Moving day is here and they are moving from Seam to town...will Corky and Buttercup get along.

Special thanks to Norbertsmom for betaing and to all of you for following and giving me the encouragement to carry on...p.s. I don't own the Hunger Games

Moving day finally arrived in the Seam. Katniss slept unaware that her sister and mother were awake and preparing for the move. She was normally the first person awake. Today, however, when she shuffled into the kitchen, she was shocked.

"You're up?"

"Yes," Prim smiled brilliantly.

Katniss hadn't seen her sister's beam of happiness in a long time.

"Have some tea Katniss. Your sister and I were making sure we have everything we need for the move. I want to make sure we have enough provisions for the duration of our stay." Lavender put a cup of tea before Katniss.

Katniss sat, warming her hands on the cup. The kitchen was cold despite the burning coal in the potbelly stove.

"Excited?" Lavender asked.

She shyly nodded her head.

"Good, now go get dressed and wear multiple layers."

"Do you think I have enough time to go into the woods?"

"I don't see why not, but do not get caught out there. You never know who is watching."

Her mother's warning left Katniss queasy. As she left Prim fed the chickens and the goat. Katniss' mind kept going over everything that happened. Everything was out of order. The lack of spring, the incessant snow, the lack of games, not to mention the changes that took place between the men in her life, Gale and Peeta. It all made her queasy. Though she pushed these feelings aside knowing the morning was a perfect chance for her to slip into the forest. The rope was a great invention.

It wasn't so bad outside she decided to skip telling Gale about hunting. He was probably getting his family ready to move into the Cartwright's anyway. She managed to catch a few things, a few rare rabbits, some birds flying up ahead and a raccoon. She buried one carcass in the snow for an emergency.

Her brain was on Gale and Delly. She still couldn't believe Gale was in love with Delly. Yet despite her incredulity she was happy Gale had grown as a person.

Cleaning up her tracks she climbed back into the district. It was time she got ready for Peeta and his family. She redressed. Her hands shook as she buttoned up her sweater. Katniss was nervous. Her mother wanted her to wear a dress. It was hidden under the layers of clothing she was wearing. Her mother did her hair up, and she washed again like she was going to the reaping. They were about to leave when there was a knock on the door.

Going to the door she looked to her mom before calling out, "Who is it?" She couldn't see out the window because the shutters were closed to keep the cold air out.

"It's Peeta," he shouted.

Katniss opened the door to find Peeta and Rye on the opposite side. She pulled the boys in. "Come in, quickly."

"Hello from the outside!" Rye greeted behind his masked face.

"Rye!" Prim cried out.

"Hiya Primrose!" Rye removed his mask and bent down to hung Prim.

Lavender smiled.

"You came just like you promised!" Prim exclaimed.

Katniss shared a look with Peeta.

"My dad wanted to make sure you ladies arrived safely. It looks like the weather is going to get pretty bad. Gale went to go get his family. They'll be meeting us here shortly and we can all make the trek together."

"I'll be right back. I'm going upstairs to get an extra sweater for Prim." Lavender said patting Rye's head.

"Do you think they will make it?" Prim asked, concerned her blue eyes shifting to the animals.

"I'm not entirely sure Prim. We can leave them behind," Peeta began to say but Prim's face fell, her worry clearly written in her blue eyes.

Peeta and Rye looked at each other. Rye grinned mischievously, "To bad they don't have coats."

Prim gleefully clapped her hands. "Sweaters, we have sweaters for them." She dragged Rye out of the room.

"Sweaters," Peeta mouthed.

"Prim was afraid they were cold, so my mom made sweaters for the cat, the goat, and the chickens." Katniss shook her head as her little sister ran into the room with the tiny knit sweaters.

"Can you help me?" Prim put the sweater on an angry-looking Buttercup.

"My mom is going to be ecstatic when she sees chickens with sweaters," Rye said helping out Prim dress their animals.

Lavender came in and raised an eyebrow at seeing Rye's large frame sitting on the floor putting a knit sweater on a chicken.

Rye expertly knew how to handle the situation. He winked at Lavender. "We're being cautious with the whole family, just in case something calamitous happens."

Katniss wanted to laugh, only Rye could put a spin on such a thing.

"Okay, Katniss, why don't you put this on under your father's coat," Lavender said, handing out sweaters.

