Recommended Listening: "Reminder" by Mumford and Sons

Much to Finnick's delight, Ezekiel sends us back to the city laden down with baked goods. Finn and Jo head back a few hours before we do since they don't have the option of taking to the sky like Peeta and I. I never thought that telling Peeta's secret would make me feel this free, but as he tucks me into his side and deftly lands on the rooftop of his apartment building before kissing me firmly and leading me down the stairs, it's hard to remember why we held out for so long.

We go about our pre-bed routines just like every other night, but as I rinse my mouth of toothpaste, there's a sense of foreboding that settles over me as I think ahead to tomorrow morning and the inevitable showdown with Gale. I can't ignore the sinking feeling in my gut as I flip out the bathroom light and crawl into bed, wrapped in one of Peeta's oldest and softest t-shirts and my favorite pair of charcoal gray leggings. I take my usual place on his chest and sigh into him, grateful that he's even here with me after the weekend's events. I never entertained the thought of losing Peeta before; now it's all that concerns me. He traces circles on my arms absentmindedly and I wonder for a moment if his mind is in the same place as mine.

"Are you worried about seeing Gale tomorrow?" I ask quietly, choosing to focus on the most immediate threat to our relationship. I immediately know the answer just from the way he tenses under me as he takes in a deep breath.

"No more so than I ever am, I guess," he says with a sigh and runs a hand through his thick blond curls. "At least he already hates me… His expectations have nowhere to go but downward from here."

I quirk the corner of my mouth. Through the beginning of our relationship, I tried to deny that Gale harbored any resentment for Peeta. He truly had no reason to hate him-as far as my managing editor is concerned, Peeta and I are nothing more than coworkers. He hasn't even caught on to the fact that I've moved completely out of my apartment, or if he has, he's been too gentlemanly to say anything.

"We did the right thing, though," I respond solidly because the more I think about it and the more hits the story gets, the better I feel about the decision. "You had a good idea. I'm sorry I tried to fight you on it. It feels right."

His lips brush my forehead. "As long as it keeps you all safe, that's all that matters. Although I might not be saying that when I have to move back out to Dad's and convert the barn into a guest house 'cause I can't pay my rent…"

"Well, for now we're both still gainfully employed. Don't borrow trouble." There's a hint of seriousness in his otherwise playful tone so I turn and kiss him lightly. Then to lighten the mood, I add, "And there's always my uncle's place…"

"Speaking of people who don't care for me…" Peeta snorts before he lowers his lips to my neck and nibbles lightly. "Besides, there's no way you can be quiet enough to share a house with any of our relatives. It'll have to be a guest house."

"You're hilarious," I murmur gently before he claims my mouth with his. As much as I just want to let him kiss me, as much as I want to feel him move within me and hear him breathe my name against sweat-slicked skin, my fingers fumble over the small, round patch of slightly smoother skin that covers the place the bullet pierced less than two days ago and I freeze. I push him away gently and lower my gaze in embarrassment. He sighs and even though I know he understands, it doesn't make me feel any better about the look of disappointment that flits across his features.

I'm desperate to change the subject. "Sorry you had to force your hand with Finn and Jo."

"It's okay." He shrugs and his fingers drift down to my hips. "I think in some weird way it makes it easier on Dad and Delly now that more people know… And it's not like I'm planning on shouting it from the rooftops of anything. I trust them both," he says with finality..

I nod. "They're good friends to me. I'm glad you're starting to see that too."

"So…" Peeta's brow creases and I can tell there's something he's been dying to know. "There's something I've been meaning to ask you. About, you know… Them."

"Sure." I nod, as my suspicions about his curiosity are confirmed and I'm fairly sure I know exactly where this conversation is going. It's one Gale and I have had on countless occasions. Honestly, the have-they-or-haven't-they game almost isn't fun to play anymore as far as Johanna and Finnick are concerned.

But Peeta doesn't seem to know how to ask. "What… Um… How long have the pair of them known each other?"

"Five years. Ever since Gale brought them both to work out here." I think back to our first day at The Prophet, when Gale had finally found enough investors to rent the space on Panem Street and we all met up to paint and get to know each other. I'll never forget the way Finnick looked at Johanna for the first time. It had reminded me of the way my father looked at my mother.

