Chapter Text
Gale had a lot of work to do to get back into shape for competitive figure skating. He had actually gained over 40 lbs since they had taken their leave. He was on a strict routine, which also gave Katniss a little more flexibility in her training to start.
She took Peeta on the ice, at first just for fun, they would race, like when they were kids. Peeta’s practices for speed skating and hockey were in the same building as Katniss. When Katniss was first learning pairs Ice dancing sometimes she would wait around for Peeta for his sessions to end and they would find a free rank. She demonstrated what she learned and they would attempt to ice dance together and fail miserably. Peeta has always been a skilled skater, but speed agility, and control were his strengths. He could never be considered light on his feet or graceful.
Here nearly 20 years later Katniss and Peeta skate holding hands, Peeta spins her and tries an awkward dip which they both laugh as they struggle to complete. They embrace and continue to laugh.
Then she started showing him some basic Ice Dancing formations. He wasn't half bad, he was much more gentle the way that he would cradle Katniss, as if she was something precious. A stark contrast to Gale’s more commanding presence on the ice.
They held each other close and laughed. Katniss pulled him closer as she studied his face, eyes, then lips.
She often wondered to herself what it would have been like if Peeta was chosen as her partner all those years ago.
Katniss rocked her skates forward to lift her up just enough to stand on her toe picks and capture his lips. Peeta tilted his head, cupped her cheek with one hand while his left arm wrapped around her waist to steady her. The dizzy euphoric feeling in her head returned and she hummed in appreciation. Lost in Peeta's kisses for what felt like an eternity. They pulled back for air, traded smiles and with mischief in his eye Peeta dragged Katniss off the ice rank for some proper alone time.
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The process of convincing Haymitch to be their coach and Cinna their choreographer went much more smoothly than Katniss could have hoped. Effie actually kissed Gale’s cheek and wiped a tear away when she was asked to join them in their team for success.
Two years and three days after Katniss and Gale left competitive Ice Dancing they made a decision to broadcast that they would be returning to competition on the 2016-2017 year.
"We have known our new Coaches Haymitch and Effie [Abernathy] for such a long time and in our own career they took us under their wings and mentored us not only at competitions but in Stars on Ice as well," Hawthorne said when questioned about his and Katniss’s choice of coach.
"We knew we needed a break for sure. But we were surprised by how much we missed it -- we missed the structure of training, the regimented schedule, we missed waking up with a purpose and testing our capabilities.
"That was really the driving force behind our come back."
We don’t really have anything to prove,” said Katniss, a Panem native. “We’re not coming back feeling bitter about Sochi or feeling like we’re trying to get revenge. It’s really just purely for the joy of skating. It’s just for us now.”
“How we want to be remembered is by inspiring the next generation.” Gale tells the press.
"I think that's the reason why we came back," Hawthorne said of their partnership, according to The National Post. "I wouldn't even think about skating with somebody else. The whole reason I wanted to come back to skating was to be close to Katniss again and to share those moments. We are very proud of our business relationship and it's been very, very special for 20 years."
Some of the answers Gale gave to the press leading up to the Olympic games actually had Peeta clenching his teeth. He trusted Katniss, but didn't mean he wasn't jealous of her closeness with Gale Hawthorne.
Sometimes Katniss didn't see Peeta for a weeks at a time leading up to competitions. She needed to stay focused and the schedule before competition was very strict and arduous.
She wasn't always good with words so she would write him letters. Letters of how he inspired her, how he was the spark that ignited the drive to take her dreams and make them reality.
She challenged him and stirred in him the hope that she first gave him when they were children.
These letters assured him that nothing had changed between them, she needed the time to focus on training, and choreography.
They would pick up where they left off. He would greet her with flowers.
Katniss's arms wrapped around Peeta's neck as he scooped her up in his arms and swung her dramatically for everyone in the baggage claim to see.
He placed a sweet kiss on her cheek as he lowered her back to the ground, he handed her an understated but beautiful bouquet of wildflowers and swing her bag over his right shoulder. Freeing is left hand to entwine with hers.
