I'm lying on the couch, a carton of half-eaten ice cream that's rapidly melting balanced on my stomach. I'm surrounded by crumpled up tissues. I don't think I've cried this much since Gale attacked us and Peeta was stuck in bed for all those days.

Why did I tell him to go? He obviously didn't want to. He wanted to stay here with me, and I insisted that he go. At the time, my reasoning made sense. They would just keep calling, begging us to do the interview. Plus, we still need to act like the Capitol's puppets. So, I told him to get it over with, and come home to me as soon as possible. Initially, they were going to keep him for three days, but he berated them over the phone, lecturing them about having a pregnant wife in her third trimester, and they cut it down to one night.

He left this morning before I woke up, but somehow I know I felt his goodbye kiss, my lips still tingling when I opened my eyes to our empty bed. I just want to call him and tell him to forget all about his interview with Caesar, and get on the first hovercraft flight to 12. I know I can't do that though. He only went because I told him to.

I sigh, and yell internally at myself yet again. Why can't I just listen to him? He was right, I was wrong, but I was too proud to admit it. Sure, we need to appease the Capitol, but I don't think anybody in Panem would blame him for staying home with his seven and a half month pregnant wife.

I reach over to the end table and pick up the letter I found sitting on the kitchen table next to my already-made breakfast this morning. I've probably read it a hundred times already today, but every time I read it, I feel like he's right here with me, holding me. I can feel his presence.

"Daddy's coming home soon," I whisper as I rub my tummy. "He loves us too much to stay away. I promise." I feel a kick in response. "I know, I miss him too," I agree sadly.

I start re-reading the letter, almost immediately sobbing. It's just so beautiful.

Katniss, my wife-

As I write this, I'm only sitting a mere three feet away from you, but even that is too far. When I'm not touching you, my life feels incomplete. When we're not in the same room, the world feels like it's spinning off its axis. It's unbearable.

It's still dark outside, but when I look at you, smiling softly in your sleep, the world has never been brighter. You really have no idea the effect you have on people, Kat, especially me.

I truly wish I didn't have to leave you today. Leaving you is always the hardest thing I ever have to do, even when I'm just going to the bakery or the store. I feel like I'm letting you down, breaking a promise. Please forgive me when I come home.

I already miss you, and I haven't even left yet. I've sat here for a half hour debating whether to wake you up or not. I know you wouldn't mind, but I just can't bring myself to do it. You look too peaceful. You need the sleep too much. You're just so perfectly innocent when you're slumbering. I can't disturb that.

I know today will be hard on both of us, so I wanted to leave you this, with the hope that it somehow makes it more bearable and brightens you day a little. So, if you don't mind, I'd like to list just a few things I love about you, my wife, Katniss Mellark.

I love how you moan when I give you foot rubs.

I love how you quietly sing to the twins when you think I'm not looking, and how deep you blush when you find out I heard.

I love the way you stare into my eyes when you wash my hair.

I love how you always put your hair into the single braid you know drives me wild.

I love how much you love my cheese buns. I left some in the freezer for you.

I love the way you say my name when we're in bed together, so soft, like the world will crumble if you say it any louder.

I love how often you tell me you love me.

I love how much you already love our children.

I love how you shyly ask me to take you to bed, like I'd ever say no.

I love how you surprise me by showing up at the bakery unannounced, and sit there for hours just staring at me.

I love the fact that you hunt, and how amazing you are with your bow.

I love the tight hugs and deep kisses you give me every day when I walk through the door.

I love that your face is the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning.

I love how frustrated you get when you can't do something, like bake, even if I explain to you how hard it is.

I love how stubborn you can be, and the scowl you put on your face.

I love how your nose ever so slightly scrunches up when I kiss you in your sleep.

I love how you wash and massage my stub every night, no matter how tired you are.

I love how fiercely you demand people call you by your legal name.

I love how we kiss each other's wedding rings every day, no matter what.

I love how you were the one who proposed to me.

But most of all, Katniss, I love you. All of you. Everything about you. All your traits, moods, facial expressions, the way you talk, everything. Every single day I find something new that I love about you, and it can be something as simple as the fact you wear my t-shirts to bed every night. I could go on and on, but I'm sorry, I don't have the time. Just know that if I were to write down everything I love about you, I'd never finish.

I have to get going now, but I hope this letter helped in some way. I wish I could be there with you, holding you, kissing you.

I'll be home before you know it. I promise.

Tell the twins Daddy loves them and misses them.

