Katniss…Peeta…and Sparrow makes three. This should be fun.

The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy don't belong to me.

Fated to Love

Part Two, Part Seventeen

The click of the front door closing sounded like a sonic boom through the silent house.

It resonated in them both, speaking of finality and borders being crossed. They had been alone before, but there was something different about this. Maybe it was the fact that they had just attended a wedding between two of their friends and the buzz of romance was still in the air.

Or, maybe it was the fact that Katniss looked so adorably familiar in her pajamas and matching slippers.

Peeta remembered those pajamas. He remembered seeing her on their couch, Toad's baby book resting on her thighs as she doodled or wrote to their unborn child about her day, in those very pajamas—linen and mint-green with faint white stripes.

Her face was bare and he could still smell the slight scent of cucumber from her facewash—Peeta remembered that, too. He would walk into their bathroom, catching sight of that small bottle with the pump sitting next to the sink. Sometimes, Peeta would pick the bottle up just to sniff the light fragrance. Those first days together were strange; he was not used to living with anyone and there Katniss was, bringing her bashful smiles and pretty scents.

"Are you okay?" Katniss turned to him, her head tilting in question. "You zoned out for a bit."

Peeta approached her, an arm wrapping around her waist. "I was just remembering you."

"Remembering me?" She smiled, her head dipping down to rest against his chest. "I'm right here."

"I'm remembering Katniss in her comfiest pajamas…no makeup…" His hand went to play with her braid. "…braided hair that would always end up smacking me in the middle in the night." She lifted her head and he winked at her. "Things like that."

"Ah, yes." Taking his hand, Katniss led him to the couch. "Do you remember my snoring? Or, the strange tea leaf salad craving?"

"I remember all of it," he said as her head went to his shoulder. "It's funny…all these small things that I didn't realize I've missed about you."

"Your hair in the sink," Katniss suddenly recalled. "Whenever you shaved, I'd get so irritated because I'd end up having to clean it up. Then when I was in Paris, I'd find myself cleaning around the bathroom sink even when it was immaculate. It was the comfort of those silly chores that got me through, at times." She lifted her head and turned to him. "We overanalyze too much. Why can't it be something as simple as 'I missed you'?"

His hand went to her cheek, his solid gaze on her smoky eyes. "I missed you."

Katniss swallowed the tears threatening to rise before smiling. "I missed you, too."

Gale opened the door to his apartment, bending down to pick up the newspaper left on his floor mat.

"Nice picture."

He looked up to find Madge at her doorway, the latest Vogue magazine in her hands. She gave him a wry smile before flipping it open and presenting a photo to his curious gaze.

It was him, Katniss, and Peeta; the three of them sitting on a park bench on the photo set. It was supposed to be a test shot, but Caesar—the clever fucker that he was—had manipulated it to work in his favor. The Flickerman tote bag, resting on Katniss' lap, was on full display for 'advertising' purposes though now the ad's little love story seemed to have a romantic triangle in its midst.

Katniss' annoyed text message totally made sense now.

"Don't worry," Madge continued flippantly. "The last picture clearly solidifies her choice." She turned the page to the photo showing Katniss and Peeta staring at one another, bag swinging in his friend's hand and a pretty grin on her lips. "I mean, if this bag really gets me the guy, then I'd buy it—"

"Are you upset because he's in the ad or I am?" Gale questioned, his grey eyes boring into her. He approached and she attempted to turn away. However, he was quicker, grabbing her wrist and pulling her flush against his chest. "I know how I feel, Madge. I've made my choice. You should make yours."

Leaning down, Gale kissed her cheek releasing her wrist gently as he moved away.

"You know where to find me."

Turning, he walked back to his door, closing it behind him.

Katniss' eyes opened at the sound of Sparrow's crying.

Gingerly, she sat up from her bed and padded out into the hallway towards the toddler's room. The crying abruptly ceased and there was a shuffle, followed by a content hum from Sparrow. When she got to the doorway, her whole body filled with warmth at the picture before her.

Peeta stood by the crib with Sparrow in his arms, the little boy's head pressed to his shoulder.

She knocked against the doorway and the two looked up. "Did he wake you?"

Peeta shook his head as he rocked Sparrow back and forth.

"No. I was already up—takes me awhile to settle in, sometimes."

