The last chapter—it's been a crazy ride in this little version of 'Knocked Up'!

The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy do not belong to me.

Thank you to Chelzie, my beta, for getting this out!

One

Part Eleven: Delivery

Labor hurt.

Whoever told Katniss that it was a beautiful experience was a fucking liar.

Because it wasn't beautiful, it was horrible—full of cramps that seemed to last forever.

And they made her want to do things to Peeta—not very nice things.

For example, as he patted her forehead with a cool towel—she visualized herself strangling him with it.

"Drugs, please!" she pleaded with Effie as she lay in her hospital bed.

"That wasn't part of the birthing plan, Katniss," Effie said calmly as she looked at the machine by Katniss' bed to check on the baby's heart rate, a pair of scrubs in her hands. She was still wearing the full-skirt of her dress from the wedding.

"FUCK THE PLAN!" she screamed as another contraction ripped through her body.

"These contractions are on top of each other," the woman responded. "So we're getting there. I have to say, Katniss—you really held it together for the ceremony."

Peeta and Katniss' families burst in, both sets of grandparents along with siblings, as well as Johanna and Gale. Effie went to the nurse who had led them in.

"Prep her for delivery and get her husband some scrubs." The doctor looked at the Everdeens and Mellarks, giving them a smile. "Get ready to meet the newest member of your family in an hour or two."

Katniss pulled herself out of the painful haze to look at her husband. "Peeta?"

He approached her cautiously. "Yes?"

Tears filled her eyes. "I'm sorry, but I have to warn you—while I'm still normal," she told him tiredly. "I'm going to be a nightmare; a crazy bitch of a nightmare." Katniss looked over at their families. "And I can't deal with them while I push this meatloaf out of somewhere that is as small as a toothpaste tube opening."

Peeta nodded and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "I'll talk to them."

"And Peeta?" He turned to her and she reached for his hand. "Thank you."

His lips fell into a smile. "For what?"

"For teaching me how to drink a Lemon Drop."

"What do you mean that we can't come in while she delivers?" Laurel asked incredulously. "I'm her mother!"

"I understand that," Peeta told her diplomatically. "But we have to do this alone. We're adults—married adults."

"Who will help time her contractions?" Anna asked him. "Do you even have the Lamaze breathing down?"

"LISTEN!" Peeta suddenly called out. "This is OUR baby—not anyone else's! MINE AND KATNISS' BABY! I belong in that room because I am the father—"

He looked around at all them—the Mellarks, the Everdeens, the Masons, and the Hawthornes, as well as Haymitch, who had just joined them minutes earlier. Peeta's roommates sat across from the families, uncomfortable in the sterile setting.

"YOU SEE THIS AREA? THIS IS FOR ALL OF YOU!" Peeta pointed down the hall. "THAT ROOM IS OURS! SO UNLESS I ASK YOU TO COME IN—STAY OUT OF IT!" He stared everyone down. "Now, does everyone understand?"

They all nodded in shock.

"Mr. Mellark?" Peeta looked to see a nurse standing before him, her eyes wide from coming in during his tirade. "Dr. Trinket wanted me to show you the changing room so you can get into your scrubs." He took a deep breath and nodded before disappearing down the hallway, not bothering to look at the stunned crowd behind him.

"Damn—Peeta threw it down!" Thresh suddenly said from his seat. "Didn't I say that he would finally blow up on delivery day?" He stood up and looked to Finnick and Cato. "PAY UP, FUCKERS!" The two boys threw money at their roommate.

"He yelled at me," Anna said with a pout and her husband put an arm around her.

"Me, too," Laurel said and Gabe gave her a sympathetic smile. She suddenly grinned. "I think they're going to be okay."

Hour One

"Giving birth seems wicked boring," Annie groaned as she moved her head from side to side. She looked over at Gale and Johanna. "So how was it for you?"

Johanna smiled at her. "For me, it was painful until the drugs."

"Sounds bad…" Annie responded as she played with her hair. She looked to Gale. "So does her vagina feel any different now that a giant baby head has popped out of it?"

He stared at her for a moment. "Huh?"

"Does it feel different? Like, is it like throwing a hot dog down a hallway down there?" Annie continued, her eyes penetrating the man.

Gale looked over at Finnick. "Do I have to answer?"

"I find that the more you don't answer, the more personal they'll get," Finnick replied.

"Peeta?" Katniss looked to him, tears from the pain of her last contraction glistening off her cheeks. "I've learned a very important lesson from all this."

"What is it?" he responded with a smile.

"Sex is bad." She laid back against her pillow. "I mean, really bad."

Peeta sat next to her on the bed. "Is it really all that bad?"

Taking the cup of ice chips on the side table, he took a piece and ran it over her lips. She felt the familiar shiver of his touch run over her before Peeta leaned down to kiss her softly. Katniss let his tongue brush over her and she sighed against him as he pulled away.

Katniss stared at him incredulously.

"What?" he asked.

"I can't believe how seriously turned on I am right now," she told him and he chuckled before placing a kiss on her nose.

"Well, I'm about to obliterate that feeling." They looked to see Effie approaching them as she took a pair of disposable gloves from the holder by the door. "It's time for me to check how dilated you are."

