Takes place after the end of Mockingjay. Spoliers for the whole trilogy.

Disclaimer: The usual.

I tuck the children in bed and then walk downstairs to sit by the fireplace. Buttercup curls up on my lap and begins to purr. I can't believe that cat is still around. It must be true about cats having nine lives. After Prim's death, we came to a sort of agreement, and I have to admit, I've actually become fond of the hissing beast.

I hear a knock on the door and wonder who would be visiting at this hour. Haymitch is probably passed out drunk, and nobody else comes by. Fearing the worst, I tiptoe toward the door and open it.

"Hi, Catnip."

Unsure of whether to be upset or elated, I pause for a moment. Then I throw my arms around my visitor and exclaim, "Gale!"

It has been ten years since I've seen him. Ten years since we defeated the Capitol and I was banished to District 12 for the crime of assassinating President Coin. Ten years since I was the Mockingjay.

I invite him in and make him a cup of mint tea. We sit at the kitchen table and my mind flashes back to the last time he was in this house – after he received the whipping from the Peacekeepers.

"What brings you to District 12?" I ask.

"I got homesick."

There is a long pause while we both try to figure out what to say next. Gale breaks the silence. "I'm so sorry I didn't come sooner. I heard about what happened to Peeta. I should have been there for you."

This causes me to flash back to the painful memory. About a year ago, Peeta went insane again. It was the last attack of President Snow. Even after his death, he still found a way to torment me. We thought we had cured Peeta from the trackerjacker attack, but we only found a way to make it go dormant. Then it resurfaced. At first, it only warped his sense of reality. Then the murderous programming reemerged.

The first time he attacked me, I fought him off and gave him some sleep syrup. When he awoke, he was horrified at what he had done. He wanted to run away, but I convinced him to stay. The second time, Haymitch had to pull him off of me. Peeta ran into the woods. When I found him that evening, his hands and lips were covered with the juice of nightlock berries.

I bring myself back to the present, squeeze Gale's hand, and say, "I never should have pushed you away."

We sit in comfortable silence for a few minutes before I say, "It's late. I have a guest room upstairs. Would you like to stay here tonight?"

Gale smiles. "Yes. Thank you."