Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

So, this will be the last chapter of this story. The sequel is still to come, and I promise it'll be longer.

Let's get to the chapter.

Chapter 22- Return Home

I smile as the doctor hands me some papers. Willow's discharge papers. "I want to call you every few weeks just to check up on her. Just to make sure she's doing alright. But, I feel very optimistic. You have a very strong baby here," he says.

I look down at Willow, who is resting in a baby carrier provided by the Capitol. It's a padded seat with a handle on it that I can use to carry it. It'll definitely be handy to be able to carry Willow around without having to hold her in my arms all the time. It's one of a number of items that generous people in the Capitol have provided to me and Peeta.

"Thank you for all you've done, Doctor. I'll be awaiting your first call," I say.

The doctor smiles. "Good luck, Mrs. Mellark. I wish you the best in your new journey into motherhood," he says.

I smile and pick up Willow's carrier. "Thank you," I say before walking out of the room.

Peeta and Haymitch are just walking up towards the room when I walk out. Peeta smiles and asks, "Are we good to go?"

"Yes. This little lady has been discharged, and she is cleared to go home," I say with a bright smile.

Peeta smiles as he walks up to me and gives me a kiss on the forehead, then takes Willow's carrier from me. I reach to take it back, but Peeta smiles and says, "You've been holding her almost nonstop for the last week and a half. I think it's my turn to pull my weight." I just smile and give in.

The three of us walk out to the front of the hospital, where several Peacekeepers are waiting. Not to keep us contained, but to keep the crowds off of us, which they're already busy doing, as lots of people have gathered outside the hospital, hoping to get a glimpse of Willow. Haymitch leads me and Peeta over to a car that is waiting for us. We all climb in, and the car drives off towards the train station.

I can see crowds outside thronging the route to the train station, trying to get a glimpse of us. I just occupy myself with Willow, rubbing her head, tickling her chin, and just stroking her face.

Willow is wide awake, and she looks up at me. As I tickle her chin, she looks into my eyes and then, for the first time since she was born, she smiles.

"Peeta! She's smiling!" I exclaim. Peeta quickly leans over to that he can get a view of her face, and as soon as he sees Willow's smile, he bursts into an even bigger smile.

"I didn't expect her to be smiling so fast," he says.

"The doctor said it's usually around 6-8 weeks old, and she's already almost 6 weeks," I point out.

Peeta smiles down at her. "I can't believe she's already 6 weeks old. It feels like just yesterday when I saw her enter the world," he says as he reaches down and strokes the side of her face.

"I know. It scares me. I don't want her to grow up too fast," I say. I reach my hand down and let Willow wrap her hand around one of my fingers. "I don't want her to grow up. I want her to stay this little forever," I say softly.

"I know how you feel," Peeta says.

It doesn't take too much longer to reach the train station. As we climb out of the car, there are again Peacekeepers holding back the crowds, allowing us to peacefully board the train.

Me and Peeta head to the dining car as the train gets underway and begins the long trip back to District 12. As the two of us sit down at the table, with me sitting Willow's carrier in another seat so she can sit with us, Haymitch follows us into the car and sits down at the table with us.

For several seconds, he looks between me and Peeta, then asks, "Katniss, I've been meaning to ask you about that day about a week and a half ago. You looked so uneasy the whole day? What happened?"

I look at Haymitch, realizing I never told Haymitch about Snow. Deciding it's best not to keep this from him, I say, "President Snow came to me in the hospital. He said that if we don't do everything we possibly can to subdue further thoughts of rebellion, he'll have Willow killed. He made it clear I haven't changed my position in his sight."

Haymitch nods a few times silently, then says, "Well, then you've got to be really good at your job."

We all just sit in silence, watching Willow as she plays with her own toes, hoping that everything will turn out in the long run.

(Two days later)

I finish pulling my shirt over my head, and make sure my hair is still done up. I then turn to where Willow's carrier is waiting on my bed. Willow is smiling as she plays with her toes. She's wearing an absolutely adorable little outfit that Cinna made for her. I smile at the thought of Cinna. He had made a lot of outfits Willow while she was in the NICU, and had sent them along with us. I'd found them all in my compartment on the train during our first day of travel from the Capitol. Admittedly, I'd spent some time fawning over them, something I recognize I never would have done a few months ago. Having Willow had definitely changed me.

I walk over to her and tickle her toes. "You ready to meet your grandma and auntie Prim?" I ask. Willow just smiles and makes a few gurgling noises. I smile at her before picking up her carrier and walking out to go wait with Peeta.

I find him waiting near a window that's near the door out of the train. He's holding a small bag with a few essential baby supplies in it, like her bottle and some diapers. Most of the baby supplies and clothes we were given while in The Capitol will be brought to our home in Victor's Village by some Capitol attendants.

He smiles at me. "Are you ready for this?" he asks.

"You mean am I ready to have my daughter stolen by my sister?" I say with a smile, and we both laugh.

"Yeah, Prim is definitely going to be a very excited aunt," Peeta says.

"Once she gets her hands on Willow, I'll never be able to hold her again," I say as we keep laughing.

Right then, we see District 12 appear out of the train window. We watch as it approaches until, only a few minutes later, the train pulls into the station.

Peeta looks at me and takes my free hand. "Alright. Let's go introduce Willow to the district," he says.

