Chapter 34: Training and Interviews Again

This time, when our train arrives in the Capitol, I am ready. As the paparazzi swarm, I shield Katniss from them and make sure Riley turns her face into my shirt so the flashes don't bother her.

While Benny and Katniss are being prepped by their stylists, Haymitch and I do our best to relax by playing with Riley. We engage in Peek-a-Boo, and even perform several iterations of Ring-Around-the-Rosy. Riley's too little to recite the rhyme (she won't start talking for another year, at least), but watching a drunk Haymitch enthusiastically help us "all fall down" brings laughter out of her that is music to my ears.

All too soon, Effie summons us down to the stables by the City Circle where we reunite with our tributes. I give Katniss a kiss in greeting, and her eager return of it lets me know all is forgiven from the train ride earlier. I help her into the chariot next to Benny, before Haymitch leads me away to the stands reserved for mentors.

I have come to believe that going last in the parade gives District 12 tributes an advantage, provided our stylists are good at what they do. Judging by the cheers I hear, it is clear they have replicated their performance with me and Bond last year. Watching the screens as I bounce Riley in my lap, I see Caesar and other pundits focusing a lot of attention on Katniss and her flaming outfit. Besides the fact that the Capitol is itching to meet her and better understand her relationship to me, their newest Victor, Katniss's outfit quickly earns her the nickname The Girl on Fire. I tune out President Snow's speech (most of what I do catch is boring, anyway), and then the tributes are released back to their crews.

Katniss brightens as soon as Riley and I come up. "Hello, little lady!" she squeals in baby-talk, cuddling her daughter close to her. "Did you like seeing the horses?"

"Peeta!" I turn to see Haymitch standing with some other Victors. He beckons us. "Bring the family over!"

I can tell Katniss just wants to have alone time with me and our daughter, but we have a part to play. As soon as we sidle up, the Victors begin peppering us with questions about Riley. Honestly, they're no better than the media!

"How old is she, Peeta?" asks Finnick Odair.

"Have you adopted her yet, Peeta?" Chaff inquires.

"Oh, can I just hold her, Peeta?" Cashmere Ritchson-Schlund and Johanna both ask. I smile good naturedly, take Riley from Katniss, and then hand our baby off to Johanna, who seems absolutely delighted to play with her.

"Why, hello! Aren't you a pretty little thing? Just like your Mama!" She turns to me. "Riley really is adorable, Peeta. You must be very proud."

I smile, and I mean it. "Thank you." We both hug warmly; I hear Katniss give a kind of huff in response and bite back a laugh. Is she actually jealous?

"And this is Finnick Odair," Haymitch is introducing to Katniss. District 4's resident playboy sidles up to my girlfriend. I got to know him at my Victory Party in the Capitol. Very suave, talkative enough, but a tad egotistical.

"Peeta has told me so much about you. But even his descriptions don't do you justice, Katniss," he purrs, before taking her hand and kissing it. I inwardly glower. OK, now it's my turn to be jealous, and I only get more so when I think I see Katniss blushing.

"All right! Come, come! We must all get our rest for training tomorrow!" Effie chirps, calling us away. I gratefully take Riley from Cashmere, who's been fawning all over her, and our District 12 entourage enters the Tribute Training Center.

Now the real work begins.

Training goes by relatively quickly. I advise Katniss to avoid the archery station, even the edible plants station for good measure, and learn something new. I refrain from reminding her about making allies, as she seems to have made pretty clear her feelings on that, and I don't want to get into an argument. Before I know it, she has returned from her private session with the Gamemakers, tired but confident.

I understand why when the Training Scores are broadcast later that third night, after I've put Riley to bed. Katniss scores an unprecedented 11 out of 12, beating even the best of the Careers. Effie is beside herself, and Haymitch deals out wine to us all in celebration.

Yet, I feel a twinge of worry. Make no mistake, I am proud of what Katniss accomplished, but I also know the Careers and how they operate. Their first move is gonna be to hunt her down. Because to them, my girlfriend is now a threat.

