#mama katniss rocking her babies to bed

[buggiebite]

Down in the Valley

TW: slight nudity

Down in the valley, the valley so low

Late in the evening, hear the train blow

The train, love, hear the train blow

Late in the evening, hear the train blow

Go build me a mansion, build it so high

So I can see my true love go by

See him go by, love, see him go by

So I can see my true love go by

Go write me a letter, send it by mail

Bake it and stamp it to the Capitol jail

The Capital jail, love, the Capitol jail

Bake it and stamp it to the Capitol jail

Roses are red, violets are blue

Birds in the heavens know I love you

Know I love you, oh know I love you

Birds in the heavens know I love you

[paintedpeeta]

*climbs over your garden fence* have we headcanons for Father’s Day for our local Papa Peeta?

yes. yes we absolutely have 🧑🏼‍🦱👩🏽👧🏽🧒🏼.

okay so first of all you know those toasties just absolutely become his whole life, and he does everything for them so they always want to give him a special father’s day as a thank you.

his first father’s day was one of the happiest days of his life. their baby girl was only a couple of months old, so of course it was katniss who done all of the planning and gift-giving, but just being handed a card addressed to papa while his little daughter sleeps beside him set him off and he was a bubbling mess for the rest of the day. he keeps the card always, framed and in the office space of their house that he uses as an art studio. their daughter has absolutely no concept of the occasion, but she enjoys the day spent out at the lake with her mama and papa, cooing and kicking her lil legs in the shade.

and maybe katniss could have told him he was going to be a papa again on another father’s day. i think their son would be a winter baby so it sort of checks out that she tells him around this time of year, planning a special way to tell him but most likely just blurting it out while they have a picnic in the meadow. it goes right over their daughters head but peeta almost passes out, pulling his wee wife over for a giant bear hug and placing a thousand kisses on her face. “will we ever have a father’s day where you don’t cry?”

katniss always gives him a little heads up in the morning, waking him up with kisses and love before the toasts can get to him and wake him by diving onto the bed. she doesn’t want poor papa having a heart attack because chunky toddler toastboy has launched himself full speed onto their mattress while her husband is still asleep 💀

after they’ve all had their morning snuggle in the big bed, katniss takes the bubbies to make the breakfast. peeta offers to make the breakfast so they can have a lie in, but they insist on bringing it to him in bed so he sits and waits on them. katniss does most of the preparation when the toastbabies are younger, but as the years go on she gives them more and more leeway until she’s practically just supervising.

their daughter is so thoughtful and so her gifts are always perfect and from the heart. drawings done as carefully as her little hands can manage, fully concentrating to make it special for her papa. asking mama if she can buy little things from town, like brushes and paints and sketchpads. ribbons tied around bags of her papa’s favourite candies, or sweaters that mama made messily wrapped up with colorful paper and tape.

their son is a little bit more… scatterbrained(? i don’t think that’s the right word. i just picture their son being this lil wild ball of energy, but really sweet deep down) in his younger years, so his gifts are usually like a bunch of wildflowers torn up from haymitch’s yard and some rocks he found out in the woods 💀 but it’s okay because he’s so adorable and kind and peeta is so grateful to have this type of loving family that he treats all of their presents as if they were made of gold.

katniss of course has her own gifts for him, as a thank you for being such a good dad to their kids. it’s always kind of an emotional day for her too, because she lost her pa when she was so young but everyday she gets to see her own children grow up with an amazing and loving father. this is why they almost always spend the day in the woods or the meadow or at the lake, because she’s closest to her dad there and it’s the one way she can feel like her children also know their grandpa, who’d have loved them so much.

before their children come along it’s a hard day for peeta, because his relationship with his dad didn’t seem too great and he had a lot of healing to do because of his parents. it’s not until he has kids of his own that he starts to feel a reconnection with his own father, even if he still can’t wrap his head around why he allowed his wife to treat their children the way she did, he wants his babies to know about their grandfather who was kind and fair for the most part.

everlark also start to gift haymitch on father’s day, and when the toasties come along he gets a second card addressed to “grampy haymitch.”. the old drunk would grumble and go beet red everytime, but secretly he loves all of those kids so much and he keeps every single card given to him.

[everlarkbirthdaygifts]

Happy birthday, insidejokepartyof1!!

On this 18th day of March, we want to wish @insidejokepartyof1 a very happy birthday! To help with your celebration, @booksrockmyface has written a little fic just for you!

Title: Springtime Joy

Gift for: insidejokepartyof1

Rated: K

Author’s note: I wish you the happiest of birthdays and I hope this little bit of toastbaby fluff fills you with all the joy your special day deserves! Many thanks to thesaltywinteradult for always prereading my fics.

________________

Peeta hurried into the house. “Katniss, get Rowan and come see what we found.”

Katniss scooped baby Rowan off the floor where he was playing and followed after Peeta. There was a trail of weeds laid out beside the raised vegetable beds. Katniss put Rowan down on his little feet and held onto his hands. He was just days from his first solo steps. They followed the path of weeds until they got to the rest of their family gathered at the end of the garden.

Peeta looked up and waved his hand excitedly.

Willow giggled and pointed, “Mama, we found some baby rabbits.”

“They’re so cute and tiny!” Reed squealed.

“Any sign of the mother?” Katniss asked as she and Rowan came closer.

Peeta chuckled. “Not yet. But we’ve been here watching them for a while.” He stood and dusted off his knees. “Come see. Then we’ll leave them alone. Promise.”

Katniss lifted Rowan up and swung him into Peeta’s waiting arms. “I was just curious. I saw a rabbit hopping around here the other morning when I went out to hunt. A big gray one.”

“Mom, can we keep one?” Reed asked.

Katniss leaned over and looked at the babies the children had been admiring. They were just a few days old. “These will still need their mama for a bit longer. But I don’t think we need a rabbit. We can just take care of these ones out here until they hop away.” Katniss looked around and then covered up their nest. She picked up a large rock and sat it just beside it. “We can come back and check on them later. Hopefully the mother won’t decide to move them.”

Peeta pointed with his foot. “You two, get those weeds and lay them out on the pans. I’ll get the compost ready for spreading in the garden.”

