Disclaimer: I don't own any characters or rights to the hunger games. But the plot is all mine. Enjoy.

Chapter 14: The Kids aren't Alright

"I'm not passive but aggressive Take note, it's not impressive
Empty your sadness, like you're dumping your purse On my bedroom floor
We put your curse in reverse And it's our time now if you want to to be More the war like the carnival bears set free And your love is anemic and I can't believe
That you couldn't see it coming from me" -fallout boy

KOV

I didn't talk to Peeta the next day. Nor the day after that. Hell, I don't think I checked my phone or even got out the bed unless I had to pee or vomit. Jo had come over not to long after he'd left and found me sobbing on the couch. If I'd been in my right, I'd I might have killed her. She'd set me up and done exactly what I asked her not to. She had promised.

Of course, deep down I knew she did the right thing, but I still thought my plan was better. I wanted the decision to ne mine and mine alone. Even though we both knew if it had been up to me, I wouldn't have said anything.

So, on the third day of looking and feeling like the walking dead they'd had enough. Jo came over again, but this time armed with an angry Annie Cresta. I was lectured for a full hour and a half on secrets destroying friendships and the importance of keeping myself healthy for the babies.

She also mentioned how this was my mess and I had to suck it up deal with it. They were right of course, id chosen this and now I had to deal with the consequences. but in order to do that I needed to pull Peeta from my mind, I didn't have time to be sad. I needed to just focus on the babies.

By nightfall I felt a little better, prim and the girls decided we would binge watch some mindless capital reality show and pig out on snacks.

It was during one of the breaks that the tiny piece of sanity I had left snapped.

(Capital news now)

"This just in celebrity drummer, Peeta Mellark, from the hit band D12 was spotted leaving a local bar in district 12 a few nights ago with a new woman on his arm. The two were followed from the bar to a nearby hotel where they were seen checking in. earlier this week we sadly reported on the passing of his father, long time baker…."

I drowned the rest of the story out unable to take my eyes off the grainy photos of Peeta and the blonde woman. She was all over him. Lip locked and hands groping. It was a clear indication on where the night had gone for them.

I felt the bile rising in my throat. I'd brought this on myself. I'd told him to forget about us and move on. I just wasn't prepared for it to hurt this bad.

*******M&B*******

The next morning, I woke to a text from Peeta asking if we could meet up. A large jealous part of me wanted to ignore him.

He probably saw the same media story we did and wanted to explain. Or not, maybe he just wanted to continue our last conversation. Neither one of those options were appealing to me. but instead I told him I would, just as long as it was out of the public eye. I refused to be the next juicy story attached to his name.

He agreed and told me we could meet at Mellark's Bakery since it was closed until they decided who would take over.

So, I reluctantly got up and showered, dressing in my most comfortable leggings and a long-sleeved green shirt. I slide my feet in my cute flats Jo bought me from the capital and forgo my hoodie today. No point in hiding my stomach now.

Mellark's is about 10 minutes away and I'm thankful for the short drive to get myself together. Once I pull into the lot and climb out, I see Peeta's empty car and notice he's already inside.

"Hey" his voice startles me and look to see him standing in the doorway. The smell of fresh bread and pastries assaults my nose and makes my mouth water. I step around Peeta and stand awkwardly at the wall.

Peeta walks toward a booth along the wall away from the windows and gestures for me to sit. I slide opposite him and stare and the wood table. There a basket of cheese buns and a plate of assorted slices of bread.

My mouth waters again and I receive a hard kick to the left side of my stomach. I rub my belly wondering if their hungry or just reacting to their father being near.

"comfy?" he asks breaking the silence.

I nod. The seats are comfortable, and the table is at just the right height where its not pressing against my belly.

"I was thinking maybe we should talk. You know clear the air" he says pushing the basket of cheese buns toward me. I nod again picking up the warm bun "thank you".

"no problem think of it as a peace offering" he smiles. I try and smile back but I'm sure it comes off as a grimace.

"why would you need a peace offering?" I ask. If anybody needed to make amends it was me.

He sighs tearing at a slice of bread.

"I don't want this conversation to end up as a fight. So, I'll start by apologizing for the way I reacted. I was dealing with a lot and then you shocked me, and I was so angry you kept something so big from me. but if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a couple questions"

I nod and he smiles continuing on. "um, how far along are you? Do you know the genders?"

I breath a sign of relief. I can handle those questions.

"I'm 6 months along and it's a girl and a boy". I answer as I take out the recent ultrasound pics I carry around and slide them across the table.

Peeta's face lights up and its heart breaking to see. He should have been there for them, to see them in person and hear their heart beats.

"and their healthy?" he asks, never taking his eyes from the scans. "yeah, Dr. Williams says everything looks great".

Peeta nods wiping his watering eyes "Katniss, I need to be here for them. Please don't shut me out anymore. I can't go back on tour and pretend I don't responsibilities here. I want to be a father to my children".

What the hell. What am I supposed to say to that?

"Peeta please stop" I whisper.

"This is exactly why I didn't tell you. You can't just drop everything and be here. You signed a contract; they're not just going to let you walk away from that. You have obligations".

"I can get a lawyer. They'll look it over, find a loophole. I want to be here; I've missed to much already" he pleads.

"Peeta, what about the band? Are you just going to abandon the guys? You've worked so hard to get where you are. Don't give that up. I won't shut you out, I'll send pictures and you can visit them when you can".

This isn't what he wants, I can tell by his clenched jaw. "So, were just going to do what you want again?"

"Don't be childish Peeta, think logically. You signed an airtight contract. You have to play their game, at least for a little while."

For some reason that pissed him off even more. "I would have never signed the damn thing had you told me you were pregnant from the beginning".

I push my half-eaten cheese bun away and turn to leave. This is going nowhere and one of us needs to stop it before it gets ugly.

"Fuck! Katniss wait, please" Peeta calls. I stop with my hand on the door and turn expectantly.

"Please just come sit again, we need to talk about this. I'm sorry" he pleads.

I don't answer him, but I do head back to the booth.

"Thank you" he says as I sit resting my hands on my stomach. "I don't want to fight with you Katniss. God you're the last person I want to be fighting with. I just want you to understand where I'm coming from".

"I do Peeta, and I'm trying to work with you. I told you I won't shut you out anymore".

His boyish grin returns, and my heart skips a beat. No. if I do this, I can't let myself fall for him again. Were co parents and besides he's got a girlfriend or girlfriends who the hell knows.

"well if that's it…" I trail off. Better to cut this short, before things get awkward.

"Oh well I was kind of hoping you'd meet me one last place. Just an hour tops. I told my brothers about me becoming a father and one of them is a doctor. He said if we stop by today, he'd do a 4d ultrasound for us".

Fuck, I'd forgotten about Wheaton.

A/N: hey guys! me again! hope you're still enjoying the story. let me know what you think.