Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games or The Vow.
Katniss' POV
As soon as we burst through the door, we turn our heads towards the stairs, only to trip over the first step. We're gasping for air as if we just ran miles and miles. I guess we're not exactly in the best shape as we were eleven years ago for the Quarter Quell.
I hear Haymitch and Peeta stomp down the stairs and pause as they see us. Johanna raises a hand is if telling them to wait, and they walk up to us as Haymitch helps Johanna up and Peeta helps me.
"What the hell is wrong with you two? Bursting in here as if your asses are on fire." Haymitch says and Johanna gives him a glare. She manages to calm her breathing before I do, so she turns to Peeta first.
"Hey loverboy, long time no see. Now when was the last time you and Katniss were ... intimate?" Johanna asks. He looks slightly uncomfortable at her question and I laugh, she always gets straight to the point and doesn't hold back.
"I think that's a little too personal for you to be asking." Peeta says, irritated. He looks over to me for help but I just shrug.
"Not really, we've been though a lot worse together." Johanna points out and he grits his teeth. Haymitch shoots her a look and she puts her hands up in surrender. "I just need to know if you knocked up Katniss before the accident or something." She confesses, now irritated as well.
His eyes widen and he looks over at me. I notice Haymitch staring at me too and I get out of Peeta's grasp and walk over to Johanna because I don't like the attention.
"So is it possible?" Johanna asks Peeta after a moment of silence. Peeta rubs the back of his neck and nods before looking down at the ground. I gasp and begin to feel dizzy, so I grab onto Johanna. This can't be happening, I think. I don't want kids! Suddenly, I'm dragging Johanna out of the door with all of my strength.
"Come on, let's go to the healers. They'll tell us you're wrong. I'm ... I'm fine. It's just not my time yet. Come on guys. Wait, where's the hospital again? And what were my doctors names? We have to-" I begin before Johanna puts her hand over my mouth.
"Goodness, you talk so much when you're panicked. Calm down. Now let's go guys, I want to know the truth as much as she does. Take us to the healers so they'll tell us if she had her ... time of the month while she was being taken care of. And if she didn't, I think we all know what it'll mean." Johanna says.
I try to walk ahead, dragging Johanna with me before I realize that I don't know the way there, so Peeta and Haymitch take the lead.
When we get there, they immediately ask for a woman named Vera. Oh! I remember her! I watch as the semi-familiar woman walks over to us as soon as they ask for her.
Peeta and Haymitch talk to her while Johanna and I sit on the chairs for guests. I look over at them to see Vera's worried look and I want to cry.
"I'm probably not pregnant. Maybe we're just overreacting, let's go home and forget this ever happened, Johanna. Okay? Yeah, let's go." I tell Johanna before trying to pull her up, but she won't allow me. And after about five minutes of struggling, I eventually decide to just drag her out on the chair.
"Katniss, that's property of the healers office. You can't take that. Now come over here." Vera tells me, but panic rushes through me and I begin to run for the doors, but Johanna's just too quick and she scoops me up with ease.
"Calm down, brainless. Just listen to what the nice lady has to say." Johanna says. I scowl at her and she let's me down in front of Vera.
"Katniss, it's okay. We can't completely tell just by a missed period, we'll have to run some more tests, but only if you'd allow us." Vera tells me in a serious voice, and I immediately feel like rejecting her offer before Johanna squeezes my shoulder.
"She'll do it." Johanna speaks for me, and this time, I don't object. I need her to tell me that I'm fine and we have nothing to worry about at all, so I just nod my head in assent.
x
I am pregnant.
Despite the fact that I've promised myself I'd never have children, this is exactly what's happening. Not to mention the fact that I promised myself I'd never get married either, but look what happened there.
"Do you have any concerns? I could answer any questions you may have." Vera tells me gently. And I do ask the first question that comes to mind, only it's obviously not what they expected due to their expressions.
"What am I going to tell Gale?" I asked. Johanna had laughed bitterly, Peeta looked away, Haymitch gave me a look of disgust, and Vera looked confused. I couldn't stand them doing that to me, so I walked out of the healers office then and there.
I'm sure I could easily find Gale's house from here, so I begin walking to what I know surround his house. And eventually, I do find it. I hope he hasn't gone back to District 2 because I haven't seen him in a couple days. The thought of him leaving me causes me to frantically knock at their door.
When Gale answers the door, I basically jump on him just to have him in my arms. Although he initially hesitates, he eventually gives in to my hug.
"I was worried you'd left me and gone back to District 2 when I hadn't seen you in a couple days. Can we go somewhere private? I need to tell you something." I tell him. Gale looks concerned, but leads me to the woods after informing his mother that he'd be gone.