The next night is the tribute interviews with Caesar Flickerman. Katniss will be second-to-last, as I was last year.

I have a new appreciation for the tributes from my new vantage point in the front row with the other Victors. Whereas to a tribute, Caesar seemed like an overly-extroverted giant, down here he and the tributes appear relatively equal.

Also distinct is how…. forgettable the tributes seem to be, especially when one after the other is called again and again. For my interview, I at least remembered a few of the others, like Martin and Jesse and Bond. This year, the Careers seem to all run together, while the rest are so mediocre in their answers and in their training scores that they're just forgettable.

That all changes when my lover takes the stage, and even Caesar seems to find new verve, sensing the shift along with the audience.

"And here she is, our most anticipated tribute of the night: Katniss Everdeen, the Girl on Fire!" The audience erupts at his announcement.

"My, my, Katniss, Wowwwweeeeee! I heard from Peeta you were beautiful, but I had no idea how right he was!"

Why does everyone keep focusing on that? I grouse, remembering Finnick's flirtations from a few days before. It also doesn't help that I see some of the older male Victors, like Brutus and Chaff, sit a little straighter, their eyes glued to my girl. Riley squirms in my lap, as if to remind me to calm down, but mostly because I've stopped jouncing her along in my arms.

Meanwhile, Katniss does a very un-Katnissy thing: she actually giggles. "Oh, stop it, you big flirt!"

Caesar eats it up, and so does the crowd. I glance over at Haymitch. Was part of his interview strategy to turn her into a girly-girl, make her more…. desirable or something? It only makes me resent how he forced me to coach Benny, because - to use my mentor's words - "I'm not confident that leaving you two lovebirds alone in a room will lead to anything productive." Asshole.

"Now, Katniss tell me: you have quite a history with the Games already. Your baby's father was a very promising tribute two years ago. And you are currently dating a Victor. Has that put pressure on you?"

"No," Katniss answers, and it surprises me how readily she addresses such a sensitive issue. "After he won, Peeta and I always discussed that we would keep our home lives as private as possible."

Caesar nods. "And now, what of your daughter? Besides the fact that she is quite a hit with our mentors this year -" the audience chuckles "- what will you do when you have to say goodbye to her tomorrow?"

Katniss has grown very quiet; it looks like she is trying not to cry. "I'll tell her that I will try to win. That I will try to win for her." She then turns and blows a tender kiss to her baby. "Mommy's coming back, sweetheart! I promise!"

I bob Riley in my lap and help her wave to her mama, followed by an audience chorus of Awwws.

"And try you will," Caesar echoes solemnly. "Katniss Everdeen, ladies and gentlemen!"

Later that night, Katniss and Riley and I all sleep in bed together, just holding each other in the darkness. I kiss Katniss's temple.

"I love you, you know. More than my own life."

Katniss snuggles closer. "I know."

"I mean it. I would go into that damn arena again and again for you, just as long as you were there waiting when I came out."

Katniss laughs. "Who knew I'd fall for such a hopeless romantic?"

"Because deep down, you're one at heart, too."

"Oh, shut up!" and she nudges me. Then she kisses my cheek. "Wish me luck tomorrow?"

"You'll survive. You have to."

"And why exactly do I have to, may I ask?"

"Just because….."

"That's not a good enough answer, Peeta," and her voice is strangely quiet.

"Because I can't live without you. Because…." I can't find the words, although I know it has something to do with Riley. Katniss gives me a chaste kiss on the lips.

"Tell you what. We wake up early and discuss it in the morning. Riley's sure to be up before dawn, anyway."

I nod. Katniss starts to drift off.

"Katniss!"

"Hmmm?"

"If you win….. will you marry me?"

Silence. Katniss props herself on my chest and stares into my eyes. Finally, she nods.

"Yes. I will….. I promise."

I pull her in for a kiss.