Author's note: Thanks so much for reading! And thank you for everyone who made recipe suggestions. I picked a couple here, but I may well put in more later. In You've Got Mail there was a lot of talk of books, but there will be food mentions all through this story.

Happy reading!

Chapter Two

Katniss stopped beside Prim as she looked at the cakes sitting in the window of the small bakery.

Prim sighed. "I always feel so bad when we walk past these."

Katniss draped an arm over her shoulders and they continued on. "I know. But they don't really have the chance to keep up with the actual need for production demands."

"That's not very nice." Prim stopped again and pointed. "We don't have this level of artistry with mass-produced cakes."

Katniss gave her little sister a confused look. "You're sixteen, how do you know those words?"

"I pay attention to the meetings." Prim continued on. "I'm trying to figure out when I'm old enough to actually take part how I can make Grandpa's chain seem like less of a bad guy." She stepped into the butcher shop. "Like these places. Even though there are butcher counters in the grocery stores, people still go to these places."

Katniss pointed to a line of steaks. "Three of those, please." She turned to Prim while the man behind the counter wrapped the meat up. "The service here is better. And so is the meat."

"But don't you think that's how it is at those small bakeries?" Prim argued.

Katniss shrugged. "I've never been allowed inside one, so I really don't know." She paid for the steaks and stuck them in her bag. "Not really our problem, though. We're less expensive than the little places. And our profits are still better."

"It just doesn't seem right." Prim pouted.

Katniss ignored it. She remembered being about Prim's age when she started questioning everything, too. She was punished severely for it, so it was a good thing she could listen to Prim's arguments. If their grandfather caught wind, she would be in so much trouble.

Gale was already home by the time Katniss and Prim got there. He pulled Katniss close and kissed her deeply. "Hi there, Catnip."

Katniss rolled her eyes. "Hi, Gale." She stepped back. "Tell my sister to stop questioning the capitalist establishment." She walked into the kitchen and started preparing the steaks.

"Stop questioning the capitalist establishment." Gale said. "It's giving you a great education and the best future possible. Medical school doesn't pay for itself."

Prim sidled up beside Katniss and started chopping veggies for salad.

Katniss put together a marinade for the steaks and then took out her phone. Her internet friend had responded to her. They had a quick exchange about steaks.

painetcoucherdesoleil: I prefer medium rare myself. But med. well isn't bad.

keen3ye0508: For real, as long as it's cooked, I'll eat it.

She paused a moment and then decided to change the subject.

ken3ye: Hey, you want to do some sort of recipe challenge thing? I'd like to try some new stuff, but I'm not sure where to start.

She looked at the screen for several seconds until Gale came in the room.

"Hey, babe, did you happen to pick up oranges?" He asked, going through the rest of the shopping bags.

"No, I totally forgot." Katniss closed the app and stuck her phone in her pocket. "Sorry. I can run down to that grocer on the corner."

Gale made a face. "That place never has good produce. I'll just go out to the place on third and pick some out." He grabbed his coat from the hook. "I'll be back by the time you're done cooking." He gave her a quick kiss and then left.

"Why does he need oranges so bad?" Prim asked.

"He thinks eating an orange every night before bed will ward off a cold." Katniss walked to the stove and got a pan on to preheat. "He swears the reason he got so sick last year is because we ran out of oranges one week and his vitamin C levels dropped."

Prim laughed. "Your boyfriend is a weirdo."

"I know. But he's my weirdo." Katniss put the steaks on.

"Hey, can we talk about me moving in again?" Prim asked as she mixed the salad together.

"We can talk about it, but you know Grandpa won't allow it until you're eighteen." Katniss started chopping potatoes. "But I did work out that you can stay here every school break."

"That's not enough." Prim grumbled.

"It has to be for now." Katniss took out her phone and checked to see if her friend had responded, but he didn't.

"Everything sucks." Prim sighed, sitting heavily on a bar stool.

"Yeah, well, it doesn't get much better." Katniss sat beside her. "But I love you, Prim. Always remember that, okay?"

Prim nodded.

Katniss kissed her cheek and returned to the stove.

She continued to check her phone the rest of the evening, but didn't get a message from her internet friend.

Gale was already in bed when Katniss got back from dropping Prim off at home. Eating his orange.

"When does the day start tomorrow?" Katniss asked as she changed into her pajamas.

