CHAPTER 31

PART I

"Daddy?"

The sound of a child's soft voice slowly penetrated my sleep-fogged brain. I grunted something unintelligible and rolled over, clutching the blanket as I rolled, trying to trap its warmth against the chill night air. I was only partly successful. Winter had the Triad firmly in its grip and the bitter cold managed to seep into everything, no matter how well insulated. I shivered slightly and opened one eye, only to see it was still pitch-dark.

"Daddy? Wake up."

This time, the child's voice snapped me wide awake. I turned towards the sound and opened both eyes against the darkness. "Birch?" I managed to croak. "Hey, buddy. What are you doing outta bed?" I could just make out my son's small form in the dark room.

"I'm thirsty," the boy replied as he climbed up onto the bed. As Birch pulled himself up, I became aware that Katniss was no longer in bed. I propped myself up on one elbow and glanced towards the open bedroom door. I could see a faint trickle of light against the bedroom door jamb that could only come from the front of the house. "Momma's busy with Violet Rose," Birch said, and then added, "she said that you would get me a drink of water."

I chuckled softly. "Guess I better get you some water, buddy." With that, I threw the covers back, shivered as the cold night struck me, and slowly stood. Birch Everdeen-Mellark was almost five years old, the older of our two children, and was growing more and more independent with each passing day – even though he still needed help with a middle-of-the-night glass of water. His sister, Violet Rose Everdeen-Mellark, was two months old, and needed help with everything except messing her diaper. That she was very skilled at doing.

"Daddy, I'm thirsty," Birch said insistently. I sighed, pulled on a heavy robe, and turned to my son.

"Come on, buddy," I said softly as I draped one arm around his shoulders and guided him towards the door.

I caught a glimpse of Katniss sitting in the living room near the fireplace insert, nursing Violet Rose. She was looking down at our infant daughter, murmuring something unintelligible as the baby noisily suckled. The scene made me smile. Violet Rose was a very loud eater. An impatient tug at my hand reminded me of why I was up in the first place, and I allowed my son to pull me into the kitchen for his promised glass of water.

His thirst finally sated, Birch insisted on being allowed to say goodnight to his mother and baby sister. In other words, he ignored me when I told him that it was time to get back into his bed and instead made a beeline for his mother's rocking chair, with me chasing close behind. Katniss smiled when she saw him and extended her one free hand in an invitation for Birch to crawl up onto her lap.

"Daddy got me a drink, like you said," he announced after he settled on her lap.

"I know," Katniss replied as she flashed me a quick smile as I tiredly settled into an overstuffed easy chair on the other side of the insert. "He's such a good daddy."

"Yeah," Birch agreed with a nod, before asking, "why does Violet Rose eat like that?"

"You know why," Katniss gently chided our son. "She's too little to eat like you."

"I don't eat like that," Birch said with a yawn as he snuggled closer to Katniss.

"No you don't," Katniss agreed softly. "You're a big boy. Violet Rose is just a little baby."

Birch yawned again. I needed to get him back to bed before he nodded off on Katniss's lap. I rose from my chair and held out my arms. "Come on, buddy," I urged. "Time to tuck you back in."

Birch didn't argue and allowed me to lead him back into his bedroom. I tucked him in quickly, gave him a quick kiss on the forehead, and promised him a blueberry pancake breakfast in the morning. My son loved blueberry pancakes. I didn't blame him. So did I.

I quickly slipped out of Birch's bedroom and made my way wearily back to the living room, where Katniss was gently thumping my daughter's back to get her to burp. "He went right back to bed?" Katniss asked in surprise as I settled back into my chair.

"Yeah," I replied as I stifled a yawn. "I had to promise him blueberry pancakes, though."

At that moment, Violet Rose burped loudly. Katniss rose from her chair, careful not to jostle the baby too much, and carried the now-sleeping infant back to her nursery. As she brushed by my chair, she said quietly, "Go on back to bed, Peeta. You need to warm it up for me while I put Violet Rose back down."

"Hmmmf," I muttered as I stood and followed Katniss down the hall. "A bed-warmer," I sighed. "That's what it's come to. Fit for nothing else."

