Chapter 7

Gale

I can't believe my eyes when she walked out onto the stage. She looks fantastic. She's gained a little weight, and it looks great on her. It's a little strange to see her looking so girly, her hair long instead of her signature braid. I wonder what it would feel like to run my fingers through it. When Caesar announces her, he adds Mellark to her last name, reminding me that they claim to have had a toasting. We may not have been as close as we used to be, but I'd like to think that she would have told me that they'd gotten married. She skirts the issue by having him call her Katniss.

Apparently, the Capitol believes that Peeta is dead, and she doesn't seem to know otherwise. I wonder if she knows what happened to District 12. Are any of those tears for me, or does she think that we're all happily living in District 12?

Did I just hear what I think I heard? Caesar seems to have read my mind, because he's clarifying. Then she says it, she's expecting a daughter.

All I can hear is the blood rushing to my head, and I feel an uncontrollable anger. I've got to get out of here.

As I walk into the hallway, I punch the wall, the pain in my hand temporarily venting the pain that I feel. How could she betray me like that? Does she really care about me so little that she would sleep with him, raise his baby, without a second thought? I think back to the day of the reaping, when she told me that she never wanted kids. Was it that she doesn't want kids, or doesn't want my kids? I quickly walk to my room, and shut the door, pacing in the privacy of my own room. Commander Boggs, President Coin's head soldier, is knocking on my door. I crack open the door and tell him that I don't feel like talking, and he replies in a gentle tone that I at least need to get my hand looked at. He won't leave till I agree, but instead of the hospital, I find myself at Prim and her mother's room.

Prim

We just sit in stunned silence. My sister just announced her pregnancy on national television. It's a relief to see her, though. It's been over a month since she was taken to the Capitol, and since then, all we've heard rumors, but we had no proof that she was alright.

There's a know knock on the door, and on the other side is Gale, his hand bleeding.

"Gale, what happened?" I exclaim.

Gale is muttering to himself, but I can make out bits and pieces: should have known better... should have volunteered... could kill that baker boy...

My mother slips out of our compartment as I lead Gale to the sink. After washing his hand, I examine it, and while it is sore, it doesn't appear that he's broken anything. I have him sit on my bed, and he sobs as I apply ointment from the first aid kit, and wrap his hand in a bandage. It's hard to see him so heartbroken, he's been like a brother to me. I give him a light sedative, telling him that it's a pain reliever, and walk him to his room, a few doors down. I think that he requested we be near him. I gently tuck him in, and head back to my room, where I sit on my bed, hugging my knees to my chest.

I guess I didn't realize the depth of Gale's feelings. I knew that Gale loved Katniss, but she never seemed to notice. She can be so oblivious to that sort of stuff, always so practical. I should be grateful, it's that practical nature that kept us alive, but I always hoped that she'd fall in love. I know that she loves Gale, I just don't think it's the same way he loves her. He's so much like her, so private with his feelings, and stubborn, so stubborn. Everyone assumed that someday they would marry, but I always worried that if those two got together, they would slowly build a wall between each other. Even so, I wish he weren't hurting right now.

I'm not all that surprised about Peeta and Katniss. I've seen them glancing at each other when they don't think anyone else is watching since we were kids. Peeta's been in love with her since I can remember. I used to make Katniss take me to look at the cakes in the bakery window. They were the closest thing we had to art in the districts before Peeta started painting. The cakes were beautiful, but secretly, I used to love the way that he'd gaze out at her, without her even knowing it. There were a few times where I had gotten my hopes up that he would come out and confess his love for her, but he never did. It may be chance that they were reaped together, but I think it was fate. I think that they were always supposed to be together, and the universe decided to give them a shove.

She wasn't planning to come home from the Quarter Quell. We had sat together the morning of the reaping, Katniss braiding my hair like I was a little girl again. I looked up at her and there were tears in her eyes. I started to comfort her, telling her that she could come home again, but she just hugged me and whispered, "It's Peeta's turn." That's when I was sure. She loves Peeta, even if she doesn't want to admit it to herself.

Haymitch

After dinner, I bring Peeta to command with me to watch Beetee work his magic. We're just settling in when the projection glows to life, the Panem anthem playing. Caesar is there, his trademark hair and suit a light shade of yellow, opening the interview in his usual style, Beetee hard at work, pressing buttons and tuning dials, when I hear him call out his guest: The Girl on Fire, Katniss Everdeen, er, Mellark!

