Disclaimer: possible triggers (abuse)

they say home is where your heart is set in stone
is where you go when you're alone
is where you go to rest your bones

Gale creeps into his home as quietly as he can having told his parents not to tell the kids he was coming home this weekend and wanting to surprise them. He can hear someone in the kitchen putting dishes away, probably Vick considering that's his chore, and the distant hum of a television where high pitched voices fill the room. He kicks his shoes off at the door (his mother would kill him if he brought in dirt) and slides into the living room on his socks, trying not to get the fabric caught in the mangled hardwood.

As expected, Posy is staring mindlessly at the television. Her eyes are wide as Dora the Explorer says again and again Swiper, no swiping! Posy's already bilingual considering their mother speaks Spanish in the home quite frequently, but Posy still acts as though Dora is really teaching her something big. Gale grins, bending down and covering her eyes with his hands.

"Guess who," he murmurs, lowering his voice as much as he can.

"Daddy," Posy giggles.

"Incorrecto," he shakes his head. Wrong.

Posy pushes his hands away quickly and spins around, her eyes widening and her mouth dropping when she spots him. "Gale!" she cheers. She launches herself at him and he scoops her into his arms, pulling her close. "I missed you!" She hugs him tightly and dramatically, as any five year old would. He spins and she pulls away. "Where have you been?"

"I've been at school," Gale reminds her. He tightens his hold on her and starts for the kitchen, ready to greet the rest of his family.

"I go to school every day and come back at night," she says pointedly. "Why don't you?"

"Because the school I go to is far away." In the kitchen, as expected, Vick is struggling to get the plates on their highest shelf. "Lemme get that," Gale says, placing Posy on the ground and grabbing the plates from Vick's hands. "You get the silverware."

"Gale!" Vick laughs and quickly scoops up the silverware. "I didn't know you were coming!" Gale sets the dishes on the top shelf and winces at the loud noise of clanging plates while Vick throws the silverware into their drawer. Once they're both done Vick slides on his socks, throwing himself at Gale like Posy had into a tight hug.

"Hey kid," Gale smiles, ruffling up his hair. "Where's Rory?"

"He's helping decorate at the high school," Vick answers. Posy clambers into a seat at the kitchen table and Gale lowers himself into one, too. "The homecoming dance is tomorrow and he's taking Prim." Gale wants to grumble, considering they're in 9th grade so they're not really coming home like upperclassmen would be, but he's happy that Rory has a date. Maybe even a little happier that it's Primrose Everdeen. "Will Katniss be here?"

"I don't think she's coming home this weekend," Gale shakes his head. Katniss lives a few streets away, but he's pretty sure she and Peeta will be somewhere by the ocean for his birthday. The beach is only about an hour and a half from school to the east, people make the drive all the time. It's going to be a little bit more special for the two of them this weekend, however. "Did Prim tell her about the dance?"

"I dunno?" Vick shrugs. He drops into the chair beside Gale. "But we can take pictures and tease Rory. That'll be great."

Gale grins, "That will be great."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Katniss mutters into the phone. She's spread out on a bed staring at the ceiling while Peeta checks out the hotel room. It's not that big but he really likes the view from the balcony. "I would've come!"

"I'm going to go to so many more dances, Katniss," Prim says on the other end. Gale texted Katniss when he found out about homecoming. "And you could only be here for pictures, which Mom has covered. It's not like you could help with my hair or follow me to the dance."

Katniss groans and rubs her forehead. That isn't the point. Katniss was never a big school-dance person (she went to Prom because Gale asked, and she only went his year not her own) but Prim is into all of those fancy dress-up things and Katniss wants to be there to support her.

"Let me know next time, okay?"

"Got it," Prim laughs. There's someone talking in the background. "Be quiet!" Prim scolds them.

A smile blooms on Katniss's face. "Is that Rory?"

"Got to go, Katniss," Prim hums.

"Tell him I say hi," Katniss laughs. "I love you, patito! Have fun, okay?"

"Okay. I love you too!"

