A/N: Thanks for reading and for the reviews!

As we walk home through the cold night, Rose invites me to her place for the night. Even though part of me wants this date to never end, I agree. I'm not used to girl talk, but after opening up with her yesterday, I think it would be really nice to have someone to talk with ... other than the guys. I can't help but laugh thinking of how Katniss would have reacted if I showed up at school one day all bubbly over some boy. She probably would have looked at me like I'd grown a second head.

I feel badly when I realize that I'm leaving Mick during his visit, but he doesn't seem bothered by it. When we get to the apartment with the guys, I change into warmer clothes and pick up a couple things for the night. Before we leave, Bear pulls me aside to say goodnight with a chaste kiss that leaves me wanting more. I wonder how our date would be ending if I stayed. But Rose is waiting, so I reluctantly say goodnight and we head to her place.

Rose's family lives in an apartment near the store. It's a bit larger than either place I've stayed in with the guys, and homier. Of course, I don't get the tour immediately because Naiya is waiting when we walk in the door.

"There you are Rose! Did you enjoy your party? I hope you and your friends had fun tonight but you know how I always worry when you're out late. I just want to make sure you're safe, right honey? Hello Maddie, how nice to see you. Are you girls having a sleepover? Let me guess, time for a little girl talk? Won't that be nice. A little birdy told me about your new beau, Maddie. Now honey, maybe it's not my place but that boy had better treat you right or he will answer to me is that clear? I'm sorry, I shouldn't butt in. I know Rose doesn't want me to mother her friends but you're practically family considering we see each other almost every day at the store and after everything you've been been through, well -"

"Umm ... thanks?" I reply.

She adds, "Anyway I can't say I approve of you living with those boys but it's not my place to interfere and I can't tell you what to do. At least I know you have your head on straight but I want you to know you can come here anytime and we will always be here whatever you need, alright honey?"

"Sure. Thanks, Naiya." I agree.

"Okay then. Now don't let me get in your way, I'll just mind my own business. You two girls have fun, just don't get too rowdy 'cause the twins are already asleep and I do not want to have that battle again tonight. I'll just be in my room if you need anything." Satisfied, she heads out of the room, humming under her breath. Did she say twins?

Rose grins. "Sorry about mom."

I laugh, "That's alright. It's kind of nice, actually. But what did she mean, the twins?"

Rose explains, "What? Oh, my little brother and sister. Kima and T.J. - they're seven. I don't know how mom does it. I guess you haven't heard about them before?"

"How did I not know that?" I ask aloud, as Rose begins showing me around the apartment.

She laughs, "Well, as talkative as mom is, she doesn't like to brag about her children. She's kind of funny that way. Anyway they've been visiting our dad and uncle in sector three, he helps out with them a lot. Well, we all do I guess. But that's why she wasn't at the celebration - she was picking them up."

Ending the tour at her bedroom, she says, "So you can crash with me in my room if you want, might be better than out in the main room if the twins are up early. Unless you'd prefer the spare room. We have kind of a lot of space."

"No, let's make it a true sleepover," I suggest. I head to the bathroom to change into the pajamas I brought. I knock when I get back to Rose's room, and we each claim a part of Rose's bed to sit on.

Almost as soon as we're situated I ask, "So what's going on with you and Spinner lately?"

Rose grins wickedly. "Well we didn't disappear for half the party today."

I can feel my blush. "It wasn't that long!"

"Okay fine. Spinner didn't think you guys would even show up – thanks to you, I won that bet," she says. "Anyway, how was it? Good first date?"

"Omigosh ...," I bury my face in my hands. "It was so … I can't even describe it. It was so romantic though."

Rose laughs, "You two looked pretty cozy. I've never seen Bear so ... happy."

I blush furiously but can't wipe the goofy grin from my face. "Really? I just hope he wasn't disappointed."

"Trust me, I don't think you have anything to worry about!" she says. Then she can't help telling me how she and Spinner had been trying to make themselves scarce around the apartment this week. I guess I really was the last to know, the last one to figure out what was going on.

I love thinking about my date with Bear, and I'm determined to open up more - this past week might not have been so nerve-wracking if I'd just talked with Rose about it. Even so, I'm still not really used to sharing this stuff, so soon I switch topics back to the party as a whole, "The district did a great job with the party too! Did you guys have fun? It sure looked like you and Spin were tearing up the dance floor."

Rose happily takes over the conversation, talking about the dancing and the music. When she talks about where all the food came from, I tell her just how delicious everything was, but have to admit that I'm worried that we're going to have nothing but fish and bread to eat for months now.

Rose gives me a sly smile, and says, "I wouldn't be too worried."

My eyes widen at her, "What do you know?"

"Just between you and me, the rebels should have trains between the districts up and running any day now. We've already started building up stores to send nearby districts. Parts of one, two and three are really hurting for food, so they'll get our first shipments. But we should be getting something from the agricultural districts soon. Bear didn't tell you? I thought he was working on logistics."

"He didn't mention anything. Hasn't told me much about work lately, though," I say, remembering his deflections when I've brought it up recently.

