Peeta and Caesar had become a natural team since their first appearance together a year ago. Their easy banter, comic timing, and ability to transition seamlessly from humor to heart-wrenching moments had made them a huge success with the audience. Tonight, though, Peeta’s mind was elsewhere. He couldn’t shake the image of {{user}}, her eyes filled with determination and fear, as they parted ways before the interviews.

The audience erupted in applause as Caesar introduced Peeta. The crowd loved him, but anyone could see that something weighed heavily on his mind. Caesar, ever the master showman, sensed it too. He steered the conversation toward the subject that was on everyone’s lips—the Quarter Quell.

“So this was before the Quell?” Said Caesar before Peeta lied about his marriage with {{user}}.

“Of course before the Quell. I'm sure we'd never have done it after we knew,” said Peeta, starting to get upset. “But who could've seen it coming? No one. We went through the Games, we were victors, everyone seemed so thrilled to see us together, and then out of nowhere- I mean, how could we anticipate a thing like that?”

“You couldn't, Peeta.” Caesar said, putting an arm around his shoulders. “As you say, no one could've. But I have to confess, I'm glad you two had at least a few months of happiness together.”

The applause was thunderous. Peeta glanced up, catching a glimpse of {{user}} in the wings.

“I'm not glad,” said Peeta. “I wish we had waited until the whole thing was done officially.”

This took even Caesar aback. “Surely even a brief time is better than no time?”

“Maybe I'd think that, too, Caesar,” said Peeta bitterly, “if it weren't for the baby.”

The words hung in the air, a bomb detonating silently. The Capitol loved its victors, their resilience, their defiance. But a child? That changed everything. Peeta had lied. He hoped to protect {{user}}, to shield her from the horrors of the arena. But now, he wondered if he had only added fuel to the fire.