A/N: Disclaimer (edited October 28th, 2020) - I am writing this story completely for myself, not only to explore the Hunger Games canon but also to process my own emotions, so please understand that when reading. A Pregnant Question is rated M for a good reason - it will include potentially uncomfortable and/or triggering content such as sexual themes, abuse, and bigotry. I will try to include trigger warnings before each chapter but the story may still include triggers without warnings. Thank you! I hope you enjoy this story.
Mishel Lavender, age 18
District 8 Female Tribute
Eight months before the Reaping
"No…" I whisper as I stare at the positive pregnancy test, my eyes filling with tears. "Oh, no, no, no…"
This was going to happen sooner or later, but I still feel like my life is over. There's no way Shay is going to keep me around once he finds out that I'm carrying his illegitimate child - or maybe it isn't even his, considering how recently I became his second concubine.
Sure, Shay Morrigan isn't bad as far as masters go - I'd honestly call him more of a sugar daddy than anything, if I'm honest - but everyone in the Morrigan mansion knows that I'm at the bottom of the pecking order among the women. Hana, the first concubine, is kind of mean and would be glad to be rid of me. And Cordelia, Shay's wife, has a kind personality but wouldn't be too thrilled with the fact that her husband has likely made one of the side chicks pregnant. As for Mr. Morrigan himself…
Shay doesn't love me as a person, but he respects my boundaries and at least he's really really sexy. And I have to admit that I've always sexually enjoyed submission. But I don't know if my baby is his and won't have any way to find out for a few months. If he finds out that my child isn't his but instead belongs to one of the many dudes I've been fucked by back when I was a courtesan, he could kick me out of his mansion faster than I can say raven. And where can I go if I'm kicked out of the Morrigan mansion? I could crawl back to my parents, begging for help to raise both my dear sister Alisha - god rest her, she's only eleven - and my baby.
But my parents were abusive. They hit and yelled at both me and my sister. There's no way I can go back there, or take Alisha with me.
Maybe I won't have a choice if Shay kicks me out, I think bitterly to myself as I sigh heavily, get my butt off the toilet seat, and straighten my dress. It's not the most comfortable thing to wear, but it's really pretty with its lavender flowers patterned on lilac silk. Shay always likes to see me in it, and I like wearing it too because it reminds me of my heritage. Talking about the world before the Dark Days is forbidden in Panem, but I only wear my qipao in the Morrigan mansion so I think I'm fine. And I guess out in public during my courtesan days, but those days as Robyn Lee are over. I hope… I may have to go back into sex work if Shay kicks me out.
How can I even be a courtesan if I'm pregnant? I think sadly as I make myself as presentable as possible in front of the mirror. I may have to go back to my parents after all… they'd kill me, but it's not like I have another choice. I sigh, trying my best to dry the tears that keep coming out. Maybe I can find some other way to support myself and my sister and my child. I doubt it though. I kind of suck at everything. I'm not even that pretty.
Maybe I can go to the person I called my best friend before I became a courtesan, but she isn't well-off either. I doubt her family will let me, let alone my baby and my sister, crash at her little apartment. Maybe I can get an abortion, but I'm not really morally comfortable with getting one myself and I won't be able to afford it anyways. Maybe…
I'll have to tell Shay. If I'm lucky, the baby will turn out to be his, and he'll keep me around so I can continue providing for my sister. If I'm not, the baby will turn out to not be his, and, well…
I'm screwed. But I'll pick a god and pray for the best.
Taking a deep breath, I straighten my hair and then leave the bathroom. My sister bounds up to me, a broom in one hand and a dustpan in the other. Her maid hat is off-center, and her ribbons are untied.
"Hi Mishel!" she chirps, skidding to a stop and adjusting her clothes. "Whatcha doin'?"
"Hey sis," I say with a sad smile. "Not now, okay? You're the best sister ever, but you know how I've been feeling nauseous lately? Well, I just took a pregnancy test. I'm pregnant, Alisha."
"What?!" my sister yells, dropping the dustpan dramatically. "You, pregnant?"
"Yeah, I know," I say bitterly, sighing. "But yeah, I'm pregnant." I hold out the pregnancy test to show her. "See? It's positive, which means I'm carrying a baby."
"Oh!" Alisha exclaims, quickly picking up the dustpan. "Does that mean I'm going to be an aunt?"
"Yes, it does, li'l sis," I say, wiping away tears. "I have to go tell Mr. Morrigan now… I'll let you know how it goes, 'kay?"
