Training had been hard and fierce but we were ready to fight. We woke up and were heading to breakfast when I noticed that Katniss and Peeta were missing. I turned to my dad and asked "Where are Katniss and Peeta?" "Peeta took Katniss down to the medical station about four this morning when she complained of a bad backache" my dad answered. We ate our breakfast in silence when a medical official came to the door and told us to come on down to the medical ward.
Gale and I quickly hurried to get dressed in our training clothes and boots before following the official. We went in and Katniss was propped up in bed with a pink blanket in her arms. "Come and meet our daughter, Hope Primrose Mellark" Peeta said, gesturing for us to come in. We gathered around the bed and smiled at the little miracle. "How did this come to be revealed" I asked. "That's the thing; I had no idea that I was even with child" Katniss replied. We stayed a little while longer until Effie said "Gale, Phoenix; the Gamemakers will be expecting you two."
"Don't worry; we'll watch the recap of the scores in here tonight" Peeta told us. "Now go and kick some tail" Katniss added, soothing her fussy daughter. Gale and I nodded and left with Effie and she wished us luck. All we could do now was just sit and wait for our turn. District 6 had just finished when it was time for lunch. The other districts that gone on ahead of us were allowed to return to their apartments. Gale and I ate a lot more since we were going last. We needed to make allies but we knew that we couldn't trust anyone except each other. The District 1 boy, Bryce came up to me and I asked "Why aren't you back in your apartment?" ""Well; that's some greeting to an old friend Phoenix but I wanted to have lunch in here" Bryce replied. He waited a moment and added "You look like you're doing well. I hated you moved away." "Well; I needed to move away to find my real father and District 12 might be poor but I love the peace there" I said, swallowing some juice.
We talked and I saw Gale was getting a little jealous. Bryce left and I looked over at Gale and asked "Are you jealous?" "Oh come on Phoenix; I wasn't jealous. Sure, he's got money and charm. Okay, fine, maybe I was a little jealous of him flirting with you" Gale answered. "Well; you have no need to be jealous Gale. I love you and I'm promised to you and you alone. My adoptive parents did try to set me up with Bryce until they found out my promise to you in a letter before you and I actually found out. I love you Gale and nothing will change that" I replied, secretly taking his hand. "Really" he asked.
"Really" I replied as we got up and out of sight from the other tributes; I gave him a longing kiss. We finally returned to just being the tributes of 12 and waited for our independent sessions. It seemed like forever until a trainer called "Phoenix Abernathy of 12; it's time!" "Good luck sweetheart" Gale told me. "Don't use my dad's pet name" I said with a chuckle before I followed the trainer and the doors closed behind me.
I got to the center of the training room and showed my knowledge of traps and snares before doing some archery and knife throwing then a little camouflage and finished with some hand to hand combat with a trainer. Plutarch gave me a nod of approval and I was dismissed. When I left the room; Gale was up and hugged me and I told him "Good luck in there though I'm sure you'll do great." "Thanks fire angel. I'll see you upstairs. I think I'm going to take a nap when I get back" he told me. "I'll already be in dreamland when you get back" I replied. We laughed until a trainer called "Gale Hawthorne of 12; it's time!" I headed back up to the apartment and into my bedroom. I was so tired that I just removed my boots and passed out on top of my blankets.
Gale's P.O.V
I followed the trainer and the door went down behind me which meant my session had begun. I showed my ability with weights, camouflage, throwing weapons, set traps, and finished with some hand to hand combat. After I was dismissed; I returned upstairs. I got to my bedroom and had barely taken my boots off when I passed out on top of the blanket. At that moment; I started dreaming of my future with Phoenix and smiled in my sleep.
I come in the door of my beautiful new house from my day's work at the butchers to my beautiful wife, Phoenix. She is sitting on the couch with our new baby daughter and is feeding her. I see her smile and whisper to our daughter "Daddy's home." I come over to the couch after putting coat away and take our daughter and a burp rag. "I take it Daddy wants to risk spit up down his shoulder" Phoenix said, looking at me with a smile. I chuckled and put the rag on my shoulder before resting our daughter that we named Angel on my shoulder and patting her back softly. I hear her burp and Phoenix and laughs, saying "Just like her daddy" "Excuse you princess" I whisper and tickle her tummy. After I changer her diaper; I help Phoenix and we settle in for the night.
Effie came in, trilling "Gale; time for supper and to find out what the training scores are! Come on, get up!" "Can I change first" I asked, stretching and popping my back. "Yes and then please come to the table" Effie replied, closing the door. I got up, got out of my training clothes, took a quick shower, and then dried off and dressed. I saw Phoenix emerging from her room all refreshed and dressed nicely. I pulled Phoenix's chair out for her and she sat down and put it back for her before I sat beside her. The avoxes brought us trays of food and we all started filling our plates and started chatting.
Phoenix's P.O.V
Gale and I were sitting beside each other and I was trying not to blush. I didn't tell him that I had dreamed of us raising a daughter together. I had a feeling though that he had probably dreamed the same thing. We ate as much as we could handle before sitting down on the huge couch. It would be a matter of a few minutes before the training scores would be revealed. The seal of Panem finally showed on the television and the image of Ceaser and Claudius showed up and they started talking.
We listened to the scores of all the other districts before Ceaser finally said "Now for our scores for District 12. First up is Gale Hawthorne with a score of, I believe I'm reading this right, a 16! His partner, Phoenix Abernathy also comes out on top with a 16. That's the highest score ever achieved in training." "And to think they also surpassed the famous 11 achieved by Katniss Everdeen also of 12 and one of the victors from the 74th games along with husband, Peeta Mellark. I'll say this much. District 12 has proven themselves more over these last games after being overlooked for so long except for the 2nd Quarter Quell when Phoenix's father, Haymitch won" Claudius commented.
"Yes and I'm sure Haymitch will be watching every move Phoenix will be making in these last games I have a feeling the odds lie in the favor of District 12 but do you think they might be hiding something" Ceaser asked. "It could be but I guess we'll find out when you interview the tributes tomorrow night" Claudius replied. "Yes; join me live tomorrow night at 6pm for my interview with the tributes of the final Hunger Games" Ceaser announced. The television went off and dad asked "Have you two dropped any hints about the fact that you're engaged?"
"No dad; we haven't done anything that would reveal our news. We've only been acting as allies but people have read it to be more. That's probably what they think" I answered. "We've kept to our plan of not telling until tomorrow night" Gale added. "Speaking of tomorrow's interviews; I did manage to get a loveseat so you two can be interviewed together. Phoenix; you'd best make sure that Gale doesn't show his dislike of the Capitol" Dad told me. Gale looked at me and said "I know what Phoenix is capable of." "Alright; enough talking. It's getting late and you two need a good sleep before interview practice tomorrow" Effie told us, shooing us off the couch.
Gale and I took the hint and went off to bed. Just before we went to bed; Gale and I agreed to a silent midnight tryst on the roof. We kissed and he said "Good night future Mrs. Hawthorne." He grinned and I smiled before going into my room and closing the door and changed into sleeping clothes. I just prayed that I'd be ready for the arena.