Thank you for reviews and love towards this story. I love writing this in-between 'Again' and 'Lazy'—it lets me inject a little romance and fluff into my writing.
The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy do not belong to me.
Thank you to Chelzie for being the most awesome beta!
One
Part Five: Fifteen Weeks
"Looks like you're having a little trouble tying up those scrubs," Cinna remarked as he and Katniss walked out of the changing room next to the nurses' station.
Today, she was shadowing Cinna. He was an RN and let her follow him during rounds since the hospital wasn't really a teaching one. Cinna actually had a Master in Nursing, and as the head nurse, he was able to teach her simple medical procedures within his range.
"I don't understand!" Katniss exclaimed as she tightened the drawstring before knotting it impatiently. "I usually fit into the small just fine!"
"Now don't get upset," he started as the two walked down the hallway. "But is it possible that maybe you can't fit into those pants because of the little bun in your oven?"
"Come on," she replied. "I haven't gained that much weight!"
As Katniss entered her second trimester, her nausea had faded and her appetite had come back in full force.
Thank goodness Peeta could cook and bake, because she constantly craved apple fritters. Sometimes, she wanted chicken kebabs. Or funnel cake.
Her stomach growled; the baby was hungry again.
"You've probably gained like five to six pounds and it's all in the uterus," he responded and she glared at him. "Just keeping it real and it's perfectly normal, boo. You're having a baby."
Gaining weight was not a big deal. It had said so in all the books that she read. This was normal, just like Cinna was telling her.
She was not that vain.
However, when the drawstring suddenly ripped, she fell apart.
Katniss looked at her stomach in the reflection of her vanity mirror. Her hand settled on the pooch that had formed.
"What are you doing?" She turned to see Peeta grinning at her as he leaned against the doorway. "Dinner's ready."
She frowned at him, her shoulders dropping. "I'm getting big, aren't I?"
Peeta approached, wrapping his arms around her burgeoning waist when he reached her. She leaned back against his body and smiled at him through the reflection of the mirror.
"You are beautiful," he whispered, his warm breath on her neck. "There's this glow that you have." Peeta nipped at her ear. "And you are incredibly sexy."
Katniss groaned as the heat of his touch spread through her insides. "Liar."
"Come lie down with me." Peeta led her over to the bed and she crawled onto her side with him following in after. He stared at her for a moment and cupped her cheek. "What is this about?"
"I ripped the drawstring of my scrubs today," she replied, pouting at him. "I know—no biggie, right? But I just started crying in the hallway. Poor Cinna had to lead me back into the changing room because I was scaring the patients and some of the nurses!" She could feel her eyes watering again and swiped at them quickly. "I mean—what the hell?"
"Come here." Katniss shifted so she could lay her head against his chest. Peeta took her hand, resting it against his stomach. "Having a baby takes a lot out of you. I can't really imagine how it feels, but I would probably be in the same boat as you," he chuckled and kissed the top of her head. "You're a lot stronger than I am and handling it better than I ever could."
"Thank you for trying to make me feel better," Katniss said after a moment. "I guess I can ask Johanna to help me find some clothes."
"That's my girl." Peeta looked down at her and their lips met briefly. Pulling away he gazed over at her, his blue eyes sweeping her face. "I love you."
She wouldn't answer and he wouldn't question her. It was just the way they were.
Instead, they settled in—each lost in their own thoughts.
There was a contentedness that Katniss felt whenever they were together and it was in those moments that she could really let her guard down. She was never an open person so it wasn't a surprise that few people, including close family and friends, knew that she was even involved with anyone. It was an even bigger shock when she told everyone that she was pregnant.
But Peeta just loved her—he took everything she threw at him with an easy smile and was always there whenever she needed to be held or wanted a Kit-Kat.
His touch did something to her, too-it was a flutter that seemed to travel through her. It could be from the simplest thing, like the way he would run his hand up and down her arm, or even the way he would kiss her forehead.
