Gale has finally been caught being nasty to Katniss and has been carted off by Darius. Katniss hopes to use the dance as a way to speak to Peeta about their relationship - she wants to have the talk.

I do not own the Hunger Games


The night carried on as they moved deeper into the Festival. Everyone oohed and ahhed over the large pumpkin. It would for sure win the blue ribbon. The men decided to go get more hot beverages; Katniss opted for more of the delicious chocolatey drink.

"Here you go," Peeta said as he came back.

Katniss grinned over the rim of her cup. She watched Delly and her brother approach their group.

"Hi all, can I join you?" Delly said, giving River a bashful look. Phill stood just behind his sister. He gave Prim a shy wave.

"We're going to have to watch that," Peeta said with a glint in his eyes as he looked between Prim and Phill.

"I will shake Phill down; you get Vic," Katniss said.

"Deal." His eyes sparkled as he watched Phill interact with Prim as they walked around sipping on their hot cocoas. They were stopped in front of a ride called the Zipper. It was an oblong caged ride. Each gondola looks like the teeth of a zipper. It spins in an elliptical circle, but each caged gondola rotates on its own, flipping the rider clockwise or counterclockwise. It came from District Eight.

Katniss was horrified when Delly, Phill, her sister, and River jumped at the chance to ride it. Mathea dragged Carlton with her. They were waiting in line while Katniss stayed on the outside, along with Peeta, her in-laws, and her mother.

"I know he was your friend and all, but I am glad you won't see Gale anymore," Peeta said.

Katniss was aware of how quickly Panem dealt with people who broke the law. In the old days, he would have been whipped, beaten, and put in the stocks. The new system would put him on trial.

Darius had gone over in detail the new justice system. There was enough evidence and with his previous record, Gale was going to face a speedy trial and sentencing. No doubt he was going to be sent to another district to serve his sentence doing hard labor for an extended period of time.

There was a possibility that she would never see him again. The same for Orville, Axton, and Slate, except because they were caught stealing they would face a harsher penalty.

"He was my hunting partner. I looked up to him and trusted him. But when he stopped seeing me as a person, the trust I had in him died." Katniss looked out at the crowd. She watched her sister and Phill get into one of the cages. River and Delly were put in another gondola.

"Are you alright, they didn't hurt you?" Peeta asked, his eyes were on the ride, but his lips were drawn straight.

"No, they didn't."

"What exactly happened?"

"It pretty much happened the way Greasy said. I slammed Orville in the face with the heel of my palm, threw dirt in Axton's face and used that wrestling move Carlton showed me to throw Gale for a loop, and I might have stomped on his…" She felt her cheeks burn as she struggled to say Gale's privates.

"Groin?" Peeta supplied.

Katniss was funny that way, she could shoot a critter straight through the eye and skin them, but when it came to nudity, bad words, blood, or private anatomy she became a wreck.

Peeta grinned. "I love it when you become a girl on fire."

"Girl on fire?"

"Yeah, your eyes narrow as they light up with fervor. It's a sight to behold. For a while there I thought I'd lost you because of what Gale did to you."

Katniss searched her deepest feelings. Fighting off Gale and the others lit a spark in her that she hadn't felt in a long time. It was as if she had been lost, her voice had been stolen. Yet today, she stood up for herself, and she was proud that she had made it through to the other side, wiser.

"I would have loved to see you in action."

"I have to say Gale's…" Katniss wrinkled her nose, she still couldn't say the right word. "...thingy wasn't the only one who suffered. I got Orville too," she confessed into her cup.

Peeta started laughing. "I'll never make you angry."

Katniss wiggled her eyebrows mockingly. In the distance, she could hear Prim half scream and laugh as the ride flipped backward.

"I'm so glad you're here with me," she whispered.

"So am I," Peeta said.

When the ride was over, they walked hand in hand, following the group that wanted to ride what Katniss deemed the scary rides. There was the Gravitron from District Three that looked innocuous as it had no harnesses. It simply spun the rider around and the bottom dropped out. The rider was stuck to the walls due to the centrifugal force.

When the tickets were gone, they stopped once more at the booth to buy something called lamb stew from District Ten. It was paired with white rice from District Nine.

They sat in a well-lit area eating, Peeta not once moved away from her side. She could hear the softness of the musical instruments as the band warmed up for the grand dance.

"Alright, let's go burn off some of this food," Eileen said. "I'm ready for my dance, Lionel."

"Coming dear," Lionel said.

Everyone walked together to the dance floor. Prim had caught her hand and was gushing about the rides that she was able to take this year because of River. Last year Prim hadn't been tall enough.

