A/N - Hello all, I am very sorry for the two day delay, it has been a very off and odd week for me. But... It's HERE! YAY! Now, this chapter isn't my best and I can admit it but you do get to learn about the past of Darius and the end of the chapter sets up for a butt load of drama! Also, it kind of dives into Katniss' pregnancy more and lets you know how she is taking the new and different changes. QUESTION: Do you think the story needs to end soon? Is it becoming too long and boring? PLEASE answer this important question for me in either a Review OR a Private Message!? I'm kind of having fun writing this story BUT am I rambling on and dragging it out? The story WILL pick up much speed though, meaning... * Katniss should have the baby within the next TWO (maybe three) Chapters! * :D
I want to thank my three reviewers, AbbyDaNinja, finewithnotbeingateennot and Firework7! EACH review, no matter how small means so much to ANY writter! AbbaDaNinja - Thank you SO much for your words, I'm glad you are enjoying the story that much! HUGS! XOXO
Okay peeps, I didn't get to add the 'Thom Family Visit' again BUT I'm actually going to be taking a different spin on that, so, you'll have to see! Again, not my best chapter but I've had a crazy week!:( And this chapter really is setting up for D-R-A-M-A! Ok.. Chapter 27 (WOW!) will be up either SUNDAY OR MONDAY and not Saturday, I have a busy week coming up and could use the extra day or two. Anywho, P-L-E-A-S-E review! They mean the WORLD to ANY writter! Well, Enjoy! MUCH love to ALL - Macayla
* Very slight sensuality in this Chapter.
I unofficially call this Chapter: "Moving On".
I pull my coat a little tighter around myself as I make my way home from working with the children's music at school. I passed on the job offer, to which Principle Maddox agreed I should do. But I no longer teach the music by myself, Mrs. Mildred assists me everyday, making my job quicker, easier and a bit more enjoyable. With her help, I'm able to leave the school at lunch time now.
I'm almost home when I spot smoke coming from the chimney and the sight of Darius' weapons on the porch.
Darius.
It has been three weeks (to be exact) since I ran into him at the Hob with my mother. In a way, we made up. He even explained the whole thing to my own mother, to which he deeply apologized to her. I thought it might hinder my mother's and I's new found relationship, but thankfully it didn't. She laughed it off, surprisingly making a joke out of it all. Since then, Darius has made an offal lot of effort to visit me but Gale, my mother and Prim as well. Always trying to bring Prim some treat from the town. We don't talk about the kiss anymore, anyone of us. Darius has become closer and closer to us, and I don't hold it against him completely anymore. I think Gale does though, just slightly.
I open the door, letting the amazing smell of stew engulf me. It's lunch time and I'm starving. I close the front door to the sounds of people in the living room. I remove my coat and make my way over to the room. Darius is seated on the couch, flipping through a book and my mother is bent over the heath, mixing the large pot that hangs from it.
"Hello dear, how was work?" She asks me, making Darius turn his attention to me. He greets me with a quick 'hello' but quickly goes back to the book.
"It was fine. Just tired." I answer hoarsely and honestly. My mother stands up, making her way over to me.
"That's normal dear, you are twelve weeks pregnant you know?" She answers, winking at me.
Twelve weeks pregnant I am. The nausea and moody symptoms have begun to fade and after two weeks ago, I am no loner on 'bed rest'. It was back to work and back to reality. And reality has hit, especially several days ago when I realized the very slight rise on my abdomen. It took Gale, my mother, Mrs. Hazel and Prim nearly two hours to calm me of my fears and near panic attack I had. When I saw that slight raise, it become more of a reality. It flooded me with thoughts of the baby growing inside of me, meaning my child will have to face this evil, cruel District and world to which we all live in. Meaning also the reapings. I nearly blacked out again, but it was Gale after those two hours that brought me back. Making me happy about the realization of the proof of a baby rather than the future. He mentioned those bridges will be crossed later, if we even have to.
My mother's face widens as her grin does. And when I don't answer, she begins to slightly laugh.
"Why don't you take a nap until lunch is ready? I know you must be utterly tired." She speaks again, losing her grin for a sad smile.