The train slows to a stop, and the door soon opens. We walk out into the station and make our way to the platform outside the station, where hundreds of people from 12 have gathered. Everyone starts cheering wildly at the sight of us.

Peeta and I stop and wave for a while, smiling at everyone. At one point, I decide to take Willow out of her carrier so everyone can see her. As I hold her up where people can see her, everyone's applause increases greatly at the sight of Willow. The noise, to my slight surprise, doesn't frighten her. She smiles and waves her arms around a bit.

I soon return Willow to her carrier, and that's about when Peacekeepers start stepping in to disperse the crowd. Within a few minutes, the only people left are my mother, Prim, and, to my slight surprise, Peeta's father and brothers. His mother isn't here, but that doesn't surprise me at all.

Prim makes it to us first, charging at me and throwing her arms around me, squealing, "I'm so glad you're okay! When you went into labor, I was so worried for you!"

I smile and pat Prim's head as I hug her back, saying, "I'm okay, Prim. Willow was in worse shape than I was."

Prim pulls back and looks up at me, the biggest smile on her face. "Can I hold her?!" she squeals.

I smile and bend to get Willow out of her carrier again. After I pick her up, I turn to Prim and offer Willow to her. Prim's eyes light up even more than when I brought Lady home for Prim, and she reaches out for Willow. Prim gently takes Willow from me and cradles Willow gently, looking down at her in complete adoration. I smile, completely trusting Prim. She's held babies before during times she was helping my mom with women who were in labor.

"Oh my gosh, Katniss. She's so beautiful," Prim says, her voice not quite still a squeal but still very high pitched. Willow looks up at her aunt, and smiles.

"She smiled at me!" Prim squeals. I smile and have to stop myself from chuckling. Peeta and I were right. Prim is a very excited aunt.

Prim gently bounces Willow a little, turning a little bit in place, which just makes Willow smile. By now, I realize my mom has reached us. She walks right up to me and hugs me, and I hug her back.

"You were so brave. And you did so well. And I'll have to send a thank you letter to Seeder," she says into my ear, and I have to smile slightly. She pulls back a moment later and says, "I guess I should've told you more about what to expect in labor." We exchange a chuckle.

She then looks down at Willow, who is still being fauned over by Prim. "Oh, Katniss. She's beautiful. And so strong looking. I'm surprised she's doing this well despite being born 10 weeks early," my mother says.

I smile. "Want to hold her?" I ask. She looks at me, and I can see in her eyes without her even needing to say anything that she desperately does.

"Prim, let mom have a turn with Willow," I say. Prim looks up at me, and it's clear she doesn't want to relinquish Willow, but she caves and places Willow into my mother's experienced hands. My mother cradles Willow gently, smiling and looking down at the face of her granddaughter. I can see tears rolling down her cheeks.

I look up and see that Peeta's father and brothers have made their way over. As his brothers are exchanging hugs and greetings with Peeta, his dad comes over to me and hugs me. I'm a little surprised, but accept his hug.

After we pull apart, he smiles and says, "I'm sorry we haven't spoken more. Just know I'm very happy to have you as a daughter in law." I smile at the baker, and feel my eyes water a bit.

Then Peeta's brothers, Aaron and Rye, make their way over to me, and both hug me at the same time. I'm more surprised by their hug, but accept it.

When they pull back, Rye says, "Sorry we've never really talked. We just want to say welcome to the family, and that we're excited to have you as a sister in law." I can't help but smile.

I then turn to my mom. "I think her grandpa and uncles deserve some time with Willow," I say.

"Grandpa? Wow, I'm going to have to get used to that," the baker says, making all of us laugh. My mother hands Willow over to Rye, who holds her for a minute before passing her to Aaron. Aaron holds her for a minute before passing her to Mr. Mellark, who holds her for a minute.

Finally, I say, "Well, I think Peeta and I should get home. It's almost about Willow's nap time. She's going to start getting cranky soon."

Mr. Mellark hands her back to me, and I strap Willow back into her carrier. Me and Peeta head to the Victor's Village, and our family and Haymitch follow us there. Once we reach the Village, Peeta's family turns and heads back towards the bakery, while my mom and Prim go to their home and Haymitch heads off to his.

Me and Peeta cross the threshold into our home. Almost as if on cue, Willow starts to cry.

Me and Peeta chuckle. "I'll go put her down," I say, and I take Willow up to a bedroom we've already decided will be her nursery.

As I reach the nursery, to my surprise, there's a crib already sitting in the room. I see a note attached to it, and walk over to the crib, reading the note.

Congratulations on your little bundle of joy. I can't wait to meet her next year. Lots of love, Effie.

I smile, and feel a tear come to my eye at Effie's kindness. "We love you too, Effie," I whisper before a fresh cry from Willow draws my attention back to where it needs to be.

I soon manage to quiet Willow down and lay her down in the crib. After another minute she stops crying and drifts off to sleep.

I smile as I stand there, gazing down at my sleeping daughter. A tear rolls down my cheek, and I whisper, "No matter what, I promise you, Willow…I will always protect you, and I will never let anything bad happen to you."

And, with that, this story comes to an end. Hope you liked this last chapter.

I really enjoyed writing this story, and I really hope you all have liked it too. I hope you're excited for the sequel. I'll actually try and start the sequel within the next few days. I will post a notice to this story to let you know when it's been posted.

Well, I thank you all for following this story. Please leave one last review, and stay tuned for the sequel!

Raptor2216 signing off.