A/N: Thanks for all the wonderful feedback. This drabble is my way of inserting Madge back into the story, but not denying Gale's love of Katniss.

Gale tried to get comfortable against the tree he chose for his resting spot. His mother, Posy, brothers and the Everdeen's were lying on the ground nearby sleeping. They were joined by Madge. After she collapsed, Gale rushed her to Mrs. Everdeen and wanted to kick himself.

She was always pale but when he saw her with Rory, he thought she looked like a ghost. At first all his protective instincts kicked in, but then regret over his treatment of her after what she did for his family took over. He had to make sure she knew he was grateful for what she did and to hear how she felt about him from her own mouth. Making her walk to the house and sharing his pain over Katniss' selection of Peeta was selfish. She just lost her home, family, everything.

Of course, his mother took it upon herself to call him out for being a jerk. He smiled as he remembered the fire in his mother's eyes as she told him in no uncertain terms, that she was watching his every move.

"That sweet girl has cared about you for a long time. I will not stand by while you take advantage of her to soothe your hurt pride."

"Ma…" Gale tried to interrupt, but she wouldn't allow it.

"Madge is all alone in this world and I owe her the lives of all my children. The medicine she provided for you was a lifesaver. And the little ones would have starved if she didn't brave a blizzard to feed them. Not to mention what she did for Posy."

Gale stepped up to the ranting woman and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Ma. I know. That's what I was doing when I took her for a walk. I wanted to thank her for saving me and my family. And to let her know that I know how she feels about me. And…"

She crossed her arms and interrupted him. "You can thank her with words. Don't take off alone with her again."

"Ma! What do you think I'm going to do to her?" Gale replied, shocked at his mother's implications.

His mother laughed. "I love you and I am so proud of the man you've become, but you are like your father when it comes women. Your father never met a pretty girl he couldn't charm. He broke a lot of hearts before we got married."

Gale was unsettled that his mother thought he was a playboy. To get out of the conversation, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and hugged her. Something he hadn't done enough of lately.

Madge popped up from her prone position, causing his coat to fall off her shoulders. The moon was bright, so he could see that her eyes were wide, and she was breathing heavy. Since he had chosen the tree next to her sleeping spot, he leaned forward and spoke softly, "Madge. It's okay. You're safe."

She turned to face him and nodded. Her hair was in disarray and Gale thought it was the most beautiful thing he'd seen. Madge always looked perfect in her school uniform. The dirty pink dress, scuffed up shoes and messy hair made her far more approachable.

Gale waited for a few minutes so she could wake up before he spoke. "So how old were you?"

"What?" Madge replied, shifting so she was facing Gale.

"How old were you when you started noticing boys," he said with a chuckle.

"I was twelve and you were 14. Far too old for me to even think about talking to you." She smiled and then gazed off. Sadness descended over her face.

"What?"

"The first time I noticed you was at your father's memorial service. There was so much pain and so many tears that day." She continued to look into the distance.

"Yeah, over twenty miners died. It shut down the mines for weeks," Gale added. That day was the end of his childhood. Not that anyone gets to be a kid for long in the Seam.

"Yes, people lost loved ones and money for food. I remember you weren't crying. Your mother and brothers sat when you stood up to get that stupid medal from the Capitol." Madge turned to look him in the eyes.

"We sold it for food that lasted a couple months, so it wasn't totally worthless." Gale offered a smile, for some reason seeing her sad upset him.

"Then I'm glad you received it." She smiled and then looked back at the lake. "You stood so tall and had a determined look. I was on the stage, so I could see you clearly. I wanted to find out all about the tall boy who just lost everything but stayed so strong."

"I remember that you had a beautiful voice. Ma said the song you sang at the memorial was an ancient one from this region,"Gale said.

"Yes, the song is several hundred years old. I love history and music, so finding old music was a favorite pastime."

"Did you read any of the journal? It goes back hundreds of years, too." Gale was excited that he and Madge shared an interest in history. "Finding out about the country before Panem always fascinated me. There used to be illegal books in the Hob, but I never had anything extra to trade for them."

"I didn't have time to read. Did you find out anything about who might be out there?" Madge's voice had an edge of fear in it.

Gale took her hands in his to reassure her. His mother's stern warning about keeping his distance was brushed aside. I'm not alone with her. "You have the coldest hands of anyone I know."

"My mother used to say, cold hands…"

"Warm heart," Gale finished. "My mother says that too." He let go of her hands to pick up his coat and wrap it around her. "Keep this on."

