Chapter Fifteen

"Why haven't you said anything yet?" Peeta asked as he barged into the bathroom.

Katniss stuck her head outside the shower curtain and glared at him. "Excuse me, I'm kind of trying to shower here."

"You said you'd tell your mother."

"I did." She snapped the curtain back.

"So?" He leaned against the wall. "Why haven't you yet?"

"I wanted to tell her in person. She'll be here in an hour. And why does it matter to you anyway?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'd like my mother-in-law to know that I knocked up her daughter."

Katniss turned off the shower and stepped out. She wrapped a towel around herself. Peeta was happy to see she had a smile on her face.

"I want to tell everyone, you know that." He said softly.

"I do. I also know that everyone has a lot going on. Haymitch and Hazelle are getting married tonight. Annie and Gale already announced their baby's imminent arrival. I just want this to be ours. And I don't want anyone thinking that we're just trying to take over the spotlight. We're still the Star-Crossed Lovers of District Twelve. I'm still the Mockingjay. I feel like it would be a slap in everyone's face. 'Haymitch, Hazelle! Congratulations on the wedding. By the way, did you hear Peeta and Katniss are having a baby?'" She shook her head. "I don't want to be that person. It seems like a Capitol thing to do."

"You're right." He said softly.

"I'm almost always right." She kissed him.

"'Almost always.'" He smirked.

She chuckled and kissed him again. "I love you."

"And I love you." He pulled her to him. "Do you have a minute?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck, "Yeah, but only just a minute. And I know that won't be enough for you."

"You'd be surprised, sweetheart."

"I feel like that will be completely unsatisfying." She kissed him and then stepped away. "I have so many things to do. Why did I agree to be in the bridal party?" she made a face and then walked into the bedroom.

Peeta was at the bakery finishing up the cake. The Hawthornes were visiting with the rest of the family and helping with the last of the wedding preparations.

So Katniss was alone in the house when she heard the knock at the door. She hurried down the stairs. She opened it to reveal Iris and Alexander. "Mother, I thought it would be you." She accepted her mother's hug and then extended her hand to Alexander. "Hello, Alexander. How was your trip?"

"It went well. And how are you, Katniss?" Iris answered.

"I'm fine." She looked between the pair and then said, "Could I have a word alone, Mother?"

"Sure." She squeezed her companion's hand and stepped away.

"Make yourself comfortable, Alexander." Katniss told him before they left the room.

"You're dress is pretty." Iris said as they walked into the kitchen.

She smiled. "Thank you. Hazelle and Haymitch are going all out. I'm just glad she chose one of Cinna's old designs. He really knew how to dress a woman."

She nodded. "He was a good man." She sat down at the kitchen table. "So what did you want to talk about?"

"I'm sorry." She said, sitting down next to her.

"Why are you apologizing?"

"I've been awful to you all these years. I can't apologize enough."

"Katniss…" She put her hand on top of her daughter's. "We both did a lot of wrong to each other. You're forgiven if I'm forgiven."

Katniss smiled and nodded. "Yes, you are."

"Is that what you had to tell me?"

"No." She bit her lip and looked down. "I'm…" She looked into her mother's eyes. "Peeta and I are having a baby."

"You are?" Her eyes lit up.

"Yes. We're not telling anyone just yet. Gale and Annie are too and they already made their announcement. And with the wedding… But you can tell Alexander, I don't mind."

Iris leaned over and kissed her daughter's cheek. "I'm happy for you."

"So is Peeta."

"But not you?"

"Mother… I'm just… I don't want to get excited in case I lose this one too."

She folded her daughter into her arms. It was something she'd not done since Katniss was small, but it was familiar and she melted into her mother, breathing her in.

"You're strong." Iris said softly. "You'll be fine."

"Thanks, Mom." She said, squeezing her once before she sat back. "I have to finish getting ready. Make yourselves at home."

They stood.

"What would you say if I told you I was getting married?" Iris asked.

Katniss's mouth dropped.

Iris smiled. "Only joking. But we have been talking about moving in together."

"That would be good. I like him."

"I'm glad."

Katniss paid as much attention to the wedding as possible, but she was nauseated, so it was a bit uncomfortable. She held it together until the end of the ceremony, but as soon as she was able, she ran toward the nearest bathroom.

"Katniss?" Annie called through the door. "You okay?"

She sat back on her heels. "Fine, Annie. Thank you."

"Can I get you anything? Water?"

"Water would be great." And then she lurched forward again and heaved some more into the toilet.

"Do I need to get Peeta?" She asked uncertainly.

"No, don't get him. I'm fine. Just the water."

