A/N: Okay this is my first official Fanfic (although I thoroughly enjoy reading them). Hope you like it! Read And Review!

BTW this is Post Mockingjay

Enjoy :)

I didn't intend for things to end up this way- but oddly enough I'm kind of happy they did. Sure Katniss rejected me, but given the circumstances, I can't exactly blame her.

"Hi Annie, hey Junior, what's for dinner?" I asked as I walked in the door, sitting down next to the baby in the height chair, waiting for his mother's delicious cooking.

"I made some stew out of that fish and..."

"That squirrel Katniss sent?" I said trying to finish her incomplete thought.

"Yes that Katniss sent. Oh yes that reminds me..." Annie said trailing off again.

"What?" I asked, instantly forgetting the stew half way between my mouth and bowl.

"Peeta called."

"What did he say?" I asked a little too harshly because she instantly closed off putting her hands over her ears and trying to block out the world. The only thing that could bring Annie back to reality was little Finn. Finnick Jr. at the tender age of three minutes had already developed his father's knack for calming her. Now, he was just about to turn one and just holding him seemed to turn Annie into a different person entirely.

"Peeta called and he invited us all to come visit Katniss and him in District Twelve. He said he'd make Finn a birthday cake just like the wedding cake he made Daddy and I." she said smiling down at her baby boy.

"Does Katniss know?" I asked suspiciously.

"No he wanted to surprise her. Her game hasn't been as good lately and Peeta thought she could use a good hunting partner for once." I had noticed the squirrels and turkey she had sent us were a little below her usual standards. Peeta was a lousy hunter (it had been one of the few things I'd had going for me), of course her game was a little less impressive than before, she was all alone.

"When are we leaving?" I asked impatiently.

"As soon as possible. But don't you have to work?"

"Nah, Beetee can handle it. He's been working on some automated harvesting machine so the coal mining, hunter isn't much use to him now. Can we leave tonight?"

"I'll pack the baby's things you go..." Annie mumbled.

"To get tickets from the train station? I'll be right back!" I called as I ran out the door leaving my stew cold on the table. Sure she'd utterly rejected me, but Katniss was still my best friend and I hadn't seen her since shortly after she killed President Coin. I'd spoken to her on the phone, but I wanted to make sure she was okay because I had this horrible feeling she wasn't.

The train traveled through the night, but I couldn't sleep. It's been over a year since the rebellion and even then I don't think I'd ever imagined my life would end up like this. It all changed the night Finnick died.

"Come on Finnick, climb!" I shouted, but the mutts were gaining on us. Katniss had already gone up with Pollux, Cressida and Peeta, so now it's just Finnick, Castor and I.

"It's no use." Finnick tells me. "We'll stay here and try to hold them off. But Gale, I need you to promise me something." he says grabbing my arm with what is sure to be his death grip. "Please, just make sure someone takes care of Annie and... I think there'll be a baby too."

"I'll take care of them myself." I promised.

"I just wish I could have met him someday." he said sadly. I turned to the ladder when Finnick called out, "Oh, and Gale,"

"Yeah," I turned around.

"She'd be lucky to have either of you."

"Thanks." I said, "And Finnick,"

"Hmmm?" he turned around, anxious to tear apart some mutts in what was sure to be yet another fight for the death.

"I'm really glad I've known you. I only wish we could have had more time."

"We all could have used more time, but the clock's been ticking since even before we were in the clock arena. Now my times up, just say good bye to Katniss for me. And tell Annie, I love her."

"I will." And then I climbed the ladder without looking back, for if I did, I don't think I ever could have left them there.

So when I had reached the top and Katniss flung the Holo down into the depths of the sewers I couldn't help but flinch as a final scream pierced the air.

"We will now be arriving in District Twelve."

Standing up, I took the bags and Annie took Finnick Jr. and we stepped out into the station. I hadn't been back in twelve since the days of the rebellion and it has most definitely changed. The last time I was here it was a desolate wasteland full of half rotten dead bodies. Now the bodies have obviously been buried and the burned shop fronts turned into shiny new stores. I don't know what I had been expecting, but this certainly wasn't it.

Peeta and Katniss still live in what used to be the Victor's Village, except now they live together (which is just like shooting an arrow through my heart). The Village isn't empty like before, every house is occupied, but only two by actual victors. One house containing my best friend and her, uh, fiancée, and the other is still occupied by none other than Haymitch. I can already smell the liquor.

"Annie! Gale!" Peeta called to us, walking out of the house issued to Katniss after her first games. "And this must be little Finnick Jr. He looks just like him, Annie."

"Thank you. It's nice to see you." she said smiling and hoisting the baby up higher on her hip.

"Thanks for having us Peeta." I said, trying to remain civil and not break all his fingers when I shook his hand.

"It's my pleasure and besides, I think it'll be good for Katniss to see you. I've been worried about her; she's been acting weird lately." At the sound of that my stomach twisted inside me.

"Why don't you come in and put your stuff down. Katniss has been gone all morning; she disappeared before I even woke up." That's early even for Katniss. Peeta, being a baker, got up almost as early as a hunter, that way there would be fresh bread for the bakery. If she left so early that he didn't even notice her leaving, she must have been in the woods long before the sun was up.

When I walked into the kitchen memories instantly flooded back to me. There was the table where they dumped me after the whipping with Thread. The scars on my back throbbed merely at the thought. And there sat that same table where Katniss had kissed me. There was the door to the study where President Snow had personally threatened to kill me. Happy times.

"Annie, you and the baby can have the room on the left and Gale you can have the one down the hall."

"Ok," Annie said, "I'll bring everything upstairs. Can you..."

"Hold the baby? Sure Annie." I said taking the baby from her.

"Maybe when you're done, Annie, we can go down to the bakery." Peeta called after her.

"That would be nice." Annie replied. Once Annie was out of ear shot I asked Peeta rather desperately, "Is she okay?"

"I really don't know." he said sighing, "She really hasn't been talking much. The other day I asked her what she thought of the protesting in One and she just shrugged."

"Seriously, she had no opinion whatsoever?" I asked incredously.

"She looked like she wanted to say something but just wouldn't."

"Wow, I'm glad you had us come out here."

"I was hoping she'd tell you something she wouldn't tell me. You are her best friend."

"Yeah, well I haven't exactly been her favorite person lately." I replied sheepishly.

"Just try, I don't know what else to do."

"I'll see what I can do. Can you take care of Annie and Finn while I'm gone?" I asked offering little FJ to him.

"Yeah, I'll take care of them and you take care of Katniss." He said taking the baby. I nodded and walked outside.

There was no fence to duck under anymore, but I still entered the woods near my old home. It was weird to be back and I still wasn't sure if I was happy about it, but if Katniss needed me, I don't think I could stand to be anywhere else.