DISCLAIMER: HG CHARACTERS DO NOT BELONG TO ME

A/N: To my reviewers: ask and you shall receive *insert smiley face*

After Katniss is finished working in the laundry room, she heads back to her room for 'Reflection' for 30 minutes before dinner. Reflection was the only thing on her tattoo in this dark and dreary place she looked forward to each day, for she got to spend time with Prim alone.

She got to hear about her day and the new things she was learning. Not having to worry about who may overhear their conversations, for she trusted no one down here, minus two people, Gale and Haymitch.

While Peeta was always the one to have more sympathy for Haymitch, Katniss was feeling more and more sympathy for him since arriving in District 13. When she first arrived, she was still extremely angry at him for leaving Peeta behind in the arena, but she was seeing how much he was struggling without access to alcohol, sobriety being forced upon him. She knows he is itching to leave as much as she.

Knowing their time is limited, Katniss listens intently to Prim as she tells her about her day. When Prim asks Katniss how her day was, Katniss tells her about her meeting with President Coin and her frustration at with what happened after.

"She agreed to let Buttercup stay, but he has to be back at a certain time, or he will be locked out. And she agreed to let Gale and I hunt, we have two hours, we must wear tracker anklets, and whatever food we bring back goes to the kitchen staff."

"Thanks Katniss" Prim says and leans in and gives her a hug.

Sensing that her Sister was not herself, Prim asks her what is bothering her. Katniss sighs and says, "It's nothing."

"I can see it's not nothing" Prim says.

"I do not get a good vibe from President Coin; I don't like how she told me I had to perform for her. It reminded me of Snow."

Prim gives Katniss a look of concern and says, "What will you do?"

"Try to keep my enemies close, I was never in a position to do that before. Maybe now I can."

"Gale can help you. You know whatever information he finds out he will tell you, and only you."

Katniss nods her head in response. Quickly changing the subject for their Mother soon joined them in conversation, Katniss tries not to think about Gale until the three of them begin walking to the cafeteria for dinner. Still frustrated that he did not speak up when Coin and Heavensbee objectified their relationship, she knows it is because he wants to be her lover and is okay with Heavensbee giving consent to them being together once the cameras are not rolling. It was the exact opposite of what the Capitol demanded, which was that she had to marry Peeta and convince everyone in Panem she was madly in love with him or else Gale, his family, and her family died.

While she was ready to move forward and begin a relationship with him, she wondered, was she ready for them to become lovers? That was something she was not sure if she was ready for. While she and Peeta had slept in the same bed together during the victory tour, nothing happened. She knows if she were to do that with Gale, it would be different.

When she arrives in the cafeteria, she sees him waiting for her by the main entrance. Not surprised that he wants to talk to her after she stormed off earlier, she tells her Mother and Prim to save her a seat as she walks over to him, the two of them heading off to the side while people continued to walk past them.

"As I already told you earlier, I do not want to talk about what happened with Coin…not here" she says to him before he can say anything.

She sees him contemplate her last two words, and he says, "When do you think she'll allow us to hunt?"

"Don't know, I assume tomorrow she will want to talk more about their plans for me to be their Mockingjay."

She then turns to head into cafeteria, seeing that Prim and her Mother have gotten seats in the far corner away from the rest of the Hawthorne's, she says, "I told them to save me a seat when they entered, maybe our families can eat together tomorrow."

She sees a look of disappointment on his face, but he nods in response and turns to walk away. Knowing she may not get a chance to talk to him again, she quickly grabs his hand and pulls him back to her and says, "Walk with me tonight? 11 pm? At the stairwell entrance?"

Knowing exactly which entrance she meant, he nods his head and gives her a small smile as he turns and heads over to his family.

They meet at the entrance to the stairwell at the end of the long hall at 11 pm sharp. This was the entrance to the stairwell where they began walking up the stairs then abruptly stopped when she pulled him towards her and began kissing him. Even though it happened weeks ago, Gale had walked by the entrance numerous times, remembering that moment, for he longed for it again. Due to his intense training and schedule, he does not have much time spend with her alone. While they can spend some time together in the cafeteria, most of the time they have is spent is with other people nearby.

Without a word he opens the door, and she heads towards the stairs, he turns and scans the hall making sure no one is near and follows her inside. They begin walking up the stairs, getting their exercise as they ascend. They climb fifteen flights of steps before she stops and abruptly sits.

Sitting down beside her, he looks at her and says, "Tired?"

She looks down at her feet and says, "I just want to get out of here."

"Soon hopefully."

"I have to get Peeta, I have to keep him alive."

She looks up at him and sees his face become strained, trying to contain his emotions.

"Just because I want him safe does not mean I don't want you" she whispers.

He leans in and begins kissing her, desperate to inhale the scent of her again. She eagerly gives in and pulls him closer to her as they wrap their arms around each other as they sit in the dark stairwell, relishing in the taste of each other.