My hands shake as I reach for the pink plastic stick resting on the bathroom counter. I have to hurry because Peeta will be home any minute. However this test seems to be running on a different time crunch. I quickly run into the bedroom and look out the window above the street. I can see Peeta carrying a bag of baked goods, making his way home. I dash to the bathroom and grab the pregnancy test. As I examine it, I can see the results clear as day. One line; not pregnant.

I hear the front door open as I begin to take in the shock of not being pregnant. I must admit, I am a little more upset than I originally had thought I'd be.

"Katniss, I'm home!" Peeta hollers as he slams the front door closed.

"I'll be right down!" I yell back, as I begin to disguard the evidence of the pregnancy test. I then run down to greet my husband.

He is smiling as he spots me and has the usual flour splats throughout his clothing and hair. I smile and make my way over to greet him.

"How was work today?" I ask, embracing him into my arms.

"It was good; pretty busy for a Thursday though." He replies placing a gentle kiss on my lips and setting down his bag of goodies on the kitchen counter.

"So what did you do all day?" He asks as I sit at our small breakfast table.

My heart begins to race as I ponder some excuse to cover up the days true endeavors.

"I went to the woods in the morning, then did some garden work this afternoon." I reply, smiling to myself; proud of how clever my answer sounded.

"The woods?" Peeta questions. "It's not Friday?"

Not so clever after all. It was stupid of me to think it would be that easy to decieve Peeta Mellark. My hunting days are always saved for the weekends.

"Yeah, umm, it was so beautiful this morning, I just thought I'd get an early start." I reply trying to hide my fib.

"Oh, that make's sense, it is really nice out." He responds, leaning in to place a kiss on my forehead and then heading upstairs for his routine after work shower.

I keep my composure as he walks upstairs. As soon as he's out of sight, I let my body collapse onto the couch. I feel upset that I have lied to him that way. However, I know it is for his own good. If I would have let him know about my missed periods and pregnancy test, he probably would have skipped work today to stay with me. Not to mention the hopes he would have come tumbling down due to the fact that I am not pregnant.

About ten minutes later, I hear the bathroom door close and Peeta begin to descend from upstairs.

"Katniss, is there something your not telling me?"

I turn around from my seat on the couch to see Peeta bare chested, in loose pajama pants, damp hair, and a very confused expression on his face. Aside from his confusion, I can't help but think how attractive he looks in this moment.

"Umm, I don't think so." I respond trying to understand what he has found out.

"Really...then do you want to explain this to me?"

I turn towards my husband to see him holding a white piece of paper. I am grateful that he did not find the pregnancy test, so I walk over and take it from his hands; the gratefulness fades. I am staring at the directions for the test.

"I'm guessing this belongs to you, or is there something else I don't know about?" He continues.

"No, uhmm, it's mine." I reply, trying to avoid the disappointment in his eyes.

"I can't believe you were keeping this from me Katniss!"

As I begin to defend my choices, he turns from me and marches up the stairs. It is clear how much I have hurt him, so I follow him as he enters our bedroom.

"Peeta, I'm sorry I should have-"

"Yeah Katniss, you really should have! I just can't believe you would keep something like this from me!" He shouts.

"I know and I'm sor-"

"You know how much this means to me! And it's my child too! Not just yours!"

That's when the tears begin forming in my eyes and I can feel my face becoming hot. "That's just it Peeta! There is no child! I'm not pregnant!" I yell at him as I drop onto our bed.

The room goes silent as the tears spill over my cheeks. I curl up onto my bed because not only am I disappointed that I am not pregnant, but I know Peeta must be feeling much worse.

After a few moments of silence, I feel the mattress sink in as Peeta sits beside me and begins to rub slow circles between my shoulders. His touch immediately calms me like it always does. It lets me know that despite everything he is here for me, and more importantly, loves me.

"I just didn't want you to be disappointed." I choke out through my tears.

"Sure I am disappointed that you're not pregnant, just like you are, but thinking I am disappointed in you because of it...Katniss, I think you know me better than that." He tells me as he brushes the tear soaked hair strands from my face.

"With that being said," he continues,"I am disappointed that you kept this from me."

"I know you are," I start to say, "I just hate seeing you hurt; especially over something you want so badly. You and I have been through enough hurt in our life time's Peeta."

"It's been almost fifteen years now since we have been married Katniss. The good, the bad, and the ugly; we're in this together." He says as he lays down wrapping his arm securely around my waist.

"Together." I say smiling.

"Together." He replies.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I was being stupid. I'll tell you right away next time."

"Next time?" he questions.

"You didn't think I would be giving up that easily did you? I thought you knew me better then that." I kid, mocking his earlier words. "Plus, I think we'll have a pretty good time trying." I add.

Peeta laughs, and with that, he kisses me.

The next morning, I wake up to see that my cycle has finally come. I take in a slow breath because this truly solidifies the fact that I was not carrying a child within me. I am somewhat surprised by how much I truly wish that plastic stick showed two lines. I walk out of the bathroom and take a few pills for period cramping.

"Next month, things could change." Peeta says, as I exit the bathroom.

I smile because I know he is right. This was our first time and I really shouldn't be so concerned. I walk over to him and he hugs me.

"Here." says Peeta. "I wanted to give this to you, to symbolize the journey of our family."

I step back as he places a chained locket around my neck. I thank him and place a gentle kiss on his lips.

My eyes scan the locket and I see it is engraved. On the front of the heart shape, it reads the word Family.

"Open it." Peeta tells me.

As I latch open the heart, I see that it can fit two pictures inside; maybe of our children someday. The inside, however, is also engraved with the words, is always.

"Family is always." I say.

Peeta smiles as I let the heart locket rest on my chest, over top the spot where my actual heart would be.

"I can't wait until we have faces to place inside." adds Peeta.

"You are giving me so much more then you will ever know Katniss. I can't wait to be a father, and whether you know it or not, you will be a fantastic mother." He continues as tears begin forming in his eyes.

I pull his body back against mine and bring my mouth to his ear.

"Your own father would be so proud of you Peeta."

"As would yours." He replies, resting his head on my shoulder.

At this moment, my father enters my mind, and I realize that Peeta is right; I know my father would be proud.