All right, get excited, because I write a short part in Gale's POV and a short part in Katniss' POV, it took a while, but I think I kept them in character. If not please tell me what lines are OOC because I'm really trying to keep this believable.


Gale's POV

Lysimachia's words are like a punch in the stomach. The determination in them reminds me so much of Katniss that it hurts. This girl is turning out to be lot like her mother, although I never would have guessed it from her appearance. They share the same height, but the resemblance stops there. Lysimachia has light brown hair that falls a few inches below her shoulders, cobalt blue eyes, and an ever-present smile that is irresistible. However, something happened, a switch went off and suddenly she sounded just like Katniss. I wonder if she realizes how much her daughter is like her.

As she storms out of the room, I turn to Dr. Everdeen.
"What was that for?" I ask.
"She's not feeling well." Lich volunteers.
"I'm very surprised at her behavior, I'm sorry Gale, she's not usually like that." Gram apologizes.
"That's fine, she's right you know. She does deserve to know."
"Absolutely, although she didn't have to be rude about it." Gram affirms
"Never mind, I'll go get her, you put in the disc, OK?"
I walk into the family room and suddenly I freeze. Corren is holding Lysimachia's shoulders back and smiling at her in a goofy way.

Lysimachia's POV

I stand there smiling at Corren, and suddenly he takes a quick step back from me and looks to the floor. I'm confused until I hear Mr. Hawthorne's voice over my shoulder: "Are you OK?" He is concerned about me, which is strange, considering I just met him a half-hour ago. My anger gone now, I smile sheepishly at him: "Yea, sorry about that, I didn't mean to yell at you. I'm fine."
Gram runs in from the porch and shakes her head slightly at me, frowning. I nod back at her, acknowledging her instructions, and then smile politely at Mr. Hawthorne. "My behavior was inexcusable, and I apologize for my breach of manners as a guest in this house. Will you please forgive me?"

"Well then, that's an impressive apology! I agree with what you said before, you do deserve to know, and I'm here to tell you. But you should probably finish the tape before I confuse you."
"But it's three hours long and my parents will be wondering where I am!"
"Come over tomorrow then, I'll pick you up from school."
Gram nods approval so I agree. "Sure, see you then!"
Then Corren chimes in: "We can drive you home now."
"Gram can drive us, that's fine" I object.
"That's a good idea Corren, it's about time we visited your house. It's right down the road right?" Mr. Hawthorne says.
"Alright Gale, if you want to come, you can come, but let's get moving." Gram prods Lich and me out the door.

I climb into the wagon and make sure to sit between Lich and Corren in the wide back. I lean slightly so that my shoulder is just touching Corren's, as we drive down the dusty old road, this time in the opposite direction, towards home.
When we arrive, Lich is the first to jump out of the carriage. "Mom, we have visitors!" He calls, ignoring the fact that she probably won't answer. "Lich, stop yelling, she can't hear you." I'm right, she doesn't respond. I lead the Hawthornes into our entry hall this time and instruct them to take off their shoes. I accidentally bump the rack of coats and the bar falls on Mr. Hawthorne's head. He falls with a sharp cry of pain and I run to get Mom, but half-way into the living room I remember that she won't respond. To my astonishment, Mom is sitting upright, just as shocked as I am: "Did I just hear...?" The first I've heard of her voice in three days trails off in confusion. She throws the covers off and jumps to the floor, already halfway to the foyer.
Gram is pulling the coats off Mr. Hawthorne and Mom leans down to help. When Dad's heavy winter coat falls off Mr. Hawthorne's face, Mom gasps, then sobs as she hugs him violently through all the winter gear.

Katniss' POV (earlier that day before Dr. Everdeen comes)

My mind slowly tries to regain consciousness, but I can't seem to think properly. I was asleep, on the couch apparently, but I don't remember what happened before that. I force my brain to remember what happened yesterday, and as I do, I feel a vague twist of terror and anger. I struggle to put aside the emotions and remember the event that caused them. Then, I remember, and terror courses through me: President Snow is watching me, I can feel it, somehow, he is watching every move I make. In the back of my mind, a little fact is nagging at me, reminding me that Snow is dead, but I don't listen to it, my fear is too strong. Faintly, but growing steadily stronger, is the smell of roses, and with that scent comes many memories: Finnick and the reptile mutts, visiting the Victor's Village after the bombings in 12, and way back when President Snow visited me after the first games and warned me about the uprisings, and my 'cousin'. My cousin Gale, who isn't really my cousin. Gale. Oh, I wish he were here I miss him so much.

The pain in my middle is so strong, that flickers of emotion flit across my face, but not for long. I hold it in, pushing the emotions and memories deep into the back of my head and it begins to throb, but I don't complain. I can't complain, I can't speak. Besides, who would I complain to? I am alone in my world of nightmares and memories. I have a vague sense of my body, of where I am lying, but I can't see my surroundings. My eyes are blank, like my face.