"Ah," Peeta says slowly. "And have they ever… I mean… It's just out at the farm they seemed awfully…"

"Oh." I smile. "You picked up on the sexual tension too?"

He blows out a breath between his lips and laughs. "Oh, Christ, so much of it."

"Yeah… No one really knows." I shrug. "Ga-I have my suspicions… But Finn's had a couple of on-again, mostly off-again girlfriends and Johanna never spends the night alone unless she wants to." I remember how close their hands had been when Peeta bounded down the stairs at the farm. I had wondered fleetingly at the time if we had interrupted something, but Johanna's sleep-glazed eyes convinced me otherwise.

"I wish I could tell you definitively." I shake my head and then an idea dawns on me. "Maybe you can use that super hearing of yours to listen in and find out…?"

Peeta laughs, deep and loud, and I realize this is the most relaxed I've seen him in weeks. "I try not to meddle in that sort of stuff, but I am almost curious enough to give it a whirl. I'm not a mind-reader, though. They'd have to actually be talking about it."

"It would be nice to call them on their shit for a change. And we wouldn't even have to lie about how we found out since they know."

He kisses the tip of my nose and pulls me tightly to him. "You're an awfully clever girl. Good thing I snatched you up before anyone else." His hands, which have thus far remained motionless on my hip bones, slide under the elastic of my leggings and trace the waistband of my panties, while his mouth finds the tiny hollow just under my ear and suckles.

"Mmm…" I moan and reach around him to switch off the bedside lamp. Partially-healed shoulder wound be damned. I want Peeta now and always. "I guess you're just lucky," I whisper. And my fingers spread across the expanse of his broad chest as his find contact with my very center.

The four of us arrive at the office just before eight Monday morning, just like we'd agreed when we published the story in the Mellark kitchen at five-thirty Sunday morning. It's a heavy silence that falls among us; we know there will be hell to pay when Gale arrives. Finnick graciously agreed to pull him aside and try to explain things, but we all know Gale well enough to realize that there's no way he hasn't been watching the website and its massive increase in hits through the entirety of his vacation.

I tell the three of them to feel free to barricade themselves in their respective offices if it will make the morning a little more bearable for everyone, but Johanna staunchly refuses to leave my side before even Peeta can shake his head.

"Look," she says and takes a sip of coffee. "Man of Steel here isn't the only one watching out for you anymore, Brainless."

It goes against everything I know to be true about Johanna Mason, but I hug her just the same.

Gale skulks into the office just after eight and heads straight for his office without a word—or even a glance—to the four of us before the glass door slams hard enough to make us all startle. He spends close to an hour on the phone before he finally emerges and stands in the middle of the room with his hands on his hips. It's so off-setting to see Gale quietly seething that not even Jo can make a snarky comment.

He stands completely still, save for the slight shaking of his head, for a few tense moments before he finally sighs deeply. "What the hell were you thinking?" His voice is measured, but I see the telltale flash of anger in his dark eyes. "Do you want to get us sued? I could lose everything. You all could end up changing professions before you even get a good one started here." He tugs on his thick hair in frustration and looks up. "Just… One of you please explain what the hell happened last week that made you think this was okay."

Johanna, Finnick, Peeta, and I all share an incredulous glance. There really isn't a way to explain the situation to Gale without outing Peeta's secret. And I know I can't trust Gale that much yet.

"Well…" Peeta stammers quietly before removing his glasses and cleaning them on his handkerchief. "You see—"

Finnick's phone buzzes on Peeta's desk and he furrows his brow as he reads the notification. "Kat," he says quickly. "Pull up the stream of Action News Nine on your computer."

I narrow my eyes at him, but wiggle my mouse to wake the sleeping machine and do as he says. Capitol Police Chief Leonid Boggs is speaking directly into the camera, explaining how the CPD came to its decision to investigate Dr. Seneca Crane and the Capitol Center for Reproductive Success. Nothing is concrete, he stresses, but based on new information from several anonymous tips that poured in following the reporting of The Panem Prophet, the police department felt that a thorough investigation was necessary.

My stomach drops to my knees with the realization that I may have just cost a man his career, but strangely enough, it also feels like the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders. I look to Gale to see how he's interpreting the news, but his features are impassive. As soon as he catches me watching him, he reaches behind me and flips off my computer, effectively shutting us off from the investigation we instigated.

