Peeta was so tired. The kids were asleep and he had finished some essential chores and flung himself face down on the sofa, when his phone started buzzing. Groaning, he reached out a hand and fumbled for it. He really didn't want to talk to anyone, but it might be Katniss. Every time his phone rang, his heart jumped, hoping it was her calling to tell him she was coming home. He missed her so much.
Opening one eye, he glanced at the screen that revealed his caller was Finnick. He knew he should talk to him. Peeta had been so busy with work and the kids he'd barely spoken to his best friend in weeks and he'd blown off their regular poker game tonight. He'd been avoiding a lot of people lately, mostly trying to avoid having to explain Katniss' extended absence.
"Hey Finn," he greeted, trying his best not to sound like the last thing he wanted to do was engage in a conversation. What he really wanted to do was take a shower, go to bed, and sleep. Preferably wrapped around his wife, but that wasn't an option available to him tonight.
"Hey Peeta, I thought I'd check in with you, seeing as you blew us off tonight. You missed some quality beer and pizza. The game wasn't bad either," Finnick replied.
Peeta laughed, "what's wrong Finn, did Rye clean you out again?" He rolled over onto his back to get more comfortable.
"Yes. Yes he did, the bastard. Have I ever told you, he's not my favorite Mellark?" Finnick chuckled. "Speaking of whom, have you heard anything from the lovely Katniss about when she's coming home?"
"Haha. Yes, you've mentioned it several times. And no, I haven't heard from Katniss. Well, yes and no. We've talked a couple more times, but every time I ask her to come home she says she isn't ready yet," Peeta replied.
"That's something I wanted to talk to you about. Have you thought maybe you should go up to Haymitch's place and talk to her face-to-face Peet? Rye didn't say much to me about it, but it must be tough on you. How are you managing?"
"I'm coping so far, but yeah, it's not easy," Peeta responded. "Prim helps me out on her days off. She hasn't heard much from Katniss either, just a few texts to say she was okay. And yeah, I did think about going up to Haymitch's, but I'm not sure that would be such a good idea."
"Why do you think it wouldn't be a good idea?" Finnick asked.
"Because Katniss is stubborn and she doesn't like surprises. She'd think I was ambushing her. Besides, the only day I get off is Sunday, and I wouldn't want to bring the kids in case it didn't... go well." The last thing Peeta needed right now was for Skye to see Katniss and get even more upset if she didn't come home with them. He didn't want to do that to either of them.
"Yeah, I can see why it wouldn't be a great idea to bring the kids with you," Finnick paused for a moment, obviously thinking. Peeta wondered what the reason behind these questions were.
Before he could ask, Finnick continued, "How is the daycare place working out? I know Nick loved it." Nick was Finnick and Annie's six-year-old son.
"It's working out fine," Peeta answered. "Tell Annie thanks again for the recommendation. It was too much for Sae to take on two young kids all day at her age, so it came at the right time. Skye wasn't too happy about it at first, but she's adjusting," Peeta sighed.
"What was that sigh for Peet?" Finnick asked.
Peeta paused before answering, "I'm worried about Skye, Finn." He said, his voice dropping lower when he thought about his daughter. "She just keeps asking me when Katniss is coming home, and I have to tell her I don't know. She has started waking at night looking for her, too. Aran seems to be doing better though. I noticed he was looking for her a lot for the first week or two, but now, not so much."
"Jeez Peeta, that sounds rough. I'm sorry. I don't know how you're dealing with that. I wish there was more we could do to help. But that does bring me to that other reason why I called. So, Sunday is your next day off, right?" Finnick confirmed.
"Yep, it's the only day the bakery is closed. I have to work Saturday now to make up for not being available to open early during the week. I know Rye wasn't too happy about it at first, but he hasn't complained, even though I know he hates it. He gets that I have no choice." Peeta had been very grateful for Rye's silent support the last few weeks.
