Fate

Chapter 12

Katniss P.O.V.

"I'm ready to go back home," I tell Peeta as he sits down beside of me on the bed.

"We've been here five minutes," Peeta says with a laugh.

"We've been in the Capitol for five minutes,"I correct him. "We were on the train the rest of the day."

"Well be back home before you know it,"he tells me.

"That's not soon enough," I say as I get up off the bed.

"Where are you going?" Peeta asks me.

"To get ready for bed," I reply. "It's getting late." Peeta nods his head, and I grab some clothes before heading into the bathroom.

As I'm getting ready, I feel a little, fluttering sensation that goes across my stomach. A bolt of fear goes through ne, and I grip the counter top.

"Peeta!" I holler. "Peeta!" The door comes flying open, and Peeta races over to me.

"What's wrong?" Peeta asks me quickly. I look up at Peeta to see that his eyes are wide with worry. "Katniss, what happened?"

"I don't know," I say as tears fall down my cheeks. "I… I felt something…" I start breathing hard, and Peeta picks me up and sits me down on the counter by the sink.

"Katniss, calm down," Peeta says as he lays a hand on my stomach. It happens again, and I look at Peeta.

"Did you feel that?" I ask him.

He gives me a look. "Feel what?"

I take a deep breath. "It's a… soft, fluttering feeling going across my stomach."

"Does it hurt?" Peeta asks, his voice flooded with concern.

"No," I assure as I shake my head.

Peeta lets out a sigh of relief. "Katniss, I think the baby's just kicking." He says this as though it's supposed to settle my fear, but it doesn't. It makes it worse. Sobs wrack my body, and Peeta pulls me close to him.

"Katniss, it's okay," he says softly in my ear. "It's a good thing that the baby's moving."

"I know," I say. "But I'm terrified." Peeta's hands start rubbing my back, trying to relax my tense muscles.

"We've talked about this, Katniss."

I shake my head. "I know you keep saying that the baby will be okay," I tell him. "But how are you going to protect this baby from me?"

"Why on earth would I need to do that?"

"Because I have no clue how to be a mother. What if I accidentally hurt the baby?"

"Trust me, Katniss," Peeta says as he takes both of my hands in his. "You're not going to hurt the baby."

"Not intentionally," I say truthfully. "But what if I make a mistake?"

"Listen to me," Peeta says softly. "We are both going to make mistakes, Katniss. We're not perfect. But the baby will be fine. You might not think you're ready to be a mother, but I know that when the times comes, you will be a great other. Actually, you've already proven to be a great mother.

I sniff a little. "How?" I ask him.

"Because you're already worried about the baby, and what's best for him or her. You have nothing to worry about."

"There's a lot to worry about, Peeta."

"No there's not." I open my mouth to say something else, but Peea leans forward and gives me a slow kiss. "You know thatI love you?" Peeta asks as he pulls back. I nod my head. "And you know that I love our baby?" Another nod. "And I know you love me and our baby. And I also know that both of us will do anything to protect each other," he stops and rests his hand back on my stomach, "and our little blessing."