Chapter Twenty-Six
Peeta and I wait until after the cookies and cakes are complete before I take him up on the offer to wash in the tub together. We just about manage to fit in the old tub, but Peeta has to sit behind me with his chest pressed right up against my back so we are comfortable enough.
His arms are wrapped around my stomach, his hands placed firmly on my bump. I rest my hands on top of his as he presses his lips to the back of my neck. "I could stay in here with you forever," Peeta whispers against my skin.
"I don't think our baby will allow that," I say as I feel a few twinges in my stomach. "But I would if I could."
"Do you think he or she will be here soon?" Peeta asks.
"I'm not sure. It could be anytime now. We have to start making sure everything is ready."
"There's not much to finish. I can complete the baby's bedroom later this evening. I only have to touch up the paint here and there," Peeta replies.
"Okay," I say.
"Now," Peeta adds. "How about, after we finish up here, we take some cookies and cake and have a little picnic in the meadow?"
I perk up at the idea. "That's a great idea. It will be a wonderful end to a delightful birthday," I answer, tipping my head back so I can kiss him.
"The end will come much later on... in bed," Peeta says with a laugh. My cheeks heat up as I realise what he means. "Oh, Katniss. There's no need to look so embarrassed!"
"I'm not," I lie.
"You are! Look how red your cheeks have gone," Peeta points out and my face heats up even more. "You are so pure."
I scoff at this. "Pure? Me?"
"Yes, you!" Peeta laughs.
"You can hardly call me pure when I have your baby inside of me!" I say with a huff.
"Katniss, you can't say the word 'sex' without stuttering," Peeta says.
"That's not true. I can say s-" I stop abruptly when I realize I am about to stutter out the rest of the word. "I can say it!"
"Okay, Katniss," Peeta says, entwining his fingers with mine.
"No," I reply, feeling slightly annoyed. "I am not pure, Peeta. The things we do, do not come under the same category as 'pure'."
"Katniss," Peeta sighs. "I was just playing around. Don't take it to heart, sweetheart."
"I'm not!" I insist, but we both know it's a lie.
We stop discussing the subject and instead occupy ourselves with the task of washing each other clean. Peeta spends a long while massaging soap into my hair.
"I love your hair," Peeta says out of the blue.
"What? Why?" I ask.
"It's so beautiful, just like everything else about you," Peeta replies.
"You are being cheesy now," I say, but deep down I love the things he says to me.
"You're right... but I mean every word," he promises. "I love you."
I smile and kiss him, expressing my feelings for him through the kiss.
One time, less than a year ago, love was the last thing I ever wanted. But I think that, all along, the thing I needed was love - to make me realise it isn't something you should fear, but something you should treasure and be honoured to feel.
Peeta and I lie on our backs in the overgrown meadow, the long strands of grass disguising us from the view of anyone who happens to stroll past.
The evening is the perfect temperature, not so hot that I'm sticky and uncomfortable and not too cold that I am shivering from head to toe. The strands of grass and soft blanket underneath me is like a comfortable mattress and my eyes flutter open and closed every now and again.
The woven basket, once full and now empty, sits discarded beside me as Peeta and I both rub our full, satisfied stomachs. The cloudless sky above is a mix of oranges and pinks and I can imagine Peeta painting this perfectly on a canvas later this evening.
Birds chirp and flap their wings as they fly from branch to branch, tree to tree, while tiny insects hop and crawl between the thin strands of grass.
"Ah, finally," I sigh, turning my head so I can look at Peeta.
"What?" Peeta asks.
"The baby has finally calmed. He or she has been jumping around a lot the last hour or two and-" I stop abruptly, my eyes widening as a sharp pain ignites inside me. I grit my teeth through the pain and feel relieved when the pain finally fades.
"Katniss? What is it?"
"N-nothing. Just a little pain. I think the baby is just laying awkwardly," I lie, not wanting to make Peeta worry. The pain seems familiar, a lot like the Braxton Hicks I have previously had. Maybe they have come again. I swallow hard and decide not to say anything until I am sure.
