Hi, All thank you for all of the lovely comments about last weeks chapter.

Things are getting bleaker in District Twelve despite love being in the air. There are shadows and spies, not to mention Peacekeepers are conjuring something will our friends be safe?

Special thanks to Norbertsmom who beta'd this chapter three times...lol because I somehow lost the original...on google... PS I don't own the hunger games

The New Year dawned and things got worse in the district. It was no secret now that the Peacekeepers were doing random checks, not just in the businesses, but in the homes of the miners as well.

Anything that was found to be not to code would result in an instant whipping. The saving grace was the weather was so awful that it did not allow for many checks to be made. Just last week no one was allowed outside for temperatures dipped so dangerously low even the transports did not want to start. They even got stuck in an unrelenting snow storm. The winter was unforgiving this year. As the month came to a close the only good thing that happened was the Hob opened up again.

Even though it wasn't opened all of the time because of the weather, many were driven there out of necessity.

Katniss and Gale stayed away. Oddly, the word to stay away came from Rye Mellark. He'd been stopped by the Peacekeepers when they ran into the situation. Rye was standing outside of the path that led to the Hob surrounded by Peacekeepers. Katniss and Gale dived behind a building. Once the Peacekeeper were gone, he told them to avoid hotspots like the Hob. Seeing Rye was enough for them. The peril of getting caught was too high a price for Katniss and Gale.

Gale was in Delly's home making a chicken coop for the chicken and rooster, with the things Delly was forced to purchase from the Sharpie's Mercantile. In the old days, they would have gone to the Hob and bartered for the stuff. Delly refused to tell him how much money she was in debt for the materials. Last night the Hawthornes came for dinner, under the pretext that Posey wanted to celebrate her birthday with Delly and her family. Normally they would have celebrated with the Everdeens, but Mrs. Everdeen and Prim were out helping Mrs. Kohls give birth and were unavailable and Katniss didn't look like she wanted to go out. Katniss hated the cold.

Gale gave in because he wanted to see Delly. Something in his gut told him that he needed to be with her. He persuaded his mom and his small clan showed up at her door with a meager ration of food to share. They'd gotten stuck in her house because of a bad storm, but he didn't mind as Delly was his bright spot, his sunshine.

They all had slept under one roof. He was surprised that there was an entire apartment upstairs, unused, complete with enough bedrooms for them all. She didn't elaborate who it belonged to, but it was clean, not a speck of dust or cobwebs. The bed hinges were oiled and the mattresses didn't have that funny moth smell. Gale figured Delly was responsible for this. She was cleaning to keep herself busy as the weather was far too harsh at times to go to school.

Delly had found blankets and pillows for all of them. Gale decided to sleep downstairs on the sofa. Her father came out several times during the night. Gale supposed it was to check up on him. He thought it was sweet even though Gale would never disrespect Mr. Cartwright that way with his Delly.

Gale measured the wood as the rooster was locked in the bathroom. He figured a coop was better than the carrying case Delly was currently using.

"If…ffff…a dduck and ggoose are cousins, why are th..they always ffighting. The ggoose honks at the dduck and tthee dduck quacks back!"

His brothers and sister were laughing hysterically. They were playing the laughing game with Andy. It was Andy's turn to make everyone laugh, without laughing, if he laughed he'd lose his turn. So far he was winning by a landslide. Even his mom laughed.

From his vantage point, he watched Delly hum as she mended clothing. Seeing Delly and Andy mixed in with his mom and siblings wasn't strange at all.

Her father was next door working on the Peacekeeper boots. Ever since his wife died, Mr. Cartwright had shrunk into himself. Delly was quickly taking on more responsibility than ever. Now she was responsible for running the business, from ordering stock, doing the books, paying taxes and maintaining the tools. Her father's only job was to do the actual repair work.

Delly got up to check on the soup she was making for them to eat. She was sharing what little she had with them. He could still see the twinges of sadness in her eyes whenever she glanced at his mother. Gale knew what it was like to lose a parent. He stood up, needing to take a walk, thinking perhaps she'd like to take one with him.

"Dells," Gale casually slipped his hands in pocket.

"Soup is nearly done," she took a small sip of the broth. "Would you mind passing me the salt."

Gale handed it to her.

She added a pinch to the pot, washed the spoon and then stirred the soup, before replacing the lid.