Sometimes, Katniss wanted to tell him that she loved him. The words never seemed to come out and so she settled for giving him a smile or kiss.
He deserved so much more from her.
Looking up at him, Katniss felt her mouth forming out the words.
Then her stomach growled.
And the moment was over.
Peeta grinned down at her, "Let's get that baby fed."
Haymitch slid an envelope across the table to him. Peeta sighed, already knowing what it contained.
"From your parents," his godfather informed him.
He took the envelope then tore it in half.
"I thought you would do that," Haymitch said after a moment. "They mean well."
Peeta took a sip from his mug and then placed it down on the table, "What they mean is that they don't think that I can take care of Katniss and the baby."
Haymitch looked around the small café and leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table before responding, "Let's be honest. Can you?"
"Seriously, I am trying," Peeta told him. "I need to be there for her. The wine bar that I've been working at has upped my hours and I've been bartending on the weekends… that gives me enough time to be home for dinner."
He couldn't hide the fatigue in his voice.
"She's really gotten to you." Haymitch could always read him like a book. "I know you are both trying to keep this as just a partner thing, but it can't be that way forever."
"I know."
"Not to mention, you love the girl."
Peeta looked up at his godfather, his face warm. "Is it that obvious?"
"Only to the whole world." Haymitch took a bite of the croissant in front of him. "And how about her?"
"I think that sometimes… she might feel the same way," he replied.
Peeta could see it in her eyes and the words always seemed to be at the tip of her tongue. He also knew that he couldn't rush her.
Katniss had already been through enough these last few weeks. She and her dad still weren't speaking. He had spoken to Laurel, giving her some snippets of Katniss' progress as she moved into her second trimester. They had gotten closer during the conversations.
He hadn't told Katniss that he was talking to her mother, however. There would be hell to pay once she found out.
"I don't want to push her," Peeta reasoned. "She's not taking the silent treatment from her Dad well."
"Asshole," Haymitch remarked. He had told his godfather about his conversation with Gabe. "You're good enough for her, Peeta. Don't let anyone tell you differently."
"Tell that to my Mom, because I'm sure that's what she's thinking."
"Your Mama just doesn't like when something disrupts her system."
"Can I get you boys anything else?"
They looked up to see an older woman wearing a light blue head wrap smiling softly at them. Haymitch shook his head and took the woman's hand.
"Everything was great, Sae," he replied and then nodded his head at Peeta. "My godson, Peeta Mellark."
Peeta shook hands with the older woman. "Nice to meet you."
"Heard you were looking for help here," Haymitch said to the woman.
"You offering?"
The older man shook his head. "I can do you one better. Hire Peeta—he can bake."
"Haymitch—" Peeta looked over at him. "I told you that I can't take on one more thing—I need to be there for her."
"This job is full time," his godfather reasoned. "Quit the wine bar—they won't give you benefits. This job will."
Sae sat down with them and looked over at Peeta. "You see, son, I'm retiring soon and I need some help. Not to mention, I'm not as fast as I once was due to my arthritis. Don't you want to help an old woman?"
She looked at him benignly—she was really good at the guilt trip.
Peeta turned to his godfather. "Did you plan all this?"
"Boy, I'm not that crafty," Haymitch told him. "But you have an opportunity and Katniss' belly is getting bigger. Not to mention—eventually you'll be up to your elbows in diapers and medical bills."
He knew that he had to be reasonable and his mind drifted to the stack of bills on both their tables. Her father had cut her off, though Laurel was still putting a little bit into a savings account for her school bills as well as the baby.
"Okay," he relented.
Sae clapped him on the shoulder. "See you at the beginning of next week. We open at eight so be here at seven." The woman kissed Haymitch on the cheek. "Thanks for suggesting him."
Peeta glared. "Are you happy now? I got myself a pity job."