Hour Two

"So what's the deal with you two?" Prim asked as she sat across from Cal and Will.

Will smiled handsomely at her. "What do you mean?"

"What she means—" Johanna started from where she sat. "Is how the hell are you both still single?"

Will leaned forward, adjusting the tie that he was still wearing and winked at Johanna.

"I have very peculiar tastes," he told them.

"Like Fifty Shades kind of tastes?" Prim asked, her cerulean eyes wide.

The man didn't answer; instead, he seamlessly took off his tie and leaning forward once more, quickly knotted Prim's wrists with it.

"Holy shit—I know that we're technically in-laws, but I'm totally down to see that again—in private," she said as she pulled at the knot in amazement.

"Aren't you dating Rory?" Will asked.

She shrugged her shoulders, tilting her head. "Ehh…"

"HEY!" said Rory, who had been sitting with his brother and sister-in-law. He rushed over and put an arm around Prim. "I can do that, too!"

Will smiled at the couple. "I think you're in good hands." Getting up, he headed over to check on his mother and father.

Prim looked at Rory. "I was just kidding," she said as she batted her lashes at him and held up her tied wrists. "Want to help me out of this?"

"I've been trying to for the last minute," Rory said as he concentrated on getting Prim out of the tie.

Prim looked at Cal. "And how about you? Are you also into the whole 'tie-me-up, tie-me-down' thing?"

"No." Cal sat back and smiled. "I actually have a girlfriend."

Johanna scoffed. "You lie."

"I do!" Cal protested.

"Hey guys!" They all looked to see Rue standing before them in a pair of deep blue scrubs. She looked around. "I can see that Katniss is in labor—seeing as 90% of the people in this waiting room are all family."

"During the wedding," Prim said as she held her tied wrists up for a struggling Rory and Rue started for a moment.

"What's going on here?" Rue asked.

Prim grinned at her easily. "Trying to get out of this mess that Will just left me with."

"Here." Rue went on her knees and looked over the knots before pulling one side out, unraveling it easily. She handed the tie to Prim. "Here you go." Rue nodded her goodbyes. "I'll come check on everyone later."

"HEY WAIT!" Cal said suddenly. He stood up quickly and went over to Rue. "I'm sorry I didn't invite you to the wedding—"

"Wait! Rue is your girlfriend?" Anna said from where she sat.

"Ex-girlfriend," Rue corrected. She looked at Cal, her arms crossed. "You can't be someone's girlfriend when they don't acknowledge your existence." She gave everyone a tight smile. "Have a good day."

Cal looked pleadingly at her. "RUE—"

"DROP DEAD, CAL!" Rue quickly walked through the double doors going to the hospital rooms.

Richard looked at his wife. "I like her."

"Okay, Katniss," Effie said in front of her. "BREATHE AND PUSH!"

Peeta's wife was a motherfucking warrior.

Their obstetrician told him that Katniss must have been having contractions for most of the day to be this far along in the labor. Katniss had held on—determined to marry him—even though she was in a lot of discomfort.

And she had sacrificed a chance to get the epidural that would stop her from the pain that she was currently feeling.

"I FEEL EVERYTHING!" Katniss cried, her moan drawing out. She looked to him, her face flushed. "Make it stop…"

"Sweetheart," he said into her ear. "You're almost there. And I'm so proud of you, Katniss."

She leaned her head towards him. "You do it… it seriously feels like someone put a case of dynamite to my vagina—it's not going to look the same after this!"

"Whatever it looks like, I'm going to think it looks beautiful," Peeta reasoned.

"You don't understand," she cried. "I've seen Johanna's and even Glimmer's—you know how beautiful she is! There is one part of her that is not so beautiful—and it is down there!"

"What are you going to do? You're already in labor," he told her gently.

Katniss looked at him helplessly. "Hold it in?"

"Katniss, about your next contraction," Effie called out over the suction sound that was making Peeta nauseous. "During the next one, you're going to bear down—let's get the baby's head out." She met Peeta's eyes. "This is an important push for her."

"Katniss," he started. "Just hold my hand." Pressing his forehead to hers, he looked into her watery greys. "Look at me and just concentrate on me."

"I-I-I can't…" She sobbed against him. "I'm so tired and it hurts…"

"You can." His lips went to forehead. "You can do it… because you are the strongest woman I know. I could see that right from the start—from the moment I looked into your eyes in that bar—I could see that there was a lot of fight in you. And I just fell in love with you, right then and there."

"Push, Katniss," Effie instructed.

His wife gave him a closed-lipped smile before she closed her eyes to concentrate on her push. She held his hand tightly, her forehead falling onto the crook of his neck.

The room suddenly went silent.

Katniss let out a breath, a watery sob escaping her mouth. "AHH…"

And then there was another cry—their baby's.

A nurse rushed to Effie, handing her a blanket, and their doctor grinned at them.

"Speaking of vaginas—congratulations, you have a daughter."

Peeta turned to his wife, who was grinning from ear to ear. "We have a daughter."

She laughed and reached up to kiss him. "I heard."

"Mrs. Mellark?" They looked to the nurse, who was holding the little bundle with the pink cap. Carefully, the nurse put their baby in Katniss' arms. "Just support her head."