I love you,

Always,

Peeta

The tears are welcome as they stream down my face. He writes so beautifully when he's talking about me. I almost don't believe it's real, even though I'm holding it in my hand. How can he actually have that many things that he claims he loves me for? When I think about it, really, I could go on and on myself about the various things I love about him. His eyes, his personality, the way he says my name, the fact he'll cook me anything whenever I want.

I miss him. So, so very much. He's only been gone since this morning, and it's unbearable. It's like half of me is missing. Is this what it would be like if he was gone? I wouldn't last a day, I know that now. I would be a horrible parent without him, falling into a deep, deep depression. No wonder I put in my will that Prim gets custody if anything happens to us.

I glance at the clock and realize his interview will be starting any minute. I sigh and grab the remote off the floor, flipping the TV on. I find the right channel, and I'm just in time. They're introducing Caesar.

Soon, Peeta comes out, and I start crying again. He looks so handsome.

He answers questions about us, the twins, the upcoming Quell and how we're dealing with being mentors, and about our upcoming parenthood. Peeta, as always, is charming and makes everyone laugh. It's obvious that he misses me though. His hands are slightly fidgeting in his lap, and I know it's because he wishes he was holding my hand. I wish the same.

It's over before I know it, and before he leaves, he asks Caesar if he can say something to me first. He knows I'll be watching.

"Kat, I hope you got my letter, and I want you to know everything I wrote in it is true. I miss you so much, and I saw you just this morning. Just know that if I could, I would be home with you and our babies. I'll be home before you know it. I promise. I love you, always."

Then he gets up and walks off the stage, and I'm left a blubbering mess on our couch. How dare he do that to me! He knows what it'll do to me, especially coupled with his amazing letter. But, I can't blame him. It was so sweet. He just poured his heart out to me, and the whole country was watching. I feel like the most special girl in the world.

Suddenly, the phone rings. I'm annoyed right away. I reach behind me and grab it.

"What?" I snap into the receiver.

"Kat?" Peeta whispers.

"Peeta!" I yelp.

"It's me, honey."

"Peeta, I just saw you on TV. How are you calling already?" I ask.

"Don't worry about that," he's still whispering.

"Peeta, why are we whispering?"

"I don't know. It's fun, isn't it?" He laughs, and I've never heard a sweeter sound.

"I guess," I shrug like he actually can see me. But he's in the Capitol, hundreds of miles from home.

"Kat, I need you to do me a favor. I need you to get up off the couch, okay?"

"Peeta, how do you know I'm on the couch?" I demand.

"You just told me you watched my interview, honey."

"Oh. Yeah."

"Now please, stand up. There you go baby. Now I want you to turn the TV off."

"Okay, Peeta, it's off and I'm standing in the middle of the living room. Now what?" I'm getting kind of frustrated with his little game.

"Now, I want you to turn around."

"Fine."

I turn around quickly, and almost faint.

Peeta's standing five feet away from me.

He smiles, and hangs up the phone. No wonder he was whispering. How did I not hear him?

"I always keep my promises," he whispers.

"Peeta," I whimper out. I burst into tears and almost collapse until he wraps me up in his arms. I bury my face into his shirt and clutch onto him.

"I'm here, I'm with you."

"How are you here?" I sob.

"I taped the interview this morning and hopped a hovercraft back. There was no way I was sleeping in a bed without you."

"Oh, Peeta, I missed you so much."

He somehow moves us to the couch, almost sitting in my ice cream, and we cuddle.

"I missed you too. I see you got my letter," he picks it up and notices how it's stained with tears. He also motions to the hundreds of tissues all over and surrounding the couch, and I just shrug.

"I love it, Peeta. I've read it so many times. It's so beautiful," I tell him.

"No, you're beautiful," he whispers honestly. I blush.

"Even when I can't stop crying?" I ask.

"Especially when you can't stop crying," he nods.

That just makes me cry even harder, and I chuckle through my tears.

"Kat, it's okay, I'm here," he soothes.

"I know," I nod. "I just missed you so much, Peeta. I couldn't do anything without you. I just sat on the couch and thought about you all day."

"Oh, Katniss, I'm sorry. I should never have left you," he sadly says.

"No, I told you to go. I just didn't realize how horrible it would be. It's not your fault," I assure him. He nods after a moment.

"So how is my family doing tonight?" He asks, rubbing my belly softly. I snort and laugh.

"We're good. Happy now that Daddy's home, aren't we guys?" I get another kick in response. "See, Peeta? They missed you as much as I did." He beams.

"I can't wait until they're here," he says in reverence.

"Me either," I confirm as we both gaze down at our children, our hands linked over my huge stomach.

