A/N: Happy Premiere Weekend! Whether or not you're a fan of the movies, I've decided to make this chapter extra long in honor of the movies coming to a close. (~7200 words.) Enjoy!

14 Weeks Pregnant


They settle into their own compartment on the train in a booth, sitting on opposite sides and facing one another. Gale is constantly glancing around him, out into the hallway despite their closed compartment door, and out the windows. Up until the moment the train starts moving Gale looks as though he's going to change his mind. But once they're on their way he eases back into his seat a little.

He hadn't been planning to come. In fact, Gale had been positive he wanted nothing to do with a trip to District 12.

But Posy called.

So far Gale had called home only a few times, and they hadn't called him, and he was hoping it would stay that way. But this morning he woke up to his phone ringing and answered without a hitch because he hadn't any idea who was calling. And it was Posy on the other end, asking if Gale really was thinking about coming home like Vick had said or if her brother had just been teasing her. And she cried. Posy cried, and his heart broke, and the next thing he knew he was at the train station.

He was going to regret this.

They spend the first hour or so of the train ride in silence. Madge wants to ask again why he's changed his mind but she knows not to push Gale too much, and he's already made such a leap joining her on this trip. Instead she reads her book and every so often she glances out the window to watch the scenery of the districts they pass.

It isn't until they stop in District 10 to let some people off and some others on, do the two finally really start to talk to one another.

"So what do you need me to do?" Gale asks a little roughly. His hands have spent a majority of the trip thus far balled into fists. "When you tell your dad?"

Madge lifts her shoulders. "Just be there?" She isn't entirely sure. "He's probably going to be angry. But if you…" she trails off, feeling her face turning a little pink. "If you hold my hand, or something, if you can show that you care about me without stating it, he won't be as upset."

"Hold your hand," Gale murmurs. He rakes his hand over his face. He can do that. "Your family never seemed the most affectionate," Gale tells her.

"We are," Madge responds. Again she shrugs. "It's the little touches that prove it."

Gale sighs, scrubbing at his face another time and leaning backwards in his seat. "I can't believe I'm going to have to be your fake boyfriend." There's not a lot of anger in his voice, but rather just general disbelief. The entire situation just seems so ridiculous. "Should I…" he trails off, hesitating. "Should I kiss you, or something?"

Madge's face turns from pink to red. "Maybe? We can… assess? When we get there?"

Gale nods, but then shakes his head. "Shit. How's your real boyfriend feel about all of this?" She arches an eyebrow at him. "The ginger," Gale clarifies. "From 6."

She feels like she's been punched in the stomach. Madge has been trying to block her entire experience with Oliver out of her mind. It was only a week or so of them being together but she'd really been so hopeful, especially after deciding she'd never wanted to get married. She found something with him that was sweet and simple, and he'd ruined it.

"He's not my boyfriend," she mutters. Madge turns her head to look out the window as the dark fields of District 10. The sun set ages ago but Madge the moon is bright tonight and she can still get glimpses of the fields. "Not that you care," she adds, "but he has a wife. So that's over." Gale's quiet for a moment, and Madge looks over at him after he doesn't respond. Instead of finding him looking shocked or upset like she's expecting, he's pressing his lips together to keep himself from smiling. Her jaw drops. "It isn't funny," she snaps. A snort escapes him. And then a real laugh. "Gale!"

He laughs again, shaking his head at her. "Shit, Undersee."

"It's not funny," she says another time, though there's less fire in her words.

"I know," Gale stops her. "I know it's not funny, I'm not laughing at you." Madge frowns at him before crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "I'm not," he says again, though the smile on his face is still bright and wide. "That… happened to me, too," he finally adds, his smiling slipping away just a bit. "That's what's funny. Not that some jackass screwed you over. I'm… sorry, about that." His voice is sincere, and Madge nods once. "Just be happy you found out early."

"I am," she admits. Gale's still smiling, shaking his head as though this is the most ridiculous thing in the world that they've both been with married people. "What happened?" Madge asks. "With… with you?"

Gale takes a deep breath. "She never told me she had a husband," Gale says, shrugging. "It was months… I ended it when I found out."

It's just more confirmation for Madge that Gale has a good heart. "I'm sorry," she says softly.

