"Can someone please get Gale on the phone?" I ask, adjusting myself in the hospital bed. It's been twelve hours since I've been in the hospital, and he's yet to make an appearance.

"Workin' on it," Prim whispers, stepping out of the doorway to allow Dr. Aurelius into the room. Peeta paces nervously at the foot of the bed, his hand scraping his jaw.

"He's not answering," she says.

"Then try again!"

"Okay, okay, just calm down alright?" I squeeze my eyes shut as another contraction passes through me. I grab the bed sheets and grasp them tightly between my fingers, holding on until my knuckles are white.

"Okay Mrs. Hawthorne, I'm going to check how dilated you are," Dr. Aurelius says, glancing towards Peeta's direction.

"I'll just be outside, okay?" Peeta whispers, placing a gentle kiss on my lips. Dr. Aurelius raises his eyebrows, obviously confused at the gesture between the two of us. But if he's curious, he doesn't say anything, and for that, I'm grateful.

"Okay Katniss, it looks like you're almost there, you're at eight centimeters." I groan, hitting my head against the pillows. "But you're progressing rather quickly, so it shouldn't be too much longer-"

"Yeah-yeah, no- yes she's with me," Prims voice brings me out of my miserable haze, and I lift my head, only to find her pacing beside the door. "No- yeah- Damnit Gale-" I take a deep breath, positive that he's just said he can't come. "Yes- Kindred Hospital…No…Yes ,the North Wing…I don't know, just ask when you get here, I have to go, bye." She hangs up and turns to face me, plastering what I know to be a fake smile across her face.

"He said he'll be here as soon as he can," she sighs, running a hand through her tousled curls. "He's really freaking out, I've never heard him so…anxious sounding, like he was about to jump out of his own skin," I laugh a little.

"I think we're all more than a little anxious. I mean, this is only the birth of his child," I laugh, running a hand along my stomach.

Dr. Aurelius stands, nodding his head towards me. "I'll be back soon to check up on you again," he says before walking out the door. Peeta sticks his head through the doorway moments later, grinning sheepishly.

"Is it safe to come in now?" And I smile, because this is all so ridiculous.

"Yes," I say, waving him in. "It's not like you've never seen a birth before," I laugh before realizing what I've just said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be so forward."

"It's okay," he sighs, walking to stand next to me. "It's not quite the same," his face drops, and I know what he means. It would be a lot different if it were our baby. "Anyways, I'm really happy for you-for the both of you."

"I'm so scared," I finally admit, and from the corner of my eye, I can see Prim quietly slipping out of the room. "What if something happens? Or, what if-"

"Nothing's going to happen, okay?" he assures me, lifting my chin up in the palm of his hand. "I'm going to be right here with you," I smile, and he kisses me. "But I have to eventually go check on Avery, I'm sure he's causing chaos right now at Finnick and Annie's." I frown at the thought of him having to leave.

"Don't worry, I'll be back, and I'll have Prim updating me the entire time, I promise. I just have to make sure he's okay before bed, and then I'll come back, okay?" he asks, running his thumb along my cheek. I nod my head, and he kisses me again, this time, sending child down my spine.

"I'm glad you're here," I whisper, holding onto his hand. "I don't know what I would do if you weren't."

"I'm glad I'm here, too. I'm really glad, Katniss. I-"

"He's here," Prim is suddenly back in the room, and Peeta backs away to stand beside me, still holding my hand. I watch the doorway nervously, and await Gales arrival.

Moments later, I can see him getting yelled at by a nurse for running, and soon, he's barreling through the door. His suit jacket is barely hanging on, and his hair is a mess, probably from running his hands through it so much. He's always had that bad habit.

"Did I miss anything?" he asks, almost out of breath. His breathing is heavy, and his chest heaves with every breath he takes. His eyes zero in on Peeta, and his posture goes immediately rigid once he sees him holding my hand. I just grip him tighter.

"Mellark," he mutters, nodding his head.

"Hawthorne," Peeta says back. I am internally screaming now, hoping and praying this all goes smoothly. But hope can only go so far before someone cracks.

"Katniss," Gale says, walking to the other side of the bed, smoothing down the hair at the top of my head. He leans down and kisses me on the forehead, and I'm sure he's keeping eye contact with Peeta the entire time. And with each gesture he gives me, it reminds Peeta a thousand times that this is his baby, and not Peeta's.

"How are you feeling?" he asks, his thumb running along the side of my face. I push his hand away.

"Like I'm about to have a baby," I say, and I can both hear and feel Peeta chuckle beside me.

"Something funny?" Gale asks, and the tension in the room couldn't be any thicker.

"Yes, actually," he starts, letting go of my hand and crossing his arms against his chest. "You're late showing up, and you ask how she's feeling?" I cringe, knowing that there's now way this is going to end well. "I just-"

"Hey Peeta?" he's interrupted by Prim calling out for him from the doorway. "I'm going down to the cafeteria for a bit, you wanna come with me?" I couldn't be anymore grateful to Prim than I am at this moment right now.

