Chapter Fourteen
The chilly air nips at my face. I hate the cold and winter. I wish I brought my scarf. I didn't think the wind would be so harsh. The walk into the doctors office isn't even that far.
I shiver as I sign in.
"You okay?" Finnick asks and wraps his arm around me.
"I'm just cold." I say.
He kisses my forehead.
"You'll get warm soon." He says.
"Doctor's offices are usually freezing anyways." I say.
"That's usually true." He says. "But we won't be here long and we can get hot chocolate after."
"Are you bribing me with hot chocolate so I'll be good?" I ask.
"Perhaps." He smiles.
"Will we be doing that with them." I say and rub my stomach. We are here for my doctors appointment.
"I think every parent does. I mean, look at some of those messed up fairy tales." He says
"You mean Grimm fairy tales?" I ask.
"Yeah." He says.
"I like the Disney versions better. No one cuts off their feet, no one gets raped, and there's no cannibalism."
"Not all Grimm tales are that bad." He says.
"They are interesting though." I say.
He nods and reaches for an old magazine.
"Annie Odair!" A nurse shouts shortly and we stand up. I get weighted, measured, and blood pressure checked before they take me to the room. "Your doctor will be right in." She smiles and leaves.
"So after this do you want to tell people you're pregnant?" Finnick asks. I'm in that phase of the pregnancy where I'm starting to show a little. It looks like I've just gained a little weight. No one would be able to tell I'm pregnant unless I told them.
"If they say everything is okay." I say.
Finnick nods.
The door opens ten minutes later.
"Annie, Finnick." The doctor says. It's the same doctor I had when I was carrying Olivia. We both liked her and she already knows everything that has happened.
"Hi." I say.
"How are you feeling today?" She asks smiling.
"Fine. A little tired." I say.
"That's perfectly normal." She says. I nod. "Any nausea?" She asks.
I nod.
"A lot recently." I say.
She nods.
"That's normal, right?" I ask. I know it is but still.
"Yes." She smiles kindly.
I nod.
"Lie back." She says and starts to get the ultrasound machine ready. She puts the gel on my lower abdomen.
I close my eyes when it touches me. It's cold and so are her hands.
I smile when I hear our baby's heartbeat.
"And there's your baby." She says and points to the screen. She presses a button so it can freeze the image.
Finnick and I lean in to get a better view.
"There you are." I whisper and touch the screen. I can still hear their heartbeat.
A tear falls from my eye.
"I'll give you and Finnick a minute." She says.
"Do you see them?" I ask him.
He kisses the top of my head.
"I see them." He says with a smile.
I turn towards Finnick and kiss him.
"A new life is growing." I whisper.
Finnick kisses my forehead. The doctor comes back in shortly.
"Do you have any questions?" She asks at the end of the appointment.
"Should I make more doctors appointments because of what happened last time." I say softly.
"Right now everything with you and the baby is perfectly healthy." She says.
"I know but, that's what you said last time." I say.
"We can watch you more carefully Annie if you wish." She says.
I nod.
"I would like that." I whisper.
"They'll take care of you at check out then." She smiles and leaves.
"Annie." Finnick says while we wait in the check out area.
"Yeah?" I say.
"Remember how we talked about not worrying about every little thing." Finnick says gently.
"I do." I say and place my hand on my stomach. "But this way… it will make me feel better."
"We could go here everyday Annie but that is no guarantee."
I sigh.
"I know but it will make me feel better Finnick."
He nods.
"We'll do whatever you want then." He says and kisses me.
"You're sure you're alright with this?" Finnick asks as he sets the table.
We are having a house warming party. We invited our friends and some coworkers. It will be nice to show off our house, especially since it is almost done. Finnick and I just need to figure out what color to paint the nursery.
I think this time I want to know if it will be a boy or girl. I haven't discussed that with Finnick yet. I doubt he will care. He's just too joyous of everything.
