Author's note: Thanks, again, for the reviews. I appreciate that you woould take the time to write a few encouraging words (even if it's just to request that I "update soon"). And thank you for adding this to favorites and alerts. This is my most popular story and I feel like I'm doing something right. So, thank you!

This bit contains some original words from the books. I own nothing! That's Suzanne Collins's genius.

Happy reading

Chapter Fourteen

Katniss woke up in a cold sweat. The dream was fading, but the feeling was still there. She closed her eyes and drew up pictures of more pleasant things. She pictured Peeta baking bread and could almost smell it.

"You okay?" Peeta asked softly.

She opened her eyes and saw her husband standing beside her. He had a plate of fresh bread slices smeared with butter. She smiled and sat up. She took one of the slices of bread off the plate before he sat it down on the nightstand.

"I'm better now." She took a bite. "It's ridiculously early. Why are you up? And why is there fresh bread? Not that I'm complaining."

He lowered himself to the edge of the bed. "I had trouble sleeping. So I got up and started baking."

"You didn't sleep at all?"

He shook his head. "I, uh…watched you sleep for a while. And then I started feeling like I wanted to kill you. And I got scared." He wasn't looking at her now. "I didn't want to hurt you or our baby."

She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. "It's okay, Peeta. It happens."

"It hasn't in a long time." He looked at her, anguish written all over his face. "I'm sorry."

"I am, too." She pulled him to her for a kiss. "But it's okay. You need some sleep."

"You're going out with Gale and Finn to hunt?"

She nodded. "If we can get Finn up. Gale and I are definitely going out."

He placed his hand on her stomach. "Be careful."

She put her hand on top of his. "I will be." She kissed him again. "Get some sleep, Peeta."

"I have to go open the bakery."

"No, you don't. Close it up for today."

"Only if you would stay in bed with me all day."

She chuckled, "We have company." She kissed him again. "I love you. And I want you to at least take a nap before you go in. It's not going to kill your reputation to open late just one day. Everyone knows we've got a lot going on this week."

"I guess you're right. I mostly have to go in and do a few finishing touches on the cake."

"Of course I'm right. I'm always right. And even when I'm wrong, I'm the Mockingjay, my word is law."

He laughed. He kissed her again. "Let me make love to you."

"No time."

As if on cue, there was a tap on the door and Gale called softly, "Hey, Catnip, we hunting or not?"

"Give me ten minutes, Gale." She called back. She kissed Peeta once more and then headed for the bathroom for a quick shower.

They walked quietly through the forest. Well, Katniss and Gale did. Finn tried, but he seemed to find all the sticks to snap in the underbrush. The sound scared the animals into running and Katniss was able to shoot a couple squirrels.

"We'd have a lot more success if your stepson would learn to have lighter feet." Katniss teased.

"Sorry." Finn said, turning red with mortification.

She draped her arm over his shoulder. "I'm kidding. It comes with lot of practice. I was pretty loud out here myself. So was Gale."

The boy nodded. Then he pointed. "What's that?"

"A snare." Gale said as he moved forward to inspect it. "Still not as good as mine."

"Of course not." Katniss said. "But at least I can make them. Teach your boy how to do it. I'm going to inspect some of the others." She gave the boy's shoulder a playful punch. "Maybe I'll actually get some game worth taking home."

She wandered off on silent feet. Finn watched in awe.

Gale nudged him. "She's taken."

He reddened again. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sure, you don't." He looked at the trap. "Whatever was in this was eaten by something else." He indicated the bones scattered near the trap.

"Why do you call her Catnip?"

"Because I thought that's what she said her name was." He patiently showed Finn how to make the trap and watched as he tried to copy. "She was a quiet little thing when we first met." He said, continuing the conversation as they worked. "But she's found her voice."

"You were in love with her?"

"Once upon a time." He looked over his head and smiled. "But her heart always belonged elsewhere."

"Talking about someone I know?" Katniss asked.

"Only my best friend in all Panem." Gale said with a smile. "How did you do?"

"I have a usurping predator." She held up the game bag. "But I got a few and reset the snares. This should be enough." She smiled. "Berries?"

"Yes." Both guys said at once.

She let them to the berry patch and they ate their fill and then filled the pail Katniss had brought to bring the berries home.

Finn walked a little ahead on the way back into town.

Gale looked sideways at his friend. "You okay?"

She nodded. "Mostly."

"Annie's been a little better this time around."

"That's good. I remember how hard it was before."

"Are you scared?" He asked so softly, she wasn't sure she heard it.

"Terrified." She said just as softly.

He nodded. Then he draped his arm across her shoulder. "You'll be okay. You have Peeta."

"What if I lose this one, too? I don't know if I can do this again. And the nightmares have been worse these last few nights."

"They're just dreams, Katniss."

