Another chapter. I know, I know, four in one day but I just got so engrossed in it that I couldn't stop. Oh well, I hope you enjoy and please, please, if you read it, please review. :)

Chapter Seven

I wake up and sprint to the bathroom. Throwing up once again. But just as I finally stop, I remember why I'm throwing up and it begins all over again. This isn't any old sickness, this is morning sickness. I am pregnant. I'm going into the games. We both are.

Finnick comes over to sit by me. I've collapsed to the floor, the tears flowing for the hundredth time. He sits down beside me, wiping away the tears. "It's okay, it's okay. You're okay," he says, pulling me in and rocking me back and forth. He rocks me until I stop. But I can't and every time I compose myself I burst into tears all over again. "I have to go and get dressed. I'll send Mags to see you. Hopefully she can do a better job than me," he says. I know he hates leaving me like this, but there isn't much else he can do and I know he's scared for my safety. All three of us, our little family.

I've stopped crying when Grandma joins me. I just sit on the bathroom floor, staring into space, hoping that the Capital will see justice and spare me and my child one last time. But I know that will never happen. This is a war I have to fight.

"How are you feeling?" she asks, sinking to the floor and putting her arms around me.

"Petrified," I say, still staring into space.

"It'll be okay. No granddaughter of mine gets pregnant and I not get to meet my great grandchild."

I begin sobbing again. "It's okay. Do you know something my dear? You don't know how lucky you are. You have a grandmother who is doing everything she can to keep you alive, a boyfriend who is sucking up to all the rich people of the Capital and even a best friend who's first though was, 'How can I find enough food to feed them both?' Your entire family is fighting for you. We'll bring you home, I promise," she says. "But for us to do so you have to co-operate and that means stopping the tears to focus on your interview tonight."

I nod and stand up. I splash my face, rinse my mouth out and dress. My grandma has left the room when I come out of the bathroom. I find some comfy looking clothes waiting. I put them on, tucking my necklace under my shirt. I walk out to the living room, slightly subdued, considering the way I acted last night. Chris alone is waiting. He immediately embraces me, and I feel myself welling up, but I refuse to cry. If I do I won't stop. "Say nothing until we get to the roof," he whispers and I nod.

After making our way to the roof, I immediately burst into tears and rush into Finnick's arms. He sits down, leaning against the wall. Grandma is there too, of course, and I notice only too late that Stan is there also. I break away from Finnick, sniffing back tears. "It's okay. I know everything. Finnick's explained how he will punish me personally if I rat. The truth is, though I know how you tributes hate to believe it, that you need be to pull this off."

I glance at Finnick but as he kisses my forehead I know he's telling the truth. He sits down next to Chris and I curl up beside him.

"As head mentor I've called together a meeting to discuss are current problem. You all know about Annie and I, and you defiantly know of the baby. But none of that's the problem. It's more the fact that she's entering the bloody hunger games that I'm worried about. So we need strategies, names, plans, alliances, anything that can help keep the three of them alive as long as possible. Any ideas?" he asks.

There's silence. "Tell her your idea, Finnick. It's the best we can do," Chris says quietly.

"We were thinking, as the rest of Panem already thinks that there's something going on with the two of you that maybe you though that pretending to be... in love... for your interview would be the best option. After all, they will find out about the baby and then how will you explain it?"

I look at Chris. "You would do that?" He nods. "Well, I won't let you."

"You have no choice. And besides, look at it this way. If I die, no-one will question you. They won't ask who the father is, or why you and Finnick are so close. They may even leave you alone. And if you die, hopefully the Capital won't subject me to the same fate as Finnick, because I'll be the heartbroken boy from District 4 that not only lost a girlfriend but a child as well. In that way its win win."

"But for that to happen one of us has to die," I snap.

"Well, whether one of you wins or neither of you wins at least you will have tried. Come on Annie, Finnick knows what he's doing. It will give us something to work with," Grandma says.

"Do you mind?" I ask Finnick.

"Do I have another choice?" he asks sadly.

"Now, your other best move would be to ally up with the Careers. Being one of them might just save your life. They've already requested Chris. If he insists that he must have you with him then I doubt they'll object. And it's not like you scored badly," Stan says, the first useful thing I've ever heard him say.

