Chapter Text
I trace the tiny baby hands, the tiny little fingers that are locked around my thumb tightly. All this new baby knew was that I was her whole world. Everything I could ever need came from this warmth I provided. The cocoon of warmth that I carried her in safely for 9 months will continue to carry her for the rest of her life. My arms will be there to comfort her, my kisses to send her to sleep, my voice to calm her and my fingers to brush away the tears.
I kiss the top of Amelia’s head softly and delicately. Bringing the baby close to my chest and cuddle her tightly as the baby nurses. It’s early morning, the world just waking up outside and the song of the birds starting from outside the hospital window.
With any luck, we’ll be heading home today, ready for our new life as a little family.
I am a mother of two. Two beautiful little girls. It’d been hard to wrap my head around this thought especially as I’ve just gotten used to being a mother of one.
Peeta had spent the night at home with Adeline last night. We decided from early on, especially when we were planning our hospital stay on what we’d do when it came to Adeline and if she’d spend the few nights with Mom. If she’d go between Mom and Madge. Or if Peeta would spend the nights home with her.
We were going to play it by year as we got closer and had two plans. If I had a healthy and natural birth, Peeta would spend the first night with us in the hospital, and the next night he'd head on home, meeting Mom for bath and bedtime and Mom would spend the night with Peeta returning to the hospital. On our last night, Peeta would go home earlier in the afternoon with Adeline after a visit, and he’d stay at her home with her doing the usual routine in hopes of getting her settled and in the morning bring her in for our return home.
It was a little scary being at the hospital together alone last night, but I did it with Adeline the previous year, and I knew I could do it this time around. Amelia slept in her crib beside me the entire time, and we actually had a sound sleep. A little restless on my behalf but it was bliss to have a night just together and to try and recharge the batteries ready to tackle my life as a mother of two babies.
Amelia finishes nursing, and I position her over my shoulder, rubbing and patting her back softly and cooing to her softly, encouraging her to bring up any wind or milk.
My milk hadn't come in just yet, but Amelia was enjoying the colostrum fondly. She was nursing quite frequently during the day, which I was thankful for, especially as Adeline hadn't nursed much these last few days. Adeline would turn her nose up as soon as she nursed but once my milk did come in, I knew she'd return to her regular feeding schedule, and I was accepting the fact that I'd be mother cow for quite a few months.
“We’re going home today sweet girl.” I whisper to her. “We can’t wait until we bring you home.”
She nuzzles towards my neck, and I embrace her, leaning my head on top of hers, just savouring this moment, as I know, we’ll be stepping into the big world.
I was just happy I had Peeta beside me.
I flick through social media quickly, we hadn't yet posted a photo of our new addition but people knew we'd had her and there were a few posts on our pages congratulating us. Camille had decorated the bakery pink after her arrival, but that was all. She was making it very royal babyish and would wait until we announced it before she put up a card and photo of Amelia.
Peeta had told me they’d have the Amelia special of half a dozen cheese buns and a coffee or hot chocolate for a week. They were also naming a treat in honour of her, just like Adeline. They’d be some fruity or chocolate concoction. It wasn’t even Peeta’s idea; it was the kid’s idea that they ran with, following in their father’s tradition that did the same when the three older ones were little.
The midwife arrives shortly after breakfast is delivered to do some final post up checks on me. The paediatrician comes soon after and takes Amelia for some final weigh-ins, measurements and little exams.
“We’re expecting an influx of patients.” The midwife tells me with a chuckle. “We need your bed.”
“I’m happy to go home.” I laugh. “Valentine’s day must have gone off this year.”
The midwife is in hysterics as she notes things down in my chart. I mean, I can laugh because this was Adeline. She was a Valentine’s Day conception.
Amelia passes with flying colours, and the paediatrician deems her fit to head on home. The midwife is happy with me as well, checking my stitches as well and tells me she'll get the discharge forms ready.
“Doctor Trinket will stop by after rounds to visit you two. I’d call your husband and tell him the good news.”
“Thanks.”
I text Peeta to let him know I’m ready to head on home and he tells me he’ll be there when visiting hours start.
Amelia sleeps in her crib, and I try to make a move of getting our stuff together, but every time I try to bend over I'm left in tears. The afterbirth contractions are way worse this time, and I feel like a million needles are stabbing me from every inch of my stomach. My belly is so tender and sore as well, I give up and sit down carefully on the bed and wait for Peeta.
I leave Amelia to sleep a little while longer and wait for Peeta and Adeline, and I try to enjoy the peace and quiet. Which is a bit hard getting used to.
There's a knock on my door, and I see Prim poke her head in the door. My saviour.
“Morning.” She smiles at me.
“Hey.”
“You’re heading home?” I nod with a wide smile on my face. “As a mom of two.”
“Stop saying that.” I laugh, trying to hide the internal dread and fear.
Prim hadn't really stopped by since the birth. Her schedule hadn't lined up, and when she was off work, I was sound asleep. She didn’t want to disturb me and told me she’d drop in whenever it worked. We’d texted and such, but it wasn't the same as her actually being here.
