note: I promised people Gadge, and I have not forgotten that promise! There are two more chapters until I get to it however. For now, here is Noah and his mother.

"Alright boys, wind it down. Time for bed."

"Aww, but mom," Marvel and Noah harmonize as their eyes remain glued to the television set. "Five more minutes! Noah's really kicking some serious butt here!"

"I gave you five more minutes, an hour ago. It's past eleven; I promised Noah's dad he'd be asleep by now. If we break faith with him, Noah won't be allowed to come back."

Taking the empty threat seriously, Marvel begins to save and exit out of their game quickly. After cleaning up their controllers and throwing the chip bags, they race down the hall to the bathroom where they brush their teeth before climbing between the sheets of their twin size beds.

When Marvel was found he had a half brother, he wanted to be sure that he Noah shared everything. As much as he loved his sister, Glimmer, he did not love playing girl games with her.

Letting out a yawn the moment his head hits the pillow, Cashmere tucks Marvel in and places a kiss on top of his thin, platinum blond hairs as his eyelids droop.

"Goodnight, mommy," Marvel says, snuggling up with his stuffed dinosaur. "I love you."

"I love you too, sweetheart," she coos, before turning to Noah. Those green eyes are trained on the exchange with interest.

Turning to her first child, she pulls the linen sheet up across his chest. Brushing the long hairs of his bangs out of his face, Cashmere kisses the boy's forehead before offering him a goodnight.

"Mama, can I ask you something?"

"Sure you can, baby. What's on your mind?" she asks, making her way back across the room to his bedside. He scoots over to make room for her on the tiny bed. His beautiful sea green eyes shimmering no different than his father's in the orange glow of lamp light.

"Uncle Peeta was telling me how babies, like a good loaf of bread, are made with tendering loving care. I know your married and you love Caius, but I was wondering… did you ever love my dad?" his voice is quiet but his words sharp.

Cashmere is caught off guard for a split second. It had truly been a wonder that Noah was so willing to let her become an important part of his life, speculating about her relationship to his father was natural. Something she anticipated for a long while. And yet, her tongue grows dry as she is at a loss for words.

"I did... still do…" she answers, finally.

"You do?!" his eyes shoot open. "Really?"

"Not like Annie loves your dad… not anymore but…like family."

Wrapping his elongating arms around her thin waist, Noah places a kiss on her cheek. "I bet he loves you too!"

Cashmere flashes him a bittersweet smile, "I don't think so…"

"No no, I'm sure he does. Even just a little bit, or he wouldn't let me stay here with you. Daddy loves the people he trusts."

His naivety makes her want to cry. So much unsullied hope.

"Why don't you ask him then and let me know what he says, okay baby?"

Noah's mop of brown hair flows as he nods his head eagerly. "Okay! First thing when he comes to pick me up?"

"Wait until you get home," I don't want to see the look on your face.

"Alright," he says, shimming back down under the covers. "Goodnight, Mama."

"G'night, Noah," she says, kissing his forehead yet again before slipping out of the bedroom. With her head down cast, she nearly runs straight into Caius' hefty frame as he hovers just outside the doorway.

The sympathy in his shining blue eyes has her wrapping her arms around him and holding him close.

"I love that boy so very much," she mumbles into her husband's chest, squeezing his core tightly. "But he's going to get hurt."

"You gave him your best answer," Caius says, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her to their bedroom. "The ball is in Finnick's court, I have faith he'll handle the situation with care."

"The two of you have such confidence in his abilities," Cashmere smiles, wearily. "Did I miss something?"

Caius chuckles as he walks them into their master suite, "Finnick has been carefully stepping around the subject of your for years, he's kind of an expert when it comes to manoeuvring around tough topics."

"Acknowledging whether he still loves me or not is not something he can avoid forever. Noah's persistent."

"I know," Caius smiles.

Silence ensues as Cashmere slides out of her clothes, into a silk slip and climbs atop the king sized bed beside her husband.

"Do you think he loved me at all?"

"I think…once upon a time, there was something," Caius begins carefully after a long while. "Something he wasn't too sure about himself. I remember that one evening, the three of us had dinner for the first time. The two of you were like watching oil and water miraculously developing a bonding agent. It was fascinating and heartbreaking at the same time."

"What's your point?"

"You can't 'unlove' someone, Catherine," he sighs. "All it does it take a new form. However he felt all those years ago, is mixed in somewhere amongst all the hurt you've caused him." Caius' large, boney hand finds hers and brings it to his lips. Crystal blue eyes dancing with insecurity.

"I'm not going to leave you," Cashmere reassures him, fanning her fingers out to capture his snow white cheek. "I've made my choice. He's made his. This is what we want."

"Just promise me one thing," he says, leaning into her touch and taking a hold of her other hand and squeezes it. "No matter what Noah wants, you won't let your guilt get the better of you. You'll keep a clear head."

"Eight years of marriage, twenty-five years of friendship and you still don't trust me," she asks curtly, trying to pull away but he holds her securely to him.

"I do trust you, it's just…" Caius lets out a deep sigh. "Finnick has a bad track record of keeping his promises."

That is one thing she had not forgotten about him.

Softly, she pushes back his long white hair behind his ear before kissing his cheek, "I promise."

"Thank you."