The anthem booms and the audience cheers and Caesar Flickerman is standing in front of us. I feel weightless, at ease. Why did I take me so long to realize this? I'm no actor, no people pleaser. Everything with Madge was natural because it was true.

The lights are blinding, the crowd is deafening. I stumble backwards at first only to freeze at the sight of her. Healthy. Alive. Beautiful as all get out. Her hair flows in curls down her back and her cheeks are bright pink. The scar she had in the arena is absent. The dress she's wearing is short and trails behind her with deep red flames like my cape during the Opening Ceremonies. A smile stretches slowly across her face and her footsteps toward me are hesitant, unsure if I want her.

Madge is mine.

Before I know what I'm doing I run towards her, scooping her into my arms and forcing my lips down upon hers. Her arms link around my neck and she presses herself on to her tiptoes. She smiles in to the kiss, pulling away just briefly.

"Hey," she pants as her hand slips up my cheek. I laugh, dipping down against her again. I crave the feel of her lips, the taste of her tongue. The crowd isn't here, it's just me and here. No cameras, no audience, just me and Madge. We stagger backwards, lost in each other, and land on the couch. It used to be just one chair but now it's a loveseat that fits both me and Madge.

Again she pulls away for air and this time I absorb the crowd and focus on the gentle laughter of Caesar Flickerman. "These two lovebirds," he murmurs, the crowd cheering and screaming as he does.

She crawls in to my lap and I can't pull my gaze away from her eyes. Our noses touch and every once in awhile I'll dip in for another kiss too entirely desperate for her. Beautiful, she's so damn beautiful. I forget we're on camera and continue down her jaw, across her neck, down to her collarbone. Her hands tangle in my hair and she giggles, the noise sending shivers down my spine.

As her hands reach for my vest Haymitch clears his throat, effectively reminding us that we are on camera. Madge's cheeks run pink again and she chews her lip, causing me to need another kiss before the interview. The crowd explodes as I brush her bangs from her forehead, a gesture I hadn't known would be so sweet. I just needed to be able to see her eyes, her tiny nose and soft blush.

"You're so beautiful," I whisper. It's so quiet the cameras don't pick it up, just as I wanted it to be. It's a compliment for her and only her, not the entirety of Panem.

Caesar Flickerman jokes around a bit about how far we've come since the interviews and I make no objections. We have come pretty far. Sometime during his speech Madge slips her sandals off and curls up next to my side, nuzzling in to my chest. I plant a kiss on her forehead and wrap my arm around her waist, needing her as close as possible. Her hand finds mine and we lace our fingers, waiting for the show to begin.

It's time for the exactly three hour summary of the Hunger Games, the entire country must be tuned in. Madge and I have to watch all 22 of the other tributes die. We have to relive our kills, our struggles. Her hand squeezes tightly in mine and I feel her take a deep breath. We're not ready for this, but it's not like we have a choice.

The first bit focuses on the Reaping, the chariot ride and training scores. They show every little interaction between us, the way our hands bumped even before the chariot started rolling, the way she reminded me about the bow and arrow before we even walked in to the training center. I never knew that they recorded things like that, but apparently they do. It's the little things that make me smile, the way my hand brushed against hers so often and I hadn't even noticed, the way she watches me out of the corner of her eye when I'm not paying attention. Madge nuzzles closer to me as the Games begin, I don't hesitate to pull her closer.

The bloodbath makes my stomach sink. Madge squeaks as I get trapped under another tribute, her chin quivers as Thresh takes the dirty job and kills them to save me. The camera often flashes to Madge who snagged a backpack and quickly maneuvers through the woods. I know she's keeping her eye out for Rue.

