Welcome to my brand new story! I've been thinking about starting this for awhile now and its way different from what I normally write…so, yeah. I think you'll like it, though. It's modern day, so obviously it's AU, and definitely OOC.

Enjoy and tell me what you think! :)

My name is Katniss Everdeen. I'm twenty years old. And three years ago, on my seventeenth birthday, I made the biggest mistake of my life. An irreversible, unchangeable, unalterable mistake. And yet, it's the most beautiful mistake I've ever made. I'd never change what I did (although I would definitely change who I did it with) because of what the result was. And now you're probably thinking: what did you do?

Well, on my seventeenth birthday, May 8th, I slept with my (ex) best friend and (ex) hunting partner, Gale Hawthorne. And exactly nine months later, on February 8th, I gave birth to my daughter, Laurel.

And now you're probably thinking I'm some slut who sleeps with everyone in District 12. But I'm not. I honestly can't tell you what drove me to sleep with Gale. We were in the woods and he'd wished me a happy birthday and he'd given me my present (cheese buns from the bakery, my favorite) and it just sort of . . . happened. It started with a kiss. And it ended with me, sitting all alone in the woods, naked, crying as he ran off, totally and completely humiliated. And don't blame Gale for what happened – it was completely consensual. The difference between Gale and me, though, is that Gale loved me. I was just curious.

You can imagine how I felt when I found out I was pregnant. I told my sister, Prim, who was fourteen at the time, first. She was understandably disappointed in me, but she helped me tell my mother. It wasn't until I was four months along that I told Gale. And it didn't go over well. Something about him asking me to marry him and me saying no. We decided that the child would be with me Monday through Friday and she'd be with Gale on the weekends. We would've worked out a fairer agreement (like a week here, a week there) but Gale works in the mines for fourteen hours a day during the bisuness week. It would be easier for me to look after the baby.

A teen pregnancy in District 12 isn't rare – in fact, most girls have a child before they're twenty. The average age of death in District 12 isn't exactly high, so we get started early. I was on the younger side, but the first girl in our grade to have a child was fifteen. I'm sure I was judged, but not as much as I would've been if I'd lived in one of the wealthier districts.

So on this warm July day, my daughter, Laurel, is almost two and a half years old. She speaks in full sentences, walks for semi-long distances, and sleeps through the night. She looks exactly like me – I can't see Gale in her at all. For that, I'm thankful. I don't want to look at her and see someone that I'm not particularly fond of. Gale, after I'd given birth, changed. He's now twenty-two and married to some random girl a year his junior, Amelia. And she really doesn't like me. I try to see her as infrequently as possible, but whenever I drop Laurel off on the weekends, she always finds time to glare at me. Gale's always kind, but I don't think I'll ever forgive him for leaving me in the woods by myself that day, or for getting me pregnant, for that matter.

I live in the small house next to my mother and Prim's. When Laurel turned two, I'd decided it was time I get my own house. Prim and my mother visit me quite frequently. When I'd told my mother I was pregnant, she sort of snapped out of the funk she'd been in since my father died. She blamed herself for not giving me 'the talk.' I told her that it was entirely me and Gale's fault, but she wouldn't believe it.

Prim comes over early in the morning to watch Laurel so I can hunt. I hunt for my mother, Prim, Laurel, and myself. I also have to get enough game so I can trade. Laurel doesn't eat much now, but I know that once she's older, I'm going to have to find a job. Most likely in the mines. I try not to think about that because mine-work is not appealing to me, and because Gale and I would have to come up with some alternate agreement with both of us in the mines all week long.

When I return, Laurel's still sleeping, so I convince Prim to stay so I can do my trading without the baby in tow. Prim complies and I promise I'll be quick. Then I head into town. Normally I'd go to the Hob, but today, I need bread. I go to Mellark's Bakery, which for my entire childhood was run by Mr. Mellark, father of three boys and husband to the town witch. But luckily, the bakery was inherited by the kindest of the three Mellark sons, Peeta. He was my age, in not six or seven months older. His older brothers had done internships with their wives' fathers. Peeta, as far as I knew, was single. I didn't understand how – he was the cream of the crop in District 12, in my opinion. Blonde curly hair, piercing blue eyes, tall, extremely muscular . . . maybe he was just picky when it came to women. And hey, when you looked like him, you could afford to be choosy.

