What If

Chapter Twenty-Six:

Katniss

The question had taken me aback. Can I see her? I never would've imagine that he'd ask that.

I opened my mouth to respond, but I wasn't sure what to say. Can I see her?

Then I rushed from the room as I felt tears pour down my face. I knew that I should've stayed and responded to Peeta, but I didn't want him to see me cry. I didn't want all the doctors to, either.

I ran back to my compartment where Prim was waiting for me with Camellia. She wordlessly handed Camellia to me before leaving us alone.

I rocked Camellia in my arms and sighed. He wanted to see her. The Peeta I'd seen a few months ago never would've wanted that, he'd never had believed that she was real.

But the old Peeta would never forgive me for putting Camellia in danger, and by letting Peeta see her I'd be putting her in danger. After all, this is the very person that had choked me a few short months ago.

My door opened and Haymitch walked in without bothering to knock.

"Please don't yell, you'll upset Camellia," I said as I held her close to my chest.

Haymitch shook his head. "I didn't come here to yell. I want to convince you to come back."

"And talk to Peeta more?" I asked weakly. "About what?"

"I think you should let him see her," Haymitch admitted.

I shook my head and gripped Camellia tighter. "No. No way."

Haymitch sighed and rubbed his temple. "I knew that you'd be difficult about this."

"He could hurt her, Haymitch," I said. "I can't put Camellia in that position."

"He's strapped in," Haymitch said. "He's getting better, Katniss. He's also her father."

I shook my head. "The old Peeta would never forgive me for putting our baby at risk like this."

Haymitch sighed. "I think the sight of her could really help, Katniss. I wouldn't be asking you to do this unless I thought that it would help."

"No," I said sternly. "I don't trust him."

"He hasn't stopped asking us since you left," he admitted.

I rolled my eyes. "It's been, what, a full ten minutes?"

"Katniss, you need to drop your stubbornness," Haymitch said. "This could help him recover. Wouldn't that be nice?"

I sighed. "I'll go back and talk to Peeta, but that's the best you're going to get from me."

Haymitch shrugged. "Fine. Maybe Peeta will convince you himself."

Doubt it.

"Let me just give Camellia to Prim," I said. Haymitch followed me to Prim's compartment.

"What's wrong?" Prim asked as I handed her Camellia. She could sense something was off by our expressions.

"Nothing, little duck," I replied.

"Peeta wants to see Camellia," Haymitch interjected. I glared up at him.

"Why don't you just show him a picture of her?" Prim asked. "Then he gets to see her but she's not in any danger."

I peered up at Haymitch, who looked confused. "I would be fine with that."

"That could work," Haymitch mumbled. "Do you have a picture of her?"

I nodded and thanked Prim, allowing her to head back into her compartment. I grabbed the picture that I kept on my nightstand of Camellia and placed it in my pocket.

Shortly after Camellia had been born Prim had insisted on taking a few photos of her and had given one to my mother, kept one for herself, and had given me the rest of them. I had placed one, my favorite one of me holding Camellia, into the locket that Peeta had given me on the beach in the Quell.

When we arrived back to Peeta's room I noticed that the earpiece had been cleaned up and he was alone. Haymitch wished me luck before I walked back into the room.

"Is she here?" Peeta asked as he saw me.

I shook my head. "No, but I have a photo. If you'd like to see it."

Peeta nodded slowly and I carefully walked over towards him, clearly cautious. "I don't bite."

I nearly laughed at the comment. I pulled the picture out from my pocket and placed it in one of Peeta's restrained hands.

I watched as he stared intensely at the photo as if he was trying to memorize her face. A slight tracing of what appeared to be a grin appeared on his face as he looked over her face.

He was very quiet for a long time and he barely made any movements. I just stood there, studying his face.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"Can I keep this?"

I nodded. "Sure."

"She's very pretty," Peeta decided. I nodded in agreement. "You're right, she doesn't have that nasty scowl of yours."

The comment took me aback a bit but I just shrugged. "Nope, she's happy nearly all of the time."

"You sure she's your's?" Peeta asked. I glared at him. "Never mind."

I suppose that was the closest I was going to get to an apology.

"Well, I'm going to go now," I decided. He didn't look up from the picture. "Bye, I guess."

"I'll see you tomorrow, right?" he asked. This took me aback.

"Why?" I asked as I paused at the door.

"So you can tell me more about Camellia," he said, while gesturing to the picture. "So you can tell me more about our daughter."

I nodded, but my throat felt tight. "Uh—sure, yes. I can."

Our daughter.