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 16

KATNISS POV

Nightfall came to early and before I knew it, Peeta and I were following Beetee, Johanna, and Finnick off of the beach and into the woods, toward the large tree.

The hike to the tree is not an easy one and Peeta is constantly turning to make sure I am okay. Given the circumstances, I am as good as can be expected. I am tried, dehydrated, and worried, but still on guard. I know the Careers could be anywhere.

When we reach the tree Peeta helps me ease down onto a rock to catch my breath. Without realizing it, or maybe he does, his hands gently slips down to my flat stomach like it did on the beach.

"We will get out of here as soon as we can," Peeta assures me.

I give him a small smile, letting him know I trust him, though I am still on guard.

"Alright. Excellent. We should begin soon," Beetee says, fixing his glasses as he eyes up the large tree.

"What do we need to do?" Finnick asks.

"We will need to get the wire to the water…and tie it to this tree. The biggest thing is to keep me alive until midnight," Beetee says.

"Fair enough," Peeta nods.

"Good…so why don't the girls take the wire to the water and you two can protect me," Beetee points to Finnick and Peeta.

Immediately, my heart sinks. Beetee is trying to separate Peeta and I and I have a gut feeling I know why. The group doesn't want Peeta and I together because it will be easier to take us out if we are separate. They must think of us as dangerous as together and they are right, but I am not leaving Peeta.

"Peeta and I can take it," I say quickly, trying to keep Peeta close to me.

"Yeah, we can take it," Peeta agrees, as I stand and he wraps his arm around my waist. "Finnick can protect you just fine."

"No…no I need both of you," Beetee insists.

"What's the difference? Then let Johanna stay here," I say quickly.

"Look, this is the plan. You agreed to it," Beetee says quickly. "Is that a problem?"

"Yeah, we all agreed," Johanna says quickly, pointing at us with her axe.

I look desperately at Peeta who I am surprised to see looking at Finnick rather then me. I watch Finnick give Peeta a small nod that confuses me. I look back to Peeta and am shocked to see a certain look on his face. I know the look so well; it is the same look that Peeta gives me when he is about to give into my wants.

"Okay, he's right," Peeta looks at me with sad eyes. "We did agree."

I am shocked to see Peeta agreeing with Finnick and want to object when Finnick cuts in.

"Katniss? Do you have a problem?" Finnick asks.

I glance at Finnick to see a certain expression that I cannot understand. If he is trying to intimidate me, it isn't working, yet I know that if I continue to fight with them it could cost Peeta and I our lives. If we become too much work they might attack us here, and so I clear my throat.

"No. No problem," I hear myself say.

"Excellent," Beetee hands me the role of wire. "Get this in the water and then meet us back here. We want to be as far away from this tree as we can be before midnight."

Peeta steps back toward me and cups my cheeks in his hand. "I'll be waiting for you."

I lean in and kiss him, and this time the same feeling from the beach creeps up into me, mixed with slight desperation. I don't want to be separated from Peeta; I can't be. I hold him close to me, our lips on one another until both of us need to breath.

When we break apart I can see hesitation in Peeta's eyes as his lock with mine. His hand drops to my stomach. "Please stay safe."

"I'll—" I start and then my eyes drift down to his hand on my stomach and I realize I can make my words so much more impactful, but this time, not for the audience, but rather for Peeta. In case, even though I don't want to think about it, in case something happens. He needs to hear this. "We will see you at midnight."

Peeta gives me a small smile and rubs a tiny circle on my stomach acknowledging that he understands my words and the meaning behind them.

I lean in and kiss him one more time before Johanna clears her throat and leads me off down the hill. I turn back for the first few steps as we descend the hill, my eyes locked on Peeta until I can no longer see him.

PEETA POV

I watch Katniss walk down the hill, out of sight and it takes every ounce of strength to not chase after her. I know she is as safe as she can be with Johanna, and I know Johanna will protect her, but I don't like having her out of my sight.

I swallow hard when I know she is really out of reach.

"She will be okay. Johanna will take care of her…" Finnick says, grabbing the back of my neck with one hand and gently tapping my tracker in my arm with his finger, so softly the cameras probably don't catch it. I know what this means; this means this is really it. Johanna will cut out Katniss' tracker and we won't have to wait long until the rebels, assuming we all live, rescue us.

"I just don't like her being out of my sight. I don't like being separated from her," I admit the truth.

"I know but…its only temporary. You will be with her in no time," Finnick reminds me, patting my shoulder.

I nod. It's all I can do. I just hope he is right because I will be on edge until I can wrap my arms around her again.

"We should help Beetee," Finnick say after a long moment.

I nod again because I know the faster we can get the wire tied around the tree the faster I can get to Katniss and feel better about this entire thing.

