A/N: I feel I have to tell everyone that I probably have a different take on Finnick than most. Also, I have a four-year-old so please excuse a couple of the names of the D4 folks. I guess I should also give a nod to Disney ;-)

Thank you to all the new favorites and followers. And thanks for Belle453 and her beta skills.

"Finnick," Snow said. "I hope you have been enjoying your time at home."

"Thank you, Mister President. I have." Finnick replied, his voice the right mixture of sorrow and gratitude. "But the Capitol is my home now."

"Of course." Snow leaned closer to the camera. "You've been my most loyal Victor."

Finnick said nothing and only smiled. His stomach was roiling and bile crept up his throat.

"It would appear Hawthorne and Undersee have some level of fondness for the other." Snow huffed in disbelief. "I need her unattached when she returns to the Capitol for the Quarter Quell."

"Young love can be irrational at times, Mister President," Finnick ventured. Thoughts of the sweet young girl falling into the same fate as he, Cashmere, Johanna and countless others sickened him.

"Don't pretend you know what love is." Snow's laugh was enough to cause Finnick's flesh to form goose bumps. "I want you to separate them any way you can. Even if Hawthorne has to have an accident."

Finnick felt rage roar through him. He wasn't an assassin. Wasn't it enough that I allow my body to be sold to the highest bidder? His jaw clenched along with his hands. "Mister President, surely…"

"I need to go," Snow cut him off. "Please give my regards to your father. I'm sure the loss of his wife was difficult."

"I-I will." Finnick felt his stomach sink. His mother died after Finnick refused to initiate someone's teenage daughter in the arts of seduction. He knew it was a sign. Just like the death of Adira, his beautiful little sister with golden hair and sea blue eyes who was only ten when she was murdered. He was eighteen and that was the first and last time Finnick asked how long he had to have sex with the highest bidders. The beautiful young Victor of District 12 reminded him of Adira so much it made him cry. There was no way he'd seduce her.

"There's going to be a problem with their train so they'll be staying overnight in your District." Snow's eyes grew cold and looked beyond the camera. "Make sure they have an eventful visit."

Luckily for Finnick Odair the video feed cut before he had to answer. He sunk to the floor of his empty Victors' Village house. His father, aunt, uncle and cousins would never visit him there. Most of his family rarely acknowledged him unless it got them extra food at the markets.

But could he kill Hawthorne? Poison wasn't as easy for him to use as it was for Snow. From a physical point of view, they could be equally matched. When he swung at Finnick, it was almost too much for District 4's Victor to hold off the younger man. If anyone harmed Annie, Finnick would fight with the strength of ten men. He didn't doubt that Hawthorne would be the same. So would Snow kill another victor to punish me? The answer to that question might haunt Finnick for the rest of his life.

Gale cradled Madge on his lap. They were in her room this time, his back against the wall on her bed. Her sobbing wouldn't stop and it killed him that he couldn't make her let go of her dead friends. Her concern for others was causing her to make everything personal. His arms tightened around her and he kissed the top of her head. But that's what makes her the woman I'm falling in love with.

Madge's sniffling against his chest and the lifting of her head signified the end of this bout of crying. He shifted so she could face him and wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. "Better?" A smile spread over his lips in the hopes of cheering her up.

"I'm so sorry. You must think I'm a crybaby." Madge swiped her face with the sleeve of her bathrobe.

"I think you're full of love and concern for those you let into your heart." He leaned forward, kissed her forehead and sat back with a bigger grin. "I wouldn't want you any other way."

"Wiress said she drew the picture the night after we left the hospital." Madge looked at a black drawing on white paper next to her bed. "I can't believe she saw us like that."

"She was an artist," Gale agreed. "Almost as good as that kid from town who wins the contests at school. The baker's kid."

"Peeta Mellark." Madge reached out and picked up the picture. It depicted her and Gale on a chariot pulled by a mockingjay with flames around them. They appeared to be floating above the crowds of cheering people. "He was always sweet to me."

"Sweet?" Gale growled. "How sweet?"

