April 1st, 2012

A/N: I really hope something like this gets worked into the Catching Fire movie... haha, but that's probably wishful fangirl thinking on my part. Kinda short, but I hope you all enjoy. :)

They say it's only a matter of time before Katniss Everdeen become Katniss Hawthorne. The whisperings of Seam folk gossiping amongst themselves echo in my ears the moment he comes striding across our threshold, my eldest daughter secure in his arms. A part of me thinks there should be a white dress and cheers from outside, but then I realize the worry on his face as he sets her carefully on the old worn couch.

"She fell when she climbed higher. I told her not to," Gale says. The way his voice rises at the end makes me wonder if he's imploring me to discipline my eldest daughter for such unruly behavior. I think to myself that Gale should know better than anyone that anything I say will fall on deaf ears. Katniss is the leader of the household, not me.

"He also carried me all the way back even though I told him not to," Katniss replies, her eyes firmly trained on the subject of her accusation. She looks just like her father when she twists her face into that petulant scowl. Gale does not shift his eyes from the fire leaping at him, the way I always did.

"You may have broken your leg! I wasn't going to let you walk!"

"Sprained," I say, only turning their attention to me when I speak. It shouldn't surprise me that they move in unison, like two beings of one mind, but the reciprocity between them is at once striking and a little unsettling.

"You've only sprained your knee," I say.

Pleased with my diagnosis, Katniss smirks at Gale. He doesn't duck his head quick enough to hide the flush creeping across his face. My eyes glance to my daughter to see if she sees his embarrassment for what it is. The look of self-satisfaction is still there. I doubt she sees the monumental concern Gale clearly had for her. Has for her.

"Still should have listened to me," he mumbles.

I stand, one hand resting on Gale's shoulder acknowledging that I agree, and then move to retrieve some first aid supplies from the cabinets. Out of the corner of my eye, I see my daughter reach across to find his hand. It's a moment of intimacy that I am not meant to witness, but the action speaks volumes. As I turn back to my patient, carefully winding a roll of gauze, I can see the emotions dancing in their eyes. I wonder if Katniss realizes that despite her stone façade, sometimes she can crack. The transparency in her eyes makes the smile on my face impossible to suppress.

"What?" my eldest asks, the bitterness of her voice evident. Her tone, though biting, makes my mouth widen more. I suspect she has no idea why she really is irritated by my amusement.

"Nothing," I say. Her gray eyes narrow suspiciously at me, and I pretend not to notice as I begin winding the gauze around her knee.

"You'll need to stay off your feet for a few days," I say. "Ah, just a few." I give her a warning look when she opens her mouth to protest. Any kind of captivity for Katniss is punishing. "And then we'll see how it feels."

"But Gale…"

"I'll manage for a few days, Catnip," Gale interrupts. He squeezes her hand, reassuringly. "I'll get through the snare line faster without having to wait for you anyway." The mirth in his eyes brightens as Katniss fixes him with a withering stare. But her eyes are dancing too, though her scowl won't betray her.

"Good luck trading with the baker," she scoffs.

For her sake, Gale pretends to look wounded at her implied insult. The act draws out a true smile, one that I so rarely see on my daughter's face. She looks radiant and I can't blame Gale for the star-struck expression he tries unsuccessfully to hide.

I've heard the whisperings and gossip of the Seam folk around us. They say that it's only a matter of time before Katniss Everdeen becomes Katniss Hawthorne. When that moment arrives, I think Gale will have my heartfelt blessing. I can see that it's practically written in stone.

~Finis