DISCLAIMER: HG characters do not belong to me.
A/N: I might be changing the next chapter to M and if so it will remain that way. If not next chapter for sure when Galeniss begins.
Chapter 29-Family Visit
Gale walked away from Katniss's door feeling content. He finally made a decision and took a chance, he would try being friends with her again. He hadn't seen her smile like that at him since before he could remember. He thinks perhaps the last time was when they hunted together in District 13.
As much as he tried to forget about Katniss especially these past few years, he couldn't deny that he missed her. He missed what they had.
He figured maybe they could get some of what they had back.
President Paylor had given him access to a hovercraft today. He was to return to the President's mansion by 9 pm tonight. That gives him until around 8 pm to visit with his family and Dez. He called his mother right before he went to see Katniss, she was canceling her afternoon house cleaning appointment and went to get Vick and Posy from school. He figured he would be at their house by noon.
He was excited to see them. His mother didn't know many details, just that he was in charge of a mission to help protect Katniss. She had told him she was proud of him when he had dinner with them the night before he left. And now almost 4 months later he was going to see them again.
He got there at 12:10 pm. He eagerly walked out of the vehicle he was transported in and knocked on his mother's front door. Posy answered.
"Gale!" Posy beamed and ran into his arms.
"Hey Pose" Gale said smiling brightly. He gently brought her down to her feet. She had jumped up into his arms in her excitement.
"I've missed you" Posy said, still beaming.
"I've missed you too." Gale replied.
"Posy, let your brother come in the door please" Gale's mother Hazelle said.
Posy moved out of the way for Gale. His mother stood in the doorway and smiled gently at him.
"Hi Mom" Gale said bending down to give her a hug.
"Hello Gale" Hazelle said quickly ushering him in the door. His brother Vick was right by the door as well. Gale smiled at him and embraced him.
"Hey Vick" Gale said.
"Hey Gale" Vick said with a hint of a smile. Gale could tell he was happy to see him.
"I've made lunch, are you hungry?" Hazelle asked.
"Mom, you know I'm always hungry" Gale says with a laugh. He was happy to have a nice home cooked meal. His mother's meal consisted of turkey sandwiches and salad. Gale inhaled his food, enjoying the time with his family.
Afterwards the four of them sat in the living room to continue catching up. Vick told Gale about his upcoming finals in school before graduation. It was the end of March and graduation would be May 31. Gale told Vick he would do his best to be there. He didn't tell his family, but his plan was to get the Jay Killers out of the wild territory as quickly as possible. He figured with double the soldiers, this mission would be ending sooner rather than later. He did not want to miss his brother's graduation.
"Have you thought about what you want to do after graduation" Gale asked Vick. Posy was sitting right beside Gale on the couch, with his mother and Vick sitting in chairs across from them.
"A little, I think I want to try going to the military academy. Maybe be a pilot? If I pass the test that is." Vick said.
Gale smiled, "Well, that would be the place to learn. Maybe you could fly me around for my job." Gale said jokingly.
"Yeah right! You're the last person I'd want to cart around, even in a hovercraft." Vick teased back.
"How is Katniss doing Gale?" Hazelle asked changing the subject.
Gale paused, not sure how much he should say. While his mother was always friendly with Katniss and enjoyed her company, she made it known how displeased she was with Katniss after she decided to end their friendship. His mother had stated that the explosion in the Capitol must have caused amnesia, because she couldn't understand how Katniss could just forget about everything Gale had done for her over the years.
He wasn't sure if his mother would like the idea of him and Katniss becoming friends again.
"She's—doing better. She wasn't well in District 12, that's why she had to leave. She has found comfort living with the Native's. She's going to continue staying with them."
Hazelle looked at Gale with unease. She could tell he was holding something back.
"What about Peeta?" Posy asked. While Posy only had certain memories of Katniss, she had seen a lot of footage of Katniss from the rebellion at school. The rebellion was now taught in history class in Panem's schools, along with the history of the Hunger Games. Posy was very aware of the whole Katniss/Peeta romance.
"He's still back in District 12." Gale said.
"He's not with her?" Posy said surprised.
"No." Gale responded quickly. His mother shot him a look that said, 'Not again.' He had his answer in regards to how she felt about him and Katniss.
Gale quickly changed the subject, asking his little sister about her favorite pastime, fashion. She was becoming quite the stylist, often making her own designs and clothes with Hazelle helping her. Even though she was only 12 she was really talented. Gale figured if she kept it up she would have a future working in District 8 or the Capitol.
They continued their visit until 4 pm. Gale then informed them he had to go and see Dez, explaining that he had to head back to the Capitol tonight and that his ride would be here soon.
"Take care of yourself, be safe." Hazelle had said while walking Gale to the door.
"I will Mom, I'll try to call if I can." He then turned to Vick and said, "I will do my best to be at your graduation, I promise."
Vick nodded and gave him a hug.
He turned to Posy, he could see tears forming in her eyes. Gale got down on his knees and said to her, "Hey-no tears, I will be back. When I get back how about we go to the fashion museum in the Capitol? Just you and me?" The fashion museum opened up about a year ago. It had displays of Capitol fashion and décor prior to the rebellion. The residents of the Capitol no longer wore the outlandish fashions. No one was dying their skin anymore.
"That sounds great. Tell Dez I said hi" Posy said grabbing Gale again for a hug. This time he picked her up in his arms and held tight before setting her back down.
Hazelle walked Gale outside, shutting the front door behind her, leaving Vick and Posy inside. She turned to Gale and said, "How dangerous is this mission?"
"There are—certain groups in Panem that don't want President Paylor to be in office. They don't like the new Panem and they hate Katniss for inciting the rebellion. One of these groups is in the wild territory looking for her. My group is going to ambush them and bring them back to the Capitol to be dealt with."
"What were they going to do with her?" Hazelle asked with concern in her voice.
"They want to kill her. We've been watching these groups for a long time. This is the only group that has actually done anything though. Two of them already captured Katniss and a friend of hers. They killed her friend. The Native's saved her."
Hazelle sighed and looked down. She hated hearing that Katniss was continuing to lose people she cared about. "I'm glad you are the one helping her."
Gale looked at her skeptically. "Really? Because when Posy was asking about her and Peeta you gave me a look of displeasure."
"Gale, you know I've always liked and admired Katniss. I'm still angry at her yes, but she's lost a lot of people she cared about, no one deserves that. I just don't want to see you get hurt again. But I am happy you are helping her, she's lucky to have you in her life. I hope she realizes that."
"Thanks Mom, I love you."
"I love you too."
"Tell Rory I miss him." She nods in response, he sees tears forming in her eyes as well. He gives her a final hug before getting into the vehicle that has come to pick him up.
The drive only takes 10 minutes, but it seems like the longest 10 minutes ever. He eagerly awaits his reunion with Dez-he just hopes she is as happy to see him as he is to see her.
