If I Knew Then
"If you love someone you would want to remember."
"Who's talking about loving? I told you I wanted to forget everything for a moment and that includes you, Undersee," Gale said, annoyed at the pretty blonde's nosiness, "So go away."
He glared at her, which normally would scare people but she just looked amused.
"Pretty eyes," she said, sweetly, " too bad you only ever used it to glare at innocent people!"
Gale snorted, "You're not innocent."
"I beg your pardon!"
"You're annoying, I only use my pretty eyes to glare at annoying people," he said, grinning, then he laughed, "What the hell are you doing?"
"I can't glare at you properly from this height," she said as she put another flat stone on top of another. After many attempts at properly glaring, there's only one word that can describe her glare and it wasn't proper. It was cute. It's amazing how hard she tried.
But what's more amazing was that he stayed long enough for her to try.
"Sometimes you need someone to just hold your hand," she said, taking his hand, "It makes you feel that you're not alone."
"I don't want to hold hands, Undersee," he said, glaring at her but didn't pull his hand away.
"That's why I said need," she said, patiently.
After a moment he asked, "Why are you here, Madge?"
She simply answered, "Because I want to."
He was sitting next to Madge as she played the piano. She was so graceful at doing that stuff. He didn't know what she's playing but it was relaxing in the ears. After she hit the last key, she looked up at him, grinning, so pleased with herself, and so damn cute that he leaned down and kissed her. She was startled at first but she began kissing him back. When they came up for air, all Gale can say was a quiet, breathy, "Wow."
"You needed that?" she said, equally breathy.
"No." "Then, why did you?"
"Because I want to," he said grinning at her.
"You're lucky some crazy girl was crazy over you or you would've been dead," Abernathy told him.
"Are you drunk... who am I kidding? What are you talking about?" he asked, tolerating the older man's presence. Can't he recuperate in peace?
"Mayor's daughter came running through a blizzard to give you morphling, also gave us and Katniss quite a shock when she showed up."
He was walking in the Seam or what used to be the Seam. He looked around, there were no more houses. Instead, it looked like an extension of the meadow. There were wild flowers everywhere. He reached the original meadow and there she was.
Her smile was clear and soft wind blowing her blonde hair. She was standing about fifteen feet away from him. He took a step towards her and she grew alarm.
He was about to take another step when suddenly, her dress burst into flames. He tried to move but couldn't. Like her, she just stood there like she wasn't engulfed in fire, as if the flame wasn't burning her flesh. He saw her lips moved, mouthing his name. She raised a hand, reaching for him then smiled weakly.
He tried to help her but he still can't seem to move.
The fire became stronger, she screamed and then turned into ashes. Gale!
Gale Hawthorne woke up, heart racing. He stared at the ceiling trying to calm himself.
Someone burned to ashes and he just stood there and watched.
Not just someone, though.
"Do you love me, Gale?"
"I care for you…"
He gave a dry laugh at the memory. He told her he cared.
"You're calling me out on my bullshit, aren't you Madge?" he said quietly, he should've known but he, like most people, assumed they were going to be spared from the bombings. "That was the plan, you're supposed to live, to marry, have children and annoy the life out of whomever you grow old with."
"She died." Rory said as soon as he picked up the phone and he immediately knew that it's a confirmation of what he's dreading throughout the war. He heard shuffling and "She didn't get out, you told us she going to!" his youngest brother sobbed. He closed his eyes thinking of words to comfort his brothers but had none.
"Gale?" Rory was on the phone again, and he sound, of all things, worried.
"Tell Vick, most of the times I told things I knew nothing about," he finally said and he hung up. He spent the rest of the day, drowning his sorrows like Haymitch Abernathy.
He turned to look at his window, it's still dark. He closed his eyes, willing himself to sleep. Maybe this time he would be able to help her. But he knew he wouldn't, at least not yet.
There would come a time though, when in his dream he would reach her in time. And in his dream, he went back to save her, she came with him in 13, and she's offering her love and companionship to everyone who needs it because she wants to. In his dream, she's alive.
Madge Undersee had been a ray of sunshine in his gloomy life and he would forever remember her. Because he really did care, a lot. Maybe even love her in his own way. It wouldn't have hurt this much if he didn't. And he knew, if he told her, she would've believed him, wherever she was.
Because he said to her once, a long time ago, that he'll never lie to her.
"Hi, Gale!" he turned around and saw her.
"Madge Undersee," he said in disbelief and awe. She looked so young and alive.
She smiled beautifully at him, her blue eyes shining, and softly said, "You remembered!"
Gale Hawthorne woke up, a grin on his face. He slowly sat up and reached for his cane.
"Of course I remember, you silly girl," he chuckled, "I'll never forget."
The End.
AN: Yeah, hope you enjoy the fic!