Fate

Chapter 17

Katniss P.O.V.

The first thing I'm aware of is someone gripping my right hand. I slowly open my eyes and turn my head to see Peeta sitting in a chair beside the bed with his head laying beside of mine on the bed.

He looks so peaceful in his sleep. Like he has no worries. No responsibilities.

I move a little, and pain shoots down my back. I yell out, causing Peeta to quickly raise his head up off the bed. He immediately stands up and takes my face in his hands.

"Oh, thank God," Peeta says before he presses his lips to mine.

"Wh-What happened?" I ask groggily. Peeta sits on the edge of the bed and takes my hand in his again.

"You fell down the stairs and hit your head," he tells me as he places a finger on a bandage on my forehead. "It's okay now, but you've bruised your back and arms quiet a bit."

"The…"

"Baby is fine," Peeta says quickly, knowing what I was going to ask. "They were kicking my hand while ago when I touched your stomach." There's so many questions running through my mind right now, but I'm not worried about it right now. I look up at Peeta and can tell by his red, puffy eyes and blotchy face that he's been crying. "Do you remember anything about before you fell?"

"No," I say as I shake my head. "The last thing I remember is we were sitting at the dining table, eating." Peeta slowly nods his head. "How long was I out?"

"A couple days," he says. I look around the room.

"We're at home."

"Yeah," Peeta says as he nods his head. 

I look down at my arms to see some medicine has been spread over my bruises. "Mom's been here?"

Peeta shakes his head. "Prim."

"Is she here now?"

"No," he replies. "But I was supposed to call her when you woke up. I'll be right back, okay?" I nod, and Peeta kisses my cheek before walking off. When Peeta returns a few minutes later, he immediately takes my hand again, like it pained him to let go.

"I was so worried about you," he says. "I was yelling your name and you wouldn't wake up." A tear falls down his face, but he quickly wipes it away with the back of his hand. I know there's something else bothering him, but before I can ask about it, the front door shuts downstairs. I hear footsteps quickly coming up the steps, and my heart leaps.

"Katniss," Prim says as she comes running across the room towards me. She carefully wraps her arms around my neck. "You're okay."

"Yeah. I'm fine," I say. Peeta goes to stand up of the bed, and I quickly look over at him.

"I'm going to give you two some time to talk," he says, knowing how much I've missed my little sister. I nod, and Peeta leaves the room, shutting the door behind him.

"How are you feeling?" Prim asks me as she sits on the edge of the bed where Peeta was.

"Okay, I guess," I answer tiredly. "Just sore all over."

Prim swallows hard. "I tried to get Mom to come with me, but it didn't go over too well. I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for, little duck," I tell her. Prim smiles a little before her eyes flicker over to the door.

"He really loves you, you know." I nod my head.

"Yeah. I know."

"He didn't leave your side the entire time you were out of it," she says. But I already knew this.

"And you love him too," Prim says. "Some people may not believe it, but I do. I saw it a long time ago."

I smile and nod my head. "We're really happy." It's true. We are happy as far as our marriage goes. We're just not happy about everything else.

"I'd better go back home," Prim says as she stands up. "I think you'll be okay now, but call me if anything changes."

"We will, Prim," I tell her. She wraps her arms back around my neck. "I love you, Prim."

"I love you too." Then she's gone.

Peeta walks back into the room and over to me. "Are you hungry?"

"No," I say as I shake my head.

"You've gone almost two days without eating anything."

I reach over and take his hand. "I'll let you know if I get hungry. I promise."

Peeta nods and sits down on the bed again. The baby starts moving and I laugh a little bit.

"The baby's going wild in there," I say. I go to lay my hand on my stomach, but another jolt of pain goes down my spine. I cry out, and Peeta gently grabs my arm.

"Easy," Peeta says as he sets my hand back down on the bed. "Your back's gonna be sore for a few days. You'll have to move slowly." I nod my head, and Peeta helps me to slowly move my hand to my stomach. "Better?"

"Yeah," I reply softly. "Thank you." Peeta lays his hand on my stomach beside of mine, and he smiles at me.

"I'm so glad you both are okay," Peeta says as he brings my free hand up to his lips. I can see worry etched into his features, but I can tell he's not just worried about me and the baby.

"What's wrong, Peeta?"

He takes a deep breath and shakes his head. "Nothing. I've just been worried about you two."

"That's not all, though. Is it?" I ask him.

Peeta swallows hard, and his eyes glisten with tears. "Don't worry about it right now."

"Peeta, please just tell me."

He looks away from me for a moment before meeting my eyes again.

"Haymitch came by yesterday…" Peeta trails off and shakes his head. "I can't, Katniss." I squeeze Peeta's hand to let him know I'm here for him. He thinks about it for a moment before he continues. 

"I have to leave next week for the Games."

My heart plummets. "Wh-What? Next week? That's too soon." Really, any time is too soon

"I leave Monday."

"Four days?" I feel like I'm gonna be sick. Peeta slowly nods his head. I close my eyes as a few tears fall down my face. Peeta moves so he's laying beside of me on the bed. He slowly wraps an arm around me, and I turn a little to hide my face in his shoulder.

"I'm gonna come back," Peeta tells me. He lays a hand on my stomach, and presses his lips to my shoulder. "I promise."