wow so this is long overdue huh? lots has happened in the last few months, some ups and downs, but it was all very distracting from my writing and I am truly deeply sorry for that. I have NOT abandoned this story and I WILL finish it and it will be great and you'll all love it because I love all of you! what is a story without readers? jk I do it mostly because i love it and it gives me some sense of achievement (cue sad horn music)

Anyway! hope you guys enjoy the chapter :) and if you do/don't or have any questions/suggestions, anything at all! please review and favourite! thanks guys :) hope you're all having a lovely summer xox- Brooklyn

Katniss whole body jerked, without thought she jabbed a stern pointed finger at Gale, "shut the fuck up, Gale" she threatened.

"Katniss" whispered Peeta aggressively, "what do you mean, Gale?" he asked turning his attention back to the person of interest once his wife backed off a little.

"Well Katniss and I hung out last week and I was just wondering if she told you"

"No" he said flatly, turning to face his wife, "no she didn't" Katniss' jaw tensed, she averted her eyes quickly and breathed heavily, trying to calm herself. Gale wouldn't say anything… would he?

Peeta scoffed in disbelief at his wife. She didn't specifically tell him where she had been that night but Rose had told him. With all that had gone on with the funeral since that night, he hadn't had the time to confront her with it.

Katniss felt an immense amount of guilt for what had happened that night, for letting it go so far. She was going to tell Peeta; she honestly was, she just hadn't had the time and for some reason was having problems finding the courage. Perhaps it was because still now as Gale stood in front of her she could feel a sort of hunger to taste his lips again, to feel his body against hers and that wonderful tingling sensation she could feel…

"My apologies, I thought husband and wife shared everything" said Gale snapping Katniss from her thoughts.

"Actually" she said, "I can hangout with whoever I want whenever, and I don't need to share" she said both as to warn Gale to be cautious with his words and to let Peeta know it is true, he doesn't own her.

"You're input isn't needed, I'm talking to Peeta" Gale answered her still looking to Peeta.

"Hey, watch how you speak to my wife" Peeta said taking a threatening step.

"Stop acting tough Peeta, come on. Don't you want to know what happened between me and your precious wifey?" he taunted. Peeta's nostrils flared and a fire began inside him, fueling his anger.

"Peeta" Katniss whispered, "Peeta, let's just go, please"

"No. Please elaborate Gale" He answered flatly.

"Really, this is childish, Peeta I will talk to you about it later, let's just get home to the kids-"

"Gale" he interrupted, prompting him to continue.

"Well I'M leaving" she threatened turning slowly and beginning towards their car.

Peeta stayed where he stood, keeping eye contact with Gale. Gale grinned tightly with amusement.

"Better go with your master like a good little bitch dog," he said swiftly in one sentence. Then with the same amount of swiftness, Peeta lunged forwards knocking Gale to the ground, both hitting the cement ground with gasps of air leaving lungs.

The fight was messy, Gale would be on top of Peeta throwing punches, and then Peeta on top of Gale returning the hits, on and on repeat. Katniss stood aside, screaming at the men who were now acting like boys (as Katniss stated over and over to the two on the ground). A crowd quickly formed around them, though no one stepped in.

The two shouted random slurs to each other, lots about being jealous, some just flat out curses and damns. Nothing too threatening, and to Katniss' pleasure, no admittance to their encounter from the other night.

"Are you kidding me?!" a shrill voice shrieked suddenly. The murmurs of people around watching the fight silenced quick and the two men stopped moving, lying awkwardly on the ground, looking up at the horrified blonde.

"At my little brother's funeral? IS THIS A FUCKING JOKE?"

"Rose" Gale said, barely audible, and getting quickly to his feet. Peeta followed behind him, looking guilty.

"No, I don't want to hear it. Whatever this is about, it ends"

"Rose…" Katniss began, placing a comforting hand on her good friend's shoulder.

"Don't bother, it's fine Katniss, but I think it's time you and Peeta left, alright?" she answered, shrugging the hand off of her shoulder.

Katniss nodded silently and turned towards the car, allowing Peeta to trail behind only offering one last glare to Gale.

Katniss felt her phone vibrate once she sat down in the car; "Hello?" she said answering.

"Mummy!" she heard a little female voice call on the other end.

"Hi sweetie! Why are you calling? Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice much sweeter than it had been just moments ago.

"Yeah, everything is okay. Grandma is just cooking dinner right now, chicken!" Katniss laughed.

"That's great, Prim, but why did you call?"

"I was just wondering when you and daddy were coming home… Cinna and I really miss you, you keep leaving us" Katniss felt her heart swell slightly; unsure of whether it was with love or guilt.

"We're only about 45 minutes away, we're just leaving now, I'm sorry daddy and I have been so busy with work lately, but I promise we'll start spending more family time together, remember what i told you earlier?"

"Yeah I do... Okay!" the little girl chirped into the phone, "bye mumma, see you soon! I love you!"

"Love you too, cutie" Katniss said, hearing a weird loud crack on the other line, but choosing to ignore it and hung up the phone.

The rest of the car ride home was silent, Peeta drove, the only sounds were him clearing his throat of Katniss' tense inhales of desperate oxygen. They pulled into the driveway, Katniss moved quickly to get out of the car.

