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 8

KATNISS POV

I am trying to get my breathing under control and push the images of Cinna out of my mind while I quickly scan around once more for Peeta. He has to be on the other side of the Cornucopia and I imagine the Game Makers separated us on purpose.

And then the signal to begin the Games is heard and I dive right into the water without thinking. I am not the strongest swimmer, but my father did teach me a little in the lake, which is more then what most people in District Twelve know.

This thought panics me because I realize there is good chance Peeta doesn't know how to swim. This only makes me swim faster. We are a team, and I need him by my side right now.

I reach the Cornucopia after a few minutes and am surprised I am one of the first on it. I quickly make my way and grab the bow and arrow I know have been placed there for me.

I am about to go search for Peeta when I see someone moving to my right. I quickly load the bow to shoot when I find Finnick Odair grinning madly at me and showing me something on his wrist. Haymitch's bracelet.

"Duck, ally…" Finnick says, and for some reason I listen.

I see the trident go flying over my head and see that Finnick has killed the Male from District Five who was clearly coming for me. Finnick just saved my life, and what did he call me? An ally? Did Haymitch set this up? Is that how Finnick got Haymitch's bracelet?

Before I can even form a word, Finnick is moving past me. "I think Peeta is on the other side…watch for the Careers…I'll find him…"

I want to protest, to get Finnick to leave us alone but something stops me. Maybe it's his bracelet, or rather Haymitch's bracelet, but I find myself doing exactly what Finnick Odair has asked me to do.

PEETA POV

My eyes scan the platforms on my side of the Cornucopia and I know that they have separated Katniss and I. She must be on the side because I can't see her, which means I can't keep her safe until I can find her.

This angers me. It was clearly done intentionally, and as I watch the clock tick down, I know I have a huge problem.

In order to find Katniss I need to swim, and although I had treaded water once or twice in my life I would, in no way, consider myself even a moderate swimmer. This is going to be difficult.

And then the timer is done and I see a few tributes dive into the water, but others look wearily like I know I must. It doesn't matter though, I need to find Katniss, and so I take a deep breath and dive in.

I am submerged for a few seconds, but fight to bring myself to the surface. I begin treading water, trying my best to get to the Cornucopia when I realize I am nearly floating. I feel the belt at my waist and realize it is keeping me up.

I grin a little, and begin swimming with more confidence, knowing each stroke will bring me closer to Katniss.

And then I feel my head go under the water. I am being pulled down, strong arms around me.

I swing back, brutally fighting off whoever has a hold on me, and then I surface. For a split second, I am able to get some air into my lungs, and I swear I hear Katniss calling my name, but then I am quickly being pulled under again, by whoever is trying to kill me.

This time, I will spare no one. It is kill or be killed. It is protect Katniss and my child or drown and let her fend for herself. I cannot do that. So I swing, and kick, and my hands go around someone's throat under the water. And I squeeze.

I squeeze until the hands around me loosen and let go all together. I squeeze until I am certain my attacker has no fight left. I squeeze until I cannot hold my breath anymore and then I surface.

And once my head breaks the water, I gasp for air, and am being pulled up by stronger arms, Katniss' voice calling my name. I open my eyes to see Finnick grinning down at me, with Katniss just a few steps behind him, her eyes puffy. I can tell she has been crying, and for a moment I wonder if she is worried Finnick is going to kill me. But, her arrow is not drawn so she must trust him, and I know I have no time to ask questions, but I know he is safe. Haymitch told me to trust him.

"Let's go!" Finnick calls.

I get to my feet just as Katniss comes up and I take her hand, swiftly pulling her toward the beach, following Finnick who seems to be running toward Mags, who is already on the beach waiting for us.

KATNISS POV

I frantically run after Finnick once I know Peeta is in his line of sight. We get around the Cornucopia and instantly my heart drops. I see Peeta now too. He is fighting for his life, thrashing with another tribute.

And suddenly, I cannot breath. I realize now, I can loose Peeta. I can loose him right now and then there will be no point. I won't survive long without him. How could I? I've always needed him, I suppose. Even in the first Games, he kept me sane, and kept me safe, risking his own life for mine.

For ours. I quickly remember that his child is growing within me now. That the little life I am still trying to get used to might very well lose the better of its two parents before its even born.

"PEETA!" I scream, running as fast as I can, but Finnick is faster and already ahead of me.

Peeta is swinging wildly, fighting back. I have never seen him like this. I have never seen him so fierce, and I realize that it is good. It might just save him.

