The Mockingjay Lives On

Chapter 21

Katniss POV
6 Months Later

It's Cassie and Violet's first birthday. Hunter just had his second birthday a couple of days ago along with a party and today, it's a party for the girls.

I can't believe my daughter is already a year old. She's everything I never knew I wanted. She's my life, our life, mine and Peeta's. She hasn't taken her first steps yet, but I am quite okay with that. I love being able to carry her around. But boy does she crawl. She's really fast on her little chubby hands and knees, especially when Peeta comes home. Her name is the first thing out of his mouth as soon as that door opens and it doesn't matter what she is doing she stops whatever it is she's doing immediately, and crawls as fast as she can to him.

Peeta is on the sofa now with Cassie right next to him playing with a toy. We are having the party here for both girls at our house. Peeta spent the early morning baking not one, but two cakes, so that each had their own cake. I think he wants this day to be more than perfect, as it should be. I hear a commotion outside and narrow my eyes to the door and groan inwardly. What in the world now? "What's that?" Peeta asks, obviously hearing the noise and seeing me slowly make my way to the door. "I do not know, but I aim to find out."

I open the door to reporters and Plutarch making his way to our home. Ugh. It must have gotten out that he was visiting. Nobody in the Capitol except our closest friends and a couple of advisors are aware of Cassie. I quickly shut the door.

"Peeta, take Cassie and go upstairs, NOW!" I tell him. "Call everyone and let them know that Plutarch is here and so are... some reporters." I hate having to tell him that there are reporters, because I know that they cause his episodes sometimes. I look at him as if asking him silently if he's going to be okay and I am rewarded greatly with a smile and a nod. He has Cassie in his arms and he starts towards the stairs. I am glad that he's got her, she keeps him calm.

As soon as he disappears upstairs I open the door again, preparing for the onslaught. This time they notice me. "Katniss!" "Over here!" I'm hearing to my left and my right. They all want pictures, and I hate it. Plutarch walks up moments later and embraces me and commands them to all leave. They don't. I am sure there will be some type of fine for them later.

"I am so sorry about that commotion out there Katniss, but thank you for inviting me." He says. "Where's Peeta and that precious little one?" he says before I can even say anything to him. I shake my head, typical Plutarch. "Up here. Hang on!" I hear Peeta call out.

Peeta gets to the bottom step and Cassie spots Plutarch and immediately hides her face in Peeta's chest. He really hasn't had the time to come visit her since she was a couple months old. But I smile at the thought of her shyness. She gets it from Peeta. I blush thinking about his admission to me years ago.

"It's okay Cassie, that's Plutarch. You can go say hi." Peeta tell her softly, coaxing her out of his chest. Plutarch reaches for her and it's as if because Peeta said it's okay, she was okay with Plutarch and reaches her arms out for him.

"They don't know why you're here do they?" I ask. "Absolutely not. They're under the assumption that I'm here on official business, although, I did have to make a couple of appointments to make this plausible." he says grinning at Cassie. "Well, let's stay here, because once everyone starts coming, I don't want them to find out about her." I say, and Peeta nods agreeing with me.

"Well, if they're still out there, they know the consequences if they are still there. They will be banned from doing anymore journalism work for Panem." He says matter of factly.

A few minutes later, my mother makes her way in. "Are there any reporters out there?" Peeta asks. "No, I think Plutarch's guards have it handled, they're all outside the gates for the village." She says laughing. It's still so weird to hear her laughing.

"We are hereeeeee!!!" A small little voice calls out. Noah. He's followed by Annie and Johanna and... Thom? Well, that's new. I give her a look and she smiles. "Come on Hunter! Faster!" Noah shouts at Hunter. Gale and his family are not that far behind apparently. As if on cue, I hear Gale and Rory talking about something. Haymitch is next followed by Beetee, Cressida and Effie. Delly and Pollux are last to arrive, but they have to come in from town as they live together now, over the bakery. Peeta offered it to them.

"Okay, let's get this party started!" Haymitch bellows.

Peeta POV

I sit here and watch this big huge family come together to celebrate Cassie and Violet's birthday. I watch Katniss as she makes sure that the boys aren't running around like little tornadoes and getting into the cake. But also make her way around to everyone, thanking them for coming. Violet is trying her hardest to walk, and I watch Posy and Charlie helping her. She has only managed standing and lifting a foot before she falls back onto her bottom. Cassie hasn't had any interest. She's got Katniss and I to carry her around. She's already a smart little cookie. Speaking of Cassie, I look to see who has her this time around. Ah. Haymitch and Cressida. I stand head towards them as Katniss walks up.

"MAMA!" a voice calls out. The entire room has quieted down. "Um, I believe she wants you, Katniss." Cressida says.

Did Cassie just say her first word? "MAMA!" I see Cassie reaching for Katniss. Instantly, Katniss has tears in her eyes, and I feel my own eyes starting to water. "That's right little duck, I'm mama." I walk up and she reaches for me "DADA!" I'm taken back immediately, a huge smile forming on my face. "That's right beautiful, that's daddy." Katniss plants a kiss on her forehead.

"We're those her first words?" I hear Gale. I nod.

Everyone breaks out into an applause, which ended up scaring Cassie, and making her cry. I look to Katniss and laugh as she calms her down.

"Cas! Cas!" I hear Hunter call for her. He wants to play with her. Katniss takes her to where the kids are playing and sets her down on the blanket.

As she walks back she stops at me and kisses me and winks. I just smile at her and continue on watching our family. Ever so quickly, I happen to catch Haymitch and Mrs. Everdeen quietly go off around the corner.