"Oh gosh," Katniss said in a hoarse voice. She looked down at the wrapped baby in her arms. "She has my hair—it's going to be a nightmare for her during humid days."

He chuckled at her words. "I'll learn how to braid hair then." Their daughter's skin was ivory and her hair was the color of coal—like Katniss'. The baby slightly opened her eyes to reveal the cobalt in them, the color of his mother's eyes. "She's beautiful—like you."

"I didn't think that I could love anyone in just of matter of seconds." Katniss gazed at their daughter and then over at him. "But you two are exceptions to that rule."

Katniss opened her eyes at the sound of Peeta's soft humming. Turning, she found him cradling their daughter as he paced the floor.

He met her eyes and beamed. "Hey." Walking over to the hospital bed, Peeta kissed her gently. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I just gave birth to a baby," she retorted with a soft chuckle. "How about you?"

"Like you just gave birth to a baby," he replied before sitting next to her on the bed. He held up his wrapped hand. "It just needs to be iced for a day or two."

There was a knock on the door and Effie stepped inside, along with Haymitch.

"How are the new parents doing?" their doctor asked quietly.

"Scared shitless," Katniss told her. Haymitch laughed roughly and she met the older man's eyes. "Your girlfriend just yanked a baby out of me."

"She can be a cruel woman," he replied before going over to Katniss and kissing her cheek. "So did your little one inherit Peeta's giant head?"

"Hey!" Peeta called out in a whisper as he rocked the snoozing baby. "My daughter's head is not big." He looked down at her adoringly. "She's perfect."

"I have to agree," Katniss added. "She actually is perfect."

"So does this perfect baby have a name?" Effie asked as she went to them.

Katniss met Peeta's eyes and he nodded in consent.

She looked at the woman in front of her and grinned. "Elizabeth."

Effie raised her brows in confusion before smiling. "But…that's my name!"

"Wait—that's your full name?" Haymitch suddenly asked.

Effie snorted at him. "Yes, Effie is a nickname. My full name is Elizabeth Francine. Somehow, as a kid, it just morphed into Effie."

"You really helped us a lot," Peeta said to the woman. "You've been with us from the beginning and you've been on our team—even when a lot of people were doubting us." He placed Elizabeth in the doctor's arms. "We really can't thank you enough."

"It's been a privilege to be your doctor," Effie told them as she gazed down at her goddaughter. She smiled at the couple. "I'm proud of you both."

"Thanks, Effie," Katniss replied. "Now, you're officially part of the family—being Elizabeth's godmother and all."

"You're the godmother of their little spawn?" Haymitch smirked. "I guess you're stuck with me now."

"Not quite." Effie bounced their daughter in her arms, adjusting the blanket as she cooed at the baby. "But I guess if you married me, then I would be stuck with you—forever."

Haymitch put an arm around her. "Are you proposing to me?"

Effie broke her stare to look up at the man and smile. "I guess I am."

"Mom—I can't breathe!"

Laurel pulled away from her daughter, wiping her eyes as she pulled away.

"Sorry, honey," her mother said with a watery smile. "I just can't believe that you've had this perfect little baby!" She looked over at Gabe, who was holding Elizabeth in his arms. Laurel went to them, touching the baby's full cheek and her granddaughter's lips perked in a small smile. "Adorable."

Gabe looked to his daughter, who he sat next to on the hospital bed. "She is definitely a beauty."

"I can't take all the credit," Katniss replied with a smile. She looked over at Peeta, who was currently being embraced by his parents. "My husband contributed half of her genetics."

Peeta pulled away from his parents to look over at her and grin.

The door to the room opened and Prim, along with Cal and Will, entered the room, teddy bears and balloons in each of their hands—Katniss' sister was dragging the biggest bear with her.

"Everyone, out of the way!" Prim said excitedly, dropping the giant bear to the ground. "I need to see my niece!" She rushed over, stopping as she saw the yellow blanketed bundle in Gabe's arms. "She's actually here—and she's so cute!"

Will and Cal went to Katniss, each giving her a hug.

"I hope you gave Peeta hell during the delivery," Cal joked before going to his brother and ruffling his hair.

"A lot of it wasn't deserved," she told her brother-in-law.

"Well, if he doesn't wake up when the baby cries and makes you get up, then I will be happy to fly over to the East Coast to kick him in the nuts for you," Will told her before kissing the top of her head. He looked over at Peeta. "You did good, little brother. This woman is one of a kind."

Anna went to Gabe and smiled shyly. "May I?"

Carefully, Gabe placed the baby in Anna's arms. The woman looked down at little girl before looking to Peeta, then Katniss.

"I'm proud of you both," she said in a choked whisper. Anna placed a kiss on top of Elizabeth's head. "She even smells beautiful."

"She has your eyes," Peeta told his mother as he approached them.

"Then she'll be a real looker," Richard added in a gruff voice.

"So what's her name?" Prim asked.

"Her name is Elizabeth Clover Mellark," Peeta told them as he looked down at his daughter in Anna's arms.

"Why the middle name Clover?" Gabe asked.

"It means 'luck'—because you never know what you're going to get."

They turned to see Gale and Johanna, along with Jenna. Johanna rushed over to her best friend as Gale went to Peeta.