"Rye's a good guy. Even if he does cheat at cards," Finnick chuckled. "So, Annie cornered him tonight and grilled him for information. He didn't like it. Though I enjoyed watching his discomfort," Finnick laughed again. "Between us, we have come up with a plan you might go for. What would you say if I told you that Rye has agreed to cover for you on Saturday and Annie and I will take Skye and Aran. Then you can drive up to Haymitch's place and talk to Katniss. You could even stay overnight if you wanted, and come back on Sunday. We thought if you were to talk face-to-face, you two might be able to work out what's going on with her," Finnick paused, waiting for Peeta's response.
Peeta sat up, sucking in his breath as he considered Finnick's offer for a moment. "I'd say that's a great offer, and thank you Finn," he replied. "Though I don't want to push Katniss into coming home before she is ready. If I push her too soon, it could make things a lot worse. I have to trust her when she tells me she needs this time."
"You don't want to leave things as they are too long either Peeta. You miss her and want her to come home, right?" Finnick questioned.
"You have no idea." Peeta rolled his eyes. He would give anything to have her here snuggled up beside him right now, where she belonged.
"Then go talk to her dumbass! Katniss has had a month to rest and to think, and for once, I think... we all think, that you need to think of yourself as well Peet. You deserve to know what's going on."
Peeta considered this. "Okay," he agreed. He knew Finnick was right, and inwardly he was pleased to have a plan to do something to break this stalemate, instead of sitting by the phone every night anxiously waiting for her to call him. "I'll go. If you're sure it won't be too much trouble?"
"It's no trouble, it's one weekend Peeta. Nick loves having Skye around to play with. And Aran will be fine too. Nick was a crier, remember? I hope you don't mind that we were talking about your situation, but we all think you need to go up there and bring Katniss home," Finnick reassured.
"I understand. You're good friends Finn," Peeta smiled.
"Yeah, yeah. Next time the beer and pizza is on you, Mellark."
It felt like forever for Saturday to arrive. Once Peeta had decided he was going to take up Finnick's offer, he was anxious to get moving and put the plan into action. After dropping the kids with the Odairs and getting their reassurances that they'd call him immediately if he needed to come home, he headed for Seam - the small town where Katniss had grown up. It was a couple of hours drive away, and he was hoping to get there by early afternoon.
All week Peeta had thought about calling Katniss and letting her know he was coming, but he knew if he did she'd tell him not to. He'd already offered to drive up there several times to talk, this time he was just going to show up and hope she didn't think it was an ambush. It was time Katniss stopped avoiding him and they dealt with this together.
He made good time and reached Seam shortly after noon. By the looks of it, Haymitch's house hadn't changed much since the last time he'd been there. It still had the same air of neglect and decay around it that it had since the first time Katniss had introduced them when they were first dating.
As Peeta pulled up, he looked for Katniss' car outside the house but it wasn't there at the moment. Maybe that was a good thing, he thought. If she wasn't there now, hopefully Haymitch could fill him in on her state of mind before he saw her.
Peeta liked the old man, even if he was a hopeless alcoholic. Haymitch's title of uncle was honorary, he wasn't related to Katniss by blood but he had been close friends with Katniss' parents before the accident that killed her father. He was one of the few people Katniss considered family. Haymitch cared fiercely for Katniss, even though he hid it by pretending she irritated him, and that endeared him to Peeta.
He grabbed a box filled with fresh bread and a batch of Katniss' favorite cheese buns he'd baked that morning from the seat beside him. Smirking to himself, he thought maybe if she wouldn't come home for him, she might be tempted home by her favorite cheese buns.
He knocked loudly on the door, knowing that Haymitch was probably asleep. The old man liked to sleep during the day and stay up drinking at night. Something to do with having nightmares from his past.
"We don't want any!" he heard the old man yelling from somewhere inside the house.
"Haymitch, it's me, Peeta!" he called back as he pushed open the door and stepped inside. Inside the house was cool and quiet. He was immediately greeted by the stench of old liquor, spoiled food, and unwashed Haymitch. That surprised him. Usually Katniss harassed Haymitch into cleaning himself up when she was around.
