Fanfictionlover: Lol! I was excited too! NOW THE WEDDING *squeal*
JJ: I know but I wanted to do something different then the per usual. Sorry!
AutumnB: I KNOW:)
SugarCakes: Yeah it's a bit different than you expect but I wanted to change it up. Don't worry... it changes.
NightOwl: I love proposals too. I will! Thanks for your review!
Madge left her house after she had lunch. She had just been to the bakery to stock the new home with cornbread. She made herself a sandwich and was on her way to the seam. She locked the door behind her and ventured out into the square. The games were on and Madge saw Bristel and Thom watching the screen intently.
She stared down at the glistening ring as she walked through town. Under her arm were two paper bags full of bread. Madge used one hand to pull her gray coat tighter. It was flurrying around her and the snow was getting stuck in her hair. She walked through the seam and knocked on the Hawthorne's door.
"Hey." Madge beamed when Hazelle opened the door.
"Come on in." Madge made her way in and set one bread bag down on the table. Madge set the other bag on a bench as she took off her coat and hung it up on a nail. "Oh look at you!" Madge giggled and let Hazelle spread her arms away from her torso.
"Yeah, now it's obvious that I'm pregnant." She said and blushed.
"It looks great on you." Hazelle let her arms fall.
"It won't for long." Madge laughed and brought over the bread bag. "Fresh rolls." She handed it over with her left hand.
"Thank… is that." Hazelle dropped the bag onto the table and held onto Madge's hand. She turned the ring to see the wing side of it. "That's a Mockingjay wing." She said and Madge shushed her.
"Right," she said. "It's my mother's engagement ring." Madge turned it back to the medium sized diamond.
"When did this happen?" Hazelle asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Gale never talked to me about this."
"It was inevitable." Rory said coming in.
"Be quiet." Hazelle scolded.
"It went down this morning…" Madge shrugged.
"Was it romantic?" Hazelle asked, clasping her hands together.
"Knowing Gale, no." Rory answered with a mouthful of bread from Madge's bag.
"No it wasn't." Madge said trying to remember exactly what happened. "I was calling myself a cow and Gale was all like here let me make up for the fact you're going to be fat." Rory almost spit out his remaining roll. Hazelle shook her head.
"That's too bad." She sighed.
"No kidding." Madge beamed but looked down at her ring. "Oh well… I'll be Madge Hawthorne that makes up for it."
"Is that some kind of achievement?" Rory snorted from the couch.
"Is that sass?" Madge asked, her hair falling her shoulder as she looked back at Rory.
"Maybe." He wagged his eyebrows. "What are you going to do about it?"
"I'll tell Gale... that you were being mean to me." Rory sat up.
"You wouldn't." Rory frowned. Madge glared.
"Alright you two..." Hazelle laughed and grabbed a basket for the bread.
"Where is Gale?" Rory asked.
"Working," Madge said, cocking an eyebrow.
"Oh right," Rory nodded.
"Do you want something to eat?" Hazelle asked Madge.
"I had scrambled eggs at home but whatever you're making it smells good." She admitted and walked over to the table and sunk into a chair. Hazelle put a plate full in front of Madge. She picked up a spoon and handed it over to the blonde. "This is delicious." Madge said with a mouthful of goat cheese mini sandwich.
"Oh good," Hazelle smiled and beckoned Rory to the table and called out the backdoor to the younger children. Posy skipped in wearing her hair bow. Madge looked up but was ignored by the chatting siblings. They pulled themselves up at the table.
"Madge," Posy said breathlessly.
"Hey Poe," Madge grinned and took another sandwich. The door bangs open and Thom and Bristel enter with grim faces on.
"What happened?" Hazelle gasped and came to collect their coats and scarves.
"They played the recap from last night. Their group was trapped in poisonous fog." Thom explained quickly and took the head of the table next to Madge. Bristel sat across from her.
