Quarter Quell
It was the day of the quarter quell announcement and all of district 12 was waiting in agony to hear their fate in front of the justice building. It was not enough that every year 2 of their children were sent to their deaths but now the capital would add some new horror to the games.
I cling to Peeta's hand while looking at the large screen before us that will soon relay President Snows message to the citizens of Panem. In the months following the games Peeta and I have become almost inseparable. After our convincing Snow of our undying love and my display of girlish glee at Peetas public proposal on the victory tour we went back home hoping against hope that this would be enough to convince snow to let us be. But as life settled back to normal my dreams only seemed to get worse I would wake up night after night screaming feeling that the mutts were after me again or running from fireballs. Sometimes my screams would awaken Peeta who lived next door and then no matter the hour he would come and hold be for the rest of the night. I will never forget the night when I realized that I loved the man who was not holding me in those strong arms and that I could not live a another day without him. "Peeta" I whispered in the dark and I felt his arms tighten around me "Peeta I love you and this marriage is more than a show for the capital to me". Then I turned to him and saw that he had tears in is soft blue eyes." Oh Katniss I have waited so long to hear you say that you have made me the happiest man in the world". Then he kissed me: a kiss so full of passion and love that my entire body was lit on fire for this man.
My mother world not hear of us living together until our wedding and since we both really wanted a traditional district 12 wedding anyway we decided to have a secret wedding so under the cover of night we had a small wedding with just Haymitch, My mother, and Prim. Gale agreed to conduct the ceremony. Of course we could not let anyone know ever since it would anger the capital to know that we did not want their wedding so we would not announce ourselves married until the big day.
Peeta's hand tightening around mine pulled me back to the present I looked up just in time to see the man I hated more than anyone on the screen greeting the citizens of Panem.
"Citizens of Panem in order to remember that nobody is immune from the consequences of war this year the tributes shall be reaped from the pool of existing victors. May the odds be ever in your favor and happy hunger games". I gasped the world went blurry and far away I heard Peeta calling for help. When I awoke Peeta was sitting beside me with tears in his eyes." Is it true Peeta?"" Yes My love I am afraid so"As the only female winner from district 12 I was now sure I would be going back into the arena…
The next few weeks were a blur I never felt well enough to leave my bed and I could not seem to keep any food down. I could see the worry in Peeta's eyes with the games just 5 months away I needed to be out training and gaining strength. I finally agreed to let him take me to a doctor; My mother's remedies just did not seem to be working. After a careful examination the doctor came back in the room and said "congratulations Ms. Everdeen you are going to be a mother".
My head swam, a mother? Me? I had never wanted children and now with the games… I heard Peeta weaping quietly by my side this occasion that should be the happiest of his life is now the biggest tragedy. " Katniss you will be 8 months pregnant in the arena surely they would not make a pregnant woman go into the arena". But the rules of the games had never protected an expecting mother before why should they now? I was in shock there was no hope of winning now nobody would sponsor an enormously pregnant tribute I would be seen as weak, an easy target." Katniss I have decided I am going in with you I am going to protect you and our baby is Haymitch is picked I will volunteer"