SYNOPSIS: So last week Gale and Katniss narrowly escaped the Peacekeepers. They were nearly caught hunting. Thanks to Katniss quick thinking and Darius interfering we know that the Capitol is in charge. Katniss also found out Madge is quite the spy, slipping the notes and pictures Peeta gave her into Katniss belongings. Corky well...he'll make an appearance not in this on in the future as Katniss can't seem to stay away from that window. She still claims she's not a stalker though, everyone can tell you she's got radar on that blonde baker. Delly, as Gale found out, was working in the Hob. This fascinated him so much so he had to find out more...

AN: Thank you to Norbertsmom for her excellent beta work, she hurt her finger and edited this humungous chapter! Thank you to all of the likes and comments! P. S. I do not own the Huner Games

TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF VIOLENCE AND BULLYING

It was warm outside even though it was still fall. Delly was glad the school week was over and tomorrow would hopefully be a good business day. Her family sure needed one. She had to stay behind today. It's why there weren't any kids on the road back to town. The schools were conveniently located smack dab between the Seam and town. Normally she enjoyed the walk home from school on a Friday afternoon, but as she rounded the corner she spied a shadowy figure hiding among the trees.

Delly cast her head to the side to see the figure standing underneath the large pine tree. When she saw Jackson she grimaced, as he was not alone.

"Look, Carlton, it's Delly," Jackson said as he handed his cousin his flask.

Carlton smirked, as he took the flask.

"Can I have a sip?" Stephen eagerly asked his brother Carlton.

"Come on, let's have some fun." Jackson pushed Carlton in Delly's direction.

"HEY!" Carlton yelled.

Fearfully, Delly sped up her pace and ducked her head hoping to outpace them. They were, no doubt, bored, looking for something to do before they had to get home. Their parents ran the town mercantile.

They weren't always mean to her. Growing up, they were quiet boys, but as they grew older, Carlton goaded by his cousin Jackson, zeroed in on her and they began to taunt her, and call her silly names, but as the years slipped by their taunting had escalated.

"WHAT, ARE YOU TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT, THUNDER THIGHS!" Carlton shouted.

Jackson and his two cousins Carlton and Stephen laughed as they ran after her.

"Thunder thighs!" Jackson snickered.

Delly held on tighter to her books. The Sharpie cousins were her greatest tormentors. They were constantly making fun of her, putting her down, and picking on her brother Andy. Delly was tired of them constantly picking on her and making her feel bad for a situation she didn't have any control over.

Out of all of the girls in town, Delly was the only one with an ample bust line and bottom. Even though she had a small waistline she was forced to wear clothing that was twice her size because she couldn't afford to have her clothing taken in. Her mother had gotten sick with the flu last winter and ever since then, her lungs had gotten worse. She could no longer work in the store. Delly had taken on a lot to help her family.

The boys reached her and she could feel them buzzing around her like a swarm of hornets. She could feel their body heat as they encroached on her personal space. It made her uncomfortable as these boys were bullies who had made her cry on occasion.

Delly wondered where were the Peacekeepers. There were so many of them in the district, and many people were scared of them. Many people in the Hob, including Jeb, who she worked with on Sundays, were scared that they were going to close down the Hob. Delly needed the extra money she earned from Jeb, since people in town didn't buy shoes often. They did get them repaired when they were falling apart, but that wasn't that often.

Of all of the Merchants, the Cartwrights were the poorest. It's why Delly offered her services to Jeb for a nominal wage. She worked with him and helped repair shoes, anything made of leather or animal hide really. It wasn't optimal for a young, single girl to work in the Hob. Finding a willing husband was going to be made tougher for her. One, because she was not pretty by any stretch of the imagination. Two, she was considered fat, and three, the Merchants had negative connotations with those who worked at the Hob. But Delly figured if Katniss Everdeen could hunt illegally in the forest for her family, she could work for the old miner for her own.

Many people in the Seam were nice to her, better than the Merchants.

"Hey," Jackson said. He threw a pebble at her and it whizzed by her ear.

