Chapter 7
Katniss P.O.V.
After what happened this morning, Peeta finally called the police like he said he would. Since the police couldn't find anything, they decided to send us to District 12 until they do. I got excited at first, but then Peeta told me this is for security measures only.
Twenty-four guards are coming with us. Twelve for the day and twelve at night. We are staying in our old house in the Victor's Village. Nobody's allowed to come visit, which I don't know who would visit us besides Haymitch. We aren't even allowed to step out the door until our house is reported safe and we can return home.
We had to start packing immediately, so that's what I'm doing now. I'm standing by my suitcase making sure I have everything when Peeta walks up behind me.
"I'm sorry," he says.
"It's okay," I reply as I turn around to face him. "As long as this doesn't count for the trip that you promised me." Peeta laughs as he zips up our suitcases and picks them up.
"That was the plan," Peeta says. I know he's joking, so I decide to play along. I give him a look that says he's in trouble. This makes him laugh even harder. "I'm teasing Kat."
"I'm know," I say as I pick up one last bag.
"You ready?" Peeta asks as we start walking out of the room.
"I guess," I say as I count our bags. "I think we got everything."
"Let's go then," Peeta says as he leads me outside. One of the many guards going with us is driving the vehicle that we'll be escorted to District 12 in. A few of the other guards take our stuff and put it in the trunk of the vehicle.
Peeta opens the door for me, and I climb in. After Peeta gets in and shuts the door back, we're on our way to District 12.
Peeta wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me in close. I wrap my arms around him as well as I can manage.
"Not very comfortable to cuddle in a car is it?" I ask. Peeta chuckles.
"Not really," he replies. I lay my head on his chest and he lays his chin on the top of my head. We stay like that until we get to our destination. When we arrive at our old house, we're rushed inside the second we step out of our car. A guard brings our luggage in, and then our door is shut and locked.
"Brings back a lot of memories," I say as we start carrying our stuff upstairs.
"It sure does," Peeta says, looking around at everything. We unpack slowly, hoping to kill some time. Half an hour later, I'm sitting on the couch with nothing to do. Peeta finally comes downstairs and sits down next to me.
"Look at what I found," Peeta says as he hands me what looks like a book. My mouth drops open.
"Is that what I think it is?" I ask.
"Take a look and see for yourself," Peeta says as he hands the book to me. I open it, and sure enough, it's the plant book that my father made. I flip through the pages and read each one carefully. As I'm looking at it, a thought comes to me.
"Peeta, did you find the one that we made after the rebellion?" I ask.
"No, but I'll go look for it," Peeta replies as he stands up and goes back upstairs. While he's gone, I continue to look through my father's book. Some pages more worn than others. I thought for sure Mom took this with her. She's probably memorized every page word for word since she's used it so much to help her with her medicines.
"Here," Peeta says as he hands me another book. Smaller than my father's, but just as important to us. I set the plant book aside and open the other one. Peeta holds one side and I hold the other as we flip through the pages.
A sketch of Rue in the trees. A picture of Finnick and Annie's baby. When Peeta flips to the next page, his free arm instinctively wraps around me.
There between the two pages is a neatly preserved primrose. Next to it is a picture of my little duck.
Tears form in my eyes and a few slip out onto the pages. Peeta notices and sets the book on the floor, pulling me closer.
"I miss her so much Peeta," I sob.
"I know honey," Peeta whispers in my ear. "I miss her too." I lay there in Peeta's arms until I finally calm down and the tears stop.
"I'm sorry Peeta," I say as I look up at him. "I can't even look through a book without crying."
"It's okay Kat. I understand," Peeta says as he takes my hand in his while his other arm remains wrapped around me.
Lather that night, I lay in bed and wait for Peeta. He had to make a few phone calls to make sure everything is okay back at the Capitol. I know I probably should call it home. But for right now, laying in my old bed in District 12, the Capitol just doesn't feel like much of a home to me. It never has, really.
No matter where I go in the Capitol, all I can think about is the past. The only place that gives me any sense of security is our house, and that's only when Peeta's there. I can't even go visit him when he's at work without making a mental note that I just passed the place where Prim...
I shift uncomfortably in the bed as I try to get this depressing thought out of my mind but it won't leave. All I can think about is how me and Peeta have never been truly happy after everything that's happened.
All that plays through my mind is scenes from our past. Flashes from both of the reapings. Both Games. The rebellion. Peeta's struggle with being hijacked.
The bedroom door opens and I automatically sit up. Peeta steps in and looks over at me.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up," Peeta says as he closes the door.
"You didn't," I reply. "I'd have to be asleep in order to get woke up." Peeta walks over and crawls into bed with me.
"I see why you can't sleep," he says. "It's only seven thirty."
"I got bored so I thought I'd come on to bed. Too much running through my mind though," I say as I curl up next to Peeta. His arms wrap around me like they have many times before.
"Like what?" He asks.
"Like how I wish that things would go a little bit better for us," I reply. "I wish we could be truly happy again."
"I know what you mean," Peeta softly says. "It's seems like here lately everything that happens to us is either bad news or has caused us trouble."
"As impossible as it seems right now, there's has to be something that will make us happy again."
"Well, let me know if you think of something," Peeta teases as he chuckles. I settle deeper into Peeta's embrace as his free hand plays with my hair.
I close my eyes and hope that the steady beat of Peeta's heart will lull me to sleep. Unfortunately, that doesn't happen because my mind keeps wandering to my earlier thoughts.
All that I can think about is Prim. She died so young. Just like Rue. Just like... Just like mine and Peeta's daughter.
It hits me like a ton of bricks. I know how me and Peeta can be happy again.
"Peeta," I say softly, almost a whisper.
"Yeah?" He asks.
"I've thought of something," I say. Peeta laughs. "What's so funny?" I ask.
"I was joking," Peeta replies. "I didn't thing you'd actually come up with something."
"Well, I did," I say. Peeta takes his hand and runs it through my hair, gently untangling any knots.
"And what solution did you come up with?" Peeta asks. I take a deep breath and stare ahead of me as I speak.
"I think we should have a baby," I say with a shaky voice. Peeta's hand freezes and fear courses through me. What if I've made him wait too long? What if he doesn't want kids anymore?
"Really?" Peeta asks after a long, scary pause. I look up at him and nod my head. A smile spreads across his face. "You kept me waiting long enough didn't you?" I start laughing.
"I guess so," I reply. He leans in to kiss me, but he stops halfway there. "What?" I ask.
"This isn't going to be like the night before our anniversary is it?" He asks.
"What do you mean?"
"Where you tell me you want a baby but say you want to wait a little while longer. Then it takes you two months before you even bring it up again." I shake my head at him.
"Peeta," I say softly. "Last time I was just letting you know that I wanted kids eventually. Now I'm telling you that I'm finally ready." He looks at me for a minute.
"You sure you're ready?" Peeta asks. I nod my head and just like that, Peeta's lips meet mine.
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