As the three of us work the wire around the tree I realize that this is it. If all goes according to plan, we will all be safe and out of the arena within the hour. If all goes according to plan, Katniss and I may actually get a real chance at being parents. It is a bizarre concept, but one that I find oddly comforting. Katniss may not really love me, but if at the end of all of this I get to see her happy and maybe, have a connection with her through this child, well that is all I could ever want and I can only hope I get to see it.

KATNISS POV

I cannot see Peeta any longer and so I turn my head and focus on following Johanna down the hill. I am pulling the wire behind us, adding more distance between Peeta and I and I hate it. I am confused about my feelings for him, but one thing is certain, if something happens to him and I am not at his side, and I can't help me, I won't survive. I need him like I need the air around me. He helps me survive, and I help him.

"Come on…I want to get away from the water as fast as we can," Johanna speaks up.

I realize I am walking slow and pick up my pace. "Sorry…"

Johanna says nothing but instead continues walking.

I take a few more steps when I hear a woosh and the wire I have been rolling out comes flying back at Johanna and I, nearly hitting Johanna in the back of the head.

"What the—" Johanna starts when she realizes the same thing I realize. Someone has cut the wire.

That's when we hear them, long before we see them. Enobaria and Brutus are above us on the hill, though in the dark they do not see us yet.

"Here! Quick!" Johanna pulls me down into a riven.

"We need to get back to Peet—" I start to whisper when I suddenly feel something collide with my head. My sigh goes fuzzy as I slump to the ground. I am then rolled over and Johanna is on top of me, covering my mouth.

I struggle against her, but I can hardly see her, my head throbbing. I can't think straight, but I know this is probably it. Johanna is on top of me and ready to kill me. This is how I die, a victim of the alliance.

Johanna's knee digs slightly into my stomach and causes a knee-jerk reaction. I remember the baby. She isn't just killing me, she is killing the innocent child Peeta and I have brought along for the ride; she is killing the life that cannot protect itself, the life I should protect.

"Stop moving!" Johanna whispers harshly.

For a second I listen, mostly because she still hasn't tired to kill me and because I can hear Brutus and Enobaria over us. They have not seen us, and Johanna is keeping so still that assuming I don't move, they will never find us.

Once they move past us, Johanna grabs my wrist and I resume my struggle. I won't die like this.

And then I feel it; Johanna digs into my arm with something sharp. I gasp in pain; it is excruciating and I feel my eyes roll back into my head.

"Shut up!" Johanna hisses as I realize I am screaming.

I am so confused as she continues to cover my mouth with her hand and then I hear Enobaria and Brutus coming back for us.

"Shut up and stay down!" Johanna orders before sticking her head up and throwing her axe at Brutus and Enobaria.

And then Johanna takes off as Enobaria and Brutus chase after her, leaving me alone in the hole.

A cannon goes off and I roll over; my vision is still blurry as I get to my feet and the blood drips from my open wrist, but I don't care. That cannon means one thing, Peeta could be in trouble.

"Peeta!" I scream, not thinking or caring as I stumble back in the direction of the tree. I have to get to Peeta. I have to warn him that this has been a set up. I have to make sure he is still alive.

PEETA POV

Finnick and I have just finished pulling the wire around the tree when it comes snapping back at us.

It takes me a second to realize what this means, and when I do, I panic.

"Someone cut the wire," I mumble at first.

"What?" Finnick hasn't caught on to what has just happened.

"Someone cut the wire!" I scream now, pulling the broken wire up to my face. This is not good, this means Katniss is in danger.

Finnick seems to register what I am saying and then his eyes go wide. He knows what I am going to do next and I can't imagine he is going to try and stop me. I doubt he could. I am a man on a mission.

"Katniss…" I whisper her name.

The cannon goes off, and I take off into the woods, sprinting. I go in the direction Katniss was last seen, praying with each step that the cannon wasn't for her; wasn't for our baby.

I cut through the weeds and vines, not caring if anyone sees me when I hear her voice.

"Peeta!" Katniss' voice is to my left and seems panicked, but at least I know she is alive.

I turn in the direction of her voice, though it seems to be getting further away. I don't dare to call back out to her, I don't want to drawer attention to her I just need to find her.

"Peeta, stop!" Finnick's voice is behind me.

I know Finnick is only finding me out of concern but I am not going to stop for him. I have one thought on my mind and it is Katniss. I need to find her.

I continue running and soon enough I realize Finnick has given up on me. He is no longer chasing me; so much for an alliance. I don't care though, as long as I can get to Katniss and the baby I could care less about any alliance right now.

KATNISS POV

I am sprinting back to the three though my view is fuzzy. I can feel the blood dripping down my arm and I know I am stumbling more then running, but I just need to get to Peeta. Protectively, instinctively, my good hand finds its way to my stomach and I focus on the life inside of their, the life that is half Peeta, the life that I know means the world to me now, especially if something happened to Peeta.

