So no one ever gets a perspective on how Peeta and Madge are holding up... So I'll add that in, but in the mean time back to Katniss and Gale.
Chapter 19: You Can't Wake Up, This Is Not A Dream
A Month Later...
Katniss' POV
I throw up early in the morning, I didn't even know I could run that fast. I vomit all of the contents I had of last dinner. I hear footsteps behind me, then someone caressing my hair gently. "That's right, let it out, Kat." Gale says soothingly. As soon as I'm done, I lie down on the cold tile floor. Gale comes over and helps me sit up, while putting a warm rag on my head, allowing me to wash my mouth out of the vomit flavor. These seems to be the only times Gale has shown some affection to me, I know I don't really mind it. Gale asks, "Are you okay, now?" I nod, feeling less sensititive to everything. He nods and scoops me up, I say, "You don't have to carry me." He shakes his head and smiles, "Someone's gotta take care of you, Katniss." He lays me down on our bed, and tucks the covers to my breasts. He kisses my forehead and says he's going to get ready for work. I let him go with a simple nod.
My body begins to feel weak as the days go back, which is simply because I might know the answer to all of this. I might be pregnant.
I know I am supposed to have done this, but it's just damn difficult. How am I supposed to bring a child into this cruel world where they would suffer the same fate as me? I decide that I need to get Gale's breakfast ready. I walk carefully to the kitchen, while my abdomen still feels pain from the vomiting. I prepare lunch for Gale, while I hear his footsteps come around the kitchen. He asks, "Katniss, are you here?" I say weakly, "Over here." He comes around the corner and says, "Katniss, you have just stayed in bed." I shake my head, "I always make you lunch." He smiles and takes my hand. I warm up at moments like these, where he is not a complete jerk.
He says, "Katniss, I don't know what I would do without you." I pull my head down, I don't want to hear this. He pushes my head up with his finger by my chin, "Thank you, for caring for me." His words surprise me, he hasn't been so kind. He asks, "Would you let me take you to your mother? I think you might be... sick." I know his hesistation. "I know I might be pregnant, Gale." He lets out a shaky breath, and says, "Let's hope so. I have to go." He kisses my forehead and takes his lunch, he starts with a step away, but comes back a split second and kisses me. I am completely baffled at this. His kiss is warm, almost comforting. He sighs and lets go. "I'll see you later, Kat." He walks away, and I watch him walk away to the door. He opens it, and stops by the door to tell me, "I hope you get better." He closes the door and I feel my fingers still touching my lips.
What was that about? Why had Gale kissed me after all this time? It was just straight up awkward. I decide I need to take a visit to my mother, let her know that I might be pregnant. I take my belongings along with my father's jacket, and leave the house. Walking to my mother's I notice my surroundings for the first time. All the quarters look identical, maybe it's what was expected. I reach my mother's door, in no time.
I enter the house like I did before, because this was my home. I see my mother in the kitchen and Prim on the table, doing schoolwork. Prim spots me, "Katniss!" She runs up to hug me, as my mother turns to see me. She smiles as Prim hugs me tight. She as well comes over to give me a hug, "How are you, honey?" I nod and say, "Mom, I need to you to check me." My mother sees the concern in my eyes, and immediately understands. She nods and guides me towards the old bedroom we all shared. She instructs me to lay on the bed, and keep still. She comes over and lifts my shirt up, pressing slightly on my abdomen. I wince as soon as she presses slightly, she smiles. I ask, "What is it?" She says, "It's a symptom." I close my eyes and steady my breathing. I might be pregnant. But I have to be pregnant. She asks me to sit up, and instructs Prim to bring a cup. She comes back with the cup, and my mother instructs me to give her urine for a test.
I do what she orders, and comes back from the bathroom with the cup with my urine. She asks me to follow her to the kitchen where she pulls out a flask with some medicine. She claims, "I stole this from the apothecary, when I left with your father. It makes urine turn purple if you're pregnant. I take a breathe as my mother pours a drop in the cup. We watch as my urine turns purple.
I am definitely pregnant.
My mother and Prim stare at me. My mother asks me, "Are you okay, honey?" I nod and let go of the breath I was holding. I carry a child in me. Gale's child. My tears threaten to fall. Prim hugs me, "It's okay Katniss, you're gonna be a great mother." I nod and my mother says, "You might be a month already. They will have inspection soon. They only gave you guys a month." I nod and thank her, when there is another knock at the door, hard knocks. I walk towards the door. There stands a Peacekeeper, again. I flash to bad memories. He announces, "Mandatory: Everyone must attend at the Square." And with that they leave. I look to my mother, I ask, "What happened now?" She shake her head. My mother, Prim and I leave to the Square. We see the miners also come out of the mines, I spot Gale. And somehow he spots me.
