Chapter Two
"Do you like the yellow or green better?" Finnick asks holding out paint splotches. We went to look at paint samples for the baby's room like Finnick wanted. I still think it's too early but I can tell Finnick gets excited when picking out things for our baby. I wonder what it will be like when we pick out their name.
Finnick and I decided a light yellow or soft green is neutral enough. As long it is soft and calming I'll be okay with it.
I shift my feet and breathe in and out deeply.
"I personally think the green looks better. Yellow can be straining to look at." Finnick says.
"I agree." I say and shift my feet.
Finnick looks towards me concerned.
"You okay?" He asks.
"I'm just tired. I didn't sleep well last night and my feet hurt. The baby is doing summersaults."
I rub my stomach.
Finnick looks worried.
"I just don't feel good." I whisper.
He kisses my cheek.
"We can just take the color splotches and look at them at home." Finnick says.
"Okay." I say.
Finnick grabs them and we leave.
I take Finnick's hand and grip it tightly.
"What's wrong?" He asks.
"I'm just lightheaded."
"We're almost to the car." Finnick says gently.
When we get to the car I lean my seat all the way back.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Finnick asks as he gets in.
"I'm fine." I say. "I just need to lie down." I suddenly got terrible vertigo. I will probably throw up when we get home.
Finnick starts the car and we head home. Finnick helps me into the house and I go to the bedroom to lie down.
I don't throw up but the room feels like it's spinning.
I hear Finnick come in the bedroom a few hours later.
Finnick sits on the bed and rubs his hand up and down my back.
"Ann." He whispers and kisses my forehead.
"Yes?" I say and sit up.
"Do you feel better?"
I nod.
"I think so." I say the room isn't spinning anymore.
He nods.
"You've been a little off the past couple of days." He says and kisses my forehead.
"I know. I think it's just a weird time for baby and me right now." I say.
Finnick nods.
I leave the bedroom to eat. Finnick and I go over the paint colors. We did agree on a light green. However we each have a different favorite we like.
We eventually decide to take a break and watch television. I cuddle up next to him.
After a couple episodes of Homeland my stomach starts to hurt. Really hurt. It feels like something is ripping inside me. It feels like something is trying to rip it's way out.
I scrunch my face and feel faint.
"I still don't understand this show" Finnick says.
"I um." My mind is starting to go blank. "Oh Finnick." I almost moan.
"What's wrong?" He asks and starts rubbing my shoulders.
I rub my stomach.
"Something's wrong." I say softly.
"Why do you think that?" He asks and runs fingers through my hair.
"Something doesn't feel right." I say and cradle my stomach.
Finnick kisses my cheek.
"I think I should get looked at." I whimper.
"Let's go to the hospital then." Finnick says calmly. I think he is only doing this for my benefit but I know something isn't right.
We get checked into the ER and I lean against Finnick as he fills out the paper work.
I close my eyes and breathe in and out. It seems to take forever for my name to be called. Finnick keeps stroking my hair and kissing the top of my head.
The doctor asks me some questions and I answer them. Finnick is tracing circles on my hand.
"Let's just take a look at your baby." He says and I automatically lift up my shirt so they can put goo on my stomach. "Okay." The doctor says and starts rolling the instrument in the goo. "And how long have you been feeling these discomforts Annie?" He asks.
"Just the past few days." I say softly.
He keeps looking at the image and I keep getting a bad feeling.
"Annie, does your family have a history of preterm labor?" He asks.
"No. Is that what you think is happening?" I ask worried. I'm not full term yet and I know if I gave birth right now there would be complications, or worse.
"Possibly. We're going to admit you and see what happens."
"That's it? You don't know what's wrong with me or if my baby is alright?" I ask slightly angry.
"I want to watch you for a few hours and then I can make a more significant decision."
"Will I be staying overnight?" I ask.
"Depends on the outcome." He says and puts things on my stomach then leaves.
