Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.


"I don't know what you want me to do with her," Gale muttered to the man in white as Madge sat at his table, studying a picture frame. "I haven't seen her in years, you expect me to just…"

"She doesn't have any family, sir," the man said back. "It's either you or she goes back to the loony bin." Gale groaned and shut the door in his face, striding over to the kitchen. Madge sat with her back to him and he took a moment to study her. So normal on the outside, her hair twirling down her back in ringlets.

"Are you going to send me back?" she asked quietly. He wondered if her voice was always so quiet now.

"No."

"You're married," she said, turning to him. Her eyes flicked down at his hand where a golden ring shone out against his dark skin. It made his stomach clench and he crossed his arms so the ring went out of view. "You haven't talked it over with her, she won't like it."

"You don't know her," Gale said back, but she was right. Madelyn wouldn't like Madge. Wouldn't like her blonde hair or blue eyes, wouldn't like the softness to her voice, and most certainly wouldn't like the way their names were overly similar. Moments later, as if on cue, his wife strode through the front door.

"I swear," she huffed angrily, tearing her coat off of her shoulders, "those damn peacekeepers are driving me up the wall. One day I'm just going to…" she trailed off as she walked into the kitchen, her eyes darting back and forth from Madge to Gale. "Who the hell is this?"

Gale groaned inwardly, "This is Madge."

"And what the hell is she doing here?" Madge dropped her eyes and went back to studying the picture frame on the table. "Gale Hawthorne," she shoved his shoulder and pushed him backwards into the living room. "You answer me, and you answer me now."

"She's an old friend," he said quietly, his eyes picking up to look back at her. "She's kind of… out of it. I haven't seen her for awhile."

"And why is she here?" Madelyn tapped her foot angrily and crossed her arms. Polar opposite, Madelyn and Madge. "Okay, fine, don't answer me. I'm going shopping, but if you don't have an explanation by the time I get back I swear to God that is the last straw." She marched over and yanked her coat back on, and just as fast as she had been there she was gone.

Gale strode back into the kitchen and sat across from Madge who wouldn't look up and meet his eyes. "I'm not crazy," she said quietly. "I'm not."

"I know," he replied, but he wasn't so sure. Her demeanor reminded him a lot of Annie Cresta. "I'm not going to let you go back."

She let out a small laugh and dropped her head into her hands. "Yeah, but I can't stay here." He swallowed, watching as she scooted backwards in her chair. "She doesn't like me. Besides, if I had known you were married…" she trails off as she stands up, shaking her head. "I'm sorry I bothered you."

"Madge," he stood up after her and made his way to her. "I, I don't…"

"She seems like a nice person," Madge said and reached up to her eyes. "I don't know why they sent me here." He lifted her chin and she looked up at him for a moment, her blue eyes holding back tears. "Just a stupid dream." Gale's heart dropped into his stomach, he knew why they thought she was crazy, he knew why they sent her to him. "Maybe I'll see you again one day."

"Madge," he said again, but she was already making her way to the door.

"If you don't tell them I left, they won't come looking," she told him. "Don't tell them I left." He nodded and locked his jaw, watching as she pushed her way out the door. "I'm sorry I bothered you."

"You didn't," he replied softly. "Come back soon?" She glanced down at his wedding band one last time and swallowed slowly, giving her shoulders a slight lift to promise a maybe before exiting his house. He watched as she wandered the streets, looking up at the buildings that towered around District 2. Gale had always felt like he married too early.