Yes, so I am totally stuck on working on The Family Plan…boo me.

In the meantime, I'm going to give you some let's-have-a-toastbaby Everlark.

Thank you to the anon who was in much need of Katniss wanting to have another baby.

Summary: Katniss decides that it's time for another baby. Now if she could only tell Peeta…

Post-Hunger Games Everlark, slight Hayhanna, and general fluff.

They'll tell us, honey
"You've gotta know, you've gotta know where you're going."
But you are my sun, my northern lights, my southern cross
And if we're gonna die young
We're gonna die with a love song in our mouths…

-Laura Gibson

Two Kids

"You did real good, sweetheart."

My gaze goes to Peeta at the doorway of our boy's room. After half an hour of whispered lullabies and gentle rump pats, Jack is down for his nap. He breathes deeply into his worn blanket—a present sent from Annie—before I feel him relax into slumber.

"It wasn't without a fair amount of negotiation," I inform him quietly.

Pushing up with my knee, I slowly stand from the short mattress and join Peeta. Putting an arm around my shoulders, he pulls me close before kissing the side of my head.

"Negotiation?" His chuckle travels against my skin and that familiar tingle hits my senses. "This is District 12, not the Capitol."

"Your son decided that he wanted jelly sandwiches…but cut into triangles. Then, he proceeded to separate the bread pieces before eating them. I promised him five minutes of time with Haymitch if he hurried up and finished eating before his nap."

"Stubborn," Peeta replies. "Sounds more like your son."

We close the door behind us, heading down the hallway and into our room. It had been our room since I came in one night after Peeta's return to District 12. It had been stormy, the lightning flashes highlighting the shadows and reminding me of the underground creatures of the Capitol.

I was scared that first night that I approached his room.

Goodness knows that I am not good with words or feelings; that I had hurt Peeta many times over and, in turn, he had done the same though unintentionally. Though I seem confident, the thought of him rejecting me from his bed and from his life would have completely left me undone.

However, Peeta didn't turn me away.

Instead, he welcomed me into his arms, letting me rest my head to his chest.

He has welcomed me ever since.

"He gave me your smile." I help him out of his sweater, brushing fallen leaves off of it. Autumn has come to District 12 and, after his morning shift at the newly built Mellark Bakery, Peeta trudged home to find me cajoling Jack for his afternoon nap. "And, then…"

Peeta pulls me close and I breathe him in, my stomach fluttering at the warmth of his body.

"And then?"

"I was a goner," I tell him.

His mouth is suddenly on mine and I feel my knees actually weaken at the kiss. The laugh rises up thinking how far gone I am over Peeta Mellark—my prepubescent self would be shaking her head. I was never one for love or affection; fear of being in the arena taught me to suppress that hope.

Then, this boy…this man had to go and kindle it.

We pull apart after much too short of a moment.

Peeta nods towards our bed. "Come on."

I cross my arms suspiciously. "Why?"

He gives me that oh-so-boyish grin and I know that, in seconds, I'll be on that mattress.

"You need a nap."

'I want another baby'.

The thought comes to me as I watch Peeta attempt to get Jack to eat the carrots on his small plate. My two men differ in coloring; Peeta is golden with bright-blue eyes while Jack has my thick, dark tendrils and my father's charcoal eyes.

Jack suddenly reaches and his plate suddenly finds its place on his head. He laughs brightly and Peeta follows, wiping our son's mouth with an amused grin.

Their smiles are completely alike.

I suddenly imagine a little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.

"You okay?"

Shaking myself from my reverie, I nod quickly. "Sorry. Just spaced out for a moment."

"Maybe you need a nap," Peeta suggests, his gaze suddenly on me.

The image of his bare body and strong hands stroking me into completion penetrates my mind.

I try to stop the blush. "I think I'm rested enough." Sitting back, I take a deep breath. "Just thinking that I haven't spoken to my mother in a while."

"Oh, any particular reason why?" Peeta asks. "You feeling okay?"

Nodding, I reach over to Jack and wipe his mouth.

In return, my son blows a raspberry at me.

"Katniss!" My mother's bright voice greets me from District 4 over the receiver. It has taken a long time for that joy to come back to her. Only now, almost a year since Jack's birth, have we both come to a better place. "How are you and Peeta? Jack?"

"I'm fine…" The words manage to stumble out of my mouth. "…so are Peeta and Jack." Steeling myself, I take a deep breath. "Mom, can I ask you a question?"

She pauses at my abruptness. "Well…sure."

"I want another baby…and how…how do I go about that?"

I let out a breath after finally getting my words out, awaiting her answer.

Instead, I get a chuckle.

