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.

CHATPER 12

KATNISS POV

I watch cautiously as Finnick and Johanna hug each other. Peeta is not far behind, and I notice Finnick whisper something to Johanna who eyes Peeta for a long moment but then offers a small smile.

It makes me uncomfortable; as if they have a secret with Peeta.

I want to say something, but am instantly distracted by Wiress' odd chant.

"Tick tock, tick tock…" Wiress is wading in the water in a circle.

I am about to ask what happened to them all, when I catch what Johanna is now speaking to Peeta and Finnick about.

"Yes! Blood rain! Thick as anything…nearly chocking us!" Johanna is indicating to the blood that is all over her, Beetee, and Wiress.

"How did you manage out?" Finnick asks.

"Dumb luck…we couldn't even see," Johanna says, throwing her axe into the sand and moving to the water to wipe her face off.

Wiress moves around Johanna. "Tick tock, tick tock…"

"Urgh! Shut her up!" Johanna snarls at Wiress.

I ignore her and move toward Wiress, who is standing over Beetee who is washing his face as well.

"What's wrong with her?" I motion to Wiress.

"Shock…dehydration. We could all use some fresh water," Beetee says, fixing his glasses back onto his face.

"We can get you some," Peeta speaks up.

"Tick tock, tick tock!" Wiress moves toward Johanna now.

And suddenly, I see Johanna grabbing Wiress by the shoulders and shaking her. "Just shut up!"

I don't even think before I move forward. "Hey! Hey! Don't touch her!"

I reach out, not sure what I intend to do but I will stop Johanna from harming Wiress. Unfortunately, it becomes instantly clear that I should have thought it through because within seconds, Johanna has me flipped on my back in the sand.

I struggle against her grip on my shoulder. She has me pinned down well and I don't think I have a chance of getting out of her grasp.

"Let her go! She's pregnant!" Peeta is running back toward us now from going to get some fresh water.

"Pregnant or not, you touch me again and I will make sure it's the last time it ever happens," Johanna warns me.

I struggle against her. I won't apologize. "You have no right to attack her."

"I wasn't attacking her. I just want her to shut up. I got her here; I kept her safe…all for you! Now I want her to leave me alone!" Johanna gives me a good last thrust into the sand before getting off of me and wading back into the water.

Peeta is at my side in an instant, glaring at Johanna and helping me sit up.

"Are you okay?" Peeta asks.

I nod. I am fine; Johanna didn't really hit me hard, and I know I have honestly put both my life and the baby 's life at risk more then that while we have been in the arena. I glance at Peeta to see his worry and decide to change the subject to focus on what Johanna had just said.

"What did she mean she got Wiress here for me?" I ask Peeta. Maybe he will have a better answer because I can't think of one.

"I don't know," Peeta says but I can tell he isn't listening to me. Instead, his eyes are locked on Joanna.

"Peeta," I say softly. I can tell he is angry with Johanna but there is no reason for him to start a fight yet. We wouldn't be able to take Johanna and Finnick on if he did and I am certain Finnick would take Johanna's side.

For a moment his eyes shift back to me and he smiles, but I know it's forced. Its not a genuine Peeta smile.

"Stay here for a second," Peeta says to me.

I nod. I can tell his words are more then just a simple request so I do not push it. He then stands and wades in the water after Johanna, leaving me on the beach with Finnick who is perched behind me.

PEETA POV

I glance back over my shoulder as I wade into the water after Joanna, making sure Katniss isn't following me. I am relieved to see she is still sitting on the beach with Finnick. I want to speak with Johanna alone.

When I reach Johanna she glances at me and grunts before rolling her eyes.

I open my mouth but Johanna cuts me off.

"I am not going to apologize. Katniss deserved—" Johanna starts.

"She didn't deserve anything. She doesn't know what's going on…and she is pregnant," I cut Johanna off, angry with her for a moment, but I quickly stop myself, worried I said too much. I don't want to let the capitol know anything and from the look of concern on Johanna's face she is too. I know she is in on the plan to protect Katniss, but she is doing a crappy job of showing me I should trust her.

Johanna thinks about my words for a minute and I almost think she is going to apologize, but then, in typical Johanna Mason fashion, she does something completely different, "That kid has no chance anyway…not on this island…and not in the shape Katniss seems to be in."