Peeta’s eyes seemed to dance with absolute happiness. Katniss internalized her emotions, so her expression was more understated, but anyone paying attention could see that they were crazy about each other.
They would often go out to dinner after the airport or just eat in and collapse on the couch in each other's embrace.
At first they seemed invincible.
It wasn't always roses.
Katniss was really dating two entities. Peeta and ice dancing. Peeta was put on the back burner a lot.
Katniss was doing little things here and there to try to reassure him of her affection, but it still got to him. It would get to anyone.
If Peeta hadn't been an Olympic athlete and entirely dedicated to his sport he would have just stopped back from the relationship. Instead he embraced that Katniss was finally his. He wanted to give her strength and encouragement, and when she could she did the same.
With her love notes, with her little gifts she would send Peeta, with the way she always made time for him to fit in her schedule, no matter how exhausted she was at the end of the day. He was so grateful for her in his life.
Katniss pushed Peeta to continue his painting, and to keep up with the foundation work he loved. She encouraged him to invest in his own bakery, a nod to his childhood. He even helped come up with some of the recipes that the bakers made everyday.
Peeta was finding fulfillment in his own life just as he had helped Katniss. His life didn't orbit around Katniss, she enhanced it. It was a beautiful give and take despite Katniss being married to her sport.
Katniss and Gale had a dream year in terms of competition. They had remained undefeated their entire 2016-2017 competitive year and were able to break their own record as they won the world's competition for pairs Ice Dancing.
The headlines read: “Panem’s darlings Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorne have captured their third ice dance title at the world figure skating championships in Helsinki, Finland.
"We've never had a quote-unquote perfect season, never had that kind of run of golds, and at this point it's fun to have on our resume," Katniss said. "But more than that, what we've been able to accomplish personally as athletes has been the most satisfying." Of their undefeated title, breaking their own record.
The media however was in a frenzy of Katniss and Gale’s perceived ‘romance’ off the ice.
Gale handled a lot of the media and was decidedly vague about the answers he gave.
Katniss rushed in with steam coming out of her ears before practice one day. She was heading to find Gale and have a friendly heated discussion when Haymitch saw her clenched fists and gritted teeth, he had to pulled her aside.
“I wouldn't do that if I were you.” He stopped her.
“Gale’s running his mouth--”
“Let him!” Haymitch interrupted,
“Wha--why?” Katniss asked, somewhat dumbfounded.
“He makes you look more desirable sweetheart. You need to make that kind of impression on the audience. Just... trust me?” Her mentor asked, giving her a pointed look.
“But--” Katniss crossed her arms and huffed.
But Peeta!! Her mind screamed.
“We'll talk to the boy. He’ll understand.” Haymitch stated.
And surprisingly Peeta understood.
Katniss still had a bad feeling about this.
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Peeta took the analyst job NBC offered him and was preparing to cover all the speed skating events during the Winter games in Pyeongchang.
Katniss was so proud of him. She was beaming as if she had been graced the opportunity.
Peeta and Katniss went to dinner and celebrated a year of dating and his new position with NBC, this week he had also signed a contract with an energy drink that will be sponsoring the Olympic Games broadcast with their ad campaign.
Productions and photo shoots were already being scheduled in just a few month's time. Peeta Mellark's face was going to seen everywhere during the Olympics games.
“I um…” Peeta started out and took a deep breath. “I have something for you. We need to talk about what it would mean to you, it's up to you, but to me…” he paused and opened the ring box.
Inside it was a diamond encrusted white gold band. Inside the band the word ‘Always' was engraved.
“This means you're it for me. To me, you're the one, and I would be a fool not to lay all my cards in the table, sorta speak.” Peeta rambled nervously.
Katniss looked scared at first, was this a proposal? ‘I can't even think about marriage, with the Olympics on my mind at all times.’ She thought to herself.
Peeta read her expression and back tracked.
“No. No. I'm not....” But was he proposing? Kind of.
“I want to know if... when you think of your future, when you think of growing old with someone, is it me you see beside you?” Peeta looked hopeful.
