Peeta POV

"Are you sure she's safe? Does she know I'm here? Can I see her?" I blasted Haymitch with my questions for the millionth time.

Two weeks. It had been two weeks since Gale had been sent out and rescued Katniss. Two days since she was apparently taken to this hospital. Two weeks she had been so close yet had refused to be seen.

"Boy, like I've said before, she's resting. Her mother and Gale came in and told her about twelve being destroyed and about Prim," Haymitch's eyes darkened.

"How did she take the news?" I asked softly.

I had tried so hard to save Prim, so hard to save her from the bombs. But there was no chance. She was on the front lines when they went off, she didn't stand a chance.

"As expected. She had to be sedated right after she was told. She found out that Gale was involved, and she's refused to see him since," Haymitch sighed. "She's struggling, but she's almost ready to leave."

"And she still doesn't want to see me?" I gulped.

Haymitch rubbed the back of his neck. "Kid, I don't think it's that she doesn't want to see you, it's just hard right now. We got you out of there in time to save you, but Katniss," he trailed off.

I shut my eyes remembering back to the last time I saw her. It was the Quarter Quell and she was running off with Johanna. Haymitch said they had wanted to get her, to save her right then and there in the arena, but the Capital had been too fast. They saved some, but along with Katniss, Johanna, Annie and I were all held hostage in the Capital.

My fingernails dug into my palms as I remembered that time. They tried to make me forget about Katniss. Forget that I loved her. In fact, they tried to make me hate her. They wanted me to kill her. Thankfully, I was only in for a month or so before Johanna, Annie, and I were rescued. I don't even want to think about what would have happened if they tortured us longer. They hadn't been able to find Katniss and we all assumed the worst.

Well, except me of course. My huntress couldn't be dead. The love of my life was alive, I would have known if part of my heart had left me, but no one else had been as optimistic.

They told me they had wanted Katniss to be the Mockingjay, but I was a close second. I spoke out against the Capital. Eventually, news spread throughout the Districts and we were able to take down Snow. Even 13's President Alma Coin didn't last, Johanna killing her with mention of a new Hunger Games.

All that had been a little over two weeks ago. Rumors spread from captured Capital guards that Katniss was still alive. And she was.

"Kid, what's on your mind?" Haymitch brought me back to reality.

I released my fingernails from my palms and flinched as I realized I drew blood. "Katniss should have been the Mockingjay. You should have left me in that prison to search for her more."

Haymitch shook his head. "She was in a division all on her own. Snow wanted to keep her close to him, they would have seen us coming if we had tried to rescue her first."

I hit my hand against the table so hard that Haymitch stepped back surprised. "And now what? I know what they were trying to do to me, did they break her? Do you not want me to see her because she's gone crazy?" I bit my lip to keep focused and I lowered my voice. "I remember what they were trying to do to me. They wanted me to hate her, does she hate me?" I knew my eyes were sad.

Haymitch shook his head. "Kid, if you knew the half of it," but he stopped himself. "But it's not my place to tell." I stood up and began to walk away. "Hey, where do you think you're going?"

"Out," I gritted my teeth but sighed. Haymitch didn't deserve the brunt of my pain. Even after 13, he hasn't had a drink yet. I knew he was fighting his own demons as well. "I just need a walk. I hate being cooped up in this hospital room." Haymitch didn't say anything and I took that as permission to leave.

I sauntered around the hospital halls. I hated the plain white walls and how sterile everything was. I wasn't normally a fan of the outdoors, but I would do almost anything to be outside again. Just to see the sunset. In 13, we were stuck inside all of the time and I missed the sun shining on my face.

I made another turn down the hall still hoping to find a door to outside. This hospital was a maze, even if I found my way outside, I wasn't sure how I would find my way back to the room. I sighed knowing I would have to ask someone for help.

I made another turn when my heart stopped. I heard voices. The door next to me was left slightly open, not enough for me to see inside but enough for noise to come into the hallway. I placed my hand over my mouth to quiet myself. It was her.

"I'm just so scared," Katniss said. Her words made my heart drop.

"The girl on fire scared?" It was Johanna.

"Jo, this is different," this time it was Annie. So, Katniss would see them, who she barely knew, but not me?

"I'm just saying this is the same girl who was going to kill herself to defy the gamemakers. The one who helped blow up the Quarter Quell arena," Johanna defended.

"You know Finnick and I got married in thirteen?" Annie asked.

"I heard, I'm so sorry he died, Annie," Katniss replied. I shut my eyes remembering his screams. The way the mutts attacked him; he didn't deserve to go out like that. Annie didn't deserve to lose her husband, and especially not like that.

"He's dead, but not gone," Annie said, and Katniss gasped. "I'm pregnant."

"Annie," Johanna gasped as well. "I, I didn't know."
"I'm still pretty early. I haven't known that long," Annie sighed. "Finnick didn't know either."

"Oh, Annie," Katniss's voice grew sad.

"But, that's a discussion for later. Katniss, you need to talk to Peeta," Annie urged.

"I, I don't know if I can," Katniss said. "What am I supposed to say?"

Johanna scoffed. "I don't think you'll have to say anything, one look at you and he'll be undone."

"He doesn't know," Katniss said sadly. "I don't even know how I feel about him."

But I couldn't take it anymore. I hurried back to my room, actually able to retrace my steps. Thankfully, Haymitch wasn't there anymore and I fell against the door, tears threatening the edges of my eyes.

