Wow, it's been a while. I finally have the chapter written up, though! I'm sorry about the long wait.

I can't promise fast updates, since I'm back at college, but I'll try my best.

Enjoy!

I keep my eyes on the stairs, not wanting to face Gale. I have no idea what to say to him; this was just so unexpected. I glance over at him, still faced toward the door, and open my mouth.

"Wait until he's gone." His tone is cold.

My mouth clamps shut again and I move my eyes back to the stairs, now willing for Peeta to come back down to break the silence. It was something he's always been good at, though this may be a different situation. We stand there in silence, his foot tapping on the ground – it's incessant, but I'm not exactly in the mood to pull up an unnecessary fight. I instead focus of the birds chirping outside the window and Peeta's heavy footsteps as he walks around our bedroom.

There's really no reason for him to be so angry with me. As I recall when we were in the midst of war, and he and Peeta were talking, he already predicted this. And, besides Haymitch, Peeta's the only one that hasn't left me. Now I'm starting to get angry – how dare he barge in here, into our lives? He didn't even give a warning, just figured he could wind up on our doorstep – which, hopefully he realizes that it is our doorstep, not just mine. After all, Peeta is changing into fresh clothes up in our room.

"All right, I have to head out." Peeta's rushing down the stairs, over to me. He pulls me to him and gives me a deep kiss, smiling when he pulls away. "I'll see you after work."

I smile back, not daring to look over at Gale. "I'll come by at lunch."

He nods and gives me one more peck, then a nod toward Gale as he heads out the door. He gives me a worried glance before he goes out the door, though I'm not sure if I was meant to see it or not.

I slowly look toward Gale, crossing my arms as I wait for him to speak first. There is no way I'm starting this conversation.

He looks back at me, daring me to speak up, then sighs when he realizes that I'm not going to talk. "You know, it's common courtesy to keep a living room clear of things like that when you have guests." He motions toward the living room, a mild look of disgust on his face.

I blush, because despite the fact he's being spiteful, he makes a good point. If a stranger were to come in here and find that, I don't want to know what scene would play out. I can't find it in myself to apologize; who is he to just come here? And without notice, too. Instead, I step around the comment. "Hungry? I'll get out some of Peeta's cinnamon rolls." I pretend not to notice the slight darkening in his eyes.

"No, thanks. I do miss our woods, though." He glances at me, then the door.

I suppress a snort. It hasn't been our woods in a long time. I sigh and cross my arms. "Did you want to go? I wanted to hunt today, anyway." I glance down at his nice Capitol outfit. "Unless you don't want to get your clothes all dirty. Look pretty expensive."

He shrugs. "I have plenty more." Now he's just sounding cocky, nothing like the Gale I grew up with. He acts as though I don't know all about nice, expensive clothing, when I've been wearing them much longer than him.

I turn to the stairs, not bothering to look at him when I speak. "Let me just get changed, then." I hurry up the stairs and into my and Peeta's room, tugging out a t-shirt and pair of pants, and for the hell of it, one of Peeta's jackets. I know it's a low blow and slightly childish, but I'm too riled up right now to care. Plus, the worried look on Peeta's face gave me more incentive. They both need to realize that I've chosen; that I had chosen a long time ago without knowing it. I throw on my hunting boots and hurry back down the stairs, Gale still standing in the exact same place.

He nods toward the door. "Ready to go."

I nod and rush past him, grabbing my bow and arrows by the door before swinging it open. "Let's go."

We walk side-by-side in an uncomfortable silence, and I grip my bow tighter anxiously.

"Why didn't you keep the bow Beetee made you?"

I glance over at him incredulously. Seriously? "I've been doing just fine without it."

He sighs. "But he made it just for you. I figured it would just be common courtesy, with all of his hard work-"

"Gale, shut up!" I stop and face him, eyes ablaze. Has he really become this dim, still blinded by the war? "Do you honestly believe I want to carry around a reminder? Of everything that we've, I've, lost-" I can feel tears coming, so I cut myself off and start walking again. I hear Gale's footsteps pick up again, but thankfully he is silent.

I hear him sigh next to me. "Sorry, Catnip."

The tone in his voice causes a strange sense of pain, like I've been thrust back in time; that there is hope my best friend is still in their somewhere. I calm down and continue walking, slower so that he can keep pace. "It's fine." The rest of the walk is silent, until we get to our rock from so long ago. We both sit down and just stare out through the trees, enjoying the small chirps of birds. I can even hear a few Mockingjays.