With the video in front of us I can now see what I had been longing to know. Madge didn't lie when she said she found Rue curled in a tree. She didn't lie when she said Haymitch sent her a water bottle filled with water. And Rue most certainly didn't lie when she said Madge attacked Glimmer, unprovoked. I can finally study the battle, the way Madge lured Glimmer away from the group and jumped on her from a tree. From next to me I feel Madge shudder, I only tighten my grip. The fight between the two was deadly, Madge almost dying in the processes. Not only that but it's bloody, it's sickening the way Glimmer was killed and it almost scares me that Madge was capable of that. Is capable of that. The way she slit her throat…

Not only that but Madge's aim is impeccable. She takes out the red headed girl from District 5 with two arrows. The first wounded her, the second kills her instantly. Again she shudders next to me obviously affected by the way she did things in the arena, how it's coming of light to me. The girl from District 5 was so quiet I find myself wondering how Madge was even able to hear her.

The parts with Rue and Thresh are awful. They're terrible and gut wrenching and make me want to tear my eyes out of their sockets. Watching my interactions with Thresh, the way we truly did become friends in the arena and not just allies, it tears me apart. How Madge had Rue curl up to her every night, telling her stories about her life back in District 12, I know Madge is regretting that now that she has to relive it. It doesn't slip past me that Madge often includes me in her stories, how I would stop by with Katniss or things like that. One time she tells Rue about this one time she saw me in the halls at school, it completely escapes me that Madge existed outside of trades. She must've seen me with friends, in the cafeteria, even in the District when I wasn't on the other side of her door but instead myself.

"That's the Gale I liked," Madge tells Rue in the video as the small girl falls asleep. "The one that lived for himself, that lived like no one was watching." She buries herself into my side at the comment but I can't help but smile, pressing a quick kiss to her forehead.

When Rue dies Madge fights back tears. We have to witness not only the small girl's death but also the other person Madge killed. I listen to Thresh promise to win for Rue, I watch Madge kiss her on her forehead, I watch my three fingered salute. I feel empty at her loss.

They slow down the video at one night, the night Thresh leaves. They show me curled tightly around Madge though she's awake. Her eyes study my features, her fingers dance across them, but I don't stir. She looks up toward Thresh who is sitting by the cave and then soundlessly pries herself from my grip.

"So you're leaving?" she asks gently.

Thresh nods, "It's about time I go." He glances down in my direction. "Don't tell him you knew."

"I won't," Madge responds.

"Tell him I left in the middle of the night and you woke up and I was gone."

"I will," she nods. Her hand rests on his forearm and he nods once at her. "Good luck," she whispers. "I hope it doesn't come down to us."

"Me too, Madge," he replies through a strangled voice. "Watch out for him."

She smiles, though it's weak. "Of course. You watch out for yourself." Again he nods, his eyebrows painfully meeting in the middle of his forehead. "Just go, Thresh," she says. "It's not going to get any easier."

"You two are good friends," he murmurs.

"So are you," she counters gently. "I'm sorry it has to be like this." And then he slips into the night.

I glance down at Madge. She had known that Thresh was leaving? Why didn't she tell me? Had they spoken about it before in hushed voice as I slept? Clearly they were closer than I could have imagined, most likely because of Rue. It makes me angry that they hid something like this from me. She presses her lips tightly together as I stare in her direction, expecting some sort of explanation, but she keeps her eyes on the screen.

When they show the feast Madge pays ample attention, her eyes widening at every movement. She cringes when Clove hits me when a knife, she nearly gasps when Thresh dangles the bag on his fingers in front of me. The look she gives me after Thresh tosses me the bag is unforgiving, I can't figure out why she's so upset.

The rest of the Games continue. Thresh killing Cato, Madge killing Thresh. It's all fast, I try my hardest to not pay attention. I don't want to watch it all again, the way I nearly died in Thresh's grasp only to have Madge nearly die from his knife.

When they say only one winner can come out the entire crowd goes silent. They watch as I dig the knife in to my stomach, Madge squeezes my hand until I lose all feeling. The announcement I heard when I was blacking out wasn't much of an announcement, more of just a panicked screech.

Claudius Templesmith tries to reach me but I'm too far gone, "Wait –!" The hovercrafts show us both being lifted as an announcement echoes through the now empty arena. "Congratulations to the winners of the 74th Annual Hunger Games! Margaret Undersee and Gale Hawthorne! Overcoming all obstacles to find true love!"

