Real- A Katniss and Peeta fanfic

Chapter ~5~

Peeta POV

Katniss and I walk to the door with our arms around each other. I'm sure we'll look pretty odd to whoever is out there, we still have only our robes on. I really don't know who it could be, we usually don't have visitors, and the only time they're not expected is when Haymitch is drunk and wanders into the wrong house.

The doorbell rings agin as I open the door. I immediately feel Kat tense up, when I look over I see why. Holy crap, it's Gale! Why the heck is he here now after he abandoned Katniss for so long? Katniss holds on to me for strength as I say "hey Gale. Why exactly are you here?"

He totally disregards me as he says to Kat "Katniss we need to talk. I'm really sorry about leaving. Could we go to the woods?" Katniss looks up at me and I nod, knowing this is something that she needs to do. Katniss straightens up and says "Yeah I suppose. Let me go get ready. You can come in, Haymitch is in the kitchen."

She takes my hand and leads me upstairs with her, leaving behind an angry looking Gale. When we get to our room she says to me, "Peeta I'm scared. I mean, I haven't seen Gale in so long and, I just don't know what to do! Are you sure that you're okay with me going?"

I say "Kat he was your best friend! You'll be fine. And I'm okay with it as long as you promise me if he does anything, or if you feel uncomfortable at all, you'll run back here to me, okay?" She nods and I hold on to her for a moment, calming her down.

Katniss POV

I am freaking out right now. Why is Gale back? Why does he want to talk to me? As always Peeta is there to comfort me and I soon calm down. I break away to start getting ready to go hunting. I am kind of excited to be back in the woods with my old hunting partner.

Before I am two steps away, Peeta wraps his arms around my waist, and kisses my neck! Oh! I just love it when he does that! I turn around and jump up on him, attacking him with my lips. He loses his balance because of his fake leg, and we fall against the wall. We are kissing madly when we hear someone clear their throat.

A hurt looking Gale is standing there looking at me and Peeta kissing, still in our robes. He says, "excuse me, I was just wondering if there was a phone I could use to call Hazelle to tell her and the kids that I'm back. I see now that you're busy."

I say, "Of course Gale there's one down in the kitchen. I'll be ready in a second." Once he leaves I look at Peeta, and I can't help but chuckle at his embarrassed expression. I say "I should probably get ready now." and he laughs a little bit about what just happened.

Once I get suited up in my hunting gear and Peeta gets dressed we head downstairs. Haymitch seems amused, so I know Gale must have told him what happened. Gale is still on the phone, so I go and put my boots on so that I'll be ready to go. I'm embarrassed about what happened and I feel bad for Gale, so I make sure to try not to be to lovey-dovey with Peeta when he's around.

Gale POV

I cannot believe this. Katniss and Baker Boy! And that scene in the bedroom! I'm just getting off the phone with my mom, who is ecstatic about me being home, and me and Katniss are going to go hunting. I want it to be just like old times, but I know nothing will ever be the same. From the time Effie drew Prim's name our lives were changed. I should have volunteered for Mellark to keep Katniss safe. If I would have everything would be so different now.

At that moment she turns to me and asks me if I'm ready. I nod and head out the door. She kisses Peeta agin and he says "bye Kat!" Since when is she Kat? The only nickname she had before was my name for her, Catnip. I'm upset but I just keep walking. She is beside me now, and we walk to the woods in silence.

When we get to our meeting place and sit down I say, "So what's up Catnip?" At first she looks like there's something she's going to tell me, but then she looks angry. She says "and why do you suddenly care?!? You left for over a year, never contacting me, and now you expect everything to be perfect between us Gale? Because it's not!"

I'm not sure why she's this angry, but I know I shouldn't have just left like I did. I say "Katniss I'm so, so sorry about leaving you! I just didn't know what to do because you didn't seem to want to have anything to do with me, you were to busy with Baker Boy." She had calmed down until I said 'Baker Boy', now she seems upset. She says "his name's Peeta and yeah I was. Excuse me for being upset when the person who had been there to comfort me, the one person who actually knew what I had been through, one of the only people who I knew actually cared about me, got tortured because of ME, and the freaking capitol made him try to STRANGLE ME! SO YEAH, I WAS UPSET ABOUT THAT!"

She turns to leave and I say "Katniss I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that, not at all. I was just jealous. I'm so, so sorry." She turns around, now just looking defeated. A tear rolls down her cheek and she whispers "Me too Gale, I know that I was a bad friend. Don't take it personally, I just mess up everything!" I give her a hug and suddenly everything seems more comfortable between us.

Katniss doesn't know, but I love her. I know I can't do anything about it though, she really seems happy with Mellark. Wether I like it or not. We hunt for awhile, and we bag a deer. It seems that now, when we don't need the food as badly, there is much more game. I am thinking about this when Katniss clears her throat.

She says, "to answer your earlier question, there is something I need to tell you." She looks nervous then continues, "I'm going to be Katniss Mellark. Me and Peeta got engaged!" She looks so happy- wait what did she say! Her and Mellark are getting married?!? At first I'm full of rage but then I calm down. I know that this is what Katniss needs. I know that he loves her, and she loves him. I know that her and Peeta were meant for each other, and because of that I must move on. I am happy for my Catnip.

Katniss POV

I just told Gale about me and Peeta. I'm very scared to see his reaction, an I wish that I would have waited to tell him. It just kind of came out, I'm not sure why. Oh no, he looks upset. Soon that look passes to a look of understanding, and then, even, happiness.

Gale gives me a hug and says "congratulations Catnip. I'm happy for you. I know that you and Mel- I mean Peeta, love each other very much. I just want you to be happy Catnip. He's much better for you then I ever could have been."

I am so, so happy Gale isn't mad! He is actually happy about me and Peeta! I say "thank you Gale. Thank you so much. For everything you have done for me. For taking care of Prim and mother when I was in the Games. Thank you for being here for me Gale. I'm happy you're back, I've missed my hunting partner."

He smiles and just like that everything seems to be almost complete. I am marrying Peeta. Gale is back. I know when I go home I must call my mom. We haven't talked since she left to help at a hospital in another district, and I came back to 12. Being here was to painful for her. We have both been grieving Prim. I know that it will help to be together though. Anyways, I have to tell her about the wedding!

Me and Gale talk and laugh about old times. There is a few times when he is about to tell me something, but every time he decides not to. I don't pry. We go to the lake to fish and we catch five shiny, silver fish. I take one and Gale takes the other four. He will bring them home to Hazelle and the kids.

It is dark by the time we start the walk home. I know Peeta is probably worried so I quicken my pace a little. I ask Gale where he's going after this, or if he's staying here. He says that he is going to go to another district to help for a month or two, but then he's coming home. I am excited because it means I will have him back. We can go hunting together, just like old times.

We are walking up the front sidewalk when Gale takes my arm and turns me toward him. His face looks pained, and I know he's going to tell me whatever it us that has been bothering him. He says, trembling, "Katniss, I... I need to tell you something." he takes a breath and then continues, "Oh God I'm so, so sorry Katniss." I have no idea what's going on so I say "Gale. Gale calm down. Just tell me." He looks up at me as a single tear rolls down his cheek. He whispers out,

"Katniss. It was me. I designed the bomb. The bomb that killed Prim."