Hi All sorry for the late post, thank you for following the story...and for really loving it. Just as quick thank you to Norbertsmom my beta and friend. PS I do not own the hunger games.

For all of you who are wondering about Corky...well...

Corky leaped from one branch to the next. The weather was crazy; it was supposed to be spring by now but the air still smelled like winter. All of nature was in a state of chaos. The larger animals like bears were weak and starving. Winter birds were heading south. Even the creatures of the water were traveling south. Corky was glad he'd chosen Peeta as his pet. He was secure for now and so was his mate.

Presently, it was his mate Corky was most worried about. This morning she was restless. Her snout was dry and her eyes were glassy. He'd gone out to gather the bark from her favorite tree, hoping it would soothe and calm her. Finding the tree was hard as many were hidden under mounds of snow.

He had to dig to find his treasure. He was relieved when he found it. The sharp wind cut through his fur. He clutched the bark in his mouth as he found the small opening that led indoors. He made his way through the walls of the bakery to his den. When he arrived Shirley was groaning. No, she was plain out growling. Her little paw clutched his tail as he approached and Corky felt the pain of her pull all the way to his teeth. Her eyes were bugged out and her stomach rippled. He dropped the bark.

Something was wrong, something was very wrong. Shirley growled again, her little paws touched her rounded belly. They needed help. Corky ran from their snug den. He wasn't sure what was happening but he knew he had to get his pet. Peeta would surely know what to do.

He ran in between the walls down to the bakery. He spotted his pet speaking to a girl who looked like his pet's mate except she had blond hair. Mr. Mellark walked into the back. On another day Corky would have come up with some sort of scheme to tease the older human. Today he needed to be serious; something was wrong with his mate and she needed help. He hid and watched from below, waiting for his pet's parent to leave. It gave him the opportunity to check out the human girl.

"Prim, your goat cheese is great. I love experimenting with it." Peeta held the cylinder in his hands. He asked, "How much?"

"Oh hello Primrose, how are you?" His father grinned and pointed to the canister Peeta held in his hands. "Is that your famous goat cheese?"

"I am fine Mr. Mellark," Prim politely said, "and yes it is."

"Where is your sister?" his father asked.

"Katniss is trading across the street at the grocers. She'll be here momentarily."

Peeta couldn't help the warmth that crept up his neck, as unwanted forbidden thoughts crossed his mind. He cleared his throat. "I was thinking of ordering more of her cheese to come up with more recipes."

"Those goat cheese and apple tarts sold like hot cakes." His father boasted. "My son blended the remainder with herbs and sold it with some specialty scones and we made a mint with the Peacekeepers." Mr. Mellark rubbed his hands.

"Supplies are becoming scarcer and I need to make do with the locally sourced goods."

"I think this is all due to the weather. I've never seen it like this. Yes, it has been cold in the spring but never like this, where the snow doesn't stop falling. Though, Mrs. Brooks, Boudicca's grandmother told me stories as a boy. She said before the Great War that broke up the States and brought on the dark days there was a year without a summer."

Primrose raised an eyebrow and repeated, "A year without a summer?"

There would have been a time where his father's stories about Great-grandmother Brooks would've been taken lightly. Though with the weather the way it was Peeta was more receptive to the story.

"She said her grandmother had learned in school."

"They had schools way back when?" Prim blinked and wide-eyed, "I thought schools didn't exist back then."

Peeta could see Katniss influence in Primrose. Katniss's baby sister was extremely smart but she didn't have that cynicism that came with the knowledge that there were more bad things than good in the world.

"Of course they had schools before the Great War. The books you read in school, like those books written by scholars existed before the Great War. It was during the dark time that education broke down and it was up to parents to teach their children. Mrs. Brooks was educated by her Great-Grandmother."

"It's important to know the basics like reading, writing, and arithmetic. But other subjects like history, science, physical education, and the arts are also important," Peeta mentioned.

"Education has always been very important. Mrs. Brooks told me there was even schooling for the trade jobs. Everyone was trained for the profession of their choice and came from all walks of life." His father smiled gently at Prim.

"So how did this year without a summer happen?" Prim asked as she sat down on a stool.

"Mrs. Brooks said it was an ecological accident. There were many particles in the atmosphere and it prevented the sun from heating up the earth." His father sat across Prim. "I don't know what she meant by particles, but I know there was a great deal of pollution due to the unsafe industrial practices."

"Maybe it was ash from the mines," Prim piped up.

"Possibly, a great amount of ash in the air could contribute to an ecological disaster. All I know is Mrs. Brooks told me many died and crops didn't grow. She said the temperatures got so cold people would freeze in seconds without proper winter gear, and livestock was found frozen in the fields. It even stopped transportation."

"Did all the animals die?" Prim asked naively.

"Those with barns would bring in as many as they could. They added belly stoves to the barns to keep them warm. They had the youngest tending to the animals, take them outside in a fenced area and brought them back in as soon as the weather got bad."

"It was that bad?" Prim asked.

"Mrs. Brook told me the poorer folk would bring their animals inside, made a room for them so that they could survive." His father got a faraway look. "She said during those days people banded together to survive. She said the government would shut down the streets and wouldn't allow people to leave their homes."

"Do you think it will get that cold now?" Prim rubbed her shoulders.

