She told Gale she's going to be a little late today.

She's sure he knows why; he's not stupid. Sure, a little thick-headed, but not stupid. In fact, he usually knows what she's thinking before she even does. Katniss is an open book, and he's been reading her for years now.

Peeta comes back to Twelve today.

She has no reason to search him out until she comes up with a way to repay him, but he is the Victor of her District. And no matter how hard she tries to deny it, he means something to her, in some way no matter how small, so she's at least going to see him come back before she heads off to the forest for the day.

She hides in the back of the crowd that waits by the train station for Peeta and Haymitch's return. It shouldn't be too long now. A quick look up at the sky shows that she hasn't lost but a few hours, and they've been hunting so much lately it can't hurt.

She can hear the train before she sees it. The tracks start to rattle, and a dull roar reaches her ears. Everyone on the street starts an excited chatter that reaches a fever pitch when the train finally stops in front of them. There are camera crews that have been set up since morning that are in the front of the crowd, film rolling to catch his return home.

Haymitch steps out first, only slightly intoxicated from what Katniss can tell. He blows the crowd a kiss and bows dramatically before getting out of the way and letting Peeta through.

His father rushes up to him first, engulfing him in a hug.

Katniss takes notice that his witch of a mother isn't there.

She only waits a second later, barely catching the flash of blue from his eyes before she ducks away and takes her leave.

"Hey, Catnip. Took you long enough," Gale says teasingly as she comes up to him.

She shrugs but doesn't comment.

He looks worried for a split second before washing the look away. He rolls his shoulders like he often does, and says, "Ready?"

She gives him a nod in return, and pulls her bow off her back. They walk quietly through the trees and watch for anything to come by as they run the snare line, checking for anything that got caught throughout the night. They only get a few things, a couple of rabbits and a squirrel.

Gale breaks the silence in the second hour.

"So… You went to see Mellark back?"

Katniss glances at him out of the corner of her eye as she's skinning the squirrel while he resets the snare.

"Yeah."

"Why?" She stops and looks directly at him.

"Because he won the Hunger Games."

"So did Abernathy, and you never see him back."

Katniss sighs and looks away.

"Because he hasn't won any of those times. If he had won I would have gone."

Gale raises an eyebrow at her.

"What's the matter, Gale? I thought we already went over this."

Gale looks awkwardly at the snare in his hands and shrugs.

"I just feel like you're getting attached, or something." He grumbles.

She looks at him incredulously. "'Attached?" she snorts out a laugh. "Don't worry yourself too much."

"Yeah. Ok." And that's the end of their conversation.

Katniss realizes it's a bit odd that he can read her so well sometimes, and yet be so wrong other times.

There's extra food when she gets home.

Prim meets her at the door with a wide smile and an even bigger hug, and Katniss can't remember the last time things have been this good.

"Hey, Little Duck. How was your day?" She asks as she lovingly ruffles Prim's hair.

Her sister squawks indignantly and pulls away with a giggle. "Good. Mom and I worked in the garden a little bit."

Katniss carefully swipes her thumb under one of Prim's bluebell eyes. "I can tell. You're a little pink, girlie."

Prim cringes. "Oh no."

"Go put on some of that burn cream. Maybe it'll keep it from getting too bad."

Prim laughs. "Ok, Doctor Katniss." She runs off to find the cream as Katniss kicks off her boots and walks to the kitchen area with her bag. There's a pot on the stove that's steaming, and Katniss' stomach grumbles in response. She drops her bag at her feet and pulls out the meat she needs to salt and dry for later. It's time consuming, but worth every extra minute in the cold months when food is scarce.

She wonders how much of the winning bonus food they can ration and store away for next year. That would definitely help. And maybe then she would be able to spend more time with Prim.

Katniss is angry that her mother didn't think to tell Prim to cover her skin. She always gets so burnt with her porcelain color, and their mother knows this because it comes from her. If she was around more she could do those kinds of things for her sister.

"Ew, Katniss! At the table?"

Katniss looks up and gives her sister a rare grin. "Where else would you expect me to do it?"

Prim casts a sad look at the remnants of the rabbit she had shot today. "I just don't like seeing it."

Katniss laughs quietly. "You work with blood all the time."

"Yeah, but I didn't cause it!" Prim grumbles half-heartedly under her breath as she turns back to the stove and stirs whatever she's working on.

This is how most every night goes, but Katniss thinks fondly of how it'll never get old.

A week and a half later and Katniss has almost managed to put all thoughts of the debt she owes back to the recesses of her mind. Peeta hasn't come asking, and she still hasn't come up with anything. So she just pretends it away like she's done for the past five years.

"Katniss?" Prim asks as she's slipping on her boots. She had slept in for once, thinking that with the Victory winnings she can afford to lose an hour or two for some extra rest.

"Yeah?" She looks up as Prim wanders into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes.

"Can't you stay for today? I never see you anymore."

"That's not true," Katniss says softly, knowing she's about to lose a whole day in the woods. "I see you every night."

"We sleep most of that time. Please? We can have a sister's day!"

One look at the kitten eyes she's sporting and Katniss gives in.

"Alright. But when Gale comes by later all grumpy I never showed up, it's your job to tell him you stole me away, okay?" She teases, slipping her boots right back off.

The smile that lights up Prim's face is definitely worth it.