Madge looked at the coat and then at Gale with an arched brow.

"You need the coat more than me," he laughed. "Put your hands in the pockets."

"Okay," she said slowly and did what he asked.

"Unless you'd rather I hold them?" Gale teased.

She shoved them in the pockets of his jacket. But the way Madge looked at him, he knew that was exactly what she wanted.

Madge sat near Gale in silence for some time. Just glancing at him in the moonlight was enough for her. His idea of holding her hands to warm them up, sent a jolt of heat through her that made his coat unnecessary. Since it was his coat though, she was in no hurry to give it up. The idea of a boy giving a girl his jacket made Madge's heart swell. In her diary, she wrote about that very thing a few years ago.

My journal. My room. My mother. A wave of sadness and despair washed over Madge as she remembered all she lost. It was the same as the previous night when she fell asleep on the forest floor. Life as she knew it was over, and she had no idea what was next.

Before she knew what was happening, Gale's arms wrapped pulled her to him.

"It'll be okay," Gale whispered. One hand stroked her hair while the other held her around her waist.

His gentle voice and the feeling of protection she felt in his strong arms, caused her to sob. Knowing everyone was sleeping nearby, she pressed her face into his chest and slid her arms around him. Another tremor shook her body as tears fell.

Madge felt Gale's voice in his chest telling someone that she was upset. His arms tightened around her as if telling the other person, he was going to comfort her. They couldn't take her from him. For a heartbeat Madge imagined that Gale would want her in his arms forever.

"I know you don't want to hear this, but trust me when I say the grief does get easier to handle," Hazelle said to Madge as they walked near the front of the long line of refuges from District 12.

"Thank you," Madge said. Hazelle had been near her since she woke up. Of course, you were sleeping in her son's arms. She doesn't trust you around him. Heat filled Madge's cheeks once again.

After crying herself to sleep in Gale's arms, he pulled her on his lap and held her through the night. When she woke up, it was to the sound of Hazelle clearing her throat. The look of disappointment on her face ruined the memory of being held by the boy she'd always loved. It also left Madge feeling ashamed that she upset a woman she respected and admired.

"I'm sorry," Madge said softly to Hazelle.

"About what?" Hazelle's grey eyes were full of compassion and it made Madge feel worse.

"Me and Gale," she replied, her cheeks burning once again.

"I wasn't upset with you this morning.," Hazelle said, "I love my son, but I swear there aren't many girls from two to ninety-two that he couldn't sweet talk into anything. He's like his father."

Madge smiled. She had to admit that the sweet Gale she'd encountered the last two days was enough to send her heart racing and give her hope for the future. How did Katniss resist him?

Hazelle stopped walking and pulled Madge off the pathway. "I know I'm Gale's mother, but you can come to me about anything. Especially, anything regarding my son and his charming nature."

The way she said the last word made Madge want the earth to open and swallow her. Gale's mother thought that she and Gale might...

Hazelle laughed and pulled Madge into a hug. "You should see your face." She put her hand on Madge's shoulder and looked directly into her eyes. "I think I raised Gale to be a gentleman. However, he was hurt badly by Katniss and you are a beautiful girl that likes him."

"I was upset. He comforted me." Madge had to make Mrs. Hawthorne understand that nothing inappropriate happened. "I fell asleep… He must have pulled me on his lap. I…"

"It's okay, sweetie. I know it was perfectly innocent in your eyes. I was young and pursued by a Hawthorne, too." A smirk touched the corners of Hazelle's mouth.

Madge felt relief that she hadn't disappointed her and was now intrigued about Hazelle's past. "So, you made Mr. Hawthorne chase you?"

"Oh yes." She hooked her arm around Madge's, and they strolled along like old friends out for a walk. On a deer migration trail to an unknown place with the potential of running into hostile people.

Mrs. Hawthorne talked for a long time about Gale's father and their attraction, which she fought for years. "Once we finally got together, I was hated. Most especially by my older sister. She and Jake were in the same year at school. She chased him for years."

"That must have been awkward," she said.

"Do I want to know what's awkward?" Gale laughed. He appeared out of nowhere with Posy in his arms. She had been perched proudly on his shoulders scouting their path.

"I see she's tired out already," Hazelle said, reaching for her youngest.

"I can carry her," Madge offered. Posy owned a piece of Madge's heart and she would do anything for the youngest Hawthorne.

"You're hurt," Gale said. "Don't carry anything heavier than your bag for the next few days."

Madge noted that he shortened his longer strides to stay in step with her. A smile touched her lips.

