A/N: Thanks again to everyone who supports this story. I'm glad people enjoyed Peeta's introduction. There will be lots more of him from now on. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 4

August

Sage wriggles in the sink as I put her into it to get washed. However the minute the water touches her toes she relaxes and lets of a childish giggle. She giggled for the first time a couple of days ago while I was doing a ridiculous puppet show with her stuffed animals. The sound had caused me to freeze on the spot as I marvelled at the sweet childish sound she had just produced. It has to be the most exquisite sound in the entire world.

Since then I have repeatedly tried to get her to giggle again, singing silly songs, pulling strange faces and blowing raspberries on her tummy. Her giggle is like a drug that causes me to become giddy and light headed. I am addicted to the sound.

Sage loves the water and continues to giggle as I wash her body and tickle her tummy.

"You are a ticklish little monkey, aren't you?" I say to her as I tickle her toes. Sage giggles again. "Hmm. I wonder if all your toes are tickly? I better found out!"

I then proceed to tickle every one of her toes counting each one as I go. Sage seems to love this and her giggles get more frequent and high pitched.

I love moments like this. Moments when it is just Sage and I and I can just enjoy being with her. It is moments like this that make all the sleepless nights and monotonous days worth it. I let myself bask in the pride I feel for my little girl when she is like this. I could spend hours just looking at her and coming up with different ways to make her laugh.

But I can't.

Sage needs to be dried and changed. She needs to be feed.

I then have to put the washing on and put away the last load.

The trash needs to go out and the kitchen cleaned.

Groceries need to be picked up.

My life seems to be an endless list of chores and looking after Sage. I have no time to do anything else.

Reluctantly I wrap Sage in a fluffy towel and begin drying and changing her. I might as well make a start now. I finish changing Sage into a striped t-shirt and dungarees before putting her into her bouncing chair and making a start on the rest of the day's chores. Sage's eyes follow me curiously around the room as I do so.

Everything has seemed so much harder since Thom left. He may have been useless but at least he was there. My adult interactions were limited enough even when he was here. Now he is gone the loneliness is almost crippling. Sage is growing every day and it seems that every day she has learned to do something new. I desperately want someone around that I can share all these amazing things that she is learning. Mom listens but I barely get to see her with her shifts and it's not quite the same for her any way. She has experienced all these firsts with Prim and I, it is not as exciting for her now. I want someone around who gets as excited and amazed at the things Sage does as I do.

The naive part of me keeps expecting Thom to just walk through the door and finally take his responsibilities seriously. He will apologise and prove to me he can be a good dad to Sage. I know this might be a silly dream but I cling to this hope for Sage's sake. She deserves a good father.

I have just finished cleaning the kitchen when Mom gets up and comes through in her bathrobe. She flicks on the kettle and waits for it to boil so she can pour herself a cup of tea. I give her a tired smile as she enters and continue to put away the mop and bucket as she waits for her tea. Sage is sleeping in my bedroom now so Mom and I actually have some time together alone.

I begin preparing a simple lunch of tomato soup and bread as Mom takes her cup of tea and takes it to the kitchen table. There is a pile of mail on the table and Mom winces as she picks it up. I had flicked through it earlier as I had brought it in and had seen a lot of "Final Notice" stamps on the envelopes.

"It's bad isn't it?" I ask concerned.

Mom nods her head.

"They've cut my shifts at the nursing home and with Sage, bills are adding up," she replies stressed.

I place the bowls of soup down on the table and take a seat opposite Mom.

"Can we afford to pay them?" I ask again.

"For this month, just. But I don't know how we are going to get through next month," Mom sighs.

I chew my bottom lip. I am not an idiot. I know costs have been adding up. Sage is continuously growing and is always needing something new. Mom salary isn't much and I feel guilty that whenever it comes in I take half of it away so I can feed and clothe Sage. I know we will need to find some extra cash from somewhere if I am going to be able to continue to provide for my daughter.

"I could get job," I suggest.

Mom looks at me tiredly and puts the mail down.

"You may have too. I don't think we will get through next month without one. Though I don't know how it would work with childcare…" Mom says her words trailing off as she thinks of an appropriate solution.

