Chapter 20

Only one of you got it right, sort of, I'm not going to say who right now. You're going to have to read on to find out what the cake is or has or does.
I have to warn you: This chapter will be a little sad. Not that sad, or maybe not sad at all but let me remind you everything will turn out okay in the end.

Katniss P.O.V

He was finally here. With me – and it was still my birthday – sort of. It was eleven fifteen yet I could have sworn I've been in bed for more than an hour.
I sat up and jumped into his arms happily. He didn't release me for a long time. There was something odd about the way he hugged me, like he was afraid to let go.

"You're late." I said when he finally let go. Peeta smiled, it was nice to see that smile.

"Sorry," he said. "I'll do better next time." I smiled wider. We sat down on the bed. Peeta yawned. He must be exhausted. In order to get to the capitol and back in one day he must have gotten up really early.
I brushed his hair out of his eyes. He closed them and laid his head in my lap. We had done this a few time before, if he was tired he would lay his head in my lap. I reached over to the lamp next to the bed and turned on the light.

"I liked it better dark." Peeta said, his eyes opening.

"Do you want me to turn it off?' I asked. He shook his head but didn't say anything. Something was wrong, I could see that. He looked stressed. I raked my hands though his hair waiting for him to say something. He didn't. Peeta stared up at the ceiling in such a way that made me believe he wasn't really seeing anything after a while Peeta closed his eyes.

"Peeta?" I asked. His blue eyes opened automatically. "I'm glad you're here even if my birthday's almost over." I said. Peeta's eyes closed again.

"You're going to hate me." He said. My hands stopped moving. I froze.

"What do you mean?" I asked. I tried to keep my voice calm. He didn't answer my question. He didn't move, he barely breathed. "Peeta?"

"Did you know Finnick Odair was in love?" he asked. "With another victor?" I shook my head. No, all I heard about him was that he liked to be around Capitol people a lot. It seemed unlikely that he would flirt with girls all the time if he had someone he loved. Where was he going with this? "And that the capitol killed haymitch's girlfriend." Peeta continued. "And that a victor from District one had his girlfriend go into the games just because he disobeyed the capitol. She died." Now I get it. I gulped.

"Y-you think I will . . ." I trailed off. The words were too horrifying to say. I shook my head. "No, it's just –"

"Katniss, we shouldn't be together." He said. His head was still on my lap. I didn't want him to move. I didn't want to lose him, not because of the capitol.

"Peeta, be serious. You can't mean that." My voice came out shaky. I didn't look at him. I looked straight in front of me avoiding his gaze just in case he really did mean it.

"It's for the best." He sat up. He was avoiding my gaze.

"No . . ." I said. I searched for a way to assure him that wasn't going to happen. "This year is the Quell. Chances are I'm not going to be picked and next year I'm not going to be eligible anymore." I said smiling. "I'm going to be eighteen before the Hunger Games reaping. I'm not going to be eligible anymore."

"That doesn't mean you won't be hurt by someone. Those people love to see drama in a victor's life. That's why they killed Haymitch's girlfriend. They wanted to see him suffer. They will do that to me too." Peeta said. I was shaking. Did I really think the Capitol will be so cold as to kill people for their own satisfaction? I started shaking even more as I realized the answer was yes. "Besides, I'm probably not going to survive the Quell." Peeta whispered. My eyes widened.

"What do you mean?" I asked. Peeta stood up. He turned his back to me so I couldn't see his face. "What do you mean you won't survive?" no answer. "Peeta!" I stood up and walked toward him. "Peeta!"

"The victors are going in the Quell. They told us this at the meeting. It's to show the districts that even the strongest isn't safe. My name will be the only one in that reaping ball since no one wants to see a drunk go into the games." Peeta said. "President Snow told me that himself."

"No." I whispered.

"I'm sorry." He said. Why was he apologizing? He was going back. Back to the pace that created his nightmares. Back to the place he hated so much. Chances are he won't survive, like he said. There will be older, more powerful people that will want to hurt him.

"What about the Female? We don't have one." I asked. Why did I ask that question? It was the last thing I want to know.

"This is why we can't be together." Peeta murmured.

"Who will go? Tell me!" I said but I probably already knew the answer.

"Someone from the District." He whispered. I knew it. Me. He knew this too. "I rather it be someone else, Katniss, I don't want you to die. If you go in I won't come out. I won't let anyone hurt you." I started walking backwards until I fell on the bed. I put my head in my hands.

"I'm sorry." He said.

"Who told you all of that?" I asked.

"Finnick, Haymitch, Snow, everyone." He whispered. I closed my eyes and breathed in through my mouth.
Why did the capitol have to ruin this little piece of happiness? Was there some kind of scale that said how much happiness the District Citizens could have? Had I been too happy these past few weeks? Had I exceeded the allotted amount of happiness and this was my punishment? Why did the capitol be so cruel? It wasn't fair!
I abruptly sat up. An anger burned through me. Not at Peeta but at the Capitol. I wasn't about to let them ruin things. No, they would pay.
If they wanted me in the games then I will go but I won't die. Peeta won't be dying any time soon either.
My eyes locked in on the Mockingjay pin that was still on the shirt Cinna gave me. The Mockingjay. That's just it. I won't be a helpless little bird, instead I will be a Mockingjay. I will make sure that Peeta and I come out alive. No matter what they do.
The capitol needs to pay for they've done. This year's Hunger Games will be the last. I'll make sure of it. I'm a hunter, after all. I can survive the games – even if I'm going up against Victors.
I walked toward the place where I put the clothes and took the Mockingjay in my hand. It's almost too perfect. Had Madge somehow known something? It seemed likely since her father was the mayor. Maybe this is the reason she gave me the pin. Either way, I'm grateful.