“Are we going to get to plant today?” Willow asked.

“We should be able to.” Peeta looked over the little patch they had just cleared. “Won’t take too long to spread the compost if we all work together.”

“Would you eat some lunch first? Rowan and I were just about to make some sandwiches.” Katniss tickled Rowan’s cheek.

“I’m sure Rowan would have smashed the bread to pieces.” Peeta pressed his nose into his baby boy’s hair. “But I would have eaten every bite.”

Katniss laughed. “Okay, I was about to make sandwiches. You and the kids wash up and I’ll get Rowan back into the house for the sandwich making.”

Peeta kissed Rowan’s chubby cheek and handed him back to Katniss. “We’ll be in in a couple minutes.”

Katniss put Rowan down to walk again with her assistance. He chattered the entire walk back. Katniss glanced over her shoulder to see Peeta watching them with a proud smile.

[katnissdoesnotfollowback]

MoreS2SL Preview(s)!

It’s that time of year again! For those of you who aren’t aware, @mores2sl is the continuation of what was once called Smut 2 Save Lives. It is a charity collection of fanworks published annually to raise funds and awareness for DIPG, a rare and usually deadly form of childhood cancer. The collection’s charity of choice is Hope for Caroline, but you don’t have to donate to them.  All it takes is a $10 (that’s an equivalent to ten USA dollars) donation to either Hope for Caroline, or to a non profit cancer research group of your choice, and you receive access to the entire MS2SL collection.

I have contributed stories to the collection for the past two years and intend to do so again this year. Cancer in general sucks, and sometimes it feels like if you live long enough, you’re going to know someone who fights with it. For me, I had a teacher, a band director, in junior high who was pretty much the only reason I got out of bed in the mornings and went to school. He was energetic and caring, empathetic and encouraging. He was also slowly dying of cancer. The worst of it occurred once I’d already moved on to high school, but I never forgot him and when one of his last requests was to have the town’s high school marching band escort him to the cemetery, I was one of the first to volunteer. How could I not?

It’s gotten a little closer to home this past year, as my Mom was diagnosed with rectal cancer earlier this year. It’s been a painful struggle and she just finished her final chemo treatment this past week. We won’t know for another month if the rounds of chemo and radiation worked or if she’ll be facing a highly invasive surgery. My Mom has been the rock in our family for decades and watching her fight this thing was both humbling and horrifying. I’ve never seen her so scared. She said something to me one day when I accompanied her to chemo and we were in a large room with five other people all undergoing some kind of chemo therapy. She said, “It’s easier to accept when they’re older, but when they’re so young...” she nodded towards the young woman in the chair just next to hers. She couldn’t have been older than 25, and that’s frightening enough. To battle cancer when you’re still a child? Unimaginable. These are the reasons I contribute.

For this year, we have something exciting! Here’s a brief preview of the Everlark story I’ll be writing, featuring race car driving Katniss and Peeta as a mechanic. It will be rated at least M, probably E though because it’s me.

9000 R.P.M.

SUMMARY: Stuck in a dead end town and a dead end job, Katniss takes a gamble with the one thing she got out of her divorce -- a beat up sports car turned racer. She was always the better driver anyways. With a little help from a mechanic with blue eyes and golden hands, she turns that gamble into a chance for a better life for her and her daughter. But racing is still a boys' club and the road is never easy for a single mom.

In the morning she wakes up and her mother is already feeding Raven. She gives Katniss a once over and shakes her head. Katniss scowls at the judgement, kisses her daughter, and fixes her own damn breakfast.

“It was your first race back since Raven was born,” her mother says and Katniss stiffens, then relaxes as her mother’s words sink in. A soft kiss to her forehead and Katniss breaks into tears. “Oh baby girl, don’t cry.”

Her mother holds her as she cries it all out and as they rock and hold onto each other while Raven smashes her cereal to dust. Katniss slowly calms. Each tear leaves more room for resolve.

“I’m gonna take care of her, Mama. Raven’s gonna have a good life. We’re gonna get out of this shit hole where everyone knows Gale cheated on me but I’m the one they call a slut. We’re gonna live in a nice house and Prim’s going to college and you’re never scrubbing another toilet or shelling out drugs again.”

“Alright, baby girl. That’s your goal, then we’ll make it happen. Just keep at it.”

AND! Because the amazing ladies over at @mores2sl have decided to try something different, should you donate $20 instead of $10, you will get access to the 2017 and 2016 collections as well. Why is this important you ask? Well because some writers (*cough cough ME*) never publicly posted their contributions to last year’s collection. So if you’ve been curious or wanting to read mine, here’s another chance to do so. It’s the first installment in what’s planned to be a trilogy, if I can ever stop getting distracted with other stories. ;-)

SUMMARY: With all the empty space between planets and stars, one would think that two galaxies colliding is a fairly peaceful process. What if it’s not? What if life complicates the process as once distant planets become neighbors? Populations of species vanish. Others colonize new worlds. And some pick up arms against fellow living organisms as resources shift and change, become scarce. And humans...we take war with us everywhere we go…

Meridia: A planet caught between strictly adhered to ancient rituals and customs, and the questions and progress that inevitably follow scientific advancements, the people of Meridia have been fighting a war to protect their sovereignty and that of their neighboring systems for over sixty years. Peeta Mellark, one of three Crown Princes vying for the throne and the future General of Meridia returns home after sustaining a severe injury in combat, but he’s not allowed to stay for long as his father sends him back across the galaxy on an errand that promises to be far more difficult than he initially thought and will test his loyalty to family, king, and home.

Arcadia: A colony of humans on a vibrant planet, intent on protecting their freedoms and their valuable resources from falling into the hands of Coriolanus Snow, self-proclaimed emperor of two still merging galaxies. In a desperate attempt to push back and end the fight once and for all, the Lady Katniss Everdeen reluctantly agrees to what she believes is a marriage of convenience in exchange for troops and allegiance from the military might of Meridia. But just because she agreed to the marriage doesn’t mean she’ll go quietly. After all, it’s more than just her life affected by this arrangement.

