Six years later:

Katniss:

I held a beautiful girl in my arms and Peeta walked up from behind me, and we stared at our little angel. It gave me so much joy to know that because of Peeta, Finnick, I, and the countless others who had helped us fight the war to survive, that she would not have the fear of knowing she might be chosen for the Hunger Games- that she could live peacefully with this knowledge and never fear it. Never worry.

It had taken a lot for Peeta to convince me that I didn't need to worry about it either, if we ever had children. I did it for him really, and for no other reason. I didn't understand how he could love me so unconditionally. But I was happy that I had given him what he wanted so dearly. I hadn't realized until little Lily-Rose was handed to me by my mother what I'd been missing out on for all of these years-motherhood.

That was about a week ago. I'd delivered our baby girl in district 12 (our true home) and my mother had agreed to stay with Peeta and I for the last three months so that she could help me through everything. The only thing that still upset me was that Prim wouldn't be coming to see her niece. I knew she'd love to have a niece to cuddle and love. That brought to my mind the thought of Gale. I hadn't spoken to Gale since he had left the capitol to go and live in District 2 with Rosemary. I hadn't yet forgiven him entirely for Prim…but I had somewhat accepted it. It was something I had spoken to Mr. Martin when we'd still been in the capitol.

We went back to District 12 right after Finn's christening and I couldn't now believe that that was seven years ago! I missed him dearly, and felt a little torn. Finn was six and a half now. I wanted to watch him growing up, but at the same time I knew I wanted a quiet life, away from all the chaos of the capitol rebuilding.

That being said, 12 was slowly but surely being knocked down and rebuilt again too. Old inhabitants flocked in from all districts and we weren't entirely secluded anymore. President Paylor had been elected to be president permanently as she was doing such a great job as it was. Every now and again we received a letter from her informing us of progress in the capitol and thanking us for our contributions. She'd also congratulated us on the birth of Lily and apologized for not being able to come and visit us in 12 to meet her. She told us she "looked forward to our next visit to the capitol."

We'd chosen the name Lily-Rose because I didn't want to be reminded of Prim every time I looked at her. I'd also liked the idea of Rose, but then Peeta had said that it sounded like Gale's girlfriend, to which he pulled a face at. I had to laugh at that. Lily was another flower-ish name that I liked and so in that way, it was close enough to Prim for my liking and so we had combined the two names. I liked the ring to it.

As I stood with Peeta, holding our beautiful baby girl, I heard the door knock and I tensed. A year since I'd seen Effie, and six years since I'd seen Gale-who my mother said was coming with Rosemary. I bit my tongue hard and Haymitch went to go and open up. Effie's voice was the first I'd heard, "OH Haymitch! How I've missed you so!" I raised my eyebrows at Peeta and he chuckled. He whispered to me, "Not at all what I thought we'd hear from her," he grinned. Haymitch had gone to visit Effie all the time. He was helping people who wanted to come and live in 12 again move districts and so was often gone for days at a time-any excuse to see Effie. I laughed at Peeta's remark and he around me and I cradled Lily in my favorite spot in the living room.

Effie walked in, the clickety clack of her high heels a distinct noise on the wooden floor. She gasped when she saw us and I couldn't help but grin, "Effie!" She ran over to me and shook her head in awe, "Ah Katniss, I'm so…so thrilled! When I heard the news!" She stopped and stared at our daughter sleeping peacefully in my arms and she let a tear slip from her eyes. I got up and smiled, handing Lily over to her gently as she beamed down at my baby.

I hadn't noticed the other three figures walking into the room. My mother was beaming as ever at Gale, who was standing behind her with Rosemary at his side. He smiled at me cautiously. It had been so long since we'd last seen each other than I felt somewhat speechless. I knew he was coming, but I hadn't been prepared for when I for some strange reason, I still felt nervous around him. Surely I shouldn't feel this way? This guy killed my sister...The tension in the room was almost palpable.

Gale grimaced and said, "Hi Katniss. You look like you're doing well." I nodded and smiled, "Never better thanks, Gale. Hi Rosemary." She nodded, but otherwise didn't say much else. I turned back to Gale, "How have you been?" I knew they had gotten engaged so I wasn't surprised when he said slowly, "Well…Rosemary and I are engaged." I smiled briefly, "Congratulations! I hope it works out for the both of you." Rosemary rolled her eyes and said, "Gale, I'm going to go and freshen up in the hotel." There was even a new hotel in twelve now, something we'd never had before.

