It's Always Been You

Chapter Twenty Six; Too Real

"I'm telling you, Peeta. Something's not right." I say, placing my hand on my stomach where my unborn child is.

"What do you mean? Is it pressure in your abdomen like the baby is kicking? Or do you think you're having the baby?" Peeta asks. I huff, shaking my head.

"I don't know! I'm only eight months so I can't be going into labor! This can't happen. Can it?" I shout, my hormones taking over.

"Well I'm sure it's possible." Peeta mumbles, his voice fading out. "I'm sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry about. I just have to figure out what's going on."

"I can call a doctor."

"I'll go see my mom." I say angrily. I stand up, grabbing my jacket and storming outside. Peeta follows, catching up to me. He places his hand on my shoulder, and I smile softly. God, my mood swings are so terrible.

I knock on my mother's door, and it's not long until she answers. Prim is at school, and it's early. "Sorry, I was sleeping. What's up, Katniss?" My mother asks.

"I think something's going on with the baby." I say. Peeta grasps my hand, and I squeeze his. My mother nods, rubbing her tired eyes.

"Come in."

Peeta and I walk in, and we follow my mother to the living area. I sit down, placing my hand on my huge belly. "Should I have terrible cramps? They come in variations but I don't know what to do. Could the baby be coming early?" I ramble on and on, but my mother finally cuts me off.

"You certainly aren't going into labor. Those contractions are far worse. However, I do think you're having what is often referred to as 'false labor.'"

"Well what does that do?" Peeta asks worriedly.

"Nothing serious." My mother says softly. "I'd just take it easy...watch out for anything hurting worse."

I nod slowly, looking over to Peeta. I place my hand over my abdomen, feeling unexplainably uncomfortable. The cramping is almost unbearable, but I attempt to ignore it. I've felt worse pain.

"Where are you delivering the baby?" My mother asks. I shrug, looking over to Peeta.

"President Snow spoke to us after I told him about the pregnancy. He didn't seem to know anything about it, just that I'd need to see capitol doctors once a month. I just had my last scheduled appointment the last time we were in the capitol for interviews a few weeks ago. They didn't say anything about delivery. God, I'm so unprepared. You know, I'm sure he expects us to come to the capitol to deliver...they'll broadcast it, and what is supposed to be an amazing, intimate moment will be ruined."

"Well, I could deliver the baby of course." My mother says, smiling softly. "Prim and I. You know you can trust the two of us."

"Yeah, we can do it at our home. No cameras, no unnecessary people. Just you, me, and our baby."

"Okay," I breathe. "But how will we convince Snow to just...leave us alone? It'll never work. This is hopeless."

"Not necessarily." My mother suggests. "Keep quiet. Say there have been no symptoms of the baby coming whatsoever. Then, when your water eventually breaks, that's when you notify them. It'll be too late then to even get close to the capitol."

I nod, grinning. "That could work. This way, people I trust will deliver our baby, and we'll be able to do it in the comfort of our home."

"Perfect then. It's all set!"

"It's all set..." I whisper softly, looking over to Peeta. It then becomes all too real that I'm going to be a mother in less than two months.