This was too intense for Katniss. Her eyes began to fill in response to the seriousness of her emotion.
But she didn't have to think.
The image of a gray haired Peeta with laugh lines and wrinkles kissing her aged wrinkly hand came to mind the second she thought of who she could grow old with.
She smiled and nodded. A single tear trailed down her cheek. Peeta's thumb gently brushed it away. Only to find himself in a similar weakened emotional state.
Peeta slipped the band on Katniss's middle finger on her left hand. Anyone paying attention could see that someone who loved her gave her this significant ring.
It seemed nothing could tear Katniss and Peeta apart.
Until the media tore them apart.
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Katniss clung tightly to Peeta as they laid wrapped up in eachother. Silent tears trailed down her face into Peeta's shirt but she didn't fight them. She just let the grief wash over her.
The media had a newfound fascination with Katniss and Gale, shipping them, hard. Abernathy had been coaching them to tell everyone that they were single. Katniss refused and told them she was in a relationship, she won't give up Peeta for her a leg up in her career. Gale on the other hand continued on with this dodging the straight answers, as Abernathy instructed.
It was taking its toll on the relationships she held most dear, her friendship with Gale and her relationship with Peeta.
All Katniss’s time away from Peeta was adding up. Peeta was hard at work with the ad campaign and already made minor appearances promoting the Olympic Games. While Katniss had immense training and coaching and choreography and now the media frenzy that Katniss had to pander to.
It was breaking Peeta.
The healthiest action for him to take was to step back. They both knew it.
But it was incredibly hard to accept.
Peeta had stopped coming to see her at events after they won the world title, as the media tried to catch any hint or ‘slip up’ that could indicate Gale and Katniss’s secret relationship. Peeta shouldn't hear that on a regular basis. As secure and level-headed Peeta is, it would make anyone jealous or at the very least, question things.
He was pulling away for his own sanity. For his own heart.
Katniss wasn't good with words, so she never brought it up, he just slowly gave her more and more space. He looked more downtraden every time she saw him, that was what killed her most. How it was effecting Peeta and she couldn't fix it.
She didn't know how.
Peeta was always the nice one so he didn't start a fight or break her heart, he just, called less. Sent her more vague but nonetheless encouraging text messages.
But here in his arms, this was it.
She knew it.
He knew it.
Torn apart by the odds once again.
-------
In December of 2017 Katniss and Gale took second in the Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final. The performance was technically sound, but the heat that had given them that edge was distinctly absent.
Katniss just couldn't focus, everything she had held on to with Peeta to keep the heat and intensity in their free dance just fell flat. In her mind she longed to see deep eyes looking back instead of the gray so much like her own. She yearned to be cradled gently by broader shoulders instead of her tall and brooding best friend.
He didn't understand the relationship Katniss had with Peeta. She didn't want to let it interfere with their partnership so she didn't gush over Peeta or explain in length the depth of her affections. Gale’s respect is hard earned and Katniss was confident that Peeta would have gained that respect just by being himself as Gale got to know him. Years ago Katniss had learned that gushing over a boy to her best friend only causes Gale to be more skeptical, if anything.
Katniss had Peeta and Gale had Madge, which was a perfect pairing where Katniss was concerned.
Until it was only just Gale and Katniss once again.
Did Katniss owe it to her partner to tell him that she's struggling with what happened in her relationship?
Gale never did tell her what happened with Madge. Maybe it was something similar?
Katniss instead went to Cinna. They ordered food to the hotel, and a few bottles of wine.
She told Cinna everything. The slow fade of her relationship as the perpetual media parrots pecked and painfully extracted Peeta.
Cinna listened and sympathized.
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"We've been through so much together, we've grown up together," the 30-year-old Gale Hawthorne told CNN Sport's Amanda Davies.
"We've needed each other along the way and it is a unique relationship -- we're not quite sure how to describe it -- but we're sure thankful to have it."
Gales answers played over and over in her head. She was helpless to stop this spin the media had taken to her skating partnership.
It felt like they hijacked Peeta, took him away from her.
