Katniss POV-
"I'll see you probably Monday morning sometime." Peeta says and wraps his arms around me in a hug, pressing a warm, hard kiss to my cheek and we just stay there for a few minutes.
I feel like I'm about to cry but I hold it in because it's my decision not to go and he will just feel bad for me or something and then force me to go with him and I don't want to go.
I would go if it wasn't to see my mother.
He rocks us back and forth, both of our eyes closed. I breathe him in and he stops, kissing my forehead.
"We have to go." He says.
We slowly pull away and I nod my head.
"You're sure you don't want to go?"
"I'm sure." I say but again I'm not but again I am.
"Okay. Just enjoy some time to yourself, Katniss. Don't spend the whole time crying or thinking about us, we will be perfectly fine." He assures me.
It's sad he knows exactly what I'll be spending the next few days doing.
I nod.
"Here, you want to go put Willow in the car?" He asks.
"Yes." I say and he hands her over to me.
She's passed out, being that it's 3am.
We go outside and I put her in her car seat, making sure she's completely secure and I kiss her cheek.
"I love you, baby girl." I say and close the car door. Peeta is behind me and I embrace him again.
"Please just drive super carefully." I say into his ear.
"I will."
I pull back, "I love you."
"I love you too. We will be fine, I promise. I will call you when we get to 10? That's just a few hours and then I'll call a few other times and we will probably stop in a hotel in District 5 or 4 maybe. And I'll call when we get there, alright?"
"Okay."
"Katniss, we don't have to go if you really don't want us to." Peeta tries.
I shake my head, "No. Go." I say.
I kind of want them to have some time together but again it's to see my mom and I am unsure how I feel about that and at the same time I want to go but I don't.
I just don't know what to do.
Things were a lot simpler yesterday, before my mother called.
Now I'm all confused about things again.
"Okay, well we really need to go." He says.
"I know."
I give him one last hug and he kisses my lips, "I love you. I'll see you soon. Remember that you need to relax." He says pulling away and just having to cut the string and get in and leave.
Because he and I both know that if he doesn't force himself away then it won't happen.
He backs out of the driveway and that's when I start crying, but thankfully it's dark so he can't see me. He waves and I wave back and then they're gone.
I wipe away my tears and head back into the house that already feels so lonely and I lock the door, turning on the security like I do every morning after Peeta leaves.
I lay on the couch and watch tv, some stupid show about history.
At 5am I fall asleep.
I don't wake up again until 10:30 and that's when I see Peeta tried calling just minutes before.
I dial him back.
(On the phone with Peeta)
"Hey, baby. Were you asleep?"
"Yeah, sorry." I say with a yawn.
He chuckles, "It's okay. I was just gonna tell you that Willow has been awake since 7 and is filling my ears with her random screeches and screams."
I smile widely, "Doesn't surprise me." I giggle.
She's definitely good at those.
"And we are going through Ten still, which is jam packed since it's so early so I have a feeling we won't be leaving here until about 11 or 12."
"Wow."
"Yeah, I was hoping to be in Nine by now but you know how big everything is compared to us and how much traffic there usually is on weekdays."
"Yep."
"Were you crying when we left?"
I scoff, "Yes I was, thank you."
Peeta laughs a little, "I figured but I knew you'd get mad if I stopped or whatever."
"I would've." I laugh.
"I still think you should've come with us."
I sigh, "It's not that I didn't want to go with you and Willow it's just that y'all are going to see my mother and besides, I want you both to have a trip together."
I know it really doesn't make any sense but I know that I'm better off if I stay here so I did.
He sighs, "Alright."
"And besides, you rarely get to witness Willow's lovely screeching skills." I laugh.
Peeta chuckles, "Yeah, I'm so glad I get to hear them all day long."
"It's cute though. Very annoying but cute."
He laughs, "True."
"Just wait until she starts asking you questions."
She loves playing the 'Why? Game' with me in the car.
"Gosh, I love her so much." He says.
I smile.
"Me too."
"I am really glad we had her."
"So am I." I tell him 100% truthfully, tears streaming down my cheeks.
I hear a smile in his voice, "I love you, Katniss."
I sniffle, "I love you too, Peeta." I say.
"Are you crying?"
"Yes." I say with a laugh, wiping away my tears.
He chuckles, "Don't cry."
"I am not really upset, I just miss you guys already."
"We miss you too but you should've come along." He says.
