DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.

A/N: To clarify, Gale is overprotective of Posy because he remembers what he was like at that age, he is just making sure his favorite sibling doesn't get taken advantage of.

Warning: some smut in this chapter.

Chapter 111-Celebration, Fears

October 15 (Saturday)

Katniss grabs onto the headboard of the bed, desperate to hold on to something to steady herself. She feels Gale's hands come around her front, one hand squeezing her breast, the other touching her ever so slightly curved stomach. At 13 weeks along, she was experiencing morning sickness but it was not as bad as her first pregnancy. This Saturday morning however, she was feeling good and decided to let Gale know just how well she was feeling.

Both of them panting heavily, Gale holds Katniss close to him as they move up and down, Katniss letting go of the headboard and holding onto Gale's arm on her stomach while the other reaches up for his face, bringing his head down to her. Turning her head to the side, she closes her eyes as she opens her mouth for him. Moving his head to the side he begins kissing her hungrily, both of them gasping for breath in between kisses while continuing to move their bodies in unison.

The baby monitor begins blinking and they hear Sienna begin to cry. Moving his lips away from her Gale groans as Katniss says "Maybe she will cry herself back to sleep" as she reaches her hand up to bring his lips back to hers. Knowing time is limited, he begins pumping into her harder and faster, his movements becoming almost animalistic. Feeling herself lose control from the pleasure she was feeling, and no longer able to sit up with him, she moves her body face down onto the mattress, her head turned to the side. His hands now grasping her waist, she feels the lower half of her body lifted up, Gale moving her legs to wrap around him, her feet touching his backside. Feeling him thrust over and over inside her and stimulating her most sensitive area inside her body, she tries to hold back her moans for she no longer hears Sienna crying and doesn't want to risk waking her up. Knowing her body the way he does, Gale reaches down and begins fingering her clit as he says, "Don't hold back beautiful."

His words cause a ripple effect through her body, and she cries out in ecstasy as she comes soon after, her entire body trembling uncontrollably. She feels his movements become less rapid and feels his semen begin to stick on her upper inside legs. She then sees him lay down beside her, stroking her back while his heartbeat begins to return to a normal rhythm.

He then carries her into the shower and turns on the water for her as he goes back out to their room and brings in the monitor. Feeling the warm water run down on her, she reaches out for him as he opens the door and steps inside. He goes into her outstretched arms and lifts her up, her legs automatically wrapping around him as he leans her against the wall for support. They kiss each other as the room begins to steam up for a few moments before he sets her back down and hands her the soap. A few moments later, while washing themselves they hear Sienna yell "Daaaaaa" through the monitor and see it begin to blink.

Katniss snickers and says, "Sounds like she is calling for you."

Giving her a look he rinses the soap off his body and gives her a quick kiss while touching her stomach gently before getting out of the shower.

Getting a chance to take her time for once, Katniss spends extra time in the shower, letting the warm water run down on her. Once she finally leaves the shower she gets dressed and combs her hair and heads downstairs. Her hair wet, she lets it air dry. Her hair now to her waist, she decides to keep it at this length until the baby comes. Then the plan was to cut her hair to her shoulders again. By next spring, she will have two children under the age of two and will need an easy hairstyle to fix.

When she enters the kitchen, she sees Sienna run around the island while Gale fills her small bowl with oatmeal. Sienna had been walking for about a month, and in the last week she had learned just how powerful her little legs could be. Her hair not quite reaching her shoulders, it was long enough for Katniss to put it in two pigtails. Katniss sees however, that Gale did not brush her hair for it was all messy.

When Sienna sees Katniss she goes running into Katniss's outstretched arms. Katniss picks her up and holds her close as she says, "Good morning sweetie."

The three of them eat breakfast at the table, Sienna in her high chair in the middle. Katniss looks over at the clock on the wall and sees it is 9:30 am. She needs to start cleaning up around the house after she is finished with her meal, for at noon they will be heading to the train station to pick up her Mom, Posy, Layla, and Hazelle. Her Mom was to arrive downtown at 9 am and would be meeting Posy, Layla, and Hazelle at the train station and the four of them were heading to Silver Lake together. Tomorrow was Sienna's birthday, and they were celebrating at the house, along with a small celebration for Gale for his birthday was on Friday.

All four of them would be spending the night tonight, with her Mother staying until Thursday. While at times Katniss felt their house was almost too big, she was thankful for the extra space because it allowed everyone to have their own space.

