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 14

KATNISS POV

We follow Beetee out to the Cornucopia. Peeta is behind me the whole time, one hand on my back, as if to steady me. I find it funny because I have always been more elegant on my feet then him, especially now with his leg.

Once we arrive, Beetee immediately points to the large tree that the lightening strikes.

"Is that where it starts?" Beetee asks me.

I nod. "That's the first section…"

I go through the rest of the sections; the fog, the blood rain, the mutts, the jabberjays, the wave. The group watches me explain. All except Wiress, who goes off to sing a childhood nursery rhyme on the edge of the Cornucopia.

I recognize the song; my mother used to sing it to Prim and I before my father died. After that, she seemed to have forgotten the words.

"So the wave comes after the lightening…perfect," Beetee says.

"The tail points at 12 and midnight," Peeta motions to the top of the Cornucopia.

I am impressed by Peeta's perceptiveness. So impressed in fact, that I don't notice Wiress has suddenly stopped singing. Suddenly, a sinking sensation in my stomach that I know is not from the baby hits me, and I turn to see Gloss slicing Wiress' throat.

I don't make a sound; don't have time to think, instead I simply loud my arrow and shoot. I don't miss. He is too big; too easy of prey. Without so much as a word from me, the glimmer from Gloss' eyes dissolve.

It takes me a minute to realize the others I am with have noticed the attack. Peeta pulls me down and Johanna kills Cashmere without more then a grunt.

"Are you okay?" Peeta asks, pulling me close and glancing around, though it seems no other careers have decided to attack.

"Fine," I say, but glance at Johanna, Finnick and Beetee. I notice Beetee is visibly shaken and we are all vulnerable on the Cornucopia. "But lets get back on land."

The others agree and we silently gather our things. Peeta offers me his hand and I take it, slowly and carefully making my way down the Cornucopia when I suddenly feel dizzy, as if I am spinning.

And then I realize I don't feel it; I am spinning. The entire Cornucopia is spinning.

Before I know it, we are being tossed down the side of the Cornucopia.

"Katniss!" I hear Peeta yell. I try to look for him as I grasp helpless at the rock below.

I am certain I am going to fall off when I feel a hand around my wrist. I look up to see Johanna desperately holding on to me.

"Don't let go!" Johanna instructs.

I want to obey her, but it's hard. My hand is wet and so is hers and the spinning is only increasing. I feel nauseous; I feel like I want to pass out, and then I feel my hand slip from Johanna's and I plunge into the water.

PEETA POV

The Cornucopia is spinning and I scream for Katniss. I can see her out of the corner of my eye as I hold onto a small chunk of rock I managed to get a grip of. Johanna is holding Katniss, trying her best to keep her on the Cornucopia's base.

But Johanna is struggling. I see it in her face. She is trying to save Katniss, and I know I can trust her now more then ever to do that, but she is losing her grip.

I need to get to Katniss. I glance around as we continue to spin, trying to figure out how to move across the base, but that proves quickly to be impossible.

I glance over again and see Johanna struggling more; Katniss looks lower down the Cornucopia, and then the unthinkable happens. Katniss slips into the water.

"KATNISS!" I scream so loudly I don't even recognize my own voice. It doesn't even take me a second to decide before I let go myself, allowing my body to be tossed in the water.

I need to find Katniss.

The water is rough from the spinning of the Cornucopia and I can hardly get my head above the waves, but I am desperate. I will not lose Katniss.

I dive under. I am a terrible swimmer, but I remember the belt can hold me and then remember Katniss' belt will hold her as well.

I come up again, and the Cornucopia is slowing down.

"Katniss!" I scream.

"There!" I hear Johanna yell from above me.

I glance up to see Johanna pointing with one hand as she clutches the Cornucopia with the other. I follow her finger to see Katniss struggling in the water.

I swim as hard as I can, but it's not pretty. Still, within a minute, I close the gap between Katniss and I and wrap my arms around her.

"Peeta!" She gasps, and I can tell she has swallowed water.

"You're okay…" I tell her and pull her toward the Cornucopia, which has now stopped.

Finnick and Johanna help pull Katniss out of the water.

I follow, hoisting myself up and moving swiftly toward her. She is on all fours, spitting up salt water.

"Katniss…" I am worried as I realize she is now actually throwing up, rather then just water.

I rub her back and tell her she is going to be okay, but I don't actually know that. I am worried about her, and I realize now, only her. The child she is caring is a gift, but I will gladly let that child go for Katniss to make it safely out of here.

Maybe that's me finally realizing that Katniss is right; that the child deserves better then the world we are bringing it into, that I shouldn't be so worried about that child and more worried about Katniss and me. I know Katniss doesn't want the child anyway, and it seems to only be wearing her down. For the first time since I found out Katniss was pregnant, I wish she really wasn't. I wish more then anything that baby would be gone then Katniss could be stronger.

And just as that thought crosses my mind, I hear Katniss' voice and, as always, she shocks me.

"The baby…" Katniss' voice is soft and harsh.

"What?" I bend down closer to her.

"The baby…" Katniss grabs her stomach. "I hope its okay…"

I blink at her; completely in shock, realizing what Katniss' words mean. She loves that baby. She loves my baby. She wants it to be okay.

I suddenly feel guilty for my thoughts; ashamed. I don't deserve to be a father.

"The baby is okay. Strong…just like you," I tell her.

Katniss and I sit there for a few more minutes. Her, still on all fours; me, crouched down next to her rubbing her back. Finally, she flips over and practically falls into my lap. She looks exhausted and I pull her close to me. I want to keep her like this; safe.

"I have a plan," Beetee's voice breaks the silence that seems to surround us as all five of us try to recover.

"What?" I glance up at Beetee who is sitting hiring up the Cornucopia.

"I have a plan," Beetee repeats himself and stands. "We need to get off of this…but I have a plan."

No one seems to argue and we all follow Beetee off the Cornucopia. Katniss and I are last, and I practically need to carry her off by the end. She seems exhausted.