"So sweet that he'd slip in an extra cookie every time I went to the bakery." She giggled at Gale's jealousy.

"How many guys do I need to pound on when we get home?" Gale stretched his arms and cracked his knuckles.

"You are not pounding on him." She continued to giggle and kissed his chin. "He can throw these huge sacks of flour around. He might be able to pound you back."

"Since he made you smile and laugh, I'll let him off the hook, but if he tries to slip you a cookie I'll kill him." Gale waggled his brows and Madge dissolved into a fit of laughter. He felt his own heart soar. As long as he lived, the sound of her laughter and the radiance on her face when she was happy would always lift his own spirits.

Madge settled back against him and set the picture Emi Cray drew back on the table next to the bed so they could both see it. It was easy for Gale to see Madge as she was through Emi's eyes. The girl on the paper had flowing hair, big eyes and a wide smile. She radiated light and joy just as the flames represented.

His depiction in the drawing was surprising. To the small girl from 3 he probably did look like he towered over Madge. His eyes were focused on her as he held his fellow tribute in his arms. The smile on his face is what shocked him. Emi's pencil captured a look that he could only describe as adoration. Do I really look like that when I look at Madge?

His eyes were drawn down to the girl leaning back against his chest. Without conscious thought, a smile curved his lips. I guess I do.

"I really can't believe her family wanted me to have this." Madge finally broke the silence.

"Why not? I'm sure Emi would have wanted you to have it." Gale pressed a kiss to the top of her head and tightened the hold he had around her waist.

"It'll be nice to have something personal that belonged to her," Madge replied.

"A nice way to keep her memory alive."

"That's what I want to do, Gale." Madge twisted so she sat next to him, her eyes full of determination. "I want to make sure that all tributes are never forgotten."

"Won't that be dangerous?" Concern once again took over Gale and that cold feeling he had since the Games ended returned.

"I don't care." Madge shook her head. "These kids - all of them over the last 74 years - deserve the same honor and respect as those who survived. Even more if you ask me."

"I agree with you, Madge, but I care about you." He rubbed his hands up and down her arms. "If anything were to happen to you…" The words wouldn't come so he swallowed and stared into blue eyes that had darkened with anger.

"I…" Madge looked down at her hands, which were clenched in her lap. When she looked up tears filled her eyes. "I'm not used to having someone care."

"You better get used to it." Gale pulled her toward him and brushed his lips softly over hers. "Because I plan on caring for you for a long time." He pressed his lips more firmly to hers and tugged her closer. She came willingly and wrapped her arms around his neck as she returned his kiss. In that moment he knew what he'd be doing in the near future. Meeting the rest of her friends' families was going to be very hard on Madge. It would be his job to protect Madge from her own big heart.

"No way!" Madge shrieked. She held her blanket clutched around her body and glared at Cinna.

"Madge, everyone will be wearing a lot less than this when you get to the water," Cinna reassured, his voice soft. "You said you trust me."

"Trusted." Madge shivered as she imagined walking out in public in her underwear. "And it was hot in District 3, but we wore t-shirts and jeans."

"That was a dry heat." Cinna smiled, obviously trying not to laugh. "Madge, we agreed that you should dress like the districts to show your support for them."

"I didn't know they'd be naked!"

"Madge, you're wearing a bikini. You're not naked."

"I'm wearing underwear in public!" she shouted, her temper rising.

"You'll have a cover-up over it." Cinna picked up a piece of silk with a floral print.

"No! I won't do it." Madge shook her head, blonde hair flying.

"Fine. I'll tell Portia to send Gale out by himself. We'll say you were sick."

"Wait." Madge held out her hand. "Is this place going to be full of girls dressed in these?" She motioned to her blanket-clad body.

"When you get to the beaches, you'll see some with less."

Madge stomped across the room, grabbed the cover-up from Cinna's hands, slid the fine material over her arms and sat in front of the mirror. "Work your magic."

