As promised, here is chapter 12. :) Happy reading!

Chapter 12

"Unexpected"

"Hey, Katniss." I felt someone shaking me slightly. "Katniss." I tried to block out the voice, my eyelids felt glued together. I turned into the couch and pulled my legs to my body. "We have to get ready for the opening ceremonies, Katniss." I lay still for a moment, hoping it's another nightmare. I ease my left eye open, and quickly see that it is not. Peeta is hovering above me with a soft smile upon his lips. It encourages me slightly, and I force myself to open both eyes. I give a small smile in return and move to sit up. I feel so tired.

He leans down and kisses my forehead. "You need to get up. I wish we could spend a little time together, but I have to get ready myself." I nodded, not really up for talking just yet. Neither was he. He moved to the door. "Seriously, get up," he shot back playfully. I laughed and swung my feet onto the floor. So it begins…

I knock on the door where my prep team awaits. Flavius flings open the door. "Katniss!" He wraps me in a hug immediately, throwing me off guard. Octavia follows, squishing me between the two. "Hello." I say unsure exactly how to take this situation. "Oh, Katniss! We have done nothing but weep for you!" exclaimed Flavius. I especially didn't know what to say to the weeping. I had no idea they had become so attached to me. I pat their arms as best as I can while being squished.

"It will be ok, you'll see." I sincerely didn't want to comfort them. It made me think of how my family must be reacting. "I promise it will be, ok. You'll see. Let's get started." They sniffle, and try to compose themselves as they set to work. They begin waxing and plucking, and moisturizing just like always. I was worried that one of them would notice the pregnancy weight gain, but they do not. They are too distraught. I can't imagine what this morning would be like if they knew I was carrying Peeta's child. They all take turns breaking down, leaning on me for support. It is over-whelming.

When they are finished, I immediately feel relieved. I know that I will miss them, but not at the moment. I am too exhausted and irritable to feel anything else. When Cinna walks in, I know that I will absolutely lose it if he isn't anything but normal. "I swear if you cry, I'll kill you here and now."

Cinna just smiles. "Had a damp morning?"

"You could wring me out," I reply. He places his arm around my shoulders and leads me out of the room. "Don't worry. I always channel my emotions into my work. That way I don't hurt anyone but myself." I smile, but only slightly. "I can't go through this morning again, Cinna." He pats my shoulder in an effort to calm my nerves.

"Believe me, I know. I will talk to them." He leads me to lunch, which makes me feel a little better. Ever since the morning sickness has basically dispelled, I've found myself wanting to eat more and more. That's probably a good thing, considering I lost a little weight in the beginning of my pregnancy. The more weight, the better as a competitor.

After cramming as much food as humanly possible, we moved to the dressing room. "So what do you have in mind for the opening ceremonies? Will I finally get to wear the ever-desired mining outfit?" I smiled brightly, finding my usual sarcasm and wit that I had lacked for so long. He finds delight in it. "Not quite, it's more along the lines of fire. Just wait for it."

The prep team returns, but Cinna sends them away, remarking on what a marvelous job they did earlier. I have never been more thankful in my life. He immediately begins working on my hair, braiding it into the style that my mother introduced him to earlier. It is simple and familiar, unlike my make-up. There is a stark difference from this year to last. Last year, make-up was minimal; I needed to be recognized by the audience. Now, they know who I am. Peeta and I need no introduction.

I watch as Cinna transforms my face. Sharp cheekbones, deep purple lips, smoldering eyes—I look so different. He places a half crown on my head, resembling the one that was placed there when I won the Hunger Games last year, except this one is made of heavy black metal instead of gold. I slip off my robe, not really thinking about it, but I catch Cinna's eyes flicker down to my abdomen momentarily. His expression never changes, but something tells me he knows. He never mouths a word about it. It almost relieves me that he doesn't.

My outfit looks simple, a black jumpsuit. It is kind of tight, making me worry that it will be easy to tell that I am three months along. My abdomen has started to look round over the last week or so, causing me a little bit of anxiety. Peeta and I hadn't discussed whether or not we would broadcast it or not, but I naturally assumed that we would not. It might get us more sponsors out of pity, but it also might make me look like an easy target.

I am just about to confess my predicament and ask if Cinna felt like the costume was a bad idea. He obviously didn't know that I was expecting when he designed it, but then he presses a button near the inside of my wrist, transforming me into something completely different. I watch as my outfit flickers red, orange and gold lights. No one will be able to tell now. "It's beautiful," I say in true astonishment.