Peeta was ahead speaking with his brothers.

When they reached the dancing square, the stage was filled with professional dancers. Katniss watched them glide on the dance floor doing intricate steps. She watched as the male dancer spun his partner under his arm with precision and grace. They were dressed in colorful costumes and people clapped as one of the dancers easily lifted his partner in the air. One pair though, the way they held the other, the look between them caused Katniss to recall her kiss with Peeta. She shivered as heat blossomed in her heart and spread to her womb. She wound her arms around herself and rubbed her shoulders. She snuck secret glances at Peeta.

He wasn't the tallest amongst the Mellarks, but to her, his height caused her heart rate to triple. The memory of the way his arms held her, pushing her against his solid chest, caused her to take a deep breath to try to calm her heart. She bit down on her lip as she recalled the pleasure of his lips pressing into hers, the sweet taste of warm cinnamon.

Katniss looked down, feeling how hot her cheeks were. She secretly hoped that when she and Peeta danced, that she could feel that rush she felt last night. She recognizes the feeling of desire because she had heard Madge and Delly whispering about how Madge felt overheated when she had been kissed. Katniss knew her body had felt on fire last night.

Her eyes unwillingly sought Peeta out again. He was like her favorite snack that she took pleasure in indulging.

Peeta wasn't alone. He was surrounded by his brothers and they were whispering fiercely amongst themselves. She often found them doing that in the bakery. It was a habit they formed when they were younger so that their mother wouldn't know what they were up to. Katniss turned her attention back to the dance floor. She watched the way the man caressed the small of his partner's back, bringing her closer to him. The way his hips gyrated into his dance partner's. It was so intimate and scalding. It caused Katniss to once more dip back into the memories of the prior evening.

Last night, she was thrilled by the way Peeta held her, the way his body dipped toward her, pressing her into the door. Katniss lowers her head trying to calm her heated interior. She wished to once more be pressed against Peeta. Of course, they couldn't do that on the dance floor, but she wouldn't stop him if he pulled her closer to him on the dance floor.

It was very girlish and fanciful to want to be desired in that way. It was impractical, being that they had yet to discuss the future. But she wanted it badly. Katniss wanted Peeta to walk up to her tonight, to choose her, to extend his hand toward her, and bring her to the dance floor. That would mean the world to Katniss. It would be a sign that the next five days wouldn't be the last with him. She would be sure that he wanted her.

It would be a nail in the coffin for all those who couldn't believe that a Merchant could care for a child of the Seam. It would silence Gale's insistence that Peeta was going to break her tender heart. Katniss looked away from the dancers, and blinked rapidly, trying to calm her overwrought emotions. She stepped to the side as more people arrived. Being short meant she lost sight of Peeta for a moment.

Katniss walked back to find him. As she did so, the music stopped and the crowd applauded. She turned to see through someone's elbow that the dancers were done.

Mayor Undersee stepped up to the microphone. "Let us give a great big applause to the Covey Gray Dancers."

Katniss clapped along with the crowd, her eyes searching for her Peeta.

The Mayor waited until the applause died down before asking, "Who has been enjoying the Festival so far?" He waited for a beat as the crowd cheered. "Well, we have more in store for you. That dance is an example of entertainment for tomorrow evening. We are going to put enough seating around the dance floor so that everyone can see what we have waiting for all of you, good folks. So do not miss tomorrow's closing ceremonies. And now I'm going to hand the microphone to the Maestro of the Gray Birds."

The band leader smiled, shook the Mayor's hand, and flashed a smile at the crowd before speaking. "Thank you Mayor Undersee. Welcome to the second night of District Twelve's Fall Festival. Tonight we are going to start with our couples dance."

Katniss edged closer to where Peeta and his brothers were whispering fiercely.

"No," Peeta muttered under his breath.

"Look, it ain't fair to Katniss to lead her on," Carlton whispered fiercely.

"But," Peeta stammered.

"Peeta," Carlton urged.

Her heart beat hard in her chest as she overheard them speak. It sounded like they were talking about her and Peeta. Curious, she took another step forward.

"I know Carlton," Peeta began to say. "It's just…Katniss isn't…"

"Are you seriously thinking of…" What Carlton was saying was drowned out by something funny the band leader said that made the crowd laugh, but Katniss could have sworn that she heard Carlton say, "That girl."

It brought back Gale's words and her own insecurities from last night. Katniss pushed her hair behind her ear to make sure she could hear every word uttered by Peeta and his brothers. She hoped it wasn't true.

"Peeta, Carlton's right you need to forget about…" River's words were lost as the crowd began to clap.

"What if I can't?" Peeta questioned.