Gale smiled awkwardly as he leant down and kissed Rosemary on the face, "Alright, dear. I'll be here if you need me." She nodded and huffed out of the room. I heard my baby crying and I hurried back to her. Then I saw it was really a cry of delight as Effie produced a stuffed teddy bear for her. She clapped her hands with glee and I chuckled at how much she loved it! She didn't have many toys yet.
I chuckled and went over to Peeta, who was now holding Lily so she could squeeze the toy. I loved watching him hold our little girl. It just looked so…so natural. I moved to stand beside him and I wrapped my hand around his waist. It had become so natural for me now to do that that I didn't even stop and think anymore. I then beckoned to Gale and said, "Come and meet our Lily-Rose."

Gale:

It was so strange being back here in twelve and to be meeting Peeta and Katniss's baby for the first time. I still sounded wrong to my ears. Peeta and Katniss. If anything, it should be Gale and Katniss. I sighed as Katniss told me to come and meet her baby. I had been having mixed feelings about this trip…I'd wanted to see Katniss again, but to see her with Peeta was still heart wrenching for me. I deserved this pain though, after everything I had put Katniss through, she deserved to be happy.

I smiled awkwardly and I came and had a look at her girl. When I had heard a week ago from Ivy that Katniss had given birth to a beautiful baby girl, I was surprised when she said she hadn't named it Prim. That would have been torture for me, if I had to look into that child's eyes and constantly be reminded of her sister. When I finally got a clear view of her however, I gasped! She had her mother's eyes…that was unmistakable! And she didn't have any hear yet so I couldn't tell what color she would be but she was unbelievably beautiful! I wasn't a fan of babies…but I might just be a fan of this one.

Then I realized Peeta was talking to me and he was saying, "Hello Gale." He was cool, but polite and I realized then that I hadn't greeted him yet. I grimaced and replied, "Hi Peeta! Congratulations are your baby! She's beautiful…like her mother." There was a horribly awkward silence and Haymitch yelled, "How about some beer, Gale!"

I shrugged and Haymitch asked, "Peeta, come and give me a hand please? I need to get from my place because you don't keep any around here." Peeta nodded and reluctantly went to follow him. Effie seemed to get the message and left too. That meant I was left alone with Katniss, Ivy and the baby. Katniss was staring at her baby radiating with love and I whispered tightly, "Can I…?" I didn't know if she'd let me hold the baby, and I wouldn't blame her for refusing, or distrusting me.
Katniss eyed me a little before nodding and gently handing me her world. I stared at the baby who frowned at me in confusion. Who was this knew stranger, it was probably thinking. I glanced up and noticed Katniss watching me carefully. She frowned and commented, "You've changed." I nodded and whispered, "So have you though." She beamed at that and shrugged, "Being a mother you can't help but change."
I nodded and turned my focus back to her baby before commenting, "She looks so like you." She laughed and shrugged, "Everyone else thinks she looks like Peeta. I guess it's hard to tell at this stage. She's only a week old!" I nodded and smiled, "She'll probably change a lot in the next year or so." Katniss nodded and smiled, "Probably. I hope she's more like Peeta." I frowned and replied, "Why would you say that?" Katniss shrugged, "In terms of personality. She could be kind and loving and caring." I grimaced and replied, "Aren't you though?" She shrugged again and replied, "I'm like that with her and Peeta. Not with everyone." I nodded, feeling like this was a dig at me. I couldn't blame her and I wasn't sure what to say to that so instead I said nothing.

It was only then that noticed that Ivy had left the room…probably to give us some space. I looked at the baby girl in my arms and felt a surge of emotions…I wished with all my being that this was my child. That it was our child. But I knew that would never be an option and I had sure as hell made it that way. I couldn't help but let a tear slip from my eyes.

A/N: Hi All! So I'm trying to make up for lost time! I hope you enjoy this chapter and the time jump! Thank you so much for the wonderful reviews! I so do appreciate them!