I chuckle, "I know but I didn't. I'll be fine."
"Why don't you call Bristol or someone to go to lunch. I bet Bristol would love to go."
"I probably will." I say truthfully.
"Okay, just go have some fun or go do something. Do something you can't do when Willow and I are home."
I laugh, "Like sleep."
"Yes." Peeta laughs.
I smile.
"Can I go to the lake?"
There's a long silence.
"I don't care as long as you call and tell Finnick or someone that you're out there in case you need help."
"Alright." I say, smiling ear to ear.
"But I want you to be careful and call me when you make it back."
"I will. I may not go until tomorrow or Sunday. I don't know."
"Okay, well be sure to let Finnick or whoever know that you're out there."
"I will, Peeta."
He sighs, "Okay."
"Can I talk to Willow?" I ask him, at least he's in traffic and can give her the phone.
"Yeah, hold on." He says.
"Talk to Mommy." I hear him in the background.
"Willow?" I say.
"Hi." She says.
I smile, "What are you doing, baby?"
"I in car."
"With who?"
She laughs like I am an idiot and then says, "Dada." Like 'Seriously? You know who!'
"Really?" I ask her and she sounds annoyed.
"Yep." She says.
I laugh, "I miss you."
I hear her laugh.
"You be good for Daddy and don't give him a headache." I tell her.
"'Kay." Willow pipes.
"Can I talk to Daddy?"
"Yep." She says and I hear rustling around and then Peeta's voice.
"Hey." He laughs.
I smirk, "Hey."
"She sounded so amused."
"She was." I assure him.
He chuckles, "Well, I better let you go. I'll call you in a few hours."
"Okay, I am gonna go find something to do." I say.
"You do that." Peeta laughs.
"I will." I say scrunching my nose.
"I know you will." He says and I make a creeped out face and laugh.
He's such a weirdo.
"I love you." He laughs.
"I love you too." I say softly.
"Bye, sweetheart." He says, a smile in his voice.
"Bye." I say and hang up.
My smile fades.
I stand up and go to the kitchen.
I make some cereal and call Bristol.
(On the phone with Bristol)
"Hello?"
"Hey."
"Hi, Katniss." She pipes.
I smile, "Want to go to lunch later?"
"I have to work for a teacher at eleven-thirty. Is everything alright?"
I shrug, "Yes. Peeta and Willow are going to see my mother so I'm here." I sigh.
"Oh..." She says.
"Yeah, so it's just me until Monday."
"Oh, maybe this weekend you and I can go do something."
"Okay. How's Carter?"
"She's good."
"Good." I smile.
We rarely see them anymore but she's still a big part of our lives, so is Finn.
They come over occasionally to play with Willow.
"Yeah, well, I gotta go get Carter up and then get ready to go to work."
"Alright, I'll talk to you later." I say.
"Okay, bye, sweetie." She says.
I smile, "Bye."
I hang up and groan. I am not sure who else to call that's not working. There's Annie but she's busy.
I feed Buttercup and then he goes outside and I do too.
It's still extremely warm for September so I just sit there for ever until I realize what today is.
It's September 16th.
Peeta's brithday is in two days.
I freak out.
Peeta's birthday is on Sunday.
I call him immediately.
(On the phone with Peeta)
"Peeta!" I say frantically.
"What? What's wrong?" He asks worriedly.
"How come you didn't remind me that your birthday was on Sunday?! You're not even going to be here." I say.
He sighs, "I didn't even remember it myself."
I groan, "I know it by heart but I haven't been aware of the date in weeks."
He laughs, "It's not a big deal, Katniss."
I roll my eyes, "Yes it is. I won't get to be with you on your birthday."
"It'll be fine. Don't stress out about it."
I groan, "I should've just gone with you."
"You should've but you didn't. It's not a big deal, Katniss. Calm down."
"I've spent every birthday with you for the last 5 years, I want to be with you for this one."
"Then fly here."
I sigh, knowing that's what he would say.
"Could you come back tomorrow?"
"Why don't you just come over here? We could spend the rest of the weekend and take our time to go back. Maybe not until like Wednesday or something?"
"What about the bakery?" I ask him.
People are probably already upset he closed today and Monday but to add two more days is kind of pushing it. But again, it's not like they have many other options.
He scoffs, "I think we will be fine for a few days. My keys are upstairs, go put another sign up."
I really don't want to go and I feel extremely bad to have not gone this morning and wasted money but I feel worse because I didn't realize Peeta's birthday was on Sunday.