"I'm not." Gale and Delta weren't right for each other, and he never wants to be with someone who has so little respect for the person they've dedicated their life to. "Sometimes I…" he trails off, looking out the window into the night. "Sometimes I miss how simple things were in District 12," he finally carries on. "Everyone knew each other. You knew when you were going to be fucked over."

Madge sniffs. "I liked him a lot," she whispers.

Gale shakes his head. "You didn't even know him." Madge deflates at his words, because it's true. She didn't know Oliver at all. But she did like him. After a moment of silence Gale quietly adds, "You deserve better."

Another moment passes before Madge says, "So do you."


Madge falls asleep before Gale does, and that's mostly because he has trouble sleeping. He might hate hovercrafts because he hates heights, but at least they're faster than the train. He could probably get them a special compartment if he asks around and flashes his Mockingjay badge, but Madge said she was fine sleeping in the booth. She pulled out a pillow and a blanket and curled into a ball, falling asleep easily.

Instead, Gale wanders around the train. He passes groups of people around his age laughing and playing card games, he passes the bar car, and he passes plenty of dozing families.

He isn't sure how long he wanders around before he makes it back to his own compartment, careful to be quiet at so not wake Madge. They stop in District 11 at some point while Madge is still asleep and Gale considers taking off. He could catch another train back to 2 from the train station there, but he wouldn't dare just abandon Madge halfway through the trip. He wishes he could. At some point in his past he would've been able to without regrets. But she's been patient with him and she's been understanding and he owes this to her.

He goes in and out of sleep for a few hours and is awake to wake the sun creep over the horizon. Gale orders a cup of coffee from one of the passing trolleys and Madge wakes up to the smell of it.

"God I miss coffee," she murmurs, half asleep. Gale smirks and watches as she rubs her eyes and wakes herself up. Madge's hair is a curly mess and her eyes are all squinty and she keeps making this sort of puckering face that has Gale staring at her lips. It isn't until she licks them does he realize he's staring and Gale quickly averts his gaze. "We almost there?" she asks sleepily.

"About an hour," Gale says.

She nods and blinks hard a few times before excusing herself to the bathroom. When she returns her hair is tied up and out of her face and she's washed her face. She has a small biscuit from the trolley outside and she's eyeing Gale's drink while she gnaws on her bottom lip. He moves the cup to the side very obviously and laughs when her eyes dart along with it.

"Ugh, stop," she mutters before taking a bite of her biscuit. He chuckles again, shaking his head, and they sit in silence for a bit longer. It isn't until the fifteen minute announcement that Madge shifts uneasily. "Gale," she says.

He doesn't like the sound of her voice. "What?" Madge hesitates, and Gale frowns. "What?" he repeats sternly.

The words tumble from her lips, "They got married." Gale pauses, his hands tightening around his now-empty coffee cup. "Katniss and Peeta. A few months ago." Gale directs his gaze to the window, tipping his head forward. "I didn't know if you knew." He didn't. Still, he tips his head forward. His eyes are out the window. Suddenly his hands feel numb. He feels like he should say something but no words are coming out of his mouth. "Gale," Madge tries pulling his attention back and his eyes flicker to her for just a moment. "Are you… okay?"

He clears his throat. "Yeah." Gale holds up his paper cup and attempts to tell Madge he's going to throw it out when instead he just stands, exiting the compartment swiftly.

He isn't sure how to feel. So many conflicting emotions are running through his body, pulsing through his veins. Part of him wants to laugh, because Katniss Everdeen is married. Another part of him wants to scream for the girl that he lost all those years ago. Of course Katniss has changed because of the war, it's made her fire smaller and warmer. Gale can understand that. But the war has done the opposite for him, and that too makes him feel like collapsing.

When he enters the compartment again Madge is very alert. "Do you still love her?" she blurts.

He blinks a few times, lingering in the doorway. "No," Gale responds. His voice is thick. "Not for some time."

Madge looks as though she wants to ask more questions, but instead she keeps her mouth shut. Secretly her mind is thinking back to the District 4 trip when Gale brought back a girl that looked like Katniss. Her stomach feels heavy. What if he still loves her, he just doesn't realize it? She isn't sure why that thought upsets her so much.

He settles back in the compartment with a deep breath. They don't talk for the rest of the ride.


"Madge!" She's standing on her tiptoes trying to look around for the voice that's calling for her, but there's a surprising amount of people getting off the train and as well as greeting those. "Madge!"