She shrugs, "I wouldn't worry. I think he's been a little distracted," she winks at me. "Anyway, we should have some variety again soon."

It's good news, one more step toward stability in the districts.

In the morning, we sleep in and miss seeing Naiya and the twins. Now that I know about them, I hope I can meet them soon. We don't head out the door to go see the guys until late morning. On our way back, Rose asks me, "So have you thought about the battle in the Capitol at all?"

"Thought about it, sure. Johnny wants to go, as a medic, you know."

"Yeah," she answers hesitantly. "Spinner and I have both signed on, too. If we pass muster."

"Really?" I can't help wonder about Bear's plans.

"Who knows if any of us will get to go, but they're starting some additional training sessions for those interested. Spinner and I already registered."

"Oh," I say dumbly. Of course they'd want to help fight what we all hope will be the final battles of the war. It hadn't occurred to me, though. I would go, too, but if I'm honest with myself, I'd rather stay in district four. There's already more than enough work to go around. But someone has to stay, to continue the rebuilding and the provisions distribution and everything else we've been doing, right? Am I just trying to justify staying? Does it make me a coward if I stay here?

"Sorry," Rose says. "I didn't mean to kill the fun."

I shake my head at her. "No, I'm glad you told me. I guess I really hadn't thought about it. There's so much work to do here. You don't know if Bear ... ?"

"No, but command might want to keep him here anyway. So, if I do go - do you think you'd want to take over some of the Provisions work? I know it's a lot to ask but I bet you and mom would be a great team. I hate the thought of handing it over to some stranger. Unless you go to the Capitol, too, of course."

I'm surprised by the request, but answer quickly, "Well, yeah, I mean I guess. If I'm here. Of course. I want to help wherever I can."

Rose seems pleased. "Oh good. I mean, who knows what's going to happen, right? But I'm glad I brought it up."

We're back at the apartment in time for lunch (more fish, what a surprise). Bear greets me with a quick hug and a whispered "hi" before we sit down to eat, but I'm distracted, still thinking about the war and the Capitol. I want to ask him about it, but at the same time, I don't.

After lunch, Bear disappears for a nap and I make a point to get some more time with Mick before he heads back to sector two. I try to be vague when I ask him what his plans are, but he assures me he's sticking with the fishing crews. At least I don't have to worry about him disappearing to the Capitol, too. I also have to ask him about the district twelve dance.

He rolls his eyes at me. "Don't you remember our family bein' selected to attend the Victory Tour ball last year, a reward for our 'loyalty to the Capitol'? Since the Victors were from 12, we saw a bit o' their dancin'. Sheesh, I'd'a thought you'd remember, given how obsessed you were with Katniss. Wanting that bow 'n' arrow so bad." He smirks at me, and all I can do is laugh. He's way too good at this. Then we come up with a few other stories about our life together before the rebellion.

Late that night I'm curled up on the couch, my head resting on Bear's shoulder. When I tell him about Mick's story, he smiles. "Yeah, Mick thinks it's a great game. We talked some ... he's got a lot of time to kill on the boat, and has fit you into all sorts of stories about the Amelins. It's great - as long as you learn them too. At some point."

Mick and I will need our stories straight, that's for sure. At least he's staying in the district. I sigh as my morning conversation with Rose still nags at my thoughts. I guess Bear and I have more to talk about than I realized, but I don't want to think about it now.

Bear misreads my concern. "Don't worry, he's too smart to do anything to get you in trouble. Besides," he jokes, "he knows he'd have to answer to me." His fingers trace circles on the fabric covering my shoulder.

Naiya said almost the same thing last night, only about Bear. It's a mystery how I wound up with so many people looking out for me here. Then again, I guess we're all looking out for each other. The best way to thank them is to return the favor.

"No," I answer, "I'm not worried about Mick. Though I should have been here more. I felt bad leaving him here." I want to ask him about the future, about the fight in the Capitol, but I'm too scared.

"Leaving him?" Bear asks with mock incredulity. "What about leaving me?"

"Oh, please. We see each other every day," I protest, sitting up a bit to see his face.

"Put yourself in my shoes," he says innocently. "Here I was, on a date with this incredible, gorgeous girl. I think it's going well, until she ditches me out of nowhere for a sleepover. It was terrible. What was I supposed to think?"

I smirk at him while my heart races. "If it bothered you so much, maybe you should have asked her to stay?"

"Maybe I should try again," he says in return, eyes dancing.

The kiss starts slowly, his soft lips against my mouth enticing me to pull myself into his lap, trying to find my way closer to him. Already I feel I can scarcely breathe. I try to deepen the kiss, but he won't let me. Each time I try to press into him, he pulls away so that his mouth is just out of reach, and when my eyes flicker open his teasing smile and low laugh tempt me even more. Then he comes back to me, kissing my cheek or nuzzling the cold tip of my nose or brushing his lips again mine for another kiss that's as light as air. It becomes a sort of game as I try to catch him off guard. When I run my hands into his hair, he gently retrieves them and intertwines his fingers with mine. His touch is as light as a cloud, slow as a sunrise, and captures me as surely as any net could.