“Wanna meet your niece?” I ask her seeing how anxious she is to hold her.
She nods her head, handing me a paper bag filled with warm banana bread and a tea.
She carefully lifts her niece from the bassinet and settles her gently in her arms, patting her back for a few seconds and swaying from side to side. "You are so beautiful, Miss Amelia. Welcome to the world." She coos quietly, tapping Amelia’s little button nose. “I’m so glad your mother and father had unprotected sex again and conceived you only months after your big sister.”
“Hey, she already knows and will know for the rest of her life she was conceived three months after her sister was born.” I laugh, stuffing a piece of banana bread into my mouth. “And Addie gets to say she’s a Valentine’s Day conception. I have two very lucky girls.”
Prim chuckles and continues to sway slightly.
“You can change her diaper if you want.” I tell her. “If you’ve got time?”
“I’ve got half an hour before surgery, so I should be right here for a little while longer.” She tells me. “I can help you get ready if you want.”
“Thanks, I appreciate it. I am so sore and useless.” I laugh.
“You delivered a baby two days ago. You’re not useless you’re recovering from something that is severe trauma to a body, just remember that.”
I nod and watch her lower Amelia down into the bassinet still asleep. She pulls out my clothes and toiletries and helps me get changed in the bathroom. She brushes out my three-day-old braid, carefully tending to the few knots and then braids two braids down my back. She puts my Ugg boots back on my feet and packs my suitcase after I finish using my toiletries. Amelia is fussing about, still sleeping but I know she'll wake soon for a feed.
Prim lays out Amelia's going home onesie and knitted jacket Nana made for her and a diaper as well. She has our bags packed and ready by the door and my handbag packed and ready. There are a few things to add when we leave but other than that, we’re ready to head home.
“Wonder if Peeta will remember to bring the car seat in?” She laughs as she slips Amelia’s tiny limbs out of her onesie.
“He’s pretty on the ball with that stuff.” I smile. “All he has to do is pull it out when he takes Addie out.”
“Or he might forget and be in a hurry to see his girls.”
“As long as it’s in that car, I don’t care.” I laugh. “Or he’ll be doing a very embarrassing drive home to fetch it.”
My phone sounds with a message, Peeta telling me they’ve arrived and are just heading up now.
“Time will tell.” I show Prim who chuckles and removes the dirty diaper and puts a new one on after cleaning Amelia.
She gets Amelia into my arms and bins the diaper before zipping up my suitcase.
I can hear Peeta’s voice as he walks down the hallway, saying good morning to the nurses and midwives.
I feel the smile stretch on my face before they appear.
And he even remembered the car seat. He presses his finger to his lips motioning to Adeline sound asleep in the toddler seat of the stroller.
“She tired?” I ask him softly as he presses a kiss to my lips and parks the stroller against the wall.
“She’s been awake since 4:30.” He tells me.
“Was she a little restless?”
“She slept right through, just woke early.”
I nod, mentally trying to figure out a reason why she’d be awake early.
“Don’t fret, Katniss.” Prim tells me. “She’s just a little unsettled and could be going through a growth spurt or something.”
Peeta takes Amelia from my arms to snuggle her.
"Oh, my sweet girl." He coos, kissing her between her brows. "Are you ready to come home? We're ready for you."
Prim heads off on her way to surgery and promises she'll see us once we're settled in.
“I’ve just got to wait for Dr Trinket.” I tell Peeta.
He smiles, rocks his newborn daughter gently and savours the moment with his baby girl.
Dr Trinket arrives with a sad look on her face. “I can’t believe we’re saying goodbye already.”
She pulls out her tablet, checking my stats and charts. She takes Amelia to do a once over and to steal one last cuddle.
“She’s feeding well?” She asks.
“Yes.”
“She has bowel and kidney function?”
“Yes.” I laugh. “She’s got the hang of them.”
“And that just leaves how your mommy is feeling?”
“Ready. Sore but ready.”
"Your body will be a little tender, especially how close it’s been between deliveries. Just use Peeta as much as you can. Don’t overexert yourself and listen to your body.” She smiles. “You’re probably at a good stage with Addie as she is still young and not as mobile on her feet. So that should give you a few weeks to just relax and get used to being a Mom of 2.”
I nod, looking down at Adeline. I hope she’ll adapt to her new sister.
“If you have any concerns you have my number and for your midwife.” She smiles. “Is your at home check up booked in?”
“I’ll be visited on Monday.”
“And I want to see you when she’s two weeks old.” She reminds me.
“I know. I’ve booked in already.”
"Well, I guess its time to say goodbye then and let you four head off."
She rocks Amelia for a little while longer before she lays her in the car seat that’s already locked into the stroller and straps her in, tucking a blanket over her body and tickling her fist.
“See you soon little one.” Effie coos. “You have the wide world to go out and explore.”
I thank Effie with a hug, and so does Peeta. She says goodbye to us, signing off our discharge papers and giving us permission to leave.
