About an hour after dinner, Peeta and I lay curled up on his bed, enjoying each others' company, but not saying anything at all. I took that chance to finally catch up to and organize the thoughts that were doing cartwheels in my head. My first goal was to sort out the "now" facts, starting with the simplest. My name is, indeed, Katniss. I am seventeen years old. I will turn eighteen next week. I am pregnant with Gale's baby. I have no idea what to do.

My thoughts pulled me up short. I knew they were all true, but I haven't had time to consider the situation I'm in. I am seventeen years old and pregnant. What the heck am I suppose to do with that? My head started to hurt for no apparent reason and I found my eyes tearing up. Again, I cursed myself for being such a baby and blamed it on the hormones.

Peeta noticed my overwhelmed tears. "Katniss, what's wrong?" he wiped my cheeks with the back of his hand.

"I—it's nothing. I am just being a big baby." I sniffed and tried to remain composed.

"Well, the Katniss I know isn't a big baby so why don't you tell me what's on your mind."

"I'm—"I bit back a sob. "I'm just so lost, Peeta."

Peeta looked confused. "Um… Elaborate, please."

"I don't know…. It's just that seventeen-year-olds aren't suppose to be pregnant! Here I am, seventeen in this mad, underground refuge place with my best friends' baby on the way! What is wrong with me?"I almost wailed.

"Katniss, love, nothing is wrong with you." I have never heard Peeta call me "love" before, but I liked it.

"Yes there is!" My heart was throbbing painfully and tears were streaming down my face. "Everything is wrong about this! I am such a screwed-up girl. I wish—" I felt my lip tremble. "I wish things were back to the way things were before the Hunger Games."

Peeta narrowed his eyes, not unkindly. "Then the Games would go on, year after year, killing innocent little children for the Capitols' entertainment. Snow would continue to torture and use people, while districts would either be burning or starving to death. Do you really want not to have won the Games? To have overruled the Capitol? Not to have met me?" His voice was low, and I could detect pain.

I put my hand on his face. "Of course not, Peeta. I will never ever regret meeting you, Peeta. You are the best thing—correction—the only good thing that I have gotten from the Games. If I did a single thing right in my life, it was deciding to be with you."

For a spilt-second longer, Peeta stayed silent. Then he leaned over and very gently kissed me. The kind of kiss that wasn't much, but was sweet and meant the world. When he drew back, I closed my eyes to capture the memory, but Peeta had said, "Is there anything else bothering you?"

"…Yes." I said slowly. "There is a slight chance that I might not… live through this. Literally."

"What? Why?" Peeta's face turned confused and horrified.

"Think about it, Peeta." My voice was softer. "Even adults have trouble with childbirth, but I am very young and small for my age. Twenty percent of the people my mother tended to who were pregnant didn't live. The chances of an under grown teenager living through the same thing is slim."

For the first time in forever, I saw Peeta's eyes get watery as he realizes that what I said was true. "Well, that's too bad because the angels in Heaven are going to have to wait for you, because I'm not going to let you die just because ea simple childbirth."

I grimaced. "'Sweet of you to promise something that isn't yours to give."

"Look, Katniss." Peeta's voice was suddenly stern. "I helped you live through two Hunger Games. I risked my life for you countless times, and you've done the same for me. If I didn't let you die in either of those, I'm not going to let a simple childbirth take you. Whatever it takes, promise me you will at least try to live. We'll find a way around stuff like that. Promise me."

The protectiveness and determination in his voice just made me cry more. "I promise." Since there wasn't really anything else to say to that, I just took one of Peeta's hands and rested it splayed-fingered against my belly. I looked down at his hand—I couldn't bear to look at his face—and absent-mindedly stroked his fingers. Graceful enough to create a work of art onto a tiny cookie, but strong enough to wield a knife and become an immediate threat.

"I need Gale." The confusing words poured from my mouth before even I know what I was saying.

Peeta's face mirrored my puzzled one. But bewilderment immediately turned into anger. "What do you mean you 'need Gale'?"

"I—that didn't come out like I wanted. Right now I am feeling depressed and want to go see my best friend."

"Do you do that often? When you're feeling down you-you go and sleepwith Gale? He is—you're not even-" Peeta yanked his hand away from me and ran it! angrily through his hair.

I didn't even know what to say, I was so insulted. "I-I don't!" I spat out. "He is my best friend and I have a right to see him whenever I feel like it! You have no control over what I do!"

"Well, what about me?" his voice was almost a shout. "Am I just your 'husband' who waits patiently on the sidelines for you to come back after Gale's done—"

"Would you just shut up for a second?"I screamed, clutching my head. A very loud scream, might I add.

Peeta closed his mouth.

"Thank you. It isn't like that at all, Peeta. I wish you could just understand what I am feeling right now."

"Then tell me so I can." Peeta begged.

I took a deep breath. "Look, Gale and I—That was only once, and look where that got me." I gestured to my swollen stomach. "Before I even knew you, Gale was the only one there to comfort me. I have known him since I was eleven and he is nothing more than a best friend. I just can't throw him away just because I have you."

Peeta took a few deep breaths to compose himself. It worked and he looked a great deal calmer. When he was done, he took both of my hands in his. "I'm sorry that I yelled at you, Katniss. I didn't want to have a fight."

"I'm sorry I screamed at you, too. I can imagine why you would be so angry." I kissed Peeta's cheek before getting up. "Is it still if I go see Gale?"

"It's all right. Go and see Gale. Just do me a favor."

I paused at the door. "What?"

"Keep your pants on."