~ Five Years Later ~

Katniss's P.O.V.

I watch her and I swear I can't force myself no to smile. She follows Peeta around every chance she gets. She's just like I was at her age, wanting to be like her daddy. She'll come running into our room at 6:30 every morning without fail. Just to ask if she can come with him to work. Truthful, she's much more gifted in hunting than baking. But most of the time Peeta tells her she can tag along and be his special assistant. He can't bear to tell her no. So in the evening, she'll come skipping home from the Bakery, hop up on my lap and present me with some sort of lopsided, lumpy and often tasteless pastry. But I finish every bite. She'll look over at Peeta, whose always grinning uncontrollably, and give him an enthusiastic thumbs up. Just to make sure he knows that her latest creation was a success. Maybe it's needless to say, but I wouldn't change a thing.

I have the house to myself for the morning, since Aster is at Kindergarten. I haven't been hunting much, since I am a mother and Aster always wants to go home as soon as we get into the woods as of late. She used to be a momma's girl. Now Peeta has taken her to his side. She still will hunt with me, but Peeta has her heart more. Since he gives into her more easily than me. I go and get the phone. I dial Gale's number. Him and I haven't spoken much or done a lot since Aster was born. And since we got into our argument when I was pregnant. The line rings about three times, then picks up.

"Hello, this is Gale?"

"Hi, Gale. It's me, Katniss."

"Oh, hey. How's it going?"

"Good. I have a couple of free hours until I have to pick up Aster. Want to go hunting?"

"Sure. Haven't done any in a while."

"I'll meet you there, alright?"

"Meet you there."

"And, Gale?"

"Yeah, Catnip?"

"Can.. we talk? About.. Us?"

"Yeah. Of course."

"Okay.. I'll be there in ten. Should I bring help?"

"I bet those dogs would enjoy it, bring them along."

"Alright. See you then."

"Bye."

I put the line on the jack. I sigh. I feel all the thoughts rush to the front of my mind. All the things I need to tell him. Apologize for. Thank him for. Ask him about. Catch up on. I know we said things the last time we had an actual conversation. Things that were true, yet also hurt. I do regret a lot of what I said. But some of those things were true then. Maybe not now. I don't know. That's why I need to talk to him. To make things clear. To be on the same page and grow back together. Be the friends we used to be. Or at least try to. We may not be completely the same, with the war and all the losses we have had. But we can grow in new ways and become better people. Better friends. Better family.

~

Gale's P.O.V.

"I'll be back in an hour of so, Al." I say to my wife Aleree.

"Where are you going?" She asks with a smile.

"Katniss wants to hunt. Figured we could use some dinner or later there this week too." I say.

"Have fun. I love you." She says and kisses me.

"Love you too." I say.

"Oh, and I had a thought." She says.

"What's that?" I ask.

"Well.... Nevermind. I'll tell you when you get back." She says.

"Okay. I'll see you later." I say.

I grab my jacket hanging form the rack. I leave my house. Since I came back to 12, I have made a life. Or to the best I can. I am the District's Authority and Security Leader. Which isn't bad. Not a whole lot of trouble happens here. Not like how it was in 2. Back then, people were still upset and defiant over the past. With what Katniss had done, Snow, Coin. All of that was bitter in their hearts. But luckily since time has gone on, the world is different. My family is the best thing to happen to me. I can't help but still protect them. Rory is twenty one. Vick is eighteen and Posy is fifteen. My mother still looks after them. But they are great kids. I check in often with them. My mother is always telling Aleree and I to give her grandchildren. We still have yet to. We tell her in time. But she'll never quit asking. I am thirty six. Aleree is thirty five. We aren't young anymore. Getting older than younger. She just never really asked. Neither did I. But.. I think we should maybe. But I'll have to see. I slip through the hole in that old fence at the edge of 12. The forest still has a lot of memories. When I first met Katniss. Hunting with her for our entire lives. Saving 12 after those Games. Spending all those early Reaping mornings with Katniss. I feel mostly sentimental about them. A little bit of pain with some. But.. mostly good. I get to the old log where Katniss and I hide our bows. Her's is gone, so I know she's here. I sling my sheath around me and walk to our spot. Apollo and Daisy greet me with licking and jumping on me.

"Guys, calm down." Katniss says to them.

"Don't worry, Catnip. They just missed me." I say and laugh a little.