“Ready to go home?” He asks.
I nod, feeling that feeling of braveness and readiness fill my body.
“Yes. I’m ready.”
He wheels the suitcase and carries the baby bag while I push the stroller down towards the elevator with my two sleeping babes.
“So Nolan is cooking us dinner tonight.” Peeta tells me.
“What a good boy.” I smile. “He’ll make a good husband one day.”
“When he grows up.”
“He will. He’s still only young.” I remind him.
Peeta places the bags into the back of the SUV, and I get Amelia locked into the base of her car seat and leave Adeline for Peeta to get out of the stroller. She barely makes a move as he sits her in her car seat and lets me strap her in as he collapses the stroller and gets that into the back. He helps me into the car, and we look at each other and then into the back seat where we now have two little girls strapped into their car seats.
Our daughters.
He reaches out for my hand and squeezes it with a proud smile.
“Let’s head on home.”
We listen to the soft music on the drive home and just enjoy the quiet before we return home for the next chapter of our lives.
We make a move to get our daughters out and into the house when we arrive. It's chilly today, and I don't want to expose the two of them to the cold for too long.
The house is warm, and I'm so thankful to be home. I set the car seat down gently in the living room, and Peeta carries Adeline inside. She's woken up and just wants to be in Peeta's arms.
"I thought the house would have been filled with our family." I tell him with a slight laugh.
“They’re obviously not interested.” He chuckles. “But that’s alright. Time together is all I want right now.”
I get Amelia out of her car seat and sit on the couch with her in my arms. The Moses basket is right beside me if I want to lay her down but for now, I just want to snuggle the little being in my arms.
Adeline moves closer to me, and I wrap my arm around her body, pulling her closer to my body and just holding my two girls in my arms.
"Hi, big sister." I coo to her and kiss the top of her head.
“Mama.”
"I know. I missed you too, but I'm home now forever."
She sighs, and I know she's content with having me back home.
I startle awake to the sound of something being dropped. There's no breakage, so I know it's not glass or a mug. I can hear the cussing of Peeta, and I know he's made a mess.
Amelia is in the Moses basket asleep and Adeline asleep in her crib. She's been down for close to an hour.
I sit up slowly before standing and following the sound towards the hallway.
I rub my eyes and see Peeta kneeling down, trying to salvage as much of the paint he’s dropped on the ground.
“Need some help?”
He looks up at me. “Did I wake you?”
"Yeah but it's fine." I reassure him. "Paper towel?"
“Yes please.”
I go into the kitchen grabbing the roll of paper towel and find an old rag in the laundry along with a bag to dispose of the cleaned up paint.
“I’ve got it.” He tells me with a smile. “Don’t want you bending down.”
I keep him company and watch him clean up. He's thankful it wasn't a tin, just the paint he had poured out into a container. I knew Nolan and him had been busy with the playroom, and it was a surprise for me.
"I was just doing the final touch-ups."
“So it’s ready?”
“Almost.” He smiles. “All will be revealed tonight.”
"It's going to be perfect."
"I know it is but I just have to wait for Nolan to help with final touches."
“Ok.” I say taking the rubbish bag from him. “How’d you manage to get it done so quickly?”
"Nolan did most of it. He started as soon as we left when you were in labor and hasn't stopped. I helped him with the cut-ins and everything else yesterday. Your parents also dropped by to help. Your dad and Nole did the fittings and shelves. I painted. Your Mom decorated and sorted the toys and books. So I had some help."
“What were you painting?”
"The feature wall." He smiles sheepishly. "I know you had plans for something simple, but my brain got a little carried away."
I kiss him, wrapping my arms around his neck and embracing him. “God, I love you.”
I resist the urge to peak, not wanting to spoil the surprise and step away from the once storage room that I know has been revamped.
Nolan arrives shortly after with his arms filled with bits and pieces and he greets me quickly before hiding himself in the playroom.
"Hi. Bye." He greets me. He's a man on a mission, and I know not to disturb him.
My phone sounds with a text from Madge asking how I’m going and if I’m home.
K – Hey, yeah I’m doing good. Home now so settling in slowly.
M – I’m glad you’re home. How are my two girls going? Did you need anything?
K – girls both asleep! Yay! I think I'm right. You can come round if you want. Nolan's cooking dinner so I'm sure he won't mind making extras.
M – Ok, I'll swing by. Just leaving work now. I'll let Gale know we have a change of dinner plans. I actually needed some help with wedding stuff too if you're interested. I'll be there soon. I'll text Camille as well.
K – See you soon.
I pocket my phone and go and get Adeline who has woken from her nap to hopefully spend a bit of time with her before Amelia needs me.
I change her diaper and take her downstairs to spend some time together. She just wants to read books, so we cuddle up in the armchair together and flick through the same pages of the same book together, but I don't mind.
"I know these next few weeks are going to be confusing and scary my girl but remember we love you so much. My attention will be split especially with your baby sister, but I love you immensely and will do my best."
