For the next three days, I actually follow the doctor's advice and take it easy. The skin on my legs still feels tight, but I am walking better. The bruises that Peeta and I have are changing their colors and his burns look better as they apply more ointment to them. The nurse comes in four times a day to put ointment on our burns and a cream on my belly to make me itch less. Johanna comes by, making sure we're not being "mushy" and we go for walks around the hospital floor so I can get some exercise. While we do this, Peeta is usually furiously drawing away. It's on the third night that the doctor tells us we'll be released in the morning.
"What about my mother?" I haven't seen her since she left our room when I woke up.
"I don't know. I haven't seen her in this part of the hospital, but I know she stayed to help." I nod and he walks out. Peeta is sitting up on his bed, back against the headboard, looking at his sketches.
"Why hasn't she come back to see us?" I know my voice sounds hurt and I'm not used to it. Peeta and I have only talked a little bit about Prim, but is that why mother hasn't returned? He looks at me and comes to me by the window, wrapping his arms around my ever-expanding waist.
"I don't know. She didn't talk to me much while you were out and when I would start to talk, she ended the conversation pretty quickly. It might just take some time." He says into my hair. I turn to face him, wrap my arms around his midsection and lay my head on his chest.
"She's going to leave again, just like she did when Father died. Only this time she'll say she's too busy helping others." I feel the tears fall but don't look up at him. I know he has lost his entire family but he has never known what it is to lose someone who is physically right there. Peeta holds me, lets my tears fade into his shirt until my eyes are dry again. He has never once rushed me or made fun of me about all the crying lately, just holds me in his safe, strong arms.
The next morning Haymitch arrives to take us to wherever it is that we are staying in the mansion. It's a huge place, over a hundred rooms and almost twice as many bathrooms. The room we stay in is beautiful, as is almost everything in the Capitol. There is a huge bed, it could probably fit five adults in it and I can't help but lay right in the middle and spread my arms and legs out. We only get ten minutes to adjust ourselves to the room before there is a knock at the door and a soldier is waiting on the other side when Peeta opens it.
"President Coin would like to see you Miss Everdeen. You are welcome to come as well Mr. Mellark." I get up with Peeta's help and we follow the soldier to a completely different side of the mansion. He knocks on a door and I hear a "Come in" from the other side.
There is a huge table in its center with most of the seats filled already. I notice Gale is sitting near Coin, as well as Boggs. Seeing Johanna, Beetee, Finnick, Annie, and Haymitch is what confuses me though. We take our seats and Coin starts again.
"Well, as you well know by now Miss Everdeen, Snow was charged and found guilty. I have kept my word and you will be executing him tomorrow at sunset. What I have called all of you here for as well is to discuss something else entirely." I catch Johanna's look, she doesn't seem happy about something. "We were thinking that of doing a different version of the Hunger Games, only with the children of the Capitol…."
Apparently not everyone in her camp knew of this, because Boggs' jaw drops, as well as a few other people. Gale doesn't seem surprised, so he must be part of the "we." Johanna yells, "Hell yes!" while Finnick and Annie are shaking their heads. I look at Peeta and he is shocked.
"How can you do this when we have all just finished fighting? I thought this was the end of those games?" He puts the question to anyone who will answer really.
"They deserve it! For seventy-five years, every district except theirs had to give up their children to fight one another. I say it's an excellent idea." Johanna declares. Coin nods her head and I wonder whose idea it was.
"Exactly what I was thinking," she replies.
"Dozens of their children were just killed! Why would you want more deaths?" Peeta retorts. I know he's right and yet what Johanna said feels right too. I know what Coin wants when she says,
"I want every victor's opinion on it. Yes or no." She looks at Finnick first.
"No." And Annie mumbles the same and puts her hand over her stomach. She must be pregnant too and I swallow hard.
"You already know I'm for it." Johanna says again.
"No, I don't think anymore kids should die." From Peeta.
"No. What way is that to start a new era?" Beetee asks. Haymitch looks at me,
"I'll agree to whatever Katniss says." Great, now it falls to me.
"It wouldn't matter, that's already four to three if you both say yes." Beetee points out.
"But I would like to hear why or why not." Coin intercedes.
"Because how would I explain to my own child that I caused the death of so many others when I never wanted to be a part of it to begin with?" I reply.
"If you weren't pregnant, you'd be saying yes." Johanna guesses and maybe she's right.
"I didn't say no either, just how will I explain it?" Peeta takes my hand and squeezes it, shaking his blond head.
"Actually, I never said we were voting on it. I just said it was an idea and I wanted your opinions. I think we will still go forward with it. The people of the Capitol need to know what it feels like to possibly lose the things most…."
"Things! They are children! You are out of your mind!" This time it's Haymitch who has spoken up. "I may not have any of my own, but I've seen plenty of families torn apart by the Games and more so now with this war. I have had to sit by twice and watch as these two fight for their lives! Just end it now!"
He is standing up and Coin looks at him like he is exploding, which in a way he is. He hasn't had any liquor in him since we got to District 13 and it doesn't seem as though he has started back up on it. He is the most sober I've ever seen him and I couldn't be any prouder of him than I am right now from his words. Yet Coin's reaction goes a step further and I see her pull a gun from her side and point it straight at his head. Everyone at the table takes a collective breath, afraid of anything else. She is more evil than Snow, I'm sure of it.
"I suggest you sit down now, Mr. Abernathy. Yes, they are children, but they all need to be taught a lesson and how else will they learn?" She re-holsters her gun once Haymitch sits back down. We all are shaken. What does she mean by this? Is she really thinking that killing more children is the answer? "Whatever your feelings on the matter are quite mute. I am president now and have a team of people behind me. Now, back to Snow's execution."
She turns her attention back to me and I sit back in my chair, not realizing how tense I was and how hard I was squeezing Peeta's hand. "You will be given a single arrow as you are not known to miss your target. We will have your prep team in your room in the morning. You, as the Mockingjay, will be hopefully making her last appearance."
I only nod my head, but then think of something. "Can I see him? Snow?"
"Certainly. A guard will take you to him. You are all dismissed." We, the victors and Boggs, look at each other. There's nodding and we all slowly get up and leave. A guard follows Peeta and I and I realize I'm going to see Coin right now.
"I need to see him by myself, Peeta." I say as I turn to him. He hugs me and pats my belly.
"I'll be waiting in our room then. I'll make sure there's food waiting." He leans in and gives me a quick kiss before walking away side by side with Haymitch. I follow the guard through a maze of hallways, thankful that he's guiding me but saying nothing. He brings to a door finally, with two more guards in front of it. They move aside and I open the door and walk in by myself.
The smell of roses overwhelms me and almost gags me instantly. I move my way until I see him, sitting on a bench, chained to it, but surrounded by roses. He smiles as he sees me coming towards me.
"Why Katniss, I wondered if you would come see me." He looks at my belly and his smile widens even more. "Well, I suppose Peeta wasn't lying about the pregnancy?"
"He didn't know until he was rescued actually."
"How lovely. Is this why you came to see me? Show me that you both are doing well now under your new president?" I'm not sure if he's mocking me or not but he starts coughing into a handkerchief. It is spattered with blood when he pulls it away.
"No. I wanted to tell you that your punishing Peeta didn't make him forget me entirely. He remembered how he loved me and that I finally loved him back." His beady eyes widen. "I wanted you to know that you couldn't reach all of him and he is back to me now. Us."
"Well, let's just hope Coin doesn't try to take him away again." He knows exactly what to say to me to give me more reason to not trust Coin. She is already planning on killing more children just like Snow did. And it's for the same reason, to teach a lesson.
"She won't." With that, I turn and walk away.