The Mockingjay Lives On

Chapter 6

Gale POV 
7 Months later

"It can be any day now, can't it?" I look to Charlie. She looks at me like I'm losing my mind. I think I've asked her everyday for the last couple of weeks and I honestly think she's getting annoyed. "Yes anyday now honey. I cannot wait to meet our child." she smiles. Suddenly she turns to me, taking me by surprise as I wasn't expecting her move that quickly. "Gale? I do want to ask you a question though. About naming godparents to our child." she says quietly.

Godparents? I never thought about that. Who would she want? She doesn't have any relatives here, other than the ones she married into and was adopted into. I look at her, "who were you thinking?" I ask. "I was thinking Peeta and Katniss. You and Peeta seemed to have worked whatever problems you had out, and you both are closer than ever and Katniss is one of my best friends now and frankly, I couldn't ask for two better people to love our child as much as we do, Gale." she says with a smile and tears in her eyes. 

Of course, I should have thought of that! I smile wide, "Charlie, I think that is the greatest idea. How about we go over there and ask them, if you're up to walking out there." I say. "I am." 

As we approach the door I hear screaming coming from the house and before I can react I hear Peeta's voice screaming "YOU'RE A STINKING MUTT!! YOU KILLED MY FAMILY AND I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!" I feel my face pale. Katniss.

"Charlie, stay out there do NOT follow me!" I say to her and run into their house. The door always remains unlocked in case of instances like this. I see Peeta is standing at a closed door pounding on it. "PEETA!!!" I scream. "Back away from the door! This isn't real! It's another flashback Peeta!" I say slowly approaching him. 

"GALE! I'm okay, just please try to calm him down!" I hear Katniss scream from the other side. Peeta turns to me, "WHY ARE YOU PROTECTING THAT MUTT? SHE KILLED MY FAMILY AND SHE WILL KILL YOURS! I HAVE TO KILL HER!" he screams at me. I sit there calculating my next move, only because I know I cannot go towards him head on, I have to take him by surprise. I cannot get him out of this stupor, Katniss is the only one who can. I have to get him pinned so she can get out here. He turns his attention back to the door and I make my move. I get him pinned and shout for Katniss.

Peeta is thrashing around under my hold and I see Katniss come around the corner, tears in her eyes.

"Peeta, please! Don't let him take you from me," she starts. She kneels down next to him and cups his face in her hands. "Peeta, please listen to my voice. I love you, please don't let him take you from me. Stay with me." she pleads again and leans down and kisses him. I feel his movements cease and I hear him whisper "always" to her. I wait until I see his eyes open and the dark fade from his eyes. When I see the tears streaming from his eyes, I know its safe to get up and let him go. He immediately grabs Katniss and wraps his arms around her. Its the same routine and it breaks my heart to watch both of my friends go through this. Damn Snow.

"Oh my God Katniss! Did I hurt you?" Peeta suddenly realizes he had another flashback. She shakes her head and wraps her arms around his neck again. That's when he sees me. "Gale? Did I hurt you at all? Oh my gosh where's Charlie? She wasn't in the house was she?" he starts panicking. I shake my head, "No man, you didn't hurt me and Charlie is waiting outside, we were coming over when we heard you, I made her wait outside." I tell him. Suddenly I remember that she's still out there. I jump up and run to the door.

I see her sitting on the porch glider waiting. "It's okay, you can come in now." I tell her. As I walk back in, Katniss is helping Peeta onto the chair. "Are you okay Peeta?" Charlie asks. He looks at her, "Of course I am, just another flashback, I'm okay. I promise." he says. "We really wanted to talk to you both tonight, but maybe we can save it for tomorrow. Let you get some rest Peeta." I say. He looks over to us and shakes his head. "I'm okay really, we can talk now. It would be a change of pace from the usual after a flashback." he quietly says.

Peeta POV

I cannot believe I had another flashback. I could have hurt Katniss, yet again. It has been six months since the last one. Thank goodness Gale heard me and helped Katniss. I feel horrible, I really want to take my medicine and sleep. However, Gale said that him and Charlie wanted to talk to us both. Even though I don't want company, I owe a few minutes to Gale for whatever it is that they want to talk to us about.

I look at Charlie, she is ready to give birth any day now. I wish the child would come now. We haven't had a baby around here since Noah was born, and I absolutely adored him then and now. 

"Well, you guys," Gale started. "We were talking about a couple of things and we'd like to ask you a question." He finishes. "Katniss, Peeta... Gale and I were wanting to know if the two of you would like to be our child's godparents." Charlie says. Before I can even answer Katniss squeals, "yes!" and runs up to Charlie and hugs her. I feel the smile form on my face as I look to Gale and say "I would be honored, actually I think we'd both be honored to be that little ones godparents." motioning to Katniss. I stand up and hug Gale, "Thank you for giving us this wonderful gift." I tell the both of them. 

All of a sudden we hear Charlie scream. As Gale and I turn, we look and see Charlie clutching her abdomen and Katniss running out the door to her mother's. Gale runs to her, "what's wrong honey?" he asks as calmly as he can. "I think... it's time... I think the baby is coming!" she gets out trying in between pants. "Gale, call your mother, Katniss is getting her mother." I say.

I take his place temporarily by Charlie's side. I am so scared for her. Mrs. Everdeen rushes in. "Charlie, do you think you can make it to the hospital?" she asks. Charlie shakes her head no. All of a sudden Katniss and I have her mother barking orders at us telling us what to grab. I just stand there, scared to move. "Peeta! Go help Katniss!" Mrs. Everdeen says to me gently shaking me back into reality.

I scurry up the stairs and help Katniss gather what her mother instructed to bring. After grabbing everything we take it to her mother and start to head out of the room to give Charlie and Gale some privacy with Katniss's mother. Before we can get out of the door, we hear Charlie yell stop. We turn and Gale tells us that they want us there as well, to see our godchild being born.