A/N: Of course the Universe of the Hunger Games & it's characters (including the Undersees, Hawthornes, and district victors) belong to Suzanne Collins.

Prologue is in Mayor Undersee's POV, everything after will be Madge's POV. Borrowed 'Henry' as Mayor Undersee's first name from Medea Smyke's "An Extra Dividend."


Henry Undersee wants nothing more than to take care of his little girl. She's not so little anymore, but that doesn't change his need to protect her from the cruelties of the world. It had taken him years to
develop a plan for her escape, in the event of any serious Capitol threat in 12. But now that the time is here, he's filled with fear and doubt. How can he let her out of his sight, and trust she'll be okay?
What if something goes wrong, or his family can't help her?

He also wants to protect his district, which has been harder and harder to do, ever since Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute to the Hunger Games. He likes to think he's done what he could for District 12 over the years. But that was all in the past. Recently he'd become more and more convinced that eventually, the Capitol would use Madge against him, and he couldn't bear to think of that happening. The Mayor hadn't even known of Peacekeeper Cray's replacement, which told him all he needed to know about trusting Thread. When Thread came and the Hob burned, he knew it was time to bring Madge in on his plans.

She was still preoccupied with the boy who was whipped. "Madge, I'm sorry ... You know that what they do is illegal. I can't stop Thread from enforcing these things." He pauses, feeling guilty himself. Was it not his fault that the hunter was so incautious, that he was accustomed to officials who not only turned a blind eye, but enjoyed their share of the illegal spoils? Henry pushes the thought away and turns back to Madge. She's spent her whole life learning how to be the perfect mayor's daughter, doing everything the Capitol would want. In the house, and in public, not a word out of place. It's their own private prison – and he knows she hates it. "I know you've been going to the woods with Katniss. I don't think she'll be going anymore, but if she does - I shouldn't need to tell you. You are not going." He reproaches her gently but firmly. Madge nods her agreement, her eyes glued to the ground and her cheeks burning guiltily. Henry can't blame her for her own personal rebellion – he can only hope she's picked up a few things from Katniss in their time together.

"Madge, what have you seen in my study? On the broadcasts." Madge bites her lip and after a pause, stammers, "just – umm – reports? A couple reports by that lady and - there was fighting. In 8 and ... once in 3? Peacekeepers were ..." she trails off, choking on the words. She's almost turning green, and he can imagine the type of scene she could have witnessed. They don't censor the footage of peacekeeper violence sent to district officials. "Good. Then you know how serious it is. It's not just in 8 and 3. There's been a lot of unrest this winter." Skipping over the role Katniss played in sparking the unrest, the Mayor calmly drops the bombshell, "and You can't be here when 12 revolts." He's caught her off guard, as planned. She was expecting a reprimand, not a revolution. Her eyes raise to his face showing her fear and confusion. "Revolts? What? But ... But there's no rebellion here. We haven't done anything. ... We're safe here, aren't we daddy?"

The mayor sighs. If only that were true. "Sweetheart, things are changing. The Capitol is already working against us. You've seen what Thread has done, and he's just getting started. I won't be able to protect you from him." She's silent now, her face bleak. He is sure that she is thinking of that boy - Thread's first victim at the whipping post, Katniss's "cousin", the boy who had brought her strawberries. He knew it wasn't general benevolence that had driven her to take him the morphling.

Then Henry tells his little girl about district 4, about his sister's family. He explains how he has planned for her escape, and how difficult it will be for her. He can't tell her the truth. Instead he tells her a story - a story she will believe, where her father knows what to do, with a happy family reunion at the end. A story she will follow to District 4.

The announcement of the Quell decides it. The Capitol is going to kill their Victors, trying to take out the natural leaders of district rebellion – and Madge's friends. Madge helps Katniss, Peeta and Haymitch prepare, sharing their Capitol newspapers with them. Henry knows she won't tell them about District 4 or what she knows about the uprisings. They have enough to worry about, and she is too ashamed of having the resources to even attempt escape; she couldn't tell friends who are already caged victims of the Capitol.

The mayor watches the coal export schedules. Together they study every bit of Capitol propaganda that reaches them. By the time of the reaping for the Quell, his plan is in place. Her best chance is a train departing the day the Quell begins. It's the train that will carry the Capitol reporters out of the district. It's a risky choice, since the reporters know her, but it's the best option they have.

When the day arrives, Mayor Undersee acts like it is any other day. When he goes to the train station to sign off on the shipments for the Capitol, Madge is hidden in the back of the store room. He hugs her tightly to his chest before helping her into the trunk. He makes her recite the plan one final time. Before he leaves, he tells her that he loves her, that her mother loves her. He whispers to her, "Be brave for us. We'll all be together again soon." He doesn't know if she believes him. He wishes it weren't a lie.


A/N: we know from Canon that Mrs. Undersee's health is poor and that the mayor gets news from the Capitol that includes the uprisings. I think the mayor knows that officials and their families will be targets for both Capitol and rebels. He can't do anything for his wife but if he could protect Madge he would. I've chosen this explanation because I think it interferes the least with Canon. I leave it up to the reader to decide what he mayor's involvement in the rebellion is.