"Abernathy," Gale rasps. "Abernathy is our ride?"

Madge whips around to Gale who looks horribly pale. "Do you see him?"

The man in question elbows his way through a couple reuniting with a grunt and finds Madge and Gale on the edge of the platform. Madge squeals and rushes forward, throwing her arms around the man and squeezing him in a tight hug. "Hey, Sweetheart," Haymitch says, hugging her back just as tightly. Haymitch isn't necessarily family, but he's always been close with the Undersee family. It was decided a long time ago that if anything was to happen to Madge's parents that she would end up in Haymitch's care. And though he can be an old grump to most of the world, Madge cares about him more than most people. "Jesus, you're tall."

"Oh, shut up," Madge says with a laugh, peeling away from him. "I'm the same height I was last time you saw me."

"I'm talking to Hawthorne over here," Haymitch mutters, tipping his head in Gale's direction. "I haven't seen you in years, I forgot how fucking tall you are."

"Good to see you too," Gale grumbles.

"Did you two travel together?" Haymitch asks, wheeling back around on Madge who's been rolling her eyes mostly since the moment Haymitch started talking. "And if so, why?"

"Oh, Haymitch," Madge shoves him slightly before joining Gale's side. "Stop it." Her hand flies out to Gale's and he almost yanks it away before remembering he's supposed to be the fake-boyfriend. Instead he tangles their fingers together and feels relief flooding him when Madge squeezes his hand. "Be nice."

Haymitch's eyes lower to their hands. "You've got to be fucking kidding."

Madge squeezes Gale's hand a little tighter. "Be. Nice." Haymitch's nostrils flare and he glares daggers in Gale's direction before muttering something about the car and tipping his head in the direction he starts marching.


Gale feels like he's going to throw up. Everything looks completely different, feels completely different, but he stills feels like he can smell burning flesh. Madge sits in the back of Haymitch's four door with Gale and holds his hand despite the fact that they no longer have to. She looks at him with soft eyes, wordlessly asking if he's alright, and he has no option but to tip his head into a nod.

"So," Haymitch starts the second he starts his engine. "You two are together."

Gale keeps his eyes out the window, taking in the new and improved District 12. "Yes," Madge answers. Haymitch shakes his head, casting nasty glances into the rearview mirror and murmuring something about a mistake. Haymitch has no idea that the biggest mistake isn't even the concept of Madge and Gale together, but rather that they're having a child. "We work together in 2," she continues gently. "It happened. Get over it."

"After everything," Haymitch grumbles.

Gale slowly pulls his hands from Madge's and leans back in his seat, scrubbing at his face. He needs another cup of coffee and about fifteen anti-anxiety pills.

"What does that even mean, Haymitch?" she asks angrily. "Gale has always been a loyal man and he's been working hard to make sure this country is rebuilding itself in the best way possible." Her voice takes on an angry tone. "It's been four years, Haymitch." But still, the man driving the car is not happy with this development. "Don't act like this."

"Sure." Again his eyes flicker to the mirror where he can see Gale but Gale's eyes are elsewhere, and so is his mind. He's thinking about Katniss and her marriage, he's thinking about all three of his siblings, he's thinking about the mayor he's going to have to impress and convince he's dating Madge. "Does he treat you well?"

"Jesus," Gale mutters.

"Yes, Haymitch," Madge insists.

"How long have you been together?" he continues.

"A year," Madge blurts instantly. Gale gives her a look that he tries to not make suspicious.

"You were together the last time you were here?" Haymitch asks. "And you didn't tell anyone?"

"Last time I was here I was watching Katniss and Peeta say their vows so no, I didn't think it was necessary to talk about my love life." There's a sharpness in Madge's words that intrigues Gale. He's always liked the side of Madge that can get riled up, it was why he used to piss her off all the time when they were younger. He focuses on that rather than the content of what she's actually talking about. Madge is still rambling about Katniss and Peeta's wedding and she's leaning forward in her seat to yell at Haymitch at this point, defending Gale while he sits quietly in his spot.

When did he become so passive? When did he decide to just sit back and let Haymitch talk shit? Gale rakes his hands over his face. If it was anyone else, he would probably argue back. But Haymitch is speaking the truth, and Gale's entire existence is just a mistake.

