(Peeta)
Katniss' mother is moving towards her bed where she lays, just after I've motioned her in. Our lives are full of surprises lately. First my family returning, this placenta tragedy, now Katniss' mother showing up out of no where. I'm not sure how Katniss feels about this. But neither of them have dared to look each other in the eye. As much as I don't want to leave my wife's side, I still offer privacy for the both of them.
"Should I step outside and let you two talk?" I ask, trying to lighten the tension that has taken over the room.
"No!" Katniss says almost too quickly. I nod my head at her and offer Mrs. Everdeen the seat I once sat in. She sits in it slowly with out a word. I take a seat on the small couch that's right in front of the window that's to the left of Katniss. We all sit in an awkward silence, until Katniss, surprisingly, breaks that.
"How'd you know we were here." She asks, with the least of kindness in it. And I don't blame her for it.
"I called the home phone and Haymitch told me you were here...and why." I already know Katniss is calling Haymitch a name or two by the way she sighs and crossed her arms over her swollen abdomen. "Are you sure you're okay? Are the kids okay?"
"How do you know I'm having twins? And what do you care?" Katniss snaps.
"Well, to answer the first question,there have been pictures going around and ever since the recent interview in the Capitol they haven't stopped showing it." Katniss still isn't making any contact with her mother. She's just moving her feet around slightly under the blankets and watching them move while her mother is trying to make eye contact. "Katniss, I am really sorry for abandoning you when you needed me the most."
"I never needed you." Katniss hisses. "All I ever needed was Peeta." She looks at me with a look of thankfulness. "And I have him. Along with our family who keep me sane" I give Katniss a warm smile as I'm positioning myself to leaning forward on my elbows with my hands clasped together. She returns the same smile. Mrs. Everdeen sighs.
"I see that. And I know its too late. Just know that you were in my thoughts everyday. I could never forgive myself for leaving you. I just wish it didn't take me so long to get the nerve to return. I knew I couldn't handle it with Prim's death and facing everything of District 12." She preaches. "I understand if you can't forgive me, just no it took a lot to return to this place." By the look on Katniss' face I know she wants to say more, but she doesn't all she says is "Okay." Before our kids and Haymitch walk in. Peete has only seen Katniss' mother one other time in his life. Levinia has seen her once also. Peete was 4 and Levinia was 10. They know who she is, but neither of them call her grandma. Katniss has said in the past, "Its plain and simple. She's not a real grandmother". As harsh as it may sound, its true. The 3 of them give polite smiles and small waves as they walk over to the couch where I am. I move myself from the middle to the far left side to make room. Peete sits beside me and Levinia sits beside him. I suggest that Haymitch takes my spot, but he waves away my request. I put an arm over the couch, almost around Peete.
"Wow." Mrs. Everdeen says. "They've grown since I last saw them. They're both an amazing sight." She says to Katniss with a smile. Katniss finally curves up her lips just a little bit giving a small grin. She looks at our children beside me with admiration. I do too.
"I know. They're beautiful." She says, like she's in a trance.
"Levinia," Mrs. Everdeen says. "If you don't mind me asking, is your arm okay? What happened?" Levinia looks down at it, as if suddenly remembering its there.
"Oh, umm I sort of snapped it on the beam at gymnastics." She says, almost nervous, but she covers that up quickly.
"I hope it feels better." Katniss' mother says with concern. Katniss finally makes contact with her mother. Eye contact. Her mother returns it.
