Disclaimer: I'm just playing with Suzanne Collins' characters and her world. They're hers. Not mine. Any lines from the books are hers too.
AN: Thanks to Nursekelly for the help.
To jump or fall, pt 4
Relief floods Gale's body. No one had hurt her.
Then he registers just what she's said.
For a few moments Gale isn't sure he's heard her right, he can't have heard her right.
She can't be pregnant. She can't.
He starts to ask her if she's joking, and then why she would think that was funny, but the anxious expression on her face kills the questions. She's serious.
"Madge…"
Her name hangs in the air between them, frozen between a question and a comfort as Gale tries to think.
Madge is pregnant. He'd screwed up, and now her biggest fear, that he and his family would be thrown in front of the cameras, is going to come to pass.
Gale had been careless, at least once, and now everything they've worked to keep secret is going to be exposed in spectacular fashion. The Capitol won't have it any other way.
No wonder Abernathy wants to murder him, Gale should step out on the porch and let him. It's no less than he deserves for his recklessness.
Eyes drifting down to Madge's stomach, still flat, still keeping their secret, the panic starts to ebb away.
For better or worse, all the secrecy is over. All the lies and sneaking around are going to end.
And they're going to have a baby.
He immediately begins imagining what it'll look like. Dark haired or blonde? Gray or blue eyes? Boy or girl?
None of that really matters though, as long as it's healthy...
Madge's hand slips from his face, settling, palm flat to Gale's chest as her expression grows more and more dim, drawing Gale back into the moment.
"I'm sorry, Gale," she whispers. "I wasn't careful-an-and I wasn't paying attention or I would've known soo-"
Before she can finish whatever half thought through, ridiculous thing she's about to say, Gale dips in and quiets her.
At first she's too stunned to speak, but then pushes him away, eyes wide and confused.
"Gale-"
"Madge," he cuts her off, his voice a raspy whisper, "we're gonna have a baby!"
He rests his forehead against hers, soaking in the moment, pretending that they're just normal people with boring lives. Pretending this is the start of something good and not the end of all they know.
Hesitantly, Madge's expression eases. Not quite calmed, but the tension halved. Then the edges of her lips quirk.
"We are, aren't we?"
Pressing his lips to hers, then to her forehead, Gale pulls her into a hug.
"We are."
#######
Gale lets his hand rest on Madge's stomach as she sleeps, her back pressed to him.
It's still flat, no telling swell yet.
"When the doctor came back in she said I was probably 16 weeks, but she couldn't be certain," she'd told him as they sat at the kitchen table and he'd pushed food at her, encouraging her to eat. "I'm not hungry. You're as bad as Mr. Abernathy."
If the asshole made sure she ate then Gale would take back at least a quarter of all the shitty things he's thought about him. Maybe half.
No, just a quarter.
"So a fall baby," Gale moved on, handing her one of the pastries he'd found in the fridge. He grinned. "Those are the best babies anyways."
If Gale and his siblings were anything to judge on.
Madge tore the pastry in half. "Mr. Abernathy was a fall baby."
Gale's smile fell. "There's always a fluke."
For the first time since telling him about the baby, Madge laughed.
"He'd say the same about you."
Huffing, Gale rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, well, your mom will defend me," he grumbled.
All thoughts of Abernathy vanished in that moment and grin formed.
"Your mom is going to be beside herself." He could already see Matilda's face lighting up. She'd been telling him how beautiful his and Madge's kids were going to be for years.
His mom was probably not going to be quite as thrilled.
He could picture her thin face tight with concern, worried about Gale's future, about all of their futures.
She'd come around though. It's her first grandchild after all.
The laughter had died on Madge's face.
"Gale, we have to be careful," she'd begun, her voice soft, frightened again. "We can't tell anyone."
"It's going to come out." Literally. "I know they're idiots, but they're going to notice you're pregnant. It's gonna be hard to miss."
A weak smile flicks on her face. "I know. What I mean is, we can't tell them yet."