"In Peeta's case, he sees having Elizabeth at the end of all of this as being good luck," Gale continued as he shook Peeta's hand. "Congratulations."

Peeta grinned. "Thanks for getting the reference."

Gale smiled as he lifted Jenna into his arms; the little girl rubbed her eyes groggily, ready for a nap.

"I was there when you decided to get on this wild ride." He kissed his daughter's cheek. "It's going to be great."

Johanna, who was hugging Katniss, turned to her husband.

"I'm glad you feel that way—because I want another baby," she said before rushing over to hug Peeta.

"Sure, honey—" Gale did a double-take, his face paling at the realization of her words. "What?"

"Oh…hello…Lizzie," Annie said as she waved her hand in front of the baby. Her green eyes widened as the baby yawned, her pink lips stretching before pursing her lips. "She's so tiny—not at all painful to push out of your hoo-hah."

"Trust me, it was painful. She's much more solid than she looks," Katniss responded with a smile. She looked at the group in front of her. "Do any of you want to hold Liz?"

Cato, Finnick and Thresh stared down at the infant in her arms.

"Uh…I haven't washed my hands," Finnick said.

Thresh stepped back, "I just got off work, so I smell."

"I just don't want to," Cato told her as he eyed the squirming baby.

"Guys," Peeta said as he walked back into the room. "She's a baby—not a virus." Going to Katniss, he lifted their daughter from her arms before walking over to Cato. "Just hold her."

Peeta placed her in Cato's arms. Katniss watched the man struggle for a bit before finally nestling Liz's head in the crook of his arm.

"She isn't so bad," their friend said after a moment as he walked with her in his arms, his eyes suddenly soft. "And she's not as funny looking as I thought."

"HEY!" Katniss yelled. "That's our kid that you're talking about."

"Here," Thresh said. "Let me take her." Cato reluctantly helped his friend take hold of the little one. "Hey, Lizzie-bird—Uncle Thresh here. So I'm sure that you're a little underwhelmed by your father—"

"Seriously, Thresh?" Peeta scowled at him. "I will kick you out of this room."

"Dude—will you let me finish?" Thresh looked back down at the baby. "But he's actually a pretty good guy and meeting your mother—who, by the way, is so far out of his league—"

"THRESH!"

"Calm your tits, Peeta!" Thresh told the man. "Anyway, they make each other better, so I think you lucked out, kid. You're going to be okay." He met Peeta's eyes, then Katniss'. "You're all going to be okay."

"Let me hold her!" Finnick suddenly called out and he held out his arms. "GIMME!"

"This is not like passing a bong," Thresh told him as he helped his friend. "Just be careful."

"I will be careful! Who are you, her bodyguard?" Finnick held the infant, his face lighting up as he looked down at her. "This isn't so bad."

A small cry escaped the baby's mouth, followed by a plaintive wail.

Finnick's hazed eyes suddenly cleared. "Oh shit, I broke her—"

"She's probably hungry," Katniss said patiently.

Peeta took their daughter from Finnick and placed her in Katniss' arms. As his wife began to undo the buttons of her gown, he heard a shuffle and turned to see his friends, eyes wide, as she readied herself to pull down the cup of her bra.

"Hey perverts," Annie suddenly called out. "I think Peeta would appreciate you not staring at his wife's giant rack—even though it's totally unavoidable."

The boys had the decency to look somewhat ashamed.

"Thanks, Annie," Peeta said before glaring over at the guys—who were suddenly interested in the ceiling.

"No problem," she responded with a bright smile. "Can I ask you something?"

Peeta nodded. "Sure."

Annie looked curiously at Katniss breastfeeding the baby. "Have you ever tasted her breast milk?"

Time seemed to pass quicker now that they had Elizabeth.

Peeta moved into Katniss' pool house once Effie discharged them from the hospital. Lizzie was early but perfectly healthy and within a week, their daughter grew to the appropriate weight.

Their daughter was spoiled by her grandparents—clothes from the grandmothers and toys from the grandfathers. Katniss spent a lot of the time making an inventory of her presents; it helped in deciding what to keep and what to return or donate to charity.

Since their daughter was early, it gave Katniss a little more time to work on tying up loose ends before they left. Peeta continued to work for Sae, as well as be mentored by the woman on how to run a bakery efficiently. There was also the task of finding a place to live close to Johns Hopkins.

Katniss looked through her laptop at the ads for apartments.

"I have some money saved…" She began to write the amount that she had, along with what Peeta had saved during his time with Sae.

"What are you working on, sweetie?" Katniss looked up to see Anna carrying Lizzie in her arms. Her mother gave her a smile as she sat next to her at the dining table. "You look stressed out."

She and Peeta were spending the day at the Mellark house. They had purchased a mid-sized SUV for the drive to Baltimore and Peeta was doing some maintenance on it, along with her father-in-law.

"I haven't found a place for us yet," Katniss told her worriedly. "I thought I would have time after the wedding to secure an apartment; but Liz came—and now we're strapped for a home."

Anna adjusted the bib on her granddaughter before looking back to Katniss.