"I'm sure everything is fine Annie." Finnick whispers and kisses my forehead.
"Finnick, if something happens-"
"Annie, nothing bad is going to happen." He says.
"What if it does?" I ask. "They'll be sick. Really sick and some preterm babies-"
"Annie don't worry about that now." Finnick says gently and brings my hand to his lips. "Right now everything is okay." He kisses my lips. "Okay?" He says and I nod.
"Okay." I whisper.
But it isn't. They do determine after an hour that I am going through the early stages of labor. They give me a drug that will try and slow down the labor. Since it is still in the early stages they might be able to stop it. They also give me a drug that will speed up the development process of our baby's lungs because those are the last things that get developed.
"Finnick." I whimper.
"Shh. It's going to be okay." Finnick says.
"What if something happens to our baby?" I whisper.
"Annie they're going to be fine." He says.
"Finnick I don't know. Aren't you listening to what they are saying?" I say.
"They keep saying 'if' Annie. Nothing bad has happened yet. So don't worry."
I nod.
"Finnick." I whisper.
"Yes Ann." He says and pushes hair from my eyes. He only calls me Ann when I'm really upset or he is trying to make me feel better. It's not usually a good thing when he calls me this.
"This isn't my fault is it?" I ask.
"No." Finnick says and kisses my cheek. "You didn't do anything wrong." He says. He isn't a doctor so that doesn't really make me feel better.
"I'll be right back." Finnick says and leaves the room to go to the bathroom.
"Excuse me." I say to the doctor as he is looking over things.
"Yes?" He smiles.
"This isn't my fault is it?" I whisper.
"That depends on certain variables." He says.
"Such as?" I ask.
"Did you drink or smoke?" He asks.
"No." I say.
He nods and messes with some things.
"Probably not."
"Then why is this happening?" I ask.
"That is currently unknown in the medical field." He says and I sigh.
"When do you know if the slowing down drugs are working?" I ask.
"When the signs stop showing."
"Do you think I will be going home?" I ask and see Finnick come back.
"Too soon to tell." He says with a smile.
"What were you talking about?" Finnick asks. When the doctor leaves.
"If they could tell if the drugs were working." I say.
Finnick nods.
"Do you feel in pain?" Finnick asks and I shake my head. "Then it might be working. "
I nod.
I lean back in the bed and sigh deeply. I close my eyes and Finnick brings my hand to his lips. I smile. I will feel bad if I fall asleep because it's not like Finnick can lie down anywhere. I'm too worried to fall asleep anyways. I'm too worried about our baby.
Finnick and I don't talk much.
I breathe in and out deeply. I start to feel a pain in my back.
"Are you okay?" Finnick asks.
"My back." I say softly.
Finnick kisses my forehead.
"Finnick." I say and sit in a different position.
"Yes." He smiles.
I swallow hard.
"I think they won't be able to stop this. I think our baby will be coming tonight or tomorrow." I say softly. I would be happy about this under different circumstances.
Finnick nods.
"It'll be okay Ann." Finnick says in a strange tone.
"We can't do anything for them. They're gonna be so sick."
"Annie, stop." Finnick says and smiles. "You're thinking worse case scenario."
"Am I? Or am I just thinking realistically? " I ask softly.
Finnick kisses my cheek.
He's about to say something when the doctor comes in. It's a different doctor the others shift must've ended. We've been here almost all night. I've been dozing on and off and Finnick has gotten more comfortable in a chair. He still holds my hand though.
"Any new discomforts?" He asks.
I nod.
"I have this pain in my back. It comes and goes. I think-" I say. I think I'm starting to have contractions.
"We should examine your cervix. It sounds like you might be going into labor." He says.
He looks at me and tells me that I am two centimeters dilated already.
I won't be going home. They may have slowed the labor down for a few hours but it doesn't matter because I'm going to be giving birth to a baby that isn't fully developed yet.
