It Started With a Cake

Ch40. Teething

Willow's cries ring throughout the house waking me easily from the light sleep I've barely managed to accomplish.

Sighing I push myself up from the bed rubbing my tired eyes as I try to adjust to the darkness. A yawn escaping me as I trail the path to her nursery, slowly pushing open her door to find her wailing in her crib.

I notice the redness of her face as I approach, no doubt from the state she's worked herself into.

I don't know what's happened tonight to cause this sleep regression, but this has been the fourth time so far that Willow has woken up screaming for something I can't seem to give her, and it's barely even past midnight. This disheartens me, surely as her mother I should be able to fix whatever is ailing her, or at the very least be able to tell what the problem is.

The first time she woke up hadn't been very long after Peeta and I had gone to bed ourselves, and not thinking much of it Peeta had volunteered to go soothe her back to sleep, but as it happened again and again and now again I knew this wasn't a one time thing and Peeta desperately needed sleep.

Tomorrow was one of the days he had to go into the bakery, they were getting in new shipment and because of this Peeta had to be there to sign for it.

That left me to care for Willow alone, much to Peeta's chagrin.

Lifting Willow out of her crib I cradle her close to my chest, but unlike a usual night this does not calm her.

Gently I rock her from side to side, bouncing her when even that doesn't work.

"I don't know what you want Willow" I groan tossing my head back in frustration. it's not her fault of course but I just wish in moments like this that she could talk to me and tell me what the problem is.

Sighing I make my way over to the rocking chair since it's clear that bouncing her will not soothe her.

I pull down the sleeve of my top revealing one of my breasts, I guide her over to it but she continues to scream taking no interest in it.

Again sighing I rest her up against it so she can at least feel closer to me. I rock us back and forth humming a small song to her in an attempt to calm her, which thankfully works partially, most of her scream crying seizing, leaving only the occasional pitiful cry and sniffle.

"I know baby" I sigh rubbing my hand up and down her back, "you're just tired" I tell her reassuringly, but something in me is telling me something else is wrong.

It takes some coaxing, plenty of time, singing, some feeding, and lots of rocking, but eventually I get her back to sleep, for now at least.

I continue to rock her even after she's deadweight in my arms but eventually my bodies need for sleep itself wills me to lay her down.

Throughout the night Willow wakes up another three times, eventually leading us into a very sleepy morning.

Peeta is already up, he'd taken Willow the last time she'd woken up allowing me another couple of valuable hours of sleep.

"I'll be back shortly" Peeta whispers over to me pressing a kiss to my temple, "I won't stay long today" he reassures pressing another kiss to my sleepy form just before he leaves.

Then it's quiet.

I manage to sneak in another couple of hours of sleep before Willow wakes up again and though it's not much I feel as energised as I feel I'll get today.

She's screaming again as I hold her close to my chest, still not easily settling like she usually would with me.

Eventually though with a lot of rocking and singing I get it into a quiet whimper. Then fearing she will start up again the moment I rest her down I find the wrap, a long piece of material that once wrapped around us allows her to stay attached to my chest while I get to be hands free.