Despite the fact that the sun is blocked by thick curtains, the room warms and Madge stirs when it gets to be too much. Gale is tightly wrapped around her, nuzzled as close as he can possibly get, which is probably adding to the heat. This part she doesn't mind as much. She rolls to face him and he blinks a few times, his eyelids heavy, before smiling sweetly.

"Morning," he murmurs. "Sleep okay?"

"It's too warm," she says. It's funny because just hours ago she didn't think anything could be too warm. Gale stretches up and presses his lips to her chin. Her voice comes out scratchy, "We should get up. I should get to my mom."

"Gotta take you by Mrs. Everdeen first," Gale says. He makes no effort to get out of bed, however. "Can't we just stay here for a bit?"

"Mm…" he kisses her chin again and she smiles. "Just a bit." Gale grins and moves so he's leaning over her.

They've never had a bed like this to themselves, their kisses have always been shared in the meadow or quickly when no one was looking. She's still bruised and battered and the gash in her neck looks about ready to burst but he can't stop himself from stealing a few sweet kisses. He's gentle with her, his lips dance over her skin before returning to her mouth. Madge sighs as he slides his hands under her shirt so he can hold her hips. The feel of his hands against her skin sends her heartbeat through the roof but stems all of the pain. This exertion is probably not good for her, she just doesn't really care.

The door opens before either of them have time to pull away. Rory clears his throat and they part, Madge red hot and Gale with a cheeky smile.

"Uh," Rory scratches his forehead. "Ma told me to wake you. She went into town to see how bad the snow is, but, uh," Rory looks away awkward. "Get up. I guess. And um." He clears his throat again. "I saw nothing."

Rory leaves quickly and Madge sinks further into the sheets. Gale chuckles and leans over her, snatching another kiss, before climbing out of bed.

"C'mon, Undersee," he teases. Gale's sheets smell like pine and suddenly she's the one who doesn't want to get up. She wants to bury herself under his covers and pretend like Rory didn't just mortify her. She wants to breathe in Gale's scent and feel his warmth around her again. "Madge…"

"Okay," she heaves the blankets off of her with a sigh. Gale extends his hand to her and helps her stand, offering a smile. "Let's just get this over with."

Madge insists that she can walk to the Everdeen's alone but he refuses to let her do it. She wants to prove to him that she's not as shaken up by her time in the stocks as he thinks, but she honestly is. Just seeing the snow everywhere is causing a bit of panic. That, she he doesn't think she's strong enough to get there all on her own. He suits up in his winter coat and boots and helps her get into hers. Her coat is thin but she has on layers underneath, and Gale insists she take some of his old gloves and scarves. She doesn't protest much. He tells Rory to play with Vick and Posy and that he'll be back later, and follows Madge outside. She's thankful that he's so persistent, too scared to be alone so soon.

The snowstorm has made it nearly impossible to trek through but Gale is patient and helps Madge when she sinks down to her knees in piles of snow or falls over. It takes longer than expected but they eventually reach Katniss's house.

Madge knocks on the door and it's opened instantly, almost as though Katniss has been staring out the window waiting for her to arrive. Her arms link around Madge at once and she pulls her inside. "I'm so glad you're okay," Katniss says, squeezing tightly. Gale follows them in and starts shaking snow off of himself. "I was so worried. How are your toes? Can you move them?"

"Yeah," Madge nods her head. "I think they're fine. I can walk alright."

"What about your wrists? Your neck?"

"Everything seems fine," Madge says.

"Good, good," Katniss finally releases her friend and glances over her shoulder. "Come into the kitchen. I'll go get my mom."

Katniss disappears and Madge and Gale sink onto a stool in the kitchen. She leans toward him. "What happened to Katniss's eye?" Madge asks. The left red and swollen, a thick purple bruise surrounds it.

"When she first saw you in the stocks she panicked. Thread wasn't too happy."

