I was clearly nervous. It took three tries to tie my tie. Rory's suit was a little snug, but it fit for the most part. The festival started in 30 minutes. 30 minutes until a censored night with the Mellarks. Fun.

I went down stairs and found Angela and Rory ready to go, Angela with the gift from us in hand, Rory with a huge smile on his face. When he was younger, he hated his birthday, we all did. But now that things were different, and since we didn't have the Hunger Games anymore, I guess a lot of people celebrated them a lot more often.

"You ready to go?" Rory asked me. He was tying up his shoes, anxious to get to the party. "We're gonna be late!" he exclaimed.

"Let's go, then," Angela said. We followed her through the door and she led us downtown to city hall.

We saw a few other people headed towards it too, dressed in summer colors and wearing suits. When we approached city hall, we saw a big banner that said "Happy Birthday July," and underneath a poster with the names of everyone who helped out. Peeta's was the third one on the list.

We went inside and found ourselves in a big room with tables and place cards everywhere. There were streamers hanging from the walls and a dance floor off to the side with colorful lights being shined on it. There was a DJ in the corner and a buffet in the back of the room.

"So where are we sitting?" I asked Angela and Rory. Rory proudly pointed at a grand table right in the center of the room. It had food from the buffet table on it, so we didn't have to get up, and it was even roped off from the rest of the tables. It was clearly the most special place in the room.

Rory acted like a boy and ran towards it, with Angela laughing and pulling me along to follow him. As we got closer, all but four seats at the table were taken. That meant the Mellarks were there…

I saw Katniss listening to her son who was telling a story or something. He was at the head of the table, and she was next to him. On her other side was an empty seat. She was listening to something he was saying, and across the table from Katniss on the other side of her son was Haymitch Abernathy, Victor and Mentor of Katniss. And next to him was a mini-Katniss, her daughter.

Rory went to sit next to Katniss' daughter, Angela next to him. The other birthday guest was at the head of the table, his wife next to him. The only seat left open was next to the empty chair which I assumed was for Peeta. I was so close to Katniss.

When the family saw me come around the table katniss stood up and shook my hands. "Gale!" she said, "I'd like you to meet my pride and joys, Ivy," she said as moved her hand toward her daughter, "and Pane, the birthday boy. And of course, you remember Haymitch"

Pane, who again was JUST like Peeta when he was 8, smiled widely and waved to me. Ivy glanced upward, nodded, and then looked back down. Huh. Cold greeting.

Haymitch however, stood up and shook my hand. I spoke to him often during the war, when Katniss wasn't in good condition and when we tried to rescue Peeta. He was a harsh guy, but he usually had good intentions.

"Haymitch- so nice to see you again. I didn't expect you to be here" I told him.

"Good to see you too. 12 missed you," he said and sat back down. I thought I heard Ivy snort sarcastically under her breath.

"And you guys know Rory and Angela," Katniss said to her kid. She sat back down, and so did I.

"We're the Quinns", the other birthday guest said. "Robert, and my wife Margaret", he said. I shook their hands.

"So how old are the guests of honor turning this year?" Margaret asked. "Robert's *47* today" she said in a whisper.

Rory laughed and said "37th birthday. I still got a few prime years left" he said proudly.

We turned to Pane, who said prouder than anyone else "I'm eight!"

Katniss smiled and said "Yah, it's a big year for him, huh?"

The whole table laughed, except for Ivy, who I noticed had been staring at me uncomfortably the whole time. I glanced at her every few minutes while we all talked, but her gaze never wavered.

Robert turned towards me and said "So, I don't believe I've seen you around. Are you from out of town?"

"Yes, I used to live here but I've been in District 2 for the last 20-so years" I explained to him.

"Ah, is it nice there?" Robert asked.

Before I had a chance to answer, Ivy, still glaring at me, said "It must be real nice for him to abandon his home after the Victors War".

Whoah. Where did that come from? Did they not tell her we weren't talking about this? Haymitch raised his eyebrows and shared a look with Katniss.

Trying to get past that awkward moment, I said to Robert "It is actually- after the war, the district commended me for doing a good job and offered me a position on their council. It's really great." I told him.

Ivy furrowed her brows and said "Since when is being 'good at war' a compliment?" she said. This girl was sassy.

"Ivy!" Katniss scolded her. I could feel the air getting thicker, the tension rising. Rory looked at me from across the table and gave me a puzzled look. I just shrugged back- I wasn't doing anything!

The table was silent for a beat, Ivy glaring, Haymitch sharing looks with Katniss, and the Quinns pretending this wasn't awkward. I was going to say something, but was saved when I saw Peeta coming to the table.

"Hey!" he waved to everyone as he came to the table. He was still wearing his bakers coat. He kissed Katniss on the lips and said "you look beautiful." She smiled and he put his hands on her shoulders. He noticed me next to his seat and said "Gale, good to see you." I nodded politely back.

He said hello to the Quinns and to Angela and Rory, and then said "Hmm? Am I forgetting something?" and looked towards Pane. He got a huge smile on his face, and Pane got up and tackled him in a hug as Peeta said "Happy Birthday!"

Now Ivy wasn't staring at me, she was paying attention to Peeta. After Pane and him embraced, everyone watching because it was so adorable, Peeta looked at Ivy and said "And Ivy, stand up, let me see," and with an anxious look stood and took a step back. It's the first time I noticed her dress.

The dress was magical, it looked like Katniss' old ones. It was mostly pink, but with yellow and red and orange colors that shimmered somehow when she moved.

"Oh, just beautiful!" He said and hugged her.

She smiled and said "You really think so? Thanks Daddy," and kissed him on the cheek.

Katniss, who smiled proudly turned to the table and said "she made it herself, the design and execution and everything, isn't that amazing?"

Wow, that was. 14 and making a dress? The Quinns commended her on it, as well as Rory and Angela. She took the compliments gracefully and sweetly. Then I told said "It''s very impressive".

She faced me and her smile fell. "Thanks," she said flatly. She quickly sat down, Peeta now taking his seat across from me.

While the table picked up light conversation again, Katniss leaned over and told Peeta something quietly. He looked surprised and raised his eyebrows at Ivy, who rolled her eyes whenever I spoke. I glanced at her more frequently now, and she noticed.

"Quit staring at me!" Ivy suddenly outburst.

She was actually staring at me way more than me her, but I didn't know what to do. Stuttering a bit, I said "Oh, um" I glanced at Peeta and Katniss. "I'm-I'm sorry I didn't mean to." The table was silent.

Ivy smirked and narrowed her eyes. "So you'll apologize for that? Anything else you want to apologize for?" She gave me and her parents an uncomfortable glare.

"Ivy!" Katniss and Peeta exclaimed at the same time. What was happening?