Chapter Text
Peeta
“Now, what do you want for lunch, Addie?” I ask her, opening the refrigerator and peaking in. Adeline chews her sleeve and rests happily on my hip. “Some sweet potato?” I ask her, holding out the container of sweet potato. She kicks her legs and gives me a smile. “You’re definitely your mother’s daughter.” I tickle her side and she giggles.
We’ve had a pretty chilled out morning together, I’ve had the chance to do some work and design some cakes whilst Adeline slept. She’s only just woken and after a bit of play we’ve worked up an appetite.
I opt to feed her instead of letting her self-feed. She doesn't complain and we chat while I feed her. I was so thankful Katniss was this organized with prepped meals for Adeline. It helped on these days I was behind and caught up with work.
My phone rings and I see its Madge.
“What’s your sister doing?” I ask Adeline and answer the call.
“Hey, how’s dress…”
“Dad, where are you?” She asks immediately, cutting me off.
“At home.” I tell her. “What’s wrong?” I ask her.
“Is Nolan home?”
“No, he’s not.”
“I’m going to send Camille over and she’ll watch Addie while you come meet us.”
“Camille, what’s happened?” I ask her.
“We think Katniss has gone into labor.” She tells me and I freeze.
I look at Adeline who is looking up at me, wondering why I’ve stopped feeding her. I don’t know what to do and I look around the room for my things.
Madge tells me which hospital to meet them at.
“She’s having contractions, Dad.” She tells me. “Just take your time, I’m with her. Just get here safely and I’ll see you soon.” She tells me, almost too calm.
“Ok. Just tell her to be strong and that everything will be fine. Tell her I’ll be there.” I say and look at our daughter. “And tell her, always.”
“I will. See you shortly Dad.”
She ends the call just as the sirens sound and I start to panic. I look at the time, wishing Camille would hurry up but know I can’t do anything for Katniss until she’s at the hospital. I finish feeding Adeline and make her up a bottle. I check to make sure there's some expressed milk in case Katniss is kept in for a while. I wonder if I should pack some clothes for Katniss but decide I'll wait until I know what's going on.
I pace, letting Adeline have her bottle in her swing while she watches a cartoon.
And the second the door opens; I make a move for my keys and wallet.
“Dad!” Camille calls out.
I nearly bowl her over as I make a move for the front door. “She’s had her lunch and is in the living room with a bottle. You know where everything is. There’s milk in the fridge defrosting. Just call if you need anything.”
She places her hands on my shoulders and wills me to calm down. “Dad, deep breaths.” She tells me.
“Camille.” I say, tears filling my eyes. “She could be having the baby right now and I’m not there.”
“But you’ve been with Addie. Katniss would want you with Addie, making sure she feels loved and safe and not scared. Madge is with her. Just breath.” She urges me. “Madge was there when Addie was born, she’s a pro at being a birth coach.”
I take in a few deep breaths, following Camille and it has an instant calming effect on me.
“I just, need to be with her.” I tell her, swallowing the lump that has formed in my throat.
“You will be. Madge said she’d call if anything happened.” Camille says. “I’ve got Addie, don’t worry about her. I’ve called Katniss’ mother and she said she’d come over and help me out. I’ll rearrange the roster at the bakery. You go be with Katniss.”
I kiss her forehead and go into the living room, kissing Adeline. “Be good for Camille.” I whisper to her. “I’ve got to go check on your Mama and Button.”
I try to stick to the limit as I head for the hospital. I focus on my breathing and keep checking my phone every second to see if Madge has texted or called.
"I'm coming, Katniss." I whisper as I turn off in the direction of the hospital.
Katniss
“Katniss, if you feel like pushing let us know.” The nurse tells me as they hook me up to IV’s, heart monitors and other machines I can’t name. Prim is in the room, having spotted me enter the ER just before.
I nod, breathing into the oxygen and focusing on the pains. They were definitely contractions. It was 10 months earlier I was here delivering Adeline. I knew these were contractions.
Effie arrives quickly, swooping into my room and checking my chart and quickly examining me.
“What happened?”
Madge steps in. "We were trying on dresses for my wedding, nothing too strenuous." She tells Effie. "She was looking a little pale this morning when I picked her up and was complaining of painful kicks. I told her to tell me if anything felt abnormal."
