Complete

Chapter 17

Katniss P.O.V.

"How are you feeling?" Peeta asks me as he brushes my hair back out of my face with his fingers.

"Like I just lost another part of me," I reply as I sink further into his touch. We're laying on the couch with our legs tangled together, my head resting over on his chest, and both of his arms wrapped tight around me.

"You'll tell me if you need to talk about anything?"

"Yes, Peeta," I tell him. "I promise."

He kisses the top of my head as his arms tighten around me.

"Peeta?"

"Hm?"

"How do we tell Willow?" I ask him. "I mean, I know that she understands it quiet a bit. We've talked to her before about what happens when someone dies. But we can't just come out and tell her."

"We'll figure it out," Peeta tells me softly. He then sighs deeply. "Do you want to go get them now?"

I look up at Peeta with tears in my eyes and nod my head. "Yes, please."

"Okay," Peeta says quietly as he gently rubs a thumb across my cheek. "Okay. It's okay, Katniss. There's no need to cry."

"I'm sorry," I tell him. "I can't help it."

"It's okay. I just don't want you to get yourself too upset," Peeta tells me. "You sit here, and I'll go get the kids."

"Yeah," I say as I nod my head at him. "Okay." I sit up to let Peeta up and he leans in for a quick kiss.

"I'll be right back."

As soon as Peeta walks out the door, I break down crying. I'm trying my best to stay strong, but what I really want to do is curl up on our bed and stay there for a day or two. When I hear footsteps on the front porch, I begin to quickly dry my tears off my cheeks.

"Mommy!" Willow squeals as she runs over to me. I pick her up and sit her down in my lap.

"Hi, baby girl," I say in a choked up voice. "Did you and Rye have fun at Grandpa's?" 

"Yeah," Willow answers with a big smile.

"I think they had a little too much fun," Peeta teases as he sits down beside of me with a sleeping Rye in his arms.

"Awe. He's wore out," I say as I run my hand through Rye's blonde, wavy hair.

"Let me take him upstairs to his room. Then we can..." Peeta gives me a look, and I immediately know what he's saying. I nod my head, and Peeta starts upstairs.

"Mommy," Willow says timidly as she looks up at me. "Have you been crying?"

"Um..." I can't lie to her. "We'll talk about it when Daddy gets back. Okay, Willow?" She nods her head, and then we wait for Peeta. When he comes down the stairs and sits down beside of me on the couch, I begin to shake.

"Willow," Peeta says gently. "Mommy and I need to talk to you for a minute." He reaches over to take my hand in his, and he rubs his thumb over my knuckles.

"Why?" Willow asks in a scared tone.

"You're not in trouble," Peeta tells her quickly. Willow blows out a breath of relief. Peeta looks over at me, and I nod my head, letting him know that I'm okay to tell her.

"Willow, you know how Grandma's been really sick here lately?" I ask her. She looks up at me and nods her head. "Well, sweetie, um... Grandma passed away this morning."

Willow's expression immediately goes from concerned to completely devestated. She bursts into tears, and I wrap my arms around her shaking body. Peeta pulls me in close, and I let myself cry into his shoulder as he gently rocks the three of us back and forth.