You Smile at the Stars Like They Know All Your Secrets: Part 1

A/N: I don't know how often this will be updated, but I'm trying to get back into writing! Enjoy!

It had been a week since Katniss left for the 75th Hunger Games, and Gale was still riddled with guilt.

On this particular morning, Gale woke up in a warm bed with the sound a thunderstorm roaring through the open windows. The house shook as the heat rumbled on through the upstairs of the house, and Gale could feel the vibrations echo softly under his feet as he got up to close the window. The carpet was soaked, water squishing between his toes as his dry hands became damp from the windowsill as his closed the glass pane.

Thunder groaned outside as streaks of bright yellow electrified the sky soon after. Gale stood by the window, looking out at the dark gray sky that seemed to mirror his inner turmoil. Why he lingered on it, he didn't know. It's not like he can just hop on a train to the Capitol, run inside the Tribute Tower, wake Katniss, and up and tell her –

"Are you okay?" A voice mumbled through the dark room, "Gale?"

He dipped his head low to his chest and his knuckles tighten around the windowsill. Everything was more than alright inside this bedroom. The warm room made his warm heart burst, the heat from her body made his relax a few inches from her. The smell of flowery perfume tickled his nose all night, but he instinctively curled up in a ball and enveloped himself in it under the thick blankets that made him sweat, but it was nice for a change not to be cold. Everything was perfect inside this room, and he hated it.

"Come back to bed," the voice whispered, followed by the sound of the blankets being thrown back for him to easily crawl back into bed.

He watched lightning streak across the sky one more time, it's electric landing deeply within the Seam. For a brief moment, he wondered if it hit anything, if it effected anyone that he knew. The back of his mind told him that he was a betrayer, that he didn't belong here in this room. But his heart told him that this was exactly where he belonged.

He crawled back into the warmth of the thick covers, curling his body alongside hers, burying his face into her neck. He sighed. Why couldn't he have just told Katniss. What was the big deal about it anyways?

Now he might never get the chance to tell her, as she might die trying to protect Peeta and the rest of the group.

Her fingers tangled in his hair and he allowed himself to close his eyes and enjoy it.

"Is everything okay?" she whispered.

"I love you, Madge," he whispers into her neck. He sighed again, his heart burdened and heavy, "I love you to the moon and back."

Her breath was a light breeze across his forehead, "I love you." She was silent for a moment, and he could tell she hadn't said all that she wanted.

He kissed her shoulder and tightened his grip on her. Every inch of their bodies were molded together. It made him feel safe. It made him feel whole again.

"You've been saying that a lot lately."

"What? I love you?" Gale lifted his head off her shoulder to look at her in the eyes. His eyebrows scrunched together and his lips thinned out into a small line. "Is something the matter? Should I not tell you that I love you?" His heart squeezed in his chest. Did she not love him anymore? Did she think he was lying?

"No, I like to hear you say it. I never thought I'd hear the words come out of your mouth. Honestly, I'm still shocked that this is real." She pushed a stray piece of hair out of his eyes. Lately, he had been wearing his hair tied back as he kept "forgetting" to cut his hair, and a lose strain had follow out of the elastic band. As much as she hated his hair long, it was beginning to grow on her. The natural waves began to spring back into his hair the longer it grew, and somehow it made him look more distinguished. And how his hair was as soft as it was with the lack of proper shampoo and conditioner in the Seam, she'll never understand, but Gale's hair made Gale, Gale. "Ever since Katniss left…" she trailed off and as his face crumbled at the sound of his best friend's name. She smoothed her hands over his face, "Gale…" she breathed out, "You have to talk to me about this."

He rolled over to his side, his back to her. She spooned him, wrapped her arms tightly around his middle. It always amazed her that he preferred to be the little spoon, but she had a feeling he didn't choose this position just to be the little spoon.

He encased his much larger hands around hers, his thumb rubbing along the backside of her hand. "I never got to tell her."

Madge kissed his spine, "Tell her what?"

"That we were a thing. That I didn't hate you. That I now sleep in your bed more than I do my own. That I like it. That I loved you more than I thought I could ever love anyone," he laughed, dull and lifeless, "She would have never believed it. She would have thought I was joking, that there was no way I could possibly have fallen for you after talking so much shit about you all these years."

"She's not the only one surprised about your change of heart." Madge's lips moved to the base of neck, she landed a soft kiss there, squeezing him closer. She took a deep breathe in, she could see smell the scent of coal lingering on his skin.

He turned to look at her over his shoulder. They stared at one another for a long time before Madge leaned in to kiss him. His lips were chapped against her soft ones and his 5'clock shadow was just starting to come in. It tickled her cheeks.

"I'm sorry I was such an ass to you."

She kissed him again, "People change, you've change." This time he kissed her, swiping his tongue across her bottom lip. She bit his and he groaned. "I'm glad you finally decided I wasn't Satan."

"I never thought you were Satan," he mumbles against her lips, his eyes still closed, "The Devil's Advocate, maybe, but never Satan. Satan wouldn't be a hot as you."

She pulled back, her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles, and she smiled that smile the make Gale's stomach twist and made his legs weak. Even when he did think she was hellish, that smile made he feel weak at the knees. Now, he'd do anything just to see more often.

"I don't know," she began, her hands run down his chest to his hipbones, "I think Satan would be hot as hell. He'd definitely be buff from sweating all the time."

Gale rolled his eyes, dipped down to kiss her forehead.

Madge gasps, her hands tightening on his hips, "Maybe you're Satan! Oh my god, I've been sleeping with Satan all this time and I didn't even know!" She pulled herself closer to him and winked.

"I guess hell isn't all the bad."

She shrugged, "I never said it was any good."

His mouth fell open, "Are you saying I'm bad in bed?"

"I've never met anyone better."

He rolled his eyes, his hands spreading across her stomach, "I'm your only one."

"Then maybe you are bad…You probably are."

She winked at him as he shoved her away.

"I love you, Gale Hawthorne."

His heart was heavy in his chest again as she watched her curl up under the blankets and shut her eyes. "I love you too, Madge Undersee."

A/N: Leave a comment! I'd love to hear what you guys think!