Katniss POV- (Later that afternoon)
"Oh." Carter says, immediately breaking down into tears.
My heart breaks and she gets up and walks over to Peeta and I, hugging us both.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart." Peeta says, crying and hugs her tightly.
I've never seen her so upset in her life.
She climbs into his lap and cries into his shoulder.
Bristol gets up and tries to comfort her but she refuses it.
The only person she wants is Peeta and I had a feeling that would be the case.
"Now I will never get to meet my real dad." She cries.
I look at Peeta and see he's just as heartbroken as Bristol and I are.
She's is crying hysterically and I feel like it too but I can't.
I get up and wrap my arms around Bristol and hold her close to me.
"I wanted to tell him that I still loved him even though he didn't love me." Carter tells Peeta in a sob.
I glance over and he frowns, looking hopeless.
"Sweetheart, he loved you very much and he didn't leave because he didn't love you." Peeta tells her truthfully.
"He left cause he didn't want me." She says.
Bristol cries harder at the words that Carter seems to have all figured out.
"He did too want you. I promise you that he loved you and the reason he left was so that your mom could meet Blake and he could be your dad." Peeta says.
"But he doesn't love me either he only loves my sister." She says kind of angrily.
None of us know how to react to it.
Peeta and I have had our suspicions of it and so has Bristol but for Carter to actually feel that way hurts.
"How come my real dad let him be my dad instead?" Carter asks Peeta.
Peeta starts, stumbling with his words and then stops.
She cries and cries into his chest, eventually she is mostly silent, except for her choppy breaths.
"Carter?"
Bristol gets up and goes to the bathroom and I'm left there with Peeta and Carter.
She brings up her head and looks at Peeta.
He wipes her eyes and pushes back her brown hair.
"Your real dad loved you very very much. He couldn't take care of you or your mom the way he wanted so that's why he left. It wasn't because of you so don't you ever feel that way. Blake loves you too. I know he doesn't always tell you but he loves you." Peeta explains to her.
"But I don't feel like anyone loves me."
"You don't know how much your Mommy loves you or Aunt Katniss and I? Willow loves you so so much and Finn does too. Annie and Finnick love you too and Johanna loves you. And you know who else loves you?"
She shakes her head.
"That little baby in Aunt Katniss's tummy. Did you know that?"
Carter smiles sadly and sniffles.
"We are all going to love you no matter what happens and just because your real dad is gone doesn't mean he doesn't love you." Peeta says.
"But he is dead."
"Just because he is dead doesn't mean he doesn't love you." I butt in.
She turns and looks at me.
"My dad is dead too and so is Uncle Peeta's." I say and get up, going over to them.
She looks at Peeta and he nods his head.
"Did you cry this much when your dad's died?" She asks us.
We both nod.
"But how come I am crying if I didn't know him?" She asks.
"Because it's sad and that's okay if you're sad." Peeta says truthfully.
She frowns, "My Mommy is really really sad too."
"She is but she will be okay too." I say.
Carter takes a deep, shaky breath, "I am so sad." She says and breaks down again.
Peeta hugs her tightly and I lay my head on his shoulder as Carter cries her heart out.
Bristol comes back and I get up. We go out to the backyard and sit on the porch.
"I've failed as a mother." She mumbles to me as I sit down next to her.
"How?"
"She doesn't have a dad and has one that honestly doesn't love her as much as he should."
"That doesn't mean you failed."
"She doesn't even want my comfort."
I sigh, "She wants Peeta's but that's okay."
"You'd both make better parents to my girls than Blake and I could."
"You're an amazing mother and Blake is a good dad. I just wish he would treat Carter more like his own."
"And I want to tell him that but I'm afraid."
"It needs to be said. He can't get mad at Peeta for her liking him better since he didn't even show up tonight to support her."
"She wouldn't have taken his comfort anyways."
"Okay but still. She comfortable with Peeta."
"I know but that's only because I couldn't get my shit together when she was a baby. I was too busy trying to be in love."
