Together

Chapter 27

Katniss P.O.V.

I take a deep breath and stare at the floor. I can't believe what happened today, and I honestly thought that if I just slept all day that it wouldn't happen. But I knew when I first woke up this morning that today would happen with or without me. 

"What are you doing up so late?" Peeta asks as he quietly comes down the steps. Well, as quietly as he can anyways. 

I look back at him and try to hide the emotion in my voice. "I woke up and sarted thinking about what today was. I couldn't go back to sleep, so I thought I'd come down here for a while," I tell him. "Did I wake you?"

"Not exactly," Peeta says as he sits down beside of me. "I could tell you weren't there by me, so I had to come make sure you were okay."

I give him a sad smile. "I'm okay," I say. "Just thinking." Peeta wraps an arm around me and pulls me in close, kissing my hairline.

"Thinking about what?" he asks me quietly. 

I shake my head. "Peeta, our baby turned five today."

Peeta sighs. "I know," he says. "She'll be starting school this year."

"Stop," I laugh as tears fall down my face. 

Peeta laughs at me. "Hey, she'll be okay." Peeta wipes my tears away even though his eyes are glossed over with his own tears. 

"I'm not just worried about her," I tell him. "Peeta, we're going to go crazy. Especially me. I'll be stuck inside this house all day by myself. I'm used to taking care of her all day and chasing after her. Now I'll be sitting here by myself in this quiet house all the time."

"You could always come to the bakery with me," Peeta suggests. 

I laugh. "Yeah, I could," I say. "But honestly, I was hoping that we'd have another baby by the time Willow starts school. I guess that's not going to happen, though."

Peeta sighs. "Kat, I've told you not to worry about it."

"I know, but that doesn't help anything," I say truthfully. "You're just wasting your breath. You know that I feel guilty about it."

"And you know that you have nothing to feel guilty about," Peeta tells me. 

"Yes I do."

"No you don't, because it's not your fault."

"I feel like it is."

"But it's not, so quit doing this to yourself, Katniss. Quit telling yourself that this is your fault."

I look at Peeta for a minute and take a deep breath. "I know I should have told you sooner, but at my doctor's appointment last week, they told me that there is fertility treatment that we could try."

"Okay," Peeta says. 

"But the reason that I didn't tell you sooner is because it's going to be really expensive."

"Money isn't an object," Peeta says. "Whatever it takes."

"Good," I say. "Because I've already made an appointment." Peeta laughs a little. "Since it is so expensive, it's last resort. They're just going to run tests at my next appointment to make sure that there's absolutely nothing else we can do before we try the treatment."

"When is your next appointment?" Peeta asks. 

I make a face. "On our anniversary," I reply. "But I can reschedule it if…"

"No," Peeta says as he shakes his head. "It's just tests isn't it?"

"Yeah," I reply. "It won't take long."

"Don't reschedule it," Peeta says. "I'll go with you if you want me to." I smile at him and nod my head. 

"Of course," I say. 

"Mommy!" Willow squeals as she comes stomping down the steps. Peeta and I both turn to look at her. "I'm five now!" she screams excitedly. 

"Shh. Willow," I laugh. "Inside voice please."

"What are you doing up anyways?" Peeta asks her. 

"I can't sleep," Willow says as she comes over to sit down on the other side of Peeta. "I too esited." Peeta and I laugh a little at her mispronunciation. 

"What do you want to do to help calm you down?" I ask her. 

"Mmm. Eat cake." Peeta and I laugh at her. 

"That won't calm you down, Willow," Peeta tells her. "That will only make you more hyper."

"I think that's what's wrong with you now," I tell her. "You had too much cake today."

"No," Willow giggles. 

"Yes," I tell her. "Why don't you go back to bed? Daddy will be up there in a minute to tell you a story."

"Okay," Willow says. She hops down off the couch and goes back upstairs. Peeta looks back at me. 

"Thanks for that," he says sarcastically. 

I smile at him. "You're welcome." He leans over and kisses me. 

"I guess I'd better tell her a story so she can go back to sleep," Peeta says. I nod my head and he stands up. "Are you coming?" he asks me. 

I shake my head. "I will in a few minutes." Peeta nods and then starts back upstairs. I don't really want to go back to bed just yet, but sitting here on the couch by myself starts getting lonely after a while. 

I decide to go on to bed, but I end up stopping outside Willow's room when I hear her and Peeta talking. 

"Tell another story, Daddy," Willow tells Peeta. 

He laughs. "Baby girl, it's time for you to go back to sleep."

"Please," she begs. 

"I'll tell you what," Peeta says. "You have Mommy tell you a story tomorrow while I'm at work. I bet Mommy tells better stories than me anyways."

"No," Willow says. I can't help but to smile a little. 

Peeta chuckles. "I bet she does," he says. Willow giggles. "Now you lay down there and go back to sleep, okay?"

"Okay. Daddy?"

"Yes, Willow?"

"I love you." I poke my head in Willow's room to see Peeta lean over and kiss Willow's forehead as she wraps her little arms around his neck. "I love you too, baby girl," he tells her. He tucks her in and then stands up off her bed. "Goodnight, Willow."

"Goodnight, Daddy." I quickly go over to mine and Peeta's bedroom so he won't know that I was eavesdropping.

"Hey," Peeta says as he walks in. "I thought you were going to stay downstairs for a little while." I shrug. 

"I got lonely." Peeta laughs as we both lay back down on our bed. 

"Did Willow go back to sleep?" I ask him. 

"I think so," Peeta replies. "I never imagined that I'd be up this late at night telling stories to our five year old daughter."

I laugh. "Just wait until those three-in-the-morning feedings start again."

Peeta chuckles. "I can't wait," he says as he gently kisses me. 

I smile up at him. "Neither can I."
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I know it's not much but at least it's something. 

Okay. I have a question for you guys. So when I write these chapters up, I make a note at the top of my paper on what month it is in the book and stuff like that. I just noticed that I don't do that when I type the story up. Would you all want me to start doing that?