"Go home," he snarls. "I don't even want to look at you four right now. Just… Get out of here until I figure out what we're going to do next." Gale casts a weary glance at me before he turns and stomps into his office, slamming the door behind him.

Johanna claps her hands in an attempt to disperse the tense mood. "Well. Looks like we get a vacation day."

"You go," Finnick says with a sigh. "I'll stay and try to talk to him. See where his head is."

"No." I shake my head and push myself up from my chair. "No, he won't talk to you."

Johanna scoffs. "And you think you can get him to?"

"No. And I'm not even going to try." The blinds that cover his office door and windows—which I'm fairly certain have never actually been used—are drawn closed. A part of me feels like I should at least try to speak to him, but then Peeta winds his arm around my waist and pulls me in for a hug and I realize that this is so much bigger than I've realized. I know that Peeta, Johanna, and Finnick are far more important to me than any career. Keeping them safe has to be my main agenda from this moment on.

"Let's go home," I say with finality as I grasp Peeta's hand firmly and lead him towards the elevator.

Gale sends out a mass text message later that evening. It's cut and dry, which is exactly what I expected from Gale Hawthorne. We're to report to the office at eight o'clock sharp tomorrow morning for a mandatory staff meeting. Choosing not to show is the equivalent of turning in your notice. The four of us decide to meet at Café Plaid for breakfast and coffee the next morning so we can show up together. I can't explain it, but it feels like sticking together is the best way to handle this situation.

We file into the conference room and take our seats stoically, none of us too eager to look Gale directly in the eyes. He's sitting in his usual spot at the head of the table with his hands folded neatly on top of a legal pad. I could just be imagining things but I'd swear that he looks… Relieved?

"Thank you all for being so prompt," he says after clearing his throat. "First of all, I want to apologize for snapping at you yesterday. I was surprised and angry, but I didn't give you the chance to explain yourselves before I sent you home. So now, I'd like to hear your side of the story. One or all of you… Whoever would like to explain is welcome to speak."

Johanna, Peeta, and I all look immediately to Finnick who seems to have been expecting this. He sucks in a deep breath. "Well, Gale. Katniss had a good source on the story and we wanted to…" He stumbles over the phrase.

"We wanted to have someone to pin it on in case we ended up shot," Johanna supplies simply, taking a sip of her coffee.

Gale snorts. "Who the hell is going to shoot you?"

Peeta clears his throat nervously and vigorously cleans them.

I sigh. "I'm sorry, Gale. But we've been sitting on this story for months and Rue deserved to have her story told. She was more than willing to talk to us and clearly she wasn't the only one who had a problem with the CCRS. Look at all the other stories that are coming to light now."

He nods. "This time. This time you got lucky. But from now on, I'm revoking publishing privileges and I'll have final say on everything that goes on the website."

Finnick slumps a little in his seat and I immediately feel awful. I never wanted this for him. He doesn't deserve to be punished for my disobedience.

"Now," Gale says firmly, indicating that the decision is absolutely not up for discussion. "It's no surprise to any of you that The Prophet has been growing exponentially lately, what with Katniss's Mockingjay exclusives and now with breaking the CCRS news. So I've decided to bring someone else on board to help out around here. I think you'll really like her."

The air of the room shifts immediately. The tension in the air is palpable and not surprisingly so. There have been five of us for the past five years; it's part of what makes the office environment so unique. Bringing in someone new will offset the balance.

The door swings open and in struts none other than Madge Undersee, a vision in black pants and a bright pink top, her blonde curls loose around her face.

"Hey, guys," she says sweetly and wiggles three fingers in our direction. "I'm back."

Finnick and Johanna dart straight into their offices after Gale adjourns the meeting. Peeta, however, is delegated to showing Madge the new darkroom set up. She'll never use it-Madge has always been strictly a digital photographer-but she oohs and aahs and runs her long, lithe fingers over every inch of Peeta's work space. Not to mention, she stands entirely too close to him for my liking.

I sit quietly at my desk the whole time, but inside I'm seething.

"Katniss," she says softly as she drops her purse on my desk. Ever the gentleman, Peeta agreed to move his things into the darkroom so Madge would have space to work. But until he transfers everything, I'll have to share with our newest co-worker. "I can't tell you how happy I am to be back at The Prophet."