With being twelve weeks pregnant now and forgetting the small evidence, also comes new and different symptoms. Tiredness I experienced before but it has worsen, making me tired just walking from the bathroom to the bed in the middle of the night. But if the tiredness wasn't enough, the dreams I have been having lately have been downright creepy and plain weird. Not nightmares though, just… odd. My mother says their normal and doesn't laugh when I tell her of them. Gale does though, and it bugs the heck out of me (and he knows it). The worst part though is the new strict diet my mother has on me. I thought with her moving back over to her home, down the street last week, I could sneak around it, but she insist in spending every waking daylight hours over at my own home, cooking and making sure I'm following the diet. The diet isn't hard though, it only consist of eating more greens and watching my intake and sugar, and making sure I drink plenty of water. There isn't much of a 'diet' for people who live in District 12, but there can be apparently.
I only smile at my mother but she gently turns me around by my shoulders, pushing my slightly to the staircase.
"What does Darius want?" I ask my mother before my foot touches the first step, speaking quietly.
"He came by to see everyone and drop something off." She answers in a whisper. I turn around while her hands are still on my shoulders.
"To drop what off?" I ask, raising my eyebrows.
"Oh just some old stuff. I'll show you when you get up." She replies, grinning widely and sounding more cheerful than ever.
She gives me a quick kiss on the cheek when I don't answer. I slowly make my way up the stairs, wishing for Gale to be home from hunting, but he isn't. Not yet. I make my way into the bedroom, dropping my game bag in the old rocking chair and grabbing some of my lounge clothes to change into from the dresser. I walk into the bathroom, setting the clothes on the counter, but I'm not in here to use the bathroom, or wash. I slowly, taking small, tip-toed steps, walk over to where the full length mirror is against the wall. I slowly step into the view of it. My hair pulled into my signature braid. I still wear my work clothes, a pair of long, black dress paints and a dark blue ruffled top. I would expect to see my small baby bump but I don't. I turn to the side.
Nothing.
If the shirt was tighter I could maybe spot it, but I can't with the loose top I currently have on. I lift my shirt up as I'm tiled to the side and low and behold… there it is. It's small and looks like nothing more then a few extra pounds of fat on my stomach, but it's slightly firm. I put my free hand over it right as I see Gale entering the bathroom, standing directly in the view of the mirror. I whip around, removing my hand and yanking my shirt down.
"You didn't have to stop because I'm here." He speaks, covered in dirt from the morning in the woods and both his hands behind his back. He wears a small smile.
"I… I know." I hesitate with answering for a second, trying to find the words I want to say.
Gale's smile fades and guilt immediately engulfs me. Since the several days that the small bump has appeared, Gale hasn't tried to touch it once but his eyes are a different story. Every time I'm either naked or don't have my stomach covered, his eyes are on it, watching it intently. And every time he does, I either yank my shirt down/on me or pull a towel quickly around my body. I don't know why I do this. Insecurity? Ashamed? No, not ashamed. I'm not ashamed of the life that my own husband gave to me inside. But I ask myself, why am I keeping my own husband from experiencing this with me? But I haven't found an answer yet. Maybe I never will. I'm not really the romantic type… maybe that's it?
I sigh and rub a spot behind my ears. I instantly regret doing it, knowing that Gale knows I do it because I'm either nervous or worried. I'm both I guess. Gale's smile fades even more, quickly retreating to the bedroom. I grab the clothes quickly and join him. He sits on the end of the bed, his elbows perched on his knees and his head down. He holds something in his hands but I can't see what it is.
"Gale?" I speak, trying to get his attention. He appears to be obviously sad, missing his happy vibe he has been in the past three or four weeks since I've blacked out. It hits me, that maybe he's only been in that 'vibe' just for me, to keep the stress away?
He looks up at me, his grey eyes shinning back into mine. There's something there that I don't quiet register. But I walk over to him, looking at the thing that Gale is holding in his hands. I'm just a few inches away when Gale looks back to the thing or things in his hands. I follow his gaze and realize it's a pair of socks. They are a light blue, faded of course but they are small. Extremely small.
Baby socks.