"You don't have much time." She'll be starting to show by the time the Games roll around. Not enough that it'll be too much to hide, but enough to be a potential problem.
She'd chewed her lip, thinking, before sighing.
"It's just-it's very important for us to do it after the Games." Gale opened his mouth to ask why, but she was already moving to that. "If we do it before, it'll take attention from the festivities, and we don't want to do that."
The Games are the Capitol's centerpiece, and Gale could see why upstaging it might be starting their child's life on the wrong path.
"We don't want to upset President Snow. It's very important we let the dust settle from the Games."
They have to start out on the right foot. Even if Gale would rather spit in Snow's face, he'll learn to play the Game. For Madge, for their baby.
So Gale had nodded, promised her he'd keep everything a secret.
"What about after?" He'd asked, thinking of the stories Madge had told him about the children of the other Victor, Cecelia. "What about when it gets older?"
He won't let them hurt their kid. If he has to take on the entire Capitol, Snow himself, he will.
Madge had rubbed her eyes, looking past exhausted.
"I'm working on it." She'd forced a weak smile. "One disaster at a time."
Gale had let the matter drop, mostly because she'd seemed so tired and he doubted she'd been sleeping well in the Capitol. She rarely did.
He'd come out of the shower, followed by a plume of moisture filled air, to find Madge standing in front of her mirror, examining her nonexistent bump.
Coming up behind her, Gale had wrapped his arms around her and pressed his nose to her hair.
"Do you want a boy or a girl?"
She had looked so serious, her nose scrunched up and eyes focused on her reflection, Gale half thought she was trying to see through herself for the answer.
"Whatever it is," he'd answered, "I just want it to look like you."
Rolling her eyes, Madge snorted. "You know, I'm pregnant. You've already got me snared. You don't have to butter me up anymore."
Chuckling, Gale brushed the hair from the back of her neck and kissed a line across it. "Just making sure it sticks."
When she'd let out a wide yawn, Gale had hoisted her up and carried her to bed.
It had only taken a few minutes for her to drift off, looking more contented than she had in weeks.
Gale though, is still wide awake.
Happy as he is that the secrecy is going to end, his gut twists knowing what's ahead.
Not even his nightmares will prepare him for what he knows is probably waiting for him in the Capitol.
Madge rolls, pressing to him, a sigh ghosting across his chest, and Gale smoothes her hair.
Much as he wants to be the hero, swoop in and rescue her, he knows he doesn't have the skills to fight this battle. It's going to take more than physical strength to protect them.
He presses a kiss to Madge's hair.
She's smart, she'll think her way out of this. Think of a way to protect their baby.
He's certain of it.
Until then, he'll just have to trust her.
She's the one that knows how to play the game after all.
#######
Spring warms and the last of the snow finally melts away, leaving muddy earth and damp detritus of the fall and winter in its wake.
Madge spends most of her days with her mother and Mr. Abernathy, cleaning the house and opening windows, ridding the house of the stuffy, closed up smell of winter.
Her mother hums to herself as she has Mr. Abernathy drag rugs outside to beat the dust out of them.
"Why can't we wait on those boys to come up to do this?" He asks in irritation as he pushes the dining room table off the largest rug in the house. "Make them earn their keep for coming and eating all the food."
"If you'd let us help you it wouldn't be so much work," Madge reminds him. He's been even more resistant to letting them do any kind of lifting than he was before.
He'd snapped at Madge for carrying a vase down the stairs earlier, telling her it was too heavy and she was going to trip and she needed to be more careful.
"Are you still sick, love?" Her mother had asked from her spot hidden in the linen closet just below them.
Madge had glared at Mr. Abernathy, warning him that he needed to be more careful with his words while her mother was around.
"I don't see why we gotta keep it from her," he'd complained when Madge had told him the baby was going to remain a secret until after the Games. "She's not a gossip. She can keep it quiet."
