Epilogue:

"Where is my birthday princess?" I pretend to look around and hear giggling at my feet.

"Daddy I'm right here!"

"Oh! You're so beautiful, I don't know how I could have missed you." I attack her with kisses and she shrieks in my grasp. Her mother comes in behind her, her arms full of blankets.

"You ready for cake?" My little girl's blue eyes sparkle.

"Does Rye get cake?"

"Rye's too young for cake," I laugh. "But you get to have cake and later on, Aunt Annie and Finn and Aunt Johanna will have some with you too!"

"Ok!" Katniss laughs and I hold out my arms.

"Want me to hold him while you slice the cake?"

"You trust me with a knife?"

"You are the huntress after all."

"Fair enough. But yes please hold him because I've had to go to the bathroom all morning and he won't give me a moment's peace." I laugh as I take our son from her and she hurries off down the hall.

"Daddy!"

"Coming baby!" I carry Rye into the kitchen where I see Pearl is sitting at the table, eyeing the cake.

"Wait for Mommy to cut it," I tell her, kissing her curls.

"Presents?"

"I thought you wanted to wait for everyone to join us before you open presents?" She shrugs and looks so much like her mother that I have to laugh before I kiss her again.

"How about you open one present and we open the rest later?"

"Mmm…ok!" She runs to the small pile of gifts we have piled in the corner and she cocks her head.

"This one," she grabs the biggest one and tugs it out into the middle of the floor.

"Hey, what's going on," Katniss says behind me. "I thought we were saving presents for later."

"I told her she can open one and we will save the rest. Hand me the scissors so I can help…" When I turn back to my birthday girl, she's pulled off all the wrapping and is chewing at the box with her teeth. Katniss bursts out laughing and shakes her head.

"Don't look at me, she gets that impatience from you."

"Oh yeah right," I scoff, patting Rye's back. He continues to sleep in my arms, for which I'm grateful. He hasn't been sleeping a lot and therefore keeps the rest of us up all night. Although I don't complain in the slightest; I missed out on Katniss's whole pregnancy and Pearl's baby days. I couldn't be more grateful to Katniss for giving me a second chance. And I spoiled her in every way I could when I found out we were expecting Rye. I gave her massages, foot rubs, baked her cheese buns and strawberry cake, built new furniture for Rye's nursery, kept Pearl busy so Katniss could have some relaxing days to herself, kept the fire stoked and the cabin warm, brought her flowers and chocolate and whatever else I could find for her. And at night while Pearl was asleep, I would spend my time lavishing her flesh with my tongue, whispering my words of adoration against her breasts, my soft 'I love you's' against her inner thighs, my passion and love for her in every swipe of my tongue, with every thrust of my hips. I endured her moodswings, her angry tears, her emotional outbursts, and my favorite of all, her insatiable appetite. I discovered she would have strange cravings, especially around two or three in the morning but after awhile, she started to turn her nose up at the desserts I offered her. When I asked in exasperation what she did want, she would climb on top of me and palm me through my sleep pants. She couldn't get enough of me and I would never complain about this newfound discovery either. What made it the best of all, is when she whispered 'I love you' into my ear as she would clench around me. It's always my undoing and she knows I can't hold back anymore.

Haymitch was right; Pearl really is the most adorable child I have ever seen. A pregnant Katniss is without a doubt the most beautiful sight in the world but the sight of her holding my son in her arms is pretty close after that. Just last night, she fell asleep on the couch with both Rye and Pearl in her arms and I had to sketch them before I could carry them to bed.

"Oh, Mommy! Daddy! Thank you!"

"Happy birthday, princess," I say with a smile, coming back to the present. Pearl has her gift unwrapped and is gazing at it in awe. Katniss and I built her a giant castle that she could actually open the door and go inside. The pink turrets were my idea and Katniss built a little horse and carriage set to go with it, for her dolls. Pearl yanks the door open and Katniss chuckles as she tells her to be gentle. She leans over the little door and kisses our daughter's forehead.

