Chapter 13

Finnick POV

Katniss rests her head against my chest, my own hand drawing circles over the spot that contains my growing son. Katniss thinks it will be a girl, she shifts closer to me. She seems so happy when she sleeps, like our world isn't crashing down on us. Haymitch and I need to talk, everything has changed now that Katniss is having a child. There is no way I can let her back into the arena. I get up and kiss her lightly before heading to the one phone that Beetee made sure wasn't bugged. Haymitch answers his phone on the second ring; I can't contain my anger any longer, "did you know about this!"

"Whoa, Odair. I just got up. Give the drunk a moment."

I grit my teeth, "did you know about this, Abernathy?"

"Look we have a plan." I can hear a bottle being opened from the my end of the line, "don't worry about it. When you get to 12 we will discuss the details. Katniss will be safe and healthy and so will you. I mean you might come out with some scrapes and bruises." Haymitch laughs, "what else could you expect? Snow has been waiting for a chance to try and kill us all, how shock-"

"She's pregnant." I rest my head in my hands. "God, Haymitch, Katniss is pregnant."

Haymitch stays silent for a long time. "This changes things slightly."

"Slightly? My wife and kid are going to be in that arena, Haymitch! You have an answer for that?" My fist slams into the desk I'm sitting behind. I want to break a vase or something, the anger that's been building inside of me since I heard the announcement last night is about to explode. Haymitch coughs and sputters, his direct avoidance of my question sends one of the vases on the desk into the wall. "Answer me Haymitch!"

"No need to yell," he coughs, "I already have a headache. Look, when you get to 12 I will explain the plan. Our top priority will be Katniss and the baby's safety. I swear. How far along is she?"

"Eight weeks." A frown crawls onto my lips, "I was happy Haymitch. For the first time in years I was finally happy." I clench my fists in anger. I've already claimed the life of one vase, I don't need to claim another. How could Snow do this to us? The deal was we win the Games we never have to enter that arena again. In the Career Districts they have plenty of Victors to go around, but for Katniss it will be her and Haymitch. There is no chance of anyone else being reaped from 12.

"It's going to be okay, Odair."

I press the bridge of my nose, "Haymitch, you are going to go back into the arena too."

"I know, guess the odds aren't in my favor."

"Promise me something?" Haymitch stays quiet, I continue, "promise me that no matter what happens, if I die in that arena, you will make sure that Katniss survives."

Haymitch chuckles, "for once in your life trust me, Finnick. I am going to get the three of us out and safe. When you go out don't hide the pregnancy. When they find out she will get more support, more sponsors... Effie will have to be an escort and a mentor this year." Haymitch sighs, "get back here as soon as you can. And don't tell Katniss about this."

"Yeah." I hang up the phone and stare out the window. The door behind me creaks open, Katniss stares at the shards of glass on the floor. She makes her way to me, wraps her arms round my neck, and sits in my lap. The anger in my body diffuses with her touch and I rest my head in the crook of her neck, "how are you feeling, Kitty?"

Katniss POV

"How are you feeling, Kitty?"

Finnick's breath tickles my neck and I bite my lip, "sick as usual." I run my fingers through his bronze hair, "I hope our daughter has hair like yours." Bright and beautiful. A piece of me breaks inside, if my child even can survive the Games with me. Finnick's fingers brush my abdomen, he pulls me closer to him and lets out a soft chuckle. "What's so funny?"

"It's a boy."

"It's going to be a girl, Finnick." We don't have much time left together and possibly with this child. I am going to make the most of every second of it. I can tell that Finnick feels better speaking about the future we could have had instead of dwelling on the one we will have in a couple of months.

His laughter makes him shake me, "nope it'll be a boy. Are you willing to bet on this, Kitty?"

"I am. What are the terms, Finnick." He looks up at me and tucks a lock of hair behind my ear, "I hope you know I am the one carrying her. Thus, I have the advantage here."