Finally they reach the mayor's house and Gale is surprised it's not larger or any more grand than any of the other nearby homes. It's smaller, in fact. Madge climbs out of the car in a huff and starts on Haymitch again, muttering something angrily about how he has no right to say anything to her when he spends his free time taking care of geese. With a deep breath Gale climbs from the car as well and helps grabs his own bag, slinging it over his shoulder and waiting for Madge to advance on the home.

The air smells cleaner. It doesn't smell like coal, or fire, or anything like that. And there's grass growing. Gale feels like he's in a different universe. "Come on," Madge finally says to Gale, tipping her head toward the house. "Thank you for the ride," she says to Haymitch. And almost as though she doesn't want to, "I'll see you later."

It's still early, considering their train came in at 7 in the morning, and much of the nearby area is only just now waking up. People are opening their windows, Gale can hear pots and pans clanging inside of people starting breakfast. Madge strides across the sidewalk and up a small porch before knocking crisply on the front door. Haymitch has since climbed into his car and driven away.

The house itself can only be two stories, nothing compared to Madge's old mansion that stretched into the sky. "I thought your dad was the mayor?" Gale asks as she rocks back on her heels waiting for the door to be answered.

She frowns. "He is." Gale presses his lips together as the front door is pulled open. "Daddy!" Madge flings herself at her father full speed and wraps her arms around him tightly. She hugs him much like she hugged Haymitch earlier, as though she hadn't seen him in years, and it makes Gale think about his own family. Should he call from the Undersee's phone and say he's coming? Or just show up? Will they greet him similarly?

"Sweetheart," Mayor Undersee was saying, holding his daughter in his arms. "It's so great to see you!" They part and Madge grins, looking over her shoulder at Gale almost hesitantly.

"You, um," she gestures to Gale standing behind her. "You remember Gale, right?"

Gale steps forward, extending his hand. "Mayor Undersee," he says firmly.

The mayor shakes his hand with a smile. "Call me Leon, please," he responds, shaking Gale's hand with a nice strong grip. "Of course I remember Gale. It's a pleasure to see you again." He looks back toward his daughter as their handshake comes to an end. "When you said you might be bringing a friend I'd expected your roommate, Lora, was it?"

Madge fidgets. "Well." Madge lifted her shoulders and smile. "Gale and I, um…" she trails off, and Gale is impressed by her act of flustered daughter. He has to remind himself again that she did spend most of her childhood acting as though she loved the Capitol, so this sort of act must be easy for her.

Leon's eyes light up in realization. "Oh!" He smiles even more brightly. "I see." Madge brushes her hair behind her ear and smiles. "Well, please! Come in, come in." He steps out of the doorway and makes room for the two of them to enter. "Madge can show you were the guest room is, that I'm just now realizing as I speak that you two will be sharing," Leon says as he shuts the door, "but because you're both adults I assume that—"

"I might be staying with my family, Sir," Gale stops him before he says something that would be embarrassing for all three of them.

Leon's hands fly up, and his face fills with relief. "Of course!" Madge has a smile pinned to her face. "Well, drop off your bags, and I have breakfast down here in the kitchen when you're ready. Strawberry pancakes."

"Oh thank God," Madge nearly groans at this news. "I'm so hungry."

She leads Gale up a staircase and down a hallway to find a nicely sized room. Even though the house looks small on the outside Gale's realizing that it's pretty spacious inside – but not overly so. The mayor has made a house that fits him and only him with the occasional guest as to not be wasteful, and Gale respects that. Light is flowing through the windows and it makes the entire place seem warm and friendly.

They set their things down and Madge turns to him. "I'm sorry about Haymitch," she says instantly.

Gale shakes his head. "He's never liked me much."

"I'm still sorry." Gale tips his head at her, appreciative of this despite the fact that it doesn't change much. He goes for the door, ready to go back downstairs, but Madge grabs his hand and pulls him back. The physical touch startles him and he pulls his hand away quickly, not ready to deal with the softness of Madge's skin this early in the morning. "You're a good man," she says firmly, looking slightly dejected that he's pulled away so fast. "We're in a… a strange situation, and you've been through a lot, but I… I still believe that you're a good man."

Her words sound so genuine and so sincere that Gale physically doesn't know how to respond. Madge is standing here, looking up at him with bright blue eyes so intense they remind him of the ocean, telling him that she believes he's a good man. She's wrong, of course, but no one's said anything similar to him in years. It makes his heart feel something strange.

