Katniss's POV
For the next couple of months we get on with training, the three of us working together. I'm sure Haymitch can sense something is up but he doesn't press on the matter, probably just assumes its me worrying about having to go back into the arena. Little does he know I have a much bigger secret to hide.
I have started to show slightly but not enough to be recognised, especially with the baggy clothes I've been wearing. Peeta and I have spoken about telling Haymitch and Effie about the baby but with the reaping only a day away we've decided that we should tell them after it happens... I dont need the freaking out over the games and I certainly want the last few days I have to be spent training. It's not as if there is anything they could do to help me. But that's fine. This time its my choice and Peeta will be the one to come out of that arena alive. I need to be ready to fight for his life... I just need to find a way to make sure he has something to come back to.
The months spent training have allowed us to all to improve immensely. Haymitch has not only shown Peeta how to fight and throw knives, but I dare say he could give Haymitch a run for his money, especially with Peeta's strength behind him too.
Haymitch has been trying to get me to be more violent so that I would be able to fight someone if it came to it over a bow. He keeps putting me against Peeta and trying to get him to fight with me but Peeta is a lot more apprehensive knowing my condition whereas Haymitch just thinks he's being soft. I know I could do it if it did come to it in the arena especially if it was the difference between saving Peeta and not.
I'm brought out of my thoughts by a bottle flying at my head, "OW!" I shout grabbing my forehead where it hits me.
"Oh welcome back to Panem sweetheart," Haymitch says sarcastically.
"Sorry where were we?" I say in reply.
"Never mind there's not much more we can do now ..." I go to interrupt him as any time training could be vital but he stops me, "If we aren't ready now we probably never will be and besides Cinna should be here soon for you."
"Why is Cinna coming? It's only a reaping?" Peeta says asking the same think I was thinking.
"Because you two are victors now. Any time you go infront of the camera then your stylists will be there to dress you," Haymitch answers, "Now go on you two. I need a good drink."
I roll my eyes at Haymitch's comment but he just smirks in reply so I take Peeta's hand and we head upstairs to leave. "You ok?"
"Hmm? Yeah I'm fine," I reply still wondering what I can do for Peeta so that he has something to come back to after the quell. What if there was a way be could come back with the baby.
He squeezes my hand, "Good. Don't want you worrying yourself over tomorrow."
"I'm more worried about you. What if you end up in the arena with me? I can't let you choose my own life over yours and what if its Haymitch? I can't make him..."
Peeta turns so he is stood infront of me and places his hands on my shoulders, "Hey don't you worry about any of that. You know you and that little one mean the world to me and I just want you two safe and if it means that I can't be with you then that's just how it has to be." He smiles at me as if waiting for me to agree with him that he should die. Does he seriously think I can ever agree to that? I just try to change the subject instead.
"I love you Peeta Mellark," I say giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"I love you too Katniss almost Mellark," he says with a wink. I roll my hands and place my hand back in his as we leave Haymitch's house and head back to our own.
"Peeta?" I say causing him to turn towards me, "I want to do the toasting."
He stops still where we are, "You do?"
I nod, "We wouldn't feel married if we didn't do it so why not do it in place of it?" A smile spreads across his face as I speak, "This stupid quell has already ruined everything so why can't we at least go in to it having done it? And then that way in a sense we already are married, at least in our eyes if in no one else's."
Peeta lifts me up spinning me around before kissing me passionately as he puts me down, "Sounds perfect Katniss," he says with he big goofy smile that makes me blush.
I push his shoulder in jest, "OK then you soppy sod we better go. Cinna and Portia will be here soon."
"Tonight then?" He says.
I kiss him again only more tenderly this time, "Tonight."
We walk hand in hand through victors village to see two figures walking towards us, one of them with their arm wrapped around the other, "Peeta is that?"
"You know what I think it is..."
"Cinna and Portia. Did you know they were..?"
"No I had no idea. Did Cinna never say anything to you?"
