A/N: A question: would you readers prefer shorter chapters with more frequent updates, or longer chapters with less frequent updates? I know a lot of people aren't too happy with the winner of the Games, but I assure you I have my reasons! Also, if I want to be like Suzanne Collins, I have to kill off all the characters you guys like! (Just kidding, sort of).

Haymitch and I are escorted to the hovercraft, and in less than ten minutes we're picking Gale up and bringing him into the hovercraft, far away from the arena. Sadly, his experiences won't stay in there. I see him and the first thing I do is hug him. I cry, while he's emotionless. I ignore the fact that he's smelly and sweaty. He's alive, and that's more than I could ever ask for. "Hey, Catnip." He smiles at me. I didn't even realize how much I missed him. We sit down on the bench, and he lays his head on my shoulder. He asks me quietly, "So what happens next?"

I pause for a minute, before answering truthfully. "I don't know." Honestly, I'm not sure if he'll be left alone, or subjected to the same fate as Finnick, Cashmere and I are, as Johanna was. Maybe Gale will drink like Haymitch, Chaff and Johanna, or start using morphling like some of the older victors from 5 and 6. The rest of the short ride is silent. We're brought into a small car, and back to the training center.

"You try to forget. It's not like you have the victory tour to worry about. Or then the postponed Quell." Haymitch cuts in, his voice dripping with irony.

"Not helping." I frown at him. Haymitch is a lot of things, but not supportive. I change the topic. "Hazelle and the kids are moving in two your new house as we speak. You're gonna be my neighbor again."

Gale runs a hand through his brown hair. I see something reflected in his Seam eyes, but I'm not so sure what it is. "I killed two people. I know that's really not a lot compared to some, but still. I feel so… remorseful. Does that ever go away?"

"Not really." Haymitch grumbles. Gale 's true though." But no matter what happens, you need to agree. I don't care how bad you think agreeing is. Consequences for the alternative are much worse. Most of the victors, we get that. A week after I came home from my Games, my family was all killed. It's a long story. You know what Katniss has been through. Annie's mom isn't worthy of that title. The Odair family is a fuck-up in every sense of the word, Johanna is alone too. But we all have each other. I know you don't want hear this, but not having anyone who means anything to you actually can help you. It helped me. But we're here for you."

"Let's not get into that right now." I sigh. I'll probably have an appointment or two when I get back. "The important thing is to look forward. Everything that's happened is in the past." we pull up to the training center apartments, and head upstairs. "Go take a shower." I tell Gale kindly. "And then we'll get you ready for your interview." Gale nods and takes a towel. He goes into and goes into the bathroom. I notice a bouquet of white roses on top of my armoire. There's a small note in Snow's neat calligraphy: Miss Everdeen: Don't we all hate when plans fall through? - C.S. There's a small slip of paper attached, with a time. 2:30, 3:30, and 4:30. I can live with that. It's only ten thirty, so there's plenty of time. But what he says gives me a terrible feeling. President Snow has made it blatantly obvious that he's not happy with Gale.

Speaking of Gale. He comes out few minutes later with a fluffy white towel around his hips. "Do you know where Haymitch is?" He asks. I point him in the right direction. I go into my room to get ready. I quickly wash my face, and take off of whatever clothes I had thrown on. I change into some racy red lingerie. I put on a strapless black dress that's very tight until my hips over it. I put on my blue eyeliner and black mascara, with clear lip gloss. I feel adventurous in my look today. I've been reading Capitol fashion magazines when I can't fall back asleep. They talk about which products should be used on your face, and what colors to wear to different parties. It's insane how many people read these articles about going on dates and which parties people went to. Does it really matter? To them it does, I guess. So it should matter to me while I'm here. I am a celebrity and fashion icon. It couldn't hurt to start acting like it.

I walk outside and Haymitch and Gale are laughing about something in the living room. They fall silent when they see me. "Wow." Gale says.

"It's one of those days." I explain, sitting down next to him. "So, how do you feel?"

"It feels weird killing people. Was it different for you?" He asks.

I shrug. "Maybe. I only really killed one person. I was responsible for the death of the girl and boy from both 1 and 2, the boy from 3 when I blew up the food, and the boy from back home. But everyone deals with it differently." An idea pops into my mind. "I know who you should talk to. I'll go with you, alright?" Johanna and Finnick would understand. Both of them were ruthless killers, but are good listeners. It wouldn't hurt for Gale to meet some people too. I bring Gale into the elevator, not giving him a choice in the matter. I push floor seven, and find all of the mentors there: Cashmere, Gloss, Finnick and Johanna. The mentors from 2 must have gone home. Haymitch is taking a nap. "Look who I brought with me. Gale, this is Cashmere and Gloss. They're from 1. Johanna's from 7. You know Finnick. This is my- this is Gale." They all greet him. I sit down next to Finnick and give him a small kiss hello. Gale sits between Cashmere and I.

Cashmere smiles at him. "It's nice to meet you." She twirls a strand of her blond hair.