Gale turns his head toward me, curiosity written on his face. "How have you been? In 12, I mean. Just…all of it."

I can see how awkward he feels, and it actually makes me feel better. At least he realizes things have changed. "They're fine. It was tough at first, but Peeta helped me."

There's a hint of a frown on his face as he turns to stare at the ground. His knee is bouncing up and down as if he is anxious. "Is that so?" His tone is innocent enough for me to acknowledge.

"Yeah. He's really made everything easier. Been there for me through it all." I can't help but cringe, knowing how that sounds. It implies that he hasn't been there for me – which, in reality, he hasn't. Not that I've made it easy for him to even try, and honestly I don't blame him. I'm not exactly upset about him not being here, either; I can remember the relief I felt when Greasy Sae first told me that he was gone in District 2.

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, which is much shorter than it used to be. His gaze does not leave the ground. "Catnip, I'm really sorry I haven't been here-"

"No," I cut him off. I don't want him to apologize for something that I preferred. "I don't mind that you left. Really. Maybe it was better this way, anyway." I let out a breath and turn toward him, until he finally looks up at me. "Truth is…we've just grown apart. Maybe this would have happened, even if all of this went in another direction. Without the war." I shrug my shoulders. "I don't blame you for not coming back."

He looks at me in surprise, clearly not expecting me to say that. The odd thing is, that he doesn't look relieved. He actually looks a bit sad. "Well, that's good then." He turns away again.

My curiosity has sparked; his reaction doesn't make much sense. "What's wrong?" My voice is slightly hard, but it's more just an automatic reaction than anything.

He shakes his head and turns away. "Nothing."

I huff and roll my eyes, standing up. We're just dancing around issues, like…I'd rather not think about it. Maybe that's one issue that doesn't need to be resolved. "You came here to talk, so talk." I cross my arms and give him a hard look when he turns back toward me. His next question only half-catches me by surprise.

"If all of this hadn't happened, who would you have chosen?"

I swallow, the hard look being replaced with one of discomfort. I decide to play coy. "What do you mean?"

He gives me a look. "You know what I mean. I just…" He sighs, but keeps his eyes locked on mine. "I just need to know."

We stare at each other for a long time. I know who I would have chosen. There's no doubt in my mind. "Gale…" I look down and dig the toe of my shoe in the dirt, trying to figure out a way to word my thoughts. When I look back up at him, I'm met with inquiring eyes. Maybe even a little hopeful. "It was always him."

His jaw tightens and he crosses his arms defensively, now standing. He doesn't make any move, so I decide to elaborate.

I bite my lip, almost afraid to continue. I know it'll hurt, but it's the truth. "Before all of this, before the games, I always figured we'd get married. Not out of passion, but out of necessity; I'd continue to hunt while you worked in the mines. Both our families would have a much better chance at survival." I turn away. "I heard what you said to Peeta; about me choosing who I couldn't survive without. Back then, maybe that would have been you, but now…" I look back at him. When he told Peeta that, I had taken offense to it. But now, I'm starting to question the meaning behind those words. "But that's not what you meant, was it?"

He stares at me for a long time. I take that as a no.

I search his face, wanting some sort of reaction, but when I don't get one I decide to continue. "If you meant it…if there were any actual feelings behind that, then it would be Peeta." I swallow. "I love him. Much longer than I'm willing to admit." I let out a small awkward laugh, almost ready to curl into myself.

His eyes are sad, but he nods. "Was there any chance? Any doubts?" It's as if he's staring straight into my soul, with how strong his gaze is.

I just look at him for a moment. Was there? I already know the answer to that. "When I realized that I loved him, I also realized that I never loved you."

The pain on his face in that second is heart-breaking. I almost want to take it back, thinking that maybe not everything needs to be revealed. I think about if I were in his situation, and if Peeta had said that to me. Just the thought sends shivers down my spine.

He laughs once, though it's far from mirthful, and nods. "Wow. Okay." His tone isn't harsh.

We stand there in silence, me looking at him, and him looking anywhere but at me. "I'm sorry."

He just nods, hands on his hips. "We should probably head back." He looks back up at me and walks in my direction. He stops when he's by my side, though facing the other way, and grips my shoulder once before continuing to walk away.

I decide to leave him alone for now; I doubt he's leaving just yet, considering he just got here. I look at the sun and realize that it's around lunch time, so I begin to make my way to the bakery.

Hope you enjoyed.

Read and Review!