Carlton and Stephen began doing the same thing. Twigs and other little pebbles fell around her. Her trepidation increased. She was alone on the road today, and this wasn't good.

Delly looked around for one of the new Peacekeepers, but they weren't around. On occasions like this is when their presence was needed to maintain the peace or ward off irresponsible behavior.

Delly could feel the boys closing in.

"I said, hey!" Jackson stopped in front of her.

She wasn't tall so he towered over her. She dodged him, but he got in front of her again. "Please let me pass," Delly pleaded. She saw her chance and slipped around him once again, quickly moving away.

The walk from the school to her home in town was only a thirty-minute walk, and today she would have preferred to walk on broken glass than to face the Sharpies.

The boys maliciously grinned at each other as they continued to follow her. They made loud noises with each step she took as if her feet or shoes were filled with lead weights. They laughed and egged the others on, calling her names as she moved forward.

"Please leave me alone."

"Whoa, maybe you should stop moving. You're making the earth shake!" Stephen laughed, and moved about as if her walking was causing him to lose balance.

Carlton ran around to her other side. "Hey, where is your brother Andy pansy. Have you eaten him? Is that why he wasn't at school?"

Delly stopped moving. She narrowed her pale blue eyes. "You leave Andy alone. Do you hear me, Carlton!"

They laughed.

The boys and some of the girls in school would tease her poor brother Andy, who had contracted polio at a young age. He could hardly use his legs and had to use braces. It was Delly's responsibility to take care of her brother, and this morning he had a fever. As school was mandatory, Delly had gone, but what she really wanted to do was stay home with her family and take care of them all. Delly defended her brother often from the other kids. She worried about Andy and his welfare when the day came and she graduated.

The boys laughed.

"What do you have under that dress?" Jackson asked, reaching out to poke her in the side.

"Stop!" Delly cried, moving to the side.

This wouldn't be happening to her had Peeta been with her. Normally they walked together to and from school, but lately, Peeta couldn't walk home with her. He had to leave early to work at the Bakery on the day's that Rye had wrestling practice. It felt as if these days Peeta had something else on his mind.

He was secretive. The other day he'd been waiting for someone and she wanted to ask questions, but his look was so fierce that she dropped it. He didn't say anything mean to her, but she just knew he didn't want her around. Delly couldn't blame him as she had the inability to keep secrets. Much to her horror, whenever she became excited or upset things just slipped out of her mouth.

Carlton smirked. "What's a matter Delly, biggest belly ever? Don't you want someone touching you and finding out just how fat you are?"

"Carlton Sharpie, keep your hands to yourself." Delly moved back, but she didn't realize Jackson was immediately behind her. She collided against his chest.

Jackson grabbed her waist and laughed in her ear. "You're real soft."

Her skin crawled. Delly struggled to get out of his grasp. "Let me go!"

"Why are you so afraid of letting a man touch you?" Jackson ground out as he struggled to pull her against him.

His hand traveled up from her waistline. Delly saw an open opportunity. She reached up and scratched at his face.

"You little bitch," he growled. She screamed as he lifted her up and threw her on the ground.

Delly quickly got up. Her books forgotten as she ran.

"Get her!" Jackson urged.

Delly heard their steps as they chased her. Her heart rate increased as she ran. Her palms became sweaty as fear pushed her forward. One of them touched her shoulder and she screamed.

"I got her," Stephen cried when he latched on to her arm. Delly pulled and yanked, but he had a firm grip on her arm.

"LET HER GO!"

The booming voice caused Delly and her assailants to search for the voice. It came from the woods on the side of the road. She saw the tall shadow walking toward them. She felt relieved when she saw Gale Hawthorne.

"What?" Stephen asked.

"Don't let go of her, Stephen." Jackson braced his hands on his hips. He looked angrily at Delly. She had indeed scratched him, not his face but on his neck. The three scratches looked like something a cat would have done.

"I said let her go," Gale demanded when reached them. His voice was soft, but threatening.