The crowd goes wild, and Peeta stands up, and walks to the projection. His eyes are riveted to the projection as Sweetheart walks onstage, looking better than ever. She is radiant, a beautiful young woman. I have to admit to feeling a little disappointed that she looks so good. Is it possible that I was fooled into thinking that she truly felt something for the boy?

I feel sick, watching her work the crowd, smiling and wave to the crowd, even blowing kisses. Where was this girl when I was trying to keep her alive in the first games? Could she really care for the boy so little? I'm afraid I don't want to know the answer.

I'm not sure if it's covering up Peeta's lie from the arena, or apathy toward the boy that causes her to choose her first name, but the audience is eating her up. I wonder if the tears are real, or if they're for the audience, too.

Beetee's gotten through, and I hear Plutarch telling him to air Peeta's propo. I bellow "for the love of God, man, do not do that." I don't know if it's shock, uncertainty, or both, but Beetee loses the signal before anything plays.

The boy is drinking her in, his hand reaching out to her. There is a new sorrow in his eyes, as he realizes that she thinks he's dead. There is another boy in the room whose eyes never leaving the projection. If I were a betting man, I'd bet that they're both holding their breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Plutarch holding up a bottle, and looking at me. I could really go for a drink right now.

As the Capitol regains their broadcast, she smiles. Though this one's not as bright, it still feels like salt in our wounds.

"That's not why I'm here today" she says, to Caesar. We all lean forward as she drops her own bomb on us. "I wanted to share with the people of Panem that I'm expecting." A collective gasp fills the room. Caesar clarifies "expecting what, my dear." We're all on the edge of our seats.

"A daughter." she answers. And the bomb explodes. I hear a chorus of cries, Gale goes streaking out of the room, Peeta looks delirious, and Beetee's breaking through the feed again.

Beetee flips a switch, and we see Gale in front of the rubble of the District 12 Justice Building. Plutarch looks displeased.

On screen, Katniss has a look of confusion, but shakes it away, wrapping up her interview with a promise to be back in one month. The camera pans out, and the Panem anthem plays again.

I grab Peeta by the elbow, and steer him out the door and into the hallway. There's a bloody hole in the wall, and I know without a doubt who left it.

Peeta

She believes that I'm dead. There's a part of me that wanted Beetee to air my propo, so she can see that I'm still alive, but Haymitch is clearly against it. My heart aches for her, but a small piece of me is hurt that she's not more upset about it. She said she loved me. She wouldn't lie about something like that, would she?

I'm relieved when we get back to our compartment. I need a little time to process everything. Was that real? Even if it's not, it's the happiest daydream that I've ever had.

"So, our little Mockingjay is going to have a baby." He looks at me, gauging my reaction. It really happened, she really said that.

"A daughter." I respond, and I can't keep a goofy grin off my face.

"And you're sure it's your bun in her oven?" He asks, eyeing me warily.

I take a swing at him. I haven't done that in a while. Oddly, he looks happy about it. We both saw Gale, and the hole in the wall, I could see how he might wonder. I hope Gale didn't break his hand. I can't help but feel a little compassion for the guy, it could have easily been me punching holes in the wall.

I can't believe it. A father! I'm going to be a father! This is the happiest news I've gotten since we came here. Katniss is having my baby. A little girl.

She looked healthy, and happy, like she was glowing. When Caesar called her Katniss Everdeen Mellark, it was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. I'd put it right next to her saying I love you, and that I'm going to be a father! I'm a little disappointed that she has him call her Katniss, but it makes sense, we never actually had a toasting. I'm going to remedy that as soon as we get her back.

"Haymitch, you've got to help me get them out of there."

We sit silence, with stupid grins on our faces, as we try to come up with a plan. All I have to do is keep her alive, and bring her home. A father! I've got to pull it together, and find a way to get her out of there.

There's a sharp rap at the door, and Haymitch opens it to find Mrs. Everdeen.

Mrs. Everdeen is yelling at Haymitch, and it's a sight to behold. The slight, pale woman getting in the face of our resident ogre. I school all hints of humor, because I know that it's about to be my turn. She yells at him for not watching us carefully, for not properly caring for Katniss. His job as mentor was to protect us, and in this, she thinks he failed. I know that she's hitting right in the heart of all of his insecurities, but I can't defend him. I share her feelings about letting the Capitol capture Katniss. He promised me that he'd save her instead of me.

She turns to me, all out of fight. She just looks like she's about to fall apart. I give her a hug, and whisper, "It'll all be alright, we're going to get her back. I promise you."