"You shut the hell up," his godfather growled. "Don't turn yourself into a martyr, Peeta. It doesn't look good on you. You're just a man trying to take care of his family."
The buzz of Peeta's phone caused the table to vibrate; he had gotten one at Gale's suggestion, just in case Katniss needed him. He looked at the screen. "I'm late!"
"For what?"
"Katniss has an appointment with Effie and it's a big ultrasound! We might be able to find out the baby's sex," Peeta told him. "I won't make it across town in time! Shit…"
"I'll give you a ride," Haymitch grumbled as he tossed a bill on the table. "WE'RE OUT, SAE!"
The woman waved from behind the counter and then grinned at Peeta. "See you soon!"
"So how are you feeling?" Effie asked as they waited for Peeta.
Katniss adjusted the cloth gown—at least that fit her. "Better. I think I'm getting a cold though, because I have a little cough."
"Perfectly normal," the woman replied as she wrote in Katniss' chart. "Some women have unexpected symptoms because of the fluctuating hormones. Some women have nosebleeds and others have stuffy noses. Your unexpected symptom just happens to be a cough."
Effie looked up at her from her seat. "How are you and Peeta? Getting along well?"
"We're good. More than good, actually." Her cheeks flooded with warmth.
"Is he still afraid of having sex with you?"
Katniss scoffed. "I'm not letting that happen."
"That's my girl," Effie replied with a laugh as she wrote. "Everything else going all right?"
"Yup—"
The door burst open and Peeta ran in—along with Haymitch.
He rushed over to her, his face red from running into the office. "I'm so sorry. I lost track of time—"
"It's fine," Katniss replied and caressed his chin with her thumb affectionately. "I'm just happy you made it." She looked over at Haymitch. "Here for the show?"
He grinned at her. "How you doing, sweetheart?"
"Fine. With child, but fine."
"Who is this?" Effie asked from where she sat, her eyes examining the man standing next to her.
"Haymitch Abernathy, Peeta's godfather. And you?"
"Dr. Effie Trinket, Katniss' obstetrician."
He winked at her. "Nice to meet you."
Effie ignored him and turned to the couple. "So are we ready to check out your baby?"
"Yes. Do you think we'll be able to see anything?" Peeta asked.
"It just depends on whether the little one wants to be seen," she told him before turning to Katniss. "You know the drill." Then she looked at Haymitch, who was staring at her. "I don't usually allow this, but you can stay if you want."
Haymitch grinned at the woman. "If you want me to take you out—all you have to do is ask."
Effie glared at him. "Your godson is going to be a father in a couple of months. Besides their families, they will need others as their support system when it gets difficult. They need us to be on their team," she informed him seriously. "So unless you want a full frontal of the birth canal, I suggest you stand next to Peeta."
"Oh, fuck no!" The man was at his godson's side and chuckled at seeing Effie's flushed face. He looked over at Peeta. "She's terrifying—I think I might marry her."
"Keep dreaming," Effie muttered as she lowered the lights and went to the ultrasound machine. "We get to use the big kids' camera again."
Katniss placed the blanket next to her across her lower half and then laid back.
Effie pulled her gown open to expose her belly and she felt around.
"Looking good," she informed the couple before putting the some gel onto her abdomen.
"What's that?" Haymitch asked.
"Just something to help the camera move around," she told him. "Did you two want to know the sex if I'm able to see it?"
"I don't," Katniss said quickly and then looked over at Peeta. "I know I said that I wanted to know, but now I think I want to be surprised. Is that okay?"
He thought for a moment. Regardless of whether it was a boy or a girl, he was happy. They could always call Effie if they changed their minds, too.
"Okay, as long as it's healthy," Peeta responded and looked over at Effie. "I think we're just going to wait for now."
"I want to know," Haymitch told her, his eyes serious. "I'm too old for surprises."
