Forever (Sequel to Always)

Chapter 23

Katniss P.O.V.

Peeta and I have kept a close watch on Willow ever since we brought her back home three days ago. She's cried almost constantly since then, so neither of us have slept the best.

I walk into the living room and hand Peeta Willow's bottle. He tries to feed her, but she just turns her head and continues to cry.

"Peeta," I sigh as I sit down next to him on the couch. "What are we going to do? We've tried everything, but she won't stop crying."

Peeta shakes his head. "I don't know, Katniss. She won't eat either." He sets Willow's bottle down on the coffee table and leans back on the couch before propping Willow up on his shoulder. He starts gently patting her back and I lay my head next to hers on Peeta's shoulder.

"What's the matter, Willow?" I ask, knowing I won't get a response. "Peeta, it's almost midnight and you still need to go to work in the morning. Why don't you let me take her and you go on up to bed?"

"No, I'm okay," Peeta replies. "About tomorrow, are you sure you two are going to be okay?"

"We'll be fine, Peeta," I reply.

"I don't know, Katniss," he sighs. "If she's still like this..."

"Ill call Mom and ask her if she'll come over and see what's wrong," I say. "You go on up to bed."

"I will," Peeta says. "Eventually." I laugh and playfully roll my eyes. Willow's pacifier falls out of her mouth and her cries get impossibly louder. I put my hand on Willow's forehead and worriedly look at her. "What's wrong?" Peeta asks.

"She feels sort of warm," I say.

"It could just be where she's been crying," Peeta replies. "Here, I'll go get her thermometer." Peeta lays Willow down in my arms before he heads upstairs. I try to feed Willow her bottle again, but she still won't eat.

Peeta comes back downstairs and kneels down in front of me. He tried to run the thermometer across Willow's forehead, but she keeps turning away. "Willow," Peeta says softly. He runs his thumb across her cheek and she finally gets still enough for Peeta to take her temperature. I watch him anxiously. "It's normal," Peeta says.

I sigh in relief. Peeta puts his free hand on my arm and I look at him. "Why don't we put her in the bed with us tonight?" Peeta suggests.

I nod my head. "Okay." We both stand up and head upstairs to our bedroom. Peeta and I both lay down on the bed and I lay Willow down between us. I wrap Willow up in her blanket and hold her close to me. She eventually calms down and we all three fall asleep.

When I wake up, Willow is still asleep between us. Peeta's hand cups my cheek and I smile at him. He leans over and kisses me.
"Good morning," he says softly.

"Good morning," I reply.

"I'm going to go on to work, but I'll be back around noon."

"Okay," I say. Peeta gives Willow a kiss on her head before he leaves. A few minutes later, Willow wakes up crying. I take her to the nursery and change her diaper. She quits crying for a little while, but when I try to feed her she starts again.

I decide to call Mom, but she doesn't answer her phone. I try my best to calm Willow down, but two hours later, I'm on the verge of tears myself. I try calling Mom again, but I still don't get an answer.

I try feeding Willow again and thankfully she decides to eat this time. Before half of her bottle is gone though, she stops eating and starts crying again. I decide to prop her up on my shoulder and try to burp her when she spits up. Big time.

I sigh and notice that Willow has almost completely stopped crying now. "At least I know what was bothering you," I say. Knowing Peeta will be home soon, I go over and unlock the door before heading upstairs with Willow. As soon as I get her laid down on the changing table, someone knocks on the door.

"Come in," I holler, thinking that it's Peeta.

"Katniss?" Mom call from downstairs.

"Up here," I reply. "All right, Willow," I say to her. "Let's get you cleaned up."

"What happened?" Mom asks from the doorway. I turn around and when she sees the front of my shirt, she smiles. "I can guarantee you that this won't be the last time this happens."

I smile at her. "Thanks for the peptalk," I say sarcastically.

"Here," Mom says as she walks over to me. "Why don't I take care of her, and you go get yourself cleaned up?"

"Okay," I say as I move out of her way. I walk across the hall to our bedroom and clean up. When I'm done, I go to the nursery to find Mom rocking Willow to sleep. "Thank you," I say.

"It's no problem," Mom replies. The front door opens again and this time when my name is called, I know without a doubt that it's Peeta.

"I'll be right back," I tell Mom before I go to meet Peeta at the front door. He watches me as I come down the steps.

"I don't hear crying," he says. I smile at him and shake my head.

"She just had an upset stomach," I say as I wrap my arms around Peeta.

"Did you call Ellen?" he asks as he kisses my head.

"No," I reply. "Mom sort of stopped by just a few minutes after Willow spit up all over me." Peeta starts laughing. "You just wait until it happens to you," I say with a smirk.

"Where's Willow at now?" Peeta asks.

"Upstairs sleeping," Mom says as she comes down the steps.

"Hopefully she's feeling a lot better now," I say.

"Well, I'd better get going," Mom says. "I just stopped by to see Willow for a few minutes."

"You don't have to leave so soon," I say.

"I have to run some errands," Mom replies. "But I'll come back by tomorrow."

"Okay," I say before I hug her. "I love you, Mom."

"I love you too, Katniss," she says before she leaves. Willow starts crying as soon as the door shuts.

"Well that lasted all of five minutes," Peeta laughs.

"She didn't eat much while ago so she's probably hungry," I say. "Hopefully she'll actually eat this time."

"How about I go fix us some lunch while you feed her?" Peeta asks.

"Deal," I say before I go upstairs to get Willow. This time, she finishes her entire bottle without any problems. After Peeta and I finish eating lunch, I go sit down on the couch. Peeta stretches out and lays his head in my lap before carefully laying Willow on his chest.

After a few minutes of silence, Peeta looks up at me. "Do you know what's coming up next week?"

I smile at him. "Our fifth anniversary," I answer. Peeta nods his head.

"Do you remember what you agreed to around this time last year?" he asks.

"How can I forget?" I laugh as I play with Willow's hair. "It changed out lives forever. But you know something?"

"What?"

"I don't regret it one bit," I say truthfully before I lean over and kiss Willow's head.

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Sorry for the shorter chapter. The next chapter will be the last one in this book and then another sequel. I was going to do another everlark fan fiction, but I have decided to wait until I get the sequel up. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter!