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jlalafics · 6 years

Note

I’d love to see you write this for Everlark: My friend dragged me to this party and I just saw my ex quick make out with me. :)

Thank you @que-sera-sera88! Hope you like it! I needed a little refresher…

———

“Where is everybody?” My roommate Johanna shouts into my earover the blasting techno music. “And, why is it so crowded in here?”

Capitol is our local bar and a walking distance from our condo.We’re often here on Friday nights to celebrate the end of our respective work shifts.Johanna is the CFO of a new startup in SOMA (South of Market) while I work for GuestServices at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park.

As you can tell, our financial brackets are very different.

However, Johanna never blinked an eye when I showed up ather doorstep one year ago on a foggy Saturday morning in tears—and in mypajamas.

“Jesus Katniss…what are you wearing?” she asks as she helpsme out of my jacket.

I look down at my fitted black trousers and rust orange t-shirt.“It’s what I wore to work!”

Johanna sighs, her sharp eyes looking me over inexasperation.

“You look like your vagina is impenetrable.”

“I do not!” Yes, maybe the shirt could be a littlesexier…but I was just here for a beer. “And, what the hell am I supposed to doanyway? I’m not walking back home.”

“Must I do everything?”

She yanks me by the hand towards the back of the bar to the women’srestroom. Pushing through the door, we go to the full-length mirror in theback. Around us, women are going in and coming out of the stalls. Others areapplying makeup in front of the sink mirrors.

“Take off your bra,” Johanna suddenly says.

I cup my miniscule breasts protectively. “No!”

“You have very little tit and the bit you do have is coveredin this uniboob bra,” my friend responds. Without warning, she reaches under myshirt and unhooks it quickly. There’s a struggle and somehow, she triumphs inthe end as my cotton bra is suddenly in her hands. “Holy shit—what the hell isthis?”

“It’s a bra!”

“No, this is a joke.” Somewhere behind me, someone snorts ather words. “How the hell am I supposed to introduce you to anyone in this?”

Discarding my bra into a nearby trash bin, Johanna puts herhands on my shoulders.

“Don’t hide away. You’ve been mourning too long.”

With a weary sigh, I give in. “Alright, do what you have todo.”

Johanna smiles, giving me a quick hug before she pulls awayto examine me. “The shirt…” Her index finger goes to her chin. “I got it!” Shegathers the fabric so it’s tight against my body and then knots the excessfabric so my shirt is now cropped. Then she kneels to bring the hem of my pantsto my ankles. “Now what?”

“Her hair, honey.”

We look behind us to see a woman who has just finishedputting on her lipstick staring at us. She is all long legs, Ruby Woo red lips,and big hair.

“Undo the braid,” she suggests. “I’m a hair stylist—my salonis between Sutter and Post.” The woman gives us a pretty smile. “I’m Portia.”Reaching, she takes the elastic from the tip of my braid and unravels my darkhair. “Very nice…good texture…”

Portia makes quick work of my hair, smoothing it in one spotthen reaching into her bag for a comb to tease some other parst. When I’mfinished, I am looking at a stranger in the mirror with pretty face-framingwaves.

“Thanks Portia,” I tell her appreciatively. “It’s been along time since anyone has even noticed my hair.”

“She was in a bad spot last year,” Johanna tells her.“Boyfriend left her…for his assistant.”

“Well, you know what?” Portia smiles at me. “It’s hisloss…and I have a feeling tonight is going to be special.”

++++++

Johanna looks at the screen of her cell. “Running late? Dothey have no sense of time?”

I nurse my glass of whiskey against the bar. “Who?”

“Some family from Berkeley.” She quickly types back.“They’re running into traffic on the bridge.”

“Excuse me?” We turn to see a very good-looking hipster—hehas horn-rimmed glasses and very tight jeans—offering his hand to Johanna. “Doyou want to dance?”

She grins and looks to me in question.

I push her towards him. “Go on! I’ll be right here when youget back.”

