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Sorry this took a while! Enjoy :) One more chapter to go after this! Happy reading, folks!
48
The Return of Gold
A few days later I'm allowed to bring Oriole home with me. For a while we stay in Pearl's house, but I feel like I'm intruding on the happy reunion between her and Stephen, so after a couple days I move back to the hut that I had prepared for him. He's a pretty quiet baby most of the time, but when he sings, he wails. His eyes are opening now and glow a brilliant sea green. It's like two little gems decorating a tiny sun. His wet eyelashes curl up and frame those tiny eyes. My favorite thing is to sit by his crib and let his tiny fingers wrap around my finger while I hum Mags' lullaby to him. It works like a charm every time.
I'm not sure if it's the hormones or just my own mind tailspinning, but my delusions have increased a lot since Oriole's birth. My dreams are so vivid and horrible, and my imaginary companions are so real that I swear other people can see them too. But even if the room is melting and blood covers the floor, Oriole is immune to these nightmares. My mind doesn't allow him to be part of them. I've never watched my son die, nor has he been touched by any of those horrible corpses that follow me from room to room. He's almost a protection for them, like he's untouchable. When I have my son in my arms, all the hallucinations die away and it's just me, caring for him.
It didn't take long for word to spread about Oriole's birth. Finnick's mother met him the day we came home, and he brought her to tears with his rosy lips and chubby cheeks. I let her hold him as long as she desired, because I could see how thirsty she was for some sunlight in her life. You can't look at Oriole and not smile. I had his picture sent out to all my companions across Panem.
Johanna was ecstatic for me and sent back a doll stuffed with sweet smelling pine needles. I know what they are because of the trip I took to the pond with Finnick. I don't allow it in the crib yet, but I like the smell so it sits in a special spot next to the crib where Oriole can enjoy it too. Delly goes on and on about how wonderful and adorable he is. Plutarch sends me some rattle with a fancy handle and a gorgeous painted design. Peeta sends me a wonderful letter.
Dear Annie,
You're son is incredible, I'm so happy for you. Katniss absolutely adores him, she cried when she saw his picture. We're making a book of memories and his picture is getting it's own page. I'm glad that you have found your family too, Katniss and I have gotten closer. I don't know where it's going, but for now I'm very happy. As far as your son goes, I'm sure Finnick would be so proud of you and I know you'll make a great mother. I'll write you more very soon, and please update us on Oriole as soon as you can!
Wishing you all the best,
Peeta.
P.S. Katniss helped me with the flower.
Inside the letter was a pressed primrose, which I hung on the doorway. He also sent me a parcel of cookies that were delicious, even if they were a little stale by the time they came to me. Katniss sent her own note of congratulations too which came about a week later. I know that she's probably more insane than I am now, so I appreciate the effort it must have taken her to write it. She said something about the green of Finnick's eyes in Oriole and used such sincere words that I nearly teared up. All these letters found a special home on my shelf of memories I created.
And then the day came when I was sitting in the hut, watching as the sun began its dissent in to the sky.
"Annie, a letter came for you," calls the little village girl who does the mail now. Oriole is at Pearl's house so that I can take a break. I get up and receive the thick envelope from her.