"I suppose you go about it the same way you did with Jack," my mother informs me. "Please don't tell me that you've forgotten the mechanics of intercourse—"

"Of course, I remember!" I calm myself before continuing. "Jack wasn't expected. He sort of just happened."

Peeta was the one who wanted children. It took him several years of convincing and, when it happened—after celebrating the reopening of Mellark Bakery—I was hesitant. The thought of a miniature Prim haunted my thoughts. When Jack kicked inside, I hoped that there wasn't a hint of gold in his hair or a snippet of blue in his eyes.

And when he was born, I cried because he wasn't Prim.

Jack was just Jack—and it was love at first sight.

I am not sure why this time is different; why the thought of blonde hair and blue eyes doesn't bother me. I don't think that it's because I'm over Prim. Maybe the pain of giving birth to someone like her has just become a little bit more bearable over time.

"You are still at a good age for childbearing, Katniss," my mother says. "Maybe you will need to do some calculating on when you ovulate if you want to give it a try."

"Ovulate?"

My mother sighs before explaining how to count from the first day of my menstrual cycle.

"Write this down," she continues and I look around the counter of our kitchen, spotting the pen in the last drawer of it. Peeta had started a shopping list of food for our cupboards and I take that piece of paper and flip it over. "Counting from your first day of period, you will ovulate around a week or two after. An egg will travel from your ovary to your fallopian tube to get to your uterus—sometime between day 10 to day 15, assuming you have a regular 28-day cycle. Do you have all of that?"

"Day 10 to 15…28-day cycle…" I jot down the words down quickly. "And are we supposed to try…frequently during that time?"

My mother chuckles. "You can try as many times as you like—unless you don't exactly enjoy it."

I can feel my face burst with heat. "Peeta is more than satisfactory!"

"Well then, you should have no problem," she replies easily. "Try not to stress out. You have spoken to Peeta about this, right?"

"Not exactly." I nervously bite my lip. "I'm not sure how to approach him."

"Just be honest," my mother tells me.

"I really don't know why I want to try now…I just want to."

"A woman's body sometimes sends her signs." She pauses for a moment. "So does her heart. Maybe it's telling you that it might be okay to want a little gold in your life…he or she is not going to Prim. However, it's okay. Because you'll love him or her no matter what."

My throat is suddenly full. "Thanks Mom."

"Good luck, Katniss. Keep me posted."

We hang up and I look over the written words once more.

"Day 10 to 15 of my cycle…"

"It would probably help if you had a calendar."

I turn around to find Haymitch stepping into the kitchen from our back entrance.

He smirks at me.

"Anything you want to talk about?"

"So, another baby huh?" Haymitch looks out from our front porch to where Jack runs about the space in-between our homes. My son stops to look at something in the dirt, running his small, stubby finger through the soil. "I think another baby would be good for Jack."

I look to my former mentor. "Really? I never expected that answer from you."

"Maybe if you had gotten knocked up during the Rebellion, I might have been a little…peeved." Haymitch never curses around Jack. "It's been years and you have Jack. I think it is safe to try for another."

"I don't suppose you have any tips on how to approach this with Peeta," I say carefully.

"You really think I have tips on how to seduce your man?" Haymitch guffaws. "That is the one thing I cannot mentor you on." He breathes in, waving to Jack who is currently showing us the earthworm wriggling in his grasp. "I do know who can."

I raise a brow. "Who?"

"Johanna. As I recall, Peeta had a good view of her seduction tactics." A low whistle escapes Haymitch's lips. "We all did."

The old remnants of jealousy rise inside.

"Johanna…she was always one to let it out in the open." I do remember the look of innocent arousal in Peeta's eyes. I trusted him, but I couldn't help but envy Johanna's figure and her confidence. "And, she was one of those Capitol jewels."

"There is more to her, Katniss," Haymitch explains, sympathy in his eyes. "She had family once. I think a little brother… around Jack's age when Snow decided to punish her." Jack runs over, settling on Haymitch's lap. He lets my son rest against his chest, dirty face and all. "She would like to see this…your life…your son."

Haymitch presses a kiss to the top of Jack's head.

We named our son after our mentor's father; it was the least we could do after everything that Haymitch has been through with us.

We don't regret it.

"So, Johanna is coming to visit?" Peeta joins us at the kitchen table, placing the warm loaf next to the Dutch oven holding tonight's dinner. "I didn't know you two were close."

"We roomed together in District 13," I say as I begin to scoop bowls of stew out for us. "She's staying at Haymitch's, though. Plus, she wants to meet Jack."