She smiles at me and kisses me and hugs me and I know everything will be fine, and she'll hopefully understand and not resent Amelia or me.
Madge arrives shortly after with her wedding folder and a bag of groceries in her other arm.
“I brought snacks.” She tells me motioning to the bag. “And wine for me because it’s Friday.”
Adeline gets up to greet her sister, taking unsteady steps before she gives up and crawls towards her. Mom said she wasn't too interested in walking since she started, she would take a couple of steps before she'd opt to crawl which was totally fine by me. Especially these first few weeks as I was healing.
Madge appears with Adeline on her hip, a glass of wine and a tray of cheese and crackers.
"I know I should be working on my wedding bod, but cheese is life." She laughs as she offers me the tray.
I take a cracker and a piece of cheese and watch as she sits down on the couch with Adeline on her lap and checking on her youngest sister.
“She’s going to be a dream.” Madge comments. “Aren’t you Miss Millie.”
“It’s not Millie, it’s going to be Amy.” Nolan comments as he enters the living room with his father.
“She’s 4 days old.” Peeta reminds them both. “She doesn’t even know her own name.”
"But Addie already had the nickname by this time." Nolan reminds us. "Addie and Amy flow better than Addie and Millie."
"Well, I'm going to call her Millie."
“And I’m going to call her Amy.” Nolan stubbornly tells his sister.
“Our poor girl is going to be so confused.” Peeta laughs as he sits with me on the armchair.
I rest my chin on his shoulder and watch the four out of five of the kids. The two older ones arguing over something so petty like a nickname. Adeline happily drinks her water and watches her bother, and sister goes backwards and forwards in playful banter. Amelia is soon awake, and Nolan jumps and takes her to hold, and the banter stops as Madge sits closer and they just talk to their baby sister.
“It could be so much worse.” I whisper.
"It could be. They could choose to not be in the girls' lives. Or arguing about us being together. Instead, it's what nickname they will give the girls and who gets to hold the baby."
“I prefer that.”
“Me too.”
Gale and Camille arrive shortly after, Gale with a case of beers and Camille with a cake from the bakery.
Amelia is passed around the four of them. Adeline goes from lap to lap. Camille is left to change Amelia's diaper. Nolan goes and prepares dinner. Gale and Peeta go to finish the playroom. Madge and I go through the latest wedding plans while I nurse Amelia.
“So I’m going to send the invites out in two weeks. I’m picking them up from the printer on Wednesday.”
“Do you need help to stuff and send?” I ask her. “I mean, I’ve got a lot of free time now.”
“Only if you’re up to it.” She smiles. “If not, I’ll do it next weekend.”
"No drop them off, and I can get a head start on them."
Madge writes down a note for herself. Camille takes over on finalising with the caterers, the band and the venue. Madge this week has confirmed hair and makeup. Peeta is designing the cake for them.
"I have a final fitting next weekend as well for my dress too." She says looking at her schedule. "And your bridesmaid dresses have come in as well. I just have to pay the rest off, and they'll be ready to pick up. The boys are going to try their suits on this weekend, and they should all be sorted.”
“You seem to have it sorted.”
“Mostly.” She replies and I can see the stress she’s trying to push to the side.
“Everything will be fine and the day will go off without a hitch.” Camille tells her sister. “Now, I need to get a cutesy photo of miss Amy.” She states picking up her camera bag and pulling out her Polaroid camera.
For Amelia's announcement, I wanted something simple, and that was us. Something candid, no following of the trends and just something we'd cherish forever.
So we decided on a Polaroid shot, something old school and a little retro.
The girls help me swaddle Amelia, and we lay her out on a rug. She’s happy, content and a belly filled with milk.
Camille snaps a few shots of her before Adeline joins in, laying down beside her sister and hugging her. Madge ensures she gets some photos on her phone and I take some on the camera of the girls.
Camille gets a few good Polaroids, and we watch the girls. Amelia is happy being annoyed by her sister and I sit beside them both watching them and smiling down at Adeline as she looks up at me.
“I love you, Addie girl.”
Camille and Madge sit with me on the floor as we watch Amelia sleep and Adeline plays with her toys and books and have girl talk. Camille telling us about her latest failures in dating. Madge about her own life and how she’s down to her last week of birth control and how they’re going to try right away. Myself and plans for one more baby. They ask me about my labor and postnatal feelings. And everything else that girls don’t mind talking and knowing.
Nolan calls us to dinner, and we sit around the dining room table. Adeline in her high chair, Amelia in the Moses basket and the rest of the kids seated at the table and we dig into the chicken pasta. Adeline is happily feeding herself and making a mess and then eating from Nolan's plate.
Dessert is served not long after. Amelia wakes and roots for a feed, and I hold her in my arms. Peeta's chair is close to mine, and Adeline sits on his lap eating her little cake Camille brought home especially for her. Peeta is kissing the top of Adeline's head with his arm wrapped around my shoulders. It's a perfect candid moment that we don't realise Madge captures until she sends the photo to me that night. We decided that'll be the first photo we put up and Camille will put up a copy of the Polaroid of just Amelia for the bakery with the placard and birth details.
