15 Years Later, Chapter # 2
Notice:
Rated MA for language, possible violence, and lemons.
I do not own "The Hunger Games" and all rights belong to the Author.
Written in multiple POV's.
My first time writing a Fanfic, so be patient with me!
*Peeta's POV*
Today is already April 24th, I think to myself as I step out of the house and make my way to the Bakery early this morning. So many orders to complete today, so little time. Thankfully, Colleen and Meyer are coming in at 5:30 to help out with the orders, and the rest of the production staff will be in at 6:00 to make all the items for the display case and for delivery to the marketplace today. Katniss will be in at 6:30 to start assisting the walk-in customers.
Oh, Katniss. How I worry for her, and for us. I shouldn't have woken her so early and surprised her with breakfast in bed just to walk away from her when I started feeling sadness. I don't want to hurt her feelings, but I've been feeling so down this morning about us not being pregnant yet. I know she has had such a hard time in the past with the idea of having children, and now that she's come around to the idea, I've failed her. I knew I would eventually want children all of my life, and I always expected that as soon as we agreed and Katniss came off of her birth control, she would get pregnant right away. We've spent so long being diligent about Katniss's birth control and fearing an unexpected pregnancy that we've forgotten it isn't always easy to get pregnant exactly when you want to.
I'm so worried that it's me that's the problem. I worry that the drugs that the capitol forced on me have affected my sperm count, but I've been avoiding seeing a doctor about it until now. Dr. Valerian, Katniss's OBGYN, suggested that we see a reproductive health doctor, so that's exactly what we're going to do on the 1st. Our train tickets are already purchased, and our hotel already booked, but I still can't believe that we will soon know why we haven't been able to conceive. The possible results scare me. What if one or both of us has suffered the permanent effects of the games and the rebellion? Dr. Presmith will tell us, surely.
I arrive at the bakery, quickly removing my jacket and putting on my apron, setting up my work station and turning off the security system. I lose myself in mixing and flavoring the cake batter, pouring it methodically into the different sized, greased pans with a measured scoop. I line up my filled pans and place them all on a rolling rack, and roll them over to the convection oven to find that I've forgotten to turn it on. I've just been so out of it since last night. I quickly turn on the oven and head to the coffee maker to start brewing a pot, turning on the radio to 298.7, the Panem University Radio station. I need to wake up and concentrate on my work before my staff gets here and the orders are due.
I'm just finishing up placing my cake pans into the oven when I hear the back door open. Over the radio blaring, I hear Meyer and Colleen discussing something about a radio.
"Hey Peeta, Good morning" Colleen and Meyer say in unison as they walk into the bakery and put on their aprons and hair nets.
"Good morning guys," I say calmly, "There's a pot of coffee brewing. I'm just about to get started on the Donnatelli's order."
"Okay, Peet" Colleen says as Meyer pours us all a cup of coffee.
Meyer returns with the coffee in covered plastic cups and we start our morning "shift meeting," where we quickly discuss all the orders we have for the day and I assign each team member any specific duties they need to complete. Meyer and Colleen have been long-time friends of mine, and they got married and had children almost immediately after the rebellion. They don't realize how jealous I am of their lives and their children. Nevertheless, we all have a good work ethic, so issues rarely ever arise between us, or between any of the bakery staff for that matter.
"Okay guys, so that's it for me. Do you guys have anything else to add?" I ask.
"Yeah I have something super important to add," Meyer says cautiously, "Have you heard about that crazy new law the Capitol representatives are trying to pass?"
"No, I haven't," I say, "What's it about?" Colleen and I start moving to our work stations.
"It would make plural marriages legal," Colleen says, "Like polygamy and stuff. We just heard a PUR segment on it, they interviewed some big wig Capitol guy who says the people who lived before the first rebellion were allowed to practice it, Isn't that amazing?"
"That's a strange concept," I say, silently questioning why anyone would want to marry more than one person, "But I guess we fought for our right to happiness and freedom in the rebellion, so if that's what makes people happy, so be it."
