She still couldn't believe it. Even though she had decided she was doing this, that they were going through with the whole "parents" thing, she still couldn't believe it. But it was real. It was decided.

Eventually, she had finally answered one of Katniss' many repeated calls and explained things. Katniss was shocked and had about a million questions. Peeta on the other hand, had been shocked silent for a bit. Eventually, he had congratulated her, though he did sound confused and the worry in his voice was obvious.

Effie had shrieked in joy so loud that Johanna was certain she could have heard it in District 2 even if they hadn't been on the phone. Haymitch had chuckled and muttered something about her being too passionate for her own good and wished the two of them luck because their kid was bound to 'be as stubborn and a mule and have a wicked temper', which Gale had laughed at. Haymitch wasn't wrong, they were probably in for it. After all, their kid would be part Johanna Mason and part Gale Hawthorne… in other words, they were probably going to have a tiny hellion running around and wreaking pure havoc.

The last phone call they had to make was the one Gale seemed to be dreading the most- the call to his mother. He had been putting it off for days.

Johanna met him at the door one afternoon when he came home from work. She held the phone out to him. "It's time,"

He sighed, but he smiled a bit and took the phone from her. "Damn, I was hoping you'd just get sick of waiting on me and call her yourself."

"Fat chance, she's not my mother." Johanna crossed her arms over her chest. She had taken to Hazelle very quickly. She was a hardworking, no-nonsense kind of woman, but she was very devoted to her kids and loved them to the moon and back. Hazelle had gotten on very well with her too, she had even hugged Johanna goodbye and they had only known each other a week. Even so, Johanna didn't feel like she should be the one to call her and tell her she was going to be a grandmother.

"She's going to loose her mind, Jo. She started bugging me for grandkids when I was 16."

"16?"

"I wish I was kidding… although then it was mostly her saying how much she missed having babies around and she couldn't wait until me and my brothers were old enough to have kids. Even though Posy was a toddler then."

"Then why have you been acting like she's going to scold you? You aren't a teenager who had a one night stand and got the girl pregnant you know."

"I know… it's just… the world we- I grew up in… in 12… they held onto traditional values like you wouldn't believe… probably because it was the only thing we had, but…"

Johanna realized it then. "You think she's gonna be mad."

"I really, really don't think she will be- I'm 27, like what could she possibly do to me, you know?" He shrugged.

"Guess you'll have to call and find out." Johanna said, pointing to the phone.

"Guess so," he replied. He typed in his mother's phone number and hit the call button, still dreading a little what on earth his mother was going to have to say about this.

"Ooh, put it on speaker." Johanna encouraged, leaning against the door frame that lead into the kitchen. The only symptom she had been experiencing at all was fatigue. She tired quickly, and it drove her crazy. Anything more demanding than walking a few feet made her feel like she had to sit down.

Gale sighed, but he did put the phone on speaker.

The phone rang exactly two and a half times before Hazelle answered the phone.

"Hello, dear! I wasn't expecting a call from you. What a nice surprise."

"Hi Mom, how's everything?"

"Everything's going well. The weather is finally starting to warm up again, thankfully. I've been able to get outside."

"That's good… how are the kids?"

Johanna rolled her eyes and mouthed "You're stalling, you chicken," at him.

"I'm not a chicken," he mouthed back.

She stifled a laugh into her hand.

"Well, Posy's finishing up her last year in the lower school… can you believe it? She's starting high school come September! My baby, so big! And Vick's decided he's going to be a teacher, so he'll be back and forth between here and 6 for a while."

District 12 still didn't have many opportunities for higher education other than apprenticeships, and District 6's university had built quite the reputation for their Teacher Education program in recent years.

"That's good," Vick was the most indecisive of all four Hawthorne kids, always had been. But he was patient as anything and great at explaining. "He'll be a good teacher."

"That's what I said too."

"How's Rory?" Gale questioned. He wasn't sure if their mother knew what Rory was up to romantically, and he certainly didn't want to say anything about it.

"He's planning to move out soon,"

"Move out? By himself?"

"Um, no actually. Do you remember Isiah Fernwyn?"

"Yeah, I do." Gale glanced to Johanna, who frowned a bit. Hazelle knew. He wondered where this was going.