"Not true," Katniss grinned as she paused at Violet Rose's nursery door. "You also make wonderful cheese buns and blueberry pancakes."

I chuckled as Katniss disappeared through the nursery door, and listened for a moment as Katniss murmured to Violet Rose as our daughter made soft little baby-sounds while Katniss tucked her in. The ritual always made me smile, and I was smiling as I stopped briefly at the door to Birch's room. His deep, even breathing told me that he was asleep – hopefully for the rest of the night. Satisfied, I slipped back into the master bedroom and quickly crawled into bed. I shivered slightly – the bed had cooled considerably in the brief time that I had been up – and waited for Katniss to come back to bed.

We have been married for almost six years now. My bakery was doing a thriving business. The Triad was the fastest-growing community in Panem. Katniss still hunted from time to time but found it more and more difficult to get away for even a few hours, what with the demands placed on her by Birch and Violet Rose. She didn't seem to miss hunting, though. After Birch was born, Katniss discovered, to her surprise, that she loved motherhood. She had even - once the gender of our first-born had been determined - remained true to her family tradition of naming children after plants, although she did concede to give Birch my father's name, Liam, as his middle name. As for our daughter, though, Katniss couldn't decide on a name after the gender reveal. Her name was my idea. It really was a no-brainer once I saw her dark violet eyes, and her middle name was in honor of Katniss's sister. She was Violet Rose literally from the moment that she opened her eyes.

Katniss padded back into our bedroom, quickly slipped off her robe, and slipped into bed with me. "Mmmm," she murmured as she snuggled up to me. "The bed is nice and toasty. I think I'll keep you around for a while."

I kissed the top of her head. "Body heat, blueberry pancakes, and cheese buns. What a foundation for a marriage." I wrapped my arms around her. "You know, Katniss, if all Violet Rose needs is a diaper change, I can take care of that."

"I know," Katniss replied softly. "It's just that you've got the bakery, and you…haven't been sleeping very well lately."

Not sleeping well. That was our code for having raging nightmares, either about the Games or the War. They had gotten less frequent over the last few years, but they still surfaced every now and then. Mine tended to come in bunches over three or four nights and caused me to awaken gasping, unable to talk or even think coherently. Katniss might go for two or three weeks without having one, but when she did they were almost always accompanied by loud screams and crying, and it would always take me awhile to calm her down.

Lately it had been me that wasn't "sleeping well." I don't know how she knew – unlike Katniss, I was always quiet – but she knew. And tonight, I had been sleeping soundly – at least until Katniss had been forced to send Birch in to have me get his water. Although I appreciated Katniss's attempt to give me an uninterrupted night of sleep, I still felt bad about her getting up every single night with Violet Rose.

I decided to change the subject. "I saw Madge yesterday," I said softly, my voice light.

"I haven't seen her in weeks," Katniss said, her voice beginning to once again sound sleepy. "How is our new Mayor?"

The irony of Madge Undersee, the daughter of the last Mayor of District Twelve, being elected as the first Mayor of the Triad was not lost on me. "She looks like she's ready to pop at any time," I replied.

When Madge had arrived in the Triad, the summer before Birch was born, she had hinted that she had a surprise for everyone. We soon discovered that her surprise was none other than Finnick Odair. Prior to their arrival in the Triad, our last word on Finnick was that he had relocated to District Nine – where, coincidentally, Madge had been working - and Finnick, who was still grieving the loss of Annie Cresta, was grateful to find a familiar, friendly face. Madge had assured us that she had never considered any type of romantic relationship with Finnick – the way she explained it, Finnick was someone that needed a friend, and although he had known Madge from our time in District Thirteen, he didn't associate her with Annie the way he did with other surviving Victors.

In the beginning, their relationship was strictly one of friendship. It came as a shock to them both when they realized that they had ended up falling for each other. Still, it took almost two years from the time they arrived in the Triad before Finnick asked Madge to marry him. I had been honored to stand as Finnick's Best Man, while Katniss made an absolutely radiant Matron of Honor.

Now, they were expecting their first child – and Madge, despite being very pregnant, kept her same hectic schedule. "Typical Madge," Katniss murmured sleepily. "The last time I saw her, I tried to tell her that she needed to slow down a bit. Of course, she didn't listen. 'We have one chance to get this right, Katniss,' she told me. 'One chance to establish a just and fair government. I must be a part of that. I can't slow down.'"

