A/N: A BIG thank you to: InLoveWithPeeta (he,he, I'm glad you think so:D), DandelionOnFire (I'm happy you think so, SO happy:D I hope you won't be disappointed:)), TheSkyDriverz (Thanks:)), Rowebot Hatchling (That's good to hear:D I'm happy you liked how I started:D), Kari (Thank you for both reviews:D), Aria-dancingdolphins15 (Your review made me smile:D Thanks for congartulating me:D), InLoveWithAFictionalCharacter 7 (He will, but not the way you think:) He will be involved later:D {that is because I couldn't live without him} Only...there will be another victor first {not Finnick:)}), Perfectly-Imperfect-14 (Nice new name:D And I did check your story out:D), BiiinaaaColfer (Ha,ha, danke:D Ich wollt mich eh bei dir für dein super nettes review bedanken:) Jetzt auch noch danke für dieses:DD Aber keine Sorge, es is mir ziemlich egal ob du auf Englisch oder Deutsch reviewst (auch wenn ich reviews in deutsch liebe;))...ich mein, mein Englisch is ganz sicher auch alles andere als perfekt;)), TivaBelieva.x.x.x (I think there's much Katniss/Peeta in the prequel, huh? Don't worry, of course you'll get some here, too;D), lolyy (Thank you:DD And...we all do, don't we?), anonymous (That is an idea I thought about, but it sadly doesn't fit with my original idea:( Though I promise you'll get some Haymitch/Maysilee cuz I love them myself:D), mspacman 1 (sorry for spelling it wrong, if I left the 1 where it was, FF would cut it out:)), rosiekatira24 (Ha,ha, it doesn't cover every single genre:D It's just that two genres weren't enough for everything I'm gonna make happen:)), kandykanes5150 (Good guess:D {kind of spoiler now} Only...I don't know which one of those two I'm gonna take cuz...I need one of them to stay:D), LanieBanie (OMG! Ha,ha, you're gonna find out:D You don't need to freak out:D), Mockingjay272 (Hehe, who doesn't love a bit fluff? You'll get to see his reaction very soon:D), BBree23 (Thanks a lot! It makes me so happy to hear that:D), The Magic of the Night (First: THANK YOU! And now: Well...um...yes and no. Yes, Katniss isn't famous so she won't be a leader. And of course this will be different than Mockingjay. BUT you will find similarities in the fighting techniques, because I read Mockingjay several times in order to get this whole war stuff as realistic as possible, and I pretty much know how they fight now:D), micmic022 (Well, here's more:D), CharmChaser (Next chapter I'll do it, k? I don't have time right now:( Sorry:)), nodaybut2day7 (He,he, me too:D), Emmy (Thanks, I'm glad you think so:D) and SpeakNow4 (Soon enough?:D)!

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games

Chapter 2:

I blink once, than I'm left staring at him. "You want to run?"

He can't be serious. It was a stupid idea back then, but now it is even more. I mean, hasn't he paid attention the last weeks? Hasn't he noticed how much has changed, how much is going to change?

It is too dangerous. Who knows what could possibly happen out there? Aside from the fact that the Capitol will notice us missing. Because sooner or later, they will. Not later than the next victory tour, although I think it's going to be busted before. Maybe when they realize Gale isn't working in the mines anymore.

"Exactly. Katniss, I know you probably think that's a bad idea but…" I don't need that but. He won't convince me.

"You're right. I do think it is a bad idea. Because it is, and you know it. It's too dangerous. We would be doomed." At the last words, he looks at me as if I've lost my mind.

"Would be? You are doomed Katniss! Tell me, what else can you do?" He is demanding an answer, one I can't give him, because I don't have it. Because he is right.

Because whether I like it or not, we are doomed. And there's no way to change that.

But then again...no! I can't accept that! Have I really given up? On my life? After fighting for it for so many years? No, I haven't. There must be a way, another way, and I will figure it out.

