We Remain

Chapter 9

Katniss POV*

I lay in bed in Peeta's arms, who is sound asleep. Sometimes watching him sleep calms me, but all I can see is his chiseled bare chest. How can anybody be calm when I living creature is living inside you? I don't know how my mom could do it twice. I don't know how Annie could even handle that. But it's been around twelve years and no games. Maybe....

I carefully slide out of Peeta's arms and get out of bed. I don't wake him up, I open the bedroom window and peer out.
District Twelve is rebuilt, houses stand quiet in the distance and dark. I wonder if I'm the only one who thinks having a baby is a bad idea. Haymitch probably might agree, but yet he thinks I should move on, be happy. How can I be happy? How can anyone be happy? After everyone we've lost...

"Katniss?" I hear Peeta say sleepily. Damn. I turn around to see he has gotten up. He wears baggy trousers as he walks to me.
"Peeta, I thought you were asleep," I say quietly.

"Yeah, but you opening the window stirred me awake. Are you okay?" He asks.
Am I okay? I don't know if I'm okay.
"Yeah," I say hastily. It's obvious he doesn't believe me, because he reaches down to my hands and holds them tightly. He doesn't look up at me when he speaks.
"Katniss, I know it's a lot to ask, to give, but if you just give it a chance, you'll see."
"See what?" I choke out. This time he looks up at me, his eyes locking on mine.
"That this," he says, putting his hand on my belly, "will be the best thing that has ever happened to you."