"Uh yeah, sure," he says, looking down at me. "I'll uh, I'll be back." He leans down and kisses me, and I smile.

"Okay," I say, watching him leave the room. It isn't until I head Gale clear his throat that I realize that he's even there.

"You're really seeing him?" Gale asks, and I roll my eyes, turning my head to face his. My breath hitches in my throat at the proximity of his face to mine. I scoot back a few inches, putting some distance between us. But I'm getting more and more uncomfortable by the minute, and I grimace.

"I really can't talk about this right now, I-" I'm thrown off by another contraction, this one much stronger than any of the others. I actually cry out, and Gale stands then, his hands on either side of my face.

"What can I do?" he asks, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. I don't stop him this time. "Tell me what I can do." The pain gets significantly worse, and I can feel the tears finally welling up at the corners of my eyes, spilling onto my cheeks. Gale swipes them away with his thumbs, pressing his lips to my forehead and leaving them there.

"Gale-" whatever I planned to say gets swallowed by another contraction, and I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the tears to stop, but they don't. The contractions are getting closer and closer together, so I hit the nurse button on my remote.

"You can do this Katniss, I know you can," he whispers, smoothing my hair back again. "I love you so much, you can do this." I wince at that, and let the tears fall once more. This time, not from the pain, but from the emptiness I feel from his words.


"Okay Katniss, ok the count of three, you're going to push, okay?" I nod my head and squeeze Gales hand, turning it white. I don't care.

"One, two, three," I lean forward and feel the worst pain I've ever felt in my entire life. Turns out, the epidural sometimes doesn't work, and at this point, I can feel everything.

"Good Katniss, you're crowning, you're about to pass the head," I take a deep breath and prepare myself. Everything comes rushing back to me all at once, and I suddenly remember why I'm even in this situation.

"I fucking hate you, you know that?" I practically scream at Gale, and he actually laughs.

"It'll pass, Katniss, it'll pass," I glare at him, but we're interrupted by Dr. Aurelius' voice.

"Alright, one big push now, okay? This is the worse of it," I nod my head furiously and hold onto the sheets for dear life.

I'm pushing, and screaming, and pushing, and screaming. And suddenly, a piercing cry breaks through the haze that has been forming in my head.

I sigh, letting out a breath I didn't even know I was holding. I look down to see Dr. Aurelius cutting the umbilical cord from my- our daughter. And the next thing I know, he's placing her in my trembling arms.

And that day, April 12th, Maria Jane Hawthorne was welcomed into this world.

"She's so beautiful," I hear Gale whisper beside me. And I nod, because, she really is. She's perfect, and tiny, and the most beautiful baby I have ever laid eyes on.


Hours pass, and after I've been given the chance to rest, and feed, the nurse let's Gale and I know that we have visitors.

We both look up from Maria, and find Peeta and Prim practically running into the room. The look on Prims face makes my heart melt, and, when she slowly walks over to me, I can catch the tears pooling at the corners of her eyes.

"Oh Katniss…" she starts, leaning down beside me, lightly tracing Maria's face with the back of her forefinger. "She's so beautiful…" she's at a loss for words, and I watch her choke back her tears. "I'm so happy for you," she hugs me, wrapping her arms tightly around my neck.

I look up then, and notice that Peeta has stayed back, closer to the door. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he looks like he's just quietly observing, but I know better. His posture is slack, and his face is sullen, sad. He doesn't meet my gaze, just stands there, looking down at Maria, and then back at Gale. Back and forth.

"Can I hold her?" Prim asks, holding her hands out.

"Yeah," I say, slowly easing her into Prims arms. "Just cradle her head like this," I say, bending her elbow a little more.

"I know, Katniss, I work in the Maternity ward, remember?" she laughs, and Maria stirs in her arms, he tiny mouth opening wide in a yawn. Her eyes open then, deep grey, almost black, eyes stare up at Prim.

"She looks just like you," she whispers, looking between Gale and I.

"She has Gale's nose," I say, pointing at Gales face and then pointing at Maria's. "Mine is more flat, and his is more curved in the middle." I look up to watch Peeta shift on his feet. He's clearly uncomfortable with this whole situation, and my heart aches for him.

"You want to hold her?" I ask, and his eyes finally meet mine, turning soft once they do. His jaw clenches, before walking towards us.

Prim passes her to him, and he takes her into his arms. Maria looks up at him, and her hand reaches up and slightly and wraps around his finger. His face lights up, but only for a second, before it turns back into a frown. He starts to shift on his feet before finally holding out his arms.

"I should really go," he says, placing her back in my arms. "I'm sorry." The look in his eyes says he wants to say so much more, but he just can't.

"You really don't have to go, Peeta," I say, pleading with him.

"I'm sorry, but I shouldn't be here." I know what he really means, he just can't say it right now. And I can't blame him.

Peeta and I are together, but he's having to watch Gale and I like this, with our newborn daughter, and knowing that he's going to be living with me for three weeks. It's not something that's easy for him to understand, and I couldn't ask him to. I can only hope he can have patience with me, and understand that I don't want to do this, but we have to do this. I can't start this off alone. And I hate to admit it, but I need Gale. I do, and as much as it hurts Peeta, I can't help that I need him. He's the father, and he needs to be there, he has the right.

