Chapter Twelve

The Next Day

I wake bright and early the next morning, hoping to go hunting before school. I dress quietly so I don't wake mother and Prim and, once I leave the house, I quicken my pace so I arrive at the woods quicker, meaning I will have extra hunting time.

However, as I turn into the meadow, I am surprised to find Peeta Mellark sitting at the fence. I immediately wonder why he is here, my first thought being that he has come to tell me he has changed his mind, and that he doesn't want anything to do with the baby.

"Hi," Peeta says, standing up once he notices me walking towards him.

I swallow hard and force a tight smile. "Hi."

"I'm sorry if I am intruding," Peeta says. "I can leave if you want."

"No. It's fine. Do you want to come?" I ask, tipping my head towards the forest behind the fence.

"I..." He trails off. "Sure." I lead the way, ducking under the electric fence before waiting for Peeta as he copies the action. "How did you know the fence wasn't on?" he asks.

"It never is. The Capitol doesn't like to waste its precious money on us. It's a good thing though. If it were on, I wouldn't be able to hunt," I admit.

"That would be a pity. District Twelve enjoys your meat. My father and I especially enjoy your squirrels," he tells me. "Are you sure you don't mind me intruding on your hunting time?"

"Just be quiet on your feet," I answer.

"I'll try my best."

We walk in silence for a while and, despite not speaking, the animals run away to hide, Peeta's loud tread giving us away. Getting any game today is going to be a challenge.

I turn to Peeta as we walk deeper into the woods, curiosity getting the best of me. "Why are you awake so early, anyway?"

"It's a habit, I guess. Baker's always wake early."

"Oh. Well, why did you come here?" I question.

"I figured we should talk. There are many things we need to discuss."

"I thought you were coming to tell me you had changed your mind, that you didn't want anything to do with the baby," I admit. I realise how weak I must sound, so I turn away and collect my bow and sheath of arrows from the inside of a log.

"I wouldn't do that, Katniss. I don't think the next few months are going to be easy, but I think, as a team, we will get through it."

I don't reply, because I have no idea what to say. I never thought of Peeta Mellark and I as a team. I guess that's because I never felt the need to. Until now. We are in this together. It's strange. I haven't really thought about the boy over the years. However, I realise, ever since he saved my life after father died, I have secretly kept tabs on him. You don't forget the person who made it possible for you to be here today.

I have noticed the way he sometimes looks at me in school, how he sketches discreetly in class, and how he is nice to every single person in District 12. I went to the wrestling championship held at school, and witnessed Peeta coming 2nd place, after his older brother. I have noticed him at the bakery, carrying heavy bags of flour over his shoulders like they weigh nothing. I may not have thought about Peeta much before, but I definitely noticed him.

"Are you going to continue to hunt even when you are..." Peeta trails off, not knowing how to finish the question.

"Even when I am fat?" I finish for him. "Hunting is the only way to feed my family. I will continue to do it until the later stages in the pregnancy, but then I will have no choice but to stop."

It feels strange to say that aloud. It feels strange knowing that a baby is growing inside of me. It feels strange to think that soon my stomach will be large and round, and I will not be able to fit under the fence. It's strange to think that there were two tiny babies inside my stomach, but now only one remains.

Peeta pulls me out of my thoughts when he speaks again. "I will help you with food and with anything else you may need," Peeta says.

"I can't accept that."

"Why not? You're carrying my child, Katniss. I'm going to do everything I can to help you. You can't stop me from doing that," Peeta replies, his voice firm. I look at him, really look at him, and I realise just how good of a person he is.

"Okay," I say, noting for the first time how stubborn he is.

After a while, I accept that with Peeta at my side I won't be able to catch any game. Instead, I settle for collecting berries and herbs that surround us.

"Do you have any idea what you are doing?" Peeta asks.

"Of course. The berries are safe around this part of the forest but-"

Peeta cuts me off. "No. I mean, do you have any idea how to be a parent?"

"Oh. Well, I guess I practically raised Prim. After my father died, my mother became depressed, and I had no choice but to look after Prim. We nearly starved to death, but we didn't, because of you."

"I didn't realise how bad the situation was. If I had known-"

This time I cut him off. "You were just a kid yourself, Peeta. You did enough. You saved us, and I never even thanked you for itt. I will owe you forever."

"You don't owe me anything, Katniss. Anyone would have helped," he says.

"You know that's not true. If anyone would have helped, you wouldn't have had to help me." I realise how deep this conversation is becoming and, as a person who likes to avoid deep conversations, I quickly change the subject. "Anyway, I know some things about being a parent. But I guess you never know what it's really like until you have a child of your own."

"I guess you're right. We will figure it out together. But where are you going to live?" Peeta asks.

"I'll continue to live with my mother and Prim. I don't really have a choice. Our home is small anyway, but I think we will manage," I reply.

"We could get a house," Peeta suggests.

"We?"

"Yes. That way we can raise the baby together and I will be able to help out more. It wouldn't be fair to you if you would have to wake through the nights. Besides, I don't want to miss something special happening."

"We can't afford that kind of money, Peeta."

"We could live in the Seam. Houses there are a lot cheaper, right? I'll save up my money from working at the bakery and-"

"It still won't be enough. We will need to furnish the house and buy stuff for the baby. We will never have enough money for all of that," I insist.

"We could," Peeta says, stopping abruptly as an idea comes to mind.

"What? Peeta, there is no way."

"There is, Katniss. There is a way."

I stare at him with narrowed eyes, trying to figure out what he is thinking. I think of every scenario, but each thought is a complete failure. We will never be able to afford a house. You can get assigned a house in the Seam, but that is only when...

My eyes widen as I figure out what he is thinking, and I already know what he is going to say before the words even spill from his mouth.

"We could get married."