I chuckled. "You're right. Typical Madge."

Katniss sighed softly and snuggled closer to me. "We need to get some sleep," she said softly. "You'll be exhausted at the bakery otherwise."

"I get the hint," I said and kissed her softly. "Goodnight, Katniss. I love you."

"I love you, Peeta."

PART II

Birch and Violet Rose were the two biggest changes in the life that Katniss and I had made for ourselves in the Triad. There were many smaller changes, and I was sitting behind the wheel of one of these changes right now. Learning to drive and buying a car had become a necessity once the bakery had been completed and operational. It simply wasn't practical to walk into town every day to work. Growing up in District Twelve, I had never learned how to drive – but then again, it really wasn't necessary, living above my families' bakery. Besides, no district resident could afford a car, not to mention that it had been virtually impossible to obtain a license to drive from the old Snow government.

Times have changed. And it certainly helped that President Pullman, now in her second term as Panem's first democratically-elected president, had been born and raised in District Six – also known as the "Transportation District." Her encouragement of all citizens to learn how to drive, coupled with new, easier regulations regarding the training and licensing of drivers, had the effect of putting thousands of new drivers on Panem's roads – not to mention the boon to District Six's economy. Automobile manufacturing was one of the first major industries to recover from the ravages of war and made Pullman the single most popular person in District Six. Even Katniss had learned how to drive, although she did so reluctantly.

The snowstorm from the night before had coated the road with a thick blanket of fresh snow, so I was forced to drive slowly and carefully. It was still quite dark as well, as dawn was still an hour away and the heavy overcast blotted out the moon and stars. Inside the car, however, it was warm, and soft music played over the radio, broadcast from a powerful transmitter in the Capitol.

Once I reached town, I found that the road conditions were a little better. Trucks laden with salt and sand had been busy clearing the streets since just after midnight, and I passed a snowplow heading out to begin clearing West Road, the road that I ran by my house. There was no other activity this early in the morning as I drove through town. Cartwright Shoe and Boot was closed, of course – Delly didn't open until nine – and the medical clinic was dark, although I did see a light on in the house behind the clinic, where the Picardo's – Dr. Joe and Cashmere – lived. I made a note to invite them out for dinner sometime soon. Cashmere and Dr. Joe's son – named Gloss, after Cashmere's brother – was three, and enjoyed playing with Birch.

As usual, I was the first to arrive at the bakery. I had three employees – Ruby, a young woman from District One whose family had fallen on difficult times after the war; Cotton, one of the District Eight refugees that Katniss had befriended shortly after our arrival here; and Mary, a fellow District Twelve refugee. Even though Mary had been a "townie" like me, her father had been a clerk at the Justice Building before the war, and had worked closely with the Capitol liaison, so I hadn't known her all that well. All three were hard workers, and, despite their vastly different backgrounds, got along very well together.

I parked my car behind the bakery, careful to leave the loading dock free. Cotton would pick up supplies before coming in to work – he drove the bakery truck home every night for that very reason – and I wanted to make sure that he would have no trouble backing the truck up to the building. Of course, that meant that I had a farther walk to the back door, which I made as quickly as possible, shivering all the way. It was a relief to get inside the bakery and start the ovens heating. I really loved this time of morning – it was quiet, and I could go about my tasks automatically. Besides, it reminded me of the mornings when I would be responsible for opening my families' old bakery in District Twelve – and, it brought back bittersweet memories of my father.

While the ovens heated, I started coffee brewing and heated water for tea. Then, I pulled racks of dough from the refrigerators in preparation for that mornings' baking. The dough had been prepared three or four days before and had been cooling in the refrigerators for a day or two. Soon, the aroma of bread and sweet rolls would fill the bakery. Once I had the racks and pans laid out, I would finally have some time to sit, relax, and have a cup of hot tea or coffee.

However, this morning was different. I had only been sitting for a couple of minutes, savoring my first strong cup of coffee for the morning, when I heard an insistent knocking on the front door. I was irritated at first – we wouldn't open for business for another ninety minutes, at least – but my irritation turned to surprise when I saw a very familiar face pressed against the glass of the bakery front door. It was someone that I hadn't seen in years.

