Chapter 15
Katniss P.O.V.
"Peeta, slow down," I say. Peeta and I went walking around 12 today and he keeps getting too far ahead of me. I have no clue where he's taking me, and I don't want to get lost. There's a lot more traffic in 12 now than there was five years ago.
During Peeta's first year as president, reconstruction on 12 really picked up. It started with just a few stores and a couple houses. It rapidly grew from there. It looks more like a town now than it ever has.
Peeta turns around and smiles at me. "What's the matter?" he asks. "Can't keep up?"
"You're too fast," I say when I finally catch up to him.
"You're too slow."
"I'm seven months pregnant." He laughs and wraps an arm around my shoulders. We start walking again, but at a slower pace. "Where are we going anyways?" I ask as we round a corner.
"It's a surprise," Peeta says.
"Peeta, just tell me. You know I don't like surprises."
"And you know I don't like ruining surprises," Peeta says with a grin. I sigh and we keep walking. A few minutes later, Peeta stops walking and turns around. I look at him, expecting him to say something or start walking again. When he doesn't, I start laughing.
"This is what you're wanting to show me?" I ask. "An abandoned building?" He shakes his head. "Well, if we're done sightseeing," I say as I roll my eyes, "let's go home. Your wife and baby are getting hungry."
"Hang on a second. Let me explain," Peeta says.
"Well, hurry up."
"Impatient," he mumbles. I scowl at him. "Okay," he laughs. "The other night when we were talking about moving back to 12, I got to thinking about all the money that we're going to have after our house in the Capitol sells and everything."
"So?" I ask. "That still doesn't explain what we're doing here."
"I'm getting to that. I then got to thinking about what we would do with that money." I give him a questioning look. "I'm wanting to buy this building and turn it into a bakery to manage after we move back to 12."
"Really?" I ask. "Well, I want to know what you think, of course," Peeta replies. I look at Peeta for a minute, and then I look down at the ground. "Hey," Peeta says as he puts a hand under my chin and tilts my head up so I can see his face. "Katniss, it's okay if you don't want me to. It was just a thought."
"It's not that I don't want you to," I say truthfully. "I just thought that you'd take a break for a while." He smiles at me.
"You mean stay home with you everyday?"
"You could," I say. "I mean we still have a lot of money saved up, not including what we'll get from the house. Right?"
"Well, yeah," Peeta replies. "But Kat, that money isn't going to last forever. Especially not when we have a baby on the way. And it's better to do something with the money now while we can than it is to wait until we're running low."
"I think you should go for it," I say.
"Don't say that just because I have a very valid point."
"I'm not," I say while laughing. I really want you to. I think it would be good for both of us."
"You're sure?" Peeta asks.
"I'm sure," I say before I reach up and kiss him.
"I'll be remodeling it for a while, but I promise I'll take off a few weeks before and after the baby is born."
"You'd better," I say. "Can we look inside the building?"
"Not today," Peeta replies. "You don't get to see it until I get it fixed up."
"Why not?" I ask. "And don't say it's because you want it to be a surprise."
"Fine. I won't say it." I roll my eyes.
"Peeta, I don't like surprises."
"But I do," he says.
"Well, if we're done here, let's go so I can get some food."
"Wait. I have one more thing for you," Peeta says as he starts to pick me up.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"I'm going to carry you home," Peeta replies.
"Peeta, you don't have to do that."
"I know," he says as he scoops me up in his arms. "But you look tired, and you need to get off your feet for awhile."
"Peeta, don't hurt your arm," I say as I gently place a hand on the bandage above his elbow. He rolls his eyes.
"Katniss, don't worry about my arm," Peeta says as he starts walking. "Just lay your head on my shoulder and rest for awhile."
"Yes sir," I say while laughing. I do as I'm told and lay my head on Peeta's shoulder. "This is a surprise I could get used to."
The next thing I know, I hear Peeta's voice in my ear. "Wake up sleepyhead," he whispers. I open my eyes to find him smiling down at me. I'm still in his arms, but we're no longer outside.
"Are we home?" I ask.
"Yeah," Peeta replies softly. "We just got back. Are you still hungry?"
"Peeta, you should know the answer to that," I reply. He chuckles and starts carrying me towards the kitchen. He pulls a chair out from the table and sits me down in it.
"Sit here while I fix you some food," Peeta says. In a few minutes, Mom walks in.
"Did the police call while we were gone?" I ask. Mom shakes her head and I sigh. "It's been four days and we still haven't heard anything."
"I'm sure they'll figure out something soon," Mom says as she sits down next to me.
"I hope," I say. Peeta comes over and places a bowl of soup in front of me. When I finish eating, Peeta walks over to me and places a hand on my back.