Annie returned with another soft tap on the door.

Katniss opened it and took the offered glass. She sloshed some water around in her mouth and then spit it in the sink. She pressed the glass to her forehead as she sat on the side of the tub.

She said softly, "Thank you."

"It was nothing." Annie sat down beside her. "It pretty bad?"

"It was worse last time. I could barely get out of bed."

"No hunting?"

She shook her head and sipped the water. "And how are you?"

"I'm tired. My morning sickness is, thankfully, just in the morning. It was the same with the other two."

"Were they pretty easy?"

Annie shook her head. "Finnick died never knowing he was going to be a father. That tore me up. He wanted a baby so bad. We talked about it a lot. We even considered it at several points in our relationship. And then I lost him just when we were finally happy." She wiped at her eyes. "Carrying his son was so hard. I didn't have him. And Dale was still torn up over Mags. I had no one else really. And then with Maggie… I don't think Gale fully understands, even though he claims to. I went back to my dark days. This one's easier so far. But I've been a little distracted taking care of Maggie, so it helps. And then there's the therapy. I just wish Gale would do some one-on-one sessions like me."

"Want me to say something to him?"

"No, it would be best if you didn't." Annie smile. "He's not that bad. And we're working through a lot. But he doesn't have a lot of friends in District Two. Definitely no one as good as you. That's why I want him to talk to someone."

Katniss nodded. "Things were so much easier when we could escape to the woods."

"Or just swim in the ocean for an afternoon." Annie agreed.

"I'm glad you have each other, though." Katniss stood. "He loves you so much, Annie. He loves those kids."

"And we love him." She stood. "We'll be okay."

"Good to know."

Annie pulled her into an unexpected hug. "You're a really great friend."

Katniss hugged her back. "You too, Annie."

Annie stepped back. "Maybe our babies will be best friends like you and Gale."

"I hope so." Katniss said with a kind smile.

They joined the rest of the reception just as the newlyweds made their way to their home to perform the toasting. Peeta slipped his arm around her waist and buried his eyes in her neck for a moment.

"You okay, sweetheart?" he asked softly as he pulled back.

"Fine. Annie took care of me." She gave him a soft kiss. "Don't worry."

"I'll try." He said. He kissed her again and they watched the toasting with everyone else.

Everyone cheered as the couple kissed once more. Posy then ran to them and threw her arms around Haymitch's neck and kissed his cheek.

He chuckled and hugged her back, murmuring something in her ear as he rocked her back and forth.

She nodded and stepped back.

Haymitch kissed her forehead before he let her go.

Katniss gently elbowed Gale. "What do you think about that?"

"She never knew our dad. I'm happy Haymitch can fill that role. It's just odd."

"Yeah." She agreed.

Everyone moved forward to congratulate the couple.

Katniss was one of the last. She hugged Hazelle and then stepped up to Haymitch. She shook his hand. "Stay alive." She said with a smirk.

Haymitch threw his head back and laughed. "With these two, I don't know." He kissed Hazelle's hand and then winked at Posy who stood nearby.

"You'll be all right." She assured him. "Congratulations."

"Thanks, sweetheart."

She smiled and walked away.

Mags spotted her and lunged from her mother's arms. "Kat!" She exclaimed as Annie struggled to keep from dropping her.

"Hey, stop that, Maggie." She took the girl from Annie. "You'll fall and break your noggin."

She laughed and clapped her hands.

"It's not funny. It would be very scary."

She gave the woman a serious look.

Katniss gave her the same serious look.

Both broke into laughs.

"And who is this?" Iris asked over her shoulder.

"This little darling is Gale and Annie's daughter Mags. Mags, this is my mother. Can you say hi?"

The little girl waved.

"You are a little darling." Iris crooned.

"Yeah. Maggie and I are buddies. Aren't we?"

Maggie put her head on Katniss's shoulder and smiled.

"She's so cute. I could just eat her up." Iris said, rubbing her back.

"Thank you." Gale said. "We're pretty proud of her." He had his arm around Finn's shoulder. "And this is our son, Finn. We're pretty proud of him too. Finn, this is Katniss's mother Iris Everdeen."

He held out his hand. "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Everdeen."

"You too, Finn." She shook his hand.

The group chatted for a short time before there was a hush through the crowd. All eyes turned as Peeta and Vick rolled in the cake. All jaws dropped. What stood before them was a three foot tall hawthorn tree carved out of cake. Everyone clapped.

It was almost too beautiful to eat, but eat it they did and it was delicious. Peeta was a perfect baker as well as an artist. Katniss couldn't be prouder of her talented husband.