Hi everybody! Here's chapter ten! Sorry it took so long to update but I made this chapter longer to make up for it. Enjoy and don't forget to review!

Chapter Ten-

I found myself alone on the train, excited and overwhelmed. This was all happening so fast, so quickly. I sank down into a puffy, soft seat. Cato had won the Games, and I'd found out my child's gender. And now, I was on a train to the Capitol - the Capitol! - to meet Cato for our live, televised reunion to be shown across Panem.

I thought about the state he was in when he left the Games. Battered, bruised, no doubt underfed. I thought of the gashes from the mutt's swipe at his face. Would they leave scars? Would my handsome Cato be permanently scarred?

Never mind about his appearance, I knew that the memories of the Games would stay with him for the rest of his life, haunting him, tormenting him, controlling his every action. I would be there, I promised myself. I would always be there.

"You must be Nora!" I shrieked in surprise as the train car opened and two Capitol people, both girls, came in, dressed in outlandish but matching shades of green. "Oh, sweetheart, don't be afraid, we're just your stylists!"

"I'm sorry, you scared me..." I mumbled.

"Bless her," One folded a hand over her heart. "I'm Cyndia!"

"And I'm Milziba!" The other beamed and I suppressed a snicker at their ridiculous names. "Oh!" Milziba squealed, as I stood up to shake their hands. "There's a little bun in the oven!"

"Four months," I beamed, wrapping my hands around my growing belly.

"Well, I think you'll be a great mommy," Cyndia beamed. "Now, lets see what we have to work with."

"She has really lovely green eyes," Milziba commented. "And the curly hair could go really well with the dress."

"Dress?" I asked in surprise.

"Well of course!" Milziba laughed. "You can't wear that! Oh, she's so cute!"

"So cute," Cyndia agreed. "Now, because the interview is tomorrow-"

"Tomorrow!"

"We have to do everything we possibly can to make you perfect. So we'll have to start now. And to save some time, don't protest, just let us do our work."

"We hate whiners." Milziba nodded, her eyes wide. "Well come on! Let's get started!"

We walked into a separate compartment, and they made me change out of my clothes. I was promptly given a vicious bath, scrubbed red and raw, and then every part of me waxed to perfection. I made them stay away from my belly, putting up a fierce argument. I wanted nothing to happen to my child.

We arrived in the Capitol late that night, and before I got a chance to even look around, I was ushered into a hotel, to try on a dress. The hotel room we were in was all in gold, with gilded chairs and tables, and painted golden flowers in shining vases. I felt like I had just walked into a treasure chest, or a goddess's house.

A shimmering white dress had been laid out for me on a sofa, and I slipped out of my clothes and let Milziba and Cyndia help me into it. "Oh, you look beautiful!" They exclaimed, leading me over to a mirror.

I gasped when I saw myself. My skin was flawless, my eyes framed by a smoky shade of brown. And the dress...it went to my knees, hugging the baby bump perfectly. Little designs of flowers done in lace decorated the entirety of the flowing skirt, and the top was tight-fitting and a Snow White color. My hair framed my face perfectly, and I took a deep breath.

"Wow..." I looked beautiful, and I felt like I hadn't since the Reaping. "Thank you."

"He's going to love you," Cyndia squeezed my shoulder. "Now go get some beauty sleep, sweetheart. You've got a big day tomorrow!"

The next morning I had butterflies in my stomach as soon as I woke up. Today, finally, I would see Cato again. My stylists were buzzing around me like bees, fixing this curl, this blemish. I felt like I would be sick with excitement.

The show began at ten o'clock and I was rushed to the studios. "Where is Cato?" I pressed around after my makeup was done and I was in my dress. "Where is he?"

"In another dressing room, doll," Milziba said kindly. "But you can't see him now - we want to air your reunion live, remember?" I didn't know if I liked that idea as much. I'd probably be crying, and hysterical, not something I'd want the entire world to see.

The show began, but I wasn't allowed to go on yet. My heart was fluttering with excitement, as I heard Caesar Flickerman's voice over a muted loudspeaker. "So Cato, welcome back, and congratulations!" There was cheering, and lots of it.

"Thank you, Caesar, it's an honor to be here," Cato said warmly and I actually squealed at hearing his voice. I was so close, so close to him! The interview carried on smoothly, Cato's every reply gaining a positive reaction.

"Now Cato, we have a little surprise for you..." Milziba and Cyndia grabbed my arms and steered me towards the stage.

"Really?" Cato asked, sounding bemused.

"Yes, something from home," Suddenly I was thrust upon the stage, bright lights hitting me from all angles, and a huge studio audience that was cheering and clapping. It was all so overwhelming! My gaze swiveled to Caesar's seat and...

"Cato," I breathed, tears springing up in my eyes and a knot making its way into my throat. He stood as he saw me, and was wearing a white shirt under a blazer that brought out his beautiful blue eyes. He looked handsome and brave, his face unmarred by the mutt's inflictions and he looked healthy enough.

"Oh God, Nora," Cato breathed and suddenly I was running towards him, throwing my arms around his neck and burying my face in his shoulder, fighting back the tears. He wrapped his arms around me, gently, almost timidly, like he feared he might break my body in his hands.

