"Hey Catnip."
"Gale wh-what are you doing here?" To say I was shocked to see Gale was an understatement. I hadn't spoken to him in years. After realising that it might have been his bombs that killed my sister Prim I distanced myself from him. After I got back to district 12 it took me awhile to get the courage to call him. We talked back and forth for a while until one day we just stopped. It was getting harder for me to talk to him because it kept reminding me of Prim. Now Gale was standing in front of me, holding a bouquet of flowers. Even though he was older he didn't look that much different, aged a bit but still the same looking Gale.
"I came here to give you these." He says as he hands over the flowers.
"And?" I ask obviously not believing that he came all this way just to give me flowers.
"And to tell you I miss you and should have come back. Katniss, I still love you." I just stand there looking at Gale trying to figure out what to say to him.
"Katniss I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to make such stupid mistakes, your all I've been thinking about these last couple of years."
He can't be serious. If I've all he's been thinking about why didn't he come back sooner?
"Gale I can't be with you and it's not just about Prim." I try to hold back a sob as I say her name. It's still very hard to think of her after all these years.
"What is it, Katniss I will do anything."
"Gale I'm sorry it's just that I haven't seen you in years and-"
"Deep in the meadow, under the willow-."
"Who is that?" Gale says trying to look around my shoulder. I know instantly who it was singing that song. The same song I sung to Rue while she was dying in the hunger games.
"A bed of grass, a soft green pillow. Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes-"
"No one." I say quickly trying to get Gales attention.
"And when you awake, the sun will rise-"
"Unless I'm hearing things it can't be no one. Who are you trying to hide from me?"
"Here it's safe, here it's warm. Here the daisies guard you from harm-"
"No one Gale, it's no one. It's probably just the TV."
"Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true. Here is the place where I love you-"
Gale gives me a questioning look; probably trying to figure out if I'm lying.
"Deep in the meadow, hidden far away-"After a few more moments of Gale staring at me I think he comes to the conclusion that I'm not lying. There's only one thing the games helped me with, and that's lying.
"A cloak of leaves, a moonbeam ray, forget your woes and let your troubles lay-"
"So what was your other reason?" Gale asks me.
"And when again it's morning, they'll wash away-" It takes me a second to realise what he's talking about.
"Gale I've-" Is all I get out before I'm cut off again from the person singing.
"Here it's safe, here it's warm. Here the daisies guard you from every harm-" I risk taking a glance behind me and that's when Gale realises I'm lying.
"Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true-"
"Katniss I know your lying, who is singing?"
"No one is-" I'm cut off again but this time not from the person singing. I'm cut off because Gale pushes past me. I quickly follow him where he stops in the lounge room where a little girl is just finishing off the song.
"Here is the place where I love you."
Gale turns to me with a confused look on his face.
"Who is this?" I walk over and pick the little girl up.
"This is Ashleigh." I say while looking at Gale trying to see if his emotion has changed. He still looks confused.
"Gale Ashleigh is my daughter." I watch his face change from a look of shock and then hurt.
"Who is Ashleigh father?" Gale asks I can see him trying not to give away how he feels.
"Ashleigh's father is, Peeta." Once he hears that Gale no longer looks hurt, he just looks mad.
"Peeta, the same Peeta who tried to kill you? The same one who hated you?"
"That was the capitols fault not his." I say getting angry at Gale for saying those things.
"Katniss he still did those things to you. He could turn any second and try to kill you. How could you be so stupid and chose him."
"Peeta will never hurt me and at least he stayed with me. Gale I couldn't sit here waiting for you my whole life. If you had come back maybe it would be different, it was your choice that you left."
"I didn't expect you to wait for me; I just didn't expect you to be with him and for you to have a child. You told me one day that you would never have a child, but I see it's different with him." Gale turns to look away but turns back at the last minute.
"Katniss you should of never went with him. He is still dangerous."
"Who's dangerous?" I turn around and see my husband Peeta enter the room.
"You." Gale says even angrier now that he has seen Peeta. "How could you be so selfish and put her in danger?"
"I would never hurt Katniss."
"I don't believe you." Gale storms over to Peeta and gets right in his face. "You have before and you will again. Katniss deserves better than you." Peeta then tries to invade Gale's space, but because Gale is a lot taller it doesn't work. It's his words that anger Gale even more.
"You think that you would be better for her. There will never be anyone good enough for her. At least I was there when she needed someone the most. You're just Jealous that I got the girl and the life you wanted."
"I could never be jealous of you. You're right though no one could ever be good enough for her. All I know is that no one could be a worst choice for her than you." Gale looks ready to punch something or someone. He really does hate Peeta.
"Gale get out of my house. I don't need someone coming in a criticising my husband and my decision." I say angry and confused. Why is he acting like this? I know he wanted to be with me, but that was years ago.
"I'm only criticising your choice because it's a dangerous one, he could hurt your daughter as well. I thought you would be smarter than that."
"Gale I said get out of my house." He has got to be kidding me, how dare he comes into my house and starts jugging Peeta for things he did in the past.
"I just have two more things to say." He turns to Peeta and whispers something to him so I can't hear, but whatever it is makes Peeta really mad. He then turns back to me. To my surprise he talks to Ashleigh. "Ashleigh just remember that your father tried to kill your mother, always watch your back around him, you don't know when he will turn on you." Why would he tell my daughter that? I'm about to yell at Gale and to tell him for the third time to get out of my house when Peeta's fist connects with his jaw. Gale stumbles back.
"See Katniss I told you he was dangerous." Gale points out while rubbing his jaw.
"Peeta isn't the bad one here Gale, it's you. Why would you even say that to my daughter? Now get out of my house."
"Are you serious? After what he just did? You know what forget it. I'm going to make you two pay for your mistakes." He points at Peeta. "I will make you pay for putting Katniss at risk and punching me." He then turns to Katniss. "I will make you pay for the stupid mistake you made, you should of picked me I would have protected you. Not like that pig." My hands moving before I can react. I slap Gale in the face leaving my hand print. "Now you will really pay." He looks down at my daughter. "I'm going to use her to get my revenge." Then Gale turns around and storms out of the house leaving Peeta and me trying to work out what just happened. Peeta comes up to me and takes Ashleigh, he whispers something into her ear and she leaves the room. Peeta turns to me.
"Are you alright?" I slowly nod my head and Peeta hugs me. I stay in his embrace for a while but not long; because I know something's not right.
"Peeta I don't think Gale meant anything that he said, well not all of it." Peeta looks at me.
"What do you mean?" He squints his eyes trying to figure out what I just said. I sigh.
"I mean Gale would never act or say most of those things. Even if he was Jealous. It's just, to out of character for him." Peeta finally gets it and considers it for a moment.
"Maybe we shouldn't worry about it for the moment. We have enough to worry about for now." I know what he is talking about instantly. I'm due to have my next child in 8 months. Peetas right, even though I'm not convinced that Gale was acting like himself. I have enough to worry about.