Kindred

Chapter Twenty

A/N: This is the final chapter, and there is only an epilogue left to go! Wow, I can't believe I've nearly finished another story (:

Thank you all for your constant support of this, and all my other, stories. You guys are the reason I write, you're amazing ^_^

Chapter Twenty

The day they gave her back, Hayden came to the house with a backpack that was spilling over the brim with toys and clothes, clutching a teddy bear in her hands. Katniss sat on the sofa, not moving at all, holding Willow on her knee like a teddy of her own. Willow didn't understand. She poked at Katniss' face and tugged on her hair, giggling every so often at how Katniss remained emotionless.

It was clear that Hayden was trying to hide her excitement. She understood that Katniss and Peeta would struggle to give Willow up but she couldn't help feeling overjoyed to know that her baby was coming back to her. Peeta was explaining things to her, about how Willow couldn't sleep during storms and how she didn't like broccoli, and it was making everything so much more surreal. Katniss could hear the dread in his voice, could physically feel how reluctant he was to give Willow back. They had known this day was coming, they just hadn't prepared properly for it.

"Haymitch will be keeping tabs on you," Peeta informed Hayden. "If we hear of anything foul going on, we'll take Willow back, do you understand? We gained that right when you left her on Katniss' doorstep."

Hayden nodded. "I understand completely."

Katniss felt them coming closer and she clutched Willow tighter. No. Not yet. She wasn't ready. She felt Peeta's hand on her shoulder and she shook her head. "Katniss," he said softly, "please." His voice was pleading, begging her not to make him prise Willow from her arms. It would only make things harder and it would be a miserable experience for not only Katniss and Peeta, but Willow too.

Katniss exhaled shakily and stood up. She turned around to face Hayden and Peeta, hugging Willow against her desperately. "If you dare misplace the trust we are giving you, not only will we take Willow back but I will hunt you down and make you pay for it," she said, being a lot less ethical than Peeta had been.

Again, Hayden nodded. "I understand," she said. She held her arms out, smiling hopefully. "You can see her whenever you want to."

Katniss glanced at Peeta but quickly looked away when she saw he was tearing up. Salt water was swelling in her own eyes too and she had to push them away forcefully as she walked around the sofa and handed Willow over.

Willow realised what was happening. She grabbed Katniss' braid, clinging to her desperately, her face scrunching up and tears falling from her eyes. Katniss' heart broke as the child began to scream, kicking out at Hayden and trying to stay in Katniss' embrace. "Willow, it's okay," Katniss said, trying to sound soothing, but her voice only surfaced as a choked sob.

Hayden untangled the baby's hand from Katniss hair and transferred her into her own arms easily. She tried to hush Willow as she went for the door by holding her against her chest, so her head was on her shoulder. Katniss stepped back, blindly searching for Peeta's hand, when it happened.

"Mama!" Willow cried, blue eyes locked on Katniss as she reached out and scrabbled at the air for her. "Mama! Dada!"

Peeta grabbed Katniss as she lunged forward. Hayden turned out, having heard the ruckus, and jumped at the sight of Peeta having to physically restrain Katniss from coming after her. "Give her back, I've changed my mind!" Katniss screamed. "She wants to stay with us, she doesn't want you!"

"Hayden, leave!" Peeta shouted urgently.

"Willow wants us, not her!" Katniss sobbed, battering Peeta with her fists as Hayden threw the door open and slammed it shut again behind her. "We looked after her, she loves us now! We can't just leave her like that!"