It's Always Been You

Chapter Twenty Nine; Perfect

Katniss' POV

My eyes are groggy, my vision blurred. My head pounds and my breathing is heavy. I look around, attempting to focus in on something. I can't seem to remember anything. There is a wet cloth on my head, and my abdomen, along with my groin hurts like hell.

"Hey, hey, hey." I hear a soft, deep voice say, coming to my side. My vision finally focuses.

"Gale." I whisper, holding my hand out in attempt to reach him. "What-"

"Shh..." he whispers, squeezing my hand. "Don't speak. You're okay. You lost a lot of blood during labor. You al-we weren't sure you were going to make it."

"Peeta." I whimper, looking behind him, panic strung throughout my voice.

"He's with the baby. I've been keeping an eye on you when Peeta's had to be with him...Your baby-he's so beautiful, Katniss."

"A boy." I whisper, looking up at the ceiling. A boy. I have a son. The last thing I can remember is excruciating pain, being terrified, then I went blank. Pain still consumes my body, but I push it aside.

"A boy." Gale says with a smile. "He has dark brown hair just like you. He's so perfect. There wasn't a scratch on him."

"My son," I whisper softly, placing my hand on my stomach and breathing heavily. "How long have I been like this?"

"About a week now. Your mother said it was like a coma...Thank god you're awake. You must be starving."

"A little." I whisper, but I'm fine, really. "C-Can I meet my baby first?"

"Of course, I'll go get Peeta. But you have to eat, Katniss." Gale says reassuringly. He grabs my hand, squeezing it tightly. "Thank god you're awake."

I thought I would be filled with great fear, but I push it aside. I'm filled with love and fulfillment like no other.

I attempt to sit up slowly, but I am in too much pain to move. I sigh, deciding it's no use.

When Peeta walks into the room, his eyes are puffy, hair a mess. He looks like he hasn't slept in weeks. "Katniss." He whispers, running to my side. "Oh, Katniss. I thought I'd lost you."

He smells of strawberries. I sigh, wanting to hold onto him forever. "I'm right here, always." I whisper, and Peeta places a kiss on my forehead. I feel a tear drip from his eye to my cheek, and he kisses it off of me. "I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for." Peeta says, holding me tight. I've missed his warm embrace. "Are you in pain?" He asks, "are you hungry?"

"Yes and yes." I start, placing my hand on my cramping abdomen. "But I want to meet our son first."

"Of course." Peeta says softly, placing one more kiss on my lips. "I'll be back in just a few minutes"

When I see Peeta walk back through the door, the first thing that catches my eye is a dark patch of brown hair. I smile, tears beginning to flow down my face as my son comes into view. He is so beautiful, so perfect. I find the strength to sit up, reaching my arms out for my baby boy-our baby boy. As Peeta places him in my arms, it's as if the world stops. I run my finger along his perfect little cheeks, bringing him up to my lips and kissing his tiny nose. I look up at Peeta, who is smiling ear to ear.

"He's beautiful." I say, letting out a short sob. At this moment, my worries are assuaged. At this moment, I'm not thinking about the games or President Snow. All I can think about is my son, so beautiful and so capable.

"It's been a rough few days. He's been crying a lot, restless and upset. It's like as soon as he knew you were awake, he stopped." Peeta murmurs, placing his hand on our son's tiny head. "We've bonded, but he needed his mom."

A part of me needed him. A part of needed to hold him in my arms and kiss his little face. I hold him close, letting him listen to the thud of my heartbeat. I swear, I see him smile a bit.

"Katniss." I hear a small, frail voice say from the doorway.

"Prim." I smile. "I'm okay, Prim." She smiles, a single tear dropping down her face.

"I'm so glad." She chokes, coming to my side.

"Prim has helped take such good care of our little one, Katniss." Peeta says. "She's nursed him to health."

"What?" I ask, my voice panic stricken. "W-what was wrong?"

"Nothing major." Prim says assuringly. "He's a little underweight and labor was tough on him too, but we got through it, didn't we?"

"He's a fighter, just like you." Peeta whispers faintly.

I smile, looking down at my baby boy. I may be in some pain, and there may be some complications, but at this moment, there is nothing more perfect than my child.