After dinner, Peeta takes us all to show us the playroom having finished it just before dinner. He guides me in, with Adeline on his hip and prompts me to close my eyes.
“Open them.”
I open them, and I'm blown away.
“Peeta, this is amazing.”
“Thought you’d like it.” He smiles. “What do you think, Addie?”
He sets her down and lets her wander around her playroom.
On one wall is a scene of a meadow. A dreamy and soft place you'd happily rest your head. The scene from the lullaby we sing to Adeline, and now we'll sing to Amelia. There's a wall of cupboards and shelves filled with toys and books. A reading nook with a daybed that can double as a bed. A table and chairs for arts and crafts. There’s a mini slide that we can set up into the ball pit she received for her birthday. Everything that was bought and made for Adeline has a place and fits in perfectly. There’s even a place for Amelia. Peeta has fitted the room out with a monitor so they can be watched from everywhere in the house and a baby gate will be fitted across the doorway so they can be secluded to one part of the house.
“It’s perfect.”
“The least I could do considering you’ve given me two beautiful girls.”
Dragging Adeline out for her bath ends in a total meltdown and the kids leaving quite quickly.
“We’ll let you guys handle that.” Camille announces. “Call if you need anything.”
Peeta shakes his head, saying goodbye to Camilla, Madge and Gale as he carries Adeline upstairs. I follow behind with Amelia, knowing I won’t be far behind in heading to bed. Nolan has gone straight to cleaning up from dinner.
Peeta runs the bath, and we let Adeline go with her little tantrum. We know she'll be out of sorts for a few weeks and just need to ride with the storm for the time being.
"You can play in there tomorrow. It's bedtime, my sweet angel." I tell her, undressing her as Peeta fills her bath with her toys and squirts some bath wash into the tub for her.
She hiccups, mumbles and calms down. Her tantrum is long forgotten when she spies the measuring cups and spoons she loves playing with as she bathes. Peeta jokes she's a baker in the making all the time.
She's happy sitting in the bath and playing. I feel like I need a shower and head to bed myself. I haven't washed my hair in 5 days, and I want to wash the hospital off of my body.
"I might get in the shower while she's happy and the baby is sleeping."
"I've got it under control." He assures me, and I go and grab some clean nursing friendly pyjamas and jump under the warm water, washing my hair and spending some time just soaking and letting the water wash over my body.
I try not to look down at my postpartum belly too much. I should be proud that I housed two healthy girls inside of my own body and gave them life but the hormones are wild tonight, and I don't want to be a blubbering, uncontrollable mess.
I rinse my hair as quickly as I can and climb out of the shower. Peeta has taken Adeline out of the bath and is getting her ready for bed.
I quickly dry off, moisturise my face and body and dress into my clothes. I braid my wet hair down my back and go and join my family. Amelia is still sound asleep. Adeline is in her pyjamas and ready for her bedtime story and feed.
We sit down in the nursery, Adeline on my lap and she nurses as I read to her. She bulks a little at the taste, but she sticks with it because she’s obviously missed me. Missed this moment of bonding and time spent together in the past few days.
I wonder if we'll be in for a long, disruptive night with either of the girls but I don't mind. They're only little for so long, and there's only a small chance when they're small enough to still fit in your laps, for your arms to be able to wrap around their whole bodies and their little heads pressed to your chest to comfort them. There's only a small amount of time before they're too cool for cuddles and kisses. And it won't be long before they're preteens and slamming their bedroom doors and yelling that they hate us.
And when those moments happen, I can reflect on these moments when they just wanted nobody but me. When they were happy just being in my arms. When I was their whole world.
She's asleep quite quickly, but I rock us for a while longer. Long into the night. I hold her until her sister starts stirring and I know this will be my life now split between two little humans. Something's will have to change, but for now, I'll be their beck and call until they're settled.
I lay her gently in her crib. Tiptoe out of the nursery, closing the door behind me before going to my newest love.
She's in her daddy's arms already, and he changes her and we settle into bed together. Peeta has showered quickly and has brought up a big jug of water for me. I'm not sure how the night time feedings will go, but I'd much rather be prepared. We've got a caddy filled with diapers, wipes, onesies and singlets. We have everything we might need for this first evening.
We sit in silence in the semi-dark room. Amelia is happy in her father's arms, and I lean my head against his shoulder scrolling through my social media.
Madge sends through a whole heap of photos she took tonight, and we go through them.
The last one she sends with a message.
M – this is your announcement photo right here.
It’s of the four of us from dinner, and I know it's the right one to share to let the world know that we are now a family of four. Well, now seven including the older three.
I upload the photo of us with just a simple caption Amelia Ivy you’ve made my heart beam even more. I lock my phone and just focus on this little one in front of us.
“Hard to believe she was still inside of me this time last week.” I whisper, tickling her little hand.
"She's 4 days earth side already. How does that happen?"
"Time is going so fast, and we'll notice it now with a newborn and a toddler growing right under our noses."
