Chapter 27
Katniss walks on the icy pathway towards her childhood home to see her mother and sister,Prim. She feels the life inside and wants to protect the baby. But God does she want the baby out. At thirty-four weeks pregnant she thinks shes huge and feels her self-confidence draining out of her. Gale says everyday when she complains that she is beautiful in everywhere but she shout at him and tells him to stop lying to her. Her mother simply replies "Pregnancy is a natural and beautiful thing, there is nothing to be ashamed of"She takes her mood swings out on Gale mostly but he still sticks by her and never takes it to heart.
She opens the front door and wipes her shoes on the door mat.
"Hello! It's me"Katniss shouts.
"Katniss dear, in the kitchen"Mrs Everdeen replies.
Katniss walks into the kitchen to see Mrs Everdeen and Prim preparing their dinner. Prim turns around and smiles at her.
She rubs Katniss' baby bump.
"The baby will be here soon, Katniss"Mrs Everdeen says watching the frown appear on her face.
"Yea. Hopefully soon. Ugh. I'm just so uncomfortable"Katniss says pressing the palm of her hand against her back.
"Here take a seat and I'll make you some herbal tea, okay?"Mrs Everdeen says.
"Okay"Katniss replies.
While the dinner is cooking, the three of them sit down around the kitchen table talking about events happening around the Seam. New homes being built, a new school because of the overcrowding in the old school. Prim excuses herself and goes up to her room. Katniss notices now Prim blushed and put her head down when she said she was going to a friends for the evening. Katniss turned to mother and looking at her. Mrs Everdeen smirked down into her tea and ran her finger around the edges.
"Whats up with her?"Katniss asks.
"What do you mean?"Mrs Everdeen replied innocently.
"Ah come off it. You know what excatly what I mean. Why is Prim blushing and rushing off to get ready going out to a friend's house?"Katniss says.
"Just some boy"Mrs Everdeen says and takes a sip of her tea while looking out the window. "Nice weather isn't it?"She says.
"I don't care about the bloody weather. What did you say about my sister and some boy?"Katniss replies.
"Bobby Wright, I met him the last night. Nice boy. A little shy though"Mrs Everdeen says.
"As in Linda Wright little brother?"Katniss asks.
"Yea that's the one, be nice. Its only innocent"Mrs Everdeen says.
"He is lovely, I've talking to him a few times briefly"Katniss smiles.
Prim makes her way down the stairs and tries to sneak out the door before her sister and mother stop her.
"I'm off"Prim shouts.
"Hold up! Will you come her a minute Prim"Katniss says.
Prim walks into the kitchen and feels her mother and sister apprasing her. They look her up and down. Taking in the sight of her in a nice pink dress and beige cardigan. Her hair in two plaints.
"Well look at you little duck. You look beautiful. Where are you off to?"Katniss asks innocently.
"Em.. Jenny's"Prim says blushing.
There is a knock on the door and Prim whips her head up towards the front door and looks back at her sister and mother. Both are smirking trying to contain laughter.
"You going to get that?Or should I?"Katniss asks getting up off the chair.
"No. No. No. Don't get up. Your pregnant don't waste your energy"Prim rushes out. Katniss laughs.
"Better go see if that's Bobby. Don't wanna keep him waiting"Katniss says. Prim turns red and looks at her mother who is hiding her face with the mug of tea.
Prim hurries off the door and Katniss follows her.
Bobby Wright, Fourteen years old, has the common seam look. Olive skin, grey eyes and black hair. He smiles at her and makes Prim blush.
"Hi Prim"Bobby says.
"Hi!"Prim replies.
"Well hello there Bobby."Katniss says.
"Hi Katniss"Bobby says swallowing.
"Ah don't worry, I'm not her to intergate you"Katniss laughs.
"Well look after my sister. Whatever you do, don't do what I wouldn't do. Look at me"Katniss says and points to her baby bump.
Prim and Bobby both blush and Katniss laughs at their reaction and pushes Prim out the door.
"Well off you two go. Have a nice time. I mean it though. Seriously don't get her knocked up. It's a fucking bitch"Katniss says and shuts the door.
Katniss walks into the kitchen and herself and Mrs Everdeen crack up laughing.
Two days later, Katniss and Gale are at home getting ready to go to bed when Katniss is washing her teeth and she stops when she feels something isn't right. She feels water dripping down her thighs and a gush of water seeps onto the ground. She gasps.
"GALE! GALE" Katniss shouts. Gale runs into the bathroom and looks down at the puddle on the ground. He looks up at Katniss and sees his own panic reflected in her eyes.
"I-I think my waters just broke, you need to run and get my mom"Katniss says.
"O-Okay. Will you be okay on your own?"Gale says.
"Yea. Go. Go hurry"Katniss says and Gale runs to the Everdeen's.
Katniss feels her first contraction coming and braces herself against the bathroom counter.
She breathes out when the contraction passes.
She hears the sound of feet making its way up the stairs and sees Gale and her mother at the door way.
"Gale get her onto her back on the bed"Ms Everdeen says.
"Its not the first time you've done that. Is it Gale?"Katniss huffs.
"Katniss! Your mother is right over there"Gale says.
"Hush. She probably didn't even hear me anyway"Katniss says.
"I heard you"Ms Everdeen says. Katniss turns and sees her mother setting up but she isn't looking at them.
Gale puts a pillow under her head and brushes her hair out of her face. Katniss pulls over underwear so her mother can examine how far on she is.
"How many contractions have you had?"Ms Everdeen asks.
"About three now"Katniss replies.
Katniss braces herself for the round of contractions and squeezes Gale's hand.
"Long way to go yet"Ms Everdeen says.
"Thanks for that. Fuck."Katniss says breaking through the fourth contraction.
"Sorry"Ms Everdeen says.
Five hours later, Katniss is covered in sweat, Gale's hand is bruised and Ms Everdeen is downstairs with Prim and the Hawthorne's waiting for the new addition to the family to arrive.
"I fucking hate you for doing this to me!I hope you know that"Katniss glares at Gale.
"I know. I know"Gale sighs.
"You better be taking that seriously"Katniss says.
"Okay."Gale says.
"Well how are we doing?"Ms Everdeen says walking into the room.
"How do you think we're doing"Katniss glares at her mother. Ms Everdeen rolls her eyes.
Ms Everdeen examines Katniss.
"Time to push sweetheart."Ms Everdeen says.
Katniss grips Gale's hand tighter and begins to push.
"You can do this baby. Go on push"Gale whispers into her ear.
"Push again"Ms Everdeen says.
"Go on. Go on. Push"Ms Everdeen says.
Several more pushes Ms Everdeen says the baby is crowning.
"One big push now sweetheart. Then its all over"Ms Everdeen says. Katniss screams her last push.
Katniss leans her head back against the pillow and closes her eyes.
"Good job beautiful, I'm so proud of you"Gale says and kisses her forehead.
Katniss' eyes snap open by a piercing loud baby cry. She sees her mother wrap her baby in a pink blanket and brings the baby over to her mother.
"A baby girl"Ms Everdeen says. "Well done sweetheart"Ms Everdeen says with tears in her eyes.
Katniss cradles her baby in her arms and Gale leans down and softly touches the baby's cheek.
"Baby Alexa. Alexa Hawthorne"Gale says. Katniss turns her head and sees through her tears that Gale also has tears in his eyes.
Katniss leans over and presses her lips against his.
Now that was a long chapter :)
Have to say I'm pretty proud of this one :)
Hope you like :)
xx