Madge sighs loudly and bites down on her bottom lip. Madge rather would've taken the entire fall, not letting Katniss or anyone else get hurt from her mistakes. Hopefully that's the worst of it, Katniss's black eye. She couldn't bare the guilt if something happened to someone else.

Suddenly she remembers Darius. It's a foggy memory, a little iced over, but she remembers him. "What about Darius?" she asks. Gale shifts uneasily and her stomach sinks. "What happened to him?" she demands.

"He tried letting you out early," Gale caves. He doesn't have the right to withhold information from her. "Thread…" he shakes his head. "No one knows where Darius is."

"He's just missing?"

"I'll let you know if I hear anything," Gale says. He reaches over and grabs her hand, knowing she's already blaming herself for this. "Madge," he tries, but she jerks her head to silence him.

Moments later Mrs. Everdeen emerges with Katniss following behind her expectantly. Madge lifts herself to her feet, knowing how Mrs. Everdeen works, and follows her over to a counter. She pulls the collar of her shirt down to expose the deepest gash. It goes from her neck down to her collarbone.

"This is going to scar," Mrs. Everdeen says offhandedly. Madge's stomach sinks. "Maybe a few on your wrists too." Madge jerks her head forward and Mrs. Everdeen pulls out a needle. "The ties that Hazelle did are alright but they should be redone. Can easily break. Let me fix the stitches."

Madge starts to look a little green halfway through the stitching of her neck but she is still the entire time. Gale wants to reach across the counter and grab her hand as support but she's too busy gripping the counter to even realize that he's there. When Mrs. Everdeen snips the thread Madge breaks out into a cough so loud and painful Gale can feel it in his toes.

"Christ, Madge," Gale frowns.

Mrs. Everdeen looks at Madge. "You probably picked something up being in the snow. Maybe strep throat, maybe just a cold." The healer turns to the cabinets and digs through all the way to the back before pulling out a small bottle of a blue liquid. "Here. Drink a spoonful of this every morning when you wake up." Madge accepts the bottle and nods. "If your throat doesn't feel better in a week come see me again." She looks toward Gale and extends her finger. "No kissing."

Madge's cheeks turn hot. "Okay," she squeaks.

"Don't want to pass anything."

"Okay," Madge repeats. Katniss clears her throat awkwardly. Should Gale tell her that kissing is how they spent their morning? "Thank you, Mrs. Everdeen," she says as the woman moves on to her wrists, dabbing up the cuts and applying a new cream, wrapping them in thick bandages. "I hate to be such a…" she coughs again, "such a burden."

"You're never a burden," Mrs. Everdeen protests. She smiles softly at Madge, something that rarely occurs, and finally finishes her work. "I'm just glad that you're alright."

Katniss and Gale get to the front room of the Everdeen house while Madge stays back to ask Mrs. Everdeen a few more things about the bandages and stitches. Katniss turns to Gale and sighs, but smiles. "Thank you so much Gale, taking care of her."

"Honestly, it was the least I could do."

Katniss smiles and looks toward the ground. "I was so worried," she admits in a breathy voice. "I barely slept. I had always thought the threat was empty, but…" Katniss sighs again. "I'm so stupid, I should've done something to protect her."

"You and me both," Gale murmurs. Madge finally makes it out to them and Gale extends his hand. "Ready to go?" With a nod she accepts his hand, squeezing once. They look toward Katniss. "We'll send Prim and Peeta straight to you."

Katniss frowns. "I'd come if I could." Her mother has her on lockdown because of the eye. Something about how photographers are coming soon and she doesn't want Katniss out and about until it's all healed up. "Just be careful out there."

"Thank you for everything," Madge croaks. She swallows and tries to clear her throat. "The medicine and sending things to my mom…" Madge switches her gaze between Gale and Katniss but is directing her words toward her friend. "I was so worried that she… that while I was up there…"

"That's not a problem at all, Madge," Katniss says, smiling the best she can. "After everything you did for my family while I was away?"

