The Mockingjay Lives On

Chapter 25

Katniss POV

After going upstairs and finding out why Cassie was screaming, I head back downstairs and finish cleaning. To be honest, I thought Peeta was having another episode and scaring her. I should have known better though. He hasn't had multiple episodes in years. That first year after he came back, he had them four or five times a day. Made me think that things would never get better. However, its only a couple times a year now, thankfully.

Cassie must be getting into that 'no' stage like Noah and Hunter did. Yeah. That was a fun time, not really. Ugh.

I quietly make my way back upstairs after cleaning up and shutting off the lights. As I reach our bedroom, the door is slightly cracked open and I can hear Peeta humming. I peek around carefully and see Cassie curled up in his arms, just staring up at him. I can see them slightly rocking and I don't want to interrupt, but I keep watching them.

"I love you always Cassie," Peeta softly says to her kissing the top of her head. "I wub wu daddy," she says back to him. It totally melts my heart. As much as I don't want to interrupt, I do. "And I love you both," I say opening up the door. Cassie cranes her neck to see me and she smiles as Peeta looks up, "And we love you mommy." He says.

I walk over and kiss them both before heading into the bathroom to change into my night clothes. Cassie is sitting up waiting for me when I open the bathroom door. "Mama! Bed!" she says patting the bed. I smile wide, "I'm coming sweetheart," I tell her, chuckling because I always hated when Haymitch called me that, and now I'm calling my daughter that. I climb into bed and immediately Cassie is up in my arms, snuggling up against me, resting her head in the crook of my neck. Peeta sits up and pulls us into his arms. This is where I feel safe and so does Cassie apparently, as within seconds, shes softly snoring.

Years ago, this was never on my radar. I had never wanted children or marriage. I was always afraid of losing the ones I loved to the Games, starvation. After losing Prim, I was absolutely certain that I was never going to have this. I couldn't even imagine how I would be if I lost anyone else that I loved. It was Peeta. He made me realize that life goes on and that everything can be better.

"What are you thinking about?" He asks softly, pulling me out of my thoughts. I tell him what I was thinking about. "Well, I am glad that I was able to show that life can be better, it really truly can." he says as he softly kisses our daughters head and mine. I feel him tighten his grip on us.

I know he wants to say more, but he's keeping it to himself. He'll say it when he's ready. I won't ask him.

I wake up the next morning to an empty bed. Cassie must already be awake. She's like her father, up at the crack of dawn. He always gets up with her, lets me sleep. I know he's awake most of the night, like he's trying to make sure nothing happens to us, that we're still here. As if I could ever live without him.

I get up and wrap a robe around me and walk downstairs, expecting to find the two people in my life that mean the most to me. It's quiet. No toys on the floor, no aroma coming from the kitchen. They're not anywhere downstairs. I trudge back up the stairs thinking they may be in the playroom or Cassie's room. I open both doors and neither of them have my husband or daughter. Where are they? I start to panic and call out, "Peeta? Cassie? Where are you guys?" I start searching other rooms, still no Peeta or Cassie. "PEETA!! CASSIE!!!" I scream. Nothing. I run into the bedroom and quickly change.