Author's note: Yay, quick update! :D You're all lucky this week, last weekend I had lots of free time and lots of inspiration.

As usual, thanks to my beta - the wonderfully awesome TacoBelle :D

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Chapter 10

Vick's turn

Katniss's POV

A soft knock awoke me. I quickly sat up to check if it woke Prim or my mother. Luckily, both were still sound asleep. I got up, and changed into some normal clothes in record timing, slipped on my boots and ran to the door. And there stood Gale, as handsome as ever, with his hair looking artistically messed up and his gray eyes twinkling in the early morning sun. I beamed at him and slipped out of the house, silently shutting the door behind me and leaning onto it.

Gale just grabbed my chin and pulled my face to his, kissing me softly. A warm feeling filled me, and I just felt like I belonged here, kissing Gale.

"Hey, Catnip." He greeted me, after pulling away, smiling.

"Hey, Gale."

We intertwine our fingers and then I remember it's a school day.

"We have school today." I groan, my face falling. "Wait, shouldn't you be at home getting ready and stuff?"

"Yeah, but I woke up earlier and couldn't sleep, so I just decided to get ready early and go see you." He explained, smiling. "Do your mother and Prim know about us?"

"No… Well, Prim knows, but not my mom."

"Why did you only tell Prim?" He seems confused for a second, crinkling his eyebrows, but then remembers yesterday evening. "Oh yeah, she saw us… I also had to tell Rory, but otherwise, no one knows yet."

"Well, better let them know soon." I laugh.

We walked into the house, Gale dropped his school bag onto the floor with a thump. Prim and mother lazily left the bedroom, still in a sleepy haze. Though, that changed immediately when they saw Gale standing next to me, and then our hands.

A look of surprise distorted my mother's features, while Prim's face was filled with happiness.

"I knew it!" Prim screamed, all traces of sleep disappearing.

"Well, I did expect it, but I didn't expect it would take this long." My mother chuckled at us. Apparently, we were more obvious than I thought… Now I'm curious, how long did they know?

Gale didn't seem as shaken as me, because he just snickered and kissed my cheek. I smiled, my cheek burning.

"We should have breakfast. Gale, have you eaten yet?" My mom asked, going back to her motherly role. Gale shook his head, looking like a little kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar, since he knew our house was just as tough about extra mouths as his. Both of our families were poor, but still holding on, since Gale and I hunted.

Prim and mom trudged into the kitchen, leaving Gale and I alone in the living room. I turned to him, and said softly, "It's okay. You help me get that food, so you should enjoy it too."

"No, I shouldn't be depriving you and your family of the food that you work so hard to get. I should've eaten at home, so you don't need to feed an extra mouth and work yourself even harder." Gale muttered guiltily. I could hear the clatter of pots and pans, the splashing of water and various other sounds I associate with food and kitchens. Prim and mom were working hard to make us a decent breakfast at such an early hour. I sighed. Gale could be so stubborn at times. But if I think about it, I would be acting just like him, if I were in his shoes. I don't think I could eat Gale's food with a clean conscience, knowing I still have tons of game at home I could eat without being worried.

I stood up onto my tiptoes and pressed my lips to Gale's for just a second then pulled away to look into his gray eyes, sitting under his crinkled dark eyebrows.

"Either you stay guilty and I don't kiss you for the rest of the day, or you stay happy and eat." Drastic actions call for drastic measures. And I knew this would work on him, but if it didn't, I'm not sure if I could keep myself from kissing him all day.

"Fine, you win. I don't think I could stay away from your lips for a whole day." Gale just laughed and kissed me sweetly. I grabbed his hand and led him to our dinner table. One problem. We only have three chairs. When my dad was still alive, we had four, but when he died, I couldn't stand looking at his empty seat, so I broke the chair and used it as firewood. The chair burned in the fireplace, just like my father burned into ashes in those cursed mines.

I bit my lip and looked over to my mother and Prim already seated, who also saw the problem. Only Gale didn't seem lost. He simply sat down on my chair, and slapped his knees, gesturing for me to sit on his lap. I laughed, but complied.

Prim and mom just looked at me funny and continued eating, though Prim sometimes sent me meaningful looks across the table. Eventually, Prim and mom left to get dressed and ready for the day, while Gale and I stayed in the kitchen. The dishes were done, I was dressed and ready, my homework was done. I leaned onto Gale's chest, while he wrapped his arms around me. My fingers fiddled with a button on my shirt, while Gale's were slowly moving up and down my arms.