"They were all in critical condition. Finnick especially, but Mags was killed by the fog. The others eventually found water and bathed in it to relieve the toxins." Bristel said, taking a plate from Hazelle and picking up a sandwich. Thom took a bite out of the sandwich and looked over at Madge.
"When you thought they were safe they were attacked by these mutants. They were running low on supplies and Peeta was left in the spotlight, he was about to die when another random tribute sacrificed herself for him and died, brutal scene." Thom recalled. They ate in silence for several minutes.
"What are they doing, now?" Madge whispered.
"Now, they've been awarded salve for their burns. It was nasty so Finnick and Katniss covered themselves with it and scared Peeta with their green complexion. After that they received bread and we left. " Bristel said.
"That's good." Madge nodded and excused herself from the table. She stood with her bread crumb covered plate and turned. Bristel squealed and heads turned towards her.
"You have a baby bump!" She pointed. Thom looked over and beamed.
"Nephew bump," He winked at Bristel.
"What, no." She smirked, "Niece bump." Madge rolled her eyes and cleared her plate into the garbage tin.
"I have to run over to Everdeen's." Madge sighed and put her coat on, buttoning it all the way up to her chin. She dug a bright red hat out of the pocket of it and pulled it on. Hazelle got up and hugged her. "Bye, everyone," She smiled and picked up the bread bag. Madge stepped out into the street and walked towards the Everdeen's. It wasn't far so she was at their front door in no time.
"Hey." Prim said, opening the door for her.
"Hi." Madge smiled and walked into their house.
"My mom is out on house call." She said.
"I brought you bread." Madge laughed and set it on the table.
"Thank you." Prim smiled.
"Oh!" Madge gasped and pulled off her coat. "Look." Prim gasped and ran over, hugging Madge.
"It's there! We told you." They smiled at each other until their mouths hurt.
"I have a lot of cleaning to do." Madge admitted and put her coat back on.
"Sure." Prim nodded and opened the door for her. Madge stepped out on the streets and buttoned her jacket up. Mrs. Everdeen was walking with her head down, towards her.
"Mrs. Everdeen!" Madge called out to her. The woman stopped and looked up, smiling slightly.
"Hello." She said pleasantly.
"I'm showing now." Madge admitted right away.
"That's very good." Mrs. Everdeen nodded, "any questions?"
"I can't sleep on my stomach anymore, can I?" Madge frowned.
Mrs. Everdeen laughed. "Not recommended."
"Alright." Madge smiled, "see you later. Have a nice night." Mrs. Everdeen waved and entered her house. Madge walked through the square and into the alley behind the stores. Her house wasn't far away. She secretly wished Gale was home.
She was let down when she unlocked the front door. The house was eerily dark and chilling. She closed the door behind her and turned on the overhead light. Without taking off her coat or hat, Madge started a fire and rubbed her hands together in front of it.
She wasn't sure what to do with herself. Madge walked into her bedroom and peeled off her coat, dropping it onto the bed. She opened her drawers and pulled on extra layers to her thermal, including an extra pair of socks. She shuffled back into the kitchen and looked at the fresh cornbread.
Would she eat or wait for Gale? Should she dare turn on the games? Could she take a nap without sleeping through the night and missing dinner? Was she hungry enough to have dinner? Madge groaned and leaned against the counter, weighing her options.
She relaxed on the couch and turned on the television. Katniss's group had since teamed up with tributes Johanna, Wireless, and Beetee. Wireless is constantly muttering, "Tick tock" under her breath. Madge tries to watch but Katniss and Johanna start disagreeing and she knows it will end up in a fight. She gets up and clicks the television to off.
When she turns around, she realizes the room is still empty. Madge goes to the kitchen and prepares herself cornbread, potatoes, and a slab of beef. She looked over her shoulder and practiced apologizing to her fiancée when he arrived home. "Gale! I'm so sorry! I was so hungry. I didn't know when you'd be home." She put her hand to her chest and gave the wall across from her an award winning smile.