“How many cramps or contractions did you have?” Effie asks me softly.
I hold up a hand, showing her five fingers and then two.
“Within an hour?”
“And a half.” I softly tell her, removing the oxygen.
“Any fluid?”
I nod. “A little.”
“Ok, I’m going to do a quick ultrasound.” She tells me.
She’s quick and efficient and has the wand on my stomach quickly, looking at the screen and the baby.
“Baby isn’t engaged." She tells me. "You're uterus has dilated a centimeter, Katniss." She says. “You’re blood pressure is raised slightly. There’s been no break in the amniotic sac either.”
I start to panic that I’ll be rushed down for an emergency C-section and deliver Button at 30 weeks but she reassures me that everything is fine.
“We’ll give you some progesterone to hopefully delay labor.” She tells me. “And then we’ll look at the other options if this slows down your labor.”
A nurse enters with the drugs and she administers it to my IV and tells me to rest. Prim and Madge hover, watching me and urge me to close my eyes and try and sleep.
I wake when I feel his warmth and his sturdy hand holding mine.
He leans over and kisses my forehead when I open my eyes groggily.
“Hey, how are you feeling?”
"OK." I tell him. I've lost the oxygen mask and am breathing better. I don't feel like I'm short on breath and can get the oxygen into my lungs. "Who's got, Addie?"
“Camille was going to watch her for the night.”
I touch my chest, feeling how engorged my breasts are and know I need to either pump or nurse Adeline.
“What time is it?”
“Almost 5.”
“Do you think Camille could bring her in? I need to empty my boobs pretty badly. Or bring my pump?” I tell him. “And I want to kiss Addie goodnight.”
He kisses my forehead and goes outside to call Camille. I reach for my phone and see the texts that have come through from my family and friends asking how I am and for an update. I’ll leave that for Peeta to do later when we really know what’s going on.
Effie stops by my room, checks my chart and sits beside me on the bed.
“Peeta is just calling his daughter. I want to see Addie before she goes to bed and at least nurse her. My boobs are sore.”
Effie nods. “It’ll be good to see Addie.”
“What are my stats like?”
“Good.”
"You won't be rushing me down to the OR?"
“Not yet, the contractions have stopped but we want to make sure you don’t dilate any further.” She tells me. “So far, so good.”
“I’m so scared.”
“I know, it’s good to be scared.” She tells me with a smile. “I’ll check in on you in an hour or so.”
Peeta comes back in, sitting back down next to me and Effie leaves.
“You’re Mom is going to come in too.” He tells me. “She’s at home with Camille.”
I nod, snuggle down as best as I can and watch him through heavy eyelids. “Cashmere was really good with me today.” I tell him. “Can you pass on my thanks?”
“I will.” He tells me.
“I went off at your mother today as well.”
“That’s ok.” He smiles at me, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear. I can sense he’s smiling slightly.
“I just didn’t want her spoiling Madge’s day and told her straight.”
“Good.” He tells me and sighs, pushing my hair behind my ear and kissing my forehead. “It’s been a big weekend.”
“It has.” I agree, yawning.
“Get some sleep, I’ll wake you when Addie is here.”
I nod and close my eyes, willing myself to sleep and rest. I know I will need the rest in case things take a dramatic turn tonight and we end up with a premature baby in the NICU and a 10-month-old at home.
Camille, my mother, and Adeline arrive an hour before visiting hours end. I embrace my little girl tightly in my arms, kissing her forehead and inhaling her comforting baby smell.
“I missed you.”
She nuzzles into my chest and Peeta helps me with my gown. She's in her pajamas and Camille will be able to take her straight home and put her to bed with maybe a bottle, a book, and some back tickles. Madge had dropped her some clothes and dinner after she left my side this afternoon. Camille had rearranged staff and would have everything covered for the next few days at least.
But I didn’t expect her to watch Adeline the whole time. She could go to Mom and Dad’s and be taken care of by them if I had an extended stay.
I feel the pressure release from my boobs as I begin nursing and swap her midway through to release the other. They’ve packed a bag with some things for me, clothes, toiletries, phone charger and one of the books from my bedside table for the night at least.
“Have they told you anything more?” Mom asks.
"Labor has stopped and they're just monitoring my dilation. I've dilated a centimeter. If there's any more movement down there, they won't be able to stop."