I look at Chris, who raises an eyebrow. I nod. To save my child I'll do it.

"Okay. Lastly I think we'll have you talk of your love somehow on stage. I'll leave that up to you. I've already requested that your dress is tight enough to be able to see your bump. Don't mention it, but don't be afraid of hinting." I nod at Finnick. "In the Games you can talk about it all you want, but keep the capitals excitement focused on your secret romance for the moment, then when it begins to die down you can begin to mention it and then the gift will come streaming in. Now, go and get ready. I have planning and I don't think any of us are on top form for training."

As Finnick begins to leave I catch his arm and pull him to the side. "Do you mind that I'll have to act all lovey dovey with Chris around you?"

"Yes, I mind beyond imagination, but its for the best and I was even thinking of beginning rumours myself. Get things moving," he says, cupping my face in his hands. "I love you."

Then he's gone. I don't see him for the rest of the day. I am sent to Kyliea quite early on. I've eaten nothing despite Grandma's pestering. Not that Kyliea seems to mind. "I've altered your dress a little, but you will look amazing. I might even go as far as radiant," she smiles.

"You haven't got much to work with," I say quietly.

"Don't underestimate the power of a pregnant woman my dear. Never," she says and gets to work.

My prep team begins on my make-up and begins their normal jibber jabber about nothing in particular. "Can you believe it? There are rumors that two tributes are together. Some say they're even secretly engaged. Can you believe it? I just wish i knew which ones so that i could send them a parashoot," One babbles.

I raise my eyebrows. Finnick works quickly when he sets his mind to it.

"Do you know who it is Annie?" one asks me. Before i can open my mouth to answer she's already talking again. "I bet its District Six. Or maybe three? No, too dull. They wouldn't even look at each other. Maybe..."

I zone out for the rest of it. Soon my hair and make-up is done and they are rounded up and out the room by Kyliea. She instructs me to close my eyes and then she dresses me.

My hair falls in a wavy style around my shoulders, my face glittered. My dress in pale blue, the same blue as Kylieas hair. It has no straps, tight at the top to extenuate my figure, then flowing from just under my hips down to my ankles. Under the top layout of the skirt is netting, layers and layers of it. I'm wearing slightly high heels and have a starfish attached near the hips. I look stunning. Turning to my side I can see properly for the first time my bump.

"I feel like a princess," I breath.

"Well, when Chris mentions you he won't find it hard to say how beautiful you look. In all fairness I am a genius," she smiles.

"What's he wearing?" I ask.

"A suit that has similar colours to yours. You'll make a stunning pair," she smiles.

I go back to the living room wear Grandma and Kyliea decide to train me on how to sit correctly. They question me on boys, Chris, trying to watch my reaction, even mention Finnick in hopes that I might blush, but somehow I don't. Whatever happened they seem satisfied. Unlike other districts they've planned to keep us apart, in hopes that the reactions to how each other looks may be fresher, more real. Its when we go to the interview stadium and are sent to waiting rooms that i begin to get nervous. If this goes wrong then I could mess all of our lives up. So much is at stake.

I ignore the interviews on the small t.v's knowing I'll freak myself out more than I need too. It's not long before my name is called.

I've seen Caeser Flickerman lots on t.v before but I never imagined him to be so... nice in real life. He want to help you, wants to make you do well. He's on your side entirely. This year he's gone pink. Pink hair, pink skin, pink suit, everything pink. He does that, honor each hunger games with a different colour, some I never even knew existed.

I walk onto the stage and the crowd goes crazy. Its unbelievable. I sit down as Grandma showed me - straight back, head high, partly facing Caeser, partly the audience - and smile. I spot Grandma, Stan and Finnick standing in the curtain area behind Caeser.

"So Annie. An eight in training. Are you pleased?" Caeser asks.

"Yes. I'm very pleased," I say.

"Can you tell us what you did?"

"I did what all Careers do... I showed them I could fight," I say, as confidently as I can.

"Ah, a Career, are you? So what does your family think of that?" Caeser asks.

My smile fades and I look down into my lap. "I only have my Grandma now."

"I'm sorry," Caeser begins, patting my hand. "What about a boy? We all know from previous games that District Four has some good looking boys. We're all thinking Finnick Odair, aren't we?" he asks the audience and laughs as they roar. "What's he like?"

