The noise of the train fastly travelling through the tracks or the constant chatter from the TV distracted Heather from her newfound reality.

She was pregnant with twins.

This didn't change anything, of course, she was still going with her plan. But it certainly will make things difficult. Heather now couldn't participate in any sort of battle. She could only stay behind and make plans. While she will still be useful, a sense of guilt crept into her chest and she felt like suffocating just at the thought of her friends putting themselves in danger while she stayed behind.

Another dreadful thought struck her as she realized that both Katniss and Peeta would be back in an arena. Even if she wasn't pregnant, Snow would make sure that Katniss is District 12's tribute and it was no brainer that Peeta would let her go in there alone. Her breathing heaved as she tried to accept this new reality. The Quarter Quell never failed to be horrible.

Hurriedly, she ran to the bathroom where she fell and puked her lunch into the toilet. She couldn't bother to remember how long she'd been there.

Eventually, she dragged her feet back to her room. Laying in her bed, all the worry was drained from her body and determination ran through her veins instead.

No matter what, she will make sure her plan succeeds.

Haymitch and Luke were both waiting for her in the station where she got off of the train. Immediately, upon the sight of her, Luke began to wave his arms financially. Heather gave out a smile and walked towards them, her steps faster as she steadily grew impatiently/ the first to reach the other was Luke. he wasn't hesitant to jump and hug her.

"Oh, how I've missed you, my beautiful boy," she closed her eyes and hugged him.

His tiny arms tightened around her neck. "Me too, momma."

After a few seconds, they pulled away, "So, did you have fun with Haymitch and the others?"

"Yeah, Peeta made me so many yummy things," he said.

"Is that so? Well, we'll have to find a way to thank him," she said, taking his hand as they walked to where Haymitch was.

"Mommy, is the Capitol fun?" Luke asked.

"No," she immediately said.

"Then why do you go there?"

"Because it's my responsibility," she told him.

Thankfully, whatever question he was going to ask next didn't have the chance to be asked as they approached Haymitch. A small smile hinted at his lips as they stared into each other's eyes.

"Hey," she grinned.

"Hey yourself," he pulled her into a hug that sadly ended early. "How was it?"

"Well, it wasn't like the other times to be honest," she said, making him raise his eyebrows. But he didn't question her further as he knew that she would tell him later on.

Luke made sure the walk home didn't go in silence as he filled Heather in on what happened in the past days during her absence. While it was nothing short of positive, she noticed how barely mentioned Katniss was and wondered if she was doing okay.

The delicious smell of food filled Heather's nostrils the second she stepped inside her house. No doubt, this was Peeta's doing. The man himself appeared, a smile decorating his face once he saw her.

"Hey, how was the Capitol," he asked with his arms crossed, leaning against the wall.

"What do you think?" she smiled as she hung her coat. "What did you make? It smells divine here."

"Peeta made you a feast, mommy!" Luke announced, throwing his arms around.

Heather giggled at her son before turning to Peeta. "Thank you but you didn't have to."

"Well, I wanted to," Peeta said. "Besides, it's not like I have anything else to do."

She nodded. "I'll go change my clothes and come join you in a bit."

Up in the bathroom in her room, Heather caught sight of her bare stomach, her arms lowering the jumper she was about to put on as she stared at it. It seemed surreal that in about two weeks, her belly would start showing. Maybe then, the idea that she was carrying two babies would be solidified in her mind.

Shaking her head, she put on her clothes and went to join them downstairs. During dinner, Peeta and Luke mostly carried the conversation while Heather answered their questions and replied to some of their comments. She kept stealing glances at Haymitch but as much as she tried to make them unnoticeable, she did not doubt that Haymitch noted her abnormal behaviour.

"Where is Katniss?" Heather asked. "I thought she'd be here."

"I asked her to come but she didn't seem to be well," Peeta said.

"Oh," she said. "How is her foot?"

"It's fine."

She opened her mouth to say another thing but a yawn escaped her instead. She's been trying to hide how tired she was for the past few minutes but now it looks that her cover is up.

"Mommy, are you tired?"

"I'm fine," she waved it off.

"If you're sleepy, go to bed. We can talk more in the morning," Haymitch said.

Normally, she would've argued with him but once she accepted her exhaustion, it somehow felt like it doubled on her.