We finally got around to telling everyone that I'm pregnant. They all said congratulations but I got a weird feeling in my stomach when I told them. I don't know why.
"It'd be a little late if I wasn't after all the cooking you did." I say.
"More like Peeta did." Finnick smiles.
Peeta and Katniss are in town currently. They wanted to look at stuff for their wedding. They wanted to see our house. When Peeta found out we were having a house warming party he wanted to help. Finnick and I didn't realize he was going to make dinner for all of our guests. We didn't invite a lot of people but it is still a task.
"He's such a good friend." I say.
"I agree." Peeta says with a smile as he walks through the front door. He's holding a carrier with take out cups.
"You bought coffee?" I say surprised. Katniss and Peeta are staying at a hotel near by.
He nods.
"I made sure to make yours a decaf because of well… you know." He says.
I smile.
"Thanks Peeta." I say.
"You still like vanilla with skim?" He asks.
"Yes." I say and take the cup he's holding out.
He gives Finnick his hazelnut coffee.
"Where's Katniss?" I ask because I don't see her.
"Still sleeping." He says and takes his coffee. If his taste hasn't changed he should be drinking black coffee. "She should be here soon."
"I thought Katniss didn't like coffee." I say.
"She doesn't, it's peppermint tea." He says.
I nod.
"You didn't need to buy coffee." I say again.
"Or make dinner." Finnick adds and picks up a cookie.
"That's not breakfast Finnick." I say.
"And donuts are?" He smiles. "Or chocolate chip muffins with frosting."
I roll my eyes.
"It's splitting hairs." He smiles.
"He's got a point Annie." Peeta defends.
I sit down and drink my coffee while eating a muffin.
"When do you expect people?" Peeta asks.
"Around five." I say.
"Good." He says.
There's a knock at the door.
"That's probably Katniss." Peeta says and goes to get the door.
"Does it feel wrong to you that Peeta is being so helpful?" I say to Finnick softly.
"That's who Peeta is. He likes to help out." Finnick says. I know he's right too. "How are you feeling today?" He asks.
"I feel good." I say and kiss him.
"That's good." He says.
"Hi Katniss." I say as she walks into the kitchen. She looks tired.
"Annie, Finnick." She smiles. "You guys do have a nice place." She says.
"I like it too. I like having a yard and everything." I say.
Katniss nods.
"Maybe one day Peeta and I will have that too." She says and sits next to me.
"I think Peeta and I should get some things ready." Finnick says.
"It's only nine in the morning." I say.
"There is a lot to do." Peeta says.
They probably want me to talk to Katniss alone.
They leave and head to the stove area.
"How's the wedding planning going?" I ask.
She shrugs.
"Not sure really. We set a date and everything but, I'm not sure what I really want. I'm not that kind of girl. Flowers, dresses, and lace." She says and smiles.
"I wasn't that interested either. My sister was though." I say.
Katniss looks at me with anger and saddness.
"I'm sorry… I didn't-"
"My sister was good at that stuff too." She clears her throat. "But she's dead now and she isn't going to come back. She would want to see this more than my Mother."
I nod unsure what to say.
"I know you won't be like that." She smiles. "You and Finnick deserve it." She says.
I smile halfheartedly.
"Thanks." I whisper.
Katniss takes my hand.
"And I'm sure everything will be alright."
"I hope so." I whisper.
Katniss smiles.
I get ready for the day and it seems like people start arriving shortly.
"Do I look okay?" I ask Finnick.
"You look fine Annie. This isn't a formal event besides, it's our house and our party." He says and kisses my forehead.
I nod.
The doorbells starts ringing. Peeta and Finnick start putting the finishing touches on the food.
Finnick and I show people the house. It gets a little tedious after awhile because everyone asks the same questions.
I hear a knock and open the door.
"Christina." I say surprised. I invited the whole office mostly so it won't be awkward later but I never thought Christina would come. I always thought she hated me.
Christina nods and looks around.
"Can I see upstairs?" She asks.