Haymitch Abernathy was paying me a decidedly unexpected visit.

"I see some things never change," I observed wryly, as I sat across from Haymitch and watched him remove a small flask from an inner coat pocket and carefully pour a small amount of amber liquid into his cup of steaming coffee.

Haymitch chuckled softly. "Still a smart-ass, I see. You're right, boy. Some things never do change. And this –" he said as he held up the flask "- is purely medicinal. Politics is very taxing stuff."

"That's right," I said with a grin. "I heard about that. Congratulations, Senator Abernathy."

Haymitch made a rude noise and waved one hand dismissively. "I have Effie to thank for that. She won't admit it, by I'm sure she's payin' me back for draggin' her to live in District Twelve."

There had been much debate over what to do with the two "dead" districts – Eight and Twelve. Some in the new government were in favor of writing off both districts, while others were in favor not letting habitable land go to waste. Although a good portion of District Eight was still highly irradiated, much of the outlying tracts were not only habitable, but possessed standing textile factories that could be put back into operation. Twelve had been another matter entirely. Burned almost entirely to the ground, at first there seemed to be little urgency in resettling – until a routine survey discovered an unusual abundance of vegetation growing there that possessed a variety of medicinal properties. An experimental pharmaceutical plant, staffed by a handful of scientists from the Capitol, confirmed the potential for manufacturing high-quality drugs right there in Twelve, so the decision had been made to construct a fully operational factory to produce much-needed medicines for the rest of Panem.

By that time, Haymitch had become bored with life in the Capitol, and had reluctantly admitted to being more than a little homesick for District Twelve. Of course, his biggest challenge was in convincing Effie that a move to Twelve was the right thing to do for them both. For her part, Effie didn't need a whole lot of convincing. She had miscarried twice, despite the best efforts of the doctors in the Capitol and had despaired of ever being able to have children. By then she was open to a change of scenery, and Twelve was being rebuilt in such a way as to not even resemble the old district. Of course, once they had settled in to their new home (Victors' Village had been destroyed in the attack by the Capitol), Effie found herself missing the more urbane lifestyle of the Capitol, and, as a substitute, turned towards working with the newly-formed district government and their efforts to establish a working infrastructure. And her biggest contribution had been Haymitch.

"It was a compromise, actually," Haymitch continued. "Effie wanted me to run for governor. Now, that was one headache I could do without! So we agreed that I would be better suited as a senator and represent Twelve in the Capitol."

I chuckled. "Who ended up as governor?" I asked.

Haymitch shrugged. "You wouldn't know her. Drusilla Quigley. Capitolite, of all people. She knows Joe Picardo well. Used to teach pharmacology at Capitol University. She was one of the ones that pushed for the factory in Twelve. A pretty decent sort, even if she's a bit stuffy. Effie loves her."

"And how is Effie?" I asked. "I'm surprised she didn't come along on this trip with you."

"She wanted to," Haymitch replied carefully, "but she didn't want to risk another miscarriage."

"Congratulations!" I said enthusiastically. I stood and embraced my old Mentor. "When did you find out?"

"Two weeks ago," Haymitch said. "We're hopin'. And don't say anything to anybody. I'm tellin' you and Katniss…you two are the only ones who'd say anything about me bein' here without Effie…but that's it."

"Not a word, I promise," I said sincerely, and then added, "I am curious, though. Exactly why are you here?"

"I can't say, just yet," Haymitch said mysteriously. "But I'm pretty sure you and Katniss will be surprised."

PART III

"Dinner? Tonight?"

Katniss managed to sound irritated and exasperated at the same time. "I know it's short notice," I said, speaking rapidly. "But Haymitch said that it's important."

Katniss shifted Violet Rose from her left arm to her right. "If it's that important he can come out here for dinner then. Or, you could have warned me earlier."

"He asked me to not say anything," I replied, aware at how lame that sounded. "Look, Katniss. I'm sorry for not calling you earlier. But if Haymitch said that it's important, well, then I trust him."

Katniss sighed. "Where are we supposed to have dinner?"

