Apparently Peace Keepers now need aptitude testing and placement. They had never needed it before. Then again no one ever cared before if Peace Keepers were placed in positions that they were well suited for and maybe even liked.

Gale approved of the concept. A man or woman who was happy in their work was more likely to be an asset to the squad and the community. But the implementation left a lot to be desired.

He was the boss, and he was happy about it. So he saw no reason to take the stupid personality test, and sit through what was sure to be a long boring interview discussing his strengths and management style.

The higher ups seemed to disagree, and so he found himself 'setting a good example for the staff'. The test had been annoying, full of questions that seemed remarkably pointless, but at least it was done. Now all that was left was the interview. With the woman from the Capitol. Doctor of something or other, but she insisted everyone call her Diana.

Diana had charmed his entire department. Gale had been suspicious of her at first, but even he had to grudgingly admit that she was impossible to dislike. She genuinely seemed to want to help everyone find the best possible job for their particular skills and personality. Half the men seemed to be in love with her, but she never flirted with them. She was just nice. And kind. And it drove him crazy. He was not looking forward to this interview.

She smiled at him when he sat down. 'Gale Hawthorne. I have to tell you I was excited when I found out I was going to meet you.'

He is confused.

'Hero of the rebellion?'

He winces. He doesn't feel like a hero. He killed people. Including a lot of children and medics. Hardly something to be proud of. 'I hope what I did isn't going to count against me here.'

The smile immediately drops from her face. 'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring up bad memories.' She pauses. 'Well I want to reassure you that I have found you to be well placed in the job you are doing. You are an excellent leader and your staff like and respect you.'

Gale doesn't want to admit it but he is relieved. He relaxes a little as she goes on. Apparently she thinks that he needs an aide that challenges him more and is recommending that mouthy brat Anderson for the position. As annoying as it is he has to admit that the kid does have good ideas and he can see that bouncing ideas off her would help him. He agrees to the change and smiles a bit at how she will react to her sudden promotion.

They spend most of the interview time discussing the changes she would like to see implemented. He is impressed. He hadn't quite noticed the sharp intellect hidden behind the sweet charming exterior.

As the time passes he begins to realise he is actually enjoying talking to her, is attracted to her. He's not sure why, with her voluptuous figure and soft brown eyes she is nothing like the lean tough women he usually dates. But she reminds him of someone, he just can't place it.

He dismisses the idea from his head, even if he wanted to date her (and he is not so sure he does. She makes him nervous.) There is no point. It would be unethical while she is evaluating his team and as soon as she is done she will be going back to the capitol.

Gale is suprised then when he runs into her at a coffee shop a few weeks after her work is done. It turns out she is permanently assigned to the academy across town. That attraction is still niggling at him, so he hesitantly asks her to join him for coffee.

The feeling that she reminds him of someone keeps bothers him while they chat. It's not until he sees the flowers she has doodled on her napkin that it hits him. Freaking Peeta Mellark. She reminds him of annoying, bane of his existence Peeta Mellark.

He remembers the last time he saw the guy, it was the last time he saw Katniss too. He had given in to the urge to beg her to forgive him and give him one more chance. But when he got to 12 and knocked on her door the person who answered told him she didn't live there anymore. To try down the street. At Peeta Mellark's. He should have just quit right then but he had been stupid.

He wasn't sure what he was expecting when she saw him, but the look of pure shock on her face wasn't particularly gratifying. At least she didn't slam the door in his face. Peeta had of course come to the rescue, inviting him in, bringing tea and perfect little cookies. Then politely leaving them alone to talk. He remembered thinking,Okay the man is some sort of a pargon. Gale knew if the positions were reversed he would never have left Katniss alone with Peeta. And it wasn't even in a smug, confident she's mine kind of way. He saw the nervous little glance Peeta cut toward Katniss as he left the room.

Peeta had nothing to worry about. It seemed that Katniss' problem with him had nothing to do with what he had done in the war, and everything to do with Gale himself. Katniss had baldly stated that she just didn't love him, and never had, not the way he wanted, not the way she loved Peeta. If that hadn't hurt enough, she decided to follow it up with weird advice. He would never forget what she said.

'You and I are practically the same person Gale. We would never work. I need someone to balance me. I would never have been happy with you and I honestly don't think you would ever be happy with me.'

She had paused to squeeze his hand, as if to try to soften the blow. 'I want you to be happy. I think you need a Peeta in your own life. Promise me if you ever find yourself with a woman who reminds you of him you'll go for it.'

At the time he had dismissed the idea. The idea of trying to find a female version of Peeta seemed kind of creepy, although he had always thought the guy was a bit of a sissy, always talking about his feelings and frosting cakes. But dating female Peeta? It was just too weird. He had promised, and then spent the next ten years of his life dating Katniss Everdeen replacements.

As he looks across the table into Diana's sweet smiling face he has a feeling that somewhere Katniss is laughing at him. Right now he doesn't mind too much.