We Didn't Start The Fire
by FanficAllergy & RoseFyre

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Chapter Two: Freebird

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Last Time in We Didn't Start The Fire:

And that's when it clicks.

"Rye? Is that you?" I ask, taking a step forward in disbelief. It can't be… But my mind isn't able to come up with any other conclusion.

The man turns, revealing his face, and I can confirm that it is my brother.

His eyes widen in shock. "Peeta? What are you doing here?"

oOo

I stare at my brother, my heart beating wildly in my chest. I can't believe it's him. It can't be him. It doesn't make any sense. What is he doing out here in the wilds with two other people? I narrow my eyes at the other two. They both look familiar, and I suspect they're both from Twelve. I start to piece together who they might be.

The older woman looks to be a pale shell of the butcher, Rooba Gibbs. Her daughter Reenie was engaged to my oldest brother, Farl, at the time of my departure. I also seem to remember she had a son, Wyatt, who was a couple of years younger than me. I don't see any of them. I feel a sinking feeling form in the pit of my stomach.

The girl is more confusing. It's not Reenie. Reenie is - was - a big girl, sturdy with sandy blonde hair. This girl's a little slip of a thing. She's emaciated and there's a very major wound on her right calf, probably from some kind of animal. Her face is smudged with dirt and her almost wheat blonde hair is stringy and caked with mud. It takes me longer to piece together who she might be, because the first time my mind suggests a name, I dismiss it as being too unrealistic. It can't be the Mayor's daughter, Madge. But the longer I stare at her, the more I realize that it's my old movie-watching buddy.

"Peeta?" Rye croaks, interrupting my realization. "What the fuck are you doing out here?"

"Chopping wood," I answer, still partially distracted. I shake my head to clear my thoughts. "I could ask you the same question."

"What's it look like we're doing, dumbass?" Rye asks, glaring at me.

"Honestly? Dying," I snark back, unable to help myself. I look around. "Where's Farl?"

A spasm of pain crosses Rye's face. "Dead."

"How?" I close my eyes, trying to let the grief that washes over me overwhelm me completely.

"Mutts. Along the river."

I remember the traps that we ran into and I'm a little surprised that any of them made it at all. "Why'd you guys leave Twelve?" I can guess the answer, the timing is too suspicious to be anything else, but I need confirmation.

"The Quell," Rye answers. He takes a deep breath before continuing, "There weren't that many people left who hadn't taken tesserae and Madge, me, Reenie and Wyatt, even Rooba… none of us took out tesserae. That's the twist for this year. Anyone who's never taken out tesserae is eligible for the Reaping."

I just nod my head. I want to say I know, District Thirteen told me, but something stays my tongue. Maybe it's the fact if I admit to my knowledge he'll want to know how I got it and I'm not ready to talk about that just yet. Maybe it's also I don't feel I should reveal information to Rye and the rest without checking with my new family first. And maybe I just don't want to get into an argument right now. But no matter the reason, I choose not to say anything.

"Peeta? Is that you?" Madge asks, really looking at me for the first time. I know that the way I appear to her must be as odd as her appearance is to me. Gale and I haven't shaved since October and our hair is getting long and we're dressed in leather clothing. I know I must look like a wild man, and the reality is I am.

Still, I'm grateful for the distraction. "Yeah, it is."

"Oh good." She smiles at me, clearly still out of it a little. "You're alive. You made it. Does that mean we're safe?"

I nod my head again. "Yeah, Madge. You're safe," I tell her gently.

"I'm glad. I don't think we'd have left if it weren't for you and Katniss and Gale." She looks around hopefully. "Are they still with you?"

I stare at her in surprise. "How'd you guess that?"

"Figured it out." She smirks at me a little. "Didn't say anything."

"Wait a minute," Rye says, narrowing his eyes. "So Madge was right? You left with that Seam girl you'd been mooning over forever and her Seam boyfriend?"

Rye is closer to the truth than I'd like and the way he's presenting it sounds a lot like the way my mother would put it. I have no idea how he's going to react when he finds out about my marital situation, and I'd rather have that conversation in the safety and comfort of my home. "I don't think we should be having this discussion out here," I say. "Stay here, I'll be back."

"Why?"

"I just - I gotta go get something." I don't want to explain it to him now and I really, really want Gale or Katniss right now. I need to feel the security they give me because my world's just become a whole lot less secure.

"What?" Rye asks warily.

"I told you, I was chopping wood. Do you see an axe around here?" I motion to the streambank with my hands. "No."

"But I hear one," he points out.

I roll my eyes exaggeratedly. "Of course I'm not out here by myself. Look, the longer we stay out here and argue, the weaker Madge and Rooba are becoming," I point out, trying to be reasonable when my brother is doing his best to press all of my buttons. "We've got food where I'm staying, and hot tea. And people who can help. I just can't run off without letting the person I'm out here with know where I'm going." I wince internally as soon as the words leave my mouth.

"Why? You've done it before." There's anger and resentment in his tone.

Taking a deep breath, I say, "Things are different now, Rye. Just wait here. Please?"

