Gale stands in the back of the room as his mother and Posy smother Vick in their arms. He can't move. They need to talk to him first. He can't breathe. They cry. Vick doesn't cry.

"I love you so much, Baby," Hazelle tells Vick. "I love you. I will always love you, no matter what happens."

Posy's awful at hiding her fear. She sobs into Vick's chest and pleads with him. "Come home, Vick. Please come home. Please." She weeps onto his shirt leaving a wet stain in her absence. "I love you, Vick. I love you I'm so sorry I'm so sorry."

"Posy," he whispers. Vick bends down to his sister. "It's okay." He is calm. He's a Hawthorne man. Vick isn't a boy anymore. "I love you, Pose. Don't ever stop doing what it is you do. Don't ever give up, no matter what." Again the little girl throws herself at her brother, clinging around his chest as though she can keep him here if she tried hard enough. "I love you," Vick whispers to her again.

"Try really hard to come home," she pleads. "Okay? Please try."

"You know I will," Vick whispers.

Vick lifts his head and makes eye contact with Gale. The older of the two feels his stomach in his chest and his heart in his toes. Gale can see the same look in his brother's eyes that he saw in Katniss when she was Reaped. Or in Rory's eyes when he had to tell him that their dad wouldn't be coming home. Terror. Devastation.

Gale crosses the room as Posy lets go and completely envelops Vick in his arms. "You fight," Gale tells him gruffly. "You fight your ass off."

"I'll try," Vick croaks.

"No, you will." Vick nods against his shoulder and Gale tightens his grip. "Katniss is going to do everything she can to get you out. Everything. You're coming home, Vick. You have to."

"Gale—"

"Shhh," he silences his brother. Gale tries to imprint Vick in his mind. Scrawny. Still smelling like the pine trees from the woods even after he bathed. "You know so much about snares. You're a natural," Gale says. "Use that to your advantage. Think on a bigger scale." Vick jerks his head into a nod. "I should've taught you the bow and arrow a long time ago. I should've—"

"Don't," Vick cuts him off. "Gale, stop." Vick peers up at him. "I'll practice with it. Maybe get good enough. It's not your fault."

But it is Gale's fault. It's Gale's fault that he wasn't strict enough so Vick thought it was okay to go behind his back and take out tesserae each and every year. It's Gale's fault that he couldn't stop Vick from getting 42 slips in no matter how hard he tried to prevent him from doing so. It's Gale's fault that Vick's in this room, right now.

"I love you, Vick," Gale tells him. He can feel his throat closing up. "You know that right?"

"I love you too, Gale," Vick mumbles. "Don't let Posy get anymore slips," he chokes.

"I won't."

"Don't let her watch, either. Or Mom." Vick squeezes him tighter one more time. "I love you all." And then Posy and Hazelle are both there, squeezing Vick as tight as they can even if it breaks him. Gale wants to beat the shit out of the peacekeeper who opens the door, but his grip is too strong and Gale is too weak and he's yanked away from his baby brother before he gets out his last goodbye.


Madge waits patiently in line behind Prim and Rory who are going in together. They were going to go in with Gale and Hazelle and Posy but that wouldn't have been enough time for everyone to get out everything they wanted to say, so Gale told them to go in after.

Madge is in front of Lily, her eyes red and her cheeks pink. If Madge knew her better she might rest her hand on her shoulder, give her some sort of comfort. But the truth is, Madge barely knows Lily, and Madge is in no emotional state to comfort anyone. She's sure the moment she tries to talk to someone she'll break down. Hopefully she can hold it together for Vick.

Rory and Prim go in after a while, which means Gale and Hazelle and Posy are already gone. They must've been led through a different exit. Madge tugs on the hem of her shirt and squeezes it as tight as she can as though it will calm her nerves.

Seconds pass. Minutes. Feels like hours or days.

Madge feels alone in the hall. What will she even say? Her thoughts race. This is different than it was with Katniss. This is entirely too different. It aches in her stomach.