I sigh, "I say you take her home and
hold her all night long whether Blake is there or not and you let her know how much you love her." I start.
"She's not gonna let me do that."
"She will too if you try. She thinks that none of us love her, show her."
Bristol sighs.
"Put your own hurt aside for your daughter's because I have never seen her so upset before." I tell her truthfully.
"I love you, Katniss." Bristol says.
I turn and embrace her, "I love you too and I'm really sorry."
"Why are you so upset?" She asks.
"Because I hate seeing you and Carter so hurt."
"Are you sure that's all?"
I sigh, "Yeah." I say lying.
She makes a face, "You're lying."
"Right after I hung up with you I got a call and they said that Rye has some kind of spot on his heart that could mean there's a very small chance of him having some kind of disease."
Bristol frowns, "Oh, Katniss. I had no idea."
"It's alright. They said not for us to worry because it was like a 2% chance."
She shakes her head, "I am so sorry, I didn't know. You and Peeta should've been dealing with this, not with my problems."
"You're problems are our problems and it's helped us keep our mind off it." I say.
Bristol sighs, "Is there anything I can do?"
I shake my head, "There's nothing. We are doing tears on Friday to get a definite answer. But it would just help Peeta and I extremely if you would just worry about what Carter needs."
She nods.
"I'm serious."
With that she gets up and I do too and we go into the house again.
By that time Carter has fallen asleep in Peeta's arms and he's crying.
"Is she okay?" I ask him, sitting back down next to him.
"She's just had a bad day." He sniffs.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
"I just had a bad day too."
"I think we all did." I say for us all and Bristol nods and so does Peeta.
I sigh, usually Peeta is the strong, positive one but his unborn child is possibly in danger and his niece is heartbroken.
He's not okay.
"I think we need to go pickup the other girls and then all go to bed." I suggest.
Bristol takes a deep breath, "Thank you guys for being here for us. We love you both so much and I'm sorry about Rye. I really really hope he is okay."
"Thank you." Peeta says quietly.
"How about you take Carter home and we will go get the girls. If you want Carson could stay with us or we could bring her home." I say.
"I'll go get Carson." She says.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, just go get Willow."
Peeta stands up, careful not to wake up Carter.
He goes and puts her in Bristol's car while I get my shoes and coat on and find the car keys. I glance out the window and see them talking.
I can't see Bristol's face but by the look on Peeta's I know he's telling her like it is and telling her how to deal with it.
They hug and then Bristol gets in her car and leaves, Peeta comes back inside, he doesn't say anything, he just pulls me into a hug and holds me tightly.
I close my eyes and hold him too.
"I hate seeing her like that."
"So do I."
"And I hate that Rye may be sick or hurt and we have no idea." He says.
I take a deep breath, not knowing what to say.
"I'm sure it's nothing but I'm still scared."
"So am I, Peeta. I haven't stopped thinking about it all day."
"Neither have I and seeing Carter so hurt killed me."
"It did me too."
"After you guys went outside, she was telling me how she wished I was her dad and how sometimes she even wished you were her mom. She said that as long as she can remember, we've both been there for her."
"Bristol's been there but since Carson was born she doesn't have enough time to pay attention to her and Blake just I don't know what to think about him."
"You know he doesn't give her barely any attention. He did before Carson was born but not since."
"It's not Carson's fault." I say.
"I know it's not. It's not Carter's fault either. Blake and Bristol need to grow up and realize that both of their children are equally important." Peeta says angrily.
"Peeta, not everyone is gonna be as fatherly as you are."
"But if I would've married you and you already had a baby I would make an honest attempt to bond with them." He says.
I take a deep breath, "Calm down. You're not telling me anything I don't already know."
"Katniss, look. I'm sorry I haven't been the nicest person today but four people I really love her in pain right now."
"Peeta, I'm sad but Rye, he's okay."
"Not if you're so upset. You know his mood depends on yours."