"You need to remember that girl…" Someone bumped into Katniss and she lost what River said.

"River's right," Carlton whispered fiercely. "Katniss is great, she's done so much for our family."

"You just can't throw that away!" River exclaimed.

Katniss edged closer as her nightmares were realized. There was another girl, most likely another Merchant, and his brothers were trying to make him stay with her.

"River, you know that…"

"Look," Carlton said. "Man up, go dance…with….wife…instead of…ing…about …." Whatever Carlton said was lost because the band leader had finished his speech.

Katniss stood there momentarily shocked. Her legs carried her closer to the edge of the dancefloor. Her mind was in turmoil, at the thought that there was another woman who had captured Peeta's heart.

As the leader of the band turned his back to the crowd to conduct the band, Katniss caught sight of her in-laws. She walked toward them, with sure steps. When she reached their side Katniss watched as Lionel led Eileen to the dance floor.

She turned her head slightly to catch Carlton bowing elegantly toward his wife. Mathea giggled as she took his extended hand. The band began playing. Katniss searched the crowd but did not find Peeta. She was flooded with disappointment. She knew how this would look to everyone so she turned and took a step back to get away from piercing eyes. That was when she noted that River and Peeta were standing behind her. She watched with horror as River nudged Peeta forward.

Peeta looked upset before his face became flushed. As he walked over to her she noticed his steps were slower, as if he didn't want to dance with her. Katniss felt her heart shrivel into a painful little ball. Peeta extended his hand and Katniss schooled her features. She fervently wished Peeta had asked her to dance on his own, and not because his brother had pushed him.

She closed her eyes, feeling that pain that radiated from her chest to the rest of her being.

"Katniss?"

She opened her eyes to see his concerned face.

"Sorry," she whispered.

Peeta extended his hand out to her once more.

Katniss placed her hand in his.

As he led her onto the floor Katniss put on a smile, as she internally questioned if Peeta really wanted her. She wondered if it was real, had she been blind. Was she transferring her own desires onto him? Her mind was in chaos, the entire picture of what she expected had been blown away. They should have had that talk before tonight.

When they came to a stop near the center, Katniss could see her mother and sister with jubilant faces. Lionel winked at her as he and Eileen swept by them. Carlton and Mathea beamed at Peeta as he slid an arm around her middle.

Her traitorous body responded to his simple touch wanting to immediately meld into him. Katniss stood straighter, her arms became stiff as she tried to control herself. She needed to be strong and unaffected. However, she couldn't stop her heart from hurting.

"Ready," Peeta asked as he held her other hand and they began swaying to the music.

"Hey?" Peeta said as he moved them on the dance floor.

Everything spun around her and she had a hard time concentrating on the steps.

Lionel shot her a worried glance. Carlton raised an eyebrow, quirking his head to the side when they passed him.

It was apparent she needed to keep up appearances for his family; they could see that she wasn't okay. Katniss moved her body, but her heart wasn't in the dance. Peeta might have been dancing with a sack of flour, she was ungraceful and stumbled about on the dance floor.

"Katniss," Peeta said. "Listen to the sound of my voice."

Katniss gathered enough to look Peeta in the eyes.

"I know this is your first time dancing," he said. "But I got you."

Katniss focused on the tie he wore, instead of having to stare into his eyes, unsure of what to say. It was ironic that he thought she was terrified of dancing.

"We're a team, remember. This is you and me together, no one else matters. Just us…" he whispered to her.

His words penetrated through her pained heart. He was still thinking of her as his teammate. Someone he trusted enough to bring into the fold of his family and that had to mean something. Katniss put on a brave face even as her heart was breaking.

"Thank you," she muttered.

"Just follow my lead."

Katniss closed her eyes and told herself this was his way of showing her that he cared. They were, as he stated, still a team. She needed to keep up her side of the bargain. Even though everything for her was different. Her main goal was to pay him back for the bread, and she had played that role to perfection.

But it wasn't what she wanted anymore.

Katniss wanted this marriage to be real, but now during this dance, every doubt she had at the beginning of their journey reared its ugly head. Did he not want her? Was she not good enough? Was it because she was from the Seam? Or was it that Peeta simply saw her as a friend? At the word friend, her world view twisted on its angle.

It brought to memory what Gale had done to her in the name of friendship and love. Katniss couldn't do that to Peeta, even though she wanted to keep what she had with him.

It was what her sister had wisely said. Love, true love was kind, and it didn't want to destroy the other. It wanted to protect and foster. And if she wanted to keep Peeta in her life after this tangled web that they weaved, she would need to walk away.

