Thanks for all the reviews! I don't have as much time to write lately as before, but I will never leave you all waiting for longer than a week! Also, these chapters will be a bit longer! So please enjoy chapter 26 and review!
Peeta stares at me with his mouth hanging wide open. He doesn't move at all for what feels like an eternity, and then finally he closes his mouth and stands up. I'm confused about how he is acting. Surely I thought he would be jumping off the walls and everything but calm. He stands next to my chair and I look at up at him, "So," I mumble and he crouches down. He slowly takes my hand in his. His silence is scaring me, and I wonder if he changed his mind about having another baby. Maybe this was a mistake.
He clears his throat, "Are you okay with this. I mean with having another baby," he says.
"I'm scared like before, but I think I could do it. Why are you so quiet? You are starting to scare me. Do you not want another baby?"
"No, Katniss I want this baby," he says and smiles a little, "I just wanted to make sure you were okay first." He says this and stands up pulling me with him. I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my head into his shirt. "I'm going to be a dad again."
"Yes, you are Peeta." I say and let myself smile at the thought of him holding another little baby.
He pulls us apart so he can look me in the eyes. He looks excited now that the news has really sunken in. "We're having a baby!" He pulls me in for a kiss, and then pulls me closer. I feel some of the worry about the pregnancy melt away. Peeta will be right by my side the entire time, and there isn't anything I can't do with him here to support me.
Peeta smiles the rest of the day, and keeps glancing at my stomach. I don't really feel any different now that I know. However, I've had some of the effects and haven't even noticed. Maybe it's a sign that this pregnancy will be easier, and I won't have any problems like I did with Willow.
We both decided that we would keep this a secret as long as possible, and with my mother being my doctor it will be much easier. Later in the day she brings over a small ultra sound machine. "This isn't as high quality as the one in the hospital, but it will do the job just fine," she says squeezing the gel on my some what round stomach. It's not a bump yet, but it has a slight curve to it.
Peeta is sitting on the bed next to me holding my hand tightly. We called Haymitch and told him to watch Willow for a couple of hours. I didn't say what for so he just made some inappropriate comments that we just needed some alone time. If only he really knew.
My mother starts moving around the wand. Soon a picture shows up on the screen of a gray blur. It's a picture of our baby. It's still very small and if I hadn't been pregnant before I would have never been able to tell it was a baby.
"Well, it looks like you are just about three months along Katniss," my mother says studying the picture.
"Why hasn't she had any morning sickness?" Peeta asks my mother.
She shrugs her shoulders, "I don't know. Every baby is different."
Peeta invites her to stay for dinner, but she declines and says that we should have some alone time to talk.
Peeta just warms up some leftovers and we sit in front of the fire and eat. Peeta is the first to break the silence. "Willow is almost two. Do you think she would be able to understand that she will have a sibling soon?"
"I don't know. Maybe when I start to really show we could try to explain it to her."
We continue to empty our plates and once we are done we lay some blankets down on the floor and just hold each other. I don't really need to talk about anything else right now. I just want to be comforted by him. I must start to doze off because Peeta gives my arm a little tap. "Hey, Katniss I think we should go get Willow from Haymitch." I nod my head in agreement and slowly stand up stretching out my stuff joints.
"Actually, can I just go to bed? I'm really tired." He smiles and gives me a kiss on the cheek.
"Of course you can I'll take care of Willow," he says and takes a coat off the coat rack.
"Thank you," I mumble and shuffle up the stairs. I climb into bed and sleep finds me almost immediately.
I think I remember Peeta getting in bed last night, but I was so asleep I might have just dreamt it. I roll over in bed, and see that it is almost noon. I grunt and get out of bed, and into the shower. Once I get changed and head down stairs I hear pots and pans being moved around, and I then I smell bread. Peeta must still be home.
I walk and find Peeta baking, and Willow sitting happily in her high chair scribbling on some paper. "There's mommy," Peeta says letting Willow down from her seat. She comes running over to me and throws her arms around my leg.
"Good morning baby girl," I say bending down to pick her up, "Someone didn't wake me up real early this morning."
"Sorry, I wanted to let you sleep in. You had a very long day yesterday." Peeta says. He walks over and gives me a kiss and then turns his attention back to his baking. I sit down with Willow at the table, and bring the paper and crayons with me. She starts to draw again. I try to draw a flower, but it ends up looking no better than her random circles. Peeta makes fun of me, and then draws a perfect flower. I give up on the drawing and just watch Willow.
Peeta finishes the different pastries and breads that he was making. "I think we should give her a nap soon. She has been up since six this morning." Peeta suggests. I put Willow on the floor.
"Yeah, she is not going to be happy if you stays up much longer." I say and Peeta takes one of her little hands and guides her towards the stairs. He drops her hand, and she begins her climb. Peeta crawls up next to her mimicking the way she kind of crawls up the stairs. They get to the top and Peeta scoops her up and throws her in the air and catches her again. Willow and I are both laughing as we head into the nursery.
We both get Willow changed and down in her crib. I give her a kiss on the forehead and so does Peeta. Willow just sits in her crib and plays with her teddy bear. Peeta sits down in the rocking chair and I sit in his lap. We both watch Willow until she falls asleep and then we go to our bedroom.
"Do you think you will start showing soon? I mean you are three months along." Peeta says sitting down on the bed. I walk into the bathroom and look at myself in the mirror.
"Defiantly soon," I answer and lift up my shirt. My stomach never went back to being totally flat after Willow was born. I lost the weight, but my body just changed a little.
I turn to the side and examine myself closely. There's that little curve that could pass as bloating, but I can tell it's the start of the bump. "Peeta, come here and see if you can tell the difference."