Rye nods once.

I don't stick around any longer. I head back to where I left Gale to find him still chopping at our chosen tree. I get his attention and he hands the axe to me. "Ready to take over?" he asks, giving me a smile.

"No," I say shaking my head. "We've got a situation."

"Situation?"

"Apparently we are an influence."

He gives me a look. "Huh?"

"My brother's here," I say with a sigh. "Along with the Mayor's daughter and the butcher. They fled from Twelve after the Quell was announced."

"Never took out tesserae, huh?" It's not really a question.

I nod, happy my husband is able to catch on so quickly. "Apparently not. And apparently you and me and Katniss inspired them to run away."

"How bad off are they?" he asks me seriously.

"Bad," I tell him, letting all of my worry and doubt come out.

Gale doesn't say anything. Instead, he pulls me into his arms for a hug. I wrap my arms around him, leaning my head on his shoulder. "I'm not sure Madge is gonna make it and Rooba… I don't think she's all there," I mumble, still wrapped in my husband's arms.

"Fuck," he swears although there's no real heat in it. "Katniss is gonna be pissed."

I chuckle. "Tell me about it."

"I suppose we'd better get the group back to the cave," he says calmly. "We can take care of this later. Not like the tree's gonna get up and walk off."

"No, that's true. Thanks man." I let go and take a step back.

Gale kisses my forehead. "Anything for my man bride."

"Shut up, Sweetgale." My tone is light, completely devoid of rancor. He's already made me feel a little better.

He grins at me and together we walk back to where I left my brother. Rye has set Madge down along the edge of the stream and is trying to coax Rooba to drink something out of a canteen, probably water. They don't have the supplies for it to be anything else.

He looks up when he hears us approach and says, "Wasn't sure if you were coming back."

"Said I would."

Rye glares at me. "Said that last time and yet here we are."

Gale steps in. "Peeta wanted to go back to you. But he saw us leaving and we couldn't risk him breaking under torture."

My brother rounds on Gale. "So you what? Just took him with you?"

"Pretty much," my husband replies with a shrug.

"And he allowed it?"

"Not like he had a whole lot of choice. Five against one, when all five are armed? Not very good odds. Your brother's smart, give him a little credit." As Gale talks, I can see he's taking stock of the situation and positioning himself between me and my brother. That's my husband… always the protector.

"You sure don't look like much of a prisoner now," Rye turns back to me.

"He's not," Gale says flatly. "Your girl doesn't look like she's in good shape. We'll carry her back to the cave, if you and Rooba here want to follow."

Rye opens his mouth to argue but Madge stops him. "I can walk," she says, struggling to get to her feet. "I'm not an invalid."

Gale rolls his eyes, muttering something under his breath. He fixes Madge with a look. "Sure you ain't, but that leg looks to be in pretty bad shape and my mother-in-law'd have my hide if I didn't take care of you."

Both Madge and Rye's eyes shoot to me when Gale drops that little tidbit. I shrug my shoulders. There's no point in explaining the intricacies of my love life until we've gotten back to the cave. "Come on. Let's go," I say instead.

We're lucky it isn't too far, because I'm not sure that even Rye or Rooba could have trekked much further. All three of them are in bad shape, but Madge is easily the worst off. I hope Violet has something that can save her. I've lost so many people already. I don't want to lose more.

We get back to the cave and find Rory sitting on the ledge, skinning a rabbit. Prim must be inside making lunch. We're back a little early, so it's probably not ready yet.

Rory drops the rabbit and leaps to his feet, instantly on guard when he sees we've got company.

Gale calls out, "You know where Mrs. Everdeen is?"

Rory nods his head.

"Run and get her," my husband tells him. "She's needed."

The boy takes off, heading towards the garden.

I wonder where Katniss is. She mentioned wanting to go out hunting and we didn't see any point in stopping her. Gale and I have learned to pick our battles in regards to that. At least she's agreed to stay within shouting distance in case something happens. If she wants to range out further, she has to take someone with her. But some days, she really needs to have time to herself and Gale and I understand her well enough to give her that.

We enter the cave. My brother's eyes widen, taking in the well-lived-in and decorated state. There are several stools and chairs and even a small table in the main room, along with several shelves holding this and that and some paintings on the cave walls with a sculpture or two that Rory salvaged placed artistically underneath them. There's screens covering the entrances to both the storage room and water room and the bedroom screen is pulled to one side for easy access and airing out during the day.

Gale carries Madge into the kitchen and the other two follow, with me trailing behind.

"You're back early," Prim says, turning around from the stove to face the doorway. Her eyes widen when she sees who we have with us. But her surprise is short lived because as soon as she sees Madge in Gale's arms she switches into full healer mode. Taking charge of the situation, she motions for him to place the Mayor's daughter on the sickbed.

As soon as Gale does, my sister-in-law springs into action. She feels Madge's forehead, neck, and wrist, and frowns. She lifts what's left of Madge's pant leg up to survey the damage and the frown deepens. "I'm gonna need Mom," she says.

