Catching Fire (Katniss loves Peeta)

Chapter 8

All rights to the characters belong to Suzanne Collins!

Chapter 8

He sits down but looks confused.

"I've been having all these wired cravings lately, throwing up, and been moody. So I think I'm you know what." I stare at him. I haven't even thought of this very long, but I couldn't keep it from Peeta. A few days ago my mom hand someone come in with all the same symptoms, so I listened in to see what it was and mentally answered all the questions my mother asked. Pregnancy was the diagnosis. Three months ago was when I got my last monthly visitor. I'm pregnant. I'm pregnant. I promised myself I would never be, but here I am.

"Let's go to your old house." Translation; let's go somewhere without cameras. He looks at me, he looks like he saw a ghost. Terrified, not that I am doing any better, but I have at least had a few days to process it. Victors shouldn't have children; it never ends well.

I manage to walk there without bursting into tears. As soon as we get in I sit down on the old couch; I'm tired. Another sign.

"I am, but I realized a day or so ago. I just thought I was paranoid. But I'm sure I'm not now." I say quietly. Peeta comes up and hugs me.

"I'm sorry." 

"Peeta it's not entirely your fault, mostly mine I should have got some herbs or something if I would just think half the time..." I look into his eyes.

"We will get through it, together," I intertwine my fingers with his.

"I was thinking on the way over here, and the baby will be reaped for the Games unless we do something," I say sadly.

"Katniss, we can't do much." He holds mine hand tightly, I know he is thinking the same as me, the Games. 

"No, but I do trust Sae to hide the baby at her house. I could hide that I'm pregnant until then. I'll wear hoodies and baggy shirts, that's it." I whisper into his ear.

"No one can find out. Not our parents, not our friends. It would be dangerous." I whisper. Peeta laughs.

"Do you seriously think I am going to let someone I don't even know raise my child while I stand back and watch it grow up never knowing us?" I lean back.

"We could visit the baby," I mumble, Peeta shakes his head.

"So what it can know us as those strangers who stare at me and look sad?" Peeta looks at me like I am crazy and suddenly I feel insane.

"I don't want to give it up, but if Snow ever found out... A baby would be the perfect way to get revenge on us for the rebellions huh?"

"Katniss, he would probably know anyway, the town talks. What are you going to do, hide in your house with all the cameras for the next six months? Give the baby to Sae, never get to know it until we have to mentor it for the Hunger Games?" I flinch at his verbal assault, maybe him being good with words isn't always a gift that works in my favor.

"I wasn't thinking okay! This is why I don't make plans! I just don't want to watch our baby die, and we both know it would be in the Games and no matter what we did Snow would make sure it died." 

"Katniss, I couldn't give the baby up." I sob, I know Peeta has a big heart and that he loves kids and I mean it's not like I hate them, but I would rather not have a baby. It be in so much danger, the child of not one, but two victors, of the same Games. It is a death sentence, not one by Peacekeeper but a death sentence all the same.

"Katniss, it is okay, we are going to be fine. We will figure it out okay? We have like twelve years to figure this out, that is a good chunk of time."