Requested by missy-poppins91: Between Lives prompt: The first time(s) Haymitch held a baby. First his brother (then any others)? :)
Meeting Lief Abernathy
(9 years old)
The first time Haymitch Abernathy ever held a baby, he was nine years old.
His father was working in the mines when Mama complained of pains and cramps. Haymitch had been told by his parents, by dad especially, time and time again what he should do if his mother went into labour. He didn't know if it was labour pains but Haymitch was terrified listening to his mother's painful moans and groans so he did as his father had taught him.
Haymitch ran to the Everdeen's.
By the time he reached Aspen's house, he was severely out of breath and pale as a ghost. Aspen's mother sent both boys into town to fetch the midwife while she hurried over to keep Haymitch's mother company.
At that age, Haymitch had that misconception that once the midwife arrived, it would all be over very quickly but he was so very wrong. Haymitch spent hours, agonising hours waiting. He waited for his father to come home, for his mother to stop screaming and for the cries of a child but nothing was forthcoming. He grew restless and listless and he pulled a long face, his nerves fraught with worry.
Aspen tried to play various games with him to keep him occupy. He tried hopscotch, he tried to play tag and he even tried to get Haymitch to send his spider into battles but he refused them all. Instead, Haymitch made Aspen lift him around his legs high enough for him to peer into the window, looking for his mother.
"Out, out," Aspen's mother shooed him away.
"Is Mama okay?" he tried asking.
"She will be. Now, wait quietly, Haymitch. Play with Aspen. I will get you once it's over. Don't you worry, boy."
He lost track of time but when he was let in, his house was different. Haymitch heard the piercing cries before he saw his brother. He entered the room cautiously. His mother was on her back, clearly exhausted from her ordeal but there was a smile on her face.
"Come, Haymitch, come closer," Mama beckoned.
Once he was close enough, Haymitch eyed the bundle in her arms warily. The baby was noisy and Haymitch wasn't sure if he would like all that noise but that worry vanished when his mother shifted the cloth hiding his brother's face from his view and Haymitch saw his brother for the first time.
"He's small," he remarked in a whisper.
"For now – he'll grow in a blink, just like you did. Sit next to me, Haymitch," Isla Abernathy patted the mattress and Haymitch complied. "Do you want to hold him?"
"Can I?" he looked up, eager and anxious.
It was Aspen's mother who arranged and righted his arms at an angle so his mother could place the baby comfortably. Once in Haymitch's arm, the baby stopped crying and he marveled at that oddity. Haymitch sat stiff and unmoving, worried that a single jolt could hurt the little kid he was holding and he didn't want his brother to cry anymore.
He gazed down at his brother, taking in the wrinkled skin and light tuft of dark hair. He wanted to touch his brother's nose and his cheeks and play with his fingers but it might wake his brother so he refrained from doing so. For a long time, he sat quietly on the bed, not once taking his eyes off the baby whose own eyes remained shut as his chest rose and fell with every breath he took. Haymitch matched his own breathing with his brother and when they were both in tandem, he grinned.
"What do you think, Haymitch?"
"I like him a lot," Haymitch said, his expression serious. "But he's really light, Mama. Like a leaf. I'm scared the wind will blow him away."
His mother laughed lightly and reached up to brush his hair back.
"Then you musn't ever let him go," she clutched his hand. "Promise me, you'll always look out for your brother and that you will always love him."
"I will," he promised. "I love him already."
"Lief... Let's call him Lief. Do you think your father will like that name?"
Haymitch shrugged.
"Hello, Lief. I'm Haymitch," he whispered it quietly, his breath warm against his brother's skin. The child shifted in his arm and Haymitch held his breath only to release it when Lief opened his eyes to look at his brother for the very first time.