Disclaimer: All characters and things associated with The Hunger Games belongs to Suzanne Collins and Lionsgate. This writing is for pure entertainment only.

Summary: Peeta's lie about Katniss' pregnancy is tested by the Capitol, leaving the Lethal Lovers only one option going into the Quarter Quell.

CHAPTER 4

KATNISS POV:

The sun is coming in my room, but I feel too tired to open my eyes. I lay there for a long minute before I realize I am not alone. I open one eye and see Peeta laying next to me in bed. He looks peaceful, and this is a normal occurrence these days.

Then I realize it isn't normal. I am naked. I sit straight up, and suddenly remember the events of the night before. They were awkward at first, and then sweet, and I lost myself in them for a moment with Peeta.

But now, I know the damage is done. I am pregnant; or I hope I am anyway. If I want these Games to hopefully be stopped, I better be pregnant.

All of my thoughts about a pregnancy and a family are too much this early in the morning, and I can't handle it. I feel like I can't breath, and a naked Peeta is only making it worse.

I can remember last night vividly, and although it was not necessarily something I completely disliked, I can't help the feeling that I have officially betrayed Gale; and I know deep down I have. Maybe I do love Peeta, in some way, but its different with Gale. Gale knows me; Gale trusts me, and I lost his trust last night.

But I did it to save him. I have to keep reminding myself of that as I throw a robe on and quickly move out of my room. Getting pregnant by Peeta may have just saved Gale's life, as well as Prim's, my mothers, and maybe even my own and Peeta's life. That seems like a fair trade.

I move out of the room and toward the stairs that lead to the roof. I need some air, some space besides the cramped air in my bedroom.

I quickly make my way out onto the roof, just as the run rises, and I instantly realize I am not alone. Haymitch is sitting, watching the sunrise with a glass of something I assume possesses some spirits in it.

I reach Haymitch and am nearly on top of him before he notices the shadow next to him. He quickly jumps, but relaxes when he sees it is only me.

"Trying to give me a heart attack, sweetheart?" Haymitch asks.

I say nothing but instead just sit down next to him. I don't know if I am in the mood to be with someone or not, but I know I couldn't stay in my room and wait for Peeta to wake up.

"So…how was last night?" Haymitch asks me slowly.

I glare at Haymitch and he just give a nod, clearly understanding that I don't want to talk about it.

"Well…hopefully it works," Haymitch tips his glass to me.

We sit in silence as the sun full rises. I am glad he isn't prying, because I am not ready to talk about it. Not yet, at least I don't think I am. But, after a few minutes, I betray myself.

"Do you think it will get the Games canceled?" I ask. I need to know what he thinks, because now I am about to be responsible for a baby, something I never particularly wanted, but if it will keep my family safe, Gale safe, if it will keep Peeta safe, then I will deal with it.

Haymitch swallows hard and then shrugs, but I can tell by his expression he is going to tell me exactly what he truly thinks. He won't sugarcoat it like Effie tries to do with some things.

"I don't know…its never happened before…the Capitol does love you and Peeta and Snow could face backlash if he were to send you into the arena pregnant but…" Haymitch sighs.

"But he wants to get rid of me…" I finish Haymitch's thought.

"But he can't control you and control the people…maybe the pregnancy will be a way for Snow to control you…" Haymitch says.

"Well…he certainly will be…for the rest of my life," I mumble the last part to myself because it is true. I will never be able to have the life I wanted; the life of safety for those I care about, the life were no one wants me dead and no one pays attention to me. That life is gone forever because of Snow; because I am the Girl on Fire.

"But you will be alive…" Haymitch says, and then smirks at me. "And you'll have a child you will get to screw up…thank God Peeta will be around…that baby wouldn't stand a chance otherwise…"

I glare at Haymitch but can't help but laugh a little, causing him to laugh more. It is insane, bizarre even that I will be responsible for another life. Haymitch is right; I will need Peeta, so hopefully this plan will work.

And then I realize what Haymitch has actually said. Everything has seemed so objective until this moment. Suddenly, I feel sick to my stomach. My stomach, where Peeta's child is probably already forming.

