Ok…so this is my first fanfic for this series and I hope I do this justice…ummm I don't think anyone has the same outlook on this book as I do…Mockingjay spoiler so if ya haven't read it skip this nxt part…even tho I adore Gale I think that he was keeping stuff from Katniss that actually hurt her…when Petta kept stuff from her it helped…I hated when he went all crazy and stuff but I can see why she ended the story the way she did…and I don't hate her for it…but I also think that if Katniss woulda gotten over the fact that it was Gale's bomb that killed her sister and he came bck to District 12 then they woulda ended up together bc of obvious reasons..sry to waste ya'lls time on this author's note…enjoy

DISCLAIMER:I don't own the Hunger Game series! (Sadly) Post MockingJay

Chapter 1

I walk through the woods and settle against our old meeting place. I haven't seen Gale in over twenty years and his face is forever imprinted in my mind. My best friend, the one who I thought I could trust, the one whose bomb killed my sister, and the one who never came to visit. Clearly, I was never that important. He kept secrets from me when President Coin asked him to do so. He probably has his reasons but I will never know since all of our communication has been severed. Him in District 2 and me in District 12. I wonder if he has a wife and kids. He always wanted them and he is handsome enough to find anyone he pleases.

A MockingJay sits over my head and waits for me to sing a new song for him to learn. Everyone was right. When I sing, they listen. I drawl out a note or two but today isn't a day I can rest and wait. I need to hunt. I grab my bow, trudge through the woods once more, and quickly kill three rabbits, six squirrels, and as I turn, a deer comes walking into the clearing. I take my chance and shoot it through the eye leaving all of the meat intact. Without having a hunting partner, it was a pain at first. I couldn't carry anything big but as it went on, I could carry as much weight as any male. I hoist it onto my shoulders with ease and congratulate myself. This will be good food for us tonight and the kids will be happy. I walk to my snares and notice a man standing beside one and reaching toward my rabbit.

"That's dangerous. You should find your own food. I have people to feed and I will kill you if you try to stop me from doing it." He doesn't turn around but I watch his shoulders stiffen.

"I just recognize the snare as a more complex version of the one I used to do." It's my turn to stiffen. It can't be. I lay the buck to the ground and quietly walk up behind him. When he turns around, he jumps backward quickly. I am closer than before but it's him.

"Gale?" He sucks in his breath and I can't help but wonder why. I take in his face and he is just the way I remember him. The older he got the better he looks.

"Catnip? I thought I would never see you again. I can't believe it. You look the same but better fed. You look healthy and it seems you got along nicely without me." I nod at his assessment. I am not going to lie. I can live without him. My best friend is gone. I know nothing about him and I know it will take awhile before we become anything close to friends again. Anger rises and I can tell that I thought I had forgiven him for the bomb but I haven't. I am still holding him responsible. When I speak, my words are harsh.

"Katniss and yes I've made it this far without your help." Gale's eyes turn hard and he wonders what I'm angry about. He tries to hide the confusion but I still know his face.

"How have you been? I mean besides the obvious stuff." I shift from side to side. I don't want to share anything with him and I need to get back. The kids will be worried and I hate to keep them all waiting.

"Good but I have people to care for so I must leave." I quickly reset the trap and put the rabbit on my side. I don't glance back as I grab the deer and I hear his steps behind me. He is following me but I'd rather not see his face because it will be the one thing that makes me crack.

"Who lives here now?" I roll my eyes and I hear him laugh. He still remembers me all too well.

"Greasy Sae and her granddaughter, Petta, your old crew, Haymitch, Buttercup, and a few newcomers." I'm not ready to tell him I have two children. Prim, who is seven, and Finnick, who is five. I know it's weird to name my child after him but it only seemed right after him giving his life for me.

"Then I might find a place to stay." I stop dead in my tracks and turn on him quickly.

"Why are you finding a place to stay? District 2 is your home not this place. Go back to your family." Gale winces and I know now.

"What family Katniss? I have no family. I have never loved anyone as much as I love you. You know me and I know you."

"You don't know anything about me. You have been gone for twenty years and things have changed. Live here and find someone else. There are plenty of beautiful girls just don't interfere with my life." She runs and he is shocked that she can with all of that weight on her shoulders. He follows but after living in such a pampered life for so long, he has lost some of his strength.

I return home and look over my shoulder. He couldn't follow and that was good. A slow smile appears on my face as Prim and Finnick meet me at the door. I grab them into my arms letting the deer fall on the floor.

