Hey Everybody...I bet you all don't even remember me...I'm so terribly sorry for such a long wait for the next chapter. With my musical winding down, drama, and school work it was all overwhelming and I didn't have much of a chance to write. But I'm back! And I should be updating every week for the rest of this story! I hope you all understand and I am truly sorry for not updating, but life had to take priority over writing for a little bit...But I'm beyond happy to be back and writing for you guys! I love you all dearly and I hope this chapter lives up to the others that you guys liked...
Annie's bright smile flashes and she happily nods.
The grasp Annie has kept on my hand begins to send small tingles through my fingertips. I can't help but frown a little from the pain. After so long of being "sheltered" I can't help but question this foreign feeling that would have once been nothing more than a speck of dust landing on my hand… Annie's screams aren't filled with as much fear as before entering the cave, I assume it's because of the feeling of Finnick she claimed to be surrounded in…of course that could just be the side of her coming out that the people of the capital call "crazy" which wouldn't surprise me…after all, look at all Annie has gone through. Peeta soon comes crawling into the cave and puts an arm around my shoulder.
"Everyone doing okay?"
Even though Annie is clearly in extreme pain from labor, she'd never own up to it, since she always calls Dillan her last piece of Finn.
"It's time. I know it is. It's time to push…right Katniss?"
My face falls slightly when I realize I am the only one that even remotely knows what a birthing looks like. Any strength or confidence in me has faded quicker than I could grasp onto it. My hands become clammy and my entire body shakes like a small animal's. Even though I thought for sure that my legs would collapse on me, I run out of the cave and duck behind a tree, and just sit there for a while. My breathing increases louder and louder until that's all I can hear. My eyes flit around the shallow woods and look for a way out. I hear quiet voices in my head, which only confirms that I am as crazy as the doctors in thirteen told me. But there's one voice that is much deeper than the rest. It's sarcastic, caring, warm, annoying, and so…so…Finnick. Of all the voices to invade my deranged little head…it would be Finnick's. I shake my head and let out an annoyed smile towards the sky.
"Nicely played Finnick." I Hear his booming laugh run through my head…I can't help but try to shake it out but it just keeps going through, relentlessly…Just like Finnick once was.
"Katniss…please tell me you're not serious. You're leaving my Annie in there…with Peeta?"
"Leave me alone."
"Since when have I ever done that?"
"Get out of my head Finnick!"
"Do you find it distracting?"
"Ha ha. Not funny. Wasn't even funny the first time."
"We both know it was. Now go get that scrawny ass of yours in there!"
Finnick's laugh is even louder this time. I scratch the top of my head and look around. What kind of sick joke is this? It's like the jabberjays in the quarter quell…
A golden sun beam shines onto my face for only a brief second, and I hear Finnick's voice one last time rushing through me like the wind.
"Don't leave them Katniss."
Somehow my strength is back and I feel mentally… "Different."… I walk up and walk with ease back to the cave and immediately rip Annie's pants off.
"Dillan's ready to come out. You're fully dilated."
"Are you sure?"
"Annie. Push."
Sudden seriousness falls over my brain and all that suddenly matters is getting Annie and Dillan safe.
Peeta springs forward and kisses my forehead; I don't bother to look up at him. Instead I guide Annie's hand into his.
"It's going to hurt."
The tears of pain and horror fall from Annie's eyes numerous times in the hour it took to get Dillan out and into this world. He seemed pretty healthy…Though I left the cleaning of Dillan up to Peeta. I couldn't handle all of the blood on sweet little Dillan. I honestly can say I don't remember very much from the labor, or directly after. Things become a little clearer, starting when I was sitting against the cave wall.
Peeta comes and crouches down beside me, I let the hair fall in front of my face and look over towards Annie…Now that Dillan is finally out and into the world, I can't help but stare at Dillan's small body. How could something…or someone, so tiny survive in this huge pain filled world? I feel something large wrap around me and the skip in my heartbeat is inevitable…When see the same wavy hair press against the side of my head I just breathe out slowly and lean into him completely.
"I'm so unbelievably proud of you Kat."
