Katniss was surprised when she realized this new found partnership wasn't much different than what they had already. For a few exceptions, of course. Katniss now found herself drifting to the mines at night to walk Gale home only so she could steal one more kiss from Gale. Meals with their families involved Gale wrapping his leg with hers under the table, and him sending her flirtatious winks across the room making her stomach flip-flop in a very un-katniss-like way. But their few seconds of bliss were cut off the morning of the reaping, which appeared far too quickly.

As their tradition, the two ate a morning feast of Lady's cheese, fresh bakers bread, a few wild blackberries and dread. Gale, obviously finding physical bounds non-existent, had pulled Katniss onto his lap so her back was pressed against his chest. She could feel every breath he took and loved the little rattle she felt against her back as he spoke. Silence had once again enveloped them as they each began dreading the afternoon. Katniss, suddenly itching to make the thoughts leave, twisted herself so she was now facing Gale, her legs stretching behind him on their rock.

"Hey," Katniss pulled his attention away from his thoughts with a quick kiss, "We're going to be ok. I'm not going to get picked, Prim and Rory don't have enough slips to count, and were going to have a huge feast tonight with our families. We're going to be ok."

Gale smiled weakly for her and nodded in agreement.

"And if I am picked, I don't want to waste my last morning of freedom brooding."

Gale shifted slightly under her, understanding her tone and trying to ease the tension.

"And what would the great huntress like to spend her morning doing?" Gale asked doing his best to set a light mood as well. Katniss, with a mischievous glint in her eye, leaned to whisper in his ear, her breath tickling his neck sending shivers of desire through his body.

"I want,"

"Yes?" Gale hardly breathed out.

"I want you to catch me." Katniss whispered, and before he had time to react, she had leaped off their rock and began running the meadow. Shaking with laughter, Gale took off after her, easily bounding to her. He tackled her, turning her over so he hit the ground before she did before pinning her underneath himself.

"Would you look at that," Gale grinned as he pinned her arms over her head with one arm, "I've caught a Catnip." Katniss laughed easily as he began peppering her with kisses, kissing the worries and fears away, because Katniss would be damned if she was going to spend her possibly last morning with Gale in the woods dreading.

"Wear something pretty," Gale whispered as they reached her house. He had dropped her hand at the fence line, but Katniss clung to it like a lifeline, and reluctantly opened her hand as they reached the porch. Katniss nodded in agreement, the realization that this might be their last moment together, squeezed his hand tightly before disappearing into her house.

By some miracle, neither Prim, Rory or Katniss was reaped giving them safety for another year. A 12 year-old girl from the Community Home and the baker's son, Peeta Melark, were reaped. Peeta was in Katniss' year at school, and she knew him from trading with his father and when he threw the bread that saved her life that one night shortly after her father died. She felt a twinge of regret knowing Peeta would never survive the games, but the relief that she, Rory and Prim were safe far outweighed the heaviness she felt for Peeta. At the first chance she had, Katniss dashed through the crowd to find Prim, clinging her tightly only to have Rory join them seconds later.

"Another year safer." Katniss smiled at the three as they broke apart to find their families. Like most years, Mrs. Everdeen was supported with the Hawthornes, who shared similar smiles of relief. Prim ran the last few feet to her mother's arms, as did Rory to his mother leaving Katniss to catch Gale's broad grin his eyes telling her of his relief, but of his plans to show her exactly how relieved he was later in the woods.

"Well, we should get home and celebrate!" Hazelle told the small party scooping Posy up in her arms as they began the walk home. Katniss and Gale hung in the back of the crew, as they normally did, Gale keeping his arm around her shoulder, and her arm around his middle.

"Safe another year." Katniss whispered in response.

"Are you ok?" Gale whispered so only she could hear.

"Yeah," Katniss pulled a smile for him, but at his raised eyebrow continued, "I feel awful for Peeta."

"Hm, me too. Maybe he'll make it." They both knew Peeta's chances of becoming victor was as likely as a rebellion actually beginning, but Katniss accepted it non the less. They could at least lie to themselves before he actually died. Gale took the second to kiss her on the top of her head, a gesture he had begun to do frequently after his illness over the winter, and something Katniss was not about to stop.

