Madge paces around her paces the upper level of her house, listening to loose floorboards squeak as she does so. She has to remind Bernard to fix them.

Her thoughts revolve around tonight and the high expectations she has set. There's a difference between showing up to the bar in the Seam already drunk like she did last time from showing up to the bar in the Seam to get drunk like she might this time. She and Jace agreed to meet there but she isn't sure what to wear. She doesn't need anyone calling her a snotty nosed rich girl yet at the same time she doesn't want to look like she dressed down.

"Dear," Mrs. Undersee's frail voice rings through the halls. "Madge, honey, would you stop pacing?" Madge makes her way to her mother's room and orders herself to smile. It's a bit hard, looking down at the woman whose skin is whiter than snow and eyes are glazed over. Fragile, weak, dying. "Going out tonight?"

"Attempting to," Madge says back. "Jace and I are going to get a drink." Her mother raises an eyebrow and Madge laughs, slipping into the seat next to her bed. "Nothing like that. We're going to the bar in the Seam, I'm trying to get him to stop being such a dunderhead when it comes to prejudice."

"That's very like you," her mother responds quietly. "I guess I won't see you later, then."

Madge laughs, "No, it'll probably be a late night." Besides, Madge hates when her parents see her drunk. It isn't like Madge to get drunk in the first place; she usually knows how to handle herself in a drinking situation. When it happens, however, she likes to avoid everyone she knows. Madge is known to rant when she's drunk, known to act like a teenager instead of the mayor's daughter.

"Well enjoy yourself," Mrs. Undersee says weakly. Her heath has been rapidly deteriorating. "I think I'm going to sleep," she murmurs, reaching for the IV which is filled with morphling that hangs by her bed. "Love you, Madge."

Her daughter sighs, "Love you too, Mom." Madge knows she can't make any objections to her mother's habits. If she's in pain, she needs morphling, she needs sleep. That's the end of it.

Madge wrinkles her nose and makes it back to the door, dimming the lights with the switch before pulling it shut gently. It won't be long, Madge can feel it in her bones. Her mother isn't going to last another year. Maybe not even to Christmas. The thought makes her shudder, Madge pulls her hands through her hair to calm herself. She'll get through this. When her mother passes she'll be heading to a better place, Madge is sure of it. That has to be enough to keep Madge strong, because right now it's all she's got.


Gale used to be a good dater. He would date a new girl every weekend, sometimes two in the same. No one complained either because at least they were getting a date with the Gale Hawthorne. Now, no one cares. He's still handsome but it's clear he hasn't been with anyone in awhile, it isn't such a big deal to date him.

The appeal is gone. Now what's he going to do?

He enters the bar and finds the girl that Rory set him up with. Her name's Tally. She's from the Seam, he's seen her around. She's tall, she wouldn't have to stand on her tiptoes to kiss Gale like some girls had to in high school, that's for sure. But who's to say there'll be any kissing tonight? It's just a first date. He might not even like her.

Gale studies her for a moment before he sits. She's pretty, sure. Unlike most girls in the Seam her hair isn't long, it's in a stylish bob that frames her face. She'd look nicer if she hadn't caked her face in makeup. Her shirt dips down her chest and although Gale's thankful for the view, it's not a first date outfit.

Should be an interesting night.

"Gale?" her voice chirps and pulls him from his trance. "Gale! I'm Tally!" Oh yes, the high pitch of her voice is sure to make for an exciting night. Gale forces a smile and nods his head, walking over and joining her at the table. He has to keep an open mind. "Wow, it is so great to meet you! I have to say that when your little brother came up to me to set me up on a date I thought it was a joke. Gale Hawthorne? Who would've thought his brother would be setting him up on dates these days! Still, you're pretty attractive so I thought hey why not."

Gale awkwardly laughs, choking out, "Thank you?"

Tally grins, "Right, I'm Tally by the way. Let me tell you a bit about myself, alrighty?" Gale doesn't know if he nods or not but she continues anyway. "I should be working in the mines with my older sister but I hate getting covered in coal dust. Anyone covered in coal dust is just plain nasty, I can't stand it." At least Gale rinsed off before coming to the date? "I've been looking for a job in town, something cleaner, but no one seems to be hiring. They're all family businesses or something like that. My favorite thing to do in my spare time is to sew but I still haven't learned how to do that. Do you know anyone that can sew?"

Gale coughs, looking up and motioning for someone to bring him a drink. It's going to be a long night.


