(Peeta's POV.)
I wake up to the strong smell of blood, the pain coursing throughout my entire body now unbearable. Without even looking I know it's from my back, the blood soaked table pieces clearly being evidence of that.
I cautiously strip off my shirt, even the tiniest touch of fabric sending pain raging across my entire back.
My teeth dig deep into my lower lip in attempt to keep from wincing, the smell of blood nearly causing me to pass out.
I then force myself to crawl across the floor, the sudden movement making my head spin. Even though I hate to admit it, Gale definitely has more combat skills than me.
His single blow to my face knocked me out instantly. Who knows how many times I punched him? I just know that none of them had the same outcome his gave me. That's for sure.
Blood drips onto the floor as I slowly move from room to room, each movement more painful than the next.
I finally sink to my knees on the bathroom floor, my shaky hands grasping the wall for dear life.
Before I even have time to move to the toilet, my entire dinner spills out across the tiled floor, the sudden jolt sending my body into a shaking fit.
Sweat races down my forehead, the small room now feeling a million degrees hotter.
Black dots dance before my eyes, the bathroom beginning to spin in circles around me. The rest of my dinner escapes my stomach, the quick jolt only making my torso fill with pain more.
A sudden realization hits me, the thought nearly knocking the wind out of me. I had to have been out cold for five minutes at the least, Katniss and the kids promising to be back before that.
With Gale not in sight, who knows what they could possibly be doing together?
My fingers claw at the ground, a sudden rage now coursing through my chest.
I'm climbing to my feet without a second thought. Regardless of my personal pain, protecting my wife and kids is what matters most to me. Gale is not a man I trust around them alone.
My shaky fingers scramble to twist the knobs on the sink, cold water slowly running down my fingers.
I cautiously move my back to a comfortable position on top of the drain, the water now running down the deep scrapes painted across my back.
My hands grip onto the edge of the counter, the pain ripping across my torso much worse than I expected.
This is for Katniss. For Finnius. For Rose. I have to find them before it's too late.
(Katniss' POV.)
Seeing smiles on my children's faces is the best feeling. A feeling of hope.
Peeta and I have managed to give them a life without reapings. Without the Hunger Games. Without feeling hungry and scared every second of the day.
Finnius and Rose have grown into happy and well fed children; the one dream I wished would actually come true.
I could not be happier to realize that it did.
My eyes brighten with amusement as I watch Finnius scramble around the small pond near the store, Rose right on his heels, both of them leaving trails of giggles behind.
A pair of fingers suddenly dig into my shoulder, their hands roughly guiding me to the side of the market.
"What are you do-?" I stop short, confusion slapping me across the face.
"Who did this to you?" I ask Gale, my fingers beginning to trace the marks scattered across his jaw and lower lip.
He grabs onto my shoulders with force, his head shaking from side to side with frustration.
"Don't worry about it, I'm fine. I just needed to talk to you," he hisses under his breath, a look of worry filling his deep gray eyes.
I nod, my mind still not able to process who possibly could have done that to his face. The only person other than me that he's interacted with is Peeta.
The thought nails me in the chest with power, the breath nearly knocked out of me.
"Did Peeta do that to you?" I unintentionally spill out, my heart now pounding faster in my chest.
Gale's lips straighten into a line, his jaw growing tense. I feel like throwing up.
If Gale is this beat up, what does Peeta look like? My knees feel like rubber, everything beginning to spin around me.
"I need to tell you that I'm going back to Two. Staying here any longer won't help anything, Katniss." He informs me in a low whisper, his eyebrows furrowing together.
My face twists into confusion. "What is going on? It won't help what?" I ask in a whisper, everything he's saying just sounding like a big confusing mess.
He purses his lips, his eyes nearly burning holes into mine with how hard he stares into them.
"Peeta and I have unsolved issues. I didn't expect me coming back to reopen wounds. Staying here will only make it worse."
"Gale-" I start, his sudden grip on my hand immediately cutting me off.
"I can't stay." He hisses, the look in his eyes showing everything. Nothing I can say or do will change his mind.
Hot tears fill my eyes, everything inside of me beginning to ache.
I heave in a deep breath, my eyes staring intently into his.
"Just answer one question."
His jaw clenches tighter, tears welling up in his eyes as he speaks.
"Anything," Gale whispers, his grip on my hand growing stronger.
"Why did you come to visit me? What about your wife?" I ask, the tears beginning to spill down my cheeks faster.
A pained expression stretches across his face. "My wife died a few years ago," he whispers, his voice trailing off at the end.
I feel like throwing up again. My arms pull him into hug out of instinct, his chest rising and falling quickly against mine, his tears now soaking my shoulder.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't-" I start to say, his voice quickly stopping me.
"I know," he whispers against my cheek, his body slowly pulling away from mine.
Memories of Gale and I begin to flood my mind all at once, the thoughts blurring and mixing together.
I picture us in the meadow on reaping day. The last day of us truly sharing a love for each other.
The Games changed everything. Whatever feelings I had for him just wasn't enough anymore. I felt that way about Peeta as well, only it was a much stronger feeling.
Gale's fingers run along the edge of my braid, his eyes studying every single detail of me.
"Now I need you to answer one question," he whispers, his eyes not meeting mine.
I grip his hand tighter, nodding quickly. "Anything."
His face tilts slightly, a nervous expression painted plain and clear.
"If I asked you to give me one last kiss to hold onto, what would you say?" Gale asks quietly, his pained eyes continuing to study me.
I don't even hesitate. My fingers curl around the edge of his jaw, my lips pressing into his briefly.
His lips taste of ash, the feeling overwhelming. I grasp his hand for support, my entire body beginning to shake.
Gale's forehead presses into mine, his breathing growing quick and short.
Loud footsteps suddenly break off the feeling, the sound making my heart skip a beat.
I nearly collapse right then and there. Standing before us, his shirt soaked
in blood, stands Peeta.