I am so sorry. It's been so long since I updated, things have been really busy with school and stuff at the minute but I have also had huge writers block. So Effie makes an appearance in this chapter and there is also a suggestion of Hayfie but nothing definite yet. I hope you like it and don't forget to leave a review. Thank you very much.
Chapter 9
Katniss POV
*2 weeks later*
It was the middle of the night and I was lying awake in Peeta's arms. I shifted carefully, not wanting wake Peeta but now that my bump was noticeable I was finding it harder and harder to get comfortable. I lay there in the dark for a while until I felt a light tickle up and along my arm. When it reached the inside of my wrist the tickle started to draw circles on my wrist. I slowly turned around to face Peeta and I was met with his sparkling blue eyes. "I'm sorry did I wake you?" Peeta asked. "No, I was already awake." I answered. I kissed him gently and felt his arms wrap around my waist and he pulled me as close as my stomach would allow. I threaded my fingers through his hair and Peeta deepened the kiss, I felt his tongue brush across my lips so I opened my mouth and allowed him entry. When the need for air broke us about we lay there in the dark. "I love you Katniss." Peeta whispered. "I love you too Peeta." I replied. Peeta pulled me even closer to him and I snuggled into his chest. "I think we should try and get some more sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow. Effie is coming." I groaned. Peeta turned onto his back and I rested my head on his chest. He had one arm round my waist and the other held my hand whilst my free arm was draped over his chest. "Goodnight Peeta." I whispered as I fell into sleep, I didn't hear Peeta's reply.
When I woke up Peeta was still asleep. I lay there and watched him, he looked so peaceful when he was asleep; if he had nightmares he didn't show them like I did. "Good morning." Peeta said with a yawn. "Good morning." I answered. Peeta leaned down and brought his lips to mine. "Effie will be here soon." He breathed against my lips. "She's not here now though." I answered as I brought my lips back to Peeta's. "I know but I think we need to get up; she's never late." Peeta replied. I signed in protest but I knew he was right so I reluctantly pulled away. "I'll make breakfast. What do you want?" He asked with a smile. I thought about it for a minute and I couldn't decide. "Surprise me." I answered so Peeta smiled and leapt off the bed before he headed downstairs to start breakfast. I lay there for a bit before I moved-101 things running through my head. My life had turned out very different from how I'd imagined it. I had never imagined I would have kids-I'd always said I'd never wanted them and Peeta knew that. I knew he thought that one day I would change my mind and I guess I had. It had been one night-just one night when we weren't careful. I wasn't sure at first; I was scared and I didn't want a baby but I knew how much Peeta did and I wanted him to be happy. I couldn't get rid of the baby when I knew how much Peeta wanted it and deep down I kind of wanted it too. It would break his heart but he would pretend he was fine because that's what Peeta does-he pretends he is fine so he can protect the people close to him. In the past I had always had a reason for not wanting kids, The Hunger Games but now they were gone and there was no way they were coming back the only thing stopping me was my fear in myself. I had been scared when Daisy had first moved inside me. It had been a reminder that someone was growing inside me and that when they were born they would be completely dependent on me and Peeta. That fear was still there but it was very small now. I wanted this baby now too. My fears shrank with the thought that Peeta would be with me every step of the way and that we were doing this together. "Katniss! Breakfast is ready." Peeta shouted from the kitchen. With a jolt I was back in my room and not my thoughts. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and grabbed Peeta's t-shirt off the floor along with a pair of his pyjama bottoms.
We were just finishing getting ready when the doorbell went and as Peeta had more clothes on then me he went to answer the door whilst I pulled on a top and a pair of trousers that still fit-a difficult task not only to get them on but to find some that fit. When I had found some I headed downstairs.
