Star-Crossed

Disclaimer: I do not own the Hunger Games, but I wish I did. This fanfiction is strictly for entertainment purposes only. The plot is mine, but I don't own any of the characters or novel concepts.

Thank you so much for the all the AMAZING reviews! You all blew me away! As promised, here is the next chapter. I hope you like it!

Chapter 24 – Katniss's POV

Annie and I have taken to walking in the woods in the late afternoon when Prim and Johanna are busy with other tasks. Peeta allows us to go off on her own, but we always stay within earshot of him for his own sanity. He sits on our front porch and waits anxiously until he sees me again.

Today began like any other afternoon walk through the woods, but something felt off. The forest animals were quieter, and I felt as if we were being watched. Suddenly, I pulled Annie's arm and we stopped and listened. I heard the crunch of leaves and branches and turned to my right and my heart dropped in my chest as I stared at the man I had hoped to never see again.

He is staring at me intently and his eyes run over my face before he sees my bulging belly. His eyes go wide and then he notices the ring on my left hand as well and fury fills his entire being.

"Gale." I whisper as he stalks towards me.

I nudge Annie. "Go and get Peeta." I whisper to her.

She nods and before Gale can stop her she is gone.

Gale continues walking towards me seeming unfazed by Annie's abrupt departure.

"Hello, Katniss Everdeen." He says in a low threatening voice.

His tone angers me and I speak out. "It's Katniss Mellark actually. It has been for over seven months now." I tell him without fear.

He stops walking and stares at me. "Well you sure didn't waste any time did you?" He is trying to make me feel guilty, but I don't.

"No, I did not. I told you long ago that I was in love with Peeta. This should not be news to you." I yell out with venom in my voice.

He smiles at me and my blood chills in my bones. I wrap my arms protectively around my stomach as Gale's eyes fall to it once again.

"It's not really news to me, but it is irrelevant. Regardless of what you have done, you belong to me and I want you back." He says calmly.

I just stare at him in shock. Is he absolutely crazy? What is wrong with him?

"Are you crazy?" I manage to say in a shaky voice that angers me. I don't want him to see he frightens me. I am not going to let him win this.

His eyes narrow at me. "No, I am very sane. You belong to me. As soon as I get rid of that" - he says pointing at my stomach - "then you and I will be free to marry."

I shake my head. "You seem to be forgetting the fact that I am already married."

Gale smiles at me again and I shiver. "For now. Where is your doting husband?" Gale makes a point of looking around. "Not here. Not here to save you. So, what do you say? Ready to come home with me, Katniss?"

"No." I say quietly.

He reaches out and grabs my arm roughly trying to force me along with him. I wrench my arm free and he turns on me.

"You know, everyone else quit helping me look for you. However, I never have. I have been looking for you every day since you vanished. You belong to me!"

He lunges for me again and I back away, falling to the hard ground. "You will pay for your insolence! I demand your respect!" He rears back to slap me and suddenly he is two feet away on the ground gasping in pain.

I look up and sigh in relief. Peeta. He has come to save me.

"If you lay a hand on my wife I can promise you that it will be the last thing you will ever do." Peeta warns him in a low, dangerous voice.

Gale manages an evil smile. "My my…aren't you the overprotective husband? You seem to misunderstand me, Mellark. Katniss is not your wife. She was promised to me…so the way I see it…" He pulls a knife out of the sheath at his hip. "I kill you and I get her back. She won't be your wife then, will she?"

Peeta helps me to my feet and then stands in front of me, shielding me. "You will NEVER touch her again." Peeta seethes. "You will never lay a hand on her ever again as long as I am breathing."

Gale stands up and readies his knife for a fight. "I guess we will have to remedy that." He says evilly.

Peeta actually smiles at him. "Katniss, stand back and don't intervene no matter what. Do you understand?"

I nod…then realize he can't see me manage to whisper. "Yes."

Peeta takes a step forward and I take several steps back and lean against a tree. Peeta's muscular arms and tensed and ready for a fight.

"You seem to be missing something, Gale." Peeta says in a haughty voice.

"What's that?" Gale asks in a mocking tone.

Peeta steps toward him menacingly. "See, I always knew you would be back. I knew you would never give up on her. Even though she told you she was in love with me. Even though she told you she didn't want to be with you. Even though you knew her father intended me for her."

Gale's chest is heaving and he looks enraged, but says nothing. Peeta continues with his words. He is amazing with words…they are better than any weapon I could yield.

"Since I knew you would come back…I have been prepared for this moment for many months. I know you pride yourself on your fighting and hunting skills…I know that you think I don't have a chance against you…you see, that is where you are wrong."

Gale actually takes a small step back before he seems to silently war with himself to remain still and focused. Peeta continues to close in on him.

"Katniss is my wife and she is carrying my baby. If you think for one moment that I will let you harm either one of them, then you are much more ignorant than I ever thought."

Gale's rage consumes him and he charges at Peeta. Peeta is prepared and pushes Gale back easily…he uses his arm to push at Gale's arm and Gale loses the knife. It falls to the forest floor a few feet away from the two men.

I know Peeta told me to stay still, but the knife is within my reach. I walk over slowly to make a grab for it when a hoarse cry of pain startles me. I turn to look at Peeta and Gale and shock overwhelms my entire body as I sink to my knees, clutching the knife in my hands…pain engulfs me.

CLIFFHANGER! I know I am really evil! If you would like the next chapter by tomorrow…review and let me know. I promise this will be the last huge cliffhanger of the story and I won't do this to you again. Please forgive me?