"I'm usually like that." Katniss approached them, her hand reaching to brush Sparrow's long bangs from his sleepy eyes. "It's been a long day with the wedding and all."

"Go back to bed," Peeta told her. "I've got him. He's not hungry, just in need of some company."

"Are you alright?" she asked him. "Bed comfortable? Do you have enough blankets?"

"I'm fine," he responded with a grin. "It's a little strange to be in Seneca's sweats and shirt, but I'm okay."

It got too late for him to leave and neither one of them was itching to separate. So they settled for separate rooms, his room next to Sparrow's and hers across the way. It had taken her nearly an hour to fall asleep; the thought of him just a few steps away was enough to keep her awake. Part of her wondering what would happen if he knocked on her door.

Though Katniss knew that she would likely let him in. For what, she wasn't sure.

"What are you thinking about?" She turned to Peeta, catching his examining stare; he had settled into the rocking chair with Sparrow. "You should really go to bed. I'm fine."

"I feel bad," she admitted. "I'm supposed to be babysitting Sparrow and here you are, wide awake and pulling kid duty."

"I like it." He met her eyes, a sliver of pain bared in his own. "Sometimes I think I was meant for fatherhood…"

Katniss stepped towards him, sitting on the floor next to the rocker. "What do you mean?"

"I can stay up late and let's pretend that Toad had lived," he started. "I would've been the one to stay up with him since I don't sleep. I would've told him about his grandparents, about my life with Uncle Snow, how everything would just come together when you two came along." Peeta smiled painfully and her heart started at the crystalline anguish on his sharply handsome face. "We would've had good talks."

Standing, she carefully sat on his lap. Her head went to his shoulder, her eyes focused on Sparrow asleep on his other side. Would it have been like this? The three of them in the middle of the night in deep conversation?

"You can still talk to him," Katniss replied against his warm skin. "I know I talk to Toad all the time…maybe every night before I sleep."

"You're talking to him or praying for him?" Peeta questioned.

"If I were praying for him, I would be praying that he was still alive," she said, not bothering to hide the waver in her voice. "Talking to him keeps me anchored to reality—keeps it real."

"Keeps what real?"

"That he's gone," Katniss stated bluntly. "I don't want to hide my pain anymore. I spent so much time in Paris, hiding behind my work and school. But, it wouldn't help. Every morning, I'd wake up and just remember that he's gone all over again."

"That's not the way Toad would've wanted it," Peeta surmised. "I know that much." She pulled her head up to meet his eyes. "He would want us to get better…be better…together." His gaze never wavered from hers. "What we went through was bad, Katniss."

She sniffled, wiping her eyes against her sleeve. "I agree."

"But, there's still good around us, too," he said. "My life has a lot more good now that you're back in it."

Katniss leaned forward, pressing a wet kiss to his rough lips. "I agree with that, too."

"Go to bed, Katniss," he told her once more.

She smiled against his skin. "Why?"

"Because I can't be held responsible for what I do after 2AM," Peeta responded with a smile. "Especially when you're curled into me like that."

"It looks like we have an extra guest," Dr. Paylor said as she entered the exam room, seeing Peeta and Katniss with Sparrow in tow. "You just pick this kid up off the street?"

"No, this one came with the house I'm currently staying in," Katniss informed the doctor. Her eyes went to Johanna, toying with Sparrow's foot as it kicked haphazardly in the air. The little boy was perched in Peeta's arms, his dark eyes examining the sterile room. "But this isn't about Sparrow—this is about this bump right here."

She circled her hand above Johanna's burgeoning stomach and her friend let out a chuckle.

"This isn't a bump anymore," Johanna said. "This is a mountain."

"How are you feeling, Johanna?" Dr. Paylor inquired as she sat down on the stool next to the exam table. "Anything out of sorts?"

"Besides the moving in my stomach?" Johanna pushed herself up on her elbows. "And, the unexpected napping? Or the constant need to get that lady itch scratched? Not the gross kind."

"Those aren't things that are out of sorts," the doctor replied. "Those are completely normal symptoms for those getting into their sixth month of pregnancy."

"Oh good, and I thought that I was completely abnormal," Johanna responded. Her eyes went to Sparrow, softness in them. "Damn, he's adorable." She grimaced. "And, I say crazy stuff like that. I am a woman who runs businesses and travels the globe. I can negotiate a contract, but I tried reading a baby book and it was like a horror novel."