Coach Abernathy truly thought that everything was going to be okay with Peeta?
Katniss wanted to inspire the younger generation, she wanted to go out there and compete, and do what she loves. What she does best and represent her country.
But at great cost apparently.
As she drives to the airport, Katniss hears a song that speaks her feelings in a way she can't. She just lets it all out.
“Say something, I'm giving up on you
I'll be the one, if you want me to
Anywhere, I would've followed you...”
Tears roll down her cheeks as she pictures all the places Peeta followed her just to be her support system.
“Say something, I'm giving up on you
And I am feeling so small
It was over my head
I know nothing at all”
A helpless feeling washes over Katniss from her head, down her back. A chill down her arms.
“And I will stumble and fall
I'm still learning to love
Just starting to crawl...”
She looks down at the ring on her left had that Peeta placed there, that she refuses to take off.
“Say something, I'm giving up on you
I'm sorry that I couldn't get to you
Anywhere, I would've followed you
Say something, I'm giving up on you
And I will swallow my pride
You're the one that I love
And I'm saying goodbye…”
As her eyes blur with tears she pulls over to let the sadness run its course.
The thoughts haunt her, ‘why couldn't I have said or done anything to make this better?’
Katniss resigns herself to move forward.
She will not give up on Peeta.
She won't take off the ring.
But she will move forward and put everything she has in the Olympics.
For her country.
For future generations.
For Peeta. It's not over, it's just on hold.
Katniss will cling to this half truth to get her through.
“My name is Katniss Everdeen.
I'm 28 years old.
I'm from Panem.
I'm an Olympic Silver Medalist
I skate because I love it.
I want to inspire others.
I love Peeta Mellark.
I'm going for more than Gold.” Her new mantra. Whispered it to herself over and over to ground her and make her feel more human.
She took with her the memories of Peeta’s arms around her those few times they took the ice together.
As if the odds were shifting in her favor, she stepped out of her SUV and right in her line of sight was a gigantic ad with Peeta Mellark's gorgeous face and striking blue eyes urging the viewer to try an energy drink that implied it just might help one get to the Olympics.
Katniss didn't fight the smile the sight of his face brought.
She moved forward.
-------
They headed to Pyeongchang, South Korea for the 2018 Winter Olympics with an amazing team and a unique bond that was their own secret weapon.
They held their heads high as they walked the media trail just before the Opening Ceremony.
Katniss met a girl named Rue who had big dreams of bringing home a medal in her first Olympics.
Rue said she was only there because a former Olympian had a fundraiser in her home district that aided Olympic hopefuls like herself, she was given the funds her family couldn't afford. “Peeta Mellark made it possible, the speed skater! He's the nicest athlete I've ever met. He was hired as a sports analyst this year isn't that awesome?!” Rue rambled on the the camera crew as Katniss struggled to keep her emotions in check, not to react to Peeta's name. She tried to pull away but Rue clutched her hand tighter.
“This is my inspiration right here. Katniss Everdeen is my hero, who gave me the courage to get out on the ice. When you grew up like I did, you convince yourself that dreams are for other people. People more privileged. Katniss was different than other ice skaters. You don't remember this, but I watched you when I was 7 years old. My dad cleaned the facilities in the district 10 rank and I got to watch you perform. When you got off the ice Katniss, you hugged me and told me I should go after my dreams of being an ice skater if I just have the courage and bravery I could make it happen.” Both women were fighting tears at this point.
It was all Katniss could do to prevent her jaw from hitting the floor. This was her dream come true before her very eyes.
Katniss had inspired Rue and here she was competing on her own Olympic journey. Inspiring an entirely new generation.
Katniss had already won.
She would take Rue’s story and safely tuck it in her heart and cherish it for rest of her life.
Katniss and Rue walked in the Parade of Nations representing Panem in the 2018 Winter Olympics opening ceremony hand in hand. On her other side walked Katniss’s best friend of 20 years. Her partner. They took in the monumental moments, the beginning of the end of their Olympic journey.
It was entirely fulfilling, later Gale and Katniss discussed the peace that they felt, knowing this was their last Olympics Competition and how right it felt.
