Everlark- Family, Love and Happy Ever After

Love Between Us

''Are you ready to get up now?'' I asked Peeta, who was still slumped against the wall, holding Oakley close in his arms.

''Just give me two minutes, the thoughts- t-they haven't gone completely yet'', he said.

''We'll take all the time you need,'' I told him, nestling my head further into his neck and stroking his bicep comfortingly. Oakley's small arms were tightly wrapped around Peeta, she was constantly whispering 'all the time daddy, all the time you need', in his ear. She was so little, yet the trait of being a caring person came naturally.

''I-I think I'm ready to get up now'', Peeta muffled just as the front door slammed open and shut again. Willow trod down the hallway, her boots still on, making loud stomping noises as she came closer.

''That's it, I'm not going tomorrow I do-'', she stopped midway through her sentence when she saw us. ''What's happened?''

''Flashback'', Peeta mumbled almost inaudibly. The one thing worse than his flashbacks was talking about them, especially if the thoughts were still fresh in his mind. ''I'm going to go clear my head, I'll pick Rye back up on my way home'', he slowly rose from the wall and headed towards the door.

''Take Oaks for me, I need to talk to your father'', I said handing over Oakley, who excitedly squealed once she was with Willow. I ran out of the door and down the hall, where Peeta was putting on his boots. ''Let me come with you.''

''Katniss'', he said, his face filled with anxiety, but most of all sadness. ''I can go alone, you've got them two to look after.''

''I'm sure they'll be fine'', I started to argue back.

''I don't need you'', Peeta snapped. His face dropped at his sudden outbreak, ''I didn't mean that, I need you. A lot.''

''I know.''

''I don't want you seeing me like this, it's not fair.''

''But it's fair for you to see me like I am? Peeta, time and time again I let you in, willing myself to not push you away. Please. Please don't isolate yourself, not again. Not after last time.'' I pleaded. The last time Peeta had felt this low I'd nearly lost him. Seeing him there, the pool of blood surrounding him, and then him collapsing- it was too much.

''You're still trying to protect me aren't you?'', He said, his piercing blue eyes, staring gently at mine.

''You know I am. Just let me come, please.'' He closed his eyes and took a deep breath and nodded in defeat.

''Okay''. I told Willow that we were leaving for a while and to look after Oakley, she seemed happy enough to do so and we left.

We walked down the lane into the village, my arm hooked within Peeta's. ''Where do you want to go?'' I asked him.

''I don't know, let's just walk'', and so we did. We walked through the new parts of town, the old and even went to the orphanage, which was funded by us. Too many children lost their parents and we felt it our duty to do something. We walked everywhere- but our one special place. The meadow. ''I don't want to go there, I don't want bad thoughts in a place where we're meant to feel whole.'' He explained when I asked him.

''I know, come on let's sit.'' I pulled him down to a nearby bench and clasped by hand in his, my thumb slowly rubbing circle on his palm. ''What triggered them? We've been good.'' I asked. The past few months, years even, the nightmares had been less frequent, the flashbacks even less.

''Rye. His nightmare, the screams- hearing someone you care about scream for you it's- it's hard you know?'' I knew, I knew it because it was the same cry for help I heard when the bomb when off, and when the net dropped on Rue. ''I've never meant to hurt you Katniss.''