This starts off right after the last, and I send my BIG thanks to Mancpotter for being my slavey-boy and chopping the original 10,000-word chapter into smaller ones. ;) So enjoy this reading, and review of course! So there's going to be a few more really close together. ;)

oOo

The information ran thickly through my head, and when it finally settled, I groaned and rolled my head away from her, mumbling, "No, Prim, that's tomorrow… Go back to sleep…"

"No Katniss, they're here now! Come on!" She grabbed my wrist and practically dragged me out of bed.

With every step out of my room I took, the more I believed and was excited. Annie and Finnick were here early! With Jace! But it took seeing for believing for me, and sure enough, when I stepped into the living room, there they were. Mother, Finnick and Annie were seated on the couches around the coffee table, laughing and chatting like the good old times. Finnick's arm was draped over Annie's shoulders, and on Annie's lap was Jace. He was sitting there, in a tiny version of a T-shirt and jeans, sucking on his fingers. Dark brown hair stuck up everywhere, and his baby-black eyes were beginning to turn green like both his parents'.

When I came in (in a pair of Peeta's pajama bottoms and my undershirt, horribly messy hair, but when you're in the Games together, you didn't really care anymore), Mother, Finnick and Annie stood up. I couldn't help but smile when I was caught in a deathly bear-hug by Finnick, who ruffled my hair even more when he let go.

"Long time no see." He grinned, eyes sparkling like I had only seen them do when Jace was born. His sea-green eyes raked over my horrible attire and he wolf-whistled. "You look ravishing, Katniss, I see Victor's life is treating you well?"

"It's nice to see you, too, Finnick." And it really was.

Next, Annie stepped in front of her man and wrapped me in a gentle, warm hug, careful not to squish Jace in between us. "It's so good to see you again, Katniss. It's been long enough!"

"Seems like forever since I last saw you two." And I let my eyes drop onto the adorable month-old Jace. "And you, little guy." My voice involuntarily went into a coo. He was even more adorable than the pictures on my nightstand could replicate. Though it automatically made me jealous and wish I had a kid of my own, I was able to control those feelings when Annie handed him to me.

He fixed his giant eyes on me and simply stared, not dropping his tiny, wet fingers from his mouth.

"How's my little man?" I asked softly, smiling at how much he looked like Annie. It was ridiculous. Tiny button nose, eyebrows that ended in a little wing, dimple on his chin. He was still pink from being new, but the baby smell still hadn't worn off. I stuck my tongue out at him and he giggled.

"Here," I gave Jace back to his mother reluctantly, only wishing I could hold him for years longer. "He's growing…"

Finnick took his son from Annie and took a step away, preceding to bounce him in the air, only making him laugh harder. He gave Annie and I time to be excited together.

"I was waiting for you to come tomorrow so we can make more solid wedding arrangements." I admitted, but it was impossible not to be excited. "You have to meet Ivy, my other bridesmaid, and her mother, Caroline."

Annie, who was smiling so much there were gigantic dimples on either side of her smile, put both hands on my shoulders. "That sounds great. But, Katniss?"

My smile faltered at her looked, which was amused but unsure. "What?"

"It might be nice to put on some clothes first."

Red rushed into my cheeks when Finnick laughed out loud, pausing playing with his son. "What were you doing up there?"

I scoffed in accusation, putting my hands on my hips. "Peeta's at his bakery, Finnick."

Everyone laughed. Mother covered her mouth and closed her eyes, trying to hide the fact that she was laughing, just like Primrose, Annie and Finnick.

"You said it, not me. I wasn't insinuating anything." Finnick was still grinning, and he glanced down at his son. "We're the only sane ones here, Jace. We had better make a run for it while we still can."

My cheeks were burning scarlet and I stomped up the stairs before anyone else could make any innuendos. I didn't believe Finnick for one second that he wasn't insinuating anything. He always did, and it was to be expected. I wasn't sure whether to be angry, annoyed or just amused. All three was fine.

I kicked off Peeta's pajama bottoms, they were mine, technically, and put on some khaki trousers, then pulled a white T-shirt over my head. Neither of those were Peeta's, so I think I was fine. With a quick glance in the bathroom mirror, I saw my hair was a rat's nest. I combed it out thoroughly and pulled it back in a braid. It appeared that everything was fine for a second, and I was about to head back downstairs when I decided to splash some cold water on my face. There, not blushing anymore.

