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 7

KATNISS POV

I wake up to the steady sound of Peeta's even breathing. It is comforting and tormenting at the same time. I know this is the last morning I will wake up like this; the last morning I will feel the warmth of his chest wrapped up in sheets. After this morning, all the time I will have left with Peeta is in the arena, before one of us dies.

And I am certain Peeta plans on that being him.

I don't like that plan, but I know if I die, especially now, especially pregnant, it will tear him apart. It's an unfair situation. I don't want to be in it.

I lay for a few more minutes, quietly sneaking up glances at Peeta. He is handsome, aside from charming and nurturing; his features are certainly easy to look at. His blonde eyelashes are beautiful, and I find myself hoping our child has them.

The child I still don't really want but am now envisioning looking more like its father then me. I hope, anyway.

I shift slightly in bed to take in Peeta's peaceful features for one more morning, but my movement wakes him and I realize that I will never be able to capture the mental picture I want.

"Good morning…" Peeta smiles down at me.

"Not exactly good," I remind him.

Peeta frowns, realizing what day it is. "I guess you are right…"

I lay my head back on his chest so that I don't have to make eye contact with him as I speak. "I don't want to get up…"

"Me either," Peeta says and I can tell he is smiling, which only makes things worse. Only he could find joy in sharing his last morning in a real bed with me.

We lay in a comfortable silence for a minute, though there is so much I want to say to him. I want to tell him that he needs to live, that he can survive without his child and me and find someone new to give him a better life, but I can't bring myself to say it. Maybe I am selfish; maybe part of me doesn't want him to find someone else. I don't want to admit it, but maybe I do have some feelings for him, or maybe those feelings are just connected to the fact that his child in growing inside of me.

After another minute, Peeta sighs.

"We should get up…make sure we eat before we go into the arena," Peeta says, though I can tell he doesn't want to follow his own advice.

I nod and sit up, releasing him for the weight of my head on his chest and face him. He gently pushes a piece of hair from my face and I give him a crooked smile, and feel my cheeks blush.

"You are beautiful," Peeta tells me.

My cheeks only grow redder as he climbs out of bed. He moves to the door, but then looks back at me. "I'll see you in the arena."

I nod in agreement, because I do plan on finding him first thing in there.

Peeta gives me a small smile and a quick nod before leaving the room and leaving me entirely alone.

Though I am not alone, I quickly remember, as my eyes fall down to my stomach.

I get out of bed and move into the bathroom, pulling my shirt off and examining the flat skin against my stomach.

To me, it is hard to imagine there is someone else inside of me, surreal even. My fingers trace down my stomach, and I feel a flutter in my chest, or rather my heart. It is bizarre, but I do somehow feel connected to the life inside of me that doesn't even seem to be real yet. There is no evidence of a pregnancy, only the test by the Capitol, and yet the connection to this child is as real as the one to Peeta. I am not sure what it is, but it is something.

It certainly isn't the love I already know Peeta has for the unborn thing inside of me. He already loves it; I know he does even if he doesn't want to say it, probably because he doesn't want to seem too excited around me. I know he would love it better then I ever will and I wish there was a way he and his child could survive. However, in order for that to happen, I need to die, which means his child will have to as well.

Besides, I am certain now that I am the only one who wants to Peeta to live anymore. He certainly doesn't, and Haymitch doesn't, if it means Peeta's baby and I will die. It seems no one is on my side in this matter anymore.

PEETA POV

It takes every ounce of power in me to leave Katniss' room. I hate leaving her when I know how upset she is; when I know that it is probably the last morning I will ever wake up to her in my arms in a warm bed.

When she survives the arena, and I mean when, not if, because I know she will, when she survives she will sleep on her own, or with her sister, or maybe someday with Gale, but never again with me. I am okay with that though, if I know it means she will live a long life and so will our child.

The idea of actually having a child is still surreal, though now I no longer feel that I am too young. Now, selfishly, I am happier then ever that some part of me will live on. Katniss may not feel the same way about me that I feel about her, but I know she does find some comfort in my presence; hopefully the small part of me that lives in our child will fill that void for her without the same guilt I know she feels about not loving me in the way I love her.

As long as she is happy it won't matter.