“Ok.” She says. “But for now, everything has slowed down?”
“I think so.” I tell her.
Visiting hours comes to an end and after feeding Adeline, she sleeps over her sister’s shoulder and we kiss her goodbye as Camille and my mother leave for the night. I pump to relieve the rest of the pressure and Peeta bags it and places it in the mini fridge to take home tomorrow.
I lay down and Peeta goes for a walk and I rest my eyes.
“We’ve stopped it for now but we want to keep her in overnight just to monitor her and the baby.” I groggily overhear Effie tell Peeta outside my room. “She’s not out of the clear yet but she’s stable.”
"Thanks, Effie."
“We’ll have a nurse bring in a bed for you.”
He comes back to me and tells me the news but isn’t as positive that everything is out of the clear just yet.
He makes his bed and goes and brushes his teeth and then helps me brush my own teeth, spitting the residue into a cup. He brushes my hair and then braids it quite sloppily but I don't mind. I kiss him after he braids my hair and he settles in beside me on the bed. We switch off the light and on his phone, we watch the video he created for me.
I watched this multiple times last night and this morning, crying every single time. We watch it once and then other videos on his camera roll from the last 10 months of raising Adeline.
It distracts me for the most part and we happily snuggle into each other for most of the evening.
It’s a restless night with nurses coming and going all evening and I sleep on and off.
I wake well before sunrise and so does Peeta. He comes and joins me in my bed, cuddling me and willing me to try and sleep some more.
By 9 am, they tell me I'll be discharged and that Effie will be round shortly to explain to me my treatment plan.
I pump again and return everyone’s texts, letting them know I’ll be home and thanking them for their thoughts.
Peeta even responds to a text from his mother, asking how I am. It’s still shallow but at least she had the forethought to ask.
Effie explains my treatment plan. Strict bed rest for the next month.
“That should bring you to 35 weeks. If you experience contractions before then, then come in right away another week is better in the long run, especially for the maturity of the baby. I think this was just a scare and you should deliver after 37 weeks.” She tells me with a smile. “Now you’re bed rest procedure.” She hands me a sheet she’s printed off, telling me the dos and don’ts. “No intercourse either, ok?” She tells us.
“Yep, got it.”
“And I mean none for the remaining weeks of your pregnancy.”
I try not to scowl in front of her but know this is for the best possible outcome.
"Your bed rest is restricted, so I only want you moving for bathroom breaks and maybe some meals." She tells me. "Peeta, you'll have to become her carer for the next few weeks until I give her the all clear."
“Already done.” He tells her.
“The sheet will have everything else on there regarding travel, movements and what not. Make sure you try your best to exercise your muscles and follow the sheet with exercises that are safe and you’ll want to be mindful of blood clots in your legs. Peeta, maybe a nightly massage will help or slight movement.” She says. “Anything else, just call and I can advise you.”
“Thank you, Effie.”
"Peeta, I'd try setting up a station with everything located close by just to limit movements. Lot's of bottled water, some snacks, books, hand sanitizer, baby wipes and things like that. It should be on the list as well but it just makes it easier for her.”
I’m brought the discharge papers an hour later and sit on the bed, dressed and ready to go. They bring me a wheelchair and push me to the car, Peeta helping me into the passenger seat. I’m off limits in driving and only allowed in the car to come to my appointment at 32 weeks and again at 35 weeks. Peeta will have to pick up the slack in everything but I know there were some resourceful tools on the sheet that should help with the next few weeks.
He helps me inside and upstairs, waving hello to Camille and Adeline who is in the living room playing together. They follow us upstairs as I'm set on the bed and made comfortable with body pillows and extra blankets.
Adeline climbs over me and roots for a feed and I use the support of a body pillow to nurse her. It was mostly a comfort nurse and she’s off minutes later, just cuddling me.
I want to shower and eat and sleep.
But now, I’m just cherishing the moments with my little one. Making up for the night away.
I’m sad I won’t be able to watch her these next few weeks. Won’t be able to play with her, chase her around and take her for walks to the park or anywhere else.
But this is for her baby brother or sister. The bed rest, despite how hard it’ll be, it’ll be worth it if we get to 37 weeks.
We make a plan that night. We rearrange schedules, Peeta’s work and anything else that we have coming up for the next month.