Finally, the door opens and Madge is led to Vick. His face is a mess. His hair stands on end. She rushes toward him immediately, throwing her arms around him as though he's a small child. Because he is. He's such a small child. He shouldn't do have to do this.

"Vick," she starts, but then she can't find any other words to say.

"It's alright, Madge," he whispers. His voice is hoarse. She knows that if he talks too loudly his voice will crack. "Thank you for treating me like an equal."

"K-Katniss is going to everything to get you home," Madge tells him. "Katniss and Peeta will do everything and—"

"Gale said that too." Vick shrugs his shoulders and Madge loosens her grip a bit. "In the end it's not up to them, it's up to me." She cradles his face in her hands. "What if I don't want to come back?"

"Vick—"

"Look what it did to Haymitch!" He slips away from her hold. "Katniss! Peeta! They're not the same, Madge." Vick drags his hands through his hair and collapses to the couch. "I don't want to turn into someone I'm not," he croaks. "I don't want to play by their rules."

"Vick," Madge drops to the couch next to him and pulls his hand into hers. "You have to fight. You have to try."

"I'm going to," he nods weakly. "For Posy. For my mom, my family. But I…" he shakes his head. "I don't know if I can do it." Madge squeezes his fingers and hears him sigh. "Thank you for always being there," Vick murmurs. Madge can feel herself tearing up.

"Thank you for accepting me into your family," she whispers. She wants to thank him for so much more than that. For always being able to make her smile. For laughing at the things that aren't funny. For standing up for her when no one else would.

"You're practically my sister," Vick says, a watery laugh escaping him. He looks up. "I love you, Madge. Like a sister, anyway."

At that, Madge loses it, pulling the boy into her arms. "I love you too, Vick." And she tries not to cry, she really does. She has to be strong for him if he doesn't want to be strong for himself. But her head aches and her entire being aches and she knows it will never stop aching.

"Take care of them for me," he whispers. "All of them."

"Come back and take care of them yourself," she demands. He only laughs slightly, one of pain. "I will," she promises weakly.

They stay like that until the peacekeepers come.


When Madge leaves the Justice Hall she feels an aching in her heart. She searches for Gale and the rest of the Hawthorne's but only finds Posy and Hazelle. They're sitting on the stairs, Hazelle's arm around Posy tightly. Madge joins them. She slips her hand into Posy's and holds on tight.

"Gale, um," Posy sniffles and blinks back tears. "He left." Madge only nods. Posy turns to her and squints. "Why'd it have to be him?" she chokes out. "This was his last year, Madge,"

"I know, Honey," Madge whispers. "I know."

"It's not fair," Posy continues weakly. "It's not fair, it's not fair, it's not—" the train whistle blows and Posy shudders, sucking in another sob. "Fair," she finally forces out.

"I know," is all Madge can say.


Madge tries to get Posy not to watch. Really, she does. The replay of all the Reapings is not something she wants Posy to watch. But the little girl is persistent and absolutely will not go to bed unless she sees them.

Her eyes are dry by then, but they're still red. No word from Gale yet, but Hazelle tells them both not to worry. Prim and Rory offered to stay but Hazelle sent them to their house. The more people around waiting for something bad to happen the more likely it is.

Posy sits in the middle on the couch, gripping both Madge and Hazelle's hands.

District 1 is no surprise. Careers. The boy is slimy. Tall, skinny. Short dark blonde hair. A sick smile on his face. Prine. The girl is average. Tiny, even, but the look in her eyes is deadly as ever. She doesn't smile. Silver.

Same goes for District 2. The boy has arms as thick as his head. Yule. The girl is his sister. Thalia. 3 is uneventful. Both tiny. Mousey. 4 makes Madge's stomach drop. The boy doesn't smile or cheer. He looks cold. His eyes are filled with venom and power. Cordo. The girl is beautiful. Long flowing red hair, a smile so sweet it's almost believable. Dorthea.

5 shows no threat. Neither does 6 or 7.