I swallow loudly at the sight of them, starring at the little pair. They are small, especially in Gale's large hands. I bet to myself he couldn't fit two fingers into them. He looks back at me to which I again follow his gaze. Our matching grey eyes acting as a mirror. He takes the socks and places them on the bed, on top of my clothes, almost coldly but maybe not? He stands facing me, never taking his gaze off of me.
I look at the socks for a second, so small compared to my folded shirt that lays beneath them. I slowly move my gaze to Gale's, looking up at him. I expect him to say something. Maybe he expects me to say something… and I know I should. But we both stare at each other in complete silence. His eyes scan my body, but when his gaze hits my abdomen, he quickly looks back into my eyes.
"I'm sor-"
I'm speaking an apology to Gale, from keeping him for experiencing the pregnancy when suddenly I feel his arms wrap around me, gently laying his head on my shoulder.
"I'm sorry, Gal-"
"Don't Katniss." He mutters into my neck. "I know this is scary." He adds, lifting his head up for our eyes to meet again. He keeps his arms safely around me, and I don't hesitate to scoot closer to him. "It's becoming real for me too, Katniss."
"I know, Gale. But I shouldn't keep pushing you away." I say, tears threatening to over spill me eyes. My words are honest and it's sad.
"You're not. If that thing started appearing on me I don't know that I would want everyone touching and looking at it, including you." He says, completely serious.
I can't help it but I laugh at the thought (and sight) of Gale having to go through what I have been going through the past weeks, months, but especially the past few days. He looks at me, not laughing but only suppressing a smile while my light sounds of laughter fills the room. He moves his hand up, touching the end of my braid while he speaks his next words-
"I'm serious though, Katniss." He says quietly, obviously holding in his laugh.
"Well maybe we should switch roles then?" I joke, trying to lighten the mood up some between us. Gale is understanding why I'm acting this way, I'm beyond lucky… I have a reason for this newly found happiness.
"If I could I would." He jokes back, only making me laugh harder at the thought.
The sound of my laughter ceases though when Gale brings his lips crashing into mine. I don't hesitate with kissing him fiercely back. We stand there kissing until I run out of breath, which it surprisingly quick. We stand there looking into each other's eyes. I realize to myself just how lucky I am. Most men, that I would think, would be completely mad and disgusted with me for trying to almost push them away… but not Gale. He understands. He's not yelling or getting mad (to my surprise!), but instead agreeing with me. Making me feel better about something that makes me upset and weighs me down. It's in this moment, right now, with smiles on both of our faces do I begin reaching for Gale's hand. But before I can my mother appears in the room, making us both turn our attention to her.
"Lunch is ready!"
XX
We all sit at the table while my mother fishes us out some of the stew into our waiting bowls. I sit next to Gale while Darius sits across from us. He has decided to stay for lunch, speaking that he brought some vegetables to make up for the extra stew.
"Is that what you wanted to drop off?" I ask him, bringing my first bite to my mouth. He doesn't answer right away but chews and swallows the bite in his mouth first.
"No. I actually brought some old baby clothes over." He answers. "I gave them to your mom." He adds, finishing with a small smile. That would explain the socks.
"Thanks." Gale says, getting the words out before I can.
For a split, and very quick second I feel anger toward Darius, but to be honest… I have no clue why. He brought over baby clothes, that we will need. I shouldn't be mad, but grateful.
"Thank you." I add on top of Gale's. Darius nods.
"No problem. Their all boy clothes." He says, raising one eyebrow. I'm about to speak, that maybe it will be a boy than when Gale speaks before me-
"Were they your's?" Gale jokes, grinning widely. My mother laughs as she takes the seat next to Darius and he scowls. I can't help my own grin.
"No!" He answers defensively. "They were my wife's and I's when she was expecting." He answers.
The bite I had on my mouth immediately lodges in my throat at Darius' words, causing me to choke and cough loudly. Gale pats my back frantically but I wave him away.
"Fine. I'm fine." I say in between coughs.
I pull myself together and finally swallow the bite and take a sip of my water. I go back to Darius' words. Him? Married? A wife? He can't still be married? Not the way he acts. He doesn't even wear a wedding ring, not that many people here do though, I'm one of the few. But a lot of people from the town, including Peacekeeper's do.