Crowding into the Hawthorne's home, the relief took its form in rambunctious energy from the children, and a neglect of reprimanding from the adults. Smiles were brightly placed on all the faces, and laughs came easily for the rest of the afternoon. While their mothers prepared dinner, the children found themselves in a game of tag in the yard, a game that seemed to require an immense source of screaming from Posy. The energy continued as the families began feasting, and chatter filled the kitchen, with many conversations jumping across the table. While there were many nights where food was scarce at the table, tonight was a far exception from that rule, and soon the younger children's eyes began to droop as their stomachs filled capacity.

For the last few years, the two families had begun a tradition of sleeping over at the Hawthorne's house, the celebration of not being reaped continuing until everyone was too tired to continue. That would normally leave the mothers to escape to bed late into the night with the children to all find spots in the living room to sleep, and this year was no exception. Vick and Posy, both beginning to find sleep easily after feasting, where ushered to the washroom by their mother to prepare for bed.

"Don't worry about the dishes, Mom," Katniss told her mother after the remaining group began gathering the abandoned dishes at the table.

"Yeah," Gale agreed taking a bowl from her hands, "you cooked, we clean."

With the four eldest children working, they made ease of restoring the kitchen to its previous state and made their way into the living room to relax a bit before bedtime. Posy, seemingly rejuvenated after her bath, had convinced Prim to brush her wet tangles, and was now sitting patiently in front of Prim as Prim gently pulled the tangles apart. Vick, still wrapped in slumber, was leaning into his mothers protective embrace on the ratted sofa. Rory had sprawled himself in front of the fireplace, now blazing thanks to Gale, his eyes closed, but not asleep. Mrs. Everdeen joined Hazelle on the couch, and her lower legs gladly supported her youngest daughter's body. This left Katniss to curl up on to the single stuffed chair, by Gale's insistence, who took his seat on the floor and used the front of her chair for support. A feeling of comfort filled the entire room, and Gale felt a sense of pride knowing that they once again survived another year, and their families still gathered together, happy, and healthy.

Late into the night, after their mothers retreated to bed, the children found themselves finding blankets and pillows to curl into. Prim and Posy had connived a space in front of the fire, Vick and Rory were huddled under a few blankets on the couch leaving Katniss to curl herself into Gale's arms where he leaned against the couch, a large blanket covering them both.

"Tell us a story." Posy demanded from where she was buried into her blanket.

"Hm, a story, lets see…" Gale exaggerated causing Prim and Posy to giggle, "I don't think I know any."

"Yes you do!" Posy shrieked.

"Oh man, hmmm a story… Oh, I know – Once upon a time…"

Gale's soft voice lulled everyone to sleep with the images of fiery dragons and princesses dancing through their minds. When he was satisfied the children were soundly sleeping, he continued to whisper into Katniss' ear:

"And then the knight rescued the princess. But before he carried her to safety, he tore her dress apart and fucked her next to the dead dragon." Katniss, laughing lightly as not to wake the children, punched Gale in his shoulder.

"Did not."

"Hm, you sure? Because I'm sure I would if you were the princess."

"What, no and they fell in love and lived happily ever after?"

"That's part of the happily ever after- the fucking." Gale laughed earning himself another jab in the shoulder and a laugh.

"Whatever you say, Sir Gale." Katniss laughed tucking herself further into his shoulder.

"I think I prefer Knighen-gale." Gale hummed seriously.

"You're a giant dork, you know that?"

"Hmm," Gale chuckled silently, "As long as I'm your dork."

"My dork." Katniss confirmed before giving him a soft kiss.

"I love you."

"I know."

"Gale?" Katniss whispered after silence overtook the two, the lull of sleep beginning to take the two.

"Hm?"

"I'm happy." Katniss whispered pressing herself further into his side. A burst of pride filled Gale, his heart soaring through his chest. He reached over to press his lips on hers in response, his hand cradling her cheek.

"I know."