I don't own any of these characters or plot idea. This is told from Gale's POV at the reaping and then it will continue into what he did during the games. Enjoy and PLEASE review!

Reality hit me. This was no longer about some person you barely knew. It was never one of your friends or family who was sent to die. It was some stranger you knew you could live without. No longer. The odds were not ever in our favor.

Primrose Everdeen.

Those two words rung in my head so strongly I could barely concentrate on anything else. It took me a minute to even realize what they meant. Prim, Catnip's beloved little sister, was chosen for the Games.

I looked to the back of the crowd where the 12 year olds stood. There were two Peacekeepers guiding Prim to the stage. She was wearing Catnip's old skirt and blouse. The blouse never stayed tucked in, even when Katniss wore it. Prim's face was stolid. If she let any emotion through, surely she would burst into tears. We all know what happens in the Games. Once you were a tribute, you had almost no hope of coming home. For 25 years, no one from District 12 has ever returned from the Games.

I quickly looked around for Catnip. I wasn't entirely sure of what she would do. Before I can lay my eyes on her I heard her yell out with desperation and determination in her voice.

"I volunteer!" Catnip takes a step in front of Primrose and speaks again with her voice a little more even now. "I volunteer as tribute."

There is a long pause. No one has ever volunteered in 12. Only Careers do that. And they only volunteer because they have been training since the age of three.

Effie Trinket starts to object, but the mayor recognizing Katniss' determination shushes her.

Prim immediately starts to scream and grab onto Katniss. I would have screamed to but the words were caught in my throat. I couldn't go on if anything happened to Catnip in the arena. I instinctively ran to Katniss wanting to stop her from going up onto the stage. When I was ten feet away I realized I would not be able to get away with it. Not with all of Panem watching. Thinking quickly I grabbed Prim and pryed her off of her sister. I knew Catnip would have wanted me to take her making her choice a little easier. She looked back with her eyes hardened but just before she turned away I could see all of the emotions she needed to tell me swimming in her beautiful eyes.

I carried Prim to the edge of the crowd while she strained in my arms trying to reach her sister. I put her down so I was blocking her way to the stage. I caught her as she tried to run and held her in my arms. She finally gave up. Accepted the fact that none of us could change what happened today. By that time her mother has managed to make her way over to where we were standing. I directed Prim into her mother's arms where she started to sob into her dress.

I slowly make my way back to my place in line, noticing that they are about to announce the other tribute. My thoughts were no longer occupied with my chances of getting picked but with all my worry for Catnip.

"Peeta Mallark!"

So many emotions were swimming in my head as Peeta walked up to the stage. Relief, fear, jealousy and pure hate for the Capitol for inventing the Hunger Games. Why was I jealous of Peeta? Why should I be jealous of a boy who is about to die? Because he gets to be with Catnip near her final hours. I blinked really hard trying to wipe that thought out of my mind. Katniss will live though this. She has to win. For the first time I realized the extent of my love for her.

By the time I had figured all of this out, the ceremony was over. People were shuffling me towards the back of the square. Once I realized this I pushed shoved and yelled my way back to where they had taken Katniss. Finally, realizing who I was, people made a path for me to get through.

"You can't go in there." A Peacekeeper said when I tried to push my way into the room where Catnip was.

"I—HAVE—TO—SEE—HER!" I shouted in his ear as I struggled to get to the one I loved.

My shouts must have drawn attention because Prim came over to give me a hug on her way out. The guard recognized her and finally connected the dots. He stepped aside and let me through the door.

I shook off my crazy manner and stepped inside. I knew I had to be strong for Catnip. Her face lit up when she saw me come inside. My heart skipped a beat like it always does when I see her smile. I held out my arms for her and she came right into my embrace.