A huge thanks to Norbertsmom my lovely beta and friend who combed through this chapter three times. Yes, three times. She makes me a better writer and I'm so grateful for her insight. Thank you for all for your support, reading, reviewing, following, and for all the kudos...your comments fuel my imagination and for that I once more humbly thank you...PS I don't own the Hunger Games

Ah, the Citizen is causing problems left and right, Delly has requested that Gale hold back and let her find her own voice. Madge has a wisely held back in her pursuit of rebellion because of the craziness in the district. Jackson...well he's still a bully, meanwhile, Corky is preparing the nest and finding the perfect den because he's going to become a papa-squirrel, while Katniss and Peeta miss each other terribly...don't you think its time to reunite them

February was brutal. There were blizzards that lasted three and four days. People were glad for the rough weather as it protected them from the Peacekeepers. Today, the restrictions were finally lifted which meant school started back up. The Mayor made a proclamation, and instead of only two days, the people of the Seam were allowed to now purchase from Merchants Wednesdays through Saturdays. However, the restrictions on the Merchants still remained. They still needed permission from the Mayor's office in order to make deliveries. They had to take a sobriety test if stopped by the Peacekeepers.

With the Restrictions gone, even nature relented in its arctic attack. It was one of the nicer days and everyone was in school. The topic of conversation amongst the typical teenagers was not the lifting of many of the restrictions the and destruction of the Hob which could have been worse had it happened in the fall when the Hob was at its peak. It was teenage angst and romance. To the kids, the adults had talked about the Hob so much they didn't want to hear about it, although none of them dismissed the heartbreak.

The brutality was shocking. The biggest offense was breaking curfew. Anyone caught a mere second after the hour, was punished to the full extent of the law. They were cruelly left out in the elements, many died.

Food supplies were not as plentiful at the end of February as they were in previous months. Everyone, though, tried to make their meager supplies last, and Tesserae became the lifeblood of many. The demand for coal was at an all-time high.

School was the salvation to many parents.

Parents were happy to send their children to school, and the kids were frankly glad to get out of the house. They were tired of looking at their parents or siblings faces, happy to have social interactions with their peers. The couples that were courting were happily reuniting in hidden corners. Normally the school staff would pry them apart when they perused such open displays of affection, but being that these teenagers hadn't seen each other in weeks, because of the weather, most of the teachers did not bother them.

Three grades sat inside the gym during lunch today to conserve energy; usually, they would be in separate areas. It was rumored there was a section of the school in their wing that did not have heat.

It was a madhouse of raging hormones and teenage angst, and for once even Katniss was acutely aware of the environment. Her own body seemed awake, tuned into one boy, Peeta Mellark.

Katniss and Madge were sitting at a table off to the far corner. No one really bothered them since they were not as popular as Peeta or Gale. Both boys were holding court with their large group of friends. Gale was surrounded by his buddies and some of the Seam girls who secretly wanted to be with him.

Katniss looked up to find Peeta was in a similar circle, just the group were all Merchant. Everyone was talking about the Hob.

"We lost a lot of good people. My father didn't know about the assault on the Hob, but even if he had known, I doubt he would have tried to stop it."

"Madge, you know your dad is in a tough position. It must be hard for him to allow these things to happen to the people he's known all of his life. He's most likely trying to protect you and your mom."

"They've been watching us, him, everything we do is under the microscope. They even put listening devices in our house. We've all been on edge."

"At least your father managed to change many of the laws put in place after the Hob, and he even managed to lift a few of them." Katniss was glad the Mayor had fought hard for the Seam. It was a relief as miners and their families could now go into town to purchase goods without the pressure of a time restraint. It meant she could go into town and trade her sister's goat cheese and eggs as well as her mother's herbs. With no apothecary, the correct medicine was unavailable to the townsfolk for many common illnesses. The doctor was worthless in Lavender's opinion and he charged exorbitant prices for medicine that could easily be replicated by her expertise of herbs and roots.

"He did, didn't he," Madge gave Katniss a small smile.

Katniss glanced up, having seen first hand the cruelty of the Capitol administered by the Peacekeepers. She and her mother agreed that she should stay home the night the Hob was destroyed. All night long her mother dealt with the casualties of the fire. Many died from the smoke, the burns, and from the beatings. Her sister Primrose pitched in to help, but it only made her nightmares worse.

Katniss focused her time spent at home helping her sister cope. It was silently agreed that her nightly ventures to see Peeta stop, for her safety. Seeing him in school was a true treat. "How's your mother?"

"Hiding behind, well, you know…"

"If you need my mom, let me know."

"Thanks, Katniss." Madge sat back. "That kid, Sharpie keeps on staring this way."

Katniss frowned, "Who?"

"Jackson Sharpie, he's staring at you."

Katniss' frown deepened.

