The next morning couldn't come fast enough. The bakery opens at 8, so I wake up bright and early at 7 so I can find Peeta. By 7:20, I'm in front of the bakery, and I can't believe what I see.

The bakery was in the same spot it used to be, only this time, it looked a lot different. A huge window right in front was filled with beautiful cakes, complete with edible flowers and cool icing patterns. Inside, there were tons of different kinds of bread, cookies, and small cakes behind the counter. On the face of the building, bold proud letters read "MELLARK'S BAKERY".

I remembered standing here when I was younger, ready to trade squirrel meat for a baguette. It was more simple back then, with dirty windows, a small variety of breads to choose from, and a sign that said "Bakery" written just above the door. Peeta had really changed this place. Actually, the whole town was really changed.

I go around back, where Peeta would be, and knock on the door. Nobody comes, and I'm scared for a second that maybe Peeta didn't want to talk to me after all. I'm about to leave, when the door swings open.

A breath of relief passes me, and I look up. Peeta Mellark. He looks me up and down, and I do the same to him. He looks...older. His blonde curls are under control. Around his bright blue eyes are worry lines- no, smile lines. His jaw is more defined, and his muscles are broader. He stands straight and confidently. I look him in the eyes, and I see the boy I knew has grown up. I look him in the eye, and hug him.

He hesitates, but claps me on the back. I hear the smile in his voice when he says "Come right on in, Gale."

I step inside the bakery. The warmth of the ovens and smells of fresh bread gets to me immediately. Peeta closes the door behind us and motions to a table with a few chairs at it. We sit down across from each other, and get to business.

"It's been a while. It's nice to see you again. Why did you want to talk to me, Gale?" he starts off.

"A little while ago, I decided it was...immature that I haven't spoken to Katniss. She was my best friend, and I never even got to apologize for the things I've done, for Prim, for everything- it's been too long. I chose to come to 12, with the plan of mending this friendship. Only stupid me, I decided to pop out of the forest and say "Hey Catnip, I'm back". But- but I saw the look you gave me. You understood something about why I'm here. You can help me reconnect with Katniss. And also...I never said I'm sorry to you."

"Sorry? For what?" he inquires.

"Sorry for competing with you for her. You deserved her, and I was stubborn and selfish. You always were a good guy. You've been through a lot, and deserve a great life."

Peeta smiles softly. "Thank you, Gale. But, you didn't have to apologize. We were young and confused. And I don't like to think of it as competing, I mean, we didn't fight about it, we just tried to understand who she wanted."

I thought for a second. "Yah, yah I guess you're right. Katniss...how is she? How are you? Tell me your story. I want to hear everything."

Peeta got a confused look on his face and laughed as he said "everything? That'll take a few years. But I'll tell you the important things. I don't even know...I guess I'll start when I got back from the Capitol. I had planted her some primroses...she was pretty upset about everything and was in terrible condition. She wouldn't eat, she barely slept, she was so unwilling. And I was in no better condition. But I still loved her. So once I didn't have an episode for a month, I went over and asked her to be with me. We had become friends again, we ate together, we slept together- I mean like, for nightmares. I mean we obviously did sleep together later but-okay, you know what I mean"

