Okay so here is my Gale rant :).

Gale was there for Katniss from the beginning. She said it herself. Gale helped her through in ways that noone else ever could have. They slowly but surely grew closer and closer. A connection sparked between them and it would never leave because it can't leave. Gale and Katniss helped each other through the most difficult times in their lives and they kept each other alive. When Katniss was leaving for the Games he is the one who made her believe that she could really win it. He is also the one that kept Prim and her mother alive while she was in the arena....