What if?- A Mockingjay Story

Chapter 44

What if?
What if he doesn't come back? What if I made him so angry he's left for good? What if I'm just being paranoid now? What if I'm just being the same overprotective person as Peeta was? What if after all that's happened in our lives I can't blame him for getting worried? What if this is all just a stupid fight? But what if he doesn't come back?
What if? What if? What if?
---
"So what do you think of the rose colour for the table cloth because I've been wondering if it's too plain and that I should get some flowers embroidered along the edges and... Katniss are you listening?"

Effie says, not impatiently but out of concern. I sit up a bit straighter to try make myself more alert and say apologetic

"Yeah... Sorry I just got a lot on my mind"

She nods, folding the planner and placing it aside before asking me

"So what went on between you two this morning?"

I shake my head and state dishonestly

"Nothing"

She gives a slight laugh before looking at me and saying

"No offence honey but you weren't the quietest and I was sleeping until then so..."

I moan, putting my head in my hands embarrassed

"God... Sorry Effie"

She tells me it's fine and then waits with a questioning look for me to explain what went down. So I tell her. She says to me

"I think that it was just a fight. That's what couples do at some point, fight over nothing. Haymitch and I spend an hour last night fighting over what colour my wedding dress would be after I suggested a bright pink"

I laugh, a pure Capitol outfit. She continues

"Anyway what I'm saying is in your lifetime you and Peeta will have about a billion fights, but if you really love each other you won't let stupidity break you two apart. And besides, you are both going to be overprotective at some point after all you've both been through"

I nod, understanding about us both being overprotective. Its something that will always stay, showing us that we can never fully heal ourselves from the trauma we have experienced. I smile and tell her

"Thank you Effie"

She says with a laugh

"I'm always here, I have much experience in relationships with Haymitch"

We both laugh together until Sophie and Haymitch come in and we eat lunch.
---
The summer sun is beginning to set as I bid Sophie goodnight. She asked for Peeta to read to her, but I told her he wasn't here. Because he wasn't, I hadn't seen him since this morning. When I return back down stairs I sit on the window sill, watching the sunset past the abandoned houses across from mine, almost all empty but Peeta's. I see a light on in the window of his house, the soft glowing that confirms his presence. All of a sudden I see the light flicker off. I then look away, my eyes immediately catching Sophie's teddy bear lying on the floor. I pick it up and take him in my hands, cradling it for a moment. I then quietly make my way up the stairs, going towards Sophie's room and slipping through the gap of the door left ajar. She is peacefully asleep as I approach her quietly, placing the teddy carefully under her arm. Her arm immediately wraps around the bear and I smile. She cold tell from the moment she was given it that it was special, something that really meant something. I walk out of the room and quietly make my way across the hall and toward the stairs. When I'm about halfway down I hear a soft and quiet knock on the door. I quickly make my way down the stairs, trying my best to not create the loud creaking noise that comes when stepping on certain parts of the stairs. I open the door to find Peeta standing there, an guilty look across his face. But before we can even greet each other with words we are immediately wrapped in a hug. Its not until now I realise how much I've missed him, even if it was only for a matter of hours the distance kills me, bringing back instant memories of his capture by the capitol. I miss his warmth, his happiness he brings into my life almost every day now. His face buried in the shoulder of my blouse I hear his mumble some words I can just about make out

"I'm sorry"

I pull away, my hands resting on his neck as his do the same on my waist. I tell him with a soft smile

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I am sorry. You were just protecting me, I realise that now. That's what we do remember?"

He nods and whispers softly

"I remember"

I touch my lips to his giving them a soft kiss before he gently pulls away and taking my hand he says

"Come on, I want to show you something"

I glance back at the house whilst saying

"Sophie's upstairs and I really shouldn't leave her alone..."

He replies reassuringly

"We're not going far I promise"

So I take his hand, feeling that there is no way I could possibly refuse him. I am immediately confused as he leads me around the side of my house until I become face to face with a picnic blanket laid on the grass, covered in food and sitting directly before the sunset.