I have never had a job. I was too busy partying and getting high to bother with one before. But I know I will eventually need to get one. I can't keep relying on Mom forever. Sage is my priority and I should be the one providing for her. And I want to be a good role model for her. I want her to know it is not okay to just coast through in life and that we have to work hard to achieve the things we want.

I just don't know how many job opportunities there will be for a single mom with only a high school diploma.

"Of course if Thom was paying child support things would be a little easier," Mom says looking at me expectedly.

"You know he won't return my calls," I sigh.

Thom hasn't spoken to me since he left. I heard that he's crashing at Darius's place and is partying harder than ever. I resent him for forgetting about us so completely.

"Well maybe it's time we get the courts in. He is legally obliged to support his daughter. You can't be the only one held responsible for her," Mom argues.

"We don't have the money to get the courts involved," I say. "And I am too tired for the hassle it will cause."

"Don't let him get away with stuff just because it is too hard. Sage deserves better than that."

I hang my head knowing Mom is right. I just don't want any more arguments with him. Things are complicated enough as it is.

"Let me try to get in contact with him again. I can maybe ask Gale to pass a message onto him. In the meantime I will get a job. Hopefully that will ease your burden," I say.

Mom reaches across the table, grabs my hand and gives it a reassuring squeeze.

"You and Sage are not a burden on me," she says with firm voice. "I will always help as much as I can."

I give her a grateful smile before we are interrupted by Sage's cries. I let go of Mom's hand and go through to Sage. She needs feeding.

I stay up late that night writing a resume I can hand out to potential employers. However I quickly grow disheartened with the meagre qualifications I can put on it. There is only so much space high school diploma can take up on a page. I realise I have no experience in anything. I won't be surprised if most places just laugh in my face when I hand it over.

But I've got to try. I am doing this for Sage.

The next morning I get up early and prepare Sage and myself for our mission today. At least now Sage is sleeping for longer periods and I am feeling more rested than I have in months. Sage gurgles and bounces in her stroller as I strap her in. She already loves going outside. It is full of wondrous things such as buses and mail boxes for her to discover and experience.

I haul her stroller onto the bus that takes us into the center of the city. I decide Market Street will be the best place to start. You can't need many qualifications to work a cash register right?

Sage loves the bus and the range of people that ride on them. Once we have sat down she spends the entire journey staring at a teenage boy playing on his iphone mesmorised by his backwards baseball cap and frantically moving fingers. She is beginning to become curious about the world around her. She is quite a quiet child and spends large amounts of her day just staring at objects and people trying to figure them out.

The bus drops us off at the end of Market Street and I mentally prepare myself for the task ahead. Market Street is the main shopping street in the city. It is full of jewellery shops, butchers, bakers and numerous gift shops. Every shop in this part of town is owned by locals and most of the products have been made in the city. Hopefully there will be somewhere here that will hire me.

I rearrange Sage's hat and make sure she is settled. Sage blows a raspberry at me.

"Okay Sage. Mommy's going to get a job. Do you think I can do it?" I ask her.

Sage just kicks her feet in response.

"I'll take that as a yes," I say placing a kiss on her cheek and standing up to push her into the nearest shop.

The first shop I enter is a small furniture boutique. All the furniture is of the English country house style that seems to be so popular with Panem's middle classes right now. The bell rings and a preppy woman in her mid twenties appears behind the counter. She gives me a fake smile as I push Sage in.

"How can I help you today?" she asks with fake cheeriness.

"I was wondering if you have any job vacancies. I'm looking for a job," I ask while handing her my resume.

She takes it with another fake smile.

"You might be in luck. My recent sales assistant has just been promoted. We are looking for someone to replace her," she replies. I thank my lucky stars that I seem to have stumbled on something already.

"So you don't want to be a nanny anymore?" the woman asks as she takes my resume and nods her head at Sage.

"Oh, I'm not a nanny," I reply correcting her mistake.

I see her eyes widen in surprise as she takes in Sage and I together and pieces together how we are related. The judgement is clear in her eyes.

"Oh, I see…" she says in realisation. "Well what a lovely daughter you have. We will get in touch with you if we need you."