"At Madge and Finnick's," I said, and then added, "It shouldn't be a late night. The kids shouldn't be up too much past their bedtime."

"I was just doing leftovers tonight," Katniss said, almost to herself. She sighed again. "Okay. What I was gonna fix will keep until tomorrow. What time are we supposed to be there?"

I shrugged. "Haymitch didn't give me a time. Just to be there whenever we could get there."

Katniss snorted, shook her head, and picked up the phone. "I'm sure Madge wouldn't appreciate us showing up 'whenever,'" she said as she quickly dialed, and then put the phone to her ear. "If she's expected to feed – hello, Madge? It's Katniss. Listen, Peeta just told me –"

As Katniss spoke, I decided that this would be a good time for me to make a discreet exit and see what I could do about getting Birch ready to go.

Haymitch belched loudly. "Finnick," he said contentedly as he leaned back in his chair, "I never would've guessed you for the chef type. Where the hell did you learn how to cook like that?"

Finnick flashed a somewhat embarrassed grin. "Well, every Victor had to develop a 'talent.' I simply chose to learn culinary arts from some of the real masters in the Capitol. It's also one that I chose to keep hidden from the rest of Panem."

"He spoils me," Madge chimed in. Very pregnant, she shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "I've never eaten better." She began to awkwardly climb to her feet, which earned her a stern look from Finnick.

"Sit," he said firmly, as Madge settled back into her chair with a resigned sigh. "I'll clear the table." He rose smoothly and began to gather plates and silverware. "I believe you and Haymitch have something to discuss with Katniss and Peeta."

Katniss shot a questioning look at Madge, who simply shrugged and held up an index finger in the universal "wait" gesture. I glanced at Haymitch, who sat impassively picking his teeth. He remained silent while Finnick, who refused all offers of help, quickly cleared the table. Finally, as Finnick disappeared into the kitchen, Katniss turned towards Haymitch and spoke one word. "Well?"

"Y'all know that the senate just concluded a session in the Capitol," Haymitch said. "There were three items of business that we wanted to settle before the Harvest Day holiday break. First item on the agenda dealt with renaming the districts. So, each district in Panem will vote on a district name next summer, during the Summer Solstice election cycle."

"Fascinating," Katniss said dryly. "And you came all the way out here to tell us that?"

"I'm gettin' to th' good part, Sweetheart," Haymitch said with a chuckle. "And it concerns the second item of business. Effective, let's see – yep, it's effective as of midnight tonight – the Triad will officially become Panem's fourteenth district. And, as it already more or less has a name, it will continue to be known and referred to as the Triad. Actually, the 'Triad District.'"

"That's nice and all," I said, "but did you really need to come back here to tell us that?"

"Oh, there's more," Haymitch continued with a sly grin. "In my capacity as District Twelve's Senator, I'm privy to the candidates for the official name for Twelve. There's a few names bein' tossed around, but there's one that seems to be leavin' the others in the dust."

"Oh?" Katniss said. "I suppose that you can't tell us, right?"

"Wrong," Haymitch replied, his grin widening. "Come this summer, say goodbye to District Twelve, and say hello the District of Everdeen."

Katniss stared at Haymitch in amazement for long seconds before she finally uttered a single word. "No."

Haymitch leaned back in his chair. "Well, Sweetheart," he drawled, "I'm 'fraid that the name 'Everdeen' already has the support of three-quarters of the current population o' Twelve."

Katniss had been trying to get Violet Rose to burp, but the baby had not been cooperative – until that moment, when she spit up the contents of her recent feeding. Normally this would not have been an issue, but Violet Rose happened to choose the exact moment when Katniss was shifting our daughter from one shoulder to another. Katniss could only watch helplessly as soured milk splashed across her lap. "Dammit," she muttered as she groped for the cloth diaper that she had draped over one shoulder – Violet Rose's "burp rag."

"Here," Haymitch said as, surprising everyone, he reached over and gathered Violet Rose up, allowing Katniss to attempt to clean herself without being encumbered by the baby. "Lemme take her."

"I can take her, Haymitch," I said quickly as I leaned forward, my arms outstretched.

Haymitch waved me off. "I got this," he said firmly. "I need the practice."