Prim hangs up and Katniss sighs, throwing her phone down and turning on her side to look at Peeta who's still out on the balcony. She takes a deep breath and pushes herself off of the bed, taking large strides until she reaches the sliding glass door. She peeks out the door and Peeta turns his head, flashing a smile in her direction.

"How's Prim?"

"She's fine," Katniss smiles, sliding out to join him. He stretches his arms out and motions for her to join him and her smile widens as she walks out to his side. Peeta pulls her close and she slides her arm around his back as they stare out at the ocean. "Like the view?"

"Love it," he murmurs. "Love you." Katniss blushes and turns, slightly burying her face into his chest. "You didn't have to do this all for me. We could've stayed at school and locked ourselves into your room and I still would've loved it."

"You deserved something special," she answers quietly. The hotel room is a little pricey, considering it has an ocean view and it's a weekend, but because it's the offseason Katniss managed to get a pretty good deal.

He turns and presses his lips to the top of her head. "Can I at least pay for dinner?" Peeta asks. "It doesn't feel right having you spend so much on me." Katniss pulls back a little and is met with his puppy dog eyes before she sighs. "It's a fair deal."

"Fine."

"Good," he grins. Peeta casts his gaze back out over the ocean and Katniss looks as well. "My mom texted," he tells her. Katniss tenses unwillingly and it's Peeta's turn to sigh. "She didn't even bother with a phone call." She nuzzles closer to him and his arms tighten. "Dad called, though."

"Peeta," Katniss murmurs. His grip on her is tight, as though he's scared if he lets her go she'll disappear.

He only told her about his mother recently, a few weeks ago when she was drunk and he didn't think she'd remember. She'd smack me when I spoke out of turn, Peeta said. When I didn't listen I'd get beat. I didn't know it was wrong until I got older. One of my cousins saw a bruise on my back. I made him swear not to tell anyone and he said something like, 'why, is someone hitting you?' like it was a joke. He told me everything. He'd wanted to tell her for a long time but was scared, it's not something you open a conversation with. "Hi, my name is Peeta Mellark and my mother abuses me." It doesn't happen as often anymore, Peeta had told her. Mostly because I don't go home, but because I don't take it. I won't accept that kind of treatment anymore.

"He's leaving her," Peeta says softly, his voice void of emotion. "He'd been talking about it for a while but he's really doing it now that he knows what she did." His head shakes side to side. "Happy birthday, right?" Peeta sighs. "Sorry. I shouldn't—"

"If you want to talk about it," Katniss stops him, "then you know I'll listen." She had remembered that morning what he told her while she was out of it and it took her a while to confront him. His eyes widened in panic as she brought up what he'd said but Katniss held his hands and promised she wasn't going anywhere because of it. It had scared her at first, her family was loving and she never understood what an abusive household was like. You should tell someone, Katniss had urged, but Peeta refused.

He and his two brothers had endured it since they were children. While Peeta turned inwards and kept his feelings inside, Taftan took a different approach to how he dealt with women. Peeta still looked for the best in people, knowing not all women were like his mother, while Taftan projected his anger onto others and is still learning how to deal with what happened to them. Their father didn't know about it for a long time, and in light of the discovery immediately confronted his wife. It'd blown up into a big scandal in his hometown and made his stomach uneasy thinking about it. Peeta'd rather have it so no one ever knew.

"I'm glad he's leaving her," Peeta finally said. "We should've told him when we were little."

"You were scared," Katniss whispers. "You had every right to be."

He nods slowly and once again tightens his hold on her. "Sorry," he murmurs. "Sorry. We don't—we shouldn't—" Katniss reaches around and finds his hand, squeezing tightly. "That's not why we're here."

"You're right," she says, "we're here to celebrate you." She looks up at him and finds his blue eyes wide and wet. "Let's go to the beach before the sun sets," Katniss says softly. "Take a walk."

"I'd like that," Peeta nods, his lips turning upwards.

