Dating Diana was stressful initially. He watched her closely and mentally listed every way that she was like and unlike Peeta Mellark. Was it creepy that he found something attractive about her if it also reminded him of Peeta? Was this whole relationship a weird parallel to his Katniss angst? He was driving himself crazy. He wasn't sure what he wanted or why he was doing this. But something kept him coming back. Diana was special in a way that had nothing to do with anyone but her own sweet self. And because of that being with her was different to any anything else he had ever had.

Every relationship Gale had ever been in consisted of fighting, making up, and inevitably the biggest fight of all culminating in the break up. He could almost write the script in advance. It was just how relationships worked. As the years past it became more tiring that exciting, to the point where he rarely bothered anymore.

It didn't go like that with Diana. It wasn't that they agreed on everything. Actually it felt like she disagreed with everything. But somehow she managed to do it without the screaming and without making him feel attacked. She just calmly presented an alternate opinion. At first he was paranoid that she was pulling some head doctor thing and manipulating him, but after a while he saw that it was just respect. She treated him with respect and expected the same in return.

Gale realised there hadn't been a lot of respect in his previous relationships. There hadn't been a lot of respect in his relationship with Katniss. It was a little embarrassing to look back on how he had acted. He had been so angry and trying so hard to hold on to her that he hadn't really cared about what she wanted.

Gale had thought he had put Katniss behind him years ago, when he accepted that it was never going to be. But it had been lurking in the back of his mind all this time. All along he had felt, deep down, that if things had been different, if Peeta Mellark had died in the games like he was supposed to, or if Katniss had just seen things more clearly, or if he never designed that trap bomb (oh that was one he revisted often) or if, if, if, then he and Katniss would be together and it would have been great between them right now.

But it wouldn't have been. It would have been just like every other bad relationship he'd ever had. Fights and then breaking up. Or even worse, because it was Katniss, and because of their history maybe they would just stay miserably together and keep fighting.

Gale kept very quiet about his past in 12. Most people didn't even know that he had personally known Katniss before the rebellion, and he liked it that way. He had no desire to feed the disturbing fascination with her that so many people still had. And he certainly didn't want to be forced to relive his own actions during the war.

So Diana was surprised when he finally got up the courage to tell her everything he had been thinking about himself, relationships, and Katniss. He wasn't sure what he had been expecting from her in response. Annoyance that he had been using her to work out his relationship issues perhaps? Jealousy that he had carried a torch for so long? He hadn't expected her to laugh at him.

He felt insulted.

Then she kissed him.

That was a bit better.

'I want to meet them.' Gale goggled a bit. He would never have pegged Diana as a Everlark groupie. 'I think you need the closure and I'm curious about these people who have apparently dominated your love life.' She clarified. Wow when you put it that way Gale sounded like the biggest groupie of all. How pathetic.

He had reluctantly agreed and now he was making the most awkward phone call ever. Nothing he rehearsed in his head sounded right,

'Hi Katniss, I know it's been ten years, but want to hang out next weekend?'

'Hey, I just want to tell you I'm finally over the creepy obsession with you. Can I see you soon?'

Yeah great.

Of course it went nothing like he planned.

'Hello?' Crap it was Peeta. Why hadn't he thought about him answering?

'Uh hi. Um I'm not sure if you remember me, this is Gale Hawthorne...'

'I know who you are Gale.' Silence. 'We haven't heard from you in a long time.' More silence. Gale couldn't seem to think of what to say. 'Is there a reason you called?' Peeta sighs heavily. 'I assume you called to talk to Katniss. I'll get her.'

Wow great job so far. Peeta probably thinks he's drunk. It's amazing that he's even willing to let Gale talk to Katniss. But then again he never has tried to stop her from seeing her old friend. Another reason why he hated the guy. Did he have be so gracious all the time?

'Hello? Gale is everything okay, the kids, and your mother...' Now his odd behaviour has made her think someone is dead. Could this get any worse?

'Hey Katniss. Everyone is fine. I just, um, I just wanted to know if I could come and see you guys soon.'

'Why? It's not, you're not trying to start something again are you?' Instant suspicion. It actually makes Gale smile a little.

'No! The opposite actually. I just, I've met someone, and I well I'm bringing her to see 12, and I wondered if we could see you too. Maybe take you and Peeta to dinner or something?' Gale was rather proud of that actually. Making it seem like the trip wasn't just to see her, and that he was totally cool with hanging out with Peeta Mellark.

The silence was long, and he was starting to wonder if she had just put the phone down and walked away.

'Okay. When will you be here?'

Dinner is awkward. Of course Peeta Mellark the showoff insisted on cooking dinner for them instead of allowing Gale to take them to a restaurant, well 'the restaurant' since there is still only one in 12. Gale feels like he's been one upped before he even sets foot in the house. To make it worse Peeta seems to feel no such thing.

After attempting to reminisce about their childhood but mostly tiptoeing around sensitive topics Gale and Katniss can't seem to find anything to say to each other.

Peeta and Diana don't seem to feel any tension, and take to each other like they are the old friends. They start by discussing Peeta's artwork, which is everywhere in the house, and move to Diana's work and finally land on cake decorating when Peeta serves dessert. They seem so natural and comfortable together, and find so many areas of overlapping interest they almost forget that other people are at the table with them.

Finally Peeta turns to Gale with a grin. 'Where did you get this woman? It's like I've found my long lost sister!' The comment makes Gale self conscious and he slouches down in his seat a little, glancing at Katniss out of the corner of his eye.

He sees a giant 'oh' of understanding form on her lips and then she starts laughing.

When Gale reddens and hunches more she laughs even harder. 'You finally listened didn't you, you stubborn old pig.' The others look confused so Katniss elaborates. 'Years ago I told him he needed to find a woman like Peeta, and it only took him ten years to listen.' The identical astonished looks that Peeta and Diana give each other are what set Gale off too. They laugh hysterically together and it finally feels like he's home again.

When they finally wind down Diana speaks up.

'Since the whole subject seems to be on the table, I do have one burning question.' She looks from Gale to Katniss and back to Gale again. 'What on earth made you two think that you could ever work as a couple?'

Peeta leans forward. 'I can answer that.' He smirks at Gale before turning to Diana. 'This probably comes as no surprise to you, since you are dating the man, but Gale Hawthorne is an idiot.'