Author's note: I am so sorry it took so long! I promise it won't be this long again. At least not for the next couple chapters. I have the next one almost completed and ready to send off to my beta.
Speaking of, my beta is a lovely person and I want to send out a huge THANK YOU to Everlylark. You are so kind and supportive of this project and I appreciate it.
Thanks, also, to all you wonderful readers. It is great hearing all your views and speculations. And just so you know, sometimes you help me realize things I hadn't thought of for future chapters. That's the beauty of this platform. So thanks for that.
This chapter is a little short, but it has some important stuff in it. I can't wait to hear what y'all have to say!
Happy reading!
Chapter Ten
Callie leaned close to Peeta's hand as he piped the whipped cream in delicate dollops over the pumpkin pie she helped him make. Peeta loved any chance he got to be artistic for his family. So much of his work was for the public. But this had been a bit of a difficult experience for him, despite his daughter being at his elbow the whole time.
"It looks really pretty, Daddy." Callie said in wonder as Peeta sat back and put the piping bag down on the table.
"Thanks, baby." He leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head.
"Did Mama like your pumpkin pie?" She asked softly, climbing onto his lap.
He had to swallow around the lump in his throat as he held her close. "She sure did, Cal." It had been such a long few days since his breakdown at Finnick and Annie's. Callie had stuck to him like glue. "We made the pumpkin pie together every year. Don't you remember? You helped us once."
Her eyes grew wide as the memory came back. "You always made the crust and Mama made the filling."
He tweaked her nose. "You have a good memory. Mama said the crust she made always fell apart."
"Well, you're the baker, Daddy." She said matter-of-factly.
He chuckled. "Your mama was a good baker, too. But she didn't think so. And she liked doing other things more."
"Like what?" Her voice was high and curious as she looked up critically.
"Like taking care of you." He kissed her temple.
She leaned her head against his chest with a sigh. "Daddy, I love you."
"And I love you, Cal-Pal." He kissed the top of her head and then put her back on the other stool so he could finish his work.
She grinned and asked suddenly, "How much do you love me, Daddy?"
Peeta smiled and set aside the piping bag. Holding his arms straight in front of him he said, "This much."
Callie mirrored his movement. "This much?"
He parted his arms slightly. "This much."
She mimicked him again. "This much."
He laughed softly and held his arms out to the side. "This much."
With a giddy laugh, Callie threw herself into her father's arms. "I love you that much too." She whispered.
Peeta picked her up with one arm and slid the pie off the counter with his free hand. "Let's see how well we do walking to the house like this."
"You can put me down, Daddy." She said.
"But I don't want to." He responded, his nose pressed into her hair.
Peeta continued out of the building, meeting his father along the way. "That turkey smelled like it was almost done, Dad."
Conrad stopped. "Good. Will you come back and help me get the rest?"
Peeta nodded and sat Callie on the ground. "Be careful with that." He said as he handed over the pie.
"You bet, Dad!" He watched as she made her way slowly the last few yards to the door. It opened and Cara stepped aside to let her in.
Peeta turned and followed his dad back into the bakery.
Conrad pulled the rolls out of one oven and reached into the next one to take out the turkey. "There are some good perks to owning a bakery." He grinned as he sat the bird on the counter. "Cara and Delly almost have all the sides done."
"Good." Peeta reached for the pan of rolls and stopped. He swallowed hard as he looked into his father's kind face. "Dad, I want to thank you. I don't think I ever really have. Cal and I wouldn't have made it without you and Cara opening up your home to us."
Conrad sat the turkey on the counter and pulled Peeta into a tight hug. "I know it's been hard, son. I've seen the struggle every day. But you and Callie are striving." He stepped back, hands still on Peeta's shoulders. "Cara and I were going to tell you later, but we've been putting away the money you've given us for utilities so you can have money for deposits and stuff when you decide to move out." He smiled and put up a staying hand. "Not that we want you to go any time soon, but whenever you're ready." He patted Peeta on the cheek. "I love you, Peanut."
