One of my really liked chapters in this story. Gale and Prim are awesome. Don't like Coin.

Chapter 4

Gale and I go hunting. I put on my father's hunting jacket and washed off the make-up. I'm glad we're not still mad at each other. I want to keep it like this for as long as I can. I wonder how long I can hide the fact that I'm pregnant. Two or three more months? I could wear the hunting jacket all day long, and nobody would know. Baby bump? What? Of course not, this jacket was my fathers, and as you see, it is quite large and bulky in size…

"What are you thinking about?"

"Huh?"

"Squirrel for your thoughts." Gale says, handing me a squirrel we caught.

"Oh nothing really," I say, trying to sound collected. I take the squirrel and start skinning it. I realize that if I don't speak, that it will further suspicion. "We're going back to Twelve, get to see our home again." I say sort of sarcastically.

"People will see District 12 for themselves. The more on our team the better, right?" He looks forward and throws a stone at a tree. "I'm kind of dreading to go back there too."

I give a tiny laugh, to hide my real feelings. I feel terrible for keeping this secret from him, but it's so big. It will just hurt him. Like it's hurting me keeping it from him.

"Whatever you're worried about, don't worry about it too much. You've got a lot of people you can count on to help you out. I'll help you. Remember, you're the Mockingjay, but you're not fighting this by yourself."

"That was deep." I say smiling. He laughs a little.

"I'm pretty poetic." He says. He puts an arm around my shoulder. He hugs me with one arm, since his other hand is holding a few dead squirrels. I feel safe with him, but then I realize, that even though we're close friends and there could have been something more, we don't have the same kind of history. He doesn't give the same love, or comfort that Peeta gives. We both have same kind of fire. He's my best friend, and I can't let uncertain feelings for him get in the way of breaking our closeness. When it comes close to time to leave, we get up from the log and start taking our game in the sack. We start walking back to underground.

While walking from the kitchen a young man with a communicuff walks up to us.

"Soldier Everdeen, President Coin wants to see you." He says.

"Want me to go with you?" Gale asks.

"No, that's okay, I'll go ahead alone." I say. This has to be about the pregnancy thing.

"Okay. I'll see you later." He says, and he goes back to the direction of the kitchen. Greasy Sae says she likes to talk to folks from Twelve, they understand her style of cooking, unlike the people here in Thirteen. He probably went to chat, even though I know he doesn't like to.

I follow the guy to Coin's office. The guy opens the door and leaves. There's Coin sitting at a plain desk in front of District 13's emblem on the wall. On her desk is a computer, and there are few bookcases to the walls, and two chairs in front of the desk. She slowly rises from her chair.

"Take a seat Katniss, as you know we have a lot to discuss." She says. I can't help but feel nervous. It's like I'm about me lectured and punished like a little kid.

"Dr. Odessa has informed me that you are pregnant." She says with no hesitation or shock.

"Yeah, um I-" She interrupts me.

"District 13 takes fertility very seriously. We take great precautions so that expecting women have a healthy pregnancy, but… your case will have to differ.

"What do you mean?" I ask.

"We had an agreement on how you be presented as the Mockingjay, and this new idea of going to the districts is very risky. This unexpected pregnancy could diminish our agreement."

"I still want to do this."

"Glad to hear it." It seems she says evilly. "We cannot let anybody know of your state."

"Keep it a secret from everyone?"

"If more were to learn of your pregnancy, you would be forced to remain in District 13. They would not let you be part of the rebellion. So I have already informed Dr. Odessa, not to reveal this news to anyone." I'm afraid how she got her to do that. I feel like my conscience is telling me not to do this, but I have no choice. "You, yourself will not tell anyone, will you? If you do, and if I find out, it will be considered a break in the agreement, and the immunity of the tributes will be taken away."

"I won't. I want to be the Mockingjay." I say as confidently as I can.

"Dr. Odessa is still going to give you the necessary supplements and servings, but it will be kept as confidential as we possibly can. Very well, you are dismissed. See you tomorrow." she says.

I get up from my seat and quickly walk out. The voice in my head keeps telling me, I've gotten myself in deeper trouble, but what can I do? I need to tell someone. I just need to. Someone who would be unlikely suspected to know, or someone who would keep it a secret no matter what. Someone who wouldn't be severely punished if they knew. Gale? No. Haymitch? Heck no. I can't tell him, even though I've told him so much already. My mother? Sadly no. I go through a list in my head. I can't burden my family with it. I go into our boarding cell and jump onto the bed with the pillow in my face. I scream into the pillow. All this stress is probably bad for the baby.

"Katniss? Are you here?" It's Prim. She just finished bathing.

"Yeah, I'm here." I say into the pillow, because I don't feel like moving. I look up from the pillow and she sits by me. Her hair is wet, but not dripping like mine when I go to bed.

"Are you angry? My teacher said punching a pillow relieves stress." She holds up a pillow. I gesture for her to put it down. I'm not punching a poor pillow. "Punch it." She demands. I'm surprised for the sternness in her voice. "You'll feel better." She says more kindly.

So I decide, why not? Prim holds it in front of her and I start with soft punches then harder ones. I'm laughing hysterically, for punching a pillow. She laughs too and lies beside me.

"Katniss tell me what's wrong." She says in a whisper. As much as I want to, I can't. "Mother isn't here. She's still finishing at the hospital. You can tell me. Remember I'm good at keeping secrets." She says. I exhale deeply. I want to tell her. Well, here I go.

"You have to keep this a secret okay? You can't tell anybody, even though you might really want to." I whisper. She looks worried at first, but then nods. Should I tell her?

"I went to Dr. Odessa today, and she told me… I was pregnant." I say in a hushed tone. I could tell she was shocked. I let the news sink in for a second, because it took me my whole day to get my mind around it.

"Are you sure? Really?"

"Yes. Dr. Odessa told Coin. Then Coin called me into her office…" I see she's trying stay calm. "Coin told me that my pregnancy would have to be kept a secret as long as it can, or I wouldn't be the Mockingjay. And If I can't be the Mockingjay…"

"The immunity for Peeta and them, and the other requests would be taken away." Prim finishes. She knows exactly what I'm in now. She looks worried.

"I'm sorry Prim, I know it's a lot I should of…"

"I want you to tell me these things. I want to help as much as I can. You don't have to be alone." She talks like an adult.

"Oh Prim, I love you." I say hugging her tightly. Seconds pass of just silence, then Prim speaks.

"So it's Peeta?" I look at her not understanding at first.

"Peeta is the father," I say looking down. A single tear runs down my cheek. Prim looks distressed then she smiles at me. "What is it?" I ask.

"You're having a baby. I'll be an aunt." She says with tears in her eyes. "I'm sure Peeta would be happy too." I hug her with my head on top of hers, and I feel the tears stream down my cheeks. I move a hand to my stomach. Am I supposed to feel something? Maybe that's later, like months from now. We pull ourselves together before my mother comes in. Prim hugs my mother and goes straight to bed. I hug her and get beneath the covers, and pretend I'm asleep before she asks anything.

Thanks and I'd like your opinions on how it's going so far. Constructive criticism is okay. Chapter 5 coming soon! maybe like next day.

- Cheezebuns