Song of the chapter; "Good Girl." By Carrie Underwood.

Peeta snuck out the back, trying to hide from Hazel and the kids. He spoke to Gale on the porch, knocking on the door again to get his attention. Leaving Hazel and I in a very awkward situation. I could tell by her face she wanted to ask what happened, wanted to know why I hadn't called for her son. But she just have me a weary smile, and I decided to take matters into my own hands.  "Hazel I'm sorry. The kids and you shouldn't have had to see that."

She shakes her head and grabs my hand like my mother would. "Honey, there's no need to apologize I understand." She smiles. "But I do have o-one question." She stutters.

"Yeah I know what your gonna ask." I sigh to her. "Because of the games and the war. there'll always be this huge part of my life that Gale will never understand. Peeta gets it because he's been through it, Gale has no idea what it's like in that arena." I take a deep breath when I feel his hands on my shoulders, I had no idea how fast I was talking. I jump, and look up at him.

"It's okay." He whispers sitting down next to me and pulling my body into his lap. "Your okay." He rocks me, not caring about his mother and siblings in the room.

"Well, we better get going. Come on kids." I hear Hazel say. I don't turn to smile I wave, because right now I'm the calmest I've ever been. Listening to his heartbeat, and his strong arms wrapped around me, and his smell of pine and ash. Him holding me close with his last dying with to keep me safe.

"I'll never let anything happen to you." He tells me, he strokes my hair soothingly, like Peeta used to do. Like Peeta did not even an hour ago. But for some reason this feels different then Peeta, it feels better. It doesn't feel natural, but it feels calming and soothing.

That night, he held me as we slept. His shirtless torso against small chest. His legs tangled in mine, my head buried in his chest like a child.

**

I wake, my head hurts. My throat is sore, and my entire body aches, the smell of something burning reaches my nose. "Gale!" I call, t voice is scratchy and throat raw.

"One minuet." I hear him from downstairs. It only takes him a few seconds to appear at the doorway of our room. "Yeah?" He asks.

"What are you doing?" I ask my throat contracting by the second.

"Well I was trying to make you breakfast, but you look terrible. Are you feeling okay?" He asks as he moves closer to me and feels my forehead. He retracts instantly. "Your burnin' up girl on fire." He shakes his head with a weak smile on his lips.

I shrug. "Guess that means no kisses for you, doesn't it?"

He looks at me with wide eyes. He opens his mouth to talk but I kiss him anyways. "I was just about to say if have to deal with it! Now I'm gonna get sick!" He screeches.

"We can be sick together." I nod.

"Your a real piece of work Everdeen." He shakes his head exiting the room into the bathroom. He comes back with a wet towel, and some cold medicine. "Take this, and I'll bring you some water when your done." I nod slowly taking the stuff from his hands.

"Go ahead and get the water, I'll take it while your gone." I smile.

"Oh no, I know how you are with medicine Katniss. I'm going to watch you take it, or you won't take it at all." He shakes his head.

"But Gale!!" I whine.

"No but gale's." He mocks my tone. "Just take it please!"

"Fine." I mutter. I drink the small cupful of sticky nasty liquid and thrust the cup towards him. "You happy?" I grumble.

"Incredibly." He kisses my hot forehead and makes towards the stares.

"And get me tea!" I yell down the stairs. He comes back and hands me the special tea my mother used to make. "Thank you." I smile. "I'd kiss you but you'd freak out." I tease.

"The damage is done." He shakes his head and kisses my lips. "I still can't believe you chose me." He says from the edge of the bed.

I'm suppose to meet Peeta tonight.

Maybe I can get some alcohol into Gale, that always makes him sleep. Or I could drug him with sleeping syrup like the first games. "I'm gonna go hunting today, is that okay?" He asks.

"Yeah, I'll be fine." I nod.

"Stay in the house, don't go anywhere near that boy. Got it?" He asks referring to Peeta.

"I won't Gale." I say irritated.

"Good." He kisses me then leaves. I slip on my shoes, and baggy cargo pants before doing the opposite of what he told me to do. I knock on Peeta's door, he answers after a few seconds.

"What are you doing here?" He growls.

"Can I see Willow?" I ask. "We didn't exactly end on good terms last visit."

"No." He shakes his head. His eyes are dark, not the beautiful blue I love. "Leave, mutt."

"Peeta, it's not real." I beg.

"You killed my family." He barks.

"Peeta, please." I touch his cheek, and he slaps my face. It stings, but regardless I touch him again. Which this time results in a punch sending me to my butt. I shake my head. "I won't let them take you from me." I whisper and place my lips full on his. His lip quivers under mine, until I break away.

"Katniss?" He whimpers.

I nod slowly, the world spinning and my vision has spots. "Oh my god, did I do this to you?" He cries.

