Chapter 1

It has been 20 years since the rebellion, and my life is…almost perfect. I have a 16 year old daughter, Lilac and a 12 year old son, Cole. I never wanted kids. I didn't want them to suffer in this world, but of course my loving husband, Peeta Mellark used his talent in words, and convinced me.
Although it has been so long since the Hunger Games and the rebellion, I still have nightmares and Peeta occasionally has his hijacking moments. But as we always did, we would be in each other's arms, comforting each other.

"MOOOOM!" Cole yells as he comes into the kitchen with the phone in his hand. He looks like a mini version of Peeta except for his eyes, they are like mine. Grey.

"Who is it?" I ask, Cole just shakes his head, and walks away.

"Um…hello?" I hope I didn't sound rude.

"Hey Catnip!" I haven't heard that nickname in 20 years. This had to be Gale. But, why would he call me after so many years? I can feel the anger rising through my body. Why, after so many years? Does he think that he can just call me by my nickname and sound like everything is okay? He killed my sister. I know I should be over this by now. But how can I? My ex-best friend killed my sister.

"What do you want?" I reply in the nastiest tone as possible.

"I need you to listen. I don't want you to say anything until I tell you that I am done. Understand?" Gale voice suddenly went serious. I mumbled an okay but I don't want to listen. I don't want to hear his voice. It hurts. It reminds me of my sister, and all the memories of us hunting.

"I am so sorry about everything that has happened in the past and I am so sorry that it took me so long to get the nerve to tell you." He pauses, as if he is thinking of what to say. Unlike Peeta, Gale and I have trouble using words to express ourselves.

"I need you to forgive me. For the past 20 years, the thought of you hating me tortured me every day. I'm not going to say that it wasn't my fault for what happened…but I will tell you that I did not know that I was going to hurt anyone I love." Gale voice went unsteady. This must be really hard for him. I suddenly feel sorry for him. He loved Prim. But, that doesn't change anything.

"I also want to let you know, that I am completely over you. But, I want to become friends again." I don't know what to say…I'm want to say no, that just because he apologized, it doesn't make anything better. Prim is still dead. But my heart is telling me to say yes. I can't be holding on to this forever. Prim would have forgiven him a long time ago if I was dead and she wasn't.

"Katniss?" Gale's voice is now desperate. I don't know what to say. Then I just blurt out the truth.

"'I'll be completely honest, I will probably never be friends with you the way we used to be, but that doesn't mean we can't try to be friends."

"This is amazing. Wow, Katniss… Tell me about yourself, we need to catch up!" Gale sounds like his usual self. I'm not sure if I want to talk to him anymore, at the time but since I did say I want to try to be friends. I tell him about Peeta, stressing the fact that I love him so I don't give him any impressions, I tell him about Lilac and Cole, he's happy for me. Maybe this isn't as bad as I thought. But now, I have nothing to worry about. He married this woman from District 2 and has 3 kids of his own. He has a son who is the same age as Lilac and his name is Damion. He also has two younger daughters. One is 10, her name is Celsie and the other one is 7 and her name is Belle.

"I don't want you to feel that this is a rush or anything but I was planning to take my family and visit District 12, you know…to see my mother and my siblings…but I would love to see you and your kids while I am there." He sounds so happy and excited. How can I say no? I know I'm stubborn, but if I just told him I want to be friends, how can I tell him I don't want him to come? I don't know if I can see him. It might be too much for me. What about Peeta? I'm sure he'll probably okay with it…

"I need to talk to Peeta about this…can I call you back after I talk to him?" I hope he's okay with that. The Gale I knew 20 years ago was demanding. He usually likes an answer right away. But I need him to tell me that I can call him back. I have to know Peeta's opinion in this. He always knows what to do, another reason why I love him.

"Sure Katniss. I completely understand. Call me back soon okay? I was planning on coming in a week and I need to know as soon as possible." Gale's voice doesn't sound disappointing. I'm happy.

"Of course, talk to you later."

"Bye Catnip!" That nickname still bothers me.

As I hang up the phone. I can hear the door close. PEETA'S HOME! After all this, I just need his advice and opinion. It feels like I haven't seen him in ages. Ever since he re-opened his family's bakery, it has become his second home. He would leave early in the morning and then Lilac would join him there after school and then come home. It is summer right now, so she went with him for the whole day.

"Katniss?" His voice gives me these shivers down my spine. I come out of the kitchen and run into his arms and kiss him passionately. Our love hasn't changed in all these years. I can hear gagging noises from Cole.

"COLE! Be more mature! Gosh! One day, that will be you with some other girl!" Lilac says annoyingly. Peeta and I laugh telling him that we agree. He just gives us another disgusting look and leaves to his room.

"Mom, is it okay if I go to Jack's house?" Jack is one of Lilac's best friends but I am sure there is something more to them than friendship.

"Sure sweetheart. Just be back for dinner!" and with that she leaves the house. She is like Peeta in many ways. But she sure has some of me in her.

"Peeta…I need to tell you something." I whisper. He comes close to me and looks down at me and looks into my eyes.

"What is it?" His voice was soft but his eyes were full of doubt. He was worried.

"I got a call from…Gale…"As I said this, Peeta went firm. He started walking towards the couch and sat down in confusion. I should have said this in a different way.

"What did he want?" he asks. I can see the anger on his face. His eyes were full of hate. Maybe he still thinks I love him. Maybe he believes that if I start talking to him again, I will realize I made a mistake in choosing Peeta.

"He wanted to apologize and he wanted me to forgive him…he also wants to become friends again." I pause to see how he is taking all this. His hands are into fists now. I need to make him understand.

"BUT HE IS OVER ME AND HAS HIS OWN FAMILY AND HE WANTS TO VISIT!" I quickly say, but I know Peeta understood every word I said once I saw his face relax.

"Sure Katniss. If you think you are ready for this, I am too. I just hope you aren't rushing into things. Are you sure you are ready?" I have been asking myself this question all this time. But when Peeta says this out loud, it hits like me like stone. I am ready to face my old friend who I blamed for 20 years of killing my sister?

"I really don't know Peeta…I don't know what to do. I technically already told him that he can come. I just haven't confirmed. I told him I needed to ask you. What do you think?"

"I think that if you are ready, this will be good for all of us. Think about it? Other than Haymitch, is there anybody else Lilac and Cole can consider family. They need more people in their lives. Might as well be Gale's family." Peeta says coolly.

"Wow." That's all that comes out of my mouth.

"What?" He is suddenly worried that he said something wrong.

"What would I do without you? I love you." And with that Peeta comes and kisses me and replies:

"I was just going to ask you the same thing, I love you too Katniss."