Katniss didn't argue and continued to dab at the mess while Haymitch awkwardly cradled Violet Rose in his arms. "Perfect timing," she muttered. "My daughter upchucks all over me right when my Mentor tells me that I can't ever be left in peace."

Haymitch snorted. "What're you talkin' about, Sweetheart? You and Peeta have been pretty much left alone for years. Like it or not, want it or not, you've been in the public eye ever since that day over eight years ago when you stepped forward and bravely announced, 'I volunteer as Tribute.' I don't think Twelve wantin' to rename the district after a home-grown hero is such a horrible thing." He glanced at Madge. "Talk to her, Governor," he said, almost pleadingly.

"Governor?" Katniss and I said in unison.

"It's not official," Madge said, obviously embarrassed.

"The hell it ain't," Haymitch continued. "In a few hours the Triad officially becomes a district. And districts now have governors. Get used to it, Madge."

"Regardless," Madge said dismissively, "I told you before, Haymitch, that Katniss would hate the idea of Twelve being renamed with her family name."

"You're right, Madge," Katniss added firmly. "I do hate the idea."

Haymitch shook his head. "You don't get it, do you? This is just the beginnin', Sweetheart. You're the Mockingjay, dammit! You –"

"Don't call me that!" Katniss snapped angrily.

"Haymitch," I said quickly, "all we want is to be left to live in peace. Is that so much to ask?"

Haymitch chuckled humorlessly. "You two have been livin' here for years, cuttin' yourselves off from the rest o' Panem. You ain't got a clue as to what's happenin' out there." He jerked a thumb over his shoulder as he spoke. "This country has been puttin' itself back together ever since the end o' the war. There's still a shit-ton o' refugees out there that ain't got a pot to piss in. There's hardly a family anywhere in Panem, district and Capitol alike, that hasn't lost a brother, sister, son, daughter, mother, or father to the war. In Twelve, only one person in ten was from there originally. And you know what everyone can agree on?"

"No," Katniss said softly, her voice almost a whisper.

"Well, I'll tell ya, Sweetheart. They all think you're a hero. An' people like to remember and honor their heroes." Haymitch glanced over at me. "That goes for you, too. I heard tell that they want to rename the old Justice Building square, where the Reapin's were held, to 'Mellark Square.' That's just the start. Give 'em fifty years and every city and town in Panem will have schools, streets, and buildings named after you. That's why I'm tellin' you both this now. Accept the honors gracefully, attend the dedications, make some speeches – Effie will help you with that part - and the rest of the time you'll be left alone. If you squawk about it, word will get out, and you'll have reporters camped out in front of your house hopin' to get a juicy quote from one o' you."

"I never thought about that," Katniss said. Her voice was calm, but I could tell that she was upset. So could our son, who appeared from the living room, where he had been watching some kids program on the holo. Wordlessly, Birch crawled onto Katniss's lap and rested his head on her chest. The effect on Katniss was immediate, and she visibly relaxed.

"Why are you sad, Mommy?" Birch asked Katniss. There were tear tracks trailing down both sides of Katniss's face. Katniss rarely allowed herself to cry, but when she did, she almost always did so quietly. She was well versed in the art of silently weeping.

Katniss kissed the top of our son's head. "I'm not sad, baby," she murmured. "Mommy's just a little upset."

"At me?" Birch was almost whispering.

"Oh, no, baby." Katniss pulled Birch up so she could look him in the eye and forced herself to smile. "I'm not upset with you."

"With Daddy?" our son asked.

Katniss shook her head. "No, not with Daddy."

"Your momma is not happy with your Uncle Haymitch, kiddo," Haymitch said. He had Violet Rose up on one shoulder and was gently patting her back as the baby snuggled in closer to him.

Birch shifted around so he could see Haymitch. "Why?"

Haymitch chuckled. "Kids. They're so direct and to the point."

"Mommy is upset with something Uncle Haymitch told her," I explained to Birch. "Not with Uncle Haymitch."

"And I'm afraid that we ain't done," Haymitch said.

Katniss eyed him warily. "What does that mean?"

"This part concerns Peeta," Haymitch explained, and then glanced at Madge. "I'll let you do the honors, Governor."

