Arrion prompt : I also have had an idea of prompt in my head for a while: What if Peeta argue with Katniss because he wants children, and he drags Effie and Haymitch in the argument because they have a child (Orianna or another) ?

Time Is All We Need

Effie was dozing off on her knitting, the house was too calm, the silence only broken by light snoring. She glanced at the two figures sleeping on the couch, unable to stop herself from checking on them every two minutes : Haymitch was on his back, his head rolled on one side and his mouth open, an arm dangling, his other hand gently holding the baby in place; four months-old Oria was sprawled on his chest, on her tummy, leaving an expanding patch of drool on his shirt.

They were so cute she almost got up to grab the camera and take a picture but she was feeling too tired to move. Between her still-present nightmares and Oria who never slept through the night, they were all in need of a good nap. She was about to put her knitting aside to have a lie-in herself when she heard the back door creak open and closed.

The children, at least, had learned not to slam doors anymore.

It wasn't long before Peeta appeared in the living-room. She immediately placed a finger on her lips and he nodded in understanding.

"I'm going to town." he whispered. "Do you need anything?"

Effie looked around the living-room – which was a real mess of opened packages, child toys scattered all over the place, and clothes that she had never finished folding – and thought that what she really needed was a housekeeper.

"No, dear, thank you." she answered with a kind smile. Peeta smiled back but it felt strained and it didn't reach his eyes. "Is everything alright?"

The boy wavered and then sighed. "Katniss and I had a fight."

"Again?" She hadn't meant to say it aloud and certainly not on that tone. Oria stirred in her sleep but didn't wake up so Effie lowered her voice. "I beg your pardon, that was uncouth."

Peeta shrugged. "It's true, though. All we do is fight lately." His eyes fell on Oria and there was such longing on his face, she knew at once what it was about.

"Give her time." Effie advised softly. "She's not ready yet."

"When will she be?" the boy scoffed, running a hand on his face. "I love her, I really do. More than anything, you know that, but she doesn't want kids. Ever. And I…" He sighed again, his shoulders slouched. He looked defeated. "I don't know if I can live with that."

"You're both still so young…" She held out her hand to Peeta and squeezed his fingers comfortingly. "You still have time. Give her some time, she will change her mind."

"You don't know that." Peeta argued.

"Of course, I do." Effie smiled. "Haymitch spent thirteen years telling me he would never ever have children. He was scared and Katniss is just the same. One day, she will realize there is nothing to be afraid of anymore but it has to come from her. You can't push her or force her into this, Peeta, you need to be patient."

"Maybe." he offered but he still looked sad. "It's just… I can't wait to have one of my own." He nodded to Oria and a small smile graced his lips.

"You're welcome to babysit her for a whole night and then tell me that again." Effie chuckled.

That made Peeta crack a real smile. Haymitch was grumbling enough about his lack of sleep lately that everyone in the District knew about Oria's habits to wake up every two hours.

Effie took back her knitting while the boy ranted a bit longer about Katniss' annoying quirks until it turned into grand declarations about how he even loved what he hated about her. By the time he finally left to go into town, Effie had finished her baby blanket and Oria was starting to wake up. She scooped the baby up with an easiness born from practice just as Oria began to cry.

"Shh…" she tried to soothe her, rocking her gently. "Daddy's asleep."

"Daddy was asleep." Haymitch mumbled, rolling on his side. "'Need me to take her?"

He wasn't totally awake yet but it was impressive how accustomed they had both become at doing things while still half-asleep.

"No, you can sleep some more." She bent down to press a kiss on his cheek and Oria immediately seized the opportunity to grab some of his hair and pull. He was so used to it, he didn't even wince. She pried his hair out of the baby's grip, replacing it with the stuffed bear she liked best. It was flung at the couch in a matter of seconds.

"Someone's fussy." Haymitch snorted. "Careful, sweetheart, she has your temper."

"She's demanding." Effie corrected in a huff. "There's nothing wrong with that."

She still could hear his mocking laughter even after she had walked to the kitchen.

Silly man.