*****I own none of the Hunger Games characters or the Hunger Games. My OC's are mine though.

*** Note Diamond's nickname Dia is pronounced Deea.

Chapter 1

"Dia, it's about time," Gale chuckled as I made it to our field.

I shook my head and walked over to him wrapping my arms around him. He held me in his arms. I smiled and looked up at him as he leaned down to kiss me. My life has been crazy. Living in District 12 isn't easy, but what I've been through in my short 18 years of life is just insane.

*Outsider POV*

A little girl sits in a field of flowers just outside of District 12. She's no older than 8, with the honey blonde hair of her father. Her eyes are those everyone from the Seam has, her mother's eyes. Her father was an excellent blacksmith. That's how he got moved to District 2. His wife hated their daughter; to her the girl was a mistake. So the wife 'lost' the daughter leaving her to defend herself.

A little boy and his father walked through the woods going back to the district. The father was teaching his son to hunt. They were almost to the fence when they saw the same crying girl. They both approached her, the father instantly knowing who her parents were. The little boy blushed slightly thinking she was really cute.

"Sweetie what are you doing out here?" the father asked kneeling in front of the girl.

"D-daddy and m-mommy left me," she cried.

"Ohh sweetie, you can come and stay with us. What's your name?" he asked.

"D-diamond."

My name's Diamond, my father named me, saying I was a diamond in the rough. I don't know why I was left here when my parents moved. I don't even know where they went, no one will tell me. Not even Mr. Hawthorne would tell me. I understood that he didn't want to upset me, but I need to know where my parents went. My father was a blacksmith and lived near the bakery. My mother was from the Seam, but my father fell in love and moved her in with him. I was born not long after that. When I was eight they left me here, I was lucky that Gale and Mr. Hawthorne found me. They took me in as one of their own kids. When Gale's father died it was hard on all of us. Gale and I took as much tesserae as we could. Eventually Gale went to the woods and started hunting. Between everything we've made it.

When I was 14 I started visiting the orphanage. The kids there were scared of me at first, but they all started to warm up to me. Now I go every day to visit and treat the kids. Gale picks the herbs I need and Katniss explained what to do. I guess when Gale and I were both 16 we started feeling differently towards each other. An example is when Gale said I looked cute, I would blush. Not long after that he kissed me for the first time and since then we've been together.

"Do you want to help me pick strawberries, I told Catnip we'd do it," Gale said smiling down at me.

"After you told her that do I have much of a choice," I laughed.

He chuckled and intertwined our fingers as we walked out to the strawberry patch. I sat down and picked a few strawberries secretly eating a few.

"Hey look, there's one by your hand," Gale said pointing to a rather big strawberry.

I chuckled and it up. I picked it from the vine and raised an eyebrow. I saw something shiny on one of the other vines. I pulled at the vine when something metal landed in my hand. I looked at it closely seeing it was a ring. I looked at Gale and saw him smiling.

"I know we've talked about our future together Dia. After the Reaping I want to make that a reality. Will you marry me?" he asked

"Yes, Gale I'll marry you," I said diving at him, tackling him to the ground.

He chuckled and held me close as he slid the ring on my finger. I recognized it from his mom. It's the ring that his dad used to propose to her with. I remember them telling us when we were little that the ring had been in the family for years.

"How were the kiddies today?" he asked rubbing my back.

"Scared for the Reaping tomorrow. I calmed them down though," I said snuggling in his arms.

"42," Gale muttered.

"I know," I muttered.

"We'll get through it,"

"I hope so," I muttered playing with the ring on my finger.

===12

I was standing with the other 18 year old girls waiting for Effie to take the stage. I looked over at Gale; he smiled at me making me smile. I saw his eyes move and I looked in front me and saw Katniss. She was like our little sister, so I knew Gale was trying to calm her down. Effie came on stage and greeted all of us. I just couldn't wait to go home. Poor Hazelle, Rory, Vick and Posey are probably terrified. They were so happy that I was marrying Gale when we told them last night. Rory's already asking when we're having a baby. Of course Gale laughed it off, while I turned as red as a strawberry.

"And now for our lucky lady," Effie said sticking her hand in the bowl. "Katniss Everdeen."

"No," I said looking up and seeing how slow she was moving.

Prim was crying and ran to Katniss hugging her. I looked at Gale as he went to get Prim. Gale took Prim back to their mom and the next thing I did, surprised even myself.

"I volunteer," I yelled out walking to the stage.

When I got to Katniss I hugged her, before going on the stage.

"Wow our first volunteer and your name sweetie," Effie said.

"Diamond Hensley," I said looking out at the crowd.

"Lovely and now for the boys," Effie said sticking her hand in the bowl.

I looked at Gale he looked heartbroken seeing me on the stage. I had to look strong, no going back now. I mouthed 'I love you' to him and he returned it.

"Peeta Mellark," Effie said as I saw the bakers' son step out of line.

"I volunteer," I heard Gale say as he came to the stage looking as strong as I did.

"Ohh wow two volunteers and what's your name?" she asked.

"Gale Hawthorne," he said.

"Great and here are this year's tributes now turn and shake hands," Effie said.

Gale turned to me and pulled me to him kissing me lightly. I kissed him back wrapping my arms around his neck. We pulled apart and stared into each other's eyes.

"I bet my buttons you know each other," Effie said.

"He's my fiancé,"

"She's my fiancé," we said together.