She is uncomfortable now and I can sense her desire to get me out the door as soon as possible. With a sinking feeling I realise she is no longer eager to hire me. She holds the door open for me as she ushers Sage and I outside. She shuts the door before I can say anything else. I turn round to stare at her through the glass just in time to see her throw my resume in the trash.

Things don't improve as I go from shop to shop. The best are polite and tell me they will get in touch if anything crops up but I know they won't. The worst ones come straight out and tell me that they won't hire a teen mom.

2 hours later I am feeling utterly deflated and demoralised. I don't see how I am ever going to get a job. I trudge to the bus stop at the other end of the street and park Sage's stroller as we wait for the bus. While we are waiting I spot one of the Mellark's bakeries across the street.

I am suddenly flooded with memories of my father taking Prim and I there on special occasions. There are several Mellark bakeries across the state and they have become the place to get hearty bread and elaborate cakes. This has made the Mellark family very rich and Glimmer extremely spoilt.

Prim loved the cakes and would always beg Dad to buy her one of the many intricately decorated cupcakes on display. However once dad had eventually conceded and bought it for her she would refuse to eat it, declaring she didn't want to eat anything so pretty. I pang of sadness over comes me at the memory.

My mind then flashes back to meeting Peeta in the park and I suddenly get a desperate urge to go into the bakery again and buy one of their delicious cakes. I wait for the traffic to pass before crossing the road and entering the bakery opposite.

I push open the door to be met with the sweet smells of cinnamon, honey and lemon. The smells instantly make my stomach grumble. A small bell rings as we enter and the man behind the counter looks over at us as he finishes serving his most recent customer. I am a bit taken aback that it is Peeta's bright blue eyes that I meet.

He smiles brightly when he sees us, like we are exactly the two people he wanted to see at this moment. The customer he is serving leaves and Peeta makes his way over from behind the counter.

"Katniss it is good to see you!" he exclaims as he stops by Sage's stroller. He genuinely seems to mean it as he peers into Sage's stroller to catch a look at her.

"Wow, I can't believe how big she's gotten!" he declares.

"Tell me about it," I reply. "I swear she has gained a pound every time I look at her."

Peeta grins at me.

"May I?" he asks gesturing towards Sage. I realise that he wants to hold her.

"No go ahead," I reply nodding my head at him.

Peeta's smile widens as he dips his hands in the stroller and lifts Sage out. He pulls a silly face at her as he does so and begins to lift her up and down in the air. Sage seems to like this game and immediately shows her appreciation by rewarding him with a giggle. Peeta's eyes widen in amazement at the sound and I am transfixed by how animated he is with her.

"You can giggle now?" he asks her still continuing to lift her up and down in the air. This of course just makes her giggle again. Peeta continues to have a ridiculous big grin on his face.

"You are really good with her," I say amazed at watching him entertain my daughter so easily.

"You caught me. Babies are my weakness," he replies his eyes still on Sage. "I am absolutely putty when they are around. I keep telling Bran to hurry up and marry Lavinia and give me nieces and nephews!"

I smile at his response. It is good to know that not all men are like Thom.

Peeta continues to lift Sage up in the air for a few moments before eventually tiring and cradling her against his chest where he resumes pulling silly faces at her.

"I didn't realise you still work here," I ask curious to know why he still working in the bakery even though he must now have a college degree.

"I was always going to come back. Though not working the front. I'm in the process of taking over the running of the business from Dad. I've been dying to get my hands on the business for years now. The whole chain needs to be updated. However we're a bit short staffed at the moment. I've spent more time serving customers than actually improving the business," he replies finally taking his eyes off Sage and looking at me.

"I've always loved working here. I find baking therapeutic. And with Bran and Rye busy fulfilling my mother's dreams of having a doctor and lawyer in the family, the bakeries are all mine. I want to make sure they are still here for my own children to enjoy," he adds.

I nod my head in understanding and then Sage makes a little cry and spits up. Peeta chuckles before handing Sage back to me.

"I'll let you handle that," he says as I take Sage and wipe the mess off her chin. Peeta continues to stare at us both his face growing a little sombre.

"I remember your sister coming in here. She used to press her nose right up against the glass to look at the cakes," he says.

I look at him a bit stunned. Hundreds of people must have passed through these doors. I can't believe that he remembers my sister.

