Author's note: This chapter's a big one, so I'll just say thank you for reading and I cannot wait to hear what you think of this one.
Many thanks to my beta LavenderVanilla. You are a rock star, dear!
Happy reading.
Chapter Seventeen
Adam was the new constant subject of all of Peeta's sketches. Still mostly sleeping, it was easy to get the perfect angles and take his time to get every detail just right. But once the baby awoke, Peeta's pencil flew across the page even faster, trying to get his hands and feet drawn as they waved through the air.
It was a sunny Sunday. Annie requested a day on the beach after getting a few fish early that morning. Peeta couldn't help but indulge. He gathered his art supplies as Annie made them a picnic lunch. Adam babbled along on the blanket on the sand. He was starting to move around more and more, which made their days a little more interesting. He wasn't yet crawling, but he could roll onto his stomach from his back and hold himself up by his hands. Mags said it could happen sooner than any of them expected or wanted.
Adam flailed on the blanket and Peeta was busy sketching late into the day, his hand speeding over the paper to catch the movements. He grumbled playfully, "Moving so much, Adam."
Annie chuckled as she watched. "Just ask him to hold still."
Peeta laughed and leaned down over the baby on the blanket. "Hold still."
Adam cooed and reached for his father.
Placing his sketchbook aside, Peeta stretched out over the baby and kissed his tiny cheeks, nose, and forehead. "Oh, you're so sweet. Aren't you?"
Adam made another happy sound and waved his hands at Peeta's face.
"Well, not modest at all." Peeta said. "You know you're a sweet baby."
"Even if he wakes up a dozen times in the night." Annie said, stretching out beside them and resting her head on her hand.
"Good thing Johanna's around most of the time to help us out." He smirked.
"I wonder where she went this morning." Annie said, glancing down the beach.
"She goes to check on Mags a lot." Peeta stretched out beside Adam and rested a hand on the baby's stomach. His little eyes were starting to drift closed.
As soon as the baby was asleep, Annie pushed Peeta onto his back and kissed him softly. "You're such a good father."
Peeta smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist. "You're an amazing mother."
She rested her head on his shoulder and looked over at the baby asleep beside them. "I don't feel so amazing sometimes."
"Well, you are. Mags thinks so, too."
Threading his fingers through hers, he closed his eyes and relaxed. The waves crashed against the shore and she breathed softly against him. He was so lost in the rhythm of the world all around him, that he didn't feel her tense up right away.
He opened his eyes when he realized it and watched her slowly sitting up. Following her line of vision, he saw four figures moving toward them. Johanna led a brunette woman walking slightly ahead of a young man with bronze hair who had a slight blonde tucked into his side.
Annie stood, her lips moving slowly as she tried to form words. She finally whispered, "Can it be?" She moved forward before Peeta could grab her.
"Annie, wait." He called as he scrambled to his feet. He scooped Adam up to his chest before following after his wife.
The man broke away from the group just as Annie started running.
He heard his wife's name called from across the beach and her voice floated back to him as she cried out, "Finnick!"
Peeta stopped dead and watched as the two figures crashed into each other with so much force that they stumbled and fell to the ground. He felt a sharp pain in his chest as he watched it. She did love him. Even after all this time, she still loved Finnick.
But if Finnick was here that meant...
Peeta's eyes lifted to see just beyond the couple still on the ground stood the very familiar face of his first love.
"Katniss?" He whispered.
As though she had heard, Katniss looked up, conflict in her eyes. On unsteady feet, Peeta walked toward her. Adam squirmed in his arms and he could see Katniss's gaze shift.
Johanna paused in front of Peeta. "I'll take Adam inside."
Peeta hesitated a moment before he handed the baby over as Katniss and her sister stopped in front of him. Prim looked so different and grown up. Of course she had been just a kid when he was taken from Twelve.
Katniss examined Peeta's face. "You're really here." She said softly.
Peeta swallowed and nodded, suddenly at a complete loss for words. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her tight, but he didn't think she'd appreciate that. She'd never been one for public affection, even if it was accepted.
Katniss chewed her lip. "And you have a baby." Her voice shook.