“I won’t be long…”

However, by the look of lust in my friend’s eyes, I have afeeling that I’ll be needing to wear headphones when I get back home.

I don’t mind though.

Johanna has been really good to me. I met her during aninternship with her former company. We’re both Bay Area natives—a raritynow—and bonded over our love for sushi burritos and movie singalongs at theCastro Theater.

That was years ago.

Johanna has made strides in her career and can afford theastronomical San Francisco rent.

I’m just her thirty-year-old roommate who spends her days ina humid greenhouse telling people not to touch the flowers.

“I like your necklace.”

I follow the deep timbre and my eyes turn to the dirty-blond,blue-eyed man suddenly next to me. My gaze wanders from his gorgeous face, downhis fitted white tee displaying washboard abs, past the jeans—oh God, don’t look at his crotch—andfinally to the leather oxfords.

“What?” I manage to push out.

He reaches over to the pendant pressed against my shirt,fingering it gently. “Primrose.”

My mouth widens into a smile. “How did you know?”

“I worked as a gardener when I was in college,” he explains.The man smiles at me. “Why this flower?”

“My sister’s name,” I explain.

“That’s different,” the man replies and snorts. “My nameisn’t any better.” He holds his hand out. “I’m Peeta, by the way.”

I shake his hand, ignoring the warm current rushing throughmy skin. “Katniss.” I look around for Johanna, who has somehow disappeared withthe hipster. “What brings you here?”

“Meeting someone for a little reunion,” he tells me. “I’vebeen in London for two years.”

“London?” That bit of wanderlust grips me. I’ve never beenanywhere—too timid to leave my hometown. “And, what did you do there?”

“International relations, of sorts,” Peeta says. “I’m amusic producer and the artists that I’ve been working with were from the UK.”

I nod. “Impressive.”

Looking around, I spot Johanna in a far corner of the packedbar, her arms around Hipster Boy with his glasses perched atop her head.

Suddenly, the hairs on the back of my neck prickle and myeyes go to a couple just a few feet away from her.

The dark-haired man wears a fitted flannel shirt and I fist myhands remembering that I had picked out that very flannel shirt for him yearsago. Next to him in a black body-con dress that I would never wear and a body Iwould never ever have was the golden beauty he left me for.

Of all places, why did Gale have to be in this bar?

“Please don’t look this way,” I mutter under my breath.

There must be someone up there who hates me because I seehis perfectly-coiffed head begin to turn my way—

“Peeta, I know that this is completely out of left field,but my ex is here with the woman he left me for and I just can’t let him see me.So…if it’s not too weird…would you make out with me?”

Peeta chuckles softly—probably at my flaming-hot face—beforepulling me flush against his oh-so-tight body and cupping my cheek with hisfree hand.

“Remember, we’re madly in love, so it’s all right to kiss me—”His mouth presses fully onto mine and I taste whiskey—his or mine, I have noidea—against my tongue. He suddenly pulls away, his forehead against mine. “—anytimeyou feel like it.”

My mind is blank, still reliving the feel of his lips onmine and the taste of him. There’s a flux of heat rushing through my body andpooling in my center. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything—or anyone—morethan I want the stranger in front of me.

“Again,” I manage to breathe out.

Peeta smirks—and somehow, he’s gotten even hotter. “Is yourex still watching us?”

“Who?”

He’s totally mindfucked me.

“Nevermind.” We’re pressed between barstools and the frictionis killing me. Peeta deeps into my mouth for another kiss and I’m a goner. Myarms are around him, my nails gripping the back of his shirt as we grindagainst one another.

Someone behind me tells the bartender to hose us down.

However, it all becomes a haze when Peeta’s hand weavesthrough my hair to deepen our kiss.

“HEY!” We reluctantly rip our mouths apart to glare at thebartender. “I don’t care if you hump your brains out but if you’re going to doit here then you best buy a drink!” He waves his hand at the crowd. “There areother people willing to take your spots.”

I meet Peeta’s eyes. “My place is a few blocks away.”