Finnick nuzzles my neck and laughs, "okay I bet you 80 that its a boy. I win you pay me, you win I pay you."

"Fair enough." I move his hair back and smile, "I'm going to keep myself healthy until the Quell. Stretch, walk, keep myself fit."

Finnick's face falls, "you are going to walk out of that arena."

"Finnick, the odds-"

He tips my chin to him, "you are going to survive this. I can't say how, but the three of us will survive this Quell. I promise you. I want you to be healthy and fit of course, but don't stress out about this Quell. I'm going to protect the two of you. Although, we should get you back to 12 soon. Just so you can figure things out with Haymitch. We won't be together for the reaping, but I trust Prim and Haymitch to make sure you're healthy while I'm gone."

I nod, "can we not talk about the Quell. Just for a while?"

"Yeah, yeah of course." He picks me up and walks us outside to the beach, "I love you. Both of you. So I want you to trust me okay."

I smile, "I trust you."

I shut my eyes, I trust you Finnick. I really truly do.

Finnick and I go walking almost everyday, we hear cameras chirping around us already news has begun to circulate that they think I'm having a child. Not that my fluctuating weight has been enough of a clue. Although now that we don't have to please Snow we ignore the cameras, pretend they aren't even there, we also try to blend in with the people. I'm getting tired of having the Capitol's eyes prying into my life. Finnick and I walk along the beach, Finnick with an old worn shirt and me with a large hat our hopeless attempt at being invisible. Finnick and I walk fingers intertwined along the sand, "I can't believe I'm almost 13 weeks...We're also almost a two weeks away from the 'pre-Quell'.'' My voice falters and I clench my hands.

"Don't think about the Quell. You're going to be fine." Finnick kisses the back of my hand, "would you like to know the gender?"

"We can find out this early?"

Finnick nods, "there was a time when it took much longer to find out. But now the doctor just takes a little drop of blood and figures it out using the DNA science stuff."

"And you know all of this?"

"Simple, I read it in the books I bought." Finnick puts his arm around me and kisses my temple, "ready to pay up, Mrs. Odair?"

"I believe it will be you who is paying up, Mr. Odair. When should I schedule an appointment?"

"Katniss, we're Victors. We ask these people to jump and they pull ask how high and if we want fireworks." He stop and walks to the shore, "our son is going to love this beach."

"I was thinking our daughter, would enjoy the woods."

Finnick raises his eyes at me, "you know what, we are going to the doctor right now." Finnick pulls me from the beach and walks me towards the square. A small murmur of voices trail behind us. I wonder if it's because we will be in the arena soon or because they are spreading rumors of my pregnancy. Finnick opens the door for me, he has always been a gentleman. I slip into the cold wind of a shining white doctor's office. Finnick nears the desk while I look through pamphlets, a pretty young woman with soft blonde curls around her face jaw falls open, "y-you're Finnick Odair." She twirls her hair back and smiles. "What do you need, Mr. Odair, sir." She swallows and stands from the desk. I can feel jealousy bubble through my stomach. I haven't ever been one to be jealous, but the way this woman's eyes are traveling over Finnick is definitely making me upset. I think I read somewhere that pregnant women can be hostile. Maybe this is a side-effect.

"I was hoping to see the doctor," Finnick says.

"Oh of course, what's wrong? I mean I'm a nurse, I could look over you if the doctor's busy." I'm sure you would. I clench my fists, Finnick frowns slightly and some of my jealousy fades away. At least I know Finnick isn't flirting back. This time I stand besides him, link our hands together, and clear my throat and rest my hand over my belly that hasn't really begun to swell outside of the small bump.

"Actually, I'm the one who needs the doctor."

Her eyes shift to me and I flash the most violent look I can conjure up. Some of the color drains from her face, "y-you're Katniss Everdeen." She stares at the two of us and pieces everything together, "let me go get the doctor." She disappears from sight and Finnick turns to me.

