Well that'll be all folks! This story has a place close to my heart because its the first one I've ever written, at least since I was a kid and draw my own comics and wrote dialogs for my characters, but I learned a lot and has been a wonderful journey so I hope you enjoy and take some time to make me happy leaving me a final review. I'm going to miss you guys.

More notes at the end.

Chapter 11: Celebrating

Transplant day was one of the hardest to get through in my life, but the days that follow make me pull my hair in despair. I don't know what to do or how to handle myself. My little girl is fighting once more for her life, and my own fear and worry for Katniss is just as great.

It is incredible the way life changes in a heartbeat. Just the day before the procedure we had a sleepover, invited Prim to our bed and watched her new favorite movie, "Frozen", until she couldn't keep her eyes open, she and Katniss sang the summer song along with Olaf laughing and swinging coordinately over the bed. Afterwards, we fell asleep with our hands intertwined over our little daughter's waist. I have never felt more complete.

After that night, though, our lives now full of hope that the transplant will work, but also dreading that it won't. Johanna stayed at Katniss' apartment for almost a month. There is no doubt about the strong friendship they share. She lost her job due to the time she missed to be with us, although, I don't think it was a big deal for her. Johanna has been by our side since day one.

On that day we told our loved ones about the procedure. I'm glad Katniss thought about laying them and tell that it was later than actually was, because, they would have been here sooner and although we're thankful for their love they can be a handful sometimes.

Haymitch was sleeping, curled up in a dirty blanket, from only God knows where, and occupying two chairs at once.

Rye was already in the waiting room by the time I arrived there after admitting Prim. He said my dad would be there at noon along with our older brother and Madge. My mother was determined to find excuses to snap at any nurse who dared to invade her vision. Katniss' mother stopped by, if only for five minutes. Delly's constant text messages annoyed me andFinnicks fiancée, Annie, a quiet woman who sat beside Katniss holding her hand, showed up as well. She was the only one capable of putting food into Katniss' mouth until she could see Prim.

We were thankful for all the people there, willing to show support and love to us. It can be uncomfortable at times, overwhelming at others, but this support system is really important to us and Prim's weak smile widens when we tell her about the people who love her and the family she has now.

I remember encircling Katniss' waist with my arms, my front to her back. She relaxed in my embrace resting her head over my shoulder, her nose tickling my neck so I lean to kiss her there. "Are they like this all the time?" Johanna asks and Haymitch, who maybe was fooling us all pretending he was sleeping on a chair. He assures her with annoyance that we are, in fact, like this all the time. We all wished for him to return to the sleeping act, only thus will avoid his constant sarcastic remarks about pretty much everything.

Finn came to tell us they finished with the procedure and now we just needed to wait and see how Prim's body would react. He explained to us that everything went well, and she would be able to go home in 48 hours as long as she didn't present any fever, and she can take and hold her meds that control nausea, vomiting r considerations.

We welcomed Prim home under strict specifications. She needed very special care and we had to go back every day to the hospital. She was a little depressed so we thought being home would cheer her up, although she was suffering from some minor side effects such as a rash and sores on her mouth.

Johanna was waiting for us with a "Welcome home, Prim" sign; she can't read it yet, of course, she is too young but Jo also lined up all her toys on the living room floor as a welcome party for her. She smiled at the sight and Katniss laughed, too.

I cried.

Johanna took the couch. We insisted she would be better off at Gale's place, but no force could keep her away from my girls. She didn't waste the opportunity to threaten us over and over again that if we weren't silent enough she would interrupt us without contemplation. As if it were possible to be loud with a little girl sleeping in a tiny apartment.

There were no visits allowed for a while, we needed to take extra precaution with Prim's surroundings. Anyone could bring a virus home and it was too dangerous for Prim at the time. My dad insisted that I took all the free days I needed, and Haymitch put Katniss to rest too, that way she only had to attend to the hospital for her therapies.

In the meantime, Johanna and I split the work, well, mostly. She watches Disney movies with Prim, complaining the entire time about the useless princess, while I do all the cleaning and cooking, but I don't really care. She is wonderful and her very presence makes my girls happy.

Looking back, I remember how hard the whole process was - the sleepless nights, daily checkups, a bunch of complications, fever, swelling, rashes. Everything had us on edge. Katniss woke up screaming almost every night, but she wouldn't allow me to comfort her. As soon as she was awake she ran to Prim's bedroom to make sure she was still breathing I didn't need to ask her what her dream was about. I have those dreams too.

We're stronger every day, though. We are stronger together and after everything we've been through I know for sure that I couldn't live without Katniss in my life.

I understand now, with brutal clarity, the stories I've heard about the way people with experiences similar to ours celebrate a new birthday after they've overcome a life threatening difficulty. It's like a new beginning for them and their families. I promised them we would have our own, too.

When everything is all said and done, we'll celebrate a new birthday for our family, for Prim., The anniversary of her surgery is special for us. I will bake Prim's favorite cake, Katniss will sing and all of our loved ones will be invited to share it with us. Her family and friends have been with her when I couldn't, and mine have accepted them with open arms and hearts full of love. They deserve to be part of our celebration.