"Yeah, we do." He wished that he could have waited to spring that on her. "I'd love for you to meet him."
She nodded, but he could see they the way she glanced to her sister that it was the furthest thing from her mind.
"God, you're everything I remember." Peeta breathed.
Katniss blushed, but he could see so many emotions flash in her eyes. He held out his hand and she hesitated only a moment before slipping hers into his.
He glanced to the young woman beside her. "My goodness, Miss Primrose, you have become a young woman since I last saw you."
Despite the anger hanging on the edges of Prim's face, she smiled kindly. "I have, Mr. Mellark." She glanced over and Peeta followed her gaze to Finnick and Annie smiling and talking over each other on the sand.
Peeta cleared his throat and Annie looked up guiltily.
Annie stood and helped Finnick up. Finnick guided her to the other three and made the introductions to Annie.
"Finnick, this is Peeta." Katniss said softly.
The men shook hands, Peeta gripping Finnick's tight.
"Oh, you all have to meet Adam." Annie said proudly, gripping Finnick's forearm. "He is the sweetest baby! Come on." She tugged him toward the house.
Finnick's smile faded. He glanced at Katniss and they held each other's eyes a moment.
Peeta felt Katniss's grip go slack and he let her hand go. The confusion he'd seen on her face before turned to pain.
The look Katniss gave the other man spoke of her anger and guilt. He returned her look, glancing toward Prim, and Katniss turned her head away.
So they knew each other so well that they didn't even need words.
Peeta looked between them. Did Johanna even tell them everything? It would be just like her to keep them in the dark.
"We'll make you a good meal tonight." Peeta offered. "You three look like you could use it."
"Got any cheese buns?" Prim asked. Katniss poked her in the arm and she squeaked. "What? The ones we had on the road were stale after the first day. And I like Mellark cheese buns."
"So do you." Finnick commented, giving Katniss a pointed look.
Katniss grumbled, "Maybe."
Peeta relaxed. This Katniss he could handle.
Annie tugged on Finnick's hand. "Come meet Adam."
Finnick allowed himself to be dragged along, pulling Prim in his wake.
Peeta grabbed Katniss's hand before she could follow. Her fingers were callused, but her palm was smooth. He slid the tip of his finger over the length of her hand. "I never forgot about you."
"Well, you must have for a few minutes." She quipped.
Peeta laughed, despite his discomfort. "Well, I..." He looked toward the house and back to her. "Katniss, I tried to hang on, but I never thought I'd see you again."
"Well, I slept with Finnick." She said quickly.
His heart constricted again. Not that expected her to wait for him. "Let's talk." He begged as he gripped her hand a little tighter.
"I'm tired." She looked back to him. "Peeta, we've been traveling nearly a month. I didn't think when I got here there would be so much to take in. I tried to prepare myself, but actually being here is really overwhelming. You need to give me time."
He nodded and held out his other hand toward the house. "Let me show you around my home."
Katniss pulled her hand from Peeta's and walked ahead of him, keeping her eyes forward. Peeta caught up to Katniss and slipped his hand into hers. She quickly pulled it away.
"Sorry." He mumbled, stepping ahead of her to open the door and usher her inside.
She hesitated a moment before she stepped in and waited for Peeta to lead her through the house. The first sound that came to their ears was the laughter, Annie's mostly. She was giddy, excited.
They stepped into the next room and there was her sister leaning over a tiny bundle. Prim looked up, her smile fading as she saw her older sister. "Well, he looks healthy." She said softly.
Katniss glanced over and nodded. "Yep."
"Oh, you need to see my book!" Annie said, and then quickly left the room
Peeta followed. "Are you sure they need to see that?" He asked.
"Why not?" Annie turned. "They need to know we didn't give up entirely."
"But we did." Peeta sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "I left the other book out on the beach."
Annie took the Finnick book out of the cabinet. It was well-worn from all the times she'd flipped through it. She hugged it close to her chest as she walked into the other room. Finnick now held the baby. Annie froze and watched him from the doorway.
He smiled down at the boy in his arms and spoke so softly Annie couldn't hear from where she stood, but she could see her son was captivated by whatever it was.
