Can't believe I'm back to writing this stuff again but I recently reread all of my stories and sort of fell in love with Gagde all over again and I feel like giving this another go. So, first things first, I do not own the Hunger Games or any of it's characters. Props to Suzanne Collins for creating such an amazing trilogy full of characters I can't get enough of.

This story will not be in canon. It's just a good old Madge and Gale falling in love story cause that's my all time favorite. Enjoy!

Chapter 1

(Madge POV)

I really don't want to be here but as has always been the case, I have zero say in the matter. So I sit, poised in my chair, hands folded neatly in my lap, my lips forming a soft hint of a smile as I wait for them to call my name. I knew this day would come and I've been dreading it for years. They call it the Presentation of Heirs. Each year, all Panem's leaders have the opportunity to present their teenage children as eligible for courting. Then matches are made and couples begin a year long courting of one another. At the end of that year, couples announce their plans to marry and are assigned to a new role within Capitol leadership. It's literally enough to make me want to vomit just thinking about but again, I don't have a choice in the matter. As the daughter of the Mayor in District 12, this is the future that's been laid out for me since the day I was born. A way for the Capitol to keep all it's leaders in the same bloodlines. A way they hope will help keep things the way they want them and keep any free thinkers from finding a way into a position of leadership. Because of this pre determined fate of mine, I've never even bothered to date anyone in my district. Didn't see the point in it.

"Miss Margaret Undersee, Daughter of Mayor Undersee, District 12."

I rise as I hear the announcer call my name. As practiced in yesterday's rehearsal, I step forward into the spotlight, the tulle of my ball gown swishing as I walk. I pause, turn slowly and smile my most pleasant smile, fake as it me be. I'm thankful for the blinding brightness of the spotlight because I'm not sure I want to see the audience right now. I hear them applauding though and it sounds like a million people to me. I blow a little kiss in the direction of the audience and then take my place alongside the others who've already been presented. My legs feel like jello and I'm glad I was at the end of the list when it came to being presented. If I'd had a last name that began with an A or B, I'd have had to stand up here for far longer so at least I was able to sit for the majority of the presentations. I'm not sure my legs would've been able to support me for the duration. Being front and center has never been a favorite thing of mine and while I can manage to create an illusion of sorts, underneath it all I always find myself feeling a little bit faint when all eyes are on me.

It's been a week of tests and interviews with Capitol experts. A very long, mentally exhausting week. Tonight, after the presentations are complete, there will be a formal dinner. Tomorrow evening there will be a ball and that's the part I'm dreading the most. That's the part where they announce who we've matched with. The experts are supposed to match us with someone meant to be a soul mate for us but I certainly don't buy that nonsense. Nope. I know how the Capitol likes to operate and it isn't in the interest of love. It's always in the interest of them maintaining power over the districts. And I have no idea who that will leave me matched up with.

A loud round of applause pulls my attention back to the moment at hand. Presentations are finished and now we head to the dinner. I smile primly as the spotlight pans over us one last time for the cameras. I hate this. I hate it so much.

"What do you think they'll do if someone doesn't match?" Gwen, a girl from District 7 whispers to me as we make our way to the banquet hall.

"What? Why we wouldn't we all match?" I whisper back in confusion.

"There's an odd number now! Someone won't match!" She says between clenched teeth, eyes wide.

Odd number? What is she talking about? There's never an odd number. I furrow my brows at her but before I can ask what she's talking about we're entering the hall and being shown to our seats which happen to be on opposite sides of the room. I glance around the room, quietly counting people in my head trying to see what I missed. It's no use though. There's too many people and too much movement in the room for me to tell who is missing.I know we had an even number at the start of the week. Why hadn't I been paying better attention at the presentation ceremony? Who was missing and why? And like Gwen asked, I too wonder what will happen to whoever the odd person out is?

All through dinner I try to see if I can tell who is missing but fail to figure it out. There's just too many of us. I look around at the room full of future leaders of Panem. Future Mayors. Future Gamemakers. Future Head Peacekeepers. Over 200 boys and girls, ready to be matched up and handed the task of carrying on all the Capitol's best laid plans. Of course as a girl, I'm merely being matched up as a bride. I won't actually have a formal role in Capitol leadership. No, my task will be to smile , look pretty and be a supporting wife and mother to future heirs. Only the boys will actually be given official roles. Girls are merely arm candy for other women in Panem to see and try to model themselves after.

Dinner is long and theres no time for table chatter because several people, including President Snow himself are speaking to us. A whole lot of babble about how we are the future of the country and how important it is for us to be exceptional examples of what a citizen should be. Lots of nodding and polite clapping from those of us listening. I often wonder if anyone else has to fight to keep from daydreaming during these things. I'd never dare to ask though because that would be like putting a target right on my back for someone to report me. Finally, we are dismissed and allowed to return to our dormitories for the night.

My roommate this week has been Natasha from the Capitol itself. Her father is a gamemaker. We aren't what I would consider compatible friends so I've been cordial but not to open and I dare not ask about why we are down one heir at this point. I get back to the room before her and start to get ready for bed. I've just dimmed the lights and crawled under the covers when she rushes in and flips the overhead light back on.

"Did you hear about Martin? He got pulled from the presentation just before we went to the auditorium!" She asks me without an ounce of caution, the excitement of gossip clearly having a hold on her.

"What happened?" I ask. If she's bringing it up, I suppose it won't hurt to ask a couple general questions. I remind myself to proceed with caution as I'm not sure what sort of trouble this boy got into and I don't want to get too involved in knowing what it is. The last thing I want is for Natasha to go repeating anything I say about it.

"Okay, you didn't hear it from me, but I heard he was caught slipping food to an Avox. Rumor has it that he's been having a relationship with the one that works in his house and he must have a soft spot for them or something since he got caught feeding one here this morning. So stupid if you ask me. I mean, now he's gone and ruined the great future he had waiting for him and over something so stupid as feeding an Avox!" She explains as she shakes her head in disgust.

I have no idea who Martin is but my heart sort of hurts a little for him in hearing all of this. Kindness. He's being punished for showing kindness to a former criminal or Avox as we call them. You don't see compassion like that amongst our crowd very often. Mostly because that is exactly the sort of thing that could get you turned into an Avox yourself. And it's most likely what will happen to him.

"Wow, such a shame." I lament as I yawn and roll over without commenting more. I'll let her assume that by shame I mean that he threw away his chance at a capitol leadership position but what I really mean is that it's a shame they caught him. A shame the capitol will have one less compassionate person that could potentially make future decisions about the country.

Natasha must be miffed that I don't join in all the gossip because she sort of huffs and I hear her leave the room. I assume she's going off in search of a better gossip partner. I'm glad I wasn't foolish enough to gossip with her myself.

I reach up and turn the light back off but I can't fall asleep. My mind is all over the place with thoughts and questions. What will happen to Martin? What will they do now that we have an odd number of heirs? Will the unmatched girl have to be presented again next year? Did they have an alternate plan in place for situations like this? And who is my match going to be? Will I get paired with someone who will want to live in my district or will he be given a position that takes us somewhere else? Will my match be nice or hateful? Will I be attracted to him? Will he be attracted to me? Will we really be compatible or will tomorrow be the start of something truly miserable for me? All I have are questions, no answers to anything right now.