"Uh-okay." Effie placed the ultrasound camera over Katniss' belly, spreading the gel. She concentrated on the screen before her taking measurements and photos along the way. "Everything looks good. The baby's head has turned down towards the cervix and size is perfect." She turned up the volume, filling the room with the beautiful galloping sounds. "Heart rate is good, too."
"Do you know what the baby is?" Haymitch asked, his eyes focused on the screen.
Effie moved the wand once more before turning to give him a small smile. "I do."
"It's real," Katniss whispered as she stared at the baby. The head was perfectly clear and the body was now proportioned. Their baby had hands – sweet, tiny hands. "It's a he or she. A pink or a blue."
"Or dandelion," Peeta remarked and they laughed, relishing in their own private joke.
Their eyes met and she reached for him, wrapping her arms around his neck so that her lips could say the words that her mouth wouldn't allow. Peeta took her face in his hands, tilting to deepen the kiss in response.
"Ahem."
They pulled away gasping and looked over to where Effie held out the prints of the baby.
"Your baby reacts to heart rate changes," she informed them with a grin. "I had a hell of a time trying to take more photos because the little one was fluttering a bit."
She handed the photos to Peeta. "Remember what I told you, Peeta, no blowing—and read over the pamphlets again because you're going to have to change positions as Katniss gets bigger."
Peeta nodded before taking the photos and avoiding his godfather's amused stare.
Haymitch smirked as he looked between them, "I think I'm starting to understand how all of this happened."
"My niece or nephew is going to be so cute," Prim said as she looked over the sonogram photos before handing them off to Johanna. "I want one."
Katniss picked up an oversized sweater folded on the front table to examine it before putting it back down. It looked like a tent and the thought that she might need something like it put a damper on her mood.
Maternity shopping was supposed to be fun, right? She always hated shopping, however, and the last time she dressed up, she ended up in this situation.
Maybe she could just wear a paper bag.
"Tell yourself that when you can't fit into any more of your cute leather dresses."
"So no one knows what the sex is except for Effie and Peeta's godfather?" Johanna asked as she looked through the racks. "Ugh—I can make you something ten times better than this garbage."
"Pretty much." Katniss caressed her stomach and turned to them anxiously. "Can we get out of here? I'm getting depressed looking at all of this."
Johanna put an arm around her.
"You look fine," she assured her friend as Prim opened the door for them and they walked out of the store. "Is Peeta not showing you enough affection?"
"Doesn't seem like it," Prim told Johanna. "Have you heard her during an orgasm?" Katniss' friend shook her head and Prim grimaced. "Lucky you. That still haunts me."
"He is showing it just fine." She looked at Johanna and then at her sister before continuing, "In fact, Peeta told me that he loves me." She felt her face heat up. "He even told my Dad. Peeta's even willing to move with me just I can go to Johns Hopkins." Her face suddenly fell and she turned to them again. "What do I do?"
"That's really something," Johanna replied softly. "Do you love him, too?"
"Also, is making him move really the right thing?" Prim asked and Johanna scowled at her. "I'm just saying—she's going to be in school and he's going to be changing diapers all day long. What will he have?"
"They can make it work, Prim," Johanna argued. She could see Katniss' brow furrowed in worry. Prim looked over at her sister and then shrugged at their friend.
They fell quiet, each deep in their own thoughts until Prim broke the silence.
"Are you going to get married—"
"Can we not talk about this anymore? I need to sit down and I'm hungry," Katniss interrupted tiredly.
Turning the corner, the three found a small cafe and Prim ushered her to an outside table while Johanna went inside to tell the staff that their pregnant friend was already sitting at their table. Prim sat across from her and followed her sister as she adjusted herself to a more comfortable position.
"Are you really okay?" Prim asked suddenly, her eyes serious. She placed her hand over Katniss'. "Mom has been asking about you."
Katniss looked down for a moment. The memory of her father's disappointed eyes still hurt. He had never acted this way and his callousness toward Peeta really surprised her. Both Katniss and her father were calm and quiet people and nothing really fazed them – well, except for her unexpected announcement.
