15 Years Later, Chapter # 6
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed and followed this story! I'm sorry for being kind of absent these past couple months, life and school have gotten the best of me.
Rated MA for language, possible violence, and lemons.
I do not own "The Hunger Games" and all rights belong to the Author.
Written in multiple POV's.
My first time writing a Fanfic, so be patient with me!
*Gale's POV*
As I stuffed my face with turkey and potatoes, I looked around Katniss's kitchen and reminisced about everything we had experienced here. I remember briefly the time right on the cusp of the rebellion when she kissed me here, and I still wonder whether that was out of sorrow, pity or possibly even love and desire, but I highly doubt it, as I look around at photos from her wedding day.
"So how's duty in 2?" Katniss asked, politely and softly, pouring me another glass of sweet tea.
"It's alright I guess, thankfully nothing too exciting going on these days. Most of my shifts involve driving around the desert and staring into the vast nothingness, so as you can imagine, I'm not particularly doing any crucial or demanding work…" I said nonchalantly as I picked up another bite of turkey. Katniss had sure learned how to cook, and did it well… It made me picture us old, gray, her caring for me and spoiling me with her delights, and I snapped back to reality, realizing it would never happen.
"I figured you'd be doing some pretty demanding stuff, or maybe I assumed too quickly that these were out of necessity and not for show," She said playfully, grabbing the sleeve over my upper arm between two fingers. She thought my muscles were just for show and she was kind of right, seeing as I didn't do much with them nowadays. But it helped pick up the occasional cute girl in 2, not that any of them mattered after a night…
"They… uh, they come in handy, I guess…" I stuttered, feeling nervous but elated that she noticed my body and liked it. But maybe I'm just seeing shit. It's not like she ever loved me or wanted me the way I so desperately wanted her that way and still kind of do want her that way right now…
"So, how's everything with Peeta…?" I asked, trying to distract her so she wouldn't see my face turning red, "I'm really sorry I missed… the wedding." I really wasn't sorry I had missed it. Or maybe I was sorry, because I kind of wished I could've beaten the shit out of him or worse for stealing the only girl, now woman, that I had ever even wanted for more than a night. Maybe I'm just jealous, jealous of a man who is nothing to even be jealous of except for the fact that he had something so precious, so perfect, and something that I wanted so desperately.
"It's fine, Gale," My spine shivered, hopefully unnoticeably, when she said my name, and like a horny teenager I desperately wanted to hear it again and again, "It wasn't anything big, just a formality I guess, sealed the deal or so they say" she laughed, and I hung onto the beautiful sound, "but I'm happy now Gale, much better than I was before… you know, after the rebellion. I feel like I've gotten a chance to move on."
"That's… great, Katniss, I'm… happy for you." I tried to feign a smile and a happy tone. I looked around at the photos on the wall and confirmed the answer to the next thing I was about to ask but decided against- they apparently didn't have any kids yet. She hadn't mentioned any in her letter. I suspect she didn't want them, but I knew Peeta certainly did, and wondered crazily how he'd not corrupted her into that decision as well. I lost my good decision making and impulsively decided I had to know.
"So. No kids in the picture yet, huh?" I asked as politely as I knew how to.
"Ah, no, not yet anyway." She answered in a confusing tone. What did she mean by not yet? Had they been… trying… with no success? Had she just not agreed to the idea yet? Questions swirled through my mind at a mile a minute. I couldn't even figure out whether she was sad or happy that she had no children, and couldn't figure out what to say next. I allowed my mind to wander to imaginations of gorgeous little brown-haired, grey-eyed children, olive-toned and perfect… I wanted to go back and treat her differently so that maybe she would have allowed my love and desires to become reality. I knew I was more superior than Peeta, and probably way more capable of creating and raising children who weren't weak and soft. Before I let anger and regret overcome me, Katniss pretty much answered my questions.
"I went for a long, long time not wanting them. I wasn't yet sure of myself or my situation, but Peeta wants them so badly, and I want to give him the things that he wants and deserves. He's so ready and wanting to be a father, and to pass down his knowledge and to set the new generation up for success, and with the bakery and all, he needs someone to take it over when he's old. I want to give him everything and more, and I… we… haven't been able to do it yet, and I don't know whether that's an oversimplification of emotionally charged problem, but that's basically how it is right now. We've been to doctors and I'm hoping things change soon. And let's face it, I'm getting older and I've lived a more physically difficult life than most."
She was insisting there was something wrong with her that made her not able to have kids yet? I was in shock. Her evil, manipulative demon of a husband had forced her into believing it was her fault that his desires hadn't yet come to be? She confirmed my suspicion, that they had been trying with no success, but I innately knew that it was him who was weak, who was never meant to be given the privilege to be a father to Katniss's children, who was probably as barren and dry as the deserts, and that it was not Katniss who was unable to carry life but her invalid husband who was unable to give life as any real man should be able to do. He was blaming his lack of virility on her. What a joke!
"I'm…" I tried to speak clearly and calmly when there was a sound of turning keys at the door. Shit. Peeta was about to walk in. I stood up and tried to compose myself. I had tried to mentally steel myself for this moment on the entire journey to 12, but was hoping it would come when I was in a relatively good mood, and I just so happened to feel the urge to kill at this very moment.
"Hey, Babe," I heard a familiar but unwelcomed voice from the entranceway, and looked over at Katniss who had gotten up and was walking over to him as he appeared in the kitchen doorway. "I'm home. It smells so good in here, you spoil me." He leaned down to kiss her, but not before giving me the side eye, unwelcomingly.
"Hello, Gale," He said calmly, coming over and offering me a handshake, "Welcome. I hope you make our home yours for the next week… don't be shy." He glared at me daringly as Katniss was at the counter, lovingly serving him a plate of food that he didn't nearly deserve.
"Thank you for your hospitality, and I certainly won't be." I said sharply and sat back down, rolling up my sleeves. I noticed him go over to Katniss and put his hands on her small waist, one hand moving down to her hip as he talked to her about his day so far and thanking her for making him lunch. I'm sure it was all show but couldn't help but feel like he was just trying to make me jealous, surely he was not the perfect husband. Not as perfect as I could be for her, my jealous thoughts assuring his success at whatever he was trying to make me feel. How I wanted to be in his place, touching her perfect body and making other men jealous of what's mine.
Peeta turned around and came to sit down at the table, Katniss following with his plate of food and a glass of tea. Why can't he serve his damned self? She's not some slave! I thought to myself angrily, then realizing she had done the same for me just a few minutes ago, and I had savored her hospitality and care in those moments. She wasn't a slave, she was a perfect, caring woman and clearly a wife that he didn't deserve, but she somehow graced his life anyway. She was too good for him, for this world. She was probably even too good for me. He started eating and Katniss came to the table, collecting her plate as well as mine.
"I could get that!" I said, wanting to help but also wanting to make Peeta see that he shouldn't leave her to house duties while he relaxed.
"No, no, please let me get it, you're our guest." She said happily.
"So, do you have any plans for the day? It's still pretty early." Peeta spoke, and as badly as I wanted to tell him that his plans should be to stop being such a dick to Katniss, she spoke.
"I think I'm going to show Gale around town a little bit and then go for a hunt before coming to close down the bakery later, love." She said, and Peeta nodded while he stared at me silently, I stared right back. He didn't deserve to be her love.