A/N: Thank you soooo much to everyone who reviewed the first chapter! I appreciate your support, and it really motivated me to get this chapter done! I would especially like to thank the guest reviewer who told me to go die in a hole. Your fierce hate of my Galeniss honestly made my day ;)

The updates for this story might come a little slow because I have nothing prewritten, but I would like to post a new chapter every week. I will definitely try my best to meet that goal, and I'd love for all of you to stick with me!


2. Welcome Back Home

Katniss hangs up the phone, and a little grin appears on her face. She's about to head back to bed for the time being, but Peeta comes into the kitchen, sleepily rubbing his eyes.

"Who was on the phone?" he asks, blinking at the early morning light streaming into the kitchen.

Katniss pauses for a second, twirling the phone cord around her finger. "Gale," she replies slowly. Despite the fact that she's unsure of Peeta's standing on her relationship with Gale, she can't keep the small smile off her face.

Peeta stops but recovers almost immediately. "Oh?" he says, and Katniss can't figure out what tone he's using. "Was it in response to your letter?"

Katniss nods. "Yeah. He's coming to District Twelve..." She drums her fingers on the counter. "I told him he could stay with us."

"Of course," Peeta says.

He glances up at Katniss, but she can't seem to meet his eyes. She chews on her lower lip as though thinking deeply about something and opens her mouth to ask him a question, but he's already anticipating it.

"Katniss, I'm happy that you and Gale are getting along again," Peeta says, covering her hands with his. "I don't want you to think that I'm... jealous or anything."

Her eyes flash with concern. "Oh, Peeta, I—"

"No, Katniss, it's really fine," he insists. "I'm happy for you."

Katniss searches his face for any hidden emotions, and, when she finds none, she throws her arms around his neck. After a second or two, she kisses his cheek and pulls back with her hands on his shoulders.

"Gale will be here at two," Katniss says. "I'm going to the station later to meet him."

"Sounds good," Peeta replies.

Katniss smiles and bobs out of the room, probably to go change. It only takes him a second or two to realize that this is the happiest he's seen her in a long time.


Gale can feel Paylor's frustration through the phone.

"I haven't taken personal time since I started working for you," he points out, wincing as he hears her heave a deep sigh.

There's a pause. "How long will you be gone?"

"Not long," Gale says. "A couple days. Three or four."

Paylor practically growls. "You're going to abandon us when we most need you? We just started that new project with District Four, and you're leaving now?"

"I'm sorry it's a bad time," Gale says in a hard voice. "I have something important to take care of."

"How come your family is suddenly important to you again?"

Her words sting, and Gale flinches. He's glad she's far away on the other end of a phone call, rather than face to face. "I'm not visiting my family," he says. "The Mockingjay asked me to come to District Twelve."

"The Mockingjay? The girl who was on trial for murder not too long ago?"

Gale sighs. "Yeah, that one. And it's thanks to her that you're president."

There's a long pause of deliberation on the other end of the phone. "Fine, you can go, but just know I'm not happy about this."

Sweet relief. "Thank you, Paylor," Gale says. He tries not to sound too happy.

"You're lucky I'm not firing you."

"I know."

The line goes dead, and Gale's left to ponder if visiting Katniss is worth that last threat. It doesn't take long to decide that it is.


Several Hours Later...

Gale watches as the train station of District 12 rolls closer and closer out the window of his compartment. The old forest looks exactly as it used to as it rushes by in a colorful blur. In fact, Gale is struck by how remarkably similar the new district is to the old one. If he shuts his eyes, he can almost transport himself back to the time when everything seemed a little bit simpler. When he and Katniss were always on speaking terms.

As the train pulls into the station and slows to a stop, Gale unfolds the letter that he has closed in his fist for about millionth time since receiving it last night. He rereads Katniss's words again, especially the "love always", and then folds it back up. They can get back to that unconditional relationship. With time, they'll get back to that.

Slowly, he gathers his things, and he tries to imagine what's waiting for him on the platform. Katniss said she'd be there, but is she waiting excitedly or awkwardly? On the phone, she sounded excited, but what if seeing him face to face is too much?

Gale shakes his head. He needs to stop doubting and start believing. If he ever wants Katniss to fully trust him again, he needs to stop acting uncertain and trust her completely. That's how they used to be, and he'd do anything to have that relationship back. It was uncomplicated and easy, and, in this new world, that seems really refreshing.