Sometime in the night, after Gale's had a few drinks to help him tune out the annoying voice of his date, he looks up to see someone he hadn't expected. Madge Undersee, of all people, walks in the bar. Unlike last time she made it here she's not stumbling and it would appear she hasn't been drinking at all. She gets a few whistles from the men around her but nothing significant like last time. It isn't as late so not as many people are drunk. She certainly isn't.

Madge makes her way to the counter and orders a drink, her eyes scan across the room but never land on anyone specific. Gale squints in her direction. Did Madge seriously come to the bar in the Seam to get drunk? Why didn't she just go to the town bar?

"Gale," Tally snaps her fingers in front of his face. "Are you even listening to me?"

He nods, "Yeah, yeah, in the 11th grade…"

Tally smiles brightly. "Correct. So in the 11th grade this girl told me I wasn't allowed to do things like that because they were treasonous, so I started telling everyone that she…" Again Gale zones out, not having any clue what they're talking about. It's been like this all night. Tally talks, Gale nods. Simple as that. His eyes find Madge Undersee again and she sits alone at the bar, her posture tall and straight, her blonde hair tumbles down her back. She's got on this dark blue shirt that forms to her figure and a pair of tight jeans. She looks good. "Gale!" Tally screeches and pulls the miner back.

"What? Sorry."

Tally huffs, "Who're you looking at?" Her eyes dart around the room until she finds the blonde. "Oh. Why is she here anyway?" Gale shrugs, taking another swig of whisky. "Weird. I heard she was getting married. Did you hear that? To one of her rich friends. She doesn't have a ring on though so I don't know."

As long as they're talking about Madge, Gale might as well look at her. She's a lot more appealing than Tally at the moment. When he lifts his gaze back to her he realizes that the drunk that always hangs around the bar has taken one of the open seats by her side. Gale can't help but snicker. Everyone calls the drunk Frodo, but that's not his name. In fact, no one knows his name. He's short and scrawny, long greasy hair hangs down his face in all directions. And Madge is his current victim.

"No, no," Madge's timid voice carries over the babbling crowd. "I'm waiting for a friend."

"I bet it's her future husband," Tally hisses across the table. "Madge Undersee was apparently heard screaming about how she didn't want to get married. She's clearly having second thoughts. Look, her hubby's late. I bet she's pissed."

Gale finally lets out a deep breath, "Don't you have anything better to do than to gossip?" Tally huffs, crossing her arms tightly as if she's annoyed. "I've said, what, fifteen words?"

"Well sorry if I'm a talkative person but that's just what you get with me. It's either all or nothing or," she pauses and again lets out an angry breath. "Where are you going?"

Gale has a habit of marching off in the middle of conversations, but for once he doesn't feel a lick of guilt about it. He takes the seat next to Madge and leans on his elbow. "Sorry I'm late," he says, raising his eyes to the drunk. "Can I help you?"

"Just talkin' to a pretty lady, Hawthorne," Frodo responds. Thankfully he doesn't realize that Gale was literally just sitting down with another girl. "He your date?"

Just as Madge opens her mouth to say no, he isn't her date, Gale says, "Yes. Now I'd appreciate it if you would leave." He reaches across to Madge's chair and grabs under it, scooting it backwards toward him with such a force she nearly falls off. Her fingers grip the cold wood and she suppresses a squeal.

The alcohol Gale has already consumed must be working its magic because there's no way in hell he'd ever do something like this if he wasn't drunk. Not wanting to get on Gale Hawthorne's bad side Frodo quickly leaves, though his eyes linger in Madge's direction.

"What are you doing?" Madge whispers, her eyes finding Gale's.

"Saving you," he murmurs back. It's the alcohol. "Act like you're happy to see me."

"What?"

"He's still watching, he'll be back." Madge's eyes glisten over in clear panic and a laugh bubbles out of Gale. Quickly she throws her arms around his neck and hugs tightly. Not what Gale had expected but he returns it, "There you go." Eventually Frodo's gaze drops from the couple as he gets distracted with something else. "What the hell are you doing here, Undersee?"

"I came for a drink," she mutters as she pulls her arms back. Gale didn't even have enough time to register her body pressed against his, to soak up her warmth. "My friend was supposed to meet me but he clearly decided not to show up."

Gale snorts, "Clearly." He watches as Madge tries to hide her hurt, but it doesn't work. She quickly sips at her drink to avoid conversation. "Hey, if he's not gonna show up to a date then he's not worth it."

Madge rolls her eyes, "It wasn't a date. He's just a friend." Her tone sounds sincere but she's clearly upset he didn't show. It's gotta mean something. Perhaps Madge Undersee isn't used to being stood up.