"Sounds good to me," he replies with an easy smile. Peeta suddenly peers at me. "You alright?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" My gaze goes to Jack who offers me a gummy smile. "Do I look alright?"

"Muh…muh…" is our son's reply.

"I think he's saying that you're pretty," Peeta tells me with a grin.

I kiss Jack's cheek. "Thank you."

"Hey!" Peeta protests. "I think you're pretty, too!"

So, I kiss him.

By the time I pull away, the stew is cold and Jack has spilled his all over himself.

"So, this is District 12…" Johanna peers around as we walk down the platform of the train station. Her eyes go to Jack, who is toddling between us. "And, this is Jack…"

"Yes." I look to Jack and smile. "Do you want to say hello to Johanna?"

My son stares up at Johanna before promptly shaking his head.

Johanna snorts as we continue heading down towards the center of town.

"He really is your son." She pats his head, just barely, and gives him a grin. "His eyes are Peeta's, though—pure as the day is long." Her eyes meet mine searchingly. "And you want another one?"

I nod resolutely. "Yes."

"And, you need my help?" We continue on, heading towards the Mellark Bakery. "According to Haymitch, you are inept when it comes to sexual prowess."

I turn to her in shock. "Did you guys sit there and analyze everything about me?"

"Not everything," she tells me plainly. "Haymitch just mentioned that you're…lacking in the confidence department."

"This is a bad idea." Why did I even allow Haymitch to tell Johanna? I feel like my whole life is being exposed to the world all over again—like there are millions of people in the Capitol, just watching me try to be passably seductive. "Listen, you should just go back home—"

"No. I'm not leaving until Peeta drags you over his shoulder and puts a kid in you," Johanna says. She looks me over. "You have potential, but you do need to have a little faith in yourself." She puts her hands on my shoulders to steady me. "Just trust me."

"Trust is a fickle word, Johanna." I take a deep breath. "So what do you want me to do?"

"Do you have lingerie?" she asks. "I mean, anything that might entice Peeta."

I look down at my khaki pants and knit sweater. This is pretty much my daily outfit, easy to hunt with and chase Jack as needed.

"I'm going to take that as a no." Johanna turns to my son. "What do you think? You want another brother or sister?"

Jack gives her a hard stare and then shakes his head. "No."

In return, Johanna grins. "I think we're going to have some fun."

"I'm not wearing that."

It is sheer…and short. The one good thing is that it's a dark maroon which is better than some of the louder colors that Johanna suggested.

She holds up the scrap of fabric. "It's lingerie. You want him to be open to the idea of another child, right?" I nod helplessly. "Imagine if you were wearing this and just happen to slip in the whole baby idea into his mind."

I balk at the idea; but I have no idea what Peeta's reaction would be. The truth of the matter is that, when it comes to sex, the majority of experimentation was just been between the two of us. We were each other firsts and well, we barely just got into the whole sex thing when Jack came along.

No one explained the whole ovulation thing to us, nor was I very good at maintaining proper birth control. When Jack came along, breastfeeding kept me safe from another, but Peeta and I never had time to be together, anyhow.

"Try it on!" Johanna tosses it at me. "If it sucks, then we move along."

"Fine." I begin to take everything off before slipping the sheer nothing on. I turn and present myself to Johanna. "Well?"

"Lose the bra and panties." I growl and Johanna rolls her eyes. "It's losing its effect with the underwear on…and the bra is not that nice, anyway."

"I never needed one until Jack—and it's easy to put on." My friend remains silent, tapping her foot impatiently. Relenting, I remove my underwear and then look to her. "How about now?"

"Better," Johanna says simply. "I mean, I'd do you." She leads me over to the mirror in the corner of her guest bedroom. "Take a look."

Steeling my courage, I meet my eyes in the mirror.

I'm horrific.

I stare at the stretch marks and old scars from the Rebellion painted against my legs. My breasts are non-existent now that Jack is done breastfeeding and I look…tired. There isn't a part of me that looks desirable at all—I'm surprised that Peeta ever wanted to touch me.

As quickly as I can I throw my clothes on over the monstrosity that is my body, I am ripping the door open.

"Tell Haymitch I'll pick Jack up later—"

Johanna reaches, her eyes somber. "Katniss…"

I can't deal with her sympathy.

So, I just turn around and leave.

I don't know how long I sit out in that forest behind the border fence.

The sun is going down and I know that I'll have to get home to feed Jack as well as get dinner ready. However, the thought of facing Peeta…or Haymitch…or Johanna is too much to even think about.

