Complete

Chapter 12

(2 months later September)

Katniss P.O.V.

"Peeta!" I holler from the kitchen as I grip the counter. "Peeta!"

"Katniss?" Peeta says as I hear his heavy footsteps quickly coming towards the kitchen. He gasps right before I feel his hand on my lower back. "Katniss, what happened?"

"I don't know," I say as I squeeze my eyes shut. "I need… need to sit down." Peeta gently leads me over to a chair at the table before helping me to sit down. I quickly open my eyes to see Peeta kneel down in front of me. He places one hand on my shoulder, and then grabs one of my hands with his free done.

"I feel like I'm going to pass out," I say as I close my eyes again.

"Baby, what happened?"

"I don't know," I breathe out. "I was fixing Willow's lunch for school for tomorrow when I got a really bad headache all of a sudden."

I open my eyes again and take a deep breath. "Okay. I'm alright now," I say as I begin to stand up.

"No. Sit back down," Peeta says as he softly grips both of my shoulders. "Relax."

"I cant," I say. "I have to fix Willow's lunch, Mom has a doctor's appointment in a few minutes that I promised her I'd go to, then I have to come back and get the kids ready to go to bed, I…"

"Kaniss, honey, this is what you've got me for," Peeta says. "I can fix Willow's lunch and get the kids ready for bed tonight. It's no big deal. All you have to do is tell me."

"I don't need help, Peeta," I tell him. "You've been working at the bakery all day. It's not fair for you to come home and have to take care of the kids."

"Katniss, do you know how silly that sounds?" Peeta asks me. "They're my kids too. They're not just your responsibility. Baby, you are taking on too much. You've got yourself stressed out."

"I'm not stressed out," I tell Peeta as I shake my head at him.

"Really?" Peeta says. "Because you just about passed out on me, and you're shaking right now."

"I'm fine."

"Katniss, maybe you should call Ellen and tell her that you can't go."

"No!' I say loudly, startling Peeta. "No," I repeat, quieter this time. "I can go."

"I'll take Rye with me tomorrow, then," Peeta tells me.

"No, Peeta. I'm fine," I say.

"Then I'll stay home tomorrow," Peeta says.

I take a deep breath. "I have a feeling I'm not going to win this one."

"No," Peeta says as he shakes his head. "Kat, I'm just trying to help you."

"I know," I tell him. I look up at the clock and sigh. "I'd better go. It's almost four, and Mom's supposed to be there at fifteen after."

"Alright," Peeta says as he kisss my forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too," I reply. "I'll see you later."
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I walk through the front door to see Peeta sitting on the couch with Rye laying in his arms, and Willow's head laying in his lapm Peeta's got his head laying back against the back of the couch, and he's snoring softly.

I laugh a little bit and go sit down beside of him on the opposite side of Willow. I rest my head over onto Peeta's shoulder, and he slowly open his eyes.