Gale studies her another moment, trying to make sense of her emotions and his at the same time. There's something that pricks his stomach when he thinks about Madge Undersee on a date, but something worse when he thinks about her getting stood up. Who the hell would stand her up?

"Sure," he eventually replies, deciding to believe that Madge was just meeting up with a friend. "My date thought it'd be your husband."

Madge raises her eyes back to Gale, "You're on a date?"

Crap. Gale looks back over at the table where he had been sitting and finds it empty, nothing but his half empty glass of whisky to prove that anyone had been sitting there. Good thing, too. Maybe it was rude of him to walk off like that but he doesn't quite care. She was a nightmare. Gale is going to have a good long talk with Rory Hawthorne when he gets home about the dos and don'ts of dating. Tally is most definitely on the don'ts.

"Not anymore," he murmurs. "Thank God. She was a lightning storm, that one."

"They can't all be sunshine," Madge laughs. Whether he'll admit it or not she's right, they can't all be sunshine. You've got to filter through the annoying gossip-mouthed girls to find the ones that actually like conversation. "Nor do I have a husband, or will anytime soon." She scrunches her nose before downing the rest of her drink.

"Madge Undersee isn't looking to settle down, eh?"

"You're one to talk," she sneers back with a laugh. "You're two years older than me and you just walked out on the first date you've had in years." Oh yes, Madge has kept her ears open when it comes to rumors about Gale. He doesn't date like he used to, isn't the player he used to be.

"Trust me," Gale snorts, "I wouldn't have been 'settling down' with her. The last five minutes was spent talking about you and your apparently not husband."

Madge sighs, waving over the bartender to refill her drink. "Good to know my private life is public gossip."

Gale laughs at her discomfort, "You're the mayor's daughter, Undersee. What more do you expect?" Even when she hadn't been a prominent figure in his life Gale would often hear whispers going around about Madge. It's not like he ever paid attention, but there had definitely been some talk. She was seeing this guy or that guy, yadda yadda. "Hey, who said I was looking to settle anyway?"

Madge snickers, "You did when you said it wouldn't have been with her." She runs her finger over the rim of her cup, pulling up her finger to suck on the liquid she's collected. "He's an asshole," she suddenly groans. "He's supposed to be my best friend and he couldn't even call to cancel!"

"Let it out," Gale says sarcastically. "Release your problems to the world." Madge shoots him a look and he laughs. Definitely the alcohol. "He's apparently not a good best friend then, Undersee! Find a new one! Send out applications! I'm sure half the District would like to buddy it up with you."

"That's not how friendship works, Gale," she gripes. "Friendship is when people make plans and they show up to them despite not wanting to." Madge takes another swig of her recently filled drink and turns to him. "Friendship is laughing about things that aren't funny! Friendship is important!" Gale raises his eyebrows as Madge flails her arms. "Why am I not a good friend?"

"False," Gale notes. "You said showing up to plans was friendship, and if he didn't show up then he's the bad friend not you." Madge drops her head into her hands and sighs again. "Undersee, stop being so hard on yourself."

"Why are you even talking to me?" she wonders aloud. "You could've just stayed on your awful date and ignored me like you should've."

"Don't you dare bring up that whole owing thing you did at Posy's party," Gale nearly grunts. He wants to believe he did this out of the kindness of his heart, not because he owes her anything. "You were obviously being harassed by Frodo, you don't know how to handle yourself in situations like that."

"Yes I do," Madge lifts her head.

"No you don't, Undersee," Gale chuckles. "All you had to was tell him to leave and he would've. But you, you're all, 'no, no. I'm weak and blonde.' Because that'll get him to leave."

"Gale!" Madge shoves his chest and then a laugh escapes him. A real, hearty laugh, and then Madge laughs too. "You're preposterous!"

"I'm preposterous? You're preposterous! You just used the word preposterous in a casual conversation!" Again she shoves him and the two continue to laugh.

There's a comfortable silence that falls between the two of them as their stretched smiles slip away. The two of them joking around, it's not normal. Madge takes another sip of her drink as she studies Gale, the light glow of his eyes that prove he's actually enjoying himself instead of just pretending.

"God, I need to go home," Madge suddenly says. It's getting a bit too much for her. "This is too weird." She pushes her stool away from the counter and leaves a few coins as a tip. "Thanks, Gale."

He shrugs, pushing away from the counter as well. "Let me walk you to the door. Frodo'll follow you home if he thinks you're alone." Madge doesn't protest as they cut through the crowd, trying to get to the exit. "Hey, you're not so bad, Undersee. You ever need a drink you let me know, yeah?"

