Forgive me. I have not updated. I have been blanking. BLANKING. So yeah. Sorry. Also I wrote Broken Top... and got a little obsessive trying to produce a second chapter. Guess what everybody: I GAVE UP. :)
TGWETWP (Sorry I shortened your name): Thank you so much! I'm so glad you like the direction it's taking!
anonime: Thank you!
Guest: I'm sorry you thought that. I'll try to change it for the future.
Em: Keep reviewing Babe! Glad you love it still!
Gale left Madge with a sad look and turned towards Finnick and Haymitch. They had no one to say goodbye to. Gale met up with them with a huff, "how is this going to go down?" he wondered and looked back at him family just as Thom and Katniss were joining them.
"Well you're getting in this plane" Haymitch said gesturing to the hovercraft behind him. "Flying to the Capitol, get Peeta and come home. Piece of cake"
"And Annie" Finnick added in a low voice.
"And Annie" Haymitch said and patted the boy on the shoulder. Gale looked back at Madge one last time. "Oh go say goodbye again" Haymitch said, waving towards the blonde girl. He took off in long strides, his knuckles turning white as he dug his fingernails into his palm. He was trying not to fall into a sprint.
He took over her lips, not caring about how was watching. He could feel the squeaked on his lips and he smiled, taking her scent and the feel of her hair on his hands. She was shaking by the end of the kiss, a permanent red stain on her cheeks and rapidly blinking blue eyes.
"Don't leave" she whispered, "please" his heart dropped at her feet. He dug his fingernails back into his palms. He wouldn't cry.
"Everything will be alright" he said, melting his forehead to hers. "Don't worry."
"You know I will" she breathed and a tear escaped the corner of her eye. He brushed it away quickly and his finger lingered on her knobby scar. He laughed and she bit her lip, looking towards the concrete.
"See you when I get back" he tucked a loose curl behind her ear but it only made its way in front of her right eye, again.
"See you" she said and disappeared behind the family. Gale squared his shoulders and brushed off the shoulders of his uniform. Behind Rory, Madge offered him a silly smile through streaming tears.
"Bye Guys" he said to his siblings and mother.
"Take care of yourself, Gale" Thom said.
"You too" Gale nodded. Thom only shrugged and stuffed his hands into his pockets.
"Bring him back" Katniss said, raising her eyebrows with challenge. Gale chuckled.
"I will protect him with my life" he stuck the side of his head to his forehead and made his way back to the plane. He ducked his head and climbed aboard. The stairs exhaled air as they raised and secured the team into the ship.
Madge pressed three fingers to her lips and closed her eyes.
An hour later Madge was lounging on Thom's couch. She had a mug in her hands filled with steaming tea. It didn't stop her tears. Thom was trying not to smirk from the armchair across from her. He was only looking at his tea.
She finally looked over at him and noticed his expression, "what?" she sniffled and took a sip of her drink.
"It's pathetic" he laughed and shook his head, "us- our life"
"What?" she wiped her nose with the back of her hand.
"We didn't think it could get worse" he paused, "the mines, the games, the constant reminder of poverty"
"I take this over that."
"I wouldn't" Thom cut her off. "You wouldn't- you would have your parents, a nice life" he didn't stop, "I would have Bri" Madge sat silent.
"I wouldn't have Gale" she said finally.
"You don't know that" he said.
"I do." She cleared her throat. "He hated me before the woods." Thom fixed his hands around his brown mug. "Hell- you even hated me before the woods. Everyone hated me. My father ignored me. My mother was too sick to notice me. I was an untouchable soul. Katniss was the only one. Don't you see? I completely disagree with you. I very much prefer this life." Thom nodded dumbly. "Have you nothing to add?" He shook his head.
They fell silent until someone knocked on the door. Thom stumbled over to it and raised his eyebrows at Madge. She shrugged. The door swung open to reveal Katniss. She was wearing an oversized gray sweatshirt over gray leggings, her hair was a mess.
Neither of them asked, they just let her in and sit. "Kat" Thom started and looked over at Madge. "What do you think, would you rather be here or back before this all started?" Katniss looked up from her hands with surprise.
"I…" she sputtered. "I want… I don't know." She admitted. "I wouldn't have Peeta either way it seems like."
"You always choose the one you love" Madge said. "Thom wants to go back to have Bristel. I want Gale. Katniss wants Peeta. It's very simple." She sighed, "We never get our way. Life gets in the way."
"It does" Thom mumbled. They missed dinner and fell asleep. Madge draped over Katniss on the couch, Thom's head pressed against the side of the armchair. They were too tired to talk. Thom made them odd pancakes in the morning serving them off white plates.
They didn't talk about the taste or the funny feel against their tongues. No conversation was needed. They parted ways until it was time to be scheduled. Madge was scanned into the system. Another boring day, she noticed looking through her itinerary.
At one point of her day as she was dropped something off for the absent Haymitch, she came face to face with Rory in the hallway. He offered a smile and a little head tilt. "Where are you off to Madge?" he asked quietly, taking her arm.
"No where important" she murmured.
"No?" he tousled her hair.
"Don't touch me." She glared.
"Whoa- pretty girl. Sorry." He shrugged, and let go of her.
"Stop being like Gale." He sobered and let go of her arm, letting her walk down the hall alone. She ignored anyone who offered her smiles. She hadn't slept. She had been counting the minutes, seconds, hours, and milliseconds.
He said he would be back. He promised he would be back. She turned the corner and fixed her suit jacket. She unlocked her apartment and turned on the lights. She pulled her hair out of the messy bun it was in and made her way over to a chair.
"Hey Madge" Gale said lazily from the couch, he laid face down.
"Hey" she said tiredly and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"How are you today?" he continued and looked over from the pillow beneath his chin.
"Awful" she sighed. Her eyes shot open and she lurched out of the chair and onto her feet. "How long have you been there?" she cried, holding her chest.
"I don't know" he chuckled, "all I know is, I fell asleep… and you came in." she laughed and sunk to her knees next to him.
"You're home" she let the tears fall, "you're here."
"I'm not going anywhere, Undersee. At least not anywhere without you."
REVIEW.
I know it's a little fast. Do you want me to do Gale's POV of the mission? I know sometimes people don't write it. Since it's AU I could have it go down however I'd like. Suggestions? ORRRR should I just go into fluff and get on with it?
Also for all who are on Tumblr... MinistryofDoctorWho - that is me. FOLLOW. :D
For all who are not on Tumblr. Get on it. Seriously. Now. Tumblr is calling you.
Erin