Amelia is a content baby, and I know she'll fit in well with our family.
“Do you still love me?” I ask Peeta.
“I love you even more.” He tells me, placing a kiss to my head. "The moment Amelia was laid on your chest, I fell even more in love with you." I smile. "I thought I'd struggle to find more room in my heart for a new baby, but man was I wrong. I found a whole heap of room to squeeze her in and a whole lot more love for everyone else in my family." He smiles. "I'm lucky to say five beautiful humans take room up in my heart. They make up my heart."
“Is there still room for one more?”
“I’d make room for another twenty if I was called too.” He admits.
Amelia is placed into my arms soon after when she's rooting for a feed, and I get her feeding.
His phone sounds with a message and I see him frown for a quick second.
“What’s wrong?”
"Oh, nothing just a little odd to get a message from Cashmere. She’s said congratulations on the birth of Amelia. Hopes we’re doing well.”
“That’s nice of her I guess.”
“I can’t believe she can message me but my own mother can’t.”
"I hate to say this Peeta, but she's trying to get a rise out of you. She likes the drama and attention. Just ignore her, and she'll soon stop her silly games."
"Like I've said. I'm not going out of my way to have the girls in her life now." He reminds me. "If she asks, I'll take them around to her place for a visit, but she's not allowed here no more."
I allow him that because I don't want negativity in the girls' lives. For them to feel like they weren't made with love. Or that Peeta and I are together just for the sake of it. It’s not true. We want them growing up feeling loved and supported by everyone that chooses to be in their lives.
“Well be fine.”
“I know we will be.” He smiles, gripping my hand tightly with his own.
I burp Amelia and settle her before she goes down in her bassinet. Peeta switches the lights off, rolls to wrap his arms around my body and holds me tightly to his own body.
I find sleep comes easy and the feel of his arms around me sends me into a comfortable sleep.
It's a quiet night. Adeline sleeps right through. Amelia only wakes once for a feed and a diaper change. Peeta changes her diaper for me, and I nurse her before putting her back down.
Adeline wakes quite early in the morning, just after 5, earlier than her usual time but we can't complain as she's slept through.
Peeta mumbles that he’ll get her. She’s not fussing too much, just talking to herself so I know we have a few minutes.
He cuddles into me, holding me and I snuggle into him.
“We survived our first night.”
“We did." He smiles against my shoulder and wraps his arm under my breasts, and the slight brushing of his arm causes me to wince in pain. "What's wrong?"
“Engorgement.” I tell him.
“Your milk has come?”
“I think so. I forgot how painful this was with Addie.”
“And because your nursing two, is it worse?”
“I think so.” I tell him rolling over onto my back to study my chest. “Jesus they’ve ballooned.” I say aloud, touching the tops of my breasts. “I might be able to feed all the babies in the neighbourhood.” I joke and wince a little more. “I wasn’t this huge when I had Addie.”
“What do you need?”
“To nurse. I’m hoping Addie will nurse and Amelia should wake soon to relieve some of the pressure.”
“I’ll go and get her for you.”
I smile at him and take off my sleep top and bra and get myself comfortable and ready. If this is how I spend my next few days topless and lazing in bed, that’s fine by me.
Peeta carries Adeline in, and she's quiet and comes and crawls towards me. She sits across my lap, and I cuddle her and get her nursing quickly. She doesn't bulk and just moves in closer to my body, and I know she's happy.
“I’m going to have to do a grocery shop today.” Peeta tells me. “I can go early, take Addie with me and give you time to yourself and bubs.”
“If you want too. We’ll see how Addie carries on.”
He nods, kisses my cheek and gets up. “Would you like a tea?”
“Yes please.”
“Breakfast?”
“I’ll have something a little later.”
“I’ll be back.”
Adeline helps with relieving the pain, and I know if I spend the day with both girls feeding everything will hopefully settle down in a few days.
Peeta comes back with my tea and brings Amelia to me as she’s woken and I put her to feeding right away.
“How are you feeling?”
“Better now.”
I drink my tea. Amelia nurses. Adeline wiggles and moves around the bed and over her father. Peeta works on the budgeting for the wedding.
It's what I imagined our family mornings would consist of once the new baby was here. And how I envision our weekends will be when the girls grow older.
“I think Mom and Dad are going to drop in today.” I tell Peeta. “I asked Mom to bring Nan and Nana around too.”
“That’ll be nice for them to see the girls.”
"I was going to go there, but Mom and Dad were happy to bring them."
“What time?”
"I think around lunch time. Mom and Dad are supplying lunch for us."
“Your family, don’t know what we’d do without them.”
“Yours has been great too. I mean the kids are amazing and have been going above and beyond for us.” I tell him. “I’ve been blessed definitely.”
Peeta leaves with Adeline to go and do a quick grocery shop. Amelia is sound asleep, and I've gone for a snooze myself.
I wake when he gets home with a crying Adeline, and I take her from Peeta so he can bring the groceries inside.
“What’s wrong?” I ask him.