She was there. All I had wanted to do was pull her into my arms and tell her everything would be okay. She sounded so sad when she spoke, but I'm sure her life was turned upside down. Her home was destroyed, even though we are rebuilding it brick by brick. Her younger sister is dead. How can she be okay after that?
And apparently, she doesn't know how she feels about me. That one hurt. I always knew Katniss had a hard time expressing her feelings, but for me, when we were separated my fondness for her only grew. Well, I had been in love with her since I was five and she didn't notice me back then so that may have played a role.

I needed to get out of here. It was killing me that she was so close, yet so far. It took every ounce of my being to come back to my room, but now knowing where she was, I couldn't stay. I wouldn't be able to hold myself back. Eventually, I would go to her room again. I couldn't help myself.

I gathered up the little belongings I had. And when I say little, it really was none. I had taken nothing except the locket I gave Katniss to the Quarter Quell and I hadn't gathered any belongings from thirteen. It was time to go back to twelve, on my own.

Katniss POV

"It doesn't matter how you feel about him, you're having his baby," Johanna argued.

I sighed and ran my hand over my stomach. The paternity test had come back a week ago and Peeta was indeed the father. It was a lot to wrap my head around, but I was so thankful. If Peeta wasn't the father, I don't know what I would have done.

And as much as I said I didn't know my feelings for Peeta, that was a lie. But I didn't know if I was feeling those feelings because of my past with him or because of his baby in my belly. I didn't want to confuse the two, but it was virtually impossible.

I sighed. "How am I supposed to tell him? Hey, I know I haven't seen you in forever, but see my huge pregnant stomach? The baby's yours. Oh, you say we've never done that. I know but believe me, it's yours."

"Wait, you and Peeta have never," but I held up my hand to stop Annie.

"No, so that complicates things even more," I replied.

"I wouldn't want to be in your shoes, brainless," Johanna said.

"Thank you, really. That makes everything so much easier," I snarled. Shifting lightly in my bed as she moved in me.

"Katniss, relax, he's Peeta. He's been dreaming about kids with you since he was a boy, even before he knew how they got made. Just tell him, he'll understand. He loves you," Johanna said.

I inhaled sharply. Of course, he would understand. Part of me was scared of what that would mean. I wanted this kid, now more than ever. I could picture her face. I could see her growing up in a better world. One that I had helped to form, one that her father had helped form.

I shut my eyes and rubbed my hand over my stomach. I could see Peet as well. Him holding our little girl. Him smiling as she grew older, into a young girl. Him with me the whole time, with us.

Yet, I squeezed my hand around my stomach to pull me into reality. It was hard to picture this now. These were all the same thoughts I had when I was locked in that prison. Still, now they were a possibility. They were so close; I had a deep fear this was still all part of their torture.

"Katniss," Annie's concerned voice and her hand on top of mine brought me back to reality.

"Sor, sorry," I mumbled.

"Don't go back there," Johanna urged. I tilted my head surprised she knew what I was thinking of. "We all do. Annie, Peeta, and me. They only had us for a couple of months, you longer. We all go back there, but that just means they are still keeping us prisoner. Stop, you have your baby girl to worry about."

I gulped. "It's so hard not to."

"How did you stay sane in there?" Annie asked quietly. I bit my lip. "I pictured Finnick, but now that he's gone, I have our baby to think about."

I swallowed. "That's what I did. Pictured our baby and Peeta."

"And now you're afraid of what will really happen," Haymitch slid into the room and we all broke out of our trance. "Bread boy is actually here. You and the baby are safe. You don't want to know what parts of your fantasies will or won't come true."

I huffed. "Am I really that readable now?" I crossed my arms.

Haymitch chuckled. "No, sweetheart. We've all just been through this before. Not with the baby, but we've all had our realities torn away from us. We're all victors."

"Has Peeta still been asking for me?" I shifted slightly.

Haymitch rolled his eyes. "Do you really have to ask me that? That's all he's been asking." I sighed. "But he must have gotten fed up with you not wanting to see him; the doctors say he checked out and is headed back to twelve as we speak."

I blinked back tears. "He, he left?"

"What choice did you give him? You kept refusing to see him! It hurt him to be so close, but so far." Haymitch argued.

I opened my mouth to speak, but Johanna beat me. "He has. And don't pout like that, you have been refusing to see him. How do you think that makes him feel?"

"I," but I stopped talking and gripped my belly. Tears streamed down my face. "I just wasn't ready."

"Are you ready now? Now that he left?" Haymitch asked.

I nodded. "I just thought I'd be able to tell him whenever, but now that he's not here."

"He didn't leave you, Katniss, so like I said, stop pouting," Johanna urged and she cut me off again and I gripped my belly tighter. "And don't you dare keep playing this 'But I'm pregnant' crap. I know you would be wary to see him even if you weren't pregnant with his child."

"Johanna," Annie tried to defend me, but I touched her arm to stop.

"No, she's right," both Haymitch and Johanna turned to me surprised. "I'm hiding behind my baby, behind our baby. Peeta's lost so much time already and I miss him." I huffed. "When can I go back to twelve?"

Hope everyone is enjoying the story! This is my first take in the Hunger Games universe, but I love the books so much and have had this thought on my mind so why not try it? Please read and review! I love to hear thoughts and enjoyment so you can always PM me as well. Will try to update soon!