"Rory's getting her," I tell her. I look around the kitchen. "Is there anything to eat or drink?"

She nods her head. "A little. Lunch isn't ready yet, but we've got enough that I don't have to wait for Katniss to come back to get started." She moves to start cooking again.

I shake my head. "No, you work on Madge, I'll take care of lunch."

I ladle some hot water out of a pot and into a bowl and grab a cloth and hold them out to my brother and Rooba. "Go clean yourselves up." I look over at my husband. "Gale, can you get them some clothes?" He nods and I turn back to my brother and the butcher. "I'll have tea and food for you in a sec."

My brother takes the bowl gratefully and goes over to Rooba to explain what she needs to do. I watch for a moment while the woman woodenly goes through the motions of taking off her jacket, shirt, and skirt, leaving her dressed only in her underthings, to scrub at her face and arms and body with the warm water. I'm disappointed that she's not showing more signs of life, but I'm guessing, with her family dead, she's decided to go away too. She reminds me of Steenie from Cressida's party and I hope the once vivacious and gossipy butcher doesn't share the other woman's fate.

I turn my attention back to my task, trying to figure out what, if anything, I can do to help Madge, Rooba, and my brother. Tea would be good, but I don't dare make anything other than hot water because Violet has warned me about drug interactions. They need food, but looking at the state that they're in, I'm guessing that they haven't eaten in close to a week. I note they don't have any packs on them. I'm guessing they left them behind at some point, unable to carry them any further. They're lucky they found us when they did. A few more days of trekking through the wilderness and all three of them would be dead.

I grab some of the remainder of our dried venison and chop it up finely and put it into a pot to make a broth. I might be able to add a little bit of ground corn or rice to the mix to make it a little more substantial, but until I'm sure they can keep the food down, I don't want to give them too much.

Prim comes up beside me.

"How's she doing?" I murmur to my sister-in-law so that nobody else will hear.

Prim shakes her head. "Not good. She's running a fever and that leg is in bad shape. I think she's got blood poisoning, but I'm not sure."

"Is there anything we can do?" I ask, my heart going out to my injured friend.

"Willow bark will help some. There's not a lot available out here," she says sadly. "Madge really needs Capitol medicine, Capitol healing."

I make a face. Katniss really isn't going to like this.

Gale comes back with some clothes. Good, that's one thing down. Where are Rory and Violet? Shouldn't they be back soon? I can't remember how much time has passed. It seems like an eternity. I look at the broth in front of me and notice that it hasn't even started boiling yet. So it can't have been too much time.

I take down the jar of willow bark Violet keeps in the kitchen and ask Prim how much I need to make for one cup. She tells me, and then tells me that it'd be okay if I made rosehip and camomile tea for the whole group. I'm grateful to have something to do to keep me distracted.

I keep worrying about how Katniss is going to react and how she'll feel, knowing that one of her few friends is sitting at death's door. I know I'm concerned. Katniss, on the other hand, gets very worked up whenever someone she cares about is in danger, and I worry what that will do to the baby.

My mother-in-law and Rory rush into the room only a couple of minutes later. Violet immediately tells Prim to go get her medical kit and comes over next to me to get some warm water to wash her hands. "Has Prim given her anything yet?" she asks.

I shake my head. "The willow bark tea is steeping and I've just started to make camomile and rose hip tea for everybody."

Violet nods her head. "Good call." She points to the broth. "That for them?"

I nod. "I wanted to give them something light."

"You probably don't need to worry about that too much," she says with a small smile. "They haven't been starving for that long. But it won't hurt." She looks at me. "Do we have any garlic left?"

I have to think for a bit. "Not much." Keeping up with what we have in storage is my job. Katniss worries too much and with my background I have a better idea of how to estimate how much food we need and how to best keep track of what we do have.

She nods. "Get what's left and add it to the broth, but leave me several cloves. I'm going to need it for Madge. When Prim gets back with my kit, I'm going to have you make some other teas and stuff for washes." She sighs and rubs at her face. "There's not a lot I can do," she tells me sadly.

"Is she gonna make it?"

Violet shrugs. "I don't know."

Violet takes the willow bark tea and brings it over to Madge. I check the stove. The broth is pretty much ready even without the garlic - I'll add that to the next batch - so I ladle it out into several small bowls, finding three clean spoons for them to eat with. Rooba takes the food and mechanically spoons it into her mouth.

Rye watches her to make sure she eats before sipping at his broth. "Thanks bro."

I shrug. "It's the least I can do. I'm not much of a healer, but I know my way around a kitchen."

Rye nods, looking around. "So this is home."

"Yeah," I say, shoving my hands into my pants pockets. There's a hole in one. I wonder inanely if we have enough thread to fix it.

"Nice place you've got here," he says, looking around. "Cosy. Guess you really aren't a prisoner. Wouldn't have thought you'd have stuck around once you didn't have to." There's accusation in his tone.

"Things changed."

"Changed?" My brother sounds skeptical.

"Got better."

"Better?" he asks incredulously. "Living out here in the wild is better?"