Gale steps unto the platform and is immediately sucked into a blur of travelers. He is filled with a strange desire to find Katniss as quickly as possible, but he restrains himself. Two letters and a phone call can't solve everything. It can solve some things but not everything.

He doesn't have to look long. All in a second, Gale finds himself standing directly in front of the woman he's wanted to see for a good three years. The whole internal conflict he had on the train about how Katniss was feeling seems pointless now as a giant smile appears on her face the second their eyes connect. He feels himself smile too, and it occurs to him that even though several years have separated them, he still thinks she's the most beautiful girl in the world.

Before Gale can even think, they both take a step towards each other, and Katniss's arms find their way around his neck. Without meaning to, he lifts her straight off her feet, eliciting a distantly familiar laugh from Katniss's lips.

Katniss holds onto Gale desperately, not wanting to let go too fast. She had forgotten what it was like be hugged by someone so much taller and stronger than her. She had forgotten what it was like to be lifted off your feet and to want to disappear into someone's strong and steadfast arms.

When her feet touch the ground again, there's a lull between them as Katniss takes a moment to memorize the differences in Gale's appearance. He appears older obviously, but he's no less handsome. Katniss is amazed at how his charming, endearing smile and thunderhead gray eyes still remain exactly the same as they were three years ago when she saw him last.

"Hey," Gale says lamely, breaking the silence. He smiles somewhat hesitantly, like he's unsure of how to proceed in the conversation.

Katniss feels a giddy laugh bubble up on her lips. "Gale, it's so good to finally see you," she says. The words seem to tumble out easily like they used to, and she can feel the layers of awkwardness between them wearing away, piece by piece.

Gale's smile intensifies as he searches her face, memorizing the differences in her appearance. She hopes he can find parts of his old best friend, too.

"It's been too long," he says. There's a tiny amount of guilt when he says that, like he still hasn't forgiven himself for all the terrors of the past. "Way too long."

Katniss can't figure out how to answer his remorse, so she blurts, "I've missed you so badly, Gale," she says, staring into his eyes.

"Me, too," he replies.

There's a pause as Katniss works up the courage to say, "I want it to be as though we never said goodbye. Do you think we can do that?"

Another fresh smile cracks through Gale's guilt. "I think we can manage it."

He refrains from adding that nothing would make him feel more complete.


As they walk through the new district, Gale finds himself wholly distracted by everything around him. The last time he was in Twelve, it was nothing but burnt piles of ash with the occasional broken down structure still clinging to life. Those bad memories are now replaced by normal little houses and newly planted trees. The happiness heals the old wounds and introduces a new sort of life for this down-trodden district.

"They've done a good job out here," Gale says, looking around at everything.

Katniss smiles and tucks her hands in her pockets. "Yeah, they have. Even though we still live in the Victor's Village, we make an effort to get out in the new district."

Gale takes in a slow breath. "We?"

"Peeta and I," she replies. Katniss finds herself unable to meet Gale's eyes.

"Oh," Gale says, and there's a small barrier between them again. He pauses before adding, "Do you two… live together?"

In that fraction of a second before she starts talking, Gale tries to prepare himself to get his heart broken again. He waits for her to say something about marriage— something to shatter him all up inside. He waits for her to make him wish he hadn't gotten his hopes up.

Katniss watches something about Gale deflate, and she answers immediately. "We do live together, but we aren't married or anything. We just stay together to help each other, you know?"

"That's nice." He wants to say convenient, but he doesn't.

Katniss feels that small mass of frustration and confusion ball up in the back of her throat, and she recognizes it well. It's that old fight between Gale and Peeta rising up again. She can already feel Gale putting up the wall, guarding himself against both of them.

She looks up at him, but he doesn't meet her gaze. "Please don't do this again," she almost pleads. "I don't want you to feel guarded around Peeta…" She swallows back her hesitance. "Gale, I've known you longer than I've known him, and I care deeply about you. Don't leave me without that again."

Gale softens, but he's not sure if he can destroy the walls completely— even for Katniss's sake. "I won't," he replies.

"Good," she says. She looks relatively pleased again.

He wishes he had the courage to tell Katniss that he still loves her.