"Jackson and his cousins, Stephen and Carlton are bullies. I don't trust them."

Katniss didn't bother looking up. This morning Jackson was bothering Delly Cartwright's little brother outside of school. Prim went to go defend him. Katniss watched from afar. There were battles her sister needed to fight on her own. Delly's brother was one of her mother's patients and Prim always fought for the underdog.

Katniss hung back until the moment Jackson said something nasty to Prim. Katniss walked right up to the kid and pushed him up against the wall. She was furious and her look scared him. He ran, bullies like him were spineless when their authority was questioned. Currently, Jackson was on her short list of least favorite people. He was trying to intimidate her, after all, she did elbow him in the throat this morning. She picked up the silver butter knife Madge brought with her lunch and stabbed the table forcefully.

Madge's eyes went round then she lowered her head.

"Has he stopped?"

"OMG yeah, he turned white as a sheet, that was perfect!" Madge tried not to laugh.

"Good," Katniss said. A small curve hit her lips as she sighed and refocused in on her task at hand.

"What are you doing?" Madge asked.

"Nothing." Katniss did not even bother looking up. She hoped Madge would go back to the book she was reading. She had decided to allow Peeta into her heart. It was a scary thing, but her mother was right. She would rather let herself fall in love with him than to shut herself out and never know what it was like.

Madge tried to peek at what Katniss was doing. "Uh, it looks like you're doing something."

"Drop it, Madge."

Today was the first day in weeks where they were both in school at the same time. Peeta was sitting with his friends, but every once in a while she would catch him staring at her. There was such longing in his eyes that it made her palms become sweaty.

"I don't know if I want to drop it, Everdeen."

"Madge, drop it."

"Nope, I'm curious; I've never seen you so dedicated!"

Katniss covered her paper and snuck a look at Peeta.

Peeta looked very appealing in those dark pants and that red sweater of his. Katniss could understand why the girls flocked to him. He wasn't like Gale who had that bad boy attitude, which intrigued women. Peeta was the boy next door. The one that looked innocent, but when his eyes gazed at her, she felt tingly all over. Katniss knew his thoughts were that of the typical boy his age, but unlike the average boy, Peeta was always a gentleman giving her the space she needed to find her own way. She shivered a little when he stared at her because of the kindness and warmth she found in the depths of his blue eyes.

She'd caught him staring today and she pretended not to see him. But she couldn't deny the way her body reacted. It became warm and gooey. She yearned to be held in his arms again.

"I'm trying to write a letter." Katniss decided to make the first move. She toyed with the paper, as Madge tried to look over her arms. She reread what she wrote, decided it was junk, erased it, then rewrote the next sentence. Her pencil flew across the paper.

"You're writing Peeta a letter."

"Yes, wait, how'd you know?" She looked up.

"You addressed it to him. Besides you've been making moon eyes at him and he at you all day long."

"Madge," Katniss said scandalized.

"Admit it, Everdeen. You like him."

"Don't make a big deal about it," Katniss whispered desperately.

"Well, what are you telling him?"

Katniss slid the paper to Madge.

Dear Peeta,

How are you doing? I am sorry I've not been able to see you.

This winter is shaping up to be the longest and worst winter on record.

My family and I are sleeping in the living area in front of the fireplace.

I am guessing even the bakery must be cold at night now.

I am preoccupied about our mutual friends Mr. Corky Squirrel and Shirley.

I know squirrels do not leave their dens when the weather is bad.

Is he well? Are you feeding him?

Can you meet me so that we can discuss how he's doing?

"A squirrel you're writing to Peeta about a squirrel?" Madge was aghast. "What type of love letter is this?"

Katniss scowled and took the letter away from Madge. "You wouldn't understand."

"Good grief, I don't think I want to." Madge sat back.

Katniss continued to write.

Madge continued to read but then she put her book down, flustered. "Okay I have to know, does Gale know about you two, does your mother?"

"My mom knows and so does Prim, but Gale is clueless."

Madge whistled. "Imagine that. Gale, the great trapper doesn't know that his friend is with someone else."

"Madge, I swear you're just as bad as Gale. Sometimes I think you two deserve each other."

Madge sat up and twirled her hair. "You do?"

"Well yeah, if he'd simply stop sticking his nose in the air about the Merchants and see we are all looked at the same way by the Capitol. Look at what happened to the Danielsons. Their father was whipped because he couldn't prove that he bought the knit hat his wife wore. Not to mention Reeves from the Seam who was caught with a wooden car he carved for the baby."

"Gale is a bit of a blockhead sometimes."

"Yeah, but he is also a good guy. It's just, he so sensitive." Katniss said rolling her eyes.

"Please invite me to the show when Gale realizes that you're not into him."

