The weeks passed faster with Posy's company. Unfortunately, that also meant the next Victory Tour was coming up quickly. Another trip to the Capitol. Yay.

When she was over, playing piano with me or doing any of the other activities we had begun to do together- I now had a beautiful garden, thanks to her help- the nightmare of it all was almost a distant memory. It was after I walked her home and had to return to an empty house that the melancholy would start to seep back in. Covering me like a heavy blanket. I would try and keep myself busy, but it was often a daunting task. The silence of my house rang loud in my ears and threatened to collapse my meager standing. Playing piano didn't even help anymore without Posy on the bench next to me. It simply made the giant, empty building more... Eerie.

Sleep was hard to come by, too. Closing my eyes plunged me into a different darkness that I could handle even less than the darkness of the house. Nightmares usually woke me up before I could get any real sleep.

Mrs. Hawthorne was the first to point it out.

It wasn't surprising, really; I hadn't seen Gran so much lately, and Peeta was dealing with his own nightmarish life. Posy- thank goodness- was still too young to notice things like this.

"You look exhausted, Aces." She said one day as I watched Posy run over to her brothers. I hadn't even been standing in her house for two minutes yet.

My only response was a shrug and sigh.

Her frown deepened and she motioned for me to sit with her at their table. I sluggishly pulled my coat off and hung it up on the rack before sinking into one of the chairs.

"I know Posy can be a lot to handle sometimes. If you need more time to yourself, don't be afraid to let her know, dear. She'll understand."

"No!" I said, a sense of urgency creeping into my voice. "She's no trouble, really!" I sunk deeper into my chair, a sheepish look crossing my face. "If I'm being honest, she's the only one keeping me from completely collapsing right now. I just can't seem to sort myself out, anymore. I can barely sleep and I think I'm starting to look like an honest corpse."

An understanding look crossed the older woman's face. "That's completely understandable, Aces. Going through everything you've been through in the last two years can really take it's tole on someone. Honestly, I'm surprised at how well you've been holding up so far! I can tell you're shutting yourself up, honey, and that's no good for a person. At least it seems like you've been eating more- you're filling out almost as well as Posy has been since she started going to your house for piano lessons." A teasing grin flitted across her face.

I smiled in return looking down at my hands on the table. "Yeah, I think you're right. I just..." I trailed off and shrugged again when I couldn't find the words.

But Mrs. Hawthorne nodded as if she knew exactly what I was feeling. "You should see Mrs. Everdeen at some point. I'm sure there's something she could give you to try and help you sleep better."

I raised my eyebrows. "I hadn't even thought of that."

"I think some good sleep would do you wonders. I'll have Posy make sure to remind you tomorrow to go over there. I'm sure she'd love to see Katniss, anyways."

I nodded and rose from my chair. "Alright. Thank you."

She followed me to the door and grasped my elbow as I reached to open it. "Aces. I know things have been hard, but you're a very strong girl. I know you can pull through this. And even if my son is going to be pigheaded, I want you to know that I'm here for you anytime of day; I mean it. If you ever need anything, you let me know."

I stared at her in shock for a moment before launching myself at her. Tears started pouring down my face and I sobbed into her shoulder like a small child. It was as if suddenly all the weight I had been trying to carry by myself for so long had finally come crashing down on me, but this woman had stuck her hand out to me in the midst of the rubble.

"Thank you," I said, continuing to cling to her as she rubbed my back.

"You're welcome."

I don't know how long we stood there, simply holding each other in the most comfortable silence I've had since my name was pulled out of that bowl. But of course, all good things must come to an end.

"Hey, Ma- Oh."

Reluctantly, I pulled back and tried to discreetly wipe at my face before turning to face who had just walked in.

"Gale," I said, nodding once before looking back over my shoulder at his mother. "Thank you, again. I'll see you tomorrow."

Mrs. Hawthorne gave me a smile and nodded back and I turned back around and side-stepped Gale, going back out into the cold.

GPOV

I watched with one brow raised as Smith closed the door behind her and left before turning to face my mother.

"What was that about?"

She sighed and headed back towards the kitchen, so I followed, still wearing my coat and boots.

"Sometimes everyone just needs to let it all out every now and then," was all she said as she started working on dinner. I waited as she chopped up some vegetables but realized that was all she was going to say without more prompting.

A scoff worked its way out. "So she came over here to cry about her woes to you? Why am I not surprised?"

What was surprising was the scathing glare my mother sent my way. "Gale. That girl has been through some serious trauma in the last few years. And after all she did to bring Katniss back, I'd think you'd be a bit more understanding with her. Why do you always have to be so cold?"

I stared at her in shock, mouth open, grasping for a response. "But- Why you? Of all people- Couldn't she go cry to someone else? Her grandmother, that Mellark boy? Hell, she's got to have other Towny friends who would be a decent shoulder to cry on."

She shook her head and went back to chopping. "I don't think she really has any other friends. And 'that Mellark boy' is going through his own troubles right now from the games. Besides, I can tell she's lacking that mother figure in her life. I'm sure her grandmother did a fine job with her, but it's not the same. I see her nearly every day, it was bound to happen."

I sighed and sat down at the table. I cast a glance towards the living room where I could hear the kids playing. "I think Posy's growing attached."

"I think Aces is, too." I could practically hear the smile in that woman's voice now. "It seems to really be helping her, to have Posy around. And I know Posy loves the time she gets to spend with her. Like the sister she never had."

That only made my frown deepen. "That's exactly what I mean. I don't think it's... A good idea for them to get so attached to each other."

Ma set the knife down on the counter with a thud. "Why's that?"

Not having the sense to back down when I had obviously hit a nerve, I said, "Well for one I think it's giving Smith too much hope that something might change. I'm not going to change my mind, Ma, and you know that. Plus, what's going to happen to Posy if she ever decides to give up and moves on? You can't possibly expect her to keep treating Posy like this. Honestly I'm surprised it's gone on too long. It only proves my point that it's making Smith think she's got an in."

"Gale Hawthorne!"

"What?"

"To think that that sweet girl is using Posy-! I won't stand for it! Or that she would push her to the side because you won't return her feelings? Gale, I understand that you have feelings for Katniss, and no matter what I might be inclined to believe, I know that you believe you have no care for that girl, but believe it or not, she knows it, too. I don't think for one second that her taking to Posy as she has had anything to do with her thinking you might learn to return what she feels for you. I don't want to hear anything else from you tonight on the subject. Go wash up and get ready for dinner."

I shot up from my seat, knocking the chair back. "Fine! But when this goes too far, when it's Posy crying in your arms, don't try to put this on me!"

I stomped from the kitchen, past the shocked looks from my now silent siblings, and slammed the door to the bathroom behind me.

It was one thing to think that a Towny might like someone from the Seam for whatever reason, but it was another thing entirely for them to go this far. There was a bigger reason behind Smith's interference with my family, and I didn't trust her. Not one bit.

APOV

I woke screaming.