It was too much of a risk though, and Madge couldn't put her mother at risk for failure.
"No, mom," Madge answered. "Mr. Abernathy's just being bossy."
"Don't be rude, Haymitch."
He'd muttered darkly to himself after that, keeping his warnings unsaid but practically sprinting around to keep Madge from picking up anything heavier than a thick blanket.
Still, moving a table isn't something he'd have let Madge or her mother help with even before the pregnancy. At least that wouldn't draw her mother's attention.
Ignoring Madge's offer to help, he continues swearing to himself as he tries to move the table.
"Oh, Haymitch, you're going to hurt you back," her mother finally says, shaking her head sadly. "Let's just wait for the boys-"
"I don't need those little perverts' help," he snaps, shoving the table a few more times.
"But you said we should wait just a minute ago…" Her mother frowns, eyebrows knitted together, thinking she's missed something.
Taking her hand, Madge gives it a squeeze. "He did. He's just being grumpy."
Giving the unmoving table one last push, Mr. Abernathy runs a hand over his face before turning and smiling lopsidedly at them.
"Yeah, you had it right, 'Tilda." He shoots the table a look before walking away, draping an arm over each of their shoulders and guiding them toward the kitchen. "I'm just hungry."
Instead of continuing their war on dust, Mr. Abernathy begins cooking, giving Madge's mother a job that doesn't require actually using the stove and making Madge sit and watch.
By the time he finishes, a pair of footsteps are thundering up the back steps and bursting in the door.
"I won!" Vick announces as he kicks his boots off and throws them back onto the porch, narrowly missing Rory's head.
"Only because I was talking," Rory defends himself.
"You were ogling Chastity."
"Talking!"
"Uh-uh!"
"Do you boys want a macaroon?" Madge's mother asks, looking strained from their shouting.
Both Rory and Vick grimace before nodding, taking the cookies, and shuffling to the table.
Madge sets out some plates, and despite grumbling about 'freeloaders', Mr. Abernathy takes his skillet of sautéed meat and vegetables and plops it in the center of the table.
"What were you talking to Chastity about?" Madge asks.
Rory's fork hovers in front of his mouth and he grins.
"School's putting on a play. I'm trying out for the lead."
Vick rolls his eyes. "He's only doing it 'cause Chastity is trying for the girl lead."
Smirking, Rory shrugs. "So?"
"I'm guessing there's kissing in this play?" It's the only explanation for Rory's sudden theatrical ambition.
"A ton."
Mr. Abernathy lets out a hiss that sounds like 'pervert' but pretends he's just burned his tongue.
"What play is it, dear?" Madge's mother asks, picking at her meat, fishing out a pepper slice and passing it on to Mr. Abernathy's plate.
"Romeo and Juliet."
Smiling to herself, Madge laughs. "You know it's not a happy story, right? It's a tragedy, Rory. They both die."
"But they do a lot of kissing before," Rory reminds her. "I read it. I know."
If he does get the part, Madge dearly hopes she can find a way to sneak to the school to watch it. Rory's undoubtedly unique interpretation of Romeo would be a welcome sight.
Still laughing to herself, Madge takes a bite of her meat and finds it a little dull.
Reaching across the table, she takes the salt and gives it a few shakes.
"Are you craving salt, love?" Her mother asks absently, examining another pepper from her plate. "Craving salt means a boy, you know?"
Madge almost chokes on a yellow pepper. "What?"
Oblivious to Madge's panic, he mother nibbles at her own pepper before making a face and giving it to a bewildered looking Mr. Abernathy.
"Salt means a boy. Sweets mean a girl." She smiles to herself. "I ate so much chocolate covered fruit…"
Heart pounding, Madge tries to steady her breathing.
"Why would that matter, 'Tilda?"
Mr. Abernathy looks pale and confused. Clearly he hadn't told her.
Smiling brightly at him, Madge's mother leans toward him. "Because I'm going to be a grandma, Haymitch."
