This was an anonymous prompt for Everlark Fic Exchange - I've added a few extra scenes and a new chapter. Thank you to norbertsmom for her wonderful beta skills. I do not own the Hunger Games.

"DELLY IS PREGNANT!" 's shrill voice could be heard throughout the Seam. "YOU'RE SON IMPREGNATED HER!" Her warm breath came out in puffs.

It was the first day of the year. Miners and merchant folk had the day off. Normally it was a day to luxuriate in bed, and spend time with one's family. This new year, however, was off to a raucous start. Huddled in their coats, a crowd gathered outside of the Hawthornes' home.

"So it says here," Hazelle, Gale's mother, said holding the paperwork. "It says she's nine weeks." Hazelle was not amused by what she was reading.

Katniss stood in the crowd watching the confrontation between and Hazelle Hawthorne. 's face was red and blotchy. Hazelle's was calm. Both women were formidable. Both were heads of their households, and neither one was going to be pushed or bullied. To Mrs. Mellark's credit, she had a reason to be furious.

Her youngest, Peeta Mellark was to marry Delly Cartwright. A contracted agreement was made between the families since they were children. The two oldest Mellarks were already married. Graham Mellark, the oldest, married Aubrey Clark, the town's Actuary. Bannock, Peeta's other brother had unbeknownst to the family, married the Train Station Master's only child, Carol.

In town, all the merchants needed to have a clear successor to carry on the family business. Each descendant had to be married by the age of 19. Peeta was about to turn 19, but since he was engaged to Delly everything was fine. That was until Christmas time and Delly announced she thought she was pregnant.

Since Daniel, her brother was born with complications, a mandatory genetics test was performed on Delly. The results were unexpected. Now Peeta's birthright was in danger.

Delly's parents, the Cartwrights stood off to the side.

"Wwww...we...we just want to know," stumbled through his words. He clutched his wife's hand as he came from behind Mrs. Mellark's shadow, "what your son is going to do about our daughter?"

"Of course, Gale will do right by your daughter." Hazelle looked over to her son, who was hidden in the interior of their Seam home. Katniss could see his hulking frame hidden in the shadows. "Isn't that right Gale Gaylord Yancy Hawthorne?"

Peeta laughed, and so did a few others at hearing Gale's middle name. Katniss grinned. Gale was never going to live this down. She sighed out of great relief. Gale had been pressuring her to marry him. In the Seam, things were not as controlled as they were for the merchants. They were the ones who rebelled, so the punishments from the Capitol were the heaviest on them.

The people of the Seam didn't fight; they chose to be neutral. Their punishment was the increased quota of coal that they had to produce each month. There were others though, in other districts, that had a worse punishment. Yes, they were poor, but they got by.

Katniss was glad they didn't have to deal with the Hunger Games, like in Districts 1, 2, 5, and 13. Districts 1 & 2 had it good, but like spoiled children thought it unfair they had to follow the rules like everyone else. They were the ones who incited the rebellion. They fought heavily against the government and failed. Every year a male and a female tribute from the ages of 12 to 18 had to participate in the deathmatch, for the sport of the Capitol.

Katniss shuddered, thinking of what it would be like to see her sister's name being picked during the reaping. It was a good thing they didn't have to participate. Even the merchants didn't have it as bad as those districts. Katniss looked over her shoulder and saw Peeta was looking at her once more. She looked away and focused in on the scene before her.

Gale came outside, head cast down. "Yes ma'am."

"I can't hear you," his mother practically growled.

" ." Gale glanced at his mother quickly, before continuing, "Please allow me the honor of marrying your daughter."

"WHAT! NO!" Mrs. Mellark yanked Mr. Cartwright's arm, pushing him back. "You cannot accept his proposal, what about my son. If he doesn't marry we'll lose our home, everything." She looked horrified. "There aren't any other merchant girls available."

"What seems to be the problem?" Darius the Peacekeeper asked.

"Nothing officer. It looks as if Delly is getting engaged to one of our own," Ripper said pointing at Gale.

Darius raised his eyebrow at Gale. "Is that true?"

"He spilled the milk, so now he's got to clean up his mess." Ripper laughed and everyone else to join her.

Mrs. Mellark sputtered, "But what about me, the bakery, my son? He's the innocent one in all of this."

Darius sighed. "Mrs. Mellark, find someone else for your son to marry."

"But there isn't anyone else. All of the available girls are married or engaged. Delly was his last chance!"

"Aren't the Everdeen girls half Merchant? Don't they count?" Darius pointed to where her mother and Prim stood.

Mrs. Mellark's face soured and she marched away. "COME ALONG, PEETA!"

Katniss shook her head and came forward to Gale. "Gaylord, huh?"

"Shut up, Everdeen," Gale muttered.

"Sure, Yancy." Katniss snickered.

Gale pointed at her, his eyes narrowed. "You call me either one of those names ever again and I swear I'll make a trap big enough to get you."

"Isn't Gale short for-" Gale didn't let her finish her question.

"I'm named after my paw, and my two grandfathers."

Katniss couldn't help but chuckle.

"Gale, come along, the Cartwright's and our family are going to break bread," his mother called.

Katniss shook her head and left. Part of her was sad to know that Peeta would lose his bakery because of Delly and Gale. He was the kindest boy in the whole district. They had a bond even though they had never spoken to one another. When her father died in the mining accident it was Peeta's kindness that helped her survive.

Her mother fell into a deep depression after her father's death and they were starving. She remembered that cold wintry day like it was yesterday. The mines had cheated them out of the money from her father's death. With her mother's condition, Katniss tried to come up with ways to feed them all. She sold her mother's poultices at the hob without not knowing what they did. She sold anything of value, for food.

She had been trying to trade an old bauble, but no one would trade or buy it from her. As a last-ditch effort, she snuck to the Merchant's side to go through the garbage cans behind the merchant's homes to see if she could find something to eat. She found nothing. Discouraged, she sat in the icy mud, losing faith quickly.

That was when Peeta appeared outside with two burnt loaves. She recalled the way that he looked at her before throwing her the loaves of bread. They were still warm, and yes, the tops were slightly burned, but she hadn't had bread in months. The last time she ate anything fresh was weeks ago.

That act of kindness saved her life, saved the life of her baby sister Primrose, and was the first step to her mother's recovery. It was because of Peeta Mellark that she was able to remember her father's plant book and it spurred her to hunt. The fresh game meat that she brought home, and the ability to trade allowed her family to get back on their feet.

Katniss acknowledged she owed a debt of gratitude to Peeta. One that she would never be able to pay. Or so she thought because one month later, Mrs. Mellark sat at the kitchen table with Peeta asking her mother for her sister's hand in marriage.