"I should pay you back," Madge says, biting on her bottom lip. Gale steps a tad bit closer. "I've got some money stored up somewhere, I'll send some back with Prim and—"

Katniss shoots her a look. "You're my best friend Madge. You don't owe me anything." Madge opens her mouth and Katniss's scowl hardens. "You helped me, I help you. It's what we do, Madge."

"It just doesn't feel right," Madge murmurs. Gale's hand tightens his hold. He can let her work this out all on her own but he thinks she's stupid for arguing this.

Katniss says what he wants to, "Madge, you nearly died." He feels Madge straighten up beside him. This hits her strikingly hard, and him as well. She nearly died. Madge nearly died. It couldn't have been that bad, could it? A few more hours, maybe even minutes in the snow might've caused her to lose her toes and fingers. Maybe limbs. Her heart could've stopped. She could've died. Madge hasn't thought about it that way, Gale's been too busy kissing her and soothing her and making her remember what it's like to be alive. But the brink of death, it was so close. They'd been distracting themselves from the horror by getting lost in each other, she and Gale, without really confronting what could've happened. "Can you just give it a break? Since when do you and I ever owe each other anything?"

"Okay," Madge rasps. She reaches up with her freehand and wipes her brow before looking away. "Sorry. You're right." She fidgets uneasily. "I should get to my mom."

Katniss nods, "I'll see you soon."

The second walk through the snow is just as difficult as the first. Gale has to pick her up off the ground from slipping a few times and snow seeps into her boots more than once. Before they almost reach her home Gale clears his throat.

"Katniss was really worried about you," he says. "So was I. A lot of people—"

"Gale," she shakes her head. "Please don't."

"It's not your fault," he says. "You shouldn't have to feel like you owe people for what happened. You couldn't have controlled it."

Madge lifts her shoulders slightly. "I could've stayed home," she says. She could've refrained from peddling. Or attempted peddling. "Because I was too stubborn to just go straight to Katniss and get medicine I nearly died. And got Katniss a black eye. And God only knows where Darius is." Madge shakes her head. The guilt is heavy. No matter what anyone says it's going to follow her wherever she goes.

"It's not your fault," Gale says again, but there's less force behind his words. He's a little unsure, too. She can feel it. "You were just trying to stay alive."

"And nearly died in the process," Madge grumbles. Talk about counterintuitive.

"Why do you have to look at it that way?"

"Because that's the way it is." Guilt, frustration, it all bubbles below her skin. "I don't know," Madge frowns. "Maybe it's just that I can't really take care of my family at all anymore. Maybe that's the hard part."

He stops her. "What do you mean?"

"I can't go in the woods," Madge tells him, not meeting his eyes, "so I can't go to the Hob—which apparently isn't even there anymore. I don't have any money." She lied to Katniss about having some saved up. "How am I supposed to feed me and my mom? Maybe this first bit, this helping me after I screwed up, shouldn't count as charity. But the rest?" Madge shakes her head. "I need to do something. I can't just freeload. It's not right. It's not what I want."

"Then what do you want?" he asks softly.

"I—" she laughs airily, not because it's funny but because she's losing all hope. "I don't know. A job that won't send me to the stocks?" She rubs at her face. "I wish I could drop out of school and just work in the mines."

"You're too young, they wouldn't let you."

"I know."

"And why would you want to do that?"

"What other options do I have, Gale?" she asks. Her voice is reaching desperate. "I don't know what to do. I'm tired, and I'm stressed, and—" she coughs and turns away from him. Quickly he paces forward. "I'm sick of this life," she finally finishes. "I'm so sick of it." Not knowing what he can say to make this right, Gale says nothing. They finally make it to her house and they have to kick snow away from the front door so they can get it open. "Wait out here," Madge says.

She doesn't want him seeing the crummy condition of her home. He doesn't question it, he just steps aside and waits patiently.