"How do you think Peeta and Delly are?" I asked randomly, suddenly remembering the duo. I should be more worried about them, they are our friends. But it's just with all the events lately (mainly Gale and I kissing and confessing our love for the other), I barely had time to think about anything else.

"I think they should be fine by now, but I haven't talked to them yet. Truth be told, I'm a little worried about them… What if they did get a concussion?" Worried flooded his tone. I knew he cared about Peeta and Delly just as much as I did, they were like a brother and sister to me. I could talk to them about anything.

"Maybe we could go visit them after school?" I asked. "I don't think we could make it before, since we only have like 15 minutes left, and unless we want to be late and get detention, we won't make it."

"Yeah, we should go. And we should also tell them about us." I could hear the smile in his voice. I bent my head back and kissed his cheek, smiling.

I heard someone clear their throat. I moved my head and saw Prim looking at us deviously, with an eyebrow raised.

"Time to go to school." She said in a flat tone, that just had a slight hint of amusement. I glared at her and got off Gale's lap. Luckily for us, he didn't notice this little exchange, or whatever you could call it. I grabbed my bag off the floor and threw it onto my back, just for it to be snatched off. I whirled around to see Gale holding it, together with his bag.

"Gale, give me back my bag." I demanded, just a little surprised.

"No, you shouldn't have to carry heavy things. I can carry it." Oh, so now I was just a weak, helpless little girl?

I just raised my eyebrow and shook my head a little, but let him think I'm weak. He snickered in response, and put an arm around my shoulders. I gratefully accepted the arm, and walked out of the house, and had to stop a little for Gale to walk through, since if he wouldn't bend down, the door-frame would hit his head. He was just so tall, while I was really short, so we must look quite ridiculous.

When we came to Gale's house, the door was already open and Prim and Rory were having their little reunion scene in the door-frame. Rory kissed her cheek and hugged her, while Prim just reddened slightly and returned the hug. I have to say, they do look quite adorable. I swiveled my head sideways to look at Gale, who seemed like he was thinking about something nice. A soft smile graced his features and he just looked so peaceful… He only ever looks like that in the woods, and I now realize how lucky I am to see him smile.

I leaned up a little higher and kissed him lightly, just to get his attention. Gale beamed at me, and then turned away to collect the kids and get to school. He froze in place, with a terror-stricken expression on his face. I turned around to see what startled him this much, and instantly understood. Hazelle was standing in the doorway, looking over at us with a soft smile on her face. I froze in place like Gale and could only manage to stare at her. I could see that Rory, Prim and Vick were all gawking at us, but they could wait.

That moment, Hazelle surprised all of us. She laughed quietly and said, "Why so scared? I'm not going to try and keep you apart. It wouldn't work anyways, you're both just too stubborn. I was expecting this, you know."

Gale and I let out a breath of relief we didn't know we were holding and collected the kids to head off to school. Gale stayed at my side, with his arm around my shoulders. Rory did the same to Prim, but then turned to look at Vick.

"Your turn to find a girlfriend." Rory said, causing Vick to blush and the rest of us to burst out laughing.

We continued with some playful banter all the way to school, laughing and teasing. It just seemed like it was going to be a good day. The start was great, we announced to both ours families about Gale and I, and surprisingly, they accepted. I was really impatient to see Delly and Peeta, the thought of the two of them kept eating away at me. I felt guilty for ever forgetting about them, and not going to visit. They deserved better than that.

Lessons came and went, me not noticing or remembering a speck of information. I spent lunch next to Prim and Rory, since Gale's lunch was later. That was getting annoying. I wanted to spend at least part of my boring school day with him! But it only happens on Mondays and Thursdays. Idiotic schedules.

I felt a little awkward and out of place next to Prim and Rory, since they were being all couple-y and stuff… When your boyfriend isn't around, it gets weird.

When class ended, Gale surprised me by meeting me at the door and kissing me. Pleasant surprise, I must say. I got some glares and weird looks, but I didn't care. Gale loved me, and I loved him. All the rich town girls can glare all they want, it's not going to change a thing.

I gathered all my books, papers and notebooks, while Gale already had his, so we set off to the lower classes school to get the kids. It felt slightly weird to call them the kids, since it sounds like we're talking about our kids… I never wanted kids. So many bad things could happen to them…

After leaving the kids and our school bags at home, Gale and I set off to see Delly and Peeta. I just hope they're okay.

Author's note: I hope you liked it! As usual, leave me suggestions/requests/demands you may have :) By the way, tell me how I'm doing with fluff, cuz I don't think it' that great. Tell me how I could improve!

Till next chapter, I salute you!