"Sure," I answer politely, but keep my eyes trained on the email displayed on my computer screen. Gale's adamant that we keep up with the CCRS investigation and that includes landing a one-on-one interview with Captain Boggs. I've been exchanging emails with the police department press secretary for an hour. "We're glad you're back."

She daintily sits on Peeta's desk chair and rolls up next to my desk, resting her chin in her hands as she leans toward me. "So tell me all about the photographer. You know, the one who took my place."

I shrug and continue to type away. "There's honestly not much to tell. None of us really know that much about him."

"Oh, tosh." Madge slaps my arm playfully. "Katniss Everdeen didn't get all the juicy details out of this guy? I don't believe it. Is he single?"

"I honestly don't know, Madge. Our relationship is strictly professional." A little white lie here and there never hurt anyone.

"I forget, you've always been so dedicated to your job that you never stop to have fun." She rummages through her purse and pulls out a tube of pink lip gloss. I know before she even upcaps it that it smells like strawberries. Madge always smells like strawberries. "Well," she says, popping her lips after applying the gloss. "Is he as good as I am with a camera?"

"Well, Gale didn't hire him because he thought Peeta was pretty." I make the comment before I completely think it through and Madge's countenance falls just the tiniest bit.

She recovers quite well though. "Fair enough," she says curtly and shoves herself away from my desk. "I'll just check the files on the server."

I take the opportunity to steal a glance at my phone. The screen is void of updates, but I snatch it up quickly and pretend to type out a reply. "It's Johanna," I explain. "She wants to go over some layout stuff with me. Sorry."

"Not at all." She smiles and begins prying through Peeta's computer.

I knock on the frame of Jo's door. "Hey, I got your message." I keep my tone light, but widen my eyes and press my lips into a thin line so she'll get the hint.

"Oh!" She startles and begins tapping away at her iPad. "Right. The thing I wanted to talk to you about… Well, come in."

"Thanks."

"Oh, my God," Johanna hisses as I slip into her office and close the door behind me. "He's gone completely, bat-shit crazy. There is no other explanation."

"You're not wrong," I reply as I cross my arms over my chest. Something about Madge's return has been bothering me, but I can't quite figure out what it is.

"You think he's fucking her again?"

"Maybe." I shrug. "But I don't think so. She asked me if Peeta was single."

"Damn, the bitch moves fast!" Jo gapes. "What'd you tell her?"

"That I didn't know."

"Speaking of the devil, how is Lover Boy taking the news?"

I cock my head at her. "What do you mean?"

"Peeta!" She exclaims, rolling her eyes in frustration. "How's he reacting now that Gale's obviously trying to get rid of him?"

A rush of anger rolls in my gut. "You think Gale's trying to get rid of Peeta?"

"Well, obviously." She scoffs. "Why else would he bring that harpy back? We aren't that busy." Johanna's brown eyes grow wide. "Christ, you don't think Gale knows do you? I mean, I never thought he was that bright… Shit, Katniss. How would he have found out?"

I worry the corner of my lip between my teeth. "I don't think he knows, Jo. But I do think I need to have a conversation with him."

Ever a willing accomplice, Jo makes certain that Finnick, Peeta, and Madge all leave just before five to grab a drink at O'Connell's celebrating our photographer's return. Gale insists that he has just a few small things to finish up before he can join them and I lag behind for my own reasons. Mainly because I've decided that confronting him sooner rather than later would be in my best interest.

I give my coworkers a five minute head start before I rap lightly on Gale's open office door and step across the threshold.

He doesn't look a bit surprised. In fact, he doesn't even look up from his shredder as it whirs softly. "I figured you'd be in here before the day was over." He folds his hands on his desk as I sit across from him. "Let me guess: Johanna thinks that Madge and I are back together and that's why I brought her back to the office."

"Not exactly," I say tersely, trying to decide just how direct I want to be. Finally, I choose not to beat around the bush. "We think you're trying to get rid of Peeta and I'd like to know why."

I expect him to sputter an apology or at the very least to deny my accusations. Instead, he chews his lip pensively and tilts his head from side to side. "I'm not trying to get rid of him…"

"Bullshit." I promised myself earlier that I would remain calm and rational when I spoke with Gale. The last thing Peeta and I need after the events of last week is to out our relationship. So I take a deep breath in through my nose and squeeze my eyes shut. "I just mean, what other reason would there be for bringing Madge back? Peeta's a good photographer, you said so yourself, and things weren't exactly great with her around the last time."