"I was sorry to hear about her and your dad," Peeta adds solemnly.

I nod my head and hold Sage close to me. I haven't really allowed myself to think about them since they died. I still find it too painful.

"Thank you," I reply my voice laced with sadness.

Peeta smiles at me sympathetically and senses that this is not a topic I want to dwell on.

"So what are you doing out and about today?" he asks changing the subject.

I relax a little with the change in conversation, even if the answer to his question is not causing me a lot of joy at the moment.

"I'm trying to find a job. Finances are getting a bit tight," I explain.

Peeta's eyes strangely perk up at my words.

"That's great! You can work here!" he states.

I look back at him perplexed. The thought never occurred to me to apply here. Knowing it was Glimmer's family who runs it put me off. He doesn't even know my qualifications. Why would he offer me a job on the spot?

"I'm not sure…" I say uncertainly as I begin to rock Sage back to sleep. "I don't think your sister would like me working here."

"You actually think Glimmer comes here? She would have to eat cake to do so," Peeta replies.

I allow myself a small smirk at his words. Glimmer is definitely a salad and water type of girl.

"But you know nothing about me. I don't have any experience of working in a bakery," I say.

"You'd just be working the counter. It's not hard. I can even be flexible to fit round Sage's schedule," he says.

I weigh up his words in my head. It sounds too good to be true. It is just the type of job I am looking for. Sure, it may not be a long term prospect but it would be a job. Can I really turn down such a good offer?

I stare at Peeta as I make my decision. I can see he is really genuine about helping me and desperate for me to say yes. I don't quite understand why he is so nice to me. Are there really people this kind and good hearted? I take a deep breath before answering.

"I'll take it," I reply.

Peeta smiles the biggest smile I think I have ever seen.

"Great! When can you start?" he asks.

A week later I stand in the kitchen wearing my new navy Mellark Bakery polo shirt while sorting out all that Sage will need while I am at work.

"All her milk is in the fridge. There should be plenty to keep her going. She won't go to sleep without her bunny. She likes to be sung to when she gets grumpy…" I list to my Mom who is holding Sage in her arms. She watches me as I fuss about the kitchen making sure everything is there.

"Katniss I have looked after a baby before," my mom replies rubbing Sage's back.

I stop my fussing and look at her.

"I know, it's just this is the first time I've left her with someone else," I say moving forward to stroke my daughter's head.

Mom looks at me sympathetically.

"I know it is hard leaving her but we will be fine," my mom reassures.

I nod my head but still don't feel any better about leaving her. I feel it is my duty to look after her.

I was able to work it out with Peeta to only work on days my mom has off so she can look after Sage when I am at work. But now the time has come I don't want to leave Sage. I have been her sole care giver since the day she was born. The thought of leaving her is filling me with dread. What if something happens while I am away? What if she misses me? I feel a terrible mother for leaving her.

I check my watch and see that I can't put if off any longer. I need to leave now if I am going to make it in time for my first shift. I bend down to kiss Sage.

"Okay, Mommy's got to go now. I'll miss you. Be good for Grandma," I say to Sage.

She looks at me a little perplexed and I have to force myself to look away before my resolves crumbles and I call Peeta and tell him I can't work for him.

"I'm going to go now. Call me if anything happens," I say to Mom.

"Relax honey. Everything is going to be fine. Have a good first day at work," Mom says.

I nod my head, take one last look at Sage and dash out the door.

Peeta is waiting for me when I arrive at the bakery 20 minutes later.

"Hey," he says cheerily as I enter. "Welcome to your first day."

I smile at him weakly but all I can really think about is Sage and how she is coping without me there.

"Come through to the back. You can put your things there and then I will show you around," Peeta says leading me through to a small staff room in the back of the bakery.

Peeta shows me the kitchens and introduces me to the two middle aged bakers, Castor and Pollox, who happen to be brothers and apparently make the best raisin nut cookies in the entire state. Next he shows me the stock room and his office before finally taking me to the shop front and introducing me to the other sales assistant, Bonnie. She must be a couple of years old than me and she smiles at me kindly when Peeta introduces us. Peeta then spends the next few minutes showing me how to work the cash register and what to do if someone comes in to make an order.