Gale was the tallest boy in school. He was taller than most Merchants, and just as strong, and he was known to have won a few fights in school. He was, in her opinion and the opinion of the entire district, one of the best looking boys too. He was ruggedly handsome, and had the confidence of a man, unlike Carlton and Stephen. They were cowering behind Jackson.

Gale's brothers stood behind him. They looked just like Gale and their faces held the same serious expression Gale's had. Their hands were balled into fists.

"Gale, this isn't any of your business," Jackson said. But Stephen had let Delly go and he had the same fidgety agitation in his body as Carlton did. Both looked like they wanted to flee.

Gale didn't smile. His gray eyes had a hard glint in them. "Three against a small, frightened girl." He cracked his knuckles, his arms bunching up as if he were getting ready to fight. "It looks like it is my business."

One of Gale's brothers stood next to him and it occurred to Delly that this was little Rory. He was only twelve, but already he was as tall as Jackson and he was not at all thin. He was solid. The other one was ten, and although he was lanky, he was as tall as his brother Rory. The Hawthorne's were not a small bunch.

"You don't know who you're dealing with, Hawthorne," Jackson threatened.

"Some chicken-shit." Gale stepped forward, the veins in his neck popped.

Jackson eyes shifted from Gale to Rory, then to looked down at Delly. His anger was replaced by apprehension. His body lost its tense corded stance. His shoulders drooped, conveying that he wasn't willing to get into it with Gale and his brothers.

"She's not worth it." Jackson glanced behind him at his two cousins. "Let's go home."

Gale raised an eyebrow. "Sharpie."

Jackson replied, "What?"

"Leave her alone." Gale's voice took on a harsher tone. "If I see or hear about you bothering her again, you'll have words with me and my friends."

Jackson could be heard to audibly swallow, before he muttered, "This isn't over, Hawthorne," and left with his cousins in tow.

Gale turned to his brothers. "Rory, Vick, go get her books."

Both boys smiled and ran down the road.

"Sorry for taking long to get to you. My brother Vick heard you cry, and went to get me." Gale looked at Delly with kindness in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Delly whispered, star struck.

"They didn't touch you or you know?"

"No," Delly felt red. "I scratched Jackson and ran when he let go."

Gale nodded. "Good for you. Those Sharpie boys have a walloping coming to them. I heard what they did to Nina last year. Cray didn't do anything to them."

Delly had forgotten about the rumors, about the boys and one of the girls who worked at the Slag Heap. The Slag Heap was the spot just outside of town, shanty abandoned homes where the women who serviced the Peacekeepers for a price lived. There were rumors that the Sharpie boys had gone there and done terrible things to one of the women. Delly didn't know if it was true until now.

She shuddered at the thought of what might have happened to her if Gale and his brothers hadn't appeared. "I don't know how to repay your kindness, thank you."

Gale shook his head. "As long as you're okay."

"I owe you." Delly didn't know how, but she was going to repay Gale and his brothers for saving her life.

"You did a good job with my little sister's shoes Delly," Gale praised.

Delly could feel her face turning bright red. She must look like a crazy woman. She opened her mouth and couldn't help herself from quickly spewing, "It's my job, really. Jeb asked me to take a look at them, because they were in real bad shape and they looked as if they were unrepairable. I told him I had good leather back at home and that I could bring them back to life. He let me take them and work on them at home. I wanted to make sure the shoes lasted for a few years so that she can grow into them and it wouldn't be another expense for you or your family."

Gale smirked at her.

"If you need anything else repaired, I'm usually with Jeb on Sundays. I'll make sure to do a good job for you or anyone, really." Delly closed her eyes realizing, no doubt, he didn't want to be her friend. He probably only helped her because of the boots.

Her stomach burned with the loneliness that settled there. No one really wanted her. After all, no one wanted to be her friend. She talked too much and couldn't hold her tongue to save her life.

His brothers were back with her books. She quietly took them. "Sorry, I'll be on my way now. Thank you for everything. If you need anything, please be sure to stop by, sorry. I'm sorry for talking too much."

She began walking away, head cast down. Thinking to herself that she was always going to be alone. No one wanted a girl who smelled funny or that was fat like her.