Once we reach our little space in the woods that we've always shared, we sit down. He looks at me expectantly, waiting for me to tell him what I have to say. But my nerves cause me to hesitate, and instead I look around and take notice of the things that have changed in our spot over the years.
"Katniss?" Gale asks, bringing me out of my trance. He's beginning to look irritated, so I finally decide to tell him and sigh.
"Gale, I don't know how to tell you this, but I'm pregnant." I say softly, looking at the forest beyond. I don't dare look at him, I don't want to see whatever emotions cross his face. But nothing has prepared me for what he says next.
"Come to District 2 with me, please. We can raise your baby together. It's much better than raising it with somebody you barely trust, barely know. I'm your best friend, we'd both be able to raise it with so much love. It may not be mine, but maybe we can start a family of our own. You even stopped wearing that damn ring. We can finally be together." Gale said with so much passion in his voice.
I just stared at him with my mouth agape. Not knowing how to respond to his words. He has tears in his eyes, and seeing them makes my stomach churn. Gale's never cried in front of me. And for some reason, seeing those tears makes me agree.
"Okay. But ... what will I tell them? Peeta's the father. I can't just take his baby away from him and never let him see her." I tell Gale, but he just laughs.
"It doesn't matter. The baby can grow up with me as it's father. You don't have to let him see it, your it's mother." Gale answers. But I just don't like it.
"But I wouldn't let someone take my baby away from me. Imagine if someone did that to you, Gale. You'd be upset, wouldn't you? It's just not right." I say.
"Fine. You can make some stupid arrangement with him later. But I'm going with you to tell him that you're going to District 2." Gale says. I don't know what else to say, so I just nod my head. He smiles and grabs my hand as he drags me towards the Victors' Village.
I'm nervous when we're outside of Peeta's door. I don't want to hurt him, but maybe Gale's right. Maybe it would be best to raise this baby with someone I trust. He knocks at the door and we wait for Peeta to answer.
When he does, his face brightens at the sight of me, but it leaves as soon as it came when he see's Gale. Peeta tells us to come in, and Gale takes me to sit down on the couch.
"I just wanted to let you know that Katniss is going to be leaving with me to District 2. We'll stay here until at most, a month. But we won't be here longer than that. Katniss wants to talk some arrangements with you. To see the baby." Gale speaks for me. Peeta looks hurt, and I look away.
"But Katniss-" Peeta starts. Gale cuts him off immediately.
"It's decided. Now let her speak so you guys can discuss when you can see it." Gale says roughly before looking over at me and nodding. I take a deep breath and look at Peeta.
"Maybe you can see her every other month after she's born. You can come over to District 2 every year for it's birthday. And if you'd like, you can be there for it's birth." I say quietly. When he says nothing, I decide to speak again, "That's all." I finish. Peeta looks sad, and I look away again.
"You can't do this Gale. It's not your child. It's Katniss and I's. Don't make her do this." Peeta says to Gale. But Gale just glares at him.
"Katniss wants to do this. She agreed when I proposed the idea. Not my fault that she just doesn't love you enough to stay." Gale says coldly. I stare at Gale with my eyes wide and my mouth slightly open, the word's he just said are unforgivable, and Peeta knows it.
"Fine. Take her. Leave to District 2 right now if you'd like. But if that baby ends up looking exactly like me, you guys can explain to it about how you took it away from me. I'll be there for it's birth and birthdays, nothing else." Peeta says, but the voice is unlike his usual kind tone. It's cold. Gale nods and grabs my hand as he drags me out.
I risk one last glance at Peeta before Gale shuts the door. The tears that are running down his face break my heart, and I manage to mouth the words 'I'm sorry' before Gale shuts the door.
I pull my hand away from his as soon as we get outside.
"That really hurt him Gale." I say with my own tears in my eyes. He just huffs at my words.
"Go pack. We're leaving in a week." Is al he says before walking out of the Victors' Village and to his own home. I stand on Peeta's porch for a while. Debating whether I should go in and truly apologize, but I know my words will mean nothing. So I just drag myself over to my house with tears running down my cheeks.
"There you are, brainless. Your mom wants to talk to you about-" Johanna begins before she get's a good luck at me, "Hey, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Tell me or I'll hurt you." She threatens. I decide it's no use to hide it from her and walk over her with a sigh. I sit down next to her and contemplate my words.
"I'm moving to District 2 with Gale and the news has really upset Peeta." I tell her, my voice barely above a whisper. She just stares at me. I can't read her face, but I bet she's mad too.
"Is this really what you want, Katniss? To leave your life behind and take Peeta's child away from him? You should've seen how excited he was at first. But the excitment left as soon as he saw you weren't happy. Peeta still loves you Katniss, you're the only person he has left in this world. Besides Haymitch, Annie, little Finn, and I of course. But seriously, don't do this to him brainless." Johanna says. Her words just make me cry even harder.