Madge is currently curled up in bed with her mom watching some old romcom they used to watch when Madge was in high school and hasn't felt this content in weeks. Her mother's fingers play with the tips of Madge's hair and Madge wonders if her mother misses her own hair – she must. She lost it during treatment. Her head is covered with a pink head wrap.

"You feeling okay?" Madge asks quietly. She looks up and finds her mother frowning at her. "Sorry."

"Quit asking how I feel, Sweetheart, it hasn't changed since the past 20 times you asked." Madge dips her head and her mother readjusts her arms so she's holding Madge closely. "I feel wonderful. I'm so happy you're here." Madge smiles and lets out the breath she'd been holding in, snuggling closer. "It's great that you came to visit."

"So much laundry…" Madge says. It's true she had a huge amount of laundry but mostly she just wanted to see her mom. "I should come home more often."

"What, so we can sit in a dark room together when you could be out with that boy instead? Absolutely not." Madge feels her face redden as her mother continues to twirl her fingers through her hair. "What was his name again?"

"Gale," she answers. "Hawthorne."

"Margaret Hawthorne," her mother hums. "Has a nice ring to it."

"Mom," Madge laughs, shaking her head. "We're not even dating."

"Yet."

"Ugh," Madge groans but can't wipe the smile from her face. Mrs. Undersee smiles and brushes Madge's hair from his face. "I don't know if we ever will. He's, um," Madge struggles for words. "He's good with girls, I guess. I don't think I'm really his type." Sometimes Madge thinks Gale just feels bad for her which is why he's been around so often. She tries her hardest so squash those thoughts.

"You are everyone's type, Madgey." Madge whines and her mother grins. "You are an absolute catch." Her mother brightens, suddenly being struck with an idea. "I know! Invite him to the wedding!"

"I am not inviting him to Aunt May's wedding," Madge says, her face red. Haymitch, soon to be Uncle Haymitch, would interrogate Gale for the entire duration of the wedding, even though it's Haymitch that's getting married. Her father would want to know his political views, Aunt May and her mom would never give up on the teasing. "No, that would be horrific. I absolutely cannot take him to a wedding for our first date."

"Well you do have a plus one," her mother sings. "So maybe take him on a date before the wedding?" Madge shakes her head and her mom pats her cheek. "Think about it, Sweetheart, it could be fun."

When Rory finally gets home that night he looks exhausted. He greets Gale enthusiastically but then makes it to the living room and collapses on the couch, groaning under his breath. Gale follows him out and takes the spot beside him, nudging him slightly.

"You okay, kid?"

"Tired," Rory rasps. He lies down across the couch and lays his feet over Gale's lap. "I've been helping set up the gym since two thirty." He smiles slightly, "Prim helped too, but my body hurts."

"Yeah, Vick told me about that." Gale nudges Rory's legs until the boy pulls into himself, making a ball. "Since when are you on the homecoming committee? You hate that kind of stuff."

"A, I don't hate that stuff." Gale rolls his eyes. "B, Prim asked me to."

"Ah, there it is."

"C," Rory chimes, narrowing his eyes in his brother's direction. "If I help set up I don't have to pay for a ticket." He pulls his gaze from Gale and looks toward the ceiling instead. "We didn't have the money."

Gale feels his chest tighten. "What did you say?"

"I don't—I feel like we don't have the—"

"We didn't have the money for a Goddamn homecoming ticket?" he growls. He starts muttering Spanish under his breath, something he only does when he's incredibly frustrated. Probably the fact that he's home has brought that back, too. Gale pushes himself to his feet and stalks out of the living room. "Ma!" he calls. Qué chingados. Hazelle could either be in the laundry room or her room or the kitchen or— "Ma!"

"The hell are you yelling for your mother like that for?" Gale spins around and finds his father in the doorway, an eyebrow cocked. Gale's anger dissolves when he sees his dad with extended arms. Asher Hawthorne is covered in oil stains and sweat but that doesn't stop him from pulling his son into a hug. Gale's always felt safe in his father's arm so he hugs him tightly. "Glad you're home."

"Good to be home," Gale exhales. They part and Gale steps back. "How's the garage?"