Gale's long legs caught up with her. "Why are you apologizing?"

"Because I stole your valuable time. You were probably showing your brother's how to trap and hunt, and I just, I'm sorry. I normally make a mess out of things. Well, that's what my dad tells me all of the time. Just last week I, you know what, never mind, you don't need to know that I accidentally fell from the ladder trying to reach a box and that it caused all of the stuff on the shelf to fall." Delly didn't dare look up or stop. She kept on walking.

Next, to her, Gale and his brothers laughed.

"That's nothing, I keep on walking into the doorknob," Rory said. "I know it's there, but I don't know how, but when I'm walking through the open door my hands or arms just hit the doorknob."

Delly stopped walking and looked at them. The youngest Hawthorne brothers were laughing and grinning at her like she were one of them. Delly didn't know what to do with herself. Cautiously, she looked at Gale who was observing her. He looked amused by her and it was a lot better than pity or hate.

Gale's brothers stepped forward. "I'm Rory, by the way, and this is my little brother, Vick."

"Hi," Vick said shyly. "I'm ten."

Delly smiled. "It's a pleasure. I'm Delilah, but everyone calls me Delly." Delly shook their hands as Gale looked on. "My brother Andy is ten," Delly said. Then she took a deep breath in. "Would you boys like to come over and meet him? I can make you sandwiches. Andy would love the company. He hasn't been feeling well. That's why he hasn't been at school."

Rory and Vick both glanced at Gale. Their eyes pleading with him to allow the excursion. "Will your paw mind?"

"No, he doesn't really care as long as I stay out of his way. I only have one friend, Peeta, but he's busy these days working extra time at the Bakery. He had to rush off straight after school. I had to stay behind and get my brother's lessons from his teacher and learn how to show him the work so that when he does get back to school, he isn't so far behind."

Gale glanced at his brothers before stating, "Half-hour, then we have to get back to the woods."

"Here, I'll carry your books," Vick offered sweetly.

Delly smiled, "Thank you, Vick."

They took off, and within ten minutes they were in town. No one looked her way even as she was walking with three boys from the Seam. The shoe shop was located at the end of town. Mellark's Bakery was nestled between her family's shop and the Apothecary. The shoe shop had a small storefront, but the back part of it was long. Delly went through the back, as accustomed.

"This way," she opened up an adjacent door. It was dark and quiet when she walked in. She quickly opened the curtains to let the natural light in.

Rory blurted out, "You don't have electricity?"

"No, only the shop. We can't afford the electricity in our personal space. We use candles or natural light." Delly smiled. "I'll be right back. I'm going to get Andy."

Gale watched her leave. He recalled what Darius said about Merchants, not all of them were bad or spoiled. Delly was sweet and hard working. He'd asked Jeb about her, and Jeb had nothing but praises to say about her. She was humble and was willing to work hard. Delly had taken those old boots and made them look new and added some bright colored flowers that Posy loved.

He knew the job she had done was far more expensive than what Jeb had charged him. It meant that what Jeb paid her was a pittance.

When he heard his brother Vick say that she was the one the Sharpies had grabbed and were trying to feel up, it caused Gale to run. The last thing he wanted was for her to be abused by those boys. They could have easily killed her in that section of the road and no one would have known.

Gale rubbed his face, and then he heard her speaking to her brother through the wall.

"Hi, Andy. How was your day?"

Her brother Andy was born with many issues. He could barely talk, then he got polio as a kid and could only walk with braces. He heard her brother mumble something about their mother.

"I'll check on her next. Come on, let's get you changed. We've got company that came to see you."

Her brother muttered something else.

Delly laughed. "No silly, it's not Peeta, and I'm not making up stories."

Gale smiled. He could hear the love in her voice as she talked with her brother. A few minutes later, the door opened and out came Delly carrying her brother. Delly said he was ten, but he looked younger, like a boy of seven. Gale had seen how starvation stunted the growth of a lot of kids.

"Wow, real people," Andy said. His pale blue eyes shown bright, but they didn't hide the shadows under his eyes.