WARNINGS: RATED E, for explicit sexual content, sci-fi themes and elements, violence and wartime shittiness, character deaths, child soldiers, genocide, arranged marriages and associated general fuckery, one slight dub-con scene and a few serious age gaps in sexual partners, awkward public sex, interspecies sex, also polyamory and polygamy. Oh and Peeta’s bisexual and there are several scenes of him with someone who is not Katniss. Both explicit and implied mentions of Katniss and Peeta being with someone else sexually before they wind up together. There is no Peeta or Katniss committing outright infidelity here, so if that bothers you, fear not. However, other characters may commit infidelity and there are several open relationships. It's set in another galaxy and not everyone is a homo sapien here, please try to keep an open mind in terms of culture variations.

RELATIONSHIP TAGS: Contains M/M, M/F, M/F/F+ and M/M/F relationships as well as associated sexual content. While this is primarily an Everlark+ story, some of these sex scenes are with characters who are not Katniss and Peeta. As in none of the participants are named Katniss or Peeta.

Inspired by a word prompt: Agelast - A person who never laughs

Warnings and tags apply to the entire series and therefore might not apply to this specific installment. Just want you to know what kind of ride you're in for before you climb aboard. I swear it's not as depressing as all those tags make it sound. Okay, maybe it is. So the real question here is...How much do you trust me?

Movement catches his attention from the corner of his eye and he glances down. He sees the injured, not dead, Capitol soldier aiming the blast rifle, right at Katniss. He moves, but the soldier fires, the blast striking rock and causing a rockslide. He hears her scream something and everything goes black and hazy. Peeta falls on the soldier and grabs his head, smashing his face into the ground with a sickening crunch. Satisfied that the man is now truly dead, he whips his head up, heart in his throat, and scans the rocks.

“Peeta!” she yells from her position right before loosing another arrow. “North!”

He nods and takes a deep breath before motioning for his troops to follow behind him.

She’s fine. She’s fine. He has to repeat the words over and over as they move, and still, he constantly checks on her until Mitchell elbows him to get him to refocus. The snow distracts him from fretting over Katniss as it starts up again and he curses the damn stuff.

[ellanainthetardis]

First day with the baby!

[FF] & [ao3]

35. 14 Hours

On a certain level, Haymitch understood.

Going to the Justice Building and back had been torture despite the moment of uncontainable pride when he had signed the papers and had been handed April’s birth certificate. It had taken a long time for the woman behind the desk to print it and he had been anxious to go back home, to make sure his girls were alright…

Having April out of his sight for so long… Yeah, it was a source of anxiety and he got it, Effie was nervous about being parted from the baby. But…

A cup of coffee was placed in front of him on the kitchen table.

“It’s okay.” Peeta said quietly, sitting down on the chair next to him. “I understand.”

“Good for you ‘cause I don’t.” Haymitch scoffed.

When he had come back, the children had been in the bedroom with Effie and April and everything had seemed to be going well. Effie was relaxed, the baby was asleep in her arms… They had been having a nice moment, Haymitch thought, quiet conversations and a few jokes… The moment Katniss had leaned in a bit too close to settle the debate of whose nose the baby had, Effie had started freaking out, recoiling away from the girl as if in fright, her eyes a bit on the glassy side. It had woken April up and she had started wailing.

She hadn’t stopped since.

They had tried changing her, they had tried feeding her… Eating had seemed to calm her down for a while but she didn’t feed for long and it didn’t seem to sate her. She settled for about half an hour every time and then started crying again.

Effie kept repeating she was hungry as if she had a superpower but he hadn’t missed the wincing becoming more and more pronounced as the hours grew late. And the more agitated April became, the less comfortable Effie was with having people around. So far, she only kept the baby away from the children – and if Katniss was impassible about it, Peeta had looked hurt every time – but… He had tried to take her out of Effie’s arm – so she could get some proper rest – and Effie had moved back, as if to put April out of reach.

She had immediately looked at him with a horrified expression and had profusely apologized but it had been too late.

Haymitch had walked out of the bedroom in a daze. And he couldn’t claim he wasn’t grateful for the kids having decided they would camp in his kitchen.

He glanced at the clock, trying to figure out how long it would be until Larcher showed up again.

“I think…” the boy hesitated. “I’m not sure she’s very aware of what she’s doing at the moment.”

Haymitch glanced at the kid, alarmed. Had he missed anything? Because he knew Effie’s symptoms like the back of his hand. If she was about to have a panic attack, he usually knew before it happened. If she was having a flashback or if something had triggered her, he figured it out early on. And right then…

“She’s lucid.” he frowned.

“She must be in some pain.” Peeta replied in a hurried whisper because they heard Katniss coming back from the living-room.

And pain was one of Effie’s triggers.

He had asked her if she was doing alright and she had said yes… He didn’t think she was in enough pain right now for her memories to be triggered but she had faltered right after the birth… Maybe the boy was right. Maybe it would pass and he was worrying over nothing.

Still, he propped a hand on the table to stand up, swallowing the cup of coffee in two big gulps. He didn’t want to leave her alone with the baby too long. All the more so given that April’s cries were echoing around the house.

Snowball darted between his legs as he reached the first floor but almost run him down on the way back well before he even reached the bedroom. He stepped inside in time to see the dog jump on the bed and drop his purple monkey next to Effie, nudging it in the direction of the wailing baby in her arms with his nose.

Effie was silently crying and she looked up at Haymitch with so much distress he cursed himself for sulking so long downstairs.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, immediately striding to the bed.

It was plain to see what was wrong. She was shaking a little and he was ready to bet she was exhausted. He didn’t really give her a choice when he scooped the shrimp up. She didn’t protest and he pretended he wasn’t relieved by that. He rocked April gently if a bit awkwardly still, not quite sure what to do. He sniffed her but she didn’t look like she needed to be changed.

“I think she is hungry.” Effie whispered. “But…” Her sentence ended in a sob and she squeeezed her breasts in her hands. “I cannot… I do not think I am working as I should, Haymitch. I do not think she has her full. And it hurts.”

He took that in stride, torn between his need to comfort her and his new instinct not to let go of his crying baby.

“Okay.” he said calmly. “Larcher will be by soon so… There’s no need to get worked up for now, alright, sweetheart?”

