Trigger Warnings: Discussion of Panic Attacks and Self Harm

"I'm sorry. I just need to understand exactly what happened." Aurelius is cut off by a frustrated sigh from Katniss. We're both sitting on the couch, the phone resting on the coffee table in between us. It's set to speaker. "Katniss, this wouldn't be taking this long if you weren't interrupting me."

"Yes, well I'm feeling frustrated." Katniss snaps.

"Where do you think that is coming from?" Aurelius prompts.

"It's coming from the fact that we've been on the phone for twenty minutes, and we've told you what happened. I've said it. Peeta's said it, but you're making us go over it, again. It's not that complicated. He walked into the hospital and had a panic attack."

"Yes, I understand that Katniss. However in order to really be helpful I need to know about the build up. You said he left to go for a walk. Did anything happen before he left the house?" We both pause, before I answer.

"We had an argument."

"I see," he says slowly. Katniss lets out a huff. "When did the argument occur?"

"While I was handing the phone to Katniss when you called this morning."

"That's a fast argument," Aurelius comments. "Katniss you didn't mention it."

"It's not what you called me to talk about. You wanted me to talk about Gale. You both wanted me to talk about Gale."

"I was worried about you, and I'm not going to apologize for that," I snap at her. "The last time you heard his voice you took a knife to your ear. Then he calls and you answer the phone, you hear his voice…it would be stupid of me not to be concerned."

"If I may cut in here," the psychologist says, more loudly this time. "We're not talking about Gale right now, or the argument. We're talking about Peeta's flashback followed by a panic attack. I was merely commenting on the fact that I did not detect that the two of you had an argument when I called earlier. I apologize if I got us off track." No one speaks for a minute.

"So then, Katniss was upset that you informed me that Gale contacted you?"

"Yes," Katniss says pointedly. "I was."

"Peeta, is there a reason you were upset?" I don't answer right away. Katniss glances at me, and we make eye contact. She raises her eyebrows and jerks her head towards the phone.

"It all feels unstable," I say dully. Aurelius pauses, and Katniss scrunches her eyebrows together.

"Unstable? Interesting. You're upset because everything feels unstable?"

"I'm sorry," I say, leaning forward and burying my face in my hands. "I don't know what I was thinking. I know I keep saying that everything is going to be fine, Katniss. I know I say that, but it's not just going to magically become fine. You have panic attacks. I have flashbacks, and we're having a baby. It all seems unstable, because it is, and I want it to be more stable before the baby comes. It won't get that way and it won't be fine, if you don't take your treatment seriously. I need you to stop hiding things from me and from Aurelius."

"You feel Katniss has been hiding things?"

"I know she has been. She suspected she was pregnant for two weeks before she told me, and she didn't want you to know that Gale called. And it's all just too much." I groan.

"What is too much Peeta?" Katniss asks sounding angry all of the sudden. "Me having a baby, is that too much? Because you choose that!"

"I know that, and I know I don't have the right to ask you for anything else, Katniss…it's just…"

"What!" she demands, half screaming now.

"I'm scared that you're going to relapse when the baby comes if you don't take care of yourself. I'm scared that if you aren't open with how you're feeling something will go wrong, and you won't get better. Then I'll be under too much pressure between taking care of you and taking care of a newborn. I'll snap, and I don't want to even think about what would happen to Willow…" A ringing silence follows this statement. It seems to drag on. I can almost hear Aurelius beginning to doze off when finally Katniss speaks.

"So what do you want to do about that," she asks dully. "Because it sounds like you're saying you don't want this baby after all."

"That's not what I'm saying," I tell her quickly, grabbing her shoulders. "I want this so badly Katniss, just thinking about losing you and our family, and everything we have, makes me want to die." She doesn't respond.

"Katniss has brought up a good point though Peeta. You've raised an issue and she would like to know what you want to do about it. She deserves an answer." I take a deep breath.

"I want…I want you to be honest Katniss. I don't want you to feel like you need to spare me the pain by denying what's really going on because you feel like it will cause me distress. I need you to be more open with Aurelius, so that I know you're getting the most out of your treatment."

"Katniss," Aurelius asks. "How do you feel about that?"

"I'll allow it," she whispers, running her fingers through my hair, "But only if…if you promise to trust me. Because at the end of the day it is my treatment, and I get to make the final decision about what I do and do not do with it. However, I need you to know that I will always make the decision that I feel is right for you and me and our family." I swallow deeply, and nod.

"Okay," I say hoarsely.

"Okay!" Aurelius says brightly. "That was a very productive, open and honest conversation. I think we're making real progress here. My only concern is the panic attack itself. You say it was proceeded by flashbacks?"

"Yes," I confirm.

"I suspect that was a big contributing factor. You'd had an argument. You were stressed. You were relieving painful memories. I don't feel a repeat incident is likely, so further testing isn't needed at this time." Katniss lets out a deep sigh of relief, her fingers clutching my own. I feel my own muscles release some kind of tension I didn't even realize I was holding in.

"For the next few days though, I think it's best if you both take it easy." Katniss frowns.

"What does that even mean?"

"I mean you have some time before the baby comes. Go to your appointments, keep up with the light exercise and healthy meals, but enjoy this time together. Don't worry about the nursery for the next couple of days. You still have another few weeks. About two months or so if I'm not mistaken. Go for walks, cook elaborate meals, spend the whole day in bed. Take a few days to enjoy each other's company and relax. This is the last time it's going to be just the two of you for years. Spending it stressed out and worried about each other is not a good way to end this period of your life together." Katniss frowns for a minute, before her eyebrows shoot up, and she seems to suddenly come alive with an idea.

"But we have a lot we need to get done," I say hesitantly.

"Peeta, knowing you it will still get done, even if you take a couple of days off." I don't answer looking at Katniss.

"It sounds nice actually," she says, looking back at my hopefully.

"But what if…"

"I'm not saying ignore pressing things if they come up, just take a few days to really enjoy yourselves and this time and get some much needed rest. It isn't wise to go into dealing with a newborn while tense."

"Peeta," Katniss says. "I am agreeing with Aurelius. This almost never happens, and I think it will do both of us some good. Plus what does us good, does Willow good." There is such a note of finality in her voice; I have no choice but to agree. As she hangs up with Aurelius, I turn to her.

"Do you even know how to relax?"

"No, but I'm choosing to look at this as a learning experience." Her voice sounds suggestive.

AN: I know it seems like an odd chapter, because they were only talking to Aurelius the whole time. I thought about combining it with another chapter, but they were talking about such emotional stuff, it just didn't seem right. As always thank you for reading, and please leave a review!