"What are you doing here kid?" Haymitch appeared in the doorway to his living room, clutching a nearly empty bottle in one hand, and a knife in the other.
"Hello Haymitch, it's good to see you, too," Peeta replied sarcastically. "You can put the knife down. I come in peace and I brought baked goods. I actually came up to talk to Katniss. Do you ever answer your phone?"
"No, I don't. I hate those damn things. Unplugged it months ago. And what do you mean you're here to talk to Katniss?"
Peeta frowned. Haymitch looked puzzled.
"She and I need to sit down and talk. I'm hoping I convince her come home with me," he explained.
Haymitch squinted at him, his expression becoming more confused by the second, "Whoa, back up there for a second kid. Get Katniss to go home with you? Huh? Doesn't she already live with you?"
"Normally, yes!"
"Okay I'm confused, and I know I haven't had that much to drink today. You'll need to explain what you're talking about. Have you managed to lose your wife somewhere? Because Katniss isn't here," Haymitch replied.
Peeta mouth dropped open and he stared at Haymitch. "What do you mean she's not here? Hasn't she been staying with you?"
"No, she hasn't. Peeta, I don't know what's going on, but I haven't seen Katniss in months."
Peeta stared at him again. His mind started swirling - panic, confusion, and hurt all tearing through him.
Haymitch took one look at the expression on Peeta's face and started shuffling towards his kitchen. "I can tell I'm going to need a drink for this," he said, raising his arm and beckoning Peeta to follow him.
Haymitch made his way into the kitchen, and gestured for Peeta to take a seat at the table. Pulling a fresh bottle of liquor from his cupboard, Haymitch rooted around until he found a couple of glasses by the sink. He held them up to the light and inspected them, "good enough," he mumbled to himself before sitting down opposite Peeta. He filled both glasses to the brim, and slid one across the table to Peeta, who sat with his head in his hands. He rummaged in the Mellark's bakery box Peeta had dropped on the table, and pulled out a cheese bun and started eating it.
"Now," Haymitch said as he chewed, finally turning his full attention to Peeta. "Start at the beginning and tell me what the hell the girl has done now."
Peeta lifted his head up and filled him in, telling him the whole tale of how he came home from work a month ago and found the kids with Sae, how he had realized Katniss was gone. He told him about the message she had sent saying that she was staying with Haymitch, the phone call a week later, and the times he had called her since, pleading with her to come home.
By the time he was finished, Haymitch was on his fourth drink. He slammed his glass down on the table, causing Peeta to jump.
"You know, Katniss may look like her Dad, but there is more of her mother in her then she likes to admit," Haymitch huffed, shaking his head. "The girl can be damn stupid sometimes. I'm sorry to disappoint you kid, but I haven't seen or heard from her in a couple of months. She must have gone to Hawthorne's place. She hasn't come around here."
"So she lied to me," Peeta said, picking up the glass Haymitch had set in front of him and throwing the contents down his throat. It burned going down, but not as much as the anger he felt starting to burn low in his belly.
Haymitch eyed him warily, "Looks like it. She probably didn't want to tell you. You've never really been comfortable with her and Hawthorne being friends, Peeta".
Peeta glowered back at him. It was rare for Haymitch to call him by his name, and Peeta took that as the old man telling him off.
"That's not a good enough reason to justify her lying to me Haymitch. But now I know why she refused my offers to come up here and talk before now. And for the record, I don't mind who Katniss is friends with. What bothers me about Hawthorne is I know, if given the chance, he would be more than her friend. You know, as well as I do, that he has always wanted her. I don't trust him," Peeta admitted honestly.
Haymitch leaned forward in his seat, "You don't trust him, or you don't trust her?" He asked, "because it seems to me it don't matter what he wants, kid. What matters is what the girl wants - and that's always been you." He tipped his glass at Peeta, eyeing him over the rim, "Hell, she always swore, after what happened to her mother that she'd never get married or have kids. She turned that all upside down for you."
