Always

I Love You

A.N. SURPRISE SURPRISE! I know that usually I make you wait longer for an update but I finished this early and couldn't wait to publish it for you! Pretty sad though BC we only have around 10-12 chapters left in this series. :/

"I've missed you so much." I tell him.

Peeta doesn't respond, but that's okay. He needs his rest, and I don't mind talking to his sleeping form. Our reunion had drained every ounce of strength he'd had left, and so when I told him to rest he didn't protest. He knew I'd be right here.

"You've got three months to recover, you hear me?" I tell him, even though I know his recovery will take much longer, mentally at least. "I need you. We need you."

His arm twitches in his sleep and I rub it softly, hoping to prevent a nightmare that might have been starting. I clutch his free hand in both of mine, bringing it to my lips. "I love you so much," I tell him. "I'll never let you go a day without hearing it."

It was one of my biggest regrets. Before Peeta ran to the hovercraft in the arena, I didn't say that I loved him. I know that he knew that I loved him. I know that he could see it in my eyes. I know that he knew.

But I still didn't say it.

But the past is the past, and you can't go back. That's one thing I've leaned from everything that has happened in the past year. You can only move forward and look ahead to the better things.

The hours stretch on, and I constantly squirm in the uncomfortable hospital chair, trying vainly to find a comfortable position that remains comfortable for more than ten minutes. I know that I should be sleeping, but I simply can't take my eyes off of Peeta. A part of me is still afraid that he'll vanish the second I look away, and so my eyes never leave him. There's also a strange part of me that thinks by staying awake, I'm in a way introducing the baby to its father. That by studying his features, memorizing them once again, somehow the baby is too.

When the clock shows that it's four in the morning, I feel my eyelids begin to droop without my consent. I've gone twenty-four hours without sleep before, but being pregnant changes a lot of things. I need my sleep, and I love a nice nap during the day. But I refuse to leave Peeta, even if it's by slipping into unconsciousness. Logic tells me that what I want is impossible. Eventually, for some reason or another, I will be required to leave Peeta's side. Whether it be doctor's orders, or more than likely Rye or Haymitch's. I will not be surprised to see Haymitch walk through the door in another hour or so. Some instinct tells me Rye will not be far behind.

When Haymitch comes into the room two hours later, I can barely keep my eyes open. "At this rate, you're going to look as bad as Peeta." He tells me and I roll my eyes. "Go get some sleep."

"I can't." I push back Peeta's blonde curls and notice that they have gotten longer than the last time I saw him.

"He won't know that you're gone." Haymitch tells me and I shake my head.

"But I will," I pause. "I'll know that I left him, and that's worse."

"He'll be here when you come back." He pulls me up out of the chair. "I'll sit with him."

I  walk towards the door and I turn around. "I'll be back."

"I don't want to see you back here until after supper." He makes himself comfortable in the hard chair. "I mean it Katniss, go get some rest. If not for you then for the baby."

"Okay," I say and my shoulders slump tiredly as I leave the room.

The bed doesn't feel quite as empty, knowing that Peeta will soon be back on his side. I no longer need his shirt to help put me to sleep, because I already know Peeta is close by. My eyes drift closed and I let my arm lay across Peeta's pillow, knowing that soon his body will be next to mine.