Together

Chapter 20

Katniss P.O.V.

"Mommy!" Willow screams.

"I know, baby. I know," I say as I rummage through the medicine cabinet, trying to balance the phone between my ear and shoulder. I hang the phone up when I don't get an answer. "I'm trying to hurry." I find what I'm looking for and rush back out of the bathroom to where Willow is sitting on mine and Peeta's bed. "Here you are, Willow," I say as I give her her medicine.

Tears are pouring down her face and she keeps tugging at her ear. "I know it's hurting, Willow," I say, "but you have to quit picking at it."

"Where Daddy?" Willow cries.

"Daddy's at work," I say. "He'll be home in a few minutes." I pick up the phone and try calling Peeta again, but he still doesn't answer. "Lay down and rest, baby girl. You'll feel better after you take a nap."

Willow sniffles and lays down on our bed. I tuck her in, but she doesn't even try to sleep. She keeps squirming around and whining. When we hear the front door open and close, Willow sits up.

"Daddy?"

"Lay back down, Willow," I tell her.

"I want Daddy."

"I know, but if you lay down again, I'll bring Daddy up here." Willow starts crying, but she does lay back down. "I'll be right back," I tell her before I leave the room. I go downstairs to see Peeta standing at the bottom of the steps.
He looks at me and smiles. "I was getting ready to come look for you," Peeta says.

"I was upstairs with Willow. She's not feeling too good."

"What's wrong with her?"

"Her ear is bothering her," I reply. "She's been asking for you for the last thirty minutes."

"Why didn't you call me?" Peeta asks as we start up the stairs.

"I tried to, but I guess you had already left." We walk into our bedroom and Willow immediately reaches out for Peeta. He picks her up and she rests her head on his shoulder.
"Are you not feeling good, Willow?" he asks. She sniffles and shakes her head.

"I gave her some medicine, so hopefully she'll feel better soon."

Peeta places a hand on her forehead and he frowns. "She feels a little warm."

"Do you think we should call Mom or take her to the doctor?" I ask. Peeta shakes his head.

"Let's wait and see how she feels tomorrow," Peeta says. "Right now she just needs rest." It doesn't take long for Willow to fall asleep and Peeta lays her back down. I carefully sit down on the edge of the bed beside of her.

"I'm going to sit here for a while and make sure she's okay," I say to Peeta.

"Then I'm going to sit here and keep you company," Peeta says as he sits down behind me. I laugh as he wrap his arms around me and leans back against the pillows, pulling me with him. I lay my head against his chest and look over so I can look at Willow.

"I hate it when she doesn't feel good," I say.

"I know," Peeta replies. "I do too." After a few minutes, Willow stats crying again and I pick her back up.

"You want me to get her medicine?" Peeta asks.

"No, I just gave her some right before you got home," I reply. I kiss Willow's forehead and she looks up at me.

"I'll go fix supper," Peeta says as he moves out from behind me and stands up off the bed. "She might feel better once she eats something." I nod my head and Peeta walks out of our room.