Mockingjay: Broken Wings

by Jamie Sommers

A/U Katniss and Peeta are married, expecting a baby. Peeta's unsure of Katniss after the things he's seen while being held prisoner. Is she still trustworthy? With a traitor in the rebellion who can Katniss turn to? Haymitch, after all the secrets he's kept? Gale, who's loyalty lies with President Coin? Or will Peeta open up his heart to her again? Sequel to CF: Rekindling

3. Message in a Bottle

Mockingjay: Broken Wings

By: Jamie Sommers

Chapter Two: Message in a Bottle

Katniss has been having a hard time dealing with her new life in Thirteen. Peeta has been having a hard time...period.

Thank you to S and A for their help and quick work on the betas. I really appreciate it.

Thank you readers for your kind words and for reading! Please remember you can subscribe to updates on my tumblr page, ask me questions, which I will answer (within reason) and get sneak peeks at upcoming chapters. www dot jamiesommers23 dot tumblr dot com

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Mockingjay: Broken Wings

Schedules, they seemed to be the norm in District Thirteen. Katniss walked with Bing back to the floor that held all of their quarters. "Coming in?" She asked him before opening the door to her mother and Prim's room.

"Nah, you go ahead. I'm going to clean up before reflection time," Bing answered her. "Want me to help you drop your stuff off first?"

"Would you mind just dumping it on my bed? I'll take care of it during reflection. I think it'll be the perfect thing for me to reflect upon tonight," Katniss held onto the pillowcase that held Buttercup's still complaining form and a small box of items that Bing had collected for her mother and sister.

"I'll take care of it for you." He gave her a little squeeze. "Tell your mom and sister I'll walk them down for dinner tonight. It's kind of nice having the night off...not having to cook for the masses."

Katniss gave her father in law a little smile then entered her mother and sister's quarters expecting them to pepper her with questions. Fortunately the sound coming from the pillowcase eliminated any painful explanations of their former home. Katniss handed her mother the box and saw the wedding photo of her parents that Bing had packed up along with the book of plants that held so many of Peeta's sketches. She'd have to thank him for doing something so kind. He had done so much for her family and there was nothing left of his. Nothing but Peeta's girls.

She had intended on spending reflection, that was the time period District Thirteen designated for its residents to wind down after their day, in her own quarters, but found herself staying at her mother's instead. From the moment Katniss was released from the hospital she found the program in District Thirteen a bit on the strict side. Each morning you were supposed to stick your right arm in this contraption in the wall that tattooed a schedule of your day onto your arm in sickly purple ink. 7:00-Breakfast, 7:30-Kitchen Duties, 8:30-Education Center, room 17 and so on. The ink wasn't removable until 22:00-Bathing which is when the chemical compound would break down and wash away under running water, and unless you were on the night shift at 22:30 it was lights out. Katniss was able to get away with ignoring the schedules, so far everyone was leaving her alone. 'Thank God for her mentally disoriented bracelet,' she thought to herself on many different occasions, and everyone had to put up with her ramblings...her silent conversations with Peeta, but she knew that wouldn't last forever. Neither would their patience with the Mockingjay issue.

Katniss had decided to go down to dinner with the rest of her family, Peeta's dad included, they were all a family now, so when the knock on the door came, she didn't think twice when she shouted, "Come in."

"Hey," Gale smiled at Prim who had tied a blue ribbon around Buttercup's neck. "I see someone's being spoiled rotten."

The smile that Katniss almost had on her face from seeing Prim's joy was gone. She really had to work out this issue she had with Gale. "What are you doing here?"

"Our families were assigned tables next to each other tonight. Thought I'd walk you to dinner," Gale gave her mom a nod. "Hey, Mrs. Everdeen. Nice to see you."

"You too, Gale. I haven't seen much of you lately. Been keeping yourself busy?" She asked.

"They keep me fairly busy...yeah." Gale said proudly. By 'they' Katniss knew he meant the rebels. More people she was having an issue with. The only one of them that didn't really bother her was Finnick, and that's because he was as crazy as she was.

Katniss stood up and headed for the door. "I need to stop by my quarters before we go. I want to change."

"Into what?" Gale let out a chuckle. Everyone was assigned clothing in District Thirteen and it all looked alike. "A different gray shirt?"

"I brought some things back with me...some of Peeta's sweaters and things...I..." she didn't know why she felt tears burning in the back of her eyes, and then she realized, 'yes you do. It's because you're a hormonal mess, missing your husband, carrying a baby that no one knows about.' "I just want to change, okay!" She stormed out of their room and into her own, slamming the door in Gale's face. She pressed her palms up against the door and saw the things her father in law had left on her and Peeta's bed. "Damn you, Peeta! Where are you?" Katniss opened up the game bag and pulled out one of Peeta's favorite sweatshirts and pulled it over her head. A combination of freshly laundered clothing and Peeta wafted around her. "I'm getting pretty pissed off with you right...ri..." she let herself fall to her knees, buried her face in her hands, which were covered with the soft fabric of his shirt and cried. She had made it the entire day without shedding a tear. Walked through their district, accidentally stuck her foot inside of someone's skull while walking through the meadow. Saw the remains of the bakery Peeta had grown up in...that his family probably died in. Smelled the stench of Snow's message in Peeta's art studio and walked through their home collecting little bits of their life in the hopes that it would bring them some form of temporary normalcy while living in Thirteen. She sat under their oak tree and allowed herself to relive the pain she had gone through when she thought she lost their baby, and she did all of that without cracking. Without once shedding a tear, but now she was alone. More than that she was lonely. "I hope you're happy. I'm alive and what are you? Dead? Being tortured? I almost wish you were dead." She hated herself for saying it, but when she thought of the things President Snow could be doing to him...death was so much more preferable. Katniss stood up and answered the knock at the door. "Hey, Pops," she sniffed and wiped at her eyes with her sleeve. "I'll be ready to go in a second."

"We need to head downstairs. They don't excuse us the way they excuse you for being late," he lifted her hand and cuffed one of her sleeves. "You take a few minutes if you need to, but I think you should come down with us. Your sister's worried and so is your mother. Gale thinks you're mad at him, but I told him, it was just a tough day." Bing cuffed the other sleeve. "What do you think? Want to come down with us?"

Katniss gave him a soft smile, "I have something for you." She walked to her bed and took out the picture of her and Peeta at the Victory Tour banquet. "Why don't you hold onto this for me while we're here?" Katniss handed it to him.

"I always loved this picture," Bing smiled as he took it from her hand. "Do you have a photo of him?"

Katniss lifted the locket and pressed it to her lips. "It never leaves me. Plus I have a sketch of us that he drew."

"If you'd rather I take the sketch and you..."

Katniss blushed and quickly said, "NO! No...the sketch is...well, it was a gift he drew for me." 'Plus,' she thought to herself, 'we're wrapped up in our bedsheets staring at each other.'

"Ah," Bing couldn't' take his eyes off of the picture. "I'll only keep it till he gets back. Thank you, Katniss."

"Why don't you put it in your room and then I'll be ready to go," she felt better now. It gave her joy seeing the look of love on her father in law's face when he saw his son.

Gale leaned up against the door frame. "You made him pretty happy."

Katniss pulled her door closed and said, "Yeah. He needed a picture of Peeta."

"Weird how much they look alike, huh?" Gale commented.

"I don't know," Katniss shirked one of her shoulders. "I mean, they have a few features, but...There are a lot of differences between them. Their eyes are completely different and so is their hair."

"What are you talking about?" Prim chimed in. "They look exactly alike."

"No they don't," Evelyn agreed with Katniss. "Bing's hair is kind of a sandy blond...flips up at the ends and his eyes are more of a sky blue in color, but deeper surrounded by smile lines."

"Peeta's hair is curly at the ends and like a dusty blond," Katniss took hold of Prim's hand and said, "his eyes are so...bright...vivid...like a striking blue."

Gale and Prim exchanged curious expressions as mother and daughter described the exact same man only different ages. "Sure...they're totally different," Prim said sarcastically.

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"There's a nightclub you can go to," Portia applied Effie's eyelashes and spoke softly, "you must look for a bartender. She'll help you get information to the rebels in the other districts."

"What am I to tell them?" Effie whispered knowing that the Capitol had placed a recording monitor on her days ago and now Effie was constantly being monitored. The only time it didn't work was when she was in the elevators or deep underground. "Do I ask for help? Tell them where you are?"

"Let them know that Peeta is alive, but barely. He's going to die if they keep on beating him the way you said they are and if he dies..."

"They'll have a martyr on their hands won't they?" Effie asked. "A young, pregnant girl, left without the father of her child..." she clucked her tongue. "I can't even imagine how this country would react to such a thing."

Portia dabbed a little powder on to Effie's face. "It sounds sick, but...it might be the best thing for this rebellion if they do let Peeta die. At this point, it would help more than it would hurt." Portia almost smiled. "Snow's regime wouldn't last a week after that. I just hate to think of Katniss..." she blew out a breath. "Cinna always said that was my biggest downfall, caring too much about Katniss and Peeta, and not enough about all of the children of the world."

"I can see that about you dear. You always were very close to Peeta." Effie gave her hand a little pat. "However, I do not think I can condone allowing him to die for the sake of the rebellion. It seems so cold."

"But it might be necessary, Effie."

"If it comes to that, than I shall agree." Neither one of them would agree, but if Snow thought killing Peeta would help the rebellion then they would act like Peeta's death was just a casualty of war. Effie sat upright and gave herself a once over in the mirror. "You really are an artist, Portia. I look lovely, as usual." She turned to her friend. "How long has it been since you've slept?"

"I got a couple of hours yesterday, but they've been keeping my team busy round the clock...asking us questions when we're not working...or working us when they're not asking us questions. It won't last for long though. We don't know much of anything and no one can handle that kind of stress." Portia started putting her makeup kit away, but her hands began to shake and one of her brushes fell to the ground. "See? Told you. No one can handle this kind of stress."

Effie bent over and picked up the makeup brush. "Dear, why don't you sit down. I'll pack up for you."

"If they find out, Effie..."