"Do you want to take a walk with me, for a bit?"

"Sure, as soon as we feed everyone." Delly didn't look at him, she turned her head over her shoulder. "Everyone go wash your hands, and that means you too, Andy."

"Awe," Andy groaned.

His mother followed up with, "Come along, young man. There shall be no dirty hands at the table. Come along, Posy."

Gale turned his attention to Delly and to the way her hair fell across her cheeks and the graceful arch of her neck, the way her cheeks were flushed, and the shape of her lips. She did this thing where she closed her eyes and breathed in the scents of the food she was about to serve. He loved how blissful she looked. Gale found himself wanting to sweep her bangs away from her forehead just to touch her.

"Would you mind putting the salt back," Delly held out the salt shaker in her hand.

Caught staring at her he cleared his throat, "Ah sure, sorry. The salt."

He put it away for her, then watched her set the table for everyone but herself. Last night she said she'd eaten when they arrived and he saw her down four glasses of water. He was sure she was starving because this morning all she had was a cup of tea with a splash of milk. Gale took a bowl and a spoon for her and set it next to his.

When she reached to drink a glass of water, he slipped his hand on top of the cup. "No, you're not drinking a cup of water instead of eating, Delly."

She turned red. When he wouldn't relent she whispered, "But Gale, there isn't enough."

"Then take some of mine," Gale couldn't help the way he growled, "You're too damned skinny!"

Her eyes widened and blinked in pure shock, her cheeks turned pink. Gale couldn't help but think of how pretty she looked. She swallowed several times and he couldn't help stare at the lovely curve of her neck, chin, the soft glow of her cheeks. His eyes traveled to her lips, he took a step toward her, but his brothers came bouncing into the room breaking the moment. Delly side-stepped him and began serving everyone a hearty portion. She dodged him, and Gale couldn't believe that another girl was doing that to him. Katniss did the same whenever she was angry with him, which lately was always.

Though with Delly it was different because all of her life she'd been told she was ugly. Delly truly believed she was hideous and unworthy to have someone love her. Katniss didn't give a flying dandelion how she looked. Katniss just didn't want anyone, period. Delly did and she deserved someone who cared about her, someone who respected her, loved her.

She quickly poured a bowl for her father and said, "I'll be right back. I'm going to bring this to my dad."

Gale watched her go, then he noticed she didn't put anything in the bowl he set out for her. She was going to get sick on him. He jammed his hands through his hair. "Mother-" He was going to curse, but his mother was watching him, "-of pearl, she drives me insane. I'll be right back."

He grabbed his coat and her coat and walked right out. He saw her as she was leaving her father's shop heading out to the snowy street.

"Dells," he called out to her as she blindly headed out. She walked briskly, so much so that not even his long legs could keep up. She blended into the crowd that was shopping on main street. But he caught sight of her when she headed past the Justice Building.

Gale ran with both of their coats in hand. The freezing wind bit at his skin and he wondered how she did it.

He caught up with her when she slowed down by the wooded path that led to the Hob near the train station. She stopped walking.

"Dells," he called as he reached her. She was shaking. "You're going to freeze to death." He rubbed her arms before slipping her coat around her shoulders.

"You need your coat too," her voice trembled. She reached up and slid his coat around his shoulders and his heart beat erratically in his chest. Her fingers rested on his chest when she finished buttoning him up.

"Let me take care of you, Dells," he tenderly said. Gale took her hands in his and blew into them. She was shaking. Taking the gloves she made him for Christmas, he slipped them on her hands. He also slipped his knit hat over her head before embracing her.

"Thank you."

Delly had a large personality, but she was diminutive in size. He had to bend over to properly embrace her. "Why did you run?"

"I was embarrassed," Delly muttered.

"Of what."

She stepped away from him. "The way you looked at me." Her eyes were cast down. To see her struggle with words just further made her appear cuter. "I just panicked, I didn't want you to look at me that way, like you cared."

"I do care, Dells." He cupped her face. "You're so brave."

"Please," Delly choked out.

"It's true. I do not think I could do what you did after your mom passed away. You miss her, but you carry on uplifting everyone else. If I experienced half of what you go through, I would go down a destructive path. I am amazed by you."

Tears fell from her eyes. "Gale, I am not any of those things."

He held her closer, pressing his forehead against hers. She felt incredibly good in his arms. She clung to him.