He runs to me and says, "What's going on, Kat?" I shake my head. He follows my family with me along his side. We reach the Square and see to gallows. Someone is going to die today. Gale says, "This is mandatory?" Prim says, "They want to teach us a lesson, I just don't wanna see who it is." My mother looks grim, like she remembers this all too well.
We watch as they take out two individuals, tied and with a noose around their necks. They're going to hang them. One of them is the daughter of the carpenter, and the butcher's son. I don't get it, they didn't marry each other, and both are Town people. Peacekeeper Thread comes to announce with a grin to his face, "While inspection this morning, we had found these lovers together, next to a mill. As you must know, they are not married." I gasp, they are killing us for infedelity. "Anyone found with who is not their partners engaging in intimate, will be executed. You married one partner, if your partner cannot get their spouse pregnant, they are classified as useless and will be executed. We do check." I hear several begin to sob.
The carpenter's daughter yells, "You can't do this! I love him! This is unlawful!" One of the Peacekeepers delivers a blow to her head to shut her up. She cries in pain. I don't want to be here. I somehow look for Peeta, and find him in the crowd with Madge, but looking at me. He shakes his head. I know what he means. I take a look at Gale, I only see fury in his eyes. I take his hand, and he turns to me. He smiles a bit, but goes back to his grim self. They place the subjects on ropes, and let them hang. We hear many gasps. I look away. Gale asks my mother if he can take me home. She nods and I stay quiet the rest of the time going home. As we approach the Seam, Gale says, "Sorry you had to see that Kat." I nod wanting to speak. If they caught me and Peeta that would be us.
We reach our household and Gale enters after me. He asks, "Katniss, you haven't said a word are you okay?" I get emotional over what could happen. My tears spill, these hormones are too early to be here. I confess, "Gale, I'm pregnant." He closes his eyes, and sighs in relief. He holds his arms out to me, and I run into them. He says, "That's wonderful, Kat." His voice doesn't reach sincerety. Maybe he doesn't like this either. I disentangle from him, and walk over to the kitchen and wipe my tears. I decide to see what I could make for dinner. I boil some water to being a soup, while there is a knock at the door. I look over to Gale who was washing his hands out of mining sout. He walks over to the door, and opens to Peacekeepers. The check.
Peacekeeper Thread asks, "Mr. Hawthorne?" He nods, "That's me." "And your wife?" he asks. I walk over to the men. They intimidate every minute they stand. He asks, "Katniss Hawthorne?" I nod, and they pull out some type of remote contraption. He puts out a hand, "Need both of your fingers please." Me and Gale both do it simultaneously. He tests Gale first, his co-worker says, "Fertile." Peacekeeper Thread checks me now, there is a sound going off on the machine. His peacekeeper says, "Not fertile." I gasp, they have me on my knees in a second. I wince as my knees hit the ground while Thread holds a gun to my head. "What a shame, she was actually a pretty one." he states. Oh my, this is my end. I could have sworn I was pregnant. Gale is being held back by two peacekeepers, he yells, "Check her again! Check her again!" My tears spill. But one Peacekeeper steps in, Darius. "Peacekeeper Thread, please check her again." He glares at him, "If she is not fertile, you die too," Darius swallows and nods. I stare at everyone incredously, the peacekeeper keeps me on my kness while he tests my blood, he looks up to Thread, "Sir, she is fertile, and actually pregnant." I sigh and cry of relief. They let Gale go, and he embraces me.
Thread apologizes, "Sorry, must have read it wrong. But you are warned." With no other word, he moves to the house. I look around and see many of our neighboors watching the scene. Gale says, "Let's get you inside." I don't move, Gale carries me inside, closing the door behind him. He places me in the bedroom, pulling the covers to my chin. He squats next to me, and asks, "Are you okay?" I shake my head and he let's me cry. I could have lost my life. Gale caresses my cheek, something Peeta would do. I cry for him too. This might actually not work.
This whole law is horrible. I would get killed if I get caught with Peeta. We would have to be much more secretive now. My mind wanders into sleep where no one could hurt me but myself.
Okay well that was just hard to get through. I know I haven't updated well but I mean I'm not perfect. I'll try. Review please. I really like encouragement and criticism. Favorite! Follow! Thank you guys for sticking with me. {Gasoline by Halsey.} (BTW, really good song. Just listen to her whole album)