Complete

Chapter 7

Peeta P.O.V.

I'm just about to lock up and go outside to wait on Katniss when the door opens. I turn around to see Katniss walking towards me, and my heart sinks when I see fresh tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Kat, what's wrong?" I ask her as I wrap my arms around her.

He sniffles and shakes her head. "We can talk about it later," she says. "Let's go see Willow."

"Wait a minute," I say. "Where's Rye?"

"I took him over to Haymitch's," Katniss says. "Rye was in an ornery mood, so I thought it would be best."

"Okay," I say. "Now tell me what has you so upset."

Katniss swallows hard. "Peeta…"

"Come on," I tell her. "Please."

She takes a deep breath before slowly nodding her head.

"Mom called a few minutes ago," Katniss says as more tears fill her eyes. "She…" Katniss stops talking, and I can tell that she's about to break down in tears. I can see her shoulders shaking with the effort to hold back sobs.

"It's okay," I tell Katniss softly as I place a hand on her shoulders. "Take your time."

Katniss pressed a hand to her mouth to stifle her cries as she tries to compose herself. After a few minutes, she continues.

"Her cancer has come back." My heart drops. "It's worse this time than it was to begin with," Katniss says. "They're only giving her four months to live."

"Baby, I am so sorry," I tell Katniss as I hold her closer to me.

Katniss shakes her head. "It's not your fault," she tells me. "I… I just… Peeta, I only have four months left with my Mom."

"Doctors can be wrong," I remind her.

"I know," Katniss tells me. "But it's not just that. Peeta, she's lost her will to live. She's ready to go. Mom told me that she's just so tired and depressed."

Katniss looks up at me, and I use my thumbs to wipe some of her tears away.

"I can't lose my Mom," Katniss cries. "And what about Willow and Rye? They absolutely love her. They're going to be heart broken. Well, Willow will be anyways. Rye won't understand it all for a while. But still, I know he'll miss Mom like the rest of us will."

Katniss has to stop again to calm herself back down.

"I know what it's like to not want to live anymore," Katniss admits. "There were plenty of times when I wanted to curl up and die. But then you came back to me, and we slowly helped each other get better. Now, I couldn't even imagine getting so low again. I know the thoughts that went through my mind, and it scares me to think that Mom might…" Katniss stops and starts breathing heavily as her whole body starts shaking.

"Shh. It's alright, Katniss," I tell her softly as I rub my hand up and down her back. She clings to me and cries into my shoulder.

"I… I need to sit down," Katniss tells me. I quickly pull a chair out for her, and she basically collapses into it. She puts her head in both of her hands, and I kneel down beside of her.

"Look at me," I tell Katniss as I slowly pull her hands away from her face. "If you need anything, just tell me."

Katniss nods her head. "I just need you to stay with me."

I grab Karniss's hands and intertwine our fingers.

"Always," I tell her quietly.

Katniss gives me a sad smile. "I know," she says. "I know you'll be right here by my side, especially when I need you the most."