"My parents split up when I was nineteen," Peeta said, taking a sip of tea. "I've often thought that's what soured Rye on the idea of marriage."
Listening, Katniss nibbled at the slice of pie in front of her.
They'd made it a habit to stop for dessert after each childbirth class. Now, after the fourth and final class, Katniss was regretting that their "dessert dates" would be coming to an end, and not only because of all the touching that preceded them.
Their conversations had been surprisingly candid, the deep stuff they'd skipped past when they'd first become phone buddies, and Katniss was lost in a fantasy, wanting to put herself forward in the best possible light.
Over the past few weeks, Peeta had filled in the gaps in his life that she wasn't familiar with - stories about his athletic prowess as a high school wrestler, his failed attempt to make a career as an artist, and his close relationship with his Grandmother Griet who had lived with his family during her final years.
Katniss had talked of her parents' close bond that sometimes left the two sisters feeling like outsiders in their own family. She also asked his opinion about opening a daycare in Dandelion.
Yet despite everything they'd revealed, neither had spoke of their feelings for the other, and the only co-parenting issue they'd resolved was that their daughter would bear the last name of Mellark, instead of Everdeen or a hyphenated composite of the two surnames.
I need to tell Peeta how I feel about him, otherwise we'll never move past friendship.
As the waitress set the bill on the edge of the table, Katniss blurt out, "Let me take you to dinner on your birthday next week, just the two of us. I'm sure Uncle Haymitch will watch Taiden."
I'll tell Peeta on his birthday.
Peeta's eyebrows rose. "I'm surprised you remembered."
"How could I forget the first day of spring?"
He grabbed the bill and pulled out his wallet. "Thanks, that would be nice. But would it be okay if we celebrated the day before, on the 19th? I already made plans to do something with Taiden on my birthday."
"The 19th would be fine."
Where do you want to go?" he asked.
"I'm taking you out Peeta. Where do you want to go?"
His brow furrowed for a moment, before a smile spread across his face.
"There's an Italian place I love called Seraphina's. I haven't been there in a long while. They make the best chicken alfredo."
"Sounds delicious." Katniss' hands rested on the top of her belly, which now protruded like a shelf when she was seated.
I'll probably just order a salad.
"You know my offer of a back massage is still on the table."
Even though Katniss longed for more touching, she'd been hesitant to ask for a private session, worried that any unofficial physicality between the two of them would only bring more confusion to their already complicated relationship.
"It's only fair," Peeta continued, "since you refuse to take any payment for organizing my bakery accounts."
He'd brought over a stack of paperwork and a laptop and spent an hour going over everything with her a couple of days after her job had ended at The Capitol. Since then, she'd dedicated an hour to his accounts daily. It wasn't difficult; in truth she enjoyed working with numbers.
However, her back did ache, worse than ever. The baby must have dropped, at least that was what she'd gathered in the bathroom after class.
While the childbirth instructor was informative, the most helpful and interesting knowledge was revealed in the ladies' restroom after class where the women exchanged personal information about their changing bodies. Women who'd given birth previously held court as they detailed the realities of childbirth to all of the first time mothers.
Only tonight there had been an interesting discussion regarding whether sex could induce labor. Two women swore it did, while another insisted it didn't.
I guess that won't be a theory I'll get a chance to try out.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The morning of the 19th, Katniss looked through her closet and frowned. Her pre-pregnancy wardrobe was shoved to one side, her maternity clothing in front. She was sick of it all, even the few nice pieces she'd purchased to wear to her job at The Capitol. Everything was tent-like, dark and dreary in color; and spring was tomorrow.
"I'm going shopping," she told her uncle.
After picking up a small birthday gift for Peeta, a book that he'd mentioned he wanted to read, Katniss set off on a quest to find something to wear. She went to several stores, tried on a few outfits, but she couldn't find anything she liked.
Her energy flagging, she caught sight of a mannequin wearing a cheerful yellow maternity dress.
That's cute.
To tired to even try it on, Katniss found one in her size and paid for it.
She began to get ready an hour before Peeta was due to arrive, putting on makeup and even curling her hair, which she hadn't cut since she'd moved to Dandelion. It had gotten thicker and glossier than ever over the past few months and now hung several inches below her shoulders.
She took the tags off the dress and put it on. Then she looked in the full-length mirror on the back of the door.
I should have gotten a bigger size.