I shrug. "It's better." I'm not sure how to talk to Rye, how to let him know that I'm married, that my wife is expecting a baby, that my husband is the best friend a guy could ever ask for. I'm not sure how to explain that, at night, I get to wrap my arms around Katniss and feel our baby grow inside her, and I'm looking forward to the day I can finally meet our child and hold them in my arms. I don't think Rye'd understand Gale and how much he means to me, so much that I can't imagine not having him in my life. I can't explain the simple pleasure of being able to bake bread in an oven I've made from scratch from ingredients I've had to find and refine. The pleasure of having a group of people who look out for each other and care for each other and being able to go to bed at night without raised voices seeping through the thin walls.

Because I'm not ready to talk about any of this, I change the subject. "So… why don't you tell me what happened?"

Rye snorts. "What's there to tell? We slipped down to the fence, ran away, got chased by mutts, lost Farl and Reenie to that damned river and those fucking tracker jackers, about near lost Madge to the cackling mutts on the other side of the log, lost Wyatt to a fever of some sort, damned sure I was gonna lose Rooba and Madge, only to find that my baby brother is living it up out here in the wilds, king of the castle with the girl of his dreams married to another man!"

Gale looks over at me, silently asking if I'm going to correct my brother's misconception. I'd never understood until I started working together with my husband what it's like to be able to communicate with somebody silently. With Gale I finally get it. Katniss and I still need to talk in order to communicate, but me and Gale? We get each other. A raise of an eyebrow, a quirk of a lip, can convey a whole host of meanings.

I shrug one shoulder. It's complicated.

Gale frowns slightly. Why?

I tilt my head. Now's not the time to tell Rye. I'll get to it.

Eventually.

I know Gale wants to clear the air now, but I'm not ready for that explosion. Rye's already not reacting very well to finding us out here. I hate to think how he's going to react when he finds out about Katniss.

Gale shakes his head, but I can tell by the set of his shoulders that he's going to leave it up to me. I appreciate that, although part of me wishes Gale would just come out and say it so I don't have to.

"It's complicated," I say.

Gale snorts. Yeah, I'm echoing our silent conversation. So? It works.

"You're not helping," I tell him.

"You saying you want my help?" Gale smirks at me fondly.

"No," I say, shaking my head. I make shooing motions. "Now, get out of the kitchen before something burns. Just having you in here is bad luck." Gale was right all those months ago. Food just burns and goes bad in his presence. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought it was a joke.

Gale laughs. "Fine, I'll go finish taking care of that rabbit Rory killed. Anything you want from the storeroom?"

I think about it. We've got a pot of beans soaking, we always do. I'd ask him to bring me some dried meat or fish, but Katniss is still out and knowing her, she's not going to come back until she has something in hand or hunger gets the better of her. Either way, I should have something ready to go just in case she doesn't get anything. I look up and say, "Maybe a few potatoes and a turnip or two?" I look around the kitchen, taking stock mentally. We've got a few dried turnip greens still. They're pretty tasteless, but they're nutritious. "Why don't you grab some of that smoked trout? If we don't eat it, that's fine. Oh, and Violet wanted garlic. Bring whatever's left of that."

Gale nods and leaves the room.

Rye raises an eyebrow at my requests but I don't bother to explain. I'm not sure I can. I can tell he's upset, but part of that is concern over Madge. I glance over to Violet to see that she's still working on the Mayor's daughter. Madge is sipping at her cup of willow bark tea, making a face at every sip. I know from experience that the stuff is bitter, but there's no way we can add anything to it to mask the taste.

To keep Rye from asking any more questions, I refill his bowl with the rest of the broth. Rooba's finished her broth as well, but Madge hasn't even started on hers. I'm guessing she doesn't have much of an appetite. There's not a lot I can do about that.

Violet's working on Madge's leg, trying to get it cleaned and drained of pus. It's even worse-looking without the obscuring effect of her clothing. I can tell that Violet is really concerned by the set of her mouth and the tenseness in her shoulders. She's trying to keep a brave face for Madge's sake, but unlike when Prim was injured, there isn't that same feeling of hope emanating from her.

Gale comes back and hands me the cleaned rabbit and the other items I asked for. I flash him a quick smile in thanks before turning to preparing the rest of the meal. Tackling the rabbit first, I chop it up and drop it into a stewpot with a few herbs. I dice the potatoes and turnips and set them to one side to add once the rabbit's more done. To keep myself from dwelling on what's going on around me and to hold off any more of my brother's questions, I putter around, adding a few herbs and other things to the pot.

"Smells good," I hear my wife's voice say. "What's for lunch?" She comes up beside me, dropping a large white bird onto the granite bench next to the stove. She slips her arm around my waist and kisses my cheek.

I'm happy to see her, and I'm even happier that she got something. That means that she'll be in a better mood.

"I see we've got company," she whispers into my ear.

I set my lips to the shell of her ear and whisper back, "My brother and Madge and the butcher."

Katniss nods her head. "Are you okay?" Her face is turned towards mine. It's so earnest, so concerned, the love that she has for me just radiates from her.

