No Games Left to Play

4: An Opening and a Question

It's been a couple of weeks since Peeta and I consummated our relationship. It's weird, but being intimate with him made our relationship so much stronger. Peeta's been watching me like hawk. I know he's waiting to see if I'm pregnant. But I'm not, I got my period a few days ago. I can't tell him not to worry because I don't want to break his heart.

Today is the grand opening of the new Mellark Bakery. Peeta's making breakfast while I'm taking a shower. Normally after breakfast I'd be going to the woods to hunt and check my traps, but today I want to be there for Peeta. It's going to be a hard but thrilling day for him. Once I'm out of the shower, I wrap myself in a towel, and head to the closet to pick out an outfit. I can't decide what I want to wear. The whole district is going to be there and some cameras so I feel like I have to be presentable, like during the victory tour. If only Cinna were still here to dress me. It would make this so much easier.

"Hey Peeta!" I call for him from the doorway of the bedroom and he comes running.

"What is it, Katniss? What's wrong?"

"Mhmm, you smell delicious. What are you making?" I say flirtatiously.

"Katniss you scared me. What's going on?" he asks short of breath from panicking.

"Nothing's wrong. I just don't know what to wear to the opening. What do want me to wear?"

"Anything you want, Katniss. You look beautiful in anything." He says putting his hands on my hips. "Even that towel."

"Thanks, but that doesn't help." I say. "Can you pick something out for me please?"

"How about this?" he says holding up a dress I wore on the victory tour.

"Perfect. Thank you." I take it from him, give him a kiss, and head into the bathroom.

"Katniss?" Peeta says sitting on the bed.

"Yeah, Peeta?" I say through the door.

"Can I ask you something?" he asks.

"Yeah, shoot." I say walking out of the bathroom in the dress picked out for me.

"You know that thing we did a couple weeks ago?"

"Yes I do." I say seductively and sit next to him on the bed.

"Are you..." Peeta stutters, searching for his words just like in his quell interview when he told Caesar about the fake baby. "Are you— pregnant?"

"Awe, Peeta," I look down at my feet. "No, I'm not." I say with a disappointed look on my face, but the one Peeta has on his breaks my heart.

"Are you sure?" he asks hopefully.

"Yes," I say. "I got my period three days ago."

"Can I ask you something else?" he says.

"Yeah, go ahead."

I can tell this is hard for him.

"Do you want kids?" he's already looking down, expecting my answer. "You said that night that you didn't."

"No. I mean— I don't know." I rub my hand up and down his back. "I just don't think I can."

"I have to be honest."

"Uh oh." I say with a giggle, trying to lighten the mood.

"When you yelled for me, I thought you were calling me to tell me you were pregnant." he says with a frown.

"I'm sorry, Peeta."

He kisses me and gives me a hug.

"Breakfast is ready when you are finished getting ready."