*****NOTE: I AM NOW OFFICIALLY ON HIATUS UNTIL DECEMBER – MIDTERMS AND NANOWRIMO ARE ABOUT TO EAT MY LIFE – SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE*****
Title: Dandelion – Chapter Thirteen: Influences
Warnings / Spoilers: none / THG, CF, and MJ
Pairing(s): Katniss/Peeta, future Haymitch/Hazelle
Word Count: 699
Gale left alone the next morning. Apparently he and Delly had chatted for a long time that night, and decided it would be best if they went their separate ways. They would work out a schedule for seeing Beetee, and that would be that.
Delly tells us all about it over breakfast. She seems heartbroken, but I think she understands that Gale had needed comfort and nothing more. She's pretty lost, confused, unsure of what to do next, so I speak up, "You can have Peeta's house." Everything goes silent and everyone turns to look at me. Peeta's bandaged hand finds mine as I continue, "He never stays there anyway, and now it doesn't make much sense – with a wedding on the horizon, it probably makes more sense for him to just move in here." He's staring at me, nodding, tears pooling at the corners of his eyes. I'm not sure why this announcement is such a big deal, but everyone seems to think it is.
That afternoon is spent packing things into boxes and transporting them across the way to my house. Peeta and I are in my – wait, no; our – bedroom, accepting deliveries of clothing and sheets and blankets. We manage to fight with all of my belongings until it all fits somewhat neatly. "After the weeding," Peeta says, "We need to weed through this stuff and give some of it away."
Greasy Sae works on collecting all of Peeta's baking supplies and fitting them into cupboards and cabinets and the pantry. Her granddaughter and Posy help Delly, Hazelle, and Haymitch move things back and forth. By the end of the day, everything's been moved from his house to mine, and Delly and Beetee are getting settled in their new home.
After dinner, Posy moves her things from our guest bedroom. "Where are you going?" I ask curiously.
"I'm moving in with Delly and the baby. She wants me to be her helper, for a while at least." Posy begins to descend the stairs.
"Oh, I never did ask," I continue. She turns to look at me. "Why were you living in our guest room anyway?"
"Honestly," she mutters, blushing. "I was hoping you'd like having a kid around so much that you and Peeta would decide to have a baby." I watch her continue down the stairs, pondering what she'd said. We did like having her around all the time. Peeta was great with her. Even I wasn't that bad. Maybe we could make it happen after all.
I check the guest room to be sure Prim Posy hasn't forgotten anything, and soon find myself chasing after her across the yard, her favorite doll in hand. I catch her at the door and she asks me to just bring it in, since she doesn't have any hands to spare. "There's a room upstairs and down the hall, Posy," Delly calls from the refrigerator. "You need any help?"
"Nope, Katniss and I have got it," Posy replies optimistically. "Beetee's hungry?" she half-asks, half-states as he begins crying.
"He won't be when you come back down," Delly answers.
"He really is a quiet baby most of the time," Posy whispers to me, as if trying to excuse the hungry baby's cries.
"I'm sure he is," I reply nonchalantly.
"He's a lot of fun," she continues. "He's pretty smart for a baby, too."
"I'm glad you're enjoying his company," I answer stiffly.
"You would too, if you'd play with him a little."
"Maybe I'll stay for a little while," I offer reluctantly.
Posy drops everything on the floor triumphantly and gives me a huge hug.
I stumble into our bedroom after midnight. "Where were you?" Peeta asks curiously.
"Posy roped me into playing with Beetee, and after we put him down to sleep Delly and I talked for a while."
"How'd that go?" he asks, eyes brightening with hope.
I hesitate, "…I'm not ready yet, Peeta. I still don't feel safe, and I can't justify bringing new life into a world I don't feel is safe for it."
He walks over to me and wraps me in his arms. "I understand," he mutters into my hair. "Someday?"
"Someday."