either way the time will pass

@sanjarka

Haymitch immediately loving Katniss.

Katniss being his sweetheart.

Woke: "The Games and the events that followed brought Katniss and Peeta together, but there was something special between them since the day with the bread. Katniss had a subconscious interest in him since they were 11, and after the reaping she couldn't help but fall for him due to their close proximity. The Games weren't her reason for choosing Peeta, but they were a catalyst for their relationship."

Bespoke: "The Games did more to hinder Katniss and Peeta's relationship than to help it. In fact, without the Games to complicate things, Katniss would have fallen for Peeta fast and hard. The Games and the events that followed were responsible for countless barriers to their love including (but not limited to):

1. Instilling in Katniss a distrust of Peeta that did not come naturally to her

2. Forcing her to act in love, regardless of the authenticity of her feelings, in order to survive

3. Broadcasting every moment they shared, no matter how intimate/private, onto every screen in every house in the country

4. Driving them apart due to the pain and confusion that followed the inevitable end of her "star-crossed lovers" act

5. Making their relationship a political tool of manipulation and oppression

6. Leading Snow to hold Katniss personally responsible for defusing the civil unrest within the Districts by means of their love story

7. Forcing them under threat of death to act in love for the rest of their lives, thereby taking away their agency and ability to choose each other out of real love or desire

8. Robbing them of a future together, even if they wanted it, by returning Katniss to the Games and ensuring the death of at least one of them

9. Traumatizing them in ways they'll have to deal with for the remainder of their lives

10. So many other things

And it was never Gale. Partly because his relationship with Katniss started as transactional.

Katniss says herself it took years for them to become friends and not hagle over every single catch/ find.

Most of Katniss’s relationships are transactional. Her friendship Gale started off as trading hunting/ gathering tips and advice. Her relationships at the Hob and Town were based on trading. Katniss even acts as the “provider” for her family (whom she loves dearly but my girl was stressed about it).

During the games she formed a transactional relationship with sponsors, and post games she formed a transactional agreement with Snow. Even in 13 she only agreed to be the Mockingjay as long as her demands are met.

And in my opinion Gale feels entitled to a romantic relationship with Katniss because it’s another transaction.

Katniss: He hates hates hates her for being the same as him. He can communicate with her because she is the same as him. He's her mentor, of course he cares about her. He should be a father figure to her but he's too stunted by his own trauma so they exist like teenage allies in the never-ending arena which is a victor's life. He wants to keep her safe but she must also be a pawn in the rebellion. She makes him make promises he cannot keep. She is all that he could have been and he is all that she might be.

and now they are in love. after the war. with plenty of time to hunt. and plenty of time to bake.