Galone Valentine's is based off an advert on Tumblr featuring a guy who looks like Gale and it got my little gray cells fired up. Thank you to Caryn for betaing.

Canon after Epilogue.

PS I do not own the Hunger Games

The alarm clock went off. Its harsh buzzing sound did its intended job, annoying Gale Hawthorne awake.

"Ggrrrr," Gale grunted, slapping his hand on the snooze button. There was a time in his youth when Gale was wide awake at this time, ready to go hunting with Katniss, his old hunting partner. He turned onto his back, covering his face with his arm. He hadn't seen Katniss in two years.

The last time he'd seen her she'd shot President Coin. Gale had no idea Katniss would kill Alma Coin. But he was a bad person—his bombs that he helped design killed all of those children, including Primrose. He felt guilty, and though he should have helped out at her trial, he hid and did nothing to help her. Gale hadn't heard of Katniss in over two years, but she was always with him—he loved her in his own way. Love is and was a tough thing for him, he kept his heart guarded.

He grimaced and got up as the alarm went off again. He swung his long, lean legs over the side of the bed and rubbed his face. It'd been two years since he was given a 'cushy job' in the same district he had helped bring down to its knees during the war. The sentiments toward him in the District were less-than-friendly.

His own mother refused to live with him, choosing to go to District Four with Katniss' mother. He was alone—he'd tried dating Cressida, but she wanted to put her career first, plus she didn't want children. Then he'd dated Johanna, but when she threw an ax at him, that ended that relationship.

His communication device went off. Gale rubbed his eyes as he picked it up. It was from Delly Cartwright, his administrative assistant. Because of his temper he had a hard time maintaining a secretary until Delly moved to the district with her brother Daniel.

There was a medical program that was helping Daniel with his post-traumatic stress disorder. Daniel had been greatly affected by the war, having been an eyewitness to the destruction of the town and many of Seam homes in District Twelve. Daniel couldn't function on a day-to-day basis, and, like many, he slept very little at night, causing Delly to suffer from lack of sleep.

He read out loud, "Gale I cocked in late this morning." Gale burst out laughing at her message. Delly was often the highlight of his day. He texted back "okay," but didn't tell her she forgot the 'L'. She'd be too mortified.

He got up and turned on his television—the meteorologist was giving the weather forecast for the week. Gale didn't bother turning on the lights in his room since it was just him in his apartment. The jarring light in the bathroom made him wince. He sighed as he glanced at himself in the medicine-cabinet mirror. He was only 22 years old. Most would say in the prime of his life. But night after night he came back to his apartment to eat a can of soup.

Gale took his toothbrush and began brushing his teeth. As he listened to the TV he mindlessly began setting up his day. Then he heard, "Don't have a date on Valentine's Day? Calling all the single ladies to apply for Galone's Valentine's Day. Gale Hawthorne needs a date on Valentine's Day, and you could be it.…"

Gale walked out to his darkened bedroom to stare at the television, his toothbrush loosely hanging from his lips. He was dumbfounded. He took his toothbrush out of his mouth slowly. Caesar Flickerman filled the screen.

Caesar was dressed entirely in shiny pink. His hair was the brightest thing in the room. He was animatedly speaking through the TV. "Ladies, time hasn't run out... you still have an opportunity to send in your submission to win a date with District Two's most Eligible Bachelor, Gale Hawthorne. This Friday, we will select the best candidates to be Galone's Valentines!"

The screen flashed a picture of him with the words in bright red: "Galone's Valentine."

"The odds can be in your favor, but only if you send in your application. And remember only the top candidates will be chosen to meet Gale, and you, the audience, will pick the lucky girl he goes out with on Valentine's Day."

The TV flashed to another commercial about puppies. Gale rushed into the bathroom, throwing his toothbrush in the sink and rinsing out his mouth. He felt embarrassed and madder than a bear trying to hibernate. The picture they had used was taken by one person, and she had the ability to do this. Gale grabbed his phone to call Cressida, but she was calling him. "Cressida," he began, but he didn't get to speak.

"Gale, we want to do an exclusive with you. Isn't it fabulous! When can I schedule you for a chat? This is going to great. Johanna's idea was too good to pass up."

Gale hung up on her and called Jo— it went to voicemail. His hands shook as he listened to her message. "JOHANNA!" He breathed heavily for a second before he regained control of his voice. "How the hell could you do this to me?" Gale wanted to yell and curse her out, but he didn't and instead hung up.