He rolls his eyes. "I realize that Madge left on unfavorable terms, but she's really excited to be back and I think it might be good to have someone else in the office that I can rely on."

"Gale, I get that you're pissed about what happened last week. I'll admit; it was pretty shitty of us."

He scoffs. "You followed your hunch, just like you always do, just like I taught you to, and it worked out for you. This time. But I meant what I said when I told you that you might not get so lucky next time." Gale reaches across his desk and grasps my hand firmly. "I'm just trying to keep you safe, Katniss, I wish you'd realize that."

I sigh. "I do. But I'm not a freshman in college anymore. I have other people looking out for me."

"You mean like the Mockingjay?"

There's no way to miss the ire and disgust that laces his voice. I nod. "Among others."

"Goddammit, Katniss." He slams his hand on the desk, causing it to shake wildly as he shoves himself upright and towers over me. "When are you going to wake up and realize that this guy is messing with you? He's just some pansy in a stupid coat that's playing on your desperate need to let someone save you."

I refuse to let him bully me, so I stand at eye level and stare him down. "Excuse me? It's not like I'm some damsel in distress waiting around for Prince Charming to come riding in on his noble fucking steed."

He shakes his head. "He's using you!"

"Why do you even care?"

Gale grows quiet and his dark gray eyes bore into my own. I realize subconsciously that the first to look away forfeits this argument, so I steel my resolve and lean toward him that much more. It's a tense moment, both our chests rising and falling with our breath, quickened from the adrenaline and heat of our argument. Before it registers completely, Gale's tongue darts between his lips to moisten them and he cups my cheeks in his hands and kisses me hard.

All I can think of is how much different this kiss feels than Peeta's. Gale's lips are rough and hungry, needy and possessive. His tongue thrusts against mine angrily, like he's trying to kiss away everything that's gone wrong between us. My stomach coils tightly and I bring my hands to his chest automatically to push him away from me. He's much stronger than I am so it takes more than one attempt, but finally I regain my freedom and stumble backwards, pressing a hand to my violated mouth.

"Because I love you." Gale's shoulders slump as the words fall from his lips and hang in the awkward silence between us. "I… I'm in love with you, Katniss, I always have been. I can't keep it from you anymore."

My bottom lip trembles as the weight of his confession settles in my stomach. It explains so much: his jealousy of Peeta getting to work so closely with me, his unusual attitude towards the Mockingjay story, which could very well guarantee our paychecks. The sudden reintroduction of Madge. I understand completely: she's not here to replace Peeta; she's here to make me jealous, to make me realize what exactly I have to lose by brushing Gale off forever.

"Katniss…" His voice is barely a whisper. "Please… God, please say something."

"No," is all I can muster as I shake my head and run from his office, stopping only long enough to collect my purse and jacket from my desk.

I'm three blocks from the loft when I remember that I was supposed to meet the group at O'Connell's. But I can't stop the steady flow of tears down my cheeks. I type out a text message to Peeta, explaining that I'm suddenly not feeling well. For the first time, I realize what how it must feel for him to have a secret you can't share with anyone. I promise myself that he can never know the truth about Gale's feelings toward me.

Author's Note: Ugh, I know it's been forever. You can all blame me (Meggie) for that, as I had some pressing real life issues that had to be taken care of before I could focus on the much more enjoyable fangirling side of things. :) I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. As we head into the final third of the story, things are really going to start amping up, so I hope you'll all stick with us.

Our eternal thanks go to sohypothetically, our beta-godmother, whose comments never fail to put a smile on our faces are we go through the arduous task of editing. Thank you to all of you who are reading and reviewing. And I (Meggie) have to say a special thank you to my partner in crime and other half, Kika. I can't imagine writing this story with anyone but you and I'm so glad that this little idea brought us together in such a beautiful friendship. I love love love you.

Please feel free to send us PMs here, on our Ao3 accounts, or at our Tumblr pages. Kika is BaronessKika and Meggie (yes, I'm back) is meggiemellark. We love hearing from you, so please don't be strangers. 3