There was another knock on the door. Katniss turned to the window to look through it and forgot they'd boarded windows recently. "It's Gale, I see Posy's pink hat."

The Hawthorne clan shuffled in. Rory carried two rabbits in a crate.

"I got extra sweaters for the rabbits if you want to put them on. I'm sure Buttercup won't mind," Prim said.

Gale raised an eyebrow, "Sure."

When all of the animals had their appropriate gear on, they headed for town. Rye carried the chicken coup. A thick blanket covered up the chickens in their sweaters. Prim carried Buttercup inside her jacket, and Peeta held lady. She had a lead, but Prim was afraid Lady would sink into the deep snow. Gale carried Posy and a large backpack. The Hawthorne boys each carried a backpack and a crate. Hazel only had a backpack.

They walked outside and a fine snow was falling. Their breaths came out in billowy puffs. The Seam was quiet, no one was leaving their homes. Katniss was sure the mines were closed. Only the smoke of the chimneys declared life in the ramshackle homes. Katniss couldn't believe she was leaving the Seam for the town. She glanced at Gale who was making funny noises that had both Prim and Posy laughing.

Halfway through their journey, the temperature became bitter, and the snow began to fall harder. Katniss was worried they wouldn't make it. They needed to make changes if they wanted to get out of the snow.

The clouds thickened and the sky darkened.

"We need to move faster," Rye said.

"I agree," Gale worriedly looked up.

"My sister is the slowest." Katniss looked to Peeta.

"I can carry her," Peeta offered.

"But you have Lady," Prim said in a worried voice.

"I can carry you both," Peeta winked.

"I'll carry Buttercup," Lavender took Buttercup from Prim's hands and Prim climbed on Peeta's back. He easily carried both her sister and the goat.

Hazelle took the bundle Lavender carried.

With Prim being carried they were able to advance more quickly. By the time they reached the bakery, it was clear a blizzard was hitting the district. Mr. Mellark was waiting for them.

"Thank goodness you made it," Eugene exclaimed as he ushered the small party into the house. The warmth of the ovens welcomed them as Peeta's father closed the door behind them. Eugene called, "Delly, Titus, they're here."

"It's gotten worse out there," Peeta said.

"It looks like we're getting another blizzard," Rye said.

Delly barreled down the stairs and flew into Gale's arms. "I thought something happened to you."

Gale tenderly held her. "Not today."

"Oh thank goodness, Delly was worried out of her mind," Mr. Cartwright said.

"Boudica, they're here!" Eugene exclaimed from below.

At the feel of the warm interior Lady bleated her approval.

Katniss was grateful to be indoors. She began to remove her sweater that was covered in snow. The bakery windows were covered up. "You boarded up the windows."

"After you ladies left, I told the boys to nail planks of excess wood over the windows from the inside. If the weather is going to get worse the windows can shatter and break." Eugene explained.

"I see we brought the entire Everdeen clan," Eugene said as Rye put down the coop then uncovered the chickens.

Boudica smirked. "Oh…look…they brought their animals with them."

"We didn't want anything to happen to the animals that are going to feed us for the next few months mother," Rye piped up.

The chickens began to cluck, Boudica wrinkled her nose. "Well, I suppose you can put them in the back room where you keep the pigs. Rye, take their animals to the back room."

"Oh Rye, the hens and the rooster they like the light, put them in the brightest place possible," Lavender cautioned. "They yield more eggs when exposed to sunlight during the day."

Rye nodded and hauled the chickens coop back up in his arms. "Come on Lady, there's fresh hay back here." The goat followed Rye, bleating away happily.

"Ma'am, what about Buttercup? He's a good mouser. Will he have to stay in the back room?"

For the first time since Katniss met Mrs. Mellark, the woman smiled at the sight of the mangy cat. "No, he can come upstairs with us."

"Come upstairs, we have soup. You can also take off some of the layers you have on," Eugene offered.

"I got some game for you," Katniss pulled out the two jackrabbits. "These are for your Toasting tonight. I went into the forest for them."

"Katniss you shouldn't have," Delly's eyes were wide open with wonder.

"It's nothing."

"Thank you," Gale smiled.

"Delly and Boudica were cleaning two chickens I've been keeping for a special occasion." Eugene put his arms around both Gale and Peeta. "Tonight we dine like kings."

