Title: "Living With the Boys"

Summary: Madge Undersee explores the perils of living with her boyfriend and his two best friends. Gadge, with Gale/Thom/Bristel brOTP3.

Supporting characters: Thom, Bristel

Version notes: Minor tweaks in phrasing. Originally published on Tumblr on March 22, 2015. A quick ficlet for hawtsee, dandelionlass, and Solaryllis, in which I tried to incorporate as many elements as possible from a post I reblogged about house rules.

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When Gale asked Madge to move in with him and his friends, she said yes in a heartbeat. As far as she was concerned, it was a win-win situation. Waking up next to her smoking hot boyfriend every morning for the foreseeable future? Saving money on rent at the same time? Um, yes please.

She had no idea what she was getting herself into.

"Well, this is a side of you I've never seen before," Madge remarked one Saturday morning, when she walked into the living room to find Gale, Thom, and Bristel watching cartoons and eating cereal in Ninja Turtles onesies.

It took a few months, but eventually Madge got used to being the only female in an apartment that, at times, seemed to run purely on testosterone. She got used to the sight of pubic hair offcuts in the toilet. She got used to walking into the bathroom and being able to identify everything the boys ate in the last twenty-four hours. Most importantly, she got used to sharing her boyfriend with his two best friends, even though she wasn't one hundred percent sure that the three of them weren't already married to each other.

Besides, they were endearing in their own way. Thanks to Thom, Madge had stepped up her karaoke game by adding the entire Guns N' Roses back catalogue—plus Savage Garden's "I Want You"—to her repertoire. And Madge would never forget the day she came home from work to find Bristel weeping into a tub of peanut butter. When she put her arms around him and asked him what was wrong, he bitterly replied: "I still think they should've passed to Marshawn."

When her birthday rolled around and the boys surprised her with breakfast in bed, that was when Madge realized how much Thom and Bristel had become part of her life—and how much she had become a part of theirs.

"My gift can wait until later," Gale said with a mischievous grin. "But the three of us also chipped in and got you a group present."

Tears welled up in Madge's eyes when she ripped the wrapping paper off to reveal her very own Ninja Turtles onesie. "Leonardo?" she sniffed, clutching the soft fabric to her chest.

"Yeah, because you're the one who keeps us in line," Bristel chirped. "The chore wheel was a lie until you showed up."

"Also, Leonardo was the only one left," Thom quipped.

Madge giggled. "I'll take it. You guys… this is the best."

The boys exchanged glances. "Check the pocket," Gale suggested.

Curious, Madge felt around for the pocket and dug her hand in. Almost immediately, her fingertips brushed against the unmistakable texture of velvet.

Hardly daring to breathe, she opened the box to find Hazelle Hawthorne's engagement ring inside, and when she looked up Gale was already down on one knee.

"Margaret Undersee," he said, taking her hand in his, "will you marry me?"

Madge managed to choke out a yes. Thom and Bristel cheered as Gale slipped the ring on her finger.

"We'll get our own place as soon as we can," Gale promised as he pulled her into his arms.

"I never thought I'd say this," Madge laughed, "but I'm going to miss these two."

Thom and Bristel joined in for a group hug. "You better take care of this one," Thom told Madge. "He's like a brother to us."

Madge leaned her head on Gale's shoulder. "You won't be losing a brother," she vowed. "You'll be gaining a sister."

"Well, in that case, there's only one thing left to do," Bristel declared.

"Celebratory nineties dance party?" Madge guessed.

Bristel nodded solemnly. "Celebratory nineties dance party."

I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down
But I get up again
You're never gonna keep me down


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A/N. As always, Medea Smyke's An Extra Dividend is responsible for imprinting me with male!Bristel. The TMNT onesies are a throwback to Liam Hemsworth's ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.