10

Katniss

It's been two weeks now. We've held 6 press conferences, put up god knows how many posters and there's still no sign. I've cried more than I can say and it's only two weeks til the twins are due. What if he doesn't come back? Suddenly, the phone rings and I jump up, full of hope. Everyone leans forward, trying to listen to the conversation and Haymitch takes my hand, holding it tight. "Hello?" I whisper and Cato speaks back to me, "Princess? Oh my god, you're ok? I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening, I've been unconscious for ages. Look, I'm ok and I think I'm on my way back to you. Just tell me, have you had the twins yet?" I begin to cry, a lone tear rolling down my cheek and I nod to the others before answering him, "No, of course not baby. How could I have them without you? Just… come back soon, ok? We all miss you lots and lots. I'll wait for you at the front of the building today. Please hurry!" He whispers back to me, "Always," and then all I could hear is the dialling tone. I look up at the others and choke out, "He's coming back to me. Today. He's alive. He's ok." Everyone cheers and they begin a loud conversation about how to celebrate. Everybody except Haymitch, who must have noticed my eyes flash, because he interrupted. "GUYS! Be more considerate. Cato isn't back yet. Katniss, are we going to meet him?" I could only nod gratefully and hurry downstairs, as fast as I could with a great bump.

I sat on the bench outside and waited nervously. They came down quickly after me and sat on the ground around the seat. We waited for hours, attracting quite a crowd. At one point, someone must have phoned the paparazzi because they arrived in their masses, cameras and microphones at the ready. But I ignored them, only looking for one face. His. After about 10 hours of waiting, the crowd was beginning to thin out when a truck pulled up, horn honking loudly. It woke Prim and Steph who sprung to their feet almost in time with me. The doors of the lorry opened and a blonde figure jumped out. "CATO!" I screamed. He caught sight of me and he burst into tears, running at full pelt towards me. He scooped me up in his arms and spun me round. As he put me down, we kissed passionately and the cameras flashed. I didn't even care. He was back in my arms and we were safe. Until… I swore quietly and he looked at me worried. I only had to say 2 words and he knew what I was talking about. "It's time."

Cato

It was so good to my princess again. I've been unconscious for about two weeks and I know I'm probably bruised all over but all I can think about is Katniss, and my babies Clove and Peeta who are almost here. I'm sitting by her bedside and she's screaming. Over and over again. It's killing me because I can't do anything to help her.

Our babies are finally here, about 6 months old now. They are so beautiful, I love them. Katniss cannot stop crying; every time she looks at anyone, her gorgeous eyes well up and starts sobbing again. She is with Cinna at the moment, trying to pull herself together long enough to give an interview with Caesar. Oh, there she is, looking as pretty as ever. Cinna and Haymitch have been working to give her a more motherly look and it's definitely working. She's wearing a pair of dark blue jeans with a flowery top and she is finally laughing, something Brutus said. When she sees me, she runs into my arms and I kiss the top of her head fondly. She's still keeping an eye on me, barely letting me out of her sight. It's like when Gale beat her up; she finally knows how I felt all those weeks ago. We don't like to be separated, not from each other or from our families, so we don't leave each other's side.