"Are you alright there, sweetheart?" Haymitch asks.

I shake my head. "I don't feel great…"

"Might be the nerves…once today is over…well…we will know one way or another how things are going to go from here," Haymitch tips his drink toward me.

I force a smile and a nod, but I can feel my own hands shaking now. Haymitch is right; in a few hours my world with change drastically. In a few hours, I will find out if I am pregnant, if Peeta and I will be going into the Games anymore, and if everyone I love will be kept safe or not.

PEETA POV:

I wake up in Katniss' bed to find myself alone and naked. The room still smells of her scent; a sweet mix of vanilla and a hint of pine. It's her scent, and I love it. I glance around the room to make sure she isn't there before I lean back into the bed with a smile.

I don't want her to see me smiling because I know there is no way she feels the same, but after last night I know I can die happy. Even if it wasn't how she wanted things to be, how I wanted them to be, last night had been amazing.

Katniss was amazing, and for long moments it almost all felt genuine; the way she looked at my, sometimes I swore she did love me.

Maybe she does, in some way, but she doesn't look at me the way she looks at Gale. Last night, however, at moments, she did.

My mind continues to replay the events of the night before, hoping that at least something good will come from them. Katniss might be trapped with a child and me for the rest of her life, and I have already sworn to myself I will make it as bearable for her as possible, but if we could have saved all of our lives it will be worth it; I know she at least agrees with that.

As my thoughts turn more toward the repercussions of last night, of what the day ahead will bring, I get out of bed and throw my shorts on. I should try and find Katniss, make sure she is okay before we begin what I think will be a rather long day ahead of us.

I move out of her bedroom and into the living room, where I see Katniss and then a drunken Haymitch coming in from the roof deck.

I smile at Katniss but she hardly makes eye contact with me, though I sweat a see her cheeks turn a bit redder as she slides past me and into her bedroom.

"Good morning…" I manage out, but she has already closed the door to her room.

I stand there, clearly looking confused, for a long minute, because I am. I had a feeling things might be a little awkward between us this morning but I never imagined she would completely ignore me.

I want to follow after Katniss, talk to her, make sure she is okay. Of course, I know she isn't completely okay but I want to make sure she's as close to that as she possibly can be. I start to walk to her room, but Effie seems to come out of nowhere and cut me off.

"Into your room, Peeta! We need to get your ready for today! You need to be all smiles as you make your way to get the pregnancy test with Katniss. All eyes will be on you two!" Effie says, nearly grabbing my arm and pushing me in the direction of my own room, where my stylist and prep team are already waiting for me.

KATNISS POV:

I ignore Peeta and move straight into my room. I know it probably hurt him but I can't bring myself to look him in the eye. On top of the obvious repercussions we are hoping for from last night and the fact that I am probably currently carrying his child, I am also struggling with my feelings. The way Peeta looked at me a few minutes ago stirred memories from last night.

Peeta was so tender. I know he loves me, and he showed it last night completely. I, on the other hand, surely was flimsy and fumbling through the motions last night. In truth, I was scared out of my mind. I have never been that intimate with anyone, and I had honestly always thought that it would have been with Gale. Not that Peeta wasn't as caring as I could have ever hoped Gale would have been, it just wasn't what I had always pictured.

I move into my bathroom and lean against the sink, taking my reflection in. I look the same as I did yesterday, yet I feel so different.

I glance down at my stomach, still flat underneath my shirt. I know, if things go the way we planned them to, then my stomach won't look like this forever. I lift my shirt to make sure it still looks the same. It does.

I think for a moment; I know very little about pregnancy. I have seen it around District Twelve, and seen many pregnant women that my mother has taken care of, most of them hardly look pregnant but that is because food is scarce in District Twelve. I know I won't look like that, assuming I don't end up in the arena, because with the money from winning the last Hunger Games, and Peeta's baking there will be no way I will starve.

I wonder what I will look like pregnant. It seems like such a foreign concept that the thought never really crossed my mind until now, when I have no choice but to think about it.

Before I can even begin to control my own thoughts, tears are forming in my eyes. This is not what I want. None of this. I wanted to be left alone. I wanted to keep my family safe. I don't want to be responsible for another life; an innocent life that I can completely destroy.