"No Katniss, obviously you can't. And there's a reason you can't. It's because there is no other way. There is no escaping death any other way."

"There must be! There just has to be! And even if not, who says we won't die out there? You know the dangers Gale! Has it never occurred to you that we would have to sleep out there? In the dark, cold winter? We would never, ever be able to return to District twelve! And there's a big chance we would starve out there. Or die of exposure. So many thing could go wrong!"

Anger and worry is growing inside me, and I know I can't stop talking, telling him the risks to stir him from his resolve. Well, I don't know if it's a resolve yet, but it is certainly an idea Gale has had for years and knowing Gale, he won't drop it easily. I desperately try to come up with something to convince him.

"Think about the tracker jackers Gale! Think about bears and snakes! And think about the Capitol! Do you think they won't notice?"

He has to understand that it is impossible, he has to. Because I know this time it isn't like it was back then, when it was just a fantasy. This time he's serious.

But Gale, to my surprise and annoyance, just laughs, a dark laugh. I don't know why. We really aren't in a position to laugh right now.

"Do you honestly think they would care? The Capitol? They won't care about two families, believe me. It won't matter to them whether or not we are here."

I huff. He's right, they don't care about us, not in person. But still…there's something telling me that they'd try to catch us as soon as they noticed we've run.

"And…" He continues, before I have the chance to tell him any of my thoughts. "…the wild animals aren't a good argument either. I mean, we'll have our weapons, won't we? We've dealt with bears before, and with the tracker jackers…we'll do what we always do. We'll steer clear of them. And if we ever see one, we'll turn and go another way. Katniss, you know it is possible. For us."

I sigh and think about it. His words, his arguments. Yes, we do have our bows and yes, we have dealt with predators before. But there's also those other things, such like starvation, frostbites and dehydration, which I noticed he hasn't had a solution for.

"It isn't Gale. What if there aren't enough animals? What if there isn't any water? We can do nothing to prepare for that and you know it. We'll have to find another solution, and I'm sure we will." I say those words with as much confidence as I can muster. And maybe I'm right. Maybe there is a chance to survive.

"When Katniss?" He now sounds desperate. Desperate and upset. I figured as much. That he wouldn't be content with me not agreeing. "Don't you realize there's no time left? Don't you realize that now is our only chance? As soon as the fence is live twenty-four-seven there will be no chance of escaping and there won't be much time left until your supplies are gone. We have to act now."

He emphasizes the now in a way that underlines everything he's said. And only now do I realize that this is actually true. I haven't thought of the time we've left until everything is going to affect us before. Now it makes sense that Gale brought the peacekeepers up first. They could be here at any second. The train they're on is like a clock, ticking the food we get from hunting, and with that our life, away.

I take a sharp intake of breath as I realize I haven't any oxygen in my lungs left. I bite my lip and hide my face in my hands. I don't want him to see how much his statement affected me. Why haven't I thought of that?

So what am I going to do? I think back to all of his words. All of mine. Yes, I could die out there. But it's clear that we'll die if I stay here. The only question left is: Are the odds the same or would they be better if I ran away?

Staying here, in the District, would mean certain death. I know that there is no job for me to do. No merchant would want someone from the Seam working for them. People from the Seam don't have money or jobs for other people. Women are at home, raising their children. Their husbands work in the mines.

Since that's not an option for me, and since I would never ask Peeta or Madge for money, there is really only one thing left to do. The very thing Gale proposed. Because, however unlikely it may be, there is indeed a chance that I, Prim and my mother can survive.

Yes, I've made my decision. And I'm sure Gale won't like it.

"Gale…I'll run." I tell him. His face lights up and he reaches over to hug me, because he's happy. Before he can do so, however, I say my next words. Those that will upset him for sure, but also those that are express the only way I can live with this.

