Nothing's The Same

by BrutusXEnobaria

"I just had this idea for a long time, and I wanted to ask you if you could write a fic where Baria is pregnant at the end of the Quarter Quell, and when she tries to kill Peeta out of rage, but goes back to District 2 when the rebellion ends to have the child. Also, she thinks that it was her fault that Brutus died." - TravelToWoderland, Easter gift from me, enjoy! BrutusXEnobaria

2. Chapter 2

Enobaria POV

I make my way to the Justice Building, where the reaping is held yearly. This year is going to be different. It's the Third Quarter Quell, the anniversary of the seventy-fifth Hunger Games. I can't help but feel a moment of déjà vu while I make my way up to the stage to accompany the others. This day reminds me of the year I decided to throw myself into the arena for all the fame and glory, which just turned out to be pure lies bought from the Capitol. Brutus pushes through the victors on the stage and makes his way over to me. "Hey, try not to get reaped, okay?"

"I'll try," I promise him. As much as I hate breaking promises, I can't control if I'll break or keep this promise. I have no control over what will happen today at the reaping. No one, I mean no one, is safe from having their name picked out from the large bowl of names of past victors. The Capitol has spared no lives this year, not even its own victors.

The District 2 escort makes her way up to the stage, motioning us to get into positions. The victors stand proudly on the stage; female on the right, men on the left. She stands proudly on the stage, honored to be escorting the tributes of the Third Quarter Quell. She opens up a letter and reads what is written.

I tune her out and focus on something, anything, that will distract me; not remind me of the fact that I might have to go back into that terrible arena, again. I begin to think about Brutus. About all the times we've had together, about how far we've come. From him being my mentor many years ago to now, being my lover.

Suddenly, there is a hand on my shoulder. I turn to see Lyme. Her face sad and disappointed. "Enobaria, it's okay. Don't cry. You have to go, now."

"What?" I ask, not interpreting what she was telling me. I see the escort holding up the small piece of paper with my name written on it. I was picked. I desperately meet Lyme's empty eyes. "Lyme, please. I can't go back, not this time." I just realize how selfish of me that sounded. I asked Lyme, an elder victor, to take my place. I quickly cover my mouth with my hands, trying to take back what I asked her to do.

"I'm sorry," she tells me. I never knew her much. All I knew was that she was stern and that she never showed a hint of emotion. If anyone saw any emotion from her and lived to tell the whole story, then the person was just lucky. But this time, I know she really is sorry. She feels what I feel. She doesn't want to go back into that arena, either.

"Come on, dear." The escort motions for me to take a stand next to her. I step back, and for the first time, I realize that I am scared. I can't remember the last time I actually admitted that I was scared.

Lyme pushes me to the front, but I resist. "No! Please, no! I can't go back! Lyme, please! I'm pregnant!" A couple of peacekeepers make their way over to me, trying to control me, which causes me to resist even more.

"Stop!" Brutus shouts. He walks over to me, makes the Peacekeepers go away, and pulls me in for a hug. He calms me down with his soothing, assuring words. "I volunteer as tribute."

I can't help but cry even more once he volunteers to go into the arena with me. My plan backfired. I couldn't save one of us from going in. Now both of us were in this mess.