A/N: Disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. So, I know in the last chapter, there wasn't as much of Peeta as I had hoped, but this time, there's more. Plus there's a promise of more of him in the chapters to come! This chapter involves Katniss saying goodbye to Madge and Gale, hence the chapter's title, plus an invitation from Peeta; read to find out. :3 Please read and review, and be honest as to what you thought. No hate please. PM me if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions. If you have a suggestion, I want to strongly emphasize that you should tell me; it'll make me a better writer and I would greatly appreciate it. Enjoy! :D

Ghanaperu: Yes, you were right! I wanted to tell you but I didn't want to spoil it for yourself and other readers. :3 I decided to make Katniss like Peeta in this version because it's different from most fics. Yes, Peeta has a crush on her, too. I didn't want to change that. The Games will push them together. For example, when Katniss and Peeta were in the Games together, Gale was all alone in District 12. In this version, Gale and Madge are in the Games together as a team, by Katniss' request as you'll see later on in the chapter, and Katniss will have the comfort and supposrt of Peeta while they're gone. When I promised Peeta in the previous chapter, I didn't realize that it wan't the right time to bring him into the picture. There's more of him in this chapter, and even more afterwards, like I said. Thanks for all your support!

Chapter 7: Final Goodbyes

Wait, what?! What is Peeta doing here? He's not really close to Madge, other than a polite "Hello" when he sees her in school, and I know for a fact that he's not close to Gale even in the slightest. This doesn't make any sense. A small part of me feels uncomfortable because many things were left unsaid since the bread-throwing episode so long ago. But the bigger part of me is glad that he's here; maybe I'll have another chance.

The Peacekeeper asks him, "Are you friends with either of them, or are you related to them?"

Peeta replies, "No, but my father, the baker, made something for them and told me to give it to them."

"Then she can do it for you. Goodbye," he says to Peeta in a tone that frightens me. Peeta hands me two small boxes and tells me to tell them that he says goodbye and good luck. I tell him I will, and then the Peacekeeper opens the door to the Justice Building and orders me to go inside with a small, but powerful hand motion. I guess fate really doesn't want me to thank him.

Once inside, another Peacekeeper comes up to us, so I now have two Peacekeepers on either side of me. As we walk to the rooms that hold Madge and Gale hostage, I remember the last time I came in here, to sign up for tessarae. Tessarae is a year's supply of grain and oil, but in order to get it, you must put your name in the Reaping bowl more than once. I don't even remember how much I signed up for. In school, from the little amount I've paid attention to, I learned all about why the Justice Building was built. A long time ago, even before the first Hunger Games, were the Dark Days. The Dark Days were a time in which the now-destroyed District 13 decided to rebel against the Capitol. In the end, the Capitol defeated and obliterated District 13. This is how The Hunger Games were created; they are supposed to be a reminder to all the Districts of Panem that that was unacceptable and will certainly never happen again. For District 13's actions, all the other Districts must offer up one young man and women to compete in a fight to the death that is televised and is mandatory for all to see. I take it as a death sentence.

We finally reach our destination, and the Peacekeeper tells me, "The girl's in the room to the left and the boy's in the room to the right." He then grabs me by the arm and shoves me into Madge's room. Before slamming the door behind us, he declares, "You have three minutes."

It feels so unnatural to see Madge in this dark and dreary room, with that blank expression on her face. "Oh, Madge," I say, and give her a huge embrace. I start to cry, because I know that it's all my fault and that it should've been me locked up in this room. "Madge, look at me," I tell her and she looks up. "I'm no mentor," I start, "but there are some things you should know. First, at the bloodbath, do NOT try to get any weapons, your hear me? The good stuff is inside the Cornucopia, just for the Careers. If you can, try to pick up something really small that's close to your tube, okay? Even a backpack would help; the Gamemakers would probably put a little food and maybe some iodine in there; I've seen it before. By the way, don't drink any water without curing it with iodine, understand? The minute you grab something nearby, RUN. Dash for the forest, and try to conceal yourself somehow. Hide. Do not come out unless absolutely necessary. In training, try to form some kind of alliance with Gale. I'll tell the same thing to him. He can hunt you food. He won't try to kill you. And whatever you do, DO NOT approach any of the Careers. Stay away from them. And remember, I'll be watching you the whole time, so you're not alone." I'm still in tears and Madge nods furiously. She's scared out of her mind. "Madge, I'm so sorry; I should've volunteered in your place."

