Catching Fire (Katniss loves Peeta)

Chapter 9

Suzanne Collins owns the characters.
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Chapter 9

Someone knocks at the house door. "They can't take him." I say.

"Might not be him, they want," Haymitch says.

"Could be you." I say.

"Not my house. But I'll go get it." Haymitch points out.

"No I will." says my mother quietly. Standing at the door is a snowflake figure holding a box. Madge. "My mother said to give these to you." She says and runs away.

"Crazy girl." Says Haymitch.

"She's my friend," I say.

"Morphine from the Capitol." Mother says. My mother sends me off to bed and I sadly agree. I would like to stay for Gale, but I need to be upstairs with Peeta. He should already be there by now, he left an hour ago.

"Bye Haymitch!" I shout as I walk up the stairs. In my bedroom hands slide over my face.

"Peeta." I say. I know it's Peeta, I can feel his hands covering my eyes. He lightly kisses my cheek. I can not help but smile. Only Peeta has that effect on me.

"I love you." He whispers so my mother wouldn't have a chance of hearing. I'm betting she's deaf like Haymitch said though.

"Love you more." I say walking into his arms for a hug.

"I don't think that's possible." He says.

"We'll believe me, it is." I say tiredly. "Let's go to bed." I say.

"Yeah. It's been a long day, huh?" He asks climbing under the covers.

"Very long." I say climbing in and scouting next to him. "We'll figure it out." Peeta says soothingly.

"I hope so," I say.

"I won't let anything happen. Not to you or your family." He says. There's more to what he is saying than the cameras know. He's saying; I'll protect you, our baby and your sister. My mother isn't really part of the family. Well she doesn't act like it. But that is just for us Sae and Haymitch to know, not the Capitol. Never the Capitol. They won't hurt it. We won't let them. Then I fall asleep.

I wake up and run for the bathroom. Peeta comes in after I dressed looking like he just got here, in case my mother notices him. I throw up. Peeta shuts the door.

"You'll be okay." He whispers soothingly. "Can't wait till it's over." I say.

"Eight more months." He says. I groan.

"Are you okay?" he asks with eyes as big as Panem. He worries about me too much. "Peeta the thought of eight more months of this made me groan, not pain." I say.

He needs to do something else. Get a new avocation, something. His eyes go back to normal. And he looks a lot calmer.

"Come on let's go check on Gale." He says. I forgot about Gale being here. How could I forget? My childhood friend is in pain and I forgot?! My I've been crazy lately. The baby that's why. Well probably not, but that sounds like a good reason.

We walk into the kitchen and Gale sits there asleep. His back is raw and bloody. I can stand to see it. I run to the trash can to throw up. Peeta sighs and walks over to me.

He pays my back and says "Are you okay?" No my childhood friend is hurt and I'm pregnant, dumbutt. I think and successfully not say. "Let's go for a walk I'll go tell my mother, come with me." I say.

We run it past her ,she may not remember it when she wakes up, but at least I can honestly say I did tell her. I walk into my room and change into a baggy shirt that's Peeta's but I took over and put on my engagement/wedding ring. I smile. I love the enragement; 'Always'. We'll be together always. No matter what.