"Momma! You got our favorite! Daddy said we would get some good food today and we did! Did you get my plants?" I smile and put them on the ground. Petta is in the kitchen and I kiss him. I show him the deer and he begins to skin it. I pull all of the plants out and show them to Prim. She is just like my little sister in so many ways. She is a natural born healer and I'm glad that my sister wasn't lost after all. I look out the window and watch Gale pass our house. He sees Finnick playing in the yard and he smiles. He doesn't know whose kid it is and I know that it is for the best now.

"Anything unusual happen today?" Petta is looking at me and he runs his finger over my brow where my worry lines had began to appear. I point out the window and he follows my gaze. He doesn't show any emotion at first.

"Does he know?" I shake my head and he sighs in relief. He knows it's not the time to tell him about the children or our marriage. I kiss him and he knows me so well but he just shakes his head.

"I can't believe he plans on living here. Does he not realize anything at all? You are not his anymore." I struggle to hold in my laugh at his jealousy. Gale may love me but Petta is the one who I love and I will never doubt it.

"I need to go speak with Haymitch." I walk out the door with my bow hung on my shoulder. It isn't long before I'm walking in and I find him in his bed. It's too early for him to be up and sober but this is important.

"Haymitch I brought you a drink!" I scream and he sits up to take my offer until he realizes I lied. He tries to lie back down but I grab his arm.

"Gale is back." His eyes snap open and this time I have his attention. He takes my face in slowly and nods. I don't know what he finds but I guess it's ok.

"Have you talked to him? I don't blame you if you haven't." I look down and he places his hand on my shoulder. We are just alike and constantly clash but he is comfort.

"I thought some man was trying to steal my rabbit and I threatened to kill him." He laughs and I do too. It would be easy now that he undeniably has been pampered in District 2.

"Good for you. You have a family to feed but does he know this?" I shake my head no and it's easy to see this was for the best until I know him better.

"I have to go trade some stuff with Greasy Sae though. I'll see you tonight at dinner." I retreat from his house and make my way quickly to the market. She smiles as I show her my catch and I throw it on the counter.

"What do you want?" One of Gale's old crew makes his way in and I order us both some soup. We laugh and I see how much closer I've became to everyone here. Nobody knows me as well as my family but I get along well with everybody now. Gale walks in and he notices us sitting there. He stops for a second but sits beside me. I ignore him as long as I can.

"Katniss did you kill the animals for her? Is that who you have to take care of?" I don't turn to him but I answer quickly and coldly.

"One of a couple. Why?" He shrugs and I can see he is hungry. I take another rabbit off my belt and lay it on the table. She sees it in my eyes and puts a bowl in front of him.

"Thank you. I used all of my money to get here. I'll have to hunt again." I try to ignore this but it is on my mind.

"Tomorrow?" Gale shrugs. I see he's waiting for me to say when I will go again.

"I don't know. I have to get my hands on a bow and rope so I can make snares." I have so many bows now that I can afford to give him one without regret. I make them easily now and Finnick enjoys the woods with me while Prim stays with Petta. She has her own room to nurse our sick people back to health and I don't know how she does it. I leave while she works. Greasy Sae's granddaughter, Sarah, is older than she is and is her mentor in all of this. They work great together.

"I can give you a bow and you can use my snares any day of the week except on Monday because that's my day. You can have the woods by yourself but don't show up on my day." I finish my soup and leave the rope I always have with me on the chair. I hear a chair slide behind me and I turn around.

"Finish eating Gale. You need it more than you probably think." He grabs my shoulder and I pull back.

"You are my hunting partner so why can't I be in the woods at the same time you are?" I know the only way to stop him is by telling the truth. Part of the truth.

"I have a new one that is better." I turn quickly and my hair slaps him in the face. I run down the street and force myself to say that it's the best. I don't stop at my house but I keep going to the woods. I sit down against the tree and pull out one of my older bows. Gale will need it and I don't think I can stand seeing the pain in his eyes.

"I do know you enough that when you're mad you always come to where you're most at ease. Somethings don't change." I toss the bow at his feet and he swoops it up.

"Arrows are in the tree." He sits beside me and I do my best not to jerk back. After all these years, I'm still taking care of him and he doesn't do the same for me.

"Why do you hate me?"

"I don't hate you. I never have and that's probably why I'm blaming you."

"Lie to someone who doesn't know you Catnip. I see it in your eyes. You still blame me and hold me accountable."

"I am speaking to someone who doesn't know me. I didn't think you would ever be back but you are. Why?"

"You know why. I love you and I couldn't stand it."

"You did for twenty years. Why couldn't you do it anymore? I have a life without you now and yes, I guess I haven't forgiven you yet but I just can't. Not at the moment. You ran Gale. My mother did too and if she came back, I would treat her worse than I'm treating you probably. I forgive her in my mind but when it comes down to it I don't think I really do."

"I didn't run! I got a good job! I needed to support my family!"

"Where are they now? Why did you decide to come back now of all times?"