Colleen and Meyer both look up at me from their work and stop. Immediately, I wonder what I said.
"What?" I ask, looking back and forth between their faces.
"Well, Peet, this might sound a little insane, but me and Colleen have been thinking of letting another woman join our family…" Mayer says, slowly.
"…That would be our equal, someone who could help take care of the children… and maybe help us have some more children of our own… you know what we mean?" Colleen says, blushing and looking nervous.
"You mean, like a second wife?" I ask Meyer curiously, feeling my face redden. I look back down at my work.
"Yes, like a second wife," Colleen says, continuing her work, "a woman who shares our values and shares a love for children. Her name is Cosette, and she's 24 years old, and she's a Panem University graduate, and she's really wonderful. We met her last March and we've been growing close to her as a couple. It's been almost 15 years since Jeremy was born, and I haven't been able to have any children of my own since…"
"It's okay Colleen," Meyer says, stopping her, "What Colleen means is, we've been having some trouble having another child. And we'd always wanted to have five children, since both Colleen and I grew up in a group of five siblings, and we really loved having those siblings to bond with"
"And it's not that Jeremy and Jason are not wonderful children," Colleen says, interrupting Meyer, "But they've gotten big so quickly and they're starting to live their lives more independently now. They don't need us looking after them anymore. And we really miss that. It just hasn't happened for us naturally, and all the specialists are so expensive, of course, they're all in the Capitol. We think that we would love to have more children, even if they're not biologically my own…"
"And we're really considering her moving in with us, becoming our spouse and allowing us to grow our family in the most natural way possible… Colleen really doesn't want to go through all the pain and stress of fertility treatments," Meyer says, "and this would just be the easiest way, seeing as we couldn't afford those treatments even if we wanted to get them."
"I totally understand," I say, trying to sound empathetic, "You guys should do what's best for you and your family. I support you."
I try to tune out the rest of their conversation and just continue my work, sulking to myself and thinking about the future for me and Katniss.
*Later that day*
*Katniss's POV*
"Yes sir, we will have that ready for you by 5:00 PM on April 29th, and we will have it delivered to you at 234 Anthracite Way, District 12, Panem, 07655-89000. Thank you for your business!" I try to say cheerfully as I write down the order details in the planner.
"Peeta! Or Colleen!" I call from the counter.
"Yes, Mrs. Mellark?" I hear Colleen say as she comes out of the back, apron stained with every color of icing imaginable.
"Colleen, you can always call me Katniss, it's okay," I say happily, "I just took another order for the 29th, for Mr. Brown again."
"Okay, great," Colleen says, copying the order into her notebook, "How are you doing today, Katniss? You seem a little flushed."
"Oh I'm okay Colleen, don't worry," I say as she reaches over and places her hand on my forehead, and looks down at my stomach, "What… what's wrong?"
Colleen took my hand and led me into the small office to the side of the counter, and closed the door.
"Is everything okay, Colleen?" I ask worriedly.
"Katniss, are you pregnant?!" Coleen exclaims quietly.
"No, Colleen," I sigh, "I'm not. Unfortunately not, I guess. That's why me and Peeta are going to be away for a few days next week. We… we haven't been able to get pregnant… and we're going to see a doctor about it."
"I'm so happy for you, Katniss, and for Peeta too of course," she says happily, tears welling up in her eyes, "Me and Meyer have been struggling to get pregnant again for so long. We're hopefully going to have more babies soon."
Colleen told me all about the new law that was probably going to be passed, how she and Meyer have been struggling with fertility, and how they had found a younger woman who was willing to be their spouse and have kids. I of course found the idea immediately repulsing, but I tried not to seem too shocked. Colleen and I had known each other before the rebellion, and we had rekindled our friendship in District 13. There, she met Meyer, who was also from District 12, and they married and had two kids not long after they moved back to 12. I couldn't understand then why they would have children and at such a young age, but now I kind of envy them. I wondered to myself whether plural marriage would be discussed at my appointment with Dr. Presmith as an alternative to fertility treatments, and I wondered if Peeta thought the same.