Katniss POV- (About 2:45am)
(Text from Peeta)
"Willow and I will be there in about 5 minutes." He says.
I can't stop smiling.
Today has been quite lonely without them but I'm so excited I'm here, I'm just completely dreading tomorrow. They'll probably be gone most of the day after we get there and I'll be in another hotel room I'm sure.
I flip off the tv, climbing out of the warm, white, clean bed and grab my jacket, zipping it up. I grab my phone and key card and head downstairs.
The hall is empty and so quiet it's creepy. I go down the elevator alone, which is even creepier.
The lobby is empty too besides a man at a desk who's half asleep.
I must startle him because he gasps a little when I walk past.
"Ma'am?" He says, his eyes wide and more alert than they were before.
I look up, "Did you think you saw a ghost?" I laugh, merely amused with his expression.
"Well... No..." He says and I want to believe him but I can't.
I laugh it off and glance out the front doors.
"What are you doing?" He asks.
"My husband is about to be here, I was going to go outside and help him bring his things in." I say and he nods.
I walk into the cold night air and about that time, Peeta's car pulls into the parking lot.
My heart races and I quickly rush over to it. He gets out and I jump into his arms, he takes a step back, holding onto me.
"I missed you so much." I say into his chest.
"I missed you too, even though it's only been 24 hours." Peeta laughs tiredly.
I smile, "I'm really sorry I didn't go with you this morning and that I am a brat and had to come but I think I would've gone crazy if I hadn't." I tell him.
He kisses my lips.
It's warm and welcoming, unlike the atmosphere out here.
"It's perfectly fine. I'm glad you did."
"Me too." I say.
Peeta lets out a yawn and by the look of his face and eyes, I can tell he's exhausted.
"I am just glad I get to be with you on your birthday. I would've felt bad to have missed it, especially under these circumstances."
"I'm glad you're gonna be here too but it honestly wouldn't have been too big of a deal, I would've had Willow too."
"Don't argue because you'll lose." I laugh.
Peeta smiles, "You haven't changed a bit the last 24 hours." He says shaking his head and setting me down on the ground.
I roll my eyes and playfully slap his arm, "Sorry, I tried but I just couldn't bring myself to do it." I shrug and he laughs.
"I wanna get Willow." I say peaking in the back window.
"Go ahead. Surprisingly she stayed up until about 1 and fell back asleep but she's been awake most of the day." He tells me.
I smile and open up the back seat. She's in her car seat, cuddled up with her lamb and a blanket too.
I carefully unbuckle her and get her out without waking her. An art I've mastered.
I wrap the blanket around her again, she lays her head on my shoulder and Peeta wraps his arm around my waist.
I'm so glad that I came. (Ya know both ways 😏😂sorry)
It reminds me of last night when she slept with us, Peeta on one side and Willow on the other.
It felt so nice.
My family surrounding me-the two most important people in my life.
"Let's get inside, it gets pretty cold here at night." Peeta says as he grabs their bags and we go back into the warm hotel, the man waves as we walk back in and get on the elevator.
"Goodness, I'm exhausted." Peeta complains.
"You know, that even though I don't really like the idea, I think it's very sweet of you to drive all this way for Willow and I. And I know I don't believe it now but I'm sure that eventually I'll be happy you did this." I tell him.
He smiles sadly, "I just don't want you to regret it."
"And I don't think that I will but I probably will." I say shrugging.
Peeta sighs, "I figure you will but if not we at least have our asses covered."
The elevator opens up and Peeta follows me down the hall to our room. We go inside and I lay Willow in the bed.
I walk over to where Peeta is getting undressed and I just watch him.
"What?" Peeta asks, looking up cluelessly.
I chuckle and shake my head, "Nothing."
He laughs a little, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Because."
Peeta smiles tiredly, "Because why?" He asks, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me chest to chest with him.
"Because you're absolutely adorable." I say with a sly laugh.
He scoffs and shakes his head.
"I'm serious."
"Well, thanks." Peeta laughs.
I lean forward and press a kiss to his cheek.
He grins, "You must've really missed me the last 24 hours..."
"I did." I tell him truthfully.
Peeta sighs, "Actually, it's only been about 23 hours but it's whatever." He winks at me.
I laugh a little.
He grabs my face and pecks my lips over and over and over.
My stomach churns as I lean further into him, loving the sudden affection he's giving me.
We've been extremely affectionate lately but we weren't for what seemed the like the longest time so I am soaking this up.
Our foreheads are pressed together and he smiles widely, nearly out of breath. He lets out a small laugh and I do too.
"If only Willow wasn't here." I laugh a little.
Peeta chuckles, "What?" He asks, even though he knows exactly what.
I give him a knowing look.
"Nothing." I say and he grabs my butt.
"Peeta Mellark!" I jump, scolding him.
He chuckles, "Oh, are you the only one allowed to do that?"
I return the favor, "Yes. And incase you forgot about the last time I told you-it's still adorable and very firm and nice."
"Yours too, Hun."
I laugh, "Hun?" I repeat.
"Hun." He confirms.
I chuckle, "I love you."
It takes a second for another smile to cross his face, "I love you too." Peeta says.
I hug him tight and he kisses the top of my head.
"You know what?"
I look up at him.
"Maybe we just needed a trip to figure out who we are exactly." He says quietly, knowing I'll understand what it is he's telling me.
"Maybe." I say.
It's true, we do seem to be more back to ourselves than we were even just yesterday.
"Maybe we could let your mom visit Willow tomorrow and let us go on a date or something?"
I bite my tongue and nod my head.
"What?" He asks.
"Nothing." I say quickly.
He shrugs, "You don't want Willow being left alone with her?"
"Yeah. It's not that I don't trust her or whatever but yeah..." I shrug my shoulders.
I completely trust my mother with her but at the same time I don't want her to get individual time with her. I want Peeta to at least be there to kind of ruin that specialness for her I guess, I'm not sure.
"That's fine. I just thought that maybe we could go spend some time together but if not that's fine." He smiles.
"You're lying."
"I'm not." He says.
I sigh, "I'll think about it." I say.
He shrugs his shoulders, "Alright."
'Alright' in that tone he also says 'Okay' in when he just wants me to shut up.
"Let's go to bed." I say to him and he nods and we break away.
I undress into my underwear and then flip out the lights, the television illuminating the room.
We both get into bed, Willow in between us and we face each other.
I reach out and taking his hand and he pulls it to his lips, "I love you."
"I love you too." I say and he squeezes my hand.
I smile softly and he returns it.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight." I repeat softly.
***45 comments please!!! Also my 700th follower will get a dedication in the next chapter and also any ideas for the next chapter? I have a few but I want some sparks :)