Chapter Forty-Two: Days Inbetween (pt.1)
In twenty-nine days Maize would be back in the Capitol.
She was going to enjoy every waking moment until then.
Balm giggled up cutely at her. Maize's lips broke out into a wide smile as she tickled his ribs making a new peal of laughter erupt from her youngest sibling. Gilead grunted jealously as he crawled over to them from where he'd been playing with wooden blocks on the other side of the rug. The older twin smacked his hand on Maize's thigh for attention.
"Oh, you feeling jealous Gil?" she asked him rhetorically before running her fingers under his chin in a teasing manner before moving down to his ribs. He broke out into immediate giggles, she gave Gilead a break by tickling Balm before switching. The innocent babyish cackles warmed her heart.
"Zee! Bebe's laughin'!" Lilac chirruped delightedly as she plopped down beside her on the rug.
"That's right." she agreed. Her youngest sister was adorable, her kinky hair flying wildly around her head as she nodded. Lilac leaned over and pressed a wet kiss on Gilead's cheek.
She could hear Hibis running around in the other room while peals of laughter escaped from his throat. The thundering footsteps of Brier and Piper were hot on Hibis's heels. Her only sibling not in the house right now was Birch, he'd gone over to Ollie's home with goodies for the entire Fairgrovel family. Maize made care packages for the family of her fallen District partner every other day, she would usually deliver them personally -though Birch often accompanied her- but after the insanity that had been the last two weeks... She was too tired -exhausted mentally and physically- to go right now.
Mama was in the kitchen preparing something for lunch while Maize watched over her youngest siblings. After her early morning chat with baba, he'd decided to work off his heartbreak and anger by putting some hours in the factory. Mama seemed to have realized that something was wrong, but she didn't seem to be in a hurry to actually confront her just yet. Which worked for Maize. She really wasn't in any hurry to tell her mother what was bothering her, or what was mentally tormenting her baba.
The front door suddenly slammed open, her infant brothers flinched before they started wailing in unison while Lilac sniffled in distress. Maize jumped up to her feet, heart pounding as her eyes roamed around the living room for a weapon-
"Maize!" Birch shouted frantically, relief coursed through her body, "Maize!"
"Birch Galloshire!" Mama chastised angrily, "Wha' are you doing slamming doors like that! You scare' the life out of me!"
"Mama! I can't- Maize!" Birch ran into the living room. He was drenched in sweat, a panicked look on his face as he doubled over with his hands on his knees while he panted. Maize felt the relief drain out of her body.
"Wh-"
"It's Amla!" he blurted out, "Thorn tol' me ta come get you! She's been h-having contractions all morning."
Oh.
OH!
"Get my med bag from the closet." Maize barked out before running upstairs to grab her shoes. She grabbed the first pair of suede boots in sight and shoved them on before barreling back downstairs where Birch was anxiously waiting for her by the door. Maize threw the strap of the bag over her shoulder, "Let's go."
The siblings raced out of the Victor's Village and through the town towards their cousin's home. The walk was usually a good fifteen minutes away, but they made it there in five. Maize was barely out of breath -thanks to all of the exercise she'd been doing, something of which she needed to start up again now that the Tour was over and done with- as she knocked on the door. Thorn practically ripped the door open, though his face almost instantly clouded in relief as he took in their figures.
"Maize..." he breathed out her name like a prayer as he held the door open.
"Thorn." she greeted as she made her way inside and towards the bedroom. Amla was curled up on her side in pain, a low moan escaping from her lips, as her body was rocked through another contraction. A bowl with water was by the bed, she grabbed the cloth dipped it in before straining it and placing it on her cousin's sweating forehead. Amla's eyes snapped open, a tight but relieved grin bloomed on her face.
"You're here."
"Of course." Maize whispered back.
Amla shuddered as she grasped her hand, "Binamu, ninaogopa."
"Don't be afraid, binamu, women have always been havin' babies. I will be here every step of the way." Maize cooed, "C'mon let's get you in another position, need to check on your bébé's position."
It took four hours.
Four grueling, tear-filled hours later... Milho Ludwig Flatcreek was born. Tears streamed down cute chubby cheeks while her limbs flailed and distressed cries escaped from plump lips. She was perfect. After rinsing off the afterbirth, Maize swaddled the infant in a soft blanket and handed her over to Amla. Her cousin was flush, sweat clinging to her forehead as a tired but entirely joyful smile bloomed onto her face as she held her daughter for the first time.
She could hear Thorn and her brother celebrating in the other room before the new father asked if he could come in. Maize rolled her eyes before covering the lower half of her cousin with a thin blanket and telling the man to come. The only reason Thorn had been kicked out of the room earlier was because he'd fainted rather dramatically when the baby's head had started crowning. It wasn't the first time she'd seen a man be utterly useless during birth. It probably wouldn't be the last either. At least Thorn hadn't cracked his head on the floor like one of the husband's she'd seen do before.
Now with both of the new parents in the room, cooing lovingly down at their new bundle of love like she has become the light of their lives... Maize felt her heart soar in her chest. She absolutely made the right choice volunteering for the 70th Hunger Games, because if she hadn't, well- then, Milho would not be here.
Everything that would come after this, all of the pain she would be subjected to, all of it would be worth it.
Her cheeks burned from how wide her smile was.
(Extra scene that didn't really fit but does happen)
An hour or so later, as Milho was happily sleeping off the excitement of her own birth in the arms of her mother -Amla was a mother now, and wasn't that a thought that would have sent her down a fit of laughter a few years ago- while Thorn crowed up and down the street that he had a daughter, and after Maize had helped her cousin deliver of the afterbirth and dispose of it... She was cleaning off the equipment and getting fresh sheets for Amla's bed. Maize had already taken a small blood sample from Milho -it was just a tiny pinprick at the heal of her foot- that she would drop off at the hospital before going home. Birch had run home to tell their family the good news.
Amla was still awake, not able to take her eyes off her newborn. Maize smiled at the scene as she packed away the last of her equipment in her med bag. The smile that hadn't left her face since Milho's first cry.
"Why did you name her Milho?" she asked her cousin curiously after a moment. Milho guzzled loudly, a tiny fist jerking into Amla's cheek. It wasn't a family name, that was for sure. Thorn didn't have any siblings and neither of his parents were called that.
Her cousin let out a snort, "For someone so smart, binamu, you can be so slow." she teased, "Milho means corn. What does your name mean again?"
An embarrassed flush colored her cheeks as realization hit her, "You- You named her after me?" Maize whispered.
"Of course." Amla stated seriously, "We wouldn't be here if it weren't for you."
"Oh." Maize hummed before shooting her cousin a teasing smile, "You sap."
Amla giggled, "Not as much as you, I'm not the one crying."
Well played, binamu.
Well played.
Milho was beautiful.
Words 1447
(So, I just wanted to apologize for taking so long to update... I've been really busy with the fall semester and I haven't really had time to write creatively, hopefully with the holidays coming up I'll be able to write and update more frequently. This chapter was just a bit of fluff, Maize needs some fluff after everything I've thrown at her in the last few chapters. She needs a little hope, so, let's welcome little Milho into the bunch... and I promise, it won't take me forever to post the next chapter. I just want to give a quick shout out to all of you people reading and reviewing this fic! I honestly didn't think this story would be very popular because the Hunger Games is essentially a dead fandom, but I'm honestly thrilled and touched that so many of you are interested in the world I've created through Maize. Thank you all for being so patient and I hope you continue to stick with me to the end!)