A knock on the door startles me from my thoughts and I quickly wipe up my tears. If Peeta followed me in here I know I will scream at him, but he won't deserve it.

I open the door only to find Effie standing on the other side. I am not sure if she is better or worse then Peeta at this moment.

"Katniss…dear…we need to get your ready to go…there will be cameras on your way to get the test and a small interview once the results are given…" Effie says with a tight smile.

I blink twice at her, trying to understand what she is saying. It all seems bizarre. I will be finding out if I am pregnant in an hour or so and Effie is more concerned with the interview to follow.

I suppose she is right though; even if I am upset with the results of this test it is imperative that I act happy. We want to make Snow cancel these Games after all.

"Katniss…" Effie's voice changes from its high tone to a serious one, and I know it is because she is concerned.

Without another word, I am crying again and am surprised that Effie is throwing her arms around me. She pulls me in for a hug and I don't try to fight her. Its nice to have some comforting arms around me, even if the glitter she is wearing on her skin is getting all over me.

"You will be fine, dear…truly…this will all work…" Effie tells me.

I nod against her shoulder and she lets me go.

"Are you ready for the interview?" Effie asks cautiously.

"Just smile and act happy, right?" I smile through my tears.

"No…act angry that they didn't believe that you were pregnant…act happy about the baby but angry they thought you were lying…" Effie says and it surprises me.

"Why do I want to be act angry? Won't that only upset Snow more?" I ask.

"Maybe…but it will also make him look like he is truly trying to send you and Peeta in there…it will only help cancel the Games…" Effie says, and suddenly I realize she is not as naïve as I originally thought she was, and she has a point.

"Okay," I nod.

"Good…well…lets get you ready then…" Effie gives me another smile and a gentle pat on my shoulder before she calls Cinna into the room to get me ready for my interview.

Being with Cinna is worse then being with Peeta. He hardly talks to me, but instead keeps giving me sympatric looks and is gentle when he measures my dress around my waste. I know he knows that none of this is what I want, and maybe he thinks not talking about it is better, but I trust Cinna and if I were going to talk to anyone about it, it would be him.

Finally, I can't take it anymore and slam my arms to the side, forcing him to look up from the bottom of the dress he is fitting onto me.

"Are you okay?" Cinna asks cautiously as he stands.

"What do you think?" I ask Cinna and I can feel the tears threatening my eyes as he slowly stands and looks at me.

And by the time Cinna is throwing his arms around me I am sobbing into his shoulder. He runs his hand through my hair and tries to calm me, and for a split second I feel safe in his arms.

"You can't cry, Katniss. I am so sorry this is happening to you but you need to be strong…you need to look happy and you can't give in. Snow wants to see you miserable...show them all you are better then that…" Cinna tells me.

I nod into his shoulder; glad he isn't like everyone else, telling me to show how madly in love I am with Peeta. Maybe its because he knows I am conflicted about my feelings with Peeta. Cinna just gets me.

PEETA POV

I am standing in the living room with Effie, patiently waiting for Katniss to come out of her bedroom. I just want to talk to her, to make sure she is okay as she possibly can be given the circumstances.

Finally, the door opens and Katniss steps out with Cinna close behind in a simple off-white dress. She looks beautiful, my jaw nearly drops.

She glances up at me for a moment and then diverts her eyes and I manage to pick my jaw up enough and remember why we are standing here: because she is more then likely pregnant with my child, because we are pawns in this game.

I step toward her, wanting to talk, but I soon find that will be impossible with Effie, Cinna, and Portia hovering around us. Even Haymitch has joined us as we get into the elevator.

"Now…camera's will be rolling…we need to play this in a good light…" Effie looks to Haymitch.

Haymitch nods and tells Katniss and I how we should act.

"You two are happy you are pregnant, upset that Katniss is being put in these games in her condition, and angry that the Capitol is making you take this test to prove you are pregnant, understand?" Haymitch tells us.

Katniss and I both nod, but it is clear neither of us have found our voice.

"You both look scared to death…happy smiles!" Effie reminds us.