"I'll call you, okay?" he whispers, kissing me on the forehead. He runs his thumb along the side of Mariah's face gently, giving her a little peck on the forehead as well. "She really is beautiful."

"Thank you," I smile.

"Congratulations," he gives me a sad smile, and nods to Gale before turning and leaving. The silence that follows is so think that I feel as if I may actually be suffocating.


"You ready to go?" Gale asks, packing the last of my things into the diaper bag.

"Yeah, just give me a second." I send the last text to Peeta, letting him know that I'm finally being released from the hospital, and that I'll call him when I get home.

He doesn't reply.

When we pull into the driveway, I have to take a deep breathe, because this doesn't feel real. This is all I ever wanted in life. A home, a husband, a baby. It's just like I imagined it would be, except not. This is my house, but it feels empty to me, having been by myself the last five months. And Gales not even my husband anymore, just the father of my child.

This just isn't how I imagined my life, and I have to stop myself from crying, because it's just all so much to take in. And it's been so long since Gale and I have been in this house together, it's a lot to process all at once.

Gale walks around to my door and opens it for me, helping me step out. I give him a grateful smile, but don't let his touch linger longer than it has to. I go to open the back door, but he stops me.

"I got it, you go inside," he says, opening the door and unbuckling the carseat.

"No, I can do it," I argue, reaching for the seat. But he grabs my hand and pulls it away gently.

"I said I can do it okay? I won't be here very long, at least let me help while I'm allowed to be here." The was he says it all makes me feel sad, and empty, like I'm keeping him from being here.

"You're allowed to be here anytime, you're just not allowed to live here for more than three weeks. We've been over this…" I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Just let me do this, an you go rest. She'll wake up soon, I want you to sleep until then." I don't argue, knowing full well that I'm about to go through hell with no sleep.

"Okay," I mutter, walking into the house. But I leave the door propped open for him.

I climb the stairs and fall into my bed, curling into a ball and snuggling into the covers. I've just been through so much, it feels good just to be in my own bed.

I check my phone again. No new messages, and no missed calls. I try calling Peeta, but it goes straight to voicemail. I have a strange tugging feeling in my chest, like something isn't right. But I don't have much time to think about it before sleep consumes me…

"Katniss?" I shoot up in bed, sweat dripping down my face. I look around and notice it's dark outside. What the hell?

"Gale? How long have I been asleep?" I ask, rubbing my eyes.

"About six hours."

"What?!"

"Don't worry. I fed Maria, changed her diaper, fed her again, and now she's sleeping." My mouth falls open and my eyes go wide.

"You did what?" I'm in complete and utter shock.

"You looked really tired, I just wanted you to be able to rest," he says, walking over and sitting next to me on the bed. "I know I shouldn't have given her formula, but you looked so peaceful-"

"It's fine, as long as it's not all the time. I don't want her drinking that stuff, it's disgusting," I say, yawning and stretching my arms out above my head. He moves to sit closer to me, and I can feel his warmth radiating off of his body.

There's a thick silence in the room, and I turn to face him on the bed, pulling my knees up to my chest.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, putting my head between my legs.

"What?" He asks, lifting my chin, making me look at him.

"I just don't want you to feel like I'm pushing you away, because I'm not."

"Katniss-"

"No, just let me say this, please…" I say, taking a deep breath. "I need you to know that I care about you, that I'll always care about you. And I love you, but I love you as Maria's father, and nothing more." I stop to take another breath, thinking about how to best say this. "And I just don't want to lose you."

"Katniss, what? Lose me? Why would you lose me?" He asks, taking my hand in his and running his thumb along my knuckles.

"I know you'll only be here for a few weeks before you have to leave again, and I just don't want you to think that I never want you around. Because I do, and it would kill me if you didn't come and see me- I mean us, at least once a day." It al comes out so fast, that I want to shove it all back in. I'm not supposed to be feeling like this. I'm not supposed to want him to be around.

"I promise, I'm going to be around. But Katniss, we've moved on. We have separate lives now. And…As much as I would love to come home, I just think it would be best that after a while, we-" he stops talking, looking me in the eyes. I know it's because I'm crying that he stopped, because I must look a mess.

"Please don't cry, I hate seeing you cry." He says, wiping my tears with his thumbs. He holds my face in his hands, and kisses my forehead, smoothing down my hair. "Come here," he holds his arms open, and I fall into them, clutching his shirt for dear life.

I never thought this would happen. I thought we would just go home, and go our separate ways. I thought we would live together for three weeks and then everything would be back to normal.

But as it turns out, having a baby with someone really does change your relationship, whether you like it or not. And even as my thoughts every now and then drift to Peeta, I can't help but let Gale hold me tightly, in what used to be our bed, and clutch his shirt in my hands.

And I cry, I cry for so long that my face feels raw. It isn't until I feel his steady heartbeat beneath my ear that I begin to drift off myself, in his arms, where it's warm. Where it's safe.