"So, now what do I do?" Peeta growled, resting his own empty glass back on the table, "Do I go over there and confront her?"
"You know as well as I do, pushing that damn stubborn girl will get you nowhere," Haymitch replied. "The harder you push her, the harder she will push back."
"I haven't pushed her at all!" Peeta snapped at him.
"That's always been part of your problem too, kid, you're too damn nice," Haymitch laughed, refilling his own glass again and reaching for another cheese bun.
"I have to at least see her before I go back home," Peeta said. His voice was quieter now, but Haymitch could detect the hurt and the fury hidden underneath the younger man's angry tone.
Peeta stood up from the table, pushing his chair back, and striding back through the house towards the door.
"Goddamn it," Haymitch swore softly to himself. He hauled himself up out of the chair and followed Peeta. The girl had really messed up this time. He had to stop Peeta from going over there while he was in his current frame of mind.
"Peeta!" Haymitch shouted after him, "Peeta, stop. Don't do this now. Calm down before you go over there and go off half cocked!"
But Peeta ignored him. He was already in the car and had the engine started. Haymitch hoped he wasn't making a huge mistake. "Don't do this kid!" He tried again.
Peeta rolled down the car window. "I'll be back when I've seen her," he said, "don't worry Haymitch, I won't do anything stupid."
He turned in the direction of the Hawthorne house. Seam was a small place and it wasn't far away. He'd only been to the Hawthorne home a couple of times with Katniss, but he was pretty sure he'd find it easily enough. He'd considered going on foot through the woods the way Katniss had shown him, but he might bump into her out there and he wanted to be prepared when he confronted her.
Once he was sure he had found the right house, he slowed down and parked the car outside on the road to gather himself. The house itself was partially hidden from his sight by tall trees which surrounded the property. He climbed out of the car and paced up and down a little, trying to figure out what was he going to say when he turned up at Gale Hawthorne's door. This was not how he had hoped this day would go. Then he heard it. A sound drifting towards him that captured his attention. The sound of laughter. Specifically, the sound of Katniss laughing. He'd recognize that sound anywhere.
Slowly, he walked as quietly as he could through the trees towards the house. He wasn't quiet on his feet like Katniss was, and he didn't want to be heard approaching. He felt weird, like he was stalking his own wife, but something made him want to see what was going on before he actually spoke to her. Through the trees, he could see Katniss sitting with Gale on the back porch of the house. His heart swelled at the sight of her. She looked beautiful, as she always did to him. Her hands were busy, cleaning some kind of game, while Gale was sitting beside her watching what she was doing. He bent down to say something to her which Peeta didn't catch, and she looked up and smiled widely at him, throwing her head back and laughing again at whatever he'd said. As he watched, Gale threw his arm casually across Katniss' shoulder and grinned widely back at her.
Peeta froze. He felt like an angry crowd of wasps were stinging him all over. It wasn't that Hawthorne had his arm around his wife that made him pause but the expression on Katniss' face... she looked so...happy. Relaxed and smiling, laughing with Gale like she hadn't a care in the world.
He tried to remember the last time he had seen her looking like that. It had been a long time - and Hawthorne had his hands on her. Peeta could feel anger and jealousy coiling in his stomach, but he also felt shame and sadness. For the first time in a long while, he felt gnawing self-doubt. Her life with him hadn't made her smile or laugh that way, at least not recently. Quickly, he turned and retreated, stumbling his way back through the trees to get to his car, no longer caring if he was heard.
He climbed inside, his heart beating erratically and his breath coming in gasps as he started the engine. He needed to get away from there. He headed back towards Haymitch's place, but halfway there he pulled over to the side of the road, resting his head on the steering wheel. He clenched his fists to stop himself from punching out the windshield. She had lied to him. She had told him a bold face lie and had kept up the charade for a whole month. She was smiling and laughing up at Gale fucking Hawthorne as if she hadn't a care in the world, or two kids and a husband at home that missed her.