"We have a planning meeting at nine." Gale stuck the last section of orange into his mouth. "Your grandpa wants to open two new stores by the end of the fiscal year."

"That's June." She stopped to do some math in her head. "That's only seven months. Are they going to be able to do it that quickly?"

"If anyone can do it, Coriolanus Snow can." Gale pulled the blanket down and patted the mattress. "I'm done talking about some old guy that smells like a rose garden. Come make out with me."

"Well, if you insist." She got into the bed, cupping his face with her hands.

Katniss loved Gale, she really did. But a lot of the time she really preferred the non-physical aspects. The sex was decent, though. And she needed to be touched in that way every once in a while. She was just as glad when it was over as when it was actually happening.

She rolled away, her body glistening with sweat and her chest heaving as she tried to catch her breath. She looked over to say something to Gale, but he was already dropping off to sleep.

"I guess it can wait." Katniss said softly to herself as she turned off the light.

Her phone lit up and she picked it up to see a text.

Prim: Hey, btw, there's a student art showing this weekend.

Katniss: You were with me all day and forgot to mention it?

She shook her head and opened Tumblr to scroll through her notifications for a few minutes. There was a message from her friend.

painetcoucherdesoleil: That sounds like fun! Each of us pick three things we always wanted to make?

keen3ye0508: Sure!

Her phone vibrated and the message notification appeared at the top.

Prim: Sorry. I was trying to think of how to convince you to let me live with you.

Katniss sighed and typed her response.

Katniss: We've been over it a million times. I have no say, Prim.

Prim: I know. I love you. I'll see you in a few days.

Katniss put her phone back on the table and rolled over. Gale was snoring softly on the other side of the bed. She reached over and placed her hand on his chest. He rested his hand on top of hers. And then started snoring louder.

She shook her head as she closed her eyes.

Katniss woke up thrashing and screaming.

Gale glared up at her through squinty eyes. "You okay?"

"Yeah." She got out of bed and pulled on Gale's long shirt. "I'm going to make some tea and watch a little TV."

She left the room, but he was only a few steps behind.

"Was it the dog one again?" He asked, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"Yeah." She stepped away. "You can go back to bed."

He kissed the back of her head. "As long as you come with me."

Katniss shook her head. "I have to drink my tea." She took a sip.

Gale lifted the cup from her hands and sat it on the table. "That can wait. You can come sleep with me."

She took her cup back. "I want to drink my tea. I'll come to bed after it's gone." She walked into the living room and sat down on the couch.

There was a soft glow on the horizon. She should have picked up her phone to surf through Tumblr for a bit until she was ready to go back to sleep.

She'd had nightmares for a long time. She didn't know why they had started exactly, but they had first happened not long after her parent's died. Gale was only so tolerant and understanding. And he was no better than her at comforting someone. His usual go-to was a pat on the back and offering to make out with her.

She dropped her cup off in the kitchen and returned to bed. She climbed in beside Gale.

He pulled her close and murmured in her ear. "You're okay."

A smile formed on her lips. Sometimes he showed his feelings. When he was mostly asleep. She snuggled into him and tried to get back to sleep, but it wasn't happening. She picked up her phone and opened Tumblr.

painetcoucherdesoleil: What are we thinking? Like desserts? Main courses? Appetizers?

keen3ye0508: Idk. I'm best with main dishes and sides. I can bake okay. It's kind of my family's profession, so it's a little embarrassing that I'm not better.

painetcoucherdesoleil: My family is bakers too! I'm a rock star at it. What if you give me one of your best recipes and I give you one of mine?

She smiled to herself at his quick response. Wonder where he is in the world. She decided now wasn't the time to ask.

keen3ye0508: Okay, one of my favorite things is chicken mole. I posted it here once. I can find you the recipe.

painetcocherdesoleil: I'll try to find it in a bit. Here's mine: salted caramel blondies with candied bacon.

He sent along the link to his post a moment later.

keen3ye0508: Awesome! I'll look at it later. I should try to sleep a bit.

painetcocherdesoleil: My day's about to start. Sleep well!

Katniss smiled to herself and put her phone back on the bedside table. She rolled close to Gale again. This time, she was able to fall into a deep sleep.

Post-chapter note: Readers who made the suggestions I chose for Katniss and Peeta's challenge are: (international food), JavisTG (mole), and spartania815 (salted caramel blondie cupcakes with candied bacon).

Thank you so much!