Madge throws open the door. She finds Peeta and Prim inside at the kitchen table with empty plates. The room smells like flapjacks. Madge lifts an eyebrow at them.

"You're home!" Prim yells. Her grin is so wide it looks like it's going to stretch her face out. She leaps from her seat and pads across the hardwood floor before throwing herself at Madge. "I'm so glad you're okay!" Madge squeezes Prim back and smiles appreciatively at Peeta who's collecting his and Prim's dirty plates and moving them to the sink. "Oh," Prim pulls away from Madge immediately when she gets a glance of who's outside. "Hi, Gale."

"Prim," he tips his head. Prim looks at Madge with wide questioning eyes. Even Peeta turns around, cocking one of his eyebrows. "I walked Madge back."

"I can see that," she squeaks.

"Come on," Madge rests her hands on Prim's shoulder. "You should get your coat on. Your mom and Katniss want you back." She messes up Prim's hair. "Go on!"

"Thank you so much," Madge tells Peeta as they get their coats on. "I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry you had to stay out here through the night it was probably freezing and—"

"Madge," Peeta cuts her off with a smile. "I survived the Hunger Games, I think I can survive a night in a cold house." The guilt creeps back and she thinks she's offended him when he suddenly steps forward and pulls her toward him, giving Madge a quick hug. It's startling but just reinforces the fact that so many people were worried about her. He's not offended at all. Peeta is careful, making sure not to squeeze too tight or go to the side of her neck with the gash. "I'm glad you're okay," he says as he pulls away. She nods and brushes her hair from her face. "Your mom's asleep. I told her Katniss was sick and you stayed with her through the night. If you want to tell her the truth you can but I didn't want to be the one to drop that on her."

"Thank you," Madge says again.

She walks them to the door and watches them go. Peeta lifts an eyebrow when he finds Gale still waiting outside but says nothing. Madge steps onto the spot she and Gale cleaned earlier and shuts the door behind her. He quickly trudges through the snow over to her, sliding his arms around her tightly.

"I'm glad you're okay," he murmurs into her ear. She nods against his chest. "I'll see you soon. Alright?" She nods again. "And we'll figure something out. With the money issue."

"Okay," Madge whispers. She doesn't want Gale's help, but she's too tired to argue at this point. She lifts her head and even though Peeta and Prim are watching with eyebrows high on their forehead Gale leans down to kiss her. "Gale," Madge tilts her head aside so his mouth ends up on her cheek. "You heard Mrs. Everdeen. No kissing."

"I don't care," he whispers. He pulls her chin up.

"I don't want to get you sick."

"You're alive," Gale says again. He presses his lips quickly to hers. "I think I can risk a cold." Gale kisses her again. Peeta shifts on his feet and clears his throat and Prim shrugs in response. "Be safe."

Madge nods again, pushing him away and smiling as he goes. Peeta tries to look toward Madge but she's already rushing back inside, blushing like crazy.

Gale Prim and Peeta start the trek back toward town. First they're silent, listening to the crunching of the snow under their feet, but Peeta eventually clears his throat.

"So," Peeta looks toward Gale. "You and Madge… are a thing?" Gale shoves his hands into his pockets. "Was anyone going to tell me?"

"I thought it was obvious," Prim shrugs.

"It was," Peeta nods. "I just thought it was weird sexual tension, I didn't know you two had acted on it."

"Sexual tension?" Prim echoes. Her eyes go wide. "You don't mean—"

"No," Gale cuts her off immediately. "We haven't done anything like that." Peeta lets out a very unmanly giggle and Prim's eyes are still huge. "I was going to tell you she and I were together," Gale says to Peeta. "Eventually. Things have been… rough."

"They dated while you were away," Prim says, turning toward the baker, happy to get off of the idea of sexual tension. "And then some stuff happened and it got really complicated."

"Thanks for the debriefing, Primrose," Gale scowls. Peeta smirks and stares at his feet. "Stop making that face."