The anger seethed in his stomach, making him feel like he was going to be sick. He took deep breaths to calm himself down. If she could lie to him so easily about where she was staying, and keep it up for a month, what else had she been lying to him about? And for how long?
What kind of fool was he? Poor stupid lovesick Peeta. Ever the understanding loving husband. He was a fool.
Like a voice from the grave, he could hear his mother's voice taunting him, "You're a fool Peeta Mellark. You'll always be a fool, because you let that girl walk all over you. Mark my words, one day that piece of seam trash will break your heart."
Peeta felt his face burning with shame. He had spent the last month patiently sitting by the phone waiting for Katniss to decide he and their children were worth coming home to. Stupid Peeta, who had pleaded with her to come home and worried himself half out of his mind about how she was feeling. All he'd been concerned about was how he could make things better for her, while he struggled to cope with running a business and caring for the two kids she had abandoned.
Well, not any more. As of today, that Peeta was gone. He could feel angry tears rising in his eyes now, and he angrily swiped them away as he stiffened his spine. He couldn't break down now. He had two children at home that still needed him. He needed to get back to them.
He started the car again and drove the rest of the way back to Haymitch's and let himself in. Haymitch heard him coming through the door and sat up from where he was lying on the couch in the living room when Peeta found him.
"Well?" Haymitch asked raising his head," Did you see her?"
"Yes," Peeta said. "I saw her. She's fine. I'm not going to worry about that anymore," His voice was cold.
Haymitch raised an eyebrow, taking in the other man's icy, calm exterior. He'd never seen Peeta acting like this before, "So, what are you going to do now?" Haymitch asked slowly, not sure he really wanted to know.
"I'm going to go home, take care of my kids, and wait until Katniss decides she is ready to come home. Though I have a favor to ask you Haymitch. If you see her, please don't tell her you've seen me or spoken to me," Peeta asked. "I don't want her to know I was here."
"Wait, you went all the way over there, and you didn't speak to her?" Haymitch sputtered
"No, I didn't. I decided I'd do what you suggested and not push her," Peeta answered.
"But..."
"Just do this one thing for me please, Haymitch?" Peeta interrupted the older man. "I came up here because I needed to see her, and because I needed to know that she was okay. I saw what I needed to see. Now, I'm going to go home to my kids. Katniss will come home when she is ready."
"And what do I say if I see her in the meantime?" Haymitch asked.
Peeta shrugged. "Say nothing. I doubt you'll see her anyway, seeing as she is only a couple of miles down the road and hasn't visited you so far anyway. She obviously doesn't want you to know she is here either."
"Okay, if that's what you want kid. I'll say nothing," Haymitch agreed - but he didn't like it.
"Good. Then we have a deal."
"Are you sure you don't want to stay here tonight and go home in the morning?" Haymitch offered, "you're welcome to stay."
"Thanks for the offer," Peeta said. "But I'd rather get back home tonight. It's better that I go tonight." Peeta was afraid if he stayed and started drinking with Haymitch, he'd do something even more stupid. And, he felt stupid enough already.
But instead of letting Finnick and Annie know he was back earlier than expected, he went straight home. Well, almost straight home, he stopped off at a local liquor store first and picked up a bottle of his own.
Letting himself into his empty house, he headed straight for the sofa and uncapped the bottle, drinking straight from the neck. "Cheers Haymitch," he thought, as the first drink burned down his throat, followed by another.
He wondered how long Katniss had been so unhappy. He blamed himself. Haymitch had reminded him that she had never planned to get married or have kids, and maybe he'd been wrong to talk her into having kids, maybe he had prevented her from having the life she had really wanted. A life in the woods, probably with Hawthorne by her side. Maybe it had all been a mistake.