"You're married?" My mother asks, taking the words right out of my mouth.
"I was married." He says coldly, pushing his half eaten bowl of stew away from him.
"Was?" I question. Death and divorce are common here in twelve, both are. So I assume one of the two.
"It's a long story." He answers, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms.
"We have time." Gale says. I prepare for my mother to say something, that he doesn't have to answer but she doesn't to my surprise.
Darius sighs, staring intently at his bowl of stew and obviously avoiding our gaze. I feel nearly guilty, that I should speak my mother's unspoken words, that he doesn't have to answer. It's mostly likely death anyway, as that's more common than divorce.
"It was the Capitol." He says coldly, wearing an expression of hatred across his face that I'm sure can be seen from a mile away. "That's where I come from you know?" He asks/adds, finally looking in our gaze.
"We didn't… I didn't." My mother answers, speaking softly.
"Well I do." He answers, placing his folded arms on the table. "All Peacekeepers do. When you're sixteen, you're shipped out to two for a three year training before you're an official Peacekeeper." He says. I find myself listening intently as little it known about Panem's Peacekeeper's. "I was the youngest, only two days short of sixteen when they shipped me with the latest group. Everyone hated me." He continues. "I was on top during all of the physical stuff. I was the one to beat. There was this one girl though, one of the few girls in our squad. She was short, tiny and had straight black hair and bright grey eyes, almost blue and extremely uncommon for a Capitol person."
I find myself listening even more intently as he describes someone that obviously looked like myself. Darius looks at me and so does my mother and Gale. They all smile for a second, including Darius.
"So we became close, graduated the academy the same year and both got shipped here to twelve. She was pregnant before we even officially started working. So we quickly married." He says. "We were both excited. We loved our new jobs, we made each other happy and we were excited about being parents… together… But…" His expression quickly darkens, filling the room with tension.
"But?" I find myself questioning. He picks up his glass of water, bringing it to his lips but not drinking it.
"It was the damn Capitol." He mutters with the glass to his lips. He takes a quick sip, bringing the glass cup back onto the table hard and loud, splashing water onto his hand and the table.
"What'd they do?" Gale asks in a whisper like tone. The pure hatred still written across Darius' face makes me slightly uncomfortable… it's rare to see him this way. I can't say I ever have.
"It's the Capitol." He answers, like we are dumb. "It's Panem."
He stops for a second, wearing a scowl on his face. The tension in the room only becomes tighter but I can see both Gale and my mother leaning some, listing intently as I am. I wish for Darius to continue and he does. His expression drops from being filled with rage, fire and hatred to a sad, lonely face. His voice lowers and becomes much more softer.
"We were just weeks shy of our boys birth. We were so excited." He says, staring back at his bowl and a small smile forming between his lips. I find myself smiling back, my mother too. "The Capitol wanted to ship me back to two, to train some new kids for the three years. My wife wasn't a Peacekeeper anymore so she wasn't shipped there and couldn't come with me." He says, finally looking at us. Each one of us. "So I refused. But you don't refuse the Capitol." He speaks coldly. "So, they gave me warnings to be on the next train… over and over again but I kept refusing."
I find myself sitting up straighter to listen better, ignoring the hungry feeling in my stomach and the waiting, hot bowl of stew in front of me. Both Gale and my mother has quit eating for the moment too. I feel a hurting, sad pit in the bottom of my stomach as Darius continues.
"So… I got back late at night from working… she was gone." He says disgustingly, shaking his head. "All that was left was a note from President Snow and her wedding ring where his signature was written." I find a tear falling down my cheek and I fight back more. "And all that was left of my baby was those clothes and the nursery we had set up."
"I'm so sorry, I never knew you went through all of this." My mother speaks softly, sounding sad. Darius shakes his head frantically but keeps his gaze down.
"It was my fault anyways." He says, nearly whispering the words. I'm at a lost for my own feelings and opinions of this matter. "It was my damn fault!" Darius says louder, a fire of rage burning inside of him.
"You can't blame yourself for it, Darius." Gale speaks calmly. "I would have done the same." He adds, looking at me. I return his gaze. But I hear Darius laughing coldly.