Katniss was happy that Layla was coming, for she hasn't been to Silver Lake yet. While Vick still hadn't proposed, she and Gale were pretty sure an engagement would be announced by the end of the year. Katniss was anxious to catch up with her, for she hadn't seen or talked to Layla since Posy's party late August.

Posy was still dating Felix, and Katniss was proud of Gale for he behaved himself at Posy's party. Watching Felix and Posy together, Katniss came to the conclusion that Hazelle was right, their relationship didn't appear to be at a stage where there would cause for concern. Katniss had noticed that at times Posy blew Felix off if her friends wanted her attention. She had also noticed Felix's shyness. She had wondered how he ever mustered up the courage to ask Posy to be his girlfriend in the first place.

But when Posy did pay attention to Felix, Katniss noticed how sweet the two of them were together. Watching them laugh together, Katniss couldn't help but think of Prim. She knows Prim would have had boys chasing after her at Posy's age, and wonders for a brief moment, would Rory have been one of those boys?

While Katniss had gotten back the close relationship she had with Hazelle, Vick and Posy since reuniting with Gale, Rory was the one sibling with whom she felt she hadn't reconnected with. While she knows she got back in his good graces when she married Gale, she still wasn't sure if Rory was truly supportive of her being in Gale's life. Rory had only met Sienna once at Hazelle's when he visited for the holidays. While Katniss knows he wasn't able to get off work to come to District 2 for Sienna's birthday, she wished he could visit more often than just during holiday season.

Katniss wanted to talk with Hazelle about proposing that everyone come to Silver Lake for the holidays, for there was plenty of room. Last year the three of them had gone to the wild territory right after their visit with Hazelle and the rest of the family, this year Katniss and Gale had decided to stay in Silver Lake for the entire holiday season. Instead they would go to the wild territory next summer after the new baby comes.

At 11:45 Gale and Katniss put Sienna in her stroller as the three of them leave the house and head to the train station. A slightly chilly autumn day, Katniss and Gale both wear light jackets, Sienna dressed in a purple coat with light pink gloves and a hat. The coat, gloves, and hat were a gift from Hazelle, and Katniss wanted to make sure Hazelle sees Sienna wearing it.

When all four of them get off the train, all of their attention is on Sienna. Hazelle pushes Sienna's stroller as Gale and Katniss help carry some bags as the seven of them make their way back to the house.

"How are you feeling? Is your morning sickness as bad this time?" her Mother asks as they walk side by side, everyone else way in front of them.

"I have been feeling good today, but some days it is pretty bad."

"Remember you can drink herbs to help."

"The stuff here is nowhere near as good as in 12."

"You can buy herbs from 12."

Katniss had known that it was possible to order herbal medicine from 12. She after all used to help make and package it. She is not sure why she had never thought to order it, but theorizes it was a subconscious move. Not wanting to think about 12.

She realizes while continuing to walk back to her house how unfair it is to the people of 12 how she wants to forget. Forget about her life there, forget about them. It was always her coping mechanism. She had forgotten about Gale after the war, now, she had forgotten about them.

She decides if her morning sickness comes back she would go to Silver Lake's apothecary and place an order to be delivered to the house.

When they arrive home, they are greeted by Harper. Excited that company has arrived, he wags his tail and enjoys being petted as Gale and Katniss take everyone's bags up to their rooms. The rest of the day and into the evening, they all enjoy each other's company and order take out for dinner. The next day, Katniss comes down with Sienna and sees that Hazelle, Layla, Posy, and her Mother have decorated the kitchen and living room.

Sienna's party goes well, with the now one year old enjoying her small cupcake while Hazelle decorates Gale's larger cake. Katniss and Gale sit with Sienna helping her open her gifts from their four visitors, along with cards and gifts from Vick, Rory, Annie, Johanna, Haymitch, Jocelyn, Kimber, Livia, and McKenna.

Katniss is touched by all the wonderful gifts Sienna was given. She received some toys, clothes, and lots of books. Katniss recently putting a book shelf in Sienna's room, looks forward to reading all these wonderful books to Sienna. She wants to make it a ritual every night; that she and Gale sit with her in bed while they read to her.

They then have dinner, cooked by Hazelle. After dinner Hazelle brings out Gale's cake and they sing happy birthday to the soon to be 32 year old. He then opens his gifts, not receiving as many as his daughter he does receive gift cards, and a large picture frame with different pictures of him and Sienna over the past year. The picture frame a gift from Katniss.