Gloss laughs at her. "You can be like Finn and go for the younger ones." Johanna gags. "Don't even talk Johanna. You like Haymitch for crying out loud." I still find it weird that they're together, but I don't question it. We're all really screwed up.

"So how are you?" Finnick asks Gale. I can tell he wants to be nice. But I'm anxious something bad might happen between the two of them. With Gale kissing me and all. "It's pretty hard getting over the games. I'm not gonna lie. Some end up like Haymitch over there, or my friend Annie. There will be nightmares. But just remember, you did what you needed to."

Gale shakes his head. "Whatever. And I don't think I'll ever be able to forgive myself for killing anyone. Especially on the victory tour, when I look their families dead in the face."

Johanna shrugs, nonchalantly. "As long as you're not crazy, which you aren't, and you don't do drugs, I think you'll be fine. Well as fine as you can get. Unless... he's you know. Like us. Do you think he'll have to...?" Oh. I honestly didn't realize that Gale could end up like us. Used.

"Frankly, maybe." Gloss shrugs. It didn't even cross my mind that he was like us. But he is the male version of Cashmere, and pretty attractive. It would make sense.

Cashmere nods in agreement. "You're hot. Now the good question, out of all the victors you could hang out with, you choose the drunk guy in the corner, who is god-knows-where the depressed ex-whore, the fucked up siblings, and those two, who can't keep their hands off each other. Great taste. What is this? The prostitute party?"

Gale laughs. It's nice. I realize that missed his laugh. "I honestly don't know, to be honest. But I'm not gonna end up like that. I'm not gonna let them dictate my life. They can't touch me."

Finnick shakes his head. "Gloss fucked up and got his sister reaped. I fucked up and got my ex-girlfriend reaped." Annie. Of course they dated at one point. "Johanna lost her family by putting her foot down, and Katniss almost lost you." I Speaking of fucking, I need to get dressed."

"I would tell Katniss to get you dressed, but that would end up with both of you undressed." Johanna laughs. Gale swallows hard. "Seriously, for people who have sex so much, you would think they could give it a rest every once in a while. But no." Finnick comes out, a few moments later, in a pair of black pants and a nice, navy shirt. He looks fantastic. "Jesus Katniss, stop undressing him with your eyes. You guys have dates to get to."

I check the clock on the wall, it's 1:45. "I have to go... I'll be back in time for your interview. Will you be alright?"

"Maybe." He shrugs. "I think so." I take the elevator downstairs with Finnick, towards my cab. I'm not looking forward to this. When I get back to the training center a few hours later, smelling of the unmistakable stench of sex, Effie has transformed and woken up a passed-out Haymitch, and Gale's prep team cleaned up Gale. Portia, Haymitch, Effie and Gale are all waiting for me. My face lights up when I see them. I kiss Portia and Effie on their cheeks. I straighten up my dress, and hug Haymitch. "Hey," I whisper to him, "we did it. We brought one of them home. And that's all we can ask for." He nods, and almost cracks a smile. "Well today has been a long day. I need to change. Gale, can I borrow you for a minute?" He nods, and follows me into my room. "Do you like them? You can say no."

Gale sighs, sits down, and leans back on my bed. I don't stop him. "It was... alright I guess. Johanna would fit in well back home. Cashmere's pretty hot. For someone from 1. But she's 24 years old"

I laugh. "I wouldn't worry about age differences. Finnick and I are about ten years apart, Johanna and Haymitch are fifteen. And after the Games, I really stopped thinking negatively about other districts. Even though a lot of people have their thoughts about Twelve. I used to hate 1, 2, and 4. Now I have friends in two of them."

Gale nods, still processing all of this. He looks like he's about to ask me something else, but Effie barges in. "It's time to leave for the interview! I'll bring Gale down, you and Haymitch stay here. We'll pick out something lovely for dinner!" Gale makes a face at me, and follows Effie out.

"Hey Gale," I stop them, before they get in the elevator. "Just be yourself." I tell him. He nods, and the glass elevator closes. I sit in the living room with Haymitch and Portia. Gale's interview with Caesar is much longer than the one he had before the Games, since there's only one person to interview instead of twenty-four. Caesar played the interviews with her family back home: Hazelle, Rory, Vick, Posy, Prim, and a few people I don't recognize. They must be his friends. Then, Caesar asks Gale about his time in the games, and how it felt to watch two people die.

"It was terrible, I'm not gonna lie." He shakes his head, as if trying to get the memory out of his mind. That won't work. "But the Hunger Games is a fight to the death. So of course, people will die."

"Of course." Caesar agrees with Gale, patting him on the back. "Were you close with your district partner, Alyssa?"

Gale shrugs. "Well, we lived in different parts of District Twelve, and we were in different grades, so I didn't meet her until after the reaping. The night before we went into the arena, I couldn't fall asleep. I was pretty nervous. I was going to talk to my cousin, Katniss, but I figured that wouldn't have been a good idea. She's dating Finnick Odair, you know." The crowd laughs, and I turn beet red. "So I decided to talk to Alyssa. She was awake as well. We just tried to keep each other from getting too nervous." Caesar asks him a few more questions, and then signs out.

