Chapter 3

(Madge POV)

For once I'm actually thankful about my overwhelming load of assignments because it helps the day pass quickly and that brings me closer to dinnertime when Gale's coming over and and proposing. Again. Only this time when he does it, I'll be able to keep my ring and I'll be able to officially, publicly be engaged. And I'm so ready for that! I'd stayed awake for hours last night, too drenched in bliss to fall asleep. For so long, i thought I'd never find someone I actually loved and then when I found Gale, I wasn't sure if he would love me enough to be willing to do all of the things that come along with marrying me. But it's all working out. And we're willingly deciding to get married and just so in love with each other that we can't even stand it!

Getting ready for dinner, I take a little extra time making sure I look especially nice. I wear a brand new dress that Gale's never seen. A dark blue, one shoulder style dress made of the softest fabric. I take my time doing my makeup and make sure my nails are nice and polished. I even straighten my hair, remembering how Gale had liked it at the Ball when it was smooth and straight instead of curly. A dot of perfume on each wrist and I'm all set. Or well I will be once Gale puts my ring back on my finger. I'm giddy just imagining it!

Downstairs, I anxiously await Gale's arrival, making small talk with the handful of Capitol guests that are starting to find their way to the dining room. Now that the games are over, normally they'd mostly all be gone but since we have the first ever dual victors, several reporters and stylists and random fans of the game have lingered behind. We'll have nearly 20 people at dinner tonight when Gale asks me to marry him and I'm so thankful Gale had the heartfelt thought to secretly propose last night out in the woods so that the real moment could be just between the two of us. Tonight will definitely be memorable and likely filled with celebration but last night will always be the night I think of when I remember how he proposed. It couldn't have been more perfect.

My breath catches in my throat as I notice Gale walk in. He smiles across the room at me and I feel my whole face light up. He makes his way over to me and we find our seats at the table. I have no idea when he's planning to ask me. He never said if it would be at the beginning of the meal of during it or possibly even after. So in a way I really will be surprised I guess. He sits across from me, his foot finding mine under the table. Having this secret with him is making the whole thing that much more exciting.

We make it all the way to dessert before it finally happens. He clears his throat and stands up, gathering the attention of the room.

"If I could have your attention everyone, I have something to say."

I place a pretend puzzled look on my face and fight to hide the smile threatening to break through instead. As soon as the room is silent and everyone's focus is on him, he continues.

"As many of you know, I've had the pleasure of dating Madge for a little while now and in that short time she's brought so much to my life. I've never met another person who is as kind spirited and selfless as she is. Ive never been as happy as I am when I'm with her and right now, with all of you watching, I'd like to ask her something very important."

He walks around the table and comes over to where I'm sitting, my cheeks flushing pink as the entire room watches on. When he reaches me, he kneels one knee down in front of me and takes my left hand in his. My heart starts racing even though I knew this was coming and I bite my bottom lip in excitement.

"Madge Undersee, will you give me the honor of being my wife, of making me the happiest person in all of Panem?" He asks, his voice sort of nervous sounding.

I nod, letting him slide the ring down over my finger. "Yes." I reply, my voice coming out choked as I tear up.

The room around us cheers as I lean forward and kiss him. When we stop and look at the room, everyone is standing and champagne is being poured and passed around to everyone. My father comes over and gives Gale a solid pat on the back and handshake and then hugs me. I can't recall the last time he looked this happy about anything at all and it's sort of nice to know I'm partly responsible for it.

My father raises a glass of champagne. "To the happy couple! May they make Panem proud!"

Gale's fingers find mine and intertwine them. We kiss again as the room toasts to us and to Panem.

(Gale POV)

Madge leans against me and I lean my head down to kiss the top of her head. She hasn't let go of my hand all night. After I'd proposed at dinner, there had been lots of celebration and the after dinner cocktail hour had been a necessity. No way could we skip out on that part. Not with all the focus being on the two of us and our new engagement. We've been sipping champagne and accepting congratulations for almost two hours now and all I really want is to slip away somewhere, alone with Madge.

"Let's get out of here. C'mon." I whisper against her smooth, straight hair.

"Where to?"

"Anywhere private."

"Follow me." She says, flashing me a mischievous look and leading us out of the room.

I follow her upstairs and to her room. Normally, I don't consider this to be somewhere private but I want so badly for alone time with her that I don't care. I reach behind us and lock her bedroom door and then step towards her, my lips finding hers. My hands grab at her hips, pulling her towards me.

"I've been waiting all night to have you alone like this." She breathes out. Her hands come up to my shirt, hastily undoing the buttons and yanking it off of me. The feel of her touch against my bare chest sends a little thrill through me. Her lips begin kissing down my chest and I let out a moan as the thrilling sensation grows deeper. I pick her up at the waist and move towards the bed, laying her back on it before moving to hover above her.

"Just think, pretty soon, we can be alone like this every night." I taunt her as I stare down at her. She's so breathtakingly gorgeous and I just have to stop and take it in. Just have to look at her. Her blue eyes stare back up at me and her hand reaches up, running through my hair.

