Hello lovelies! So this is based maybe a few years after the epilogue in Mockingjay. WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN'T READ MOCKINGJAY! SPOILERS LIE AHEAD! This is a three part story based off a little idea I had. I hope you guys like it! Happy November!

Tallyho!

Part One:

The last time Gale saw District 12, it was in complete ruin and still smoldering from the attacks from the Capitol. Looking at it now, he never would've guessed it was the same place. Everything had been rebuilt; there was a brand new market, the houses no longer looked run down and dilapidated, and the electric fence that guarded the woods was gone.

He took a deep breath to soak it all in. He hadn't realized how much he missed it here. Slowly, as he walked through town, he could feel himself come back to life. He promised himself later that he would go into the woods for old time's sake but right now he wanted to get a better look at his repaired former home. Walking through the market, he saw many familiar faces but not the particular one he was hoping to see.

Just as he was about to give up hope, he saw something that made him do a double take. The girl he saw in the market looked exactly like the woman he was looking for, only younger and shorter. Gale thought he was looking at his old friend from years ago when they first met. The only difference this time was that the girl had bright blue eyes instead of the gray he was familiar with.

Seeing those blue eyes were the only reason he wasn't surprised when he saw her walk up to someone he never thought he'd see again. The blond smiled at his daughter as he picked up a small boy who was a spitting image of his father only the boy had those familiar gray eyes. Gale thought he was looking at clones of those he used to know. Remembering a conversation they had before her first Hunger Games and her swearing that she would never have children, he smiled to himself as he thought about how far they had all come but her especially.

Gale's smile faded slightly when he made eye contact with the blond and saw the recognition in his eyes. He knew it was stupid but he tensed up slightly as the man walked towards him with his two children in tow.

"Gale." he said, putting his son down as he reached for a handshake.

"Peeta." Gale responded as he shook his hand.

"It's good to see you." Peeta said with genuine kindness.

Gale couldn't help but want to return the same kindness. No wonder everyone likes him. he thought. It's hard not to when he's giving you those big puppy dog eyes. "It's good to see you too." Gale responded kindly but still with a stern tone of voice. His tone changed when he saw a young boy hiding behind Peeta's legs peek out. Gale smiled as he crouched down to be eye level with the boy. "Is this your son?" he asked.

Peeta smiled as he put his hand on his son's head. "Yes, this is Jace."

"It's nice to meet you, Jace." Gale said, still smiling.

The young boy was still hiding behind his father's legs but looking at Gale more curiously now. "What do you say?" Peeta said to his son quietly. "Hi." little Jace said before hiding behind Peeta's legs completely again. Gale chuckled as he stood up.

"And this is Sierra." Peeta said drawing Gale's attention to the young girl. "Honey, this is an old family friend, Gale Hawthorne."

She was much more forward than her younger brother. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Hawthorne." she said sticking her hand out.

"Nice to meet you too," he said shaking her hand, "but, please, call me Gale."

She gave him a small smile that reminded him so much of her mother, it was if he was looking into a mirror of the past. "Sierra, why don't you take your brother back to the bakery?" Peeta said pulling Gale out of his reverie. "I'll meet you there shortly."

"Okay, daddy." she said. He gave his children a quick kiss before sending them on their way. When he turned back to Gale there was an uncomfortable silence between the two men before Peeta spoke again. "So what are you doing back in District 12?"

Gale took a deep breath before answering. "I missed my old home. And I haven't been back since - " he swallowed before continuing, "since I came back with 13 to work on some propaganda. I thought I'd make a quick visit and see how everything is these days."

Peeta nodded understandingly. "It's come quite a long way;" he said as he looked around and smiled, "we all have."

Gale smiled and nodded. "Yes we have." he said quietly.

Peeta and Gale continued the small talk as they walked towards Peeta's bakery. Right before Peeta walked inside Gale asked the question that had been burning inside him since he arrived in District 12.

"Peeta?"

"Hm?"

Gale hesitated. "W-Where's Katniss?"

Peeta gave him a sympathetic look. "She's in District 4 visiting her mom. She won't be back until Sunday."

"Oh… I see." Gale responded quietly.

"How long are you in town?"

"Just a couple of days. I'm leaving on Friday."

Peeta nodded. "I'm sorry she won't be here during your trip."

Gale shook his head. "It's fine. I was just curious."

Peeta pursed his lips as he said goodbye to Gale to go into the bakery. Suddenly, he had an idea. "Hey Gale!" he called.

Gale turned his head to Peeta. "Yeah?"

"What are you doing tomorrow night?"

"Nothing, why?" Gale asked wearily.

"Why don't you come over for dinner?" Peeta offered.

Gale was surprised. "Really? Me, over for dinner?"

"Yeah." Peeta said. "We didn't end on a good note when we last saw each other. I'd like to fix that. Plus you can't come back to District 12 and not get anything from the bakery."

Gale chuckled and sighed. "Alright, why not."

"Great." Peeta said. "See you at 7?"

"See you at 7."

As Peeta went into his bakery, Gale walked off into the woods. He found an old field where he and Katniss used to sit when they went hunting and layed down to look at the sky. He took a deep breath to soak in the smell of the woods, the grass, and the light breeze. He smiled as he closed his eyes and relaxed and tried not to think of his impending dinner with the Mellarks tomorrow night.