Okay, here's Chapter 8! Review! PlEaSe!

GALE POV

I look up at the sound of a whisper. That's when I see her. Katniss Everdeen, the girl who shunned me after thinking I blew up her sister. It sounds harsh, but that's the way it is.

"Gale?" says Katniss, as if not really believing it's me.

"In the flesh," I reply, standing up.

"It's really you, huh," she says, crossing her arms. Defensive. I don't know why, since we've know each other so long, even though we haven't spoken since…well, you know.

I nod. That's when I notice Peeta standing next to her, hands in his packets. "Nice to see you again, Gale." He says, somewhat formally.

I sigh. "Hey, guys, listen, it's just me. Stop acting like we're strangers."

Katniss scowls. "Well, it's hard to think of you as anything else, when you just remind me of…of…" Katniss voice breaks, and her eyes become shiny. Peeta immediately puts an arm on her shoulder.

"Are you okay, Catnip?" It seems the use of my old nickname for her snaps her out of her memories, and she just frowns at me.

"Don't call me that," she nearly shouts.

Peeta steps in. "Katniss, maybe I should let you two talk, you know, because it looks like I may be intruding on something."

Good, I think. Because there's something I really want to tell Katniss. A few things actually.

But no, Katniss lets him stay. "You're not interrupting anything," she says.

Peeta replies, "Well, um, let's head in. It's getting dark."

KATNISS POV

I can't believe he's here. Just when I was thinking of calling him –or not calling him-he shows up. At my doorstep .It's just all too much because of all the memories that I took so much care into burying. He's brought them back.

I groan in frustration as we all settle into the living room. Peeta and I take the couch while Gale sits across from us in the loveseat.

I cross my arms. "So, what's with the unexpected visit?"

Gale sighs, and leans back in the seat. "Might as well get it over with." He leans forward again. "I'm getting married."

Peeta and I stare at each other in shock. I'm frozen, and a million things are running through my head. Why so soon? And why, in the first place? I haven't though about marriage since the rebellion, and back then, I never cared, let alone wanted it. Gale had seemed interested, but he knew about the risk. And now with Games, or the Capital, married is still a strange thing for me.

Peeta recovers before me. "Who is she?"

I look at Gale, really wondering who she is. "Her name's Lori," he says. "I met her in District Two and…well there's more." He sighs again, but this time it's not tired. It's more like surprised, or left over shock from news that still must be surprising to him. "Lori's pregnant."

I gasp. "You mean you and her…"

"Yes, we did. And don't look at me like that, it was a weak moment. We've both been through things, and we were just comforting each other. At least, it was at first. After, we sort of became a couple, and I found out that Lori is a great person." Gale's eyes stare off into the distance. "She's amazing. At many things, if you know what I mean." He chuckles, but I don't think it's funny.

"So…where is she?" I ask.

"At Haymitch's place." My eyes widen. "I know, I know. Trust me, Lori can handle herself. Haymitch can't scare her. And besides, I wanted to tell you guys the news before you meet her."

Gale's eyes travel to the hand I have in Peeta's it seems I must have grabbed his hand sometime in the conversation, and I'm gripping it, hard. "Oh, sorry, Peeta."I let go.

"It's okay," he grabs my hand again. "It's a lot to take in."

"Speaking of things to take in," Gale says. "You two a couple now?"

Peeta and I both nod. Gale nods back at us, seeming pleased. "It's about time time, too." I raise my eyebrows up at him. He ignores me and says to Peeta, "She finally came around, huh?"

Peeta chuckles. "She sure did." He puts his arm around me.

"So, um, can we meet this, um, Lori?"I ask, changing the subject.

"Oh, sure. Let's go." Gale gets up and we follow him over to Haymitch's house. He goes right inside, and that's when I hear laughing. Haymitch is laughing. Then I hear a female voice, which must be Lori's. "Lori?" Gale calls out.

I hear footsteps and there she is, that bulge in her stomach confirming what Gale said. Not to mention, Lori is gorgeous. She has a light tan, and dark, wavy hair. Not surprising, since Gale can get whoever he wants with his good looks.

Lori smiles upon seeing Gale. "Gale!" she says. "I missed you." She walks over and hugs him, tight.

"I've only been gone for two hours," he says, laughing. He rubs her back, and pulls away, only to kiss Lori on the cheek. "I want you to meet some friends of mine."

That's when Lori looks at Peeta and I, standing off to the side. Her eyes widen. "You must be Katniss!" she says to me. She goes over and hugs me. I'm a little uncomfortable at the embrace, and I'm afraid I might hurt her since she's pregnant. Lori pulls away before I have time to react. "And you must be Peeta!" She hugs him too, and pulls away.

"Gale has spoken highly of you two," she says.

"He has?" I say, incredulously.

"Gale is not a bad person, Katniss," Lori replies, softly. It is amazing how well she understands.

"I know," I whisper. Peeta takes my hand.

Haymitch says, "You got one heck of a fiancée, Gale. Beautiful, and funny too."

Gale laughs, "I sure do. She's changed me." He pulls Lori to him and rubs her pregnant stomach with one hand.

Am. Exhausted.

Review, please! It's all I had time to write…I wish I had more time.