Always

Chapter 16

Peeta P.O.V.

After two days under Ellen's protective eye, me and Katniss could finally go back home. It's almost lunchtime when I walk downstairs into our living room to find Katniss standing at the window. Staring outside and watching for Peacekeepers. Just like she has done for the past week. I walk over to her and wrap my arms around her from behind.

"Don't you think if they were going to come, they would have by now?" I ask her.

"You never know about them," Katniss replies.

"You're going to have to at least stop worrying yourself sick over it," I whisper.

"I know," she replies softly. "But you think there would have been some retaliation by now," she says.

"Maybe they're not going to retaliate," I say.

"I doubt it," Katniss mumbles. I pull her backwards closer to me. After a few minutes of silence, Katniss speaks up again. "She was so beautiful," Katniss says as she starts to cry. I know exactly who "she" is. Our daughter.

I turn Katniss around in my arms and pull her in again. "I'm sorry," Katniss says as she tries to calm herself down.

"No reason to be," I say, trying my best to comfort her.

"It's just that, we both want kids so bad. I'm sorry that I couldn't give you one," Katniss cries.

"We can try again," I say.

"No!" Katniss says as she wriggles out of my arms.

"But you just admitted that you want kids as bad as I do," I say.

"I know," she says. "But, Peeta, I can't go through the loss of another child. I've already had to experience too many losses like it with Rue and Prim." Rue and Prim weren't her kids, but she took care of them like they were. Even if it was only for a short time with Rue.

"I know," I say softly.

"You don't blame me?" She asks.

"Of course not," I say.

"Maybe someday," Katniss says as she walks back over to me and my arms snake back around her.

"Okay," I reply. I don't want to push it because once Katniss has made up her mind, you may as well leave it at that.

"You know I still love you don't you?" Katniss asks.

"Of course," I reply. "Nothing could make us stop loving each other."

"It already did once," Katniss points out. "The hijackings."

"That's not going to happen again," I say.

"I know," Katniss says. "But when you enter that state of mind, you do forget that you love me."

"No I don't," I say. "Nothing will ever make me forget again. It's just the memories take over my mind and body, but I don't forget." She looks at me and smiles.

"I love you," she whispers.

"I love you too," I say as we kiss.

"For how long?" She asks as we break away.

"Always," I reply.

"I just love hearing you say that word," Katniss says as she kisses me again.

"I know," I reply as I look at her and smile. Before either of us has a chance to move, the phone starts ringing.

"I'll get it," Katniss says as she breaks away from my embrace. "It's probably Mom calling to check on us," she says as she walks up the steps to go answer the phone. I wait by the window for her to return. Fifteen minutes pass, and I decide to go check on her. When I turn around I see a pale, terrified Katniss coming down the steps.