Life After Mockingjay

Chapter Twelve; Almost Time

I wake up with a gasp and grip the bed sheets tightly. I breathe in and out as I rip my sweat soaked shirt off, throwing it across the room.

"Honey?" Peeta says, peeking out of the bathroom. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah.." I say with a cracked voice. I had just woken from a nightmare that has been attacking my thoughts constantly. When it first came, I'd wake in the middle of the night screaming, but now it's normal. It just doesn't seem to ever go away.

In the dream, I am underground.. In a grave. I have to watch as all of the loved one's that have died because of me burry me, and I slowly suffocate and eventually die. It's one of my worst ones yet. I can't seem to get it out of my head. Everyone is in order. My father, Rue, Cinna, Finnick, Boggs, Prim...

Peeta sits down next to me on the bed and gives me a crooked smile. As he plays with my tangled hair.

"What?" I ask jokingly, trying not to think about the nightmare. I look down at my body, and all I have are Peeta's boxers.

I blush slightly, and Peeta gives me a small kiss on the neck, before kissing my now giant stomach.

"Nothing." He whispers. "You just look hot pregnant." He says with a smirk.

+++

I stand in the shower and I watch as the water falls down my body. I stare down at my protruding stomach. I hadn't seen my feet in ages. Being 7 months pregnant is killing my back. If I stand for more than five minutes, my knees give out.

Despite the pain, I know it will all be worth it in the end. Besides, I've been in much worse pain.

"Hey, are you ready to get out?" Peeta asks as he peeks his head in the shower.

"Y-yeah." I say as my daze is broken. I turn the water off and wrap a towel around me.

"Everything okay?" He asks as he wraps his strong arms around me.

"Just thinking about the baby." I bite my lip and offer Peeta a smile.

He blushes, and I can't help but laugh. I absolutely adore when Peeta blushes.

"Are you ready for today?" Peeta asks.

"Of course." I say with a grin. Today, Haymitch and Effie are throwing me a small baby shower at their house.

When they first offered, I obviously opposed. Peeta and I have plenty of things for the baby. But they insisted. Besides, it will give me a chance to see all of the people I love before I'm preoccupied with constant parenting.

I dress in the red sweater and black skirt I bought at the small boutique in the hob. The sweater barely fits over my huge bump. It makes Peeta and I both laugh.

I gather my things and throw on a pair of boots. I'm sure I'll take them off right when I get to Haymitch's. My ankles are so swollen.

It's freezing cold out, but I don't mind. I've always been very fond of snow. A fine layer of it settles on the ground.

"I hope it snows for Christmas." I say with a smile. "That'd be so great."

I've been so caught up in my pregnancy, I hadn't realized that Christmas was only a few months away. It will be Peeta and I's fifth Christmas together, but it will also be our baby's first Christmas. Last year, we just stayed at our home. We had Haymitch and Effie over, but that was it. This year will be different, though. We will have a full house. We've invited all of our friends.