Katniss-

Peeta walked me home, facing my mother was going to be hard. She had warned me about those kinds of guys, I just didn't know it would end up being Gale. When we came into the house, her eyes actually softened. It's been a while since she actually looked at me like a mother. Her hands cupped my face while she looked me over. She didn't say anything and I was surprised when she hugged Peeta immediately after. We gave each other a questioning look when she left us at the table and started mixing herbs in the kitchen.

She brought back some tea for the soreness, some ointment for the cuts and some white liquor for the bruising. My face was first and I showed her the bruising on my rips. She took a huge breath and let it out slowly.

"Mom, last night…"

"Katniss, Gale came over last night and told me everything. I didn't want to believe what he said, but looking at you two…I know it was all true. It doesn't seem like he left anything out." She stole a glance over at Peeta's hands. "Peeta, I – I don't know what to say. Thank you so much for taking care of her. I would have trusted her life with Gale, but it seems that might have been a mistake."

I was even more shocked when Peeta spoke up, "No, Mrs. Everdeen…that wasn't a mistake. He just wasn't himself. Nevertheless, if he tries it again then it'll be more than a broken arm."

She gave him a quick nod, somehow she appreciated his words. "And a few broken ribs." They both shared a small smile.

Peeta never flinched when she doused his hand with liquor and the stinging ointment. Prim cried when she came in and saw my face, she hugged Peeta endlessly. She talked him into playing a card game with her while my mother and I talked at the table.

"Mom, I'm sorry about last night. I'm not sure how it even happened." I'm not sure when it starts, but tears start rolling down my face. "I was really scared, I told him to stop and he kept pushing… he almost, uh, I thought he was going to ra-"

"You couldn't have helped this! I'm just so thankful that Peeta was there at that moment. I've known Gale since he was little and I would have never imagined this. I know he was drunk; he still was when he came here last night. He cried and cried, begged me to forgive him. Asked that I would talk to you for him. He said he was so sorry to you, to Peeta even. I'm not saying that so you'll forgive him, just know that he was sorry when his mind started to clear."

"I'm not actually sure that I'll ever forgive him, Mom. But, I'll keep it in mind. I, uh – I've decided that when Peeta turns 18 in a couple of weeks, that I'm going to move in with him. After all of this, it's for the best." She looks sad, but like she understands somehow. It's the first time that I've felt like a woman, a grownup talking to her. "I will keep up with my hunting and I'll, of course, make sure that you and Prim have what you need. Anything that I make in the bakery, will go to you. Mr. Mellark has already assured me that you will be taken care of, no matter what."

A smirk? A smile? A blush? Is that what's on her face? "Wheat is a good man. You've chosen a good family, Katniss. Peeta is just like him when we were younger. He will love you and take care of you, I'm positive of it now."

She refreshed my tea and excuses herself to make her rounds to a couple of sick families in the Seam.

I lay on the floor, with my head on Peeta's lap listening to him bicker playfully with Prim about the game.

Peeta-

It must be midafternoon when she wakes up. I'm not sure if her mom put something in her tea to help her relax or if she was just too exhausted from yesterday. I'd laid my jacket over her, since she just had on my pants and tshirt. I knew she must be freezing, but I didn't want to move her.

"I told her I'm moving in with you." There was a light in her eyes and the first truly happy smile on my face in days.

The next two weeks seemed to both drag on and go so quickly. The time I was with her passed by before I knew it and when we were apart, I felt like I'd never see her again. While her face was still swollen and bruised, she worked in the back with my dad. When we were slow she even helped with some of the housework that my dad couldn't get to. Rye loved having her there. They always talked about plants, hunting and the woods. I really didn't know he was that interested in it, but she was always happy to talk about it. The snow fell heavier during mid-winter and there wasn't a day that passed when it didn't snow. So, actually going into the woods was impossible for her. Plus, I'm not sure that either her mom or I felt safe with the possibility of Gale being out there. Mrs. Everdeen passed along the information that he had been working every day in the mines, even with his arm in a sling. I passed Hazelle one day after dropping Katniss off at home. She didn't talk but gave me a sad, almost apologetic smile.