I shake my head. I'm not okay. I'm holding it together for my brother's sake, for Madge's sake, for my family's sake, but inside my emotions are churning.

She takes my face between her hands and leans up, kissing me gently on my mouth. It's the comfort I want, the comfort I need. The only thing that would make this better would be if Gale were here with us.

That comfort is shattered a moment later when I hear Rye's voice exclaim, "What the fuck?"

oOo

We have a very uncomfortable lunch where I have to explain my relationship with Gale and Katniss to a very disbelieving Rye.

Katniss, being Katniss, in her typical fashion, gets fed up very quickly with Rye's continual skepticism and pitying looks in my direction. As soon as she finishes her food she very deliberately comes over and sits down between my legs and motions for Gale to sit down behind me, essentially making a Peeta sandwich. "Is this proof enough for you?" she asks. "Or do we need to have sex in front of you? Which we're not doing. But Peeta's my husband. Gale's my husband. Deal with it." I don't need to see it to know my wife is glaring at my brother right now.

"And you're just okay with this?" Rye demands. "She gets to have both of you! That's not fair!"

"So? I get both of them," I answer. "It's a fair trade."

"So you sleep with them both?" Rye's skepticism pours off of him.

I know what he's asking, and the answer to that is no. Gale and I are not having sex with just each other. We've talked about it and we're not ready for that right now. We might never be ready for it. But that doesn't mean I feel any less married to him than I do to Katniss. That I love him any less. This marriage wouldn't work without all of us and that includes Gale.

Rye's waiting for an answer.

"Yes," I say, knowing he's going to take it the wrong way. "We do sleep together. All three of us." It is true. We do sleep together and did before we were sexually active.

"Fine. Whatever." He turns to my mother-in-law and asks, "How's Madge doing? She's gonna recover, right?" There's something in the tone of his voice that makes my ears perk up. There's more to it than just simple worry. I know that tone. He's in love with the girl, which all of a sudden makes another point crystal clear: why Madge would go with them. She's in love with my brother too. There's no other explanation which makes sense.

Violet schools her features. "I've given her something to sleep as well as something for the pain and to hopefully get her fever down. I'm not going to lie to you, Rye. Her leg's in very bad shape and I'm afraid, if I don't see any signs of improvement in the next two days, I'm going to have to remove it to try to save her life."

Rye goes white. He knows that out here, an amputation is pretty much as good as a death sentence. He pushes the rest of his food away and gets up. "I'm going to go sit with Madge," he declares.

We let him go. All of us have had someone close to us be at death's door.

Violet sighs and motions for Rory and Prim to start cleaning up. Then she looks over at the three of us. "I think we need to have a talk."

I feel Katniss and Gale nod their heads and I do the same. I know what she wants to talk about. It's obvious. There's only one way to potentially save Madge.

Katniss is really not going to be happy.

We head outside and down the hill. We don't go very far, just far enough so that our voices won't reach the cave. This is going to be loud, and there's no place in the cave that we could go where we wouldn't be able to be overheard.

"I think we need to call Thirteen," Violet says without any preamble.

"What? Why?" Katniss exclaims.

"Madge's injury is beyond my skill," my mother-in-law answers. "Even if I remove her leg, I think the infection's spread too far. I'm not sure there's anything I can do to stop it. And removing her leg carries risks as well."

"There's no guarantee Thirteen can do anything either!" Katniss protests. "And then what? We sacrifice our freedom for a dead friend? No thanks!"

"We can make that a condition of our joining," I tell her. "Madge has to survive. We're going to need to have conditions anyway. You saw how they acted. I don't trust them not to try to push their own agenda on us."

"See?" Katniss motions to me. "You don't trust them either!"

"No. I don't. But they can potentially save Madge."

"Look, Katniss," Violet says, "even back in District Twelve, I don't think I could have saved Madge. But Thirteen's got medical care. It's got better facilities than we have out here. I can't, in good conscience, as a healer, allow someone to die when I can do something to save them."

"I still don't like it." I can hear her relenting, but only because someone she cares about is in trouble. Katniss doesn't like change. Hates it. Fears it. To her change is a bad thing, and this whole rebellion, this whole thing with Thirteen is going to turn our lives upside down.

She's not entirely wrong about that. And she's not the only one who doesn't want things to change.

"You don't have to," I say a little sadly. "Besides, it's not us they want."

All eyes turn to Gale.

We've talked this out before. But the circumstances are different now. If we don't call Thirteen, we're as good as condemning Madge to death. Even Katniss, as much as she doesn't want to, is beginning to see that.

I can see the conflict on Gale's face. He's always been the one who's wanted to go to Thirteen the most, and I can tell that his first instinct is to say yes. But he also knows that going to Thirteen means giving up not just his freedom, but the rest of ours as well. He sighs. "Do you think we should make the call?"

Violet nods her head emphatically, as do I. Madge's life is worth it, and if they can save her, we'll pay the price.

Katniss chews at her lower lip. "Fine. Just, let's make a list of conditions before they come. And if they don't agree to follow them, we don't go."