She had always thought that he would be her rock.
However, Katniss couldn't forgive him for telling Peeta that he wasn't good enough. He was always trying to prove himself when he never had to—Peeta was perfect.
She was the one who was terrifically flawed. It scared her to think that he might one day see all of this—would he still say that he loved her then?
"Katniss?"
She looked up to see Prim and Johanna staring at her.
"You look a little out of it," Johanna said and poured her a glass of water from the carafe that had appeared without her realizing it.
"Tired, I guess," she replied. "Is this normal?"
"Welcome to the next eighteen years of your life," her friend told her. "I mean, once the baby is born."
Her head was beginning to spin and when she looked up to ask Johanna if this was normal—everything went dark.
"Fainting can happen to pregnant women."
"It never happened to me when I was pregnant with Jenna!"
"You were a different case, Johanna."
Her eyes opened and Katniss felt the heaviness on her left hand—she was connected to an IV. In front of her were Effie and Johanna, who were deep in conversation.
"Katniss!" She turned her head to see Prim sitting next to her, relief filling her face as she rushed over to the bed. "You okay, sis?"
"What happened?" Her throat felt dry.
"We were sitting outside and you were just so quiet," Prim said. "Then you looked at Johanna and your eyes rolled back." She wiped her eyes. "I've never been so scared in all my life."
"You're dehydrated, Katniss, which can cause dilation in your blood vessels," Effie said, her eyes serious. "Also, according to Johanna, you're under a lot of stress—these things can cause issues for your circulatory system."
Heavy footsteps interrupted her lecture and Peeta rushed in, his eyes zeroing on Katniss in the bed.
He rushed to her and their lips met briefly. Leaning his forehead on hers as they pulled away, his eyes searched hers just to assure himself she was really all right.
"Baby, you scared the shit out of me," he whispered. "I don't think I've ever ran so fast."
"You ran here?" He nodded. "All the way from your place?"
"When Prim called, I didn't really think about that."
Her eyes suddenly went to her stomach in the loose gown—the baby. Frantic hands went to her abdomen feeling for her bump; it was there.
"Thank goodness." She looked over at Effie, her eyes filling. She could feel Peeta take her hand, grasping it tightly. "Effie? The baby?"
Her doctor gave her a nod. "The baby is fine. I did an ultrasound while you were out and checked for bleeding. No bleeding and baby is fine—heart rate is strong. You, however, need to stop stressing yourself out."
Then she was sobbing into Peeta's shoulder.
Gaining five fucking pounds seemed so petty.
"I'm fine."
Katniss crossed her arms and leaned back against the pillow, glaring at him the whole time.
Peeta sat next to her on the bed and took her hand. "You were just released this afternoon, Katniss."
The discharge had been at Katniss' insistence and Effie seemed comfortable with letting her go, but he had his reservations.
When he got the call from Prim about Katniss passing out, it was like someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on him. His face had gone numb again—and it hadn't been like the first time at her parents' house. This numbness was because his heart had stopped, causing everything else to freeze inside—and all happened in a matter of seconds.
Before he knew it, he was running out the door leaving his friends confused, although they were stoned and slightly confused anyway.
"I know that you like to take care of yourself," he continued. "But this is not about you or me anymore—this is about the baby now. You just need some rest and there isn't anything wrong with that."
Katniss looked over at him. "Since I'm stuck in bed, is there anything else we can do to occupy the time?" She turned to him, her eyes dark and her tongue darted out to wet her lips, causing a groan to escape from his.
In his black V-neck and a pair of boxers, she was incredibly enticing. He reminded himself to steal the shirt back from her one day and then give it back after she had the baby.
"Seriously, Katniss?" He had to grin at her attempt. "Keep it in your shorts. I'll ask Effie about that tomorrow when I check in with her."
She huffed and leaned back against the pillow before glaring at him once more.