He took another drink. He might as well take advantage of having no kids home tonight, he thought. It looked like he was going to be alone with them for some time to come. Tomorrow, he'd have to be back on his best behavior. But tonight, he was getting drunk. If a life lived in the woods was what Katniss really wanted, what she needed to be happy, then he was going to give it to her. If you love somebody, set them free, right?
Soon, he was so numb he didn't feel the angry tears slipping down his face.
One month later
At breakfast that morning, as they were cleaning the kitchen, Hazelle asked Katniss again if she had given any thought to going home and taking her life back up again. She'd been hinting around the subject for several weeks now, but this time Hazelle wasn't pulling her punches.
With her hands on her hips, she faced her and said, "Katniss, you need to go home to your family and face your problems."
Katniss had never thought when she first arrived at Gale's place, that so much time would pass before she felt ready to go back home. She'd been away for two months now. The true depth of how physically and emotionally exhausted she had been, was really unknown to her until she arrived at Gale's house and promptly burst into tears on Hazelle's shoulder.
Katniss tried avoiding the older woman's gaze. She'd been doing that a lot lately, whenever she brought up Peeta and the kids.
"I know I have to go home Hazelle," she admitted. "I have no excuse for staying away any longer, I'm just putting off facing Peeta now. When I got here, I just needed to rest. I was so worn down, but I am feeling much stronger now."
Hazelle nodded, "I gathered as much. But the longer you stay away, the harder it's going to be to go back home," she said. "You have to face him. He loves you. And it's not that we don't love having you here, but I'm not gonna lie, your babies need their mother Katniss".
"I know," Katniss said quietly.
"When's the last time you talked to Peeta?" Hazelle asked.
Katniss hesitated, knowing that her answer would most likely be shocking in light of the fact she'd told Hazelle not so long ago that they were very happy together, "He stopped calling me a month ago," she admitted. That was playing on her mind. Why had he suddenly stopped calling? She feared his patience with her refusal to come home had finally run out.
Hazelle stopped midway between handing Katniss a dish to dry, her eyes wide.
"Oh Katniss," she breathed, shock registering on her usually calm countenance.
"It's my fault Hazelle. I waited a week to call him after I first got here, but he just kept pleading with me to come home. I wasn't ready. He called a few times after that, but it was the same thing, and I couldn't handle the pressure, so I stopped answering his calls. I just couldn't face how disappointed he was each time I told him I wasn't ready to come back. Then he just stopped calling."
"And you didn't think to call him yourself? Katniss!" Hazelle said firmly, "You can't let this go on too much longer. Even a patient man has limits."
Katniss nodded, knowing this was Hazelle's way of telling her it was time that she mended some fences. As soon as they finished cleaning up Katniss went to her room and grabbed her boots and her father's leather jacket. Fall had come early, and it was starting to get cooler out. She headed out and hiked deep into the woods, finally hoisting herself high up into the tallest tree she could find.
Her tailbone pushed uncomfortably against the rough bark of the oak tree limb where she was balanced. Katniss wondered if it possible to lose your ability to sit in trees, or was she simply getting older? Her body had certainly changed after having the children, and she struggled to get into trees more now than she ever had before. Maybe her physical center-of-gravity had changed along with the center of her emotional world when the children were born. She looked around her, remembering that day in the park at home when she had compared the trees there to these woods. The leaves were starting to turn orange, and it made her think of Peeta again.
Katniss' thoughts turned to what she was facing when she got home. She knew she had a lot of explaining to do and that Peeta was furious with her by now. His recent silence spoke volumes, and she couldn't deny he had every right to feel that way. She also didn't doubt that he loved her, and she knew she loved him back, but he just didn't understand why she hadn't gone straight home each time he'd pleaded with her too. Peeta had to understand that he couldn't fix what was wrong with her and make her into the mother she wanted to be. How could she make him understand? He would try to blame himself, and it wasn't his fault. It was hers. She hadn't really told him how she was feeling before, after all. He really was a wonderful husband and father, but it wasn't the same for him. At least he got to interact with other adults at work. There were days when the only other adult Katniss spoke to was Peeta.