"Katniss, did you forget the key that I gave you?" she asked curiously. "It's not a big deal. I have another copy and so does Richard—"

"I have it in my bag," Katniss interrupted before reaching into her purse and pulling out her keychain. She found the key that Anna had given her before the wedding. "What about it?"

"There was going to be a big introduction to this present—" she paused to kiss the top of the baby's head, "But then we got this wonderful surprise and so it never really happened."

They heard the door from the garage open and Peeta, along with his father, entered, both in oil-stained shirts and identical smiles on their faces. Her husband grinned at her handsomely as he went to the sink to wash his hands.

"What's going on?" he asked before sitting next to her.

"Mom was just telling me about our wedding present," she told him.

Peeta looked over at Anna. "The key?"

"I was about to tell Katniss what the key belongs to," Anna informed him. The woman looked up to see Richard, holding out a folder for her, and she smiled gratefully at her husband. "You read my mind."

"That's my job," Richard replied before sitting next to her.

"I know that you don't like us butting in, but we got this idea from Haymitch," she told them. "So blame him." Anna handed the folder to Katniss with her free hand. "Go ahead—open it."

Katniss opened the file folder and her eyes zeroed on the title. "It's a deed." She looked over it quickly before turning to her in-laws pointedly. "Is this a house key?"

"Mom, Dad—you know how we feel about this," Peeta began. "We appreciate the thought—"

"It's not a house," Anna said quickly. "It's a commercial property close to the hospital campus." She turned to Peeta. "For your bakery."

Peeta's eyes went wide. "My what?"

"Your bakery," Richard repeated with a grin. "Sae didn't give you all those recipes so they could just sit in some desk drawer. Haymitch told us all the great work that you were doing at Sae's place and how her business had doubled since you've come along." He looked to his wife before continuing. "We know that you're not in the right spot to get a business loan—so we applied in our name."

"But we won't be in your face," Anna told them. She looked to her son. "We would be your silent partners—emphasis on silent." She smiled softly. "We think you can do it, Peeta."

"Wow—" Peeta looked to Katniss. "What do you think?"

"I think that you and Liz are going to have a lot of fun working in your bakery," she said with a grin.

"Don't think that we didn't think of your living situation," Richard said to his daughter. "There's a two bedroom apartment above the bakery. It's small but comfortable, and it will be enough for the three of you."

The couple looked at one another, trying to process the news that Peeta's parents had just given them.

After a moment, Anna spoke, "Are you pissed at us?"

Katniss burst into tears.

Effie had warned her about the whole post-partum issue. She had brushed off the whole thing, thinking that it would not happen to her.

Until now.

The gesture from Peeta's parents had been a great one. It was the realization that they believed in Katniss and especially in Peeta, who had wanted nothing but to make his parents proud. Standing up quickly, she went to Richard and threw her arms around her father-in-law. After, she went to Anna, still holding her granddaughter, and kissed her on the cheek.

"I think that's a no," Peeta said as she returned to her seat. Her husband rubbed her back as she struggled to pull it together. "Thank you."

"Of course, son," Anna said. "You're going to do great things."

Finally, Katniss looked to him and smiled through her teary eyes.

"We're going to be okay," she told him. "Just like you said."

"She looks bigger every time I see her," Gabe said to them as he held Liz in his arms. Her bright blue eyes stared up at the man.

"You just saw her two days ago," Katniss said with a grin.

"Exactly," he replied. "Time can go very fast." Her father smiled at her and Peeta. "I mean—look at yourselves about nine months ago."

"I was still carrying cash in a rolled-up ball in my drawers," Peeta said.

"I was spending my Saturdays with practical exams and Cup O' Noodles," Katniss added.

"Now here we are," her father said and kissed his granddaughter's forehead. "I know that your parents are partners in the bakery—but that means I get to buy my Lizzie a pony if she asks for one."

"She might want a chemistry set instead," Katniss joked.

"Or an easy-bake oven," Peeta added.

"She can be a chemist and a pastry chef," Gabe told them. "Just raise her to know that there are possibilities—and to always take chances." He looked between them. "If her parents didn't, she would have never existed."

"We really threw you for a loop, didn't we?" Peeta said to the man.

Gabe nodded. "A good one," he replied. "That's what life is—an infinite number of loops that we spend our time unraveling. And, if you're lucky, you have somebody alongside you helping."

Katniss met her father's eyes. "I'm going to miss you so, so much."

"I'm going to miss you both," he responded. "Do great things together."

"Peeta—I can't sleep." Katniss sat up in bed and looked at her husband, whose eyes were wide open.

He met her eyes. "I can't either," he whispered. "It's our last night here."

"I know," she said before lying back down. "I'm scared."

Peeta turned to her. "So am I." He reached for her hand. "But I'm glad that I'm not alone in this."

"I guess that's what happens when you officially turn into an adult," Katniss said to him.

"When did we grow up?" Peeta asked.

"Somewhere in-between your lemon-drops and a baby coming out of me," she told him with a grin. "Yet, here we are—sleeping in my childhood bedroom."

They would be leaving in the morning for their drive to Baltimore—an estimated week long trip with the included stops that needed to be made, especially with having Lizzie.

"I think it's kind of fitting," Peeta said. "Technically, we're leaving our childhoods and arriving as adults on our own in Baltimore."