"I think that's fair," Gale agrees. He runs a hand through his hair, a nervous gesture he's never managed to get rid of. "Alright. We make the call."

"Thank you," Violet says and hurries back to the cave to signal Thirteen.

"So," I start, "what are our conditions?"

"Madge lives. They can't save her, they don't get their Mockingjays." Katniss's voice is hard.

"Agreed," Gale says.

"I think your sister will kill us if she isn't allowed to keep her cats." I suspect that Thirteen doesn't look kindly on pets. "All of them," I add a moment later. "Including the kittens."

Gale snorts. "Oh yeah. Prim won't go anywhere without those damned cats of hers."

"I know," Katniss says. "This feels so familiar."

Gale grins.

I'm guessing that this is an inside joke between the two of them relating to the preparations for when they left. I feel a twinge of envy. I wish I'd been a part of that then. There's no way for me to turn back time. But I'm a part of it now. That's what's important.

Speaking of… "I think we're going to have to fight to stay together," I tell them. "You saw how Boggs and Fulvia reacted, and how Rye's been reacting. You can bet we're going to get more of the same when we get to Thirteen."

"I am not giving you up. Either of you," Katniss says.

"And I ain't giving up my wife or my man bride." Gale grins at me. "Fought too long and too hard for this."

I grin back. "I love you too, Sweetgale." I sober. "There's no way I want to be with anyone else. You guys are it for me. But you know that they're going to do their best to separate us."

"They can try," Gale says ominously. "They're gonna fail."

"I know they will. We're stronger together than apart. Any idiot can see that."

"So you're saying Thirteen's made up of idiots?" Katniss asks, amused.

I shrug. "We'll have to wait to see that, won't we?"

Katniss scowls. "Fine. Just one more thing. I may be pregnant, but that doesn't mean that I'm an invalid. I'm gonna keep on hunting and no one, not Thirteen or anyone else, is going to stop me."

Gale nods his head. "I'm with Catnip."

"I think all of us need to have some freedom. We've gotten too used to it out here," I say. I wonder not for the first time just what Thirteen is like. Cressida didn't seem happy but at the same time she didn't seem sad either. If anything, the word I'm looking for is resigned. It doesn't inspire confidence. I shake my head and continue, "So I think that's another condition. All of us get some time outside of their fence or whatever they have."

Gale nods.

Katniss rubs her arms. "I don't want to go."

I pull her to me, resting my head on top of hers. "I don't want to go either. But it's the right choice."

Gale comes up behind me and wraps us both in his arms. And we stand there for a few moments in our woods and slowly realize that life as we knew it is over.

oOo

Now that we've called Thirteen, all we can do is sit and wait and watch. Katniss, Gale, and I congregate in the kitchen, although Gale is not allowed anywhere near the food. This may be the last chance that we have to cook together like this. I've cleaned the bird Katniss got and roasted the legs in the oven while placing the body of the bird in a large stewpot with the rest of the beans to make a sort of cassoulet. It's one of Katniss's favorites and I love cooking it for her. Also in the oven I have several potato biscuits. On the stove beside the cassoulet I've got another pot with a light fish stew.

In one corner, Buttercup and Dandelion are gnawing at some of the scraps I've given them. The whole thing feels incredibly homey and I realize just how much I'm going to miss it.

We're talking quietly about inconsequential things, doing our best to keep our minds off of Thirteen. I bring up wanting to paint the screens in our bedroom.

But at the word 'paint' Madge starts mumbling deliriously under her breath. "Must… no… gotta hide. Don't wanna be… don't want them to catch me. Not safe. Gotta hide the paints..."

"What's she talking about?" Gale asks, looking over at Katniss and me.

Katniss and I shake our heads and shrug. This is a whole side to Madge that we've never seen.

"It's the fever talking," Katniss tells us. "Ignore her."

"No! No! Rye! Not there!" Madge whispers frantically. "The other house! The Hawthornes!"

"It's kind of hard to ignore her when she's saying my name," Gale states wryly.

"What about the Hawthornes, Madge?" I ask, kneeling down beside her.

"Gotta, gotta paint. Gotta paint big mockingjays. Can't let anyone know it's me…"

"Oh shit," Gale mutters, staring at Katniss. He's come to the same conclusion I have.

Katniss is staring at Madge blankly, confusion painted on her face.

"Hide! Hide the things! No one can find… Everdeens… Katniss won't mind. She's gone, free. Free… can't get caught. Gotta paint." Madge rolls over, burying her face in the pillow, silencing any further ramblings.

But she's said enough. I see Katniss's eyes widen until there's a ring of white around the grey of her iris.

"It can't be," Katniss murmurs.

"It can't be what?" Gale shakes his head slightly. "Pretty sure that was a fevered confession that Madge is the mysterious painter everyone's mistaking you for."

"But she's the Mayor's daughter!"

"So?" Gale asks. "Makes sense. She's the one that gave you that pin in the first place!"

"But she's the Mayor's daughter!"