"Can I come with you?" Alisha asks, smiling.
"I think it's better if you didn't, because he may or may not be the father," I say, hiding my cold dread. "It's rather personal and private, you see… sorry sis. I'll see you after though! I think it's best that you went back to work for now."
"Alright," Alisha says, giving me a big hug. "I'll see you later then!"
"Yeah, wish me luck," I say with a sad smile as my little sister waves goodbye to me and rushes off with her dustpan and broom.
I'm fighting the urge to cry. Stupid pregnancy hormones… Alisha is my favorite person in the whole world, and I'd do anything to help her. I should really get going and find Shay.
Unfortunately, the commotion has attracted the attention of Hana, the first concubine. She comes swaggering up to me, her hands on her hips and a smirk on her face.
"Looks like someone's going to get kicked out," she sneers, towering over me in her six-inch heels. "I can't believe Shay made you of all people pregnant."
"I can't believe it either," I sigh bitterly. At this point I'm just used to Hana's bullying, but it still hurts. "Hey, have you seen Mr. Morrigan? I need to go talk to him."
"I'd hide it if I were you," Hana says with a smirk. "Maybe you can get a few more months of your sister as a servant maid and you as the side chick if Shay didn't know. If he did, you'd get kicked out, and I'd be on top."
"Yeah, maybe," I say, standing a little taller. "Listen, I don't think lying to Mr. Morrigan would be a good idea, so I'll go talk to him now. Have you seen him?"
"Why would I tell you if I have?" Hana sneers. "You're just the side chick. You're not worth my time."
"I think we can both agree on that," I sigh as I take a deep breath and try to push past Hana. Thankfully, she doesn't stop me, and I go look for Shay myself.
I spot Mrs. Morrigan in the hallway outside the master bedroom and smile at her. "Hello Mrs. Morrigan, have you seen Mr. Morrigan?" I ask, hoping that I don't look too nervous. "I need to talk to him."
"I think he's in his office," she says with a smile. Then her eyes fall upon the pregnancy test in my hand, and she frowns. "Dear, are you pregnant?"
"I'm afraid so," I say with a sad smile. "I'm so sorry."
"What is there to be sorry about? It wasn't your fault," she says. Her frown deepens. "Although, if the baby is Shay's…"
"I know, that could be a possibility, but I won't know for sure for a few months," I say, taking a deep breath. "Thank you for your help, though. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome," Cordelia Morrigan says, though her eyes betray the jealousy she feels.
I nod at her before continuing on my way to Shay Morrigan's office. My heart is beating like crazy. Please don't kick me out, please don't kick me out, please don't kick me out…
I reach Mr. Morrigan's office door and knock.
"Come in," Shay calls out.
I take a deep breath and enter.
Tributes (underlined tributes get POVs):
(Female/Male indicates the gender the tribute was Reaped as and not necessarily their actual gender)
District 1 Female: Barbossa Diamond, age 17 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 1 Male: Shinji Higa, age 17 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 2 Tribute: Ariadne White, age 18 (submitted by santiagoponcini20)
District 2 Male: Scorpio Grayson, age 16 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 3 Female: Hikari Abe, age 15 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 3 Tribute: Watson Ling, age 15 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 4 Female: Delilah Aberforth, age 16 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 4 Male: Lamar Hunter, age 17 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 5 Female: Trisha Quinn, age 16 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 5 Tribute: Sky Ramirez, age 14 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 6 Female: Hinoka Nori, age 15 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 6 Male: Velmire Hyeondae, age 18 (submitted by Platrium)
District 7 Female: Mulberry Chun, age 18 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 7 Tribute: Forest Oakley, age 17 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 8 Tribute: Mishel Lavender, age 18 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 8 Male: Redmond Brown, age 13 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 9 Female: Corneria Gold, age 16 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 9 Male: Buckwheat Gonzalez, age 18 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 10 Female: Lupe Oxford, age 14 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 10 Male: Abraham Smith, age 12 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 11 Female: Bluebell Johnson, age 13 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 11 Male: George Daniels, age 18 (created by me, AmericanPi)
District 12 Tribute: Maximus Burnet, age 17 (submitted by SilverflowerXRavenpaw)
District 12 Male: Coulson Stone, age 18 (created by me, AmericanPi)
Chapter question (you don't have to answer these, but that would be greatly appreciated): What are your first impressions on Mishel, our District 8 demigirl Tribute?
Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you all soon!