"It's for the best, Johanna! I don't want to take his child away, but it's best for me! I can't live in a home with someone I barely know and raise a child with him. I've known Gale for such a long time, and he says he loves me. I might not love him the same way he does me, but maybe I can learn!" I tell her.
"You've never been good at making decisions. But if that's what you want, by all means, do it. Now I'm gonna call Annie and tell her not to come. Go talk to your mom now." Johanna says quietly before getting up at walking to my study room. I find my mother in her room once again.
"Mom, I'm moving to District 2 in a week, you can go back to District 4 if you'd like. Gale and I've decided to raise my baby together." I tell her. She looks surprised, and doesn't say anything for a while.
"Okay, but you're coming to District 4 as soon as you reach eight months. They say you're three months along, which means you'll have your baby in July. I want to deliver it myself, so you'll move in with me in five months. Take care of yourself." My mother says. I'm surprised that she doesn't try to change my mind, but I guess she wants to let me make my own decisions now.
The week passes by in a blur. Johanna and my mother left five days after I'd told them. Haymitch yelled at me for hours after they left, trying to convince me what I'm doing isn't right. I didn't listen though. He left when he got the hint. And soon the day came when Gale was knocking at my door so we could leave.
I grabbed my one large bag of belongings with one hand and my ring with another.
"I'll be right back Gale. I have to go give Peeta his ring back. Wait for me at the entrance of the village." I tell him as he takes my bag and walks over to the entrance. I nervously make my way to Peeta's door and knock. He opens it with a look of surprise.
"I just wanted to return this with you. It wouldn't feel right if I kept it. I'll see you in five months." I tell him while placing the ring in his palm. Fresh tears appear in his eyes as he realized what it is. I kiss his cheek before walking back to Gale.
"District 2, here we come." Gale says as I approach him, and we make our way over to the train station. I hope this isn't a bad decision after all.
I immediately regret my decision after a month of being here. My belly has a noticeable bump and many of Gale's friends congratulate him upon seeing me. Gale accepts the kind words even thought the baby isn't really his.
I sleep in a room next door to him because I refuse to sleep in the same bed. Gale argued at first, but eventually gave up when I threatened to move back to District 12. He tries to discuss names with me often even though I've told him many times that I'm naming the baby on my own since it's mine.
I've decided on what to name it if it's a girl, but I'm having trouble deciding on what to name it if it's a boy. Sometimes I think of asking Gale for help, but I won't give him the option of choosing the name of a baby that isn't his.
The next four months pass by quickly as well due to the fact that I spend most of my time in my room doing nothing. I never had a reason to go out except to buy food and cook. So that's what I did. I was so nervous by the time I arrived in District 4, and I waddled as fast as I could to my mother.
She too wanted to give Gale and I a room together, but I refused. I wasn't comfortable sleeping in a bed with him yet.
I find I have more things to do here than in District 2 because of the beach and Annie. She comes over often to talk, and her little boy is a crazy little thing. When she doesn't come over to talk, she comes over to take me to the beach. We usually just sit in the sun, but occasionally put our feet in the water.
The day comes on a beautiful sunny day in July, only two days after Peeta arrives. It's like our baby was waiting for him to arrive. I woke up with an unbearable pain and my screams woke up Annie who sleeps in a little bed with her son in my room. We've become very close in a month.
She helps me up and sends little Finn to wake up Peeta and Gale. My mother had already started her shift in the hospital. Peeta appeared first and he helped me up with Annie. Gale grabbed my bag that contained everything I'd need while I was at the hospital and we left for the hospital.
Gale had called my mother on our way there to tell her I was having the baby, so she was ready when we got there.
I was immediately taken to my hopital room with Annie by my side. Peeta and Gale stayed behind with Finn. I was screaming at the top of my lungs by the time my mother said I was almost ready. She said that only one more person could be let in, but I was in too much pain to respond. Annie told her to ask them who wanted to come the most, and it wasn't long before Gale came in.
He didn't know what to do, so he just sat in a chair nearby while Annie gave me things to do. She was very calm as she told me things that happened when she gave birth to Finn, and told me that my mother had delivered him too.
When my mother told me I was ready, I panicked and swore I almost broke Annie's hand from squeezing so tight. I listened to the many orders my mother gave me, and was relieved when I finally heard the screams of my child.
Something weird happened then, I didn't have time to describe it because the last thing I hear are Annie's terrified screams before fading into darkness ...
Ahh, it's almost been one year since I published this story! I'm so excited! It was such a joy writing this chapter, I hope no ones mad, haha!
Oh, and I just wanted to let you guys know that I've posted a SYOT and I'd be ecstatic if some of you submitted tributes! You don't have to though, it's just a suggestion. (:
Xoxo, Daisy