A/N- Forgive my slowness at finishing this story. It's really hard to get back into family mode when my other stories have been anything but.
Holding my wiggling baby boy in my arms, I call out to Arianna.
"Ari! Come in and wash your hands please! Bring your dolls in too!" I remind her as I turn back into the house. Peeta is just finishing setting the table and Johanna is pouring the wine. Haymitch and Effie are nagging each other about who Noah looks more like when I come in, while my mother is laughing at them both.
Haymitch points to me and says, "See? He looks just like her! Even the eyes!"
"But he has Peeta's features too." Effie remarks, holding her manicured hands out for him. Noah puts his chubby little arms out as well and I hand him over. He may only be ten months old, but he has his favorite people already. I think it's her always colorful hair, but I won't tell her that.
I kiss Peeta on the cheek before checking to see Ari's progress. She has brought someone other than her toys back in, as Castor and Pollux have arrived just in time for dinner. I smile at them, giving them hugs on their way in. "Hi, guys! I'm so glad you could make it out."
Ari has a tight hold on Pollux's hand and when I tell her again to wash her hands, she reluctantly lets go. "I'll be right back, sit right by me." She orders him.
Poor Pollux, no choice in the matter of being Ari's first crush. Peeta shakes his head and I roll my eyes. We all take our seats once Ari is done and Noah is in his hand-me-down high chair. Peeta carves the turkey I caught early this morning and we all pass around our plates for a piece. Our family of four has become so much bigger with our friends surrounding us.
Every once in awhile, I pull out the notebook that Peeta had drawn his memories in after he was rescued from the Capitol and thank my lucky stars that he was returned to me. And I'm always grateful that he remembered.
The End