“Really?” Peeta grins. “I do have to meet someone here—”

“Katniss!” Johanna is rushing towards me sans Hipster Boy.Her eyes go to Peeta and she squeals before pulling him into hug. “Peeta, youmade it!” She ruffles his hair affectionately. “It’s been too long!”

“Too damn long!” Peeta agrees. “Cinna is outside, probablyon his fifth cigarette.” He looks around. “I thought you were bringing yourroommate?”

Johanna looks to me. “She’s right here!”

Peeta meets my eyes and I can see he’s trying to keep ittogether.

“Remember I told you that my mom remarried when I was incollege?” Johanna explains. “Well, I got a little brother out of it.”

My mouth goes dry. “Little brother?”

From what I felt, there is nothing little about Peeta.

“Stepbrother, actually,” my friend says, oblivious to thefact that I can no longer feel my face. “This is him. Katniss, this is mybrother Peeta. Peeta, this is my roommate Katniss.”

Peeta raises a brow before holding out his hand for me toshake. “Nice to meet you.”

I take his hand, suppressing my need to bring it between mylegs. “Nice to meet you, too.”

“He’s going to be bunking on our couch,” Johanna informs me.“Until he finds a place of his own, of course.”

Peeta gives me a smirk, his blue eyes heated as he looks atme. “Hope it’s okay for me to stay over.”

Stay forever.

I meet his stare. “Of course. Let me know if you needanything.”

“I will,” he responds.

There’s a shout and Johanna is pulled away by a coworker whojust entered the bar.

Peeta leans over, his mouth to my ear. “After all—” He nipsmy ear and I clench…everywhere. “—you owe me.”

FIN.

I know…totally open ended.

#que-sera-sera88 #Everlark #Everlark Drabble #Everlark one-shot #There's a little twist at the end...#Hehehe #Everlark AU

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everlarkficexchange · 6 years

Text

Dances, Babies, & Midwives

Written by: @mega-aulover

Prompt 61: Katniss is a Midwife in the late 50s and meets Peeta (somehow) and flirts with him. When she’s goes to a delivering mother Peeta is there and she gets mad at him because she think he is her husband/father but he isn’t. [submitted by @que-sera-sera88]

A/N: Thank you to @everlarkficexchange for allowing the fandom to really come together to share ideas and stories. To @que-sera-sera88 thank you for the prompt, I hope I did the show and the story justice. To my intrepid beta @norbertsmom you are always ready to take on a journey with me when you go through meagar scribbles. Thank you.

Rated: T - Warning Birth Described

** kp **

“When things change we have to find a different way. Nothing stays the same, we don’t stay the same ourselves and all of the time the world keeps on spinning faster…- Sister Evangelina, Call The Midwife”

** kp **

Katniss sat at the table with her friends Madge, Rue, and Johanna as she watched others dance. She would have preferred to be back home so she could spend the day tomorrow celebrating her sister’s birthday, but there was just no way for her to go home this year.

All of her friends, other midwives, were gossiping about the men present. Johanna whistled as she spotted someone she thought was smashing. Rolling her eyes, Katniss focused on the hem of her dress.

Unlike the other girls, Katniss was not obsessed with men. She lived a life that could only be described as nun-like. Ironically she lived in Nonnatus House a Convent as a midwife. Katniss was the only girl who didn’t want to get married or have children. The war had taught her that falling in love was a frivolous thing that often leads to heartache.

Her father was a casualty of war. Her mother had never recovered from the loss of her husband. At a young age, Katniss had to be both mother and provider for her family. Something the girls didn’t understand; many came from well-off homes. Having gone through the war, they understood hard times, but they didn’t understand how tough life was when the support system was suddenly gone. She wasn’t going to go through that again.

Life, though, had a funny way of doing things. Change often reared its ugly head when least expected.

“Oh, he’s coming this way,” Rue gushed.

“Act cool,” Johanna ordered.

