Disclaimer:

I do not own anything in relation to The Hunger Games Saga. Suzanne Collins owns the concept and the characters of the books.

Author's Note:

I am so sorry for the long wait for the new chapters. My laptop broke and I have to travel across town to use my mom's computer. There will be lemons here too. I want to thank my beta 3lvee for all of your help and support.

Please remember that this is rated M for a reason and I am always open to suggestions on how to make this story better.

Chapter 7

Katniss POV

Why does he do this to me? What did I do that was so wrong that he would want to treat me this way?

Everyone is starting to respect and care for their tribute partners. They already know that things are complicated enough with what Snow wants us to, and that mistreating others will always make it worse. A few of the tribute partners have already gone to train in the Capitol due to pregnancy.

They are the lucky ones. Thresh's little sister, Hayley, is already 1 ½ month pregnant with her Henry's baby. They liked each other right away. They are also in the Capitol.

Personally, I would rather train away from the Capitol's very watchful eyes, but that is beside the point.

No, I have to be stuck with the Neanderthal Cato Briggs. He keeps telling me to leave him alone and not to touch him, but I still take care of his wounds so they do not get infected.

Once he is deemed healed enough to train, all remaining tributes and the mentor's force me to rest, so that I may heal properly. They all force Cato to take care of me. He does not do a very good job, but I do get better.

On the day we return to training, Cato pushes me down.

"If you ever tell anyone what happens between us again, I will make everything 10 times worse than before!"

"Seriously Cato! After all I have done?"

"What have you done? Huh? Get me whipped by Brutus; your family treats me like shit; and you not getting pregnant like we were ordered to do! Seriously Katniss! After all you have done! Right!"

"If I didn't need you to have a baby and to get back to my family, you would have had an arrow through your head a long time ago!"

I get up and walk away. I feel so very confused about the situation. I am not sure why I have a little feeling for him. I think I will have to talk to Gale about this later.

I walk up to Mentor Chaff.

"Hello sir. My name is Katniss Everdeen from District 12 and this is Cato Briggs from District 2."

"I can introduce myself scum."

"Okay Katniss you will be working with my apprentice and niece Rue, and Cato you will come with me."

"Yes Sir." We both say at the same time.

Rue teaches me how to make sure that if Cato and I were to have to sleep in a tree that we would have a secure bed and would not fall out. She also teaches me about which berries were edible and which ones were not.

"Which ones are these?"

"Those are Cherries, very edible."

"And these?"

"Night lock, very poisonous. When the juice hits your mouth they will kill you in less than a minute."

"Very good! Katniss, it is time for us to join the others in the fields. You are very ahead of the others in your training. We have to go help with the harvest now."

"Okay Rue. Thank you so much for your help."

We walk over to the trees and Rue and I start to climb. I see two blondes and immediately notice that my little duck has learned how to climb. She carries a first aid kit on her back as she picks fruit from the tree. I see Glimmer reaching for a piece of fruit, but Prim gets to it first. She smiles at Glimmer and sticks her tongue out and tosses the fruit down to Gale. Glimmer grabs Prim and after making sure they are secured in the tree starts to tickle my little duck.

"Be careful little duck" I say with a smile that only Prim can make me smile.

"Quack! Quack!" she yells back.

The day is over, but I still need to talk to Gale. I start to walk to the trainer's quarters. I get to Gale's room and knock on the door. He answers with a questioning look.

"What's wrong Catnip?"

"I am confused and you are the only one I feel I can talk to about it."

"Okay. What's up?"

"Well you know how bad I have it with Cato right?"

"Yes. How can I not know."

"Well I don't know why, but I am starting to feel something for him, but I don't know what. I still don't like him the way I should like the future father of my child, but I feel something."

"Catnip, I think that you have undefined feelings for him because he was your first. Any girl will always feel something for their first even if they do not like them."

"Oh okay. Thanks Gale."

I leave his quarters and start to walk back to mine. I come across Rue and Prim who are in a deep conversation and do not see me.

"Your sister is Katniss! She is so brave. I heard that her tribute partner is really mean to her and some of the other tributes. Uncle Chaff doesn't want me around him, so he told me to help train Katniss. She is so cool and very smart!"

"Yeah. I love my sister with all of my heart. I really wish she didn't have to be with him. Katniss will do anything for family. When Madge said yes to my Cousin Gale's proposal, she became family. I am so glad I get to travel to other Districts to learn more medical knowledge for my mother. It is a plus that I get to be with Katniss as well. Hopefully they will let me be there when Katniss has her baby, but I know that there is a chance that they will send me home before then."

Just hearing my little duck talk about me like that made me tear up. I never knew that she felt that way. Leave it to Prim to make me cry.

I walk back to the tribute quarters, and then into mine and Cato's room. I turn on the light and see that Cato is waiting for me.

"Oh god. What did I do now?"

"Where were you? Curfew was 15 minutes ago."

"I had to talk to Gale about something."

"About what?"

"That is none of your business."

"It is when I am going to be the father of your child."

"No, it is not. I am going to go take a shower and get ready for bed. Good night Cato."

I start to walk to the bathroom, but Cato has other plans. He grabs my hand and says:

"Take your clothes off and lay in the bed."

I do has I am told & take off my clothes, lay on the bed. Cato crawls on top of me & we have sex. He is right it not as bad as when he raped me. Yet I know he's capable of more. I remember the night he took my virginity. Cato showed care then.

As he enters me I zone out, I turn my head away so I don't even look at him. The only noise is coming from him has he grunts & groans in my ear.

Cato tries to get me to respond, but I will not make any noise for him nor, look at him no matter how much I feel. I show him the same caring & emotions he has shown me, none. He has no love, emotions or, consideration for me then he will get the same from me. To him I'm scum to me he's scum. To him I'm the scum rat from 12 that he's being forced to have a kid with.

This is what he wants, this is what he shall have. I won't do anything for him as he wishes. This includes in this bed. The only response he gets from this body is what happens naturally.

As he cums inside, he moves off of me Cato is again surprised that I say nothing nor look at him, as I get up off the bed & go to the bathroom.

Only after I closed the door & get into the shower do I let my emotions show. Only in the shower has I let the tears fall. I get done with my shower & there is now an icy wall around my heart out with this new resolve. I leave the bathroom, go straight into bed close my eyes & sleep.

I can only hope that I get pregnant soon. I am thankful that we are leaving for District 10 tomorrow for survival training. I thank God that Gale remembered to bring both bows.