"Are you sure you just can't come back earlier?" I ask him, making a face.
I do not want to go anywhere.
"Katniss, quit. You won't have to see her so just stop." He says annoyed.
I sigh.
"Fine."
"You should've just gone with us and I would say we could come back but it's not that big of a deal to me as it is you so you get to come here." He says with a 'Ha' at the end.
I laugh, "You're so sweet." I say rolling my eyes.
He laughs, "I swear you're such a brat." He says.
I smile, "But you know how much I don't want to go and I am and it's for you so hush."
Peeta laughs, "You really don't have to come, Katniss."
"I want to for you."
"I ditched you on my birthday two years ago so you should do it to me this time."
I sigh, "No."
"I was kidding. I didn't mean to bring that up but remember that was my dumbass."
"I remember, Peeta." I say.
"I know you do."
I groan.
"I forgot my swim stuff too so you can bring that when you come."
I laugh, "I'm guessing you're taking us to the beach, now?"
"I'm making a trip out of it, so yes. Don't forget yours and Willow's too."
I scoff, "Anything else?"
"Nope. Just you and your adorable face."
"You're getting your way."
He laughs, "I know, but listen here..."
"What?"
"I have known you for six years and know how you are."
"Do you?"
"Yes. You're so predictable that I need you to go to our bedroom and where my keys are at, there's a plane ticket for you that doesn't leave until 8 tonight."
I bite my lip, closing my eyes and just laugh.
"You're serious?"
"I am dead serious. I knew you'd figure it out or want to end up coming so I bought it last night when I went to the bakery."
I laugh, "Seriously?"
"I knew what you would do before you did."
I shake my head.
"Six years, Katniss."
I chuckle, "Maybe you know me better than I know myself."
"Sometimes I think so, but other times I'm not so sure."
"You only have like 10 hours until your flight so you better get ready."
"Peeta, you knew I would do it so why didn't you just force me to come with you or remind you that your birthday was Sunday?"
"I wanted to see if I was right and lookie there, I was." He laughs.
"You just wasted a bunch of money doing that." I say rolling my eyes.
He laughs, "It's fine. It wasn't that much and it would've costed us more to come back."
"But still."
"Just quit complaining. You know I was right."
"I know that but ugh, I don't know what to think. I still don't want to go but I am just because it's your birthday. If it wasn't you know I wouldn't be going, right?"
"I know."
"What would you have done if I wouldn't have realized?"
Peeta sighs, "I know you, Katniss. I made the flight so late because I knew you'd figure it out before then."
"I want to hug you so bad right now and punch you too but I can't." I laugh.
"Wow. Violence." He laughs, "But just until about 3am and you can hug me all you want."
"You won't be there until then?" I frown.
"By the looks of it? No."
"24 hours without seeing my baby." I frown.
"We've gone longer than that, Katniss."
I laugh, teasing him.
"Not you, Willow. I haven't been away from her longer than a few hours. Let alone a whole day."
"It'll be alright, I promise."
"I know."
"You better go get stuff ready, Katniss."
I stand up, "I will. Just don't think you did the right thing by buying me a plane ticket last night. You should've just let me suffer or something."
Peeta laughs, "You're so dramatic. I just knew what would happen...or I had a really good idea of what would probably happen."
"I gotta go." I say.
He laughs, "I'll see you tonight, Princess. Text me when you get on and off the plane."
"I will. I love you."
"I love you too." He says.
"Peeta. Thank you for putting up with me and doing this." I say.
He laughs, "No problem. You put up with me so I gotta put up with you." Peeta says.
I smile, "What are wives for?"
Peeta chuckles, "Bye."
"Bye." I say and he hangs up.
I go back inside and just start laughing.
How the hell did he know that I was going to change my mind?
I still feel horrible that I forgot his birthday was this Sunday but it's working out I guess.
I don't know much about anything but I do know we are lucky he puts up with my stubbornness and that I put up with his.
***Idk I wasn't gonna have Katniss go but then I was like crap Peeta's bday is soon and then realized all this stuff so I went back and changed the number of skipped weeks to one instead of two and made his birthday be this trip and then yeah it's working out but idk what to do next and I've been writing this chapter for 4 hours and I don't know why bc usually every other chapter that is like 3000+++ words takes less than ten minutes but I am blank and this is only 2800 words. Lol ideas PLZ