At 5 pm Katniss, Gale, Sienna, and Mrs. Everdeen take Layla, Posy, and Hazelle to the train station for they had to return downtown. Posy had school and Layla and Hazelle were both working tomorrow.

With Katniss's Mom staying with them until Thursday, she watched Sienna during the day while Katniss was at school and Gale either working at home or at the office. The night before Mrs. Everdeen was to return back to District 4 she asked if she could go a quick walk with Katniss around the lake.

The lake at night was very beautiful, especially when the moonlight reflected down on it as it did while they walked. Katniss couldn't help but think that her Mother wanted to talk to her about something important.

Her suspicions were correct for her Mother out of nowhere asked her if she had been experiencing dizziness, headaches, or any other neurological problems.

"I have been experiencing headaches. It started right after I got pregnant. I know headaches are common, especially in the beginning and near the end. Why do you ask?" Katniss says as they head back towards the house.

"I overheard some of the doctors talking at the hospital, they were saying they had heard about an increase in certain individuals coming to the Capitol to be seen for terrible, almost excruciating headaches, some experienced dizziness and seizures, and some experienced physical problems such as continuous vomiting."

"That sounds horrible, but what does that have to do with me?"

"It took some of the doctors a while to make the connection, but there is a connection between the people who had arrived at the Capitol who had these problems."

"What's the connection?"

"They are all former Victors."


December 19

"And there is your baby girl" the nurse says to Katniss and Gale as they look at the monitor.

Gale squeezes Katniss's hand as she lays on the table, her now visible but not overly huge stomach has a small device running over her skin, showing their baby on the large monitor above them.

Katniss was now 22 weeks along, and had begun to feel her baby moving inside her two weeks ago. This baby much more active than when Katniss was pregnant with Sienna. They had just been told that it was a girl, this was not a surprise to Katniss but it was a pleasant surprise to Gale, who was not at all disappointed that it wasn't a boy. He often told Katniss he didn't care if they had ten girls as long as they were all healthy.

"She's really active" the nurse says as they continue to watch the baby's developed, yet tiny arms and legs move around on the monitor. They see the baby brush her hand against the umbilical cord a few times, almost as if she has just discovered that it was there.

"Yeah, she is" Katniss says a smile forming on her face.

They see the doctor after, the nurse giving them a picture print out while they wait for him to come in. Katniss and Gale look at the pictures in awe when the doctor sits down at the desk in front of them.

"Everything looks good, we will run your blood work and call if there are any concerns. How are you feeling?"

"Good, I haven't felt sick in over two months and I am not as tired."

"Appetite good?"

"Yes."

"Sex drive good?"

Katniss blushes at the question and looks down, the doctor's flat affect letting her know that the question was strictly a clinical one.

"Uh-yes. "

"Has the medication I prescribed helped your headaches?"

"Yes, it has helped a lot."

"Good. I will write you another prescription to take home with you."

"Should I be concerned?" her Mother's words playing over in her mind about the former Victors.

"About the headaches? No, I wouldn't be. This happens to some women. And you are only 30, I would not be concerned with anything more than it being a normal effect of pregnancy."

She wants to ask him if he had heard any rumors about former Victors going to the Capitol to seek medical treatment for headaches and other neurological problems, but she doesn't want to worry Gale. Especially about something she has such little information about.

The doctor asks her a few more questions and then writes her prescription before they leave. When they walk outside they see it has begun to snow. With Katniss's large coat covering her, her pregnancy is easily hidden. With only their family members and certain friends knowing, no one else knew about Katniss's second pregnancy not counting the people at school. She was thankful she could still hide her condition at least a little while longer while out in public.

While holding on to Gale's arm as they trudge through the snow that was now beginning to lay, they walk arm and arm to a small café near the train station to have lunch before Gale returns to work. Now that they officially know they are having a girl, they discuss possible names while eating their lunch.

"Rachel?" Gale suggests.

"Nah, I don't think that will fit. Zinnia?"

"Too much like Sienna. Willow?"

"Has potential" Katniss says nodding. With Sienna, it was easy picking out her name, they were having a lot more difficulty coming up with another girl's name that they both liked.

Once they finish their lunch Gale walks with Katniss to the train station. Katniss was heading back to Silver Lake while Gale returned to work, not coming home until later tonight.

"See you at home, can you heat up the meatloaf I made for dinner tonight?" he says to her when they reach the front of the station.

"Sure. Thanks for coming with me today."

"Of course, you know I will try to make it to each appointment as long as I am in town."

