It Started With a Cake

Ch37. My New Best Friend

Three months; that is how long my beautiful baby girl has been in this world.

It feels so surreal to say, on the one hand we've fallen into such a natural routine it feels as if she's been here forever. While on the other hand, I feel as if it were only yesterday I first felt her moving in me.

My fear of the future has subsided substantially since her arrival. She's like Peeta in that instance, bringing me peace to what originally started out as fear.

She's like Peeta in a lot of ways; calm, easy to soothe, never all that fussy, if it weren't for the black hair that sits atop her head, or the olive tone of her skin, I'd have my doubts she was even related to me.

But of course I don't know what the future holds, Willow still has her whole life to grow into herself, maybe she'll become more similar to me in some ways, maybe she'll be an exact replica of Peeta, or maybe she'll be someone entirely new.

I don't want to think of that though, Willow all grown up going her own way in the world, so instead of the grown woman that flashes across my eyes I focus my attention to the small bundle I can still easily carry in my arms.

She smiles up at me, small babbles escaping her lips, almost as if she were trying to say something to me.

That's new, she started smiling about a week ago, on purpose I mean. She's very smiley now, always flashing us a gummy grin when she spots Peeta or Me.

"Are we going to see daddy?" I ask her sweetly.

She babbles back to me happily, I don't actually think she knows what I'm saying but she knows I'm talking to her.

I can't help but smile back at her, "let's go see him then"

The door to the bakery jingles as I open it, easily manoeuvring it while still holding Willow in my arms.

As I enter I notice it's Will who's serving a customer at the counter, he shoots me a friendly hello when he's finished.

"Peeta's in the back, I'll get him for you" he tells me quickly, before I even have to ask.

It's only about a minute later when Peeta appears from the kitchen, he's smiling widely as he approaches us, pulling me into a hug as soon as he's close enough.

After a moment he pulls back only to take Willow out of my arms for a cuddle.

"I missed you little bug" he tells her pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.

She grins back, babbling something in response to him.

He nods back enthusiastically, "yeah, yeah" he plays along with her, pretending he knows exactly what she's saying.

After a moment of cooing between the two of them he turns to me slightly.

"How was your day?" His question is still mainly directed towards Willow, but he says it in a way to show he's awaiting a response from me this time.

I smile at Willow again before replying quickly, "good"

"Missed her daddy" I fill in, "but she had a good nap today so she should be fairly happy the rest of the day"

He smiles reassuringly, "good"

he's about to say something else but he's interrupted as the jingle of the door goes off.

I turn my attention to it and very quickly find the skipping toddler that set it off.

"Hello Stella!" Peeta is quick to say as we realise who the small girl was.