When I walk into the bakery, it's empty. I realize it's still extremely early. Peeta walks out of the kitchen and looks at me. A small smile plays on his lips. "Hey, Katniss," he says. "Good morning."

"Good morning," I reply.

"Here to trade, I assume?"

"Yes," I say. "I have two squirrels to trade with today."

"Great, I've been having Katniss Everdeen squirrel withdrawals," he says, flashing me a smile. Oh, and he had a winning smile. He had it all.

"Today's your lucky day, then," I say. He looks over the squirrels for a minute before smiling again.

"Good shots," he says. I don't reply. He goes under the counter and pulls out two loaves of bread.

"That's way too much," I say.

"No, it's not," he says. "A squirrel for a loaf. It makes sense. And you shoot squirrels perfect. Right in the eye. You don't puncture anything edible."

"Yeah, but two squirrels normally equal one loaf of bread," I say, slightly agitated. He's taking pity on me. I might have a two and a half year old daughter, but I'm fully capable of caring for her without help.

"Two squirrels that are shot poorly equal one loaf of bread," he insists. "C'mon, Katniss, the second loaf's a day old anyway."

"You don't have to take pity on me," I snap. "I'm perfectly capable of providing for my family without your help."

He looks taken aback. "I'm not pitying you," he says slowly and carefully. "I only get meat when you bring me squirrels and you only get bread when you bring me squirrels."

"That doesn't mean I should get more bread than you get squirrels," I say.

"It's two for two!" he says, exasperated. "God. Just take the bread."

I scoff. "I'll take one loaf."

"Katniss, c'mon," he says.

I look at him for a long time. "Why?" I say. "Why are you trying to overpay me?"

He stares back at me for a long time. "Because of your daughter," he admits. "She's such a sweetheart. I want her to have enough to eat."

"She has enough to eat," I say sharply. "I can provide for her."

"I didn't mean it like that," he sighs. "Just take the bread, okay?" And with that, he grabs the squirrels and walks back in the kitchen. I stare in the direction of the kitchen for a moment before grabbing both of the loaves and heading home. When I arrive, Laurel's awake.

"Hi, Mommy!" calls Laurel as I walk in.

"Hey," I say, throwing the loaves on the table. I kiss the top of Laurel's head.

"Two loaves?" Prim asks incredulously. "God. Peeta must have a crush on you, or something."

"What?" I ask, totally surprised by her comment. "Peeta does not have a crush on me."

"Oh, please," Prim laughs. "He's had a crush on you since I was ten years old. You're just too . . . Katniss to see it."

"I'm too Katniss?" I say sarcastically. "Get out of my house."

Prim shrugs. "You're going to marry that boy someday. He adores Laurel."

"Who?" Laurel asks, climbing onto one of the chairs at the table.

"Mr. Mellark, the baker," Prim says.

"The what?" she asks.

"The place with the cookies," I say tiredly. "And the cakes and pies and stuff."

"Oh!" Laurel says. "I like it there."

"Everyone likes it there," Prim says, taking a seat next to Laurel at the table. I sit down across from Prim. "You like Mr. Mellark, don't you?"

"He gave me a cookie," Laurel says fondly. And it's true. Peeta had given Laurel a cookie for her second birthday. I didn't know about it until we'd left, however – Peeta knew I wouldn't take it if I'd known. "He's nice."

"And handsome," Prim remarks.

"Primrose!" I say.

"C'mon, Katniss, you're twenty!" Prim says. "Gale's moved on, why can't you?"

"I didn't even like Gale," I mutter. "I don't want that life, remember?"

"Well, you got half of the life you never wanted," Prim says, cocking her head towards Laurel, who sits oblivious to our conversation. "And whether you want to accept it or not, Laurel's not loved by Gale and Amelia half as much as she's loved by us, and honestly, I think Peeta loves Laurel more than Gale does."

"Gale loves her," I say. But even as I say it, I know it's probably not true. I mean, he does love her. But not as much as a father should love his daughter. It's obvious Laurel's second place to his unborn child with Amelia. And I know the baker has a soft-spot for Laurel; he said so himself.

"Yeah, okay," Prim scoffs. "Look. Mom and I have healing to do today. I have to go. But remember what I said."

"Yes, I'll remember every ridiculous thing you said," I say.

She rolls her eyes. "See you later, Katniss." She kisses Laurel's cheek. "Bye, Laurel!"