"I'll take my chances." She couldn't do it anymore. Watching everyone she loved be abused was more than she could handle. The only person that wasn't being tortured by President Snow was Annie. She'd be brought in for questioning every few days, but more often than not the girl just broke down in tears and was deemed useless. Effie's only reason for continually residing with her was to maintain the appearance of friendship amongst the districts. If District Four was with the rebellion, and by the state of the uprising in their area the Capitol was convinced they were, then Effie's alliance with the girl would be seen as helpful with her rebel friends. If for some strange reason District Four was loyal to the Capitol than caring for one of their own would show signs of compassion. The same went for District Two where Enobaria hailed from. Effie got sick to her stomach when she thought of the gold toothed woman. 'She deserves to be in a cell, not my Peeta.' "There we are," she said. "Everything's packed away. Nice and tight."

"Effie," Portia's frail hand held onto her arm. "You must get word out to the rebels through the districts. Let them know who's alive here in the Capitol. Where they're located. Your position here can be very helpful to us."

"I shall do my best," Effie assured her. It had been on her mind for days. She needed to tell Haymitch where they were, what they were doing, how to break into their compound... 'I'm more than ready for you to come back and get me now,' she thought on many different occasions, but the portable recording device hidden in the brooch President Snow made her wear each day prevented her from accessing the computer that Plutarch had left for her. There was only one place she could risk using it and if this plan to get word out through the rebel's network didn't pan out, then she'd have no choice but to risk everything and hope someone was listening on the other end of the computer as she begged them to come and break them out of the Capitol. "I must go now, Portia. The president will be airing Peeta's spot very soon and then we'll be having a meeting in regards to our next steps."

"Yes." Portia stood up from the chair and held onto the edge of it to keep her balance. "I believe my team and I may actually get a small break during your meeting."

"I shall make sure you have a meal sent into your quarters." The only time any of these people ate, Effie was certain it was at her request. "Toodle ooh, darling." With a gentle squeeze of her friend's hand, she was on her way, stopping long enough to place an order with the guard for food to be brought into Portia's quarters for her and her staff.

"There she is now, Miss. Trinket," President Snow's greeting was always too chipper as far as Effie was concerned, but she met him with one as equally bright. "We were just watching your interaction with the stylist. "Brilliant. Your compassion for the woman...well for all of those people is truly remarkable."

"Sir," Effie placed her fingers against her chest, "I don't know how I'm able to swallow the bile that rises to my throat each time I am in their company." Ironically she was speaking about the people she was surrounded with.

"You're doing a fabulous job, Miss. Trinket," one of the officials said. "Now, we'll need to send that message, perhaps try and track the location of the...will it be a note...something verbal?" He asked Effie.

She shook her head, "This is a first for me," which it was. In the past, all Effie had to do was speak with Plutarch directly and he got word to President Coin herself. "Portia said a note."

"Yes, I heard that portion of the discussion between you and Peeta's stylist," Snow said. The man was constantly testing Effie, trying to trip her up in a lie. "After we play Peeta's interview, I believe the rebels will be anxious for his return. If we can somehow get them to attempt a rescue when they think we'll be vulnerable," he turned to Effie, "you could get word to them. Tell them we were given information that they were holed up in the caves in District Eleven and we are sending in the majority of our tactical units." The bloodcurdling smile that haunted Effie's nightmares flashed before her eyes. "Do you think you can accomplish something so complicated, Miss. Trinket?"

She squared her shoulders, "Of course, sir. I shall go to the watering hole this evening."

"Excellent," Snow looked around the room. "Shall we enjoy the festivities?" He sat on a large comfortable chair and pushed a button on the remote that was always close at hand. "Mr. Mellark," he spoke in a low, controlled voice. "It's time to be of good use."

"There is one thing, sir," Effie took a seat and crossed her ankles. "Portia brought up an excellent point today regarding turning Peeta into a martyr. Though I doubt you causing his death would really have that big of an impact on the nation...who cares if...what do they call him again the Jabberjay or is he the Mockingjay?"

"The Jabberjay," one of the officials answered.

"Mmm, yes. The Jabberjay, dies for the sake of his Mockingjay, in this case, Peeta dies for Katniss, we've all seen it before in the arena. But if you'd like to prevent him from perishing before they come for him you may want to feed the prisoners," Effie reached for a cup and poured some tea. "These little cakes are delicious, aren't they?" She spoke to no one in particular. The seed had been planted now it was up to the officials to go with it.

"We could send the boy a plate of food," one of the men said.

Another added," He won't touch it unless we feed the girl down there too." A slight argument broke out amongst the men regarding whether or not to provide Peeta and Johanna something to eat as Effie nibbled on a small piece of cake and sipped at some tea.

"Enough!" President Snow demanded. "Have that Avox he's so fond of bring two trays of food for them. Nothing too rich, I wouldn't want them to get sick, but let's give them some meat...bread...vegetables...water and then we'll show Mr. Mellark how kind we can really be." Snow grinned.

Effie worried.

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Two trays of food were slid across the concrete floor, one towards Peeta and one towards Johanna.

"Is this real?" Johanna said with a hint of confusion in her voice. "I'm dreaming right?"

Peeta gave his head a little shake. He wasn't quite sure if it was real or not. Lately it was kind of hard to tell with all the drugs they were pumping through his veins. "I...I don't know." He poked a tentative finger at it. "Feels real enough."

He heard the voice again, "It's real, Peeta. Go ahead and eat it." He looked around the room for the girl, but she wasn't there, just her voice was.

"Are you sure?" he asked softly.

"Yes," she said.

Peeta was a bit skeptical at first until he picked up a stale roll and bit into it. He closed his eyes and swore he just took a bite out of heaven. It was dry and didn't flake at all, but it was food and ambrosia to his taste buds. "You have to eat it Johanna."

"What if it's poisoned?" She asked, holding up the roll and examining it. "You shouldn't eat it, Peeta."

"It's okay. She said it was." Peeta scooped up some of the peas into his mouth.

"She?" Johanna looked at him and broke off a small piece of roll before putting it into her mouth. "Is she here again?"

Peeta shook his head. "No, not here. She just told me to eat."

Johanna scrutinized Peeta carefully and he seemed to be doing okay, besides, if they were going to poison them at least the torture would be over. With a halfhearted shrug of her shoulder she decided to eat. "Do you remember her name this time?"

"I forgot to ask, but she never tells me anyway. Always says I'll figure it out on my own." Peeta took a bite of the beef that was sitting on his plate. "This is overcooked and really good."

Johanna let out a laugh and said, "Yeah. Why don't you tell me about her? The girl. What does she look like?"

Peeta sighed. "She's so beautiful. Long dark hair that she wears in a braid over her shoulder, but not always...I think she used to wear it differently and I know she wears it down sometimes," he smiled softly. "It feels nice when she wears it that way...smells good too. Her nose is straight with a little...I don't know how to explain it..." he had a far off look in his eyes as he pictured her, "...I always think of it as perky."

"Probably the only perky thing about her," Johanna mumbled under her breath.

"Then there are the freckles." Peeta lifted his finger and started dabbing in the air. "Twelve of them across the bridge of her nose." She had more than that, but only twelve that others knew about. The rest were a secret, he didn't know how he knew this, but he did and when he pictured the rest of her golden spots he could feel a slight flush rush up his cheeks. "Katniss," he whispered.

"There ya go, cinnamon buns," Johanna bit into her beef with gusto. "Katniss."

Peeta lifted his eyes to Johanna, they were clear now. "How long did it last this time?"

"I'm not sure," she said. "It's getting pretty hard to tell. You're having regular conversations with me and then you start talking about her like she's a figment of your imagination."

"Johanna, I have to figure out what they're giving me in those tubes that's screwing with my memory," Peeta rubbed at his temple and studied his tray of food. "I know who you are...I sort of know who I am," he glanced out of the cell, "hell, I can even remember Darius, but I struggle to remember Katniss or me and Katniss together. It's like they're trying to erase her from my life," his voice began to shake.

"Good luck with that," Johanna sounded confident. "Peeta there's no way they can accomplish anything like that. It doesn't matter what they do to you. Even if they wiped your memory, the moment you saw her...Trust me, you two wouldn't be apart for long." She stuck her legs out in front of her, shoved some bread in her mouth and started talking with her mouth full. "It makes me sick, but you two are...shit...you're just supposed to be together. I kind of want to puke whenever I think about it."

Peeta let out a chuckle. "Gee, thanks Johanna." He ate a few more bites. "So, why do you think they're feeding us?"

"Oh, I know why they're feeding me," she answered.

"Why's that?" He asked.

"Cause you won't eat unless I do. So the question is, why are they feeding you?" Johanna lifted her right brow into her hairline. "They've got something planned for you Peeta. Kind of makes me wonder what it is."

"Yeah," he pushed some peas around the plate and thought about not eating. "She's talking to me again." He could hear Katniss' voice.

"What's she saying?" Johanna asked.

"Eat, Peeta. You need your strength." Peeta's worried expression creased his face.

"There's one thing I've got to say about fireball, she was pretty smart when it came to survival. I'd listen to her if I were you." Johanna watched as Peeta's features softened and his eyes glassed over. "She hasn't steered you wrong yet, Peeta."

"Who hasn't?" He asked as he lifted a few peas to his mouth.

"Fireball," Johanna said. "Your wife...mother of your child..."

"Yeah, I know. I know. Pain in your ass." Peeta had heard Johanna call fireball that many times, but she never called her by her real name. Johanna always told him that he had to remember her name on his own. It was important for him to figure out who she was by himself, but it was hard for Peeta to think of this fireball person when all he could see was the girl with the silver eyes and the freckles. Peeta ate his food like the girl told him to. Drank all of his water and when he was through he let her run her fingers through his hair...brush her lips against his. He could feel her breath warm against his skin, smell the sweet spring scent of lavender in her soft brown hair. Tonight he could see her walking across a bedroom, wearing an oversized shirt, her long braid was coming out of its weave, her eyes held his gaze. He needed to figure out where they were. And what was her name?

"What are you looking at?" She asked as she slowly made her way towards him.

It amazed him how she never made a sound when she walked. "I'm looking at the truest form of beauty ever created." The blush that crept up her cheeks was quite becoming. "Can I take your hair out of the braid?"