Katniss looks at him lovingly as she reaches up to give him a quick kiss and a hug goodbye. She gives him one last wave as she heads inside.

Once she knows that he is gone, she goes to the front ticket booth. But she does not buy a ticket back to Sliver Lake, instead buying a ticket to the Capitol. Seeing that it is only 12:30, she has just enough time to head to the Capitol and make it on the train from there back to Silver Lake before Gale gets home.

She's going to the President's mansion, for she wants to talk to Heavensbee to get some questions answered.

When she arrives in the lobby, she is asked if she has an appointment with him.

"No. This is sort of a last minute thing. Is he here?" she asks the receptionist at the main desk.

"Please wait in the lounge area" and the receptionist points to where Katniss is supposed to go.

She waits twenty minutes before she is told she will be escorted up to Heavensbee's office. When she enters, she sees a bunch of paperwork on his desk. Tons and tons of paperwork.

"Katniss, what a pleasant surprise! What brings you to the Capitol?"

"I was nearby, decided I would take my chances stopping by. Thanks for seeing me without an appointment."

"No problem, lucky for you I was here. Can I take your coat?"

"I'm fine thank you" the last thing she wanted to do was take off her coat and have him see what was underneath.

"How is your daughter?"

"She's good, she just turned a year old about two months ago."

"They grow up fast" Heavensbee talking like he himself had children though Katniss knows he doesn't. The fact that he never got married or had children surprised Katniss, since he was from the Capitol he never had to worry about his children being reaped. She wonders if one of the reasons he never had children was because he was too focused on the rebellion and finding a way to destroy Snow.

"Let me get to the point of why I am here" Katniss says, not wanting to waste any of his time.

"Your life might have changed quite a bit since the rebellion, but I see you still don't beat around the bush" Heavensbee says, his lips curling into a smile that Katniss can't get a read on.

"I know that a lot of the former Victors have been coming here for medical treatment. Some of them have been experiencing headaches, seizures, other problems, I want to know what is happening to them. And why is it only happening to Victors?"

"You know this as fact?"

"I know Peeta has been having problems, as is Johanna. And I know the Capitol asked Annie Cresta to come in for testing."

"But that's all you know?"

"I heard some things."

"You can't always believe what you hear, you of all people should know that Miss Everdeen."

Katniss narrows her eyes at him, not going unnoticed that he is calling her by her former name she says, "How come the Capitol hasn't asked me to come in for testing?"

"Because there is nothing wrong with you. You don't feel the need to see a specialist here do you?"

"Well…no."

"Okay then. Miss Cresta or should I say Mrs. Odair has a long history of mental problems as you know."

"Yeah" Katniss huffs.

"Then how do you know that's not what her visit to the Capitol was about?"

"But she said-"

"I doubt anyone would want to admit their insanity is to the point they need help from the Capitol."

"She's not insane" Katniss says defensively.

Heavensbee smiles again, that same smile she can't quite figure out. "Look-I just, I want to know if this is something I should be concerned about."

"Understandable, but you have nothing to worry about. A lot of former Victors do come here for help, many have been coming here for years. Pretty much every Victor has demons from their past experiences in the arena that affects them. You as a former Victor know and understand this."

"Yes."

"We will definitely reach out to you if we have cause for concern. But right now, I would have thought you have…other things on your mind."

"What do you mean?"

"You're pregnant again."

She glares at him as she says, "How do you know that?" She knows Gale hasn't told anyone in the Capitol about her pregnancy, not even Paylor. He promised her he wouldn't say anything until after the New Year. And she knows Gale would never break his word.

"I have friends in Silver Lake remember?"

"Does Paylor know? Does everyone who works in this mansion know?" Katniss says angrily.

"No. I know how….private you are. Especially when it comes to something like this. Tell me, how far along are you?"

She doesn't know why he wants to know the details of her pregnancy, but she is relieved to hear that he respected her enough not to say anything to anyone else so she answers, "Five months."

He raises his eyebrows, she suspects this has surprised him.

"Congratulations. I see you and Mr. Hawthorne are….eager to add to your family."

She doesn't like what he has implied. She knows she is being overly sensitive but she has good reason to be. Last week, she had overheard a couple of the teacher's gossip about her in the teacher's lounge not realizing that she was right outside. She had only been showing for a couple of weeks, but word had spread throughout the school that she was having another baby after just having one barely a year ago.

"I can't believe she's pregnant again! She just had a baby" she hears one of the teacher's say.