------------
Katniss paced the hallway and tried to shake out her jitters but the enormity of their last competition was getting to her. When she gets like this Gale can't handle it and has to be in another room. She saw Madge made it here, maybe she can deal with Gale, she was always better at that.
‘Maybe I'll go find Prim.” Katniss thought to herself.
As if he could sense that Katniss needed him Peeta manifested out of thin air.
At the very sight of him Katniss’s feet surged forward to embrace him. Peeta was startled at first but hugged her back. He tried to force down the emotions her comforting arms evoke, she's always felt so perfect in his embrace. His heart seems to come alive and pounds wildly.
“You came.” Katniss spoke quietly, amazed.
“Well, I was in the neighborhood.” Peeta jokes. Katniss lightly smacks his chest, Peeta catches her left hand in his to block her as he laughs.
He pauses for a moment as his expression sobers, because his fingers feel the metal of her ring. The ring he gave her, just were he left it. He gapes for a moment and meets her silver eyes.
The emotion he was fighting earlier gets the upper hand as his eyes water.
“You still wear it?” He whispers, jaw still dropped.
“Always.” Was her reply.
Maybe a kiss wasn't necessarily what Katniss needed to calm her nerves, but when his lips met hers she poured everything she felt and was missing for the past 4 months into the kiss.
She pulled back and laughed as she tried to wipe the lipstick off Peeta's face. He just shrugged and wore a proud grin.
“You should know that… I love you Peeta. I've never loved anyone like I love you.” Katniss tells him honestly.
He pulls her close, Katniss relishes in his strong arms, broad shoulders, his familiar manly sent and the way his breath feels on her neck.
“This is crazy! You're about to competed in your final Olympic event, and your using these final prep moments to tell me this?” Peeta asks in disbelief, with smile.
“It was getting to me, I couldn't handle it, all the pressure. I-- I needed you and you were right here for me.” Katniss explains this monumental moment.
“You were the one who found me, Katniss.” Peeta chuckles, her favorite laugh in the world. She feels his chest rumble against her own and sighs.
Effie finds them in a tight embrace in the corner of the hall and attempts to reprimand them, but she's so relieved to see how calm and ready Katniss is now, that she quickly shuts up.
Katniss leaves Peeta with one last peck on the cheek and an uncharacteristic grin on her face.
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Katniss stepped out on the ice in her firey red couture figure skating costume designed by non-other than Cinna himself.
She ignited, as if a girl on fire set out to melt the ice. Determination written all over her face.
The final moments of warm up Katniss did her best to relish in her time with her partner Gale. They share an intensity for their sport, for being their best in every way and fought hard to get here, they are incredibly lucky to be best friends and partners for the past 20 years.
After that kiss from Peeta she can't stop smiling, and just feeling incredibly grateful.
Yet, strangely happy to have come this far and meet the end with feelings of being content, feeling like, it's enough.
‘I'm enough.’ As soon as it comes to mind it plays in a loop over and over in her head.
A feeling of this profound realization occurring liners and leaves a buzz of a new found euphoric energy.
“I'm enough.” Katniss whispers it to herself one last time.
As Katniss takes her place on the ice she faces Gale across the ice in their first position. They each take on their persona and wait for the music to start. Katniss masks her face of any emotion and her mind goes blank as she becomes one with the music and gets in the zone to perform their routine.
They maintain the heat, and twizzle in unison as the first words of Moulin Rouge begin, the crowd cheers. They nail every pose and maintain the character and story of a couple madly in love agonizing over circumstance. With flowing lifts, spins and twirls they moved harmoniously.
Gale flips Katniss over and lifts her on his shoulders and spins in time with the violin of the music as he flips Katniss around in a beautiful and graceful show of ballet on ice. As they tumble and spin and sway to the soft and thoughtful words to the song, the emotions at war are conveyed. The audience is brought to silence at the tender way they danced on the ice. As the song became a duet, the dance on ice also became a duet of sorts as they mellifluously skated their routine in tandem, and then more fluidly as one.
