Teddy Bear [Giraffe]

It's been a long week for Vicky and for everyone... but mostly for Vicky. Labor is one hell of a beast and it is no cake walk. You're pushing a human being out of you, it's traumatic and painful but now she has something to show for all that suffering. Her little angel. Her little Ishamel. Of course Bear doesn't like that name so they call him Teddy. Her little Teddy Bear. Cute as button he is. He had dark hair like his parents, a whole bunch of it already coating his little head.

Walking up behind him, Vicky spotted Bear by Teddy's crib, his arm stretched over the side. Gently laying her hands on his back, Vicky looked over Bear's shoulder at the sleeping child. So tiny. So peaceful.

"So innocent isn't he?" she said.
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Bear's words hit something deep within Vicky. Keep his innocence. Maybe every parents hopes that for their child. That they're little baby will never know pain or know how to inflict it. Did Bear's mother say the same thing when he was born? Did her own? All these questions filled her mind but the woman's brain was too tried to try and answer them. Her knees were ready to give out too so she stepped around Bear, sitting on his lap and laying her head where his shoulder connects to his neck.

Innocent. How could something so innocent come from people so tainted? A cannibal and a lush, perfect role models. Still Vicky looked at her baby with an optimistic view point.

"I think he will. I mean at least he has us to tell him what not to do."
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Uncertainty fills Bear's voice and he becomes someone Vicky never knew he could be. Someone who wasn't proud of the horrible things he has done. He cares enough that he would throw it all away so that little Teddy would grow up to like him- to adore him. A warmness filled her chest and she nuzzled Bear's neck, a grin claiming her lips.

"When I was little, my father used to sleep around," she began, "He was a total slut now that I think about it but when I was younger he was perfect. He was my Daddy so that made him my hero. Only when I grew older did I realize he wasn't any kind of knight in shining armor. That's where you're different, Bear. You know the things you do and you're willing to be Teddy's hero. I know you can be because you're mine."
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Leaning forward, Vicky reached her hand over into the crib, placing her palm on top of Bear's and Teddy's conjoined fingers. It was true, one day their son would find out all the nasty things Bear had done. He'd find out about the bodies and the blood and all the things that no baby should ever have to worry about. Only he wouldn't be a baby then, he'd be grown. He'd be Bear's age now. He'd be an adult. The idea of her son being grown sent a shiver through her body, yet it would happen. Growing was just as inevitable as him finding out their past.

"I don't know," she sighed, then began to chuckle under her breath. "Maybe we can start a family business- we can make skin suits."
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Looking over her shoulder she saw Bear's tear smeared cheeks right before he turned away to hide them from her. Her fingers went to his hair, running her hand through his black locks in an attempt to soothe him. Although all her efforts thus far had proved fruitless. Then he spoke up again and it nearly broke her heart in two.

"Bear Keeni you look at me," she said, a single sniffle the only evidence of the tears that wanted to spill over. "He isn't going to leave you, he's only going to grow closer. He's going to grow up with the coolest Dad in District Six and everyone is going to be so jealous of Teddy Keeni because his Daddy is the one that can fight away all the monsters in the night better than anyone because he was one of them once. Teddy Keeni is going to grow up and be the safest, most loved baby in Panem and he's going to know it and he's going to love you back no matter what you've done. I promise."
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His words were soft and the look on his face made him look even younger than his short years. Standing up, Vicky reached into the crib, taking Teddy gently into her arms as not to wake him. Sitting back down on Bear's lap, she looked up at Bear and leaned in, kissing one of the tears on his cheek.

"Don't be," she said, smiling before handing Teddy to him. It was about time Bear had graduated from holding tiny fingers to holding the boy himself. It was just what he needed right now, the comfort of the tiny heartbeat next to his own.
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