"I was so scared," I murmured, my voice high-pitched and constrained. "I thought...I thought..."

"It's all over," He murmured, kissing my forehead, closing his eyes tightly. I noticed he didn't say it would be alright. We kissed, and the crowd ate it up, cheering and screaming our names. Finally, we took a seat, me sitting on Cato's lap as he held me close.

"So Nora!" Caesar beamed, his gleaming white teeth long and reflecting the lights around us. "You're the girl everyone's been talking about!"

"Oh, that can't be true," I muttered modestly, totally unsure of how to respond. My stylists hadn't told me a thing about how to answer questions. I was completely on my own, on live TV.

"Oh, but it is!" Caesar exclaimed, and turned to the crowd. "Isn't that right?" The crowd roared in response. "Everybody has been curious since Cato first mentioned you as he was about to kill Thresh."

My heart stopped for a minute, and Cato reached for my hand. I had known they would talk about Cato's kills, which inevitably meant that they would talk about Clove.

"So Nora, what was going through your mind during that amazing scene?"

I felt my breath catch in my throat, and swallowed quickly. "I was...I was pretty numb f-from Clove dying," I covered my mouth with my hand, the wounds were still fresh and more painful than ever. "I'm sorry..." I caught the tears in my eyes with my fingers, knowing that a flood of emotions was going to soon be running through me. "She was my sister..." Cato turned to me, and folded me into his arms. I grabbed his shirt like a big baby and buried my head into his chest.

"Lets talk about something else," Cato said firmly, sounding slightly annoyed.

"Cato," Caesar tried. "How did you feel when Clove was killed?"

"I don't think you heard me clearly," Cato growled, and I quickly tried to compose myself. "She's obviously upset. We're done talking about this."

"It's okay!" I cried, quickly drying my eyes and sitting back up, giving Cato a warning look. "I'm sorry, I guess I'm still emotional about it." I gave a wry smile, my heart still bleeding. I realized what I had to do, and that was pretend, like every other victor from the past. Pretend each memory didn't hurt so incomprehensibly. Pretend I didn't want to curl up and bawl every time someone spoke my sister's name. Cato gave me a look, and relaxed.

"Obviously, it was upsetting for me," I said, trying to quell the wavering in my voice. "She was my little sister, and the loss was unbearable at first. I couldn't help but feel guilty, like that should have been me."

"You never would have died," Cato promised. "I never would have let you die." I remembered his promise about Clove, and he saw it all over my face, before I could hide it. "I'm so sorry," He breathed, so only I could hear. "I really meant too..."

"Shh," I silenced him gently, laying a hand on his arm. "Later."

"Cato, how did you feel?" Caesar asked cautiously, afraid of another reaction from him.

"I promised her, before I left, that I would protect Clove, that I'd bring her back." Cato said gravely, staring stonily at Caesar. "It was her idea to separate and get our things. I never should have let her, I should have been there. Nora, forgive me," Cato turned to me, his eyes pleading, and impossibly sad. "I've lived with the guilt ever since she died, and I always will. If it could have been me, I would have gladly-"

"Shh," I murmured, placing my hands on his chest and kissing him gently. "I know." I pulled away, letting my forehead rest against his for a brief moment. Sighs from the audience filled the air.

"On a lighter note, Cato, you mentioned Nora carrying your child in the arena," Caesar smiled. "Is this true?"

"Yes," I beamed, folding my hands over my belly. "Four months now."

"Well congratulations, to the both of you!" There was a thunderous applause. "Nora, you look beautiful."

"Oh, that's all the work of my stylists," I flushed. "I'm never this dressed up."

"You look amazing," Cato confirmed.

"So four months pregnant...do you know the gender yet?"

"Actually," I gave a small, I-have-a-secret smile. "I found out yesterday."

"What do you think the baby's gender will be?" Caesar turned to the audience, and they shouted back mixes of boys and girls. "I'm sure everyone wants to know," Caesar leaned in, "What will it be?"

I looked at Cato smiling, "Do you want to know yet?"

"Of course," He smiled encouragingly.

"We're going to have a son," I beamed, unable to keep the smile off my face. "He'll be due in September."

"We'll have to set the date!" Caesar cried. "This is so exciting! Your son will be so proud, to have such a heroic father. A father, who was the victor of the Hunger Games!" More cheers and applause for Cato. "How did it feel, knowing you would be able to go home?"

"Relief, more than anything," Cato even gave a soft smile. "I knew I'd finally get to see Nora again, even though its only been a month. I found out she was pregnant the morning of the Reaping. It was so hard, having to go, and even harder when I had to leave her. I'm just thankful that she is safe, and so is our son."

"I'm just glad you're safe," I beamed at him and the audience sighed.

"Well would you look at that!" Caesar exclaimed with mock surprise. "Our interview is coming to a close!" The audience booed and demanded more time. "One more question, that I'm sure is on everyone's mind. Any talk of wedding bells soon?"

I felt my face turn a violent red and covered my mouth with my hands, giggling like a twelve-year-old. Cato gave a mumbled response. "Okay then, you two are young, you have plenty of time. That's all folks! Lets give it up one more time for Cato and Nora!"

We both stood, and Cato shook our host's hand, and Caesar kissed me on the cheek. And it was over.