"I really don't remember very much of what I did or what happened…"
"You coached, and conducted the whole birthing of your… "Nephew"…"
I somewhat shake my head in disbelief at how responsible I apparently was…
Before I can try and detest what Peeta's telling me Annie's barely audible voice is apparent. I am just able to tell that she's saying anything at all.
"Katniss…do you want to come meet Dillan?"
I look up at Peeta for a bit of reassurance and kiss his cheek. I crawl unsteadily over to Annie's side and look closely down at the small bundle of blankets. Annie's large green eyes flit down to Dillan and she slowly hands him over to me. I honestly wasn't ready to hold this small person, even if I already did "deliver him"… I know the horror must be painted all over my face because Annie just shakes her head at me and giggles.
"You won't hurt him."
Before I can realize what's happening, Dillan is in my arms…or the bundle of blankets is anyway, if I didn't know better I would have sworn he wiggled out of the blankets. Annie carefully pulls back a few of the towels and it reveals a very wrinkly pink baby. I have to say, I expected the son of the great Finnick Odair to be a little bit more…I don't know…attractive? I stare deeply down at this thing that resembles a skinned animal and ponder why people call babies such beautiful miracles, other than the fact that they even survived in the womb back in twelve's poverty… I continue to look over little Dillan, I play with his tiny fingers and then something changes everything…
Dillan ever so slightly opens his eyes at me. My breath is taken away by what a brilliant shade of green they are…I have only seen this kind of green inside of Finnick's eyes…but something about Dillan's eyes shine ever so slightly brighter. After only a second or two of looking at his large greens eyes he closes them and appears to fall back asleep. I kiss his forehead. It's a weird feeling for me to like any other child besides Prim or Rue…But Dillan has already taken a very special place in my heart, almost like he took over the place that Finnick left in my heart.
I reluctantly hand Dillan over to Annie and attempt to smile, it ends up only showing halfway but it's enough to make Annie pleased, so I just crawl back over to Peeta and rest my head on his shoulder. After sitting in silence for a little while I put my chin on his shoulder and look up at Peeta. His head is tilted back and he's quietly snoring, I kiss his jaw and he wakes up immediately. He scratches his curls and looks around the cave.
"Hey"
"Hi…"
"Everything okay, Kat?"
"Yeah…it's just, how long can we hide in this cave?"
"We can't move until Annie can walk."
"That could be a while…won't we need food?"
Peeta's face is overtaken by lack of thought. He smacks his head with his hand and nods.
"I didn't think this through very well. I'm sorry Kat."
My stomach grumbles and it does nothing but make Peeta feel worse, I'm obviously not meaning to do that, but I will admit that my stomach is empty, and food sounds really good right now…
"I can hear your stomach Kat."
"Sorry…"
"I'm going to the capital to get food. Annie must be hungry too."
"You're not going back in there."
"Well I won't let you guys starve."
"I'll be fine. Stay."
"Always."
I curl up beside Peeta and hope sleep will keep me from feeling the effects of my hunger.
I eventually do manage to curl up and fall asleep. When I wake up I roll over and hold my hand out for Peeta's. When he doesn't I lift my head and look around…Peeta is gone, and I know where he must be. The Capital. Horror strikes my stomach and it hurts to breathe, I scramble to my feet hoping to see Peeta standing outside the cave…but my suspicions were confirmed…Peeta isn't anywhere in these woods. He has gone off in search for food… I crumble to my knees and sit back in the cave.
I'm greeted by Annie's wide eyes staring back at me.
"Were you awake when he left?" Annie nods slowly.
I'd like nothing more than to yell at Annie. Question why she let him go. Or what the hell she was thinking letting him go into, of all places, the capital. Instead I just go into the corner and sit there. Hoping that Peeta will be okay…that nothing will happen to him. That he won't be widely recognized. I just hold my knees close to my chest and rock back and forth.
He'll come back to you. He'll come back to you…that's the last thing I remember thinking before I hear a noise outside of the cave…
Hey Guys! What did you think of this week's chapter? Hate it? Love it? Let me know in the reviews below! Heads up guys, I think I'm going to try writing next week's chapter in Peeta's POV...What are your thoughts on that? Each of your opinions mean a lot to me, so let me know anything you'd like to see! I should be sending out previews this week for each review! I love you guys and thank you for staying with me in this busy point in my life!
~Freezethemoment