"Okay. But Willow is suffering too. She probably is worried sick right now because we just randomly dropped her off with Johanna without another word."
"Let's go get her then." He says rolling his eyes and taking the keys from my hands.
I scowl, "Will you please stop being rude to me?" I say angrily.
"It is not my fault that any of this happened today. I am just as worried and upset as you are about everything but you have to remember you have your own daughter who probably is worried about us right now." I say truthfully.
He glares at me and I glare right back.
"Stop acting like this is my fault. Maybe the thing with Rye is my fault but you treating me like this is not making me feel better. I know you're upset about Carter but don't take it out on me. I'm not taking it out on you, am I?" I groan.
He just walks out the front door and I follow him, shutting and locking the door behind me.
I get in the car and put on my seatbelt as Peeta gets in too.
"You can't be everyone's hero." I mumble, infuriated at him.
"I'm the only one she's got that truly and deeply cares about her besides you and Bristol!" He yells at me.
"I know that Peeta but you have a son and a daughter and a wife that need you to quit being an asshole to them. We need you to quit being a hypocrite towards Brandon and Blake and take care of your own family too!!" I yell angrily at him.
I haven't been this mad at him in I don't know how long.
I feel myself begin to cry, "You can't be everyone's hero, Peeta. I need you right now and you're too worried about my best friend and her daughter."
"You know it's not like that, Katniss."
"It is too. All day you've tried pushing back our problem because you didn't want to think about it. I need you to be there for me because I've tried keeping my mind off it but I'm scared. You have no idea how badly I've wanted Rye for nearly a year. I have three more months until he's gonna get here and now I'm being told he may not be as healthy as I had thought?" I say breaking down.
"Katniss, it's not like that at all. I just don't see a point in worrying if we won't know until Friday."
"You admitted to me you were just as worried as I am!" I yell, my voice cracking.
"I am but gosh, you know that you're really ridiculous sometimes?"
I take a deep breath and close my eyes.
"Go to Johanna's and get Willow now." I say, about to completely explode on him.
"Katniss, I'm sorry."
"Go to Johanna's now, Peeta. I don't want to talk about any of it just go." I say angrily.
He sighs and puts on his seatbelt and we leave the house.
I go in to get Willow and see Carson is already gone.
"Where's LoverBoy?" Johanna asks me.
I roll my eyes and she laughs, "I can tell he fucked up."
"Big time." I mumble and she smirks, letting me in.
When I go inside Willow is laying on the couch, her homework out on the table and she's watching a movie.
"Mommy." She says excitedly and jumps up. She runs over to me and hugs me tightly.
"Hey, baby girl."
"What happened?" Willow frowns.
"Nothing for you to worry about. Just some things that Daddy and I had to discuss." I say.
"Oh."
"We had fun though, right Willow?" Johanna says plopping down on her couch.
"Yeah." She says.
"Thanks so much for watching them. I will call you tomorrow." I tell Johanna and she nods.
I gather her things.
"Bye, Willow." Johanna says as we walk out the front door and head back to the car.
"Bye, Johanna." She says and I wave at Johanna.
Willow gets in the back and just to express my anger towards Peeta, I climb in the back too.
"Hey, Daddy." Willow says as Peeta looks back at us. He gives me a look and I glare at him.
"Hi, baby girl." He says with a sigh and turns around.
We go home.
Willow surprisingly doesn't ask questions and we don't talk about it-mostly because neither Peeta or I talk the rest of the night.
I put Willow to bed and go to bed myself. Peeta comes in about an hour later and I quickly dry up my tears and act as if I've been asleep for hours but I can't help but to keep crying.
Peeta crawls into bed, distant from me and that makes me cry even more.
"Katniss?" He says softly.
"What?" I choke out kind of angry sounding.
"Why are you crying?"
"Because I'm sad and mad and I am craving candy and I hate that stupid wall." I sob.
Peeta laughs, "It always comes back to that wall."
