Together

Chapter 18

Katniss P.O.V.

"Please, Katniss," Peeta says as I follow him to the front door.

"Peeta, I'm not saying no," I say truthfully. "I'm just saying that we'll talk about this later."

"Why?"

"Because you need to go to work and I have a house to clean. We can talk about it when you get home from work."

Peeta sighs. "Fine. But I'm taking off an hour early."

I laugh and nod my head. "Okay."

He pulls me in and kisses me. "I love you."

"I love you too," I say. Peeta turns to leave and I shut the door behind him. I go to the kitchen to clean, but I don't get very far.

"Mama!"

I laugh and go upstairs to get Willow. She comes running out of her room and towards me with her arms raised up in the air.

"Good morning, baby girl," I say as I pick her up. I move her wild hair out of her face and she grins at me. "You ready to go get a bath?" She nods and I take her to the bathroom and start running water in the tub.

"Where Dada?" she asks.

I shake my head at her. She can ask where her Daddy is, but she won't actually say Daddy. "Daddy's at work," I tell her as I sit her down in the tub. "Can you say Daddy?"

"Dada," Willow says.

"No," I laugh at her. "Daddy."

"Dada," Willow says as she giggles. I poke her belly.

"You rotten thing. You know what you're doing." She smiles at me and I shake my head. "What about Mommy?" She points to me and I laugh again. "Yes, I'm Mommy. But can you say Mommy?"

"Mama," Willow says as she grins from ear to ear.

"All right," I say as I rinse her off. "I think Daddy's been teaching you how to tease me."

"Daddy," Willow says suddenly.

I smile at her. "There you go, baby girl," I say as I wrap her up in a towel. "And who am I?"

"Mama," she says matter-of-factly. I tickle her belly and she lets out that little giggle that I love so much. I take her to her room and dress her.

"There you go," I say as I sit her down on the floor. "Do you want to stay in here while Mommy washes the dishes?" Willow shakes her head and reaches for me.

"Mommy," she says as she smiles.

I laugh and pick her up. "See. I knew you could say it." Willow giggles and I take her downstairs with me.

I let her eat and then she goes off to play in the living room with her toys while I clean up. When I get done, I go into the living room and Willow quickly hides behind the couch. I smile and slowly walk towards her.

"Where'd Willow go?" I ask. She giggles and pokes her head out from behind the couch. I fake a gasp. "There she is!"

"Mommy!" Willow squeals as she comes running towards me. I pick her up and kiss her cheek.

"I love you, Willow," I tell her. She giggles and blows me a kiss. "You're so sweet." I sit on the couch with her and she quickly dozes off.

After a few minutes, I carefully lay her down on the couch and cover her up. I reluctantly go upstairs to clean. At least she doesn't move around too much in her sleep unless she sleeps in mine and Peeta's bed, so I don't have to worry too much about her rolling off the couch.

I get both bedrooms straightened up before I hear Willow hollering. I go back downstairs to find Willow waiting for me at the bottom.

"Did you wake up, sleepyhead?" I ask her. She giggles and nods before taking back off to play with her toys. I sit on the couch and watch her until Peeta finally gets home. When the door opens, Willow runs over to him.

"Daddy!"

Peeta laughs and picks her up. "Who am I?"

"Daddy," Willow says.

Peeta looks at me and smiles. "Where'd that come from?"

"I sorta got her to say it while ago, but she'd only say it once."

Peeta laughs and kisses her cheek. "Good girl," he says as he sits her back down. Willow runs back over to her toys and Peeta walks over to me. "I hope you didn't get aggravated at me this morning."

"No," I laugh. "All you did was ask me a simple question. I just didn't want to talk about it this morning."

"What about now?" Peeta asks. I laugh and shake my head.

"Okay," I tell him. "But don't get disappointed if you don't like my answer."

"I promise I won't," Peeta says. We walk over and sit down on the couch.

"Okay," I say. "To answer your question this morning, yes. I do eventually want to have another baby. Just not right now."

"But when?" Peeta asks. "Willow's almost three. What are we waiting for?"

"I want her to be a little bit older," I tell him.

"Why? It's not going to make much difference, Katniss."

I take a deep breath. "Yes it will, Peeta. She'll understand everything a lot better in a couple years than she will now."

"What is there for her to understand besides the fact that she'll be a big sister?"

"Nevermind," I say as I look away.

"Kat, please talk to me," Peeta says.

"I'm afraid she won't understand why she wouldn't be the center of attention anymore. I don't want her to think we love her any less."

"She'd understand," Peeta says. "Sure, she might understand better in a year or two, but she'd catch on quickly. She's a smart kid, Katniss."

"I know," I say. "But you wanted an answer and I said not right now."

"Okay," Peeta says quietly.

"I thought you said you wouldn't be disappointed," I say.

"I'm not."

"Yes you are," I say. "Don't lie to me Peeta." We're quiet for a while until I decide to speak up again. "Look, if I don't bring it back up before six months, you can ask me then."

"So around Willow's birthday?"

I nod my head and Peeta smiles. "But, you have to promise me that if my answer still isn't yes that you won't argue with me about it."

"Okay," Peeta says. "I promise."