The cheers that blasted through the loudspeakers in the arena mesh with the cheers of the crowd in front of us, and then the video is over. Despite me waving and smiling and watching Madge do the same, I feel sick. My stomach is flat and my body is tingling with nerves. We're whisked away to a party in the president's mansion before the feeling goes away.

It's hard to get food at the Victory Banquet because everyone's tripping over each other to get pictures of us or talk to us. We just smile and wave and laugh and play the part of a Victor. Madge is best at it, most likely having attended parties like this before. Her hand never leaves mine. I don't let it.

Eventually we get a moment to ourselves and I pull her to dance, watching as she forces a playful smile. I quirk my eyebrows at her but she says nothing, allowing my hands to link around her back and hers around my neck.

As we start to sway she rests her cheek against my chest, murmuring something so quiet I ask her to repeat it. I drop my forehead to her shoulder so I can hear her. "I said," she whispers, "why didn't you tell me?"

My face contorts into a confused scowl, "Tell you what?"

"That Thresh saved my life," she replies harshly. When I pull away Madge's eyebrows are knitted painfully. "He saved my life and I killed him." Just as I open my mouth so explain something I don't even have an answer for someone taps her on the shoulder. Madge spins, her hand slipping back in to mine and what looks like a genuine smile on her face. It's so sincere, her laugh so bright, I don't even realize that it could be faked. Only it is.

I can't figure out why she's mad at me over that. She said she would've done it anyway, what's the big deal? Not only that but she kept secrets too. I didn't tell her because I knew she wouldn't want to hear it. Because it would make things more difficult in the long run. Doesn't she understand that?

When night finally falls Madge drops my hand unenthusiastically and makes her way to her room without bidding me goodnight. It should make me curious only it doesn't, I'm too tired to question anything. Once her door shuts I turn to Haymitch.

"She's just tired," he says. "Let her sleep."

I can't complain because I'm on the edge of unconsciousness as well. As I curl into my own bed I sigh, reaching out for the spot Madge should be sleeping. Eventually a haze overtakes my mind and I slip into slumber, unquestioning and uncaring about anything.

In the morning my prep team is there again. I'm still sleepy and don't get much word in but they cheer and yell about how amazing it was for them to be in front of all of Panem. Prisca taps my cheeks and narrows her eyes.

"Wake up, Hawthorne," she jeers. "You've got an interview to go to."

Eventually Portia takes over, her warm smile is enough to tell me I don't have to talk. She slips me in to some black pants, a red vest much like the one I worse yesterday over a white shirt. Once I'm dressed she pulls me in to her arms, squeezing them around my chest considering I'm too tall for her to get them around my back.

"Congratulations, Gale," she says quietly. "I'm proud of you." I laugh and hug her back before making my way to the sitting room where the interview will take place.

There are pink and red roses all over the place and I pause to watch Madge converse with Caesar Flickerman. "It looks like you owe me that private concert after all," he laughs, causing Madge to do the same. "Nervous about the interview?"

"I don't get nervous," Madge says back with a smile. She looks lovely, adorned in a pink dress that fits her in all the right ways. Her skin sparkles, most likely covered in some sort of glitter.

"Of course not," Caesar says back. "You're the mayor's daughter."

"Oh it's not that," Madge says as she lowers herself on to the couch. "I just find there's not much to be scared of anymore." With that my stomach clenches and I make my way on to the scene.

I slide on to the couch next to her and she presses up quickly, her lips skirting across mine.

"Good to see you too," I laugh, dipping in again for another kiss. When I lick my lips after, they taste like strawberries. Damn Cinna.

The interview starts and Madge and Caesar take it away, considering Madge is good at public speaking and I'm really not. She has it down to an art by now. They laugh and they bring me in every once in awhile, I'm not the best with words.

"So, Madge," Caesar turns to her. "When you let it slip that you were crushing on Mr. Hawthorne during the interviews how did you feel?"

Madge blushes, "It was mortifying," she admits. "He's… Gale's a bit of a charmer back in the District. He's dated a lot of girls and none of them… none of them were like me." I know she means they were from the Seam or maybe a bit loud. "And I knew he'd have more questions once we were alone so I wasn't quite prepared for that."