I am crushed by Joanna's words because I know there is truth to them. I glance back over my shoulder at the beach, where Katniss sits next to Beetee and Finnick. She looks so frail, so tired. Johanna is right; the baby probably doesn't stand a chance.

That's probably better though. I know Katniss did not really want it, and if at the end of all of this she is free and happy; well that is all that matters, no matter what I want.

I look back at Johanna for a moment, then down at the clear blue water. I don't really know what to say.

"Hey…I'm sure I am wrong. Katniss is tough," Johanna says after a moment.

I glance up at her, surprised. I know this is Johanna's way of apologizing. She gives me a sort of half-smile and I know it's the best I will get, but then Joanna surprises me again.

"And I shouldn't have lost my temper…its just being in here…and Wiress…she has lost it," Johanna says, motioning back to the beach.

I turn now to see Katniss is up, moving toward the water with Wiress who is still babbling. She is persuading the shaken women into the water, and is soon washing the blood from Wiress' hair.

Despite all that is happening, I smile at the image of Katniss taking care of the woman. I don't understand how she could ever doubt her ability as a mother. Watching her with Wiress, how tender and caring she is with the older woman, only solidifies what I already knew; Katniss is going to be the best mother I have ever seen, if I get to see it.

KATNISS POV

I watch Peeta speaking with Johanna in the water for a long moment. I want to make sure she isn't going to attack him also, but I can't help but wonder what they are talking about. Part of me wants to march out there after him. I don't like being this far away from him with people I don't entirely trust.

"Tick tock! Tick…tock!" Wiress' voice fills my ears.

I hear Finnick grown and move closer to the water and I realize that no one feels the same urge to protect Wiress that I do. I can't explain it, but she seems innocent, like Rue or Prim and I am drawn to it.

"Come on…" I say, as cheery as I can. I move and wrap an arm around Wiress who flinches but looks at me with big eyes.

"Tick tock," Wiress says.

"Yeah, tick tock…let's get you cleaned up, okay?" I ask, pulling Wiress toward the water with me.

Wiress obliges and moves into the water with me, allowing me to wash the blood from her hair and face. She continues to babble but seems to calm down a bit once she is clean.

I only realize how long it has taken me to scrub her down when I see Peeta and Johanna moving toward him, both seeming to be on good terms with the other. I stand up straight behind Wiress and watch them. Johanna passes a word to Peeta who looks up sheepishly at me for a long moment, as if he is debating something. He then gives Joanna and nod and moves up the beach while she moves toward me.

I straighten up as Johanna approaches me, my fingers touching the edge of the bow strung over my back.

My reflex does not go unnoticed to Johanna. "Relax, little mother-to-be…I wanted to apologize."

I glare at her, clearly not believing.

"I do. I shouldn't have gone after you like that. We are a team, after all…" Johanna says.

I laugh uneasily. I still can't bring myself to trust Johanna completely and I don't know why Peeta seems to so easily.

"Look, I know why you don't like me. I haven't given you much reason to trust me but, don't think that I want to stab you in the back. I don't. I am more focused on the real enemy," Johanna says to me in a low voice.

I am at a lost of words for a moment. Haymitch said the same thing to me, so did Finnick. Is there something going on that I am missing? Some part of the puzzle I cannot piece together?

Before I can ask, however, I feel Wiress pull on my arm.

"Tick tock!" Wiress says desperately now.

Joahnna roles her eyes and puts her hands in the air. "But that…I'm sorry, I can't!"

I am grateful Johanna walks away before she can attack Wiress again and quickly turn my attention back the babbling woman who is pointing straight ahead at the tree that had been struck by lightening.

"Tick tock!" Wiress shouts.

And then the tree is hit again by lightening and Wiress exclaims her famous phrase once more but this time it means something entirely different. This time, I understand its importance.

"Tick tock…" I whisper back.

Wiress pulls my arm happily and nods. 'Tick tock!"

"It's a clock…" I glance around the Cornucopia and notice the twelve slices of lake now. Its shaped like a clock. Wiress wasn't going crazy, she was warning us.

"It's a clock!" I exclaim louder as I pull Wiress in for a huge. "Wiress, you are a genius!"