"We should get downstairs," he finally forces out. "Before your dad thinks—"

"Yeah," Madge cuts him off with a forced laugh.

They can survive this weekend. They have no choice.


After a fairly awkward breakfast of strawberry pancakes where Madge makes up most of the backstory of her and Gale's "relationship", they decide to part to do their own things. They agreed that they'll tell her father over dinner about the baby, though Gale really wants nothing to do with that conversation, and that the rest of the day should be up to them.

"So you're going to visit your family?" Madge asks as they clean the dishes together. Madge volunteered them so her father could read the morning paper, which is apparently something that happens in 12 now. "Do you want me to come?"

He frowns at her. "Why would I want you to come?"

She frowns back, dropping her voice so her father can't hear. "You told me you haven't seen them in four years, Gale." He redirects his attention to the plates in the sink. "I just thought you might want some support."

"No."

She sighs. "Whatever." Gale hands her another dish to dry and she takes is a little too quickly. "When are you going, lunch?"

"No better time than the present," he mutters.

Her eyes flicker to a clock on a nearby wall and she laughs. "You're going to visit them at 8:30 on a Saturday morning?" she asks. "Will they even be awake?"

His scowl deepens to depths Madge never thought possible. "Why wouldn't they be awake?" Madge has to stop herself from laughing. She supposes it's not really his fault that he doesn't know, but kids are sleeping in these days. They haven't got much to do on the weekends besides homework maybe. She would be surprised if Vick, or even Posy, wasn't still sleeping. "Hawthorne's can't sleep if the sun's up," Gale mutters.

Leon enters the kitchen and both Madge and Gale perk up slightly. "Gale's going to visit his family," Madge says to her father. "I think I'm going to head into town. Would you like to come?"

"I've got a little bit of work to finish up at the Justice Hall," her father answers. "But I'll see you two for dinner?" Madge nods with a smile and Gale forces one to his face as well.

"Well," Gale tips his head. He's finished the dishes. "I'm off."

Before he can get too far Madge grabs his hand and tugs him back to her, a look of sorry in her eyes, and she lunges on her toes to kiss him quickly. Gale can barely register the feel of her lips before it's over. "See you later," she says gently.

Gale holds her gaze. He can feel her father's eyes on them, and if she's aiming for affectionate that was a big failure. And besides, two can play at this game. He reaches forward and cups her cheek gently, tilting her chin back ever so slightly. He leans in again and carefully presses her lips to hers before slowly moving his mouth against hers. Madge gasps quietly into his mouth and for a moment Gale forgets her father is in the room.

His mind flashes back to their night together all those weeks ago when things were infinitely less complicated than they are now.

"Are you sure you want to do this with me?" Madge had asked again and again, and Gale was insistent that he did. "Are you drunk?" she'd asked, and Gale was insistent that he wasn't, maybe just buzzed. They were in the elevator on his way up to his apartment and Gale was suckling soft, sweet kisses to her throat. Madge's warm hands were splayed across his hips under his shirt. Her thin nails dug into him as she pulled him closer. "Are you sure?"

"Are you?" he murmured into her neck. "We can stop this." But she kept pulling him closer.

They stumbled into his apartment while their hands roamed over one another's bodies. They peeled their clothes from one another and barely made it to his bedroom. Madge had the most perfect mouth and she seemed to be super into Gale's neck. When she sucked hard on the spot below his ear he groaned loudly.

He still doesn't know what was different about that night, but it was more than sex. For starters Gale almost never brought Gale's back to his apartment, he went to theirs. And secondly with most other girls it was hot and fast. This was… something else. When Madge unbuttoned Gale's shirt she kissed her way down his chest. And in return Gale kissed his way up her calves, between her thighs. The breathy moans from Madge as she tangled her hands into his hair and arched her hips.

It was sensual. It was slow. It was more than just a distraction. And it was more than once.

First he entered Madge while she was on her back and they moved together as though they'd done it thousands of times. He watched her pupils dilate and she moaned his name. And then she was on top controlling their rhythm. And then again with Gale behind her, kissing his way across her shoulders and panting into her neck. And then again, and again.

Condoms were used. Condoms were also… probably forgotten after the third go around or so. Hours had passed before they collapsed in his sheets, covered in sweat and panting. Gale thought alcohol was supposed to make sex more difficult but something else had been awoken in him that night instead. While Gale usually associated Madge with District 12, and maybe him feeling a little reminiscent is what brought him to her in the bar in the first place, looking at her afterwards his mind was somewhere new. Gale kissed her deeply that night and she kissed him back with just as much fervor.

