I know it's been forever and a day since I've posted another chapter. I'll promise y'all right now I most definitely WILL finish this story. I just couldn't decide where I wanted to go with the story, and I still don't. But I finally decided how I wanted the letter to go. I also have had writers block lately. But watching Catching Fire reignited my desire to write again. And it made me want to write another Peeta/Katniss story to go after my other one. But that's neither here nor there. I am so, so, so grateful for all the followers I have and those of you have left reviews, thank you so much. Y'all are amazing. I am in shock at how many views this story has had. I appreciate each and every one of y'all! Without further ado… here it is. Let me know what y'all think!
Chapter 21
I sit on the bed up against the headboard with my legs stretched out in front of me. Prue starts rolling around so I put my hands over her and hum to her. After a while she settles down. I've procrastinated enough. I pick up the letter off the bed and look at the front one more time before I turn it over and open it.
I pull the hand written letter out and immediately recognize his clumsy writing.
Catnip,
I hear that I owe you congratulation. You're married now, and pregnant. I can honestly say I never expected any competition from that old drunk. I thought when I moved away and gave you some time to heal that you'd eventually contact me, that we'd have a shot at being together, finally. I shouldn't have left you for 2. I should have stayed with you. Now my chance has passed.
Katniss, you'll always be my first love. I'll never get over you or what might have been. I know telling you this won't change a thing but I'd be lying if I said I didn't hope it could.
Johanna and I have been together a while now and I love her, but she'll never replace you. You'll always be my best friend and one true love.
-Gale
I let out a shuddering breath. This was the last thing I was expecting. I hadn't thought of Gale in months and I never imagined that he still had feelings for me. He's ben with Johanna for over a year. This is wrong. I don't think I can even respond.
I set the letter down on the night stand and call for Haymitch.
I hear him coming up the stairs and down the hall. He must have been waiting for me to call for him because he comes immediately. I wipe away the tears I hadn't realized I was crying. He comes in the room and sits on the edge of the bed and looks at me. He looks slightly worried. I go and sit on his lap and hug him tightly. After a moment's hesitation he hugs me back.
I start crying again and he pulls back and holds my face in his hands. "What's wrong sweetheart?" I can tell he's nervous. He couldn't seriously doubt my love for him, could he?
I look into his eyes; I can't form words right now. I lean over to the night stand and grab the letter. I hand it to him and then sit back on the bed and let him read it. I watch his fists clench the paper tightly a few times and hear his breathing become more forced. My husband is pissed.
He flips the paper back to the front and reads it again. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath when he finishes again.
"Haymitch." I say and touch his arm. He doesn't relax or open his eyes. "Haymitch." I repeat al little more desperately.
He turns to look at me with anger and pain in his eyes. I smooth the crease between his eyes with my finger and tell him "You know that letter doesn't change a thing between us, right?"
His expression doesn't change. I crawl back in his lap. I wrap my arms around his neck and tell him. "I love you. I want you. I married you. Don't you see, I choose you. No one else. You." and then I kiss him. He immediately responds, pulling me to him and kissing me with enough passion to start a fire. After a few moments he pulls away and I pout. I was quite enjoying that kiss.
"I love you too, sweetheart. I'm just really pissed at him. He knows you're married and he has the gall to tell you that? That's disrespectful. To you, to me, and to Johanna. If he was here I'd punch him in the face." He says then rubs his nose to mine. "So, what are you going to do?" he asks me as he picks up the now crumpled letter from besides us on the bed.
"I don't know Haymitch. Do I really need to respond?" I ask.
He thinks about it for a minute then says "Yeah, I think you do. He still loves you, Katniss. He needs to hear from you that he doesn't stand a chance, even against this old drunk." He says quoting Gale then he nuzzles my neck. I huff.
What do I owe him? Nothing. Nothing at all. I've been through hell this last year and half. I've been so low and I've only had one person here for me. Only one who made sure I stayed alive. Only one who saved me when I tried to take my own life. Only one person has seen me at my worst and still loved me in spite of it all. Only one. Only Haymitch. Gale hasn't even tried to contact me before now. He just wants something he can't have. And what about Johanna? How could he go behind her back and say these things to me? She doesn't deserve this.
Now I'm really angry.
"No!" I say forcefully.
"No?" Haymitch asks.
"No. I'm not going to respond to him. How dare he send this to me. What does he expect? That he can not talk to me for over a year during the hardest time in my life, and I've had an exceptionally rough life, and then just waltz back into my life and I'll welcome him with open arms?"
"Well, sweetheart, I do believe your last words to him were to get lost, only with a lot more expletives." He says.
"Aren't you supposed to be on my side?" I complain.
"I am sweetheart, I am. I just think maybe it's time to bury the hatchet. Now, I'm not saying you need to be friends with the boy. I'd much prefer it if you weren't. But maybe just acknowledge you read the letter." Damn him for being so reasonable.
"Fine." I pout. "I'll write him back. I don't think I could handle hearing his voice."
"Ok." He says and nods his head. "On a lighter note, let's go downstairs and have dinner then we can go to bed." He says.
"Bed, eh? How about we skip that first part and just stay here?" In protest my stomach growls loudly.
He laughs and says "No, we're eating dinner. My girls are hungry." He kisses me and then Prue and stands up. He holds his hand out to help me up.
Hand in hand we walk down to the kitchen.