The family ties of Lily Juniper Abernathy (book 3)

Chapter 12

I woke up sharply, my entire body tensing. I sighed hard when I realised I was perfectly alright.

"Alright?" Finnick said gently giving my shoulder a squeeze

I shrugged "Yeah."

"The whole wheelchair thing?" He mumbled

I frowned "What about it?"

"What does the doctor mean when he told you to take it easy?"

"Go slower, don't do any unnecessary walking- when is actually walking deemed unnecessary?...He wants me to try hydrotherapy but it's so expensive-"

"Hydrotherapy's swimming?"

I giggled "Yeah, I worked that out for myself?"

"Well, I can take you swimming: for free."

I shrugged "OK? But you'll be there a while?"

"Doesn't bother me?"

"Alright."

"He say anything else?"

"It might be an idea to consider methods that are still being tested?"

"Like what?"

"Well they're trying this thing at a research facility in 13-" I trailed off. I knew he'd laugh when I told him.

"What?"

I paused and muttered "Boxing..."

"I thought you'd be good at that already?"

I smiled "Shut up or I'll kick your ass?"

he grinned "See?"

"Shut up Finn." I mumbled

"Why?"

"Umm, coz I said so?"

"Oh yeah?" He said slowly "And who says I have to do as you say?"

I shrugged "Me? My mom? Your mom?"

He paused for a while "And when did you all decide this?"

I giggled "Hen party."

He grinned "Oh right?"

"Be quiet! You both talk too loud." Charlie moaned from under the pillow.

"Sorry baby, we'll stop now, okay."

"You said that earlier and it never happened." He grumbled

I stroked his hair "Promise."

We lay in silence for a few minutes.

"Mommy?"

I giggled and Finn smiled

"What Charlie?"

"You know how that car like, pushed me over?"

"Yeah?"

"Does that give us an excuse not to go to the Capitol for Christmas?"

"I wish it did but I think we'd still have to?"

There was a pause "OK...Can we not just go to number 4 and have Christmas as the seaside?"

"Grandma's coming with us?" Finn said gently

"Oh." There was a second pause "Never mind then...Night?"

"Night." I whispered

"What does he even want for Christmas?" Finn whispered

"I have no idea." I whispered a little louder

"Momma, daddy, Farther Christmas will know what I want OKAY?! NIGHT!" He growled

Finnick

We both looked at each other and burst into laughter

Charlie sighed and sat up grumbling and grabbing his pillow heading for the door.

"Charlie where are you going?" I mumbled

He opened the door and stood by it with his arms folded scowling  "Both of you go outside or go asleep please?"

We ended up outside.

"I didn't even realise that Christmas isn't that far away..." She mumbled as I threw a blanket over us both sitting on a small settee outside Charlie's room.

I shrugged "We've had a lot more going on than just wondering how long away Christmas is?"

She nodded "I know...Finn,"

"What?"

"Are you upset- and be honest- that we can't really have anymore kids?"

I paused for a while over my answer. OK, so yeah I wouldn't say I wasn't bothered. But, I loved her and we had Charlie. It wasn't the end of the world.

"Umm- it's disappointing I guess but I have you and we have Charlie so it...Well, it matters but it...Doesn't matter?"

Her eyes changed, brighter "Really?"

I nodded "Seriously butterfly- I love you and him, and as long as you love me back everything else can be perfectly fine."

I tucked some of her fringe behind her ear and kissed her forehead "OK?"

She nodded snuggling into my chest "Okay."