I can't believe how amazing it is. Cinna has transformed me into a glowing ember. "It's exactly what I need." My message: the girl on fire no longer exists. Now, she is as deadly as fire itself.

"You're days of ribbons and pink lipstick are behind you," says Cinna. He reaches down and turns off the lights, making it even more spectacular. "Portia and I had to watch a lot of fires to make this. Whatever happens, we knew you needed to make a statement."

"I believe we will do exactly that." He smiles and begins to walk around me in a circle, surveying every last detail just to be sure.

"Now, when you get into the arena, there will be no more smiling and waving. You are to look straight ahead as if everyone is beneath your gaze."

Instant delight crossed my face. "That I can do." Cinna laughed and kissed my forehead gently. "I have no doubts. You will be great, Katniss." I give him a small smile, ending our afternoon. He leaves to attend to some form of business before the ceremony, and I head down to the ground floor of the Remake Center.

All of the victors are milling about, unlike last year where everyone seemed to be glued to their chariots. These people are friends, some have known each other for years. I am at least thankful that I didn't have time to make friends and network with these people. I would have been a mentor and would have gotten to know the other mentors who had once suffered the same hell that Peeta and I were beginning to know so well. I looked around for Peeta and Haymitch, but they were no where to be found.

I was about to leave in search of them, but someone came up behind me. Finnick Odair. I turn and find that he is a little too close for my comfort. He flirts, but I don't find him very attractive. I can see why others would though. For some reason, he makes it a point to ask if I have any secrets worth his time, worrying me immensely. I respond with a simple no, but I can't tell if he believes that or not. He leaves, and I instantly decide that I do not trust him.

Peeta finds me just moments after Finnick departs. I immediately notice that we are dressed identically. "What did he want?" I move in close to Peeta, trying my best to be seductive. I position myself as close to his ear as I can get, letting my lips gently graze his ear. "He wanted to know my secrets." Peeta shivered slightly. He pulled me back just a little. "Does he know about the…you know?" He gestured to my abdomen.

"I don't think so." He nodded and placed his hand on my back, pulling me close to him once more. "All day I have been wishing that we could escape all of this, but now I understand that there is no way that we could have. Every year, we would be right here, mentoring others and leading them to a similar fate." I place my head on his shoulder, careful not to smudge my make-up. "I guess I never gave that part much thought."

He kisses the top of my head gently. It's hard talking about a future that we both subconsciously know that we will never have. I look up at him with a smile and kiss him gently, too much emotion is between us to do anything more. The music begins to play, and we head to our chariot. The doors swing open and district one's chariot spills out into the arena. Peeta helps me up, and then swings himself to stand beside me. "Hold still," I say and straighten his crown. "Perfect. We look perfect. Have you seen your suit turned on? We are going to be fabulous."

He laughs, a real Peeta laugh, and it brings me actual joy. "I know. Now remember, no smiling or waving. I know how you love to play to the crowd." I hit his arm playfully, pretending to be offended, but I appreciate the humor. "Look at some of the other competitors. Their stylists must be mimicking Cinna's fire technique," he gestures to a few to our left and it is all I can do to stifle a laugh. District three makes sense, electronics, but the livestock keepers from ten look pathetic. Cows with fire belts? Does fire ever mean anything good to cows? I think not. "Maybe we should turn ourselves on. I don't see Cinna or anyone around," he says. I nod and we turn on our suits, drawing attention from some of the other victors.

For a moment I wonder how they all feel about us. They experienced the emotion of last year's games. They watched our every move in the arena. I wonder if they became attached like so many others have. Peeta and I may have been alive during some of the other tribute's Games, but there is no way to truly understand unless you have been in the arena. That's one thing that I noticed as we watched the tapes of our competitors.

I look back at Peeta and find him staring at me. He places his hand under my chin and smiles. "You really are beautiful, Katniss." I give a small smile, but look down, not used to compliments about my personal appearance. He leans in and kisses me deeply. I place my hand on the back of his neck and we cling to each other as long as we can. Our moment is broken when district eleven's chariot departs. It is our turn. Peeta smiles one last time, and fixes my smudged lipstick. I hope you can't tell. Cinna would die if he saw.