What Gale did was simple. He'd have sex and leave, or make them leave, but like the rest of the night this too was different.

"Stay," he'd murmured sleepily. Maybe his mind was still a little addled, either from alcohol or just the amount of sex he had, but he could see something with her. For a brief moment he could imagine himself waking up to Madge with messy curly hair and a sweet smile. He wanted to wrap her in his arms and hold her close. And soon he fell asleep, not sure what her answer was.

When he woke in the morning she was gone. His mouth still tasted of her but there was no sign that Madge Undersee had ever been to his apartment. So like with every other girl he swallowed the memory of her and pretended she was just another girl. With the morning, Gale couldn't quite figure out why she'd been so special in the first place.

But kissing her here, now, in her father's kitchen, brings him back to that feeling and that night. Soon she parts from him with dark eyes and heavy eyelids. Madge licks her lips and that sweet smile Gale imagined at one point in his life is on her face. "See you later," Gale whispers back. He straightens up and tips his head at the mayor, and then exits the kitchen ignoring the way his chest feels warm and heavy all at once.


Madge's mind is still spinning when she gets to the bakery. She and Gale had talked about how they might have to kiss, but that was above and beyond the call of duty. But who was she kidding, Gale was always a good kisser. He always pretends like he's a rock and that his skin is impenetrable but Madge knows he's a sweetheart deep down inside. He can be tender and loving she is determined to know that side of him.

She walks into the bakery and the little bell overhead dings. Peeta made sure when they were in the construction phase that the bakery was identical to how it was before the bombs. "Be right out," she hears Peeta call from the backroom, and a smile graces her face. She strides up to the counter and looks into the glass. She might have just eaten breakfast but her mouth is watering at the sight of cupcakes and donuts and different cookies. Madge hears footsteps and then Peeta, "What can I get for—Madge?" She grins when she sees him and his face lights up. "Madge!" He rounds the counter and sprints for her and they collide in a hug.

"Hey," she says with a laugh. She's had so many hugs today and it makes her feel so good. She doesn't really get hugs in District 2.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Peeta asks when they part. He looks good. His eyes are clear and the bags under his eyes aren't as prominent as they've been in the past. He cups her cheeks as though trying to believe she's really here. "I missed you," he says.

Madge was vital in Peeta's recovery in District 13. They were close in District 12 before everything went to shit and she helped him ground himself after being hijacked. They write letters every once in a while still, but reuniting is always special.

"I missed you too," she says gently. After being completely sure that Madge is really, truly in front of him, he releases his hold on her face. "My dad's birthday's tomorrow so I got on the train and here I am." Peeta's eyes are still studying her but Madge is used to that at this point in their friendship. As far as she knows he hasn't had any major episodes in a long time, at least he'd been good for eight months by the time he and Katniss got married a few months ago. She leans forward on the counter. "Are you free for lunch?"

"Now?" he asks, his eyes flickering to the clock. "It's not even nine."

"Just at some point," Madge clarifies. "Maybe Katniss can join us?"

"She's hunting this morning," Peeta tells her. He washes his hands at the sink in the back before returning to a clump of dough to knead it. "But yes, absolutely!" Madge leans over the counter and watches as he works.

They fall into their normal back and forth, catching up as though no time has passed at all. Madge puts in an order for a cake for her father's birthday for dinner tonight (even though his birthday is technically tomorrow) and offers to help Peeta make it, and soon Madge is behind the counter with him with an apron tied around her waist. Every now and then people will enter the bakery and Peeta greets them with a smile. Sometimes people say hello to Madge as well, considering her father is still the mayor and people still know that she's his daughter.

By the time the cake is finished it feels like Madge has never left District 12. She and Peeta are giggling like school children over town gossip and sharing the bowl they used to mix the batter in. Someone else comes in for another shift, Peeta doesn't like sharing the bakery but that's how it works these days, and the two of them clean up and head for his home.