"Is she alive still? And your son, was he ever born? Do you know?" My mother speaks softly, like when Prim is sick, loosening some of the tight tensioned that quickly surfaced. Gale and I turn our attention to her and Darius laughs coldly again.
"I… I don't know. I'm sure dead… both of them." He answers, sighing loudly. "But… that was years ago. I've moved on now."
At Darius' 'I've moved on now' words, it seems to strike me someway. That we have to move on from our grief's, our fears, our doubts, our worries and we have to just simply… move on. It's not easy, obviously, but I think of how outgoing and funny Darius is most of the time, rarely acting with sadness and hatred that was just portrayed. I'm flashed with an image of reverse. If it was Gale in Darius' shoes. I could picture a heartbroken Gale, a drunk, depressed Gale… like our District Victor/Mentor, Haymitch Abernathy. Darius is strong, and I find myself speaking my next words before I can stop them.
"Thank you… for sharing your story. I'm sorry they did that to you." I say, speaking honestly and holding back more tears. I'm confused if the emotions are the hormones or just rare for me. But I never speak so formal.
"It's ok." He answers, sounding a bit more… hopeful. He brings his class of water to his lips and mutters his next words into it.
"Welcome to Panem."
XX
"You smell good."
Gale mutters into my neck as he begins leaving a trail of hot kisses down my neck. I laugh, as it's most likely the scented candles my mother makes that lights the darkened night bedroom. I sigh and enjoy the feeling of the cool air on my bare body that's blowing in through the opened window. The sheets on the bed feeling more comfortable then usual and the hot, warm feeling of Gale's lips against my skin make me crawl with anticipation for more.
Gale starts working hot, wet kisses down my neck, collar bone and starts working on both of my breasts. I hold in my small gasps of pain at the notice that's he's enjoying them more then usual, being larger then my normal size. While his mouth is working on one of them his hand is slightly tugging in my unbraided hair, making a loud moan escape my lips before I can stop it. I try to be mindful of our family 'neighbors' as the window is wide open. I moan more as his fingers begin moving, making a soft, slow trail down my neck, chest, my other breast and down my stomach. I know his fingers are going to reach it any second now and I'm not sure what he'll do. Finally though, his fingers do graze it and he stops. Dead in his tracks. His mouth stops too.
It's now in this moment that I decide now is the time. What could be more romantic and sentimental than this moment right here? I sit my head up from my pillow, bringing my lips to Gale's hair and reaching for his hand. I don't know why I'm so… scared? Nervous?… of Gale touching where our baby is growing. Maybe at the meaning? Maybe at the realization yet again of having a life we both have to care for and take care of together? I throw away these… worries and grasp Gale's hand. Slowly bringing it back up to my abdomen and resting in there… finally.
"It's okay." I whisper.
The feeling is incredible. The simple touch of Gale's hand where our baby is. Maybe it was that? The feeling of a connection that scared me? With this simple touch it makes us… a family, therefore connected. I decide now to move on from all of my fears that come with this baby. That come with being a mom (to be). That come with being a wife. That come's with being a wife and mother in Panem, with the Capitol ruling us. That come with the thought and image of the reapings, the Hunger Games. I throw away all of these fears away, life is tto short to worry, and think back to what Darius just said earlier today. Move on.
I'm moving on.
XX
I wake up from a peaceful sleep, the feeling of Gale's arms tightly around me, his hand resting gently on barley visible bump and the feeling of early morning sunshine falling on me warms me with a feeling that's indescribable. It has been one week (yesterday actually) that I 'moved on' from the fears that drowned me. And I can say, honestly, it has been one of the best weeks in a long time, and in Gale's and I's marriage. I decide, with this new found energy and this beautiful, sunny Saturday to make a quick trip to the woods. Not to hunt, but to gather wood and other supplies to make Rory's bow and arrows with. This 'energy' I have newly found is common my mother says for being thirteen weeks in now. She says I'm starting my second trimester, and it's the most enjoyable. I can understand why, some. My morning sickness is completely gone, my last time being last week, my breasts aren't so tender (to Gale's liking now) and I'm starving… constantly. Gale only laughed when I made him make a quick trip to the woods last night to get me a squirrel at twelve am. It took him an hour to hunt one down but he finally did get one, bringing it home for me and cooking it.