"Not a word. Although, they look quite sweet together." Both of them are happy and smiling as they walk towards us. I'm happy for them both, they deserve each other. "Well hello stranger," I say to Cinna as he walks over to me arms outstretched.
"Katniss its good to see you again," he says squeezing me tight but when he pulls away slowly looking down at my stomach and then back up to me he gives me an inquisitive look. He must have noticed my bump. Well I guess its not like I would have been able to hide it from him anyway.
I nod slightly and mouth my reply to him, "Not here," you don't know who is listening and the Capitol has eyes everywhere.
He places his arm over my shoulder and turns to walk towards the house, "Are you ready to work?" He asks and I nod , "Sell let's get started."
I walk with him and turn back to Peeta and mouth goodbye to him but he just laughs and waves, he probably knows I have a lot of explaining to do and heads off to his own house with Portia.
"So then Katniss how have things been here in twelve?" Cinna says trying to make small talk even though he has a burning question to ask.
"Oh you know, not to bad apart from the almost certain death on the horizon its pretty good."
"Ah yes these quells are tricky things. You and Peeta both seem well though and that is the main thing," Cinna says as we walk through the door to my house and Prim appears through the kitchen.
"Katniss ..." She goes on to say but notices Cinna so stops herself.
"Hello little duck." Cinna says to her as she runs up and hugs him. He is one of the only people she likes calling him that, besides me of course. "How's our little nurse doing? Keeping busy with lots of patients I hope."
"Oh yes I absolutely love it!" Prim exclaims. Cinna has really become one of the family since I returned after the games, almost like an older brother to Prim and I as he is always there for us.
"Good my dear. Now Katniss let's get started I need you measured and checked so I can have you ready for tomorrow." He says guesturing towards the stairs.
"Yay," I say sarcastically causing both Cinna and Prim to roll their eyes at me, even though neither of them are prepared for the prospect that tomorrow brings either.
I head up the stairs leading the way for Cinna and head to my own room shutting the door behind us so that we can talk in peace. I notice his bag is already laid out on my bed, "We arrived earlier this morning and saw your mother out in the district who insisted we bring our bags back here so we could have a proper walk around the districts as she put it."
"She's a sneaky thing sometimes," I say as he starts to pull out his measuring tape, "I'm sure it was nice for you and Portia to spend some time together, although I am sorry I wasn't here when you arrived."
"Yes it was. Where were you if you don't mind me asking?"
"Since the quell was announced Haymitch, Peeta and I decided to get some training in so that we were more prepared for it. I think I escaped more on wits last year so I needed to do something as this year was going to be different." I say dropping a hand to my little bump.
"Speaking of little one are we hiding or are we showing?"
"Hiding for now, only you, Prim and Peeta know. I didn't want anyone to freak out about my going in to the arena pregnant when I know for a fact that it won't change the games.
"How far along are you?" He says placing his hand on my bump
"About four months I think it is now, maybe a little closer to five." I feel a little kick against Cinna's hand and look up at him, "Did you feel that?" He nods and places his other hand on the other side of my bump only for that one to be kicked too. I can't help but smile as it is the first time I've felt a kick. "That's the first time I've felt her do that."
"Well I am honoured, but I'm afraid you'll have to let me measure you're mummy for two minutes little one then I'll leave you alone," Cinna says as he wraps the tape over my stomach to measure me, "OK well its not too drastic as you are just a little thing your bump isn't too big for now just get you in some looser clothes maybe or unfortunately a few dresses as it will be easier to cover this little tinker."
"The things I have to do for a secret eyy Cinna?"
He chuckles at my comment, "I don't have a clue what you're on about," he answers sarcastically. "Well Katniss it's good to know you're well but I better go get started. Why don't you go over to Peeta's as I'm sure he'll be wanting to feel this little tinker kick and if you don't mind send Portia over? We need to work on our ideas for the chariots."
"Ooh will I be as amazing as last year?"
He answers almost with a smirk, "Better."
***
Next instalment complete :)
So I was wondering do you guys prefer lots of smaller chapters or fewer longer chapters?
-Alannah xxx