"They're memories, Gale." She started at Finn as he trudged noisily ahead. "I dreamed about Finnick's death last night. I forgot it as soon as I woke up, but it started coming back as soon as I saw his son this morning." She shrugged off his arm. "I'll be fine."

"I know you will be."

They headed home where they found Peeta and Annie working together in the kitchen to make breakfast. Maggie sat in a playpen in a far corner, playing quietly. Katniss sat the game bag beside the door as Gale gathered Annie in his arms to kiss her sweetly in greeting.

Finn excitedly told his mother about the hunting trip. He didn't seem too upset that he scared away all the game. Annie listened intently, touching her son's hair as he spoke.

Katniss watched the family. She felt Peeta walk up to her side and she turned her head. "I want that."

"We'll have it." He assured her. He kissed her cheek. "Did you bring berries?"

She indicated the pail. "And the three of us already ate most of the berry patch, so you and Annie can have all you want." She kissed him suddenly. "I love you."

"I love you." He rested his forehead against hers. "You look tired."

"I am a little."

"Then why don't you go stretch out on the couch?"

She nodded. "I'll get that meat ready later."

"I can skin what we got." Gale said, picking up the bag. "There's not much. Finn can help me. Come on, kid."

Maggie started crying as they left. Annie walked over and picked her up.

"It's okay, baby. Daddy will be back in soon." She assured the little girl. She kissed her. "Now, you go back and play so Mama can finish helping Peeta with breakfast."

She surprised everyone by holding her arms out to Katniss. "Kat?"

"Me?" Katniss asked. "You want me?"

Annie said, "You don't have to, Katniss. She'll be fine."

"No, I'll take her. We can find what's on TV fit for little girls." She took Maggie from Annie's arms and kissed her temple. "Hello, there, Mags." She walked into the living room, humming softly.

She sat down on the couch and lifted her feet up onto the coffee table. She flipped through the channels a few times before she gave up and turned it off.

"Sorry, kiddo, nothing worth watching." She sat Maggie out from her a little and clapped her hands. "What are your thoughts on the new baby? Hm? You excited to be a big sister?"

Maggie giggled and clapped her hands clumsily.

"Good to know." She smiled. "Your parents are pretty happy about it, too."

The baby babbled for a while. Katniss heard a few things that sounded like real words. She nodded as though she was listening to a grand tale. Then Mags suddenly stopped babbling and gave Katniss a very serious look.

"You're right." She said. "You should never make an investment like that without knowing all the facts. I think you made the right choice."

Maggie laughed like Katniss had said the funniest thing ever. She clapped her hands and then collapsed forward against the woman's chest. Katniss pulled her closer and then started singing softly.

Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes
And when again they open, the sun will rise.

She continued the song, getting louder without realizing it. She saw out of the corner of her eye that someone was watching. She turned her head. Finn stood there.

"Sorry. I didn't mean…"

"No, it's okay."

Maggie sat up. "Finn!" she exclaimed.

"Hey, Mags." He sat down beside Katniss and held out his hand to his sister. "I've heard you sing that song before."

"Yeah?"

He nodded. "We watch highlights of the Games sometimes for school. They showed us when you sang it to that girl that died."

"Rue." She smoothed a hand over the Maggie's hair. "That was a hard day."

"They say that was a turning point for you."

"The whole thing was." She looked at the boy beside her. "Do you like learning about the Games?"

He shrugged. "I feel like a lot of the time, it's the only way I know my dad."

"There are better ways to get to know him." She said softly.

"Mom still doesn't talk about him much. It hurts Gale's feelings because when she thinks about him, she goes away. And then he feels like he isn't good enough."

"And who told you that?"

"I overheard them talking about it. Well, fighting about it."

"Anything that happens between your parents isn't your fault." Katniss assured him.

"I know."

"I didn't know him as well as your mom did, but I knew him well enough. I can talk about him with you if you want."

He smiled. "Thanks."

"So, I thought you were helping with the skinning."

"It was too gross. And I was in the way. Dad was having fun at it, though."

"That's good, I guess." She clapped Maggie's hands together. "You can talk to me about whatever you want, you know. Not just about Finnick. I'll keep my mouth shut. Even to Gale."

"You promise?"

"Promise."

Peeta walked up behind her and kissed the top of her head. "You want some breakfast, sweetheart?"

"I'm not really hungry."

"I am." Finn stood up.

"Finn." Maggie said, reaching for her brother.

"Come on, Mags." He plucked her from Katniss's lap.

As they walked out of the room, Peeta asked, "You still think you won't be good at being a mother."

"I'm just…" She put her hand on her stomach. "I just want it to be over."

"And miss all the fun of the morning sickness and the swollen ankles?"

She chuckled and looked up at him. "That too."

He kissed her forehead.

"I want to prove that I can do it."

"I know you can, sweetheart. Now, come and sit with us at least."

"Okay."