It had been three weeks since Katniss and Peeta had told their families about the baby, but Katniss hadn't heard from Peeta since last week. They would text or call each other most days Peeta would ask about any bump updates, she'd reply with sending him a picture of her bump before he would text back with a picture of him smiling. She loved that smile she thought, and she automatically saved the picture to her phone. He always wanted to know if she had any cravings or if bump was still not liking the smell of eggs, but suddenly the text messages and phone calls stopped, and Katniss was worried that Peeta had finally realised the pressure and the huge responsibility that came with having a baby and just decided he didn't want them anymore. She was miserable, but she tried to convince herself that maybe he was too busy at the bakery and didn't have time to talk to her, but she couldn't help the odd feeling in her stomach. She was beginning to show more, and it was more obvious to anyone who saw her that she was pregnant.

"Well look what we have here girly" Haymitch winked before pointing to Katniss's protruding bump "who's the unfortunate fella that has to put up with you and that scowl for 18 years?" he laughed

"Oh, shut it Haymitch I'm not in the mood" Katniss said before walking into the kitchen to collect her tables order

"you okay brainless, you seem off this week? Has the baby been giving you trouble" Johanna asked?

"Not exactly" Katniss said before collecting the order and walking it over to her table, Johanna followed behind her

"what do you mean not exactly?" she creased her eyebrow up as she helped Katniss clear a table.

"It's umm Peeta, he's been distant this past week, he hasn't text or call like he was for the past three weeks, it's just weird you know" Katniss shrugged as she turned to take the dirty dishes to the kitchen.

Johanna looked at Katniss curiously before following her into the kitchen, "I didn't know you liked him I thought it was just a one off and you were getting along for the baby's sake" she said

"what! Who said anything about us liking each other, it's purely for the baby's sake" Katniss replied

"Beats me brainless, your mood tells me otherwise" Johanna said as she walked off

Did Katniss really like Peeta, she thought, could there really be something more between them as appose to them just being supportive of each other for the baby. Sure, he was dreamy with those glorious sea blue eyes and his luscious curly blonde hair; that smile as well that showed off his pearly teeth that made her heart rate quicken. She couldn't help but dream of a future with them two and their baby, he'd be the doting father running around the garden playing with their children and she'd stand on the porch smiling at her family… wait what she thought children as in plural, surely there wouldn't be anything more between them, they hadn't even had a proper date yet. She was broken from her thoughts by the sound of gasping coming from the customers. As Katniss looked up from the cash register, her smile sudden fell and what she seen in front of her wasn't her usual friendly, charming Peeta, but a man who was broken. His curls were out of place and he was sporting a huge black eye and a cast on his arm.

"Peeta" she said as she walked around the counter to the man that was now in front of her, she stretched out her hand to touch his cheek before he pulled away from her.

"Peeta, what, who done this to you?" she said before she took his hand

"Umm it's nothing, can I maybe talk to you somewhere private" he replied

"I'm not due my break for another 30 minutes" she replied, "why don't you take a seat and I can get you something while you wait?"

Peeta just nodded before taking a seat near the back of the diner, avoiding the customers curious gazes

"your boy doesn't look so good" Haymitch replied

"He's not my boy and it's none of your business" Katniss replied

"look sweetheart, that bun in your oven clearly states that he's your boy" he replied

"How do you even know he's the father, maybe he's just a good friend?" Katniss smirked

"yeah a friend with benefits you forget that this is a small town, people talk" Haymitch laughed before going back to reading his newspaper

As Katniss went to get Peeta something to eat from the kitchen she couldn't help but feel uncomfortable with what Haymitch said, it's true that this is a small town and people talk but could they really know I'm pregnant with his child and if they know that then there's one person who so clearly know also… Peeta's mum. She was of course the reason for them injuries she thought. She was livid, banging the cups and plates into the sink and wishing it was Peeta's mothers heas she was banging into the sink and not the cups. She was startled by a touch on the shoulder, as she turned around, she was greeted by a pitying look from old Sae.

"Hey girly, why don't you take off, the diners not that busy and Annie will be in soon anyway" Sae said

"Sae I couldn't do that, you'll need me for the rush hour after schools done at 3.30pm" Katniss replied.

"we'll manage, besides your boy over there looks like he needs you more than I do right now" she replied before patting Katniss on the shoulder and walking off

Why does everyone keep thinking we're together she thought, we're just friends. She walked to the staff room to collect her things before approaching Peeta who was playing with his food.

"Hey, Sae said I could leave early, do you want to get out of here?" she said

Peeta just nodded his head before placing his hand in hers and walking out the diner. She wasn't aware of how his hand and her hand became entwined only that she liked it and shed wished he didn't let go, but he did so that he could open her car door and help her inside. Peeta put the car into reverse and began driving out of the carpark. They were both silent for what felt like hours but was only 10 minutes.

"I'm sorry to have just shown up like that, but I didn't know what else to do and I just needed to see you, gosh look at you, look at that bump isn't it amazing" he smiled

Katniss laughed at his comment "yeah bump is still keeping me up all night and making me feel sick all morning"

"really? I wish I could do something to help" Peeta said but Katniss noticed something off with him

"hey what's wrong?" she said as she placed her hand over his.

"Mum, she ahh found out about the baby. Dad apparently didn't get to her in time and she heard it from one of your mums' friends in the grocery shop the other day. She was furious she came to my apartment, banging on the door looking for answers, wishing that what she heard wasn't true and when I didn't deny the rumours, she emm well as you can see, she did this. She told me that you were lying and that I'm not the father and that any child who had me for a father would be so unlucky. I'm so sorry Katniss, that I haven't talked to you but I just I needed time and I know what my mum said about me not being the father is all a lie but it just it messed with my head and I needed some time to think" he said as a single tear fell from his eye

"Peeta, listen to me, this baby will be so lucky to have you as their father, this baby will have so much love that he or she won't know what pain is, you'll make sure of that" she placed his hand over her small but very noticeable bump.

"I wish I could take away all the pain that your mother inflicted on you all these years, but you're so good Peeta, and we're so lucky to have you in our lives" she smiled at him

Peeta just nodded before placing a kiss to Katniss's hand. She couldn't help but feel a sense of intimacy in that moment and it was then that the question just slipped out of her mouth, " Peeta what are we doing?"

"we're going for a drive, I don't know where too but just somewhere that's not district 12" he replied

"no, I don't mean where are we going, I mean, what are we doing… what are we? Are we friends? are we dating? We never really talked about it we just said we'd be there for the baby"

There was a silence in the car, Katniss's cheeks began to go redder, her heart was racing, and her palms were sweating. She ruined it she thought. Why did she bring this up he obviously wasn't interested, or he would have answered her question? But all off a sudden the silence was met with his boisterous laugh and Katniss couldn't help but furrow her brow at him, "what's so funny" she said through gritted teeth

"Katniss Everdeen, will you go on a date with me?" he replied

She was shocked, did he really just laugh at her and then ask her to go on a date with him, but before she could think her answer over, she answered back a simple yes before her smile grew wider.