We recruit our family. Or they more volunteer to help us out. They happily lend their help, offering afternoons, mornings or evenings to babysit, cook us meals, laundry, grocery shopping or keep me entertained when Peeta isn’t here.
Camille gives Peeta time off from the bakery, only requiring him if they desperately need him. Nolan steps up and takes some of his father’s shifts. Peeta will do the easy things he can do from home, the pays, rosters, inventory, accounts, and orders. I even suggested he could teach me some of this and I can help him out.
It’ll be a welcome change from Netflix and staring out the window for four weeks straight.
We make a plan for two days a week to do those work tasks and recruit Mom to come round and watch Adeline for us while we work.
We write a schedule for me. With everything from meals, showering, light exercising and massages and anything else. I have homecare nurse coming to see me each week who specializes in high-risk pregnancies and those on bed rest to check my progress and report back to my doctor.
Then there’s Adeline we have to work around, her doctor’s appointments, meal and sleep schedules, arranged play dates and anything else that she could surprise us with.
Peeta organizes for a cleaner to come in once a week and we arrange for our groceries to be delivered.
It's a slow and tedious process working out the next few weeks but we get there. I was always known for my schedules and rosters while working and those organization skills have come in handy.
“I’m sorry I’m leaving this to you all to do.” I tell him as we switch off the lights to head to bed.
He smiles at me in the darkness and reaches across to touch my stomach.
“It’s fine. You have to keep Button inside of you for as long as you can.” He tells me, kissing my cheek.
“I’ll have time to organize Addie's birthday too."
“Can’t forget Addie.”
I shake my head. “I was thinking, maybe when the baby comes, you and Addie can go on a daddy-daughter date once a week. I don’t want her feeling left out and it gives you two time to bond and do fun things.”
“Ok.” He agrees. “But I think you should do the same with Addie. Even if it’s just an hour a week, the two of you get out of the house and do something together.”
I smile at him. I don’t understand how I was so lucky for him to end up in my life.
“I’ll raise that again and make sure the four of us do something together. I want our children having memories of both us in their lives, especially from early on. I just have all these memories from growing up with all my family and its what I always wanted when I finally had my family. Lot’s of memories, new experiences and moments we’ve all shared together.”
“I like the sounds of that.” He smiles but I sense the pain and regret hiding in his eyes. I reach out, touching his cheek and urging him to tell me. “I did everything I could with the kids but I was forced to work long hours, I was studying, running carpool and taking them to weekend sport. I didn’t have a lot of money or time to take them places or on vacations whilst I was running the bakery. Most of the time they were with their mother during the summer and I only got them for two weeks and I’d take them camping because that’s all I could manage and afford for a while.”
“Peeta, your kids love and adore you.” I remind him. “They’re all fond of their upbringing and everything you did for them. They always tell me how hard working you were, inspiring and wonderful. Kids don’t care about holidays or fancy gadgets, as long as they have a roof over their head, food, warmth, and love. That’s what they’ll remember. And that’s what your kids are grateful for.”
He kisses me softly and tenderly but we leave it at that.
I know he’s forever thankful for this second chance. This chance to spoil his children. The younger ones and the older ones.
But I’m grateful for the way he raised his three oldest children and set up a future for his 2 youngest children.
By the end of the first week of bed rest, I’m going crazy.
I'm cooped up in bed or on the couch. I can't do anything on my own. Little things I did I wish I could do. Especially picking up Adeline from her crib.
Peeta has picked up everything around the house from caring for me to Adeline, doing general household tasks and helping Camille with the business. He brought home the pays, inventory, accounts and everything else yesterday. He showed me the basics and I helped him out while Adeline slept.
Adeline has changed her schedule this week and has begun waking during the night for a feed. Peeta has been waking to her to bring her to me to feed or gives her a bottle before he changes her diaper, settles her and gets her back to bed. He’s brought in the portable cot so she’s close by. Peeta just thinks it’s been the slight shift in our schedule that has disrupted Adeline and the night feed has been a comfort thing.
Our family has begun pitching in where they can and it’s been a welcome relief. Even just them cooking us dinner or coming and sitting up and having a conversation with me have been thoughtful. I’ve enjoyed the company and the distraction from the bed rest, they’ve overseen baby purchases, Adeline’s birthday party planning, Madge has come to me with wedding and honeymoon stuff and also needing help with work-related stuff that has me stretching my brain but has been nice to do some old work.
