Our Love is Complete

Chapter 2

Katniss's POV.

The next morning, Peeta and I wake up at the same time. I open my eyes to the sound of birds chirping and a car rolling down the newly paved road of the Old Village, which is what used to be the Victor's Village. I open my eyes and his are twitching, trying to sink back into slumber. I kiss his jaw and his eyes open, his blue orbs gazing down at me. I grin.

"Good morning," I say sleepily.

"Good morning to you too," he replies. There's an edge of shakiness to his voice. I don't know if it's because of last night or what, but it's not up to its normal strength and wit.

I stretch, roll over to the side of the bed, only realizing now I never put any undergarments on when Willow came in. I decide to take a shower.

"I'm going to the bathroom to wash. Feel free to join me," I scrunch up my nose and smile at him. He chuckles. "Maybe I will. Give me five minutes."

I undress quickly and jump in the shower, letting the rain wash over me. Soon enough, I hear the door open and Peeta comes to join me. I immediately embrace him in a hug and the water runs over his soft curls. I watch them flatten out against his head as he combs a piece of hair behind my ear. He kisses the top of my head and leans his forehead against the crown of my skull.

"You felt good last night, real or not real," he whispers into my hair.

I giggle. I kiss his ear, then his cheek, then his jaw.

"Real," I reply, "Thank you."

I feel so warm and tingly inside when he cups my face in his hands and kisses me deeply. I pull back just to take a deep breath, then kiss him back. His hand pulls on my neck, drawing me in closer, and I comb my fingers through his hair. He bites my lower lip softly, then says, "Katniss, Willow's probably up. We have to go."

I nod. "Hurry."

With that, he turns the knob of the shower so it switches to off, and steps out, toweling himself dry, then walking out. He probably only has pants on by the time I hear Willow's voice next door. I only hear soft mumbling as I pull on trousers and an old hunting shirt. I nearly knock the child off her feet when I swing the bathroom door open.

"Ooh, sorry, my little bird, I didn't see you!" I kneel down as I watch the first tear roll down her cheek.

"Ow, Mommy, that hurt!" she cries. She rubs the back of her head.

I pull her to my chest and kiss her forehead. She rests just beneath my neck and I feel her warm breath heave in and out with the pain.

"I'm sorry, babe, I didn't see you, I didn't mean it," I coo as I rock her. Peeta kneels next to me and takes Willow. He wipes her tears away and rubs her head.

"Is this where it hurts, hon?" He touches the top of her head.

She nods again. He kisses it, and then says softly, "Is that a little better?"

She smiles very weakly at him and sniffles. "Yes, a little. It's okay, Mommy, I know you didn't mean it."

I smile. "How about we go downstairs and have some pancakes? Daddy will make some."

Peeta nods. "How about blueberry today? Your favorite."

Willow beams. "Yay!" she hollers, all pain forgotten. She rushes down the steps and I hear her plop down on the leather couch downstairs. Peeta grasps my hand and I hold it tight as we go down the stairs together. I pause and kiss him lightly.

"I love you," I whisper.

He whispers back, "I love you too." He kisses my temple and we continue down the stairs and part ways, Peeta going into the kitchen and me going to the television room with Willow. I sit down next to her and I kiss her forehead.

"TV?" I ask her.

She nods and I turn it onto some children show that they started making a few years ago. They never made shows special for children when I was her age - it was always broadcasts about the government and of course, the Games.

I get up off the couch and decide to assist Peeta in the kitchen. We move in rhythm, him placing dishes in the sink, me washing them. We get the pancakes done by 9:30 and we're all starving. Willow digs in immediately and I pause to drizzle syrup and a pad of butter on mine. They're delicious, as always. I clear 4 big pancakes in 10 minutes. Then my stomach starts to ache so I stop. It's a swirling feeling, like I'm going to throw up. Adrenaline starts flowing. I run to the bathroom and gag as my breakfast comes back up. Tears sting my eyes. My forehead is boiling and my stomach turns. Peeta runs to the bathroom.

"Katniss, it's okay. It's okay. Come on," he picks my up like he picks up Willow when he's carrying her off to bed and he brings me up the stairs. He tucks me back into bed and takes my tempenture.

"101.7," he reports, "I don't know what happened to you between getting up and breakfast, but obviously you didn't like the pancakes," he teases.

"Peeta!" I holler, "I did too!"

He laughs, carrying the thermometer into the bathroom. He comes back in and then says, "But in all seriousness, you need to rest. I'll send your mother later."

I nod. He leans in and kisses my temple. "Sleep, okay?" he says, brushing a piece of hair off my forehead. Then I hear pounding on the stairs.

"Mommy! Daddy! Uncle Haymitch is here!" Willow calls from outside the door. Then she runs in, blue eyes wide.

"Oh, Mommy, are you okay?"

I smile, start to nod, then I become overcome with nausea. I bolt into the bathroom, vomit, my stomach twisting with each racing heartbeat.

"Peeta," I gag, spitting out the last of the bile, "I need to go to the doctor now."

His eyes grow wide and Willow wraps her arms around my hips.

"Honey, it's okay. I just don't feel well."

More pounding on the stairs. I feel like I'm just imagining it before Haymitch appears in our bedroom.

"I've been waiting 10 minutes for you lovers to get down the stupid stairs and-" he pauses and looks me up and down, "What the hell happened to you?"

Peeta stares at him in horror, before spitting out, "Haymitch!" Peeta jerks his head in Willow's direction, and Haymitch's expression doesn't change at all.

"Oh, whoops. I forgot about your little friend down here."

Willow runs over to him and jumps into his arms. She settles herself on his chest and he says, "Hey, monkey, how you doing? Mom doesn't feel well?"

She nods her head intensely and says, "She threw up Daddy's pancakes."

Haymitch snorts. "I don't blame her."

Peeta casts him a hard glance and he waves it off.

"I'm just kidding, boy. Go take your wife to the hospital and get a freaking prescription. I'll stay with her."

Peeta nods his thanks and I kiss Willow on the cheek.

"Daddy and I will be back in a few hours, okay? Uncle Haymitch will look after you until we get back."

I hold onto Peeta's shoulder and his arm snakes around my waist as we make our way down the stairs, Haymitch following. We say our goodbyes at the door and in minutes, Peeta and I are driving away.