"Don't worry, he doesn't like me that way, thank goodness." Katniss sighed tapping the tip of her eraser on the paper.

Madge saw the addition of two lines on the letter. "Where are you going to meet Peeta?"

"That's the problem," Katniss could feel a blush coming onto her face. "I don't know?"

"You can meet him in the janitorial closet. You know the room between the boy's and the girl's bathrooms near the little kid's wing."

Katniss slumped in her chair. "That's always locked."

"Well, I can ask the janitor to let me borrow the key."

"Madge, we can get in trouble for that," Katniss whispered.

"Nah, he's a nice man," Madge said.

"How do you know the janitor?"

Madge shrugged holding up her Romeo and Juliet book. "I know a lot of people."

"Oh." Katniss sat back, surprised. Madge was always so quiet. She always seemed so shy.

"So you in?"

"Are you sure?"

"Katniss, you and Peeta are the only ones in this entire school who need to see each other."

"Okay," Katniss sighed.

"Look, finish the letter and I'll get the key from the janitor. I'll slip Peeta the letter, then you can meet him there during the last period of class. Just ask for a bathroom pass half an hour into our class."

Katniss nodded and wrote it down, then gave Madge the letter. "Good luck."

Madge shrugged and stood. She slipped the letter into her book. "Pft, I'm a pro at this. See you in class."

Madge walked away.

"Hey, Catnip."

"Gale," Katniss sat back. Gale looked thinner. "How's it going?"

"Great," Gale said sitting down. "I'd thought she'd never leave."

"Gale," Katniss rolled her eyes.

"I know she's your friend, but there's something about her that rubs me the wrong way."

"Let me guess, it's because she's a Merchant."

"Pft," Gale muttered, "It has nothing to do with that. I just don't like her, that's all."

Katniss found herself frowning.

"So how goes it? Is your mom doing okay?"

"We're okay, but we're a lot more cautious nowadays. I was only a few feet away when the Hob went down."

"What?" Katniss was shocked. "I thought you were not going to the Hob anymore."

"At the time, I was trying to get a friend away from the scene." Gale sighed.

Katniss didn't know he was there, lately, they hadn't been speaking. She didn't even know how to take the news. Gale was central to his family. She was about to speak when she heard his stomach growl.

"Have you eaten, wanna share?" Katniss asked, sliding her container of dried jerky, hard boil egg, and pickle.

"Thanks," Gale said taking a piece of jerky. "I haven't eaten yet. I forgot my lunch at home this morning as I was trying to get Rory out of bed. Can you believe it? All these weeks complaining that he's bored and today when he can get out, he didn't want to get up."

Katniss smirked. "Rory is funny."

"I don't know what to do with that kid," Gale said as he finished up the food. "Thanks, Catnip, listen I wanted to invite you Vick's birthday. If the weather is good we're going to have a small dinner, nothing big, but I figured you'd like to come."

"Okay, I'll let my mother know."

Gale sat there staring at her. He smiled softly, not at her, but at someone over her shoulder. Katniss turned her head to see it was Delly who smiled back at him. She was weirded out by the way he was gazing at Delly. She'd never seen him look at anyone like that. She hoped Gale wasn't playing with Delly. His attention turned from Delly back to her, and his eyes swept her body. She squirmed in her chair, not liking the way he scanned her.

"There's something different about you, Catnip."

Katniss looked down at herself. "I've lost weight."

"No, it's not that. I've seen you way skinnier than this. You look different." Gale leaned over to her, his face frowning.

Katniss backed away. "What are you doing?"

"You're wearing your hair down."

The bell rang.

"I have to go to class," Katniss said, collecting her things quickly and running out of the gym.

That interaction with Gale left her shaken. He was the only one who noticed she wore her hair down. She walked into class and sat down. This was the class none of the Merchants had to take, Mining Safety.

Katniss watched the video, knowing she would once more reunite with Madge in the following class. She was so nervous about the plan, her legs shook throughout the short movie.

When the bell rang she shot through the halls to the next class, wanting to reach it with plenty of time so that she could speak to her friend.

"Hey," Madge called out.

Katniss stopped in her tracks.

Madge slid through the crowds without anyone noticing her. It amazed Katniss that Madge was the Mayor's daughter, yet no one else ever befriended her.

"Hey," Katniss greeted.

"Okay, he got the note."

Katniss was in awe. "How did you do it?"

"I gave him my copy of Romeo and Juliet. I told him to check out the balcony scene, it's where I hid the note."

Katniss squeaked, "Really?"

"Katniss, Peeta is a bright boy. He opened up that book right before our class and read that letter faster than you can blink."

"So?" She was anxious, and she felt she was going to burst.

"He gave me back the book." Madge wiggled her eyebrows as she held the book. "He said it was a fascinating chapter."

Katniss grabbed the book and scowled at Madge.