And then Peeta goes under, dragged below the water, and I nearly fall to my knees. I know he isn't the best swimmer. Few people in District Twelve have ever done it because it requires you going into the woods, to the lake. I know Peeta never ventured there.

"Finnick! Help him!" I cry.

FInnick glances back at me. He has reached the spot where Peeta has gone under, but I know there is nothing he can do now.

And then a cannon goes off and my world crashes.

I fall to my knees now. I don't care. I sob. I am not worried if I am exposed to another tribute. Peeta is dead. The cannon was for him. I know it in my bones. I have lost him.

And then, a body surfaces, floating on its back, and it brings me to my feet. The back is too wide, the shoulders are far to broad. The dead body is not Peeta's.

And then the water breaks in front of Finnick and I see Peeta thrashing about very much alive.

"Peeta!" I am shouting, running forward.

He is alive. Peeta is alive.

But I hardly have time to enjoy it as Peeta and I join hands and began following Finnick toward the beach, where Mags is waiting impatiently for us.

PEETA POV

We run. The four of us run like mad, ignoring the chaos that is on the beach and heading straight into the tropic jungle that lines the shore. We know we need to get as far away from the blood bath as we can.

My hand does not let go of Katniss as I allow Finnick to lead the way. I know I need to trust him. Haymitch says he was an ally. So I let him lead us into the thick forest.

We run for a good ten minutes before I hear Katniss wheezing behind me and I slow down. The air is hot and humid, making it hard to breath, and I worry she is struggling now.

"Can we just slow down?" Katniss gasps for air.

Finnick comes to a stop as do the rest of us. He does not look particular happy but after a moment he nods, seeing how Katniss is struggling to breath.

"We should be deep enough in the woods…" Finnick says.

Katniss nods and then pulls away from me, heaving whatever food she had left in her stomach into a few bushes to our side. Instantly, I move toward her, gathering her braid off of her sweating face.

I know this weather cannot be good for her or the pregnancy, and now as I watch her breakfast spill everywhere, I know any food she had in her stomach is no longer of use to her.

"Is she okay?" Finnick asks, concerned.

I am not sure how to answer that question, but after a minute, Katniss gives a small thumbs up and straightens herself out.

Finnick seems pleased and gives us a moment to ourselves.

"Are you okay?" I whisper, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.

Katniss nods, though the color has drained from her face. "I blame it on hormones…"

I give her a small but sad smile and nod. Her hormones that just cost her everything in her stomach are from me. I got her pregnant. I did this to her.

I hope that the fact that she seems ill from the pregnancy will pull on a few of the sponsor's heartstrings. Maybe they will send something to help her. I can only hope.

"She is dehydrated…" I hear Finnick say.

I glance away from Katniss for a moment and realize Mags must have figured this out, and Finnick is relaying the message to us.

"I am fine…" Katniss says, her voice shaking.

"No, you aren't. He's right," I say, noticing how pale Katniss looks right now. She looks sickly, and it only makes me feel worse.

"We need to find water," Finnick says.

"I said I am fine!" Katniss says sharply.

"Fine or not…we are all going to need water soon," Finnick shoots back.

I can see it in Katniss' eyes. Despite how awful she may feel, she is ready to fight with Finnick. I have a feeling I am going to be stuck in the middle of them.

And as if on cue, regardless of how shaky she is on her feet, Katniss is up, squaring off against Finnick.

"Katniss…please…he is right, we all need water," I quickly move between Katniss and Peeta, gently putting my hand on Katniss' shoulder. I silently plead with her and after a moment, she gives a sigh and slight nod. I don't know how, but at some point we learned to communicate without words.

When Katniss sits back down on the ground and allows Mags to rub her back, I turn my attention back to Finnick.

"Sorry…" I whisper to Finnick, apologizing for Katniss.

Finnick shrugs. "I suppose it's the baby hormones…I imagine they don't help her nerves…"

I know Finnick is wrong about that. Pregnant or not, Katniss would be just as short with Finnick. But that isn't what bothers me, what does is how Finnick looks at Katniss as he speaks, his eyebrows cocked as he mentions the baby. I don't like it. He is supposed to be my ally, according to Haymitch, and I don't trust him.

"I am going to see if there is any water nearby," Finnick says, turning on his heel and moving up the hill.

I suddenly am uneasy with Finnick and I glance back at Katniss to see she is getting sick again and Mags is holding her hair back. I hesitate for a moment. I want to help Katniss but I trust Mags with her and I know this may be the only chance I get to speak with Finnick, so after a moment I take off after him.