"You are, and I..." He wanted to say more but he got choked up. Leaning down he rubbed his nose against hers. Their lips were a breath apart.

She was about to speak when the roar of the unmistakable engine of the Peacekeepers all-terrain SJ-7's filled the air. Gale instinctively carried her off the road and into a small patch of evergreen bushes and pine trees. There were five of them. The SJ-7 were the heavy plated armored vehicles that were impenetrable. One had a ramming tool added to the front.

"Gale, the Hob. They're going toward the Hob!"

"Dells," Gale growled. He could see the concern on her face.

Delly screamed when they saw one of the Peacekeepers hurl something toward the old building. "NOOO!"

One minute she was in his arms, the next she was running toward the Hob. Gale chased after her, but not before an explosion threw them both to the ground.

"DELLY," Gale cried. He stood up. Smoke poured from the Hob. Coughing, he spotted her as she got up. He headed for her, as the ash began to fall around them. She stood on the road, a horrified look on her face as she watched what was happening at the Hob.

There were people pouring out, injured, frightened, scared. A row of Peacekeepers was waiting for them. They marched forward like machines inflicting punishment on those helpless souls.

Gale grabbed Delly, and hauled her up in his arms, away from the chaos. He ran with her fighting him off. "LET ME GO! JEB'S IN THERE!"

He could hear the roar of the all-terrain peacekeeping trucks approaching. He quickly ducked into a cluster of trees with her. He put her down and clamped his hand over her lips, as the trucks thundered by. He slowly let go of her and she tried to run. He held her and she struggled against him. She was hysterical and he needed to calm her down. "Delly stop," he ordered firmly, without yelling. "If they catch us we'll be good as dead. Do you understand?"

She stopped moving, her breathing harsh. "All those people," Delly muttered, her eyes overflowing with tears. He hated seeing that look on her face. He had to pull her away from the chaos and toward thinking about the living.

Gale pressed his forehead against hers, his arms loosening their grip. "You have to think about Andy. What would happen to Andy? Who is going to take care of him?"

She glanced up at him as fat tears fell down her face. Her body shook so badly she couldn't speak. "I'm going to get you out of here, okay."

The ash and the soot from the Hob covered the sky, making it dark. In the distance, they could hear the cries and shouts of the scared people. The sound of the weapons was the worst.

Gale took Delly's hand and led her through the district, ducking and hiding from the Peacekeepers that were out in droves. She was silently holding onto his hand, as they crept from the square where the reapings were held. When they made it past, Gale ran, pulling Delly behind him. He needed to put enough distance between them and the Hob.

Her breaths were labored, but she ran by his side until they reached the town. Peacekeepers were forcing people into their homes. They were separating the Seam and the Merchants. Delly took his hat off and rammed it on top his head and pulled the collar of his jacket up before they walked through the streets toward her house.

When they arrived they were met by their families.

"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?" Mr. Cartwright yelled. He took Delly by the arms and shook her.

"Titus Cartwright, now is not the time for hysterics," Hazelle said calmly, removing a weeping Delly. "They are both home and my boy took care of her."

"One hour...they were gone," Mr. Cartwright said. "It's chaos out there. Anything could have happened."

"Nothing did and we have to be grateful." His mom glanced at him as she held Delly. "What happened?"

"It's gone," Delly whispered brokenly, "The Hob, they burned it down. All of those people are dead, Fred, Jessa, Carl, Yvette," her lips trembled as she spoke, "Jeb, they are all gone."

"The Peacekeepers came in droves," Gale rubbed his face. "There was nothing we could do. I grabbed Dells and hauled her out of there."

His mom hugged Delly who was weeping silently. "You are frozen, and in shock. Gale get some hot water going, she's going to need a hot bath. Andy make sure these three don't get into trouble."

"Yes ma'am," Andy whispered from his seat.

"Mr. Cartwright, why don't you help Gale with the pots. Your daughter has had a frightful shock, and she needs to rest. Since we're not going anywhere for a while, I'll make sure of it."

Mr. Cartwright nodded.

Hours later Delly woke up in her bed. It was night out, the house, despite being full, was quiet. Gale's mother had tended to her like she was one of her own. Delly hadn't had a proper hot bath in years. They couldn't afford the extra cost of hot water, so they showered with cold water.

