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The bell of the bakery rings as it opens. Bing Mellark heard the bell of the shop door ring but ignored it. Today his baby boy, Peeta was in the bakery with him during operating hours. At fourteen months he still hasn't walked but he talked saying words like dada, yum, and good- well that's what Bing imagined his little one said. Peeta was such a sweet boy, offering a million-watt gummy smile to all. Currently, his son was happily playing with some old dough. Unlike his other two sons, Peeta loved the bakery, and he was happiest whenever he found himself downstairs.
"Bing," his father said poking his head in the back.
"Yeah," Bing looked up to see his father's weathered face.
"We need more dinner rolls," his father said.
"Coming right up Dad," Bing said.
On the floor, Peeta laughed as squished the dough.
His father smiled the moment he saw Peeta. "Ah, my namesake."
"Dad, did you help the customer."
"Peacekeeper, looking for bread."
Bing sighed.
The knock at the backdoor caused Bing to smile. He opened the back door, "Jack, and is that…"
Jack Everdeen the man who married the woman he once loved, the woman who chose to the harsh life in the Seam over a life as a Merchant. Bing wasn't resentful, because Diana was happy. Bing heard through he grapevine that Diana was ecstatic when she gave birth to her firstborn.
"This is my Katniss," Jack said proudly. Katniss clung to his neck.
"She's beautiful," Peeta senior said. "Looks just like you."
His father was right, Katniss had her father's olive skin tone and dark hair. Round cheeks wide curious grey eyes. Bing could see her mother Diana in her pert nose and small lips.
"Thank you, sir," Jack said.
"Come in, come in," Peeta senior said warmly. It was odd seeing him so accepting of Jack. His father blamed Jack for Diana's decision to run away and Mara stepping into marrying him. Mara wasn't the easiest person to live with and she and Peeta senior did not get along.
"Here to trade?" Bing asks.
"Yeah,” Jack says as he nods. “Also I wanted to give Diana a day to rest without this troublemaker in the house."
"Who are we kidding,” Peeta senior said. “You're walking around showing off this little pretty lady."
“Dad!” Bing exclaims.
"She's kinda shy," Jack said. But no sooner did he say it than Katniss caught sight of Peeta on the floor. She pointed down toward Peeta. As soon as Jack put her down on the floor Katniss toddled over to Peeta and sat next to him.
Bing watched as his son stopped playing, his little eyes were as wide as saucers when he spotted Katniss. "Yum," Peeta says.
By now all three of them are watching the children innocently interact. Peeta grabbed the dough and offered it to Katniss. Katniss laughed and cooed and as poked the dough. Her little face scrunched up and she nodded her head no. She turned her face away.
Peeta blushed deeply his little chubby arms flap as if not knowing what to do. He looked up at Bing as if asking for help. Bing took a piece of hard bread and gave it to Peeta. His son took the hard-cooked bread and handed it to Katniss.
Her little grey eyes open wide at the bread. Shyly she took it and then without a second thought stuck it in her mouth. After a while, Katniss smiled and offered it back to Peeta.
"Yum," Peeta said.
Bing's eyes widened when his son took the bread and stuck it in his mouth. Bing questioned if the children just have a toasting.
Katniss clapped her hands laughing gleefully. She leaned over, put her little fingers on Peeta's face, her look fierce. Peeta takes the bread out of his mouth. His son is enchanted. All three men gasped when Katniss planted a kiss on Peeta's lips.
"Looks like we've got a pair of star-crossed-lovers," Peeta senior says grinning.
"Jack…" Bing began not knowing what to say. He bent down to pick up his son, who by now was holding Katniss in place as they were engaged in their own little world. They're sharing chaste innocent kisses.
Jack shook his head and put his hand on Bing's shoulder. "Let them." Jack blinked he had a far-off look. It was said Jack Everdeen had the second sight; he could see things in the future. "They're destined to be together. And none of us won't be there to help them. Let them have this time."
Bing stood back and nodded. As he stared at the little pair. He saw the way they stared at each other as if they were soulmates. He hoped that their future included love, laughter, and children. Maybe a little girl who looked like Katniss who danced in the meadow and a small boy who was the clone of his son. Stepping back he sighed this was the future.