"You wanted to eat the cake together, right?" I asked. Peeta stared at me carefully.

"What-?" He said. That's when I saw the cake on the bedside table. So he brought it up here. Great. "Katniss, didn't you hear what I said -" I passed by him and picked up the cake.

"Let's eat." I said. I set the cake on the bed carefully, walked to Peeta (who still couldn't understand what just happened.) and kissed him.

"Are you all right?" he looked at me like I had gone crazy.

"I'm perfect." He pulled away surprised.

"You don't hate me?" he asked. I shook my head.

"How can I hate the person I love?" I asked. Peeta looked confused. "We'll make it out. I promise. I have a plan."

"A plan? What is it?" he asked.

"It's a secret." I said.

"Katniss. . ." Peeta sighed. "No matter what you have planned we-"

"Hush," I said. "You don't have to protect me. I'm a hunter, remember? I will always love the boy with the bread but he won't always need to protect me." He knew this was my little nickname for him. I told him when he had one of his nightmares a few weeks ago. Peeta's expression softened. He pulled me toward him in a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around him, never wanting to let go. I loved him. I would survive, we both will. I know we will.

"Even if your plan doesn't work, I will keep you alive. I promise." He whispered.

"And I'll keep you alive." I said with a smile. "I promise." Peeta smiled a little. It still wasn't the smile I knew but It was close. "Let's eat that cake." I kissed him one more time before picking up the cake.
Peeta had brought a knife, plates, and forks which led me to believe that he wasn't actually planning on leaving me. He probably thought that I would be so angry at what he got me into that I would storm out of the house yelling so loud that I would wake up the whole district. I probably would have but this was the new me. The more hopeful me. The Mockingjay me.

Peeta cut the small cake into five even slices and gave me one. He removed the Rose before cutting it though.

"Like it?" He said after I finished. I looked down at the three pieces left. I expected for there to be something in the cake. (A/N you guys did to, I bet.) like a small present but their wasn't. "Is something wrong?" he asked. I could hear the worry in his voice. He thought I had regained my senses and was going to leave.
I didn't answer him. Instead I poked through the other three pieces and found nothing. I had my eyes on Peeta's piece next when I heard him laugh.

"Looking for something?" he asked. Nice to see the carefree Peeta back.

"I expected for there to be something in the cake. A surprise." I admitted. "Guess not." Peeta laughed. His eyes flickered to the table where the rose was at. I caught on quickly. "Can we eat the Rose bud now? It is edible candy right?"

"It's chocolate . . . we can eat it later." Peeta said. Aha. I reached for the rose but Peeta beat me. So there was something in the rose. (A/N Congratulations to anyone who guessed it was the Rose.)

"Let me eat the Rose, Peeta." I said. He hid it behind his back.

"You can't eat candy right now, it's time to sleep." He said. My eyes narrowed.

"Give me the Rose." I said. "It's my birthday."

"For five more minutes." Peeta said. I glared.

"Show me what's in the rose." I said. Peeta sighed. He extended his hand. I took it quickly then carefully broke open the pretty white rose. I gasped. (A/N is it a ring?)

"You got this for me?" I asked. I took the small object out and admired it. I wanted to put it on immediately.

"I got it before I knew about the Quell." Peeta said. "You don't have to-" I shook my head quickly.

"Can you put it on me, please?" I asked. Peeta smiled. He reached for the object and placed it around my neck. (A/N yes neck, not finger.) I admired the beautiful heart shape locked around my neck. I opened the locket to see pictures. Pictures of Prim, my mother, and Peeta. On the back of it, it said 'To Katniss, my eternal love'.

"Thank you." I said. Peeta smiled. He kissed me gently.

"Now you'll always have me wherever you go." He whispered.

"For eternity." I said.

That night when Peeta and I laid in bed I sat up and looked at him.

"Let's make a promise." I said. "That we will be together forever, as friends, lover's or . . ." I forced myself to say it. "Husband and wife." Peeta was shocked. "No matter what happens." I stared at him fiercely. I wasn't myself today. I know that. But since I was already acting strangely why not go all out?

"Katniss?" he said.

"Promise?" I asked. Peeta pulled me back down to him. He kissed me. It left me wanting more.

"I promise."

The end. This is the last chapter but I will be making an epilogue so you guys know all that happened. Katniss was very OOC but I wanted her to be that way. It seemed to fit with what I was going with. It wasn't that sad, it wasn't sad at all . . . I think.
How many of you thought it was a ring? I didn't want it to be a ring because I knew Katniss would never agree to marrying someone that quickly so I made it a locket. Like the one Peeta gave her in the Quell.

The epiolouge will be coming soon but for now this is then end of the story. I can't say this is my favorite chapter. . . or my best.

Tell me what you guys think.