Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Game Characters. Warnings: Slash, PeetaXGale, Character-Death, Spoilers for the Movie/Book Notes: Thank you all so much for reviewing! You are so amazing thank you I really super appreciate all your kind and sweet words! :)

And a long month it was.

Not only were the repairs on the house difficult, with the harsh winter swiftly approaching, Peeta and Gale both soon realize that there was no place large enough in District Twelve to hold all the people that were invited to the wedding. Given the destruction of the district before the war, only homes and some stores were rebuilt. But this would be the first wedding in District Twelve since before the war, and everyone wanted to join in on the festivities.

"If we can't find a place...let's just build one." Peeta said one evening when they were going over the plans. Gale gaped at him with an opened mouth at his suggestion, but Peeta just smiled that sweet summer smile of his and said, "Don't worry. Let me take care of it."

And take care of it he did. Katniss had always told Gale that Peeta was good with his words. He had a way of making people feel different, better or more respected when he spoke. So, somehow, he worked his magic and a week later Peeta dragged a reluctant Gale at dawn to the ashen filled wasteland of the old Hob.

Expecting to see the burnt out mass where he used to do his trading, Gale nearly toppled over when he saw most of the men, and a good amount of women of this district, clearing out the destruction from the old building...and getting ready to build a new one.

It took them almost a week, but without stopping the citizens finally had a new trading center...complete with a beautiful open hall to be used for meetings, congregations...and weddings.

"We'll call it...Newhob." Said an elderly woman with wet and tired eyes as everyone sat around the out door bonfire one evening. As they shared food and drink a yard away from the skeletal construction during their brake, no one dared to disagree. So, on the night before the first snow fall, Newhob had finally been born.

Since money and supplies were scarce, Peeta and Hazelle went to work hand making many of the decorations. With Hazelle's careful instructions she soon got Katniss, Posy and a few other girls from the village to work on making paper garlands and flowers for the wedding hall. Katniss had the most difficulty, since she was never one to be good at, or even enjoy, such activities. Eventually Gale had to drag Katniss outside with him, having her hold things while he worked on securing the mansions foundation. Apparently she had been eying the scissors with a bit too much excitement and Hazelle was getting a bit worried.

Gale couldn't blame her.

And Gale couldn't believe it, but soon it was the arrival of the bride and groom. He went down to the train station early with his mother, curious to see who his brother chosen as his bride.

When the train finally came to a stop, within moments Rory came jumping out of the cab, throwing himself around his mothers arms. Though Hazelle was ever a strong woman, her eyes grew damp when she had her son in her arms again.

Gale looked up from their happy reunion to see a young woman poke her head out of the cab door, yelling out, "Rory! Get your butt back in here and help me with these bags! I'm not your maid!"

Laughing, his young brother turned on his heels and called out, "Coming!" He turned back to his family and said sarcastically, "My blushing bride." Then dashed back into the cab. Soon he returned, carrying two large suitcases and following him a tall blond haired woman with bright green eyes. She wore black slacks and a light sweater, and walked over to Hazelle and Gale with a hand outstretched. "I'm Ginna. Pleased to meet you."

As Rory dragged the bags over to them, she ignored her fiance to smile and ask, "Where's the forest?"

"She seriously cried?" Peeta asked as he finished tying the bow to Gales outfit. The former victor still had a closet full of suits and tuxedos from his victor tour, and without hesitation offered them to Gales family.

Gale was still flabbergasted by how giving Peeta was...and knew it was making him fall for the blue eyed boy even more.

Nodding, Gale sighed gently as he wished for the thousandth time that day that he could hold the boy. "When Rory and I took her to the forest she insisted on going in. It only took about five minutes."

Shaking his head, Peeta finally let go, muttering, "I think that's how Flavia did it." Looking up into Gales deep gray eyes, he asked, "Why?"

Shifting, Gale suddenly realized with some discomfort that the answer might upset Peeta, "She had a cousin...who died in a forest."

But Peeta caught on quick, "It was in the games...wasn't it?"

Gale reluctantly nodded. "That's why she wanted to have it here...in this district. She wanted to be as close to him as possible." He paused to turn and regard himself in the mirror, "I guess they were close."

Silence stretched before them. They were currently in one of the guest rooms in Peeta's home, the wedding an hour away. Gale was the best man, and his brother Rory was already at Newhob making sure everything was ready. The entire Hawthorn clan, as well as Peeta and Katniss, had spent a good amount of last week setting up the wedding, and had invited the entire district, as well as many of Ginna's family from District Four, to come. Not only were they having the wedding...they were planning a commencement ceremony for Newhob as well.

Trying to change the subject, Gale turned back to Peeta, "So, I guess I have to give some kind of speech...as the best man."

Smiling, Peeta clasped Gale on the back, "I'm sure you'll think of something. Just...say something nice about the bride...then make a joke. Say...the bread they exchanged is actually spiked with these special grains that increases fertility." He smiled even wider, "You can blame that on me."

Laughing, Gale shook his head. He couldn't believe how much had changed between Peeta and he since coming back to District 12. A large part of him wished he had gotten to know Peeta a long time ago. The boy was funny and smart, and so caring. He gave so much of himself and never expected anything else in return.