"I'm not making a face," Peeta objects, but his smirk is too tight to force away. Prim giggles. "I'm not! I just think it's nice, Gale." He looks toward his friend, the smirk transitioning into a smile that is infinite.

And Peeta means that sincerely. Gale is one of his better friends, considering the crowd he used to run with before the Games seems to have dissipated a bit. They look at Peeta differently. And Madge is kind, Katniss speaks highly of her and Peeta finds it easy to converse with her.

"What do you like about her?" Peeta asks.

Gale groans and Prim giggles. Not all is lost in District 12.

After wrapping up her throat with a scarf and making sure her bandages are covered with her long sleeves, Madge runs into the bedroom. "Momma?" She finds her mother sleeping just like Peeta said. Her breaths aren't as shallow as before and her face is not as pale. There're two bottles of medicine on the table beside her. "Thank God," she sighs, sinking onto the edge of the mattress.

Mrs. Undersee stirs, blinking a few times and rolling to face her daughter. "Madge, sweetheart?"

"It's me," Madge leans down close to her mother. "I'm here. You're okay."

"Prim was… was by…" Mrs. Undersee might have gotten a bit of medicine but she's not better. Not entirely. "I had to drink an awful goo."

Madge laughs and grabs her mother's hand. "I know, Momma. It'll make you feel better."

"Tasted like mint." Madge lets out another quiet laugh and is overwhelmed at how relieved she feels when she sees her mother smile. "Is Katniss okay?" she asks.

This is the chance Madge has to bring up the stocks. It's up to her. Tell the truth or let her mother live life not knowing of the incident.

Madge knows she should tell her mother what's happened but after everything Mrs. Undersee has been through she can't bring herself to do it. Mrs. Undersee is still sick, on the ends of her rope. She's lost her sister and her husband, just knowing that she might've lost Madge might drive her into helplessness.

"She's okay," Madge nods. Her chest is tight. "Did Prim and Peeta take good care of you?"

"They did," her mother nods. "I'm glad I could finally meet Peeta, he's such a nice boy and he likes Katniss so very much." Madge dips her head in agreement. "It was strange for them to be here. I worried about you."

"I'm alright," Madge lies. Mrs. Undersee stares at her for a moment, blinking, studying her daughter's face, before smiling. "I'm here now."

Because Madge's bruises and bandages are hidden her mother doesn't suspect a thing. The stocks are never brought up.

Gale's father keeps him holed up in the office upstairs during the snow days. It's a sort of punishment for putting so much at risk, forcing Gale to stay inside away from Madge. The mayor is angry that he brought Madge back here to their home and thinks Gale needs to be punished for it.

He spends his time looking out the window in the direction of the Seam and wishing he could escape to Madge. This solitude is driving him insane. What if she's sick now and needs someone to take care of her? What if they've come for her in the middle of the night? He should be by her side, he should be protecting her in the best way he can. Mayor Hawthorne just doesn't understand.

"Gale," his father snaps his hand and draws his attention back. "You're thinking about her." Gale scowls at his father. Doesn't he know that his office has microphones? Of course he does. "The Capitol doesn't make empty threats, Gale."

"I'm aware," he mutters. "They said they'd only do something to her if I messed up." Gale didn't mess up, therefore Gale sees Madge's time in the stocks as out of line. Maybe that's why there haven't been any repercussions of him getting her out early, because she wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. Gale makes sure to annunciate his next words loud and clear, "I'm dedicating my life to the Capitol. Whatever they want from me from this point on, I'll do it." Anything to keep her safe.

They can't have her, so they'll have him instead. He'll be a puppet, controlled by the government doing what he has to do to keep her safe.

His father lets out a short breath. What does this mean for the rebellion? The mayor always saw his son as someone who could set things straight, and now he thinks that Gale's putting all of this aside because of a girl. It's not true, even if his father thinks it. Gale can find a way to do it all. He thinks that he will.