It's been so long since I've been out here. However, it doesn't feel that long ago that I was sitting here with Gale and talking about the Games, telling him that I will never have children because of them. Times have changed; I haven't talked to Gale since our last talk about Prim and those horrific bombs. Once in a while, I'll hear a bit about him from a townsperson. He's married now and has a brood of dark-haired children.

It doesn't hurt to think about Gale; I mourn the camaraderie we had—though I never knew he wanted more between us.

Not until after I was out of the arena, anyway.

I lay back on the grass, staring up at the darkening sky. I can't remember the last time I even looked up at the night sky.

"The Victory Tour. There was a sky light in the room that we slept in." Peeta sits next to me as I push myself up on my elbows. "You were wondering when was the last time you looked up at the sky."

I sit up properly. "I didn't know I was speaking out loud."

"You weren't," he tells me. "I just kind of knew." Peeta smiles gently at me, his face even more handsome in the dusk of the day. "I guess when you're together as long as we've been, it becomes second nature to understand your partner's thoughts."

I shake my head. "No, it isn't." I give him a rueful smile. "Gale and I knew each other since we were kids. In the end, we knew nothing about each other."

"Maybe you did know. When you love a person, you just don't want to admit that there are negatives."

Straightening myself, I take his hand.

"Peeta, you know that the way I love you is different then the way I loved Gale, right?"

Peeta nods, running a hand through his hair in contemplation.

"I do. Sometimes though, I do feel like you settled," he admits. "And the thought kills me because I worry you'll want more—that you'll always be searching."

"For what?"

"Peace." He meets my eyes and something inside catches seeing the anguish. It radiates off him, in his hunched shoulders, his pained gaze, the way he places a hand just above the spot where his prosthetic leg begins. "Lately, it seems like you're somewhere else. Like all this…Jack…me—that we're not enough. Then, I come home and Johanna tells me that you've gone missing—"

I pull him to me, bringing his head to my chest, letting him feel my heart beating.

"Damnit Peeta, don't you know that you and Jack are what keep me going?" I kiss the top of his head, feeling him trembling against me. "You are my guide post, the one thing that keeps me steady—and I need that. I need you."

Peeta pulls away, relief in his gaze. "Then what is going on? You've been off these past few days."

I realize that, if I had just built up the courage to admit what I wanted, Peeta wouldn't be in such a panic. In the end, we're the only ones who keep the other from caving into themselves.

"Peeta…" My head drops, afraid to meet his eyes. "I want to have another baby."

There is silence except for crickets chirping loudly around us.

"Is that it?" My head shoots up at Peeta's beaming expression. "You want to have another baby?"

"Yes. It seems silly now that I'm telling you," I say. "It's just I think I've always been afraid that I would be having kids because I needed to have another Prim. Then, I was pregnant with Jack and I spent that whole time wishing he wouldn't have a touch of her." I let out a shaky breath. "Now…I think that it wouldn't be so bad to have someone as bright and gold as she was…he or she would be that way because of you—the brightest part of my life. You and Jack, I mean."

Peeta caresses my cheek tenderly. "Now, how could anyone not be flattered by that?" I let out a relieved laugh. "And, why did you rush away to the middle of the woods?"

"It's all very complicated," I begin. "I asked my mom for help on how to bring this up to you and Haymitch came in our conversation—"

Peeta chuckles. "I bet he gave you shit."

"Actually, he was really supportive. Goes to show how much he loves his godson…I have no doubt he'll love the next one just as much. Haymitch suggested that I contact Johanna for advice."

"Advice?"

I hang my head once more.

"On how to be more seductive so you wouldn't oppose having another one…but it just went to crap." I pull bits of grass between my fingers. "And, now I have no idea how you could even look at me when we're together. Thank goodness we keep the lights off during—"

"Please explain," Peeta says.

"Johanna gave me lingerie." I feel my eyes fill suddenly. "And I look horrible. During the Games, I remember looking in the mirror before my interview with Caesar and thinking I was as radiant as the sun. Now, I look at myself and I see dark circles and stretch marks…and horrible, horrible scars."

"What is lingerie?" Peeta asks.

"It's like shorter, fancy pajamas…but you definitely can't sleep in it. And, it's see-through. You see every gross part," I continue. "I was looking in that mirror with Johanna and I felt…ugly. So I just threw my clothes over it and ran out of there."

Peeta remains still. "So, you're wearing the lingerie now?"

"Yes. I plan to throw it in the fireplace when I get home," I respond resolutely.

"Can I see it?" he suddenly asks.

I cross my arms over my chest. "No!"

"It was supposed to be for me," Peeta points out. "I think I should be able to see it."

"Peeta…you'll see everything," I tell him tightly. "It's not pretty or remotely enticing."

