Together

Chapter 4

Katniss P.O.V.

"What are you doing baby girl?" I ask Willow as I sit down beside of her on our bed. Peeta has pillows propped up behind Willow and he sits in front of her.

"I'm trying to get her to talk, but she's being stubborn like her Momma," Peeta says. Willow looks up and stares at him. "Yeah, I'm talking about you," Peeta says.

"Are you being stubborn?" I ask Willow. She just continues to stare at Peeta.

"Come on, Willow," Peeta say. "Can you says Dada?" Willow giggles and lays back against the pillows. "Willow, say Dada." Willow covers her eyes with her hands.

I start laughing. "I think she's wanting to play peek a boo," I say as I run my hand through her hair. She uncovers her eyes and looks up at me. "Boo!" She giggles and covers her eyes again. Peeta and I laugh at her and she finally uncovers her eyes again.

"I better go get ready for work," Peeta says as he stands up off the bed.

"Okay." I wait until he shuts the bathroom door behind him before I take his place in front of Willow. "All right, Willow. Can you say Mama?" She looks away from me and stares at the bathroom door. "Willow," I say, trying to get her attention, but it's no use. I know there's no way I'm going to get her to talk now because she'll sit there and stare at that door until Peeta comes back out.

Willow looks up at me and a small frown appears on her face. She looks back at the door and huge tears gather in her eyes. I try my best to get her attention because I know she's going to start crying. When nothing works, I finally scoot over so I sit between her and the door. It works for a few minutes, and then the door opens. Willow looks over my shoulder, smiles, and that's when it happens.

"Dada!" Willow squeals. I start smiling as I turn to face Peeta. A huge, goofy grin spreads across his face as he walks over to us.

"She said it, Katniss!"

I laugh at him. "I know. I heard her," I say as I pick Willow up. "Good job, Willow!" She looks at me and smiles. "You said your first word!" I tell her as she reaches out for Peeta.

"Dada," she says again as Peeta takes her from me.

"That's right baby girl," Peeta says as he kisses her cheek. Peeta looks at me and we smile at each other I know that neither of us could be more proud of her than we are right now. "I hate to say this, but I guess I better go," Peeta says.

"Okay. Come on, Willow," I say as Peeta hands her to me.

"I love you, Willow," Peeta says. He leans over and kisses me. "See you later, Katniss. I love you."

"I love you too, Peeta," I say before he leaves. Willow watches the doorway and her bottom lip starts trembling. "Please don't start crying, Willow. Daddy had to go to work, but he'll be back in a few hours," I tell her, knowing that she can't understand me.

Willow spends all day clinging to me. Every time I sit her down and start to walk off, she throws a fit. I finally get her occupied with her toys, but that's only when I'm sitting right there beside of her. When it gets close to time for Peeta to come home, I try to sneak off so I can go fix dinner.

I make it halfway to the kitchen before Willow realizes that I'm gone and suddenly bursts into tears. I look at her and frown.

"Willow, you can crawl to me if you want, but I can't carry you around all day." She looks at me and continues to cry. "Willow," I say softly as I bend down. "Come on, crawl to Mommy." Her little hands ball up into tiny fists and I sigh. "Willow, you need to stop crying," I say, knowing what I'll have to do if she doesn't.

When her crying gets louder, I have no choice but to go over and pick her up and carry her upstairs to the nursery. After I check her diaper and make sure she's not hungry, I sit her down in her crib and, as much as I hate to, I walk back downstairs. Her cries echo throughout the house and it's all I can do not to go get her.

I almost have dinner ready by the time the front door opens.

"I'm home!" Peeta hollers. "Katniss?"

"I'm in here," I say. Peeta walks into the kitchen and I look up at him.

"It sounds like we have a very unhappy baby upstairs," Peeta says. I sigh and nod my head. "Hey, is everything okay?" Peeta asks as he walks over to me and wraps his arms around me from behind.

"Yeah. It's just that I feel terrible for walking off and leaving her lying there crying as hard as she was."

"I know, Katniss, but that's the only way that Willow's going to learn that we can't carry her around constantly."

I shrug. "I guess so."

Peeta turns me around by my waist and the places his hands on my arms. "Why don't I set the table while you go upstairs and get Willow."

I smile and nod my head. "Okay." Peeta gives me a quick kiss and then I head upstairs to the nursery. Willow stops crying as soon as she sees me. "Did you get mad at Mommy?" I ask as I pick her up. "Are you ready to go see Daddy?' Her eyes light up and I smile. "I'll take that as a yes." I carry her downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Someone's in a better mood," Peeta says as he takes Willow from me. We sit down to eat and Peeta sits Willow in his lap. She starts grabbing at Peeta's food and he laughs. "No, no, Willow. You can't eat that," Peeta says, but he sneaks her a spoon of mashed potatoes when he thinks I'm not looking.

"I saw that," I say. Peeta smiles at me and I smile back. "Was it good baby girl?" I ask Willow. Peeta looks at her and she looks up at him before she makes a face. "She's not so sure about that," I laugh.

Peeta gives her another spoon full and she licks her lips. "Was it good?" Peeta laughs. Willow smiles and reaches for his potatoes.

"Should I fix her a plate?" I ask Peeta.

"Yeah," Peeta says. "We might as well let her eat them." I stand up and give him a look.

"What else do you feed her when I'm not looking?" I ask. Peeta chuckles and I go over to fix Willow a plate of mashed potatoes. I sit in the chair beside of Peeta so I can feed Willow. I feed her a spoon full and she starts acting like she can't get enough. Willow starts grabbing for the spoon.

"No, you can't have the spoon, Willow," Peeta says as he gently pulls her hand back. When she finishes all of her potatoes, she starts pointing to Peeta's.

"I think that better be enough," I say as I get up and drop her plate in the sink. Willow starts throwing a fit.

"Hey, what's that all about?" Peeta asks her.

"Surely you're not still hungry," I say.

"Momma's cooking is just really good isn't it, Willow?" Peeta says.

I laugh and sit down across from him. "I'll take that as a compliment," I say. Peeta starts laughing. When we finish eating, Willow gets really fussy. I take her to the nursery and sit down in the rocking chair with her. When I think she's asleep, I lay her down in her crib. I start to walk off, but Willow wakes up.

"Mama!"

I stop suddenly and quickly turn around. I walk over to the crib and pick Willow up. "That's right, Willow," I say as I kiss her cheek. "I'm Mama. I'm so proud of you baby girl." When Willow finally falls asleep, I lay her down in her crib and walk across the hall to our bedroom.

Peeta is sitting on the bed and when I walk in, he look up at me and smiles.

"What are you grinning about?" Peeta asks.

"Willow finally said Mama," I say, my smiling somehow growing even bigger. I sit down on the bed beside of Peeta and he laughs.

"Now you know how I felt this morning," Peeta says as he laughs.

"Yes I do," I say, still smiling. "And  it is a great feeling."