Cinna managed to stifle his laughter. He imagined Portia was having a similar conversation with Gale. Using their jealousy for the other was pretty low for the stylists, but they had the most stubborn tributes ever imagined.

Finnick stood in the hot sun between Mayor Triton and Mags. Annie Cresta was behind him with the five other victors from District 4. Because it was quite impossible to keep the residents from gathering fish or shellfish along the coastline, the residents weren't starving as badly as other districts. Having Career tributes also gave them more food from the Capitol because of the citizens' love of the bronze warriors from the seaside.

The crowd swelled beyond the capacity of the train station and surged into the surrounding streets. It appeared the entire fleet was docked so all the fishermen could see the Victors of the 74th Games. He couldn't remember seeing so many since his return from the Games. Annie was slipped in during the night after her win because the crowds terrified her; even now she was softly humming to block out the noise. Rip, winner of the 66th Hunger Game, was disliked because he sold out to the Capitol and made no excuses for it.

In the front row were the families of the fallen: Levi and Ursulla. Levi's three brothers stood by his parents looking sullen. Finnick knew they were ashamed of their cowardice for not volunteering when their thirteen-year-old brother was Reaped. His mother clutched something in her hand and looked anxious to be out of there. Ursulla's sister, her only living relative was softly crying, her hand resting on a pronounced belly. There was no doubt to Finnick that Ursulla needed to win to support her sister and future niece.

Gale and Madge finally emerged holding hands with their chaperone Effie, interrupting Finnick's musing. The crowds erupted. Everyone shouted, clapped and cheered. The elderly held their hands up in the salute Madge gave to her fallen tributes. Finnick was stunned. District 4 never showed this kind of support for any tributes but their own. They love them.

Madge looked beautiful, as if she grew up in the district. Her hair was pulled up into an elaborate braid that wrapped around her head. Woven into her hair were green ribbons with seashells attached; a silk wrap baring her shoulders and legs from the knees down outlined her womanly curves. A beautiful pink blush covered her skin as she shyly looked smiled and returned the waves. The crowd ate it up, which also shocked Finnick. District 4 was the most pragmatic of the Career Districts and never got caught up in the melodrama of the Games.

Mags nudged Finnick, pulling him out of his assessment of Snow's next victim. He looked at his previous mentor before realizing that he was standing on the stage staring at Madge. Shaking off his shock, he began to clap and whistle along with everyone.

"We love you!" Several people in the audience shouted at Madge and Gale, reminding Finnick of how they were greeted in the Capitol. No wonder Snow's terrified of them. If only there was a way to use their popularity against Snow.

Finnick smiled broadly in welcome to Madge when he caught her eye. His smile dimmed slightly when he met the steel eyes of her fellow Victor. If Gale Hawthorne's stare could kill, Finnick would have died a thousand painful deaths in the last few minutes. He thinks I'm checking Madge out. Maybe I'll be the one having the accident.

Madge was still getting over seeing Gale's nearly naked chest at eye level, when she stepped into the hot and humid air. The size and noise of the crowd stunned her. True to Cinna's prediction, many in the audience wore less than Madge – both male and female.

Gale was in a sleeveless shirt that was missing most of its buttons. The opening went to below his diaphragm, and the shorts Portia put on him left a good portion of his strong legs visible too. She snuggled in those arms and against that broad chest many times, but seeing them in their natural state sent heat flooding through Madge's body. If he wasn't holding her hand, she feared she'd fall right off the stage.

A slight breeze moved the hot air and blew some of Gale's hair over his brow. She successfully fought the urge to brush it back into place. Eventually she got her wits about her and looked around, smiling shyly. Gale wouldn't wave and had seemed more overwhelmed than her. Before they stepped out of the car, he was so flustered that he walked into the edge of the table and nearly tripped over Effie.

Her eyes caught Finnick's and she offered him a smile. He might be a shallow flirt, but he was handsome, especially wearing a green shirt that brought out his eyes. She felt like she was cheating on Gale. With one glance at the tall, handsome man next to her all thoughts of any other male of the species vanished.