Madge snorted, extending her wedding band. Madge had just left their group and married Constable Gale Hawthorne. She’d come back as a midwife part-time. Gale was soon going to join them when his shift ended. “Ladies only the two of you have to be worried.”

“Sure throw it in our faces Hawthorne,” Johanna huffed. It was all good-natured banter. “But Katniss here she has no excuse.”

Katniss blushed red, her excuse was a valid one maybe not to the girls.

“May I have this dance?” A deep, pleasant voice asked.

Katniss’ skin pebbled as her heart thumped against the confines of her chest.

Katniss looked up to see a blonde man with breathtaking blue eyes smiling at her. The music faded away. Nothing existed for Katniss besides the man in front of her.

She nodded, unable to say no to him. As soon as she placed her hand in his, she felt her entire body indicate that she was home.

** kp **

May 11, 1958,

Dear Prim;

Happy Birthday little sister. It is my fervent wish that all is well at home. I know you must be curious as to my new living quarters. It is a quaint place, as old rambling homes go, but it’s not the drafty old convent I’m used to.

Nonnatus House still continues to be in the Seam, in London’s Lower East side. Baby’s do not have a set time or date to be born. If they did I’d like to schedule them promptly between the hours of nine in the morning and three in the afternoon. But I must confess, although the business of giving birth is frightening, the look on a mother’s face when she first beholds her baby is my favorite experience.

It reminds me of hope. The kind of hope we experienced when the war was over. I remember walking through the streets looking at all of the faces of those who had served.

There were so many of them. I know you call them lost boys, and in a way they are. Lost little boys coming back home from war. Many of them trying to make a new start of it. A lot of them are shell-shocked, fatigued by the war, and the things they saw. Others are keen rascals trying to win over a pretty face with a medal or two. Some are cocky, like the Americans.

Speaking of Americans, I met one, Prim, at a bash, an American. Brash. Young. Sweet. Handsome. Johanna called him a dreamy cupcake.

His name is Peeta Mellark, and we danced cheek to cheek. If not for dear Rue pulling me away from him, I would have broken the curfew. I will never hear the end of it from Johanna now. She swears that I lost my scowl.

But it doesn’t matter, because I will never see him again. I hope you and mother are well. Enclosed is some additional help for you and mother.

Love,

Katniss Everdeen

Katniss folded the letter, as she hummed the song The Great Pretender by the Platters. She addressed the envelope in care of her sister Primrose Everdeen. She walked downstairs, where she heard the phone ringing.

Jo was waiting at the foot of the stairs along with Rue and Madge. Jo smirked. “How are your feet this morning?”

She could feel the warm, tingly feeling of a flush appearing on the apples of her cheeks. “Good enough to do my duties at the clinic today.”

“Sure,” Madge said with a laugh.

They all sat down for breakfast, but Katniss couldn’t look at any of them.

“Sister Mary Margaret, would you please pass the platter of buns.” Madge giggled.

Katniss turned even redder.

“The platter of buns are plump and delicious,” Johanna turned to her and winked, “but they were delicious last night, just ask Katniss?” Laughter erupted amongst the girls.

Katniss glowered at all of them.

“What has you girls acting like a gaggle of geese?” Sister Saethryth Evangelina asked. Of all the nuns, Sister

“Katniss met a boy,” Rue whispered, “at the mixer last night.”

Katniss was uncomfortable being spoken about, nor was she comfortable having her personal life discussed like she was on the front page of the tabloid. They were funning her because Katniss had always sworn off men. She never danced, never flirted, and never spoke about them. She had a job to do, and that was to earn money to send home to her mother and Prim. Men were off the table, until last night.

Peeta walked up to her and gave her a smile that melted her resolve. She’d never seen blue eyes like his in her life. She’d imagined blue like that only existed in the ocean. When he asked her to dance it felt right and she couldn’t say no.

“Met and attached herself at the hip,” Jo snickered and it caused more laughter.