I had almost forgiven Gale, almost. I would still kill him if I needed to. But, I know he loves her. I would also go through drastic measures to get through to her…not that exactly, but I could at least see where he was coming from. He was there for her when no one else was, at least as far as she knew. He fed her family and was there when she needed someone. Basically, he was the man of both of their households and for that I could never thank him enough. But, I still hated him.

My dad always sent home extra bread, rolls and even dinner left overs for Prim and Mrs. Everdeen. I know that she would pop into the bakery and they would spend time talking and laughing together, but I never mentioned it to him. He always looked happier when she would come in.

By the time we were ready to go back to school, her face had healed other than a pink line over her eye where she had been cut. My knuckles were better and all my bruising was gone. Unfortunately for us, everyone at school knew something had happened. No one knew the actual truth other than Madge, us, our parents and Gale. None of us talked about it and we stuck to ourselves during classes and at lunch we all bundled together to eat. Madge had made friends with Benny, a merchant boy whose parents ran the shoe store. I'd known him for years, but we weren't exactly friends. He seemed sweet on her and the way she turned into him when they spoke, led me to believe that she liked him too. He had joined our little lunch group and they would stop in the bakery after school sometimes. As it turns out, he's really funny and we get along really well.

After that week, my 18th birthday was coming. My dad and I met with Haymitch Abernathy and had all the paperwork prepared. He seemed relatively sober. On the night of my actual birthday, my dad closed the bakery early and all the Everdeen ladies came over for dinner. Rye, Dan and Bella were all there. Bella was already expecting their first baby. She asked Mrs. Everdeen a million questions. I'm actually glad we don't have to worry about that for a while.

Mr. Abernathy stopped in right before dinner, of course. He didn't want to be a bother, but managed to stay for dinner and dessert before we signed the papers. Katniss and Dad surprised me with a birthday cake that she helped make and decorate. She blushed when I raved about how beautiful and delicious it was. It was probably the best birthday of my life.

My mom made no attempt to write or seek me out to tell me happy birthday and I was a little relieved, I wasn't sure how I would have handled seeing or hearing from her.

That weekend, Katniss brought over her things. We had to wait for the paperwork to be filed with the Capital and get confirmation. She didn't have much, a couple of small bags of clothes and a picture of her dad from her parents wedding. Prim cried when she left, but she promised she wasn't unhappy. Prim is just a crier. After all the excitement and everyone had left, I brought her things up to my – our room. I helped her put her clothes away in the drawers and the closet. She was surprised when I showed her the couple of new dresses that I had made for her. One in dark green and one in sunset orange, both house dresses but nice enough for her to wear out in the summertime. She just blushed and tried to push back when I offered to buy her a whole new wardrobe. We came to an agreement that she would let me buy things as she needed them. I was happy to settle for that.

We were both tired from making several trips to and from the Seam and working in the bakery all day. I showered first while she was putting her things where she wanted them and moved some of my furniture around. I don't mind, as long as she's there with me; I don't care where any of our stuff goes. While she was in the shower, I went downstairs to talk with my dad. He was really vague when talking with me, telling me to be respectful and careful…just like he did years ago when I left for parties but this time it was different and more heartfelt. I guess he knew we hadn't been together yet.

I made us some tea from a sachet that her mother quietly gave me earlier in the day, something to help with preventing soreness. I heated up some cheese buns from this morning in the oven and I had gotten a chocolate bar from the candy store to give to her. I know the only time she's ever had one was for her 8th birthday from her dad. That and some dried strawberries that we had saved from our plant that summer.

My dad ruffled my curls and kissed my head before I went upstairs for the night. I expected her to still be in the bathroom when I brought up the tray of food, but she was sitting in the middle of our bed. Absolutely stunning, untangling her wet hair with her fingers and wearing a pale orange nightgown with lace over the chest. My heart almost stopped.

She held her arms out to me, I put the tray on our bedside table and went to her. She looked so small sitting there. She didn't pull me down to her, instead she got up on her knees and lifted her face up to mine. It was the sweetest that she had ever tasted.

I couldn't help but think, tomorrow when we wake up – she'll still be here with me.