"We're building a house on the outside of town," Peeta tells her as they start for the Victor's Village. "We're so tired of this one. Have been for forever, but it didn't feel right to build a second house while people were struggling to even have one." Madge nods in understanding as they round up over the hill and the old house comes into view. It's huge, just as Madge remembers it, but the neighborhood is filled now. There are children running up and down the streets with pinwheels and smiles, families lounging in the yards that wave to the two of them as they pass. "Our house is just going to be transformed into another apartment style," he says to Madge as they stop at the mansion Peeta calls home. "Or a hotel. I can't remember what they told us."

"You'll still have a room for painting?"

Peeta nods, keying into the home. "Katniss," he calls. "Guess who's here!" But there's silence in response. Peeta tips his head toward the doorway and finds it empty of her hunting bag. "Must still be out," he murmurs, mostly to himself. He leads Madge down into the kitchen. "She stops at Hazelle's on Saturdays," Peeta says as they walk. "Sometimes they drink tea."

Madge freezes in her step. "Oh God." Peeta turns to her, looking concerned. "Um," Madge hesitates, unsure how this will sit with Peeta. "Gale's home," she says plainly. Peeta visibly deflates, confusion written all over his face.

"What?"

"We rode into 12 together, he's staying with me, but he went—"

Peeta cuts her off, "He's staying with you?" And then he straightens up. "Are you two together?"

"It's—it's complicated, Peeta."

"I need you to make it un-complicated for me, then," he says a little sternly. "He hasn't been home ever and now he's back, and he's staying with you?" Peeta starts toward the door. "If he ran into Katniss—"

"Peeta," she lunges after him and grabs his shoulder gently as to not trigger something deep inside. "If they ran into each other then they could be catching up, or something." Peeta huffs loudly and shakes his head. "Let me explain," Madge says to him. Peeta doesn't seem to like this, but still he lets her lead him into the kitchen.


Gale had to ask a stranger for directions to the Hawthorne's house. He wasn't sure who it was but the woman was surprised to see Gale, and clearly she knew who he was, and told him where the home was without any other questions. Gale stands in front of it now, surprised at how large the home is, larger than the mayor's, and debates knocking more than once.

But finally he caves. Gale lifts his hand to the door and knocks three times. Rap-rap-rap. And he waits. And no one answers.

As he decides this is a horrible idea and goes to turn on his heel, the front door opens. He can feel his heart crawling up his throat. "Gale?" He looks back to find Vick in the doorway, scrubbing his eyes as though he's just crawled out of bed. "Is that…" Barefoot and in his pajamas, Vick sprints into the yard and flings himself at Gale.

His breath catches in his throat. His brother is hugging him. The fear that rippled through him when the door opened is gone and Gale has never been more relieved in his entire life. "Vick," he croaks. At fourteen Vick is already up to Gale's shoulders. He wraps his arms quickly around his brother and blinks hard to stop himself from tearing up. "Hey," he rasps.

"Gale!" Vick's squeezing him tightly. "Oh, my God! Oh my God!" He pulls backwards and grins. "Oh my God!" His face is bright and he can't stop smiling. "You're here! You're really here!" A smile breaks on Gale's face too and he feels tears prickling his eyes. "Come inside! Come inside!" Vick darts back inside and Gale follows quickly, swatting at his eyes as he enters. "Posy!" Vick shouts up the stairwell. "Posy! Wake up!" He spins back to face Gale who's since been shutting the door and looking into the house. There is no way that this house belongs to the Hawthorne family. "I can't believe you're here," Vick says, his eyes wide and his mouth stretched into a grin. "I can't believe you're here!"

Gale doesn't even know what he wants to say. He's so caught up in admiring how much space his family has now to taking in how tall Vick has gotten. His nose is a little longer now and his arms and legs are long and lanky just like he and Rory had been, and his voice is already slightly deeper.

"You're so tall," Gale finally rasps.

Vick laughs loudly, a smile permanently pinned to his face. "Posy!" Vick yells again. "Get down here!"

"Whaaaaat," Posy groans from out of view, and Gale feels his heart pickup in his chest. There are four members of the Hawthorne family and so far only one of them has been excited to see him. That's also because he's only seen one of them. "I told you I don't want to go to—" Posy steps into the kitchen where Vick has lead Gale and pauses in the doorway. "Stop," Posy says. "Stop!" She points her hands at Gale and looks over her shoulder as though she can't believe this is happening. "What—what—where's the cam—camera, who's—this is a joke, right?"

Gale shifts awkwardly on his feet. "Hey, Pose," Gale says gently.