"What do you want?" Finnick asks as I get closer.

"Thought you could use a hand…" I say, the machete in my hand at my side, ready to be used if need be.

"Don't you have a pregnant wife to attend to?" Finnick asks.

I realize now that Finnick doesn't believe the pregnancy is real. He thinks it was a ploy, which is ironic because originally it had been just that. I quickly run up next to him, my eyes glued forward and my tone low. I doubt anyone can hear us if I make sure my voice stays lower then the hum of the forest around.

"She really is pregnant," I say very seriously.

Finnick gives me a sideways look, but I glance straight ahead, as if I am looking for water.

"Look busy…" I instruct.

Finnick complies and strains his neck, though now I know I have his attention.

"She is pregnant…and I know the plan…" I whisper as quietly as I can. I know I am risking everything, but Finnick needs to know I am in on the plan.

Finnick seems surprised by my words, and I can see, though he does not look at me, that his eyebrows are raised.

"I know. Katniss doesn't…but I do. Trust me," I whisper again.

Finnick slowly turns his head to me and gives a nod and I understand that he knows I am not lying. He knows Haymitch told me everything.

"I'm sorry…" Finnick says softly. "I didn't know she really was…."

I just nod, understanding and accepting the apology. We glance around for a few more minutes before we both realize there is no water to be found. Then, we make our way back to Katniss and Mags.

KATNISS POV

I feel nauseous and tired, a good mix of the long morning, the dehydration, and ultimately, I am sure, of the pregnancy. I know being this dehydrated is not good for a normal person, so I can't imagine how bad it is for someone who is pregnant.

I slouch against a stump and wipe the little sweat I have from my eye. I know it is a bad sign that my sweat is already drying up.

I close my eyes and quickly regret it, as my head spins and I hardly have time to bend to the side before I throw up for the second time in ten minutes.

Within seconds, gently hands are patting my back. I slowly turn around to see Mags smiling down at me, care in her eyes as she rubs small circles on my back. I like Mags. Her heart is in the right place, and I feel awful she is stuck in these Games. She deserved to live the rest of her life in peace.

"I'm okay…" I whisper softly, feeling a little better.

Mags just shakes her head and points to my stomach and makes a worried expression.

I know what she is saying, and I nod in agreement. "I don't think its good for the baby either…"

Mags gives a sorrowful smile just as the bushes to our left separate and Peeta and Finnick reappear. They seem calm together, but so far Finnick's behavior, aside from him originally finding Peeta at the Cornucopia and the fact that he has Haymitch's bracelet make me weary of him.

"There is no water in that direction," Finnick points to the way they came from.

"Are you okay?" Peeta kneels down so he is in front of me and Mags gives us space, which I am grateful for.

"As good as can be expected," I try to sound cheery, but my eyes are still on Finnick.

Peeta follows my gaze and sighs. "He is okay, Katniss."

My attention turns back to Peeta, though I know I shouldn't be surprised. He always seems to be able to read my thoughts.

"We need to get you water," Peeta says.

"We all need water," I say back.

"Then we should get moving…maybe that way?" Finnick points up the hill a bit.

I immediately want to argue with him for spite, but there is no reason. We need water, and it is not in the direction we came from, nor the direction Finnick and Peeta just explored, so the direction Finnick is pointing is as good as any.

With Peeta's help, I slowly get to my feet, though I don't feel steady.

"I've got you," Peeta tells me.

I smile at him, grateful for his help but also angry with how weak I am. I don't look like I will be attracting any sponsors. A pregnant girl who can hardly walk on her own doesn't signify a winner. I just hope I am not hurting Peeta's odds.

Peeta begins walking next to me, but ultimately takes the lead as the brush grows thicker and his machete is the only thing that will cut through it. We walk for a good ten minutes before I first notice the shimmer up ahead.

I recognize it instantly. It is a force field and I am both grateful and weary of it. I am happy, because it is something we can put our backs to; a side that we cannot be attacked from, but I am weary because I know what sort of power it holds. Haymitch killed victors using it.

I know we need to stay clear of it, and I am just about to offer a suggestion that we move another way. I don't want the Game Makers to know I am onto their trick of the force field. But, just as I am about to suggest it, I see the shimmer straight ahead, right in front of Peeta, right where he is going to swing his machete.

"PEETA! DON'T!" My voice comes out like a blood curling scream, but it is too late. Peeta is suddenly flying through the air, landing hard on his back, and all I can smell is singed hair.