"Do you like it?"

"I love it!"

"Good. You can play a little bit while we clean up for your party later. Daddy, will you go ahead and finish the cake?"

"Yeah," I say, still smiling at how she calls me daddy. "Of course. Let me put Rye down for a nap."

"Don't forget the baby monitor," she calls as she cleans up the wrapping paper that is strewn everywhere. I carry Rye to our bedroom, where his bed is set up against the wall. Katniss confessed to me that Pearl slept in her room when she was a baby too, and that she can't bear to let her children out of her sight for too long. I definitely know the feeling.

After I set Rye into his bed, I rub his little belly and grab the monitor from the table, carrying it back into the kitchen. Pearl has dragged out all of her dolls and is playing in the castle and Katniss smiles.

"Peeta could you put her castle in the living room? I want to get this kitchen cleaned up before anyone gets here."

"Of course honey." I peer over the castle door and growl loudly.

"Princess Pearl. A huge scary giant is at your door." Pearl giggles and pushes the door open. I roll my eyes and scoff.

"And you still open the door? Even though there's a giant out here? What did your mommy say about strangers?"

"Don't blame her for being YOUR daughter, Peeta," Katniss laughs behind me. She often teases us for being so much alike. Our little girl can make friends wherever she goes and has charmed quite a few of the little boys at her preschool.

I constantly tease Katniss that if our daughter is anything like her, I will have to chase the boys away with a broom. She merely rolls her eyes at me and tells me I'm crazy.

"Crazy about you," I shoot back.

"Really Peeta, I think you were the only one who ever looked at me."

"That's not true. I know a lot of boys liked you. They were just…scared as hell of you."

"I'm flattered," she scowls.

"And what about Ga-"

"DON'T go there, Peeta," she says sharply.

"Hey, I'm not complaining that you managed to chase them all off. I was the persistent one. Although I guess I don't have much competition out here," I wave around the cabin. She fixes me with those stormy eyes and her face softens.

"You don't have much competition anywhere." And the way her voice gets soft and apologetic, like she is trying to say so many things in that one little sentence, makes me grab her up and carry her to our bed and I proceed to show her that she has NEVER had any competition in my mind.

I snap back to the present and shake my head.

"Come on princess, we're moving your castle to the living room so Mommy can clean." She follows me and I set the castle and her toys down and she immediately goes back inside.

"You behave while we get ready for your party, ok?" She ignores me, going back to playing with her dolls and I head back into the kitchen to find Katniss sweeping.

"Hey," I say softly, covering her hands with mine. She blinks up at me and I cup her face as I kiss her softly. When I pull back, her tongue trails her lips and she opens her eyes.

"What was that for?"

"I haven't kissed you a whole twelve hours. I was beginning to forget what your lips taste like."

"I see. And one short kiss is enough to make you remember?"

"No, you're right, I need another." And another. And another. And another, until her lips are red and swollen and I grin sheepishly.

"We're not getting a whole of cleaning done," she huffs.

"It's just Annie and Jo. They've seen the place before, they know we have two kids."

"Haymitch hasn't. And it's his first time out of 12 since…well, we came back."

"Katniss, his house is a hovel. Really, I'm sure it will be fine." She sighs and taps her fingers on the broom. I watch her, the gears working in her brain before my very eyes, as she tosses the broom to the floor and throws her arms around my neck. Her lips crash down on mine and her breasts are pressed against my chest.

"You're. Making. Me. Crazy," I mutter between kisses.

"Sorry," she shrugs, not sounding sorry at all. But she backs away and turns around.

"So, um…Johanna offered to stay a few days and watch Pearl and Rye while we…take some time to be alone."

"Oh really?" Her voice is lower, huskier and damn if it doesn't turn me on. I nod as I wrap my arms around her and pull her against my chest.