"We're not really losing our childhoods," Katniss responded with a grin. "Our childhood innocence is in her." She nodded her head at the small crib that Lizzie slept in. "So, whenever we're worried—we'll just look at her."

"How do you do that?" Peeta reached to caress her cheek. "How do you make me feel like I can conquer the world?"

"Because you can," Katniss replied simply.

There was a quiet knock on the door. Sitting up, they waited as the door opened and Prim peeked in.

"I was wondering if you could join me on the back porch," Prim said. "Mom will watch Lizzie-bear."

"What's going on?" Peeta asked as he sat up.

"A quick nightcap," his sister-in-law replied. "Dress warm."

They both stepped out and found Prim and Rory, as well as Cal and Will waiting for them.

"Glad you could join us," Prim said before whistling.

Cato, Thresh, Finnick and Annie joined them as they emerged from the side of the house. The door opened behind Katniss and Peeta – Gale and Johanna walked out along with Haymitch, who was carrying a bottle of champagne.

"What's going on?" Peeta asked as Katniss gripped his hand.

"Since Lizzie came earlier than expected—we never got to have a proper wedding reception," Prim said to them. "I didn't get to do my speech and neither did Haymitch. So we're having an impromptu one now."

Katniss laughed, her smile bright even in darkness. "You're all crazy."

"Says the one whose one-night stand started all of this," Johanna retorted. "Just let us have our moment!"

The couple sat on the porch seat decorated with veil material for them.

"So everyone, as Master of Ceremonies, I will be starting off our little reception," Will said. "My co-master—" He looked to Cal, who bowed to them. "Will be introducing our first part."

"Thank you," Cal said to his brother. "I would like to call forward Peeta's roommates and friends, Cato and Thresh, who will give a little backstory into our newlyweds."

Everyone clapped lightly as Cato and Thresh stepped forward—dressed in their clubwear—and Peeta recognized the outfits as the same ones that they wore the night his life changed.

Thresh grinned at the couple. "They're almost the same outfits, except for the shoes," he told them. "Cato's girl of the night threw up on both of our shoes before she stumbled away with her friends."

"Music please," Cato called out and Rory reached for his iPod.

"A shot in the dark
A past lost in space
Where do I start?
The past and the chase…"

"It was a warm night, a little over nine months ago, that Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark met," Cato began. "Katniss had just been accepted into Johns Hopkins and was celebrating with her sister, Prim, when she met a bartender named…Peeta."

Thresh continued, telling the story of her experimentation with lemon-drops to Peeta's 'longing looks' as she danced with Prim. He then continued onto the part of the night that had been fuzzy to both her and Peeta as the music switched.

"I fly like paper, get high like planes
If you catch me at the border I got visas in my name
If you come around here, I make 'em all day
I get one down in a second if you wait…"

"It seemed that fate had found two people who were perfect for one another," Thresh said. "Because the two could not dance for shit!" Everyone let out a laugh at his words. "Alcohol, while liberating them, could not even help two such rhythmless dancers."

"However, while the beautiful Katniss could not dance inebriated," Cato finished. "She was fast enough to pull our dear Peeta into a cab. And the rest, we can say, is history."

Everyone clapped, including the couple.

"Thank you for reminding me that I cannot dance," Katniss told them with a laugh.

"The floor is now open to anyone who would like to tell a story or has anything to say to the newlyweds," Will called out.

Annie stepped up, smiling serenely at the couple, before taking a step back.

"I just wanted to tell you a story that took place about two months after Cato and Thresh's story," she started. "Peeta is usually the kind of guy who doesn't really have a care in the world—but I knew that something was up when he started staring at our phone constantly." She rocked on her feet, obviously tipsy. "I mean, Finnick and I had heard about the girl that Peeta had hooked up with—and he did do the 'walk of shame' into the apartment the next morning. And, of course, there were all those nights when he'd be alone in his room and we would hear—"

Prim put her hand up, "I think we get it."

"Anyway, the day Katniss called, Peeta was in his room moping—or doing the other thing. When he got on the phone, I could see his whole face change," Annie told them. "It was like the sun had finally come out for him." She met Peeta's eyes. "It's going to suck having you gone. No one else keeps Tootsie Pops under their beds. I mean, Cato has an inflatable doll—"

"I think you're done now!" Cato interrupted, his face flushed.

"Anyway," Annie said softly as Finnick joined her. The couple handed them a Tootsie Pop bouquet. "We're going to miss you both—don't be strangers."

Katniss took the bouquet, but not without noticing the small ruby ring on Annie's finger. She looked over at Finnick, who put his arm around Annie. "You picked a good one, Finnick."

He winked and kissed her cheek, before looking over at Peeta. "So did you."

"I guess I'll go next," Gale said. "Seeing as my pool house is where you conceived Lizzie—we're redecorating and sanitizingthe place, by the way." He cleared his throat. "Katniss was never one to do impulsive things, but when she did—she went all out. So I knew it was different when she wanted us to meet this guy that she met at a club."

"Katniss was freaked out," Johanna continued. "She had banged this hot bartender and now she was knocked up with the guy's kid." She looked at her friend. "You must've taken like five or six tests—"

"Ten," Katniss corrected her. "I took ten—no, wait—I took nine, because you took that last one just make sure that there wasn't a mess up."