As they approach the house, Gale's sense of dread increases. He can feel Katniss growing slightly nervous as well, which doesn't help. They both falter in front of the door, and Gale sets his jaw like he's about to go to war.

Just the thought of Katniss and Peeta living together sends waves of rage and pain through him. Despite the fact that he still has no idea where Katniss actually stands on her relationship with Peeta, Gale's mind instantly jumps to the worst. Even though he's standing in front of a blue door, all he can see are images of Peeta's lips all over Katniss. A single, imagined touch makes Gale want to scream.

The worst part is, it's not even his place to feel that way. He shouldn't have an opinion. As far as he knows, he's still the friend. He has no right to tear Peeta to pieces for looking at Katniss too long. In fact, it's Peeta who has the right to do the protecting. Gale shouldn't desire to kiss Katniss. He shouldn't feel like he needs to be her armor. He shouldn't still be in love with her.

Besides, he's been away for far too long, and he knows far too little.

Gale becomes suddenly aware that Katniss is watching him intently, and he finds the need to cover up his tracks. "It still looks the same as it did," he says slowly.

"We haven't changed it," Katniss says. Her hand closes around the doorknob and twists it.

Gale hardens his exterior, feeling a wave of unnecessary jealousy wash over him. He shouldn't do this— he shouldn't hate Peeta for doing the exact same thing that he himself is doing. They both love Katniss. It's just that Gale feels a need to prove himself, though it pointless.

He steps into the house just behind Katniss, and it's still incredibly similar to before the war inside as well. Not much has changed.

He is hit hard by the fact that it may not just be true of the house decorations. It may be about them as well.

"Peeta, I have Gale," Katniss shouts into the house. Her voice comes out as easy-going, but Gale can see the slight panic in her eyes.

If only he could appease her panic by being cordial. That's a long shot, though.

Peeta Mellark appears around the corner at the opposite end the hallway. Just like the rest of the district, he seems remarkably unchanged from the baker who used to live in Twelve. If Gale didn't know about his hijacking, he could think that this man hasn't changed a bit, but, of course, Gale knows everything about the abuse the Capitol did to him, so it's a miracle that Peeta appears normal.

And that just makes Gale even more jealous. How can he stand up next to that?

"Hello, Gale," Peeta says genuinely, a smile appearing on his face. He sticks out a hand. "It's been quite a long time since I saw you last."

Gale shakes Peeta's extended hand, and it just seems outwardly awkward. "It has," he replies almost indifferently. "It's good to be back." And that's got nothing to do with you.

There's a long, drawn out pause.

Peeta clears his throat and searches for a conversation topic. "Your letter meant a lot to Katniss, you know," he says.

Katniss's gaze jumps up to Gale. "It did," she says seriously. Her eyes are truthful, and it's almost like she's silently telling him to let his guard down a bit.

"Her letter meant a lot to me as well," Gale comments. He keeps his gaze on Katniss, unwilling to be the coward. "More than I could ever let her know."

Something changes in Katniss's eye for a moment— an emotion stirs deep within them. A tiny smile stirs on her face. It's a smile reserved for Gale alone, never Peeta.

Peeta must feel awkward for that flicker of a second because he clears his throat. Katniss snaps back to normal at the sound and blinks at him.

"Why don't you take Gale upstairs, Katniss?" Peeta suggests kindly.

"Right, of course," Katniss says quickly. She walks to the stairs, glancing over her shoulder at Gale. "If you'll follow me upstairs."


Katniss leaves Gale alone in the guest bedroom of her house for a couple minutes to sort himself out. He takes a moment to check his phone, and he already has at least ten messages, but he honestly could not be bothered to listen to them.

He just sits down on the bed and reaches into his pocket for the letter from Katniss. He was telling the truth when he said how much it meant to him. If only he could find words to tell Katniss what it felt like for her to tell him that she forgave him and that he mattered to her. That feeling was indescribable.

A knock at the door startles Gale out of his haze.

He stuffs the letter back into his pocket and answers. "Yeah?"

Katniss sticks her head into the room. "I was thinking about going hunting. Would you go with me?"

A smile appears on Gale's face the second hunting is mentioned. He hadn't realized how much he missed hunting with Katniss until his precise moment. "Definitely," he replies.

Katniss grins. "Meet me downstairs in a bit, okay?"

Gale nods. Hunting, he can handle.