When I went back downstairs, Prim wasn't there. I asked Mother, who was busy cuddling Jace.

"Oh, Prim went over to Peeta's house to see if he's there." She said, not looking at me.

I felt a tiny bit annoyed. "He's at the bakery. I told you."

Mother then gave me a smarty-pants look. "Then go get him. I want him to help with breakfast. These two are starved."

It was pointless to argue that he's working. I just sighed in defeat, and then nodded. "Alright."

"And hurry, okay?"

Yes, master. I nodded and then jogged out the door.

It was a twenty-minute walk to the bakery from our house. But jogging it was barely ten. I skidding through the door nine minutes later and leaned against the wall to catch my breath. When I finally did and looked around, I saw Benj, the new baker, at counter duty. He was adjusting the cookie trays when I walked up.

"Where's Peeta?" I asked, not unkindly. It was still somewhat amusing yesterday when he flirted with me, but it was even more amusing Peeta's reaction. Never mind I made a complete fool of myself.

"He's in back, in the kitchen." Benj didn't look at me, newly afraid because I was 'the baker's girl'. "Working on some…cake…" He shrugged, and then chanced a look up at me, not smiling.

The meaner part in me gave him a nice smile. "Can I go back and see him?"

For some odd reason, Benj darted out from behind the counter and stood in front of the door. "Sorry, but he said…well, he told me that if you came in you can't go in back. Sorry."

I frowned. "Did he say why?"

He shook his head.

"Well, then go in there yourself and tell him that I need to talk to him."

The first time today, he gave me a timid smile, and then got braver and flat-out grinned. "Yeah, I can do that." And he opened the kitchen door a crack and slid in. Whatever Peeta was doing in there, he obviously went to pretty good measures to make sure I didn't see it.

I hummed, waiting. But I didn't need to wait too long. Just ten seconds later, the door reopened and Peeta came out. He carefully shut the door behind him.

"Hey, Katniss." Peeta smiled lightly, leaning against the now-closed kitchen door. "What do you need to talk about? Benj said it was important."

"Benj doesn't know anything." I said, but then frowned at myself because that was harsh. "Well, it kind of is but… Anyways, Finnick and Annie are here early."

"Early?" Peeta's eyebrows raised in surprise. "Like, right now?"

I nodded. "Right now. And Mother sent me to get you to…to cook breakfast for them." I cringed, but only because Mother was just really…impossible sometimes. "I-I'm sorry, I told her you were busy. But she wouldn't take no. I'm sorry."

Peeta shook his head. "No big deal. I'll come." He began untying his apron, and as he was, I bit my lip.

"What were you working on back there?" I asked, cocking my head slightly. "Benj acted like it was a top-secret operation."

"Benj doesn't know anything." He used that chance to wink at me. "I was just working on something, and I didn't want to be disturbed."

I raised my eyebrows skeptically. "He told me that you told him to not let me in. Specifically."

Peeta still waved that off. "It's a surprise." With a small smile, he poked his head back in the back kitchen. "Benjamin, I'm taking off right now. Don't touch the cake or anything for that matter. I'll be back in an hour or two." He hung up his apron and waved his hand to the door. "Shall we go?"

Now, being the Victor's Village houses, they naturally had about everything. But half of the stuff I hadn't realized even existed, but only because we didn't use them every day. When Peeta and I walked into Mother's house, we were surprised to hear music playing from invisible speakers. Of course, the house had a place to insert music chips. No one ever really bothered to find where it was, though, but it was nice anyway. I can see why Rue loved it so much, in the background, setting happy moods.

Things happened something like how they happened with me. Finnick clapped Peeta on the back, avoiding (thankfully) any innuendos about us two (for once). Annie hugged him tightly and then handed Peeta Jace, to hold. His lips pursed tight with an attempt not to smile sadly, and I knew what he was thinking. I didn't linger on it too long, because Mother pushed me out of the way to hug Peeta (long time no see, like nine hours).

"These two are starving, Peeta." She said, holding his shoulders. "Care to help with a big breakfast?"

Of course, he agreed, even though I grimaced apologetically at him.