Madge sighed resignedly. "It's like this, Peeta," she explained. "You know how we just told you that the Triad will officially become a district effective at midnight?"

"Yes," I replied. "But what has that got to do with me?"

"Well," Madge continued slowly, "Haymitch was right. In just a few hours I will cease being Mayor and become Governor of the Triad. At least until the next election cycle."

"That's not until late next fall," I pointed out. "Again, what does that have to do with me?"

Madge took a deep breath. "A district needs representation in the Capitol. A senator, like Haymitch. In my first official act as Governor of the Triad, I am appointing Peeta Mellark to be our first Senator."

I stared at Madge in a combination of amazement and disbelief. "I don't want the job!"

"You said that we'd be left alone!" Katniss snapped at Haymitch.

"An' you will," Haymitch said calmly. "Peeta can still have his bakery. When he's home, his duties shouldn't take more than an hour or two each day. O' course, he'll have to spend some time in the Capitol when Congress is in session, but that ain't so bad."

"Running the bakery is a full-time job," I said, my voice firm. "I don't have an extra two hours a day."

"I met your employees today," Haymitch said. "Mary seems pretty sharp. I'm sure she'd like a little more responsibility. Give her some o' your duties."

"Peeta," Madge added, "it's only for a few months. You don't have to run for re-election later this year." She paused for a moment. "Please," she pleaded. "I'm sorry to have dropped this on you like this, but we need you now. No – I need you."

"Trust me, kid," Haymitch chimed in, "by the time the next election cycle rolls around, you'll have half a dozen yahoos that are convinced that they can do a better job. All you gotta do is announce that you aren't seeking re-election, sit back, an' watch the fur fly."

I glared at Haymitch and Madge. "Do I have a choice?" I asked bitterly.

"Peeta," Haymitch said as he leaned forward, being careful to cradle the baby's head with his free hand, "trust me when I say you'd be perfect for the job. You don't want it, so I know you ain't goin' in with some kinda agenda or ax to grind. Yeah, you got a choice. I just hope you'll choose to accept the job."

I glanced at Katniss. She was angry, her lips compressed into a thin, bloodless line. "I need to think about this," I said slowly.

"You can't be serious!" Katniss snapped.

"No need to make a decision now," Haymitch said reasonably. "Take your time."

"Thanks," I muttered, and then added, "I just want to be clear that I really don't want to do this."

Madge reached over and grasped my hand. "I know. And I knew you wouldn't be happy about it."

Katniss stood abruptly. "We need to leave," she announced flatly. Without waiting for a response, she gathered up the baby's diaper bag. "Peeta, can you get Violet Rose?"

"Sweetheart –" Haymitch began.

"Not now, Haymitch," I said firmly as I relieved him of my sleeping daughter. Violet Rose barely stirred as I raised her to my shoulder. Behind me, I could hear Katniss open the front door, and a sudden chill draft told me that she hadn't bothered to close it. "You need to learn to stop talking once in a while."

I then turned to Madge. "Don't get up," I said as Madge began to struggle to her feet. "Thank you for dinner, Madge. And please thank Finnick also and tell him goodnight from us both."

"Peeta," Madge said apologetically, "if this will cause problems with you and Katniss –"

I chuckled and shook my head. "It already has. Don't worry about it." I bent down, carefully cradling my daughter, and kissed Madge on the cheek. "I'll talk to you soon. G'night."

As I shut the door behind me, the last thing I heard was Haymitch chuckle, "Well, that went well," and Madge's terse response. "Zip it, Haymitch." I sighed, my breath forming a cloud around my head, and trudged quickly to the car, where Katniss was waiting impatiently.

Katniss didn't say a single word during the entire drive home.

PART IV

I turned the bathroom light off and quietly shut the door behind me. Katniss was already in bed. Our bedroom was illuminated by a small reading light on my side of the bed. I shivered slightly – the cold winter night seeped in despite our best efforts – and padded to the bed, but I didn't crawl under the covers right away. Instead, I stood next to the bed until Katniss finally turned towards me and spoke.

"Are you planning on standing there freezing?" she asked archly.

"Well," I slowly replied, "I was debating my options."

"What options?" Katniss asked impatiently.