I’m waiting on Peeta to come and help me have a shower. I’ve had breakfast, fed Adeline and changed and dressed her and entertaining her whilst Peeta tidies up downstairs and gets ready for the day. He’s taking Adeline to playgroup for me. I know the girls are excited to have Peeta coming along with a promise of baked goods.
“You going to be a good girl for, Daddy?” I ask Adeline.
She smiles at me, babbling in response to me. Her whole chin is covered in drool and I dab it with a cloth. I have a steady hold on her, not wanting her to go over the edge of the bed as she’s really found the groove of crawling. If there were a baby crawling championship, she’d be a front-runner for first place.
She’s though happy to sit with me and read and play with her few toys Peeta’s left with us.
Adeline crawls closer to me, climbing up my body and wrapping her arms around my neck and kisses my nose and mouth leaving drool all over my face. I smile at her, nuzzling her nose with mine.
“I love you baby girl.”
She smiles at me and I hold her tightly to my chest. I look at her smile and notice there’s a new tooth that has popped through. Not just one but two.
“When did you get those new toothy pegs?” I ask her. “You didn’t even make a fuss baby girl.”
Peeta comes upstairs to help me with my shower.
“Addie’s got two new teeth.” I tell him.
“What?” He asks picking up Adeline and opening her mouth for him to have a look in. “Well look at that, two new teeth.”
“She didn’t even make a fuss.” I tell him.
“No, she didn’t. Come on Miss Addie.”
He places her in the walker in the bathroom whilst he helps me have a shower and get ready.
He’s a good nurse and I’m really appreciative of his help. He brushes my hair for me and braids it for me. He’s gotten good at braiding in the last week. He helps me into my clothes and back into bed.
“Ok, everything ok?” He asks me. Adeline follows us out of the bathroom in her walker. Peeta picks her up and holds her on his lap.
“Yep.” I nod.
"I've put bottles of water in the fridge. There are snacks and food as well. You've got your phone?"
“Yep.” I tell him.
“There’s the breast pump and everything you’ll need. Call me for any reason.”
"Yep. Thanks. Have a great time at playgroup." I wink.
“I will.” He winks back.
“And no flirting.” I tease.
"Hey, it's not my fault their favorite treats are cheese buns.”
“And how many cheese buns are you supplying?”
“2 dozen.” He murmurs against my lips.
“Tease.” I chuckle and kiss him. “Bring me home some.”
“Don’t worry, I brought you up some already.” He points to my station.
“God I love you.” I tell him. “And if we weren’t on restricted bed rest, I’d be ripping your clothes off of you right about now.” I whisper in his ear, holding his shirt in a fist to keep him close.
He jerks a little. “Don’t, I’ve got to face the others and I can’t be thinking of… S-E-X.” He pronounces in front of Adeline. He doesn’t want one of our daughter’s first words to be sex. We’ve been careful in what we’ve been saying these last few months as she’s showing interest in our conversations, babbling and trying to form and trying to mimic us. She’s started babbling Ma and Da but we’re not prepared for the swear word or anything inappropriate.
Peeta always tells me Camille and Nolan’s first started saying ‘fuck’ when they were around 13 months old. Mama, Dada, and fuck. It caused for interesting looks when they were at the park or the mall and the kids were screaming fuck at the top of their lungs. Peeta was mortified as people looked at him ashamed. The kids didn't really know what it meant, they were just used to hearing swearing from their uncles and in the bakery.
“Have a fun time, Addie girl.” I kiss her goodbye. “Have fun with all your friends.”
She kisses me back and I kiss Peeta again.
“Call me if anything is wrong.” He tells me. “I should be home when the nurse gets here.” I nod looking at our big whiteboard schedule. “Any special requests for lunch?” He asks.
“Whatever you feel like, I’m not fussed.”
“Ok. I’ll see you later.” He tells me, kissing me again and then heading out with Adeline for the morning.
I settle in, reaching for one of the many books I’m reading and try to focus on that.
But I’m too restless. And I need to pee again.