Deep breath. "As arrogant and self centred as you think," I say and catch him laugh.

"Not Finnick then. What about another boy?" He asks. "Someone special at home?"

I think of Finnick. For the first time ever he told me he loved me yesterday. I blush at the memory. "Not at home," I say shyly.

"Ladies and Gentleman she's blushing. There is a boy. So he's not at home. Does that mean? We've all had our suspicions I think, but would you be suggesting Christiaan Rif?" The crowd roars, people jumping up and down, cheering and whistling. I peek at the audience, smile, blush again and then laugh. Caeser can no longer control them.

The buzzer goes and I leave the stage. I look at the ground as I walk, and don't realise until its too late that I've walked straight into Chris. "Sorry," I gush and then catch my breath. He looks so smart, even handsome. He looks me up and down and smiles. I blush and look away. The crowd goes even more crazy. I walk off the stage and sigh with relief. Grandma hugs me. "Brilliant. I almost bought it myself," Finnick smiles but I notices he's very quiet.

The sound of Caesers voice breaks into my thoughts and I turn back to the stage. I know he can see me. So I do my best to smile with encouragement. "So Christian," Caeser begins.

"Chris," Chris corrects.

"Chris. You must have watched Annie's interview. Is the feeling mutual?" Caeser asks.

Chris smiles mischievously. "Yes. How couldn't you love her? She's stunning. The way her green eyes sparkle, like the ocean on a winters morning, deep green with hints of blue and white. And her smile just captivates me. She looks beautiful, radiant even."

"Has the attraction always been there?" Caeser said. "Ever since the reaping?"

"Way before that Caecer. I've known her since she was a baby and loved her since the first time she opened those eyes to look at me."

"So why volunteer? Where's your hope of a happy ever after?" Caeser asks.

"I guess... I couldn't watch her fight my brother and my brother fight her. It would have been torture. So I guess maybe volunteering made it easier. That way I could protect them both. Dekklan would be safe at home and I could try and keep Annie alive from within the games. Of course if she gets killed then I'll try to win for her, after all, I am still a Career, but volunteering seemed the best option. And now I'm so glad I did. I have other reasons to keep her alive now," Chris says.

"What did you say to her, at the reaping?" Caeser asks.

"I told her that I loved her no matter what," Chris says, his eyes mist over, as he stares down at the floor.

"I'm sure you do. How will you play the games?" Caeser asks quickly.

"Like every moment is my last. I'll love her more than ever before," Chris says.

"So what do you want for her if she wins?" Caeser asks gently.

"I can't say I want her to find someone else who makes her happy, but I do want her to be happy, so maybe if that's what she wants..." He says.

"One more question. What did you say to your brother after the reaping?" I hold my breath. Stay calm, hold it together. Career had stepped wrong with that one. But to my surprise he stays very calm.

"I told him that I loved him, that he was to be happy and safe and that I was sorry. That I was going to die for Annie. I asked if he'd forgive me," he says.

"And?"

"And he said he'd forgive me anything," Chris says, and then the buzzer goes an Chris exits the stage.

We are all silent. He did a great job, but the last two questions must have got to him. I link my arm through his, kiss his cheek and head to our floor. He goes straight to his room. I want to follow but Finnick stops me. "Let him go," he says quietly. So I do.

I know that half of what I said was a lie. My opinions of Finnick, my Career like personality, my feelings for Chris. But somehow I don't think his was as fake as the others thought it was. How he described my eyes. Its true, and I was quite a distance away, so he defiantly couldn't see. The way he spoke about me. The love and emotion, it was so believable. Then the questions on Dekklan. They were defiantly true. So that's what he said to Chris. That he was going to die for me. No wonder Dekklan broke down when they came to see me. I excuse myself pretty quickly. I don't want to watch the interviews back, don't want to stay and chat. I've lost my appetite again, so instead I go back to my room. I hate taking off my dress but I can't sleep with it on. Finnick comes to join me. He opens his mouth to speak, but I say, "Don't. I don't want to talk tonight."

Instead I curl up in his arms and fall asleep with the safety and warm of Finnick for the very last time.