"Anyway, I knew that Peeta was different when he met our Jenna," Johanna said. "She can read people clearly—a trait that she obviously inherited from me. And she could tell that Peeta was one of the good guys. I'm glad that Jenna followed her gut." Johanna stopped for a moment, her eyes suddenly watering. "Because Katniss has never been as happy as she is now."

"And we've only ever wanted you to have what Johanna and I have," Gale told his friend. "You chose well, Katniss." He looked at Peeta and smiled. "And you believed in your luck." Reaching into his pocket, Gale tossed a bag at the man. Peeta looked down to see a bag of green marshmallow clovers. "From my lucky charm to yours."

"Continuing on," Will said in a choked voice. Cal and Rory handed out cups to everyone, along with the open bottle of champagne. "We're going to be hearing from the best man, Haymitch."

Haymitch stepped in front of them. "I had something written down," he began. "But then Katniss' water broke in my car and I lost the speech in the scuffle." The man looked down at both of them. "I just wanted to say that it takes a special couple to bring a crazy-ass set of people like us together, and to bring someone like me a beautiful fiancée like Effie. And it takes a special kind of person to see everything great about Peeta right off." He looked at Katniss fondly. "So here's to you, Katniss Mellark, for bringing out the best in my godson."

Everyone raised their champagne glasses – even Katniss, who had been handed a glass with cider.

"Saving the best for last, the maid of honor – Primrose Everdeen," Cal said.

"Thanks, big brother," Prim said with a smile. "You should've brought Rue, by the way."

"She had a late shift," Cal informed her with an easy grin.

Prim turned to her sister. "I told you to make that one count—and you really followed through," she said with a smile. "That's the kind of person Katniss is—someone who you never have to worry about—because you know that they can take care of themselves. They don't really need anyone. So you know that Peeta must be something special for him to have found a place in her heart. Because once you're in Katniss' heart—you're in there forever." She met Peeta's eyes. "Remember that, Peeta. I love you both and I'm going to miss you both so damn much." She wiped her eyes as she raised her glass. "To Mr. and Mrs. Peeta Mellark!"

They all drank silently.

"Any last words of advice for the newlyweds?" Will asked.

Prim grinned. "Use protection from now on."

"Pick your battles," Gale added.

Johanna grin. "Sometimes fights can be ended with only a kiss and if not—a hand job."

"Don't drink anything that you can't pronounce," Haymitch told them.

"Put the toilet seat down," Annie suggested.

"Always give her your jacket," Finnick said.

"Don't forget where you came from," Thresh advised before finishing his glass.

Cato snorted. "Don't wear your nice shoes to the club."

Cal looked to them. "Keep love your priority."

"Lean on each other," Will choked out in a thick voice.

Finally, it came to Rory, who smiled at the couple playfully. "Don't forget to dance—badly, if needed."

"You got everything?" Laurel asked as Katniss stood in front of their car. Behind the SUV, a U-Haul attachment held the little furniture that they owned, including Liz's crib, stroller and high chair. "Just remember to take breaks when needed—and call us if you need anything, even small things."

Her mother embraced her tightly and Katniss could feel the tears forming in her eyes.

"Of course," Katniss replied. "I love you."

Her father, along with Richard, came around to where they had been locking up the U-Haul attachment.

"You're all set," her father told her, his eyes downcast.

"Just remember to drive slow and let people pass you," Richard added softly. "Where's Peeta?"

Katniss looked up to see Peeta emerging from inside the Everdeen house, one arm around his mother, whose face was blotchy from crying. He cradled Liz in the crook of his other arm. As they walked closer, Katniss could see that her husband's eyes were also rimmed with red.

Walking forward, Katniss went to him and Peeta gave her a sad smile.

"I'm fine," he assured her. She kissed him softly to comfort him anyway.

"I'll take her," Katniss said and Peeta easily gave their daughter to her. They had learned to be seamless in trading off.

Anna approached her as Peeta went to say goodbye to her parents and his father.

"Call us when you get there?" her mother-in-law asked in a soft voice.

"Of course," Katniss said and she found herself pulling Anna into a hug. "I love you, Mom." She felt her breath catch as the tears suddenly emerged from inside her. "Thank you for Peeta."

"No need to thank me." Anna kissed her cheek. "You are the best thing that's ever happened to him—to our family." Pulling away, she leaned down to kiss Liz. "I love you both. I'll see you in six months for the bakery's soft opening."

Together, they walked to the car. Cal and Will, along with Prim, were all waiting with the rest of the family.

Her brothers came to her first.

"I might be heading up there in two months on business," Will said in a quiet voice. "Don't be surprised if you get someone knocking on your door out of nowhere."

"You're always welcome—business trip or not," Katniss said and reached to hug him carefully so they wouldn't squish the now sleeping baby in her arms. Will reached down to kiss the small palm of Liz's hand before walking over to Peeta.

"Call me if Peeta gives you trouble," Cal said to her with a wink. "I can always give him a noogie—like I used to when we were kids."

Katniss laughed as she brushed away her tears with her free hand. "I don't think there would be any fight that we could get into that would need a noogie intervention."