He stands up, taking my hand so I'll stand with him. "That's for me to decide."

Except for the rising moon, it is dark so I relent.

"Fine." I begin to unbutton my top. "Don't say I didn't warn you—"

"Just go a little slower," he tells me in a tight voice.

I raise a brow at him. "Okay…" I pause between buttons and then slowly move my shirt off my shoulders, presenting the top half. "The pants are not coming off."

"Come on," Peeta urges, his eyes glued to the expanse of exposed skin. "I need to see the intended effect."

"Intended effect?" I scoff. "This is a lot of persuading over a scarp of cloth."

"If it's a scrap of cloth, then what's the difference?" he counters.

Huffing, I unbutton the waist, stopping when Peeta tuts at me. "Oh right…slowly."

I take my time unzipping, sliding the zipper track by track before pushing the slacks over my hips and leaning forward to slide the legs off one by one.

Slipping off my shoes, I step onto the cool grass before closing my eyes.

I can hear Peeta's circling steps though he remains completely silent. My stomach is in knots as my ears catch a slight cough escape his throat. Hunter instincts tell me when he comes closer and then I can feel him…the heat of him against my skin and his breath against my lobe.

"You are beautiful," he tells me softly.

My eyes open to see him standing just a breath away from me and my chest flutters at his stare.

"But, the scars and the stretch marks—"

"Scars that say that you're a fighter and marks because you carried our child." Peeta closes the space between us. "I never thought that I would say that…our child. I never thought we would be standing here because you want another. These marks show me that this is all real because you and I have the scars to prove it."

Peeta presses his mouth to mine, his arm rounding my waist to bring us closer. He deepens our kiss and his tongue, brilliantly, caresses mine, drawing out a moan from my lips.

"Yes." He leads me down to the grass. "Let's try for another."

"Here?"

"Yes." Peeta grins roguishly. "I need to examine this lingerie of yours."

I laugh. "And what do you think?"

"I prefer you naked." His hand moves along my stomach, stopping at the juncture of my thighs. "Johanna did come all the way here to bring this to you, though—so I should appreciate it."

In one quick swoop, I pull the scrap of nothing off of me and toss it away.

"You can appreciate it on the grass," I tell him before pulling Peeta on top of me.

I look out my front window, waiting for a sign of life at the house across.

Katniss and Peeta have been gone for hours, leaving Jack to me and Johanna's care. My godson didn't mind. He is unbelievably mellow for a toddler and I like to think it's because of me. Katniss is fiery and Peeta has his moments; it is me that has seemed to calm down.

Perhaps age does that to people.

Closing the curtain, I head upstairs and toward the lit room at the end of the hall.

"Johanna—"

I stop at the scene in front of me; Johanna is sitting in the chair by her window with Jack asleep in her arms. She is singing softly to him, her mouth against his forehead and a slight smile on her lips.

Resting against the doorway, I wait for her to finish the song before clearing my throat to catch her attention.

"I didn't know you were a singer," I tell her softly.

"One of my many talents," Johanna replies. "It was a song my mother used to sing to me. You know, I can barely remember her. Each year, I forget a little bit more, but that song sticks. Why do you think it does?"

When she meets my eyes, I can see her own are glassy.

Stepping forward, I kneel before the two and press my lips to Jack's forehead. When I look up, I see Johanna staring at me, an expression akin to affection in her dark eyes.

"I'm not too sure. Maybe one day, you'll be singing it to your kid."

Johanna snorts. "Yeah, right. So, what happened to the lovebirds?"

"They've disappeared and it looks like it might be awhile," I inform her. "I can take Jack if you want—"

"I just want to hold him a little longer," Johanna tells me, her eyes back on my godson. "Haymitch, will you stay with us?"

It's at the tip of my tongue to tell her that she looks good like that, a child in her arms and a content smile on her rose mouth.

Instead, I clear my once-again dry throat before sitting across from her on corner of her bed.

"Sure, I'll stay."

Three months later, as Katniss is just getting over her morning sickness and Johanna is just beginning her own bout, we decide to stay in this room—together.

FIN.

The lyrics at the beginning are from the song that this story is named after by Laura Gibson.

This isn't at all the way I thought it would turn out—and it's not my favorite because I feel like I could do many more detailed chapters of this particular Post-Hunger Games Everlark. So I hope you enjoyed this snippet that takes place in a week in the life of Everlark.

I do like a more insecure Katniss. Also, I find post-HG Peeta to be very much a DILF.

You know I just had to throw Hayhanna in because they're my other ship.

Hope you enjoy…and as always, prompts are totally welcome.

Until then, JLaLa