Complete

Chapter 9

Katniss P.O.V.

"Hey, baby. What are you doing?" Peeta asks me as I walk into his artroom.

"Nothing," I say as I shake my head. "It's just too quiet with Rye taking a nap and Willow over at Mom's."

"Don't you have anything to do?"

"I guess I could find some cleaning to do," I reply.

Peea chuckles. "I meant something fun."

I shrug my shoulders. "I don't really do anything fun that doesn't involve you all."

Peeta looks away from his easel to look up at me.

"Why don't you ever go hunting any more?" he asks me.

"I don't know," I reply. "I guess after I became pregnant with Willow, I just didn't have time for it."

"You quit hunting a long time before you became pregnant with Willow," Peeta tells me.

"Well, I don't know why I quit," I say truthfully. "I guess because I haven't had much need to. I always hunted because if I didn't, we'd starve. We don't have that problem now."

"That doesn't mean that you can't hunt."

"I know that," I say. "But I just haven't thought abou it much. I haven't had much time to. I have been sort of busy having your children and keeping the house clean," I tease.

Peeta smiles a little bit. "You could go now."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "Are you trying to get me out of the house for some reason?"

"No," Peeta laughs. "You just acted like you're bored, so I thought I'd give you a suggestion."

I take a deep breath. "Honestly, it's been forever since I've done anything fun by myself."

Peeta frowns at me. "Honey, you do realize that you're more than just a housewife and a mother, don't you?"

I give him a look. "What are you talking about?"

"Katniss I… I feel like you're not giving yourself a chance to have a life."

"I do have a life," I protest.

Peeta sighs. "I meant outside of the house and the kids."

I cross my arms. "So what? You want me to get a job?"

"No, Kat. That's not what I'm saying," Peeta tells me as he shakes his head at me. "Don't you ever just want to do something for you self for once?"

"Wouldn't that be selfish?"

"No. Everybody has to have a little bit of fun every now and then."

"I have fun being with you and the kids," I tell Peeta truthfully.

"I know you do, Katniss, but I mean something other than that. I enjoy being around you all too, but I still have the bakery."

"And you use the bakery to provide for me and the kids," I tell him. "That's not selfish."

"I didn't say it was," Peeta tells me. "Look, I…" he stops and sighs loudly. "We're getting off topic here, honey. I just want you to be happy."

"I am happy."

Peeta stand up and walks over to me, placing his hands on either of my elbows.

"Katniss," Peeta says softly. "Listen to me. You are wonderful at what you do. You are so good with Willow and Rye, and they both love you so much. You do such a good job with being a mom and making sure that the house stays in order when I'm not here. I appreciate you so much for that. You are so good at your job as a housewife and a Mom, and I know you love every second of it.

"But, between the dishes, the laundry, the dusting, running after the kids- especially Rye- don't you ever want a break? Just some time to yourself to not have to worry about what the house looks like or what the kids are doing?"

I sigh. "What is your point, Peeta?"

He takes a deep breath. "Listen, I… With everything going on, I've been really worried about you. I know you've been trying to take your mind off of everything, but you've been doing that with work. You've got to do something that's going to help you relax. Not just something that keeps you busy."

"Fine," I sigh. "I'll go hunting if it will make you happy." I start to walk off, but Peeta stops me.

"Katniss," Peeta says. I turn to face him. "Don't just try to make me happy. I want you to be happy."

"Yeah," I say as I nod my head. "I know."
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"Did you catch anything?" Peeta asks me as I walk into the kitchen.

"A squirrel," I say as I hold it up by its tail. Peeta grins at me. "What?" I laugh as I walk over to him and lay the squirrel down in the sink.

"Nothing," Peeta says as he shakes his head. "It's just that… You're smiling."

I roll my eyes. "Like I've never smiled before."

"You know what I mean," Peeta laughs. "You haven't smiled like that in a while."

I give him a look. "Like what?"

"Like you used to," Peeta says. "You look so much younger."

I raise an eyebrow at him. "You'd better watch it, Mellark."

Peeta chuckles. "I said younger."

"I know, baby," I laugh as I kiss his cheek. "I was just messing with you."

Peeta smirks at me as he wraps his arms around my waist.

"Thank you," I tell Peeta softly. He gives me q look.

"For what,"

"For talking me into going hunting," I reply. "I've felt more like myself today than I have in a while."

"That's good," Peeta says with a smile. "Katniss, any time you want to go, just tell me. I can handle the kids by myself."

"I know," I say. "Well, I guess I'd better skin this bushy tail."

"I can do it," Peeta says. "Rye's in the living room. You can go on in there and I'll be there in a minute."

I laugh at him. "When have you ever skinned a squirrel?"

"I can figure it out," Peeta says with a smile. "Go on."

I smile back at him. "Holler if you need help," I say before I walk into the living room.

"Mama!" Rye squeals when he sees me. He takes off crawling as fast as he can towards me.

"What are you doing?" I ask Rye as I pick him up. "You can walk."

Rye just giggles as I sit down on the couch with him.

"Did you have fun with Daddy today?" I ask him. Rye giggles again as I bounce him on my knee. Rye gives me a wet, open mouth kiss right on my cheek.

"Rye," I laugh as I make a face and pull away from him. "Ew. You got slobbers all over me." Rye throws his head back and laughs. "Rotten. You are so rotten," I say.

"No," Rye says as he shakes his head.

"Yes," I tell him. "You are."

"Katniss!" Peeta hollers. "I think I did something wrong!"

I laugh and shake my head. "Alright, Rye," I say. "Let's go check on Daddy."