Though the message was still slow to make its way to her head, she had at least accepted she was popular among the citizens of the Capitol. She also had to remember that she and Peeta's image had been pretty well received. And from what she had been told, people loved the affection she had for Primrose and Run last year. She figured she could tone it down a little bit but she just didn't like being weak or vulnerable. If she had to though, in order to get more sponsors, she would try and actually listen to Haymitch and Peeta this time. It wouldn't be easy but she would try because she was finding more and more reasons to make sure everyone around her was safe and that meant getting sponsors and possibly giving into the idea of allies, which she was still wary of.

Hell must be pretty frozen over by now. Pigs were surely flying. And Katniss really couldn't care less because she was enjoying the moment too much to want to worry about the Games or anything else. In the back of her head, she was laughing and saying 'finally' though she couldn't help but wonder if she should have done something sooner herself. That was of little help to the situation so she brushed that notion away and licked her lips. This situation was definitely better than Peeta, mostly due to the fact she had real feelings for Haymitch and wasn't being bossed around. Haymitch asked how long 'a while' was and Katniss laughed slightly, not sure if she could pinpoint when everything sort of clicked. Well, she could but she knew her feelings had been growing before then.

So it wasn't easy giving him an exact time and date that she realized some of her issues with him had been in regards to how she was beginning to feel about him. He put a hand to the side of her face. "Not easy to pinpoint." She smiled, feeling his thumb brushing against her skin softly. Finally there was an actual sliver lining to being pulled back into the Games. Her sister and best friend were in danger and so was her mentor/someone she loved. And she wanted to save all of them but this moment finally gave back some of the pain it had been draining from her since the details of the Quarter Quell had been announced. She was actually help and actually felt loved in a way she couldn't get from Gale or Prim or her mother and it felt really really good.

And maybe this act of genuine affection would allow Katniss to embody a more approachable sort of figure while giving hope to all the people of Panem while still striking fear into those like President Snow. Slowly, Katniss removed her arms from around Haymitch and used her now free hand to rest atop his. "Let's go back inside." She said and laced her fingers with his as she stepped back and pulled him back into the room with her. "And if you think I'm letting you go back to your room, that's seriously not happening." Katniss joked, though she was serious in the sense that she wanted his company tonight, well preferably every night. but this one especially for obvious reasons. She got into bed and waited for Haymitch to join her, when he did, she quickly curled up against him, no longer needing to be cautious or uncertain. She slipped an arm around him, feeling pretty pleased with herself. "So now I guess I [i]have[/i] to dance with someone tomorrow night. Thanks." She laughed sarcastically.

He had meant if he had to keep Katniss in the dark, it would be hard to do on his own. It was a bit selfish to think that way but Gale, like Prim, didn't like to keep such things from Katniss who did deserve to know what was going on. If Prim hadn't been selected, he would be struggling more. He'd probably also be thinking and worrying about Prim back home with his family. He'd surely be trying to relate to the other female Tribute while trying to figure out how to keep Prim and Haymitch in check by himself. And trusting someone new would be an issue as well. He wasn't happy Prim was dragged into the mess but he was glad to have her with him because he knew he could count on her to protect people and to now save people.

"Heh well I'd be afraid of her if you weren't here to help keep the plan in check." He pointed out to Prim. It was a hard thing to keep to himself and he was happy that Prim was around. He was happy he volunteered. He wouldn't regret it, he couldn't regret it. He couldn't go down that path, not now. It would make matters so much worse if he did. Gale smiled at Prim as she laced their fingers together. "We do." He was assured already that he and Katniss were a good team too. He figured he may need to see what he could do with Haymitch so that if they had to fight together, they would be good. He had seen her make strides with her own self improvement and Gale was hopeful that the Games wouldn't damage her too much, so she could continue to grow.

The nightmares that Katniss and Haymitch suffered from were horrible. Katniss barely talked about them to anyone but he knew that they were surely a dark representation of all the things and people that had tried to take her down. Gale knew even Peeta had those bad dreams and he was sure that he and Prim would come of the Games with their own share of demons and mental scars. He just hoped he could be there for her and that she'd be there for him and that whatever happened, they could overcome and keep living, rather than getting stuck in the past. "We should get some sleep." He said softly, pulling his hand away from hers as he sat up on the bed. 

The next day would be a lazy one but he wanted to get up and do some weight lifting and reading. The majority of the day would be spent getting ready for the Ball he feared. He didn't like dressing up, like Katniss. He was hopeful that Portia would go a little easy on him. And what could help get him through it all was the progress that could be made. And he'd get to see Prim and Katniss get dressed up again. He got into bed and pulled the sheets up and when Prim followed suit, he tucked them both in. This nightly routine was becoming favorable to sleeping alone. He was already getting used to it and hoped there would be more nights like this with Prim before the Hunger Games. "Good night." He sighed and kissed her softly on the lips. He was already used to doing that so he hoped he was careful at the Ball. But he'd rather worry about that than dodging arrows and knives in the arena.