"Wow, meat…" Rye licked his lips. Meat was a commodity for everyone these days.

"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's get upstairs and cook. These rabbits aren't going to cook themselves," Hazelle said.

Everyone went up except for Peeta and Katniss who as soon as they were alone gravitated toward each other. Their lips met, his hand cupped the back of her head tenderly as her arms wound around his shoulders. She stood on tiptoe, sighing as he lifted his head.

"Is it insane to say I missed you when you were just here yesterday?" Peeta looked into her eyes as if searching for something.

Katniss shook her head. Her heart was beating too fast for her to reply.

Peeta kissed her again and she molded her body to his trying to get as close to him as possible. She recalled the conversation she had with her mother about babies and ways to prevent pregnancies. "Peeta we have to talk."

He rested his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry if I sprung the courtship yesterday. I know you're not ready for something like this and you don't want to get married. But just so you know Katniss, I meant what I said yesterday." His sparkling blue eyes stared intensely into hers. His thumb lightly ghosted her lips. "I don't want you to feel pressured into thinking we're getting married. You have the power to walk away at any time." He dropped his hand and lifted his head. His blue eyes were dark. "I just want to know if I have anything, I should apologize for."

Katniss was surprised. She didn't expect an apology from him. It was funny, yesterday she hadn't gotten mad at him for doing that to her. She questioned if it was due to all of the things that happened yesterday, President Snow's cancellation of the games, Madge's warning, seeing her mother in a new light, and Gale's declaration of love to Delly. Her mind was slowly churning, and she came to a conclusion.

"No Peeta, you've got nothing to worry about."

His eyes were focused and determined. "You can always say that we're together because it's the only way to trade."

Katniss laughed, shaking her head. "No, stop."

"But I don't want you to feel trapped," Peeta insisted.

"Peeta, this would've happened anyway." Katniss blushed then she tried to explain. "Somehow or another we would've gotten together."

"Are you sure, because I know that I'm serious about this, but I know that you don't want marriage or kids." He touched her cheek. "I know we have to be careful with the stuff we do."

His lips brush hers. They kissed again, this time it was softer, not to entice to passion but to remain close, and show emotions. They slowly lifted their lips; although she only just arrived she was not looking forward to being separated from him.

"My mom said there were ways to prevent pregnancies, but I think we should slow down, to take a step back." Katniss laid her head on his shoulder.

"You're right, the best way to avoid having a baby is to not do it." Peeta stroked her back.

Katniss breathed in his scent and buried her face in the crook of his neck. "I don't think your dad will let me stay in your room."

Peeta laughed, "I'm going to ask that we stay with each other at night as part of the courtship."

"Peeta!" Katniss hit him on the arm.

"Well, the circumstances what they are, tonight we'll have a full house," He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.

"Your mother is going to love that!" Katniss bemoaned, his mother was going to have a field day.

"My mother has no say in what happens." Peeta kissed her forehead. "Besides it's not my mother I'm worried about it's yours."

"My mom?"

"You do realize I have to behave with your mother here. I can not do this?"

Peeta peppered kisses on her face. She chuckled. "Peeta."

"I can't help it you're cute, deadly, but cute!"

Katniss hit him on the shoulder.

"With a mom who can maim me with an herb or tea."

"Peeta!"

"What." Peeta grinned then winked, "It's true, what's the worst my mother can do, yell. Your mother can drug me and have mysteriously put on the cargo train and imported to another district."

Katniss loved it when Peeta was sassy. He had the ability to make her laugh.

Buttercup came down the stairs he was sniffing the air. He walked by his tail wagging. His eyes were focused on some invisible point.

"What do you think he's up to?" Katniss had seen Buttercup act this way whenever he was on the hunt.

"I hope he doesn't try to get Corky?"

Katniss recalled her snowball fight with the furry menace. "I think Buttercup has finally met his match."

Buttercup understood what Katniss said. He stuck his nose up in the air meowed, hissed at Katniss, and walked by as if he were royalty and they were nothing but peasants. Clearly, no one understood how great Buttercup was. Not even that squirrel could stop him.

From the rafters, Corky gazed down at the cat. He didn't like the feline's predatory strut. That cat thought he owned the bakery. Corky's nose twitched perhaps the cat needed to be taught a lesson. Corky wasn't just doing it for himself, he had a family to defend. Corky made his way outside what he needed was a big stick.