"They grew up and didn't need me! They have a family now." Something must have shifted in my eyes because he stops his rant.

"Why are you here? You still haven't answered."

"President Coin did order your sister to help and then dropped the bombs. I found out a month ago and I came to tell you." I keep my face calm. I learned it from him and I can see it aggravates him to no end.

"I know. Why do you think I killed her? It wasn't that hard to figure out. I wouldn't be her puppet anymore. I could tell what she really was. I need to get back now." He grabs my hand.

"Are you saying I couldn't tell she dropped them and tried to kill you?" I nod. That's exactly what I'm saying. He was too involved with killing all of the Capitol. He shakes his head and stands up.

"I really need to get back home. I have things to do before bed." He walks beside me because this time I need him to know the truth and I can feel he knows it already.

"Are you married Catnip? Don't answer that because I know you are. Do you have kids?" I smile as I imagine them running to me when I get home.

"Finnick and Prim. Prim is seven and Finnick is five. You saw Finnick today. You walked by our house and you smiled at him. They are just like the people I named them after. Finnick is fierce when we hunt and Prim is the sweetest little healer with help of coarse but I'm sure she's better than my mother is now. If she's still alive." I notice the way his breath becomes ragged. He now knows that there is no chance between us. I would have never had kids with him but I did with Petta.

"Can I meet them?" I stop. I would've thought he didn't want anything to do with them but it's just the opposite.

"Yes. You have nothing to eat so you can join us for dinner."

"Are you going to tell Petta before I come in?" She smiles and it reaches her eyes. He wishes so bad that he could do that for her but that time has passed.

"I'm sure he knows or at least guesses so. Now lets go." I stop at my door and glance at him. He seems shocked at first because even though I used to be cold-hearted he can feel the warmth radiating off my house. The laughter from inside makes me smile.

"Momma's home!" Prim is the first to jump into my arms. She whispers something in my ear and I can feel my face pale.

"What?" Gale instantly wants to know what is causing my discomfort. Prim looks up as if first noticing him. Her eyes light up in recognition.

"Uncle Gale!" That's when I watch his face pale. I smile at her and put her down gently as she stares up at him.

"Uncle Gale came to visit. He's moving down here so go and play. You can speak with him later. You and Finnick need to wash up." She runs off and he is instantly in my face.

"Uncle Gale? You told them about me?" Gale watches as she opens the locket around her neck and shows him the picture.

"Petta gave it to me so I would fight in the arena for the ones I loved. Kids do ask questions and what was I supposed to say?" I can see it on his face. Anything but that. I touch his shoulder briefly and motion for him to follow me. I walk in and turn to Gale. I watch him take in everything around me. Greasy Sae is sitting across from Haymitch. Finnick and Prim are running into the run until I look at them sternly and they slow down. Petta is pulling bread from the oven while Sarah helps. This is my family. These are the people I care for every single day of my life.

"I should have came back to District 12. When they gave me a job in District 2 I should have turned it down and returned back with you." I wipe all the emotions from my face and smile when Finnick rushes up to me. I pick him up quickly and whisper in his ear.

"Mommy I know. Pim told me." I look at her and instead of turning away, she smiles brighter.

"Pim told you. Well I guess there is no need in me telling you the other good news. I mean, Pim probably told you already." He starts bouncing in my arms.

"Tell me! Tell me! Pwezz Mommy!" I kiss his forehead and sit him down. I pull his own mini bow from behind my back and his eyes light up.

"I can use it now? I'm old enough? I don't have to use twaps anymore?" I push him softly toward his seat and lay his bow by the table on a shelf.

"We will see how it goes tomorrow. If you learn quickly then yes." He kisses my cheek and I turn on Gale.

"I never thought I would see the day a little kid would call you mom. I missed a lot." I motion for him to sit and I walk over to Petta. He places his hand on my waist and I kiss him softly.

"I thought I was the nice one? What did Prim say about Uncle Gale?" Ever since, she seen the pictures in my locket all she ever wonders about is why he does not visit.

"She was very excited to finally meet him." Petta rolls his eyes and glance toward the table. The kids are pelting him with questions and he can only laugh as they try to overlap each other.

"That makes one of us. Lets eat." We all eat and Haymitch glares at Gale. He may not admit he likes me and he may not like me at all but he looks out for me and he loves the kids so greatly that if Gale messes up once then he will take care of it. There will be some problems there.

So this is the first chapter and I don't want Katniss to forgive him so easily bc that would be sooo unlike her…then I don't know if in the end I want Petta to die and Gale to step in or Gale just become apart of the family as Uncle Gale and finally starts to move on a little at a time. Review and tell me what should happen…be nice bc as I said before my writing is very different then most ppl J