Chapter 6: It's a Girl

*******I'm really sorry I haven't updated in a while. What I originally planned for this chapter, I had to change because I didn't really make sense so here is my edited version! Review, review, review!

~Autumn~

I finally, finally force myself to get up. The sun is shining and a breeze blows from somewhere in the house. I probably left the door open when I came in. I ache all over from sitting in the same position 3 days straight, and my eyes hurt from sobbing so much and so hard. I've never cried like this in my life. Maybe some of Gale and my sister's craziness is rubbing off on me. A moan escapes my throat just thinking about them again, all alone in that cabin…who knows what Gale has done? Does he even still have the ability to reason? Does Delly? Love makes you do stupid things. And desperation makes you do even stupider things.

More questions fog up my brain as I step out of the empty house. I haven't eaten. I don't want to eat. I could care less about food right now. I just needed to talk to someone. My previous plan of going to the Mellarks' right away, fell apart as soon as I got to the village. I couldn't do it. I still couldn't do it. What was I supposed to say? 'My sister found a crazy man in the woods and started kissing him. Please help me.' But she's still my sister and I still need to help her.

So I walked as calmly as I could to the Katniss and Peeta's house. I even walked up the stairs. I even clenched my fist and put it up to the door, as if I was going to knock. I told my brain to move my hand back and forth, but it wouldn't comply. I couldn't do it. I just couldn't do it.

I spin around and go flying down the sidewalk looking for anywhere to hide. I wasn't ready to talk to them. I wasn't ready to talk to anyone. Even if I had been sitting in an empty house for who knows how long? I reach the house-my house-but can't face the emptiness waiting inside. So instead I run to the big oak tree off to the side. Somehow, after many cuts and scratches, I get about 2/3 of the way up the tree. Then I start my hysterical crying again.

~Peeta~

"Why don't you get some fresh air, Peeta? You've been with me long enough." Katniss tells me.

"I'm not leaving your side," I reply.

"Peeta, you'll know when it's time. Just go for a walk or something, please. I can't stand to see you sitting around all the time."

"But-"

"Just go. I'll be fine. Mom's here anyways"

"Fine. But I'm not going far,"

I open the front door and walk out onto the porch. I'll have to admit it does feel good to feel the sun again. I guess I didn't realize how much I've been glued to Katniss lately. But she can't blame me. I'm just excited that's all. And a little stressed. Ok very stressed and worried and anxious. But that's normal.

I take advantage of my time outside and begin walking down the sidewalk. I wonder where Haymitch could be, which is really a dumb question because 99% of the time he's either drinking or hung over.

I walk by a few more houses that are empty and wonder how in the world they stay in such good shape when no one ever takes care of them. I guess the houses are capital mutations too.

I'm just about to pass the last house, when I hear crying. No-not crying, sobbing. Hysterical sobbing. I look around for the source and I don't see anyone. I walk into the yard and up the front steps. The door is open and I peek my head inside, but it's not coming from there. I go back to the yard and finally look up. There's a girl in a tree-crying. You don't see that every day.

"Are…are you okay?" I ask her-still pretty shocked. She jerks her head down towards me, obviously startled.

She stares at me for the longest time. "Why don't you come down?" I ask.

"You…you're…Peeta Mellark…you're the one…who…married Katniss…" she says in between hiccups. Then she starts slowly coming down, branch by branch.

I am so confused. "Uh…yeah…who are you?" I ask when she's on the ground.

"Autumn. Autumn Cartwright."

Whoa. That's weird. "Are you related to Delly Cartwright?"

She nods her head and it looks like she might start crying again. "Here let's sit down over here," I say as I guide her to the front porch.

"Now, what's wrong?"

She looks up at me in a strange way. Like she can't really believe that I'm here. "I don't know where to start," she says. "I just can't believe…it's you. I expected you to be some monster or something…."

"Just tell me what happened!"

"A few weeks ago my sister and I went on a walk in the woods. We found a man thrashing around on the ground screaming. Delly said his name was Gale. Gale Hawthorne, I think. We gave him some morphling and took him back to our cabin. Then…after about a week…I guess the morphling wasn't working so…"

"So…what?"

"Delly… she…well she kissed him. And he kissed her. And I just stood back and watched. Then I screamed and…I don't know. I just ran away. I was so mad that she would do that. I mean she doesn't even know him…as far as I know."

I just kind of sit there, gaping. Gale Hawthorne and Delly Cartwright. If that doesn't give me nightmares I don't know what will.

"Are you sure it was Gale?"

"Yes I'm sure. All he ever talked about was Katniss and how much he loved her."

"That evil…conniving son of a gun…I can't believe he's got the nerve to come here…" I mutter to myself.

"So are you going to help me? I can't just leave my sister all alone, under his influence. Who knows what he'll make her do." she says.

"There's nothing I can do. I can't just make him leave. He's the most persistent man I've ever known."

"There must be something-"

Agonized screaming cuts her off. I'm on my feet and running in 2 seconds flat.

"Where are you going!" she yells from behind.

"It's Katniss! Oh My Gosh, Katniss!"

Autumn follows behind me. "What, what? What do you mean?"

I burst through the front door and let Autumn in. I run up the stairs as fast as I possibly can. Katniss' mom is already there, ready to go. When she sees me and Autumn, she starts barking out orders.

"Peeta, go get towels from the closet." She turns to Autumn. "Do you know how to boil water?"

"Y…yes," Autumn stutters out.

"Well, go on. You'll find everything you need in the kitchen. What's your name again?"

"Au..Autumn…"

"Nice to meet you."

There's more screaming from Katniss.

"Go Autumn!"

2 hours later….after much running frantically around the house looking for stuff and agonized screaming…

"It's a girl! Oh my goodness, gracious! It's a baby girl!

*** Please review! I wasn't planning on telling anymore about Katniss and the baby, but if you'd like me to I will. I was just going to go back to Gale, but I might expand on this a little more. Tell me what you think!