"They've been… well they've been seeing each other. And they're rather serious."

"Wait, wait… Rory wants to move in with Isiah?" Gale asked, making sure he heard his mother correctly.

"Oh, he's well past wanting to, dear. They have plans, the two of them. I've never seen your brother so… smitten. They're absolutely precious together. I know you didn't care much for Isiah when you lot were younger, but you'd hardly recognize him now. He's funneled his… his energy and charm to politics. He's doing wonders here in 12, you wouldn't believe everything he's doing."

Johanna visibly relaxed. She had been tense with worry over how Hazelle felt about Rory having a boyfriend. Gale was relieved too.

"So, enough about us, you obviously called for a reason. What do you have to say?"

Gale looked a bit uneasy, but Johanna smiled a bit and stepped beside Gale, who wrapped an arm around her without even thinking about it.

"Well, uh, Mom… you don't have to drop hints about grandchildren anymore."

"…Gale, I-I'm a little confused."

"Johanna's pregnant, Mom."

"Oh my," Hazelle said, sounding jovial. "Oh my goodness, that's wonderful, dear! That… that is wonderful, isn't it?"

Gale grinned a bit. "Yeah, yeah it is. Don't worry, we worked out all that before we called."

Johanna chuckled. They sure had. For the most part.

"How exciting! A baby! I'm so happy for you both. What a lovely reason to get a phone call. Goodness darling, to be honest I wasn't sure I'd ever see the day."

Johanna couldn't help herself, she let out a laugh at that.

"She can hear me, can't she?" Hazelle questioned her son, sounding timid.

"She sure can,"

"And you've let me go on like a fool? Gale Hawthorne, I can't believe you! I've embarrassed myself in front of her. I'm so sorry, Johanna."

"It's okay," Johanna assured Hazelle with a smile. "Really,"

"Congratulations, sweetheart." Hazelle told Johanna.

"Thanks,"

"Oh, your brothers and sister are going to be absolutely thrilled, Gale. Posy especially. Would you two like to tell them? I must admit, I'm not sure when Posy and Vick will be back and if I'll see Rory at all tonight, so I couldn't give you a time to call back. I suppose I could call you, but I know the time is different where you are and I'd hate to wake you."

Johanna looked up to Gale, who shrugged. She told Hazelle she could tell them and they could call back at some point to talk about it more if they wanted. Gale agreed with that.

"Alright, I'll tell them then. Oh, I truly cannot believe it. I wish I could hug you both right now. I suppose I'll just have to wait though. Can I ask something?"

"Of course," Gale replied.

"You both have every right to say no, of course, but I would love to come visit you when the baby is born, if that's alright."

"Of course that's okay," Johanna said before Gale could say anything. Hazelle would be the kid's only grandparent, it was only fair that she would be allowed to come meet it. And the woman had 4 kids, she knew a lot more about raising kids than Johanna did. She'd probably be a huge help.

"Oh sweetheart, you didn't have to answer so fast! I don't want to intrude."

"Don't be ridiculous," Johanna replied. She closed her eyes. Maybe that wasn't the best way to put it.

Thankfully, Hazelle only laughed. "Well, if you're so sure..."

"Yeah, we'd love to have you visit, Mom." Gale finally managed to say.

"Alright then, it's settled." Hazelle announced. "Please keep me updated. And feel free to call me any time."

"Will do," Gale responded.

"Well, I'm going to let you go now. I'm sure you have much more exciting things to do than talk to me. And I've been invited to join Effie, Haymitch, Katniss, and Peeta for dinner tonight."

"Okay, we'll talk to you later, Mom. Have fun."

"I love you," Hazelle said. After a beat of silence, she added, "All three of you."

For some reason, that made Johanna feel like she was going to cry.

Gale hung up the phone and glanced at her. His face softened. "What's wrong, Jo?"

Her kid was going to have a family. She had a family, she wasn't alone any more. People loved her, people were going to love her kid. She wasn't sure how to relay all the emotions she was feeling at that moment. She settle on: "I'm just… happy."

He smiled, put the phone down and hugged her, which she returned. They held each other for a long time.

"Hey Jo?" Gale murmured.

"Yeah?"

"How would you feel about moving to 12?"