"I have somewhere to go," he says. "I won't be gone long." I look up at him.
"Where are you going?" I ask.
"That's confidential," he replies smiling. "I promise I'll be back in an hour, two at the most."
"Okay," I reply. He bends down and kisses me before he leaves. I decide to go sit on the couch till he comes back and eventually, I doze off.
I open my eyes when I hear a car door shut. I watch as Peeta comes through the front door carrying two medium-sized boxes and takes them upstairs. He comes back down and goes back out the door. I rest my eyes until I hear the front door finally close. I look up at Peeta.
"What are you doing?" I ask. He walks over to me and holds out a hand.
"Come on. I want to show you something." I take Peeta's hand and he pulls me up off the couch. I follow him upstairs to our bedroom. Sitting on the floor are the two boxes I saw Peeta carry up, along with a bigger box that has a picture of a crib on the side of it. I look back at Peeta and smile.
"Why didn't you let me go with you?" I ask.
"Because I didn't know for sure how long I'd be gone," Peeta replies.
"And you'd rather have me here resting," I finish for him. He smiles at me and I roll my eyes. "What's in those two boxes?" He opens them for me and I start laughing. "Peeta, all this stuff is for girls."
"Yeah. So?"
"So what if we have a boy?" I ask.
"Katniss, do you honestly think I'm done shopping for this baby?" Peeta asks. "I'm just getting started." I laugh.
"That's what I'm afraid of," I say.
"I started looking at the little girl's stuff and got carried away," Peeta says. I give him a look.
"You're not going to be disappointed if we end up having a boy, are you?" I ask. He puts his hands on my arms and looks me in the eyes.
"Of course not," Peeta replies. "Honey, I promise I don't care if we have a boy or a girl. I'm going to love our baby no matter what. The only thing I want is for it to be happy and healthy. I just have a feeling that it's a girl."
"You still have to keep in mind that it could be a boy."
"I know," Peeta says. "I told you, I'm just getting started."
"Peeta, you do know that we have a closet and a dresser full of things for the baby back at the Capitol," I say.
"Yeah," Peeta replies. "I know." I shake my head.
"This kid is going to be beyond rotten."
"And it's only going to get worse. Now, which room do you want to be the nursery? I'll go ahead and move these boxes out of the way."
"I guess the room right across the hall from ours will work," I reply. Peeta nods his head and starts carrying the boxes out of our room. Before he can get the biggest box moved, the phone starts ringing.
"I'll be right back," Peeta says.
"Okay." He disappears down the hallway and I wait in our bedroom for him to return. When I hear Peeta's footsteps coming towards our bedroom, I go into the hall.
"What was that about?" I ask.
"Gale's second trial has been scheduled," Peeta replies.
"For when?"
"This afternoon at five." I look up at the clock.
"That's in less than an hour," I say. "We won't have time to make it will we?"
"No," Peeta replies. "But someone will call to let us know how it went."
"Okay," I say. "So what are we going to do now?"
"Well, I was thinking I'd go ahead and put the crib together," Peeta says. I nod my head and smile. He carries the crib from our room to the room that will be the nursery. I sit in a chair and watch as Peeta assembles the crib. In a few minutes, a thought occurs to me.
"Peeta," I say.
"Yeah?" he asks, looking up at me.
"The baby's going to be here in less than two months, and we still haven't decided on names."
"How about I pick out a girl's name, and you pick out a boy's name?" Peeta asks. I give him a look.
"You already have a girl's name picked out, don't you?" He starts laughing. "Okay, what is it?" I ask.
"I'm not telling you until the baby's born."
"Peeta!" I groan. "I told you to stop with the surprises. And what if I don't like the name?"
"You'll like it," Peeta replies smiling. I sigh.
"Can you at least give me a hint?"
"No."
"Please?"
"I think I'm finished with the crib," Peeta says as he stands up. I look at it and smile.
"It looks perfect," I say. "Now quit changing the subject."
"Look, Katniss," Peeta says as he comes over and kneels down in front of me. "It's like you said. The baby will be here in less than two months. You can wait that long to know what name I picked out can't you?"
"I guess," I sigh. The phone rings again.
"Stay here," Peeta says. "Hopefully that's the call we've been waiting for." I nod my head and Peeta walks out of the room. I wait for what seems like an eternity before Peeta comes back in.
"Well?" I ask. Peeta smiles and it feels like a huge weight has been lifted off me.
"You were right to believe him," Peeta says.
"So everything went okay?" I ask. He nods. "You know what that means?" Peeta smiles at me.
"We can move to 12 now."
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