Peeta was sat in the living room chatting with Effie. He looked up and smiled at me when I entered and I returned his smile. "Katniss." Effie cried when she saw me. She stood and embraced me in her arms. "You look beautiful." She said when she pulled away. I blushed, mumbled my thanks and went to sit beside Peeta. "So how have you been?" Effie asked. "We've been good. How about you?" Peeta replied. "Oh well, you know busy. I've opened a clothes boutique and it is going well but it keeps me very busy. You should come and visit sometime, the Capitol is very different now; it's still very colourful but now people do more, lots of people have jobs now; they have clothes boutiques, wig shops and jewellery shops. There are now some people living in the Districts but they mainly live in District 1, 2 or 4 and some people from the Districts live in the Capitol but there isn't very many and they are only from District 1 and 2. But enough about me. Tell me, how is the pregnancy? Have you decided on a name? Has Haymitch been round? Is he still drinking?" she asked. "Effie." Peeta interrupted before she could go on and Effie gave an apologetic smile. "The pregnancy is going great; we have a scan in a few days to check on everything. We're having a girl and we are going to call her Daisy but we haven't decided on a middle name yet. Haymitch comes round nearly every day and he is round at least once a week for his tea. He stopped drinking when we told him we were having a baby and I don't think he has touched any alcohol since, we helped him get rid of any that was in his house and he hasn't bought anymore. He is doing really well." Peeta answered. "That's great news. When will Haymitch next be round?" Effie answered. "He's unpredictable but he will probably be round tonight." I responded. "Oh. When is the baby due?" she asked. "Ermm… Well I'm 6 months now so in about 3 months. I think we were told about the middle of May at our last appointment but we get a definite date at our next appointment." I replied. "Oh it all sounds very exciting. I will try and visit late May or early June if I can, but of course only if you will have me." Effie said. "Of course, you're welcome any time you want and it will be great to have some help with Daisy." Peeta answered enthusiastically, just then the door opened. "Hello! I'm her-" Haymitch shouted as he appeared in the doorway. "Oh you've arrived." He muttered. "Yes I have arrived Haymitch. How have you been? Katniss and Peeta tell me you have stopped drinking – that's great news." Effie responded. "Yeah well can't be drinking when there is a little one round so I decided to stop." Haymitch mumbled. Effie smiled. "I brought you all a present back from the Capitol." She said as she dug around in her bag. "Oh thank you but you didn't have to." Peeta answered. "Yes I did. Katniss and Peeta you are letting me stay in your house for the next week and a half and what kind of a house guest would I be if I didn't get you a thank you present and Haymitch…" She paused as if she was trying to think of a reason as to why she got Haymitch a present. "You're letting me stay in the area and I understand I am going to be intruding on some of your meals with Peeta and Katniss so thank you and anyway we are a team, I get everybody in my team presents." Effie said as she handed us each a present. "Well go on open them." So we did. Haymitch got a bracelet similar to the one Effie got him before the Quell, Peeta got a special cookbook by one of the top Capitol chefs and I got a book on all the plants you can get in Panem, the plants in the Capitol and every district not just District 12. We all thanked her and then Peeta got up to start making dinner for everybody. I stayed in the living room with Haymitch and Effie and it was quite awkward at first. It seems that after years of insulting each other they didn't really know what to say to each other but after a while they managed to strike up a conversation, of course there was the odd insult thrown into mix from time to time but some things will never change. I sat there and half listened to the conversation-a snippet here and a snippet there, I got the general gist-but my mind wandered elsewhere. Every so often a beautiful smell would waft through the door and my stomach would rumble slightly so I was very glad when Peeta announced that dinner was ready. Peeta had made lamb stew, my favourite dish from the Capitol and it was delicious. We spent dinner catching up with Effie and what was happening in the Capitol. It was nice, like we were back in the training centre-the four of us, our team. For the first time in a while I was relaxed. I wasn't worried the pregnancy, being a parent or anything I was simply enjoying myself.
Dinner ended and we all helped clean up before we moved into the living room. We chatted for a while before Effie excused herself and went to bed. Haymitch left shortly after Effie went to bed so it was just Peeta and I. We sat cuddled together on the sofa with the TV on but neither one of us was really paying any attention to what was on. "They deserve to be happy." Peeta said suddenly, breaking the silence. I turned in Peeta's arms so I was looking at him, a questioning look in my eyes. "Who does?" I asked. "Effie and Haymitch… Come on tell me you saw it too." He replied. "Saw what?" I questioned. "The sidelong glances… the slightly tense atmosphere… the laughter… Haymitch's smile… He hasn't smiled like that or looked that happy since he felt Daisy kick. There's something going on between those too and I hope it works out for them because they deserve it after everything they've been through." Peeta answered and the more I thought about the more I realised he was right and I had noticed it. The way Effie's eyes had brightened ever so slightly when Haymitch had arrived and the way Haymitch had hesitated briefly when he saw her. The way Effie had bought Haymitch a present for no reason and the way Haymitch had been so enthusiastic and interested about what she was doing with her life back in the Capitol now, he had never before cared about what she did in the Capitol and when she'd talked about it before he had paid her no attention but tonight he had listened carefully. They were still their usual selves-insulting each other, Haymitch joking around and Effie fussing over manners and everything else Effie fusses over but Peeta was right, there was definitely something going on between them and I don't even think they knew what it was yet. "I hope it does too. Now come on lets go to bed, I'm tired." I said, untangling myself from Peeta and pulling myself up. He held is hand out for me to pull him up too, I sighed but I grabbed his hand and pulled anyway. "I'm the one whose pregnant you should be pulling me up." I muttered but I know he heard me when his face broke into a smile. I rolled my eyes and started to turn away to head upstairs when Peeta's hand closed around my wrist and spun me round to face him where I was met with his lips on mine. "Thank you." He whispered against my lips. We broke apart and headed upstairs.
I came out of the bathroom to find Peeta laid on the bed in just his pyjama bottoms with his hands behind his head. I moved to my side of the bed and lay down next to him before I felt his arms wrap around my waist from behind, his hands splayed across my growing stomach. I shuffled back against his body after I had turned out the light. "Goodnight Peeta." I whispered into the dark. "Goodnight Katniss. I love you." He answered. "I love you too." I replied before I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Thanks again for reading and I apologise again for the really, really long wait for this chapter. I am going to try and publish the next chapter in considerably less time. I mean 6 months that's like half a year and I didn't update, that's pretty poor especially since I don't really do anything other than go to school. So yes, the next chapter will be up a lot sooner, I want to say like the next couple of weeks but I can't guarantee anything so just keep checking back and hopefully the next chapter will be up. Please leave a review as I really love reading them and they might inspire me to write another chapter sooner, you never know.