I slowly swing my legs to the side of the bed and getting up slowly. I take my time getting to the bathroom and use the toilet before heading back to bed. I can’t stare at the page of my book for too long and reach for my iPad instead where I finish planning Adeline’s first birthday.
I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it but with the fact she’ll be a big sister shortly after and the attention divided, I wanted to do something fairly big and memorable. Not just for Adeline but for Peeta and I too.
We'd have it the weekend before she turned one, hopefully, the new baby won't be here or I'll be stuck in the hospital. If that happens, I know our family will step in and help make Adeline's day, even if it'll pain me to miss it. That's what photos, videos, and Facetime is for.
I decide on a Fall theme, ‘Adeline’s Pumpkin Patch’ and begin on the planning and ordering of decorations, Adeline’s party outfit and making up a menu for the day. I plan out the desserts and her cake that I hope Peeta will be able to make.
By the time Peeta gets back, I have a mock-up invite created, the menu planned and decorations ordered. Peeta might be able to create some of the bigger pieces or maybe Madge. She’s got an eye for art, just like her father.
“So, what do you think?” I ask him.
“I love it.” He tells me. “I should even be able to make a replica of that cake too.”
I kiss his cheek in appreciation. “Yes. Thank you.”
My home care nurse comes to visit. She's due to check my blood pressure, the baby and to see if I've dilated any further. She ensures the baby is doing fine and checks my cervix. She draws some blood.
“Everything looks good, Katniss.” She tells me. “It’s a bit scary when you go into premature labor.”
“Very.” I agree.
“Bed rest is a bit hard but it’s worth it if you get a few extra weeks.”
I nod. "I was fearful I'd be stuck in the NICU with a preemie and have my 10-month-old at home."
“You’d find a way to manage. Most parents do.”
She packs up her kit, happy with my progress and tells me she'll report back to Effie this afternoon and drop my blood work off. She tells me she'll see me in two weeks time for another follow-up.
Peeta serves up lunch and we have a picnic in bed. Adeline lazily eats and leans on me while Peeta fills me in on playgroup.
“There was a bit of tension between Glimmer and Clove.” He tells me.
I just roll my eyes. The two girls were quite stuck up, had the best of everything, had the ‘perfect children', judged everyone else secretly and brought their nanny's along to playgroup to watch their kids whilst they socialized with just each other. I don't know how we fell into this group with them but found it better to keep on their good side. Adeline got along well with their daughters who were just a little older than her. Their daughters wore designer clothes, had their own Instagram accounts, matched their mothers and weren’t allowed to play if we had our gathering outside at the park. The girls only ate certain things and the nanny's had to sanitize everything before they played.
I always just kept my mouth shut and whinged to Delly after playgroup via text. We couldn’t believe the two of them but knew we shouldn’t judge, especially as I was trying to be accepting of all mother’s and parenting styles but they just seemed to have the girls for image and not really to be parents.
“What do you think happened?”
"Don't know but Clove was without the Nanny and actually socialized with us all.”
“That’s intriguing.” I said and reach for my phone. Bed rest has sent me crazy and I’ve found myself stalking people on social media. I’ve never been like this, to care about people and their lives but missing out on the outside world, on the socializing has brought me to the very worst of stalking.
There’s a changed profile picture on Clove’s page. The one before was of the family of three. Now it’s just Clove and her daughter Avana. Her relationship status has been removed from her homepage and is hidden in her bio page with no status at all.
I’m involved in a conversation with Delly straight away, tossing up what has happened. She thinks an affair with the Nanny and Glimmer is involved somehow. Probably defending the Nanny.
Peeta just shakes his head laughing. “It’s like the Bold and The Beautiful.” He laughs.
“With them it is. More like Real Housewives.”
And in that instant, Delly, Annie, and my group chat notify me to a new message and it's Delly filling me in on the day and her own theory as to what has happened to Clove and Glimmer.
He kisses my shoulder and tidies up from lunch and comes back up for us to organize Adeline's birthday. I just want to have everything in line in case something happens. I want to have it laid out in the instance that we're in the hospital with the new baby and my mom or the others have to step in.
We have plan after plan written up almost like a manual. It’s a little tedious but it works for us.
“I hope for the sake of Addie, we’re here for her birthday.” I admit to him. Adeline is asleep in the portable cot.
“Me too.”
“We didn’t really think this through did we?” He says laughing.