After a while, the pain dulls to a constant ache, but the memories don't diminish in atrocity. I think of the bombings in 12, and see Gale leading everyone through the fire, but then, just as he is carrying Prim to safety, a stray bomb falls in front of them, blocking my view of their horrific deaths. Just as the bomb goes off, my mind transports me to the Capitol, outside President Snow's mansion. I watch Gale mouth the words that I understand too late, and then the parachutes fall, and the children catch them, expecting something lifesaving just as they have always seen in the games. But, just as I see Prim catch one, fire explodes into the sky and I run to her, once again too late to save her.

That brings me back to District 12, deep in the mines where my father is working. Just before the explosion, I scream at him to run, but he can't hear me and I am left alone, with a starving sister and a half-dead mother.

I remember those months, watching Prim try to do without more and more food, and me waiting for my Mother to wake up, to take care of me, to love me again. But she didn't, so I shut her out, pretended that I didn't need her, but I did, and I especially do now. I wish she was here to help me, but I know that she is gone, just like everyone else. I am alone.

My mind swirls and I feel light-headed. Something pricks my arm and I feel a faint throb in my arm. Since I haven't really felt the presence of time or a sense of my body it is a welcome change. Slowly, I have no way to judge how long, the tension in my chest is relieved. When I hear my mother's voice, I cringe expecting at any moment to hear her shriek or to see her violently destroyed in some sickening way.

But I feel my eyes blink, and when they rise I see her talking to Peeta. Peeta! My heart leaps, he is fine, scarred, like me, but he is alive and well. I notice a crease in his brow and he is wringing his hands. Then he turns and begins to pace the room. I realize that the children are gone and a jolt of paralyzing fear courses through my body.

I can see Lysimachia's sweet, smiling face twisted in pain as she screams a continuous cry for help. But I can't help her, I am frozen. I see Lich's little hands shaking as he tries to stand, but his muscles are too weak, he is starving and he is silently begging me for food, but I have nothing to give him.

Then I flashback to the reaping and instead of Primrose Everdeen, Lysimachia Mellark resounds from the speakers and I mouth 'I volunteer', but I know that I can't volunteer. I am helpless as I watch her climb the stage.

Then I am in the arena and I hear her screaming my name. I run to her but Marvel plunges a spear deep into her body, killing my daughter. My child.

Relief washes over me as I hear her voice, loud, but not in pain: "Dad, we're home!"

I bask in the happiness until they leave the room. Then I hear my mother grinding various herbs under her pestle, and for a minute, I think I am sixteen again, but I then I feel Peeta's gentle touch along my face. "Katniss, I'm here, please come back. The kids need you. Can you hear me?" His face is close to mine now, looking intently into my tormented eyes.
"Try to get a response from her, awake her senses. Try to replace the smells she hates with some other smell. Keep the blankets around her. Make sure she feels safe." Mom advises, then walks to the study room.

Peeta tucks the blankets that I was not aware up until this moment around me, then crosses to the kitchen. When he comes back from the oven, he has a small bun in his hand. He breaks of a part and puts it to my lips. I don't think I can move, but my mouth automatically takes the bread. It is warm and cheesy and I smile at the familiar taste.

Encouraged by my smile he feeds me the rest, bit by bit. He reaches forward to wipe my mouth with his apron, but I take it from him and wipe my face myself. He grins at my regained ability to move and leans down to kiss my nose. I shift my face slightly, and lean forward, until my lips are touching his. His hair brushes against my forehead and I smile into the kiss. Finally, he breaks the kiss and I fall back on the couch, grinning at Peeta.

"You're feeling better!" His excitement is obvious from his beaming face. I push myself into a sitting position and lean back against the pillows that Peeta so lovingly put there for my comfort. I close my eyes. I'm so tired, I can feel the drug making my eyelids heavy. Then I realize that my pain is gone, just an inexplicable happiness, that washes over me, a warm wave of contentment. Drat! I hate when I have sleep syrup, I always regret my actions later. But I can't stop myself, not yet, I slowly wipe the flour off of Peeta's face, and then reach up and kiss him lightly on the cheek. Seeing that I am ready to fall asleep, he slides off the couch and moves to the counter to continue his baking. I let out a deep sigh and close my eyes feeling perfectly safe.

My eyes flutter open at the sound of heavy footfalls down the stairs. I hear her talking to me, but my mind is foggy and I can't distinguish the words. I smile at her and finally, I am peacefully sleeping.

...

I wake up to a slam of the front door and I groggily sit up. I don't feel any better though, the sleep syrup just managed to capture me in dream world, not to keep the nightmares away. Suddenly, I hear something. I listen again, I must be dreaming, I couldn't have heard that voice. Then the voice cries out in pain and I am running to the hall, I have to save Gale. I push the coats off him and slam him to the floor in a crushing hug. He is here; and safe; and warm, and here. It's not until I let go that I realize that I haven't changed my clothes or taken a shower in 3 days and it is obvious. I stumble back, embarrassed at my exuberance and at my messy appearance. But I shouldn't have worried, he is completely at ease, lying there on my floor as he greets me: "Hey Catnip!"


OK, You guys have should be satisfied now, this chapter is even longer that the last one and I updated on schedule. Side note: I'm working on a Catching Fire one-shot from Peeta's POV so that's why I was a day late with this one (sorry about that…). How'd you like this chapter, I know nothing really happens, but how did I do on the character development? Please review and tell me!