This AU fic was inspired by the brilliant work of aimmyarrowshighin "Five Loaves of Bread: Dark Toast". .net/s/7294215/1/Five_Loaves_of_Bread_Dark_Toast

This isn't a collaboration or co-written piece, just my spin on a possible continuation of that story that I loved dearly. Takes place three months after the aim's story ends.

(While you're at it, read "Dark Toast" and everything else aimmyarrowshigh has written. They're awesome. For real.)

Another Little Adventure

"I'm just asking you not to give her cookies while she's in time out!" Katniss tried to keep her voice low so Cyre wouldn't hear.

"I'm sorry, Katniss, I know we've talked about this before," Peeta conceded. "She just gets so upset, I can't help it."

Katniss closed her eyes and counted to five. "I know, I know. But if you must do it," she said, "you have got to wait until she's out of time out. She can't associate bad behavior with getting rewards or she'll never stop painting on the walls."

Peeta sighed and nodded. He turned and went back into their daughter's room.

Katniss leaned against the doorframe to watch him talk to her. She was too smart for her own good at four years old. She knew her daddy was a total pushover.

Katniss found herself smiling in spite of all that. Every time she watched Cyre with Peeta she had to smile.

The pregnancy had been hard for her. Every time she felt the baby move she clenched in terror, and every time she didn't she worried she had lost her. She thought she had known fear in the war, but this was entirely different. Many times Peeta found her on the bathroom floor at 3am crying and stayed with her until she fell back asleep. He called her mother to stay with her during the day when the nights were particularly awful.

The night Cyre was born changed everything.

Peeta sat next to Katniss on their bed, staring at their daughter until his eyes watered. Katniss felt the minute weight in her arms, in awe at the tiny fingers and round cheeks. She laughed when the tiny brow furrowed in sleep and Peeta laughed until he started hiccupping.

He adored her so much. She remembered finding him day and night at her crib, staring at her waking or sleeping; fascinated by the person they had created.

She was lucky he was up as often as she was for the all-night feedings. He even held Katniss when she couldn't get Cyre to sleep and finally lost it along with the infant. He bawled the first time she skinned her knee learning to walk. And then took over 100 photos until Katniss had to hide the camera. He loved her to pieces and she would never want for anything.

But he really had to stop giving her cookies when she cried over going to time out.

He reappeared at the door. "Okay, she knows no more cookies." He looked bereft.

"I just want to set a good example," Katniss insisted. He nodded.

"Especially for this one," she said. She took his hand and put it on her abdomen. "She's going to have to learn how to share."

It took him a minute to realize what she was saying, but when he did Peeta nearly fell over himself lifting her up in the air to hold her and swing her back and forth, laughing and tripping.

He set her back down and she wrapped her arms around his neck. He leaned down and pressed his forehead to hers, sighing happily.

"Hi," he murmured.

"Hi," she grinned.

"Hi," he laughed.

She pulled him close again and saw her tattoo on her wrist over his shoulder. The word "forever" floated through her mind. And she smiled.

The End