I can't help but to laugh sadly, "Don't make me laugh, I am mad at you."
He sits up, "I know you're mad and I'm sorry."
"I don't want to talk about it, Peeta." I say.
"My stubborn, beautiful wife, you have to talk to me or else I'm gonna have to tickle you."
"No. If you tickle me I'm going to on purpose kick you in the face and pee on your side of the bed." I scowl.
Peeta laughs a little, "That's my girl."
I groan and turn to face him in the dark, "Quit making me not mad at you."
"What? I'm not doing anything." He says trying to sound innocent.
I roll my eyes, "You know that you're like on your man-period or something right now?"
Peeta bursts out laughing, "Yeah, I'm just glad I didn't turn out to be pregnant. You would've killed me."
I can't help but to laugh, "You're so dumb."
"I love you too."
"I do love you but you've been an asshole to me the last day."
"I'm sorry. I really am." He says sympathetically.
"Will you find me some candy?" I ask him.
"Baby, it's almost midnight."
I groan, "Peeta, please?"
"I don't think we have any here and I would have to go to like the gas station or something."
I roll my eyes, "Can I go then?"
Peeta laughs, "No. Can't you wait until morning?"
"No, I really really want some." I say almost in tears again.
I haven't had many cravings but when I have had them, I get emotional about it and quick.
"Do we have any thing else?" I groan.
"Like what?"
I sigh, "Like sugary?" I say in a whine.
Peeta laughs, "Sugar."
I sit up, "Will you go get some for me?"
He scoffs, "Katniss, you just can't eat plain sugar."
"I will." I say.
"How about I run to the store for you. Is there anything else you need?"
"I need for you to kiss me and hug me and tell me that you love me and that you're sorry for being a jerk." I say.
Peeta laughs a little and gets up. He comes over to my side of the bed and grabs my cheeks, kissing me gently and then pulls me into a hug.
"I love you more than you will ever know. I love our two babies too and I love the life we have together. Nothing will ever change that and I am sorry that I have been a huge jerk to you all today. What kind of candy do you want?" He asks, knowing exactly what I wanted to hear.
I take a deep breath and try to decide.
I want chocolate I think but I also really want something crunchy but I also want some little sour candies too. I'm not sure why but I do.
"I want a chocolate bar and some sour candies. And some of those chips that you like, I don't remember what they're called but get me some of those, please?" I say puffing my bottom lip out and batting my eyes in the dark.
Peeta laughs, "Okay, I will be right back. Don't fall asleep before I get back."
"I am going to go downstairs until you get back." I say.
He scoops me up and carries me downstairs, then he leaves.
About 10 minutes later he comes back with a bagful of candies, a chocolate bar, chips and even brought us both some kind of slushy sodas and we sit on the couch together while I eat and he rubs my feet.
"You know how to treat a lady after you've pissed her off." I mention to him, teasingly.
Peeta laughs, "I've learned."
I sigh, "You always know how to treat me but I think I get my way faster now that I'm pregnant."
He smiles, "Shhh. Don't reveal your evil plan."
I snort, "Ugh, I feel so fat." I say patting my belly.
"You're not fat."
I scoff, "I can barely breathe and I'm half laying." I tell him with a laugh.
"I'm just glad you had a craving or who knows how long it would have been before you would've talked to me?" He sighs.
"Not along time because I would've needed you for something." I say truthfully.
He laughs, "Like what?"
"To hold me or something silly like that." I say truthfully.
Peeta snorts, "What?"
"I know, I know. That's not like me but I was thinking about asking for it before I got really fucking hungry." I say.
He laughs, "How about we go to bed and I hold you then?"
"I think that would be appropriate after today."
"I think so too."
He carries me to bed and it's well past midnight now, I think it's about one, nearly two. He has about four hours to sleep before he has to go to work and I'm craving the six I will receive before waking up Willow.
We crawl into bed and Peeta holds me close to him, our fingers and legs intertwined.
***ideas please :P