Chapter Text
Katniss and Peeta always said that Rose was the best thing that ever happened to them. Regardless, it took them a long time to decide whether or not they wanted more kids. Rose was 15 when Finn Burdie Mellark was born and she was almost 18 when Maysie Rue Mellark was born.
Even with the age gap, she was the best big sister. She spent most of her free time trying to occupy Finn, who was full of toddler energy while her parents took care of the baby. She loved being a big sister. Even more than Rose loved being a big sister, Katniss and Peeta loved watching her be a big sister.
For the rest of Katniss’s life, when anyone asks her what her favorite part of motherhood is, there is one memory in particular that comes to her mind.
When both of her kids were younger and would wake up from a nightmare, Katniss had a phrase she’d whisper to them as she stroked their faces to lull them back to sleep. At some point, Rose learned it.
One afternoon, Katniss and Peeta were playing with Finn in the yard while Rose sat under a tree and held a sleeping Maysie. Katniss looked over when she heard Maysie let out a cry. She started to head over to the pair to take over for Rose when she heard what Rose was saying.
“Oh, did you have a nightmare? I have nightmares, too. Someday I’ll explain it to you. Why they came, why they won’t ever go away. But I’ll tell you how I survive it. I make a list in my head of all the good things I’ve seen someone do. Every little thing I can remember. It’s like a game. I do it over and over. Gets a little tedious after all these years, but there are much worse games to play.” Rose whispered to her sister in a soft voice, able to quickly lull her back to sleep. Katniss stepped back before Rose noticed she’d been about to intervene and wiped a tear from her eye. She knew, now more than ever, that even with everything she and Peeta had gone through together, they’d done something right.
She turned back to rejoin Peeta and Finn, but found them walking toward her, Finn skipping while holding his dad’s hand.
“We thought we’d get washed up for dinner.” Peeta announced as he reached for Katniss’s hand.
“Oh, great! I’m starving.” Rose agreed, gingerly standing up as she carried Maysie to follow her little brother into the house, who’d let go of Peeta’s hand and ran in through the open door.
Katniss laced her fingers through Peeta’s and gazed happily through the open door as the ends of Rose’s blonde hair disappeared around the corner with the swish of her long braid. She turned to look at her husband, who had an equally dumbstruck look on his face. Sometimes, after the war, he still couldn’t believe he got to have this life.
“The children have spoken. Let’s cook dinner.” Peeta grinned, starting towards the door. Katniss just shook her head fondly and followed after him.