“She didn’t want to get out of the car.” He laughs shaking his head.
“Oh Miss Addie.” I snuggle her and kiss her cheek. “You’re home though. We can go and play in your toy room. How about we open up some of your birthday presents and play with them?”
She doesn't answer, but I carry her into the toy room. I set her down, and she happily walks and crawls around the room.
“Your dad is going to come and do the baby gate.” Peeta tells me as he enters the toy room with the Moses basket.
Adeline has occupied herself with pulling books off the shelf while Peeta and I open her gifts and set them up. Nolan appears, half asleep and goes and plays with his sister, building blocks and reading books.
We fill the spare shelves with the new toys and I know I’m going to spend a whole day labelling each of the crates with what is inside of them.
There’s a knock on the door and Peeta goes to see whom it is. It’s a little too early for Mom and Dad.
Amelia has woken, and I pick her up and settle her in my arms and listen for the voices.
“What are you doing here? I said you weren’t to visit.” I hear Peeta say.
Nolan looks up at me and frowns knowing who exactly it is. The three older kids were respecting our wishes of not allowing Janice into the home.
“I hear I have a new granddaughter that I’d like to visit.”
"I told you that I would bring her around when she's had her 6-week needles since you aren't going to respect our wishes." He tells her. "And you're not welcome here anymore."
“What?”
"Mom, I'm sorry, but you're not allowed here without an invitation. I don't want you in this home when you do nothing but insult Katniss and my children."
“Has she set you up to this?”
“No Mom. I made this decision on my very own when you couldn’t reply to a text message informing you of the new arrival. When you couldn’t be bothered getting a vaccination. I made this decision from the first time you called my two babies midlife crisis. When you insulted Katniss for the thousandth time. I don't want any more of this toxic behaviour in my home. If you'd like to see your granddaughter's, I won't stop you, but it won't be here. It will be either at your house or another place we agree on. You won't see the baby until she's had her 6-week needle, but I can happily bring Addie to visit."
“Peeta, I knew that woman was trouble. She’s made you turn your back on your family?”
“On my family? Are you kidding me?” He laughs. “You are unbelievable.”
I watch Nolan stand up and walk slowly down the hallway to help his father.
“It’s true. You’re older children feel like they’ve been replaced. You show nothing but attention to that thing in there, and the babies who you think are yours. I'd be getting a paternity test because women like her are only in it for money. Why else would someone want to start a family with someone 20 years older.”
“She’s 16 years younger than me, not that that matters. And I trust Katniss. She’s not like those women you’ve made her out to be. I love her Mom, and she's the rest of my life. Madge, Camille, Nolan, Addie and Amelia are the rest of my life as well."
“Gran, we do not feel replaced.”
“Not what you told me.”
"Just go home. You're making yourself seem even more horrible and wretched." Nolan claims. "We all love Katniss, and if we didn't, we would have told Dad by now. She's a part of this family now whether you like it or not. Addie and Amy are too. I'm not turning my back on the three of them and not letting you cause a wedge." He says. "I think you should go home before you make it worse for yourself and Dad decides to never let you see the girls."
I can see them just at the front door, and I can see the frown and the stamping of her foot like she's a toddler in the middle of a tantrum. I inhale a deep breath and bite the small smile that’s forming on my lips.
“She’s brainwashed you too.” Janice remarks. “I’ll be in contact with you Peeta. Nolan, I expected better from you. I hope your sisters aren’t the same.”
"I think you'll get the same response from them." Nolan tells her, and I know he's holding back a smirk. "I can ring them if you like and ask."
“You’re immature Nolan. I’d expect you to have grown up by now. Your father has babied you too much.”
“Can’t help it, Gran.” He shrugs his shoulders. “I’ll call in next week for our visit.”
She huffs, rolls her eyes and turns on her heel, not before giving her son and grandson a deathly glance. Father and son stand with their arms crossed over their chests, and from the back, it's hard to tell who is who.
Janice would hate her grandson backing his father.
And I'll obviously be the topic of conversation when she has lunch with her snooty friends on Monday. Janice will even try to get Grant and Tim on her side, but I know whom they'll side with.
I hate coming between Peeta and his mother, but he's right, at the end of the day he gets to choose who he wants to be with, and it's me. He decided a long time ago to have as little as he could with his mother, and he's made his peace with that, keeping her at an arm's length, and he's reinforcing that again.
And she's only showing a slight interest because of the babies. Despite her despising them, she still wants something to do with them and a reason to boast. Adeline will be forgotten, and it will all be about Amelia now. She's done that with all the grandkids, only showing interest to the baby before the next one is born.
But I didn't care, my girls had two grandparents and were lucky enough to have a great and great-great-grandmother who loved them endlessly.
Nolan embraces his father, saying something cheeky that gets a chuckle out of his father before Peeta ruffles his hair and they leave the front door to come back to us.
I embrace Peeta. Kissing him deeply and murmuring a thank you. I even kiss Nolan’s cheek and thank him too.
