Chapter 20

Night and Day

(Peeta's POV)

The chances of Katniss making a full recovery was looking very slim. I refused to leave her side ever since they allowed me to see her and the baby for the first time. Haymitch, Gale and Lynn were all staying with Effie who had taken the news of Katniss's condition very hard. She too made an appearance at the hospital to visit Katniss and the baby. Joy filled her eyes as she took the child in her arms for the first time and cooed over her. She also had tried several times to convince me to take a break, sleep in an actual bed for a couple hours, eat something beside hospital food and take a decent shower. I refused of course I wanted to be with Katniss up until the very end. I tried my best not to think of that end, I had to remain positive and believe she would pull through and snap out of the coma.

She was so delicate and fragile looking that I was almost afraid to touch her, fear I might actually break her. Nothing broke my heart even more than seeing her like this, lifeless, her beautiful soul gone leaving behind a shell of the women I love, I couldn't give up what hope I had thought, she would come back to me, I just had to tell myself that over and over, one way or another she would return, she just had too. My daughter wasn't going to grow up without a mother. I'm not sure when I dozed off by her bedside but I wake up to a gentle tug on my shoulder, blinking the sleep out of my eyes I peer over my shoulder at the intruder. Haymitch gives me a small smile.

"what time is it?" I question him.

"almost noon, you look horrible boy" He comments, taking in my rugged appearance.

"What are you doing here?"

Haymitch rubs the back of his head and begins pacing, his grey eyes lock with my blue ones and he clears his throat to speak "We've all come to an agreement that maybe you should come stay with Effie for a few days, The baby is ready to be release isn't she? She is small and premature but healthy enough to leave, right?"

I sigh in frustration "I don't want to leave her"

"Think of the baby, Peeta, Do you really want her cooped up down in the hospital nursery? Effie has bought a crib for her, a bunch of baby clothes and..."

I rudely cut Haymitch off and snap out "I love her, I'm not going abandon her"

"I know you do boy, but think for a moment; do you think Katniss would want you to sit here wasting away by her bedside, refusing to barely eat, and more importantly spending as much time with that baby as possible. The doctors will call if her condition changes in any way"

I hated leaving her, but in a way Haymitch was right. The baby needed to be surrounded by loved ones instead of strange capitol nurses. I was quiet excited to see Effie again after only a couple of months being away from her, she truly was like a second mother to me and what better person to trust the baby with than her. Effie was already memorized by Willow's beauty, of course my second mother would do anything for Willow, Katniss and I.

Saying goodbye to Katniss was one of the hardest things imaginable and a lot of what ifs were clouding my mind; like her flat lining again, waking up and me not being there to greet her, but I had to push all that aside and focus on Willow, I wanted what was best for her and being around complete capitol strangers was not the answer, but neither was facing the city itself. The journey to Effie's place was surly going to be a hard one considering everyone and their mother was outside the hospital waiting for first glimpse of the star-crossed lovers baby.

When it came time to sign Willow's release papers and write a proper name on her birth certificate I had a hard time saying goodbye to her. Effie had appeared in order to help us venture to her place without alerting the publics eyes. she smiled and cooed over the baby, bringing Willow into her arms.

She looked up from the baby and gave me a weak smile "Take your time boy, we will meet you down in the lobby and take a back exit."

I took my usual place by Katniss's bedside and slid my hand into her cool ones. The soft beeping and humming of the machines keeping her alive was the only sound that could be heard in the room. I leaned over and placed my lips against her still ones.

"I love you and I need you to come back to me, come back to Willow. Wherever you are Katniss you don't belong there. You belong with us." It was no use, of course she was unresponsive. I held back the urge to breakdown and cry into her stiff chest, instead I leaned over placed a kiss on her lips, promised her that no matter what I'll visit her everyday and made my way downstairs to the lobby where I would sign a couple release papers for Willow. I exited the hospital room with one last glances towards Katniss and made my way slowly down to the Lobby.

The nurse was already down there holding Willow's tiny form in her large arms. Haymitch, Effie and unfortunately Lynn all waited patiently as I signed the release papers at the front desk. The plumb nurse transferred Willow into my arms and I was completely mesmerized by her beauty. Katniss and I truly made one beautiful kid.

"Hey girl, ready to get out of this place?" I cooed in a childish voice which made Willow screech in response. I make my way towards the group and stop next to Haymitch and Effie who had their gaze fixed on Willow.

"We have permission to exit the back of the hospital since there are so many Capitol reporters lurking in the front." Effie said.

"Thanks to some people" I cast a hard look in Lynn's direction.

"Would you rather have Katniss give birth in 12, She would of died without The Capitol medicine."

I completely ignore Lynn and follow Effie and Haymitch down a narrow hallway towards the back of the hospital. Willow wiggled in my arms and flailed her tiny little arms and legs. I chuckle quietly to myself and coo her, rocking her back and forth. There was a large black car waiting for us at the back entrances. It was bright and although the sun was high in the sky it was doing nothing to warm the atmosphere, I bring Willow as close as I can; shielding her from the freezing cold. I sank into the backseat of the car Effie and Lynn followed. I glance up at Haymitch who had a stern look on his face.

"You coming?" I ask.

"No, someone got to stay with your girl, make sure someone is there when she wakes up"

"Thank you"

With that said Haymitch shut the car door and it zoomed off. I was grateful that this car would be taking us to Effie's house. I knew that place like the back of my hand, having spent many months there while undergoing my treatment for the hijacking. I didn't want to think about the hijacking right now. not when someone so tiny and delicate was in my arms. Willow was depending on me and I wasn't going to let her down. I was determined to be the best father that I could possibly be.