Her smile dropped as she made her way over to the empty table. She ate in silence other than the occasional pop of the fire and the whirl of the winter air outside. Madge picked up her fork slowly, taking small bites. She was buying time. Would she start pacing?
She looked down at her clean plate and sighed. Was this how life will be? She guessed that if you added a baby to that equation, she should be glad she has free time. Madge picked up her dishes and set it in the sink. She looked out the fogged window.
Madge turned on the steady stream of water and washed the plate, dried it with a rag and placed it in the drying rack. She turned around and leaned against the counter, looking down at the plain tiled floors. They looked gray instead of white. Yet, that's what everything looked like in the district.
Madge went to the bedroom and opened the last remaining boxes of personal things. She took out a blue vase and smiled. It would look great on the fireplace mantel. She carried it out and set it on the concrete slab above the burning heat.
It looked good in the little light they had. She went back to the bedroom, excited to find what else Casper and her father had packed her. A family photo of her family was in a bright red frame, Madge set it up on her dresser next to Gale's pajamas. She froze, saddened by them. She hoped he would be home soon.
Madge shook her head and took out a collection of books that were previously on her bookshelf. Madge realized there wasn't a bookshelf in the home just yet. She set them back in the box. Porcelain jars that were her mother's lined the inside of the second box and Madge carried each separately to the bare counters in the kitchen.
She placed them by tallest to shortest, turning the design on the front face forward. She looked at the blank walls and hung her mother's wooden spoon collection on nails she found in the drawer. As she hammered in each nail, she imagined Gale coming in. He would be confused when he found her with a hammer, a nail in her mouth, a nail in her hand, and wooden spoons with leather string for hanging scattered around her.
She smiled through the nail gritted in between her teeth. Once that was done, Madge moved away from the wall proud of all the work she had done. It wasn't long until she was onto her next task. She cleaned the bathroom, head to toe and set out a dish to hold their toothbrushes and soap. On the shower door, Madge set out two new towels on the bar.
She went back into the hall and looked at the naked walls. She looked into the boxes once more. There wasn't anything that could be put up without a shelf or two. Madge made a face and wandered back into the living room, clicked the television on and sagged onto the couch.
Their replaying the good events of the day while everyone has their rest and guard out. Katniss is the one guarding her group. She has a thoughtful look about her. She perks up and looks around the arena as if she's heard something. Madge sighs and turns off the screen once again.
Madge took out a long light pink nightgown that fell to the top of her double socked feet. She synched the string tightly under her breasts, showing the curve of her protruding stomach. She fixed the long sleeves and moved out into the living room.
Madge practiced her damsel in distress face and slumped into the nearest chair. She rested her arms on the kitchen table and stared at the door, willing it to open and reveal Gale. She rested her chin on top of her folded arms. Her eyes drooped.
The clicking of the key in the door, the subtle wind change as the door opened, the heavy tired footsteps, and the sigh of utter relief went through Madge's ears before she awoke. Only the cold hand on her cheek shocked her completely out of slumber.
"Gale!" She squeaked and stood up. Madge moved around the table away from him. "Where were you?" She demanded. Suddenly she wished that she were holding a pan, bat, or a letter opener.
"Working." He said showing her his palms. "Sorry I'm so-"
"Late?" Madge finished for him. She flashed her damsel in distress face. The look of remorse wasn't in Gale's eyes. Instead it was steady pity. She couldn't look at him any longer. Madge turned around and scurried out the door and down the steps.
"Madge!" Gale yelled and ran out after her. "What are you doing?" He cried as she kept walking away from him.
"Getting away from you!" She screamed and kept her head down and out of the burning wind.
"You'll get sick. Get inside this minute." He yelled.
"No. Just leave me alone!" She hissed and ducked into the wide open square. Snow flurries danced around her and she could no longer feel her hands. Madge kept pushing forward.