She was still crying but she nodded and he wondered how exhausted she really was under the brave attitude. She opened her arms. “Can I have her back?”

He had barely been holding her for two minutes.

He compromised by sitting next to her on the bed, pushing the purple monkey damp with drool off the sheets. Snowball didn’t look very happy about that.

“It’s nice of you but that’s not what she needs.” he snorted. The puppy gave a sharp yelp of rebuke and jumped off to drag his monkey to the corner of the room. “Now, sweetheart…” he chided his daughter in a soft voice. “Stop crying, you’re upsetting your mama.”

It wasn’t a magic spell and the baby kept on crying. Effie leaned against his side and buried her face in his shoulder, not even trying to stop her sobbing.

It was a great situation to be in.

He wrapped an arm around Effie, bringing her closer to his chest, next to April. She nestled against him, wrapping her hand around the tiny foot that was unhappily kicking the air.

“Hush, little baby don’t you cry…” he hummed. “Papa’s gonna sing you a lullaby. Hush, little baby don’t say a word, Papa’s gonna buy you a mockingbird…” He kept on singing softly, probably very off key, but it seemed to calm both of them down. Effie was fast asleep by the second time he sang the lullaby, April wasn’t sleeping but she had calmed down enough that he carefully wiped the tears from her cheeks. “Not having the best first day, right, my little shrimp?”

There was a knock on the door. April started wailing again, Effie startled awake and Haymitch glared a little at the doctor who kept interrupting everyone’s rest.

“Sorry.” the man winced.

“Not at all.” Effie immediately countered, waving him in. “We have a problem.”

Haymitch sat there and listened as she explained herself, grateful for Larcher’s calm and attentive demeanor.

“I think you are jumping to conclusions, Effie.” the doctor told her gently once she was done. “It’s been less than a day, it’s impossible to tell for now. You are exhausted and you need rest.”

“My daughter needs me.” she growled, placing a protective hand on the baby Haymitch was still holding. From the corner of the room, Snowball growled in echo, clearly picking up on Effie’s behavior.

“Down.” he snapped at the dog – mainly because he couldn’t snap at Effie that way. “You need to calm down too, Effie. Look what you’re doing to Snowball, maybe you’re doing the same to her. You’re a ball of nerves.”

“Are you saying my presence is upsetting our child?” she hissed.  

“I’m saying take a nap and maybe you’ll think more clearly.” he retorted.

They glared at each other until Larcher cleared his throat.

“I would like to examine Effie now.” he said. “And I will take a look at the baby after that.”

“Okay.” Haymitch agreed at once, almost relieved to get out of bed, April protectively cradled against his shoulder.

“Be careful of her head.” Effie warned.

“Yeah, thanks, I’ve been doing it all night and I managed just fine.” he spat. “Or what? I’m not allowed to carry her now?”

A flash of anger passed on her face but then she remembered how she had recoiled earlier and she winced. “I am sorry.”

She sounded sincere enough that he sighed. Everyone’s nerves were frayed. It took some effort but he forced himself to take a deep breath. “It’s fine.”

He carried April to her nursery. She hadn’t had many chances to be in the room yet aside from when she had needed a change. He liked what they had done with the place. It was peaceful. He came to stand at the window, grabbing a soft stuffed elephant from a shelf and teasing her with it.

She was too little to know what to do naturally but she still stopped crying eventually, after he had playfully nudged her with the elephant enough times, making ridiculous noises that probably didn’t sound at all like an actual elephant.

“Mama’s just a little tired.” he told her seriously, watching as her tiny hand closed on the elephant’s trunk. She didn’t have enough strength to do much more but it still made him smile. He put the stuffed toy aside and brushed her little palm with his index, smiling wider when her fingers closed around it. “It’s gonna be better than this, you’ll see.” The soft padding of paws alerted him and he looked down to find Snowball sitting at his feet, looking up at them. “Seems like you’ve got yourself a guardian, shrimp.”

He loved the little noises she made.

He was in awe of her.

He had spent half the night watching her, committing her features to memory, but he didn’t think he would ever get tired of looking at her. She was so beautiful, so perfect…

“Haymitch?” Larcher called from the threshold.

“How’s she?” he asked quietly, not to disturb the baby.

“Asleep.” the doctor said. “Her body needs the rest. Physically, she should be recovered in a day or two.”  

“Physically.” he repeated flatly, dropping his eyes to their daughter.

“I find her… unsettled.” the man tactfully answered. “But given what she went through in the past… Her behavior isn’t that surprising.”

“She won’t let anyone touch the kid.” he scowled. “Not sure she even wants me to…”

“Please, understand it’s not an indication of her feelings…” Larcher cut him off. “New mothers are often overprotective and Effie…”

“I know.” he sighed, keeping his gaze on April. Effie had been through too much. He had too. He really got it. But it was still… “I’m not exactly jumping at the idea of letting anyone hold her either.”

The thought was disturbing. But the kids were the kids and he didn’t see the wrong in letting Peeta carry her for a minute. The boy hadn’t had an episode in months and he had been so eager about welcoming the baby… The kids were family and he might have been paranoid but not to the point of forgetting that if there was anyone he could trust with his life – and his daughter’s life – it was the rest of his family.  

“I honestly believe it will fade.” the doctor offered. “In a few days, she will feel less… raw.”

He wasn’t sure about that but he nodded all the same. “And about the other thing? The breastfeeding? That’s in her head or…?”  

Larcher pursed his lips in thought and asked if he could take a look at the baby. Haymitch shuffled his weight from one foot to the other before settling her down on the changing table, protectively hovering behind the doctor’s shoulder as he examined her. There was a matter of pot and kettle to be pointed out there, he figured, but the man was nice enough not to say anything.

He asked how many times April had fed and how many times Haymitch had changed her, he weighed and measured her…

“It’s hard to tell for now, we will know for sure in a few days.” the doctor eventually concluded. “Effie’s lactation does seem to be a little difficult.” Haymitch tried not to make a face at that word but Larcher didn’t notice, his full attention on April. “I’m hoping that it will improve but with her medical history… She was underweight at the beginning of her pregnancy and she still doesn’t quite eat as much as I would like.”

“She put on some weight.” he countered. “You said she was doing better.”

