Complete

Chapter 22

This is another BIG chapter. There's a huge surprise in the middle, so we'll call it an early Christmas present for y'all!

Peeta P.O.V.

I gasp and quickly sit up on the bed. It's been a month, and I can't go to sleep without having a nightmare. This is absolutely killing me, but I hope that it's helping Katniss.

Another thing I hate is not being able to see both of the kids all day every day. They miss each other too. Willow asks everyday she's over here if she can go see Rye, and Rye says "Wi-oh" at least twenty times a day.

Knowing that I won't be able to go back to sleep, I sneak down the hallway to check on Rye. When I'm sure that he's okay, I go downstairs to look out the window to see that Katniss is standing on the front porch.

I know that I shouldn't, but everything in me wants to go make sure she's okay. So when I find myself opening the front door and stepping out, I can't help it. When Katniss sees me coming towards her, she quickly starts back into the house.

I take off running towards her, and I catch the door before she can close it.

"Peeta..."

"No. Just please listen to me for a minute," I beg. "I... I had a nightmare and I just..."

"I'm fine, Peeta," Katniss tells me. "Are you sure? You look like something's bothering you."

Katniss rolls her eyes at me. "There is. But as far as whatever your nightmare was about, I'm fine."

"Well, what's bothering you?"

She shakes her head at me. "Goodnight, Peeta."

"Wait," I say desperately. "You haven't said a word to me in almost two weeks. You said that this had nothing to do with our marriage, but you're acting like it does. Katniss, you won't talk to me, you've stopped wearing your ring..."

"I told you that was for a completely different reason."

"Which is?"

"None of your business," Katniss says angrily. "Goodnight, Peeta." She shuts the door in my face, and I hear the lock click into place. I head back over to the house, immediately going upstairs to check on Rye one last time before I lay back down.
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"Come on, Rye. We're getting ready to eat breakfast," I tell him as I fight with him to get him in his high chair. "Momma's supposed to bring Willow over to eat with us so she can see you before she has to go to school.

Rye gasps. "Wi-oh?"

"Yes. Willow," I tell him. "Now be a good boy and sit down in your high chair."

That gets him to mind. A few minutes later when there's a soft knock at the door, Rye goes crazy clapping his chubby hands and kicking out his feet.

"Wi-oh! Wi-oh! Yay!" Rye cheers through hysterical giggles. I can't help but to laugh at him.

I go over to open the door, and can't help but to feel a little disappointed when I don't see Katniss anywhere nearby.

"Hi, Daddy," Willow says as I wrap my arms around her. "I missed you." I smile and kiss the top of her head.

"I've missed you too, baby girl," I tell her softly. "Willow, where's Momma at?"

Willow looks up at me with a sad look on her face. "At home," Willow answers quietly. "She said I could walk over here by myself. I wanted her to walk with me, but, Daddy, I think Momma's sick."

My heart drops. "Okay. Um... Willow, why don't you go on in the kitchen and begin eating, okay?"

"Okay," Willow answers. "Daddy, what are you going to do?"