They weren’t being rude or mean, but Katniss wasn’t used to being the center of attention. She stood abruptly and walked away. As she left the room, she could hear Sister Margaret Joan say, “Shakespeare wrote…and though she be but little, she is fierce.”

Katniss swallowed and took the letter she’d written for her sister and stuffed it in her pocket. They were, after all, impractical musings. She had better things to deal with than affairs of the heart.

She didn’t mail the letter, instead, she headed to the clinic early.

The clinic was opened twice a week, Tuesdays and Thursdays. The doctor performed check-ups on each patient on those days. The wellness checks allowed the midwife and doctor to know how well mother and child were doing.

Katniss was finished cleaning the floor when the girls came in. All but Jo looked down at the floor. Jo walked straight up to her. “I’m sorry for making you feel bad about meeting someone. It’s just none of us have ever seen you this way with a man before.”

“It doesn’t even matter. He’s an American visiting London and when he leaves, I’ll just be a girl he danced with and had a lovely time with.” Katniss cleared her throat and blinked to keep the tears from her eyes. Katniss walked away; the workday was about to start.

Johanna didn’t say anything else. She was busy during the day, attending to the ladies who came to the clinic.

“Beatrix Collins,” Ruth called out.

Katniss smiled. Rue was the youngest and newest member. She had come such a long way from when she first joined on as a midwife. Katniss was sterilizing some of the instruments. It was important everything was cleaned and sterilized. Infection was a serious agent that quickly killed patients.

Johanna and Madge were off to the side, speaking about Rue’s patient.

“I’d like to look like that if I ever have a baby.” Johanna pointed to the woman with the smart coat and shoes.

“She looks like a movie star. Do you think she’s really a blonde?” Madge asked.

“Yeah, she’s a natural blond, but she’s highlighted it.” Jo grinned.

“I wonder why she’s even here at the Clinic,” Madge said. “Her handbag is a Dior.”

“I do not know,” Sister Saethryth Evangelina said, siding up to them, “but I do know she’s in her final stages and so are a lot of the other mothers, so if you girls could stop chit-chatting and get to work.”

Both girls returned to work, but Katniss thought it odd that such an elegantly dressed woman was at the Clinic. Most of the Seam still showed the ravages of war. There was rubble everywhere, and pre-war tenements where the occupants shared one bathroom per floor or section.

It was the poorest sector of all of London. Katniss knew places like this; places in England where hunger was the constant companion of children. Even though she wasn’t from the city, she understood poverty. In the village where she was born, before the war, her home was a hovel, as were most homes during the depression. Many of the homes were abandoned as there wasn’t any electricity and the running water came from the well. They were the poorest district. All around them they had beautiful countryside and quaint farms. There was none of that in district twelve where people mined coal.

It was her mother who suggested she join the Nation Health Service and take the NHS training courses to become a nurse. She’d studied for three years before passing her exams. Her practice came with helping her mother in her home district. When a position opened up in London, Katniss decided to move. The wages she sent home helped her mother and sister move to a quaint countryside cottage that was located in a better village.

The midwives and nurses who came to the Seam did not know this level of poverty. They were often shocked at how the women survived. Johanna called them heroes and she was right, as they bravely faced life with the hearts of warriors, birthing and rearing children.

By the end of the shift all of the girls were in agreement; they each wanted a biscuit and a good cup of tea. As they left the clinic, they were in high spirits as they peddled back to the convent. When they arrived, Katniss was surprised to see a familiar blond man waiting for her.

“Katniss.”

“Peeta.” Katniss hopped off her bike. He was as good looking in the daytime as he was last night. Part of her thought she’d dreamt it all up. “What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you again.” He thrust flowers at her. “Here, these are for you.”

“Thank you.” Katniss took the wild bouquet in her hands. There was giggling coming from around her.

“I was hoping, I mean wondering if you wanted to go to the pictures with me.” His gaze did not stray from hers. “If you’re free tonight?”

“Oh she’s free tonight,” Johanna said.

Katniss turned to stare at her. “I can’t. I’m on a call with Rue.”

