After the rebellion

Happy Birthday!

*Katniss Pov*

It is Peeta's birthday today! January 17. He is turning 26 today.

I am so excited because I feel like he is constantly doing things for me, and I want to make this day special. I want it to be HIS day.

My alarm clock reads 5:00 AM. I got up so early so I could try to make breakfast for him. For his gift I got him a memory jar. 

For his gift I filled a jar with notes of quiet moments I always remembered having with Peeta. Some of the things I wrote were...

"When you held my nightmares without asking questions."

"When I realized your hands made me feel safe, not caged."

"When I let myself laugh again, and it was because of you." 

On the cap of the jar I wrote always in cursive. I also got him a orange sketchbook with his name written in gold, and some art supplies

Ever since we had Willow he stopped drawing as much, and I would like him to get back into it.

The last gift I got him was a custom made rolling pin with some love notes that I thought of written on it, and I wrote him a letter.

I braid my hair, wear one of Peeta's favorite outfits I have, put on a little makeup, and head to the kitchen to...cook.

The eggs are rubbery, the toast looks like it's been dragged through a wildfire, and I think I might've set the teabag on fire. I don't even like tea, why did I make tea?

I place everything on a tray, balancing it with careful hands, and take a breath before heading upstairs with the breakfast, and all of the gifts.

The door creaks softly as I push it open with my shoulder. He's still asleep, curled on his side, one hand under the pillow, breathing slow. 

His golden hair catches the morning light sneaking through the curtain, and I pause for a second.

He looks peaceful. Which doesn't happen often. Not with the dreams.

I set the tray down on the nightstand, I brush my fingers gently across his arm.

"Peeta," I whisper.

His eyes flutter open slowly. For a second, there's that flicker of confusion, where am I, is this real, but then he sees me. And softens instantly.

"Katniss?" His voice is sleep-warm, gentle. "Everything okay?"

I nod and gesture awkwardly to the tray. "I... made you breakfast."

He blinks at the plate. Then back at me.

"You... cooked?"

"Sort of," I mutter, already regretting everything. "It's not good. 

Actually, it might be terrible. But it's your birthday. And I just... I wanted to do something, and there it also a couple gifts." 

For a second, he's completely still. Then the corners of his mouth lift. That familiar smile—not the charming one for show, but the real one. Just for me.

"You brought me breakfast in bed," he says, like I've done something incredible.

"I brought you an attack on your digestive system," I say flatly.

He laughs. And it's his laugh—low, soft, filling the space between us with something warm and steady.

"Well, it's beautiful," he says, picking up the fork. "Because you made it. And that's what matters."

"You're impossible."

"You're sweet."

I sit on the edge of the bed, watching him bravely take a bite of the eggs. He doesn't even flinch. Heroic, really.

He swallows, then grins at me.

"That's, something." " I know it's horrible, I don't know why I even tried." I say in regret.

"It's okay, it doesn't matter if it tastes good, what really matters is that you took the time to get up and make it, and I know you hate waking up."  I laugh. 

"Open your gifts!" I say a little to excitedly.

He starts with the letter, and he reads it out loud. 

To my Peeta,

Happy 26th birthday.

I've never been good with words, but today I want to try. Watching you with our daughter—how she reaches for you, laughs with you, and looks at you like you're everything—reminds me of everything you've always been for me: steady, strong, and full of love. You're an amazing father. And even though I never imagined I'd have a life like this, I'm so grateful to share it with you.You've always known how to give, even when it was hard. Even when you were broken. You've rebuilt me, rebuilt us, and now you're giving her everything she could need. And I'm in awe of you every day.                                                                                                                                               Thank you for being you. Thank you for loving us. I love you more than I can ever say.

Forever, Katniss. 

He slides the letter carefully back into the envelope, gets up and locks his arms around my waist. 

"Thank you, my love" "Happy Birthday." I say into his shoulder. 

I let go and press a sweet kiss to his lips. I pull away and look into his eyes. "There are more gifts you know.." 

"Oh, right." 

He unwraps the rolling pin first, and goes on about how he needed a new one. 

Then carefully he rips the wrapping paper of the sketchpad and art supplies, he looks so happy, and it makes me feel good inside. 

He opens the memory jar last, and he is confused at first. 

"It's a memory jar." I explain. "It has little moments we've had together" 

"You're so sweet Kat." He places down all the gifts and opens his arms and I walk straight into them. 

"I love you Peeta" 

"I love you so much darling, and thank you." 

"Oh, wait I have one more gift." I release myself from his grasp. I go down the hallway to get Willow. 

"Our little bird." I say placing her in his arms. 

Her blue eyes flicker open and she giggles when she see's her father. I don't know why, but this brings a tear to my eye. A happy one. 

I am just so proud of who we have both become, and I never could've imagined we would get here, but we are.  

We have our own child, our own home, our own love for each other, and best of all there is no hunger games. 

Even though that was one of the worst moments of my life, without it I wouldn't be with Peeta, and I would still be terrified from the games. 

This is when I finally realize that even though so many were sacrificed, and there were so many traumatic experiences. 

All those horrible moments are what brought us here, and the world is a much better place now. 

I would do it again and again for this outcome, and this man.