Chapter 5

"Don't be nervous, Baby. Well maybe, because my mom will be there for the first time since the divorce." Peeta tells Katniss.

It was the following weekend from his dinner at the Everdeen's. That Saturday, Katniss came by his office to tell him that her parents approve of him. It was a relief to Peeta, knowing the love of his life's parents approved of him.

He walked her up to the door of his family home. He decided it'd be best if he went and picked her up from her house. He would get more time to prep her on what his family would be like.

His brother Rye would be there because he lives there still and Wheaton and his wife are coming over with the new baby. Peeta had met his nephew Bannock a few weeks back, he was past his due date and came at 1pm in the day. Peeta was able to leave work early to go meet his nephew.

Peeta opens the door to reveal a gorgeous foyer with a marble staircase, white tile floors that lead into the parlor. Peeta led her into the parlor where most of his family was sitting. His father and Rye were in the kitchen cooking dinner while the rest were in the parlor.

Mostly everyone calls a friendly hello. stays silent. Katniss sees who she assumes to be Peeta's older brother, Wheaton sitting with a beautiful blonde woman next to him on the couch with an infant. What she assumes is their mother is the grumpy older woman in the arm chair. Peeta pulls her to sit on the opposite end of the couch as his brother.

"Wheaton, Roni, Bannie,...mom, this is my girlfriend Katniss."

Wheaton and Roni say hello politely. grumbled hello.

To break the ice, Veronica hands baby Ban to Katniss. Peeta loves seeing her hold a baby. It put this image in his head of her holding a baby that was his, not his brother's.

After some small talk with his brother and wife, Rye comes out to say hello and call them into the dining room.

Peeta holds her hand, walking them into the dining room where his dad sees Katniss and hugs her.

"Hello, Katniss. It is so wonderful to finally meet you. Peeta has been so much happier since he met you." says.

"Thank you, Peeta makes me so much happier as well."

They sit down for lamb stew. His father seems happy while his mother does not seem happy at all. His parents sat so far from each other. She had never known her parents to want to be apart.

Peeta's brothers kept the conversation flowing. Towards the end of the night Katniss is in the parlor talking with Peeta's brothers and Veronica. Katniss held baby Bannock.

Mrs. Mellark stayed in her arm chair looking unhappy. Katniss was wondering why she was even there.

She felt as if Mrs. Mellark was observing her. Katniss suspicions were confirmed when she stood up and looked to Peeta.

"I've seen enough. I'll be going now. Peeta I will call you tomorrow with my comments." Mrs. Mellark tell him.

Without another word she leaves. The entire atmosphere changes in the room and it suddenly feels lighter. Everyone laughs and Mr. Mellark comes in with a smile asking if she has finally gone.

"Well now we can get to the fun stuff." Mr. Mellark says happily. "I'm sorry Katniss, she insisted on coming after Wheaton told her he had plans and he spilled why."

"It's alright. She was...quiet." Katniss says. Baby Bannock makes a small cry, Katniss looks around everyone, panicked. Wheaton tightens his hold on his wife to let her know to see what happens. Peeta comes to sit closer to Katniss. He speaks gently to her with a calming voice as he wraps his arms around Katniss and come in front of her to support the baby with her.

"It's alright Kat, he's not gonna bite, he isn't even teething yet." Peeta says to her calmly.

"Why is he crying?" Katniss asks a little panicked.

"It's not a feeding or diaper." Roni says.

"According to his schedule, he's just being fussy" Wheaton says with a small smile.

"Let's handle this together." Peeta says calmly. "How about we stand up and sway a little bit, see if he calms down then?"

"Okay." Katniss agrees. Peeta helps her to her feet. He holds her back to his chest and places his arms back around her, under the baby and he sways them rhythmically. Bannock starts to whimper as his cries die down.

"See, he's putting himself back to sleep." Peeta says into her ear. He rests his head on her shoulder,looking at the baby is their arms. "Your so good at this."

"We'll get the baby fever out now. We aren't gonna have one for a while." Katniss says causing everyone including Peeta to giggle.

"I know."

"So I take it y'all have talked about a future?" Mr. Mellark asks.

"Yes, sir." Peeta tells his father. "Katniss graduates high school this spring and we will be married by this time next year."

"Where is the engagement in that plan?" Wheaton asks.

"Umm possibly around spring" Peeta says off handedly before giving his family a look from behind Katniss shoulder."

The baby becomes silent and Katniss hands him back to his mother.

"So I've heard that Mellarks only have boys." Katniss says to fill the silence.

"Yeah it's been that way for many years and it's been generations since we had a girl born into the Mellarks. That's part of what made my Ex Wife so grumpy and rude. She dreamed of a girl to dress up and be girly with. After Peeta she got angry." 's tone shifts to remorseful "I didn't know what she was doing to my boys for years. I came home early to surprise them and found the boys around Peeta and her angrily walking away. She beat him badly." His voice drifts low at the end.

Wheaton picks up for him. "He hadn't done anything. She just walked in and Rye and I heard the first hit. Peeta was always kind and gentle and never hit her back. All of us were captions of the high school wrestling teams."

Katniss looks up in shock at Peeta. "I'm so sorry"

"Oh Kat, it's alright. It was a few years ago. I'm fine." He kisses her forehead with his left arm around her waist. "I'm gonna take Katniss home." Peeta says holding her hand while she stands. "It's getting close to her curfew."

"Thank you for dinner, Mr. Mellark. It was wonderful. Lamb stew is my favorite and it's never been so good."

"Thank you dear! I just got the meat this morning from our local butcher."

"My father hunts for the local butcher." Katniss says.

"I love his game. It was wonderful meeting you, Katniss."

"You as well."

"I hope to see you around here soon."

They say goodbye and Peeta opens the door to her side of the car. He gets behind the wheel. He drives her home and they talked the entire way he kisses her goodnight. He watches her go inside before getting into his car and headed home.

Upon returning home, he finds his eldest brother has left with his wife and baby and Rye is still talking with his father in the parlor. He said goodnight to his father and Rye. He settled into bed and drifted into sweet dreams of Katniss and babies.