"You already said that, Katniss," I say. "Besides, just because someone comes from a relatively well-off family doesn't mean they don't deserve or want to be free. She's here now. She could've stayed in Twelve, but she's here. It's not a coincidence."

"But…"

I shake my head, cutting her off. "No buts, Katniss. It's pretty clear all three of us inspired her to begin her own little rebellion. Painting those mockingjays was pretty daring, if you consider it. If she'd been caught, she could've been hanged." I pause for effect. "And being the Mayor's daughter, she'd have known that. Not even her position would have saved her from the noose."

The look on her face tells me my words have sunk in. "So what do we do?"

"We don't tell anyone," I say firmly. "Let Madge and whoever else knows keep their little secret. I suspect Rye does, he's in love with her you know, considering she mentioned him in her ravings. It's better off that Thirteen thinks that you're the one who painted those mockingjays."

"But I'm not an artist," Katniss protests. "That's your department."

I shrug. "Stencils. It's not that hard. Even a child could do it. But, if Thirteen finds out you aren't one of the architects of this rebellion, I think their stance regarding us might change."

"Change how?"

"Well, they could demand we separate for one. You're not of critical importance." I hate having to say that to her, because Katniss means so much to me and I don't want her to think I don't value her. But she needs to know this so we have a chance of making it work when we get to Thirteen. "You heard how Commander Boggs talked. It's all military and order."

"They also might not agree to any of our demands," Gale points out. "They need all three of us, even though they only think they need me. I'm not a good figurehead, Catnip, you know that." He strokes the side of her cheek. "I don't inspire people. I don't know what to say to make people love me." He pauses. "Heck, I'm not even that good-looking."

"So modest," I murmur.

"But I'm like you! I'm nothing special!" Katniss exclaims. "I don't know how to make people love me!"

"That's what's always been so magical about you." I come around and take her hands in mine, feeling the calluses she's formed from drawing her bow under my fingertips. "You don't even realize you're doing it, but somehow, someway, you lure people in and connect with them in ways I can't even begin to explain. I know this is going to be hard for you. It's going to be hard for all of us. But we can do it." I pull her to me, enveloping her in a hug. "So long as we're together, we can do anything," I murmur into her hair.

Gale comes up behind our wife, enfolding us both in his arms. The three of us stand there for a moment, drinking each other in and gaining strength from the others.

By mutual agreement, we drop our arms a few seconds later and Katniss looks back over at Madge. "I suppose I don't have to correct their misconceptions." She regards us seriously. "But I'm not gonna lie."

"That's fair," Gale says. "You're a crap liar anyways."

"Thanks."

He grins. "Just telling you the truth."

"And you should stick with just the barest truths, Katniss," I tell her. "If any of us needs to lie, I should be the one to do it."

"That good of a deceiver, huh, Mellark?"

I shrug. "It was a defense mechanism. My mom, well, you know my mom. All of us learned to lie at a pretty young age. It was safer that way." It's not something I like to talk about and I'm not proud of my facility with lies and deceptions. It just is something I'm good at, like making bread or painting a flower.

Reaching out with one hand, Gale squeezes my shoulder gently. "Sorry about that, Peet. Didn't mean to bring up bad memories."

"I know." I smile at him to let him know all is forgiven. "But hey, at least one good thing came out of it."

"More than one good thing came out of it," Katniss states, stepping forward to cup my face in her hands. "We got you."

"You know I'd never lie to you. Either of you," I say. It's important that they know I wouldn't, couldn't, betray them like that. I made a vow years ago that I would never lie to the people I loved and I mean to keep it.

"I know," Gale soothes, stroking his hand up and down my back.

Katniss nods. "We know."

oOo

Thirteen arrives the following morning. Once again, Commander Boggs and Fulvia are on the team. But this time they're joined by Messalla and two other soldiers who are so similar in looks that they have to be sisters.

"I was surprised to receive your signal, Mr. Hawthorne," Boggs leads off with. "Your 'wife,'" I can hear the air quotes on that, "was most insistent that you'd not be using it. I take it something has changed?"

Gale hears the implied insult too and is clearly struggling not to go off on the man. I know my husband, he's protective of those he cares for. "Damn right something's changed."

"Ah. Might I inquire as to what?" Fulvia asks.

"Does it really matter?" Gale snaps.

The woman recoils slightly, a hurt expression on her face.

Running his hand through his hair, Gale sighs. "Look, we got a hurt friend that needs Thirteen's care. And Katniss here is maybe a month away from giving birth. We decided it would be better to come to Thirteen. We'll join your rebellion, be your Mockingjays, but we got conditions." I decided to let Gale take the lead and I'm beginning to wonder if it was a good idea. It's important that the people from Thirteen see Gale for who he is, but maybe this wasn't the right time.

I can see Boggs struggling to keep himself from reacting. "Somehow I expected nothing less from you. You know I'm not able to promise anything." There's a challenge in his tone.

Time for me to step in. "No, we know that. That's why we'd like to speak to your president at the earliest possible convenience," I say. "After all, we understand that a soldier like you is not able to make command decisions affecting the whole of Panem. Only an elected official can do that."