"But Gale…it'll only be me and my family. You'll stay." And, in an instant, his whole face falls. But before he can say something, I start talking again. "I know you don't like that but…" This time, it's him cutting me off.

"Don't like?" He all but shouts. "Katniss, it takes no genius to guess what I think about this! You're NOT going out there alone! You're NOT leaving me alone! I am not leaving you alone!"

He still has that shocked, disbelieving expression on his face. It's mixed with anger now, too. But behind that I can see his worry. I know how much he cares about me and my family. But I also know how much he cares about his. And it stings in my chest when I think about my next words. About the fact that I, once I've left, am never going to see him again.

But I have to leave and that's why I say: "Yes Gale, I am! And you are! It's enough to have MY family endangered! I'm only doing this because I don't have another option! YOU do! YOU can stay! YOU can work in the mines! And YOU will, and you will be thankful I made you stay someday! Please Gale, try to understand! I could never bear the thought of endangering your family when they don't have to be endangered! If I could choose, if I knew everything would go smooth, I would take you, really! But you mustn't leave your family behind and I know you won't!"

Gale looks at me, clearly troubled. And…is there a trace of hurt in his eyes? "I will loose you. I will never see you again." He states this. And then he locks our eyes again and asks me the last thing I expected.

"Will you take Mellark?" I swallow. Hard. Peeta? I haven't even considered taking him until now. The stinging in my chest is more present now, as I think of loosing both of them. Of the pain it will cause them. I think of Peeta, how he begged me to stay after our first kiss. Sure, it were different circumstances, I had no real arguments, but I also remember how I run away, how it affected him and me. And I remember how I told him, two weeks ago, that I would stay this time.

And, although it was about something different, I feel as though I'm braking this promise. I do know that I can't take him. But neither can I stay.

Before those thoughts continue, though, Gale unexpectedly speaks up again. More like yells. "DAMN IT!" His sudden outburst startles me. He really must be furious. He never swears unless he's talking about the Capitol. "I CAN'T! NEITHER STAY NOR LEAVE! YOU'RE RIGHT! AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU AREN'T! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" And then, for some reason, he's suddenly not shouting anymore. He's only whispering. "Both would feel wrong. If I learned something happened to you out there, I would never be able to forgive myself. But…if something happened to my family…"

He trails off, before locking our eyes again. "I know we could do it. We could do it with both our families and succeed. It is possible. I want to do it. But…but we'd have to stick together. Please Katniss, let me come with you. You need me."

I stare at him for a moment. Need? Do I need him? It's not an easy question to answer. For a moment I think back to our first meeting, how we became friends and hunted together.

I could have provided my family alone, I could have done it without him, could have hunt without him. It's been fun with him, he's my best friend, my hunting partner and he would be a great help, but did I really need him? Do I need him?

The first answer that comes to me is no. No, I would have survived without him back then and I would survive without him now. If I survived, I could do it on my own.

But I do want to take him. I have admitted that to him, I can as well admit it to myself now. I know I would miss him, I would never see him again. My chest immediately starts stinging again as I imagine that. I don't know if I would forget him in time, but in the moment it feels as though I wouldn't.

I'm just about to tell him that when something comes to my mind. How entirely selfish that is. If I took him that would mean I took him for myself, to spare myself the pain. In the last minutes I forgot my reasons for his staying, forgot why it is important. It's important for him. Running would change his life, would mean he's never going to have a normal life, to really be happy. It would endanger his family, too, because he would have to bring them.

For me, there's no other chance. I have fully realized that now. It's either run or starve and no matter how much I will miss him, I have to do what is best for him. And that is staying. So that, just for once in my life, I can tell myself I did the right thing.

That's also the reason I can't take Peeta. His family…I don't know whether they need him or not, but I do know their business does. And I also realize now how selfish it was of me to tell him not to go away after I kissed him. If I had just let him go back then, I wouldn't be in this situation right now, wouldn't feel guilty about leaving him despite my promise, wouldn't feel that ache in my chest that grow when I thought about leaving him behind, too.