As I move through the forest, I hear someone coming up. I crouch down, hoping its Peeta but instead its Finnick.

"Johanna? Johanna, where are you?" Finnick whispers.

Rage fills my blurry mind. Finnick and a Johanna are on the same team; Johanna attacked me which means Finnick could have attacked Peeta. I am cautious and don't move until Finnick has passed, then I begin my trip back to the tree.

Soon enough I stumble back to the tree, and am shocked to find Beetee on the ground.

"Beetee?" I move toward him. He is breathing but unconscious. I wonder if Finnick did this, or worse, am worried what he did to Peeta.

I quickly scan around the tree for Peeta but do not find him.

"Peeta?" I call out again, my voice hardly above a whisper.

And then suddenly I hear someone coming. I crouch on the side of the tree, near Beetee and pull my bow out. If it's not Peeta, I won't be caught off guard.

"Katniss?" Finnick whispers as he comes into view. He seems me and stops, putting his hands up in the air in surrender.

"Where is Peeta?" I ask.

"I…I don't know," Finnick says, cautiously taking a step toward me.

I straighten up, pulling the arrow tighter against my bow as the blood drips from my damage wrist.

"What did you do to him?" I ask, or rather growl. I have never heard myself so fierce.

"Nothing. I didn't do anything…" Finnick says.

He seems genuine but he must be lying. Johanna seemed genuine too, until she cut my arm open.

Finnick must be able to tell that I am not buying his lines because he puts his hands higher. "Katniss, remember who the real enemy is…"

I suddenly remember those words. Haymitch said them to me before we left. How would Finnick have known them unless Haymitch trusted him?

Lightening cracks above us.

"Katniss! Get away from the tree!" Finnick orders, his voice nearly a shrill.

But I don't listen to him. Something clicks and it is not only to trust Finnick but to destroy snow. I grab the wire attached to the tree and attach it to me arrow.

"Katniss! No!" Finnick seems to understand what I am doing a second to late.

The lightening cracks, I let the arrow fly, and suddenly, I feel myself being blown to the side as the arena seems to crash down around me. Everything seems like a blur and I can hardly hear anything as I lay on the fiery forest floor, wondering if this is how my life will end, wondering if Peeta will survive without me and the baby, wondering how I ever deserved him in the first place.

PEETA POV

I am sprinting toward the sound of Katniss' voice, though I don't hear it any longer. However, I do hear someone behind me. I turn quickly on my heel, ready to attack, but immediately lower the machete I am welding when Johanna Mason comes into view.

"Johanna? Where is Katniss?" I panic.

Johanna seems out of breath. "I left her in a ditch…Enobaria…Brutus…they were chasing us…I hid her…"

Johanna is taking deep breaths, trying to get out what she needs to.

"I heard a cannon…" I say desperately.

Johanna nods and points to her wrist. That is when I see the blood on Johanna's hands and I realize what Johanna is saying. The cannon was for Katniss, but not because Katniss is dead, but because Johanna cut Katniss' tracker out. Katniss is safe. Johanna has stuck to her word.

"We need to find Katniss…" I say quickly and desperately.

Johanna nods and leads me to the place where she left Katniss. We both know we are running out of time. It's only a matter of minutes before the Capitol realizes what is going on.

Suddenly Johanna stops, looking at a ditch that I can easily see if covered in blood.

"What? What is it?" I panic. I feel like I already know the answer and I don't want to.

"I…I left her here!" Johanna jumps in the ditch.

"Where did she go?" I spin around, looking at the ground, looking for any clue.

"Blood! There!" Johanna points in the direction back up the hill and I can see the earth is moved. Katniss must have crawled out of the ditch.

"She is heading back to the tree!" I say.

Within seconds, Johanna and I are running full speed back in the direction of the tree, in the direction I know Katniss went in. I need to get to her. I need to know she is okay.

And that's when I hear it; a huge boom. It happens the same time the lightening crashes down. It shakes the earth; the sky lights up across the dome of the arena and Johanna and I are blasted backwards into some trees by the sheer force of the explosion.

I lay on the ground for a little, my ears are ringing and it takes me a moment to register that I am even still breathing. I don't know what happened, but I feel like I can't move, like I am numb.

I try to get up; I need to find Katniss. I need to know she is safe.

I think I am yelling Katniss' name but I can't hear it, everything is fuzzy, my hearing seems distorted as well as my vision. I twist my head to see Johanna a few yards from me looking just as confused.

I manage to get up onto my hands and knees and I try to crawl to my ally when suddenly the light from the real sun, the one shining through as the arena crumbs, is blocked.

Johanna and I both look up and find a Capitol Hovercraft coming closer, nearly on top of us, a claw out, ready to pick us both up, and suddenly I feel like all of our work was for nothing. This was certainly never part of the plan.