I walk in on an argument with Rue and Peeta. Peeta is trying to do Rue's long blonde hair in braids but he's not the best at it. Rue is trying to pull away but Peeta insists on doing it. "Dad stop!" Rue says. "I want Mom to do it she's so much better then you".
"Well your mother is out so I will do it." Peeta insists. "Why can't she do it when she gets back?" Rue whines. " I don't know when she will be back and you need to come with me to the general store" Peeta says. I walk down the hall to the kitchen and move Peeta out of the way and start to brush out Rue's hair and do her favourite two French braids. " Thanks Mom" Rue says. Rye is sitting happily in his high chair kicking his legs and banging his hands against the tray. Rye is 8 months old and Rue is 7 years old. Rue has Peeta's blonde hair and blue eyes but I think she's a lot like Prim, Rye has my Seam eyes and dark hair. I clean Rye's hands and face of his breakfast and lift him out of the chair and change his diaper. I dress him as I listen to Prim beg Peeta to make her flowery cupcakes. I put Rye's diapers back in the bag and carry him downstairs. "Rue do you want to go to Grandpa's house and help him with the geese?" I ask her. "Yes please" she says. " Katniss are you okay?" Peeta asks. "Of course I am why wouldn't I be" I say a little too cheerily. "Well because this morning you-" he cuts himself off when he sees the look on Rue's face. "Let's go" Rue whines tugging on my wrist. We walk across the lawn to Haymitch's house. We never even bother to knock and Prim runs straight through the house and out back to the pen with the geese. "Katniss? Peeta?" Haymitch calls. "It's me" I call, carrying Rye to the living room on my hip and dropping the bag on the couch. Rye gurgles happily when he sees Haymitch. I lower my voice even though Rue wont hear me over the geese's squawking, " You know what day it is today?" "Of course I do. You can collect them tomorrow if you want" Haymitch says. "No it's ok I'll collect them later. Tell Rue I said bye and not to torture the geese." I say and I kiss the top of Rye's head. I walk back across the lawn and through my front door. Peeta is pacing the kitchen chewing his lip with a worried look on his face. "Hey don't chew your lip off" I say. His face floods with relief. "Sit down I'll make you a cup of tea." He says. "Peeta I'm ok." I say and for the first time in a long time I mean it.