“Okay, maybe tomorrow night then?”

He looked so hopeful with his blonde curly hair parted to the side and those twin shining blue beacons that she couldn’t deny him.

Later that night she was in her room when the phone rang. “I’ll get it,” Rue said.

Katniss followed her. Rue picked up the receiver and answered, “Nonnatus House, midwife speaking.”

“Yes, of course.” she smiled at Katniss as she wrote down the information in the logbook. It was important for everyone to know where you were. “Apartment 12B, Victors Village. Beatrix Collins, I will be there shortly.”

Katniss heard the name and pulled one of the birthing packs and Rue’s kit. The Victors Village was the newest building, it was modern, many of the occupants were well off. a"Here, if you need help, do not hesitate to call.“

Rue smiled. "Okay, will do.”

Nearly an hour later the phone rang again. “Nonnatus House, midwife speaking.”

“Katniss, it’s me Rue. It’s a breech birth and I’ve never done one?” Rue’s voice trembled over the phone.

Katniss remained calm. “Rue, I will be there shortly. Try to comfort the mother as best as you can.”

“Okay.”

Katniss hung up the phone. She rushed through the house to get her kit. She ran into Sister Saethryth Evangelina.

“Where are you going in such a rush?”

“Rue has a breech birth. She hasn’t done one yet and needs assistance.”

“Go on then. I will take care of the phones while you are gone. It will keep me from listening to Sister Margaret Joan spew Shakespeare and Keats all night long.”

Katniss nodded, got her kit, and within seconds she was peddling across the Seam.

When she arrived at the Victors Village she quickly took the elevator, to the apartment on the 12th floor. Slightly out of breath, Katniss knocked on the door. “Midwife?”

The door opened.

“You!” Katniss tumbled out.

“Katniss,” Peeta said, looking pale.

Her heart dropped to the bottom of her feet. “What are you doing here?”

“I-” he looked behind him, panicked. “Are you here to help?”

The wailing of a woman could be heard from within the apartment. Katniss pushed her way into the apartment and into the bedroom.

“Katniss!” Rue said, relieved. “This is Mrs. Collins.”

“Call me, Trixie,” Mrs. Collins grunted.

“Lovely to meet you, Trixie.” Katniss hid her ire. Peeta lied to her. He told her his last name was Mellark. “I’m Katniss, and Rue and I going are going to assist you in delivering your baby. I am sure.” Katniss quickly put on her white coat, her white cap and gloves.

Trixie howled in pain. Rue’s eyes widened. “I’ve been keeping her as calm as possible.”

“Good, have you asked Mr. Collins to boil water?”

“No, I did not.” Rue opened her mouth. Her eyes went to the bedroom door, indicating she was thinking of Peeta. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, right now we have to get the hot water boiling and extra towels.”

“Okay.” Rue left the room.

Turning around she addressed Peeta’s wife. “I need to make sure your baby is fine.” Katniss quickly listened for the baby’s heartbeat. “Your little one is doing well.” She moved to the foot of the bed to check to see how dilated Trixie was. She felt her stomach and made the same diagnosis as Rue.

“Trixie you are fully dilated, but the baby is in breech.”

“Breech,” Trixie panted.

“Yes, it means the baby is going to be born ass first.”

Trixie laughed. “Just like his father, a real pain in my ass.”

Katniss smiled. “Shall we get to work then?”

Opening the door, she found Peeta just beyond it. “Mr. Collins, I am going to need two chairs.”

Peeta nodded and within seconds he’d brought over two dining chairs.

“Katniss, I-”

“Peeta, I don’t want to make a scene in front of your wife, who is, at the moment, giving birth to your child.” Katniss took the chairs and shut the door in his face. She couldn’t believe she’d done that. Her hands shook as she turned around.

“Trixie, I need you to be at the edge of the bed.” Katniss put two chairs at the edge. “Okay, put one foot on each chair. She could see the baby’s legs, and gently she brought out one leg at a time as the mother pushed. "With the next contraction, I’m going to turn the baby, and it’ll help ease the baby out.”