Carefully she glanced into his handsome beloved face. Katniss proposed that tonight she was going to pretend that they were a couple. For the next five days she would live in this world she'd fabricated. One where she loved Peeta freely and showed him that love. A world where he loved her back.

Under that resolution, Katniss gave into a fantasy where Peeta did want her and this was the beginning of their lives and not the end.

She inhaled his scent, so familiar and dear, knowing that in five days time it was going to be over. Katniss clung to him as they danced. His body brushed against hers and it sent tingles down her spine and she welcomed every sensation. She shivered when he pulled her closer. Despite the suppressed heartbreak, her body responded to his. Her soul cried out to Peeta's soul.

His hand splayed on the small of her back as he brought her closer still, and she felt heat race to her cheeks. Her eyes met with his warm blue ones and Katniss wanted to lean up and kiss him.

Katniss wanted to ask him to lie with her, not because that's what everyone expected, but because she wanted to, the desire to be with him hit her hard. Katniss tried to keep her body from exploding in goosebumps. In her imagination, every move Peeta made was a small declaration of love.

However, she knew that this was pretend, and only because she wanted Peeta to want her as well, and it would never be.

When the slow dance was over, he led her back to the side. Prim came bouncing up to her, "You were so perfect out there. I could see you were nervous, but then you looked so beautiful."

"Thanks, li'l duck,'' Katniss said, her voice thick with emotion.

A fast jig began playing.

"Come on, Katniss," Prim said.

"Prim…"

"Come on, you dance this with me at home," Prim said, tugging her hand.

Katniss smiled and followed her sister out onto the dance floor. They kicked their feet and twirled and laughed. The earlier pain was forgotten as she surrendered to the music. Somehow, as she danced, Prim was replaced and she found herself dancing with Peeta. He laughed at her surprise and winked when he took her hand and led her away from her sister. When she playfully evaded him dancing circles around him, she noticed his eyes grew darker.

Just as the music stopped. Peeta's hands slid around her waist and he gathered her into his arms. "Now I got you," he playfully said.

"What are you going to do with me?"

"Lead you in another dance," Peeta said, spinning her away from him and then catching her as another fast-paced song was played.

Katniss laughed, and she decided to suppress her doubts. As the evening came to an end she would have beautiful memories to draw on.

After the dancing was over, they all started walking home. Katniss' mother pulled her aside. "Katniss, your sister and I are going to stay over at Lionel's and Eileen's. Eileen wants me to teach her how to make that special herbal tea."

"Are you sure?" Katniss asked.

Her mother gathered her face in her hands, "Yes."

Peeta was waiting for her by the bend in the road that took them to the homes the Merchants bought when they retired and left the business to their children.

"Go enjoy your night with your husband," her mother said, smiling softly.

"Mom, can I talk to Katniss for a minute?" Prim said with the energy only a young teenager had.

"You have two minutes Primrose, we're all pretty tuckered out," Maggie said.

"Okay Mom," Prim said, rolling her eyes heavenward.

Katniss knew what her sister was going to say before she even opened her mouth. "Prim."

"Don't use that tone of voice with me Katniss. You need to tell him how you feel."

"Prim…" Katniss wondered how in the world her sister knew.

"It's as plain as the nose on your face. Every time you look at him you get a gooey look. And your cheeks get all flushed."

Katniss opened her mouth and shut it.

"Prim, it's time to go," Maggie said.

"Coming," Prim shouted.

Katniss turned toward Peeta.

Prim caught her by the hand before they separated. "Have the talk tonight."

Katniss felt the heat blooming on her cheeks as she moved away from her sister.

"You okay?" Peeta asked. "It isn't too cold for you tonight?"

"No, I've just got so much energy now."

Peeta took her hand and squeezed it, but he didn't let go as they walked the rest of the way to the bakery in companionable silence.

The bakery loomed in the distance. There were warm welcoming lights in the front of the bakery. The windows displayed some of Peeta's creations.

"You know one of the things that I found surprising was not all of the cakes and cookies on display are real."

Peeta chuckled. "We used to put real cakes and cookies on display, but we risked ruining food."

"When we were younger before my father passed away. Prim's and my favorite thing was to walk with my paw into town and peer into the windows."

"I remember that," Peeta said. "I used to watch you both, you were so happy just to look. I always wanted to give you a cookie."

"Is that why you give cookies to the kids who come from the Seam with their parents?"

"Yeah, I know it's not much, but…I just don't like the idea of children going hungry."

"Prim and I used to split the cookies between us, and we would give my father and mother the extra one. It was the best treat. After my father died, when your father would trade for a cookie or two, we put it in the icebox and saved it, when the meal wasn't big. We would treat ourselves to a piece of the cookie."

