HEY! Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! Ok, if there's any mistakes in this chapter, it's all my fault as I wanted to update and didn't give my beta a chance to check it. Ok, enjoy! xxxxx

14

When I enter the stadium, my breath is taken away. The clearing which we normally come into on chariots is gone, and has been replaced by a church, with the audience either side. But I barely notice any of this because I'm transfixed on the handsome figure at the front of the room. "Cato," I breathe and suddenly I'm crying. Clove and Clara move to either side of me and take my hands, guiding me down the aisle. Rue is in front of me, in a cute pink dress, like a fairy, while Glimmer and Ros are behind me, holding my train. Marvel, Peeta and Thresh are standing with Cato, almost restraining him and I can tell he wants to run down the aisle and take me in his arms. Why do I know this? Because I want it too. Then I catch a glimpse of the vicar and I almost freeze.

President Snow. How dare he ruin this happy moment for me? Surrounding him are pictures of my dead family, Prim, Gale, Mom and even my father. I'm choked up but I've reached Cato now and he takes my hand and squeezes it gently, letting me know that he understands.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…" I ignore his insincere words, focused on Cato's face. How perfect he is – his beautiful blue eyes, tousled blond hair. "I do," he whispers and tears are pouring down his face. All the girls are crying, as are Venia, Flavius and Octavia, which means the whole audience is too. Suddenly I realise I'm crying too, and I can barely choke out, "I do." Snow's face is suspicious but I think he is slowly realising that our love is sincere. Is it possible that he has emotions? No, I realise, he is just worried about convincing people that we deserve to die.

"You may now kiss the bride," he says, with false warmth to his voice. If I hadn't seen his bad side, he would be very convincing. Cato kisses me and there's an urgency I've never felt before, desperation to savour each other while we can. Almost immediately, Snow has disappeared and Caesar is in his place, ready to interview us.

About 11 weeks later and we're back in the same situation, being interviewed again, on the street this time. "So Katniss, Cato, congratulations! It's almost impossible to believe that when we last saw you before the Games, you hated each other," Caesar proclaims and both Cato and I laugh. He says, "Well, Caesar, that's what we thought, but I see now that I've always had feelings for her. I realised, as we stood waiting for the Games to begin, that I wanted her to survive." I nod in agreement and snuggle into his chest. Caesar sighs and says, "Unfortunately, we haven't got that much time, but Katniss, would you like to say anything?" I shake my head and he walks away. "Cato. I might be pregnant."

Cato

I put on a façade when we're in front of the crowd, but as soon as we're inside, I sink to my knees, tears streaming down my face. She kneels in front of me and whispers, "Honey, I'm so sorry, I literally only just found out. It's not for definite yet." I shake my head and cry, "None of this is your fault. I'm just so angry – you know he's still gonna make you go in there? I just couldn't bear it if you were to die in there. We have to make sure you win, babe, for me, if not for you? Please," and she's in tears now, sobbing her heart out.

She nods and we have made a silent agreement to save our baby, if it exists. Clove and Clara kneel beside us and they're crying too, absolutely certain that my baby, whenever it comes, will survive. Soon, all 10 of us are on the floor, weeping and I can tell everyone is going to do their best to save her. I should feel guilty, so why don't I? Because I feel a love for this possible baby which is so binding, nothing else matters any more. Nothing except me and Katniss.

When I awake in the morning, it is to Haymitch and Peeta standing over me. Katniss is curled up by my side asleep but they drag me out into the sitting room where the others are all waiting. "Right. Now everyone's here, we need to think of a new plan. It's a completely different story now pregnancy is involved," Clove says, "It's obvious Rue can't go in, and it's also obvious Katniss will have to, so everyone needs to make sure Cato doesn't get sent in. So that when she wins, when we help her win, you can be a family. Who else are we gonna save?"

I say, "Guys, I want to be there, to protect her," but Peeta interrupts, "Well, you can't be. She needs you out here, helping her, ok?" I nod obediently and then Thresh says, "Right, so no Cato, no Rue and someone else can stay out? But who?" Marvel interrupts, "I think Glimmer." I nod at this; I don't trust her not to turn on us, unlike the others who I know will do everything they can to protect her. Ros clears her throat, "Right, so that's Cato, Rue and Glimmer. Sorted." I nod and am about to leave when everyone falls silent. I spin to see Katniss standing in the doorway, looking absolutely thunderstruck.