"No, Katniss," Madge replies, "you couldn't have. You have your family to look after. I'll be . . . fine," she chokes out. I reach out to give her one last hug, and, at the last minute, I remember Peeta told me to give her whatever's inside the box.

"Oh, I almost forgot," I start, "Peeta told me to give you this and wish you luck." I give her the box and she opens it. Inside are five cookies, expertly decorated by Peeta himself. I know his frosting work a mile away. Prim always drags me to look at the cakes and pastries and cookies inside the bakery windows when we're in town together. We never go inside because we can never afford any of it.

Madge is still staring lifelessly at the cookies when the Peacekeeper storms in and demands that I leave. I try to give Madge one last hug, but the Peacekeeper pulls us apart. He drags me out of the room, and slams the door in Madge's face. I can hear quiet sobs through the door. The Peacekeeper then shoves me into Gale's room on the opposite side of the hallway, and once again reminds me that I have three minutes. That will never be enough.

Inside the room Gale is sitting on the floor with his head in his hands. When the Peacekeeper slams the door, he looks up and stands. I waste no time walking over to him and hugging him. I hold him close, then pull away and say, "Madge is a mess. You have to team up with her. Don't let her die. Hunt for the both of you. I told her a bunch of stuff that you and I both know." I sigh. "Gale, I feel so guilty for not volunteering for Madge. It could have been you and I together. We'd have had a better chance of survival."

"Madge is safe with me, Catnip, don't you worry. And don't feel guilty. You know why you had to stay, for Prim." He reaches out to me and hugs me, and we just stay like that for a moment. Then, I give him the cookie box from Peeta and he opens it, telling him who it's from. "Tell him I say thanks."

"You know, you could survive and become Victor. But then Madge would have to . . . just keep yourselves alive for as long as you can, okay?" I hug him once more, crying all over again, even though I told myself I wouldn't. The Peacekeeper barges into the room, separating us, and drags me out, but not before I yell out "Gale, you have to come back home! Gale!"

Gale screams through the door, "I'm coming back if it's the last thing I do!"

The Peacekeeper leads me through the building back to the entrance that I came in. He, once again, shoves me outside and slams the door. I didn't even notice Peeta was waiting there until I ran into him. He catches me with both of his strong arms, and for a second too long, I just stay there. Then, I remember to stand up on my own and I do. "Well, that's no way to treat a lady, not at all," he declares.

"They're from the Capitol. They couldn't care less," I say. "By the way, I gave them the box of cookies; they say thanks."

"My father told me that Madge would always come inside the bakery, and that she was the sweetest girl. That's why he wanted me to give those cookies to her. He said that Gale's mother would stop in front of the bakery, but never come inside. That's why I gave them to Gale." He pauses, then says, "Katniss, I'm so sorry. If you ever need someone, I'm here."

I flinch at the sound of my name through his mouth. I didn't think he remembered my name. I do have a class in school with him, though, so I guess that's why. I don't really answer him, as I'm lost in thought. Then, after a while of us just sitting there, I say what's been on my mind for years. "Thank you, Peeta, for saving my life."

"Saving your life?" he replies, "I think I'd remember doing that."

"But you did," I say, "all those years ago, when you . . . tossed me that bread in the rain. Peeta, I was starving, my dad had just passed away not too long before that, and I was all alone. I lost hope and was ready to die. That bread was so much more than just bread. That bread gave me hope and desire to live."

"Wow, Katniss, I never saw it like that," he says. There's nothing else to say, so we just sit there, again. I'm so lost and tired and confused and angry that I barely notice him putting his arm around me. "Katniss, why don't you come inside the bakery with me? I'll make us something. I can tell you things I should've told you a long time ago."

...