After the rebellion

Visitor

*Peeta Pov*

The morning after my birthday always felt like a deep breath.

Sunlight spilled across the kitchen floor, and the scent of cinnamon still lingered from yesterday's cake. 

I was at the stove flipping pancakes, the kind Katniss liked—crispy on the edges, soft in the center, with just a hint of vanilla. 

Willow sat in her high chair smacking the tray with sticky fingers, cheeks dusted with flour from our little baking experiment earlier.

Katniss was still upstairs, hopefully asleep. 

She'd done so much for me yesterday, and I wanted to let her rest.

She'd given me the most thoughtful gifts, things that meant more than anyone else could ever guess.

 A rolling pin with small love quotes carved into the wood. A memory jar, half full already with folded notes in her handwriting. 

A sketchbook and a new set of coloring pencils she must've traded for quietly, probably weeks ago.

It was simple. It was everything.

Then came the knock.

Not a loud one. Just two soft taps. But enough to stop the quiet from being peaceful.

I glanced at Willow, who stared at the door like she expected it to open itself. I wiped my hands and walked over.

I opened it to find Delly Cartwright standing on the porch, holding a small wrapped package and wearing a bright red coat and an even brighter smile.

"Morning, Peeta," she said like we were old friends who had parted on good terms. "Happy belated birthday."

My body stiffened. "Delly."

"I know I missed it yesterday," she went on, stepping forward, "but I didn't want to let it go by completely. I brought you something."

I didn't move. "You could've sent it."

She blinked. "Wow. Cold welcome." She let out a short laugh. "What, no leftover cake?"

I didn't answer.

"Look," she said, her tone softening, "I didn't get the chance to say anything at the store last month. You were... distracted. And I probably said things I shouldn't have."

That was putting it mildly.

The last time I saw Delly was a month ago in the baking aisle. 

Katniss was in the Capitol, getting help, battling things the rest of us would never understand. 

I was holding Willow in one arm and comparing bags of flour when Delly showed up, like she'd been waiting.

"I just don't get it," she'd said. "Katniss Everdeen? She's not good enough for you, Peeta. I'm just being honest. You deserve someone who doesn't break."

I walked away.

Now, she was at my front door, acting like none of that happened.

"I'm going to get Katniss," I said.

Delly blinked. "Katniss? Right now?"

"Yes," I said, turning toward the stairs. "If you came to my house, you came to hers too."

I didn't wait for her answer.

Upstairs, Katniss was half-awake when I stepped into the room.

"Hey," I said gently, brushing hair from her forehead. "Sorry to wake you."

She opened one eye. "Something wrong?"

"Delly's downstairs."

That got her up. "Excuse me?"

"She brought me a birthday gift. Said she wanted to stop by since she didn't get to see me last month."

Katniss narrowed her eyes. "Last month. The same visit where she said I wasn't good enough for you?"

"Yeah."

Katniss sat up, already pulling on one of my old sweatshirts. "Perfect."

When we came downstairs, Delly was standing in the entryway, smiling at Willow like she was trying to charm a puppy.

She looked up when she heard us. "Well, there's the birthday boy and his better half."

Katniss folded her arms. "You've got nerve."

Delly gave a short, theatrical laugh. "I thought we could be civil."

"You called me unfit to be a wife and mother in a grocery store," Katniss replied, not flinching. "Civility left the room a long time ago."

Delly looked at me, like I might rescue her. "Peeta, I didn't mean it like that."

I stayed still. "Then how did you mean it?"

"I was just surprised," she said, her voice rising slightly. "You were alone, Katniss was gone. You looked tired. I thought maybe... I don't know, that you'd come to your senses."

"Senses?" Katniss echoed.

Delly faced her. "Yes. I've known Peeta my whole life. I've seen what makes him happy. And it sure didn't look like you. Not when you ran off to the Capitol."

Katniss stepped forward slowly. "I didn't run. I went to get help. To be better for myself, for Peeta, for our daughter."

Delly tilted her head. "Well, some of us don't need a whole city to figure that out."

That's when I spoke. "Katniss didn't need the Capitol. She chose it. Because she's strong enough to admit when she needs help. And brave enough to go get it."

Delly scoffed, but I kept going. "I'm proud of her for it. And while she was gone, I missed her every single day. She's the mother of my child. The love of my life. Not because she's perfect—but because she's herself."

Katniss looked at me, her arms lowering just slightly.

Delly rolled her eyes. "Wow. Okay. Fairytale ending, huh?"

"No," Katniss said. "It's real. That's why it works."

Delly placed the wrapped box down on the table like she was making some kind of last stand.

"Well, now you've both said your piece," she said, forcing a tight smile. "I'll let you get back to your happy little home."

Katniss stepped in front of me, calm and steady. "We were already in it."

Delly turned without another word, heels clicking against the floor, and shut the door behind her.

The silence after she left was thick—but not heavy. Not anymore.

Willow tossed her spoon over the side of her tray with a dramatic grunt.

Katniss let out a slow exhale and looked at me. "We should burn that gift."

I chuckled. "Right after pancakes."

She leaned in and kissed my cheek, then gave Willow a kiss on the head too. Our girl giggled, banana still in her hair.

Katniss looked back at me, eyes soft. "You really meant all of that?"

"Every word."

"Even the part about me being brave?"

I nodded. "Especially that part."

She took my hand, and for a moment, everything settled again.

Not perfect. But real. And that was more than enough.