A/N: I know you guys are kind of tired of Gale missing Katniss, so i'm trying my best to speed it up and get her out of the arena! All in good time, my friends :)

Chapter 12

Keegan was fast asleep in her cradle, and Gale was sitting on the bed he shared with Katniss, crying. He was almost ashamed at how much of that he'd been doing lately. After Rue fell asleep, Gale had told his brothers to go home, he and Keegan were okay for the night. After much of Rory's protests, the boys were sent home with promises of bringing their niece to see them in the morning. Gale had smiled at the love his brothers felt for his daughter.

But seeing Katniss sing Rue to sleep was one reason Gale was glad he sent the others away. He had rocked the baby until she was asleep with tears rolling down his face. He had seen her salute, and had saluted back, knowing she couldn't see him. And as she whispered the words, Gale had breathed them back.

It almost made him sick to know he was distracting her in the arena, but she had been gone over a week—he missed her. This was the ninth night he had spent without her, only four of those having worried about her life and death, but he still ached, they hadn't spent this many nights apart since Katniss found out she was pregnant.

Since he knew he wouldn't be able to sleep, he pulled out some of the books the baker had given him. All of them had belonged to his father, and each of them had his crisp handwriting on the title page. Usually his name and a summary about the book.

Inside each of them, there was an inscription to each of the Hawthorne children. At first, Gale was angry that the baker had kept these from him, but then he realized that the baker probably hadn't even realized these notes were here, or he would've given them back.

The book for Rory was called Macbeth, and it was one guy's struggle for power and how it destroyed him. Gale didn't bother reading the inscription because he didn't want to invade on his brother's privacy.

Vick's book was called The Illiad, and it was about a war fought over a beautiful woman. His father had included the ending in the summary—which was probably why he chose it for Vick—one side had tricked the other, and it was often regarded as the best military offense of all time. Gale smiled when he realized how well his father had known his children.

Posy's book wasn't as thick as everyone else's, but she had still been in the womb when her father died. Gale quickly gathered it was about knights and princesses—easily appeasing either a baby boy or a girl. His father had included inscriptions for both a son and a daughter.

Gale finally stumbled across his book in the huge pile. Romeo & Juliet, and it was by the same guy who wrote Rory's. Intrigued, Gale opened the pages and read the summary before reading his inscription. It was about a man and woman from opposing families who fell in love at first sight, eventually sacrificing everything to be together in death. Gale was confused at why his father would choose such a book, but he turned the page and saw his name written in his father's handwriting.

Gale,
My son. I'm so proud of the young man you have become. Just barely turned 14 and you are already a man in so many ways, so much more than I had been at your age. You have your grandfather's (on your mother's side) strong jawline and I know you will inherit the Hawthorne broad shoulders. Your grey eyes and dark hair may give you a "Seam" look, but don't worry, you'll attract all the ladies just like your old man.

Son, I'm giving you this book because I know your outlook on love and I know that you feel as if love will never be worth it. But it is, my son. Gale, your mother is the most wonderful person I have ever met. I hope someday that you will see someone as I see her. I know you feel as if there isn't anything more to life than setting a snare and being in the woods, but someday there will come a girl who will provoke that smile out of you that the woods do. And when you find that girl, do not ever let her go.

Never settle for someone who doesn't set your life ablaze. Never settle for a girl who just fuels your physical desires. Find the girl who sets your heart on fire, who lights up your soul with the fires of compassion. Never settle for less. There isn't enough time in this life to not settle for the person that changes you into someone beautiful, inside and out.

In fact, I think you may have already developed a crush. But don't worry, I won't tell the girl, nor her father. I know you like the way she sings, so you won't say anything. In fact, it will probably take you years to meet her, but that's okay. You will when the time is right, and you'll also fall in love when the time is right too.

I love you, Gale. I hope this book illuminates the things you will desperately search for in life.

Love always,
Dad

Like he had earlier in the night, Gale started to cry. His father knew just what to say, and he had been dead all these years. He was right though, Gale's biggest problem had always been making love a priority…up until he fell in love with Katniss, that is.

He thought back to those days spent in the woods with his father. One day, he had heard the mockingjays start to sing back a rhythm, but it couldn't have come from them. He had looked to his father, who just smiled on. They followed the sound through the trees until they came upon a young girl and her father. They were singing a song to the birds, and the birds were singing back. Gale knew the two couldn't see them, so he inched closer to figure out who the girl was.

He hadn't fallen in love yet, he was only 13. But he was entranced by Katniss's voice and the harmony it made with her father's. Love was nonexistent to him. He hadn't realized he was in love with Katniss until six months before Prim's first reaping.

Gale was very confused at his father's mention of fire. He wasn't sure if it was a sign from the great beyond, or mere coincidence, but he didn't want to find out if it was one or the other. The mystery of it all gave him an odd peace. Gale really didn't know what to do now except try to read the book in hopes that he'd fall asleep.

He drifted off after finishing the first act, sleeping peacefully since the first time his wife had left.

He woke later in the morning, since he hadn't been planning on hunting, and turned on the projection as he was feeding Keegan. He noticed that some other tribute had died in the night, so he called down to the bakery to tell the baker there were eight people left, and he knew what that meant.

The tributes would be given a peaceful day today, and tonight their families would be shown in interviews. Gale sneers, thinking it's just another form of entertainment, to get attached to a tribute and then watch them die in front of you.