The girl from 8 is Posy's age. Small and blonde and crying. Posy cries too. Lana. The boy is only maybe two years older. He's in that stage where he's all arms and legs. Trek. 9 has a girl who reminds Madge of Katniss. She volunteers for her sister. Doesn't cry. Valeria. 10 has a boy Vick's age. Gauis. In 11 a brother volunteers to go in and protect his sister. Kobi. Hamp. Madge's heart breaks.

And then there's 12. Jade, the girl from town that Madge doesn't recognize. Vick.

Posy starts to cry again. So does Hazelle. Madge swallows back her tears because she has to be strong for them, somehow. She has to be strong so Hazelle, the strongest woman she knows, can be strong. She has to be strong so Posy, the most determined and brave little girl she knows, can be strong. Madge has to be strong because if she isn't then she'll collapse into a heap, sobbing until she can't breathe anymore.

Posy falls asleep on Madge's side. Madge tells Hazelle to go to bed, and because the woman is so tired and exhausted that she doesn't have the strength to say no. Madge twirls her fingers through Posy's curls, her hair having fallen out from the braid it was up in earlier. She tries to think about something other than Vick but she can't.

Madge blinks back her tears again and again, her temples throbbing at the pressure in them.

Finally, what feels like ten thousand years later, Gale returns home. He shuts the door with a gentle click.

It takes Madge a few moments to lift her eyes. She's been too focused on how one of the floorboards is a bit higher than the one next to it. When her gaze is finally up on him, she feels her heart shatter all over again.

Gale's still in his clothing from today but they're dirty. Muddy, wet. It's clear that he's been in the woods. His hair sticks up in every direction, his eyes are rimmed with red. He swallows in a gulp, staring back at Madge. For a moment, neither of them move.

But then Gale drops his eye to Posy. "I'll move her," he says. Madge flinches at the sound of his voice. Thick and gravelly. She leans out of the way as Gale crosses the room, scooping his younger sister into his arms.

He slowly carries Posy to the room she shares with her mother. It's dark in the house but Gale knows his way around well. Madge hears her give Posy a kiss goodnight before exiting the bedroom.

Madge waits on the couch, fiddling with them hem of her shirt again. "You're back," she says softly.

"Needed to get away," he answers. Gale stands with his arms hanging at his sides. His forehead has worry lines already. This is a man who is broken.

Eventually, Madge stands. "Posy was worried," she tells him. Her voice is quiet. "Me too. But I knew you'd be back." Gale tips his head into a nod, his eyes searching hers. She drums her fingers on her hip. What does he want? Her to remain here with him or go? Does he want more time alone?

Madge starts the door but Gale reaches out, grabbing her had. "Will you stay?" he asks. Gale pulls her toward him. "Please?"

"Of course," she breathes. Her fingers link with him. "I didn't know if you wanted me to."

He drops his forehead down to hers. "I need you to," Gale croaks. Madge nods, trying to will the tears from her eyes again as his arms wrap around her waist.


Madge waits in bed as Gale changes. She's switched into one of his old shirts, and if his heart wasn't aching in his chest then he might want to do something other than sleep right now.

He fiddles with the buttons on his shirt but his fingers are so sore that he can't get the buttons undone. Madge slips from the bed and stands in front of him, slowly undoing his buttons. She doesn't do it in any imposing manner, and that makes it so much worse. But Gale lets her. Madge pushes him to the bed so he can sit and undoes all the buttons of his shirt.

After that she pulls it from his chest, sliding his arms out of the sleeves carefully. Madge moves methodically, getting him undressed quickly. She hands him a pair of pajama pants to pull on as she crawls back into bed.

Soon enough he's dressed, yet still feeling completely shattered.

Gale attempts to pull Madge into his arms but she beats him to it. Her tiny arms try their hardest to hold him, to make him feel as though he's being comforted. The thought of it helps a bit. Only a little.

"Gale," she whispers. He turns to face her, their noses brushing. "I wish I knew what to say."

"There's nothing to say," he returns.

Her hands run over his chest, over his cheeks. "I don't know what you want me to do," Madge tells him. She tries to meet his eyes but Gale keeps looking away. He can't. Not tonight. "I can't make him come home, Gale. I can't save him." Gale shakes his head. "I can't do anything."

