Peeta's POV

Everyone stares absolutely stunned at me. The meeting awkwardly concludes after Effie recovers and swiftly tells the camera crew we are out of time (even though we have ten minutes left of questions to answer).

My eyes first glance at Mrs. Everdeen, who is still positioned close to the bathroom door. She silently shakes her head, her eyes dropping to the floor. I feel a bitter taste in my mouth, but force myself to swallow it down. I then look at Effie, who is nervously drumming her nails against a clipboard gripped in her hand. The murmurs have dissipated, now evolving into suffocating silence.

I can only imagine what these people think of us. Most of them, no doubt, pity us. The way I announced the pregnancy clearly entailed that it wasn't planned at all. Good. The more drama, the more publicity. I quickly stand.

"I'm sorry, I know this is shocking to many of you. Would you mind leaving us?" I ask, mostly on behalf of Mrs. Everdeen and Prim. I know they must feel embarrassed and exposed with everyone eavesdropping on personal matters.

"Yes, everyone out please!" Effie fortunately signals to everyone. She authoritatively escorts the camera crew and prep team out of the house. The door slams behind the small crowd.

"Katniss," Mrs. Everdeen murmurs through the bathroom door after everyone has left.

"If you're feeling better, would you please come out?"

Slowly, Katniss cracks open the door and reappears.

"Prim, could you go feed Buttercup some dinner?" Mrs. Everdeen turns to Prim. She quietly nods and quickly exits the hallway. Mrs. Everdeen probably doesn't want Prim to hear this mature discussion we are about to endure. Katniss, Mrs. Everdeen, and I sit in the study.

"Katniss, is this true? Are you really pregnant?" Her mother's eyes worriedly look her over. Katniss breathes out.

"Yes."

What follows is a surprisingly calm, understanding conversation. Her mother discusses whether or not Katniss plans on keeping the baby. Her voice is tinged with sadness, but she claims it's Katniss's choice now that she has access to safe medical care. If she wasn't a victor, it would be different. Despite the uncertainty and fear of bringing a child into this world, often times it's better to keep the baby than risk an abortion in Twelve.

I have hardly any medical knowledge, but I know nearly every woman is left seriously injured or dies after trying to perform an abortion on themselves or have another inexperienced hand attempt the deed. These horror stories are sometimes whispered throughout Twelve. Nobody here has the money for birth protection, so it happens often.

I quickly push the thought away and gently take Katniss's hand. She says she will keep the baby.

We play the rest out smoothly. Mrs. Everdeen suggests now that Katniss is pregnant, she should move in with me. However, the marriage should take place as soon as possible. We may even have a small wedding here in Twelve before the gaudy broadcasted Capitol wedding airs.

The next morning, the news spreads like a wildfire. Not only does every person in the Capitol know about the "victor baby," but so does the majority of the districts. I'm not sure why, but my thoughts go instantly to Gale. I wonder if Katniss will talk to him about this, or avoid him all together. I don't see how she could completely ignore him when he will be part of our escape party.

Of course, Haymitch is the first to seem unconvinced. He assumes it's our obvious distraction from something important. Katniss and I invite him over for lunch and relate our plan to him. He helps by calling the Capitol press and making sure everyone has our story in the headlines. After he leaves for the afternoon, I get up to finish the dishes.

"Here, I'll help," Katniss slides out of her chair and begins clearing the table.

"I'm surprised this worked out as well as we had planned," I say as I rinse the plates. Katniss sets them in the dishwasher.

"I know... everyone seems convinced," she replies.

"Even my mom and Prim. Although, I think my mom may notice I'm bluffing soon enough."

I nod. With her mother's knowledge, she will surely figure it out.

"Well, if she's good at keeping secrets we'll be okay," I answer.

"What do I do about Gale?" She asks quietly after a pause. I stop rinsing and turn to her.

"He knows it's fake, right?"

She rolls her eyes.

"Even if I drilled the idea into his brain, he still won't completely believe it... he's jealous of you."

I chuckle.

"I'm not sure why, he's the one who has spent endless hours in the woods with you all these years... I've only just gotten my chance," I say. Her eyes flutter to the floor.

"Yes, but Peeta, the press makes us look very much in love. He hardly sees the two of us together in person. Us making out on every magazine cover and projector screen doesn't help," she shakes her head, closing the dishwasher.

"On every magazine and projector screen, Katniss?" I can't help but playfully smirk at her. She folds her arms, her lips tinged with a grin.

"Yes," she raises an eyebrow. In that position, she looks so confident, it's stunning. Subconsciously, I wrap my hands around her waist. Her expression falters, but she doesn't pull away. Two silver eyes stare deeply into mine for what seems like hours.

Finally, she clears her throat.

"I should go... see my mom and Prim," she says. Hastily, she leaves the kitchen.

It was a strange encounter for us, but not at all bad. Before any certain hopes cross my mind, I quickly head to my study to work on some paintings.

It's awfully late when Katniss returns. I wasn't going to stay up and wait for her, but my brain wouldn't let me fall asleep. I lie on top of the bed, without the covers over me. Katniss slips off her jeans and crawls in. One long, thick braid just brushes my chin. Katniss shudders.

"Do you have the windows open again?"

I nod.

"I always have them open," I reply. She sits up.

"Well, I'll sleep on the couch if you don't close them."

I shoot out of bed.

"Okay, closing them now," I announce. I could be wrong, but I think I hear a soft melody of laughter come from her before she lays back down. I shut the windows tight and slip under the covers with her. Her hands and legs are freezing from the walk over, but our collective body heat soon warms her.

"Who do you think is in charge of electricity in Twelve?" Katniss whispers. I frown, vaguely remembering a group of peacekeepers near a flat gray building on the hill behind the train tracks.

"I think the low-ranked peacekeepers run it. The upper ranks usually hang around the Justice Building. The electrical building-it's behind the train tracks," I explain.

"I'm gonna need to figure out how to get in there. I know it's far-fetched, but do you think they'll take bribes?" Katniss asks. I shrug. Suddenly an evil thought traces my mind.

"I think the only bribes peacekeepers ever take is prostitution," I say darkly, remembering Cray, our old Head Peacekeeper. Katniss nods, but doesn't respond. I eye her steadily, but soon push any uneasy images from my mind and try to fall asleep.