"I told you I wasn't making things up. Rory and Vick, this is my brother Andy. Watch him, he's really cunning and he'll steal your pickle off your plate if you're not looking."

"I..I..I…d-d-do, do, not!" Andy said.

Delly sat her brother at the table. "Why don't you boys sit down while I fix you guys some sandwiches?"

Gale watched her maneuver into the kitchen. She quickly made grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup. She gave them each a bowl with a sandwich and served them a tall glass of water. "I'll be right back. I'm going to check on momma," Delly said, taking a cup of water with her.

Gale watched her leave down the hallway and into one of the rooms. She knocked on the door before she entered. His brothers were talking to Andy and Andy held his own. He was funny and sweet, just like Delly. Out of plain curiosity, he stood closer to the hallway, and he heard some of the conversation.

"Delly, the future is at our door." Her mother's voice was labored and weak.

"Yes, momma," Delly obediently agreed softly. She was moving about the room. Gale thought, no doubt, she was tending to her mother's needs.

"Delly you're so pretty. You know you do not have to leave school in the middle of the day to come to tend to me?"

Delly remained quiet. "Who else am I going to tell my secrets to."

Her mother chuckled.

"My sweet, sweet, Delilah, sing me the song?"

"Only, if you eat, momma."

"I promise."

Delly didn't have much of a voice but it was soft and kind sounding.

"Black clouds are behind me, I now can see ahead

Often I wonder why I try hoping for an end

Sorrow weighs my shoulders down

And trouble haunts my mind

But I know the present will not last

And tomorrow will be kinder"

Gale heard that song being sung by his grandmother when he was little. A small smile crept onto his face.

"Sing it to me one more time. I like them Secret Sisters," Her mother pleaded. Delly began to sing it again.

Gale sat back down. Her mother was worse than what Delly let on. Between her brother and mother, Delly was making sacrifices. He wondered how long was she skipping out of school? How long was she keeping her family together, the best that she could?

He was nearly done with his soup when Delly came back out with the empty glass of water. She served up another, smaller bowl of soup and walked back to the room. Ten minutes later she came out with the empty bowl. Her face conveyed sorrow.

But when she saw them, she fixed a smile on her face. "Are you behaving?"

"I'm g-g-goood." Andy grinned.

She put the bowl in the sink and began cleaning up. Gale noted there was one more sandwich and enough soup for another bowl, but Delly didn't touch it. Instead, she took a glass of water from the sink and drank it before starting on the dishes. It was then that it dawned on him that the clothing she wore was too big for her frame. It made her look bigger than what she really was.

"Here, let me help you," Gale said.

"No, no," she slapped his hands away. "You're our guest." She shooed him away from her. "And you saved my life."

"D-d-did those Sharp...sharp...Sharpie boys bother you?"

"Yeah, and we stopped them. They won't be bothering your sister again," Vick announced.

"They are...are...are...so mean t-t-to, to us."

"Well, when you get back to school, Andy, why don't you sit with me and my friends at lunch?" Vick asked. "If anyone bothers you, we got your back."

"Really," Andy said excitedly.

Delly smiled and Gale swore he saw tears in her eyes before she blinked them away. "Okay Andy, our guests have to leave, but I am sure you'll see them on Monday if you're feeling better."

Andy beamed.

His brothers had a good meal, but Gale was sure that they were going to be starving by the time they finished in the woods and went home. "Thank you for the food. If you want, you should stop by and see Mrs. Everdeen. She's a good healer, and I am sure you can trade with her."

"Oh, do you think she'll mind?"

"Nope, she likes helping out."

Delly nodded.

Gale and his brothers left. It occurred to him that this was the first time he'd broken bread with a Merchant. But when he thought about it, he didn't really consider Delly one of them, the stuck-up rich Merchants. He considered Delly something different. She was like Katniss' mother or Prim. Good folk just trying to survive.

Inside, Delly blushed and bit her lip. She'd just made friends with Gale Hawthorne and his little brothers. Maybe there was hope for her yet.