I laughed. He shook his head and continued "Sorry. Anyway, she started to get better, even hunted again, and we started to date I guess. I eventually moved in with her little by little, and we tried to help each other. We made a book of people we lost in the war, Haymitch helped too- I can show it to you sometime. And I made her talk about everything, and made her listen to me. She got way more soft- I mean she's still Katniss and definitely lays down the law in the family, I can't handle punishing our daughter like she can. After about 3 years, I convinced her to marry me. It wasn't big, we just toasted bread, and the next day went to the court house. She kept the name Everdeen. I had already opened the bakery, and she started providing meat for the market and even volunteered at the hospital. Then, I started having episodes again. They came like crazy, and, well. I almost hurt her a few times. I felt awful. I scared her beyond her wits, and she had to stay with Haymitch while I went to get treatment. It took three months to get me back to episode free Peeta. And when I came back, I found out she started volunteering at the school to speak to kids about the war. She told me it was hard, but it was really helpful, and she told me she wanted a kid. Someone like Prim to take care of and protect. And I was ecstatic! It was around 4 years into our marriage, when she got pregnant with Ivy. At first it was great, we laughed, Delly and I threw her a baby shower, she loved it. Then during her third trimester, when Ivy started to kick, she started getting terrible nightmares. She thrashed and barely got any sleep, she didnt want to eat- I had to coax her every meal to think about our baby. And Ivy came 2 months premature. The doctors told us she might not make it, and Katniss was convinced it was her fault. But we waited together in the hospital for a long time until they told us Ivy would most likely make it, and we could take her home in two or three weeks. We visited her everyday until we took her home. And Katniss-" Peeta laughed nostalgically. "Katniss would NOT let go of her. For the first month, she couldn't be separated from Ivy for more than an hour or she would go crazy. Ivy- you've seen her- she looks just like Katniss, except with my eyes. She also has freckles, which Katniss loves. Anyway, we raised Ivy and me and Katniss love her. When she was 4 or 5, she started complaining that she wanted a younger sister, because she wanted to practice braids on her and Katniss doesn't like people touching her hair. Then she started leaving us clues, started asking us daily, tried to guilt us into it- you know, normal 5 year old things, and how could we resist? More like how could I resist- oh-and Ivy started going to school the same year, and her name was Ivy Mellark, and Katniss wanted to show the connection, so after some long thought, she changed her last name legally to Mellark too. Then I convinced her, with some hard work, to have another kid. And she got pregnant with Pane, our son, when Ivy was 6. This pregnancy was way better, because we had Ivy to look out for and keep us distracted. Everything went normally, and Pane was born. He looks like me, except with grey eyes- they look blue sometimes, it's hard to tell. Ivy was upset that he wasn't a girl, but she got over it. And Katniss? Ivy made Katniss into a mother, made her strong, but Pane is such a Mama's Boy, he made her have a huge soft spot. And now Pane is turning 8 in a week, Ivy is 14, and she hunts with Kat. Pane just started learning how to shoot, and wants to continue, but for now works in the bakery with me. And that's it."

I didn't know what to think. I was amazed. Shocked. Happy. But sad, sad that I missed out on so much. "Do you- do you think Katniss will talk to me?"

Peeta was quiet. He was trying to choose his words, I could tell. He always made sure he knew what he was saying. "Katniss has forgiven you, Gale. She knows, yes maybe you did set off the bomb that hurt someone she loved, but you didn't mean to. You didn't murder her sister. She understands how complicated it was, and how things were at the time. What she doesn't understand it why you never contacted us. She wanted to hear from you, but was very adamant about you coming to us. Also, the way you showed up, excuse me, but completely inappropriate."

I closed my eyes and immediately started apologizing. "I'm an idiot. That's so true, I don't know why I thought I would bombard her in the woods. I don't even know why- I'm sorry- I just want to see her, apologize for, for everything."

Peeta shook his head. "It's not that simple. It's not just me and Katniss anymore. We have two kids. And, and- look. When Ivy was 12, we sat her down and told her about the Games, about the war. But Katniss insisted on leaving you out of the story. So much was going on and it was a lot to handle already- you had been out of the picture for 20 years and seemed like an unnecessary detail to the story. And now, you show up, and we had to tell Ivy everything all over again, and tell Pane about the Games too, even though he's much too young to do that do. And honestly? Ivy wants you out. She thinks you murdered her aunt, she thinks you're an enemy. Pane isn't too cool about it either. And if our kids don't want you here, nothing will change Katniss' mind."

I took that in. I terrified their children. A 14 and 8 year old hate me. I felt horrible. But, I need to do what I need to do. "I understand. Really, I do. But I came here to make things right. And I didn't know you had kids, but if I'm making things right with you and Katniss, by extension I need to make things right with them. So please, will you talk to her?"

Peeta studied me. We made direct eye contact, and I held it. Finally, he said "Of course. But I can make no promises. And I have to say, if my babies aren't okay with it, neither am I."

I sat up in my chair suddenly. I had an idea-"can you give her a letter? I can come buy tomorrow at the same time and deliver it."

"Yah. That would be a good idea. She can hear what you need to say without the pressure of seeing you, and our kids don't need to know. The bakery is opening soon, but see you tomorrow?"

I exhaled largely. "See you tomorrow." Peeta got up and shook my hand, then opened the door for me.

"Good seeing you, Gale" he said,

"You too. Thank you, for everything" I said. I walked out the door, but at the last second, turned back and said "Oh and Peeta?"

"Mm?" he wondered.

"You did a great job. Congratulations on your family. You deserve them."

Peeta smiled warmly and folded his arms. "Yah, I'm the luckiest guy in the world."

And with that, I walked out of the bakery and went home to write a letter.