AN: I'm sorry about the complications yesterday. I don't know what happened but you couldn't see the second chapter. It's fixed now anyway but sorry about that. Oh and thank you for all the reviews!
Chapter Three-Peeta
I don't know why I didn't think of something like this ever happening. How could I be so stupid to believe that son of a bitch? This is all I can think about as Katniss and I cling to eachother on our bed in our compartment. "H-he promised," Katniss sobs. This is so unlike her, she's never been so weak but I guess it's understandable if there's a big chance our child is going to die.
"I know," I whisper, tears falling down my cheeks.
"W-what are we going to do?" she asks.
"We do what we do every year; mentoring, except this time she'll come home," I reply and press my lips to her forehead.
"Promise?" she sobs and I sigh, knowing that I can't so that. "Please, promise me she'll be okay."
"I promise," I finally say but beating myself up for saying it as soon as it spills out of my mouth.
We lay there for about an hour before we hear knocks on the door. We don't even need to ask who it is, we'd recognise her knock from anywhere. "It's dinner time," Effie says, trying to sound bubbly but failing. I wipe my eyes as her footsteps get quieter and quieter.
"Come on," I whisper and stand up, pulling Katniss by the hand up with me.
"I'm not hungry," she whispers back and I huff loudly.
"Kat, I'm worrying enough about Hope as it is, I don't want to be worrying about you, too. Just eat something, anything, for me and the baby," I beg and she nods reluctantly.
I squeeze her hand and we walk into the dining room where Hope and Jack are already seated and eating along with Effie. Wait, Jack doesn't sound right. Jacob, Jake, John, Jesse, Jamie… Jesse, that's it. Katniss and I didn't even try to cover our puffy red eyes before leaving our room so I bet we don't look nice. Hope looks at us and then looks at the table and puts her head in her hands. Now I feel guilty. She is probably terrified and now she has to see her parents acting weak when we should be strong for her.
Katniss and I sit down next to eachother and we pick at our food. I look up from my plate when I hear a chair scrape against the floor. Hope glances at me and Katniss before running out of the room. I sigh and lean my head against the table. "Peeta!" Effie squeaks. I lift my head from the table, knowing it's bad manners and stand up.
"I'm going to go talk to her," I whisper. "Make sure you eat, Kat." With that I walk out of the room and to my daughter's compartment. I knock her door and walk in when I don't hear a reply.
The sight in front of me breaks my heart. Hope lays curled up on her side and sobbing into a pillow. I slowly walk towards her and rub the back of hand against her wet cheek. She opens her eyes. "Daddy," she whispers and this breaks me even more. I pull back the covers and slide into bed next to her. I put my arms around her and she leans her head on my shoulder. "Everything is going to be okay," I promise, holding back tears of my own.
"But what if it's not? W-what if I di-" I cut her off.
"You are not going to die, you hear me?" I say, trying not to get angry. Of course, I'm not angry at her but at Snow.
"B-but if I do," I press my finger to her lips, hushing her. Now I know how Katniss felt when I tried to talk to her about me dying in the cave. It's scary to think that was sixteen years ago.
"You are not going to die!" I yell and then burst into tears.
"I'm sorry," Hope whispers.
"It's not your fault," I reply and quickly wipe my tears.
"I'm going to kill Snow," a familiar voice says. I look up in the direction of the door and find Katniss, looking stronger and more determined then ever. "I know I said that fifteen years ago but this time I mean it," she adds.
I hold my arm out, gesturing for her to slide into bed next to me. She takes my hand and climbs over me and Hope. She puts her arms around Hope, who is in-between us and starts singing a song that she hasn't sung to her since she was a baby:
"Deep in the meadow, under the willow
A bed of grass, a soft green pillow
Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes
And when again they open, the sun will rise
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you.
Deep in the meadow, hidden far away
A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray
Forget your woes and let your troubles lay
And when again it's morning, they'll wash away
Here it's safe, here it's warm
Here the daisies guard you from every harm
Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true
Here is the place where I love you."
By the time she's finished Hope is asleep with the smallest hint of a smile on her face. I look over at Katniss and curl my lips slightly "You are amazing, you know that right?" I whisper.
"No, you are," she replies, and closes her eyes. I do the same and we fall asleep. The three of us hasn't slept together since Hope was about eight years old and she had nightmares like any other child. It's nice, being close to eachother like this but it's also sad; this could be the last time we snooze together.
Hope
I'm surprised to see that it's morning when I wake up with my parents arms still wrapped around me. I'd slept for more than twelve hours which I suppose is good because I need lot's of energy for training in a few days. I slowly untangle myself from my parent's arms, trying not to wake them. I grab some clothes out of the large wardrobe and take them into the bathroom.
I have had lots of showers on the trains to the Capitol but they still confuse me no matter how many times I use them. I run my fingers through my hair, taking it out of its usual braid and then walking under the hot rain. I wash my hair with strawberry shampoo and conditioner and use the same scent to wash my body. Once I finish I step onto the bathroom mat and the machines automatically get to work; drying my body and hair.
I throw the clothes on and then tiptoe out of the room and back into the bedroom. I sigh in relief when I see that my parents are still sleeping; they need just as much rest as I do. I have a feeling they won't be sleeping as peacefully as this when we arrive at the Capitol. I leave the room and head to the dining room. I'm surprised to find Jesse already there and eating. I grab a plate and pick some food and then sit down opposite him. "Good morning," he says and smiles.
I find myself returning the smile straight away, much to my surprise. "Morning," I reply and then we sit in silence, using our food as an excuse not to talk.
He eventually breaks the silence. "How are your parents?"
"I think they're feeling worse than I am," I reply. "What about yours? How were they before you left?"
He shrugs and I furrow my brow in confusion. "I don't know. I'm an orphan," he replies and stands up. I let him leave and I stare at the empty seat he'd been sitting in.
I suddenly want to know more about that boy but I don't think it would be right knowing that we'll be trying to kill eachother in a couple of days time. I finish my breakfast and walk into the empty TV room, wanting to watch a replay of the reapings. I switch the TV on and take a seat on the comfortable yellow couch. The screen comes alive and I start watching the reapings. A boy from District 2 is called Jeremy Sheeley and I wonder if he's the guy Haymitch wants me to team up with.
The reaping for District 4 comes on and my eyes widen when I hear the name of the male tribute. I'm older than him by a year, his parents are victors, he has blonde hair, green eyes and golden skin- just like his father. His name is Finnick Junior.
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