Life After Mockingjay

Chapter Fourteen; Today

I wake up with a start. I assume I've had a nightmare, as I am soaked in my own sweat, but I don't remember having one, and I never woke up screaming. That's when I look down and realize that it's not sweat. It's water. My water broke.

"P-Peeta?" I say, my voice shaken. "Peeta wake up!"

Surprisingly, he just grunts and rolls over, covering his head with a pillow. I know he's been up these past few nights with my nightmares, but he never ignores me when I call for him.

"Peeta!" I scream as I hit him hard. "I need you!"

"What?" He says as he groans. His eyes meet my fear stricken ones, and he realizes something is wrong.

"Katniss?" He asks, his voice shaken as he sits up. "Are you okay?"

"My water broke." I whisper as I move away from the wet patch on the sheets.

He looks down and examines the liquid that is escaping. "Katniss, we have to get you to the hospital."

I get up, only to feel the water making a steady stream down my leg. "W-what do we do, Peeta?" I ask frantically.

"Katniss, it's alright. We just have to get you ready to go to the hospital, and the doctors will take it from there."

I immediately begin to make a list in my head of everything we need. "Peeta, can you please get me a towel?"

He runs straight to the bathroom, but I am then struck with the most excruciating pain I have felt in a very, very, long time.

I double over, and let out a sharp cry. Peeta runs over, no towel in hand, and does his best to comfort me. I wail, and he wraps his arms around me.

"Peeta.." I whisper. "The towel, please." I say, panic shooting through my voice.

He does what I ask, and leans down. He wipes the liquid off of my leg, and I take my pants off. He places the towel where the liquid is escaping.

"Katniss, I need you to nod for me. Okay? Is the liquid still coming out?"

I nod my head no.

"Okay," he whispers, as he circles around the room, obviously trying to figure out what to do next. He grabs a pair of his boxers, and I step into them, trying to ignore the pain.

I sit down on the bed, tears now building forcefully into my eyes. Peeta leans down and kisses the tears away.

"You'll be okay, Katniss." He whispers. "You are so strong. I know you'll be able to get through this. Do you want me to carry you?"

"Please." I breathe, wrapping my arms around his neck.

Peeta lifts me gently, and I dig my face into his shoulder, letting my tears seep through the fabric of his shirt. I let out a whimper, not of pain, but of fear.

He grabs our bags that we had pre packed in case something like this would happen. He stumbles down the stairs as fast as he can, making sure to hold me tightly.

"I'm going to call in when we get you into car." He says.

I just nod.

Peeta sets me in the front seat gently, and I put my two legs up on the dashboard, in effort to keep my back from hurting too.

Peeta runs back into the house, and in the matter of seconds, he's back.

"I called the clinic. Valeria is ready for you. Ready to go?"

"Ye- ohh." I moan as grip Peeta's hand and wait for the pain to pass.

"You'll be okay, sweetie." Peeta says. "The ride isn't very long. Just breathe, Katniss."

+++

The ride is absolutely terrible. My contractions are only minutes apart, and it feels like my insides are being ripped apart.

Once we finally get to the hospital, Peeta helps me out of the car. He takes my hands into his strong, warm ones and hoists me up. "I'm not going to leave you. You know that?" He asks as we walk in the door. "I will be with you through this all the way, holding your hand and tending to your every need. You don't need to worry."

I nod again, hooking one of my arms around his neck, the other cradling my inflated belly as we step foot inside. I lean into him as we walk, hoping to shrink away and disappear. The pain, however brings me back into reality.

As we approach the front desk, Peeta scoops me up into his arms. "Katniss Mellark." He says to the receptionist.

She looks up. "Okay, come with me."

We walk down a small corridor and enter a room. I see Valeria and am shrouded with the least amount of relief. I'm thankful Peeta decided to pick me up when he did. I felt as if I was ready to keel over.

Valeria greets us, and I am laid down on the bed that occupies the room.

She begins asking us questions, "did your water break as just a gush or trickle?"

"Trickle." I answer.

"Have you felt any contractions yet?"

"Plenty." I state. I let out a sharp cry as another one hits me.

"Okay... "Valeria says as she types something in. "What color was the liquid?"

"Very light. Almost clear." I answer.

"Okay. That's all the questions we have for now. Call me if you need anything. I'll be in soon to check how much you have progressed. "

"How do you feel, sweetie?" Peeta asks as he grips my hand tightly.

"How do you think I feel?" I snap.

"I'm sorry, honey. I know you're in a lot of pain."

"Yeah, I am." I say, trying not to let my stubbornness show too much. My emotions have been all over the place. I know Peeta is just trying to help.

I grip his hand as I await for another contraction. Sure enough, a minute later, it comes.

This is going to be an incredibly long, excruciating night.