But I have to let go. Both of them. And that's why I tell Gale: "No. I don't need you. I'll do it on my own and you're not changing my mind. But your family does need you. Don't abandon them." I say it in a cold voice, although it feels as if it's about to break.

Thankfully it doesn't though and before he can reply I get up and run out of my house, making a silent promise to give him a real goodbye before I leave. But I know that if I stayed he would probably manage to talk me into taking him and I'm not going to let that happen.

So I decide to do something else, something that can't be postponed. Something I have to do, no matter how bad it'll be.

I have to tell Peeta. Now. Because I could very well be leaving tomorrow and I don't know if there's enough time to run to town before…and I don't want to leave without telling him and saying goodbye.

"Katniss?" I hear him before I see him and I can barely stop myself from bumping into him. I still end up in his arms, however, because I stumble.

And before I can get a grip on myself, I wrap my arms tightly around his neck, knowing what is about to come. "Peeta," I gasp. I can hear it in my voice that something is wrong and I'm sure he can, too. But he, unlike me, doesn't know what is wrong.

He carefully pulls away and holds me arms length, so he can look me in the eyes. He looks startled. "Katniss, what happened? Why are you…like this? Why are you so pale?"

His bright blue eyes are boring into mine, reflecting the concern of their owner. I bite my lip. Suddenly I realize I don't really want to tell him. I don't want this to be the last time I can see those very eyes, be in those strong arms. Because it is, and because I won't ever feel them around me again. I can't even tell myself that right now isn't the last time I'll ever see him, like I do with Gale, because it isn't true.

I wonder how I'll be able to get the words out. I open my mouth and close it again, not wanting to say it quite yet, wanting to have a few more seconds. But then again, there's no way I'll ever want to say it. So I force myself to speak.

"The peacekeepers are arriving soon. And when they're here, I won't be anymore."

For a moment he's only confused, trying to comprehend what I just told him. Then realization is dawning on his face, like it must have been on mine earlier. And then, in a matter of seconds, he's clutching me to him again, not letting go this time.

"Why?" Is the only word he whispers.

I know I probably should, I know it would be better, but I can't bring myself to push him away. So I decide to whisper the words into his ear, which is probably safer anyway.

"I'll run." And then I tell him about the fence, tell him what would happen if I stayed. I tell him it's the only thing left to do.

"That's not true", he all but shouts. "I can help you. I will help you. I can give you bread, I can…" But before he can continue, I cut him off.

"You can't. You need the money yourself and I won't take it from you. I won't let you starve." His eyes widen slightly.

"But I can't let you go! What if something happened to you or Prim? I could never live with myself knowing I could have done something! Knowing I would have been able to keep you alive!" At the end his voice cracks. I can feel him burying his face in my hair.

I feel like I've had this conversation before. And I have. With Gale. And he used similar words.

"But you won't. You won't ever know if something happens. And you won't make me stay, because you know I have to go." I say it with as much confidence as I can muster.

Suddenly the warmth of his breath on my neck disappears and he's facing me again. "Then I'm coming with you. I'm not letting you go alone."

I sigh. I knew this was about to come. "No. You need to stay here. With your family."

He snorts. "They don't need me. Even the bakery doesn't. It'll be fine without me. But…I can't leave you. Not to the dangers of the woods. I can't and I won't. If I can't make you stay, I'll leave with you."

Yeah yeah, I know it's a mean way to end this chapter. But...I kind of like it:) To end here. Especially since you're not the only ones wondering what Katniss will say. I am, too. I only know that I have to leave either Peeta or Gale in District twelve...I'm not telling you why though:)

I know this chapter is not SO fluffy, but not as un-fluffy (Yes, I'm aware that isn't a word, but I think you know what I mean) as the last one, either:) Do you like it though? Or do you hate it?

Reviews would be a great way to tell me:D