"We're done for the day," Mayor Hawthorne sighs, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Get out of here."

He finds his mother outside on the porch, watching birds eat stale bread that she's thrown out. Hazelle Hawthorne refuses to let anything go to waste. If she was caught giving the bread away there would be consequences, but she can't stomach just throwing it in the trash. For now, throwing it to the birds is the best she can do.

Gale sinks onto the swing next to her. It's still cold and snowy but the backyard is peaceful and undisturbed. There are no patches of dark snow covered in coal and the twigs on the trees glisten with icicles. Gale wonders what the woods would be like now.

He just wants silence. Gale wants to sit next to his mother and watch the birds dart across the snow as he formulates some sort of strategy. He needs to find a way to aid the revolution he's seeing on television while making it seem like he isn't, therefore protecting Madge. It's too much for one boy, especially one who's only eighteen.

But his mother has other plans.

"The girl you brought, Madge," she says. Gale tilts his head toward his mother. "She's Katniss's cousin. Right?" Gale nods tersely. "She's the girl you were told to stay away from." Gale clears his throat but nods again, wondering how it is his mother knows. "Your father and I talk, you know," she says, waving her hand dismissively. "How's that coming along?"

"Things have changed," Gale says, a bit hesitantly.

"Obviously," Hazelle laughs. She turns to her son. "You were a wreck when you brought her in. I don't think I've ever seen you that scared before." Despite himself, Gale smiles. He pictures himself running in and frantic, carrying Madge in his arms. "You really care about her."

"Unfortunately," Gale murmurs.

"Then you have two options, which I'm sure you're aware of." Gale cocks an eyebrow. "Cut her off completely, or bring her as close as you can. Considering I'm told you've tried the first, you're working on the second." Why are mothers so intuitive? "I want to meet her."

"Ma," Gale protests immediately. He doesn't like having Madge in the mayor's house.

"Bring her for dinner."

"Ma," Gale tries again. He can't bring her for dinner. He doesn't know how things like dinner invites work in her half of the town. And he doesn't like Madge in this house. Gale might've gone too far by bringing her over when she was out of the stocks. He knows it's stupid but he says, "She's from the Seam."

"So am I," Hazelle quips. "That's a poor excuse and you know it." Also very prejudiced. He already feels the weight in his stomach. "Gale, the way you were with her during that snowstorm, kissing and holding her, I doubt having her for dinner will change much." She leans in closer to her son and grabs his chin so he looks at her. "Do not be scared of the Capitol," she whispers. "I'm not."

Her words knock the air out of him. After everything she's been through, how is she not afraid? How is she not terrified that they will come back for her?

"Listen to me," Hazelle whispers. "I've done my hiding. They've done their damage to me, and to you. I let it happen and I regret it every day." Gale swallows thickly. She's talking about the physical abuse Gale endured from his father. "Up until I saw those screens," she continues quietly. "Up until I saw people fighting back, I was scared. And now, I'm not."

"Why not?" he whispers back.

"Because we have hope," she tells him. "Citizens have hope. Your friends have given it to them and it cannot be taken away." Hazelle smiles softly. "I have hope. I read something once that only just made sense to me. It said: people should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people." Gale takes a moment to let that sink in. "They have a lot more to worry about right now than your girlfriend, Sweetie."

Gale sighs loudly. "Snow threatened her," he says. Hazelle nods, having known this.

"Yes, but since then Katniss and Peeta have been to all of the districts and have sparked an unrest which has only gotten worse." She reaches over and cups his cheek. "I'm not asking you to break any rules, Gale, I just want to meet her."

A/N: Hello friends! Just wanted to let you know that just because I don't update for a few weeks doesn't mean I'm abandoning a fic. I haven't abandoned one yet and I don't plan to. I am just a college kid you know. Also, I'm going to be gone all summer, so updates will be even less frequent than they might be now... don't worry! I'll try to update as best I can. As for the long wait, this chapter was longer than most. I hope you liked it!