"Madge please!" Gale pleaded and tried to run to catch up with her. "Madge!" He cried. "Think of the baby if not for yourself!" She rolled her eyes and cut back behind the shadowy stores. Gale ran into the alley in front of her and grabbed her hands.
"You pity me." She spat. "You don't care at all!" Madge cried. "At all!"
"That's not true." He sighed and tried to brush the hair out of her eyes. She swatted his hand away.
"I told you to leave me alone." She whispered.
"I'll leave you alone when you're curled up by the fire." He glared. Madge tried to stop her teeth from chattering and her knees from shaking. "Come on." He beckoned. She relaxed when she was in his arms. He lifted her and carried her back to their house.
The house was warm and Madge could feel through her frozen flesh. Gale grabbed a blanket off the couch and wrapped Madge in it. He lowered her onto the ground besides the fire and put his hands on his hips. "Go away." She muttered.
"Don't ever do that again." He said and narrowed his eyes.
"Please." She sighed and leaned against the wall, soaking up the heat next to her. Gale sighed and ran a hand over his cheek; he wandered back into the kitchen.
"Mm cornbread." She heard him mumble. Madge watched the flames of the fire, stretching and ever changing. She pulled the blanket further around her. She could hear Gale eating in the other room. Madge rested her head against the wall and closed her eyes. "If you're tired, go to bed." Gale said from the doorway.
Madge opened her eyes and glared. "Don't tell me what to do."
Gale groaned and rolled his eyes. He went into the bathroom and some minutes later he started the shower. Madge pulled the blanket off her and she was careful to stand up. She folded the fabric and set it on the couch. She looked around and found a few loose papers on the table behind the couch.
They were marriage licenses. She left them there and went to listen to Gale humming in the shower. She smiled slightly and went back into the bedroom. It was dark and Madge snapped on the light next to the bed. She pulled back the sheets and the heavy quilt. She took off her wet socks and dropped them in the laundry basket.
She would have to wash the clothes tomorrow. Madge looked at the state of her pajamas and crawled under the covers. She smoothed the quilt under her chin and fluffed the pillows. She stared at the ceiling as the shower slowed to a stop. Gale was shuffling around in the bathroom.
He finally walked into their bedroom with only a towel wrapped around him. He snatched the pajamas off the top of the dresser and wandered back into the bathroom. Madge pulled back his side of the bed and closed her eyes. Gale did not return to the bedroom.
Madge sat up and listening for the returning footfalls but there were none. She climbed out of bed and slid down the hall and into the living room. Gale was making a bed for himself on the couch. "What are you doing up?" He asked her and dropped a pillow at the end of the couch.
"I…" She searched for the right words.
"Are you alright?" He asked in a smooth calming tone. Much like if he was talking to a child.
"I'm fine." She whispered. "Why are you sleeping on the couch?" He raised an eyebrow.
"You told me to stay away from you." He smirked and smoothed the blanket. "Remember?" Madge stood in front of him awkwardly. She pressed her hands to her stomach and shifted on her feet. "Let me ask again, are you feeling alright?"
"Come to bed." She said quickly. "Don't sleep here." He looked down at his bed on the couch.
"Are you sure?" He asked.
"Yes." She whispered and looked down at her hands. Gale shook his head and picked up the blanket he had laid out. He folded it as it was before and took her arm, leading his fiancée to their bedroom. She sunk into the mattress and pulled at the sheets. Gale did the same next to her.
"Goodnight." Gale whispered and Madge clicked the light off. She turned into him and burrowed herself into his side.
"Night." She smiled. He kissed her forehead and rested a hand on her hip. Before Madge was fully asleep, Gale shifted and muttered,
"I love you." Madge smiled sleepily and looked up at him. Even in the darkness Gale's grey eyes were bright.
"I love you too."
Review! So sorry it's been so long. College stuff you know? I'll try to work faster but I don't have any time. GRRRR.
Erin