"I can't wait." She whispers as she pulls me down, our lips meeting again. Her kiss holds so much passion and it's all I can do to hold myself together. I peel away her dress, moving my hands over every curve of her body. The sounds of her sighing in pleasure fueling me, making me want more. I roll so that she's above me and the sight of her there, breathless above me is all it takes to push me over the edge and seconds later we're lost somewhere in each other and both basking in the love of each other.

After, as we're getting dressed, all smiles and drunk with bliss, she looks at me and shakes her head.

"What? What's that look about?" I ask.

"I just never thought I'd be this happy. I never thought I'd get the sort of fairytale I'd dreamed about. And it's all because of you. You did this. You are why I'm so happy." She explains.

"It feels really good, doesn't it? Being in love this much? Knowing it's me and you forever?"

"It really does. So much."

We walk downstairs and at the door, as she's kissing me goodnight, her father finds us and interrupts.

"Ah, good! I was afraid you'd already gone home for the night Gale. I need to speak with the both of you. We have some details to start working out." He tells us.

"Can't it wait until tomorrow? It's late and I'm sure Gale would like to get some sleep." Madge asks him, seeming annoyed that he wants to talk to us. And I have to agree, talking to him is the last thing I feel like doing. In fact, all I really want to do is go home and fall asleep basking in the feeling of being newly engaged. I don't want to talk details or make plans. Not tonight.

"Fine, fine. Let's talk over breakfast. First thing in the morning." He smiles at us. It's so unusual to see him smile like this. To see him so jolly.

After he's gone, I look to Madge. "He just doesn't look like himself with that smile plastered on his face."

"Tell me about it. It's so weird. Good, but weird." She agrees.

"Guess I'll see you for breakfast beautiful." I tell her as I kiss her goodbye one more time.

"See in the morning."

As I walk home, I know I'll have to tell my mother about all of this. She absolutely has to hear it from me before she overhears it from anyone else. And I know it'll be front page gossip by noon tomorrow. Still, I hesitate to tell her because I know she won't be happy. She'll probably be angry. I decide that if she's still awake, I'll tell her tonight. If she's asleep, I'll tell her in the morning. I take a deep breath and walk inside. Unfortunately for me, she's awake. Sitting at the kitchen table, sipping tea and reading a book.

I suck in a deep breath and just go for it. "Hey Ma, you got a minute to talk? Kinda have some news to share." I ask as I sit down across from her.

"News? The bad kind or the good kind?"

"It's good news. The best news really."

"Well, don't keep me waiting. Let's have it. What's your big news?" She asks.

"I've asked Madge to marry me and she's said yes." I tell her, holding my breathe the whole time.

Her face goes pale white. "Oh Gale, tell me you didn't!"

"It's a good thing Ma. Really."

"Is she...did you get her into trouble? Is it because there's a baby coming?"

"No! Oh my gosh, no! There isn't a baby or anything like that. I just love her is all. And she loves me."

"But you're too young. And she's even younger. It's absurd."

"I'm not much younger than you were when you married Dad." I point out. She'd married my father at 18. He was 19.

"It's not the same if you marry her as it was when I married your father."

"Do you not like Madge?"

"I like her fine. I'm just not always certain I like her with you. She comes with so much...I don't even know what to call it...responsibilities I suppose."

"So what if she does? Being with her hasn't exactly been bad for me you know. I'm working, I'm providing better than I ever have before. I'm working ahead in my schoolwork and I'm even going to finish early. I'm not even hunting anymore. Since I've been with her, things have been a lot better."

"Why would you want to finish school early?"

I pause. I probably shouldn't have dropped that part on her yet. "Because I'll be working more soon." I finally answer, keeping it vague.

"Why?" She presses.

"Because I'll take over as Mayor of the district as soon as I'm old enough."

"My son, the Mayor of 12." She scoffs. "Gale, I love that you love her. I do. I love that you're happy. I just worry that you're making commitments you aren't prepared to handle. Commitments that are going to come back to ruin your life."

I swallow the lump in my throat. "So you think I'm ruining my life by marrying her? That's what you're saying?"

"Yes. And I worry it will affect the lives of your family too. You can't marry her, you just can't."

Angry now, I start to raise my voice. "Yeah, it will affect your lives. But not in the horrible ways you're imagining. I can't tell you details, but the decision I made to marry Madge? It's going to help keep all the kids safe from the games. Safe in a way that wouldn't be possible without marrying Madge. And it keeps Madge safe too."

"What are you talking about? That makes no sense. Nothing keeps you safe from the games short of being too old for the reaping."

"I can't tell you all the details but I can tell you to trust me. Trust me that I am making a decision in the best interest of the kids and of myself and of Madge. And most importantly, trust me when I say that I'm going to marry her and spend the rest of my life loving her." I push back my chair and leave the room, going upstairs and slamming my door shut.

I knew she'd be mad. I just didn't know she'd be so brutally honest about how she felt. She's so wrong about all of it. Madge is the best damn thing that's ever happened to me and it kills me that my mother can't understand that. And it hurts that she isn't happy for me.