Phoebe: Why would I do that? O.O I love Gale.

Guest: It's okay :) Thanks. So glad you like it.

Swimmer07: Great! Here it is! Enjoy! Keep reviewing!

JJ: It seriously is. This wouldn't be a Gadge story if I killed him. The characters don't know that. haha

anonime: It's cool :) Thanks for liking the story!

THANKS TO ALL MY FOLLOWERS AND FAVORITERS!

"I am…" Gale whispered and tucked more hair behind her ear.

"Then don't say stuff like that" she pounded his chest with a fist. He laughed, throwing his head back.

"Sorry, I'll remember that for next time" he ran his hands over her shoulders and down her smooth arms. Madge smiled slightly.

"Are you sure that…" she said softly, he cut her off with a harsh kiss that took over her tender lips.

"Yes" he sighed against the corner of her mouth. "Don't worry. Everything will be okay" She made a face and he laughed again. "Really, Madge" her stomach turned at the sound of her name coming from his mouth.

"I believe you" she whispered. "I just…"

"Worry" he smiled and touched the part of her scar under her eye. "I'll be back before you know it."

Her hands curling around his face, the newly pink scar running over her face, the curve of her lips, the curve of her hips, everything that that went into her, the way her nose scrunched up when she was thinking, her obsession with tea and books.

Gale couldn't stop thinking about that curly blonde haired girl as he leaned back in a desk chair. His eyes blinked closed allowing himself to get lost in his memories. "Hawthorne" he heard it fall off her lips, and envisioned her lips turning at the corners up with a smile. "Hawthorne…" he let the breath out in a dreamy sigh. Madge Hawthorne. "Hawthorne- so help me" Gale snapped out of his trance, looking up at Katniss, Finnick, and Haymitch staring him down. He had the decency to blush.

"Sorry" he said waving a hand, "go on" they stopped paying attention to him again and closed his eyes, going back to think of the swell of her breasts in that tight dress she was wearing earlier, her sweet light in her blue eyes. "Hawthorne" he snapped out of his daze again.

"What?" he asked and looked up at Haymitch for a sixth time.

"If you're not going to listen, you should be on your way" Gale didn't waste a second pushing in his chair and leaving the room. He stumbled down the halls, his hands deep in his sweatpants' pocket. He knew where he was going.

He nodded to a few people as he darted towards the elevator but failed to see the up button illuminated. Gale was surprised then as the elevator lurched upwards towards market place and terminal. Before he knew it the doors were squeaking open to reveal a floppy haired Hawthorne.

"What are you doing here?" Gale asked, moving aside. Rory shrugged and walked in, standing next to him.

"I got a job because I used all my ration tickets"

"All of them?" Gale asked his hair whipping across his face as he looked over at his brother. The doors closed again and this time Rory leaned forward to press the first residential button.

"Yup" Gale looked down at his brother's empty hands.

"On what?" he demanded. Rory dug into his jacket pocket and held up a little black box. "What is that?" Gale asked and snatched it out of the boy's hand.

"Gale-"Gale ignored his name and opened the box, slowly. The ring glittered off the dim light of the overhead light in the elevator and flashed over the metal on the walls. It was a simple gold ring with grooves wrapping around the top. Little diamonds stuck into the shadows of the spiral and little purple gems outlined the other side of the spiral.

"No" Gale whispered looking up at his brother. "You're not…" Gale wiped his face with a hand. Rory took the box back, snapping it closed.

"I can do whatever I want to do" Rory closed his arms across his chest.

"What is that? You didn't also get a tattoo either…" Gale grabbed his brother's arm, turning it up to show the writing printed on his arm.

"That's the silly schedule we have to put on our arms" Rory said rolling his eyes. "You're lucky you don't have to get one"

"It says you're supposed to be in school" Gale said shaking his head.

"Yeah… oh well. Prim isn't in school either. She's working in the hospital." Rory shrugged and the elevator doors opened to the hallway. The brothers walked out onto the level.

"We're not talking about Prim. How can you just say: 'Oh well'?" Gale shook his head again. "You still have to go to school and be a kid" Gale said pointing to his younger brother's chest. "Nothing has changed. Grow up."

"What are you talking about" Rory glared. "Everything has changed, Gale" he shoved his brother out of his way, stumbling Gale towards the cold gray walls. "Have you not noticed that we're in a completely different district, a district that isn't even supposed to be here? You're in love with Madge Undersee, the mayor's daughter that you despise. You're going to be going to the Capitol for a dangerous undercover mission" Rory forced a laugh and rolled his eyes. "I think you're the one that has to grow up."

"You can't ask Prim to marry you" Gale finally whispered, looking up from the spot he had been staring down.

"Why not?" Rory grumbled.

"You're too young. That hasn't changed. You're still barely 16, you're not even old enough to work in the mines and support a family. Don't even start with me about having children." Rory didn't make eye contact and his shoulders slumped with defeat.

"Fine but it's still here" he said gesturing to the box in his hand. "Like a promise ring. Engaged and married aren't the same things."

"You're still pretty naïve. Usually when someone gets engaged they shortly marry."

"It'll be a long engagement." Gale snorted.

"You got that right. So how about you just hold onto it until you can say a short engagement" Gale patted his brother's shoulder. "I do like the commitment to Prim though"

"Whatever Gale" Rory's voice cracked and he left his brother standing in front of the elevator. Gale gave him a good head start and then took off, sauntering towards their apartment building. When their door closed behind him, he ignored the voices down the hall and went into his dark room.

He didn't bother the light switch. Gale just tumbled onto his bed and covered his eyes with the palms of his hands. He couldn't go see Madge now. He wouldn't be able to get that word out of his head. Or the image. Marriage and the ring shining on her fourth finger.

"Damn" he whispered to the ceiling. He took the chance and sat up, calling down the hall, "going out, don't wait up" and snapped the door closed again. His feet took him to the open doorway that was Haymitch's room.

She looked like she was going out, in another little professional dress and hopeful facial expression. "I was just about to come look for you" she smiled and was about to continue her sentence when his lips were on hers. "What's wrong?" she smirked and narrowed her eyes at him.

"I have a lot on my mind" her playful smile fell from her face and changed into remorse.

"Of course you do" her arms wrapped around his middle and she rested her head on his chest.

"I leave tomorrow, Madge" he whispered into her hair. She nodded, closing her eyes. "I don't want to go" he whispered. "I don't want to leave you. Don't want to say goodbye"

"Saying goodbye isn't the hard part" Madge said and looked up. "It's just I can't bare the feeling" her voice wavered, "that I might lose you"

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Erin