It's soon forgotten, and we focus on my family visiting. Dad carries in two bags filled with meals Mom and Nan have prepared for us.
“Hope you’ve got room in the freezer.” Dad claims as he holds up the bags. Peeta takes him to the garage to put most of the meals in the chest freezer.
Mom helps Nana inside, and Nan carries another bag filled with what I suspect are gifts.
I greet them all, and we settle Nana in a chair in the living room. It's a simple lunch of just salad wraps. Peeta produces a selection of treats he picked up from the bakery, even getting a few of the ‘Amelia' specials. The regular customers were delighted to see a picture of Amelia hanging up on the placard and on the social media pages. We’ve received a lot of supportive and wonderful comments from everyone.
Amelia sleeps in the Moses basket in the toy room, and Adeline sits up at the table with us. It’s nice to be surrounded by my family you support us and love us dearly. Even Peeta loves being around them. And Nolan is a total suck up and has Nan and Nana swooning over him.
"If I were 21 again I'd do the horizontal tango with you." Nana says.
“Nana!” Mom exclaims a little shocked that’s just come out of her grandmother’s mouth.
“It’s true.” She nods, grinning at Nolan.
“I’m honoured you said that.” He grins, gripping her hand with his. “You would be a catch, Nana.”
She pinches his cheek and Nolan happily flirts with her. I go to get Adeline down, nursing her and laying her down in the portable cot Peeta brought downstairs. She goes down, and I tiptoe out of the toy room and back into the dining room. Amelia has woken, and Peeta is showing her off to my grandma's. The coo over her, tickling her hands and belly.
We capture the moment they both hold her and I can see the total awe in both their eyes. They feel lucky and blessed to have this opportunity to hold not just a granddaughter but a one and two times great again.
“Nana, we actually named her after you, did you realise?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. Mom had only told her the first name so we could be there to see her reaction when she found out Amelia's middle name was Nana's first name. Amelia runs in Peeta's family, his great great grandmother and great-grandmother on his father's side name were Amelia, and we wanted to give our second daughter a connection to both our families. Adeline was named after our encounter. Amelia after our family.
“Nana, we’d like to introduce you to Amelia Ivy Mellark.” I tell her, placing my hands over hers as she nurses Amelia. Nolan was recording it for us so we could look back at it for times to come.
Nana is shocked at first and then beams happiness. “You gave her my name?”
"We did. Amelia after Peeta's grandmothers. Ivy after you." I clarify. "I hope that's alright with you?"
She touches just above my heart and smiles, nodding her head. "More than alright." She beams down at her granddaughter. "Nice to meet you, my namesake."
“Amelia is a beautiful name.” Nan comments as she takes the newborn into her arms. “It’s timeless and will suit her from childhood right through to her adult years.”
“And it suits Adeline so perfectly.” Mom adds with a smile. "Adeline and Amelia just flow. There'll be big pressure if you have another."
“Hopefully not as quickly as Amelia came along.” I tell Mom. “Give us hopefully 12 months before we start talking about baby number 3.”
“Hopefully dad still has it in him by then.” Nolan adds, patting his father on the back.
“And you certainly know how to turn a conversation inappropriate.” Peeta reminds his son.
“Hey, just keeping everyone entertained.”
"No doubt about that." Peeta rolls his eyes.
"And I'm right again." He cheers. "Can't wait to rub that in Madge's face." He says pulling his phone out to quickly message his sister.
"Amelia Ivy Mellark. AIM. I think Nolan is right in calling her, Amy." Dad laughs.
"No."
"Hey, did you two realise Amelia's initials?" Dad says, he's obviously been doing the work in his head.
"I can't believe we didn't realise that." Peeta says. "What about Addie's then. She's Adeline Rose Mellark. ARM. We have AIM and ARM."
That has us in hysterics, and we chuckle with each other.
"Well, we might have to start calling Addie, Army. We can have Army and Amy." Nolan adds.
"That's going to get confusing." I say.
"It's cute though." Peeta comments. "Maybe for the future." He smiles. I nod and smile. "For now, we celebrate that our daughter now has a nickname. Amy."
"I think Amy goes better with Addie." Dad adds.
"Thank you, my argument from the start." Nolan claims and laughs again. His phone sounds with a beep tone, and he laughs again. "Madge is pissed. She said, goddam them they were on your side from the start. Oh well, won't stop me from calling her Millie." He reads. "Not when the rest of the family will call her Amy." He sends back. And I shake my head. His greatest goal in life was tormenting Madge and he succeeding all the time.
Peeta rests his head on my shoulder, and I turn to look at him.
“Hey, you alright?” I ask softly.
He nods and pulls me tighter to his body. "I've never felt better." He smiles. "I have so much love, and I'm surrounded by so much. Life is good."
I smile, resting my forehead against his. “Life is good.”
We turn to watch our newborn being showered in so much love and attention, and we know we'll be right, especially without the support of his mother. These people in the room and everyone else makes up for what is lacking from his mother.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.” I whisper back. “Always.” And feel his arms tighten again around my body.