Boggs's mouth twitches slightly at my words. I don't have time or information enough to guess as to why, but I intend to find out as much as I can. Knowledge is power. All those stupid Capitol movies taught me that.

"I guess you and your group had better get onboard," Boggs orders. "President Coin's waiting."

We gather everyone and all of the things that we are unable to live without - all of the bows, a few mementos, but not everything. Several items, including some gifts, have to stay behind. When we've loaded up onboard, Boggs tells us, "We'll be back to collect the supplies within your cave. They'll be distributed to the kitchens and other appropriate departments to aid in the welfare of District Thirteen. Your contribution will be appreciated."

Katniss opens her mouth to protest but Gale stops her. "When you come back, one of us needs to come with you," he says, his tone indicating he's in no mood to argue. "There's some items of a personal nature that we aren't willing to donate."

Boggs frowns at Gale's words. "I take it you're planning on returning."

Katniss nods. "After this war of yours is over? Yes. We're doing this for Madge. We have no interest in Thirteen."

"President Coin will be happy to hear that."

I digest that bit of information, trying to figure out exactly what he means. It's fairly clear Coin needs us but doesn't want us. That makes our position both more secure and more precarious at the same time. It's going to be a tightrope act and there's no net underneath us to catch our fall.

My initial impression that Thirteen is very rigid and militaristic is confirmed again when we land. Thirteen is dark and dour and located completely underground. I see Katniss frowning as she realizes her ability to go out in the woods is going to be even more curtailed than we'd initially thought. I take her hand and feel Gale take mine.

"Come on, you three. President Coin's waiting for you," Boggs tells us, very studiously ignoring our joined hands.

There's a team of medics waiting at the end of the gangplank to rush Madge off to their hospital or whatever they call it. I'd like to go with her, but we have a president to meet. I note idly that the rest of our group follows Madge's gurney, so I know she'll be looked out for.

We walk through the maze of underground passageways, passing several slim pale people in gray coveralls. I notice nearly all of them are over the age of twenty five and have a military bearing. I can't quite put my finger on it, but something about this place just feels wrong.

We get to a large gray metal door and Boggs presses a button located next to the portal. "The Hawthornes have arrived," he says to the person waiting within.

I can see Katniss bristle at the name and I shake my head at her slightly in warning.

"Send them in," a low female voice comes back several minutes later.

I struggle to keep a smirk off my face. She's using a tactic I've only read about in books. She's keeping us waiting to show us how much power she has over us. I take note of my wife and husband and am unsurprised to see Katniss is chomping at the bit, angry at being forced to wait as well as the name game, while Gale is right there with her. It's up to me to protect them. It's up to me to play this game. I'm the only one of us who knows how.

I squeeze their hands to tell them to let me take the lead. Gale looks over at me and nods. I just need to get Katniss on board. She gives me a confused look and I wish, once again, I had the ability to communicate with her nonverbally the way I can with Gale. I smile and squeeze her hand again.

She shrugs. It's clear she doesn't get it.

I sigh. Knowing Katniss, she's going to be unable to prevent herself from blurting out exactly what she thinks. It's going to be up to me to do damage control, to try to spin this into a better lie so we get the conditions we've agreed upon without getting killed in the process.

The door opens and I fix an expression of bored indifference on my face. I'm not going to pretend I'm happy to see this woman.

Behind a steel gray metal desk sits the grayest woman I have ever seen. Her hair blends seamlessly into her coverall and the only indication of her rank is a small badge on her upper left arm.

"Welcome to District Thirteen," she greets us. "We have a lot of work to do."

oOo

AN:
Written: 4/1/15
Revised: 6/26/15
Revised 2: 6/29/15

The title of this chapter comes from the Lynyrd Skynyrd song Freebird, which we felt worked really well for Madge. As well as the whole Mockingjay symbolism.

Hi Thirteen! Our characters are not pleased to see you. The outline's title for this arc is "Do you want to start a rebellion?" so we really needed to get the characters there. The working title for this chapter was quite literally "Oh shit we have to go to Thirteen!" But at least now you get to see the rebellion? Yay?

As a reminder, Peeta is taller than Katniss. The actors are awesome but Jennifer Lawrence is two inches taller than Josh Hutcherson (and that's before she puts on heels.) Also, because they're getting more nutrition and regular meals their heights have changed some. Other than Mrs. Everdeen everyone is getting taller. Here's how it breaks down if you care. Some characters will have additional growth spurts, those will be indicated below with their final heights at the end of the story as a really minor spoiler…
Gale Hawthorne: 6'3" - 6'4" (stopping here - already nineteen)
Peeta Mellark: 5'7" - 5'9" - 5'10"
Katniss Everdeen: 4'10" - 5'0" (stopping here because yay pregnancy)
Rory Hawthorne: 5'0" - 5'4" - 5'7" - 5'10"
Primrose Everdeen: 4'5" - 4'9" - 5'0" - 5'3"

Things We Randomized:
- The few things they hunted
- Which of Madge's party (other than Madge who got plot immunity for this) survived to make it to our group

Thanks again for reading!