Author's Note: A bit more fluff on Gale's part here. Y'know I like Gale here than the books, I think he just needed someone he could relate to that wasn't cold like Katniss, that's what he missed in the books, I can only hope that what wasn't mentioned in the books is that he did finally find someone and wasn't still hung up on Everdeen.

So! Onwards with the fluffiness! And the games of course!

Thanks go out to my reviewers: EWD, JB, Arrow, and HL

Chapter 38

Lessons

Gale wakes me a couple solid hours later. The games are about to start and I wake groggy but feeling miles better than this morning.

I sit up and he kisses me gently, he smiles as he does so and I reciprocate, but then we hear gagging and his brothers are in the doorway play-chocking. They are young, they will learn.

We all settle by their television for the recap.

Apart from Mags in the fog, Seeder is gone and Zila died, they show them as recaps. I barely knew Zila; she had sacrificed herself for Peeta when monkeys attacked the trio.

Seeder died in a fight with Cashmere, the two of them were almost equally matched until Cashmere used the forcefeild to throw Seeder into.

"Wonder why they didn't show us that?" Gale says, "I mean don't they show all deaths?"

I wonder that as well, then I realize why, "no they aren't pulling the audience as much at Peeta and Katniss, if something happened to them they'd air it special but I guess to them Seeder and Zila aren't important, even if Zila protected Peet"

Gale brings his arm around me and I rest my head on his shoulder. They were important to me. I still remember Seeder and Wiress sitting outside with me when I had a panic attack my first time returning as a victor. She was such a nice lady and now she's gone.

Apparently during the morning Haymitch found an ointment to help their blistering skin heal. They have a greenish cast to their skin that would work well as camouflage.

They stick to the beach until they start from a scream and a tidal wave swallows half the arena. They are on the other side safe but it does kill another victor. We see the picture of the lady from Nine show up.

"Did you know her?" Hazelle looks at me.

"No, I met a fair few victors but Tracker and Hellen were my guides and they introduced me to the ones that were friends with them" I explain.

Things don't get interesting until three red ghoulish beings appear.

Johanna Mason, Beetee and Wiress! They're alive?! Covered in blood from head to toe, last I saw of them was the glimpse just after the cornucopia. Now they are back.

"Ugh! They need a bath" Vick says

It's like the crew heard him because they bring the second trio to the beach.

Johanna has a flippant mouth. When Katniss defends Wiress from Johanna, Mason looses it and has to be picked up and dunked several time in the water by Finn.

Hazelle covers Posy's ear because the stuff spurting from Johanna each time she resurfaces is not for the ears of a five year old.

Gale has a smirk on his face, "not the most pleasant of people is she?"

"She's nice in small doses" I reply, "she could swear like there is no tomorrow if she's annoyed though"

"Not very polite" Hazelle says when Johanna finally calms down. I can imagine what that was like for Finnick, I think he partially enjoyed it but when they get back he warns Katniss to maybe tread a bit lighter with Mason around.

They fix Beetee up and wash Wiress off. My old and mottle minded friend is muttering something.

"What does she mean by Tick Tock?" Gale asks as the show cuts off for the evening.

I don't know, I shrug at him, because Wiress was a genius, a little on the abstract but she was none the less quick to pick things up.

"Well it looks like Tracker and Tracer are still there" he says to stir up conversation, "think they'll show up?"

"I hope so, Tracker and Finn get along well, and Tracer can calm Johanna down I think, they have almost the same temperament" I look at Gale, "I don't know if they will show up unless the careers head there"

We head out to walk me home, I meant to go on my own but Gale insisted. I wait outside because he said he had to talk to Hazelle.

When we get to Haymitch's we stop at the door.

"So" I say, I dunno how to react to what happened this afternoon, I like being in his arms and I slept so well knowing he was there to console me if a nightmare caught me, "thanks…y'know for earlier"

He smirks, "glad I could help, and you know you can always ask me to do that, if it helps you sleep"

"It does" I say softly a blush appearing on my cheeks, "I just…Gale I'm almost twenty years old"

"Yeah and Haymitch is how old and he has nightmares, you just don't get drunk" Gale brushes a stray hair behind my ear, "personally I think you're idea is a hundred times better, you don't embarrass yourself and I get to spend some time with you, even if you are asleep"

"Yeah but…" I look at him, "I just…"

"I know, you don't like asking for help" he finishes, "it's alright, I'm the same. We're the ones giving the help aren't we?"

I bow my head a bit of a smile slowly forming, "I guess"

"So let me make the decision, since you're conflicted. It helped you sleep last time so I'll do the same again" Gale says, "I'll stay until you're asleep and let myself out, or I can take the couch. I'll let you decide"

"Can you…" I look at him

"I'll stay" he finishes and we go in

Mrs. Everdeen is doing dishes when we come in hand in hand. I know she knew her daughter had a thing for Gale but I think she understands that Gale and I are together. Gale doesn't assume anything, he goes up to her and explains the situation. How I hadn't slept well since the games began and I had actually slept at Hazelles when he was close by.

Mrs. Everdeen nods and looks to me and nods. It's okay by her.

"You can have the couch Gale" she says, "I'll have it set up for you"

I get into my pyjamas and get under the cotton sheet, Gale lays atop the sheet, nestled behind me one arm over me, one arm under my neck.

"Just close your eyes and relax" he whispers, "I'll be right here"

I slept thru the whole night! It's been a while without resorting to drawing, or exhausting myself that this has happened. I know some of it has to do with Gale staying close. Security, or otherwise I'm grateful. But I wake and he isn't beside me, I get up wash and change. He is sprawled on the couch, snoring softly. I make coffee and toast and go out on the balcony.

Mrs. Everdeen is outside on the swing bench. "g'mornin Ariana" she says, "you look miles better, slept well?"

I nod, "better than I have recently, I'm sure part of it was Gale, just don't know how big a part it was yet"

"He's a good boy" she says and taps the bench, I sit beside her, "he has feelings for you, I think much stronger than he did my daughter"

I don't know how to reply so I stay quiet.

"And you?" she asks, I shrug, "don't? Or you don't know"

"I…I don't know...I've never been" I reply, "I could be, but…" I sigh, "I don't know what it is, I like having him around, and we get along really well, we kinda match" I pause, "I had half a mind to watch him sleep , but I think he'd take offence, someone staring at him" I sip my coffee.

"Well in my book the feeling seems mutual" she smiles gently, "I'm glad he has you, he might not be my son, but we lived close to each other in the seam I watched him grow up" when I look worried she adds, "don't think too much into it though dear, you'll know what it is soon enough, even if he says it you don't have to not unless you are sure" she pats my shoulder and goes in.

"but how do I know?" I ask softly to the morning breeze.

I sit on the swing munching on my toast and sipping my coffee. Thinking back the past couple days of the games, Wiress saying 'tick tock' keeps playing in my head.

Tick…I swing forward
Tock…I swing back

Tick…Water surrounding the platforms like spokes in a wheel

Tock…sequential repetitive hazards in different places

Tick …hazards stick to a certain section

Tock…the bell counting off

Tick

Tock