"Wait!" I call. I cut one of the loaves of bread in half and toss it to her. "Thanks for babysitting."

Prim looks at the bread and smiles. "Any time."

When she leaves, Laurel looks at me. "What was she talking about?"

"Nothing," I say. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes!" she says. "Why was she talking about Dad?"

"No reason," I say. "Want some bread? The baker gave me way too much."

"I like him," Laurel says. "He's nice."

"He is," I reply.

"He gave me a cookie."

"He did," I say.

"Mommy?" she asks tentatively as I give her a small slice of bread.

"What?"

"How come you and Dad don't live together?" she asks. "I mean, most mommies and dads live together."

I take a second to form my response. "Because me and your father aren't together," I say. "He's married to Amelia."

"Why?"

"Because he loves her," I say.

"Why?"

"I have absolutely no idea," I mutter.

"Did Dad love you?" she asks.

"Once," I say. "Before you were born."

"And why is Dad married but you're not?"

"Because I don't want to be married," I say. "I mean, if I find the right person, I guess I'd get married, but don't count on me finding the right person."

"Good," she says.

"Good?"

"Yeah," she says, taking a bite of the bread. "I don't want you to get married."

"Why not?" I ask.

"Amelia's mean," Laurel says.

"She's mean?" I ask. "How?"

"She yells a lot. Mostly at Dad. But sometimes at me."

"Why does she yell at you?" I ask, furious.

"She doesn't like it when I call him Daddy," Laurel shrugs. "Once she said Dad wasn't my dad."

"She said that to you?" I ask, seeing red in my fury. "She really said that to you?"

Laurel nods. "But she's wrong, right?"

"She's absolutely wrong," I say. "Gale is most definitely your father." I make a mental note to scream at Amelia the next time I see her.

Later that night, I'm about to make a squirrel for Laurel and I. But as I go to skin it, I feel extremely guilty. Like I don't deserve this squirrel. And then I look to the loaf and a half of bread on my counter and I sigh. "Damn baker."

I put the squirrel in my game-bag, grab Laurel, lock the door, and head into town. The bakery's closed, but I can see Peeta through the window. I knock on the door and he comes to open it. "Are you alright?" he asks. "Come in."

I walk through the door and set Laurel down. Immediately she rushes to the cookies. "Mommy, look!" she cries.

"I see them," I say. I turn to Peeta. He's looking at me with concerned eyes. "I brought you another squirrel. I owe you."

He rolls his eyes. "You don't owe me."

"I do," I say, pulling it out and tossing it on the counter. "Laurel, c'mon." Peeta grabs my wrist and closes and locks the door.

"You're not leaving here without payment for the squirrel," he says.

"You realize I can unlock the door and walk out whenever I feel like it?" I say.

He laughs. "Let's pretend it's locked from the outside."

"Yes, but that means you can't get out, either."

"Exactly," Peeta says.

I look at him strangely before he turns away. "I'll take the squirrel," he says. "But let me cook it. You two can have dinner with me tonight."

"Peeta, we don't want to impose," I say.

"You won't be imposing, I invited you," he says, smiling widely. "And it gets pretty lonely, living here by myself. It'll be nice to have some company." He walks over to Laurel and crouches down beside her. "Do you want to eat here with me and your mommy tonight?"

"I like you," Laurel says randomly.

"I like you, too," Peeta says.

"Aunt Prim thinks you're cute," Laurel says. My cheeks flush red and Peeta looks up at me.

"Is that true?" Peeta says.

"Yeah," Laurel says. "I think Mommy does too, they were talking about you–"

"Okay, Laurel, that's enough," I say, walking over to her and picking her up. "Peeta, we really should be going."

"There's no way I'm letting you go now," he says, eyeing me. I look at him for a long second before sighing. He's not going to take no for an answer.

"Fine," I say. "We'll stay for dinner."

His face lights up. "Great!" He motions for us to follow him upstairs to the apartment above the bakery, where he lives. When we arrive, I set Laurel on a chair and look around. It's fairly small – it has a kitchen, sitting room, and office on one side. The other side has a bedroom and three doors, which I assume are the doors to a bathroom, closet, and another bedroom.

Peeta stands beside me and Laurel runs to the other side of the apartment. "And, just so you know," he says. "I think you're cute, too." My cheeks flush red and Peeta walks towards the kitchen, not even looking back at me.

Damn it, I think. Prim was right.