So, today, Prim is as excited as a little girl can be on her second birthday of the year. She helped me bake the cake, as I promised to her a year ago, and she ate a big part of the frosting. I must admit that this won't be the most hygienic cake I have made. She is enthusiastic in helping Katniss set a big table in the yard. Yes, a yard because I finally convinced Katniss to buy a house.

We bought this house six months ago. Katniss fell in love with it as soon as she saw the apple tree in the backyard. Prim fell in love as soon as she saw the ugly, yellow cat on top of the tree hissing at her mother. I fall in love each passing 's a little three story house with a big garden that Prim enjoys so much, now that she can run, scream and laugh. She goes to preschool and has a lot of friends.

We are waiting for some of these new friends but also for Gale and his fiancée, Johanna. Gale, Katniss' amazing friend, who took care of Katniss when she needed it most, and who took Prim to his workplace and the hospital countless times, has been a loyal friend to Katniss in her hardest times, sharing hobbies with her, making her laugh. His fiancée, Johanna, Katniss' ex-roommate, the one who found me for them, is the guilty one for the beautiful mess my life is today.

I know my dad just got in because Prim is running to the door yelling, "Grandpa!" throwing herself into his legs.

"Hey there, little monkey!" My dad leans to lift her into his arms and tickle her with his beard, a new addition to his person that makes my mother roll her eyes, every time.

"What about grandma? I'm here, too!" complains my mother. She is always jealous about Prim's strong preference towards my father. At least today they can be civil to each other. There were times in which every single attempt of conversation ended in screaming and name-calling.

My mother has changed a lot for the sake of her granddaughter. She is the light of her days, but I know her and she still will find something to complain about, if only because she needs to complain so she doesn't lose her essence. She will start with the house, then she will push things around saying that she wants more grandchildren. That's when Madge and my brother will save us because they have been married for a long time now, but my mother never gives up. She will find a way to get to us.

Prim forgets about my father as soon as she spots uncle Haymitch hand she takes his hand. "Come on, I want you to meet Buttercup." Haymitch mumbles something unintelligible but we all know he is putty in Prim's little hands.

Katniss' mother and the rest of the Hawthornes are already in the backyard. Finnick and Annie are invited too, although I'm still not comfortable with his shenanigans towards Katniss, but his wife's growing belly reminds me it's only a game. Apparently her calm demeanor is the perfect complement to Finnick's exuberant personality, and their love for each other is unquestionable.

So, we sit and eat, talking and laughing, enjoying second chances and when they finally leave, I tell Katniss I will clean up and she can take Prim to bed. That will give me time.

I wait for her in the living room, near the fireplace with the bread with nuts that she loves and a bottle of wine. I know how cheesy this is but I couldn't help myself, I had to light some candles.

"What is this for?" she sleepily asks. She must have fallen asleep in bed with Prim, I can tell by the wrinkles in her summer dress and the disheveled look of her hair. Even in this state she is still the most beautiful girl i've ever seen.

Life is good again and I'll commit mine to making my girls happy, which I know for a fact will keep my life as happy as it is right now, so I just need her to say yes.

"Katniss," my voice trembles with nerves while I get on one knee. Her eyes open wide realizing what I'm about to do next. "I know how much you hate corniness, but I love you, I love our life together, and everyday together makes me want to be closer to you. I don't think I could live without you in my life again...so Katniss..."

"Yes!" She says breathless, with shining eyes.

"You didn't let me finish."

"I don't need to. Yes!" she says more firmly now. I take the little box from my back pocket and start to open it for her, she takes a look at the white gold ring with the simple pearl on the front and a tear rolls down her cheek. "It's perfect Peeta, just like you."

I haven't put the ring on her finger but I can't wait any longer so I kiss her, trying to express my feelings for her with my lips. She responds with her tongue and as soon as I lean to deepen the kiss she places her hands around my shoulders, playing with the hair on the back of my neck, just the way she knows drives me crazy. We don't make it to the room that night and that was exactly my plan. If we're hungry we can toast some bread in the fire and we can make a toast for our future together, always together.

Thanks to Ct522 not only for being a wonderful flawless beta but for offering to help me with chapters already published so my story look better, has been a hard work on her part. It may sound random but I also have to thank her for understanding my language, that was a tremendous help with my low tolerance for frustration ;)

Finally but not less important I have to thank Ct for introducing to me another amazing person, beta and I would love to call her my friend too: peetabreadgirl, she is the one who "betaed" this chapter for me along with others in this story, she is always funny and sweet and I enjoy our back and forward e-mailing immensely. (Go read her stories if you haven't already)

And you probably just want me to shut up already but I have to thank you, the most wonderful readers in the world, because you stay with me with and without a beta, you sent encouraging reviews ignoring my spelling and grammatical errors, and also endured that I took so long to finish this. I'm also very thankful for the not so encouraging reviews because I wanted to improve and you told me what I needed to do to be closer that goal.

I hope you still with me in my other stories, I have a Christmas fic that I would post later this month, and a new multi chapter story, I don't want to keep you waiting this time so I'll have to finish it before I dare to post it, and I'm very close to do it.

And come visit me on tumblr, I'm under the same name inmyfavor, I'll be super happy to chat with you.

(Obviously, this thank you speech didn't reach the hands of any beta, so sorry)