VERY IMPORTANT: There is a HUGE time lapse here, a whole year. Where we left off was the end of the football season, right after Christmas, and now we are a year later after graduation!

Katniss' POV

A year passed fairly quickly. We didn't get to the finals the year I was injured but the year after we won first place in at least three different leagues, breaking records for HHS. Cato and I were awarded MVP awards and I received a lot of media attention due to me being the first female to be in a football team, not to mention the first to lead the team to an undefeated record in over thirty years.

Cato, Madge, and I graduated right on time. My parents threw this big graduation party for all of us at our place. I didn't really have a lot of friends but I did invite the whole football team and stuff. Madge just took her boyfriend, Marvel, and Cato brought over Brutus and Peeta, who would hopefully be graduating the year after.

One thing I remember clearly as if it was yesterday, was the day that my parents threw me a birthday party. Cato had taken me out all day and when we arrived home, he placed his hands on my face, covering my eyes. I raised a brow at this and he chuckled.

"It's a surprise," he said.

I sighed and let him guide me inside with little argument. When he opened the door he pulled his hands away and my mouth slightly dropped. The entire place was decorated with balloons, and all sorts of decoration.

"Happy Birthday!" everyone yelled.

Ivy's POV

I could tell my little was surprised by the look she had on her face. Cato had known about the surprise birthday party my husband and I had wanted to throw her, so he helped by keeping her away most of the day. She walked in to find all her friends and family gathered around to say a big Happy Birthday to her. She looked over to me and gave me a confused look. I frowned, I knew what she was thinking. Madge had explained this to me before.

"Today isn't my birthday," Katniss said slowly. "It's September 24."

John and I shook our heads after sharing a sad look. It made sense that Snow would change her birthday to make it harder to locate her, though he did keep her name. "No, your birthday is today," I told her gently. "You were born on Christmas Eve."

Our baby girl gave me a confused look before slowly nodding, as if accepting the fact Snow lied. I knew it would be a hard change for her, but I had waited nearly eighteen years to celebrate her birthday.

"Come here, kiddo," John called wrapping an arm around her. "See those boxes? Those are all our gifts."
Her mouth dropped before looking at the both of us.

"Those are a lot of gifts."

My expression slightly saddened. "It's a gift for every year," I whispered.

Katniss smiled and went over to hug me. She took a box and sat on the floor before opening it. It was a baby toy, a train that lit up and played a lullaby. I saw her smile broaden at this before taking another, and then another. Her face lit up every time she opened a gift.

I averted my gaze to the others in the room, and I noticed everyone was smiling at her and her perfect smile. Madge and Cato especially, they both looked just as happy as she. Cato's eyes shined with a love so deep, and Madge's eyes shined with a sisterly love and a bond stronger than I've seen with blood sisters. It was as if watching her so cheerful was their own gift. They both loved her more than anything, everyone in this room loved her. I looked back at my baby girl when Johns arms wrapped around my shoulders and pulled me closer to his side.

Finally she opened the last one and I saw her father smile. I chuckled, we had both picked out the gift as usual, but it had been his idea this time. He had a jersey designed from the team he used to play for, putting their number on the back and our daughter's name. Katniss's face lit up when she took the jersey out of the box.

"Mom! Dad! This is awesome!" she cried looking over at us. We smiled and she got up, running over to us and hugging us. John and I held her close to us, as close as possible without squishing her. "I've never had a birthday party before," our daughter admitted. "I mean Mags, Madge, and Cato would take me out, and I appreciate it. I always did have a great time with them, but something was missing. Now I know what was, you guys... And now that I have you here, this is my best birthday ever."

I placed a hand against her cheek. "I'm glad you liked it."

She smiled and called Madge and Cato over to her. "You think you guys can help me put all this in my room?" she asked putting the jersey on that completely engulfed her figure. Cato chuckled and pulled her to his side.

"This jersey fits you even bigger than my own." I overheard him say. Katniss giggled and kissed his cheek. "You look beautiful, hot as well." He whispers with his lips against her temple before pressing a kiss to it and pulling back. She smiled softly at him and rested her head on his broad shoulder.

John stopped her on the way to her room, looking how the jersey looked at her. "Maybe one day you'll play for this team," he told her with a smile. "Using your old man's number."

Katniss smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "I hope so."

For the rest of the evening, we all had dinner, and my daughter got a chance to cut her own cake. Madge and Cato both pushed her head onto the cake, which surprisingly she enjoyed. John and I spread some icing on her face after too, making her laugh. After that, when she went to the kitchen to clean up, Cato followed her and basically kissed the cake off her face. My husband and I walked in to, much to his dislike, see them making out. Very passionately I might add. He walked out without a word to them, me following. And the two love birds didn't even know, they were too caught up in each other. I just laughed at John and his anger, they're two kids in love. What are we to expect?

Around ten, everyone started to leave. Cato, Peeta, and Brutus were going back to their home to have a small celebration of their own while Madge and Mags agreed to stay with us.

My daughter disappeared not long after and I went around the house, frantically looking for her. I checked her room lastly, and smiled at the sight that greeted me. My little girl was on the bed sound asleep, all the toys around her, including the football plush and Cato's teddy bear. They each got a special spot in each of her arms, being held close to her heart.

John, Mags, and Madge came inside as I covered her up and smiled as well. I caressed her cheek and the two women left my husband and I alone with our daughter. John planted soft kiss on her forehead and I kissed her cheek.

"Mom, Dad," she muttered opening her eyes. "I'm sorry, I fell asleep."

"Shh," my husband soothed. "Go to sleep."

"I left my gift at Cato's place. I need to go get it."

I gently pushed her back down and caressed her cheek as I covered her with a blanket again. "The greatest gift of all is having you back safe at home, where you belong." My daughter smiled and snuggled closer to me, instantaneously falling asleep again.

"Happy Birthday," we whispered.

I'm sorry it's been forever since I've updated, but I felt as if you guys weren't really all that into the story anymore... I know it's no reason not to update, but I was also more than busy with school and sports. So I didn't have time to update.

I hope to update tomorrow afternoon!

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