The mother screamed as the baby was coming out.

“Is she okay?” Peeta rushed into the room. Katniss looked over her shoulder briefly to see Rue was right behind him.

“Rue, keep him out. Mother and child need quiet.” Katniss kept her eye on the baby until its head was out. The piercing cry was joyous. Katniss looked up and saw Peeta. “Rue, please take over. I have to get back to Nonnatus to cover the phones.”

“Would you like to see the baby?” Rue asked Trixie.

Katniss let Rue take over and quickly took off her gear, put it inside of her kit, and took off. As she peddled through the darkened streets of the Seam, unwanted tears fell from her face. When she arrived back at the convent Sister Saethryth Evangeline was sitting by the phone.

“Sister Saethryth Evangelina,” Katniss shook her shoulder. “I’m here.”

The sister gave Katniss the once over. “What’s wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” Katniss said, checking the log book.

“Nothing? Your eyes are leaking like a faucet Haymitch fixed.”

She loathed having to share, but Sae was one of the sisters who could keep a secret.

“It turns out Mrs. Collins is married to the bloke I met last night.”

“Ah, and you are sure of this because?”

“When I arrived he was there at her apartment. He looked like a nervous father.” Katniss let out a shaky breath, before confessing, “I felt like such a fool. I never asked if he was married or anything. I just danced with him without a care in the world.”

“I see.”

Straightening her shoulders, Katniss wiped her eyes with her handkerchief. “I am sorry for speaking out of turn Sister. If Sister Paylor were here, she’d have some magic phrase or comment that would make things better.”

“She might, but Katniss did you bother asking Peeta if he was indeed the father?”

She shook her head slowly.

“Think about that. Now if you will excuse me, I have to see what Sister Margaret Joan is doing, hopefully, she hasn’t attacked all of the cake.”

Katniss smiled. Sister Margaret Joan, known as Mags, was the first midwife. She helped deliver half the children in the Seam. She was the eldest of the nuns and clever when it came to acquiring cakes.

Katniss didn’t get to rest for long as she received another call. That night she helped deliver two more babies. It started a want within her to perhaps one day have a baby of her own. Katniss could just visualize the baby, one with floppy golden curls running through a meadow.

The thought caused her to smile as she pedaled home once more. She saw him sitting on the steps of Nonnatus House.

“Peeta,” Katniss said as she came to a stop. She saw that he was sleeping outside. Hunching over, she quietly called his name once more.

His long translucent lashes fluttered open. “Katniss?”

Katniss backed away, giving him space. She couldn’t help but stare at his broad shoulders. He was average height, but since she was tiny, he towered over her.

Peeta ran his hands through his hair. “Hi, I just wanted to explain last night. I’m not Mr. Collins. I can see why you made that mistake. Trixie is a friend of mine, was a nurse during the war who married my cousin, Jake Collins. There was an accident a few weeks back. I came out here to help while Jake gets better.”

Katniss listened carefully. The Sister’s advice still played on her mind. She listened to his voice and decided she could listen to his voice for a lifetime.

** kp **

July 7, 1958

Dear Prim,

My days as a midwife are numbered. Peeta has asked me to marry him. He wants to meet you and mother so that we can make arrangements for the wedding.

I know it’s only been two months, but I know that he’s the one. Prim, I’ve never met anyone who gentles my fears. When he holds my hand, or when he holds me in his arms, I cannot stop thinking of the future.

The girls mock me because they say love looks good on me. I do not understand what they mean, but I cannot help wanting to be with him. He is wonderful and when you meet him, in a weeks time I’m sure you’re going to love him.

If there is something that I’ve learned from the Sisters and from the women in the Seam is that, life is full of changes. And although not all changes are pleasant, love often makes those changes bearable and worthwhile.

Love,

Katniss Everdeen

#Springtime Edition 2018 #mega-aulover #que-sera-sera88 #prompt 61 #submission

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