And then, the elevator door opens, and to my surprise, Katniss' hand is clutching around mine, tighter then ever before. I glance down at our fingers and I see her knuckles are white. I realize she is beyond nervous.

However, her face doesn't show it as she smiles to the crowd of camera and interviewers who follow us, as we are lead to the room where the test will be done.

"Katniss! Peeta! Why hide the baby?" One woman asks.

"We wanted it to be our little secret…we only just found out…but we are so happy," Katniss says in her fake, interview voice as she continues to smile.

"And now? Peeta…how do you feel about Katniss going into the Games like this?' Someone asks me.

"I hope she doesn't have to. Our baby deserves a chance to live…" I say.

I hear an awe in the crowd and I hope I struck a good nerve with someone, but other then that my heart isn't in it. I just want to talk to Katniss, to comfort her. How can I be excited about a baby she never wanted with me? Hell, how can any seventeen-year-old be excited about a baby?

We are led into a small room with no windows and the door locks behind us. It is then that I notice Haymitch and Effie are not with us. It is just the two of us, and Katniss is still holding tightly to my hand.

"Katniss…" I try and loosen my hand.

"Don't let go…please…" Katniss says to me and grips tighter to my hand but does not look at me.

I want to say something else, but then a side door opens and President Snow steps out with two other men. One looks like a guard, one looks like a doctor.

"Well, well…Mr. Mellark…Ms. Everdeen…or should I call you Mrs. Mellark now?" Snow smirks, directing his comment more at Katniss then me.

Katniss forces a smile but I know what she is thinking: Snow has caught us in our first lie; we aren't really married yet.

"Today should be interesting, don't you think?" Snow asks.

"Very," I speak up, taking the attention off Katniss because I know she doesn't want it right now.

Snow turns to me; clearly surprised I spoke at all. "Very interesting indeed…"

Snow sits down and motions for the doctor to move forward. The doctor does so, taking Katniss by the arm.

Katniss looks panicked and struggles when she is forced to let go of my hand.

"Relax, Ms. Everdeen…we only need a bit of your blood…then we can dismiss this whole notion of you being pregnant and Panem will see you for what you two are…liars…" Snow directs his last comment toward me.

I remain silent, as does Katniss, while the doctor pricks her arm and takes some blood. He then coldly gives her a shove back and I can see her, on reflex, nearly hit him.

Fortunately, he pushed her far enough that I am able to grab her arm and bring her back to my side before she doesn't any real damage.

"Now…are you ready to own up to the lies? Are you ready to have all of Panem hating you?" Snow teases.

"We aren't worried," Katniss has seemed to find her voice again.

"Well, I believe you should be…for all those you love, Ms. Everdeen…" Snow says.

This strikes a cord with Katniss and I feel her stiffen. I grab her hand and give her a small squeeze of reassurance. If she is pregnant, Snow will be wrong and he will have no grounds to threaten us.

"Come, Ms. Everdeen…I thought we promised not to lie to one another…" Snow continues.

This comment confuses me, but it clearly doesn't confuse Katniss.

"We did," Katniss responds.

"Well…one of us isn't holding our end, are we?" Snow presses.

I don't like how he is bullying her right now. She is nervous enough as it is. We both are. We just want an answer to the test.

"Are we actually going to do the test?" I ask.

Katniss turns with wide eyes at me and Snow seems equally as surprised by my cold words. I don't care, as long as the attention is off Katniss a bit.

"We are…" Snow glances over at the doctor. "Ready?"

The doctor nods and adds Katniss' blood to another vile with green liquid in it. He then places it in a machine he has brought with him and gives it a few seconds before it pops back out, the liquid now a bright red.

"Well?' Snow smirks at us, not even looking at the doctor. He is ready to make us look like fools.

"It is positive. She is pregnant," The Doctor says.

The smirk quickly falls off Snow's face and it is replaced with clear confusion.

Katniss' grip on my fingers loosens and I look over at her. She looks as if she is about to pass out, and I put a hand on her back to steady her when suddenly I realize the impact of the doctor's words.

Katniss is pregnant. We are having a child.