"Well, you know what District 12 was like. It was so poor and boring all they were able to do for fun there was fuck like rabbits. I wouldn't be surprised if the two of them screwed each other on a regular basis when they lived there. I mean, the Capitol had to make up a lie and say they were cousins, they probably wanted to cover up the fact that she wasn't the innocent girl madly in love like they wanted her to be. Don't get me wrong, he's totally hot, I'd be fucking him too if I could, but he might want to keep it in his pants or else they will double the size of Silver Lake!"

Katniss hears them laugh and she quickly walks away, trying to get as far away from the lounge as possible.

She doesn't know why, but she doesn't want Heavensbee to look at her as a stereotypical person from the Seam, barefoot and pregnant. It was bad enough that people in Silver Lake looked at her that way. While she doesn't need to defend herself to him, she surprises herself by calmly saying, "Yes we are. We love each other and our daughter is our world."

"As I said, congratulations. I'm glad to see that you have found happiness. The day you left the Capitol after the rebellion I thought happiness would be an impossibility."

"Things change."

"They sure do. Well, I hope you have a healthy baby….next spring right?"

"Yes."

"Take care Katniss" he says with finality. She knows that is her cue to leave. She thanks him one last time before leaving and heading back to the train station.

She returns to Silver Lake and picks up Sienna from daycare and has dinner ready by the time Gale comes home. Not gaining any new information, she doesn't tell him that she went to see Heavensbee.

That night, with Sienna sleeping soundly in her room, Gale leans over Katniss as he pulls off her clothes and begins kissing her as he gropes her breast and moves his other hand down to pull off her underwear. He pulls back and slides to the edge of the bed and pulls her towards him. Placing her legs on his shoulders he bends down and begins to go down on her. She looks up at the ceiling and breathes hard as she feels him reach up and squeeze her breasts, teasing her nipples with his fingers they quickly become erect. Her pleasure intensifying, thoughts of her co-workers trash talk about them replay in her mind and she quickly moves his hands away from her chest and sits up, pulling away from him.

He looks at her in alarm and says, "What's wrong? Was I hurting you?"

"No" she says without hesitation.

"Are you feeling sick?" he asks as he climbs up beside her while she pulls the cover over her naked body.

"I just….I'm no longer in the mood."

"Okay" he says confused for she didn't act like she wasn't in the mood ten minutes earlier when she begin stroking him.

"Do you think it was too soon for me to get pregnant again?"

"Of course not! Why would you ask that?"

"Sometimes the way people look at us…."

"Katniss-since when do we care what people in this town think? It's none of their business. Is this what is bothering you?"

"A little."

"Forget them. They are jealous of what we have. We do have the most adorable daughter in all of Panem after all" he says nudging her.

She smiles and says, "We do" and leans in for a quick kiss.

"People in 2 can be really cruel and petty. You know I was never a fan of the town folk in 12 but they are nice compared to some of the people here. It's the one and only thing I miss about 12, the warmth and kindness of the people there."

Katniss agrees, while District 12 was no longer her home, she too missed the genuine kindness of people like Greasy Sae, Thom, Rooba, Ripper, and other people they knew in the Seam, along with town people like Madge and the Undersees, and of course Peeta.

"I miss it too" she says softly.

"But we have friends here."

"Yes-we do."

"That's all we need right? Them and each other."

She nods and leans in to kiss him. She looks at him with desire as he moves her back down to the edge of the bed. She closes her eyes as she feels his tongue move inside her, biting her lip in response for only he could make her feel this way-completely beautiful, and completely loved.


Katniss stares over at the window, trying to see in the darkness. She's having trouble falling asleep. She looks over at the clock and sees she has been laying there for an hour. After making love, Gale fell asleep while spooning her after they got under the covers. Not wanting to disturb him, she moves his arm from her waist, and cautiously gets up off the bed and heads into the bathroom. Her head throbbing, she opens up the closet and takes out her bottle of pain medication. The pills her doctor had prescribed for her headaches. She drinks a glass of water as she swallows a pill, and contemplates getting in the tub to help relax. She closes the bathroom door as she turns on the water, letting the jet tub fill up with warm water.

Once the tub is filled she climbs in, feeling her body relax the minute her body is submerged. Only her head visible, she swishes her arms and legs in the water, feeling her baby begin to kick in response. She rubs her stomach, trying to remind herself of what Heavensbee told her, that there was nothing to be concerned about, and that she shouldn't worry.

As hard as tries not to she is worried, wishing she could ignore her fears as she cradles her stomach protectively while waiting for the pain medication to take effect.