Instead of draping neatly over her midsection, the fabric clung to her round belly making it appear as if she was hiding an exercise ball under her dress.
The neckline seemed lower than it had appeared on the mannequin, but maybe it was because her breasts, which had gone up at least two cups sizes, were spilling out on top.
I look like a pregnant hooker.
But it was too late to do anything about it now. The best she could do was to drape a shawl over herself and hope Peeta didn't look lower than her face.
"You look like a fertility goddess," Uncle Haymitch said when she came into the living room.
"Thanks. It's exactly the look I was aiming for."
Katniss sat on a dining room chair while she waited for Peeta. It was getting difficult these days to get out of upholstered furniture.
Hopefully the restaurant has tables and chairs. I don't want to get stuck in a booth.
A knock sounded at the door.
She got up to open it. Peeta stood on the porch wearing dress pants and a sports jacket. Taiden was in pajamas at his side.
"Happy early Birthday, Peeta."
"Thanks. You look …"
Before he could finish, Taiden jumped in. "Like one of those flowers." The child pointed to a lone yellow dandelion sitting in the middle of her uncle's lawn.
Are weeds coming up already?
"I guess my dress does match," she agreed, exchanging an amused glance with Peeta.
"I was going to say you look stunning," Peeta said.
Katniss stepped away from the door as they entered the house.
"I'm here Haymitch," Taiden called out.
"Okay Wild Thing, we'll start as soon as these two get out of here."
Katniss glared at her uncle. "You're not teaching him how to whittle, are you?"
"No. He's got to be at least four to do that. We have other plans for tonight."
"It's a secret," Taiden added.
"Okay, we'll leave. She picked up the wrapped book from the dining table and handed it to Peeta. "This is for you."
"Should I open it now?"
"You can."
He tore the paper off. "How did you know I wanted to read this?"
"You mentioned it a while back."
"Thanks." He set it back on the table. "I'll leave it here for now."
She reached for her shawl that was folded over the back of the chair, and wrapped it around her shoulders.
"See you two later," she called out as she and Peeta left the house.
"Will you drive?" she asked him. "It's getting hard for me to fit behind the steering wheel. I have to move the seat back, but then my legs are too short to reach the gas pedal and brake."
"Sure. We can take my car."
They drove for thirty minutes. The restaurant appeared to be in the middle of nowhere, with a dirt parking lot. It was rustic in appearance, with outdoor seating, but no one was outdoors tonight because of the slight chill in the air.
The interior was dim, most of the light came from tiny white bulbs strung around the white walls. Katniss breathed a sigh of relief that there were no booths, only tables and chairs. It was only half full, but then it was the middle of the week.
"Is Mama Seraphina cooking tonight?" Peeta asked a waiter.
"She is."
"Will you tell her that Peeta Mellark is here?"
The man nodded.
"Do you know the owner?" Katniss asked, as they were led to a table and handed menus.
"I do. She had a contract for years with Mellark's to purchase baked goods and a few specialty cakes. It ended because one of her family members graduated from culinary school and took over the baking."
Katniss opened the menu. Judging from the choices, she could see why Peeta would have avoided the place when he was trying to lose weight.
"It all looks so good," she said, her mouth beginning to water.
Salad be damned, I might as well enjoy myself.
The waiter brought water to their table and took their drink orders, club soda for Katniss and a diet coke for Peeta.
Peeta was describing his favorites on the menu when a plump, older woman wearing an apron came over to the table. She stared at him for a moment, confusion in her brown eyes, before shaking her head.
"Peeta, have you been sick? You used to be a big, healthy man, but look at you. You've withered away to nothing, although I do like these curls." She gave his hair a friendly tousle.
"Mama Seraphina, so good to see you too," Peeta said, standing up to hug her.
He pulled away. "I'd like to introduce you to someone. This is Katniss."
An enormous smile came over the woman's face. "So that's why you stayed away.
The woman appraised Katniss thoroughly before turning back to Peeta.
"She's beautiful. She looks like the Madonna."
Katniss blushed, as Peeta bobbed his head up and down in agreement.
"I told you it would happen someday. I told you not to give up. There's a lid for every pot."
Peeta's cheeks grew pink.
The owner's voice turned businesslike. "Now have you placed your order yet?"
"We haven't," Peeta said.
She removed the menus from their table. "Don't bother. I'll make up something special for you and your beautiful lady. All of your favorites."
