Complete

Chapter 23

Katniss P.O.V.

I sigh and lean back against the bathtub. At sixteen weeks pregnant, I should be pretty much over the morning sickness, but it's just now getting started.

I lay a hand on my stomach and take a deep breath. This is harder this time around because I don't have Peeta with me. But I can't feel sorry for my self since it's my fault.

"Mama!" Rye hollers.

I stand up off the floor, gripping the counter top when I'm hit with a dizzy spell.

"I'm in here, Rye!" I holler as I close my eyes tightly. I hear his little feet come running towards me, and then I feel Rye's arms wrap around my leg.

"Mama."

I laugh a little bit and slowly open my eyes, the dizziness subsiding for now.

"Good morning, Rye."

"Up," Rye says as he reaches for me with his chubby hands. "Up. P'ease."

I smile at him and carefully bend down to his height. "Say 'please, Mommy.'"

"P'ease, Mama."

"No," I say as I shake my head. "Say Mommy."

"Mama."

I sigh and shake my head at him. "I'm not going to pick you up until you say 'Mommy.'"

Rye looks at me and pouts while giving me puppy dog eyes. "P'ease," he whines pitifully.

I laugh at him. "You've learned that from Willow."

Rye gasps. "Wi-oh?"

I roll my eyes at him. "Rye Mellark. If you can say 'Wi-oh,' you can say 'Mommy.'"

"Mama," Rye says with a mischievous grin.

"Please," I tell Rye as I pout out my lower lip, giving him the same look that he just gave me. This sends Rye into a fit of giggles.

"Just say 'Mommy' one time," I tell Rye as I hold up a pointer finger.

"Mmm," Rye says.

"Come on, Rye. This is harder than getting you to talk for the first time. Just say 'Mommy,' then I'll pick you up."

"Mommy."

"There you go!" I cheer as I pick Rye up.

He giggles and presses his lips to my cheek.

"Mama."

I sigh and shake my head at him. "You're rotten."

The phone begins to ring, and I take a deep breath.

"What do you want to bet that that's Daddy?" I ask Rye as I begin to walk downstairs with him.

"Daddy?"

I scoff at Rye. "Why was it so hard for you to say 'Mommy,' but you said 'Daddy' without any coaching." Rye just give me an adorable look and rests his head over onto my shoulder.

I pick up the phone and take a deep breath.

"I'm fine," I say immediately.

I hear Peeta laugh a little bit. "I figured that," he says. "I just... When would you want to tell Willow?"

"Oh," I breathe out. I haven't even thought about that. "Um... I have an appointment this afternoon. We can tell her afterwords."

"Okay," Peeta says. "Do you want me to go with you?"

"No," I say as I shake my head, even though he can't see me. "But you can keep Rye if you want to."

"Okay," Peeta says. "What time do you go?"