It felt decadent but so necessary. The bath was what she needed to calm her chaotic state. Hazelle brushed and combed her hair until she'd fallen asleep. She didn't recall how she got in bed, but she was pretty sure Gale had been the culprit. He was the strongest one.

Thinking of Gale caused her to blush from head to toe when she recalled how she behaved earlier. She acted like a blithering idiot before Gale and all because he told her he thought she was too skinny.

Sitting up in bed, she hugged her knees to her chest. He was only worried about her health because they were friends, but what Darius said, and how he told her various times that she wasn't ugly caused her to begin to like him. Gale was wickedly handsome, and from the rumors about, he certainly knew his way around a woman's bed. Delly was sure that when he told her he cared for her before the chaos began it was purely platonic. After all, Gale was into Katniss, even though she knew Katniss was clearly into Peeta. They were an item, and Delly was one of the few people who knew it.

She sighed heavily. Things in her life were spiraling out of control.

However, that didn't excuse her childish behavior when she was serving lunch. Maybe it was because she hadn't eaten in three days, or perhaps that her brother had nightmares seven days in a row. All this built up within her and burst at the wrong time.

Stupidly, she allowed her girly feelings to take over. She didn't want to see that 'you-are-only-my friend-look' on his face. That rejection was the worst. She'd been through it with Rye. After that, Delly saw the look of pure adoration Rye had whenever he saw Madge. She recognized that look on Peeta's face every time he saw Katniss.

She stood and picked up the broken shard of mirror she used. Her image was still the same. Her face wasn't as full as normal, but she was still pale. Her hair was not straight and flowing like the other girls. It was voluminous and curled. She was still plain ol' Delly.

Sitting back down, she took a pair of pliers that she used at Jeb's place. Tears filled her eyes at his memory. She missed her friend.

Seeing all of the violence caused her to think about the last time she had seen him. Jeb knew he was facing an uncertain future, even though Darius told him not to open his stall. All of those people did. Even if they paid the ultimate price, they all refused to let the Capitol dictate how they should live their lives.

They were brave, braver than she was. They lived their lives the way they wanted and it inspired Delly to view her circumstance differently. Yes, they were poor, they lost family to the Games, to sickness, but nonetheless, the joy that came in living life to the fullest outweighed all of the sadness.

That also meant facing her fears head-on. Taking a calm soothing breath, Delly needed to talk to Gale. Slipping on a large sweater over her nightgown, she opened her door. As quietly as she could, she crept from her room down the hall to the living room where Gale slept. Besides her bed, the sofa was the only bed in the house that was long enough to fit his long frame.

She whispered his name gently to see if he was awake.

"Dells," Gale sleepily rubbed his face. "Is there something wrong?"

"No, I just wanted to talk to you."

Gale sat up and patted the space next to him. Delly sat down, but left space between them.

He yawned. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to apologize for my irrational behavior."

"We went over this," his voice was gruff from sleep, but it was tender. "You don't have to apologize for your actions. You're allowed to act human."

"But still." She looked down and picked at her sweater.

"Dells, you're under a lot of pressure. You're the head of the household. Your father tries, but he's stuck inside of his own head. He doesn't see how you struggle with everything by yourself." Gale leaned his head back, spreading his arm wide, his hand rested on her shoulder. "I don't know how you do it. I mean it's me and my mom and we can't make ends meet. You have the house bills, the business expenses, the taxes for both, plus you're still paying off the doctor bills from your mom's illness, not to mention Andy's medical expenses."

"You too have a lot of responsibilities, but I don't see you running out of the house crying and carrying on."

"I do it in the woods with Katniss, but sometimes I think she wishes I'd shut up."

Delly chuckled, "Same with Peeta." She sighed, then took a serious tone of voice, "If we are going to continue to be friends, I don't want you to feel as if you have to take care of me. I'm not a withering flower."

"Believe me, I know you're not." He pulled her closer to him. "You gave Jackson a mouthful."

"Seriously though, you have enough with trying to feed your family to try to take care of mine. I can make it on my own."

"Dells." He maneuvered her onto his lap. His forehead pressed up against hers.

"Nope, you're not going to do that pouty thing Posy does to get away with naughty things."

"I do not pout." Gale scowled at her.

"Nor am I intimidated by that growling thing you do with your face."

His eyes sparkled as a mischievous grin spread across his face.