"Busy. I've worked late nearly every day for the past two weeks."

Gale scowls, remembering why he was looking for his mother, "Then how come Rory didn't have money for a homecoming ticket?" His father's scowl mimics his and Asher tilts his head toward the kitchen. "I stopped at the bank before coming here today," Gale says. "Took out loans. That way you don't have to keep funneling me money."

"You are not the only place our money is going, Gale," Asher murmurs, dropping into a seat. He lowers his head into his hands and rubs at his temples while Gale takes the seat across from him. "And we didhave money for Rory to get a ticket, he just felt bad because they were fairly expensive and would rather us not spend it. So he's been working on the decorations."

"Okay, so why's he telling me he doesn't think we have any money?"

"I don't know. We've got a lot to pay for, doctors' appointments, insurance, mortgage, groceries…" Asher lifts his head. "The list is endless, Gale. Maybe because we went to the thrift shop for clothes?" He sighs and extends his hands, "We're still paying bills from when Rory jumped out of that tree and broke his wrist last fall."

"Idiot," Gale grumbles.

"Right? So don't go thinking Rory can't go to a dance because you're in school." Asher smiles kindly at his son. "¿Vale?" Gale exhales, nodding his head. "Bueno. Now help me with dinner, will you?"

Just then Hazelle enters the kitchen with a smile on her face, "¿Oh? ¿Ustedes dos cocinando? ¡Maravilloso!" She messes up both of their hair before leaving again. "Good to see two of my favorite chicostogether again!"

"Hey!" Rory shouts from the living room. "Rude!"

"Alright," Katniss says. "Close your eyes." Peeta grins and throws his arm over his face, falling backwards in bed and turning away from her. She's been talking about this present she got him for a while and while he's hoping it might be something for her to wear for him (he told Madge his wishes maybe a thousand times hoping she'd pass the message along), he's ready for anything. "Okay," Katniss says. "You can look." Peeta sits up and opens his eyes, slightly disappointed that Katniss is still wearing clothes, and furrows his eyes in confusion. In her hands is a brown teddy bear wearing an outfit. He blinks a few times before she blurts, "It's a Build-A-Bear."

"I can see that," he says, his eyebrows shifting to his forehead. Katniss moves forward and sits on the edge of the bed, handing it over to him.

"It's not all I got you," she adds quickly.

"No, I," Peeta laughs, accepting the bear. "It just isn't what I expected." Katniss still has panic in her eyes but Peeta reaches over, grabbing her hand. "I love it, Katniss," he tells her. His voice is filled with sincerity and it causes her nerves to ease.

"I, um," she's looking at the bear. "It was more, um, thoughtful in my mind. I think." Peeta redirects his eyes to the teddy and smiles again. "It's in a, uh, chefs outfit, because you always talk about how you want to open up your own restaurant, and I really think you could one day and—" he cuts her off, leaning over and pressing his lips to hers. When they pull away she smiles and blushes. "I love you," she murmurs.

Peeta kisses her again, desperate to make her understand that he loves her, too. Everyone tells him he's wonderful with words, but whenever Katniss makes him feel like this his brain turns to mush. She tugs on his shirt and deepens the kiss, causing a smile to split his face.

"Katniss," he pulls away, pressing his forehead to hers. "Thank you," Peeta exhales. He does want a restaurant, one day, and the bear will definitely be on a shelf somewhere that he can see. "I love it. I loveyou. I love you so much." Katniss feels lighter, her nerves from her silly gift finally gone as he peppers kisses all over her face. "I will cherish it always."

"Mm," her eyes finally lift to his. "But that's not all I got you." Now, instead of nerves from her silly gift, she has nerves for a different reason. Peeta will laugh at her, but in a good way she's sure. Madge thought this would be a good idea, insisted that Peeta would love it. And it's too late to back out now. "You have to close your eyes again."

A grin stretches across his face, "Really?"

"Don't laugh at me," Katniss muttered, causing his smile to widen. He obeyed, and when he opened his eyes again, her clothes were on the floor.

