It felt like I was waiting for Peeta for a year before he came to unlock the bakery. But then again, I probably shouldn't have gotten there so early.

I was playing with the letter in my hand. In the nicest handwriting I could muster I wrote on the envelope 'The Mellarks'. I thought about it's contents, and while I knew it was the best I could do, I wished I was a more eloquent person. Like Peeta. That man saved an entire nation with just words.

I was also ready to get this message delivered and let fate play out. If their family wanted to meet me, great. And if they didn't, I could stop bothering them and go home. Either way, once this I gave them this letter, it was out of my hands and I could start spending more time with Rory.

I thought about what Angela told me yesterday. She had mentioned that maybe I didn't even need to get him a gift; Rory was apparently incredibly excited for me to come visit, he was getting ready for a week.

I had NO clue! I felt bad, honestly. I mean, we called each other every once in a while, but for holidays. I love Rory and we were so close when we were younger but since moving to 2...I don't know. I guess we lost touch. And the fact that he was excited- I mean, here I am begging for the attention of a family who doesn't want it, while my own family is right in front of my face.

"GALE!" I suddenly heard.

I looked up to find Peeta standing in front of me tapping his foot and holding his keys.

"Oh, Peeta! How long have you been standing there? I was spacing out."

"No kidding. I said your name three times." Peeta smirked. "Now can you please let me open my bakery?"

"Oh. Oh yah, sorry about that" I said awkwardly as I moved out of the way. He opened the door and let me in first, then followed after. He turned on the lights and started setting things up and wiping off the glass cases.

"So," Peeta said while getting dough out of the oven. "Do you have the letter?"

I looked down at the letter in my hand. This letter was my last chance. I exhaled and held out the letter to him. "Yah, I have it right here."

Peeta stopped kneading dough on the table and took the letter. He turned it over in his hands first, then put it in his pocket and got back to kneading. "I think you have a good chance, by the way."

I furrowed my eyebrows and said "What? What do you mean?"

Carrying a huge sack of flour effortlessly to the table, he said "My daughter Ivy, she told us last night she wants to meet you. Clear things up. Pane is pretty open to learning more, and Kat? I talked to her last night and said she needs to know why you're here. And her curiosity will probably get the best of her, it generally does."

Things began to brighten in my head. I had a good chance. I could put all of this behind me, once and for all. Clementine would be so proud.

"That's amazing!" I told Peeta. "Thank you- thank you so much! I don't know what I'd do if-" suddenly we heard the back door open and close.

A young voice cried out "Daddy! Mama said you forget your wallet!" and Peeta turned.

"Just a minute!" he called back. He turned back to me and said "Oh- Pane got here early. You better go, but I'll deliver the letter. See you soon?"

I grabbed all my stuff and hurried towards the door "See you, Peeta". I exited the shop and once I was outside and and across the street, I looked back across to the bakery window. A little blonde boy, whose curly hair was in his eyes, was trying to drag a sack of flour into the kitchen, but fell backwards. Peeta, who was just a giant version of the boy, picked him up and threw him into the air and both started laughing and playing around with each other.

I smiled- they were adorable. But a second later I frowned.

I really hoped I didn't disappoint this family.