My Dark Past [Completed]

Chapter Forty-Nine: The Last Run

Five months... five months since I birthed our son, last week he turned five months and I don't want my boy growing too fast, although he is really affectionate towards me and won't go to sleep at all unless I'm there, Willow wasn't as clingy but she was always drawn to Peeta a bit more than me and I was fine with that because her and I have this special bond... a mother-daughter thing but Owen hates it when I put him down but only on his bad days, those are usually the days he doesn't have a nap but most of the time Peeta seems to calm him down with his caring and nurturing nature.

Today is also the first time Peeta and I are experimenting with daycare, today is Owens trial day just to see how he goes, entering the centre with Owen in his stroller already attracts the women, I'm not the one to brag but Peeta and I make adorable children so it was bound to happen really. When we get to the room he's in I try sending him off but he puts up a fight, I give him to the woman who tries to calm him but he screams bloody murder and I'm reassured that it's completely normal and so I kiss my son goodbye then leave the centre.

"How about that? Quiet, it seems so foreign" Peeta chuckles as he sits on the couch and I join him

"That was a nightmare, I'm surprised with myself. I didn't think I'd have enough strength... should I go back? And get him?" I ask with a frown causing him to chuckle

"He'll be fine, Katniss. Besides, we haven't had much alone time lately...." he smirks as we share a kiss

"Hopefully if this daycare thing works then hopefully I can be back at work soon, I love our children but I miss working, a lot" I sigh laying my head on Peeta's shoulder as he watches his tv show

"Don't worry, Owen will love daycare and you'll be back in no time" he smiles kissing my temple, I smile as I lean my head against his shoulder, enjoying the quiet that we haven't had since Willow was born.

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It warmed my heart seeing Owen playing with another boy nicely but of course seeing me, all hell breaks loose, he just sits there crying till I pick him up which of course is when he stops when I do exactly that. After being filled in with Owen and what he was like today, I take him home and on the way I pick up Willow

"Mommy, Owie is stinky" Willow says holding her nose as I get her out of her booster seat

"Is big sister Willow going to change him?" I smile as she pulls a face

"Yucky! I think daddy should do it" she giggles cheekily

"I agree. I think daddy should as well" I chuckle as I carry Owen to the front door, when we get inside Willow immediately goes over to Peeta who really doesn't look like his usual self which I'm confused about, before I do anything I change Owens diaper then I let Willow play with him so I can talk to Peeta who is sitting at the kitchen table

"Peeta... what's happened?" I say sitting on his lap to hopefully making him feel a sense of comfort at least

"Katniss... it's your dad. Your mom called saying that he fell unconscious at home and was rushed to hospital, I was going to call you but you didn't take your phone. They don't think he has very long, I feel that we should go now, with him" Peeta explains, I try not to let my tears fall even though they pool up in my eyes

"Yes, that's a good idea. Let's leave right now" I sniff, getting off his lap but no matter how hurtful this is, I don't show it because I've got a sister, mother and children to be strong for. Cancer is my enemy right now, it's taking the man who's loved me since I was first born, the man who was always able to pick me right up when I feel down but of course he's getting taken from me way too early.

When we arrived at the hospital I wanted nothing but to hear that he was actually going to be okay, obviously that doesn't happen, all I got was a sympathetic look from the receptionist who done the last thing I needed right now. Walking into his hospital room was hard, I wasn't use to seeing him all wired up, pale like white paint, skinny like every ounce of blood was drained from his body and bits of bald spots on his head

"Grandpa!" Willow happily squeals and Prim helps her get on his hospital bed, he may look weak but his eyes are still the same and are actually filled with happiness

"Hey there, sunshine" he smiles weakly

"Mommy and daddy say that your sick but daddy can make you the soup he makes me when I feel sick and it always makes me better!" She happily says, he looks at Peeta and I, I nod at him knowing what he's wanting to say next

"Thanks for that, sunshine. I won't be getting better darling because I'm leaving soon" he explains softly

"Where will you go?" She asks

"Up there, in heaven. It's a good place, a sunny place with all these different flowers blossoming everywhere, green and soft grass, not to mention the very nice people who'll be there to look after me" he tells her

"Woooow, will we be able to visit you there?" I look at Peeta who watches their interaction with a pained expression, he looks at me and gives me a sad smile which I return

"I don't think you can. I will visit you guys though, just to check in, when you feel this..." my dad hugs her tightly which she smiles at

"That means I'm with you, I'll always be with you. No matter where I am" he adds, luckily Willow gets the concept of dad not being around anymore but not entirely why and honestly that's how it should be right now for her.

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When the doctor tells us that it's time to say our goodbyes now because by what they've seen, they don't think he'll live very long now. One by one everyone gets a chance of a privet goodbye, my mom first, Prim, Rory and their children, Peeta and our children till finally it's my turn to go in. I go through the door after getting a reassuring hug from Peeta which has helped me go back through this door and to my father's side

"Hi, daddy" I smile and he gets out a soft one

"There's my strong little girl" he says

"This isn't fair... you can't be taken from us. I don't want you to go" I cry

"Hey now... I know this is hard, Katniss. You can cry and be sad but my race is finishing, I passed every obstacle and opportunity that life through at me as I ran but the finish line is coming into view for me. You need to keep running your race, you've only just started and got a long way to go" he explains but I still cry

"I just wanted us to be with each other forever..." I sniff as I finally finish crying

"I know, baby. That's still true, no matter what happens, you're still my daughter and I your father... we're forever no matter if it's deceased or alive because my unconditional love for you is always there" he replies

"You were always there for me, you were the best father a girl could have" I admit

"You know, when you were born you were maybe the size of my wrist to my elbow maybe even a bit smaller. You were a tiny baby and at first when you were born you didn't cry, your mom and I being just teenagers thought that you had died but then you let out that cry, you had a hell of a cry for being such a tiny little girl. When I first held you and looked at you... I fell in love. I didn't think that I could fall in love with another woman till I held you in my arms and that didn't change even if you would wake up a lot during the night or be extremely fussy. You were still my little girl and that's what I love about you, your strong and stand up for what you stand for, the perfect daughter that I raised you up to be" after he finishes talking I do the only thing that I can think of and that is to hug him

"I love you daddy, I'll miss you"

"I love you my little archer, I'll always be with you forever and always"

One more proper chapter then it's the epilogue, sorry I'm just losing ideas for this book but I'm proud how far it's come💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️😌😊☺️💜💜💙🧡