Tears spring to her eyes and she sprints toward him. Gale collapses to his knees just in time to catch her in his arms, holding her in the tightest hug even possible. Posy is sobbing. She's saying something but it's so incoherent Gale can't even try to piece together the words that are coming out of her mouth. Her face is buried in his neck and Gale again finds himself blinking back tears.

Finally her words begin to filter. "You're here, you're here."

"I'm really here," Gale murmurs, stroking his little sister's hair. She peels back, hiccupping for air, and Gale carefully wipes under her eyes. I'm really here," he whispers. "And you got way too big, Pose," Gale tells her, his voice scratchy and unsure. "Who allowed that?"


After some more tears and more hugs, the three of them all settle around the table. "Ma's at work, she's going to flip when she gets here," Vick tells Gale. "And Rory's out hunting, he'll probably be back soon. Also going to flip!" To hear that Rory hunts warms Gale's heart more than it should.

He lets Vick and Posy talk each other out. It goes back and forth between the two of them again and again as they talk about this or talk about that. Their voices are so full of excitement and cheer that Gale can't bother to interrupt them. And he doesn't want to. Listening to his siblings talking like nothing has changed makes Gale want to crumble into a million pieces. He waits for them to ask him questions about his life instead of interrupting them.

Vick shares about how he's starting wrestling, something he mentioned on the phone the other day, and Posy talks about how she's joined a soccer team. Both of them are doing well in school, something Hazelle makes sure of, and they both spend a lot of time at her shop after school (which is where they actually do their homework). Rory's been teaching the both of them a lot about the woods.

"What's Rory going to do after school?" Gale asks. The mines are still open but they're infinitely safer, and they have a hell of a lot less workers. "He's finishing classes soon, right?"

"He wants to travel, I think," Posy says.

"He might work at the bakery," Vick chimes. Gale makes a face but neither of his siblings catch on. Rory at the bakery? He swallows back his opinion because while he thinks it makes absolutely no sense, Gale really doesn't have much of an idea of who Rory is anymore. "He'll be happy to see you when he gets back," Vick says, and Gale feels himself rolling his eyes. "He will."

"Yeah," Posy agrees.

Gale sighs deeply. "It's my fault that I've been gone for so long," he mutters. He reaches across the table and places his hands over both of his siblings' hands. "If you all hated me—"

"We could never hate you," Vick stops him sharply. "You're our brother."

"We've missed you," Posy adds. "Every day."

"For four years," Gale adds darkly.

Vick sighs and pulls his hand from Gale's. "I couldn't look at a fire for years without having a panic attack," Vick tells his brother. "Sometimes I still have nightmares. And you actually fought." Gale sighs again. He doesn't need his little brother to comfort him, but he can't find the strength to make him stop. "I mean, of course Ma's not happy you disappeared, or Rory. But that doesn't mean they don't understand, and that doesn't mean they don't love you."

Before Gale can respond the door swings open and laughter fills the air. Two distinct voices come from the hallway that chills him to his core. "I'm telling you," the girl says, "that I didn't cheat, and you just suck at fishing."

"And I'm telling you," the boy counters, "that you're just still bitter I'm a better shot than you." The two enter the kitchen and Gale yanks his hands from the table and awkwardly forces himself to his feet. The chair scrapes the ground below him and he wobbles while gaining his balance. And then they spot him, and he spots them, and the air is so thick with tension Gale feels like he can't breathe.

Katniss and Rory are standing side by side in the doorway. They're shoulder to shoulder, Rory a few inches taller than Katniss, and they both have game bags slung over their shoulders. Rory's eyes dart from Gale to his siblings, and Katniss is staring with her jaw unhinged at the sight of him.

Rory clears his throat and shuffles on his feet. "I, um," he coughs again. "I just remembered I have somewhere to be," he croaks. He slings his bag off of his shoulder and onto the nearby counter before rounding on his heel and practically sprinting out of the kitchen.

"Rory," Gale calls, but the door slams, and soon all that's left is Katniss standing there looking terrified. "Katniss," he directs his attention to the girl who shakes her head at him.

She opens and closes her mouth a few times before saying, "What the hell are you doing here?"


A/N: Yay for super long chapters! We have a lot going on here: the train, the flashback, the reunions! Let me know what you're thinking, it's super nice to know where you're all at when reading. How do you think this reunion will go? I hope you all have a great weekend!