"What is taking them so long?" Finnick growled.

"Calm down, hothead," Prim said, rolling her eyes. "They have only been in their five minutes, now get away from the door."

Finnick grunted, and put his ear back to the door. Peeta and Haymitch shared a knowing look—there was something about Finnick's stubborn streak that he didn't get it from his father.

(In the Kitchen)

Katniss and her mother sat waiting at the kitchen table, where, so many years before, Mrs. Everdeen had helped Gale Hawthorn, the man they were waiting for. Their conversation was stilted—neither wanted to talk about what was on both their minds, why Mrs. Everdeen and Gale had taken so long to come back. They talked about Peeta, Finnick, and Primrose, how things had changed in the district and how they had managed to cut down Haymitch's "dependence". Photos were shown. Comments were made about the others appearance.

"I am so very sorry, Katniss," Mrs. Everdeen whispered finally, a tear trickling down her cheek.

"I know."

"But you won't forgive me?"

"It's harder than you think. Thirty years is a long time. I am a different person. Maybe, once, I could have, with difficulty, but I am a mother now, and I find it hard to understand how a mother can leave her child when they need a parent the most. I have had break-downs, been near catatonic some days, but my children always brought me out of it. So did Peeta. We could have helped each other, but..."

Katniss let the sentence die off. They both knew what she wanted to say. That Mrs. Everdeen had not considered that possibility, that she had run from her problems, that, even though she had the right medication at hand, she had slipped into the same state as had befallen her after her husband's death, except with movement and some awareness of her job. She just lacked awareness of her only living child. They lapsed into silence until they heard a car pull up.

(Gale's Point of View)

Gale pulled the car up to the only light house in the Victors Village, and glanced at his wife, Levesque. She wore a bored expression on her face, as if everything that had happened to her since she had gotten off the train was just another one of the endless meetings she had to attend.

"So," she said in a voice that matched the expression on her face, "this is the house. Not very big, but better than most of the shacks around here."

Not for the first time, Gale wondered why he had married her. Was it because she was the only person who could put up with his mood after the war? Maybe it was because they both shared an interest in the great outdoors, but as Gale rose higher in his job, they had grown apart. He didn't respond to her statement. He eased himself out of the car and walked up to the front door, his wife following close behind. There was a momentary pause after the bell was rang, and the sound of scuffling, and then the door opened, and Gale found himself facing Peeta Mellark for the first time in thirty years. They faced off for what felt like a long time, before Peeta moved and indicated that Gale could enter, and Gale found himself facing a smiling Katniss.

(PAGE BREAK)

The dinner could have gone better. Haymitch made snide remarks and Peeta stared coldly around the room. Only Prim and Katniss seemed to make an effort- Finnick would join in whenever he got a kick off Prim under the table. Mrs Everdeen only spoke when asked a direct question- she looked close to tears. Of course, it was Levesque that caused trouble. She had made no secret that she disliked Katniss almost as much as she hated her mother, and that Gale was the only good thing to come out of District Twelve.

"So Finnick," she said in a voice that dripped sweetness. "I hear you met my daughter. She seemed to believe that you made her an offer."

"Yes," Finnick said in a slow voice. "I offered to show her around the district if she was interested."

"How nice. A tour of the slums."

"Levesque!" Gale said in a warning tone.

"Actually, I am feeling a little sick," Finnick said, getting up. "I won't be too long, and I am sure you will have a much better time without me moping in the corner."

Haymitch chuckled, and Finnick stormed out. As the door closed, he heard Haymitch say "Leave him. He'll cool down in a while."

Finnick stormed upstairs and started to change into his hunting cloths. Once he was done, he strapped a hunting knife to his belt- at his hip, and another, smaller knife, in the small of his back. He put on his grandfathers hunting jacket to cover them. He didn't take his bow and arrows, as it was too dark to be of any use. Maybe he could hit a turkey with the small knife.

(PBPBPBPB)

Striding through the centre of town, Finnick saw a crowd of roughly ten boys around his own age gathered in a rough semi-circle around another person- a girl. The leader was Adain Myster, the resident town bully. A few older members of the town were watching, ready to intervene if anything happened, but Adain had a reputation of playing cruel pranks on those who interfered with his "fun".

"Look at the daughter of the deserter," he shouted. The girl shifted uncomfortably, and moved forward to try and escape the semi-circle. In that moment, before Adain shoved her back, her face was light up. It was Hazel Hawthorn. Finnick would normally ignore Adain- he had never bothered Finnick or his family before, but Finnick was in no mood for his fun and games tonight. He walked over to Adain and grabbed his shoulder.

"Time to go Adain," Finnick rumbled.

"Leave it Mellark, I'm going to have fun," Adain sneered.

Finnick tightened his grip, and moved his jacket to show his knife.

"I said time to go," Finnick stressed.

Adain looked at the knife, and backed off.

"Later," he muttered, and signalled his gang, and they slinked off.

Hazel let out the breath she had been holding, and smiled.

"Thanks," she said, "you are a real lifesaver."

Finnick just smiled.

AUTHORS NOTE: So, what do you think? Should I continue?