Companion
AN:
A looksie on the grandchild.
This is written again from Elrick's point of view. Super short chapter.
Special thank you to my dear friend, GinnyGinervaWeasley, for betaing my story.
P.S. I love the Hunger Games. Suzanne Collins owns everything!
EPILOGUE II
The day her water broke was one I didn't expect - well, I expected that it would be wet. But just how and what reactions it would elicit from me was totally out of my league. I guess when things are actually happening to your wife and not just being described to you by a doctor, things suddenly become real. Then you realize that you are not prepared at all. No amount of mental exercise could have equipped me for natural birth. And a first baby. Andi's doctor said that the first baby takes time and how our little angel took its time. Twenty-eight hours of labor. Twenty-eight. Andi is a victor in my rule book after enduring that and then giving birth to our perfect and healthy daughter. I am just her willing ally. I rubbed her back, massaged her shoulders, wiped her forehead with a cool cloth. I helped her bounce on a big rubber ball that we brought all the way to Twelve, and of course, whispered soft encouragements in her ears. At twelve hours, she was taking steps on the stairs, stretching whatever needed to be stretched, and lowering whatever needed to be lowered. Thank goodness for my family. They all took turns watching over us, getting us water or food or more pillows or ice or even cookies that Peeta and Nathan had to quickly bake. Andi wouldn't let go of my hand and wanted me constantly beside her, and of course, I won't deny her anything. Especially when she is the one giving birth to our baby. When Andi was fully dilated, the doctor asked Andi to push, and she did so while crushing my hands. It didn't matter. I regained mobility in them anyways. She could happily crush my hand any time she's giving birth, which she said won't be for another four years. We will definitely enjoy our new baby girl first.
Margaret.
Our Margaret. Her name came to Andi in a dream. Just like how Nathan's name came to Katniss eight years ago. It is beautiful, and it fits well when we first laid our eyes on her. I did get my moment just like Peeta with Nathan. My precious moment. The elation and infinite joy I had while holding Margaret in my arms is unfathomable. Time literally stopped, and all I was aware of was her on my bare chest. Her little pink nose, which I hope will look like her mother's, her brown eyes that she got from both of us, her small lips that Andi hopes that is mine, and her dark hair, so full already just at day one. Our baby is a beautiful angel. Katniss and Peeta were crying so much when they saw our small family sitting serenely in bed together. I had my world cradled in my arms, and I felt proud, so incredibly proud of my Andi for giving birth to our daughter. When my parents couldn't resist anymore, they shyly asked to hold Margaret for a brief moment. I watched them as they whispered sweet nothings to her, promising my daughter the world already, even after just being here for a few hours. They cooed and babbled, making adoring faces as they held her fast between them. The look that they gave each other as they nestle our little angel speaks volumes of their love for our family. They were also so hopelessly, charmingly, and blissfully in love with each other, and all I could do was admire them. This house is full of love because of them.
Annie comes in with a glass of water and a warm chicken soup for Andi. She sips it eagerly while Annie gets her first look at her niece. My little squirt is an aunt now. Everybody in this house just gained a new title when Margaret arrived.
"Hey there, little one," she murmurs to her sleeping form. "I'm your aunt Annie. Pleased to meet you. Welcome to the world, Mags," she whispers to her.
Mags. I like that nickname.
Again, thank you so much for staying on and finishing this story. It was a joy (and a pain!) writing this one, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This story started in my head in August of last year and had a totally different flow altogether. I finished that story in my head then, but I forgot parts of it, so it morphed into something else entirely as I was writing it. I had to do a lot of research to immerse myself in the world of adoption. I learned a lot and got touched by real-life success stories. There is so much love and support that we could give to children (and teens!) They are just waiting.
My utmost thanks to GinnyGinervaWeasley for betaing this fanfic. I often tell her that I not only gained a beta, but I also gained a friend when I wrote this fanfic. All my love to you, my sweet friend.
It will be a while before I finish another story. I have an interesting one (at least in my book). It's another AU, set in a mix of Panem and the real world. It's more steamy with mature themes. It is Everlark, of course, because we could never have enough of Katniss and Peeta!
Stay safe and be kind, everyone!