She laughs, "Don't count on it."

Gale scoffs as if he's offended, holding open the rickety door so she can walk through. "I'm serious. I can't drink with Thom because Bristel doesn't let him go out and Rory's always with Prim plus he's a lightweight and I end up being a babysitter instead of enjoying myself."

Madge leans against the doorframe and her lips lift into a smile. Gale talks a lot when he's drinking. She decides to point it out. "You're drunk."

He laughs, "We're getting along aren't we? Shouldn't matter that I'm drunk." His hand aimlessly curls through a loose strand of her hair before he knows what he's doing. "Besides, I wouldn't stand you up like your not-husband did."

Madge reaches up and grabs his hand, returning it to him before her cheeks run too pink. "I'll keep it in mind," she replies. "You should go home before you forget how to walk, Gale." He follows her out the door and watches as she waves lightly over her shoulder. "Goodnight," she calls.

Despite the fact that she heads toward town and he heads back toward the Seam, they're not too terribly different. Are they?


Madge makes her way to the Victor's Village instead of returning to her home. She told her mother she wouldn't be back until late, and even though Mrs. Undersee is probably asleep she doesn't want to risk the humiliation in admitting to someone that her best friend stood her up.

Instead she heads to Katniss' house, the two haven't had much time to talk lately and she's sure her friend won't mind the pop in. In the crisp air of the night Madge's tipsy thoughts simmer down. In the midst of her anger for Jace, Gale managed to make it better. Which was unexpected, and very strange. Madge found herself laughing at things that weren't funny, teasing Gale as if they were old friends.

It had to be the alcohol. It's not like Madge would have gone out of her way to be angry and bitter but she most certainly knows she wouldn't have willingly been laughing with Gale Hawthorne. Right?

Her knuckles rap against the door and Madge hears a stir from the inside. A few moments later Katniss opens the door and smiles brightly.

"Madge!" she cheers, ushering her inside quickly. "I had no idea you'd be coming over."

"Hope it's not a bother," Madge says as she steps in. The bright lights make her squint compared to the darkness from outside. "I was just out for a drink, figured I'd stop by."

"You're never a bother," Katniss laughs as Madge kicks her shoes off. "I'm home alone anyway. Prim's out with Rory and I think my mother's over Haymitch's house. You went out for a drink by yourself?"

Madge scrunches her nose and slinks onto the couch, watching Katniss slide into the armchair across the room. "Jace was supposed to go with me, he never showed up." Katniss snorts, kicking her legs out on the rest as Madge lowers herself to face the ceiling. Katniss knows Jace through Peeta, but she isn't the biggest fan. "At least Gale was there."

Katniss raises an eyebrow, "You talked to Gale? Voluntarily?" Madge shrugs, not looking toward Katniss. "He still hasn't apologized to me."

"I think it's on his to-do list," Madge tells her. "You know, he's not as grouchy as I remember him to be."

Katniss smiles weakly, "Yeah, he's not." There's a pause so both of them can reflect on how he's changed. Madge remembers he'd always have a scowl, now it's more likely to be a frown of annoyance. She supposes that's an improvement. "He said he was going to talk to me?"

"Yes," Madge nods. "Told me at Posy's birthday."

The brunette almost shudders, "It's weird that you two are talking."

Madge hesitates before admitting, "We were friends when you went in the Games." Katniss again raises an eyebrow and decides to start playing with her braid. "Gale kind of ended it when you got back though." The fact that Katniss is uncomfortable with the topic proves to Madge that Gale hasn't mentioned it to her. It doesn't surprise her, though it does sting a bit. "And he only just found out about the morphling. I think he thinks he owes me for it."

Katniss shrugs gently, "He's from the Seam. If you had done it for me I'd feel like I owed you too. It's how our brains work." After a moment of studying the blonde on the couch Katniss speaks again. "I think it'd be good if you two were friends. Maybe he'd get over his biases and stop acting like I was an alien." Madge giggles, rolling on her side to face her friend.

"We're not really friends, Katniss," Madge tells her. "More…"

"Allies?"

Madge laughs and considers the thought, "Yeah, allies I guess." They sort of work together when it comes to the Hawthorne family.

Katniss shrugs, "That's all Peeta and I were for awhile. Now look at us." Katniss glances down at the ring on her finger and smiles, Madge's heart sinks in her chest. Perhaps allies isn't the best word.


A/N: Not what most of you expected, I think. I like drinking!Gale because he's in a much better attitude, if I do say so myself. How'd you like it?