I move out of her bedroom, and quickly passed the breakfast table where I grab a roll. O bite into it, knowing it is not as good as my fathers, but it doesn't matter. I have a big day ahead of me.

I quickly walk into my room, where Portia is already waiting for me. She hands me a shirt and pants silently.

"We need to head to the Hovercraft…" Portia says.

I nod and follow Portia out of my room, to the elevator, and down to the lower level where we move out to the Hovercraft that will be taking me to the arena. Portia doesn't have much to say to me in the Hovercraft, which seems odd for her. Usually she can outtalk me any day.

After a few minutes, Portia breaks the silence. "I am sorry about all of this Peeta…with Katniss and the baby…"

"Well…you know it was just part of the act…I feel worse for her now," I say simply, with a small bitter laugh. Portia knows how things are between Katniss and I.

Portia gives me a sad smile. "I think she was falling for you…slowly but she was…"

My eyes perk up at Portia in confusion. I know she is talking about Katniss but I am certain she is just telling me that to make me feel better. "I don't think so."

"I do…since the Tour…if you had more time…" Portia just shakes her head and silence fills the air again.

Part of me smiles at her words, wondering if she is right, wondering if Katniss and I had more time together, what would happen.

Before I know it, we are exiting the Hovercraft and I am walking to my holding room. I am surprised to see Haymitch there, waiting for me.

"Good morning…" Haymitch says, and he does not seem as drunk as he normally is.

"What are you doing down here?" I ask. Haymitch didn't visit me last time before I went into the arena.

"We need to talk…or rather…I need to let you in on something before you go up there…" Haymitch points to the ceiling, because we are under the arena.

I furrow my brow in confusion. "What?"

"About the strategy in the Game…" Haymitch sighs. "Originally we weren't going to tell you and Katniss…it seemed to risky, but now…given the circumstances with her now, we think we need to let you know what is going on…"

"Okay…" I say slowly, completely lost in the conversation. I think maybe Haymitch is drunker then I think and am not thinking clearly.

"There is going to be a revolution…" Haymitch whispers to me as if we are possibly being listened to, and we are more then likely, but clearly Haymitch isn't too worried.

"What?" I am surprised and confused all at once.

"Heavensbee…and a group of other Victors, are planning a rebellion…Katniss is the symbol, the Mockingjay. We plan on getting you, the tributes from Four, Three, Eleven, and Seven, and Katniss out of the arena and we are going to take you to District Thirteen…"

"There is no Thirteen…" I quickly remind him, and look to Portia to back me up. Clearly, Haymitch is drunk.

"Peeta…listen to him. You don't have much time…" Portia tells me as she begins removing my clothes and handing me my clothes for the arena, a wetsuit.

Because of Portia's request, and the fact that I know she isn't drunk, I do listen to Haymitch now.

"Thirteen is still real…people have been living there…and ready to fight the Capitol…so you need to get in alliance with Four, Three, Eleven and Seven…can you remember that?" Haymitch asks.

I nod, repeating. "Four, Three, Eleven, and Seven…"

Haymitch puts a hand on my shoulder and nods. "Right…and we are going to come in and get you all out as soon as we can…we promise…you are going to make it through this and so is Katniss and any other little bundle of joy that comes along…though if its anything like its mother, I am not sure joy would describe that kid…"

Despite my confusion I do have to crack a smile at Haymitch's comment directed toward Katniss.

"So we are going to make it?" I ask, suddenly feeling a new sense of joy, of determination. We are going to survive. I will get to see my child after all, and I will hopefully get to see Katniss happy.

"Just stay alive until we can get to you…and you will…there's a plan to bring the force field down…we will send in signs to let you know how many days and hours are left until then…the rest of the Victors in the arena understand the plan a little better…I just don't have time to explain it…" Haymitch says.

I glance up to see I have less then a minute left before I go into the arena. I slip into my wetsuit, trying to absorb all the new information.

"Why doesn't Katniss know?" I ask as I step into the tube.

"Its too risky…you know how she would react to this…its safer to tell her nothing…just keep her safe and alive. Can you do that?" Haymitch asks me, though I can tell that he knows he does not need to. Of course I will keep Katniss safe. I will spend the rest of my life doing just that.