Haymitch

Their interview is in progress and the secret we've been keeping for weeks is finally going to come out. We thought we'd save it for the moment they were at their saddest, but they weren't together when that happened. It doesn't matter, they're ready now. But first they must be told why Cato was taken. "So Katniss, you've dealt with some difficult things in your life, including giving birth, which I'm told is painful?" Caesar shouts and Katniss rolls her eyes before nodding and allowing him to continue. "But how does that compare to losing Cato? When he went missing?" She shakes her head and clears her throat before answering in a thick voice, "Yeah, it was really hard. I don't think I've gone more than a day without him, two weeks was like hell." Cato puts his arm around her and kisses her on the cheek. The whole crowd sighs and Caesar claps his hands. "I'm amazed. Astounded. But we have some news for you. This was a test, organised by the Capitol, and you passed! Congratulations!" She gasps and stares at him, absolutely speechless. Cato glares, "Excuse me. You put us through hell, while Kat was pregnant, for some stupid test!" He is angry now, practically shaking but Katniss takes his hand and he calms. Caesar is panicking, wrapping up now and he announces, "Ladies and Gentlemen, two of the survivors of the 74th annual Hunger Games!" Katniss and Cato look at each other confused but before they can so much as open their mouths, Caesar shouts, "Do you wanna meet the rest? We can't bring them ALL out but you've been voting in your millions and these are your top six! Here they are!" and they all walk on. Foxface, Thresh, Marvel, Rue, Clove and Peeta. Katniss screams and promptly burst into tears as they all run to hug her and Cato. They have about 2 minutes of excited conversation before Caesar sits them all down. "So, this year, after the announcement of a romance in the Games, we received so many complaints about them, we decided to mix it up a bit. We put you all in separate arenas and made you play with holograms of the others. Kat and Cato, you were the only two to survive. So we let you do the victory tour and faced you with other tasks. So far you've passed them all. Later this evening, you will hear the next one." Before they can say anything, Caesar turns to the others and asks them each to say one thing to Katniss and Cato. Foxface and Marvel all say something boring and congratulatory, Thresh makes a surprisingly deep and thoughtful comment and then it is Rue's turn. She takes both their hands and says, "I'm so sorry we had to keep this from you for so long. I'm glad you're happy now though. And your babies are so cute! And beautiful!" She jumps up and hugs them, something they return affectionately, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead. Then Clove stands and kisses Katniss on the cheek, whispering, "I love you guys. I have to admit, I was so pissed when you first start dating but I see now that you are so fucking perfect for each other. And I'm happy for you. Also, I wanted to thank you; I can't believe you named your daughter after me; that is so sweet." Katniss hugs her and begins whispering quickly in her ear, something which all the tributes burst into laughter about. Finally Peeta stands and suddenly they're all crying – Cato, Kat, Clove, Rue, Foxface, Peeta, even Thresh and Marvel. They run into a massive hug but Caesar clears his throat and Peeta begins to speak. "Katniss, Cato. We've been following your story for months now and anyone can see that you two are so in love. You have two beautiful babies and now you're a proper family, I want you to know that we will always be there for you, whenever you need us. I love you Katniss, and I finally see that it's ok that you don't love me back because I just want you to be happy. Also, thanks for not forgetting about us." Finally Cato speaks, and he's still very emotional, but Katniss nudges him and he says, "Everyone, thanks for making this week so special for us. I can't believe you're all still alive – something you will have to answer for later by the way! But you made us stronger. As a couple, as parents. Just – thank you. Oh and – Caesar, voted for what? What is the next 'challenge'?" Caesar chuckled to himself and the other tributes looked at each other knowingly. "Ok, I suppose you've been in the dark long enough. The Games aren't officially over and the eight of you will be put into a house for seven days. The Capitol will vote and someone will leave each day, until on the seventh day, they will vote for the winner. You have two days to prepare before you will go into the house. Any questions?" Katniss stared at him, clearly speechless and Cato and Rue both took her hand, comforting her in her shock as he asked, "You're asking us to go away from our babies for a whole week? When they're six months old?" Caesar nodded, obviously uneasy and he explained, "Yes, although if you're voted out before then you can go back to them. Now, the house will be stocked with food and plenty of things to do, but you'll be filmed 24 hours a day, to make good TV." With those words ringing around the arena, he allowed them to leave the stage, applauding as they hurried out. We were waiting backstage with open arms but Katniss and Cato were visibly shaking. They looked confused; obviously over the moon about their friends being alive but furious about this new idea. Katniss looked around the room, at everyone's expectant faces, and she snapped. Suddenly, she was screaming blue murder, swearing over and over again. Cato, Clove and Rue surround her, all murmuring soothing words but it seems she is out of control. Suddenly, Prim and Steph appear with her babies and immediately she is calm again. She apologises repeatedly, patting Rue on the head, hugging Clove and kissing Cato before taking Peeta in her arms and rocking him. Cato takes Clove and they put their heads together, laughing and crying, whispering hurriedly and then she turns to me. "Haymitch, we need your help. I know you want one of us to win, because you're very predictable, so campaign for Cato. I want out. On the first fucking day. Ok? I do not want to leave my babies for more than one day? Do. You. Understand. Me?" she said dangerously, her eyes flashing. Clove, Rue and Peeta all gave me a warning look, and I nodded. She passed her baby to Clove who instantly softened, tickling the baby until she laughed, and Katniss pulled me into a tight embrace. "I'll sort it…" I whispered, but I knew the public would keep her in until the end…

So that's chapter 10. I'm sorry if you didn't like the twist but I've had it planned for ages because I wanted to make it different to other stories. Btw, in case of confusion, the rule change about the Games was made because they didn't want a rebellion, like earlier in the story. Hope you enjoyed it! R&R