Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Ninety

Katniss POV- (Bristol's home, District 10)

"Kat!" Bristol hollers, running out into the lawn, Carter in her arms.

I look up and smile excitedly as she runs into my arms, "Katniss, I missed y'all so much!" She squeals.

Carter, a lot bigger now, at only four months old, smiles widely, bouncing up and down in Bristol's arms when she sees Peeta and I.

"Carter!" I squeal in my baby voice as Bristol places her in my arms.

Peeta stands behind me with his hand on my shoulder.

"Hi, baby." He says, talking to her, looking like the happiest guy alive.

She smiles and reaches out for him so I hand her over.

"I missed you so much, kiddo." He tells her in his sweet baby voice and kisses her forehead.

I smile and look at the sight, so does Bristol. I hug her tightly, "You don't know how much we have missed you being in Twelve."

She frowns, "I never thought I would like it as much as I did. I miss it a lot but I have my parents in town to help and I got a job as a substitute teacher at the elementary for next year."

"That's good. I know it's better for you both here. If I didn't think it was a good idea, I wouldn't have let you move." I laugh, even though it's true.

I hate sounding like her mother or whatever but it's like an instinct to protect her. Just like it was with Prim and just like it is with Carter.

"I know. Let's go in. It's hot and my mom is here." She laughs.

"Oh. Okay." I say and turn around and pull Peeta inside with us.

When we walk into the little white farmhouse, I instantly feel at ease.

It's spacious and country, just as I had imagined it being.

"Momma, Katniss and Peeta are here!" Bristol calls out in her accent.

Peeta and I stay at the door, Carter still in his arms. A few seconds later, Bristol's mom comes down the stairs, "Oh. Hello." She smiles.

Bristol's mother is really nice and Bristol is so much like her, it's crazy.

I smile, "Hey."

Her mother comes over and embraces me and pats Peeta's shoulder.

"How was the road?" She asks.

I laugh and look to Peeta, "How was it? I was asleep the whole way." I admit with a chuckle.

Peeta smiles back, "Fabulous." He states simply, making us all laugh.

"Well, come on in now. We don't bite." She says.

We sit on the couch and I know Peeta wants to just be silly with Carter just as much as she wants him too, but he doesn't.

"You are married now, right?"

I nod, "Three months."

"I can't believe it's been four months since Carter was born." Bristol pipes in with a frown.

I give her a face, "I know. It seems like along time ago but she's growing up so fast." I frown and turn to her.

She looks over and smiles with a blink.

"She really loves her Aunt Kat." Bristol says to her mother and she agrees.

Peeta smiles widely when he hears this but doesn't look up from Carter's brown eyes.

"But-" I start.

"But not as much as she loves her Uncle Peeta." Bristol finishes.

Peeta just shakes his head with a large, shy grin.

"I just wanted to thank you both for helping Bristol this last year. You don't know how much she really needed it."

I smile sadly and Bristol returns it.

"I am really happy to know that she has you both. Plus, all of your friends that care about her and the baby. It means a lot to her and our family."

"Well, Katniss did plan my wedding after just a few weeks of knowing me." Bristol laughs a little, trying not to cry.

I smirk, "She's my best friend and I am really really glad that we met."

"I don't know where she would be now if she wouldn't have met you. I don't know where she would've been and where Carter would've been either. And thank you for watching over her while Brandon, you know." Bristol's mother adds in the last part, angrily.

"It's not a problem. We love these two and we will always be there for them." Peeta finally speaks up.

I nod.

"Well, we really appreciate that." Bristol's mother says and goes into what seems to be the kitchen.

Bristol let's out a held breath, "Ugh, I have to be so mannerly here." She mumbles to us.

I hold back a laugh as her mother walks back and Bristol's posture straightens.

"So, Katniss are you planning on finishing your college?"

I shake my head, "Not yet. I never really found anything I was passionate about so until then, I don't see a point."

She nods her head.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that. Bristol explained to me the situation but I am glad y'all got it under control." Mrs. Brown says.

I nod, "Me too. It was crazy." I tell her.

"Well, Katniss, Peeta. Would you like a tour around Ten? Carter and I would be delighted to take you." Bristol pipes in after a minute or two of an awkward silence.

"Uh, sure." I say, knowing this is also an excuse to leave her own house.

Probably in hopes that her mother will leave too.

We get ready and go, Peeta drives.

"Sorry, I'm not meaning to rush but I can't stand it in my own house. My mother is there all the time and expects me to be this prim and proper person that I am not. I liked how it was in Twelve or even in our dorm, Katniss. I could be myself and breathe when I wanted and sit how I wanted."

"Bristol, she's just being a mom. Just appreciate that she's helping you." Peeta tells her.

"I am very appreciative but it's my house, not hers. If I didn't have Carter, I wouldn't be here anyways but she needs it here." Bristol admits with a frown.

"I think she likes it." Peeta says.

"I think so too but she would like it more if y'all were here."

I shrug, "Or if you guys were there." I say, meaning Twelve.

"I'm working on it."

I raise my eyebrows, "You're working on it? I thought you said you have a teaching job this next year?"

She let's out a sigh, "I do but I really want to find something in Twelve. Katniss, that is where we belong. I'm telling you."

I smile a little and laugh, shaking my head.

"Katniss, I am serious. I love my family but you two are my family now. I miss y'all so much and Carter misses you too. I don't want her to grow up and not know who you are because you can only come down a few times a year. We wouldn't be able to visit often if I was tied down here with a job. I want you both apart of her life." Bristol tells me.

"We want to be apart of hers and yours too, but we want you to be wherever it's best for you both." Peeta pushes.

Bristol sighs heavily, "And I honestly think that Twelve is the best place for us."

"Do what you think it's best." I say simply, wanting to beg her to move back but knowing it may or may not be what's right in the scheme of things.

"I will. I need to break it to my parents eventually though. Soon. I'll give it till the end of the summer and if I still feel this way, we'll come back."