“She is.” the doctor granted. “But it’s hard to counteract years of deficiencies – I have a feeling she wasn’t exactly eating properly before either.”

“She was always on some shitty diet.” he admitted, quickly growing defensive. “She never made herself throw up or some shit like that, though. She did sports and stuff… She was slim not skinny. She’s always been healthy.”

“But she was an escort, and a model before that if I am not mistaken, and that required her to watch her figure.” Larcher pointed out. “I am not judging her, Haymitch, I’m simply stating facts.”

“Yeah.” Haymitch grumbled, making sure April’s romper was correctly buttoned before lifting her up. Having her in his arms soothed his annoyance. “So what does it mean? For April? She’s hungry?”

Because that couldn’t happen.

No child of his would be left to starve.

No child of his would ever be hungry.

“For now, I don’t think so.” the doctor answered. “You weren’t wrong earlier. Babies pick up on tension and Effie was really close to having a nervous breakdown… She worked herself up over the breastfeeding.”

“Okay.” he said, relieved. “So, April’s good?”

“We will monitor her.” Larcher said. “Weight her and measure her every day. We need to make sure she has enough. If it turns out Effie doesn’t lactate enough to sustain her we will think about adding formula bottles but that comes with its own set of problems and I’d like it better if we could stick to the breastfeeding.”

“What kind of problems?” he asked. He needed to know all the options. He needed to make sure they took the best decisions for the baby because…

“Nothing too serious for April.” the doctor sighed. “But for Effie… Most women who don’t produce enough milk blame themselves for it, they feel like they’re failing their child.”

“Capitols don’t breastfeed.” he opposed, not quite sure why. “Maybe she won’t mind.”

But that was a long shot and he knew she would. She wanted the full experience. She didn’t want to do anything like her mother had done.

Larcher didn’t look any more convinced than he was. “We will cross that bridge when and if we come to it. Try not to worry about it. You have a very healthy little girl.”

Not worrying about it was asking him a little too much but he nodded gratefully at the doctor and walked him back to the front door – escorted all the way by a dog who took his guarding duty a little too seriously.

The kids were still in the kitchen, making some sort of soup.

“We thought you might be hungry.” Katniss shrugged, her eyes trailing to the baby in his arms. “How’s Effie?”

There was real worry there and he instinctively schooled his features into detachment. “She’ll be fine, sweetheart. She just needs some rest.” April had fallen asleep sometimes between leaving the nursery and reaching the front door. He awkwardly gestured to the boy. “Care to take her off my hands for a minute?”

Peeta jumped at the chance and suffered Haymitch’s fussing with good humor. It was only once he was certain the boy was supporting her head the right way that he let go of his daughter. It didn’t stop him from hovering for a moment, suddenly feeling a terrifying urge to snatch his child back. Peeta didn’t seem to mind though, he rocked the baby gently, looking half in love with her as it was.

Haymitch hadn’t been expecting the flash and he blinked, startled.

Katniss grinned a shitty grin, shrugging her innocence as she put the camera down. He scowled at her but she shrugged again. He felt as if more pictures had been taken in the last hours than in his whole life – Effie’s orders, apparently, April’s first few days had to be documented.

Once certain the baby wouldn’t wake up and wasn’t in immediate danger of being dropped – Peeta was far too careful for that but Haymitch still insisted he had to sit down – he snatched a bowl of soup and swallowed it down, his eyes never straying from the boy and his daughter. Snowball had dropped at the kid’s feet and Katniss eventually peered over Peeta’s shoulder, slowly spooning her own soup.

“She’s cute.” the girl offered.

“She’s beautiful.” Haymitch scoffed haughtily. The kids exchanged an amused look. “Oh, fuck off.”

The ringing of the phone covered their laughter but it also had the unfortunate effect of waking April up. Clearly, she didn’t like loud noises.

“Shit.” he spat just as he picked up, about to tell Peeta to hand her over.

“That is certainly not the proper way to answer the phone, Haymitch.” a cold disapproving voice declared and he made a face.

“Elindra.” he winced, looking at the kids for help. There was none to be found. Katniss was scowling in distaste at the very mention of the name. There was a pointed cough at the other end of the line and he rolled his eyes, wondering if the woman was his cosmic punishment for everything he had done wrong in his life. “Mother.” he amended through clenched teeth.

“Is that my granddaughter I hear crying?” she asked. “Why is she crying? How is she? What does she look like? Peeta’s description was brief and imprecise – very surprising for an artist – I require more details. Would you be a dear and send pictures? Oh, by the way, I sent a package this morning, it should be delivered in the next couple of days. It should keep you afloat until you can procure more girl clothes.”

He wondered if April was going to inherit that gift for talking without pauses.

He imagined her at three, a blond chatterbox with bright blue eyes, and he found he couldn’t quite mind it.

Peeta had the situation under control, it seemed. Between his ridiculous baby talk and Katniss waving her fingers above his shoulder to get April’s attention, she had settled down. He let himself relax a little.

“She’s perfect.” he answered when she paused to take a breath, knowing there wouldn’t be another chance if she started talking again. “She looks like Effie. She’s got her eyes. Can’t say about hair color yet, she doesn’t have many… She’s got her nose too.”

“Oh, very good. Do not take it the wrong way but yours isn’t an appendage that would look good on a girl and knowing you like I do you would object to plastic surgery.” Elindra sighed.

“April doesn’t need any plastic surgery crap.” he growled. His eyes found his daughter again and he softened. That was what she had done to him, that girl… She had made him soft. And in less than a day too. “She’s perfect.”

“April?” Elindra repeated.

“April Iris Abernathy.” he confirmed. “That’s her name.”

There was a short silence and then a somehow vexed huff. “Wasn’t Iris your mother’s name?”

“Yeah.” he said, a warning in his voice. “So what?”

“Nothing, nothing.” she dismissed in a tone that implied there was something. “Your choice, I presume?”

“Well, yeah.” he snorted.

“And Effie made no suggestion to add a third middle name?” she insisted.

He was distracted by the way Katniss was using her hands like puppets, having clearly taken confidence in her baby distracting skills.

“No.” he frowned, not really following.

