I'm happy that you like the name Lily for their daughter. I think I'm going to keep it, without Rose as a middle name. As Brittianyshay said, it would remind too much of President Snow and his obsession for roses. I didn't think about that when I came up with the name. So Lily Mellark it would be.

Thanks to all of you who are reading, even if you don't review. Though I like you better if you do review.


Chapter Seven

I'm so nervous. What if it doesn't work ? What if the episode is even more violent than the last one ? What if someone gets hurt ? What if…

"Are you alright ?"

Peeta's question brings me back to reality. We are in the kitchen, preparing dinner together. Haymitch is already here, drinking a soda – I have warned him yesterday : no alcohol tonight. Dr Aurelius should be here in a minute.

"Yes I'm fine. It's just going to be weird to see Aurelius again, that's all," I lie to Peeta.

"Maybe it was a bad idea. I should have asked you before visiting him."

Great, I have tried to reassure him but I have only caused to make him feel guilty.

"No, no it's going to be fine. I'm just worried because your roast is burning."

This time, I'm not lying. I can see through the oven's plane that the color of the rabbit roast is a little too dark. I silently thank the dead rabbit because Peeta is now busy taking it out of the oven, instead of watching me too closing.

I've never been good with acting. I didn't fool of Panem with the fake star-crossed lovers, Peeta did. So how could I fool the person who knows me the best ? My fears are confirmed when I see Haymitch mouth "relax" to me behind Peeta's back.

The door bell is heard and Peeta goes to welcome Dr Aurelius. As soon as we are left alone, Haymitch tells him :

"You need to relax Sweetheart or you are going to screw everything."

I'm about to retort something spiteful when I realize that Haymitch is just as worried about tonight's plan as I am. He can play the stupid-drunk-old-guy-who-doesn't-care-about-anyone-or-anything all he wants, I know better than that. He cares about Peeta. I can see it in his eyes.

So instead of "screw you, I'm not going to screw anything" – which I have to admit, it's not very insightful - I say :

"Don't worry, it's going to be fine. You know what you have to do, right ?

"Yeah, that's why I'm drinking a damn soda," he mutters.

Haymitch follows me into the living room to greet Aurelius.

"I'm happy to see you again Katniss. And congratulation for the baby."

I can't believe he is repeating the exact same thing he told me yesterday at the hospital !

"Thank you Dr Aurelius. It's also a pleasure to see you again. How do you find District 12 ?"

And that's how the evening starts. I'm being overly amiable to Aurelius and Haymitch is being overly quiet. However Peeta doesn't seem to be too puzzled by our strange behavior. We talk, laugh and eat. Everything is totally normal until Aurelius gives me a look that says "Let's do it." I gently kick Haymitch's leg under the table. He doesn't look at me but I can see him nod.

Everybody has a role to play. Aurelius is sitting in front of Peeta, Haymitch at his left side and I am in front of Haymitch. The doctor asks him :

"How long have you been living with Katniss ?"

Peeta looks at me with loving eyes and I force a smile on my lips.

"Almost three years now."

Peeta starts explaining how I came to live with him because it was easier to live together as roommates than to face a big lonely house every day. I don't listen because I'm focusing on Haymitch who has grasped a knife and is faking to play with it. Slowly his hand is getting nearer and nearer to Peeta's left hand. Suddenly the knife seems to slip from his grasp and its point grazes the side of Peeta's little finger.

Peeta jerks his hand from the table and holds it with his right hand.

"Damn it Haymitch ! Can't you be careful from time to time ?"

"I'm sorry, I guess I have drank too much."

"You think ?" Peeta asks sarcastically.

He opens his right hand and I can see that his little finger is bleeding.

"You should clean the wound," I tell him.

Peeta slowly looks up at me. His face is expressionless as he stares at me. I wait for the signs that are going to tell me that my Peeta has been replaced by the man who wants me dead. However I don't see them. Yes, the way he's staring at me is a bit too intense but it could be caused by the pain.

"Are you alright Peeta ?" asks Dr Aurelius, his tone careful.

Peeta's eyes finally leave my face :

"Yes, I'm fine. Katniss is right, I should clean it."

At these words, Peeta stands up and leaves the living room for the kitchen. The silence lingers around the table until Haymitch breaks it up :

"Well Doc, seems like you were wrong."

"I'm not sure of that," answers Aurelius. "Have you seen the way he was looking at Katniss ?"

I sigh : "No, it didn't work. If it had, Peeta would have attacked me. Maybe he has had a flashback or a moment of uncertainty, but he is still himself."

After a few minutes, Peeta comes back, bringing the cake. His little finger is wrapped in a white bandage.

"How's your finger ?" I ask him.

"It's just a superficial wound. But I think next time we should give Haymitch a plastic knife."

We all laugh at his joke. Now it's clear that the plan hasn't worked. I'm both disappointed and relieved. Disappointed because we still don't know how to treat Peeta. Relieved because I was not ready to see his dark side again.

Desert goes just fine, as if nothing has happened. Haymitch is now allowed to drink since he won't have to protect me after all. The bottle of wine that only Peeta and Aurelius have been drinking is empty after a few minutes and I have to go take a new one in the kitchen.

I open it and I'm about to go back to the living room when I hear the door open. It's Peeta, his hands full of the empty plates.

"It's our last bottle of wine. We will have to buy new ones," I tell him.

"I'll do it tomorrow," he replies while putting the plates into the sink.

At that moment, I realize I'm more relieved than disappointed after all. It would have been so hard to have to face another episode so soon after the last one. I'm closing the distance between us with the intention to hug him when my eyes look down at the sink and at Peeta's hand holding tightly a knife.

Before I can scream Haymitch's name, Peeta's left hand is covering my mouth.

"Hush ! You don't want me to kill them too, do you ? So be quiet."


I know, I'm evil to end on a cliffhanger…