"Oh, I talked to Annie today," I remember. "She and Finnick decided where they're having the wedding."

"Where?" Peeta asks, genuinely curious.

"In our backyard," I smile.

"What?"

"Yeah. Annie says that they talked about it, and since the twins are going to be only a couple weeks old at the most, they don't want us to have to travel to another District, so they're bringing the wedding here. I already called the Mayor and he said we could use all the empty houses in Victor's Village to house everyone. Are you okay with this? I told her it was fine, but I can always call-"

"Of course I am," he interrupts. "I think it's great. It's so considerate of them to move their wedding for us. They're such great friends."

"Yes, they are," I agree. "I can't believe that I'm a maid of honor and you're a best man either. It's going to be so much fun."

"You know that it's an old tradition that the best man sleeps with the maid of honor, right?" He smirks.

"We'll see about that," I tease. He frowns jokingly. "Fine, as long as I don't have to wear my dress." He smiles.

"And I can't wait to see the twins all dressed up too. They're going to be so cute."

"I know. Cinna has already designed about a thousand things for them," I remind. We keep getting boxes and boxes from him. The nursery is filling up quick.

"Oh, I also talked to Dr. Gaius while I was there briefly," Peeta says. I motion for him to go on. "I told her how you want to deliver the twins at home, so she said she's going to have all kinds of stuff delivered soon. We're going to turn one of the guest rooms into a delivery room that will rival the best hospitals in the country. She also said she and Dr. Sutherland will be here to deliver the babies."

"Really? You did that for me, Peeta?" I ask incredulously.

"Of course I did, Kat. I want you and the twins as healthy and as safe as possible," he says quietly.

I impulsively lean up and kiss him hard, realizing we hadn't kissed since he got home. That's not like us.

After we greet each other properly for a few minutes, we settle back into our cuddling position.

"I want my mom and Prim to be there too when the twins come," I tell him.

"I figured you would," he nods. "I think they'd love to be there with us."

"Who says you're going to be there?" I tease.

His jaw drops, and he tries to say something, but nothing comes out. I just smirk up at him.

"I'm kidding. Of course you're going to be right next to me. Who else am I going to yell at or crush their hand? I need you, Peeta, always."

He sighs with relief.

"Thanks, Katniss. It means a lot to me that you want me with you."

"Obviously I do," I say. "Look at how I was today without you. I'm a mess."

"I don't know, you look pretty sexy to me," he wiggles his eyebrows.

"Sexy? I'm wearing your old t-shirt, a pair of sweats, my hair is falling out of my braid, my stomach is sticking out the bottom of my shirt, and my face is covered in tear tracks," I point out.

"Exactly," he shrugs. "Beautiful."

"Sometimes I don't understand you," I tell him honestly.

"As long as you believe me," he replies.

"You do never lie to me."

"I can't. I'm too afraid of what you might do if you find out. And I know you would," he says shakily.

I laugh. "Good boy." I pinch his cheeks and kiss the tip of his nose.

"So, um, I was saying how sexy you look tonight," he says barely above a whisper.

"Yeah….," I prompt.

"Well, um, I was wondering, since we haven't seen each other all day, if we could maybe, um, uh….help me out here please, Kat," he pleads.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I deadpan. He frowns.

"Please, Katniss," he begs.

"Are you begging me to finish your sentence or…begging me for the other thing?"

"Both?"

I laugh heartily.

"Well, in that case, yes, let's go upstairs and have sex like we haven't seen each other in forever, and that obviously answers the second question as well."

"Really?" He asks like he doesn't believe me.

"Do I have to say it again, or should we just hang out on the couch?"

"No! Let's go," he panics slightly.

"Peeta, you have to carry me to our bedroom though," I smile.

"But of course," he smiles. "I was planning on it anyways."

He stands up and reaching down, puts an arm around my back and under my legs, picking me up bridal style like he always does. My hands wrap around his neck and link, and I rest my head against his shoulder and sigh happily.

Everything is right in my world again.

Later that night, after we've finished multiple rounds of lovemaking, we collapse in a heap on our bed which is now a mess.

"You really meant all those things you wrote in your letter?" I whisper.

He looks at me with a determination I've only seen once before – right when he said 'I do'.

"Always."

A/N: Okay, so a shorter chapter than usual. I just had this idea in my head, and I wanted to write it down before I forgot all my good ideas. We're still slowly moving towards the twins being born and the Quell, but we'll definitely have a few more chapters before those events, due to popular demand.

As always, I thank you all for your reviews and kind words.

Keep reviewing and reading. Have a great night.