"I mean business, Gale Hawthorne." Delly threatened. "I'm going to take care of my family the best way I can and you better concentrate on yours."

"Does that mean I can't speak to you or visit?"

Delly rolled her eyes at his hurt puppy look. She punched him the arm. "We're friends, not bitter divorcees."

He chuckled. "You're too much."

"I need to make my point across," Delly remained firm. "Stop, if you and your family want to come and visit they can." She poked him in the chest. "But don't come over here under the guise of friendship to spy and secretly do things for me."

"Okay, I promise. No more interfering."

"Good, I'm glad. I get it. I haven't eaten in a while, but don't try that macho stuff with me cause I hate it, and while we're at it, women in general, loathe high handed behavior." Delly got off his lap, watching the way he looked flustered that she was not on top of him. She wanted to make sure he was listening. "Most women want to be treated with respect. We want our opinions heard, and we want a partner, not another child to take care of or to be a pet."

Gale chuckled, "A pet?"

"What you would call a trophy wife." Delly crossed her arms across her chest.

"Oh," Gale said sitting up.

"Not that I will ever be a trophy wife," Delly muttered as much to herself as it was directed to Gale, "but I do want someone who I can talk to and someone I can listen to. I want to make decisions with them. Like children. I want to have children, even with the Games and the Reapings. I want to show that child that no matter how bad it gets there is happiness in the world."

Gale gave her a puzzled look. "What about the bad stuff?"

"Like what happened today?"

Gale nodded.

Delly glanced down at his hands, somehow their hands became intertwined. His hands were rough like hers, larger and engulfed her colder ones. She never held hands with Peeta, not since they were in grade school and were forced to hold hands to walk across the street. It was odd but comforting. She guessed that this was a special friendship where they could hold each other for companionship or solace.

Sharing with him was part of the healing.

"They didn't die in vain. Jeb lived his life like he wanted to. He knew the risks, all of the people in the Hob today, lived their lives to the fullest." Gale opened his mouth to speak but she put her fingers on his lips. They stared at the other before Delly removed them. "It hurts to know all of them are gone, beaten, tortured and killed. But they gave me the courage to not be scared of the Capitol or the Peacekeepers anymore. Today the Peacekeepers terrorized our home and tried to instill fear in us. But I refuse to live my life in fear. I refuse to let them win."

Delly snuck a peek a Gale whose gray eyes looked molten as they stared at her. She blushed, "What?"

"I don't know how you do it?"

"Do what?"

"Take a negative day and spin it into something positive."

Delly smiled at him, then said, "It's what I do."

"Delly, how many children do you want?"

"As many as this house can hold. What about you?"

"I've wanted a family for years, to hold my own kid. But I've never seem to find a girl who likes me for me. Except for Katniss."

Delly cleared her throat. "What if Katniss isn't the one for you?"

"Why would you say that?"

Delly shrugged. "Look at me and Peeta. On paper we make sense, but actually, we're too alike. And frankly, we tend to fight a lot."

"You and Mellark?"

"Yes," Delly yawned. "All the time, like cats and dogs." Gale made space for her to sit close to him, and she nestled by his side.

Gale wrapped a blanket over them.

"I told you we're alike. He thinks I'm bossy. I tell him," she yawned again. "I'm a girl who knows what she wants."

"Do you?"

"Yes," she yawned again. Sleepily she breathed, "I just want someone to love me."

Delly fell asleep and Gale let her. He brought her closer, needing her warmth. Her last words caused a flip-flopping feeling in his gut. He tenderly placed a small kiss on her forehead. Once more he thought Delly deserved to be loved and cherished, plus he amended respected.

That meant he needed to respect her wish for space. She was right, of course. He needed to stop trying to do things for her. The reality was he couldn't help himself. He just liked helping her. He liked being around her. He liked Delly, in what way he didn't understand. Nonetheless, she wanted for him to stop because logically he did have to concentrate on his family.

Yet as her head lay on his shoulder, a thought occurred to him; Delly was family. Correction, she was more than just family. Though he could not put into words what he felt, it didn't scare him. He leaned in protectively, despite her request. He would keep an eye on her, send his brothers, if necessary. After all, she did say they could visit.

With this thought, he fell asleep.

In the morning their parents found them that way. Mr. Cartwright said calmly. "We have to talk."

"I'm sure we do," Hazelle said. Both sat at the table and discussed the future.