He stared back—she wouldn't break him this time.
A knock interrupted their staring war and he stood up. "I'll get it."
Walking through the living room of her apartment, he went to the door and found Gale standing before him.
"Hey," Gale greeted him with a smile. "She still pissed?"
"How did you know?" Peeta asked as he widened the door.
"When we were younger, she had to have her tonsils removed and once she woke up—she was writing furiously on the whiteboard that Johanna and I gave her that she was fine and that she could go to school."
"Sounds like something she would do."
"Anyway, Johanna sent some brownies that she made with Jenna." Gale handed him a plate. "Also, someone is here to see you." He whistled and Laurel emerged from behind Gale. "She said you called her."
Katniss' mom gave him a quick wave and he smiled at her before looking warily at Gale. "I did—and I know that she's going to be angry."
"May the odds be ever in your favor," Gale quipped.
"That's a horrible saying," Peeta replied. "Wait—" He went to the coffee table and retrieved a Tupperware container. "For you and Johanna. They're from my roommates."
Gale eyed the case. "What are they?"
"Brownies."
"But—"
"For after Jenna goes to bed." Peeta gave him a pointed stare. "To help you… relax."
"I don't know if I should be hearing this," Laurel said to them. "Hazelle and Angie would kill me if they ever found out."
Gale took the container quickly. "Thanks, I guess. Good luck, bro." He clapped Peeta's shoulder before turning to go back to his house.
Peeta met Laurel's eyes and he stepped back to let her in. Closing the door behind her, he gave her an anxious smile.
"She doesn't know I'm here, does she?"
"Peeta—" Katniss emerged from their room, her face pale and his long shirt hanging off her. It tightened slightly from where her bump emerged. "—Mom?"
Laurel gave her a smile, "You have a belly now."
Peeta went to her, "Katniss—"
"Don't." She turned away from him.
"You're not mad at her," he told her. "And you have to talk to at least one of your parents."
She remained silent, her back still turned away.
Stubborn, she was so stubborn sometimes. He was just beginning to learn this about her. However, he also knew that Katniss was hurting and she needed this, even though she wouldn't admit it.
"Be mad at me all you want." Peeta kissed the exposed skin at base of her neck. "But it's a parent's right to know when their child needs them."
Katniss sighed before walking back into her room.
He turned to her mother, "Go right in."
Laurel walked over and squeezed his hand. "Thanks, son."
She closed the door behind her.
When the door clicked, Katniss looked up from where she was sitting in bed. Her mother stood with her back against the door. Her insides tightened at seeing the woman in front of her; she couldn't lie to herself—she had missed her mother.
They had always been very different personality-wise. Her mom was bright and approachable just like Prim, who had bonded with their mother because of their similar dispositions. She had never been particularly close to her mother and Katniss wasn't the warmest person, so it was easy to understand why they never bonded.
"Don't be mad at Peeta," her mother told her softly. "Johanna had to convince him to talk to me at first."
"I'm not mad at him," Katniss sighed. "I'm frustrated with myself."
Her mom approached the bed, sitting at the foot of her side. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"There's a lot happening," she found herself saying. "I spent these past few days worrying about gaining weight and that isn't something I would usually care about. I'm supposed to be focusing on other things, like learning how to chart, or how I'm going to pay for books at Johns Hopkins, or how we are going to pay for the hospital bills—"
"Peeta and I have already talked about that," her mother said. "I've put you on our plan—you're not twenty-five yet, so you can still be insured with us. Peeta will put the baby on his plan with the bakery once he or she is born. He would've put you on it too, but you're not married—not like you will have to be one day or anything."
"He just started that job two weeks ago and I'm already causing problems for him." Katniss leaned back against her pillow. "Thank goodness this whole fainting thing happened on his day off." She looked over at her mother. "And I was so scared when I thought I lost the baby. It was the worst feeling—like someone was ripping my heart out. Is all of this normal?"