"Would you like to?" She stopped walking and stood next to a wrought iron chair with a plush velvet cushion.

Peeta eased off of the large bed, he could feel the soft quilted material beneath him, and made his way over to her. "Sit down." She sat on the chair and followed his every movement, her eyes holding his racing heart captive until he stood directly in front of her and took the band out of her hair. That's when she closed her eyes and lifted her hands to his waist. "Katniss," he said softly as he threaded his fingers through her hair, watching the brown waves cascade down her shoulders. "Katniss," he captured her face in his hands and lifted her lips to his. "I've missed you."

"I'm right here, Peeta. I've always been here," she breathed against his mouth. "Always." Her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers laced through his hair as he lifted her in his arms.

Peeta could feel the love they shared flowing between them. "Please don't let them take you from me."

"They won't as long as you hold on to this. Just hold on to moments like this, Peeta. Times like this that they can't touch. That belonged to you and me." Katniss cradled his cheek in the palm of her hand. "I love you, Peeta. No matter what they say...no matter what they tell you, it was always you."

He felt the strong hands gripping his arms, ripping him away from her. "No! Katniss! Katniss!" He was being dragged down the familiar hallway, the one that led to the room with the tubes that took bits of her away. "KATNISS!"

"Yes, Katniss," President Snow fiddled with a fresh rose in his lapel. "Say her name as much as you like, Peeta. She is the reason you're here."

"You," Peeta growled. "It doesn't matter what you do, I won't forget her."

"Oh, Peeta. I don't want you to forget her. I want you to see her for who she really is." President Snow motioned to the guards and Peeta was strapped down to a table. His legs belted at the ankles, calves and thighs. A thick leather strap across his waist and his arms out to the side, bound so tightly they couldn't move. A one by one inch device was placed on his arm and two tubes shot out, burying themselves deep into Peeta's skin. "There we are," Snow leered. "Just relax and let the venom sooth you."

Peeta could feel his head start to pound, his skin was beginning to burn as everything around him started to take on a strange glow. "No," he tried to fight...to move his legs, but they were frozen in place. "Please don't." Begging was useless. It was time for his daily reeducation.

"Today we're going to learn something new about the woman you claimed to have married. Who said, she's having your child." Snow walked around the room at a snail's pace before turning on the large overhead television screen. "Do you have any clue who that is, Peeta?"

"Ga...Gale," he answered. "Katniss' cousin. My friend."

"Your friend," Snow let out a laugh. "Would you like to see what your friend and your, so called wife, do behind your back?" There was no need to wait for an answer. Recordings of Gale and Katniss in the woods sharing a picnic, Gale sketching something while Katniss ate chocolate cake. Then Gale moved closer to her and spoke to her about a kiss Katniss had shared with Peeta.

"So how's Peeta?" Gale asked Katniss.

"Um…fine."

"Has he…Has he said anything to you…about us?"

"Not really." Katniss put the empty cake box down and placed the fork and napkin inside of it. "I've talked to him about the arena though."

"What did you tell him?" Gale scooted closer to her.

"The truth." Katniss looked down at her lap and folded her hands in it. "He asked me if we were faking it in the arena after he…"

"After he, what?" Gale asked.

"He kissed me."

"I figured he'd try something since we're not exactly a couple anymore."

"You figured?" Katniss turned to him. "Why would you think he'd try something with me?"

"The same reason I gave you months ago, Katniss. He has feelings for you." Gale cleared his throat and asked. "What did you do when he kissed you?"

"I kissed him back."

"What kind of kiss was it?" Gale asked.

"Huh?"

He looked directly at her and moved closer to her. "What kind of kiss was it? Was it a friendly kiss or something…more?"

"I don't think we should be talking about this."

"Why not? We're friends, right?" Gale asked innocently.

"I suppose, but…"

"But?" Gale turned himself until he faced her straight on. "Are you afraid I might get jealous?"

"Yes."

"I'm not jealous, Katniss. I have no reason to be."

"You always got jealous of Peeta before. Why aren't you now?"

"We're not romantically involved anymore so…" Gale shrugged, as he leaned closer into her. "Besides, I know you don't have those types of feelings for Peeta."

"It was a…something more kiss." Her eyes were glistening as she said, "He held my face in his hands and…"

"Like this?" Gale cupped her cheeks and lowered his voice down. "Is this how he held you?" He was whispering now.

"Yes," she whispered back.

"Then what did he do?" The tip of Gale's nose was touching hers.

"He kissed me." Katniss closed her eyes.

"Like this?" He leaned in and placed a very soft peck on her lips. "Or like this?" You could see tip of Gale's tongue flick against her bottom lip. Then Katniss parted her lips and Gale kissed her in a very intimate manner. When he pulled away, she kept her eyes closed and ran her tongue over her mouth. "So?"

"So what?" She asked in a dreamlike voice.

"Is that how he kissed you?"

She shook her head slowly from left to right and said, "No." She opened her eyes. "It was more like the first one." She swallowed and said, "I pushed him away though."

Gale rubbed his nose against hers and asked, "Why?"

"Because…" Katniss lifted her hands to his head and threaded her fingers through his hair. "It didn't feel right. His lips…his hair…"

"What was wrong?" He breathed against her lips.

"It wasn't you," she whispered to him as she closed her eyes and Gale's lips met hers in another kiss.

The whole scene President Snow played for him on the television screen seemed familiar to Peeta. Like he had seen it before. No, not seen it...been a part of it...but when Peeta tried to remember it everything seemed hazy. Sort of like a dream. "That's not right. It wasn't Gale that kissed her. I kissed her in the woods. It was me." At least he thought it was him.

"Yes, you did kiss her in the woods. We have that footage as well, but it was nothing as...intimate as what you just viewed." Snow looked at the confused expression that had crossed Peeta's face. "Cameras don't lie, Peeta." He gave a signal to someone and another recording started.

Peeta watched as the next scene was him kissing Katniss in the woods next to the fence. It was just a soft peck on the lips. She barely responded to him, but when she did and she lifted her fingers to his hair she pushed him away and started to cry...ran into the woods. "No," he said softly. "No. I don't believe you. You're making this up." But how could he have made this up. Peeta was watching it with his own eyes. He spent two hours watching and re-watching the same recordings of Katniss and Gale starting up a relationship behind his back. Gale seducing Katniss against a tree...in the wee hours of the morning before Peeta met up with her, carrying his hunting gear. Did he hunt? He wondered. For some reason he didn't think he did. There were so many things that were off as well as accurate about the recordings. Over and over again he saw her...Katniss...his wife...the mother of his baby, or was it his?

"They tried to stay away from one another, but it was useless." Snow walked up to Peeta, leaned his head close to his ear and whispered, "How sure are you that the child she's carrying is actually yours? Didn't you wonder why she never told you about it?"

Peeta' s eyes flew wide open, his heart began to race, his teeth clenched together. Snow had just confirmed his suspicions. "You bitch! You two timing bitch!"

Snow stood upright and lifted his chin to the physician. "That's enough for today. Miss. Trinket will be here to escort him down to his cell." President Snow adjusted his suit coat, pat at the corners of his puffy lips with his handkerchief and said, "Till tomorrow, Peeta." As he left the room he passed by Effie who was waiting in the hall. "How did it go?"

"The message was delivered sir. If it does reach its destination then the rebels will be here in five days," Effie said proudly.

"Excellent work, Miss. Trinket. Please make sure you try to find out as much as you can while the young man is in his weakened state," Snow stole a glance at Peeta then resumed his walk towards his office surrounded by his guards.

"Time to head back, Peeta." Effie knew what they were doing to him today. She had been in the control room when they were altering the video feeds of Katniss and Peeta. Superimposing Gale's features on top of Peeta's, altering the vocals, changing certain aspects of the conversation to make it appear as though it were Katniss and Gale talking and not Katniss and Peeta. However, there were some things that simply couldn't be changed. You couldn't take away the fact that Peeta had been sketching or Katniss had been eating the cake that he had baked her. These were the little things that Peeta could not overlook while watching the recordings. "Place him in the elevator. I shall ride down with him," Effie ordered the guards. The instant the door was closed she opened her purse and pulled out a tube of lipstick which hid the vial of medication that would drop Peeta's body temperature. "Oh my darling boy, you must hang on."

"She's a two timing whore!" Peeta began to tremble as his body went from burning hot to cold.

"No, darling. No. Remember what I told you. They are showing you lies. I was there when they altered the recordings. Katniss has always remained faithful to you." She forced Peeta to look into her eyes. "Who loves you, Peeta? Who!"

He grit his teeth. He knew what Effie wanted him to say, but he couldn't do it. Not after what he had just seen. "She doesn't, Effie. She loves Gale."

"She does not. Now say it! Who loves you?"

"Kat...Katniss," He practically cried when her name spilled out from between his lips and he knew in his heart it was the truth. "She loves me. She does."

"Yes, dear. She adores you." Effie stroked his head. "Now, who can you trust?" Her voice was much more tender this time.

"Katniss," Peeta closed his eyes and reminded himself that his girl, his feisty girl had always protected him, always been there for him. "I trust Katniss." His body temperature was starting to return to normal. "Why do I get so hot afterward?"

"It's the tracker jacker venom, but don't you worry, I've found out some very interesting things about it. It's not as fool proof as the Capitol seems to think it is." Effie held onto his arm and ran her hand over the spot where the tubes had been. "Tomorrow when you go in you must still act as though you hate Katniss. Do not let them know you remember you love her or they'll fill you with even more of that vile poison than they already do."

Peeta nodded. "I forget sometimes Effie...forget about her...about the way we were together."

"Then ask Johanna to tell you about her the moment you step into that cell. You tell her to remind you each and every second of the day you're together, do you understand me?" Effie gave his hand a little squeeze and whispered in his ear. "They're going to come and rescue us soon, Peeta and it will all be over. Now you act like you hate Katniss and every time you say the words, 'I hate Katniss' you'll really be saying, I love her."

Peeta tried to give Effie a little grin, but he felt too weak and mentally drained. "I hate her with all my heart and soul."

"That's my boy," Effie stood tall and quickly asked. "I shall tell them you were ranting about hating Katniss so much that I couldn't get any information out of you regarding the rebellion."