Her eyes were drawn to Johanna. She leaned against a wall and watched everything with eagle eyes. She glanced out the window every once in a while.
Annie shrugged off Johanna's odd behavior and stepped in front of Katniss. She presented the book to their new guest. "Peeta made this for me."
Katniss took the offered book and opened it up. She examined each page thoroughly as Prim leaned over to look with her.
Annie wrung her hands and looked toward Finnick again. The baby started fussing a little and Finnick simply smiled and started singing softly. It was a song Annie had never heard, something about a meadow. She remembered all the sea chanteys he'd always have on his lips. Sometimes a little bawdy, but always a comfort. She didn't realize how much she'd missed it.
Katniss held out the book. With a small grin, she said. "The nose is a little off."
Annie chuckled. "It's sometimes hard to describe a nose. But he got it close."
Katniss nodded. "Peeta has a lot of talent. I'm glad he kept it up." She sounded wistful.
"I drew you every day, Katniss." Peeta said from the doorway, another similar book clutched to his chest. "To keep it up. And so I never forgot how you look." His eyes were red. Annie hurried over and wrapped an arm around his waist.
Johanna cleared her throat. "Hey, someone should tell Mags her golden boy is back."
Finnick's eyes went wide. "Mags is still alive?"
"Of course she is." Johanna said. "You think the old bat would kick it before you came home?" She snorted. "Anyway, someone has to keep people healthy around here."
Finnick nodded and turned to Katniss and Prim. "Mags is sort of like everyone's grandma. And she's a lot like your mama. Always got a cure for what ails you. And she's the main midwife."
"She delivered Adam." Annie said proudly.
"And she's someone Prim should meet." Finnick said. He looked around the room, his eyes landing on Katniss before moving on. "Johanna, you should take Prim."
"I don't know Johanna well enough to trust her with my sister's safety." Katniss pointed out.
"I trust her." Peeta said. "She's taken Adam everywhere."
Annie took Adam from Finnick's arms. "You should bring Adam with you." She passed the baby to Johanna. "And that way, you can know just how trustworthy Jo and Mags are."
Prim opened her mouth to say something, but closed it after a sharp look from Katniss.
Peeta said, "I promise that Mags and Jo are very kind people, Prim."
"Finnick?" Katniss's voice was uncertain.
"I trust both of them. Jo and I grew up together. And if they trust their baby in her care…" Finnick said. "Go on, Prim. You'll like Mags and her place. Potted plants everywhere."
Prim swallowed and slowly followed Johanna toward the door.
Katniss stood. "I'm a good shot with a bow, Johanna. Just keep that in mind."
Finnick and Peeta both snorted. And then glared at each other.
Annie cringed at the exchange, but quickly recovered. She sighed. "Please, don't be long, Jo. I'm about to start supper."
"We'll bring Mags back with us." Johanna said. "We'll have a party." She bounced Adam in her arms and led Prim out of the house.
There was a long silence after the door closed. Annie could feel the tension rising in the room. Sound rushed through her ears. It had been so long since the darkness descended that it was almost too much all at once. She closed her eyes tight and covered her ears.
She felt arms wrap around her. "Please, Finnick, don't." She whispered.
"It's Peeta." Her husband's hurt voice said, his arms loosening around her.
Annie's eyes slowly opened. "I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize." Katniss said. "It's all very confusing right now." She turned from the window to the room at large. "How old is he?"
"Five months." Peeta said proudly, his arm still around Annie's waist despite Finnick's jealous gaze.
"That rose must have been a message." Katniss said softly to herself.
"He's watching you." Finnick said in the same soft voice. He hurried to the door and Katniss followed.
Katniss stood in the doorway. "Do you think Johanna could be lying? Just gaining your trust for some reason?"
Annie shook her head. "Johanna's protecting us."
Peeta nodded. "She told us you were going to come. If someone's watching, it's someone in town. The bakery is bustling constantly."
Katniss stared out the window. "You have a bakery?"
"Only recently an official one." Peeta said. "We baked and sold out of the house for a while."
Annie pushed his arm away and walked toward Katniss. "You like cheese buns. There are some in the kitchen. Peeta baked them fresh this morning. Would you like one?"
