Finding the Missing Piece: Book 3

Chapter Nine

Katniss POV-

"Ready, girls?" Peeta asks as we make it to the end of the stairs.

Bristol looks up from the baby, "Yes."

"Good. You're going to love your house. Let's just hope that the boys made it all pretty for you." I tease her.

She laughs and hoists up Carter's carrier onto her arm.

"Oh, Katniss. Finnick helped, you know it'll be fine." Peeta chuckles.

I snort, "Yeah, I forgot about that. Don't worry, it'll look perfect." I assure Bristol.

She laughs.

"Here, let me carry her for you." Peeta offers, knowing Bristol is still extremely sore.

"Thanks." She says and we all four head out the door.

Peeta puts Carter in the back seat of Bristol's little car and hops in.

I agreed to ride with Peeta.

"She seems a lot happier." Peeta says, pulling out of the driveway.

I nod, "Yeah, she also talked to Brandon."

Peeta frowns, "I tried and tried to get him here and they refused."

"I knew you would try, but don't worry. She will be fine." I tell him, having hope in my friend.

Unfortunately, Peeta stays quiet as we drive the few minutes to Bristol's new home. And I couldn't seem to muster up a conversation.

"Here we are." He says as we arrive.

He hops out, taking my little bag from his back seat. Bristol pulls up in the driveway next to Peeta and starts getting Carter out. He unlocks the door as I help her lug in her stuff.

"Oh, I love it." Bristol says, astonished.

I laugh a little as she sets a sleeping Carter onto the ground in her carseat.

"It's a really pretty house." I say, glancing about.

Bristol looks around and I notice the guys did do a pretty good job of everything. Peeta shows her all the rooms as I take Carter from her carrier and walk to her closed bedroom door.

"Bristol, I think we want to show you Carter's nursery." I say, remembering Peeta's surprise.

Peeta and Bristol emerge from the kitchen and Peeta smiles at me.

The mural.

"I hope you like it." Peeta says, before I open the door to the newly furnished and freshly painted nursery.

Bristol gasps and clasped her hands over her mouth as she cries.

"This is beautiful." Bristol says and takes the baby from my arms.

She carefully lays Carter into her crib for the first time. She barely notices the change and falls right back to sleep.

"It's just like home." Bristol says, her hands on the mural.

She turns to Peeta, "Did you paint this?"

He nods and I walk over wrapping my hands around his waist, he kisses the top of my head.

"Thank you both so so much." Bristol says embracing both Peeta and I in a little group hug.

I laugh a little and so does she.

Bristol backs away and I see how truly happy and grateful she is.

"Well, how do you like the house?" Peeta asks her as she hovers over Carter in her brown baby bed.