"Okay," she got up and motioned for Luke to take her hand. She couldn't help but catch a glimmer of surprise in Haymitch's expression. "Come on, sweetie."

After washing Luke and singing him to sleep, Heather headed to her room and found Haymitch already there.

"Are you okay?" he asked her. "You've been acting strange."

"It's, well, ah," Heather scrambled for the right words to say.

"Is it something bad?"

"No!" Heather burst out but Haymitch wasn't startled and took long strides towards her, approaching her within seconds. He wrapped his arms around her waist and pecked her lips, pulling away before she could deepen the kiss like she wanted to.

"What is it?" He placed his forehead on hers.

"I'm pregnant," the words left her mouth before she could think about them.]

"What?" his hands slightly tightened around her waist.

"Well, I noticed how I've been experiencing some symptoms so I took a pregnancy test and it turned out positive, wait there is more," she placed her finger on his mouth. "I also went to Snow to tell him and guess what? He knows, he knows that you are my husband because of course, he bugged Peeta's house. I guess that means all the victor houses are bugged. But I went to him and told him and he set me a doctor's appointment and you wouldn't believe it but I'm pregnant with twins! Twins, Haymitch and what is worse is that uhmumh-"

Heather got caught off as Haymitch put her hands behind her back and his mouth came to meet hers.

For a second, Heather forgot about everything as she focused on the softness of his lips and the wonderful feeling they brought with them. But like water rushing out of a broken dam, all her previous thoughts rushed back when they pulled apart from each other. Haymitch's attention settled on her belly where his hands were holding her waist.

"Twin?" Haymitch muttered. "And how did you find that one out?"

"The doctor showed me," she said breathlessly. "Are you mad?"

"No," he pulled her in, a hand on the back of her head and another on her waist. She breathed him in, wrapping her arms around his middle. Whenever she was in his arms, an unwilling feeling would always sweep into her. It felt safe, it felt like home when she was in his hold.

"I'm going to be a father," he muttered so low to the point where she almost couldn't hear him. A moment later, his arms tightened around her.

"You're already a father," she said, reminding him of Luke.

"It's not the same."

"Maybe not but you're not going to treat our children any differently than Luke, right?"

The following silence was the only answer she needed.

"And what were Snow's solicitations?"

"Wait, the photographers coming for Katniss to take her wedding photos will also take pictures of me when my baby bump shows," she told him. " I didn't ask him if I can avoid revealing your identity as the father, but I don't think he'll care."

"Why do you think so?" he asked her cautiously.

"The Quarter Quell."

Another yawn escaped her before she could say anything further. Haymitch's face softened and he placed a hand on her back.

"Come on, let's go to sleep," he walked her to the bed, looking around the room, silently reminding her that this was no appropriate place to talk.

She nodded and when she sank into the soft mattress, the relief that ran through her body surprised her. She was so caught up in her thoughts, she didn't realize how exhausted she was. She curled up in the arms of Haymitch.

"Heather?"

Her head was heavy with sleep but she still managed to answer. "Yeah?"

"I'm scared."

"Me too," she lifted her head upwards to look at him. "But I know we're going to do alright."

Even in the absolute darkness, she could still make out his smile.

The next morning, Heather woke up feeling all tired. Not only did she have nausea but her breasts were so sensitive and sore, she didn't dare put her arms around them, moving away from Haymitch so he wouldn't accidentally touch her.

After he woke up, Haymitch gave her a weird look when he saw her lying beside him, wide-awake.

She turned to him with a blank look. "I don't think I like being pregnant so far."

The laugh that escaped from his mouth made her punch him.

She only got out of the bed when Luke burst into the room and forced her up.

"Come on, mommy, the sun is out, it's not sleep time!" he said way too energetically for her comfort.

"But I'm tired," she groaned, dramatically draping her arm over her eyes.

"Da- Hay said you'll get less tired if you walk around," he started to pull on her hand. "Come on, I'll walk you to the bathroom."

"How chivalrous," she commented.

"Chi-what?" he scrunched his face.

"It means you're acting like a gentleman."

Heather swore that she saw his eyes sparkle before a proud smile took over his face.

Haymitch and Heather couldn't get alone together outside until the afternoon. She leaned closer to him as a shelter from the harsh cold weather. She then told him about the quarter quell and how he was going to rob Katniss to get rid of her. She proceeded to tell him about the plan she and Plutarch developed.

