Burnt Around the Edges

Hunger Games Drabbles

By Danielle Cheri


Author's note: So this is the first of a drabble series I will be doing. My friend who read this said it seemed like there was a scene missing. So I hope this satisfies that missing scene. It takes place after Chapter Twenty-Eight.

I am requesting from you, dear readers, a little help. If there is anything from Promise I'm Worthy (before it or after it or something you think wasn't explained enough and deserves an extra scene) that you want me to write, let me know and I will do it as part of this series. Just send me a message. I have a couple already planned out. Those were the original ones I mentioned in my note to the Epilogue.

So I hope you like this and that it clears a bit up. Happy reading!


Burnt Around the Edges

Gale stretched out on Annie's bed. They had called everyone to tell them they were getting married. But now that the new had worn off a bit, he was starting to worry. Did she really want to marry him? Or did she just agree to it because she thought he expected it?

Annie closed the door as she walked through. She smiled nervously at him for a moment and then started changing into her pajamas.

He watched her dress silently. Then she climbed into bed with him and curled up into his side. He kissed her forehead. "Hello there, beautiful."

She smiled. "Hello, handsome."

They lay there for a while in silence. Gale ran his fingers down her spine and back up.

Annie looked up at him and smiled.

He kissed her.

"I still miss him." She said softly as she put her head back on his chest.

"I know."

"I think I always will."

"You will. And I may get a little jealous at times, but I think I can deal with it."

"You shouldn't have to deal with it." She rolled over away from him.

He rolled to his side and wrapped his arms around her. He whispered, "Don't leave me."

"I feel the pull, Gale. I feel him in the walls."

"Is that why you agreed to marry me? You said on the beach you weren't running away."

She sighed, "I don't know." She turned in his arms and looked at him. "I love you, Gale."

"And I love you. But we don't have to be married for you to move to District Two with me. We can call the whole thing off."

"I don't want to just exist anymore. That's what I'm doing. That's what I've been doing since I was pulled out of the arena. When I was with Finnick, I lived. Every time he went away, I went back to just existing. And then he died…" She rolled into him and wrapped her arms tightly around him. "You've help me start living again. Finnick would want us to be happy. He would want me to live. I've really let him down. But I didn't ever think anyone would be right for me like he was."

"There's no one like Finnick." Gale said softly as he rubbed her back.

"There's no one like you either." She kissed him. "I want to marry you. I don't just want to live with you. I'd like to be able to tell everyone that you're my husband and not just my friend." She kissed him again. "I love you, Gale. I love how you make me feel. I love how you are with my son. I just love you."

He rolled onto his back and pulled her with him. "You know what's great?"

She laughed softly. "What's great?"

"I'm getting a whole family, not just a wife."

She smiled and pressed a kiss to his lips. "Thank you for putting up with me. For agreeing to put up with me for the rest of your life."

He ran his fingers through her hair. "It's not putting up with you; it's loving you."

She kissed him again. "I love you."

He kissed her and ran his hands down her back and her sides. His hands rested on her hips. "I want to make love to you."

She smiled. "I want that too." She got up off the bed and hurried to the door.

"What are you doing?"

She turned the lock on the door. "Finn's asleep."

"Yes."

"Sometimes he sleepwalks."

"Ah."

"So, just in case…" She climbed back into the bed. She sat beside him and brushed her fingers over the side of his face.

He put his hand on top of hers and turned his head. He kissed her palm. "You're so beautiful."

She smiled and leaned over him. "So you don't need alcohol to get in the mood?"

He pulled her on top of him. "No need to drown everything out just because I can't have Katniss."

She grew serious. "Do you want Katniss?"

He shook his head. "No. I want you, Annie. Only you."

"I want you too." She sat back.

"But?"

"You know."

He was still for a while. He watched her. Her eyes changed from sensual to sad and then to dejected in the space of a few heartbeats. "He's not here. Not really."

"No, not really." She stretched out beside him. "Can you just hold me? Please."

He wrapped his arms around her from behind. They were silent and still for a long time. He thought she was asleep.

After a while she said softly, "I want to live, Gale."

"I know."

She rolled over in his arms. "I'm sorry for the back and forth. I'm still a little confused."

"I am too." He kissed her. "But I know that I love you."

"And I know I love you too." She wrapped her arms around him again. "Good night."

"Good night."

They both slowly drifted off to sleep.