"Whether it's safer to get into bed with you," I said, "or to take my chances on the living room couch."

Katniss's face clouded up for a moment, and then softened. "Get into bed with me," she murmured, and pushed the covers back in invitation. "I might be upset, but I'm not that upset."

Gratefully, I crawled into our warm bed and Katniss immediately snuggled against me. "I'm still not happy with you for not rejecting that so-called 'offer' that Madge and Haymitch made you," she said softly. "I can't believe that you told them you'd think about it. And I can't believe that they want to name Twelve after me!"

"I can believe it," I said softly. "No one person in Panem has been identified more with the Rebellion than you." I felt Katniss stiffen slightly. "Hey," I continued as I pulled her closer to me, "I know you don't want it. But we spend our whole lives doing things that we don't want to do but must do anyway. You volunteered for the Games –"

"To save Prim!"

"– but you didn't want to fight in the Games," I finished, and then added, "Yes, I know. To save Prim, you did something that you didn't want to do. In fact, I'm sure you thought you were gonna die. Later, we fought a war, and no one wants war – but we did it because we had to."

"What are you getting at, Peeta?" Katniss asked, her soft voice tinged with impatience.

"Just this," I replied. "Haymitch made a good point. We've been left alone for years – allowed to build a nice, quiet life for ourselves here in the Triad. And the rest of the country was too busy putting itself back together again to bother us. Well, now they've remembered that we're still here, and they want to – I don't know, preserve our legacy or something. What we did – what you did – is something that future generations will want to remember. And if it helps people two hundred years from now to remember by people now naming District Twelve after you, or the Justice Building Square after me, then let them." I chuckled softly. "They're gonna do it anyway. Like Haymitch said, we gracefully accept, make a few speeches, and get on with our quiet little lives."

"But that's not all they want to do," Katniss murmured, a touch of bitterness in her voice. "They want to make you a senator. Peeta, you've done enough. We've done enough!"

"Not they," I corrected. "Madge. Well, Madge and Haymitch."

"Some friends," Katniss muttered.

"Madge wants what's best for the Triad," I said. "She wants someone that she knows will fight for what we need in the Capitol. Money for public services, for schools and roads, a real hospital instead of Picardo's little clinic – that's what we need. And she can't fight the new government and run things here."

Katniss shifted around and turned towards me, her silvery-gray eyes boring into mine. "You're going to take their offer, aren't you?"

"The Triad is our home now," I pointed out. "You and I, we have all the money that we will ever need. Same with Cashmere and Doc Joe, likewise Finnick and Madge. We need something, we just get on the phone or on a PADD and order it. But people like Ruby, and Mary, and Cotton – they can't. The Triad is a district of refugees. And they need a voice in the Capitol."

Katniss sighed and dropped her head down to my chest. "And you feel that voice has to be yours."

I gently ran the tips of my fingers over her face. "I didn't at first," I admitted. "But I realize now why Madge and Haymitch want me. If I can help people…Katniss, believe me when I say that this is not something I would have sought to do. But I don't see anyone else here that could do what Madge and Haymitch want me to do." I paused for a moment and allowed myself a small smile. "Maybe I can finally use my Victor celebrity status for a constructive purpose."

Katniss sighed. "I just wish they would forget that we're here." She grabbed my hand and kissed my fingers. "But I can't argue with anything that you've said."

"Katniss," I said slowly, "I won't accept if you really don't want me to."

Katniss's lips curled up in a small smile of her own. "In that case, I want you to take it. But only if you do two things for me."

"Conditions?" I asked teasingly. "I'm almost afraid to ask. Okay, what are they?"

"I want to go with you when you have to go to the Capitol," Katniss said. "Prim's so busy with school, she never has a chance to get away to visit and see her niece and nephew."

"I was planning on taking you anyway," I said with a chuckle. "Okay. Number two."

"Promise me that you won't run for re-election," Katniss said firmly. "I'm willing to share you only until Madge can find someone that she doesn't have to talk into taking the job."

"I promise," I replied softly.

"In that case," Katniss whispered as she pulled my face to hers, "let me give you your first kiss as a public servant, Senator Mellark."

I was more than willing to accommodate my wife's request.