"Sounds good to me," Peeta lifted his eyes to the lights on the elevator. "I better start screaming now."

His exit from the tiny elevator went off without a hitch and when he entered his cell he waited until the guards were out of earshot before asking Johanna about Katniss. "It's fading away, Johanna and I need to know the truth, but..." he looked around, "...they won't like it, will they? If you tell me about her?"

"What if I tell you a different story?" Johanna lifted the corner of her mouth in a little smirk. "The story of Princess Fireball and Prince Cinnamon Buns and how they were trapped inside of a...evil fortress and had to battle other princes and princesses to survive?"

"How will that help?" Peeta looked confused.

Johanna gave him a little smile, "Trust me, it will. Come on," she pat the ground through the bars and said, "Take a seat. It's a long story. Starts off with a couple of kids, a girl. We're gonna call her Fireball. She was from the wrong side of the tracks and wasn't all that much to look at. Then there was a boy, Cinnamon Buns, he was from a better area than she was and he could do a hell of a lot better than her, but for some strange reason, Buns, I'm just gonna call the guy Buns, had the hots for Fireball."

"Was she nice?"

"Hell no," Johanna made a face. "Girl had a wicked temper, but she had morals, kind of a hard thing to hold onto in their world, she could out shoot any man plus she was fearless."

"Sounds like the kind of girl I'd like to know," Peeta sat back against the wall and let Johanna tell him a story. "Hey Johanna," he whispered. "Do you see her?"

"Who?" Johanna stopped talking, turned to see what Peeta was looking at, expecting to see nothing...sure he was going to start talking about the girl again, but she had no such luck. "Annie?"

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Effie checked her appearance for the third time in the mirror prior to leaving. "Miss. Trinket," her new personal security guard was waiting for her. "Anytime you're ready to leave, I'll be in the hall."

"Thank you." One more check in the mirror and she was off. She held onto her purse which carried the message she had written out earlier in the day. It was a detailed message informing the rebels that the Capitol would be sending their forces to the caves located in District Eleven, to search for the refugees from the arena in five days time so security would be at a minimum around the prisoners. This was the lie that President Snow came up with. However, embedded within that message Effie used a basic code, one that she and Peeta had frequently used in which every tenth word was used to reveal a secret message. She had to let the rebels know that the note she was sending to them was a lie and that there was a traitor in the rebellion. Of course, Effie had to condense the lettering, but she was certain her use of the code would be clear to those close to her, and to those that didn't know her, it would be overlooked. Peeta had told her the rebels rarely used the code, but it was the only one Haymitch had committed to memory so Effie made it a point to memorize it as well. Her new security officer, assigned to her that morning by the president, would escort her a block away from the bar she was to go to, a hole in the wall establishment by Capitol standards, but quite a popular night spot for morphling addicts and drunken citizens. When Portia had mentioned a bar Effie had expected it to be Carter's establishment, The Library, but the address Portia had written out for her in lipstick was on the opposite side of the city. Effie walked into the noisy club, expecting it to house a handful of derelicts and drunkards, only to find it was wall to wall people, dancing, drinking. Many were half dressed, practically pawing at one another on the dance floor, and she was suddenly glad she had listened to Portia and dressed down for the evening, wearing a long red wig, black and red suit. She still looked like herself, just a more muted version of herself.

She walked up to the bar and searched out the barmaid, an orange skinned girl walked up to her and slapped a napkin down in front of her. "What can I get for you?"

"I'd like a phone to drink and use of your Mustang Blue...I mean...I'd like a Mustang Blue to drink and use of your phone. I must send a message to my sister who is looking for me." Effie said nervously. She had flubbed the first part of the code and hoped this girl was the right one. She was the only colored girl working in the place.

The girl eyed her up and down, turned around, began mixing a concoction of alcohol then slapped a napkin down in front of Effie. "That'll be four hundred dollars." The instructions were simple, put the note under the money, drink half the drink, finish up with the rest of the code words then leave the counter. Effie slapped a thousand dollar bill on the counter with the note beneath, the image of Snow's predecessor stared up at her from the bright blue and red bill. She lifted the straw to her lips, drank the overly sweet and powerful cocktail halfway through then said, "Never mind about the phone. There's my sister now."

Effie stood up, keeping her eye on the colored girl behind the bar as she made her way through the crowd. Portia had told her to stop in the restroom if she didn't feel comfortable with mingling for a few minutes, which is what Effie did. It would look suspicious if she walked into a bar and out of it in less than a minute. She walked into a private ladies room suite and blew out a breath thinking, 'I cannot keep this up much longer. I'm going to get either myself or someone else killed.'

"Effie?"

Her head snapped to the right of the restroom's exit. "Carter?"

The sound of his laughter soothed her worried soul. "You frightened Ianthe." He held his hand out to her and led her down the hall to a dark and quiet area marked SERVANTS ONLY. "She thought you were a spy sent in from the Capitol."

"What is this place?" Effie looked around.

"My office...for now anyway. I'm sort of moving things around since we're doing so well. Getting ready for the next phase of things." Carter looked her up and down. "New costume? Not as good as the last one."

"No," Effie automatically touched the red wig. "Portia suggested I dress down and told me to come here and send a message to...some friends, but..." she stopped herself before telling him about the traitor. For all she knew, Carter could be the traitor.

"But?" He asked.

"Peeta...he needs help. They mustn't wait much longer." Effie was so confused as to whether or not to trust him. If he was the traitor, wouldn't he have told the president about her being a member of the rebellion? "I can't stay, Carter and I must ask...now that I'm working with Snow...Please..."

"You were never here, Effie. I don't even think Ianthe recognized you. If she asks..."

"Which one was she? I don't think I've ever met your Ianthe." Effie gave him a grin.

"She made your drink." Carter walked Effie to the exit. "I try to keep her out of this...all she does is pretty much open and close the doors for people...takes messages and gives them to me... The mere thought of Snow turning her into an Avox turns my stomach to knots."

"Like Justus and Regina," she said without thinking.

"Justus and Regina?" Carter asked. "You mean it's true? The Avox you brought that night...it was him?"

She could've kicked herself for saying something, but now that she did there was no going back. "I didn't find out about them until they were just about to board the hovercraft, but yes."

"Effie." Carter's face was plagued with fear. "If I had known who they were, I would've made sure you got on that hovercraft with the rest of them that night. Do you have any idea what Snow will do to you if he finds out that you're responsible for the escape of the first Capitol rebel?"

"What about you, Carter? Aren't you worried?" She asked with an inquisitive brow.

"Absolutely. I'm trying to convince Ianthe that we need to leave this place as well, but her family's here and trying to get all of them rescued...they're all servants so..." There was a long drawn out pause. "Guess you better head out before Snow wonders what took you so long in my establishment."

"How many establishments do you own, Carter?" Effie asked.

"I'm not quite sure," he thought for a moment then said, "I believe I own seven public consumption institutions, I know I have three private...a few investments..."

"I was speaking about bars, Carter," Effie flustered a bit. "Surely you didn't think I was looking for a rundown on your personal or professional portfolio?"

He gave her a little laugh, "I suppose I'm still a Capitol sponsor in my blood. It's very difficult to quit behaving a particular way when you've become accustomed to it."

'Yes,' Effie thought to herself, 'like flaunt your worth in the middle of a war.' "I must go. My security officer is waiting for my return." She headed out of the darkened area, "Farewell, Carter."

As Effie exited the crowded club she saw several familiar faces in the room, two other escorts and plenty of sponsors. She needed to leave before someone recognized her too. Hightailing it out of the building and down the street she took notice of the Capitol and how unaffected it was compared to the rest of the nation. There was fighting going on all over their country. People were dying at that very minute and none of these people cared about it. If they even knew about it. Effie couldn't help but wonder how news of the war hadn't put a damper on their festivities? Since the end of the Games, President Snow had been trying to turn the people of the country, especially those of the Capitol, against Katniss and Peeta by airing continual news coverage of the war. Yet these people had ceased to stop dancing, drinking...engaging in promiscuous public behavior and she couldn't understand why. 'Would they ever?' She asked herself. 'Probably not,' she answered as she walked up to her personal security guard.

"Ma'am," he greeted her and took up a steady stride next to hers. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine..." it dawned on Effie that she didn't know what to call the man. She turned to him, took in his features, he was easily over six foot tall, broad shouldered, muscular, dark skinned, close cropped hair, wide, flat nose and large lips. "What is your name?"

"Tanner," he answered in a deep, booming voice.

"Tanner what?" She asked.

"Pardon me?" The Peacekeeper looked confused.

"What is your last name Tanner?" Effie asked him. "You do have one, don't you?"

"Tanner is my last name."

"Then what is your first name?" Effie blew out a breath.

"Steven. Steven Tanner, ma'am." He ushered her to a small vehicle and held the passenger door opened for her.

'Great,' Effie thought to herself, 'just what I needed, a Peacekeeper with two first names constantly at my side.' She adjusted herself in the seat of the car and looked out the window, black preventing anyone from looking in, but allowing her to see everything around her. "Mr. Tanner," if you wouldn't mind taking me to the Tribute Center, I'd like to change before meeting with the president."

"Yes, ma'am." The guard answered as he started the vehicle and drove towards their destination.

Effie cleared her throat. "Once I am through with my meetings I will no longer need your services for the evening."

The guard glanced over his shoulder at her then back at the road, "Pardon me, ma'am?"

"You're excused for the day when I'm through with my duties with President Snow," Effie thought she was clear the first time she had said it.

"I'm sorry, Miss. Trinket, but I'm your personal security agent," he informed her.

"Yes, I was told that this morning," she fiddled with her purse.

"Ma'am, I am at your service twenty-four hours a day seven days a week."

Effie's head snapped to attention. "Do you mean you're not allowed to leave my side?"

"As of this morning it is my sworn duty to protect you at all cost," he said it as though taking an oath. "I will sacrifice my life for the safety of Effie Trinket, to ensure her well being, to protect and serve Miss. Trinket as she works to bring justice..."

"Enough!" Effie barked. "Please," she softened her voice and tried to comprehend what the young man was telling her. "Mr. Tanner," she swallowed, "Am I to understand that you are similar to the guards the president of our country has protecting him?"