"Indeed," Caesar nods. "That would be a bit embarrassing." I squeeze her hand and she squeezes back. "It was obvious from the way you talked about him in the arena that you were in love with him, if I do say so myself."

"Yes," Madge agrees. "No doubt."

"But you, Gale, I think you shocked us all when you told Madge that you loved her. It was such a ride, watching you fall in love with her, but when you admitted it, that's when you had all of Panem captivated. I mean during the interviews you were modest at best, explaining how you weren't sure, but obviously by then you were sure. Am I correct?"

"Definitely," I nod.

"When was it that you were sure?"

I think for a moment. Not when I first told her, but I can't say that. I only just realized that I love her. "I'll have to say it was the night in the cave right before our ally left." I avoid using Thresh's name because it's too friendly. He was a friend after all, I don't need any stomach pains. "When I just held her and watched her breathe. I knew… I knew she was mine. That I didn't want anyone to hurt her." She looked so innocent, so fragile that night. I just wanted to hold her.

Caesar smiles brightly at my response but then furrows his brows. "Wasn't it the next day that she was stabbed, however?"

"Yes," I nod painfully. Madge clutches my hand.

"How was that? You decide you're in love and then she nearly dies. It must've been awful."

I swallow and force myself to speak. "I would've done anything to take that pain away from her," I say quietly. "Seeing Madge like that, it… it killed me. If she had died I wouldn't have wanted to go on without her. I couldn't have."

Caesar nods slowly, "You wouldn't have tried to win for her?"

"She wanted me to," I say. "But I don't think I would've had the strength. Coming back without her wasn't an option for me." Madge buries herself in my side and I turn to her, dropping my forehead to hers.

"You're an idiot," she mumbles. "I wanted you to win."

"I did win," I say back, forgetting the cameras are even there. "I won you." I press my lips gently to hers, feeling Madge's hand slide up my cheek. This kiss is different from all the other ones. It's not urgent, it's not impatient or desperate. It's soft, gentle, the sweetest kiss I've ever had. People in the room sigh and I'm brought back to reality, that we're on camera. Madge giggles a bit, nestling herself back against me.

This is somehow a viable transition in to the very end of the Games. "Madge," he turns to her, "you had mostly resigned to dying there in the arena, didn't you?"

She nods, "I thought at that point that there was no other option. That Gale would win and it would be enough for me."

"He clearly wasn't letting that happen, though."

"Clearly," she laughs.

"When you saw on the screen what he did, how did you feel? You had blacked out in the arena by then, you couldn't control anything, you had no knowledge of it."

"Yes," Madge says slowly. "I… I didn't expect it, that's for sure. When I woke up in a Capitol hospital my first thought was that Gale took his own life for me and I… I didn't," she struggles with her words the first time all interview. "I didn't want to go home. Not if he wouldn't be there." Madge glances up at me and her eyebrows knit. "Then they told me we both won and I still… I was confused. Seeing what he did, how he would've taken his life for me, how he tried," she chews her lip. "It changed things for me."

Caesar nods, "What about you, Gale? What were you thinking when you drove that knife in to your stomach?"

I was thinking that I didn't want them to have any winner if it couldn't be both of us. I was thinking how I wouldn't play their stupid Game anymore. I was thinking of how I wouldn't let them take her from me.

"I wasn't," I finally say. "When someone you love is nearly gone you lose all control over yourself. I knew I wouldn't be able to go back without Madge. I knew that I'd never be able to go on without her." When I glance down at her a soft pink has spread across her cheeks. "I love you," I say gently, trying to get her to understand that it isn't a show for them. That it's the God honest truth. "And I'm never letting you go."

A/N: Gale's a sweetheart when it comes down to it. In my head, anyways. Train ride home in the next chapter. I haven't decided if I want to start an entire new story for the sequel or just continue it on this one. Probably the latter. Yes, there's more once they get home. Interview too cheesy? Idk you tell me man.