It took me a full eight seconds in the hallway before breaking down in tears again. Gale's room was closed when I knocked on his door. There was a sick, hollow feeling in my chest and I yearned to be held by someone other than Peeta. Not that I liked being held by him, mind you. His arms were comfortable and familiar, but I needed my best friend.

Gale opened the door five seconds later. He was wearing a drab set of grey pajamas. There seemed to be an abundance of grey material here.

"Katniss?" He seemed surprised to see me a total mess like that. "What's wrong?"

I sobbed and leaned into him, wrapping my arms tightly around his lean waist. Gale's arms went around me, too, cradling me sympathetically to his chest. One of his hands cupped the back of my heads against his shoulder.

"Come inside, Katniss. We'll talk," He helped me to his bed and shut the door behind us.

Gale held me on his bed while I sniffled, curled up at his side. No questions were asked, or fingers being pointed. When my crying calmed enough for me to be able to talk, I said, "I-I'm so sorry, Gale. I'm sorry."

Gale pressed his cheek against the top of my head. "Sorry for what?"

"Everything." My head was hurting from crying so much. "For being a total unreliable wimp. It seems as though the only time I ever see you is when I need something and that is wrong. I'm so sorry."

"Don't apologize, Katniss." His voice was soft. "You know I don't care about that. You know I will still always be there even if this is out of selfishness only. Which it isn't. If anything, I need to apologize to you."

"For what? You haven't done anything wrong."

Gale looked at me as if I had told him to gnaw his own feet off. "For what? None of this would have happened if it weren't for my stupid, rash, thoughtless, hormonal behavior. If I could take it back I would. You know that."

"Don't beat yourself up over it." I told him sternly. "It wasn't your fault." That wasn't strictly true. In fact, it was a blatant lie. I just didn't want my best friend to get upset over it.

"Yes it was. I was the one who got you pregnant in the first place. Who else's fault could it be but mine?"

I shook my head at him. "Mine. Things would have been better if I had just died in the Hunger Games."

"No, they wouldn't. If it weren't for you, thousands of people would have died. If it weren't for you, the Capitol would still be murdering children. Thanks to you, Panem is saved." Gale leaned his forehead against mine. I tried to ignore the fact that his mouth was only two inches from mine. "Katniss, the girl who was on fire."

I felt myself crying again. He was right. I am the girl on fire. I am Panem's savior. I am the mockingjay. A kind of pride swelled inside. It was amazing, yet somewhat depressing at the same time. Gale's words were true and inspiring.

I leaned close and pressed my lips on my best friends' cheek. "I love you, Gale. Thank you."

A hint of a smile traced Gale's face and his beautiful grey eyes lighting up at my words. "Anytime."