"And you're sure this plan of yours is going to run smoothly," he asked after she was done. "What if this substance doesn't work?"

"It is! Trust me, Dr. Gaul was talking the other day about it and I read his reports while he was asleep and did more research," Heather said. "I'm sure once I get on the phone with them, we'll be able to recreate it and make it better."

"And who is this Dr. Gaul?"

"A renowned doctor. He's a perfectionist and doesn't work on something that doesn't have a high chance of success."

He sighed. "I'm just not sure about this, Heather."

Heather rolled her eyes. "That's because this is the draft. It hasn't been finalized yet. We still need District 13 to know about this."

"And yet, you're planning to tell the others?"

"Whether this runs or not, the others have a right to know."

"And Katniss?"

"Yes, I'm planning to go to her right now," she said. "But not the plan, for it to work, she needs to not know about it."

"You mean, like, right now?" Haymitch nodded towards her house.

"I should," she sighed. "She'll be mad if I tell her any minute later."

"Well, good luck," he patted her shoulder before he started to head back to their house.

"What? You're going to leave me alone?| she called out in a teasing voice.

He didn't bother to respond, making her chuckle. Shivering from the cold, Heather jogged to Katniss' front door and knocked.

A minute later, Prim answered the door and a smile appeared instantly at the sight of Heather.

"Hey, missed me?"

"Heather!"

Prim threw herself at Heather, holding her tightly.

She giggled. "I'm going to take that as a yes."

"When did you come back?" She asked when she pulled away.

"Last night," she said. "Can you let me in now, it's really cold out here."

Prim quickly rushed her in.

"Mom! Katniss! Heather is here!"

Heather hugged both women when they gathered in the sitting room. They conversed a bit about what they've been up to since Heather's absence and how the Hawthrones were doing.

"There is something I have to tell you," Heather said excitedly as she placed her hands on her lap. All three of them gave her curious looks as she watched their expressions. "I'm pregnant!"

The silence they gave was almost deafening, the grin almost dropped from her face.

As predicted, Prim was the first to react as she squealed and leaped to hug her. Heather laughed as she embraced her back.

A minute later, Amaryllis joined her in, leaving Katniss alone in her shock. She only snapped out of it when Heather, Prim and her mother were staging at her in anticipation of her reaction.

"Uh, um, congratulations, I guess?" she said apprehensively.

Even fifteen feet apart, Heather could tell the question swirling around her mind. "Do you want to talk outside?" she asked, smiling softly.

Katniss stayed silent for a moment before she nodded. Heather said her goodbyes to Prim and Amaryllis, promising them that she'll be there tomorrow.

Heather and Katniss didn't start talking until they were a bit far from Victor's Village.

"Are you not worried about Snow?" Katniss asked.

"I already told him," she revealed. "He knows about Haymitch and I. Peeta's house was bugged.

"Oh," Katniss exclaimed. "Are you not scared?"

"We have a plan," Heather looked around to make sure that no one was listening. "I went to the Capitol to meet with an ally who knows about what the Quarter Quell is going to be about."

"Can you tell me who that is?" Katniss gave her a wary look.

"I'm afraid that's confidential for now," Heather said sternly. "But they're reliable so you don't need to worry."

"So, what's the twist?" Katniss leaned against the tree.

Heather took a deep breath and tried her best not to look away from Katniss as the words got stuck in her throat. But somehow, she managed to get them out. "It's us. Snow is planning to reap out existing victors."

She maintained her look at Katniss, watching how the girl's breathing pattern gradually grew and how fear consumed her eyes. When she dropped to the ground, Heather run to her, holding her tightly as she trembled in her arms. She ran her hands through her hair comfortably.

She understood completely how scary it was. The mere thought of going back to an arena made her weak in the knees as well. The fight to survive, the struggle to not give up, the pain. All of it was so heavy and hard not to crumble under.

"I'll get you out of there, Katniss, I swear that I will," Heather whispered to her.

"And how will you do that?" she snapped.

Heather looked at her with sadness in her eyes. "Because you're not the one I'm at risk losing and I refuse to lose anyone I hold dear to my heart again."

Heyyy, I know its been a while but here I am! School has been taking so much of my time than expected and especially, because this is my last year of high school. But rest assured, I'll still find time to finish this fanfic :)

Tell me all your thoughts in the reviews! (aren't Haymitch and Heather cute?)

Till next time!