"It's okay, Ms. Everdeen." Annie protested, who had Jace back in her arms, gave Mother a smile. "We don't need something big."

"You're exaggerating." I mumbled to my mother, sitting down on the couch.

"Nonsense," She just waved her hand and practically bounced into the kitchen, followed by an awkward Peeta. I guess she was as happy as I was to see everyone again.

Over eating, there was barely a minute of silence. Jace was seated securely on his mother's lap, who had one arm around Jace. It was a large breakfast by measure, but it was slowly being erased.

"It's a really nice surprise that you came early." Mother was beaming, apparently thrilled that they were all there, and overly enthusiastic for her sombre temperament.

"Yeah," I smiled at Annie (we had become very good friends since Jace's birth). "I, uh… Finnick said you had an appointment today. Did that get moved or…something?" I hoped it wasn't too personal to ask about that over breakfast.

Annie laughed. "No. I just didn't need it. The doctor there, Dr. Aurelis, called me and said that someone else needed to visit today and if I could cancel." She shrugged. "With hope I won't need to see him anymore."

Finnick seemed happy, his eyes crinkling up as he looked down at her. He discreetly put his arm around her waist. We were all thinking the same thing, about how a year ago Annie was considered a crazy lady, and now she was perfectly normal. Though I didn't know exactly what changed her, I didn't want to ask.

"So how long do you think you can stay?" Prim popped a piece of blueberry pancake in her mouth.

"Honestly?" Finnick smiled and shook his head. "As long as possible, District 13 is driving us all crazy. And since District 4 isn't going to be ready for another two years, most likely more."

It genuinely made me sad hearing that. A frown crept onto my face and I stared at my food. Then an idea popped into my mind and I snapped my head up. "You three can stay here, with us."

"In the same house?" Mother laughed, glancing over at Finnick and Annie with obvious embarrassment, then back at me. "Katniss, dear, they can't live in the same house as us for two years. It's just not done."

Redness crept onto my cheeks, just because she thought that. "No, Mother, I meant in Victor's Village. There're no Peacekeepers to tell us what to do. The other houses are just sitting there gathering dust. They might as well be put to use." I took a drink of my orange juice and sat back, watching all of them mull my idea over.

It was Peeta who looked surprised and nodded appreciatively. "That actually isn't a bad idea. Maybe not for two whole years, but for now. At the very least until the wedding."

The nods from Mother and Prim told us it was a unanimous agreement, and we all looked over at Finnick and Annie for the last thoughts.

Finnick looked eager, but it was Annie who spoke first.

"I don't know, Katniss…" She bit her lower lip. "Those are…giant houses, and they aren't…aren't meant for us."

Peeta shrugged. "Well, there aren't going to be any more victors, so if they aren't free to you guys, I don't' know who they're free to."

"If they were actually 'free' to the public, people would already be living in them. Lord knows they're desirable. Everyone would be fighting over them, the hot, running water, the multiple bedrooms, the incredible size and such. If they were free to us, they'd be free to everyone else, and they're not."

Part of me wondered why she was fighting this.

Prim shrugged matter-of-factly. "Maybe they're just…afraid of living here. Maybe something about worthiness. For most of their entire lives, nearly everything had a consequence, and they're just afraid something will happen to them if they dare even step foot in the Village."

Prim had a point. And Annie knew it.

She sighed in defeat, gazing down at her baby son. "I guess…it couldn't hurt, for now."

Smiles slid over all our faces, Finnick's the biggest. He squeezed her hand briefly with reassurance. "Don't worry, Annie. It's going to be a ton easier taking care of Jace this way."

Annie couldn't help but smile at this, and we could all see the relief on her face. After all, taking care of family was top-priority. I looked at Jace and felt my heart melt a little. I knew what I wanted, more than anything. But it wasn't time for that. MY eyes slid over to Peeta, who was laughing with Prim about something. He caught my look and I held it for only a moment more, but then dropped it. Patience, Katniss.

oOo

Hey! You know how I said Mancpotter helped me out with this? Well, originally he had added on a few paragraphs to the end of this, making the day end, but I have to apologize because if you knew how elaborate and detailed I've planned the story for another week, you'd understand that I can't have them skip a day. Sorry! It was really excellent, though, and I just might have you write some on some other chapter. ;) Anyhoo, review!