"Stop it, Ma—ugh!" Rory swats Hazelle away and his ears turn red. Gale grins from where he's standing, next to his father and Mr. Everdeen. Both fathers look proud, their eyes darting between Rory and Primrose who are a few feet apart. "I look fine!"

"Is my hair okay?" Prim asks, looking over her shoulder at her mother who is fixing the curled strands. "Did you take a picture for Katniss? What if it falls out while I'm dancing?"

"Just imagine when Prom rolls around," Asher murmurs, causing Mr. Everdeen to chuckle. "I remember your Prom like it was yesterday," he says, dropping his hand on Gale's shoulder. "You looked mighty handsome."

"Shame you and Katniss didn't work out," Mr. Everdeen adds. "But I'm glad you two are still friends."

"Trust me," Gale says, "she's incredibly happy with Peeta."

Mr. Everdeen smirks, "Yeah. She told me she was taking him away for the weekend." Asher snorts and Gale laughs too. "No hard feelings, then?"

"She's practically my sister," Gale shrugs. "I'm happy to see her happy."

"Ah, there must be someone else," Asher adds, waggling his eyebrows in Mr. Everdeen's direction. "Who is it?" Gale sets his jaw and redirects his eyes to Rory and Prim who have started posing for photos that Mrs. Everdeen and Hazelle are taking. "Aw, c'mon son."

"I didn't move on from Katniss because there was someone else," Gale mutters. "We dated in high school. That was, what, three? Four years ago?" They weren't even together when they went to Prom, Gale just needed a date and he and Katniss were still very good friends at that point. It only made sense. "There doesn't have to be someone else."

Mr. Everdeen and Asher exchange a glance and smirk. "We're just teasing," Asher tells him. Gale rolls his eyes dramatically and feels his phone vibrate in his pocket.

Snapchat from strawberryberryfields3

There doesn't have to be someone else, but there might be anyway.

A/N: Hi friends! Happy holidays! A few things.

1) My own personal view is that Katniss/Gale/people of the Seam are Hispanic considering the growing rate of Hispanics in the US are growing more rapidly (and many people believe Katniss is Native American which just seems improbable to me considering there is less than 1% of Native Americans left in the US and they're more on the North West and not on the East Coast where Appalachia would be - also it's lazy to assume someone who lives off the land/knows archery is Native American) and the people of the Seam are so big on family, and many Hispanics have olive toned skin, so in this story I've made that clear!

It's taken a few chapters really and that's my own fault because it wasn't something I wasn't consciously thinking of while writing but I've brought it in now. Mostly they only speak Spanish around their families (or Gale when he gets reallyreallyreally drunk or reallyreallyreally angry) because of being teased for it at a younger age - which will be addressed at some point in this story!). So yes, Hispanic Gale/Katniss/Seam folk (if you want to hear more on the theory feel free to message me! I won't rest until this is widely accepted.)

2) Peeta's past has been brought up like it is in the books. I found that part of the story really important in Peeta's character and I felt it necessary to put here too. Because while some families have money problems others have other problems. And it's real, and it's in the world, and it's part of life. Taftan's rudeness to Madge has also sort of been given reason now, though it doesn't excuse it he does have his reasons for being a dick. And they're horrible reasons, but again that's how life happens sometimes.

3) Capitol University is located on the East Coast (Appalachia land!) which just so happens to be where I live as well! Weird, right? I've modeled CU after my own college. And I have a friend that took her boyfriend to Ocean City for his birthday last year, so it's totally plausible! The drive isn't that far and the off season is nice to go.

Lastly, if there's any Spanish that you think doesn't make sense (I use Google translate, I'm so sorry (also this means you can Google the words you don't know!)) please feel free to correct/help me in any way there. Also with Madge's mother's cancer, considering I don't know many cancer patients and also am researching a lot of that so it might be completely wrong in some places.

This was really long. Sorry! I hope it was informative. I love you all!

Also - shout out to everyone actually helping me with the Spanish! You all rock!