Life After Mockingjay

Chapter Fifteen; Welcome To This Brave World

Peeta's POV

Katniss lies on the hospital bed as she awaits for it to be time to deliver our child. She grasps onto my hand, it being her lifeline now. I stroke her tangled hair as she pants, and I murmur loving and encouraging phrases into her ear. We've been like this for the past 10 hours. It seems like this has been going on for days.

"Okay, Katniss.." Valeria inspects, "you're just about ready." Katniss groans in pain as another contraction hits. "I'm going to need you to start pushing soon."

"Valeria.." She groans. "I don't know if I'm ready. I don't know if I can do this. I can't do this!" She cries.

My hands travel down to stroke her arm. She is shaking, and there are goosebumps all over her.

"Katniss, you can do this. You've coped with so much pain. I know you'll be able to get through this." I comment, and kiss her on the nose.

Katniss takes in another deep breath, trying to even out her shallow ones. "I..Okay." She makes out before scrunching her face when she feels another contraction. She begins cursing under her breath impulsively. I carefully hug her to the best of my ability.

Her hands travel to the collar of my shirt and she grips the fabric tight in her fists. "We are never having another child. EVER," She says. "Don't even think about touching me without protection."

"It's okay.." I mumble and choose to repeat it. "It's your choice."

"Alright, Katniss, you're fully dialated." Valeria states. "You need to push when I tell you, Okay?"

Katniss gives me a look. Her eyes are fear stricken.

"Katniss look at me." I say. She looks me straight in the eyes. "This will be over soon, I promise. You just have to get the baby out. We're going to be parents soon. I know it must hurt so bad, but just keep trying. I love you.."

Katniss huffs in frustration, and nods her head. Valeria begins yelling at her, telling her to push.

Katniss doubles over and grips my hand tightly, pushing for ten seconds and then falling back onto the bed again.

"Peeta.." She says, desperation in her voice. "I-I can't do it!"

"Katniss," Valeria says. "You have to get this baby out."

Katniss nods her head with determination in her eyes, and soon, she's crying out at her seventh attempt at pushing.

Tears start to leak from her eyes and mine too. "Keep trying, Katniss. The baby will be here any second! I can feel it. " I state. I know she's in so much pain. I feel terrible.

"I can feel it too!" She exclaims, panting and gasping, squeezing her eyes shut.

"Katniss.." I say. She turns her head to look at me, gasping for breath and pain filling in her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm the one that wanted to go through with this. We did it and I can see that you're in so much more pain. All I want to do is take that all away from you and go through it myself. I'm so sorry."

"Oh, Peeta. I didn't mean to sound angry." She says through clenched teeth. "I'm s- ohh." She moans, tears now building forcefully in the corner of her eyes.

"Come on, sweetie. You have to get him or her out. I won't be leaving anytime soon." I insist.

The next contraction hits and she doubles foreword, attempting to push. Valeria soon notifies us that our child's head is visible. I sigh in relief, knowing that we're progressing.

"We're getting closer. The baby's nearly here!" I comment. Katniss grasps onto my hand again as another contraction comes and she begins pushing for the tenth time since we started.

After a few more pushes, she's finally here. Our confirmation, her cries bellowing through the air.

Katniss is gasping and panting, desperately trying to catch her breath as she rests her head back on the bed to examine our child. I am focused on Katniss, but I manage to pick out the three words that Valeria exclaims.

"It's a girl!"