A/N: A follow up to the last chapter. Thanks to Norbert's Mom for the suggestion and to Belle453 for her thoughts. Hope you enjoy!

"Ma, come on. Tell me what's going on?"

Rory had put on a brave face at first. He'd looked scared, but he hadn't asked any questions. He'd done what Hazelle had asked. Last night he'd kept his siblings busy playing games. ... He'd even kept close to Vick and Posy as they ate breakfast this morning in the most secluded corner of the cafeteria. She'd almost kept the children at home - she would have if only they were allowed food in their units - but she couldn't let them go hungry when there was food to be eaten.

Hazelle sighed, rubbing her fingers over her face. Vick and Posy might take a day off school without question, but Rory knew she hadn't told them the whole story. It still didn't seem real, but Hazelle knew couldn't put off telling the kids forever. What if they heard it from someone else? She couldn't let that happen but she couldn't keep them secluded for long.

What could she say? He deserved some kind of explanation. "Rory ... it's about Gale ..." she couldn't bring herself to say it.

"Is he okay?" Rory asked. "What happened?"

She bit her lip and cradled his head in her hand. "He's ... his squad is missing, that's all." Technically it was the truth, but that didn't make her feel any better.

"But they'll find him right?"

Hazelle squeezed her eyes closed. "I hope so." She hugged him to her and rocked back and forth, comforting herself as much as her son. They stayed there together until a series of knocks on the door jerked Hazelle from her thoughts. Rory started to get up, but Hazelle pulled him back to her.

"Ignore it," she told him.

She had known someone would come. She'd been waiting for it, dreading it, afraid to have her son's death confirmed.

Eventually one of the things Plutarch Heavensbee has told the gathered yesterday was something President Snow had promised in a broadcast. He'd said that the Capitol forces would be digging out the squad's bodies from the ashy remnants of the torched apartment building. The statement had, in its own twisted way, given her the faintest hope. As long as there were no dead bodies, she could imagine Gale was still alive. She knew she would have to be strong and take care of Rory, and Vick, and little Posy. But how could a mother ever accept their own child's death? How much better it would be to believe that none of this was really happening. She simply couldn't face losing Gale.

"Ma? You're scaring me..." Rory was looking at her, creased lines of worry that seem entirely wrong on his young and innocent face.

The minute she had to confront a gray and lifeless body that used to be her son, it would be real. Until that moment came she clung to the dream that none of this was really happening, that it was all a big mistake. She simply couldn't deal with it. With really losing him.

The knocking continued.

"Go away," she shouted.

"Hazelle? It's me," Carolyn called from the hallway.

Hazelle took a deep breath trying to pull herself together. If it were anyone else, she could ignore them, but not Carolyn. When their children left for the Capitol, they'd promised to support each other. She couldn't just ignore her now.

When she thought she could talk without her voice shaking she said, "Rory, go check on Vick and Posy, okay? Stay with them while I talk with Mrs. Everdeen." If she had to tell them she would, but she didn't want Rory to hear whatever details Carolyn had brought with her. She would tell all the children together. After.

Rory looked unhappy, but did as his mother asked. Steeling herself, Hazelle opened the door to Carolyn. "Don't tell me yet," she begged. "I don't know how to do this."

Carolyn shook her head energetically. "Hazelle, wait ..." She looked eager, almost happy.

Hazelle thought she must be overwrought. She had heard about Carolyn's lapse after their husbands died, though they didn't know each other at the time. Was this throwing her off balance again?

Hazelle cut the woman off saying, "No. We'll get through this. Just let me make some tea. Then we can talk."

Carolyn looked as if she might cry, and Hazelle turned toward her poor excuse for a kitchen. Before she could take a step, Carolyn grabbed her arm.

"They're not dead. Hazelle, listen to me. They're alive."

Clinging to hope still, like me. Then they haven't broadcast the bodies yet, Hazelle thought.

She paused and pulled away, shaking her head as she hurried to fill two mugs with hot water. "I hope you're right. I can't bear to think of it ... " She winced as hot water splashed onto her wrist. Hopefully she asked, "so there's no news yet?"

Carolyn answered, "Hazelle, that's the news. They're not dead! The Capitol didn't find any bodies. Well, no. They found a couple bodies. But not Katniss and not Gale, their bodies weren't there. They're still alive!"

Hazelle wondered if she dared believe it. Robotically she dropped the tea bags into the mugs and took them over to the table where Carolyn stood waiting as her mind raced with the possibility.

Barely able to set the mugs onto the table she asked, "Really?"

Carolyn's smile widened as she nodded. "Haymitch just came to tell me."

Hazelle threw her arms around her friend, relief overcoming her. Together they cried, tears of relief rolling down their cheeks. Finally Hazelle let go, and collapsed into a chair at the table. Carolyn followed suit, and pushed a rapidly cooling mug of tea toward Hazelle.

They spoke quietly back and forth, admitting all their worst hopes and fears. They drained their drinks with shared relief and gratitude. They whispered to each other about the kids. Even though Carolyn hadn't told Prim, she'd found out. This morning Prim had disappeared to the hospital first thing after breakfast and Carolyn hadn't seen her since. Four times Carolyn repeated that she should go find the girl to make sure she knew. But she never left her chair, always following with the thought that surely Prim had found out by now.

Hazelle was relieved her children hadn't heard anything. She wouldn't have to tell them now. She was thankful beyond words.

"They're still not safe," Carolyn mourned.

"No," whispered Hazelle regretfully.

"They could come again tomorrow and this time it could be true," Carolyn added.

"They won't," Hazelle said with more strength than she really felt. "They'll make it." She knew the fear she'd felt would not really leave. It would stay with her and haunt her with what could happen. The war wasn't over, and as long as Gale was a part of it, he wouldn't be safe. She knew that now more than ever.