"Yeah, sure." I say not a lot of people have asked this but, Finnick and I still showed them.
She looks around and stops in front of a doorway. The room that will be the nursery.
"What's this one going to be?" She asks. There isn't really anything in the room yet. We haven't really unpacked the old baby stuff yet. We didn't have that much but, we have a crib and a diaper changing table.
"The nursery for our baby." I say.
She nods.
"Do you know what you're having yet?" She asks.
I shake my head.
"It's a little too early still and Finnick and I aren't sure we want to know."
She nods and we start to walk downstairs.
"This may sound weird but the bathrooms you have are really awesome." She says as we walk downstairs.
"It is nice having a bathtub when you know it's new." I say thinking of my old apartment. As nice as the place was you would never see me take a bath there.
She smiles.
After a few more hours people start leaving. They compliment the food and what a nice time they had.
Once everyone is gone except Katniss and Peeta.
"Let me help." Katniss says and starts to pick up dirty dishes.
"You don't need to-" I start.
"You look at little tired. You should rest." Katniss adds.
"I'm not frail." I say.
"We know." Peeta says with a smile.
"You do hate doing dishes." Finnick adds.
I sigh. I hope everyone isn't like this for the whole pregnancy. I watch them clean up and once they are finished Katniss and Peeta leave shortly after.
"That was nice." Finnick says as we get ready for bed.
"It was." I say. "It was nice to show everyone our house and it was nice to see everyone all at once." I say.
Finnick nods.
"Finnick?" I ask as I get in bed.
"Yes?" He asks.
"Do you want to know if it's a boy or girl?" I ask and rub my stomach.
"Where'd that come from?" He asks.
"People have been asking, and I've been thinking." I say.
"What are you thinking?" Finnick asks.
"That I want to know." I say.
"Then when the time comes we'll know." He says and kisses me.
"We'll know." I say. "Finnick?"
"Yes?" He asks.
"Which one do you want; boy or girl?" I ask.
"I just want a heathy one." He says and kisses me.
"Me too." I whisper.
Christina POV.
I pick up my cell and dial the number I know he is currently using. The stolen cell phone he has will only last a few more days.
"Hello?" He says.
"It's me." I say.
"And?" He asks.
"I got the lay out of their house and I don't think they will be changing it anytime soon." I say.
"You better make sure." He says harshly. "Because I want this to work with no chinks." He says.
"There won't be, I can guarantee that but, what if what happened to their darling Olivia happens this time as well." I say.
"It won't, trust me." He says.
"Just because you want something enough doesn't make it true." I say.
"I didn't ask for your opinion Christina." He says harshly.
"No you did not." I say almost bored.
"Good girl." He says and I can hear the smirk. "Draw me the layout and hand it to me on Wednesday."
"At the usual spot?" I ask.
"Of course girl." He says annoyed.
"I don't know why you're in such the rush. You have many months to figure out the big plan and I'm sure you're not so insolent to take away a newborn baby." I say bored.
"I know but I can wait. I've waited many years for many things. I can wait a few extra months after Miss.
Annie gives birth. She's just an important vessel now. Then she's a care taker. Then finally, she is a weeping Mother who has lost another child." He says.
"Why do you want her kid so much anyways John? It can't just be because she locked you up." I say.
"No but she married my son and we have a history." He says.
"Care to elaborate?" I ask.
"No I don't. Do you care to share why you hate Miss. Annie so much?" He says.
"No I don't." I say.
"See that's something else we share in common."
I roll my eyes.
"Whatever history you have with your son I hope you have a nice plan figured out after you take his child." I say.
"Don't worry, I'll figure something out during the months to come." He says.
"You better. I don't want to go down with you."
"You won't." He says.
It's silent.
"Oh and Christina, do me a favor and make sure to tell me if it's a boy or girl." He says.
"What does that matter?" I ask.
"I have my reasons, just do it."
"Yes sir." I say.
"I'll see you later Christina." He says.
"Goodbye John." I say and hang up.