“No matter.” she replied quickly, a cheer in her voice. “April… It is a lovely name. A bit simple, of course, but… Lovely all the same. I cannot wait to see her.”

“Thought you’d already be on a train, to be honest.” he mocked and then immediately bit down on his own tongue. Did that sound like an invitation? He so hadn’t meant it like that.

“Well, I would.” Elindra lamented with a sigh. “However, there is this charity event for Tadius’ company… I must see to it, you understand? Besides, Tadius and Lyssa seem to think you would both prefer to have a few days to yourself to get used to the situation. I told them that we would certainly not be an encumbrance and that we might be able to help, naturally, but they were adamant. And I really do need to plan this event…” Her voice faltered a little. “You will make sure Euphemia understands, won’t you? It is not that I do not want to come immediately… I really would rather come to Twelve to meet my new granddaughter…”

“It’s fine.” he offered, realizing she was scared Effie would hold it against her. “Probably better this way. Effie’s had it rough.”

“She is alright, isn’t she?” she asked. “Peeta claimed it went well. I still think giving birth at home was an unnecessary folly but the boy did say…”

“She’s doing well.” he cut her off. “She’s just… tired.”

“I can imagine, yes.” she commented. “I thought… We might try to come at the end of next week. Would that be suitable?”

“Sure.” he agreed, not really happy with that but also resolved to having to deal with the Trinkets for the rest of his life. He had honestly thought Elindra would show up in the following days, he figured a week and a half of respite wasn’t a bad deal. “Not sure you can stay here, though.”

“It is of no consequence, the inn was surprisingly pleasant for such a rustic establishment.” she replied. “It will do. I am so impatient to see her… Please, send me pictures as soon as you can.”

“Yeah. Will do.” He would send the boy to the post office the next day and be done with that. April had fallen back asleep and Peeta was tossing Katniss a look that the girl was steadily ignoring, giving her bowl of soup her whole attention.

“And you are positive Effie is alright, yes?” Elindra insisted one last time. He hesitated long enough for the woman to obviously purse her lips at the other end of the country, her voice hardening. “Haymitch?”

He really didn’t want her jumping on a train right now.

And he would never have believed that it was something Elindra Trinket would do a year before but things were different now and he really, really didn’t want to risk it.

“It’s fine.” he grumbled. “She’s fine. It’s just… She might not… Maybe she doesn’t have enough…” He struggled with how to actually word that. Effie wasn’t a cow and he didn’t want to make her sound like one. “It’s possible breastfeeding won’t be enough for the kid.” Both Peeta and Katniss looked up at him since it was news to them. He made a face, pretty sure Effie wouldn’t like it when she found out this particular problem was now public knowledge. He cleared his throat. “I’m just not sure how she’s gonna take it if… I guess we’re all just tired.”

“There is nothing wrong with formula.” Elindra replied without missing a beat, apparently untroubled by that piece of news.

“Yeah, but…” He let out a sigh. “I’m not sure she’s gonna see it that way, that’s all.”

What was he telling her that for? Elindra didn’t really know Effie, not like he did anyway…

Except it was Elindra who had helped her get past Clay’s death, a treacherous voice murmured at the back of his mind. He was pretty sure if it hadn’t been for her mother, Effie would have happily remained trapped upstairs for a lot longer – assuming they had managed to convince her to come down at all.

“I see.” she stated. “Well… There is no use losing oneself in conjectures. When you know for certain if you need formula, do let me know. I am fairly certain I can find better brands in the Capitol than you can in your District. I will have a few boxes shipped. Only the best will do for our little April.”

He relaxed a little. There wasn’t a lot he liked in the Capitol but he couldn’t deny that they had better stuff. Twelve was evolving but there would never be the same choices and opportunities as there now were in the biggest districts or in the city. “Thanks.”

“You are welcome.” she hummed. “Well, I must dash. I will call again tomorrow, shall I? Perhaps Effie will be in better shape and can come to the phone.”

They exchanged goodbyes and he placed the phone back in its cradle with a huff. “That woman’s crazy.” He carefully stole April from Peeta’s arms. “Let’s hope you don’t become as crazy as your Grandma ‘cause your mother came close already.”

“Effie has problems feeding her?” Katniss asked, straight to the point. “She was looking forward to that.”

The she won’t like it was left unsaid.

“I know.” he said. “We’ll see, yeah? Might be nothing. Finish your soup.”

Katniss rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dad.”

“We’re going with Papa and you should really leave sarcasm to me, sweetheart.” he smirked, watching the sleeping baby.

“She’s so going to have you wrapped around her finger.” Peeta teased.

He grumbled about it but no statement had ever been truer and they all knew it.

It wasn’t really late when the kids called it a night but the last two days had been eventful. He didn’t begrudge them their right to some peace and quiet.

Haymitch wasn’t quite sure what to do with himself. Eventually, he settled April in her – blue, which probably meant it would need to be changed – bassinet in the living-room and grabbed his book. He couldn’t focus though. Every two seconds, he glanced at the baby to make sure she was alright and still breathing.

It was almost a relief when she woke up and started crying.

She calmed down when he picked her up, her tiny lips smacking open and close… He figured she was hungry and so he carried her back upstairs, grateful that she was mostly quiet. Effie was still deeply asleep, curled up under the comforter, hugging his pillow close to her chest.

He placed April down in her crib – which she really didn’t like if the agitated wriggling and the tears were any indication – and crouched next to the bed to brush his knuckles along Effie’s shoulder. She whined in protest and curled up further.

“Hey, sweetheart…” he whispered softly. “I think the shrimp’s hungry.”

“Feed her.” she grumbled, more asleep than awake.

“Yeah, I’m kind of lacking in the tits department.” he snorted. He ran his fingers through her hair, pushing her blond curls away from her face. “Come on, wake up, Princess.”

“Haymitch?” she slurred, slowly opening her eyes. “Why am I leaking?”

“Leaking?” he repeated, confused. She sat up suddenly, wrinkling her nose, holding her nightgown away from her. It was slightly wet on her chest and he made a face of his own. “That’s the crying, yeah?”

