21

After school, Katniss took Madge down to the edge of the Seam where the Widow Edmonds lived in a black-smudged shack even smaller than the Everdeen home. She wasn't sure if Madge wanted her to stay – or if she wanted to stay – but Madge grabbed her hand and she figured she didn't have much of a choice.

"How far along are you?" the widow asked. Katniss thought she probably didn't see many townies down here, but the woman's eyes were kind instead of judgmental.

"Six weeks, I think." Katniss counted backwards in her head. The day in the woods had been four weeks ago. Madge must have followed her train of thought because she blushed. "We used protection. Every time but the first time."

Katniss swallowed back bile, but she attempted to keep her face expressionless.

Widow Edmonds told her that six weeks was early enough to abort without any suction or scraping. Katniss didn't know how suction or scraping would have been involved, and she really didn't want to. She cleared the house when her mother and Prim worked on anything more serious than a cold; she wanted to support Madge, but she didn't think she could be present for a procedure like that.

The widow mixed a concoction and explained what to expect when it started to work: bleeding, pelvic cramps, and pain in her abdomen and lower back. After doing so, she asked Madge if she had any questions. When the girl shook her head, the widow left the two girls alone at the table. Madge stared at the cup of herbs.

"Tell me, Katniss," croaked Madge. "Honestly. What would you do?"

Katniss didn't even pause.

"I'd take the draught." As frightening as the idea of an abortion was, having a child was much more terrifying to her.

Madge's hands shook as she lifted the cup. She had just touched it to her lips when she slammed the drink down on the table, threw some coins down next to it, and ran out the door. Katniss followed her to find her friend sobbing against the trunk of a tree. Katniss sat down gingerly next to her and waited for her to talk.

"Do you think I'm a fool?"

Katniss shook her head. "I think you're brave."

Madge chuckled bitterly. "Sometimes brave is just another word for fool. I – I have no idea what I'm going to do, but I just can't… I can't hurt this baby. It didn't do anything wrong. It's half me and it's half him, and I just can't kill it."

She broke down in tears again. And this time Katniss reached over and pulled the girl into her arms. She didn't tell her it would be okay; not when she wasn't sure it would be. But she did kiss Madge's blond hair and rock her back and forth until the girl calmed down.

"Come with me to my house. My mother's a healer; she has some good teas and pills for pregnancies."

"But then she'll know."

Katniss rolled her eyes, but when she spoke her voice was gentle. "This isn't a secret you can keep forever, Madge. Besides, would you rather go to the apothecary in town? My mother will be discreet. I promise."

Madge wiped her eyes and nodded.

When they arrived at the Everdeen house, Peeta and Prim were finishing up a game of chess and Mrs. Everdeen was washing dishes.

"You missed dinner," said Mrs. Everdeen disapprovingly, and when she turned around to face her daughter and the friend that accompanied her, she started. "Oh."

"Yeah," said Katniss. "I brought a customer." She turned to Madge. "Do you want to maybe talk to my mom in the back?"

Madge glanced nervously at Peeta and Prim, but she shook her head.

"It's not a secret I can keep forever, right? I need some teas. And pills. For pregnancy."

Peeta turned pale, and Prim's eyes grew concerned.

There was a slight pause before Mrs. Everdeen replied smoothly, "Of course, dear. Come sit down and let's talk about it."

Mrs. Everdeen asked her some of the same questions about far along Madge was in the pregnancy. She explained how nutrition was so important to the baby; the pills would help, but she had to watch what she ate. Leafy greens were good, but she should stay away from unpasteurized foods like goat cheese. The teas she gave her would help with the nausea that accompanied the beginnings of most pregnancies.

Mrs. Everdeen asked Madge if she had any questions and the girl shrugged helplessly. She told Madge that she could come back at any time if she thought of anything. She hesitated before asking gently if Madge had told the father yet, and Madge blushed.

"I'll talk to him soon."

Afterwards, Katniss offered to walk Madge back. Madge was so distracted that she didn't recognize Katniss was leading her in the opposite direction of town. When Madge realized they were standing in front of the Hawthorne place, she froze.

"I'm not ready yet, Katniss. I can't tell him."

"You have to."

Madge shook her head and pleaded, "Maybe you can do it for me."

Katniss took her friend by the shoulders.

"Madge, this isn't even the hard part. If you're serious about this baby, you need to start doing the responsible thing."

Madge didn't reply, but she swallowed and nodded her consent.

When they knocked, Gale opened the door. For a moment, he seemed pleasantly surprised to see Katniss. When he noticed Madge standing behind her, looking small and scared, the slight upturn of his lips disappeared.

"You two have a lot to talk about," said Katniss.

She left them standing awkwardly on the front porch and headed home.

Katniss found Gale in the woods early the next morning. He was sitting on a rock overlooking the ravine, his arms resting on the top of his knees. He looked like he had been there for a while. Though she had approached quietly, he spoke to her without even looking behind himself to confirm her presence.

"Just say it."

"How could you be so careless, Gale?" She couldn't help the anger from seeping into her voice. "A baby. A baby, Gale! How could you do this to Madge? To your family? To yourself?" She bit her tongue to prevent her from adding herself to that list. She was the least of anyone who would be injured by this pregnancy.

"And it's not like there's ever a good time or situation to bring life into this district – what with the lack of food and the reaping and knowing that everything you have could be taken away by the Capitol's whim – but now? With you two as parents? You weren't even talking to each other! How the hell are you going to be parents?"

Gale didn't answer, but his head sunk lower as if weighted down by her harsh words.

Her anger finally giving way to sympathy, Katniss sat down next to him. She barely whispered her next words: "What are you going to do, Gale?"

"What can I do? I never meant for this happen, but I can't ignore my responsibility. I won't." He paused. "When the school year ends, I can get a job in the mines. I can support them then."

"Are – are you going to marry Madge?"

Gale laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound. "I doubt the mayor would ever allow that. Or maybe he'll force me to marry Madge. I don't know. Either way, it won't really be my choice."

They sat silently, watching the morning mist that gathered in the ravine dissipate into the sunny day, before Gale said quietly, "I guess this means I've lost you forever."

Katniss reached out and squeezed his hand.

"No, Gale, I'm not going anywhere. You know that I'll always be your friend."

But his heartbroken expression made her feel that instead of reassuring him, her words only confirmed his fears.

A/N: Thanks to all those who have responded to the story so far! Your compliments and words of encouragement really do encourage me to work on the next chapter. We're actually nearing the end here; I estimate about three chapters left, although I have plenty of outtakes left. There are so many juicy scenes in this story that Katniss hasn't been privy to - conversations between Peeta and Gale, Gale and Madge, and Peeta and his brothers - and I think you guys will probably enjoy them.