"Not similar Miss. Trinket. Exactly like them except my station is with you."

She had never considered this. Surveillance, yes...she could get around that, but an actual security agent... "And you do not get a day...any time off?" Effie asked.

"I will be allowed two three and a half hour breaks each day to sleep." He turned into a private parking facility, pulled into a cargo elevator and pressed several buttons on the vehicle's dashboard. "My belongings have been transferred to your quarters after I was sworn in this morning."

Effie tried not to fret. What was she to do now? "Well, I do hope you're tidy, and that you're polite to Miss. Cresta. I shall introduce you to her when we arrive. She fears Peacekeepers so I would appreciate it if you wouldn't wear your helmet while we're in our quarters. It is of the utmost importance to the president that we remain on excellent terms with our victors from Districts Two and Four." She couldn't make it appear as though Annie was getting special treatment.

"Miss. Trinket?"

"Yes, Mr. Tanner," she answered.

"Hasn't anyone informed you that the victor from District Four has been removed from your residency?"

Effie's fingers flew to her throat. "Pardon me?"

"As a matter of fact, ma'am. I was informed that you were being reassigned quarters adjacent to the President's rose garden."

The walls of the vehicle began to close in on Effie. She ran her hand over her torso and felt the bump within her corset that housed the computer. She had yet to take the corset off since the beginning of the war with the exception of bathing and it was cutting off the circulation to her midriff. Now it seemed to be squeezing all of the air out of her lungs. Effie stepped out of the car door that her guard held open for her and looked around at her surroundings. 'Haymitch,' her mind was in desperate need of the man's protection, but Haymitch Abernathy wasn't there to keep her safe. Steve Tanner, Peacekeeper from District Two was now the man in charge of her safety. Effie Trinket glanced at the man who checked the hallways prior to her walking down them and wondered how loyal would he be to the oath he took when she was the one trying to kill him.

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The dining hall's scent hit Katniss about a mile away, at least it felt that way to her. Fortunately the doctor's treatment for morning sickness was still working, but once they ran out of medication, she had no clue how she was going to avoid throwing up before every meal. Dr. Valero had told her many women stopped experiencing those symptoms once they reached their second trimester of pregnancy and by Katniss' calculations that was only a couple of weeks away. She seriously hoped that was one of the symptoms that went away, but the doctor also told her that others took its place and then there was the one thing Katniss couldn't avoid...showing. Each day she examined her body, looking for signs of change. Peeta had told her she didn't notice a thing when she first got pregnant, and Katniss had to admit, he was right. Now she noticed everything. The vitamin regimen the doctor had her on left her skin glowing, her hair was shinier and growing at a ridiculous rate as were the nails she bit every single day. Her breasts were still getting larger, she honestly didn't know how, but they were. Her hips were getting a bit wider which balanced out the whole boob thing so she didn't feel so self conscience. From anyone's perspective, she just looked like a girl turning into a woman. The weirdest thing was the line...a strange line was starting to form from her navel down to the top of her pubic bone. She'd have to remember to ask Regina about that the next time she saw her.

As Katniss, her family and Gale met up with the rest of the Hawthorne clan, she saw the expressions on their faces...pity. It was the same look everyone in the district gave her. Some faces had sorrow, some even had guilt, though Katniss had no clue why, but there was always pity. Katniss was the girl everyone felt sorry for right now. She wasn't sure how long that would last before they all started looking at her expectantly. Eventually they'd all wonder why she wasn't acting like the savior the rebels had made her out to be while she was in the arena, but for right now, she could simply be the woman that had fought and killed to save the life of her husband only to have him literally slip out of the safe hands of the rebel's rescue mission, and then there was the baby. Katniss pushed that thought from her mind. She hated what she was doing to these people. The lies she had to tell them...that she was being forced to tell them.

"Hi, Katniss," Posy's greeting was genuine as was her smile. "Can I sit next to you tonight?"

"I'm sitting next to her, rosy Posy," Gale lifted his sister up.

Katniss gave Posy a little tickle and said, "Aw, I think you'll survive not sitting next to me tonight, Gale. Why not let Posy have the honor?"

Prim took Katniss' hand and said, "As long as I get the other side," and smiled.

"Looks like I'll be surrounded by beautiful girls," Katniss grinned.

Bing held the door open for them to walk through. "Don't know about you, Gale, but I think I'm jealous."

"Yeah," Gale gave him a halfhearted smile.

"If it makes you feel better, you can sit next to me." Evelyn walked in and looked up at Gale. "I'd be happy to have a handsome young man such as yourself dining next to me."

"There you go, Catnip." Gale grinned. "Your mom's my dinner date tonight."

Katniss whipped her head in his direction and snapped, "I don't date! I'm married!"

"Hey...I didn't mean..." Gale tried to explain, but it was too late. Katniss was already dragging Prim and Posy up the line towards the trays to get their food.

The comment was innocent enough, but it bothered her to no end. It seemed like every time Katniss turned around Gale was there offering to do things for her, help her carry her food tray, like she couldn't lift it herself...walk her to the doctor's office, or to the education classes which Katniss never attended anyway. She hated it.

"He didn't mean anything by that," Prim said quietly as she got her tray of food.

Katniss gave a quick peek at Posy who was standing on the opposite side of her and said to Prim, "I know. Drop it, Prim." The last thing she needed was to explain herself to her little sister when she couldn't even explain it to herself.

Posy was full of conversation and childish fun, making Katniss smile yet long for Peeta even more. Yearning for him to sit next to her, hold her hand and marvel at the wonders of life through a child's eye. Posy liked District Thirteen. There was always food to eat and clothes to wear. Her mother didn't have to work all the time and her brothers seemed happy. When talk turned to Buttercup's arrival, Prim worried about what to feed him. Sneaking food out of the dining hall was punishable, strictly forbidden.

"Don't worry, Prim," Katniss gave her sister's hand a little pat, "I'll figure out something." She hated the wretched cat, but her sister adored it and it brought her so much joy. It was easy enough sneaking bits of her food into a napkin and hiding it inside of Peeta's sweatshirt. Katniss just hoped she didn't get caught, but if she did, she'd just say she was bringing it to Peeta and play the mentally disorientated card she had been dealt.

She could feel Gale's breath on her shoulder before he even spoke. Katniss wasn't thrilled about leaving with him, but she stood up, scraped up the last remaining bits of food off of her tray and said farewell to those at the table. "Let's go," she said with a stone face before leaving the dining hall with Gale and heading towards the meeting room they had been called to via Gale's communicuff. As she walked down the hall she kept telling herself to be nicer to him. That he wasn't trying to take Peeta's place, but she was just so damn angry with her situation and Gale was just so damn easy to take it out on. "How do I stop this?" She asked Peeta as she walked. "If you were here things would be different. You two would probably be teasing me about who got to sit next to me at dinner. Hell, you'd probably tell me to sit next to Gale and then play with my foot under the table or something. God, Peeta, I miss you. Are you still alive? You are, aren't you? We haven't heard anything about you from the Capitol. No one's heard a thing from that area. Haymitch is worried sick. He thinks you're all dead, but won't come right out and say it. Finnick just wishes you were all dead."

"Catnip?" Gale's questionable expression told Katniss she was moving her lips again.

"What?"

"You okay?" He asked.

Katniss let out a huge sigh, "I was going to be until my conversation got interrupted."

"Who...um..." Gale looked around, "Who you talking to?"

"Peeta," Katniss answered as if it weren't obvious then moved her lips, "You think he'd know that by now."

"Does...um...does Peeta talk back to you?" Gale rubbed a finger under his nose.

Katniss rolled her eyes at him and said, "Look around, Gale. Do you see him? Of course he doesn't talk back to me. What am I, crazy or something? It's not like I'm hearing voices or anything." She shook her head and started talking to Peeta again. "These people think I'm insane. It's not like I'm doing anything wrong. All I'm doing is talking to you."

"You've got food hiding up your sleeve, Katniss," Peeta's voice in her head quietly reminded her about the stash she had for Buttercup.

'Guess I am hearing voices,' she laughed to herself. "I need to stop by my quarters for a second. It'll only take a minute," Katniss couldn't go into a meeting with stolen food. That would be a huge mistake.

"We don't have time," Gale told her. "We've got to get to the meeting room. My instructions were to bring you there without delay."

"Since when do you follow the rules?" She said with a hint of disgust.

"Since my family and I were provided with three square meals a day and a roof over our heads. Since I don't have to worry about my little brothers and sister being reaped. Since..."

Katniss held up her hand, "Yeah...okay... I get it. You're all, soldier Gale Hawthorne now." She hoped he wouldn't bust her for the stolen food.

He let out a little laugh, "Yeah...maybe a little, but...I'm still Gale." He paused and looked at her. "I can still be your friend, Catnip...if you'll let me be."

She studied his boyish features, the gray eyes much like her own, chiseled chin, full lips, straight black hair... she had kissed those lips, run her fingers through that hair and told him she loved him thinking he was Peeta only a short time ago. It took her awhile to realize what she had done, but when he asked her a few days afterward if she remembered that morning and what she had said to him she told him, "no." Poor Gale looked like someone had run over his puppy after that so Katniss thought back to that morning and then it hit her. She thought Peeta was there with her. She was sure of it. She felt him holding her...felt his arms...his kiss, but it didn't feel right. Though Katniss still saw Peeta when she remembered the kiss, in her heart she knew it was Gale on the other end of her lips. "Come on. We don't want to be late." She turned and walked toward the meeting room where everyone who was anyone in the rebellion sat or stood around a large table and stared at a giant television screen.

"Have we heard what they're going to be showing yet?" Gale asked.

"Not yet, but we have an idea," Haymitch motioned for a chair. "Why don't you sit down sweetheart?"

Katniss saw Justus standing fairly close to Haymitch and thought, 'If Haymitch is being nice to me, something is about to go wrong and if something's going to go wrong, I need to be close to Justus so he can take care of me and the baby.' "Okay," Katniss walked around the table towards her mentor. Justus pulled out his chair and offered it to Katniss then took up a position behind her. "What's up?" Katniss stole a peek at President Coin, a woman in her fifties with perfectly straight hair that hung straight down like a silver curtain. She had strong, yet attractive features and though her voice was quite feminine, the tone in it always demanded respect.