"She really likes you," Katniss said, when the woman had left.
"I like her, too," Peeta said. "She's very kind. We've had a lot of long talks over the years."
This would be the perfect time to tell him what he means to me.
But the waiter arrived with a platter of fried calamari and dipping sauce, and two empty plates
It smelled good and Katniss was hungry. She dug in.
"You might want to pace yourself," Peeta advised. "I have a lot of favorites."
Soon the table was filled with dishes. Lasagna, chicken alfredo, eggplant parmesan, ravioli.
Katniss eyed the plates and sighed. "I can see why you like this place."
"Try this," Peeta said, stabbing at a ravioli with his fork, and holding it up to Katniss' mouth. She took a bite. Warm cheese melted over her tongue. She let out a soft moan.
"Oh my." She began to fill her plate.
Much later, when their appetites were sated, Mama Seraphina reappeared. "Are you ready for dessert?"
Peeta looked to Katniss. She shook her head. Her stomach was starting to ache after eating so much rich food.
"We're going to take a pass tonight," Peeta said.
"Okay, then. I'll have Angelo box what's left up for you."
"Thanks Mama Seraphina. It was all so delicious."
"Good. Now don't stay away so long. I want to see you and your family," her eyes flickered to Katniss, "after the baby arrives."
As soon as she left, Angelo appeared to clear the table.
"You know what would be the perfect ending to this evening, Katniss?"
"What?"
"If you'd come back to my house and let me sketch you.
Her eyes grew big. "You want to draw a picture of me? Like this?"
"Of course. You have such a glow about you these days, an inner radiance I'm not even sure I have the talent to capture. But I'd like to try."
I'll wait to tell him until we go back to his house.
Angelo returned with a large paper bag, and a bill. Katniss took the bill out of his hands. A note was written on it. `Congratulations on your beautiful lady. Dinner is on the house.'
Blushing, Katniss handed the bill to Peeta to show him Mama Seraphina's message.
"There's no charge for our meal. But I'll leave a tip for the waiter." She pulled some cash from her purse and set it onto the table.
They stood up - Peeta reaching for the bag of leftovers - and walked outside into the cool night air.
"I like this place. Thank you for taking me here." Katniss pulled the shawl around her tightly.
"Are you cold?" Without waiting for her to even reply Peeta put his arm around her.
Maybe it was the combination of stars shining against the dark sky, a belly filled with scrumptious foods, and an abundance of personal compliments, but it seemed to Katniss as if happiness was all around her if only she would reach out and catch hold. Without thinking, in the middle of the dirt parking lot she blurt out, "I'm tired of pretending."
Peeta turned toward her, his eyes nervously searching hers. "Pretending what?"
"That we're a couple. I want to be your beautiful lady for real. I've fallen in love with you."
As soon as the words were out of her mouth, a panic came over her.
What if he doesn't feel the same?
But a smile crept onto his face, his dimples growing deeper. "This is turning out to be the best birthday ever. I love you, too, Katniss. Would it be okay if I kissed you?"
She breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you'd never ask again."
He put a hand on one cheek and pressed his lips to hers. His beard tickled her skin, but she quickly forgot about it as her lips parted and his kiss deepened.
They reluctantly broke apart as voices sounded in the night air; some other diners had exited the restaurant and were walking to their car.
"Let's go home," Peeta said.
A giddy feeling came over Katniss as he drove down the highway.
"So when did you start to fall?" Peeta asked, reaching for her left hand.
Twice actually. The first time was when we began talking on the phone. But I can't tell him that because then I'd have to explain why I ran away after I slept with him.
"After Christmas when we went to the snow," she answered.
"And I'd thought I'd screwed everything up completely then."
"What about you Peeta. When did you know you loved me?"
"When Haymitch showed me your picture."
"What picture?"
Before Peeta could answer though, their daughter kicked at her groin.
Katniss let out a loud yelp, pulling her hand from Peeta's.
She put both hands onto her lower belly, trying to hold back a sharp cramping sensation.
"What's wrong?" Peeta slowed the car and pulled over to the shoulder letting the engine idle.
"She kicked me hard and it hurts. A lot"
A warm sensation came over her like she'd wet her pants.
Oh, no.
"My water just broke." Alarmed, she turned to Peeta. "This isn't supposed to be happening yet. I have three more weeks."