But that thought also made Gale worried. He fretted over what was going to happen to Peeta after he went back to District Two. Peeta took care of Katniss...but who took care of Peeta? Sure Gale had gotten him to eat more, and Haymitch would be taking care of the house. But Gale knew that Peeta didn't sleep most nights, and he constantly worried about Katniss. He was alone in the world, and didn't have anyone to rely on besides himself.

But Peetas voice broke him out of his worries, "C'mon. It's about to begin." He reached up and clasped Gale on the shoulder, "You ready?"

Was he? Gale thought about Peeta. He looked into those blue eyes he found himself dreaming about at night and answered, "I'm not sure."

But Peeta laughed, "To bad. Let's go."

The ceremony was beautiful, and well worth the effort everyone put into it. All the guests agreed that there was no better way to mark the commencement of a new building that belonged to the people than by blessing it with a wedding.

Hazelle cried, Posy cried...Katniss scowled. Gale stuttered and joked through his best man speech but when he locked eyes with Peeta who was silently encouraging him from across the room, he was able to finish with a sincere, "You are so blessed to have found this amazing love. Never let anything tear it away from you. Always find the strength to keep it alive, and never let it go."

They cheered. They sang. They danced.

And they absolutely loved the cake.

Ginna broke down into sobs when the cake rolled out into the giant hall. Everyone had been expecting another ocean theme, since Ginna was from District Four, but instead Peeta had gone in a different direction.

The cake was bright white, but it had been decorated with blue and white swirls and snowflakes that glittered in the light. When it moved, it looked like a snowstorm blowing around the cake.

Everyone congratulated Peeta on another amazing job. He blushed and muttered his thank yous, happy to have made his special contribution to the wedding.

Gale walked over to Peeta after the last person said their congratulations, giving the smaller boy a hug. He pulled him close and said over the ruckus in the hall, "Thank you so much. This was the best gift anyone could give them."

Peeta flushed and shook his head, then noticed something behind Gale and frowned. Gale turned and locked eyes with Katniss, wearing a soft green dress, who was sitting at a table next to Haymitch, staring at them.

She had been doing that a lot lately. Both boys had noticed, and neither had spoken about it to the other. Whenever they were together and Katniss was there, her eyes immediately locked onto them, and stared with some trace of acknowledgment that neither boy could understand.

Peeta stepped away from Gale, almost guilty, and turned back to the hunter, "I'm just going to get a drink." Then he disappeared into the crowd.

Gale watched Peeta go. He sighed and turned back to Katniss, that old sadness welling up inside him when he looked at her. No matter how many times he tried to get through to her, nothing seemed to work. She was reverting further and further into herself, and wanted nothing more to do with the outside world. Gale knew they were loosing her, and couldn't figure out how to possibly bring her back.

It seemed everyone had tried to help her. Hazelle and Haymitch. Even though Peeta had tried himself, Gale contacted Katniss's mother and tried to get her to come back, but she refused. It was too hard for her, she had explained. Prim was gone, and as far as she knew, Katniss was gone to.

Gale turned back to the direction Peeta went, and threw himself into the crowd. It took him a few minutes, but eventually he found Peeta near the refreshments table, nervously talking to Gale's mother. Gale only need to take a moment to realize his mother had way to much to drink, and needed to save Peeta fast as the woman started giving Peeta motherly kisses on his cheeks.

He looked around and saw his sister talking to a couple of boys from her class. The school house had been rebuilt soon after people returned to District Twelve, and was the largest building before Newhob. He dashed forward and grabbed her arm. "Posey." He exclaimed and dragged her towards him.

"What's up?" She answered, looking wonderful in her blue dress and curls.

"Mom's had to much to drink. Would you mind bringing her back to the table? And keep an eye on Katniss?"

She nodded, "Sure. I was getting bored anyways. All the boys in my class are stupid."

Pride for his little sister welled up inside him, and he rubbed her head affectionately."Good girl."

He watched her skip over to her mother and grab her arm, saying something to convince her to walk away. Peeta seemed relieved when she left, and then jumped up when Gale suddenly appeared in front of him.

"Oh hey-" Peeta began, but stopped when Gale suddenly took his hand.

"Would you care to dance?" Gale asked him with a handsome smile.

Peeta choked a bit, stuttering as he answered, "W-what? Y-y-you want to dance with me?"

Nodding, Gale tugged Peeta over to the open space that had been left for dancing. Many of the guests were dancing in a circle with their arms linked, and Gale quickly brought the two of them over to join the group. It took a while for Peeta to get the hang of it, but before they knew it they were twirling and dancing with the rest of the group. They clapped their hands, jumped and sang the song with everyone else, keeping close to each other and laughing when they messed up a move.

At one point Peeta slipped and almost fell, but Gale held out his arms to catch the boy. With a grunt, Peeta's face connected with Gales strong chest, and he felt Gales even stronger arms wrap around him to keep him up right.

Looking up at Gale, the two of them stared into each others eyes for a moment...then they both burst out laughing.

"I guess my lead feet follows me on the dance floor." Peeta chuckled.

Gale lifted him up so that Peeta was upright again. When their chuckling died down, they looked into each others eyes.

"Thanks for catching me." Peeta said.

Gale shrugged, "I'll always catch you."

Blushing, Peeta reached up and scratched the back of his head, nervous and giddy. "I think I had to much wine."

Barking out a laugh Gale wrapped an arm around Peeta's shoulders and said, "Then how about we get some more so I can catch up."

Peeta laughed as well and followed him off the dance floor.

Reviews are always loved and appreciated!