"You made me panic a little there," he says with a chuckle.
I force a smile and change the subject. "Thank you for the effort you have put into today to make me happy. It has been the best birthday."
"You're very welcome. I want to make you happy up until the day I die."
"Hopefully, that day won't come around for a very long time," I say in a quiet voice.
"Oh. Don't you worry. You won't be getting rid of me anytime soon," Peeta says with a large grin on his face. I smile back at him before I lean in and kiss him. Peeta pulls away first and whispers, "Lets get out of here. The sun is starting to go down."
"Wait. Are you sure you want to go now? You love watching the sunset," I reply.
"You're right. But there are other things I'd rather be doing with you but we cannot do ithere," he says, before he jumps to his feet. He helps me up and then leans down to get the blanket and basket. He then entwines our fingers and leads me away.
We walk home in a peaceful silence and arrive home in record time. Peeta leaves the items by the front door and continues to lead me down the hall, up the stairs and into our bedroom, where he lays me down on our bed and holds himself above me.
"There is nothing more I'd rather do right now than kiss every bit of your skin," Peeta says, hunger in his eyes.
"I'll allow it," I reply, and wrap my arms around Peeta's neck, pulling his head down until his lips meet mine.
I abruptly bolt upright as a scream flies from my mouth and echoes in the dark, quiet room. My hand reaches out to the other side of the bed for Peeta... but the only thing there for my hand to grip is the bed sheet.
I scream again as another pain shoots through me, just like the one that woke me from my slumber. "Peeta!" I manage to shout through the pain, my knuckles turning white as I grip the bed sheet as hard as I possibly can.
I hear commotion coming from the room next to mine and then Peeta running into the room. "Katniss! What's the matter?" he asks, panic and worry mixed in his tone. He drops to his knees beside the bed and holds my face in his hands.
I open my mouth to reply, but all that comes out is another scream. The pain rushing through me is indescribable. I thought the Braxton Hicks in the bakery were bad... but this... this is agony. Maybe they weren't Braxton Hicks, afterall. Maybe they were just the very start of labour.
The pain subsides and I take deep breath's. "The baby," I manage to say. "This is it. I think it's time."
"Oh. Okay," Peeta says. He stands up, runs his hands through his hair, blinks. "Oh, no! The baby! Isn't it early? What do I do?"
"Get my mother," I say. "Peeta, you must hurry!"
"I'll go get her. I'll be right back," Peeta says and turns to leave the room.
Another pain rips through me and I find myself screaming, "No! No! Don't go! Stay with me!"
Peeta runs back to me and grips my hand. He kisses my knuckles. "Katniss! Listen. I need to get your mother. I'll be quick."
"Stay with me," I groan.
"Always. Forever. After I get your mother, okay?" he says, his voice frantic. "I'll be right back. I promise."
He let's go of me and runs from the room. I hear him open the door and slam it shut and then I am left in absolute silence. I pant and take deep breath's as the pain fades and then comes back.
It feels like forever before I hear the front door open again.
"Peeta, get towels. Prim, get warm water. Be quick," I hear my mother say as she jogs up the stairs and into the room. Her eyes fall on me and she tries to smile. "This is it, Katniss."
"I know this is it," I snap. "I can feel it."
My mother bites her lip and comes towards me. "I'm going to check how many centimetres dilated you are. You'll probably only be a few centimetres. This could take a while."
"It hurts so bad," I moan, clenching my teeth as another pain shoots through me.
Prim and Peeta run into the room, one carrying towels, the other carrying water. I look at Peeta and notice specks of different colors on his face and shirt.
"What were you doing?" I snap at him.
"I was finishing the baby's room. It's lucky I did, too. I finished it just in time. The baby will be here tomorrow," Peeta says, coming to sit on the bed beside me as my mother checks me.
"Actually," my mother says from between my legs. "It looks like the baby will be here sooner than I thought."
"What?" I groan, unable to hear my mother through my screams.
"You're nearly fully dilated, Katniss," my mother replies. "It looks like you and your baby are going to share a birthday."