"We've gotten a message from a source in one of the districts." Haymitch started. "It's about Peeta and the rest of the group."

Katniss sat upright, for the first time noticed Finnick crying to himself at a corner seat and said, "Are they dead?"

"We don't think so sweetheart, but we do think they're..." Haymitch swallowed and ran his hand down his face. "Listen sweetheart...this is war and things happen..."

"For Christ sake, just tell me!" Katniss yelled.

"Katniss," Plutarch began, "From the message we received we are led to believe that the prisoners being held at the Capitol are on the verge of death."

That horrible ice cold feeling ran through her, like her blood turned to arctic water. "And you know this how?" She was surprised at how calm she sounded.

President Coin took up her position at the head of the table. "A rebel on the inside was able to send us some communications."

"However," Plutarch added, "Haymitch seems to be of the mind that there is something off with the message."

"Like what?" Katniss looked to her mentor.

"Don't know, but there's something..." he rubbed at his chin.

"Who did the message come from?" Gale asked.

"We don't know," Coin answered.

"Effie." Haymitch said with certainty.

"Effie!" Katniss was more likely to believe Haymitch over the president. "I...I don't understand. What...why..." She turned to face her former ally who was sniveling and yelled, "Finnick! Knock it off! I can't hear myself think!"

"We should've gone back for them," Finnick stood up, tripping over his chair in the process, "Why didn't we go back?" He crumbled down next to it started his crying again.

Katniss began to rub that spot on her forehead where the pain normally started and thought, 'Good Lord, he's worse than me.' "Finnick," her voice wasn't tender but it was kinder, "you're not helping anyone by sitting there and crying so try and pull yourself together." She turned back to Haymitch. "What makes you so sure it was Effie that sent a message to us?"

"Pull that thing up, Plutarch," Haymitch gave his chin a little nudge towards the former Head Gamemaker. "Take a look at that."

Katniss read the giant note displayed on the television screen and said with a serious look on her face, "That's Effie Trinket all right."

"Hah!" Haymitch clapped his hands together once. "Told ya! Now give it a look sweetheart...what am I missing here?"

"How are you so sure it's Effie?" By the sound of his voice, Gale wasn't convinced.

"Because no one I know other than Effie Trinket uses the word vile in normal conversation," Katniss answered, "Plus...Haymitch is right. There's something off about this thing. No, not off, but..." She pointed to a word and said, "Anybody got a pen and paper?"

"Whatcha thinkin' sweetheart?" Haymitch leaned closer to her.

"I'm not sure, but...I'll figure it out. Let me just copy this down."

"I'd be more than happy to print up a copy for you," Plutarch offered.

Katniss shook her head, "No. I need to write it down." Whenever Peeta tried to teach her about the different codes that the rebels used he would send her some sort of love note written amongst a regular one, but Katniss could never figure it out unless she wrote it all down. That's when she decided he was the codebreaker in the house, not her. If it were left up to her, the Capitol would find scrap papers everywhere telling them everything they needed to know about the rebel's plans and the war would be over within seventy-two hours.

As she finished writing the last of it the seal of Panem filled the television screen and Caesar Flickerman's face appeared. The camera panned out and his guest slowly came into view. For the first time since leaving the arena Katniss felt like she could take a deep breath again. She stood up, walked towards his image and whispered his name like a prayer, "Peeta."

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Watching Katniss storm off after making the comment about her mother being his date really bothered Gale. It seemed like the most innocent of comments sent her into a tailspin lately.

"Give her time, Gale," Bing said quietly. "She's trying to heal."

Gale hung his head slightly down and said, "She blames me for it, doesn't she? For losing the baby?"

"No," Bing gave him a rap between the shoulder blades. "She knows where the blame lies, but she's just lost her child and the father of her baby..." he cleared his throat, "...we don't know if Peeta's dead or alive. All she's got is hope and if you're there trying to step in and take his place..."

"But I'm not trying to take his place," Gale picked up a tray, saying it quietly, yet urgently. "I'm just doing what Peeta asked me to do. He wanted me to take care of her...to be there for her. That's all I'm trying to do."

"Right now, she doesn't see it that way." Bing lifted up his tray. "All she sees is a young man that had feelings for her trying to fill her missing husband's shoes."

Gale placed his tray on the mechanical belt and stuck his right arm under an electronic scanner so he could be identified. His name, age, weight, height and nutritional needs were spoken out loud in a computer generated voice before food was automatically dispensed into serving bowls and placed on his tray. He gave Katniss a little look before saying to her father in law, "Peeta's shoes are too big for anyone to fill." Gale had finally come to that realization when he had seen everything the guy had done for the people of District Twelve. "I still don't understand why they didn't run. Did he ever tell you?" Gale asked.

"Nope. All I know is that one morning Katniss came into the bakery before it was even open, said Peeta was going to stop by later on in the day, but she didn't want him to have to tell me..." Bing watched as a portion of turnips was dumped into a bowl and placed on his tray. "She took me for a walk and said, 'Pops, Peeta and I are going to be leaving for the Games soon.' I just figured she was saying it out loud in case the Capitol was listening or something, but then she held my hand and squeezed it real tight and said, 'We're going to the Quell, Pops.'" Bing saw the bread they put on the tray and missed his sons terribly. "That's when I knew she meant it. They were going into the arena...Peeta was..." Bing took a deep breath and blew it out through his nose. "Well..."

"Yeah," Gale swallowed knowing that their decision meant Peeta was going to die. "Like I said, your son's shoes are way too big for anyone to fill." He carried his tray to the long table that held the rest of their families and noticed the enormous amount of food piled on Katniss' tray. "You think she's still got something wrong with her? Blood loss or something?"

"What makes you ask that?" Bing looked down at Katniss then back at Gale.

"Don't know...it's just...her nutritional needs seem to be twice as much as yours and mine."

Bing nodded and guessed, "She did have a lot of blood loss from those wounds. Add onto that the miscarriage..."

"Yeah," Gale felt horrible about that. Maybe Katniss didn't blame him, but he blamed himself for it. He had no idea that telling her about the destruction of District Twelve could bring on such consequences. "What was it like down there today?"

Bing didn't need him to expand on the question. "Didn't see much of anything other than the village and that looked untouched except..." he leaned into Gale and whispered, "I could smell something strange when I walked into the living room to get the book on plants. It made me sneeze."

"Yeah, I heard you," Gale leaned over the table towards Bing. "But then you put yourself on mute."

"Didn't want to keep sneezing into the headset or have Katniss hear me swear." His eyes kept glancing down towards his girls. "Someone was in their house," Bing told Gale. "Don't know who, but I have a feeling they were trying to leave Katniss a message."

Gale's brow furrowed. "How do you know?"

"I'm allergic to roses. They bug the hell out of me...can't stop sneezing. So when I got to the living room and smelled it...Evelyn knows I'm allergic, she's the one that told me so when I was just a kid. Gave me something for it too. She'd never have them in her house as long as she knew I was coming around and I was there everyday before those bombs hit. I walked towards the scent and there it was...sitting on the desk in the study...a perfect white rose in a crystal vase stinking up the whole place."

"You don't suppose Peeta could've left it for Katniss, do you?" Gale asked.

Bing shook his head. "Nope. My boy can't stand the smell of roses and neither can she. He told me so. Never told me why though."

"What'd you do with it?"

"Put it in the fireplace and burned it." Bing told Gale. "Thing is, I smelled the same thing when I went to Katniss and Peeta's house too. Whoever went into her mom's house, went into their house too...covering their bases in case she showed up at either one of the places."

"We should tell Haymitch. He'd probably know if it came from the Capitol," Gale suggested.

Bing sat back and said, "Well, I thought of that, but then I realized my daughter in law has been kept in the dark for far too long, so I thought I'd give her a few hours and tell her myself...maybe you and I can talk to her together? She might want to talk things through with a couple of friends."

Gale grinned. "Think she'll look at it that way?"

"We can hope, but I can't make any..."

The loud beeping noise coming from the band on Gale's wrist interrupted their conversation. "Excuse me." Gale read the communicuff the president of Thirteen had issued him asking him and Katniss to report to their meeting room immediately. "Sorry, sir. We've got to go." Gale stood up and made his way to the end of the table. "Hey," he leaned over Katniss. "We're being summoned to the meeting room. That television broadcast is going to start and they want us there."

The walk to the room with Katniss was more than interesting considering she talked more to her absentee husband than to Gale who was standing right next to her, and once in the meeting room, questions arose regarding a note sent to the rebels from Effie Trinket and Peeta's well being. However, all of it was put on the back burner the moment the seal of Panem flashed onto the large television screen in the meeting room.

"Welcome back, Peeta," Gale had never seen Caesar look so serious.

Peeta was sitting back with his feet planted firmly on the ground and his hands on his knees. "Bet you never thought you'd see me again."

Gale was torn between watching Katniss' reaction to seeing Peeta and the man himself. He looked pretty good considering he was being held captive by President Snow and supposed to be on the brink of death, but everyone noticed that Peeta wasn't surrounded by a live audience. In fact, many of the people in the meeting room whispered about it, wondered if it had been a recorded interview or if it was live. An order was sent down to Beetee, one of the victors that had been in the Quell with Katniss, to try and trace the broadcast. Gale had been working with the man daily on weapons and learning quite a bit about technology. He had to admit, the guy was smart. More than smart, he was a genius. As Peeta's interview continued on, people's reactions varied to what he was saying about the war and his views on the fighting going on in their nation. He had come right out and spoke against it. Told Katniss to stop the fighting...asked for a cease fire, but Katniss didn't seem to be fazed by his comments as a matter of fact, right before his image faded she let out a little chuckle and lifted her hand to the screen, mouthed something to it then covered her face with her hands. She turned and ran out of the room only to be stopped by one of the president's soldiers, Boggs. A leader and a very serious man that Gale didn't want to have on his bad side, but when he tried to go after Katniss on Coin's orders, Gale blocked him.

"Leave her alone!"

"Out of the way, Hawthorne!" Boggs attempted to push Gale and caught an elbow in the nose.