He kissed her cheek. "Well, just remember to call then. Be good to each other." Cal leaned down to touch Liz's soft dark hair. "Be a good girl for Mommy and Daddy, Lizzy-bug."

Prim went to them. "I need to give my two favorite brunettes a hug each." She wrapped her long arms around Katniss and Liz carefully. "It's going to be a lot more boring now that you're gone—these last nine months have been the craziest ride."

"Tell me about it," Katniss said. "Thanks for being there."

Her sister had been her closest friend—since the first time that she had held Prim as a newborn. They had been confidants through everything.

"Of course," Prim told her as she reached to wipe the tear from Katniss' cheek. "You're my best friend."

They hugged once more and Prim put an arm around her as they walked to the car.

Peeta went to them and he hugged Prim quickly. "Love you, sis."

"Thanks for knocking Katniss up," Prim replied with a snort. "You did good."

Her husband looked over at her and grinned. "I really did." He went to kiss Katniss quickly. "I'll put her in the car seat." Katniss nodded and they quickly made the switch.

Katniss turned to see her family in front of her—how it had grown. It had not been easy to get there, but they had done it.

"Our first stop is New Mexico," she told them. "We'll give you a call when we get there."

Katniss felt Peeta take her hand and she turned to nod at him.

"I guess this is it for now," Peeta said to everyone. He reached for Katniss' hand before looking back at them. "We love you."

Together, they turned toward the SUV and Peeta helped her inside. She closed her door and smiled at everyone after putting on her seatbelt.

Beside her, Peeta started the car and she could hear him put his seatbelt on. Slowly, the car drove down the driveway and made the turn onto the street.

When they reached the end of the street, Peeta beeped his final goodbye before turning onto the main road.

"You ready?" he asked her.

Katniss turned to him, placing her hand over his.

"Yes."

One Month Later

Baltimore, Maryland - 3:00AM (EST)

The tiny cry coming from the monitor woke him immediately.

Peeta turned to look at Katniss, who was fast asleep. She had come home after a long orientation of the hospital sector that she would be training in—and had passed out after playing with their daughter. It had been a grueling schedule for the new mother, but Katniss was handling it better than he ever could.

He kissed the top of her head before jumping out of bed, being extra careful to avoid the unopened moving boxes. It had been a hectic month between trying to get settled and Katniss starting her medical program.

Going across the narrow hall, Peeta entered the room and found his daughter, in her designer onesie from Effie, crying in her crib.

However, as soon as her eyes found him, she immediately silenced, her arms raised and ready to be picked up.

"Sweetheart," Peeta said as he lifted her from the crib, cradling her easily in one arm. "Mommy is sleeping and we don't want to wake her." He went to the iPod player set up on the top of her dresser and pressed play. "Lucky, do you want to dance?"

He was the only one who called her Lucky—because she and her mother made him feel that way every day.

"Oh, let me wear your overcoat, my bones are super chill and all the ponies have gone home
Oh, walking through Manhattan with the ache from last night's smile still smarting up from my toes…"

Peeta couldn't help but laugh at the song choice. He looked at his daughter, whose bright blue eyes were now wide open as she rocked with her Daddy.

"I was supposed to dance to this song with your mother for our wedding," he told his daughter. "It was the one thing that I was in charge of."

"Here's your chance."

Peeta turned to see Katniss leaning against the doorway, a tired smile on her face. She walked towards him in a long pajama shirt that was his, legs bare and hair loose on her shoulders. Katniss never knew the effect she had on him—the feeling of breathless excitement at her presence and that feeling of completeness every time they were together.

"You owe me and we were advised to dance—badly, if needed," Katniss said as she wrapped an arm around his waist, her head against his shoulder. She was face to face with their daughter, who was struggling to stay awake despite the warmth of her mother and father. "I guess she can dance with us, too."

He laughed and kissed the top of his wife's head as they began to dance in the tiny room above the beginning of his bakery.

"Oh, we make bread on Sundays and the little ones are climbing up the walls, up the walls
Oh, nothing lasts forever but the sound of love astounds me every time that it calls…"

Peeta gazed down at Katniss as she reached over to caress their daughter's cheek tenderly.

They were going to be okay. They had each other.

And that was enough.

"Here we go, dancing on our own, inside this house that we have never known, never known,
Here we go, going in alone into the dark and wonderful unknown, let us go, let us go…"

FIN.

I can't believe that this is over. I really enjoyed writing this story—and I appreciate it if you stuck around.

In 'Knocked Up', the baby was never named—so I had to go off the cuff. The name Elizabeth always seemed to stick out to me. I had always wanted one part of her name to mean 'lucky'—but I wasn't exactly excited at the idea of having her first name be Clover—because it was too closely associated with Clove. Nor did I like the name Felicity—it didn't fit.

I also like that everyone calls Elizabeth different nicknames (Lizzie, Lizzy-bear, Lizzy-bug, Liz, Lucky).

The epilogue will be a big time leap—five years to be exact—and from a very interesting P.O.V.

Songs:

"She-Wolf" - David Guetta feat. Sia

"Paper Planes" - M.I.A.

"Wonderful Unknown" - Ingrid Michaelson feat. Greg Laswell

Until the Epilogue, JLaLa