Gale lifts Katniss and spins her up in his arms and holds her body horizontally across his shoulders and spins with his arms raised at an expedient speed. The audience goes wild.
Cheers reverberate through the ice arena as Katniss and Gale held hands and took their finals bows. Breathless.
They did it.
Gale and Katniss embraced with excitement and joy displayed on their faces.
“We did it!” they yelled over the crowd.
Katniss and Gale stood on the highest podium and received their GOLD medals. As the Panem national anthem played Katniss held her head high, then looked over at her family, her sister Prim wiping a tear away, her eyes found Rue, her new friend and legacy of sorts, then her eyes met the love of her life Peeta Mellark, he beamed in response as he his mouth moved to form the words of the national anthem proudly. She was so grateful to be sharing these moments with him. He was a big part of this win.
The audience erupts as their accomplishments are announced to the world. “Katniss Everdeen and Gale Hawthorne also broke the world record for overall score, earning Katniss and Gale their fifth Olympic medal, making them the most decorated figure skaters in Olympic history.”
The applause were defining and humbling at the same time. This moment just felt so much bigger than themselves. Gale squeezed Katniss's hand but they couldn't smile. It was all too much. The awe on their faces wouldn't leave.
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“What's gotten into you Catnip?” Gale asked her.
She shrugs, not really sure how to answer.
She will avoid this conversation if she can.
“Why are you so cold to me, you even flinched when I tried to hold you during that montage of all the years together. I was, I was near tears, it was moving, 20 years together. I look over to you, my partner, our lives entwined all these years, and your expression is blank.” Gale rattled off, exasperated.
The press continue to ship #Everthorne and she's over it.
“I just don't understand what's going through your head Gale.” Katniss blurted out. He as been acting weird, and Katniss had to put a little bit of distance between them. Their partnership means so much to Katniss, but they're not in love. That sure looked like a montage one would have at their wedding. So yes, her expression was weird.
He leans in to kiss her and as their lips brush Katniss puts two hands on his chest and shoves him away.
“No Gale you're wrong this isn't going to work, we don't work as a real couple.” She stumbles through her words but hopes he understands.
She stares at him and all Katniss reads on Gale's expression is heartache and shock.
“I thought it was always you and me in the end Katniss.” Gale said, with a pained expression he shakes his head.
Katniss considers this for a moment.
“Gale, this isn't what you want. Think about Madge, when she looks at you, you soften, you're kinder. You're more tender and overall happier. She brings out the best in you, Gale.” She tries to reason with him.
Gale says nothing. Katniss uncrosses her arms and flings them in the air.
“I'm more like a sister to you.” Katniss huffs.
“I don't want to lose you!” Gale counters.
“You won't lose me but things will be different, and maybe it's a good kind of different.” She explains to Gale.
Gale considers her words. He has an aversion to change, Katniss knows this, she's found it true in herself.
Just when Katniss thinks he understands that they just aren't ever going to be more than a brother and sister kind of best friends, Gale's pride takes over and he storms out slamming the door behind him.
Katniss sighs, but accepts that he needs time.
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That night Katniss dragged Peeta to her hotel room, although he wasn't reluctant.
Instead of a wild night that Peeta’s raised left eyebrow suggested, they exchanged words of love and commitment to one another.
Peeta took the ring from Katniss's middle finger in her left hand and placed the ring one finger over.
It seemed they could stare into each other's eyes for hours, but in reality it was mere minutes until their lips met. Kissing for hours, lost in eachother in the quiet and darkness of their private room.
When she hears him say “Always” she knows it’s a promise.
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It only took days for Gale and Madge to meet Peeta and Katniss for lunch hand in hand. Katniss gave Gale a knowing smile and he nodded.
They discussed their future.
They agreed to a future commitment to be involved in Thom Chan's project to build an Ice Skating Academy back home in district 12.
Gale and Katniss were asked to return to Panem’s “Starts on Ice” show in the spring. At this point it would be a group decision, and after a brief but serious discussion all were in favor.
They ate and laughed. Shared stories and dreams for the future.
Together.