"Yeah." I nod.

"Come in and let me-"

"I can't." I shake my head with tears in my eyes, I turn to walk from his house.

"Katniss please, don't let me punch you and then walk away!" He begs. "Please." I turn back around and hug him, putting my face right next to his ear.

"I'll see you at midnight."

I jog away into Haymitch's house, and to my delight I find him sober and awake. "Holy shit sweetheart, what happened?" He asks placing me on the couch.

"I went to see Peeta." I whisper.

"Let me clean you up, then we can talk." I nod realizing I haven't seen Haymitch in ages. He wipes the blood from my lip, and then gives me an ice pack. "So how are things between you guys?" He asks.

"He's engaged, to the woman who stabbed me. I'm kinda sorta with Gale, Peeta and I are going to meet tonight at midnight to talk about things."

"Meeting at midnight?" He asks. "That doesn't sound like just talking..." He smirks making himself a drink.

"I don't know Haymitch, he said he loves me but stayed with her so I have no idea what he wants." I shrug.

"Do you want a drink?" He asks.

"Yeah, make me whatever."  I nod towards him, he turns and brings me the glass. The alcohol burns my already irritated throat as it goes down.

"So the boy?" He asks. "He hit you?"

"He had a flashback!" I say, why am I defending him? Oh right, because I love him.

"Well you won't have to worry about him for a while." He casually says taking a drink of his liquor.

"What? Why?" I ask frantically.

"Didn't you get the invitation?" I shake my head, he stands and searches through his mail. "He brought it over himself last week, here." He hands me a simple envelope. On the front his perfect handwriting spells out the guest.

Haymitch.

'You are invited to the wedding of the century, the joining of Melody Schmitt and Peeta Mellark.'

Then it tells the date, time, and other information about the wedding.

I didn't realize I was crying until I see a tear fall onto the card. Haymitch puts an arm around me, like a father would do. "I really lost him this time, haven't i?" My voice is broken, nothing like my war speeches. I'm broken, and half lost the only thing that makes me whole.

Broken.
Broken.
Broken.

The word rings through my mind as he rushes through the door. I gasp loud, like I've just been stabbed. I burry into Haymitch's side and try to block him out completely.

"Katniss." He says. "Katniss, where did you get that?" He says looking at my hands, his eyes are big as saucers.

"Haymitch showed it to me." I answer. "I don't think we should see each other anymore."

"Katniss! Let me explain!" He pleads.

I laugh crazily. "Oh go ahead! I would love to hear how your going to get yourself out of this one!"

"She sent them! We didn't even plan a wedding yet! She's insane katniss, i promise I wouldn't hide something like that from you!" I look to Haymitch, who shrugs.

"I'll leave you two to talk." He says quietly.

"No!" I say a bit too quickly. "We're going to talk later, aren't we?" I look at Peeta.

"Yeah, we are." He nods calmly.

"Well then I'll be leaving." I say standing and downing the rest of my drink.

"I'll walk you home." 

"No! Gale told me I wasn't allowed to see you at all. He'll get really mad." I say quickly, he nods without speaking. Placing his hand on my back he leads me towards the door. I grab his forearm and let my lips fall onto his forcefully. "Just had to make sure it still felt the same." I bite my lip to hold back a smile.

"Did it?" He asks.

"Yes."

I walk out of the door, and my eyes catch Gale coming. I stop Gale with my hand on his stomach. "Stay here, Gale's coming." He nods shutting the door between us. I run to Gale and fling myself into his arms.

"Someone's feeling better." He smiles. I nod and kiss him, as we step from foot to foot back and forth.

"Yeah." I smile into the kiss. Then I remember Peeta's in Haymitch's house and I point towards the house. "Let's go inside."

He nods and we walk inside together. I pour myself another drink, just like Haymitch made me, except weaker. Then I make Gale one, but with four times the alcohol that even Haymitch used. He takes a drink of it and shakes his head. "Dammit Katniss, that's strong."

"Sorry, I'm just getting the hang of it." I shrug.

He drinks three more before he finally tells me to stop, and that's when he begins to stumble. That's when our big fight happens, but I ignore it even though it broke my heart.

"Don't wake me for anything." He mumbles before falling asleep. I nod eagerly and he takes up the whole bed, so I rush downstairs and out of the door.

***

The candle light is on in Peeta's window. My feet carry me to a abandoned seam house, a single lamplight is on so I slowly knock on the door. The door creaks open and I'm greeted to a pair of baby blue eyes. "Hi." I breath.

"Hey sweetheart." He nods.

We look at each other for another second.

Then our lips attack each other's.

****

Hey guys, so I was going to update every other day but I believe I will still try to update everyday. I hope your enjoying them! What do you think should or will happen? Let me know in the comments below.

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