She slipped it over her head with a disgusted expression and handed the soiled fabric to him. He exchanged the nightgown for the baby. He took the opportunity of dropping it in the hamper to make full use of the bathroom. Taking a shower went a long way in helping him to relax.

He hadn’t expected to find Effie walking around when he got out, though.

She hadn’t gone far, she was just standing next to the dresser, having just stolen one of his shirt. April was back in her crib under the vigilant watch of their dog.

Effie followed his eyes and smiled. “He is cute.”

He wasn’t about to admit that the overgrown puppy was cute so he dropped a kiss on her shoulder instead. “You should be in bed.”

“You are obsessed with keeping me in bed.” she teased but her playfulness soon vanished. She looked down at her bare toes. “I truly am sorry about earlier. I never meant to imply I do not trust you with her, I just… I cannot really explain it. I am sorry though.”

He nudged her chin up. “It’s fine but…”

“I will work on it.” she nodded. “I was atrocious with the children. I really do not know… I cannot control myself, I just… I just want her to be safe.”

Her tone was almost pleading. He sighed and leaned in to kiss her.

“We’re gonna be alright.” he muttered against her lips. “We’re gonna adjust.”

“Promise?” she whispered.

“Yeah.” he said firmly.

They didn’t have a choice anyway.

[everlarkficexchange]

Together- Part 2.

Written By: @albinokittens300

Rating: K

Prompt: 69- Hijacked Peeta with an everlark toast baby in D13. Enough said [submitted by @elaine-spades​]

Summery: Peeta loses control for the first time in front of their daughter. It turns out it may just be the catalyst to bring them together again.

_______________________________________

All she could muster was a nod in acknowledgment. It was the first time Peeta had a level head with her since the night before she was pulled out of the arena and he was captured by the Capitol. “I understand you hate me.” She starts. Forcing the words out. But once started, they flow unaided from her mouth somehow. “It breaks my heart, and I miss the man you used to be so much. It was hard for me to accept that I loved you, and that you don’t remember us. But…however you feel about me now. Or whenever you get these memories sorted out. Willow is your daughter, and you should be allowed to see her. But she is my daughter too. And I’ll let you kill me before you hurt her.” At the last words, she looks down at her sleeping girl. Her tiny baby thumb in her mouth. “Willow…is all I have left.” And Katniss realizes he’s right. His family refused to leave 12 before the bombing, and died because of it. Willow is not only the last of Peetas family, but the only other Mellark alive. “Maybe…maybe we should try and do this together, or at least cooperate in some way? It can’t be good for her, being shuffled between us. Having to have one of us or the other at any given time. That’s unfair to her. And being around you might help me deal with you better.” He said, sounding desperate and nervous. Like he was afraid she would turn him down flat. Seeing Peeta more often, being with him and their girl at the same time all the while possibly helping him recover? It sounded almost to good to be true. “That’s a good idea.” She whispered back. Slowly, they learned to be parents together. It was difficult the first few days, sometimes Peeta had to control insults and spiting out horrible memories the hijacking told him were true. But they quickly learned to be civil. Katniss was there when Peeta was with her, and they both watched over and bonded with her. Peeta would play with her. Shaking her raddle, enticing Willows tiny hands to do the same when the toy was handed to her. Playing peek-a-boo, making her giggle and babble her baby-talk. He would, with Willow still in his lap, let them watch him draw. Both mother and daughter watched the lines and colors come to life on the page from his gentle hands.   She sang and read to her daughter, too. Willow adored her voice, singing or just speaking. Like Peeta, she also would talk to her child and tell her how much she is loved, that she was her most precious gift. Neither minded when they seemed to be having a private conversation with there daughter. Sometimes, both would go on long monologues to the infant, just to somehow hope she knew how loved she was. And that they were always going to be there for her. There were many moments, particularly in the beginning where he abruptly handed her the infant and than ran to the corner and rocked back and fourth till the memories passed. Clenching himself so tight his muscles would ache for hours afterwards. At first the talk was only about there daughter- a topic that seemed to be free of landmine triggers for Peetas rages. If anything, it served to keep him pleasant. Together, they became somewhat cohesive in parenting. Spending more and more time together, cooperating and working with one another to rear their little love child. Slowly, they seemed forced to talk about other things. It started with her singing the Meadow Song as the Willow slowly drifted to sleep in her bassinet, the one she sang to Rue as she died. It seemed so familiar to him, but not all at once. “Did…did you sing that song to someone, have I heard it before? I don’t remember it, but…it feels familiar.” He sounded shy. Katniss voice was choked as she replied. “Yes. A little girl, Rue. I sang it to her when Marvel killed her. We had been allies, in the first games. She asked me to sing for her as she was dying. It was a song I had always sung to Prim whenever she had nightmares.” “You sing beautifully…” he blushed at the comment. It was the truth. Form that point on, Katniss would sing for both of them. Peeta then began to ask questions. And he quickly found Katniss had answers, when put towards others, seemed true. While Willow napped, or even while she was with them, he would ask her about memories. Which she was slowly growing more comfortable answering. She would settle Willow in a crib to try and talk him through the moments when he had to crouch and rock to get through the memories. Even let a song be sung from her lips for just him, too. The singing and her presence seemed to ease the rages he experienced, and give him more and more control over the ones he had. Soon, they were spending more and more time together. While Willow slept, Peeta coaxed her into conversation. Random things that seemed to mean nothing. He found her inspiring- she loved so fiercely and was so determined. Caring for her entire family, sacrificing herself for her sister in the first games. He had never heard such bravery or devotion. They discussed what he remembered, what they planned to do once this nightmare was over. And were shocked when they had the same answer- both wanted to return to 12. Rebuild and remake their old home. A place Willow could grow up in, safe and sound. After a particularly painful session with Dr. Aurelius, he had come out wiping tears from his eyes. Sometimes he felt so alone. His mother was hard to miss after what she put him through, but his father and brothers loved him. They were his family, his home. All of them were dead, now. Gone. And he was utterly on his own. It was only when he saw Katniss and Willow waiting for him did he begin to reconsider that thought. “What are you doing here?” He asked, curiously. Seeing him, Katniss grinned shallowly and stood up. “We thought we would wait for you to go to lunch.“ Katniss says. As if it was common sense. Willow giggled and reached out to him. With a matching grin, Peeta pushed any hurt away and took her into his arms. Planting a flurry of kisses on his little girls cheek. Shifting her into one arm as Katniss offered him a hand. And when he sat with them in the cafeteria and begin idling talking, Peeta realized Katniss chose to be with him. Looking over at Prim and her mother sitting with the Hawthornes and Johanna, it was clear Katniss would have been welcomed there. She chose to be here. When he looked over at her gently wiping Willows messy face with a napkin, he felt a sudden lifting sense joy and pride. This may be a work in progress, but they were his family.  She showed him the meadow of the greenhouse in District 13, and they had a picnic of the small bit of lunch they were allowed. Once finished, Katniss allowed him to braid some of the flowers into her hair and Willow toddled between the two of them. Happily babbling, and using her two new and only words- Mama and Papa. The artificial light felt like a sun in the warm greenhouse, and they basked in it as if it was. Peeta had said this was the happiest he had been, most at home, since the Quarter Quell. Katniss told him about their day on the roof after that. Peeta drew them one day when Willow and Katniss decided on a nap while he painted, and Katniss was stunned to silence at it’s beauty. The Districts ebellion waged on with Katniss playing the puppet of a voice. The rebels slowly gained ground with their ‘leaders' uplifted spirit. Because she was nursing Willow, Katniss didn’t see a lick of true battle. And it suited her just fine, protecting her loved ones here. She hated being a pawn, but it was worth it. Seeing Willow grow and learn everyday made it easily worth it. Prim, Peeta, Gale, her Mother, they were all safe as well and it felt like a dream. Gale and Johanna fought like cats and dogs at first, but seemed to very attached to one another. Slowly, Peetas condition improved as he regained his memories. As more memories were sorted, he saw the truth. His love for her and her strange love for him. Katniss rejoiced when, after a session, he walked out of the room and kissed her fully on the lips. She was hypnotized, the feeling of his lips on hers so good it bordered on intoxicating. Warm, safe, familiar and perfect. On instinct, she kissed back. Sinking into him without caring for any of the small crowd that had gathered. Only him and becoming familiar with him again. Willows giggle only broke the kiss for a second, and her mother and father giggled too. Kissing became commonplace after that. One night not long after, after settling Willow to bed, Katniss held his arm as he moved to leave. Peeta didn’t fight her when she slowly lead him to her bed. They sat down, and simply both leaned in without thinking to kiss one another. Her eyes glanced at the bed, big enough for the both of them. The unspoken question between them. Silently, he got under the cover and held her close to his chest. He wrapped his arms around her snuggly and the world seemed perfect for the first time in so, so long. "Stay will me?” She whispered into his shoulder as he held her. Though it was mostly assurance. Katniss was almost positive of his answer. The feeling of the safety and security in his arms gave her the real promise. Though she wanted to hear it, too. Smiling into her hair, he only could give a single answer. Muffled by the kiss he placed in her hair. “Always.”