"I was telling her how your aunt hated me after I got together with your father."

Madge walked between Gale and his mother as they talked about their family history. She tried not to read too much into Gale's comfort the night before or the kiss when she said she loved him. He saved over nine-hundred people; he obviously cares about people. It doesn't mean he cares about me anymore than them.

All kinds of questions floated around in her brain as she contemplated what would happen if he did like her romantically. He initially wanted Katniss and will now settle for me. Would being a rebound be enough for me? What if Katniss is alive? He'd pick Katniss over me in a second. Madge pushed the thoughts aside. She would face them if they happened.

By the time Madge went to sleep that night, she was convinced that she was going to have to deal with the rebound idea. When they stopped to make camp after walking for most of the day, Gale immediately found a place for her to sit. He took extra time to make sure it was comfortable and free of snakes and bugs, which she greatly appreciated. He put Vick in charge of making sure she didn't walk around. Her little admirer was more than happy to spend time with her. Gale leaned close to whisper in her ear that he hoped Vick wouldn't end up hating him like his aunt and mother. His breath on her neck sent a feeling like electricity down to her toes. He winked and went off to help gather food to feed everyone.

At dinner, he asked her what she wanted to eat, whereas he handed everyone else turkey. Something Rory called him out on, and his response was, "Madge is our guardian angel and should get to have whatever she wants to eat."

She looked across the small fire at Hazelle who raised her eyebrows and smiled. Their earlier conversation was fresh in Madge's mind and she knew she was in trouble.

Her heart was absolutely lost when Gale requested that she tell one of her amazing stories that Posy raved about before he took his turn patrolling the camp.

Madge could have gotten special treatment any time because of who her father was. She only used the advantage for one thing- books. The reading teachers at school often supplied her with books that no one else had access to. Because of this, she knew stories no one had ever heard of.

"Tell the one about the Princess in the woods," Posy begged.

"That's fitting," Gale smiled. He was seated next to her with Posy on his lap. Prim, Vick and Rory sat nearby, as well as a few other kids.

"Once upon a time…" Madge began the story. Gale focused only on her. The piercing grey eyes once again left her feeling exposed.

After the story was finished, Gale leaned over and said, "Haymitch was right about a Donner woman's blue eyes trapping any man they look at." He smiled the most devastating smile that she'd ever seen. If she weren't already seated, her knees would have given out.

"I see you've turned the Hawthorne charm on Madge." Hazelle walked beside Gale as he went to take over patrol duty from Thom.

"Ma, I like Madge. I always thought she was sweet, but she was the Mayor's daughter. I never had a chance with her." Gale stopped with his hands on his hips and faced her.

"She just lost her family and doesn't know what to do. Hell, none of us know what to do anymore."

"She has us now." Gale could see his mother still didn't trust his intentions. "Can you give me some credit for listening when Dad told me about the things he regretted doing at my age?"

"I'm sorry. You look so much like your father and you act like him, sometimes. I forget you're also my son, which makes you smarter than he was." His mother laughed after the last comment.

"Well, I never did much to stop the slag heap rumors," he admitted before he laughed with her.

His mother hugged him and said, "I can easily love Madge like a daughter, so my motherly instincts have kicked in already."

"Yeah, she's easy to like," Gale replied. "And now I know you'd pick her over your own son."

"Only because I know my son is smart enough to understand why." She cocked an eyebrow and pulled him down for a kiss on the cheek. "Be safe out there."

Gale found Thom and took the flashlight and knife, both items that Madge had with her. The more time he spent around her, the more strongly his feelings grew. Madge was willing to sacrifice her life for him and at that time, he wasn't even nice to her. Gale realized he and Madge shared things in common, a love of history, an obvious love of children, love for his family and the will to sacrifice yourself for the ones you love . Those are good things to build a relationship on. A sudden comparison with Katniss came to mind. She didn't want kids and he did. Hunting and survival skills were something they shared along with a willingness to sacrifice for the ones they loved. However, the final sacrifice Katniss was going to make was for Peeta and not him.

When Gale past his families' campsite, he reached down to pull his coat fully over Madge and Posy, who was snuggled against her. Madge shifted in her sleep and he couldn't resist placing a gentle kiss to her forehead. Madge is someone he wanted to plan a future with.

TBC

A/N: I wanted to give Gale's mother some 'screen time'. I am a mother that talks straight to my kids, so that is reflected in Mrs. H ;-)Thank you for indulging me. Next up is District 13 and the return of Katniss.