"Of course," I say simply.

"Good…then just trust me…and trust them…especially Johanna and Finnick," Haymitch tells me and gives me a lopsided grin. "Stay alive…"

I nod once more in agreement, knowing I need to take Haymitch's words seriously as I see the counter letting me know there are mere seconds left before I am sent up into the arena with an entirely different game plan then I had ten minutes ago. Now, I know there is a chance we can all survive this Game.

KATNISS POV

I exit the Hovercraft alone. There is no Haymitch or Cinna in sight, which is different from last year, but these are different Games. Maybe I won't get to see either of them before I go into the arena this time.

I walk down the long hall to my holding cell. I open the door and am immediately relieved to see Cinna standing there, a sad smile on his face though he motions me toward him.

For some reason, I instantly seek his arms and he hugs me tightly. I want to cry, but I can't now. I can't look like that when they take me up into the arena. I need to look strong.

"I am so sorry this is all happening to you…especially now…" Cinna releases me and gently touches my stomach, reminding me that I have another life to worry about now. I realize now, that I haven't even touched my stomach like that. I have been avoiding the idea of really being physically pregnant since I found out I was. Up until now, I have been dealing with it like an inanimate object. Cinna's hands on my stomach, however, confirm it is real and in a few months will be tangible.

Normally, I think I would get mad if someone invaded my space this way, but not Cinna. I can't be mad at him. Inside I give a small smile and look down at my stomach too, the stomach that holds a little piece of Peeta. Without even realizing it, I let my hand slip on top of Cinna's, my eyes still on my flat belly.

After a long moment, Cinna drops his hands and moves to get my clothing for the arena.

"Its like a wetsuit…light…I would assume watery and tropic…" Cinna begins explaining the suit he hands me to put on. "The stomach area is equipped to stretch if you need it, but I don't think you will be in the arena anywhere near long enough to show…"

"Games are only two weeks…I don't think…can you tell someone is pregnant that early on?" I ask in confusion. I have only seen pregnant women in District Twelve and you usually can't tell they are pregnant until they are practically having the children, due to the lack of food supply around the District. Maybe, because I am eating better, I will be different?

Cinna gives me a small smile when he sees the panic flush over my features. "No…no you will be alright…."

"Thank you," I say after I am fully dressed in my arena wear. "For everything…and the dress…the dress was beautiful—"

"Don't do that…." Cinna cuts me off and I look at him confused, because I am. "Don't say goodbye…you are going to make it…"

"I just…" I start, because as much as I want to believe Cinna that means I have to believe that Peeta will be dead in a few weeks.

"I'm still betting on you…." Cinna tells me and gingerly fingers my braid.

I give him another soft smile as we are alerted that there are thirty seconds left before I am sent up into the arena.

I climb into the tube and give Cinna another smile.

"Keep that baby safe…" Cinna says to me and I can hear the love and concern in his voice.

I glance down at my stomach again and then back up at Cinna. I cannot find words to thank him for all the kindness he has shown me, and I swear I am going to start tearing up. Stupid hormones.

The door closes to the tube and I put my hand against it as the clock counts down. Cinna does the same, our hands briefly on the glass together, but only for a moment.

Then, the door to the holding cell opens, and everything happens so fast. I see the Peace Keepers moving toward Cinna and suddenly they are beating him to the ground.

"NO! CINNA! NO! STOP IT!" I am screaming slamming on the glass. They are killing him because of me, because of the dress, because of the Mockingjay.

They continue to beat him and I pound harder on the glass. The plate I am on starts to rise and I am now on my knees, banging on the glass, crying hysterically.

"Cinna!" I scream once more, and then I can no longer see him, as the view is replaced with concrete. I know I am near the top of the tub now and within seconds will be in the arena.

I quickly standing, my whole body shaking from shock as my mind continues to play images of Cinna being beaten. I wipe the tears that have escaped my eyes and take a deep breath as I feel the sun on my head.

And suddenly, I am standing in the middle of what appears to be an ocean. I am in the middle of water. I am in no place that a Girl on Fire should be at all.

And as I glance around, I realize, I do not see Peeta anywhere. Panic immediately sets in.