It sickened him.

Just as he thought, about 10 AM, someone knocked on his door looking for Mr. and Miss Hawthorne, family of Katniss Hawthorne.

Gale smiled, thankful that he had cleaned house yesterday and showed in the prep team.

…

Cinna is so happy to finally meet the boy who captured Katniss's heart. He introduces himself properly and explains what he did for Katniss.

Gale shakes his hand, "We can't thank you enough. You helped her make an impression and be liked by all those people."

"I just told her what to wear and where to stand. The rest came from her."

Gale's heart swells a little as Cinna explains what they're going to do. "Obviously, I won't let them touch your daughter, she's too precious to try to make up or anything. And for you, well, you're basically camera ready. What we'll do is present the two of you together, since she's only four months old. You'll answer the questions, the baby will coo, and everybody will think of how great of a mother Katniss is. Got it?"

Gale nods, "but what questions will they ask?"

"Nothing too hard," Cinna replies, "When you married, how you met. Just stuff that'll make people like her." His eyes darken, "say things that'll make them regret it if she dies."

Gale decides he likes Cinna a lot.

The interviewer is a seemingly plain woman from the Capitol. She makes Keegan cry twice before she catches sight of Gale, and then begins to furiously hit on him. Gale doesn't really care, it isn't the first time someone has hit on him since he and Katniss got pregnant, but this woman is insistent, and clearly doesn't see the ring on his hand.

Once she grabs his bicep and starts to ooh and ahh over how big it is before Gale grabs her hand harder than he should have. "Listen, you're very pretty and all, but I'm married. I love that girl more than anything. If you aren't here today to try to help her, then get the hell out of my house and don't come back."

The woman looks like she could cry, and Gale feels the color drain from his face in the belief that he hurt her, but she quickly gets the message and leaves the room, grumbling as she goes.

Cinna comes back a few moments later, "I saw what happened. As soon as she left the room, I ask that she be escorted back and we get someone a little more professional out here." He smiles, and Gale smiles back, happy that someone is on his side.

For the interview, Keegan is in a black onesie with red and yellow stripes on it. Gale is just dressed in a black dress shirt and pants.

The man interviewing introduces himself, but Gale doesn't really notice until he mentions Katniss's mentor. "Peeta called me this morning, I know all the highlights he hit when he was talking to you, and I'll be sure to cover them all." The man winked, and Gale smiled again. He liked that this many people were on her side.

The camera set up, Gale, Keegan, and the interviewer sat down, and the red light came on to indicate recording.

The man spoke, "Hello, Panem! I am John Templesmith, coming to you from District 12 in the home of Katniss Hawthorne. Here with me today is her husband, Gale, and their four month old daughter, Keegan." Gale caught Cinna's eye, Cinna pointed to his mouth and mouthed, smile.

Gale flashed a brilliant smile as the interviewer turned to him, "Gale, why don't you tell us how you and Katniss met?"

Gale's smile vanished, he knew he couldn't tell the real story without getting her in trouble, so he decided to lie.

"Our fathers knew each other pretty well, they worked in the mines together. After the accident that killed them both, I saw Katniss in the Seam one day and asked her if she needed a friend. After that, we pretty much became inseparable. We were best friends for four years before we fell in love."

The interviewer grinned, "What a cute story. Now, why'd you decide to get married at such a young age?"

Gale felt himself blush and held tight to his daughter, "Well, after we found out we would soon be blessed with a mouth to feed, we decided to get married. We were generally headed toward that direction anyway, but it was nice to have the piece of paper and the ring to seal the deal. We would've never found any one else anyway. We love each other, and it's basically been destined since I was 14 and she was 12."

Everyone in the room sighed, and Gale blushed deeper. The interviewer continued, "So what's so special about her, Gale? Why was she 'the one'?"

"Well, most of the time, in all the books I've ever read, it's really easy for someone to point out qualities that they love about another person. But with Katniss and I, it's a little bit harder to do that. It's not that she doesn't have the qualities, it's just the little things she does that proved to me she was the one for me."

"Like what?"

"The way she puts her family over everything else. No matter what she's feeling in that arena right now, I know Keegan and I are at the back of her mind because she wants to come home to us, she keeps giving us little signs to prove it. And I wish I could tell her she's at the forefront of mine, every day. The things that make Katniss the one for me? I couldn't tell you. I just know that it was fate that brought us together that day, some higher power saw something in the two of us that just clicked. And I don't know what it is about her, but I love her more than anything. Except maybe my daughter."

Another sigh from the room. "That brings me to my next question, how did you decide on the name Keegan?"

This was what Gale had been waiting for. He ran his free hand through his hair before he started. "Keegan is actually a name that's been passed down through the Hawthorne family for a very long time. It was intriguing because of its meaning, which is something I didn't learn until yesterday at the hands of my younger brother, Vick."

"And what's interesting is how well it seems to fit with what's going on right now. Keegan actually means 'tiny little fire.'"

Gale smiled and let his words sink in to the people around him. He looked at the interviewer, "Well there you have it folks. The Girl on Fire is aching to get home to her own flame and her 'tiny little fire.'"

He signed off and switched off the camera before shaking Gale's hand. Cinna came over to tell him how wonderfully he did. He held Keegan, shook Gale's hand, and like everyone else, he was gone, leaving Gale to an empty house and a lot of memories of his wife.