"Soldier Hawthorne," President Coin said harshly, "Miss. Everdeen wasn't excused from this room."

Gale wiped at the blood dripping from his nose. "She excused herself ma'am and her name is Mellark." He didn't know where the words came from, but he meant them. "Mrs. Peeta Mellark. Now if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to be excused so I can attend to my bloody nose."

"Take his communicuff," Coin ordered Boggs who quickly removed it from Gale's arm. "Get out."

"Thanks," Gale entered the hallway and looked both ways wondering where Katniss went. She had been hiding a lot lately. He saw the shadows of someone walking in the storage closet just a few yards away and headed for it. "Hey," he opened up the door and saw her take a step back. "You okay?"

"Yeah," her hands were still covering her face. "I just needed to get out of there."

"Catnip, don't cry," he could see her shoulders shaking. "He's alive. That's a good thing, right?"

Katniss dropped her hands and looked at him. "I'm not crying."

Gale was taken completely by surprise when he saw that she was laughing. Katniss was actually laughing. "Sure, I'm getting pounced on by the Peacekeepers of Thirteen and you're in here having the time of your life."

"Huh?" She finally looked at him. "Oh my God. What happened to you?" She lifted up her sleeve then thought better of it and took the oversized sweatshirt off and used the uniform issued to her from District Thirteen to clean his nose instead.

"Ouch. You're hurting me," Gale complained.

"Quit whining. I'm trying to help."

"You couldn't use the soft shirt? You had to use this...cardboard thing instead?" Gale pushed her hand away. "Seriously. I'm fine."

"That's Peeta's." Katniss said sheepishly. "I didn't want to ruin it." She bent down and picked up a something that fell out of the shirt. "Food for Buttercup," she said before tucking it between the folds of the sweatshirt. "So, what happened in there?"

"Boggs elbow got in the way of my nose," Gale shrugged. "Guess they didn't like the fact that you left without being dismissed."

Katniss rolled her eyes. "I'm surprised you didn't get sent to the brig as punishment."

Gale lifted his arm and said, "No, they took my bracelet instead."

"Want mine?" She lifted her arm and held out the one stamped 'mentally disorientated.' "It can get you out of a lot of chores around here." He lifted his eyes to hers, held her gaze and felt like he finally had his friend back. They shared a moment of laughter before she asked, "Who are these people?"

"They're us if we had survived the bombings," Gale leaned against a wall and noticed a bunch of pencils that were scattered around the floor. "A little more anal, but they're just trying to survive."

"I think they're insane. They should be the ones walking around with the bracelet, not me." She sat across from him staring into space before saying, "He's alive."

"Yeah...saw that."

"And he looks so good," Katniss' eyes met Gale's. "Doesn't he? Like that full body polish type of good. Healthy and...not happy, but...oh," she let out a huge gust of air and let her head fall back. "Peeta, you're alive. You're alive," her lips moved as her hand ran over her stomach.

"Hey," Gale stopped her before she went into a huge conversation with her missing husband. "He's not here, Catnip. You can't keep talking to him like he is."

Katniss glared at him. "Don't tell me what I can and cannot do."

"Look," Gale paused, "that didn't come out right. You can talk to him all you want, but...what I'm saying is that there are other people here that you can talk to. Your mom...Prim...Bing...me. We're all here for you, Katniss, and Peeta would hate it if he knew what you were doing."

"Peeta knows what I'm doing," she said quietly. "He can hear me."

Gale wondered if the bracelet she was wearing was accurate. "What do you mean he can hear you?"

"Not hear me...hear me, but he can feel me," Katniss got a far off look in her eyes. "I know he can. He has to or else he'll go crazy. It's like...I know he's thinking of me...when things get rough...when he doesn't know what to do...I know he reaches for me and as long I keep talking to him...telling him about things, he'll be okay. It helps me to think I might be helping him somehow."

Gale studied her expression, the way her eyes softened, the way the corner of her lips turned slightly upward when she thought of Peeta. He wondered if he ever looked like that when he thought of Katniss. Gale had always assumed he was in love with her, but did he ever feel the way they felt about each other? "Catnip, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure," she said in a calm and hushed tone.

If they loved each other so much so why didn't they just get the hell out of Twelve while they had the chance? "Why didn't you two leave? You had the supplies...the tunnel...why didn't you go?"

"Posy." Katniss leaned back and explained. "Remember that Saturday night all of you stayed at mine and Peeta's house?"

Gale could never forget that night. It was burned into his memory forever. "Yeah."

"Well, all the kids were sitting around playing cards when Rory turned on the television. Prim complained about it and Peeta went to shut it off...the kids started talking about Reaping Day and Peeta told her they wouldn't have to worry about that this year then Posy said, 'Well, we want to face it. Lot's of kids at school would like to face the arena like you and Katniss did...stand up to the Capitol. We're not afraid anymore.'" Katniss twisted the hem of her shirt. "Peeta and I were dead set on running away, but then Posy..." She gave her head a little shake, "How many children like her felt that way? Looked at us like we were some kind of heroes? What would we be saying if we ran like cowards and didn't face the Capitol...didn't give the rebels hope? We knew one or both of us would die, but we'd rather die for the right reasons than run and live for the wrong ones."

"I remember that night. Always thought it was just fun for the kids. Never knew it was such a huge turning point in yours and Peeta's lives." It had been a huge one in Gale's though. It was the night Gale realized how much Katniss loved Peeta.

Gale wasn't thrilled with spending the night at Katniss and Peeta's house, but he had to admit, their sofa was more comfortable than his bed was and they had great food. All the kids were spread out on the family room floor with boardgames, cards, dominoes, empty glasses and snack bowls scattered about. His brothers and sister had the time of their lives. His mom was sleeping upstairs in one of the spare bedrooms, Peeta's dad occupied another one and Katniss' mom went home. The kids could've slept in bedrooms, but chose the floor so they could all talk into the night, not wanting to miss out on a thing. Gale opted to stay on the living room sofa, close enough to the family room to make sure his siblings didn't get into trouble, but far enough away to get some sleep. Katniss and Peeta stayed downstairs with him, cleaning up little bits of mess here and there. Gale had thought they went to bed when he saw the empty living room and went into the small servant's bathroom off of the kitchen. They had so many bathrooms in their house Gale had to stop and think about which one he should use. For some reason, he felt more comfortable using the one meant for the servants. He shut off the light to the restroom and opened the door to see Katniss and Peeta standing at the edge of the kitchen, blocking his exit. The light that led to the pantry was bright enough to show each of their features, the house was so quiet you couldn't' help but to hear their every word and Gale was frozen in place not wanting to interrupt their kiss. He didn't know what to do with himself. He turned to go back into the bathroom but he had inadvertently locked the door and was now stuck at the end of the dark hall. He turned the corner and found what he thought was a room, but was actually a closet with the doors removed, lined with baking pans. If it were up to Gale he would've cleared his throat and broken up their heated kiss, right then and there, but Katniss' words to Peeta froze him in place.

"Please don't leave me, Peeta. Don't make me face this world without you," Gale could see her hands traveling up and down his arms.

"Let's not talk about it. Let's just pretend we made it Katniss. That we're living in that world where children don't get reaped and we can love each other freely with no consequences," Peeta caressed the skin on her face and spoke against her lips. "Will you do that with me? Let's pretend, Katniss."

Gale could see the shadow of Katniss' head moving up and down before she whispered, "Yes. Let's pretend."

Their bodies were flush against each others, Peeta's mouth against Katniss' as he said, "Imagine you and me together. We're not tributes or victors...we're just Katniss and Peeta..." she lifted her fingers to his hair and kissed him deeply.

Gale had to lift his eyes to the ceiling and close them. How did he stop this? How did he take this moment away from them? The answer was, he didn't. He just stayed still, shut up and when they left, he'd sneak back to his spot in the living room and pretend too. Pretend he never saw or heard a thing. He could hear them though, hear the soft sounds of two people kissing. Moist noises, soft smacking sounds coming from swollen lips. Little mewing noises out of Katniss that Gale would've never imagined she'd make.

"Tell me..." Katniss said between heavy breaths, "...tell me what our life is like."

"We're happy. So damn happy, Katniss," Peeta said gruffly. Gale let his focus drift back down and saw Peeta's fingertips doing a dance up and down the sides of Katniss' body. Her neck, shoulders, arms, waist until finally they reached her hips and pulled her close to him. "I know we said we'd never have kids, but I would...in this world, I'd have kids with you, Katniss." Gale's eyes opened wider.

Katniss had a terrified look in her eyes. "Peeta..." her voice was worried, "I don't think I could...with the Games and everything..."

"There are no Games here, Katniss," Peeta's open mouth ran up her neck and stopped at her ear, "Only us. Only you and me in a world where our children can live without the fear of the arena hanging over their heads." He cupped her cheeks and slid his tongue between her lips. "I'd do it. I'd have kids with you. It's the ultimate statement of love, isn't it?"

Katniss ran her hands lightly over his bottom and pulled him closer to her then let her hands roam up and down his back. "I don't want kids, Peeta. Not even in that kind of world." She tilted her head and ran her foot up the back of his calf. Gale knew she'd answer him that way and for some strange reason it gave him pleasure. Once again he had to turn away from them when he watched Katniss guide Peeta's hands down her body and placed them on an intimate spot of her upper body.

"Someone might see us," Peeta whispered to her and Gale thought, 'Yeah. Like me.'

"Then let's go to our room," Katniss said in a husky tone.

Gale listened to the sounds of their kissing for several more minutes then there was silence. For a moment he thought it might be safe to head back to the living room until Peeta's voice began to speak. "If power were measured in increments of love, I'd be the most powerful man on earth. Whenever I'm with you...next to you..." Gale had to look at them and saw Peeta brushing his open lips against Katniss' while drawing patterns against her cheek and arm with one fingertip, "...touch you...my heart grows that much stronger. I have known the love of a father...of siblings...now I have experienced the love of a mother, but being loved by you is something that can never be matched."

His voice started to get softer, "I think of the brief twinklings of time when we shared something so special...they were like nothing I've ever experienced in my whole life." Peeta kissed her at a leisurely pace. "Like during the thunderstorm…"he bumped his open lips against hers.

