After the Rebellion

Baby Time

A/N: So, I'm just gonna continue where I left off until someone says otherwise. Hopefully, I can manage that. Also, I just saw a really cute construction worker while I was riding the bus....

*7 months later*

The past seven months have gone by too slowly for me and Peeta. Even though I'm terrified to give birth, I want to see my baby. Peeta and I decided to keep the gender a surprise, even for us. No matter if it's a boy or a girl, we'll love him or her unconditionally.

We're also extremely unprepared. Yes, we have the furniture from our friends and family and other baby things, but neither of us are really ready. But we've still got time to get everything sorted out.

Peeta and I are sitting on the couch watching that show that Plutarch wanted me to be on. That one singing show. I'm so glad that I refused, considering that it's supposed to still be filming past my due date. I'd really like for me giving birth to be televised for all of Panem to watch.

Just as I'm dwelling on that, I feel something strange... like...

"Peeta, I... I think my water broke."

He looks at me, stunned and unmoving.

"PEETA. MY WATER BROKE. I'M IN LABOR."

Finally, it seems as though he's processed what I've told him and he gets up and runs upstairs into what will be the nursery. I really don't want to delay this much longer, so it takes everything in me to not scream at him to hurry up and drive me to the hospital.

Just then, a sharp pain hits me, and I know that it's a contraction. It's not too painful yet, but the suddenness of it caused me to crumple onto the floor. I hear Peeta thundering down the steps toward me, and he gives me his hand. I haven't been able to stand up on my own in a really long time, and I can't wait for me to get my independence back.

Even with having Peeta try to pull me off of the ground, I can't get up, so he picks me up completely on his own.

We get in our car and Peeta drives as fast as he can to the hospital, holding my hand the whole time. When we arrive, its the usual 7:30 pm crowd. Most people are leaving due to visiting hours ending in half an hour, while we're just now coming in. They give us confused looks as Peeta walks into the hospital with me in his arms, but then they suddenly remember that I'm pregnant. Nothing gets past the Capitol these days.

A nurse brings out a wheelchair for me and tells us that there will be a short wait for a bed. 'I saved the Capitol and you can't even get a bed when sitting is way too painful for me?'

Another contraction hits, and I'm left squeezing Peeta's hand to the point where I think I'm breaking it. Seeing other people in labor while my mother was tending to them and actually being in labor are two completely different things. I thought that since I went through the Games twice and I fought in the rebellion, that labor pains would be the least of my worried. I never thought that I could be so wrong.

After another contraction, a gurney finally shows up. Peeta helps me onto it, and goes with me to wherever they take mothers in labor.

Hours pass, and more contractions come and go, getting more frequent and painful. Finally, a doctor comes in.

"Hi, Katniss. I'm Doctor Mingus, and I'll be helping you through this and delivering the baby. My nurses say that you're almost at ten centimetres, so you can start pushing and get this over with. And meet your son or daughter." A few moments pass and he says that it's time. I brace myself, and my grip on Peeta's hand gets tighter. I have to do this. I just have to.

Hours and hours have passed, and still nothing is happening. Except that I've endured more and more pain. Even with that shot they gave me, the pain is so immense that I'm about ready to pass out. The only thing keeping me together is the thought of seeing my child, which is constantly reinforced by Peeta. Just looking at him, I know that I have to go on. For Peeta. For my child.

"Katniss, if we don't make any progress on this next push, we're going to have to get the scalpel," Doctor Mingus says. I look at Peeta, pure fear in his eyes, and surely in mine. I look at myself and reflect on all of the scars that I have now. I don't want to have any more. I look at Peeta and my doctor, trying to have a crazed determined look in my eyes.

My grip tightens even more on Peeta's hand, and I swear I hear something snap. But I'm set on getting some progress here. I keep pushing past the count, fearing a knife plunging into me. I feel less pain as I stop pushing, and my doctor cheers.

"Katniss! You've got one more push. The head is out! Come on! On three!"

I gather up what's left of the strength in my body and push as hard as I can, and being certain that Peeta is in pain too. At least it's not his whole body, though.

I hear a scream that isn't my own, and look down to see my baby. I'm too exhausted to see him or her, though, as I practically pass out then and there. They take Peeta off somewhere else, so he's not with me for very long.

All I can do is feel accomplishment as I drift off to sleep. Wondering what life will be like as a mother.