"What did you do to the girl? Thirty seconds ago she looked healthy now she's as pale as a ghost."

I shrug, "not my fault. She shouldn't have been looking at you like that. And then when she offered to 'look you over'...Finnick just be glad she is still alive right now."

The nurse flies back in, "if you'll just follow me the doctor will see you in a moment." She leads us down a hall to a small room, pink walls and white furniture nearly blind me. The nurse smiles at us and shuts the door softly behind her.

"You know what this pink room means?" I ask. Finnick bites his lip and doesn't answer me, "it means that we are having a girl. I can sense it. Start reaching for your wallet."

Finnick frowns and begins to retort back to me when the door reveals a thin frail man with glasses and a mop of hair. "This is surprising, when I was told two Victor's are in my office I was quite confused as to why they were here at my office. I was imagining one of the male Victors you know." He sits behind the desk and looks at the two of us, "if it wasn't completely clear. May I ask why you are here?"

I nearly snort, isn't it obvious? Finnick speaks up, "you see, Katniss and I are expecting our first child."

"Marvelous, that's marvelous." He takes out a pad of paper and starts scribbling things down. "And you are completely sure that you're pregnant, Ms. Everdeen?"

"Yeah. If the five tests weren't enough to prove it, the morning sickness, mood swings, and enlarged stomach were enough." I try to hide the sarcasm from the statement, seriously I'm sitting here in your office I'm sure I wouldn't come if I was debating if I was this pregnant. The doctor nods as if I've said nothing to be rude or sarcastic towards him. I smile, "you see we just wanted to know the gender is all."

"Oh that takes just a moment." He stands and shuffles through a cupboard and pulls out a small device with a needle at the end, "don't worry. It hurts only a pinch." I've had a tracker shoved into my arm. Needles aren't a big deal. "Just set out your forearm and relax." I do as I'm told as a small dull pinch in my arm gathers my attention. The doctor sets it on his desk and smiles, "it takes just a moment to process the gender. Well you know that it is more common for it to be a baby girl, given the XX and XY chromosome facts. Boys are a little more rare now a days, not impossible by any means but rare enough. Many men come in here hoping for a boy and getting a girl." I elbow Finnick and look back to the doctor. "Don't be disappointed though, any child boy or girl, will be perfect. Let me see your results. See I was right."

Finnick reaches into his pocket and start counting his money. The doctor smiles and I prepare for my moment of glory, I was right. I knew I was right. "Congratulations! You're having a baby boy. I told you it was rare, but not in fact, impossible."

Finnick Odair is many things, immature, rambunxious, and often n overdramatic comedian. But never in my life have I seen him as childish as he is in this moment. I rest my head against my hand and take a slow glance at my husband. Finnick stood up so quickly he actually tipped over the chair he was sitting in, he has both fists up in the air and a grin that covers most his face. I grit my teeth, "sit. down."

Finnick looks down on me and with as much gusto as I think he could manage let's out a small cry of victory. "Told. You. So." He clears his throat and composes himself setting the chair back into place. "Sorry, Doctor, for that little outburst."

The doctor nods, "do you have any of the vitamins and supplements you need for your pregnancy Ms. Everdeen?"

"No, my mother and I have chosen to use natural herbs." I shift in my seat and clasp my hands together in front of me, "so it's a boy?"

"A little baby boy, Ms. Everdeen." He stands and shakes our hands, "congratulations Mr. Odair."

"Thank you sir." Finnick takes my hand and walks out of the office with a grin that I'm not sure could ever leave his face. Finnick turns to me and pulls me closer to him, "a little baby boy, Katniss. I have to call Johanna."

"Johanna Mason?"

"Yes, she's like my sister. We are close and she would love to know she is going to have a nephew and my brothers, we have to tell them too. And we can't forget about Mags."

Despite the fact that I see how we will all probably be dead in less than a month, I keep my mouth shut and play along. Because for the moment, Finnick seems genuinely happy.