A/N- So, this was a little rushed, but should be good. This is just some fluffy conclusion to the first part! Hope you all enjoy :)

[paintedpeeta]

so I just watched about fifteen reels of a Mom gently rocking and bouncing her baby to sleep and I need to express how much I need Everlark soothing their little babies at night

they are definitely the type of parents to hold and cuddle their babies whenever they need them, i just don’t see them being able to let their children cry or be upset for any period of time without doing anything. this might mean sleepless nights for mama and papa, but they’d take that over a stressed out baby any day.

i think they’d have some sort of seat or chair in the nursery, maybe even an old fashioned wooden rocking chair with cushions and blankets for comfort. but anyway the chair is basically there to give mama or papa a place to sit while they nurse the babies to sleep. wispy dark hair and soft woollen bunting, gentle fingertips tracing over the bridge of a tiny nose, old lullabies hummed while she breastfeeds her baby and his eyes sting with sleep and his heart aches with love in his chest.

she loves to sing to her children, curious little eyes looking up at her while she carries her tune, the sound replacing the sore cries of an unsettled child. she can’t help but lift them out of their crib and hold them close to her, not caring that it delays her getting back to her own bed for another little while.

papa doesn’t really sing to his children, but his presence is also a comfort. since he can’t exactly feed them himself but doesn’t allow katniss to stay up alone, he’ll usually be the one to collect them and bring them into the bed with their mama and papa, helping his wife sort her nightgown to be able to feed them comfortably. he coaxes the burps from them, which makes him and his precious wife laugh quietly even in the silly hours of the morning.

letting them sleep up on papa’s chest instead of returning to the crib for the night. they look especially tiny then and katniss is unbelievably compromised at the sight, offering a hand over for their baby to cling to with chunky little fists 🥺 on nights they’re particularly unsettled, peeta will pace the floor for hours if that’s what it takes to get them comfortable. swaddled up carefully and bouncing gentle with each step, their papa’s stead hands eventually lull them into a sleep.

[paintedpeeta]

tired toastbaby boy having a tantrum & mama katniss gently calming him down afterwards headcanons?

(like maybe his nap ended a little early so he starts getting fussy about everything, but katniss helps him take deep breaths after getting a little too worked up & gives him warm milk before rocking or humming him to sleep)🍼🥺

🥺 anon…. this is absolutely adorable

sometimes kids just have bad days where they feel terrible and can’t express it with words because they’re so little, and it leads to them becoming upset and frustrated and unsettled (i think people sometimes forget that they’re tiny humans! they feel everything we feel they just can’t understand or explain it!)

and katniss would just be the sweetest little mama, she’d be so understanding and patient with her little ones because she knows how damaged both her and her husband are partly because of their own childhoods, so they’d both want to be the best parents they could be.

katniss would be super warm and caring, the exact same way that she was with prim. if her baby boy was getting worked up and upset she’d be right there to snuggle and soothe him until he was calmed, stroking through his curls or blowing cool air down his neck or on his face to get him to relax again.

and of course, feeding her baby’s would be such a big thing for her 🥺 being able to provide for and nourish her children would be so important to her for obvious reasons. she’d make sure they were well fed before she put them to bed no matter what mood they were in, and feeding her little one while rocking him over to sleep would just be the most lovely thing