Katniss slowly turned. The look on her face was hard to read, especially with the darkness still on the edges of Annie's vision. "That would be great. I had a few from Twelve. But we finished them two weeks ago."
Peeta asked, "How is my dad?"
Katniss smiled sadly. "He misses you. So do your brothers."
"But not my mom." Peeta's voice was soft, a slight edge of anger to it.
Katniss shook her head. "She's usually distracted with other customers whenever I go in the bakery. And you know she doesn't talk to me if she can help it."
"I'm sure she doesn't care." Peeta crossed his arms.
There was silence for a few breaths.
Finnick broke it. "Annie, can I help you with supper?" He tugged Annie's arm back toward the kitchen.
At Finnick's touch, Annie's vision was suddenly clear and she nodded, leading Finnick into the other room. She looked over her shoulder at Peeta once more before they stepped through the door. He was looking at Katniss with wonder. It hurt a little.
As soon as they were out of sight of the other two, Finnick pulled Annie into a tight embrace. She sunk into his chest. It was familiar, but different somehow.
She tilted her head back. "Did you work in the mines?"
He smoothed his hands over her hair as he nodded. "Six days a week, every week, until we fled." His eyes drifted down and she smiled just before he brushed a kiss over her lips.
She pushed him away. "We're married to other people now, Finnick." Annie admonished as she headed for the cabinet and started removing jars of vegetables. "You can't go around kissing me just because you feel like it. It's not right to Peeta and Katniss. It's not right to us."
He gave a contrite nod. "You're right. I'm sorry."
She picked up the bowl where she'd placed the morning's catch to soak in salt water. After laying out a large towel, Annie sat the fish out to dry for a few minutes. "So you and Katniss...?" She looked up to see Finnick staring at his shoes.
The muscle in his jaw moved up and down as he ground his teeth. His voice was soft when he admitted, "We slept together a couple times, but it wasn't something either of us liked or wanted, so nothing else." He examined her face. "Do you love Peeta?"
Annie turned away before answering, not wanting to see the hurt in his eyes. "Yes." She said softly.
Her admission was followed by silence. She turned to see him rubbing his face. "I was afraid of that." He finally said.
"So what happens now?" She walked across the room. "What are you going to do? What are we going to do?"
He dropped his hands and shrugged. "Katniss and I decided we'd move on if you two were happy in your marriage. So I guess we will. We don't want to be in the way. We just need a few days to rest. A month of travel takes a toll—"
"No, you can't!" There it was again, the darkness and the nagging feeling that she wasn't good enough. She closed her eyes tightly. "You can't leave when I just got you back!"
"Hey." He gently grabbed her shoulders. "I don't belong here anymore. I don't want to hurt you, Ann, but I can't stay. It isn't right."
"Ann. You're the only one that calls me that." The sound was still there, but she was able to push most of it away for that one word. "Say it again."
He smiled and gently cupped her face in his hands. "Ann. My beautiful Ann."
She grabbed his wrists as she felt the calm wash over her. She stared in his eyes and knew that all this time she'd only been pretending. Her love for Peeta was so different from her love for Finnick. This was the man who had held her heart for so long.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Peeta's voice broke her out of her trance.
Annie stepped away from Finnick and back toward the stove. "I was just getting the fish ready to fry."
Peeta said, "Just saw Jo and the others heading back up the beach."
Finnick nodded and stepped away. "Where's Katniss?"
"She needed to be alone." Peeta said. "Down the hall. The door on the left."
"Thanks." Finnick left the room and Annie felt the sudden emptiness.
She thought about following him, making sure he wasn't just some illusion. Would he still be in the house in five minutes? Would he still be there in the morning? What about next week? Or would she wake up soon and find out all of this was some horrible dream?
"Annie, is everything okay?" Peeta placed his hand on her cheek. "Can I do something?"
"You can promise me everything's going to be okay."
He nodded and pulled her into a hug. "I promise we'll figure this all out."
"Please also promise that you love Adam." She looked into his face. "I don't think I could stand it if you left us because of Katniss. He needs his father, Peeta."
"I will not leave Adam." He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, but she didn't feel right accepting his affection so soon after Finnick's, so she turned back to the meal.