His eyes landed on hers and a smile spread over his face. He pulled her closer, raising their joined hands so all could see and finally waved back at the crowd. A deafening cheer echoed through the crowd. Finnick, Mags and the Mayor moved across the platform to greet them as the shouting subsided.

"I am Mayor Triton," a tall man with white hair said as he reached forward to grasp Gale's hand. "Welcome to District 4."

"Thank you, Mister Mayor," Gale replied.

"Gale and I are glad to be here. Levi was a friend to both of us and we're honored to be welcomed by his home district," Madge added. She reluctantly removed her hand to shake the Mayor's. "We met once…"

"You were a precocious six-year-old who wanted to know if whales and dolphins still existed." The Mayor held Madge's hand as he spoke into a nearby microphone. "I had the pleasure of meeting Miss Undersee as a child. She wanted to walk in the sand and go fishing. Do you think District 4 can fulfill the wish of a child?"

"I would be more than happy to make those dreams and any others come true." Finnick purred from Madge's side.

He moved as stealthily as Gale, for she had no idea he was there until he spoke. Gale's arm slid around her waist and pulled her close. His skin sliding over her upper back, causing goose bumps to break out on her skin even though it was extremely hot and humid.

"Didn't you get her message the other night?" Gale growled quietly, his body tense and prepared for a fight. The crowd was cheering loudly again, so the microphone wouldn't pick up the conversation.

"I remember catching your punch." Finnick smiled and winked, which only infuriated Gale.

"So, Miss Undersee and Mister Hawthorne," Triton said. "Do you wish to take a voyage on one of our fishing vessels?"

"I'm not sure I want to be on the water," Madge said quietly, her eyes drawn to a family in the front row. The woman was small and had curly hair, like two of the three boys. It was obvious they were Levi's family.

Silence gripped the crowd and the other people near the stage moved aside to allow the woman, her husband and sons to use the steps. Gale stepped forward, releasing Madge's hand and held a hand out to the woman.

"Let me help you." Gale stepped down and the woman took his hand. He led her up to stand before Madge. The rest of her family followed her and stood around them. "Your son saved our lives. There are no words I can offer you except Thank you. Thank you for raising such a fine young man." Gale's manners and voice were genuine and Madge couldn't help but fall more in love with him.

Madge couldn't stop tears from running down her face. She heard Effie sobbing behind her and for once wanted to slap their Capitol chaperone. This was real, not some staged production.

Before Madge could get any angrier with Effie, frail arms wrapped around her and the mother who lost her son offered comfort to the Victor. "I never saw him prouder of himself than when he was with you." The woman gripped Madge tighter. "Thank you for making his last days joyous."

Sobs ripped through Madge and she clung to the woman. After a few moments, the woman stepped back and Gale's strong arm slid back around her.

"I have something for you. Each of you." The woman motioned to her husband, who stepped forward with two chains.

"It is a common among boys to keep a souvenir from the first large fish they killed." The man held up the chains so the pendants could be seen. Two large, jagged teeth were strung on the silver chains.

"They're sharks teeth," Finnick explained, his voice soft and without any Capitol-accent. "Levi's first kill was a bull shark. Quite impressive for a boy of his stature."

"Yes, it was." Levi's father and mother laughed. "He was quite proud and kept the teeth. I know he would want each of you to have one."

Madge's hand shook as she nodded and allowed Levi's mother to put one on her. Gale leaned down so Levi's father could place it around his neck. Once they hugged his parents and shook hands with Levi's brothers, the crowd erupted once again.

Gale looked at Madge and said quietly, "I don't want to be on the water either, but I feel I should go. For Levi."

Madge couldn't speak and only nodded before she threw her arms around Gale and hugged him tightly.

"I'll try my hand at fishing. Can't be too difficult," Gale replied, his voice filled with the cocky bravado that Madge loved.

"We'll see, Hawthorne," Finnick responded. "We'll see."

TBC

A/N: Sorry for the filler, but the rest of D4 will take some time to pull together and I didn't want you to think I forgot you and this story. Thanks for all the support.