A fun little drabble I wrote on Tumblr for Christmas, based on a prompt where Katniss knits red scarves for Peeta and their family for the holidays.

I do not own the Hunger Games un beta'd all mistakes are mine

Katniss was tired of Peeta's orange scarf. He wore it year after year. It was his favorite scarf (she'd knitted it for him). She wanted, no scratch that needed, to knit him a new one. A red-orange color, that was more red than orange but that would look amazing on his rosy cheeks.

Knitting was a way for her to relax and to rest. It was a creative conduit for her to express her artwork. With the kids getting older, life was more hectic and her days crawling around in the woods for hours on end were slowing down. She needed to do with her idle hands. Knitting became her new hobby and it helped calm her and funnel energy.

It was quiet in the house. The kids were in their bedrooms relaxing or sleeping. Peeta was upstairs unwinding after a stressful day at the bakery. Katniss was happy he had taken off until the second day of the new year. Peeta always made it a point to spend more time with her and the kids. He took off on their birthdays and on the holidays he made sure that he was present. Their kids were still young but it would be only a matter of time before they grew up and forgot the joy and wonder of childhood.

The grandfather clock chimed, the wind blew and Katniss glanced around her chair to look out the window. It was snowing.

Katniss put the finishing touches on the smallest of her creations. She took the brown recycled wrapping paper and began to wrap them up. She took markers and ribbons and made the packages festive.

Tomorrow was Christmas and she couldn't wait until Peeta came downstairs with the kids to open up presents.

Sighing she took the brightly colored gifts and stuffed them into his stocking. Katniss also made smaller sets and put them in his stocking. Her hands trembled slightly at the small gift that she was sure was going to cause Peeta to whoop with glee. Her hand strayed to her stomach, she still wasn't showing yet. She stuffed the other two stockings with identical scarfs, hats, and mittens.

Then she stuffed them with spiced oranges, dried pineapples, small toys Haymitch whittled for them out of wood. Finally, Katniss put homemade caramels, mint candies, and rock candies in each of their stockings. Next year there would be six stockings. Katniss could only imagine what Haymitch would say. Most likely she could picture him saying something like the kid needed to stop as they were going to be outnumbered. She chuckled to herself.

The checkup had come as a surprise she hadn't suspected she could be pregnant. She'd been extra tired lately, but Katniss thought it was because of the holidays and the kids having more activities. The results however sent her for a loop.

Twins.

It was a joyous predicament. Katniss thought she couldn't have any more children, given her body wear and tear because of the war, her age, and how difficult it had been to be able to have her two children. For days she floated with the thought and it pushed her to make the scarves beautiful bright vibrant hats, scarves, and mittens.

The color was a promise to always live life with vigor, courage, and glee.

Humming to herself she was going to head upstairs when she heard his uneven gate as he came down the stairs. "Hon, you coming?"

"Yes," Katniss said, meeting him on the landing. She stood on tiptoe to wrap her arms around his neck.

Peeta easily carried her and she laughed. He was still strong, and even though she knew he could lift hundred-pound bags over his head she was still surprised he could carry her.

"Playing Santa again?" He murmured against her cheek when they were settled in the bed.

"Hmmm," she muttered as sleep and his arms carted her off into sleep world.

The next morning the sound of stampeding horses woke her up. The kids were on the third floor and they were awake. She could hear them as they made their way to the stairs.

"The horde is awake,' Peeta murmured into her ear.

"They are your lot," Katniss ground out wiggling closer to him for warmth.

Peeta chuckled. "So when they're good their yours and when their trouble makers their mine?"

"You got it." She grinned against his neck. She sniffed him leaving early in the morning he smelled good, like cinnamon and warm spices like dill.

Peeta playfully smacked her bottom. Katniss giggled and she gave Peeta a heated look. The kid's giggles got closer.

"Dang don't look at me like that," Peeta groaned.

The kids knocked on the door.

"Later," Katniss said winking before getting up. "Come on it's Christmas."

Together they bounded down the stairs. Amid the fury of torn wrapping and squeals, Katniss watched her family smiling serenely. Her hands itched to rub her belly. She needed to save that action until they got to the stockings, so she gripped her hands tightly. When the time came she watched the kids pull the stockings from the mantle.

Peeta handed hers but she didn't touch the stocking. She instead enjoyed watching Peeta watch the kids. His eyes sparkled and his dimples deepened as he watched his little boy and girl ooh and ahh at the homemade scarves and candies.

He turned to her, his happy eyes twinkling brighter than the lights on the tree. Peeta loved seeing his family aglow with love and peace.

"You should open yours," Katniss urged pointing to his stocking.

"Oh yeah," Peeta said.

She watched him take out the scarf, "You made us match," he said.

"Hmmm," she replied. "I did more than that."

He raised an eyebrow at the husky tone in her voice. He pulled out another package. He squished it in his hands, shook it, as an intrigued smile played on his lips. His look became one of pure confusion as he pulled out a small scarf and then another, "Kitchen towels?"

Katniss said nothing as he pulled out another smaller gift and then his eyes widened with wonder and awe as he saw there were two little hats and four pairs of mittens. His eyes went to the kids, then went to hers, then drifted down to her belly.

"Next year, we'll be a family of six in red," Katniss said. Right before she was engulfed in a huge Peeta-sized hug.

…

The following year they stood outside the house to take their holiday card with their scarves in the snow Peeta with one baby, and she with the other, in their red hats, scarves, and mittens for their holiday a family of six in red.

The End…

Merry Christmas from the Mellarks