The gnats buzz around my head and the scorching, hot sun burns my cheeks as I stand in the designated circle for the reaping. I turn my head to the left and stare at my husband, the man who plans to die for me. Yet, little does he know I plan to do the same for him. His eyes capture mine for a brief second before turning to face Effie.
My hand begins to rub my swollen tummy and I think of the child inside of me. Four months ago I never would have seen myself pregnant, but I've learned to love him. Him. I think it's a boy, a miniature Peeta. Peeta on the other hand thinks it's a girl, a little huntress. I guess I'll never know if my baby is a girl or a boy.
"For the ladies!" Effie squeals with delight, but behind the Capitol makeup I see her face falter. The pain she actually feels begin to seep through her pale, powdered face. Her fingers claw around the bottom of the reaping bowl for what feels like eternity, until they finally grasp onto the only slip inside. We all know my name is written on it, but no one wants to except it.
"Katniss Everdeen!" She yells out into the crowd, but staring off into the distance. "It's Mellark actually", I say in my mind only allowing myself to hear.
As I stand on stage and wait for her to grasp the card for the male tribute, I can only hope that it will be Peeta. Haymitch promised he would volunteer for him. He has to stay out of the arena. "Now for the boys." She says as her fingers dip into the bowl.
Don't do it, Peeta. You promised me you wouldn't volunteer.
"Haymitch Abernathy." Her voice cracks at the name and my heart sinks, because I know Peeta will break his promise.
"I volunteer as a tribute." Peeta steps forward and takes Haymitch's place, just like I knew he would.
Effie regains her composure and stands behind the mic once again.
"Shake hands, you two." She tells us with her Capitol accent. My eyes catch his and our hands extend forward, but this years it's different. This year our lips capture each other as well. While the hand shake was short the kiss is nothing but long. We break away and face the crowd, still holding hands with a vise grip.
Gale does it first, and I'm shocked at what I see. He kisses three fingers before extending them in the air. It's more than a final goodbye, it's a friendship I didn't know existed. Gale doesn't stare at me when he does this, but at Peeta. It's as if he is promising he'll fulfill his deal. Almost as if he is saying they're friends. Mr. Mellark and Peeta's brothers follow, then my mom and Prim, and eventually the whole district. I never realized how many lives Peeta had touched. But now the truth lies before me and it makes me love him even more.
The head peacekeeper pushes us inside aiming his gun at whoever resists.
"Wait, I have to say goodbye. I have to say goodbye!" I start to tell as I'm pushed down the hallway and onto the train, away from my family. I never got to say goodbye and now I never will. The doors on the train lock behind us and with a solid click, I know everything is happening all over again.
He wraps his arms around my waist as I stare out the window. "It'll be alright, Katniss. We'll write letters, if we have to." He finishes with a whisper. I lean my head in his chest and watch as the place I call home disappears. It turns into a mere dot in the distance, a thing in the past. Prim, Gale, my family, and Peeta's family they are all something I treasure. And deep down I feel empty as I watch everything I know slip away from my grasp.
Dinner is incredibly tense and awkward. A sense of doom seems to settle over everyone, no matter how many times Peeta and Effie attempt to start some small talk. "I like your new hair, Effie," Peeta says, breaking the silence.
"Oh, thank you, dear," Effie gives him a small smile that holds none of her usual brightness. "I had it especially done to match Katniss's pin. I was thinking we might get you a golden token and maybe find Haymitch a gold bracelet as well. That way we could all look like a team," she explains.
I wonder how much Effie knows about the rebellion. Does she know my mockingjay pin is the symbol? A real rebel doesn't get matching gold accessories. A real rebel stamps my mockingjay onto a cracker, to be eaten in a split second if need be. But surely Effie isn't completely oblivious to what's going on. Well, she doesn't know about the baby, or the fact that Peeta and I are married. But only a few people know that. How much has Haymitch kept from her? That seems to be one of his new hobbies, keeping secrets.
When I've managed to scrape every single bit of food off of my plate, Effie suggests that we move into the lounge area to watch the recap of the reapings. I get comfy on the couch, as I wait for Peeta to join me. He returns not a moment later and immediately takes a seat beside me.
Unsurprisingly Districts 1, 2, and 4, have the largest amount of victors. But each district manages to come up with at least one male and female tribute. I notice the tributes from District 1, a brother and sister who won in back to back years when I was younger. Brutus, a volunteer from District 2, rushes up on the stage to take the place for the quell. It's the tributes like that, that have the most problems hidden beneath their icy exterior.
However, when I see Beetee and Wiress take the stage as the tributes from District 3, my gaze becomes soft. The way Beetee takes her hand, shows that they might be more than just friends. My heart goes out to them because I've been in their place, I'm in their place. I know what it's like to go into the arena, with someone you love. I steal a glance at Peeta and snuggle closer to him, sharing his body heat.
District 4 takes the screen and I watch as Finnick Odair takes the stage. A beautiful brunette is called as his fellow tribute, but she immediately begins to scream. In response, an old lady who needs a cane to walk up to the stage volunteers to take the screaming girl's place. Johanna Mason from District 7 is called, another person I'm not too fond of. Her short brown hair goes every which of way and her small body holds deathly skill. We also have the fact that we're the only living female victors from our districts in common.
The rest of the tributes are called, and then it's time for the reaping from District 12. I'm called, and am struck by the defiant look on my face. Haymitch is called and when Peeta volunteers the Capitol is just about beside themselves in anguish. I actually hear tears in the voice of the female announcer as she says that it seems like the odds will never be in our favor. But of course, in true Capitol style, she pulls herself together and announces that these games are sure to be the best yet!
With another sigh, Effie leaves the room, Haymitch soon after, but not before giving both Peeta and I a look that communicated something along the lines of, 'no funny business.'
I wanted to point out that I was already pregnant. Not like that advice would do me much good, now.
Peeta and I walk hand and hand through the hallway and stop at our doors. "Yours or mine?" He asks me, pointing his head to each door. I open the door to my large room and pull him inside with me. The walls are a light blue and the bed spread is a steal gray, much like my eyes. As we climb into bed and he pulls me against him, I hear his breathing begin to slow down. The soft snore that comes from his nose and his hot breath against my shoulder.
It's in this moment that I feel the safest I've ever been,-in Peeta's arms with his hand resting on our child- and I make a decision. A decision I knew was right all along, but my mind refused to allow it. I place my hand over Peeta's and close my eyes.
I will protect this baby until my last breath.
A.N. Hey everyone! Ho Ho Ho merry Christmas! I have a present for everyone and it's right here.
1,571 words for y'all. Hope you liked it.
Alright so Katniss is finally beginning to love her child. Not that she didn't before, but she was still scared of it and for it. Hope y'all like where this is going. See you in the next chapter!
Xoxox peetandkatniss
Quote from next chapter is...Finnick!
"We can't have people thinking a scandal is brewing. Especially not with the star crossed lovers."
ESTÁ A LER
Always
Fanfic"Will you stay with me?" He asks as if he's unsure. I look him in the eyes and kiss his hand. "Always." I whisper. Book 1 Peeta loved her first and she loved him second, or was it all just a ploy to survive? They were thrown into the games together...
