I could give you a million excuses, but none of them are good enough. I'm so sorry this took so long, and I hope this chapter somewhat makes up for it.
Also, the poll stayed at a three-way tie, so I just had my friends make the final decision!
Credit to Peeta lover 12 for the Peetniss in this chapter!
Finnick's POV
At fourteen weeks, Annie has started to show. Something I am much more excited about than she is. She knows she'll have to go on maternity leave soon, and she loves her job.
However, she is excited that since she's finished with her first trimester, we can find out the baby's gender.
"This is going to be a bit cold," Dr. Maloney warns as she prepares to rub the goopy, sonogram stuff on Annie's belly. Annie nods in understanding. I squeeze her hand.
Dr. Maloney smiles reassuringly at the pair of us as she moves her hand across Annie's stomach. She does something with a big machine before a black-and-white video shows up on the screen. Dr. Maloney squints at us before telling us that she'll be right back.
Annie and I both squint at the video. "Can you see where our baby is?" I ask her.
She squints harder. "Not at all," she replies.
"I'm sure Dr. Maloney will be able to show us when she gets back," I say. She nods in agreement.
"So...," I start, "what do you want it to be?"
"What do you mean?" she questions.
"What gender do you want to have?"
She gives me a look. "I don't care, as long as he-or-she is healthy."
"Oh, come on. You must have a preference," I press on.
"I really don't," she insists. "Do you?"
I hesitate. "Well, I'd love him-or-her equally, no matter what gender, but I mean-I grew up with a little sister. I know how to take care of little girls. I'd like to have a daughter who can think of herself as Daddy's Little Girl."
Annie pecks me on the lips. "That's so sweet."
At that moment, Dr. Maloney walks back in the room. "I have some big news!" We look at her expectantly. She points at two little dots on the screen. "You're having twins-a boy and a girl!"
Though I can't see it, I'm sure my face lights up. Annie just looks shocked.
"That's-that's great! Right, Annie?" I ask her.
She shakes off her surprise. "Yes, yes, of course, it is! We're having twins!"
Peeta's POV
"Wow, that's great! Congratulations," I say over the phone. "I'll let everyone know! See you later!"
"What was that about?" Katniss asks as I put my phone back in my pocket.
"Finnick and Annie are having twins!"
"Seriously?" she asks. I nod.
"That's so exciting! Oh, we should do something!"
"I know. I was thinking about making a big celebratory dinner. Want to help?"
"Of course!"
"I think there's some salad stuff in the fridge. Would you work on that?"
"Sounds simple enough," she responds.
"Great! I'll get started on the bread!"
Three hours and twelve spills later, dinner is almost ready. "Katniss, would you take the bread out of the oven in seven minutes? I need to run to the store to get some frosting."
"Not a problem," she says.
"Thanks, I should be back in fifteen minutes."
As it turns out, I'm not back in fifteen minutes, because I ran into my brother, Rye, while at the store. I'm back in thirty-five, and I'm met with screaming and smoke.
I run into the kitchen where Katniss is holding a fire extinguisher and Johanna is covered in white foam.
"Did it fucking look like I was on fire, or do you just like spraying people with fire extinguishers?!" Johanna yells.
"I was trying to put out the actual fire and you were in the way!" Katniss defends.
"I was standing in the doorway, you fucking idiot!"
Katniss has no rebuttal for that. "I'm going to go take a fucking shower." Johanna growls and pushes past me.
Katniss gives me a sympathetic look. "I forgot to take out your bread."
Johanna's POV
"What happened?" Gale asks as I come out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.
"Katniss Everdeen happened," I snap.
"What did she do?" he asks warily.
"Set the kitchen on fire, then sprayed me with the fire extinguisher."
Gale tries and fails to hide a snicker.
"Oh, go ahead and laugh. It's not like I'm your girlfriend or anything," I grumble, searching through my closet.
"Come on, don't be that way," he says, wrapping his arms around me from behind. "I'm just imagining how flustered Katniss must've been."
I turn around so I'm facing him. "I'm still upset with you."
Gale smirks. "How can I make it up to you?"
"Well . . ." I grin and drop my towel.
Annie's POV
"Finnick, I've been thinking a lot about middle names."
"Yeah? What have you come up with?" he asks.
"When I was little, I had these two dolls that I was absolutely obsessed with. I'd bring them everywhere. When I left for college, I actually took them with me for sentimental value. They got burned in the fire. They were named Blake and Alexander. So, I was thinking that's what the middle names would be-Sylvia Blake and Jaymes Alexander.
"That's perfect. I love it," I tell her.
"What do you love?" Katniss asks, walking into the living room.
"Annie just thought of the middle names-Alexander and Blake," I say.
Katniss smiles, but gives us a weird look. "I'm not trying to be intrusive, but I figured for a middle name you'd go with Jason, after your brother."
Annie takes a deep breath. "This isn't the first time I've been asked that. I love my brother more than you can understand, and he died seven months ago. It hasn't even been a year. Maybe if I ever have another child it will be different, but I can't bring myself to say my baby's name and only be able to think of my brother. I just can't. I love him too much."
So, this ending was absolute shit, but I hope the rest of the chapter sort of made up for the wait.