"It takes time, Johanna," Katniss assured her. "There's going to be a moment when you begin to feel like a mother. It may not be now, but it will happen."

"Did you know right away?" Johanna asked quietly.

Katniss shook her head. "No. At first, I felt like I was malfunctioning—couldn't even breathe at the thought of this human life inside of me. Then I started talking to Toad and I began to feel like he was listening." She took a deep breath. "Then I couldn't wait to talk to him in person."

She felt Peeta reach for her hand, giving it a squeeze.

"You can talk to my baby," Johanna offered in a surprisingly gentle voice.

Katniss shook her head, kissing the top of Johanna's head.

"No, it's time for you to introduce yourself. Have those little talks with him or her."

"And, what if I do it all wrong?" Johanna questioned.

"There is no wrong way to talk to someone," Peeta told her. "You just have to try. Let him or her in…even when it's the scariest feeling in the world." He gave his cousin a heavy smile. "It's scary because you care…you want this baby to love you."

Johanna nodded, her eyes watering. She wiped her tears quickly.

"The crying…I think that's weird, too."

"What do you think about throwing Johanna a baby shower?"

Peeta looked to Katniss from the seat of the swing, Sparrow on his lap. "I haven't thought about it." He pushed his feet into the sand to give him and the toddler a little motion. "Do you think she'd be up for it?"

Katniss extended her legs, pumping them back to gain momentum. "I think she'd love it. It would give her a little more assurance in preparing for the baby. She could learn about everything that she needs for the baby and start decorating."

"Did I tell you about the baby's suite?" he asked and she shook her head. "Uncle Snow is planning to have an extension made, next to Johanna's room. Twice the size of the master bedroom and equipped with a heated carpeted floor, controlled temperature, and ambient lighting depending on the day."

"Of course, he's excited," Katniss said with a laugh. "He never thought Johanna would reproduce."

"Yes, I heard him talking about baby's baptism party during the wedding," Peeta continued. "There will be fireworks." Sparrow fussed, reaching for Katniss, and she took him easily into her arms. "A baby shower would be fun. Can I help?"

"Uh…yeah!" She watched him pump his legs, trying not to laugh at the fact that he was still in his business suit. Katniss had taken Sparrow to the office to pick him up and to see Rue. Peeta's assistant cooed over the little boy before they had left for the day, begging Katniss to bring Sparrow back for another visit. "I'm expecting your full participation. Maybe we could do it at Arena?"

"I can work with Rue on the guest list and the registry," Peeta replied as he slowed down. "God, how long has it been since I've been on a swing?" He grinned breathlessly. "I think I was seven…Johanna dared me to jump off."

"And, then what?"

"I fell on my face," he said. "Scraped my chin and knees." Peeta leaned towards her, pointing to his chin. "See? I have a tiny scar."

Katniss examined the faded mark on his otherwise impeccable chin.

Without a second thought, her lips pressed to the dent. "Poor scrape-face."

Peeta colored at the sensation her kiss brought. "My knees were scraped, too."

"Yeah, I'm not getting on my knees," Katniss retorted. "Not in the park, anyway." She realized her words after a moment, looking to see Peeta trying to suppress his smile. "I didn't mean it that way."

He didn't bother to hide his smirk. "Then you won't kiss my boo-boo?"

Katniss turned away, focusing on Sparrow. "You're such a child."

Peeta stood up, pivoting to face her swing. He took hold of the chains, bending down until they were face to face.

"Will you let me kiss your boo-boo?" he asked, mirth in his blue eyes.

Katniss frowned though her hand went to graze his chin. "My boo-boos aren't outward."

Peeta pressed a deep kiss to her surprised lips. "I know." Sparrow squealed at their closeness. "Sorry, buddy. One day, you'll understand that when the opportunity to kiss the woman you adore comes along, you have to take it."

In return, the toddler smacked him in the face.

"Where you headed?" Johanna asked over the speakerphone as he drove down the street. "I've got a late night at the office. Since Delly and Seneca are out, they need someone to sort out some of the bugs in 'Panem Walks'."

"I'm off to see Katniss and Sparrow," he replied. "You want to come over for dinner?"

"Oh…" There was a grin in her tone. "…you two are cooking dinner and playing house, huh?"

