Antonio "Tony" Santos

Emilia didn’t look up at him upon his question, remaining in his embrace for another long moment until she finally did look up. The news she had caused conflicted feelings, both wanting to be ecstatic, but at the same time the worry for a repetition of the past keeping her from allowing herself the happiness and excitement. This was a constant struggle, and the reason she’d waited not into the first month, but into the second month before finally giving into the whispering thoughts in the back of her mind. “I, um…” Her brow crinkled, trying to just get the words out was hard. “I took a pregnancy test.” She didn’t move, didn’t loosen her the hold her fingers had on her husband’s shirt. “It was positive.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. 

-

Tony didn’t press past the first question, waiting quietly for her to speak when she was willing. When she finally spoke, he waited a beat, listening to what she had to say and then waiting a beat more before he spoke. He pressed his lips to the top of her head, smiling softly as he took in the news. “Em... that’s,” he pulled back enough to look down at her, his hands coming up to cup either side of her face, holding her between his hands, “that’s amazing.” But he was trying to keep himself from getting to excited. “How far? Do you think?” It was a tentative question.

Hyacinth hadn’t meant to fall asleep on the District One floor but late night activities had worn the Victor out. She wasn’t sure what had caused her to wake but in the soft light of the bedroom Hyacinth saw that only Emilia was in bed. Either way she needed to get back to her floor before Wisteria woke and found her fellow Mentor missing after promising to return that night. Hyacinth tried to dress as quietly as possible before slipping out of the room. Erebus’ nails clicked softly on the floor as the pair headed towards the elevator. Only as she neared the kitchen Hyacinth spotted Tony at the sink. Making a beeline towards him she smiled and shook her head. “You didn’t wake. Are you alright?” She asked her friend.

-

Tony turned to rest his back against the counter when Hyacinth made her way over. He offered a gentle smile, thankful he hadn’t been the cause of her waking. “Yea, I’m fine.” He replied softly, glancing to the large floor to ceiling windows that revealed a still dark sky, but one which was slowly beginning to lighten. “Just couldn’t sleep.”

Tony had woken when nightmares became too much and had slipped from bed near silently in an attempt to not wake any one else on the floor. He stood at the sink in the floor’s kitchenette, glass in hand, when he heard footsteps approaching. Frowning he looked up to find Hyacinth. “Hey, sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” He spoke softly.

“You didn’t wake me.” Hyacinth smiled softly as she came to join Tony in front of the large windows wearing Tony’s oversized shirt from the day before. “I had a bad dream and when I woke up I noticed you were gone.” She smiled shyly “I wanted to make sure you were okay.” She turned and looked out the window. “I feel so conflicted. I want to feel relieved that it’s only twelve and not twenty four but that’s still twelve too many. I…” She paused. “Some part of me wanted to hope Cassia would be better than her grandfather.” She admitted softly.

-

Tony’s eyes watched Hyacinth as she moved to his side before returning his gaze back out the window. “Yea, I’m fine.” Though he wasn’t sure he was fine. Nothing about their world was fine. He dragged a hand down his face before offering his mug of coffee towards her. “I think there were a lot of people that wanted her to be better than her grandfather.” And it was the truth. “But I guess not. Instead we gotta get on trains like every other year and herd children to the death.” He rolled his eyes. 

Emilia giggled girlishly, the difference in a seventeen year old girl she used to be and the thirty-one year old woman she was now only noticeable in the lines at the corner of her eyes. “If you don’t stop it I will drag you right back inside, Mister.” She teased, fingers coming to rest on his chest. 

-

Tony grinned mischievously, dropping his lips to press a kiss to her neck. “Is that a threat or a promise?” He whispered just against her ear. “Either way, I don’t think the proposition is too bad.”

The president’s announcement the day before had been all that was on his mind. He had known better than to hope that the Hunger Games wouldn’t go on, but he had let himself do just that. Now, it was the early hours of the morning, and he stood in the kitchen with a mug of hot coffee forgotten between his hands, eyes glued staring out the large windows that had views of the mountains not far in the distance. The sound of someone joining him downstairs drew his attention away from the view and his internal thoughts. “Sorry if I woke you, I couldn’t sleep.” He explained, unsure if the newcomer was his wife or their visiting friend. “Brain won’t shut up about the president’s announcement last night.” 

Emilia’s eyes peaked around his broad form, reaching for the mug of coffee as he turned in her arms. She raised the mug to take a drink as she looked up at him from under thick lashes. “Si, muy bien.” She whispered, setting the mug back down and leaning up on her toes to press a kiss to his chin. “But how could I not after last night?” She smirked as she settled back onto flat feet.

-

Tony chuckled, his arms tightening around her waist. “Is that so?” He murmured, his fingers slinking down further to slip under the hem of his shirt she wore. “Could always go for another go. Sleep all day too.” He teased, pressing a kiss to her forehead, then another to the tip of her nose before finally pressing his lips to hers. 

“A better future?” He muttered, coming to a pause beside Hyacinth. People still milled about, waiting on vehicles and otherwise gossiping after Cassia’s large announcement. “What does that even mean for Panem?” He wouldn’t allow the hope of an end of the games to become reality. 

Emilia turned herself into her husband’s hold, shaking her head when he mentioned leaving. “Don’t wanna risk it.” She whispered, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her face to his chest. She was always so paranoid that the regime would come after one of them, him especially. Not even the man’s death changed her fears. Someone would just take his place. 

-

Tony sighed, but gave a nod as his hands moved about her waist under her blazer. “If you’re sure.” He murmured. “I’m sure we could find other ways to enjoy our time.” A smirk turned up the corners of his mouth because he could picture one very enjoyable way to pass the time. 

His eyes flickered between the coffin at the head of the room and his wife, fingers slipping around her waist as he offered her the drink he’d gone to retrieve for her. “We can leave whenever you’re ready.” He whispered under his breath, lips pressing into the curls atop her head. Neither wanted to be here, but the coffin and the man within were undoubtedly more uncomfortable for her.

Emilia chuckled softly, fingers reaching to thread through his hair as he spoke to her swollen belly. She felt huge. She was huge. And nearly miserable in her largeness. “No,” she leaned over, resting against his shoulder, “other than wait it out and that we’ll induce when I reach forty-one weeks if I haven’t gone into labor naturally.” She frowned. She really didn’t want to be induced. “My pregnancy books say walking can help but it’s so damn hot outside.” She was grumbly now, cranky at being pregnant and at it being so hot. 

-

“Very. Is there anything from your Arena that you ate, that you haven’t been able to find again?” She had no idea what his Arena might have been (she barely recalled her own), but she thought it might be something like her own.

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