I was pleased.
The bump has grown but only a little. My tank tops and tight fitted shirts are the only things that make it visible with clothes on and with the cool weather, I don't wear either kinds of shirts without a coat or jacket over it though. Gale hasn't been able to keep his hands off of it now.
I look over to him, the sound of his heavy, sleepy breathing filling the room. I carefully and quietly undo his arms from around me, swinging my legs out of the bed and changing into my day clothes quickly. My jeans barley fit, I'm unable to fasten the top button but thankfully my shirt and my dark grey jacket cover it. I quickly lace up my boots, braid my hair and grab my game bag. I quietly tip-toe down the stairs, hoping Prim is still asleep. Thankfully, the house is still untouched and looks exactly the same when I went to bed last night. Prim's bedroom door is tightly sealed still. I smile, making my way over to the front door. I stop, surveying the quiet home one more time before bringing my hand to rest on my abdomen through my layers of clothes.
"Time to go pumpkin."
I stop. Dead. For the first time, I just 'talked' to my baby. I can't help it, but a smile quickly appears on my face, fating my cheeks out. I'm not sure why I called the baby 'pumpkin', maybe all the Harvest Festival decorations that have been appearing all over the District? I assume it's that and I actually like the nickname. 'Pumpkin?', I mutter under my breath. I give my head a 'nod of approval', making my way to the woods.
I quickly find the wood and vines needed, using Gale's long hunting knife from the hollow log to cut it. It takes me nearly a half hour but I finally manage to cut the bark and collect the tough vines. Suddenly, as I'm bending down to pick up the last vine I hear footsteps behind me. Instantly I go for my bow and arrow but quickly realize I didn't grab them, I settle for the knife and whip around, ready to attack.
"Whoa! Just me, Catnip!"
I feel like slapping the crap out of him. Gale stands there, wearing a semi-grin and messy hair. I scowl at him and he does too, mocking me in return.
"Don't scare me like that!" I say defensively, carefully sliding the knife back into my belt.
Gale helps me collect the wood and vines, insisting he carry them. I don't complain, my back is oddly hurting me from all that sawing. We start making the quick trip back to the fence, meanwhile listening to a rant from Gale about 'You're pregnant, you can't be out here by yourself…' and so on. Finally I can't take it anymore… right as we reach the fence-
"Shut up!"
XX
"Hey kids!" Greasy Sae greets us as we approach her booth in the Hob, Gale and I both sitting on the high stools placed in front of her booth.
We decided to visit her for some soup, since Prim is visiting a friend for the day. I realize Greasy Sae fills my bowl all the way instead of halfway like usually. I smile and don't complain.
"Picked out a name yet for the squirt?" She asks, her southern accent sounding oddly like the funny Capitol accent.
"Yep… Squirt." Gale jokes. I find myself joining in with the laughter and thinking if we should have a name already? We don't even know the gender?
"Hey…" Someone tries to get our attention from the booth next to us, I realize it's Johnny, one of the many men(and woman) who sell alcohol here. "… I had a son once. He was names after me, but we all called him Squirt." He says.
"What happened to him?" Gale asks. I know the answer before he says it…
"Games." He says quietly, hanging his head low and getting back to trading with a customer.
I instantly feel myself tense us, just at the mention of the word 'games'. I'm flooded back with the fantasy of having my own child growing inside of me die in the games.
Moving on, Katniss. Moving on from that fear.
"Such a shame." Greasy Sae speaks, beginning to chop up a wild hog Gale caught for her yesterday. "You know, the Victory Tour's come'n in just a few short weeks here?" She says, finally looking up from her doings.
Gale's about to open his mouth when I suddenly feel an arm around me. I look over my shoulder to see no one other than Darius of course. He seems slightly winded.
"Everything okay sweetie pie?" Greasy Sae asks. I would laugh if it wasn't for the pure panic written across his face.
"Damn Airgusta… That's all I can say." He answers, clearly out of breath. He takes the seat next to me, motioning to Greasy Sae for some soup. She quickly pours him some.
