Family

by KatPeeta23

This is the sequel of That Was Then, This Is Now. And...what if on Hallie's birthday, all the children in the family gets kidnapped? What if, after a year, everyone gives up. But what if Katniss doesn't? If Katniss lied and went to college for a detective, too, surely she can find the kids? And maybe that hobby Peeta talked about in the last story...maybe that comes in handy.

6. Chapter 6

The drive back takes a week instead of a couple of days this time because I have to stop in New York City to drop of the girls. Olive and Tori say that their family disowned them and they want to move to Vermont. So I stop in New York City and help them pack their things. Peeta tells me that the kids aren't doing so well and they think I'm dead and they refuse to sleep or anything. He says they won't bathe and they keep having nightmares. Olive and Tori move in together with Olive's son and they're getting an apartment in Vermont.
When I see the "Welcome to Derby, Vermont" sign, I'm so happy.
"Want me to drop you off somewhere?" I ask
"You don't have to. We can go from your house." Tori says.
So I head to my house. It's five in the afternoon. When I walk in the front door, the family is trying to get Bailee to speak. They're sitting on the couch, side by side, staring blankly at the wall. I kiss all three of their hands from behind, and then when I move in front of them, the three of them burst into sobs and tackle me to the floor, actually knocking me down. They have hollows under their eyes, they look dirty and unhealthy, their hair is greasy and their breath stinks.
"Hey," I stop them. "Go take a bath. All of you." I order them.
"Come with us!" Brennan begs. "Please Mama!"
"Yeah, we can take a bath together!" Hallie begs.
"Fine, let's go." I get up and head upstairs, carrying Brennan with me since he can't walk. His cast is waterproof so it'll be fine. I start the tub, in my tub since it's the biggest one, and I help them strip and put them in the water. I help them wash and dress, and make them brush their teeth and hair, and then I force them to eat.
"I'm not hungry. I don't want to eat." Hallie complains.
"Well sometimes in life you have to do things you don't want to do. Now eat or you're going in your room for the day." She makes a pouty face, but keeps eating anyways.
I clean up their mess after making them wash their hands, and then I put them to sleep in me and Peeta's bed, I take a shower and take care of myself first.
When I'm done, I go downstairs and right into Peeta's open arms. Olive and Tori must have left. "You need to sleep," he whispers.
"I don't want to." I mumble. He tilts my head up so my chin is on his chest and I'm staring up at him.
"Well sometimes in life you have to do things you don't want to do." He whispers.

…..s…..

I wake up alone. I can hear the shower, and it's still dark. It's three in the morning.
I know Peeta moved the kids to their beds.
I get up and knock on the door of the bathroom.
"What?"
That's Peeta. I walk into the bathroom.
"Why are you knocking?" He asks.
"Because I didn't know it was you in here." I say, forcing my eyes to stay on his.
"Well..." He shrugs and shuts off the water, wrapping a towel around his waist. All I'm in is a thin pair of panties and one of his shirts without a bra.
He changed my clothes too, then.
"I thought you were still asleep." He says as he begins to dry his hair.
"Well I'm not..." I stare at him, my eyes drifting to his abs. I move to the bedroom and lock the door. He goes to get himself boxers, but I grab his wrist and push him towards the bed. "The kids are in bed. The door is locked." I mumble.
"So?" He asks.
"So?" I kiss him, and he laughs.
"Oh." He mumbles.