Author's Note: Don't own the Hunger Games. I'm renaming the story to Chemical Reaction after I post this chapter. The reason will be explained towards the end. I'm already working on Venus's wedding dress as well. I've already written their vows and they're the sweetest thing ever. Oh, have I given too much away? Crap.

"Because she had people who loved her, a family to depend on, and people she could trust. I had no one… and the reason I depend on you is because there's no one else in my life to depend on."

It seemed like she had shattered some wall he hadn't known existed. He hadn't thought of her past much since he knew it was unlikely he'd get answers for any of it. Now, she admitted in her past, feeling jealous, it seemed like she became real. He realized that if she was from his imagination, she wouldn't have felt jealous of Katniss and she would have her family still. "So… how… did you feel when… when… you know."

He was shocked that he couldn't even talk about Prim's death still, couldn't say her name. He was terrified Venus would hate him too for Prim's death. She looked down at her feet, and he was terrified of what she would say. "I was horrified that Coin had ordered the bombs. Katniss shooting at Coin made sense… I mourn the deaths in the war, but each of them… happened and brought us here."

He couldn't believe what she had said. Even when he thought he knew her, she still found ways to surprise him and make him second guess everything he knew about her. Every new revelation about her took him off guard, and he knew it shouldn't. It seemed like every time she came around, she shocked him. "So… you think everything that happened was… necessary for us to meet?"

Venus nodded, sipping her coffee ever so casually. It was clear enough to him that she did think this, as if they were etched onto her forehead. She didn't even have to say the word. "You believe that, don't you?"

It was her nod that showed him another side of her: the philosophical side. He supposed he wasn't surprised in hindsight. Venus had to have something that had kept her going, and it was in the base belief that she was supposed to exist. And he found himself grateful for it. He couldn't imagine what his life would be like right now without Venus in it. "Of course. I mourn deaths, but in the end, death is one of those things that are inevitable. How many times I've welcomed death! I fear it so little. I'm sure that they're some place better."

He smiled, wondering what she was thinking about when she mentioned "some place better". He couldn't help himself. He pulled her into his lap, kissing her cheek lightly. She giggled as she gripped the coffee cup tighter in hands to avoid spilling it. "Hot coffee," she reminded him gently.

He smirked, kissing along her neck, his hands running up and down her sides. He knew what he wanted to do at that very minute with her, if she'd let him. His hands finally rested on her hips and one found its way moving up her shirt. "Mhm, not caring."

She laughed, pushing him aside. She crinkled her nose at him, smirking right back at him. It was clear that the girl knew what was on his mind, and was daring him to do it with her eyes. He kissed her, and the next thing he knew, her coffee was gone. As to where it went, he found he didn't care. She straddled him, and then his boss walked into his office at that exact moment. "Hawthorne! This is not a burlesque club!"

Venus jumped off of Gale, much to his bitter disappointment. His entire life seemed to be full of cock blocks, and his boss proved to be another. He couldn't help his snark. He was about to have sex and his boss walked in and killed the mood. He was pretty sure he had every right to be snarky right now. Somewhere, there would be someone who backed up him on this. "I am aware of where I am, sir."

Venus looked shocked, and she mouthed, "Gale, this is not the time to be a smart aleck!" Somehow, he mouthed back at her "I know" as a vein in his boss's forehead appeared to pop. That always meant that Gale was in trouble. He had managed to get into trouble at work far too many times to think much of it. He knew that he was being lectured, but he couldn't be bothered to hear the lecture. He was busy staring at Venus, who looked somewhat horrified. His boss came to the end of his rant. "Are you even paying attention, Hawthorne?"

Gale jumped, and was about to shake his head no when he looked at Venus. He found himself saying, "Of course I am, sir."

The general nodded. "Be sure it doesn't happen again then, soldier."