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.

Peeta and I walk outside into the woods. We normally spend our time in the meadow, but I want to take him somewhere. He trips on most of the branches.

"Just a little farther," I say.

"Katniss where are we going?" Peeta asks.

"Somewhere my Dad used to take me when I was little." I say. My whole being is screaming telling me the place isn't for Peeta to know. just me and my Father, but I ignore it. Peeta squeezes my hand reassuringly.

We do get there eventually. As soon as we get inside I feel so much better. "I was wondering of we should tell Prim." I say.

"That is up to you." Peeta says. "Darn it! Can't you give me an answer?!" I say.

"She's not my blood family Katniss," Peeta says. I give Peeta 'the look'.

"I think you should tell her. She always looks up to you and would never be able to forgive you if you didn't tell her." He says. I sigh.

"You can do whatever you feel the need to do though." He says eagerly. "I'll tell her. But she better not say a word to mother." I say.

"We need to get back to the District. Please don't shoot anything. You don't need to end up like Gale did yesterday." Peeta says. I roll my eyes. Always worried about my safety. Nothing else.

"I've done that for years." I say.

"Katniss you weren't pregnant and the rules weren't so strictly enforced." Peeta says calmly. We walk back and Peeta doesn't trip, but twice. That's really good for him.

"Hey Prim do you want to go for a walk?" I ask when we get back.

"Sure where are we going?" Prim asks, walking with us out the door.

"Just around the Seam." I say. "Visiting Gale?" She asks. Perfect alibi. But I feel guilty for not thinking of it.

"Yeah. I don't know why he would poke a turkey with a stick! I mean it was a weapon! And he was beyond the fence! Just think of all the things that could be back there!" I shout trying to fool the cameras.

We all walk to the Seam without saying another word. "Hey how about, for old time's sake, we go into our old house?" I ask Prim. It doesn't matter if she says no we are going anyway. "Umm sure." she says uncertain of herself. I can't blame her all the memories in this place aren't the best. We walk in and sit down at the table Prim at one end, me across from her and Peeta next to me.

"I didn't really come here to take you for a walk. We want to tell you something, but you can not tell mother." I say.

"Don't worry I can keep secrets from her." Prim smiles.

"Prim you will have to keep this from everyone." I say. Prim looks worried now. "What did you do?" she asks horror-struck. Not telling everyone everything is probably a crime according to Prim.

"I'm pregnant." I say as I stare at the floor. "You are what?" Prim asks in shock. "She's pregnant Prim." Peeta says gently knowing I can not say it again.

Prim's eyes go toward my stomach. "How many months?" "One." I say looking up at her.

"It's going to stay hidden from the Capitol at Sae's house. The Capitol won't even know it exists. It's not going into the Reaping." I say with determination.

"I see why no one can know." she mumbles. "Yeah there is a very good reason no one can know. And won't know." I say with a pointed look.

"I'm going to be an aunt." She says smiling. "And I'm going to be a mom." I mumble.

"It'll be fine Katniss." Peeta says, pulling me into his lap. "Can you promise me that?" I ask. "I'm sorry Katniss I can't." Peeta says, taking his turn looking at the floor.

"Prim not a word of this to anyone. And don't mention in Victors Village. Or at home." I say.

"I know Katniss. You two are going to be parents." She says smiling. Peeta and I look at each other. Are we ready for this? I'm not.

Gale seems to be a lot better. He is sitting on the couch, but can't move much without ripping the skin more. He does seem mad when he sees Peeta. He needs to get over it. I love him like a brother not boyfriend.

* 4 weeks later*

Today Peeta and I decide to go to the lake again. We pack much food, because we will have a picnic. As we walk through the last patch of vines I see smoke coming from the chimney. And see footprints. I'm a few feet from the door when I hear the clicking of a weapon behind me.

I turn around and pull Peeta behind me with our backs to the door. Then I pull the arrow back, although I already know the odds aren't in our favor. I see the white Peacekeeper uniform, the pointed chin, the light brown iris where my arrow will find home. But the weapon is dropping to the ground and the unarmed woman is holding something out to me in her gloved hand. "Stop!" she cries.

I waver, unable to process this turn of events. Perhaps they have orders to bring me alive so they can torture me. I look more closely at the cracker in her hand. Gray and soggy around the edges. But an image clearly stamped in the center.

It's my Mockingjay.

"What is it? What does it mean?" I ask harshly, still prepared to kill. "It means we are on your side," says a voice from behind the house.

"Come around where I can see you," I order.

"She can't, she's-" begins the women with the cracker. "Come around!" I shout. A girl limps into my view. She's dressed in an ill fitting Peacekeeper uniform. She uses a branch as a crutch. I examine the girls face, which is strawberry red from the cold and has chocolate brown eyes. This is no Peacekeeper. No citizen of the Capitol, either.

"Who are you?" I ask warily, but less belligerently.

"My names Twill," says the woman. "And this is Bonnie. We've run away from District eight." District eight! Peeta steps out from behind me realizing there is no danger.

"Where did you get the uniforms?" I ask. "I stole them from the factory," says Bonnie.

"We make them there. Only I thought this would be for someone else, that's why it fits so poorly."

"The gun came from a dead Peacekeeper," says Twill, following my eyes.

"What's with the bird on the cracker?" I ask.

"Don't you know Katniss?" Bonnie appears shocked. They recognize me. Of course they would who else would be standing outside the woods of District 12 pointing an arrow at them, with Peeta Mellark behind her?

"I know it matches the pin I wore in the arena."

THANKS FOR READING!!! You have no idea what that means. I'm going through a very difficult time right now, and This has been my escape except looking for opportunities to leave my town before school starts... Thanks for listening to my rambling as well!!!

Comment!! If you don't like it tell me and I'll try to fix it. No promises though.

~K.D. Howell 😃😘😘!