Again, he shakes his head. Gale already knows this. At least, he tries to know it. He tries to tell himself that there's nothing can be done. And he knows why she's saying this. Gale knows Madge isn't trying to make him feel worse. She just wants him to understand that there's no use in wallowing around.

"What do you want me to do?" she asks him. "I'll do it. I'll do anything I can, Gale. Please, just talk to me."

He clenches his teeth to stop his tears from falling. "I want to hold you," he says. "That's all."

"Okay," Madge says quietly. She allows his arm to slip around her waist. Gale nudges her until she face the other direction. He doesn't want her to see him cry. He doesn't want her to see him like this. He drops his forehead to her shoulder and lets out a deep breath. "I'm sorry," Madge finally whimpers. "I'm sorry I can't stop them and I'm sorry that there's nothing we can do and—"

"Sorry doesn't help," Gale cuts her off. "You know that."

"I know that," she repeats. After a moment she adds, "Sorry."

"Just stop talking about it," he murmurs. His arms tighten around her. Something tangible to hold onto. Something to keep him here. "This isn't your fault. You can't fix things." His eyebrows knit together painfully as she sniffles. Hearing that tugs on his heart again. He presses his lips to her shoulder. "I just need you to stay."

"I will. I'm not going anywhere."

"I won't be able to sleep," Gale rasps. Madge spins in her spot, back to face him again. He tries to close his eyes, tries to block her from seeing him like this, but it doesn't work. In moments her hands are on his cheeks, carefully stroking his skin. "Madge, I… I can't…"

"Shhh," she leans up and presses a kiss to his nose. "I know. You don't have to."

Madge attempts to pull away but Gale dips down, forcing his lips against hers. Obviously this shocks her, she had only meant for a quick comforting kiss, but Gale doesn't care. He needs her. He needs to feel Madge beneath him. Her breath. Her skin. Something to bring him to the present. Something to keep him from walking into the fence while it's turned on.

Gale's hands slide down her hips, down her legs. His mouth skims across her chin, her jaw. He kisses under her ear, clutches at her thigh. Madge's fingernails dig into his shoulders but he doesn't mind. The sting is a reminder that he's still alive. He kisses across her necklace chain, tugging her closer in any way he possibly can.

"Gale," Madge yelps. "Gale, slow down." He jerks away instantly and meets her eyes. "Don't do this."

"Do what?"

"Gale," she sighs, propping herself up on her elbow. Madge hesitates. "I… I know you're hurting. But you don't need to do… that." Gale lifts himself up a bit, staring down at Madge. Her hair frazzled, her shirt pushed up incredibly too high. "I'm not objecting, not really, but I think that…" she trails off, unable to find any words to fit.

"I'm sorry," he forces out as he lifts himself into a sitting position. Gale drops his head into his hands and pulls at his hair. "I'm sorry," he says again. Madge leans forward and grabs onto his arm. "I'm sorry." He can't stop. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Tears fill his eyes, nothing unable to stop them from falling. "I'm so sorry…"

"Gale," Madge grips him tighter and he turns to face her.

He shakes his head, over and over again. "I'm so sorry," he whimpers. Gale drops his forehead to her shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

And he cries. Gale cries harder than he's ever cried in his entire life. Madge doesn't even try to stop him, she just strokes his hair and lets him sob against her, his tears flowing freely. He doesn't stop until he falls asleep.


A/N: For starters, I'm super busy and swamped in life. My updates won't be as frequent as I'd like them to be, and I didn't even think I'd get this out as fast as I did. Also it was painful to write. And for those of you who think Gale is out of character I say you are wrong bcuz that's his baby brother and he watched him grow up his entire life and they fought so much through the years over all the little things and Vick went behind his back all the time and took out tesserae when he wasn't supposed to so Vick had more slips than he should've and Gale blames himself for that and they had just started to get on a good level and really feel closer and now he's being ripped from him and Gale knows there's literally nothing he can do and this also hurt to write ok wow. Thank you for sticking with my story.