Watching Posy chase the ducks around, trying to feed them, amuses me. Velvet and I were able to put a blanket down under a big oak tree so that the patch of grass we chose wouldn't be wet. The park was beautiful and mostly green because, even though it flurried earlier, it was getting so close to Spring, that all of the snow had melted and there was just wet grass everywhere. Posy runs over to where I'm sitting and grabs more bread then scampers off to the ponds edge. I'm sitting with back against the tree and my legs stretched out in front of me. Velvet is laying opposite of me with her head in my lap. She makes a chain out of flowers as I pet her hair. Watching Posy run around, I think about what my Mom told me earlier. About how I was like a Dad to Posy. That still surprises me. I mean, I was just being normal. I was protective of her because she's my little sister, but everything I do with her, and say to her, I don't do and say as a father or brother. I say and do those things because I genuinely love Posy as a person. I guess I never realized how much of an effect and influence I had on her. I look down at Velvet. You would never know she was pregnant. She's not any bigger. Yet. "Velvet?" I ask. She turns her big, dark blue eyes and locks onto mine. I still get breathless when I look at them. What was I going to say? Oh, yeah. "Do you think Posy thinks of me as a father? Mom said she did, but it's still hard for me to picture." Velvet doesn't hesitate when she answers. "Oh yes, I think so. I can tell." I furrow my eyebrows. "How?" Velvets looks off into the distance for a second. When she flicks her eyes back to me, I see that they look happy and sad at the same time. "Because Posy reminds me of myself. She looks at you the same way I used to look at Glitch. Like, with so much love. She adores you!" I smile a little. "You guys also have the same mannerisms. Like when either of you gets puzzled, you both scrunch your eyebrows." Velvet grins this time. Wow. I had never thought of that before. I shift my gaze to the flowers in Velvets hand as I gather my thoughts. When I look back at her, the gold and green specks in her eyes look like glitter. "So, if that's all it takes to be a parental figure, to love the child, spend genuine time with them and try your best at being there for them, then will it be easy for me?" I place my free hand on Velvets stomach and she grabs it. "I mean, I know you're going to be a great parent and a wonderful mother. But me? I'm not so sure." I look away so that Velvet won't see that I'm worried. She squeezes my hand and places her other one on my cheek. "Gale." It takes me a second to look at her because I was afraid of what she'd say. "If you treat the baby even a fraction of how you treat Posy, then you're going to be a great dad!" I give a small smile and search her face. Was she serious? "I mean that." Velvet goes back to making a flower chain. Well, that answered that. "Thanks" I whisper as I lean down and kiss her forehead. We sit in silence for a few minutes. I look in Posy's direction to make sure she was safe, then I close my eyes and lean my head against the tree.
I am startled awake by something touching my mouth. I quickly open my eyes to see Velvet, now sitting on my lap, staring at me with a smile. "Hey, sleepy." The sun is starting to set just below the trees. I rub my eyes. "You have been asleep for like an hour. Your Mom came while you were napping to take Posy home." Oh yeah, we were still at the park. I look around and see that, sure enough, Posy was gone. "So, I was thinking," Velvet says as she places her arms around my shoulders. I wrap my arms around her waist. "What would you say to a date tonight?" My tongue is twisted for a moment because I just woke up, so I stammer for a second. Velvet just laughs. "You're cute when you first wake up!" I glare at her for a second, but then reply, "I would say, yes!" She smiles and gives me a quick kiss. When Velvet looks back at me, she has a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Now. What would you say if we went to the Capitol for this date? If we left on the train now, we could be there by nightfall." That sounds awesome! I've been to the Capitol before, but not since I moved to District 2. I've heard it's a wonderful place to be, now that President Snow is dead and the citizens rule it themselves. "I say, let's do it!" It makes me smile when I see Velvet happy. This time, I lean in and kiss her, but it wasn't quick. We sit there for a few minutes under that tree, kissing and melting into each other's arms. This was going to be an awesome night.