The room goes silent and Madge thinks she can hear both her heart and the baby's heart beating in her head.
She doesn't even question that her mother knows, she's got a strange knack for figuring out things she shouldn't. All she can do is pray she hasn't told anyone else.
Then harsh noise forces that from her mind.
Turning, she finds Vick and Rory, both looking appropriately shocked. Madge had forgotten they were still there.
"You're pregnant?" Vick looks awed.
"I thought your boobs looked bigger," Rory says.
That draws Mr. Abernathy out of his open mouthed stupor, staring at Madge's mother.
He stands up and reaches across the table, smacking Rory on the side of his head.
"Hey!" Rory rubs his head and glares at Haymitch. "What? Like you didn't notice?"
"I didn't!" Mr Abernathy snarls, looking like he'd like to give Rory another smack on the head.
Rory's eyes flick toward Madge's mother. "Only 'cause it's Madge's boobs."
Before Mr. Abernathy can jump across the table and throttle Rory, Madge shouts, "Mr. Abernathy, sit down!"
He does, but reluctantly so, fixing Rory in a narrow look.
"Mom's gonna be so annoying," Rory moves on from Madge's breasts. He pitches his voice up in a poor imitation of his mother. "Your brother is going to be a daddy!"
He makes a retching noise that causes Vick to giggle.
The smile slips off Vick's face as quickly as it forms.
"You have told Gale haven't you?" His expression tightens.
"It is his, isn't it?" Rory adds, apparently just to needle Vick. "No one would blame you if you stepped out on him."
Mr. Abernathy makes an unintelligible noise, something like a snarl at the perceived slight on Madge's character, but Madge just rolls her eyes.
"Of course it's Gale's."
Vick looks triumphant, smirking at Rory. "See?"
Rory just shakes his head. "Can't believe you let that jerk knock you up." He barely managed to keep the smirk from his face as he adds, "Was it an accident?"
"Of course it was," Vick answers before looking to Madge for confirmation. She just smiles in resignation and nods. He nods back then glares at Rory. "See?"
"Are you sure?" Rory clearly is enjoying being particularly annoying. "You're the best he's ever gonna get. Maybe he wanted to make sure you were stuck with him."
"Rory…" Madge presses her fingers to her eyes.
"Hmmm," she hears Mr. Abernathy grunt. Probably giving Rory's insanity a little too much thought.
"Why hasn't Gale told us?" She hears Vick ask, sounding hurt.
Her mother answers for her, displaying her strange knack for knowing things without being told.
"I think it's a secret."
Letting her hands drop from her face, Madge finds both boys and her mother looking to her for confirmation.
"It is."
Rory snorts. "Not for long it won't be." He gives her an obnoxiously knowing smile. "You know you get fat when you get pregnant, right?"
Taking a deep breath, Madge closes her eyes.
Explaining this to her mother and the boys is going to be harder than it was with Gale. At least with Gale, he truly grasps the danger of the game she's playing, the fine line she's walking.
With these three, her life is some kind of mystery, dark and confusing, but distant. They don't really understand it.
She's going to have to make them though. She doesn't have a choice now.
#######
Vick looks like he's about to crawl out of his skin all through dinner.
Gale tries to ignore his open mouth gaping and staring, fidgeting, but it's more than a little distracting.
Rory, on the other hand, looks like he ate a canary. The smug grin on his face wears Gale's nerves more than Vick's inexplicable look of wonder and clear desire to talk.
Dinner goes normally.
Posy monopolizes most of the conversation, telling Gale every minute detail of her classes schedule and what games she played at recess, but his mom manages to get in the apparently exciting news that Rory is trying out for his classes 'arts project'.
"They're putting on a play."
There's a girl involved, that's the one and only reason Rory would invest his time in something other than annoying Gale. Something that Bick quickly confirms.
"He's just doing it for the kissing," he tells Gale, looking a little envious.
Rory just grins.
Posy gags. "Kissing is gross."