"Don't" Peeta said sharply, not moving to look at her. Katniss stopped, and turned to him.

"What Peeta?" she said, her aggressiveness taking Peeta by surprise

"You should have told me-" he began, Katniss was eager to make this a quick conversation.

"I didn't want you to be angry-"

"You lied to me!" Peeta had different plans, he wasn't going to let her pin the situation on him, or end it so suddenly without getting his words across.

"I knew you'd be suspicious and worried"

"Lying about where you are- going to see HIM, is supposed to make me less suspicious?" Katniss tried to ignore the pain in his eyes, but she felt the guilt kicking at her stomach.

"See, you are suspicious" she offered. Peeta paused before chuckling to himself.

"Seriously? You're really going to try to pin this on me, real mature Katniss"

The two sat in silence for a few seconds. Katniss hated lying, she hated it so much but it came so naturally for her now, usually she wouldn't care so much the effect she had on people but now she couldn't bare to see her husband like this. She knew he was hurt by her lie, even if it was something simple, even if she believed she didn't owe him an explanation or didn't need his permission, she still felt guilty. Especially considering what had gone on that night between her and Gale.

She needed to lie, if he knew the truth it would only hurt him more and at this point Katniss could not bare it.

"Nothing happened" she offered simply, emotionless. Then turned on the little switch in her brain, softening her eyes, grinning that winning Katniss smile and gently touching his face so their eyes met. "I know that's why you're so concerned. Gale and I have had history together, I know you know this. That was many years ago and all in the past now. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have lied, I love you" she pulled his face in, ignoring his tense muscles attempting to resist, and gently kissed his lips. Only a few seconds passed before she felt his body relax and his lips move with hers.

"I love you too," he breathed, offering a tight grin once they separated. Peeta was not completely convinced, but he was weak and exhausted and he knew if he kept arguing it would not end well. So he settled. "Come on, let's go inside and see the kids, I'm sure your mother is exhausted and ready to go home".

"Sir" a man with a shaved scalp, dyed purple, in a sheer silver uniform spoke to another broad backed man with white hair in a red suit "the last hovercraft has arrived" he said, trying not to choke on his nervous words.

"Excellent, send them in" he answered turning to face the door. The two giant silver doors opened slowly and a flood of heads shuffled into the room. "Welcome!" the man's voice boomed, and he watched as the new bodies shook at the loud noise, ignoring a few muffled sobs he continued to speak. "My name is Wren, and I'm sure you are all wondering what you're doing here".

The two doors slammed shut and there were a few audible gasps. The room suddenly darkened slightly and there were some noises of panic, more men in silver entered the room and began closing in on the other people, surrounding them until the first of the men raised his hand high, a small needle in hand and jammed it into the throat of one of the people. The body hit the floor with a thud and the room broke out into screams and cries for help as Wren grinned to himself and turned to check the giant clock mantled above him.

"Anytime now" he whispered to himself.

Katniss and Peeta walked up to the door of their house, hand in hand (Katniss demanded it as to show more affection for her husband).

"Do you smell that?" asked Peeta once they reached the door. Katniss sniffed.

"Smells like… smoke" the two looked at each other and at the same time noticed the panic in the others eyes. Katniss grabbed for the doorknob only to notice the door was already open, and broken.

Katniss felt every cell in her body burst into action, her adrenaline hit a new high as she nearly shoved Peeta aside and burst across the threshold. A few chairs were flipped aside, there were chips and dents in the walls, and all the lights were off, flicking on the first hall light Katniss ran for the kitchen, hearing Peeta stumbling behind her.

In the kitchen they found Katniss' mother unconscious on the floor, in front of the stove which was smoking, a chicken burning inside.

"Go check on the kids, I'll get the oven and try to wake up your mother" Peeta barely rushed out, without another word Katniss was racing up the stairs. The first door was Prim's room; flinging open the door she turned on the light. She felt her heart drop into her stomach when she saw the empty bed, no imprint, no ruffled sheets; her daughter had not lain in that bed that night.

Next she ran to Cinna's room, the next-door over, vacant. As well as prim's, an empty untouched bed. She felt the hot salty tears stream down her cheeks and she swiped at them as they blurred her vision. She checked every room and there was no sign of her children anywhere.

"Katniss!" she heard a holler from downstairs, but it wasn't her husband.

Racing down back to the kitchen she saw her mother cradled in Peeta's arms, his face pale and still. "Katniss" she said again, chocking on sobs, coughing and wheezing, "they're gone" she said.

Katniss bit her lip to keep from crying, "where? Where are they?" she asked desperately.

"I don't know" her mother said defeated, "some men came, they took them. I was cooking, I tried to stop them I swear, oh god, Katniss" her mother wailed into Peeta's arms.

Katniss looked up at Peeta who sat stunned, a few tears burned his eyes, but otherwise his face was straight and emotionless. He bit his lip and clenched his eyes shut hard. He looked up and saw his wife's crushed expression. Their children were gone and they had no idea where.

WOOOAAAHHH, amiright?

hope you guys enjoyed that, i tried to make it semi-intense, did it work? yes? no? maybe so? let me know!

bye bye