No one had instructed whether or not we should hold hands, but planned or not, it just kind of happened. Of course we will go into this as one. Our chariot enters the arena, and the crowd bursts into one universal scream. They cheer louder for us than for anyone. We pretend not to notice. I fix my eyes on a part of the ceiling on the other side of the arena. I glance at the screen momentarily and catch sight of us on the monitor.

Our team has made us beautiful. It is unlike anything I have ever seen. It is evident that we do not seek the crowds favor any longer. No more waving and smiling. We are unforgiving. We have suffered and somehow made it out alive, together. Now we are being stripped of what should be our right to comfort and security. I finally get to be me for the crowd.

They eat it up. We make our final circle with all of the other chariots. I can't help but notice that everyone's eyes are glued to us. And, I don't get a good enough look to be sure, but I am almost positive that President Snow is just as fixated as everyone else. Something about that brings me great delight. When it is all over, and we are away from the publics gaze, I feel like I can finally breathe. The other victors immediately resume socializing. I walk towards the elevators, but Haymitch catches Peeta and me before we can go anywhere. "Nope, you need to make allies." I sigh. I want to argue so badly, but he pushes us into a conversation before I can even make out a syllable. He knows me too well.

I look and recognize Haymitch's friend, Chaff, and a woman named Seeder. As soon as Chaff notices us, he smiles and throws his arm around my shoulders, planting a big kiss right on my mouth. I jerk back quickly, not expecting that at all. Haymitch begins to laugh hysterically. I feel anger rising into my throat. Whether he knew that would happen or not, I was still furious with Haymitch for forcing me over here.

Luckily, the attendants begin ushering us out before I can say anything. Peeta knowingly grabs my arms and pulls me to the nearest elevator. I feel another person beside me, and look to my right. I recognize Johanna Mason from District seven. She is wearing a tree costume, which makes sense considering they are the paper and lumber district. At least she doesn't have a fire belt. I laugh silently to myself.

"I know it's awful. You can say it. My designer is probably the worst around. A tree, really original. There have only been oh, forty or so before me who wore this same costume design. You look fantastic though. I wish I could have gotten Cinna. I can't wait to get this miserable thing off of me." I notice that I am not really paying her much attention. I'm not good at carrying on conversations about clothes and girl things so I merely nod my head. My attention is reeled back in when I catch sight of the costume in a heap on the floor. "That's better," she remarks.

The rest of the ride up, she chats with Peeta about his paintings. I don't look at either one. I abandon Peeta's hand and cross my arms over my chest. I can see the light from out suits reflecting off of her bare body, and it makes me furious. I need to get out of here as soon as possible. The doors open and she leaves. I smile at her, but only because it is a formality.

Peeta laughs and I don't even look at him. He's really grating on my nerves. Finally, after the laughter persisted for two floors, I turn on him. "Her standing naked is really that humorous to you?"

He shakes his head and continues to laugh. "You don't get it?"

"No Peeta, apparently I don't!" I shot back at him.

"They are all doing this because of you. You are so…pure. Just like when you wouldn't look at me while I was naked in the arena."

Anger began to absolutely boil. "Are you serious? Pure? Peeta, I don't know if you have missed the last three months of our lives, but I'm pregnant…with your child. I don't know how that is pure at all."

He placed his hands on my arms and I immediately swatted them away. "Katniss, they don't know you're pregnant. That's why it's so funny." I calmed down a little, but I was too amped up to be rational. My anger seemed to melt into something different. I flung myself against Peeta, kissing him passionately. My complete change must be due to pregnancy hormones or something. A second ago I wanted to rip his head off, now all I want to do is rip his clothes off.

I attack his mouth, but he pulls me away just as the elevator doors open. Haymitch, who somehow beat us to our floor, and Effie, Portia, and Cinna stand before us. They congratulate us and wish us well tomorrow in the interviews. We thank them for everything, especially Portia and Cinna, and then retire to the Peeta's room. Neither one of us even care if the others see when we go in together.

As soon as the bedroom door clicks shut, we begin to devour one another. I have never felt the need for any of it, but in the moment, it is the only thing in the world that I desire. When we finish, Peeta and I fall asleep, his hand across my stomach and my head over his heart. Everything is forgotten, and I find peace for the first time in a while.

Alright, there it is! It took me longer then expected, but I really wanted to try to make up for the break. I hope this works. :) Let me know if this makes up for lost time. I love hearing from everyone. Thanks for reading!

P.S. The next update will not take long to post, promise. I want to ensure that everyone isn't afraid that I will go on hiatus for so long again.