Gale hopes she continues that line of thinking for a long time. His brothers were bad enough, he doesn't want to imagine what a hormone filled Posy is going to be like. A nightmare most likely.
Rory shoots Gale a mischievous grin.
"Gale doesn't think so," he tells Posy, knowing Gale is her Prince Charming and it'll get him maximum amounts of shock and disbelief. "He likes to do way more than kissing."
Posy glares and puts her hands to her hips. "Uh-uh! Gale does not! He works and he comes home 'cause he's a good boy!"
Gale makes a threatening gesture, but their mom just sighs. "Rory…"
Rory is too distracted by Vick though, to pay attention.
Posy's declaration that Gale is a 'good boy' had apparently been too much for him. He'd tried to muffle a snort of laughter with a tessera roll and inhaled half of it, choking himself.
Thumping him on the back a few times, Rory dislodges the roll before shrugging.
"Whatever you say, Posy."
After that they play a game of cards that Rory somehow cheats at which ends the evening with a small brawl that ends up breaking the leg on the little table in the living room.
"That's it," their mom tells them, looking less furious and more exhausted. "Everyone is going to bed."
"I wasn't fighting!" Posy shouts through furious tears.
"You encouraged it."
And with that and a look that very clearly tells them she won't be arguing, the kids are sent to bed.
Gale sits up and helps her finish folding for another hour before her yawning gets the better of her.
"I swear those boys are wearing me out," she tells Gale as she puts the cleaned and folded laundry by the door.
She kisses his cheek and tells him goodnight and be safe before slowly making her way to the room she and Posy share.
Sadly, Gale wonders how much he wears her out, and how much more stress it's going to be for her when Madge's pregnancy is finally announced.
Pushing the thought away, Gale gets up, bones creaking, and heads to his room to pack his hunting clothes. They've been given Saturdays off again, giving him another day of hunting if the fence is down, or another day hiding out at Madge's if it isn't.
The moment he steps into the half moonlit room, he sees neither of his brothers are sleeping.
"'Bout time." Rory's grin widens. "I know a secret.
Before Gale can ask 'what?', or even just roll his eyes, Vick has bound over Rory's bed, almost flopping gracelessly onto the floor. The only thing that stops him is flying into Gale's chest.
"We found out Madge is pregnant!" He whispers loudly before he's even fully recovered his balance.
Rory rolls his eyes. "Good job playing it cool, Vick."
Vick flushes darker.
Gale feels his stomach do an unpleasant lurch.
"How?" Is all he manages to ask. There's no point denying it.
"Matilda guessed, and she said if Madge is wanting salty things then it's a boy, and that's how," Vick rambles.
"Is she wanting salty things, Gale?" Rory asks, voice heavy with innuendo.
Gale starts to tell him to stop being such a skeevey little pervert, but Vick saves him the trouble.
"Ew, Rory, that's gross!" He casts him a revolted look. "Don't be nasty. Madge wouldn't do that."
He looks to Gale for confirmation, which he gives him with what he hopes isn't a disappointed nod. The last thing he needs to do is give Rory something else to latch onto.
Adrenaline hits his system and warnings start coming out before he can think.
"Listen, this is really important, okay? You can't tell any-"
"-one, not even mom," Vick echoes Gale warning, sounding like he's repeated it a few times already.
"Madge already read us the riot act," Rory says.
Vick nods somberly.
Of course she had. Gale feels stupid for not having realized she would have. Or Abernathy would've.
"We won't say anything," Vick whispers, his voice actually low this time.
Looking to the bed, Gale sees Rory has set up, the grin gone from his face.
"We won't let anything happen to you guys."
Gale lets out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding and gives them a weak smile. "Thanks."
They stay quiet for a minute before Rory sighs.
"I just can't believe Madge let you knock her up." He shrugs. "She should check on some glasses when she goes back to the Capitol. It'll keep her from making that mistake again."
Grabbing the half flattened pillow from his bed, Gale flings it at Rory's head.