"I like spending time with them," he replied. "It's only one more week and the Cranes will be back home. Then, everything will go back to normal."

"Do you want everything to go back to normal?" Johanna questioned. "You two are getting along really well. Dating and all…maybe you might want to…"

His brow furrowed as he stared out the road. "Want to what?"

"Ask her to move in?" That last part was said in such a rush that Peeta wasn't even sure he heard her correctly. "I mean, it would be really nice to have her back at the Mellark Compound…and with the baby coming…"

"We can ask her to come over so she could help with the baby," he reasoned as he pulled into the driveway of the Crane house. "Plus, I'll be there and your dad…and the baby's dad—if you would just get off your high horse and tell me who he is."

There was terse groan. "Don't you have a pretend family to attend to?"

"I surrender." Peeta turned off the engine, sitting back at they continued their conversation. "I'll admit—it would be nice to have her back home, wake up to her, and see her in our garden."

"And why is that, cousin dear?" Johanna inquired.

"Because Katniss is home to me," he told her truthfully. "Anywhere she is, I'm home."

"Ugh." Johanna sounded anything but disgusted, however. "You better get on home, Daddy Peeta. Give Katniss a kiss for me—with tongue."

"Will do," he responded with a laugh. "Not because you told me to!"

Hanging up, Peeta grabbed his overnight bag before getting out of the car. The bouquet that he had spontaneously stopped at a shop for was in the backseat so he hurriedly grabbed it before closing the car door. It was just beginning to get dark and he could see that the lights were already on for evening.

They were waiting for him, Katniss and Sparrow.

For a moment, it was like they were a real family.

The door opened abruptly and Katniss stepped outside with a wailing Sparrow as he walked onto the porch.

"I think he has a fever!" Katniss pulled him inside before slamming the front door on the verge of tears. "I was trying to find a thermometer but then he started crying…"

Putting the bouquet on the entryway table, Peeta took the boy, pressing his hand to his forehead. He did feel a little warm.

"He's warm, but not too feverish," he instructed. "Look for a thermometer and then we can call his pediatrician. I saw Delly's phone list in the kitchen."

"Thermometer—right." Katniss nodded distractedly before starting for the stairs. She turned abruptly to give him a kiss. "Thank you. You've made me remarkably calm."

As she disappeared up the stairs, Peeta looked to the flushed toddler, pressing a kiss to his head.

"You've really thrown your Aunt Katniss into a tizzy, you know that?"

Sparrow sniffled at his words.

"Katniss?" Peeta was in search of the fretful woman. It was time to take Sparrow's temperature once again as instructed by Dr. Collins, the little boy's pediatrician, via the panicked phone call from Katniss. "We need to take Sparrow's temperature."

Downstairs was empty and so Peeta climbed the stairs to the upper floor. The light to Sparrow's room was off, but Katniss' door was open and he could hear the soft humming coming from her room.

Quietly, he approached, stopping right before her open doorway and peeking in. Katniss was sitting on her bed with Sparrow still wrapped in his frog bath robe from his lukewarm bath, his head resting against her chest. He was fussy as she cradled him, moving his face against her shirt.

"I know you're tired, sweetheart," Katniss said. "Do you want to try to sleep?"

There was a grunt from the little boy.

"Just lay back, okay?" He watched her settle Sparrow's head in the crook of her arm. "Close your eyes."

"Alabama, Arkansas,
I do love my Ma and Pa
Not the way that I do love you…"

Peeta smiled to himself, listening to her sweet, low singing. He was wrapped in her enchantment, feeling himself calm in the warm cocoon that was this house…that was Katniss.

"Home, let me come home
Home is wherever I'm with you…"

Deciding that he didn't want to hide, Peeta entered the room and rounded the bed before sitting next to her and Sparrow. He rested back against the soft headboard, letting her fall against him as she sang quietly to the sleeping boy.

"Moats and boats, and waterfalls,
Alleyways, and payphone calls
I been everywhere with you…"

Katniss looked to him expectantly and Peeta shook his head. She elbowed him, her brow furrowing in lovely sternness. He didn't want to leave her hanging, so with a sigh, he hesitantly joined in.

"Laugh until we think we'll die,
Barefoot on a summer night
Never could be sweeter than with you…"

They continued singing, even doing the spoken interlude between the two singers. She laughed at his overacting and horrible imitation of a Southern accent, but quieted down when he sang the last bit telling her, "Home is when I'm alone with you…".

