safe & sound: an everlark story

ten

peeta has baked loads of muffins, cookies, and even cupcakes for the arrival of my mom. he's also prepared dinner for tonight. my moms arriving in an hour and i'm not nearly as nervous as i thought i'd be. i'm actually pretty excited. i've spent the day cleaning the house and preparing the guest bedroom with fresh linens and toiletries that she may need over the weekend.

"are you doing okay?" peeta asks.

"i'm okay!" i smile, "i'm kind of sad but i'm mostly just excited i think."

"sad?" he frowns.

"i don't know it's just bittersweet."

peeta places a soft kiss on my cheek and hugs me. he's been so sweet and supportive lately and i can't thank him enough.

knock. knock.

i open the door to my mom and her suitcase with a big smile. she looks skinnier already and her skin appears pale but i try not to let that upset me and i just go in to hug her as peeta brings her bag inside.

"thank you, peeta." my mom says as she pulls away from our hug.

peeta smiles and greets her before bringing her stuff upstairs. i show my mom all the different sweets peeta made for her arrival as he does.

"you've got yourself someone special." my mom says, "he's a good one."

i smile thinking of peeta. even my mom loves him.

"i know." i say, "he's perfect."

we sit at the table and enjoy a muffin together. peeta comes downstairs and joins in on the conversation. my mom seems to like asking him questions about me and our life together. it's sweet seeing peeta interact with my mom. it makes me happy.

"you two will have beautiful children one day." she says, smiling. then it hits me. again. she won't get to see our children. peeta puts a hand on my back for comfort as i fake a smile.

"i wish you could see our kids." i say trying not to break.

"i'll watch them for you."

"i don't want to talk about you dying mom, please?" i say, getting emotional.

"i know, hun. i'm sorry." she pats my hands.

we play a few rounds of a board game and have coffee together; all three of us, and enjoy music and conversation. it's calm. it's simple. it's enough for me to handle without the idea of my moms death consuming me. after i finally win a round, peeta gets up to get dinner together and i show my mom upstairs into her guest room.

"mind if i rest before dinner?" she says, "looks comfy up here."

"sure mom." i say, "no problem."

i smile and go downstairs to help peeta with the dinner preparation.

"she's resting up." i say.

"everything seems to be going well!" he smiles.

"yeah..." i whisper, pulling out plates and cups to set the table with.

"is it not?" he asks, "are you okay?"

"i just have an overwhelming feeling that this is the last time she'll ever visit."

"i'm sure she'll visit again." he says softly, "she has like a year, right?"

"but what if something goes wrong before then?"

"katniss, stop." he says, putting his hand on my back. "you're gonna freak yourself out."

"i already am."