Chapter 36

(Madge POV)

I ask him to stay, wanting to replay last night all over again. He says yes of course and kisses me. I fall into the kiss, leaning into him, loving the way it feels. His hands move to the zipper of my dress and slowly, as his lips move softly against mine, he pulls the zipper down. My shyness from earlier fading and a subtle sigh escaping my mouth beneath our kiss as he slips my dress from my shoulders and it falls at my feet. I reach for the buttons of his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against mine. He shrugs out of his shirt and pulls back from the kiss long enough to step backwards, leading us to the bed.

He lies back and pulls me on top of him, eagerly kissing me again. His hands gliding over my back and down to rest on the curve of my hips. I move my mouth along his jaw until I'm at his ear and whisper. "I love you Gale Hawthorne" before kissing his neck. He inhales deeply and I feel his hands move down and grasp the backs of my thighs. My heart beats faster and I run my fingers down the side of his chest, running a finger under the waistband of his pants. He rolls us so that I'm now beneath him and he raises up momentarily as he shoves off the rest of his clothing. And then he's back, his skin hot against mine, his mouth burning kisses against me, anywhere and everywhere they can reach. My fingers tangle in his hair, my eyes closed, my back arching upward as I'm filled with insatiable want. I want him. I need him.

When we've satisfied our desires, I drift to sleep, wrapped up in his arms, floating on bliss.

(Gale POV)

She's sleeping in my arms, naked beneath the sheets as I lie here, heart overflowing with love for this girl. Being in love...it's just the best damn thing ever! I'd never even really thought about falling in love before and somehow, someway she swooped right in and stole my heart and I never saw it coming. And even though being with her has brought on a lot of changes for my life, it's worth it. Every single change I've had to make was worth it for her. Worth it to love her and to have her love in return.

Once she's soundly asleep, I slide her out of my arms and quietly climb out of the bed. She stirs only slightly as I move. I slip into the bathroom and turn on the shower, stepping in and letting the water pour down over me. It's steamy and relaxing. For being new to the whole shower thing, it certainly hasn't taken me long to become accustomed to them. I can't even imagine having to take a cold water bath with water collected in our rain barrel now though for 17 years, that's all I ever did. I towel off with one of the fluffiest and whitest towels I've ever seen and slip back on my boxers.

When I return to the bedroom, Madge is awake again, pajama clad and sitting in bed.

"Hey, did I wake you?" I ask, climbing back under the covers with her.

She shakes her head. "No, I don't think so."

I wrap my arm around her shoulder, pulling her against me. "I'm sorta hooked on this whole shower thing now."

"They make you smell different." She comments, leaning over and sniffing at me.

"Uh, is that a good thing? Was I all smelly before?" I laugh at her choice of words.

She laughs. "No, you weren't smelly. Capitol soaps and shampoo just smell different than whatever you used to use. I sort of miss how it smelled on you."

"You can't possibly mean that homemade soap we all use in the Seam." I laugh, thinking about the stuff most all Seam families use as soap.

"I don't know what it was but it just smelled like you, you know?"

"Well, I'm sure I can find more of that if you really liked it. It's just homemade junk. Ma probably has some at home somewhere."

She's quiet for awhile and I realize she's drifting off to sleep again. Before long, I'm falling asleep too. When I wake up, it's morning and Madge is already up. I can hear the shower running. We'll probably be at the Capitol soon so I slip out, back to my own room so I can get ready. I hope she won't be too nervous today. I hope she won't have to testify.

Back in her room, I find her dressed in a very simple, modest looking blue dress with her hair tied back. She looks pretty but she also looks a little tense. She's nervous.

"Morning Beautiful. You think we have time for a little breakfast before we get to the Capitol?"

"Morning." She offers a smile. "I'm not really hungry but I'll come sit with you while you eat if you want."

"Nah, I'm okay to skip it if you are. How are you feeling?"

She exhales. "Just ready to get it over with. I think I'll be a lot better when we're back on the train heading home."

"Yes, you will. And they may not even need to talk to you. We don't know. Try not to let yourself get too nervous just yet." I tell her giving her hand a light squeeze.

"I'll try."

We sit quietly, neither of us feeling like chatting as we wait for what's coming in the next hour or so. Just before the train arrives at the station, a peacekeeper comes to get us. He tells us he'll be escorting us to the hearing. Madge is hanging in there. She looks nervous still but I think she's okay considering.

When we step off the train I can't believe how insane this place is! All the electrically bright colors and outlandish attire is enough to make my head go spinning. Everywhere you look, it's colors and feathers and crazy makeup and clothes. How in the world do these people think that this looks good? Do they not see how stupid they look? And I'm also overwhelmed by all the technology. Cars zipping down the streets and colorful lights darting down the sides of buildings. Images appearing in the sky showing commercials promoting the games and sponsorship of the tributes. I'm so distracted by everything around me that I end up stumbling and if Madge wasn't holding my hand, I'd probably have fallen flat on my face. After that, I snap my attention back to Madge and where we're headed.

The peacekeeper walks us to a massive building and inside there's more marble and grandeur than I've ever seen. This place makes Madge's house look like a dumpy old Seam shack!

"Wow." I whisper under my breath.

I look over at Madge and she's staring straight ahead and she looks almost green. Much worse than she looked when we were on the train. That's not good. We're taken into a courtroom and seated on a bench in front. I hold tightly to Madge's hand and silently pray that they won't ask her a single question. I just don't want her to have to go through it.

Right after we're seated, another peacekeeper brings in Marcus and Madge instantly stiffens at my side and immediately turns her face towards the wall so as not to have to look directly at him. He looks like crap, as I assumed he would. His face still bruised and busted up but the swelling is down a tiny bit. He doesn't look at us. Just stares down at his the sight of him still makes my blood boil. I still can't believe what he did to her and can't even let myself imagine what it is he would have done to her had Tripp and I not found her when we did.

The judge comes in and calls for a clerk to hand him evidence in the case. We wait while he flips through pages of statements and scribbles notes on them. After what seems like an eternity, he finally addresses all of us in the room.

"Upon review of the evidence in the case against Marcus Landers with charges of kidnapping, assault and intent, I do feel I need to ask a few questions before I determine my findings and assign punishment. Would Marcus Landers please come before me?"

My heart sinks. If they're talking to him, they'll ask her questions too, I'm sure of it. She knows it too and I feel her shaking next to me. I gently rub her back and lean over to whisper in her ear. "You'll do just fine. Don't worry. I'll be right here the whole time."

A/N: Short chapter, I know, but the next chapter will be all of the trial and I wanted that to stand alone. I should have it up in a day or two.