We sit in silence for a while, finishing our soup. The thought of the 'games' still flood my mind so I find myself carefully and intently watching Greasy Sae chop up the carcass of the wild hog. Darius finishes before us, sliding his bowl back to her and putting his pay down on the counter.
"I'm out. Back to work." He says, standing and retrieving his hard vest that goes over his Peacekeeper uniform from the floor. He starts to walk away but yells something quickly over his shoulder. "Don't forget about next week, Gale!"
And with that he's gone.
XX
"What's next week?" I ask Gale for the millionth time as we are approaching our home, walking fast to keep up with Gale's large strides.
"I told you it was nothing Katniss." He says, obviously trying to 'keep his cool'.
"Gale! Don't hide this from me!" I shout, slowly finding my anger rising.
I'm beyond mad at Gale, for not telling me whatever it is Darius mentioned. We are walking up the front porch steps, his hand on the door knob when I slip between him and the door.
"Gale!?" I shout, louder then intended.
"Katniss! You don't have to know every damn thing I do." He says through gritted teeth. "We've had this conversation before, right here!" He throws in there.
I do remember what he is talking about… shortly after we married, I had went off on him for something. About not telling me something and we fought. Right here on this front porch. I take a deep breath and look into Gale's cold grey eyes. His messy hair even worse than this morning.
"Let's go inside." He says lightly and quietly, obviously reading my angered expression and no answer. Trying to tone the saturation back down.
He begins to lightly, gently scoot me to the side of the door, wrapping an arm around my growing waist. I place my hand firmly over his that rest on my hip.
"No." I say, not really knowing why.
"Katniss, I don't want my mom hearing us arguing." He says gently, raising an eyebrow at me and licking his top lip. He knows that gets me every time… but not this time.
"So now you're hiding things from you mom too?" I ask coldly, scowling.
Immediately I want to slap my hand over my mouth. Yes, my words are honest but I have no idea why I am going off on Gale like this. Maybe because I am pissed at him? Gale, who normally would already be going off on me hasn't… until now. His expression quickly darkens. I've seen it on Gale, many times but I haven't since I've told him about the baby. I swallow hard and find myself staring into his eyes that reflect pain.
Pain?
He's the one in pain when he's the one keeping things from me? I feel like using my hand again, but not on my own self. I refrain from slapping him for now as he begins to speak…
Yell.
XX
I comfortably slip into the covers on the bed, letting the sound of night animals rock me to sleep. There's no arms wrapped around me tonight, but instead a large empty space between the two of us in the middle of the large bed. I turn over quietly, expecting to see Gale through the darkness. I don't quite though, only his darkened silhouette. I don't try to reach out for him, to tell him everything is ok.
I'm mad… still.
It's been our first official 'big' fight in quite some time, and Gale still hasn't told me what Darius was talking about. Gale became quickly angered earlier, yelling at me enough to bring tears to my eyes. He didn't care… and that hurts. My mother calmed me down some, but only some.
I turn back over, than back over… than back over. I sigh angrily and realize… I can't sleep. It's not easy to sleep when you are angry… beyond pissed. It's at the last burst of complete rage that I finally yank the covers off of myself, going to the rocking chair and retrieving my thin, small robe. I find my black flats and slip them on, pulling my hair into a messy ponytail as I make my way downstairs. I brace myself for the chilly, 'middle of the night' weather as I open the front door.
Before I can stop myself, I'm making my way to Darius' home….
Chapter 27 Preview: What will Darius have to say and think when he finds a distressed Katniss pounding on his door in the middle of the night? Will Darius open up and tell Katniss whatever he meant by his words to Gale? And will his words about the odd, Capitol Visit help Katniss feel better about it or worse? What will take place when Thom's mother approaches Katniss, asking for a favor beyond Katniss' nature? What will happen when the Harvest Festival finally approaches? Will the free-spirited, fun event help Katniss let some much needed steam off? Will the things said and done at Darius' hinder or help Katniss' and Gale's new found hurting relationship? And what will take place when Katniss experiences something in her pregnancy that scared her to death? threatening to send her into a deep depression. Will Gale be there for her? Find out the answers to these tough questions Sunday!