So this is really it, folks. The very last update ever to a story that has meant so much to me. I will be accepting drabble ideas for TOH over on my tumblr, though.

I want to thank everyone who ever helped me out on this story including various Betas, Wildharp, Court81981, and Scoutchick104. And my wonderful fangirls over on tumblr that pre-read for me, slagheapwhore, chrissytron, peetasbunmyoven, jeeno2, withheartfulloflove, soles-of-wind, jhutchmyanchor, and shininalltheway. And also thanks to shininalltheway who made the beautiful banner for this story.

I can be reached on tumblr under the username: stacylk

Epilogue

When she rolls onto her side she can't stop the groan or the bout of nausea that comes over her. Her arm extends over his side of the bed, and when she only feels the soft surface of his pillow she knows he's already gotten up for the morning. Katniss carefully sits up, her rounded belly making it difficult to move. She reaches down to pull her nightgown over her rotund midsection as she looks over to the side where the window is. The bright, rich colors of dawn are just beginning to set, and she can feel her annoyance rise. Since the pregnancy her emotions have been more heightened, and at times she would burst into tears without warning.

With more of an effort than she would prefer, Katniss swings her legs over the edge of her bed. She grips the bed frame tightly as she hoists herself up into a standing position. Another wave of nausea washes over her and she has to cease her movements for a second until it passes. With as much grace as she can manage in her state, Katniss walks over to the worn wardrobe at the other end of their room. She opens the warped doors, bringing out a soft orange dress, the material soft from repeated washings and the color is nearly faded out but she knows how much he loves to see her wear it, besides it's one of the only dresses that still fits over her stomach these days. She dresses quickly, pulling the cotton nightgown over her head to replace it with her orange dress. Katniss begins to run her hands through her braid from the night before, her fingers weaving through her thick hair as she pads her way down the hall. She had stopped wearing shoes at home a few months ago when her feet had begun to swell and the leather of her boots would pinch the flesh. However when working in the bakery she slips on a pair of soft slippers that Peeta had bought her years earlier. She finds them sitting in the hall, before she slips her feet in. When she reaches the door at the end of the hall she pushes it open, looking into the room she finds the small mattress empty, the hand stitched quilt her mother and Hazelle had made now lays half on the ground. Katniss shakes her head as she turns back to the hall walking towards the front of the dwelling.

When she enters the living room she looks at the thread bare couch, searching for a particular head of thick dark curls. Her nails catch on a thread from the sofa, the material old and worn from when they inherited the furniture and dwelling from the previous baker and his wife. Peeta had been working for the baker for a few years before the baker had fallen ill. He had been impressed by Peeta's natural skill and had begun to regard him as the son he never had. The couple were unable to have children so when the baker had passed away his wife handed over the business to Peeta. The gossips of the district were busy that day, speculating on what Peeta had really done to inherit the bakery. Most of the theories were narrow minded, and ridiculous, but for the most part the district was glad to see him take over the business. It was now in the hands of the original family, a tradition that had stopped when his mother had been forced to leave after his conception.

Katniss sighs as she makes her way downstairs, the wooden boards creaking underneath her weight. When she reaches the bottom floor she can already feel the warmth of the ovens. She has to stifle a laugh as she hears him hum from across the room. He's hunched down, stoking the flames of the ovens which causes the muscles in his back to tighten. The material of his shirt stretches over his body and Katniss can feel that familiar tickle begin underneath her belly. She curses her hormones convinced that they're the reason why most expecting mothers are out of their minds most of the time. Peeta stands up and turns around to see her there a wide smile forming on his handsome features.

He reaches up to wipe his brow. "You know it's a relief you can't sneak up on me anymore. That hunter's tread of yours always freaks me out."

She narrows her eyes at him. "I won't always be pregnant you know."

He shrugs as he walks over to her giving her a soft kiss. "Who says it can't happen again after this one arrives."

Katniss lightly pushes him away, her finger pointing at him accusingly. "Oh now I get it. You want to keep me pregnant and helpless."

He laughs as he leans into her again. "No I just like practicing to get you pregnant."

Katniss slaps his shoulder which causes him to laugh out loud, the sound echoing off of the ovens. She walks around him to where their oldest sleeps on the wooden prep table. Katniss takes in her delicate features that at times make her look more Merchant than Seam, although her dark hair is a great contrast to her fair skin and blue eyes. She can remember how terrified she had been through the entire pregnancy, convinced that something was going happen. Katniss had driven her mother insane with her concerns until finally the older woman forbade her to complain unless something was actually wrong, luckily nothing had been. But Katniss still wasn't above the bitterness she sometimes felt towards her mother.

Katniss runs her hands through her daughter's dark hair as Peeta resumes his duties. "You know letting her help you with the ovens in the morning isn't a good idea. She's only six and besides she'll sleep through her usual nap and not want to go to sleep tonight. It causes her whole schedule to go out of whack."

Peeta looks up from where he'd been pulling ingredients together. "Now you know I can't say no to my girls."

She rolls her eyes. "Which is why I hope this is a boy."

Peeta gives her a look and she can't stop from laughing when he walks up to her, dropping down onto his knees. He gently kisses her stomach as his hands splay over her. "Don't listen to your mother. She's just cranky because you keep kicking her when she's trying to sleep."

Katniss watches him as he whispers to her belly, she had tried to explain to him that it wasn't rational to think that a fetus could understand what he was saying but he only shushed her. Katniss's attention is drawn to their daughter as she begins to stir in her sleep. "I should probably get her up off of the prep table." Peeta nods as he gives her stomach one last kiss before standing up.

She smiles at him as she walks over to the table to pick up their daughter, her arms hanging loosely. "How many special orders do we have for the day."

Peeta scratches his brow as he thinks. "Only a couple of toasting cakes."

She nods as she walks towards the back of the kitchen. "Let me go lay her down on the cot in the mud room, and I'll help you with the ovens." Katniss slowly makes her way to the small room to lay her daughter down on the makeshift bed. She stirs for a minute but it isn't long until her thumb is caught between her lips.

When she enters the kitchen Peeta is there waiting for her. He approaches her taking her body into his arms. "Are you afraid today? Feel like running?"

Katniss reaches up trapping his face in her hands, as she leans up to press her lips to his. The kiss is soft and content, things that only Peeta can make her feel. When she draws back they're wearing matching grins. "Not today."

THE END

A/N: Thank you all for reading this and sticking with me through months of no updates. You're all the best and I hope you'll read all of my current and future works.

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