Her mom stood up and moved to sit by Katniss' hips. She turned to her daughter, searching her eyes only to find anxiety.
"Nothing during pregnancy or motherhood is normal." Laurel cupped her face. "And while it is scary, I know that every mother finds her way eventually." She placed her hands in her lap. "You might have a completely different way of feeding your baby or talking to your child about important issues than I might. It's okay to ask for help when you need it, however. Especially now."
"I know. I've just never been particularly vocal about what I wanted."
"Every mother knows their child better than anyone else. You never needed to be vocal to make yourself known. You don't really know the effect you can have on people, Katniss, but I've always known. From the moment you were born, actually."
"Really?" Katniss bit her lip, trying to calm her emotions.
"I was speechless the first time your eyes met mine," her mom told her.
She finally saw her mother for the person she was – the peacemaker, the one who would tuck her in, and the one who knew she couldn't stand raw tomatoes or onions in her food—the woman who knew her daughters inside and out.
It felt like being a mother was going to be a daunting job— but her mother had her and Prim and did just fine. Katniss knew that her mother would help her find her way.
"I've missed you," she said and it came out in barely a whisper.
But her mother heard her anyway.
"Are you sure, love?"
"I'm sure I can manage to walk you out," Katniss insisted as she stood up from her bed. "I've been in bed for almost two hours."
Her mother nodded, "Just remember to give yourself time and if you ever need anything, just call me."
"I think I've asked you enough questions." She stood up, rubbing her belly. "I think it's dinner time."
Together, the two went to the door and Laurel opened it for her daughter. She peeked out and then beckoned Katniss over.
"Look," she told her daughter.
Katniss went to the open doorway and found Peeta asleep on the couch while a fire burned in the pool house's tiny fireplace. Her mouth rose in a smile and she went to him.
Taking a blanket from the loveseat, she covered him and knelt down before his sleeping form.
He looked so young when he slept.
Her hand reached out to brush his hair back and he sighed, his lips turning upward. Katniss leaned forward and gently placed a kiss on his lips. They were slightly chapped but tasted of coconut. He always drank coconut water; it was one of the small things she knew about him and she stored it all inside her.
Standing up, she turned to see her mother watching her with a bemused expression. "You ready?"
Together, they went to her door and opening it, Laurel walked out onto the lawn next to the gated pool. She turned to Katniss and held out her arms to her.
She rushed into them quickly, "Thank you for talking to me."
"Don't worry about your father," her mother said as they embraced. "He'll come around. This isn't really about Peeta and not approving of him. This is about him losing you. He was ready to lose you to Johns Hopkins, but not to Peeta Mellark." Laurel kissed her forehead. "Everything will work out."
Katniss nodded and her mother turned to leave.
"Mom?" Laurel turned and she went to her. Katniss looked down for a moment, trying to think of the right words.
She finally decided that there wasn't really a good way to ask this particular question, "How do you know that you love someone?"
Her mother searched her face, tucking a tendril of hair behind Katniss' ear before meeting her eyes again.
"You already know."
"What?" Laurel turned and began to walk towards the house. "Mom—"
"Good night, Katniss."
Sighing, she went back into the house and found Peeta sitting up on the couch. Closing the door behind her, Katniss gave him a smile. Walking over, she sat next to Peeta and tucked her feet under her.
"Are you still mad at me?" he asked her.
She shook her head. "I was never mad. I was being stubborn."
"Just another one of your wonderful quirks," Peeta said. "We'll spend a lot of time arguing and I'm sure I'll never win."
"Get used to it, Mellark," she grinned. "When this baby comes, we're both going to be losing to him or her. My mom told me that she was a goner when she first met me."
"I believe that." He reached over to pull her close to him and she rested the back of her head against his chest, nestling herself in-between his stretched out legs. "I know I was definitely breathless when I met you."
