Be careful what you wish for.
Chapter 1
"If it hadn't been for the baby."
The white haired man turned his eyes from the screen. From his pocket he withdrew a napkin and dabbed the corners of his mouth. The white piece of fabric stained red at the touch of his lips. Folding it he put it away and turned once again his attention to the broadcast. The audience was in an uproar. One half seemed to be screaming with anger at the treatment of their beloved "star crossed lovers" pair while the other half cried their hearts out at their unlucky fate. The boy was good with words, no doubt about it. Which made him dangerous, very dangerous. But maybe... Yes.
With a satisfied quirk of his fat lips President Snow slowly got up from his chair, straightening his suit as he moved closer to the window, glanced down at the ring of competitors holding each others' hands. Yes. He would give Peeta Mellark exactly what he wanted.
OoO
"So does that mean I have to act pregnant now as well?" Katniss Everdeen asked their mentor Haymithch Abernathy at the breakfast table. Said mentor, however, was lying down on the couch with a cool towel over his face, trying to ease his hangover. A laugh escaped his lips anyway.
"You bet sweetheart." She made a face. Now she would have to try and remember that as well in the arena as she would be fighting for her life. In the back of her head her mind was painting up a mental picture of herself and a giant swelling belly. She shuddered. As if. "The only glitch in the plan." Haymitch mumbled. "Bet he didn't count with your acting skills."
"But I don't know anything about pregnancies." Katniss said with a frown. She really didn't. Her mother had helped now and then during a difficult birth but in those days, blood and screams made Katniss jump out of the house and flee to the safety of the meadow and woods. Haymitch lifted the towel to glance at her and said with an evil smirk;
"You know the process, don't you?" Of course she knew the process, her cheeks reddening at the thought and she suddenly became very occupied with her plate of food as Peeta stepped, or stumbled rather, into the room.
"Process?" he asked casually as he went for the bread basket.
"Nothing." Katniss hurried to say before Haymitch had spoken and she could see a scheming gleam in his tired gray Seam eyes. She glared at him but he just shrugged his shoulders.
"Nothing Peeta", he said and Katniss breathed out. Peeta raised a tired eyebrow."Just a birds and the bees talk." The red cheeks glowed and the blush spread over her neck as she sincerely wished that glares could kill...
"Birds and bees?" Peeta asked confused. That's when Katniss turned her eyes to him. He was a bit paler than the previous day, making the dark bags under his eyes stand out even more. His eyes seemed somewhat swollen and he looked at his plate with a wrinkled nose. No appetite. Katniss wouldn't have either if she didn't know that she had to put on weight for the next week. It would give her strength for whatever challenge the arena had prepared for her and the others. A cold creeping shudder trickled down her spine. But she pushed the thought away, no need to think about it now. Instead she remained focused on Peeta. It was him she was supposed to save. It was her turn to keep him safe.
Her gaze must have burned because Peeta looked up and their eyes found each other. There was no need to ask how, or if, he had slept, she could practically feel his nightmares through the stare. Then there was a hint of something else but before she could think what it meant Effie came hurrying out of the elevator and Peeta broke the contact.
"Oh my we have a big, big, big day today!" she chirped and Haymitch groaned at the sound of her voice. "Katniss, you have dress rehearsal with me and Cinna in 14 minutes sharp. Peeta you've got a meeting with Portia for discussing your suit at ten twenty and then..." Katniss didn't listen; she had zoomed out with her eyes still on Peeta. His whole body language screamed for a break. They had done nothing but followed Effie's stupid schedule from the moment they were chosen to replay the Hunger Games.
"No." She said. Effie stopped her ranting and looked at Katniss with an annoyed and confused expression.
"No? Katniss dear, it's mandatory for all competitors to-"
"No. Whatever you have planned for the day; cancel it. We're not going." Peeta's eyes found hers once again. "Not today."
"Now wait here a moment-"
"Just let them go Effie." Haymitch groaned from the sofa.
"Let them go? The rehearsal is essential for the evening party! It's only days away!" 'So is my death', thought Katniss. "And what about the photo shoots? And-"
"They had the interview yesterday." Effie was getting red in her face after the interruptions. But her thick layer of white powder turned her reddening blush a shade of pale pink. It nearly matched with her wig, making it look as if her wig was a part of her head, and the whole thing looked absurd although rather neat in contrast to her small green hat that was pinned at the top. Had Katniss not been so annoyed with the woman and eager to give Peeta a day's breathing break, the sight would have been quite amusing. "Give them a break."
Effie was about to protest when Cinna came out of the elevator. She turned to him for support.
"Cinna! Tell them how important the dress rehearsal is!" The stylist glanced around the room and found Katniss's nearly pleading with her eyes. He gave her a small reassuring smile and said;
"It's important." Effie mocked Haymitch with a radiant victorious smile and was about to turn around to face her two victims of the day when Cinna added, "but not for you. You don't have to be there." Katniss smiled at her friend and saviour. What would she do without him? He nodded to the two of them and signalled for them to get the hell out of there whilst they had the chance. Without a second's delay she grabbed as much food as she could, placed it all on her plate and then went around the table and grabbed Peeta's hand.
"Come," she said and he followed her up on the roof. The freshness of the air and wind made them relax immensely. Katniss took a deep breath and sat down, Peeta followed suit. Stretching out their tired limbs in the sun was wonderful; with the exception of a mosquito or two of which existence surprised her. She even got bit by one. But soon they disappeared and the sun was theirs to enjoy. Peeta laughed and said she looked like a cat when she stretched and curled up in the sun. The food tasted even better when eaten on the roof. For each growing hour they said less and less and moved closer to each other, once with Peeta's head in her lap as she stroked his blonde wavy hair. It felt good and they laughed every now and then. The sun passed over their heads and the hours flew past like the birds in the sky. They barely left the roof except for the occasional bathroom break, another plate of food or a blanket when the chilling winds started giving them goose bumps. In the end, they sat leaning against each other with the blanket around them, Katniss with her head on Peeta's shoulder and his arm around her, their backs to a 45 degrees leaning wall. The Capital people had weird sense of fashion but they couldn't complain when the wall was perfect to lay and lean on. Peeta let out a satisfied chuckle.
"Hmm?" Katniss hummed and when no reply came she opened her eyes and craned her neck to look at him. He was smiling. "What?"
"I just-"he laughed and let his gaze fly out over the city, past the buildings and roofs and into the distance, "call me mad if you want but..." he turned to her, his blue eyes gleaming, "I'm happy." She raised an eyebrow and gave him a sarcastic look. He snickered and continued, "Yes, I know. We're days away from being thrown back into the Games. But right now, being here with you..." his laugh faded and he looked at her softly, "it's priceless."
She was just about to give him a dry reply stating that, yes he was indeed barking mad, when she caught herself. Could she deny Peeta the one pleasant feeling he more than deserved? No, she didn't have the heart to do it. So she smiled at him, pushed down her comment and leaned forward to kiss him lightly. Yes, this is how it should be. No stressing schedule to follow. At least not days before you're shoved into certain death. At least it was certain for her. Because deep inside of her she knew. President Snow wouldn't allow both to live. Fool them once, but twice?
Next chapter coming soon. R&R :)
- Tillififf