A sober look appeared on his face. "Let's get you to the hospital." He turned the steering wheel toward the road and sped off.
"Are you still in pain?" he asked.
"Not any more." But a few minutes later her first real contraction hit. It made her worst menstrual cramp seem like child's play.
"Ooh," she moaned.
"Call Dr. Latier," Peeta suggested. "Tell him we're on our way to the hospital now."
That was a good idea. She opened her clutch purse, and pulled out her phone.
A woman's crisp voice answered. "This is the answering service for Dr. Beetee Latier. Can I take a message?"
"My name is Katniss Everdeen. My water broke. We're on our way to the hospital."
"I'll get that message to the doctor immediately."
Another contraction hit and she gasped, turning the phone away from her face.
"Is the doctor going to meet us there?"
"I don't know. I left a message with his service."
She grimaced and stared out the window into the darkness as Peeta sped down the road. Although she was tired of being pregnant, she wasn't ready to give birth tonight.
There goes my time alone with Peeta.
He reached for her hand again and squeezed it.
"It will be all right. Everything will work out, you'll see."
On the heels of his words another contraction struck.
She gasped loudly, shaking Peeta's hand free.
"How long until we get there," she whimpered when the contraction ended.
How was she going to stand the pain? She could be in agony for hours to come.
"Just a few more miles," Peeta said. "Remember to concentrate on your breathing."
Still, he accelerated.
Katniss had four more contractions in the next fifteen minutes, before Peeta pulled up to the emergency room door. Turning off the engine he jumped out of the car and ran around to get Katniss out.
A hospital orderly appeared with a wheelchair.
"You'll need to move your car sir," the man told Peeta.
"I'll be back after I park." Peeta pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
Katniss sat down in the chair and the man wheeled her inside. In the past year she'd been in this emergency room a couple times, accompanying Uncle Haymitch when he'd broke his ankle and Peeta when he'd broke his rib.
Fortunately, unlike those other visits, she was rushed inside past the sick and injured and through the double doors. She was handed off to a nurse who took her up the elevator to the maternity section on the fourth floor. She was taken into a room with a bed and left alone.
After experiencing another contraction, she decided to get out of the wheelchair. She walked around the room and looked out the window, pleased to see that she wasn't facing the parking lot, but rather the empty field on the other side of the hospital.
A woman's voice called out. "Ms. Everdeen, I'd like to check and see how far along you are."
Katniss turned her head to find a woman not much taller than herself with spiky dark hair wearing a white jacket. The nametag on it read "Dr. Johanna Mason."
"Where's Dr. Latier?"
"He went to a basketball game with his grandson. I'm filling in for him tonight."
"Oh."
"Go into the bathroom, and get out of those clothes, and put on a gown. I'll be back in a few minutes to give you a pelvic exam."
The doctor left and Katniss walked into the bathroom. A stack of gowns sat on a shelf. She leaned against the closed door and groaned as another contraction hit.
When it ended, she undressed, throwing her wet dress into the trashcan.
She put on the robe, with the opening to the front and held it closed with her hand as she carried her shawl and her shoes into the room and set them on a chair. Then she got into the bed.
Katniss lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling. Where in the hell was that doctor? Where was Peeta? Was she supposed to deliver the baby by herself?
Another contraction hit. Her face scrunched up in pain.
Tears pooled in the corner of her eyes when it was over.
Three contractions later, Dr. Mason appeared, followed by a nurse pushing a cart with an ultrasound monitor.
"Good you're changed. Let me get a look see now." She walked over to the sink and washed her hands, dried them, and pulled a pair of gloves out of a box on a nearby shelf. Coming over to the end of the bed, she pulled up the blanket. "Spread your legs, Mom."
Another contraction hit. Katniss moaned. When it was over, Dr. Mason did her inspection.
"You're already at seven centimeters. You're almost there."
"The baby's not due for three weeks."
"Babies never arrive on schedule," Dr. Mason said. "But we'll find out what's going on." She turned on the ultrasound machine and ran the wand over Katniss' belly.
"Everything looks fine," she said. "Baby A is head down. Baby B is… also facing the right direction."
A shiver ran down Katniss' back. "What do you mean Baby A and Baby B?"
Dr. Mason's eyes narrowed. "Twins. You're having twins."
The doctor laughed nervously. "You knew that didn't you? There are two little girls inside you ready to meet their mom."