"Really. I was thinking it might be nice…now Rye is a little older…and god knows we haven't had a lot of privacy in a long time." Just last night, I was starting to slide down Katniss's naked body and settle between her legs, when we heard the door bang open and a little voice asking what was Daddy doing to Mommy. Oh THAT was a fun conversation, let me tell you.

"So I may or may not have booked a cabin on top of the mountain…just for a night…just the two of us," I go on as I lick at her neck and she moans and tilts her head to the side.

"That sounds so great," she whimpers. She presses against me and I thrust my hips forward; she slides her arm up around my neck and turns her head to kiss me again. My hands move up from her waist to palm her breasts through her dress and her breath hitches as I tweak a nipple roughly.

"She's going to find us like this," she whispers.

"She has your stealth," I whisper in agreement. She moves away and picks up the broom and I pull the cake out of the fridge. A giant three-tiered castle with a pink unicorn and I can't wait to see the look on her face. I still need to put on a few finishing touches so I sit at the counter and focus on the piping bag in my hand.

That evening, as I watch Pearl playing dolls with Haymitch, Finn, and Annie, while Johanna and Katniss are on the couch talking, and I glance down at my sleeping son in my arms, I can't help but examine life for a moment. Was it only six years ago that I fled from my home, leaving behind the woman I loved most in the world? I didn't know what my life would be like, didn't know how I would live without Katniss, couldn't imagine a world without her in it. But I left and bounced from district to district, never being able to settle down, never being able to stop thinking about what I left behind. When I returned to 12, I discovered Katniss was gone and Haymitch told me she had left with her mother. Not long after, I saw the news and felt like my world had turned upside down.

Until I found her again. Until I held her in my arms, until I held my daughter in my arms. Then my world really did turn upside down, that night as she gazed into my eyes, took my hand, and told me to ask her again. And I did. I still ask her, over and over, just to hear the words.

After that night, Katniss and I had a talk with Pearl. I was right; she was far too smart for her own good. She'd thrown her arms around me and looked over my shoulder, to her mother and whispered 'I told you'.

Rye starts to fuss in my arms and Katniss glances over at us.

"He's probably hungry. I'll go warm up a bottle."

"I can do it," I rise to my feet, lowering him into her lap. I rub his forehead, kiss hers, and rush to the kitchen. When I return, Katniss is singing softly to calm him down. It works too, as it always does. But Rye and I aren't the only ones captivated by her voice. Every eye is on her, and even Johanna looks immensely relaxed. I sink onto the couch beside her, gripping the bottle in my hand.

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you

Rye's startling grey eyes blink up at me lazily and I stroke his cheek. As breathtaking as it is gazing into Pearl's blue eyes, it's just as amazing to see my love's eyes on this tiny being. His mouth starts to move and Katniss holds the bottle to his mouth; while he eats, she turns and presses her forehead to mine. Haymitch resumes his game with Pearl, and Johanna asks Annie if she wants some more tea. Katniss closes her eyes for a moment and opens them again.

"Ask me again, Peeta," her warm breath fans over my face.

"You love me." There is no question to it, not anymore. She tells me often and I'll never get tired of hearing it. She nods and reaches up to trail a finger down my cheek.

"Real. I love you so much."

"I love you too." She smiles and leans her head against my shoulder. I watch Rye eat, before my eyes flicker over to where Pearl is playing. Finally I gaze down at the woman who has fallen asleep on my shoulder and my face breaks out into a huge smile.

Real. All of it. Thank God she told me to ask her again, safe in her arms, surrounded by her love.

Because I'll never doubt it again.

END

Thank you guys so much for sticking with me through all the angst and tears! I hope the ending was worth it to you! As I said, this was supposed to be a one-shot but my dumb computer didn't allow that. I hope you enjoyed and continue to follow and support my work! Thank you all for your love and support and sweet words!

Love and pixie dust! XOXOXOX