The Mockingjay Lives On

Chapter 3

Katniss POV
Two Days Later

I can't believe Gale called Peeta his family. I thought he'd always hate him, but I guess time does heal all wounds, and change people. 

"Katniss?" I hear Peeta's voice calling for me. "Yes? I'm out back." I shout to him. He's walking to me with an envelope in his hand.

"What's that?" I'm mildly curious. "It's addressed to you honey." he tells me as he hands me the envelope. He sits down next to me and watches curiously as I open the envelope. 

"Oh my goodness," I gasp. I look up to Peeta who is staring at me. "Gale is getting married in five days! This is his wedding invitation." I say. Peeta looks confused. 

All the thoughts that are flowing through my head. Why didn't he tell me. Why didn't he tell us? I look to Peeta. It's as if he's thinking the same things as I am.

"Why didn't he tell us the other day when he was here?" Peeta asks echoing my exact thoughts. "I am not sure, but I want to go talk to him." I tell Peeta. He nods and tells me to go.

I knock on Hazelle's door and the door opens to show me little Posy. Well, she's not so little anymore, she's nine now. "Hi Katniss!!" she squeals and wraps her arms around me. "Hi kiddo, where's your brother?" I ask. "Vick or Rory?" she asks slyly, but she knows who I'm looking for. At that exact moment, Gale pops his head around the door. 

"Hey Catnip!" he smiles. "I'm glad you're here." He knows I got the invitation. I walk in the door and find Hazelle, Rory who is now sixteen and fourteen year old Vick and a young girl in the sitting room. I can't say she's a girl, she's about my age with blonde hair and dark eyes.

"Hi guys!" I say to everyone. The young girl stands up and walks right over to me and wraps her arms around me. I freeze. Not used to the touch of anyone except for those close to me. She pulls back and smiles.

"Hi Katniss! It's so wonderful to meet you. Gale has told me so much about you and I am glad I finally get to meet you!!" she says. Immediately, she jumps back. "Oh my God, I am so sorry! I'm Charlotte, but you can call me Charlie, I am Gale's fiancée."

"Hi Charlie, so you're the one that has my best friend's heart," I say. Everyone laughs, and I look to Gale. "About that, why didnt you tell us the other day?" I ask. He starts in on his story.

After awhile I stand up to leave. Peeta probably has supper about finished. I really like Charlie, she reminds me of Peeta, this is a good thing.

Peeta POV
One Year Later

I come home and hear Katniss and Charlie talking. I step quietly into the entry way.

"Charlie, you need to tell Gale, like now!" Katniss exclaims. "I know but I'm scared, Kat." Charlie whispers. Oh no, this cannot be good, I think.

"He has to know he's going to be a father Charlie!!" Katniss urges.

Apparently I drop what I had in my hands and startled them, because Katniss comes around the corner. "What are you doing Peeta?" she asks.  "I... I... I..." I cannot get the words out, too shocked at what I overheard. "I must have lost my grip on the basket." I lie.

She squints her eyes at me. "You're such a horrible liar Peeta, at least to me. You heard our conversation didn't you?" she says with a smile on her face. I look at her and glance around to Charlie and nod my head. 

I walk over to Charlie and grasp her hands, "Hun, you need to tell him. Don't be scared, trust me." I haven't told her or Katniss that Gale and I have talked about this. Since his return, him and I have become great friends. He's like a brother, one of my best friends. Weird, I know. Gale has told me many times how he wants to be a father. I know exactly how he feels, but I know Katniss isn't ready. We haven't had our wedding yet either. That's next month, August 6th. Prim's birthday. She wanted to honor her, and I agree. It's our way of having her there with us. 

"Do you think that I could tell Gale here?" Charlie asks. "Absolutely." we say in unison.  

Charlie walks over to call Gale. I find my way to Katniss and wrap my arms around her and kiss her softly.  She is the perfect therapy. I haven't had a flashback in about six months. The last one was horrible. I had Katniss cornered. It took Gale and Rory to get me away. Scared her half to death, enough to make her afraid of me for a couple of days. She went and stayed with her mother during that time. She had snuck up behind me and grabbed my wrists and all I could feel was the start of my torturing. We have boundaries of what we can and cannot do to prevent the flashbacks, but there are always some new triggers that we learn. The hard way unfortunately.

About fifteen minutes later, we hear the door open, its Gale. 

"What's going on?" he asks, sitting next to Charlie, who looks like a ball of nerves. Katniss is on her right side holding her hand. "Gale, I... um..." she's having a hard time telling him. I see Katniss gently squeeze her hand.  

"What's wrong Charlie? Are you hurt? What's the matter?" I can hear the fear in Gale's voice, its so familiar. Its the same fear I have in my voice when Katniss wakes up screaming.

Charlie sighs, "Gale, I'm pregnant." 

Charlie POV

I can't believe I told him. We've been married a year, and been together for three years. I have always been able to tell him anything but this, no way. It took Peeta and Katniss both to convince me to tell my husband that I was pregnant.

"You're pregnant?" he whispers. Oh no, he's angry. This cannot be happening! I feel my tears starting to form in my eyes and I look up into Gale's face. He has the biggest smile on his face, I swear I think if he could smile bigger, he would. All of a sudden I feel my body being picked up and swung around.

Katniss POV

I can't believe my best friend is going to be a father. He'd be a wonderful dad. With all of the commotion of all of us laughing and screaming, everyone came running over. I am positive they thought Peeta was having another flashback.

"Auntie Kat, Uncle Peeta!!" I hear little Noah screech. I run over and grab him, "Hi little goose." I coo in his ear. "What's going on!!" I hear another voice shout. "Katniss!" that was my mother.

"Its okay everyone!!! Just some good news over here that's all, everythings fine!!" I shout trying to calm everyone.

I look to Gale and Charlie. "You two better tell them!" 

"Charlie and I, well, we are going to be parents!!!" Gale screams. Yes, screams! I shake my head.

Peeta walks over and hugs me and kisses Noah's head.  I am really happy for my friends, so happy.