They play in the meadow. The dancing girl with the dark hair and blue eyes. The boy with the blond curls and gray eyes, struggling to keep up with her on his chubby toddler legs. Katniss and I sit back in our familiar spot under an old willow tree watching them laugh; thinking often to ourselves about how lucky we are to have them both. It took fifteen years for me to convince her that she was ready; that we were ready. I wanted them so badly. Watching Katniss cradle them in her arms for the first time were both the greatest moments of my entire life.
The questions are just beginning. The arenas have been completely destroyed, the memorials built, there are no more Hunger Games. But they teach about them in school, our daughter knows we played a role in them and our son will know in a few years as well. I know that Katniss is worried about this, but I remind her that it will be okay. Katniss has been the most extraordinary mother to our children, when the questions arrive she will answer them in a way that will make them braver. We have our book to help us teach them, and more importantly we have each other.
My children are so beautiful and so pure, but one day I will tell them. I'll tell them that on bad mornings, it feels impossible to take pleasure in anything because I am scared it will be taken away. That is when I look at their faces. They are perfect combinations of all of the good parts of Katniss and I. The three of them, the people I love more than anything in this world, keep me grounded. On the hard days I make a list in my head of all of our most special memories together. Our wedding day, holding my children for the first time, baking together in the evenings, walking in the woods on a spring day. It's like a game. Repetitive. Even a little tedious after more than twenty years.
But there are much worse games to play.
THE END
Thank you everyone for reading this story. I know that is was a long time coming. I have really been missing writing, and even after all these years my love for these characters has remained. I also really enjoy writing from Peeta's POV. If you have any suggestions for one-shots in Peeta's POV please let me know and I'd be happy to write some of them. They can be situations from any of the three books of the trilogy but written in Peeta's POV. Or even scenarios from after Mockingjay ends. Let me know. Thanks again! :)