I awake to the sun shining through the sheer curtains on my face. Peeta must have gotten up a little while ago with Pearl, because his side of the bed is empty, and I hear her laughing. I assume they are in the kitchen cooking breakfast. I lay in bed for a few minutes, remembering that in less then a day, less then 12 hours, Annie and Junior will be here.
Annie, Beetee, Johanna, and Enobaria returned to their districts after the fire calmed. Hoping to go back to as normal of a life as possible. I hope it's that and more for them. Not a day goes by that I don't think about my past. I don't know who is, but I hope those who are still alive are living the best lives possible. I cannot wait to see Annie & Finnick today, hopefully she has nothing but happy and fulfilling things to tell me about their lives.
I sit up, and hang my legs over the side of the bed. Reaching my arms up over my head, giving my body a good stretch before I stand, then head down stairs. As I suspected, Peeta and Pearl are in front of the stove, flipping what appears to be circular pancakes. It's hard to tell, since little hands did the pouring. Pearl is standing on a stool next to Peeta, observing every step and precaution he takes as he cooks the sausage. She has truly inherited the best of both of us. Peeta's patience, kindness, and composed attitude. My determination, healing hand, and love for nature. Unfortunately, she also inherited my stubbornness. She usually gets whatever she wants anyway, since we have no problem doing everything in our power to make her happy.
"Good morning Mama. Did you sleep good?" A huge smile covers half of my face, how could it not? Here I am, with the two most caring people in the world. We've made it this far, unharmed. It's come at a price, but one that you could never put a number on. All we have in this world is each other, our family. Still together, happy, and with such a wonderful daughter, it's obvious we're doing something right.
"Good morning. I slept great Pearl, how about you?" I watch her and Peeta flip the pancakes on the griddle. As I do every morning, I walk over and give them both a kiss, and a big hug.
"Good, 'cause I know you and daddy are always there to protect me." She says with a smile. Who am I fooling? Definitely not my five year old. Which sounds so ridiculous, pathetic even. She knows I came in to check on her last night, and she knows why. She knows we are haunted by an unimaginable past, one that she will not know the details of until she's older. Thankfully, a life she will never have to worry about.
"Of course, and we always will be." I say as I cup her soft cheeks in my hands, looking straight into her eyes to reassure her. It's like i'm looking into Peetas' eyes.
"Always." Peeta repeats, rubbing his hand across the top of her hair, brushing through her soft locks with his fingertips.
We hear the front door. Haymitch makes his way to the kitchen, sober as can be. Good, he knows we need all the support we can get today. After all these years, Peeta, Haymitch and I are still a team, keeping each other alive. He gives us a crooked smile.
"Good morning, Sweetheart. Making me breakfast?" He says sweetly, approaching Pearl as she raises her arms, asking for him to pick her up without having to say a word. I set the table for the four of us and cut the fresh fruit we bought from the market, while Peeta finishes cooking. I sit in silence, taking every second of it in. It's so easy to see that Pearl gives Haymitch a reason to be happy again.
Breakfast is good. We talk and laugh while we eat. My nerves are relatively calm, considering the task at hand today, and since I haven't been hunting in a few months either. I've been trying to put more time and effort in with helping Peeta down at the bakery. Learning how to bake, and helping to keep things in order. He'd take all the responsibility on himself if I'd let him, but I like helping.
We ask Haymitch to babysit for a few hours while we go to the Bakery to get a few things done and made before Annie's arrival. He agrees without hesitation, and tells us to take our time. With Pearl still in his arms, he proceeds to tell her their list of activities to do while we're gone. At the top of the list is coloring, feeding his geese, and Pearl's favorite since it's too cold to play outside, hours of piggy back rides around the house in made up lands. Peeta finishes cleaning up our breakfast mess, we bundle up, and head on our way.