“It’s alright, the best things are never planned.” I remind him. “I just have this feeling the two of them will share a birthday.”
“If it happens, it happens.” Peeta says. “We can’t really make you close your legs until the day after.”
“No.” I laugh. “We’re going to have two kids who’ll resent us in years to come.”
“If that’s the only thing they resent us for then we’re doing a good job.” He tells me, kissing the top of my head. “We’ve got this.”
“You should see how tense it is.” Annie tells me. She’s come over to visit after playgroup and to drop off invites for her 30th and baby shower. Both I will have to miss but she still wanted to make me feel included. Peeta missed today’s playgroup as he had a big meeting for the bakery today he couldn’t miss. Annie though took Adeline along with her, offering to watch her.
Adeline sits in my lap and I cuddle her, making up for the time away.
“Yeah, where they both there?” I ask her.
“Yep. Glimmer sat on one side of the room pouting and making sure Alba wasn’t mixing with the babies.” Annie tells me. “Clove actually joined us and stepped back letting Avana play with the kids and had a conversation with us all.”
“Really?”
“Yep.” Annie tells me, sipping her tea.
“How was Addie?”
“A dream.” Annie tells me with a smile. “She is so well behaved and just this sweet little thing.”
“She didn’t cause you any trouble?”
She shakes her head. “She was fine. She didn’t make a fuss, played with the babies and kids and I hardly heard a word from her.”
“Might be a sign for things to come.” I laugh. “You’re just deceiving us all aren’t you, Addie?”
Annie and I laugh at Adeline who sucks her fingers and smirks behind her hand.
I nurse Adeline and Annie heats up some lunch for us.
“Everything coming together for the baby shower?” I ask her. It would be a small affair for her but that was Annie, didn’t like big crowds or gatherings. The moms from playground where invited, as were some of Finnick’s colleagues she’s met and their family that was coming out for her 30th that evening.
“Yep. All planned and set. I wish you could come.”
“Me too.” I tell her. “2 more weeks and I’ll be bed rest free hopefully.”
“You and that baby are more important than anything in this world.” She tells me, touching my belly gently. “You’ve both gotta be strong and healthy.” She smiles. “Now, is there anything you need help with?”
I don’t have anything that needs doing and we watch a movie together. The friendship I’ve found with Annie is great. It’s easy and honest and the two of us can speak about anything or nothing and still feel comfortable with each other. I sense she feels it too and we can casually exchange texts and phone calls or go a week without talking.
Her and Finnick have been great these last couple of weeks. And I’m thankful for these new friends. Even Finnick has been a good support for Peeta. Peeta’s friends are far and few, a lot of them living interstate. But Finnick is almost like a friend he’s grown up with all his life.
“I really appreciate you watching Addie today.” I tell her.
"Anytime." She smiles.
"Maybe not when you've got your own little boy." I laugh. "But I appreciate the help now. I just hate feeling like a thorn when nothing is really wrong with me."
“You’re not a thorn. And there’s a good reason you’re resting. Just enjoy it. Rest those feet, enjoy the quiet, the relaxation and being waited on.”
“I’m just never someone who relies on anyone. I hate owing people things.”
"It's not about owing or about favors. It's about you and your little one. People like to rally together when people are sick and in help and they don't expect repayment. It's seeing the person they're helping healthy and happy which is the ultimate repayment." She tells me. "I'll be happy to see you and the baby healthy and all those favors we helped you with will be worth it."
Annie joins us for dinner after Finnick is pulled in for an emergency surgery. Nolan, Camille, and Prim all join us as well for dinner.
“I love the cake designs.” Annie tells Camille. “They’re so beautiful.”
“Thank you.” Camille smiles. “So Prim, any hot doctor you’ve been seeing?” Camille asks with a wink.
“No.” Prim says, avoiding eye contact with us all and pushing her food around the plate.
“Primrose Katherine Everdeen!” I say. “What is his name and do you have a picture of him?” I ask.
She blushes, going red and reaching for her phone, flashing the screen for us.
“What, you’re not even Facebook friends?” Camille asks as Prim shows us the doctor she’s been dating.
“We don’t want the others to know.” She tells us.
"Well, what does Nathaniel Matthews do?” I ask her with a smirk.
"He's a pediatric fellow."
“And what is he like?”
