𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 || 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐎'𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐱 𝐎𝐅𝐂

(xvii). before you start a war, you better know what you're fighting for

"I thought your wedding was beautiful," Prim says, playing with Malia's hair as the two waited for Mrs. Everdeen to return. "Whatever the results are, everything will be fine, I know it."

"Does this mean Finnick's the father?" Ripley asks.

"Who else would it be?" Prim chuckles.

Malia didn't say anything. She could feel the palms of her hands grow really sweaty with every passing moment as she waited for Mrs. Everdeen to return with the results. She appreciated Ripley's and Prim's attempts at a bad joke but it didn't shake the nerves that rattled all throughout her body. Malia wiped her sweaty palms off on her pants just as Mrs. Everdeen returned.

"Well, it's true," Mrs. Everdeen tells her. "Based on the symptoms you're experiencing and the results of the test. You're pregnant, Mrs. O'Dair."

"How is this possible?" Malia asks, clearing her throat as she shakes her head.

"Well, sometimes unsafe-" Mrs. Everdeen began.

"-- I know how pregnancy works," Malia tells her. "I mean, how is this possible? I was told I could never have another kid after I miscarried."

"You were pregnant before this?" Prim asks.

"I'd rather not talk about it," Malia replies.

"Was it Cal's?" Ripley asks.

"Ripley!" Prim scolds.

"Just curious," Ripley replies.

"No," Malia tells him. "No, it wasn't Cal's."

She turns back to face Mrs. Everdeen with a raised brow.

"I'm not entirely sure how this is possible, sweetheart," Mrs. Everdeen tells her. "Maybe the Capitol doctors told you wrong or maybe this is just a miracle baby."

"Miracle baby," Malia mutters, chuckling slightly as she smiles.

"All I know is that you're going through the normal pregnancy symptoms," Mrs. Everdeen tells her. "Morning sickness, swollen breasts, you're going to start getting random food cravings and your body temperature is gonna start going up. And your test did come back positive. Twice."

"What do you think I should do?" Malia asks.

"Talk to your husband would be a start," Mrs. Everdeen replies. "Other than that, I can't tell you what you should do. It's not my decision to make. However, given your past and the cause of your miscarriage– this might be the only time you'll ever get pregnant. This one's a miracle."

"Be honest with me, Mrs. Everdeen," Malia says. "Is being a mother hard?"

"I'm not one to really speak," Mrs. Everdeen tells her. "I was okay at first but after my husband passed– I shut everyone out, even my children. I was a bad mother but I'm trying to make up for it."

Malia nods as she stands up, clearing her throat slightly as she looks around as if she's forgotten something.

"Please don't tell anyone about this," Malia tells her. "I want the people that mean the most to me to know first before everyone else does."

"Of course," Mrs. Everdeen nods.

Malia nods once more before leaving the medical ward.

"So do you get to live another day?" Jake asks.

"Jake," Finnick says, elbowing him slightly.

"Tough crowd," Jake frowns, rubbing his side.

"It's just like I told you both," Malia tells them. "I'm fine."