"What?!" she says coldly, voice like ice and everyone recoils, as she speaks furiously, "Isn't it bad enough you laying down your lives to protect me and my possible baby? But now someone has to go back into that fucking arena so that Cato and I can live our happy lives. How is that fair to any of you?" Clara stands, crying again and she says, "I think I speak for all of us, Katniss, when I say that none of our lives are worth living when we will always know that us being alive stood in the way of a family being happy together. None of us have anything as important as you two have so if this is the way we choose to spend our lives, who are you to stop us?"

This shuts Katniss right up and she bursts into tears, collapsing on the floor and screaming, "It isn't fair though! What about your families?" Clove and Clara run to her side and comfort her, gesturing to everyone to leave the room. I sit on the sofa, head in my hands and Clove comforts me, whispering, "You're gonna live a long and happy life together, with your 4 kids, and your dog. You'll be really happy as long as you forget, ok?" I nod and kiss her forehead; Clove is like a sister to me.

Katniss is sitting with Clara who is giggling at something she's said. "Problem?" Clove shouts and Katniss shakes her head, coming over and kissing Clove on the cheek, murmuring, "I love you. I just want you to be there when I tell Cato we're naming our son Snow."

Clove begins to roar with laughter and I stiffen. Katniss and Clara are both crying now, rocking with their laughter and I ask, "You're not serious?" She just shakes her head and I pull her onto my lap, tickling her mercilessly until she squeals. Suddenly a Peacekeeper enters and barks,

"President Snow has requested a meeting with Mr and Mrs Hadley." Katniss and I immediately rise, rush to dress and make each other look presentable and follow the man to Snow's office, where he is waiting with a bowl of berries between him and us. "Nightlock," Katniss breathes and I can tell just by her tone we're in trouble.

Katniss

"Nightlock," I breathe and Cato tenses up beside me. Snow claps his hands and says, "Right again, Katniss. Now come. Sit. We have much to discuss."

Both Cato and I sit down on the sofa, and this time I'm not afraid to curl up beside him. He grips my hand tight and Snow gives a small smile, saying, "Ah yes. How are the happy couple? And with a baby on the way? Congratulations."

Cato nods curtly and I ask, "What do you want, Snow? We all know you didn't call us here for pleasantries. And my pregnancy isn't confirmed yet." He laughs coldly and nods,

"Right you are. I suppose you ought to know that I have your sister. I've captured her and unless you do exactly as I say, I will hurt her."

I recoil in horror, "But she died. They all died. Gale killed them."

Snow laughs an evil laugh and replies, "You think I'd let all my leverage die? I have others, but I won't tell you who yet. I'll be sending some back for the reaping so it doesn't look like we've decimated the district."

Cato exhales heavily, obviously furious, but I'm not so blunt. I've expected something like this for quite some time, some sort of trick, so I simply nod and ask, "What do you want?"

Snow continues, "I'm sure you're aware of Finnick Odair, and how he is paid to sleep with Capitol citizens. After the Games and after your baby is born, you two will participate in something similar. I'm not quite sure what yet. You will do this and in return, I will do you each one favour."

Cato is clearly about to interrupt but I silence him, saying, "Fine. I will participate in your weird schemes, which are probably illegal but as my favour, I only ask that you make sure that Cato, Rue and Glimmer do not go into the Games."

Snow raises an eyebrow and asks, "You want to go in?"

Cato rolls his eyes at this and says, "No, obviously not; however, we know you'll force her in one way or another. For my favour, I ask that you make sure the Gamesmakers go easy on her, bearing in mind she may at the time be 5 months pregnant."

Snow smirks and concludes our meeting, "Very well, you have been a lot more co-operative than I could possibly have hoped. You will have 6 months to recover from giving birth and then I will consult you when I need you, and tell you exactly what to do. In return, you, Cato, along with Rue and Glimmer will not go into the Games, and I will ensure the Gamesmakers go easy on Katniss. Also, for now, Prim will be kept safe and alive. Ok?"

We both nod and are about to leave when Cato asks, "The berries, Mr President? What are they for?" Snow grins and simply says,

"In case you needed a little more persuasion, Mr Hadley. Mrs Hadley, a pleasure. And may I say- you're glowing."

I sweep out of the room, leading him with me.