"I don't know, but if it does you and your family are more than welcome to stay here with us," his father offered.

"EUGENE!" His mother's voice sounded like the sharp shrill of the alarm bell at school.

"Coming," his dad's voice changed from the gentle kind voice he was using with Primrose to a harsher tone. He grabbed a tray of fresh pastries. "Off to work I go."

With his dad gone Peeta focused in on the cheese. "So I am willing to pay your price, especially for such an excellent product."

Up on the rafters, Corky was glad the parental unit had gone away. The girl seemed trustworthy, like his pet. She was pure just like Peeta, but she was also astute, like his mate. Corky thought about Shirley perhaps this girl could help. Corky made his way down to his pet.

"What do you think?" Peeta waited to hear if Primrose would accept his price.

"Peeta, there is a squirrel in the bakery." Prim pointed over his shoulder.

Peeta glanced over his shoulder and there was Corky gripping his little paws together, he squeaked and pointed upstairs.

"I think he wants us to follow him?" Prim whispered.

"Corky what's wrong?" Peeta opened his hand and Corky jumped inside. "Is it Shirley?"

"Who's Shirley?"

"His mate, she's going to have babies." Corky jumped out of his hand and back on the shelf.

"Oh, then, by all means, lead the way. She's going to need help." Prim stopped sounding like a child and transformed into a capable healer.

"Dad, I'll be right back," Peeta shouted.

"Okay," his father yelled from the front.

Corky took off in front of them. Peeta and Prim followed behind. They reached his bedroom and they found Shirley on the floor of his room crying, her little face contorted in pain.

"Okay Peeta, I am going to need some warm water and some material, something that you will not mind getting dirty."

"Prim are you sure you can do this?"

"I've helped dogs, cats, and a guinea pig give birth," Prim said gently, dropping to her knees in front of Shirley. Corky was holding her little paw. Prim took a magnifying glass out of her pocket. "Oh, she's nearly there I can see a little furry head."

Peeta didn't hesitate to run out of the room to get the warm water. As much as he loved Shirley and Corky, there were some things he did not need to know. He quickly made his way. He wasn't sure what a guinea pig was, but Peeta knew Shirley was in good hands. He ran and got a bowl of warm water from the bathroom. He brought the bowl inPrim was sitting on her legs watching Shirley give birth. He grabbed one of his oldest shirts, one with holes and tossed it at Prim.

"Here comes the first one," Prim said excitedly.

Peeta closed his eyes when he heard Shirley squealing and squeaking loudly. He felt the pain of her cries deeply in his gut. Her suffering was mirrored on Corky's face who was worriedly holding Shirley's paw.

Prim calmly carried a small round little ball in her hand and cleaned it off gently with the shirt and warm water.

"Peeta why don't you wait outside, make sure my sister hasn't arrived yet."

Peeta nodded and headed downstairs. He washed his hands three times. Looking at his station, he tapped his hands on the board. He was nervous, and he decided to focus his attention on making bread. He laid the ingredients out and had just put the batches to rest when Prim came downstairs.

"Congratulations, Shirley gave birth to two beautiful squirrels. She is fine and Corky looks like he doesn't know what to do with himself. I don't know the genders yet but in a few weeks time, you'll be able to name them. You're going to have to feed them while Corky is going to be stuck to Shirley's side while she recuperates and takes care of the babies."

There was a knock at the door. Peeta opened the door and his mouth went dry at the sight of Katniss. "Hey," he greeted and was rewarded by watching her face turned bright red, a sign she was as nervous as he was.

"Hi Peeta," she sounded breathy and his heart rate tripled.

"Hi Katniss," Prim breezed by. "Don't forget to feed them and I've got two great names, Timmy and Suzy." Prim went outside.

"What is she talking about?" Katniss was curious. Peeta grinned before he kissed her. All questions flew out of her mind. When their lips touched her heart fluttered and she wished she would have the opportunity to see him tonight. The weather was keeping them apart. Her lashes fluttered open to gaze into his beautiful blue eyes.

"See you soon?"

She felt the warmth growing from within her chest and spreading to the innermost parts of her body. "If the weather permits." Katniss left, a silly little smile on her face.

"Why are you smiling?" Prim asked.

"Nothing," Katniss rubbed her sisters head.

As Katniss walked by she did not notice the shadow lurking in the alleyway. The Citizen waited until the path was clear, before sneaking around. As the lair loomed the Citizen froze. Something was not right. The Citizen had a sixth sense that allowed for survival. This district was known for its harshness and death. So many ways to perish death by hunger, neglect, extreme cold or heat, and illness, to name a few. Survival spawned a few children and one of them was awareness of one's environment.

Glancing around the entrance the snow had covered the site, but when the Citizen entered the lair it was apparent someone had touched the books and the machine.

A cold fury swept the interior of the Citizen.

But instead of demonstrating their anger, the Citizen funneled it on the task at hand. The interloper will be dealt with. However, for now, there were far more pressing matters. A serious problem was emerging and it needed to be handled by the Capitol, but first, the Citizen needed proof.

A new threat was at hand and there was a mission to be completed.

Pulling the ledge where the candle stood, a small hidden safe appeared in the wall. The Citizen quickly opened the safe. Taking the small book the Citizen wrote one name inside of the book.

Cray.