Madge taunted, "You're such a girl."

"Shut up Madge. I don't want my tough girl reputation ruined." Katniss growled, making Madge snort.

They entered the class and Katniss couldn't contain her shaking hands. They were going to watch another video today. It was on personal hygiene.

Katniss sighed and opened the book. The key was nestled inside of it.

Her sweaty palms could barely hold the book as she took the note from the inside and opened it.

It was a picture of the squirrel in its den and a note underneath letting her know he couldn't wait to discuss their mutual friend. Katniss scowled to hide the smile that blossomed in her heart.

It was hard waiting for the last period. But when it came she was beyond nervous. She was wound up tighter than a clock. Doubt, fear, and anxiety clogged up her throat. At precisely a half hour into the class, she asked to for the bathroom pass.

Walking out into the hallway, she practically ran toward her rendezvous. She passed the classes, most students looked like they were already bored to be in school. Katniss shook her head. People were talking about a bigger storm that was headed their way. She wasn't sure, but she was not going to make if she didn't get to see Peeta.

She slowed down as she neared her destination, anxious that he wouldn't show up. And then she saw that he was walking too. His face lit up at the sight of her. Her lips curved into a soft smile. They quickly walked to the closet and she urgently used the key to unlock the door. His hand was on the small of her back as his body hovered over hers as if he was protecting her. She opened the door and they entered inside, Peeta locked the door and instantly they came together hugging.

Katniss soaked in his scent, his warmth. She did not want to let go.

"I've missed you," Peeta whispered as he held her tight.

She pressed herself closer to him in the darkened room. She pushed her hair behind her ear. "Me too."

An electric bolt ran through her entire body as she felt his lips press against the sensitive skin of her neck. His soft blond hair tickled her ears but she did not care. She was absorbing it all. His hands swept up her back to cup her head as his hot breath ghosted a path from her neck to her cheek. His forehead pressed up against hers.

"I'm so glad you're okay." He pulled back to see her. "I thought you might have been at the Hob."

"No, I stopped going a while back. Darius, and believe it or not Rye, warned us something bad was going to happen."

He hugged her once more and held her closer. For the first time in her life, Katniss wanted to be kissed. She wanted his kiss. It was a shocking need, but a welcome one.

"So you finally admit that it's Corky you been coming to see after all?"

"Yeah, his furry little body makes me want to gobble him up."

Peeta chuckled then smiled lazily. "I don't think he will appreciate that? Though I have to say he and Shirley are very plump."

"YUM!" Katniss could not stop staring at his lips. Her body was screaming for her to plant one on him. She stepped in, pressing her nose to his neck and he gripped her tightly. They stood holding each other soaking in the ability to be connected once again.

"I've been worried about you and your family. Are you eating enough? Are you warm enough? Do you have enough wood for the fireplace?" He examined her face. "You haven't been sleeping?" His finger gently traced the fine smudges underneath her eyes.

"It hasn't been easy, but we're okay. Prim hasn't been sleeping well. She's been having nightmares about the reaping. They've gotten worse after the Hob."

He tipped up her head with his hands as he once again cupped her face. He was concerned. The weather and the threat of the Peacekeepers had kept them apart and he was afraid she had lost interest in him.

"Is there anything I can do? I know the first year is the worst. I couldn't sleep at all my first time." His thumb gently caressed her temple.

His response was such departure from Gale's angry rant. "Thank you, my mom said she's going to give Prim some chamomile tea, and if necessary, she can sleep during the day."

"Okay, just know I'm here if you need anything."

"Just seeing you is good."

Peeta hugged her tightly and she rubbed her face against his chest like a cat rubbing their scent on an item that belonged to them.

Katniss confessed, "My mom knows about us."

"She does?" Peeta was surprised.

"Yeah, she's not mad though. She wants us to take our friendship slow." Katniss blushed and bit her lips.

"Okay Katniss, we'll take it slow," Peeta swore.

"Thank you."

Time was running out but neither one wanted to leave.

"Before I forget, come to my locker. I have some bread for you and your family."

"But I have nothing to trade you for it."

"Are you kidding me, you wanted to see me. You made my whole day better. I swear if I have to play one more game of charades with Rye I'm going to go crazy. Rye's idea of charades is to make everything into boobs."

Katniss couldn't help but laugh. "Okay, okay I'll accept. Does your mom know? Will you get in trouble?"

"Nope, cross my boob." Peeta grinned.

"You're corny," Katniss chuckled.

"Now you know what it's like to spend weeks trapped in a house with Rye."

They slipped out of the closet and quickly went to his locker then to hers. Before they left each other, on impulse Katniss leaned up on tiptoe and kissed Peeta on the cheek. She turned pink then ran down the hallway.

Peeta touched his face then grinned. The next time he saw her he was going to kiss her.