Peeta grinned at the old nickname. He hadn't heard it in years. "I love you, Dad."
"All right, enough with the sappy talk. Let's get over there before your brothers eat all the mashed potatoes."
Peeta followed his father. He tried to keep an upbeat attitude all day, but seeing the way Delly and Ryan were all over each other didn't help. Graham and his new girlfriend weren't any better. She even sat on his lap and fed him bites of her pumpkin pie.
Callie ran around with her cousins. Seeing the joy on her face should have been enough to make him feel better, but it only made it worse. He and Alex had just decided to have another baby when the accident took her away. Would his daughter ever know what it was like to have siblings?
Peeta hurried up to his room and closed the door. He heard his phone go off and he pulled it out to see a message from Katniss. I don't think you're fine. Please don't tell me that this time. Tell me what I can do to help.
He put his face in his hands and sunk down to the floor. Nothing, Katniss, he thought, There's nothing you can do.
Peeta managed to put on a better face for the rest of the evening. The next day was business as usual for the bakery, so everyone made their way home not long after the sun went down. Peeta got Callie to sleep, in her own room for once, and then settled into his bed.
The dream was familiar. There was Aida, beautiful dark skin glistening in the fire as he looked down over her. A smile played on her lips before she reached up and pulled his mouth to hers. His hand trailed over the length of her body and pulled at the fabric that covered her legs.
Before it got too heated, the scene shifted. They stood before the pharaoh, shackled. Radames had helped Aida's father escape back to Nubia. They were both being tried for treason.
Pharaoh opened his mouth to make the pronouncement, but Princess Amneris stepped forward.
"Father, please, will you let me make a request for them?" Amneris asked.
Pharaoh inclined his head, "What is it?"
Radames saw her confidence waver slightly. But she forged on.
"Let them be executed together." Amneris said. "Let this death be merciful."
Radames looked to Aida, her head raised confidently. He heard the exchange between the pharaoh and his daughter, but didn't listen until Pharaoh raised his voice and declared, "They shall be entombed together."
They were placed in the tomb and it was sealed. Radames and Aida clung to each other in the dark as the air grew thick.
Peeta woke up gasping for breath. His phone was buzzing.
Katniss's frantic voice was on the other end. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what else to do."
"It's fine." He whispered, glancing at his clock to see it was half past three. He'd have to be awake soon anyway. "Did you have that dream too?"
"Buried alive." She paused. "What a horrible world we lived in then."
He worked to slow his breathing and heartbeat. "At least they showed us some mercy."
"Some. Not much." She sighed. "I'm sorry. I'll let you go."
He hesitated before saying, "Can we just talk for another minute?"
"Yeah, that's fine." Katniss paused again. "I told Gale. He has a soulmate too. Someone we know."
"Has he known long?" Peeta reclined on his bed and rubbed the aching spot in the middle of his chest.
"Five years." Her voice was small. "He kept it from me all that time. I said I wasn't mad, but I am a little."
"It's understandable. This is something big." When she didn't respond, he continued. "It's been a rough few days for me. Whatever feeling you've been having was probably because of that."
"I'm sorry to hear that." She said softly. "Is there something I can do?"
"Just take care of yourself." He whispered. "I don't want you to worry about me. Whatever's going on with you and Gale, you take care of that."
Katniss took a deep breath and said, "I think we're going to divorce."
"Oh." Peeta felt his heart sink for her. When he'd seen them together they seemed so loving. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. It's for the best, really." Her voice was still sad.
"I hope so. You have my support. Whatever you need."
"Thanks." She gasped. "Oh, it's almost four. I'm so sorry."
"Time for me to get up anyway." He sat up and switched off his alarm. He could already hear his dad moving around in the other end of the house. "Can I text you later?"
"I'd like that." Her voice sounded far away.
"Sleep well, Katniss."
"Have a good day at work, Peeta."
The line disconnected and Peeta put his phone back on the bedside table, stretching before he got out of bed and gathered his clothes.