"I think I've got it," I say to Peeta after he gets me to fill out a practise order. He smiles at me warmly before putting the order book back on the shelf.

"There's really nothing to it. If you need any help just knock on my office door," he says.

I nod my head and thank him for the help before he gives me one last smile and heads back to get some work done. Bonnie smiles at me again once he leaves before letting me take the next customer that comes through the door.

Peeta is right. There is not much to this job. Just listen carefully to the customers and smile and laugh at all their jokes. I may not be the world's best people person but I think I do alright and all the customers seem happy enough.

I may even enjoy their adult conservation if I didn't spend so much time thinking about Sage. I check my cell phone constantly to see if I have got any messages from Mom. I phone her on my break to remind her to feed Sage and give her her bunny toy. Mom reassures me that Sage is fine and that she has got everything under control. I want to believe her but I just feel so guilty for being here.

Peeta comes through to check up on me at lunchtime and takes a seat opposite me. He takes out a rather mouth-watering looking chicken and bacon sandwich filled with juicy lettuce and tomato. I reluctantly put my cell phone back in my purse and try to keep my mind off Sage.

"How's your first day going?" he asks me after taking a bite out of his sandwich.

"Fine I guess. I just can't stop thinking about Sage. It's ridiculous. I've only been gone a couple of hours but I miss her," I state.

Peeta gives me a small smile.

"I think that's only natural. I would have been more concerned if you weren't thinking about her," Peeta replies.

I smile at him gratefully. I don't feel like such a basket case after his words.

"I guess I am just jealous that Mom is spending time with Sage when I can't. I don't want to miss anything," I say.

Peeta gives me a sympathetic smile before we fall into a comfortable silence as we eat.

The song on the radio turns to my favourite band The Tributes. They are a local band that has hit the big time in the last couple of months. I love them for their almost folksy tunes and soulful lyrics. Peeta immediately puts his sandwich done and moves to turn the radio up. I look at him a bit surprised.

"You like The Tributes?" I ask stunned.

"Of course. I hate all that mainstream crap. This is real music," he states.

I sit back in my chair impressed. I figured a jock type like him would only be into chart music and not appreciate credible artists.

"I'm impressed. Have you seen them live?" I ask.

"They weren't really appreciated in New Jersey when I was at school there. Though I would kill to see them now," he replies.

"I saw them last summer. Incredible. Such an authentic sound. The whole place was absolutely banging when they performed Victors," I respond eagerly.

I haven't talked about music in a long time. Before I was pregnant with Sage I loved it. I would go to 3 or 4 gigs with Gale and Johanna a month. I loved getting lost in the beat and feeling free from reality. Talking about it again makes me feel like I have a new lease of life. I hadn't realised how much I had missed music up until this point. Nursery rhymes just aren't enough.

"I can't even tell you how jealous I am of you. Have you heard there new stuff? I'm loving their song The Hanging Tree," Peeta says animatedly.

I nod my head and we begin a deep discussion about the more folksy sound of their new album and what we think of them hitting the mainstream.

As I am talking to him I realise that I haven't had a conversation like this in a long time. Everything has been about babies, diapers and bills for the past year. I relax talking to Peeta and am able to stop worrying about Sage for a moment. I've felt like I am 30 years old these past few months. It is nice finally having a conversation that a normal person my age would have. I feel 18 again.

The remainder of the shift passes quicker after that. Near the end of the day Peeta comes out to the shop front and makes me laugh with his impressions of some of the more regular customers. I relax a bit more and dare I saw it, begin to enjoy it. The end of the day can't come quick enough though and I rush out the door as soon as Peeta releases me so I can get home to Sage.

I find Mom playing with her on her knee when I enter and I immediately rush over to Sage, scoop her up in my arms and plant her with lots of kisses.

"Did you miss me?" I ask Sage. "I missed you. I thought about you all day."

Mom smiles at me as she watches us.

"I told you we'd be okay," she says with a knowing look.

I give her an annoyed stare before planting more kisses on the top of Sage's head.

I am so glad to be with home with her again. I still feel guilty for leaving her. I feel even guiltier for actually enjoying some of it.