Though Katniss still believed getting away had been the right thing for her, she knew she had gone the wrong way about it, leaving the way she had. She would have to work hard to make it up to Peeta and the kids when she got home.
Her decision was made. This would be her last hike into the woods before going home. She was leaving in the morning.
Throwing her bag and her father's jacket into the back of the car she turned to say goodbye to Hazelle and Gale.
"Don't be a stranger Catnip," Gale said coming forward and hugging her. "You know you're always welcome here. And I'll be up around your way more often now too, seeing as I'm going to consult for Undersee's Nursery on developing the forestry side of the business, so I'll see you more often."
"Thanks for letting me stay so long Gale," Katniss replied, returning his hug. "I really enjoyed our hunting trips. And least I proved that even after two kids, I'm still a better hunter than you are," she grinned.
He laughed as he released her. "I'll let you think that you are." He said. "But I'd better get going now or I'll be late for work, so you take care of yourself," he said placing a quick peck on her cheek, and climbing into his truck. He pulled away offering a small wave and a smile out the window.
Hazelle watched him go, "He misses you when he doesn't see you for a while, you know?" She said quietly to Katniss, "I hope you can visit more often."
"I hope so, too," Katniss said. She turned and grasped the other woman's hands, "Hazelle, I can't thank you enough for all you've done for me these past weeks."
"Hush girl, you're like one of my own. Anytime you need me, I'm here okay?" Hazelle responded warmly, "But, maybe next time you'll bring those sweet babies and that gorgeous man of yours with you, too. I have a craving for his cheese buns."
"Me too," Katniss laughed, as she hugged Hazelle warmly. "Take care Hazelle."
"You too honey, and let me know you got home safe, okay?"
"I will," and with that, Katniss climbed into the car and pulled away, leaving Hazelle waving on the porch behind her.
A few miles into the journey, as she gazed out the windshield at the road ahead of her. She was actually excited at the thoughts of getting home, of seeing Peeta and their kids again. Even though she had needed the time away, she had missed them all terribly. She missed Skye's giggles and shining blue eyes when she read her a story, or stroking her fingers through Aran's soft blond curls as she sang him to sleep. She wondered if he had grown much while she was away. Katniss was worried about how the kids would react when they saw her, would they ignore her at first? She couldn't blame them if they did, but she would make it up to them.
Katniss let her thoughts turn to Peeta. She couldn't measure how much she had missed him. His smile, the love in his blue eyes, and the comfort of his steady presence. The warmth and security she felt with his arms wrapped around her in the dark every night. She couldn't wait another day to hold him, and to feel his arms around her again.
Now that she was on her way home, she couldn't wait to get there. She increased the pressure on the gas pedal, anxious to finish the journey and start putting her life back together as quickly as possible.
When she had called Peeta the day before and told him she was coming home, his voice had sounded so different. Cool and distant. He didn't sound excited or happy that she was coming home, he just said he'd see her at their house that afternoon, and that they'd talk when she got there.
As she let herself in, Katniss noticed how quiet the house was. It was tidy and clean, Peeta had done a good job keeping on top of things while she was away. But, she knew he would. She smiled. He really was the best. She had half expected the children to be there with Sae, but he must have taken them to work with him today.
She went upstairs to their bedroom and left her bag on the bed, and put her father's hunting jacket back into its place in the closet. She walked over and picked up the silver framed photo of Peeta and her together on their wedding day that rested on the bedside table, and smiled as she ran her finger along the side of Peeta's smiling face. Engraved on the frame, was one word "Always." She put the photo back down, and went and washed up quickly in the bathroom, re-braided her hair, and just as she went back downstairs she heard Peeta coming in through the front door.
Their eyes connected, and for just a minute, Peeta stood and stared at her, his keys dangling from his hand.
Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed and favorited so far. It is very much appreciated. :) As always thanks to my fantastic beta, Kismet4891, and my friend KnottedEnergy, for their help and encouragement.