Katniss gazed down at the sleeping toddler before smiling at him. "He's definitely out now."

Peeta held up the thermometer in his hand. "We were supposed to re-check his temperature." Katniss nodded wordlessly, letting him insert the reader into Sparrow's ear. There was a quick beep after a moment and he let out a relieved breath. "Back to normal."

"Oh thank God," Katniss said with a tired smile. "I thought that giving him the cough syrup was going to be bad, but the bath was just a nightmare. I don't know if I could repeat the process."

"According to the doctor, you've done everything right," he told her. "Congratulations. You've nursed a two-year-old back to health." Peeta kissed the top of her head. "I cooked dinner. You hungry?"

"More tired." She closed her eyes, her head going to his shoulder. "Let's just stay here for a bit."

"Okay, let's stay," he replied, resting his head against hers.

Soon, they slept.

The soft light gently roused her and Katniss opened her eyes, her sight adjusting to the golden head atop her chest. Sparrow snored quietly against her, a content smile on his pink lips. She felt his head, happy to see that he was much cooler.

"Come on, big boy," she whispered as she stood up. "Let's get you to bed."

It was still early morning and Sparrow remained slumbering when she placed him into his crib. Katniss turned on the baby monitors, taking one back to her room, and giving the little one a final kiss before heading back to her room.

She stopped at the doorway, realizing that Peeta was still asleep in her bed. It had been a long time since they shared a bed. It had been a long time since they've shared anything.

This could ruin everything.

She was overreacting. What had happened to going with the flow?

With a final push of courageousness, Katniss rushed into the bed next to him and curled into her usual sleeping position, facing him. When she finally settled, Peeta opened his eyes slowly, greeting her with a sleepy smile and taking her hand.

"Is this a dream?" he asked.

"No, you're awake," she whispered tremulously. "This is real."

His blue eyes darkened at her words and her resolve to not cross the line faded in the intensity of his stare. His thumb reached to her lips and her lips pressed against the pad of it, causing his breath to hitch at the motion.

"Say that again."

"This is real." Decision made, her hand reached for his. "I'm real."

They drew closer together and Peeta pulled her in, pressing their chests together. That long-buried heat welled up, rising in her core, and her thigh hooked over his hip, pressing their pelvis to her.

Katniss inched up until they were face to face, taking a slow, shallow breath before speaking.

"I want to kiss you…will you allow it?"

"Yes. Always yes," Peeta said hoarsely, his eyes focused on her lips.

Her mouth went to his, pulling him deep as her tongue danced along his. Peeta cried out, the sound spilling onto her lips. She drank it in, letting the sound caress her body. The rush of dampness and tightening of her nipples made her hazy with hunger and in one impetuous wave, she straddled him.

Staring down, her hand danced along buttons of his dress shirt.

"Can I tell you something?" she began, her cheeks flushed and Peeta nodded. "This doesn't make me feel uncomfortable. I thought it would, but—" Her hand undid a button, revealing that expanse of soft, heated skin. "It feels right…" Another button came undone, her eyes meeting his once more. "…like home."

Peeta's hand caressed her forearms, traveling up to move the open knit sweater off her shoulders to reveal her olive skin. He swallowed shallowly, his Adam's apple bobbing in nervousness as he stared up at her and Katniss realized that she wasn't the only one left wanting.

There was no going back now and she didn't care to.

"Welcome home," Peeta whispered, a blissfulness on his handsome face.

Katniss leaned down; their lips only a breath apart and her hand moving to his waistline to undo the single button atop his pants.

"Thank you," she replied, a warm smile rising on her lips, before her mouth joined his.

And, there were no more words for the rest of the morning.

I was imagining that this would end at twenty chapters…but it doesn't seem like it's going that route, which I don't mind—but maybe you do?

Not too much Madge, but I think y'all don't mind. In about two chapters, her own decision will be made.

I love that there always seems to be a running theme in each chapter—and this one is "Home". It's an important thing, especially to a Cancer like me. Finding home with someone is a particularly significant intimate gesture to both of them and a large stepping stone.

I know you're nervous about the painting and I can particular let you in on the details, but if you know my writing, you know I believe in HEA's.

Songs: "Home"-Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros

Next: Part Eighteen—a baby shower.

Until then, JLaLa