"Smooth line, no wonder I ended up pregnant." Katniss rubbed her belly, feeling his chuckling against her body. "Is that how it's going to be, little one? Are you going to take advantage of us?
She turned her head to look up at him. "My mom told me that the baby can hear us, so we should talk to him or her."
"So you and your Mom had a good talk?"
"We got mostly everything sorted out," Katniss told him. "She gave me some advice."
"I'm happy then." Peeta kissed her gently and when he pulled away, she could see the different flecks of blue in his eyes in the soft light of the living room. "Can I try something?"
"Sure."
"Lay back,"Peeta instructed as he stood up and Katniss obliged, stretching her legs across the couch.
Leaning back on a cushion, she watched him get on his knees before her. Slowly, he leaned down so his lips were almost brushing her swell. Peeta met her eyes and she ran a hand through his hair in reassurance. She wanted him to know that he could say anything he wanted to their baby and trust her to keep it to herself.
"Hey there, baby, it's me, your uh—Dad," he began in a soft, unsteady voice. "It's strange to introduce myself to you like that, but I guess I'll have to get used to it. So I thought I'd try something to help you recognize when you should sleep. Your Mom is going to be busy at school and I think it might be just the two of us some nights. So maybe you could take it easy on me."
"Peeta…" He looked up, hearing the softness in the way she said his name. Katniss couldn't stop her eyes from watering at the reverent way he looked at her.
He was sacrificing his life here for her, and it was all happening in only a couple of months. Katniss knew it was likely that what he said was the truth. She would be tied up in school while he was taking care of their baby, but he was willing to do it—for her.
"Don't get upset," he told her calmly. "The baby will know."
She nodded and took a deep breath.
"Well, I'd like to visit the moon
On a rocket ship high in the air
Yes, I'd like to visit the moon
But I don't think I'd like to live there
Though I'd like to look down at the earth from above
I would miss all the places and people I love
So although I might like it for one afternoon
I don't want to live on the moon…"
Katniss recognized the song from 'Sesame Street' immediately, a memory rising in her mind of herself listening to it as a child while she played with her toys.
While she liked listening to Ernie sing it as a child, Peeta's soft, slightly hoarse singing caused her heart to quicken its pace. He tried to sing on-key but couldn't quite get it and she helped him when he forgot some of the words. But it seemed that Peeta was determined to make sure their child heard his song.
"So although I may go, I'll be coming home soon
'Cause I don't want to live on the moon
No, I don't want to live on the moon…"
He looked up at her, his eyes shining because of the firelight. "Do you think the baby heard?"
Katniss nodded, her mouth suddenly dry as she stared down at him.
Her mother was right. She already knew.
"Peeta?"
He smiled up at her, his skin glowing and his cheeks warm from the heat. "Yeah?"
Katniss kissed him softly, then pulled away so their eyes could meet again.
"I love you."
Just fluffy/angsty Everlark. I think I needed it, since I wrote this chapter just after watching 'Catching Fire'.
So this chapter begins at 15 weeks and ends at 17 weeks.
I know Katniss seems a little OOC in terms of her weight gain, but I think it's more a rude awakening that besides hormone changes, there are also bodily changes. For someone who has never really paid attention to her appearance, Katniss finds the size chaotic to her system. She has to buy new clothes, new bras, and new shoes, which she sees as a waste of money for her and Peeta.
There's a little Hayffie in there, but let's see if anything comes out of it.
So you can possibly see your baby's gender at 15 weeks but it's not as accurate and also the baby can be positioned in a way that you might not be able to see it anyway. Any ideas on what the baby is? Also, any name thoughts or suggestions? I have two in mind.
I love that Katniss is relating to her mother on a new level and finding a new appreciation for her, don't you? Also, her mom is just awesome.
Thoughts, reviews, questions are always appreciated. I'm on Tumblr, AO3 and FFN.
Next: Twenty weeks—parenting lessons, the return of the Mellarks, and some important questions.
Till then, JLaLa