He walks in and I turn to my side. He comes closer and places his hands stomach. "Maybe just a little bit," he says with a smile. I shake my head and walk back to the bed. I lay down and he joins me. "I was wondering. Do you think it's a boy or a girl?"
"I don't know Peeta. I will just be happy with a healthy baby, and I think that I want to leave the sex a surprise."
Peeta considers this, "That's fine with me."
A couple weeks go by and nothing really has changed besides me not fitting into my clothes. However, everything stays the same me running after Willow all day, and Peeta working at the bakery. We have managed to keep the baby a secret so far, but my stomach seems to grow more and more everyday. I think that this baby is going to be bigger than Willow.
I'm thinking this while I throw on a big t-shirt and some jeans with stretchy fabric at the waist that my mother made me. Peeta is downstairs making breakfast, but Willow isn't up yet so we let her go. As I'm half way down the stairs I hear a faint, "mommy." I turn back around and go to the nursery. Willow is standing up in the crib holding on the side rail.
"Morning baby," I say picking her up.
"Mommy," she chirps back.
I take her over to the changing table and get her a clean diaper, "Want something to eat now Willow," I ask.
"Yes mommy. Where dada?"
"Downstairs so lets go okay." I carry her down the stairs but let her lose after the last step. She runs into the kitchen and yells "Dada!" I hear a loud thud and then Willow starts to cry. I run in after the noise and find Peeta sitting on the floor and his prosthetic leg lying next to him. Willow runs over to me and hides behind my legs. She has never seen him without his prosthetic leg on and I'm sure this is traumatizing for her.
"What happened?" I ask picking up Willow.
Peeta sighs and puts his leg back on. "I had my back turned and when she yelled my name I jumped and then she ran into me. I twisted and my leg popped off. She isn't hurt just freaked out because my leg just fell off."
I take Willow to the living room and sit down on the couch, "Awe Willow don't cry. Daddy's fine. Don't cry," I whisper rubbing her back.
She slows down the tears a little bit, "What wron with daddy?" She asks pointing to her own leg.
I wipe the tears off her face. "Nothings wrong with daddy. He just has a different leg than you and I do. Don't cry daddy is perfectly fine. Do you want to go check?" She stops crying, but doesn't respond. I carry her back into the kitchen and Peeta is still sitting on the floor with his head in his hands. "Peeta?"
He looks up and I can tell he is upset about scaring Willow. I set Willow down and slowly lower my self to the ground across from Peeta. Willow moves into my lap and buries her head in the crook of my neck not wanting to look at Peeta. I can see the hurt in his eyes. "Willow look at daddy," I whisper in her ear and she glances slightly over at him.
"Willow, will you come here?" He asks but she doesn't budge.
I pull her out of my neck and give her a stern look. She sheepishly turns and shuffles over to Peeta. "Willow I'm fine see," he says gesturing down to his legs. She thinks for a minute and then throws herself at Peeta. He catches her and hugs her tightly.
"Daddy," she mumbles and he kisses her forehead. I hoist myself up using a stool by the counter. I offer Peeta my hand and he stands up bringing Willow with him. He sets her in the highchair. I feed Willow some eggs and toast. She is very quiet and the usual giggles don't happen.
After we eat I let Peeta go play with her, and I do the dishes. I listen to them from the kitchen and at first they are quiet. Then I hear a small giggle and soon Willow is squealing with laughter. I would take that as a sign that her seeing Peeta's leg pop off has blown over.
That was first thing that we had to explain. Willow still doesn't understand what really is wrong with his leg, but she understands enough so she doesn't cry again. Now that it is nearing the December I can barely hid my stomach without wearing a jacket anymore. Soon we will have Annie and Jo for Christmas. I might save the news for when they get here, but if Haymitch doesn't guess soon I might crack and just tell him. I mean how can't he notice that I'm four months pregnant. I think today I might try and lead him on. I invited him over for lunch.
I'm in the living room with Willow when I hear him come in the front door, "living room," I yell and hear his heavy tread down the hall. I decided that I would wear I tighter shirt today. It clearly shows my stomach and he would have to be blind not to get it.
He walks into the living room and is immediately attacked by Willow. "Haymit!" He easily scoops her up and sits down on the couch with her smiling in his lap.
He looks over, "Hey sweetheart. When's lunch going to be ready?" He didn't say anything. Why not? Last time he was all over me getting "fatter".
"Umm I just have to warm it up," I say standing up slowly, and walk into the kitchen still no comments not even a second glance. I get the food ready and set the table.
"Lunch," I call and Haymitch and Willow join me at the table.
We don't really talk the whole time. He just feeds Willow and makes her laugh. I'm starting to get fed up with him. He has to be doing this on purpose. Well then two can play at that game.
I finish my sandwich and sit back in my chair and place both my hands on my stomach. He doesn't cave. I start small talk with him, and rub my stomach and he still doesn't do it.
I put the dishes in the sink and join them back in the living room. Haymitch and Willow are playing with some building blocks. Haymitch would build a pyramid and then Willow would knock it down. They repeated this about five times, and then start something else. I eventually leave them alone to do some laundry and pick some things up around the house.
By the time I'm done cleaning its Willow's nap time, and with all the playing she and Haymitch are doing she will need it. I go back down and break the bad news that it's nap time. Willows pouts, but lets me take her upstairs any way. Once I have her settled I go back to Haymitch.
"Well, sweetheart I got some stuff to do in town I better get going," he says and heads for the front door.
"Alright, well thanks for coming," I say as he steps out the door. I walk out onto the porch and when he is half way down the front steps his turns around.
"Bye the way sweetheart are you pregnant or fat," he says with a sly grin.
I smile back and roll my eyes, "What do you think?"
"I knew it. Just fat," he laughs and walks away towards town in the lightly falling snow.