Katniss lifted up her hand up to the middle of his back and caressed it, "I'll never forget day...night. Not as long as I live."

Gale wondered what happened in the middle of the thunderstorm they spoke about and then decided it was better if he didn't know when he heard Peeta continue. "Neither will I. Each touch…each kiss…I remember the way your hair felt. So soft...like spun silk." Peeta pulled the band out of her braid and threaded his fingers through her hair as Katniss looked longingly into his eyes, "The way your lips felt when they met mine…" He placed a kiss as soft as a butterfly's wing against her slightly parted lips, "Those are the moments when I no longer exist as a mere man. That's when you and I become we..."

Katniss placed her hand gingerly over the center of his chest, "When we become one and I lose my heart to you all over again."

"Don't you ever wonder, Katniss? How something so powerful could stem from a girl from the Seam and a merchant's son?" Katniss sighed in answer to Peeta's question. "You see, I already know the answer. We were meant to be. Before our parents were born...or their parents for that matter." He ran his lips up the side of her face, back and forth and continually spoke to her in a tone so mesmerizing that even Gale started to believe what Peeta was saying. "Before any of this even happened...the Dark Days...the Games...somewhere...something out there," his glance flashed out the window towards the starry sky then back to Katniss again, "knew there could be no up without down...no right without wrong...no good without evil. So the plan for our lives was set into motion. A boy met a girl...married her and together they had a son. That son fell in love with a girl from the Seam even though he was from town, he didn't care." Gale was sure Peeta was talking about he and Katniss, but then Peeta said something strange, "That boy left home and worked as a handyman throughout his district taking with him the only thing, other than the clothes on his back, that mattered to him, a locket and a pin. He left his life behind to marry that girl. They could've sold those items and fed their family. Instead they passed it down to their grandson who gave the pin to the girl he loved...the girl he lost in the arena as they battled against forty-six other children." 'Forty-six!' Gale tried to figure out who Peeta was talking about and then it hit him, Haymitch's Quell. "That poor boy spent his life drowning his sorrows over the only girl he ever loved and then..." Peeta brushed his thumbs in little circles next to Katniss' lips. "Then there was a woman from town who loved a coal-miner. She could've had my dad, but she loved yours instead," Peeta and Katniss shared a soft smile. "Aren't we lucky your mother didn't love my father back?" Peeta accepted Katniss' tender kiss. "Then came you and I. The second your eyes met mine across that classroom our fate was sealed. The birds sang your song and wove your melody into my heart, binding us together for eternity and call it fate...call it destiny...religion or mumbo jumbo, but something out there caused all of these events to occur just so our lives could cross paths that day and continue to cross paths until that one moment in time when everything changed. How many times throughout our lives did we have the opportunity to meet? To fall in love?"

"So many," Katniss answered softly.

"Yeah," Peeta nodded, "but none of it really mattered until the world was watching. It mattered to you and me, but our love...this wonderful thing we share between us, it's more than simply you and me. The moment you kissed me in that cave the whole world fell in love right along with us and who are we to say that what we feel isn't powerful enough to make that kind of an impact on people's lives? That's why Katniss...why I'm the most powerful man on earth when it comes to love." He brushed his nose against hers. "Because our love has been in the works for centuries."

"Peeta, I don't want to lose you," Katniss took in a choppy breath.

"You'll never lose me...I've been yours since before time began and I'll remain yours till the earth stands still." Peeta kissed her tenderly.

"Peeta," Katniss whispered against his lips, twirled her fingers through his hair. "How do you say things like that? Find those words?"

"My heart speaks for me," he kissed her gently. "What is your heart telling you, Katniss?"

She ran her hands across his face, brushed her thumbs over his cheeks, at the corners of his lips and looked lovingly into his eyes. "It's telling me that I don't want children. I never have, but I would do it, Peeta. In your world where life is good and things like the Games can't harm us. I'd have your baby."

Gale couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You mean you'd want to have kids, Katniss?" Peeta asked her as he trailed the tip of his tongue against her bottom lip.

"No, Peeta. I don't want kids," she pushed him slightly away, "but I'd have yours. I'd want to have yours, Peeta."

It was that night that Gale had thought of when Peeta had announced her pregnancy on live television. He was certain that his words had somehow convinced Katniss to have a baby, but thinking back on it now, he could see much clearer that Peeta wasn't trying to talk Katniss into having a child, but letting her know their choice to go back into the arena was okay with him. They had a responsibility to the people of the districts that believed in them and what they represented. "Katniss, did you want to go into the Quell?" Gale asked her as she brushed her hand over Peeta's sweatshirt like she had his hair that night not too long ago.

"Who would want to, Gale," she answered. "I had to. Peeta and I both knew how important we were to the rebellion's efforts. He tried to talk me out of it. Asked me to run away with you and our families, but I refused go."

Gale could just picture Peeta trying to convince Katniss that she could have a happy life without him. "I'm glad you didn't run. You two did the right thing."

Katniss held onto the sweatshirt and checked on the napkin full of food for Buttercup's consumption. "I still can't believe they let him say that at the end," she shook her head. "Why bother even having him say the rest of that stuff if he was going to finish it up with that?"

Bewilderment filled Gale's eyes. "What are you talking about?"

"Peeta," Katniss answered. "Why would Snow let him say that at the end of the interview?"

Gale still didn't get where her head was. Lately she was all over the map. "The last thing he did was call for a cease fire."

"No," there was confusion written all over her face. "Not that. I'm talking about after that."

"You mean about building card houses?" Gale asked wondering what that had to do with anything.

"Gale," Katniss sat straight up and turned to him, "didn't you hear what Peeta said to me before that?"

"He didn't say anything, Catnip. I saw him move his lips a little, but..." Gale shook his head, "...Peeta didn't say a word."

"Oh no," Katniss let out a worried huff of air. "So everyone here thinks he's a traitor."

"Come on, Catnip. No one's going to pay attention to that stuff he was saying. They'll probably think he made a deal with Snow or something for your safety. To protect you and..." Gale stopped himself before saying the baby.

She pulled her knees up to her chest and said, "Me and the baby."

Gale nodded. "Hey, Catnip. I've been meaning to talk to you about that...the baby. I didn't mean to..."

"Stop!" Katniss held her hand up. "What is wrong with everybody. I said I don't want to talk about it and I don't. Not until Peeta gets here. When he gets back then I'll talk about it. Until then...just leave it alone Gale."

He looked to the side, "So you do blame me?"

"What?" Katniss turned to him. "Is that what you think? That this is your fault...any of this?"

"Isn't it?" Gale asked.

Katniss scrambled to her knees and hugged him. "Oh Gale, I'm so sorry. I've been horrible to you haven't I? Treating you so badly and all this time you thought I was blaming you for...for the baby?"

Gale hugged her back. He had to admit, it felt nice to hold her again. "Yeah. I was pretty sure that's why you were so mad at me."

Katniss pulled away but held onto his hand. "The baby has nothing to do with this...tension between you and I. That's me...all me. Okay," she admitted with a nervous smile, "maybe some of it is you." Katniss studied his hand then said, "You keep trying to take care of me and I hate it."

"I'm just trying to be your friend." Gale gave her hand a little shake.

"Sometimes it seems like you're trying to be more than that and, please don't take this the wrong way, but...I don't need you to take care of me, Gale. I have a husband for that and he's coming back. He is coming back to me." Katniss said with certainty in her voice. "I know you had feelings for me and I thought we got past them, but you keep doing things that Peeta would normally do for me and..." she let out a frustrated sigh, dropping his hand in the process, "...it drives me insane, because I know...I just know you're doing it because Peeta asked you to."

Gale ducked his head down like a little boy. "That doesn't mean I wouldn't have tried to help you on my own accord you know."

"Ooh," Katniss moved her lips and started ranting at Peeta. "I knew it! You asked him to take care of me, didn't you? When you get back here I'm going to kick your ass. First I'm going to kiss you and then I'm going to kick your ass. Don't you know no one can take your..."

"Hey, Catnip. Would you mind not doing that? It kind of freaks me out," Gale gave her a strange look. "I mean...if you want to yell at Peeta when I'm not in the same room with you, that's one thing, but...you're yelling at him and...Damn, Katniss I can't hear you screaming, but I know you are...in your head I mean. I kind of feel bad for the guy. He's not even here to defend himself."

"Fine!" Katniss snapped at Gale. "Then I'll yell at you!" She put her hand on her hip. "When did the two of you decide on my future? And what gave you two the right to discuss it to begin with? Like I don't have the right to decide for myself? If I want to wallow and walk around here talking to myself like the village idiot than I have that right. If I want to yell at a wall then I can do that too! What I don't have to do is play by the rules that my friend and my husband have set for me."

"Peeta was worried about you. He didn't think he'd make it out of the arena and he wanted me to be here for you. That's it. It's not like he wanted me to marry you or anything," Gale said with a hint of anger in his voice. He was just doing what her husband wanted, after all.

"No, that's exactly what he expected. That man thought I could just write him off and hand my heart...our baby over to you and let you take his place like he never mattered...like he didn't...didn't..." Katniss started to sniff, picked up a box of chalk and hurled it across the closet. "I love you, Gale. I do. You have been my friend since I was a kid, but I'm not..." she turned to face him and said quietly, "I'm not in love with you and I'll never be in love with you...with anyone else. I gave my whole heart to Peeta Mellark and I don't ever want it back."

"I know that." Gale wiped at the now dried blood underneath his nose. "I've known for quite sometime now, but I was just too stubborn to accept it. You know, Catnip...as much as I thought I loved you, I don't think I ever loved you the way you two love each other. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to. I thought...maybe I did, but...If I were being honest with myself...if you died in the arena, I'd live. Probably get married in the future...life would go on. I'd hurt for a long time, but I'd survive."

"I can't survive without him, Gale," she breathed softly. "There's really no purpose if he's not a part of my life."

"Then we better figure out a way to get him back here," Gale threw his arm around her shoulder and pulled her into a hug. "Let's bring Peeta home where he belongs."

"There's only one way I know how to do that." Katniss gave him a squeeze then sat back on her haunches. "I'm going to have to be the Mockingjay."