"I'm sorry I couldn't do more Katniss," Peeta said.

Katniss turned toward Peeta and grabbed his other hand. "You did everything, those loaves of bread you gave me saved our lives. It's why I wasn't scared of making this arrangement."

"I was sure lucky. I was sure that…I…that, what I wanted…well…that's," Peeta said.

Katniss glanced up at Peeta, and awareness dawned. Peeta was trying to tell her that there was someone else he wanted. She changed the subject.

"Who came up with the idea of putting fakes?" Katniss asked. By now they were standing in front of the display windows. They were reflected in the large window. Peeta still held her hand and they looked like a long-standing couple.

"I did."

"You did?"

"Yeah, it was my idea to use clay, cardboard, and wood to make the displays. I painted them to make them look realistic."

"You did a good job, it always made me hungry." Katniss yawned.

"It's getting late, why don't we get inside?"

Katniss nodded and they both walked around the building to the back entrance where she used to do her trading. As they headed upstairs, she wondered how she was going to go back to simply knocking on the door once more.

Once they reached their room they began their familiar routine. When she came out of the bathroom she picked up a pillow and smelled it, his scent of cinnamon and dill caused her eyes to be filled with tears.

Peeta found her that way. He wrapped his arms around her.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Katniss couldn't find the words. She shook her head.

"I think we should. A lot of stuff happened today, and I think it's important that we talk."

Katniss sighed and she sat on the bed. "Okay."

Peeta sat opposite her. He took a deep breath before speaking. "It was hard watching Hazelle and Gale treat you so poorly. It was hard when she did it to your sister last night."

"I know, I'm still angry about what Gale and his friends dared suggest about my mother and sister."

"What?"

"He said that my mother was unfaithful to my father because Prim looks like a Merchant."

Peeta snorted. "Clearly Gale doesn't understand how much your mother loved your father."

"Exactly," Katniss said.

"While I'm upset, I wasn't there to confront Gale, Axton, Orville, and Slate. I can't believe you took on four men and whooped their behinds," Peeta said.

"Well, River and Carlton took it upon themselves to teach me a few ways to defend myself. You know, in case Gale or his friends did something stupid. River showed me how to S.I.N.G."

"Ah, one of his favorite moves, solar plexus, instep, nose, and groin. Do you know he beat me with that move? More specifically groin. He got me there and was able to incapacitate me."

Katniss wanted to laugh at his grumpy face. She then said, "Well it does work, I used a modified version to get away."

"You mean all that stuff that Greasy-Sae said, that was my brother's move?"

"Yeah," Katniss nodded. "They were surrounding me. At first, I didn't know what to do. But then I remembered what River taught me and I used it to get away."

"I just can't believe Gale and his friends were so blatant."

"I think it's what Delly mentioned, they've been getting away with bullying, and treating others poorly for so long, they didn't even think that what they did was wrong." Katniss then took his hand. "And before you get wound up, I'm better. Just mad that I let it get to that point. I should've let Darius press charges against Gale that first time he went after you."

"There's no use in crying over spilled milk," Peeta said. "You're safe and so is Prim, and your mother, and that is the most important thing."

Peeta opened his arm to her and said, "Come here."

Katniss leaned in and was wrapped up in his arms.

"If I had been there, I would have been imprisoned right alongside all of them, and so would my brothers. I don't think I would've been able to stop."

"I think you would."

"How do you know?"

"Because you're a good man Peeta. You put your family above everything else. Even above yourself."

"I suppose you're right."

"Thank you," Katniss said, wrapping her arms around Peeta's middle. He tugged her closer when his arms went around her.

"My brothers and I are going to keep an eye out for you girls for the rest of our lives. Prim has become an honorary Mellark. I overheard my mother talking about how she wanted to help Prim with her education. She wants to have a doctor in the family."

Katniss laughed from within his arms. "Your mother is something."

"She sure is," Peeta said.

Then suddenly the entire day came crashing down on her and she yawned. Katniss wanted nothing more than to slip into bed and go to sleep.

"Let's get you to bed," Peeta said.

Katniss nodded. She wanted to be held by him, not just tonight but all of the nights. If she could only be brave and tell Peeta what she wanted. As she lay down with her head securely nestled on his chest she opened her mouth, but the words didn't come. Then she felt the transition when his breathing slowed and his body became soft. Tomorrow she promised herself, tomorrow was a better day.


Don't yell...she's so close maybe what she needs is a gentle push...maybe I just need to push over the cliff lol maybe next week ;)

Also, thank you to Norbertsmom for beating this chapter...she's the light that makes this story amazing!