She gets them away from me, then she hugs me. I have missed us. And her.

"Let's talk first." She says quietly then lets me go.

"Sure." I say.

We sit down by the boulders.

"What happened, Gale?" She asks.

"I... I don't know, Catnip." I say honestly.

"Was it me?" She asks.

"Don't be ridiculous, Katniss. It wasn't you. We just got dealt a crappy hand of cards is all. And it sucks." I say.

"I know I hurt you Gale. You don't have to pretend anymore. We're plenty old enough and mature enough to face this. I can't stand this... whatever... wall between us. You can be honest with me. You're my friend, Gale. Not an enemy. And I feel like we are. Ever since I became a mother. Since you came back even. And I hate it. I hate it, Gale. I want what we were before our lives were hell. I could tell you anything. We'd hunt. We'd take care of each other. I want that back." She says.

"I do too." I say. "You told me that we needed to let go. So let us let go. Finally. I'm ready. I can see what this bitter hatred is doing to us."

"I know you what you told Peeta. At Aster's reveal party. I heard it. Do you still feel that way? And about that fight?" She says.

"No. Not in my heart at least. I care about you. Not in the way I was holding you up to anymore. But in my head.. It's just stuck there. A bad memory." I say.

"What can I do, Gale?" She asks.

"I don't know. You know how stubborn I am." I say and laugh a little.

"I do. But I can be too." She says with a smile.

"No kidding, Catnip." I say.

She laughs. So do I. We both sigh.

"Do you think... maybe.. Something of your own.. Like Aster..." She says.

"I was considering it." I admit.

"She's changed my life. Truly." She says.

"I know. So did Peeta." I say.

"I can see Aleree has changed you too, Gale. Maybe you'd change more with a little you." She says.

I laugh a little at the thought. "Maybe." I say.

Katniss hugs me. Then lets me go.

"Are we better now?" She asks.

"Yeah. We are. For good." I say.

"I'm glad to have you back, Gale." She says.

"I'm glad you're back too, Katniss." I say truthfully.

~

Aleree Hawthorne's P.O.V.

I wait patiently for Gale to return home. I'm happy that he went for a hunt. I know they have a past. And some things have been hard between them. I am glad they can still hunt together. I have had a lot on my mind about us. I want to have a family. Not just because his mother has been pestering us about it for years. Just.. I don't know. Maybe it is our age now. Or that Katniss and Peeta have a daughter. I just... think it'd be nice. I've been preparing myself to talk to Gale about this for the past two weeks. Even taking medicine to get my body prepared for the possibility of carrying a baby. I hear the front door to out house open. I finish making dinner.

"Hey, Al. I'm back." Gale says as he enters the kitchen.

"Oh good." I say and smile.

"Smells good." He says and puts his game away.

"Thank you." I say.

I serve the food up and set the table. Most nights are quiet for us. Which I don't mind. With Gale's low work days and issues, there is hardly anything to talk about. And I stay home and nothing happens much. Ocassionally Hazelle and her kids come by. But when they don't. It's just me.

"I want to tell you what I wanted to before you left this morning, Gale." I say.

"I have something to tell you too, Aleree." He says.

"Oh. Well, you go first." I say with a smile.

"Okay.. um.. I was thinking.. Maybe it's time we... aren't so alone?" He stammers.

"Really?" I ask, shocked that he was thinking that.

"Yeah. Talking with Katniss today got me thinking. And made some things clearer. What do you think?" He explains.

"I was going to tell you that." I say and smile.

"So.. are we..?" he asks, with a small smile growing.

"Yes." I say and smile even wider.

Gale reaches for my hand. I hold it tight. 

Thank you to, @moon-light-girl  @cowgirlzeddison @SparrowMcWood for the help and being my besties! 

AWW! CUTENESS OVERLOAD!! I really wanted to fix things with Katniss and Gale. And now they will be! So Yay!! Imma switch back to Everlark in the next bit. Also this book with be 20 chapters. As of late, I've been overloading myself with books. And life has been falling apart at my house. So I am making things shorter and making things scheduled. And I apologize if i do not get them out on a scheduled day. I have a life. But if yall want to help with the load, I'd apprechiate it! Just comment or Pm me. I hope yall like this update! I did! So CUTE! Plz vote and comment suggestions or feedback or whatever! 

Lots of Love from Me!! ❤❤❤BYEEYEYEYE!