"Katniss." Portia asks me. "Why did Gale kiss you, before he left the morning of the games? It seemed a little strange, especially since he's your cousin."

I sigh. "We're not cousins. We're best friends. The Capitol made that up, when I was in love with Peeta. Gale's liked me forever. That's sort of why he was reaped. He kissed me right before he left for the arena. He was bitter that I didn't choose him. I sound like a bitch. But it's the truth. Oh, is all they can say. I slump down on the couch.

Effie comes in, babbling about how well that went. After dinner, we'll head back on the train to go home. I don't know if I'll be happy to be home, or despise it. I did bring back Gale, so hopefully that makes me redeemable. "What's for dinner?" Effie asks.

I collect myself enough to answer, "We figured Gale should pick. It's been a while since he's had a real meal." Honestly, we hadn't even thought about it. But Effie doesn't need to know that. Over the most delicious wild turkey, and some soup that tastes like home, Haymitch drops a bombshell: Johanna's going to move into his house with him. Gale looks just as confused as I am. "Your house is a mess." I remind him.

"I have a new housekeeper. Gale's mother, actually." Hazelle? I'm actually thankful she'll have steady work. "And it's not like this is a new thing. We've been together for a year and a half." Gale says nothing, but I know he appreciates it. The avoxes clear our plates, and we get our bags and get ready to board the train. I hug Portia goodbye, promising daily phone calls to her and Cinna, and we get in the elevator. Haymitch pushes seven. We step out, and look around for Johanna. Gloss tells me she's in the bathroom. Cashmere says hello and goodbye to Gale who just smiles and winks. Cashmere rolls her eyes, but smiles.

I see Finnick and hug him tightly. "I don't know how I'll manage without you." I tell him. It's just a fact - I can barely sleep the night with Finnick, it'll be much worse without him there.

"I'm scared to go back home. Knowing I've failed them." Finnick whispers to me. I nod in agreement, but just pull him in for a final kiss. I'm not going to see him again for six months. I don't know how I'll bear it. It's much more passionate that I imagined. Johanna fakes a gagging noise.

"I'll see you soon, okay?" We go down to the lobby and board the train. We pull away from the Capitol train station and board. Johanna and Haymitch go back to their room, and I try not to picture… that. Gale asks if she can stay in my room. I let him, of course. But it's a little weird to be honest. I push my feelings aside. I need to be there for him, as a friend.

I try to fall asleep. Gale sleeps on the other side of the bed, turned away from me. I can't get my eyes to stay shut. It seems like the idea of facing the nightmares I know will be waiting for me is unbearable. Soon enough, I'm able to drift off into sleep. My nightmare is less subtle. Gale dies. And then Gale and I are talking in the square, back in District Twelve and he just punches me in the gut, really hard. I can feel the pain, as if I've really been hit. I bend over. Gale starts yelling about me, how I should have tried harder to keep him alive. How that's all he's ever asked of me. And how I wasn't able to do any of it: keep Peeta alive, keep Gale alive, try to reciprocate Gale's feelings. Who will I get killed next? Prim or my mother? Maybe even Finnick. I jolt up, not even realizing why my face is wet. I've been crying. I turn over to look at Gale. He's thrashing, and silently screaming. I shake him awake. "Thanks." Gale says quietly. "Did I wake you?"

I shake my head, no. "I couldn't sleep. But I needed to help you out of that. Wanna walk around?" Gale grins. We end up in the lounge car. According to a clock on the wall, it's two-thirty in the morning. The scenery makes it clear that we must be general area of District 7. We should be back home by eleven in the morning or so. The television is on, and there's some television show about a group of teenagers in a Capitol school. The actors must be in their twenties, and don't look the part at all. We don't really watch it. I get a Capitol attendant to bring us hot chocolate and sweet bread to dip in it. Gale's never had it before. Peeta showed it to me on the train coming to the Capitol, a year ago.

We just talk about everything. Anything to get our minds off this. We talk about growing up, and reminisce about when we first met in the woods. But Sunday hunting is a thing of the past. We decide to try to catch a few more hours of sleep. Gale goes back to his car. I wake up twice, but manage to stay asleep for a while. When Effie wakes me up, and tells me to get dressed because we're almost there, I'm dreading today more than ever. I don't know how I'll be able to possibly get off this train. I'll have to, though. I have to face reality. I braid my hair, and put on a pale, powder blue dress I've worn hundreds of times before. Today, all the attentions off me. And I couldn't be more thankful for that.

Breakfast is silent, but that's alright. When Gale steps off that train, the crowd roars. We've had two victors in a row. I spot Hazelle, surrounded by Rory, Vick and Prim, with Posy in her arms. They're cheering and grinning as well. Yet something feels… off. I can't place it. But my gut feeling is never wrong.

A/N: How was that? Hope you all enjoyed! Don't be afraid to ask me any questions/ give me any feedback you'd like! All reviews are good reviews, in my opinion. I'm trying very hard to improve my writing a little.

Reviews = Love.