Author's Note: Don't own the Hunger Games. Just own the story. I'm slightly worried because slightly unlikeable shit in here. Okay. And I'm sorry this took so long. I fell ill.

She giggled before unzipping his jeans.

Venus jumped away from him mere seconds later after there was a loud, booming knock on his door. She gasped, grabbing his shirt and pulling it over her. She asked, "Were you expecting company?"

Gale shook his head, mentally cursing whoever interrupted them to a void filled with nothing but despair and bitterness. He looked over to Venus, who had already pulled his white dress shirt on and her skirt on. He was shocked at how lovely it looked on her. He zipped his jeans up, and opened the door with an annoyed, "What?"

Katniss was standing on the other side of the door with Peeta hovering nearby. She bit her lip, and noticed Venus. "Um, is this a bad time? I just… wanted to make sure you were okay. You didn't answer any of my letters and I was worried."

Venus ruffled her curls, looking up at the corner of the room. Gale looked at Venus for help only to find her lost in a different world. He bit his lip. "Well, it kind of is a bad time. Sorry I didn't reply to any of your letters… I just didn't know what to say. I mean…"

Gale bit his lip again, unsure what to say next. He was never good with words and with the fact that most of his blood was in a place other than his head, he was no good at explaining himself. Of course, he couldn't fathom why he had to explain himself. He hardly noticed when Venus was at his side, smiling. "He was just busy trying to move on… and it's kind of hard to move on when you're busy in the past. I mean no disrespect, but it just seems to me that healing is a long process… and isn't it great that he's healing now?"

He got the feeling that she wasn't just referring to him. After all, she wasn't the same as when he had first met her. Some parts of her he was sure would never change, but at the same time… she didn't seem as broken. Katniss bit her lip. "Yeah. It's real great he's healing… but I've got a question for you. Who the hell are you?"

Venus merely grinned. Her voice was dead as she spoke. "Soldier Venus Keane. And I am well aware of who you are. Katniss Everedeen… or is it Mellark now? The Mockingjay. The girl who had everything when I had nothing."

Gale hadn't expected this at all. He ran his hand through his hair. "Can we avoid fights? Please?"

Venus's sly smile pissed Katniss off. Katniss couldn't figure out why. She'd long given up Gale, and yet this pretty blond girl smiling at her as if Katniss still had something that Venus envied. It was obvious Venus was the object of Gale's affections now. That should make Katniss happy. So why did it make her so upset? Peeta speaking cause Katniss to slightly jump. "Yeah. Fights would be nice to avoid today."

Katniss nodded, unsure about Venus. She was an unknown quantity, someone she hadn't bothered to pay attention to on District 13. The young blond girl that Katniss really hadn't bothered to see. There wasn't much that Katniss could comment on her. Venus nodded suddenly, and said serenely, "I never did like fighting. Not with my sister, not with my mother, not ever."

It was like a punch in the gut for Katniss. Katniss hadn't really spoken to her mother after Prim's death and she hadn't bothered to reach out and contact her. Katniss shifted guiltily, pushing her mother aside. "So you still keep in touch with your family?"

Katniss's question was directed at Venus, but it was Gale who answered. "Sometimes. I try to talk to them, but… I don't always get to talk to them."

Venus looked at Katniss as if the brunette had slapped the blond. Venus mumbled, "My family's dead. Been dead for several years now."

The way she said it, so blunt made Katniss wince when she remembered where Prim was. Venus had long since accepted her family's death and grew up without a family. Katniss bit her lip. "I'm sorry about that."

Venus waved off the sympathies as if she didn't need it. "It's over. The past. Dead and gone. Nothing can bring back Tis or mom and dad. Tis wouldn't want me to be wallowing over her. She'd want me to move on and live life to its fullest."

Venus realized she had let more slip then she ever meant to let slip. And Gale picked up on it. "Who's Tis?"