are so beautifully decorated, even better then how I ever could have envisioned it; Peeta has done such an outstanding job. However, I then realize, he's not in here.

When I turn around towards the hallway, he is standing right there, smiling at me with a bouquet of pink and yellow flowers in his hand.

"The finishing touch." He says to me, as he sets the bouquet down in a vase on top of the dresser.

I look over into his blue eyes and bring myself into his arms. They wrap around me as he holds me close against his chest. I cannot imagine a safer place to be.

"It's beyond perfect, Peeta." I tell him. "It's even better then what I wanted.

He kisses me sweetly. "I'm glad you like it."

"I do." I reply "And so will she."

Peeta's smile grows wider. "What's your favourite part?" He asks me.

"The aspen trees." I say. "My father loved aspen trees too." I add as a memory fills my mind.

"This one time when I was younger, I went to chop down a smaller one for fire wood. But he stopped me before I could do it. I remember he made me step back to look at the tree, but at the time I didn't find it very extraordinary. But watching him, I knew it was something special. He told me how these trees were the soldiers of the forest because even fire could not take them down. They may look fragile, but they have the ability to survive even the strongest of forest fires."

Peeta pulls me back against his body as I relive a fond memory of my father. "I guess your dad was helping me paint her room then."

And then suddenly it hits me. Being in this room by my husband's side, pregnant with my first child, and reminiscing about my father, I know what her name is going to be. I know what I want to call her; what she will be identified as. I now understand and I can't help but feel my father's presence as her name fills my mind.

"Peeta, I think we should name her Aspen."

He pulls away from my side and I see the bright smile that is not only showcased on his lips, but in his eyes. "Aspen." He repeats softly.

His eyes appear glossy and he says her name out loud over and over again.

"What's wrong?" I ask him.

"It just seems so much more real now; that she's not just nameless anymore. She's...Aspen."

"So you like the name?" I question, pulling my arms around his neck.

He nods his head. "I love it, Katniss. I can't wait to meet her."

"Well, it won't be much longer now." I tell him, taking his hands and placing them on my belly. "Peeta, can we paint her name on the wall?"

He turns to the wall her crib lies up against. "Of course we can." He exclaims. "Wait here."

He dashes out off the room at my request and I make my way over to the rocking chair. I place my arms under my belly and slowly begin rocking back and forth. At first, I feel Aspen moving around inside me, but after a few minutes of rocking, the movement stops, signalling to me that she has fallen asleep within me. Then, softly, I begin to sing to her again.

Deep in the meadow, under the willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when you awake, the sun will rise.

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.

I look up and see Peeta standing in the door frame watching me.

"Don't stop because of me." He says stepping inside the room paint brush in hand.

So I don't, I continue to sing as he begins to paint the letter A in yellow paint.

Deep in the meadow, hidden far away

A cloak of leaves, A moonbeam ray, Forget your woes and let your troubles lay

And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.

Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.

I repeat the song over once more and by the time I am done, Peeta too has finished painting her name in perfect handwriting, right above the crib where my daughter will soon sleep, readers, her name nice and clear: Aspen.

ASPEN! The Everlark baby is no longer nameless! I hope you all like this name because I think the meaning is so beyond perfect! Make sure to comment and let me know your thoughts! XOX See you all on March 16th!