And I watch her lips turn upwards into a smile. One that I’ve seen her rarely give when she’s talking about a guy she’s dating.
“He is wonderful.”
“Yeah?” Camille says. “And Aunty Prim, how’s the sex?” She smirks.
“We haven’t had it.”
“Bull shit.” Nolan points at her. “Look how shy you’ve gone, Aunty Prim, it must be earth-shattering.”
They’ve resorted to calling her Aunty Prim, despite her being the same age as them, it’s a running joke but she doesn’t mind. She plays along in good humor.
“We haven’t gotten to home base just yet, just…”
“To third and by the look on your face it must be amazing.” I add. “And you can’t wait to get to home base.”
We’re all in a fit of laughter, even Adeline joins in on the laughter which has us laughing even more.
“You should bring him round for dinner.” I tell Prim.
“Um, ok.”
“Only if you want to.” Peeta tells her. “No pressure.”
“No, we want to meet him, see if he’s right for our Aunt.” Nolan tells his father. “Maybe after he meets the parents.”
"Ahh shit." Prim swears when she realizes she'll have to introduce them to Mom and Dad.
“Don’t worry, Prim. I sprung Mom and Dad with a baby and Peeta, I’m sure they’ll be fine.”
“And maybe you should bring him to Addie’s first birthday. They’ll be distracted with Addie and there’ll be plenty of people.” Annie suggests. “That’s if he likes kids.”
"He's a pediatrician, of course, he likes kids." Prim says.
“There’s a difference.” Nolan states. “Just because he likes kids doesn’t mean he doesn’t like them outside of work.”
“That doesn’t make sense.” Prim rolls her eyes and turns to her niece. “Addie, I hope they give you this much trouble when you start dating.”
“She’s not dating until she’s 28.” Peeta announces.
“Yeah because no one will ever be perfect for Miss Adeline Rose.” Camille states, kissing her sister’s cheek. “Except maybe Madden or Annie’s little boy.”
"I'd be honored for my son to marry Addie." Annie tells us.
Nolan tidies up and Peeta gets Adeline and me upstairs to get ready for bed after everyone leaves. He bathes Adeline and brings her to me for her bedtime massage and nurse. She’s sleepy as we read a book and nurses and goes down easily. Peeta helps me get showered and dressed.
“How do you feel your sister having a boyfriend?” He asks me, handing me my toothbrush.
“As long as he treats her right and she’s happy, I’m happy for her.” I tell him. “He’s attractive too which is a bonus and definitely Prim’s type.”
“What do you think your parents will say?” He asks.
“I think they’ll be happy for her.” I smile.
He helps me to bed and stretches and massages my legs for me.
“Nancy and Dave said they’re going to come up in two weeks.” I tell him.
“That’ll be nice.” He smiles.
“The kids have been asking to visit for a while. And with our plans to go and visit changed Nancy thought it’d be perfect to come down for a few days instead. Is that OK?”
"Yeah, that's perfectly fine."
“I should be off bed rest by then and it’ll be Halloween.” I tell him excitedly.
“Can’t wait for Halloween this year.” Peeta says with a smile. We’d decided on a family costume. Monster Inc. Adeline as Boo, Peeta as Scully and myself as Mike. Or more my belly as Mike’s head.
I had dreams each year to have the greatest costumes. I knew it’d be hard as the kids got older and wanted to do their own thing but I’d always push for family costumes. And looking at Peeta’s family photos of their Halloween costumes, I knew I’d want those memories to look back on.
He switches off the lamp and climbs under the covers beside me. He rubs my belly, feeling where the baby is moving.
“That was a big one.” He laughs quietly. “Might have to start seeking professional soccer clubs with a kick like that.”
“Or early enrolment into karate.” I laugh. “Maybe Button is just saying, I’m running out of room.”
“Probably is but you can’t make your exit for at least four more weeks Button. You stay inside of Mommy for the next month where it’s nice and warm then you can make your departure for this big world. It might seem like you’re missing out but the longer you stay inside, the quicker you’ll be able to embrace this new world. The logic probably doesn’t make sense but just trust me on this Button.”
I smile at him and he looks up at me and kisses me quickly before we both place our hands on my stomach.
“I can’t believe we’ll be parents of two soon.” I say to him.
“I can’t wait.”