(Madge POV)
He looks so drained. There really isn't any other word for it. Just drained. It's normal I suppose for wedding planning and engagements to be stressful but I know that marrying me is what is making this all the more difficult for him. It's so much more demanding than marrying any other girl in the District. Marrying me comes with a lot of people pulling Gale in a lot of different directions, all at the same time. We both were aware this would be the case when we got engaged however that doesn't make it any easier to see the strain he's under. And he has school and work and family responsibilities mixed in with that too. When he finally shows up at my house tonight, we'd gone to the meadow and just laid down in the deep grass. We didn't even talk really. I had a whole slew of things I wanted to tell him about how my meeting with the wedding planner had gone but one look at him and I know that he just needs a break right now. So I don't make conversation or try to talk. I just lie there with my head rested against him, his fingers quietly running through my hair. We stay like this for awhile. Eventually though, our quiet breaks.
"Sorry I'm not more talkative tonight. I'm just wiped out." He apologizes.
"I like a little quiet time. It's not a bad thing." I reply softly.
He moves to sit up, resting back on his elbows. "Did you hear? I get to still be friends with Katniss."
I nod. My father had explained it to me earlier. I was immensely thankful that he had found a solution that allowed Gale to maintain his friendship with Katniss. "I heard. I'm glad."
"Makes me a little nervous though. Your father had to forge documents. He said it wasn't an issue but it makes me nervous just the same."
"He wouldn't do anything that would put any of us in danger. He's very careful about that." I assure him.
"But what if someone finds out? I can't say I didn't know about it. Does that make me guilty too?"
I think about it. It probably would, though I doubt anyone will find out. No one ever looks at old documents like birth records. "It could I suppose. I really would't worry about it though. My father never would've done it if he thought there was even a chance of getting caught."
Gale nods. I'm not sure he's relaxed any though.
"I'm sorry about the paparazzi and the tabloid." I tell him. I hadn't really had a chance this morning.
"I never even saw him. Whoever it was that took that picture, I never even knew they were there. That's not something I'm used too. All my time in the woods, hunting, it taught me to pick up on the most subtle of movements. I must be slipping now that I don't really hunt anymore."
"Probably won't be a good idea to cross the fence anytime soon since it seems we've become a watched item." I say, knowing it's probably already a given.
"I know. I tried to tell Katniss that earlier but she wouldn't listen." He shakes his head and sighs a little. "She's not the same as she was before the games. Everything she went through, it changed her so much. Sometimes, I don't know...sometimes I think that if it weren't for having Prim to take care of that she would've let herself die in that arena. Sometimes I think she wishes that she had."
I'm a little surprised to hear him say this even though I shouldn't be. Victors are never the same person they were prior to the games. I guess I'm more surprised that he's confiding in me about Katniss in this way. "The games do that I think." is all I can say.
"I can't ever watch someone I love go through that again. I can't." He says.
"Hopefully you won't have too." I say, doing my best to sound optimistic.
He reaches over and wraps his arms around me, hugging me against his chest. I feel him press a kiss against my head.
"Are you tired? I know you've had a long day. I don't want to keep you out all night." I tell him.
"I'm tired but this feels good. Just being here with you. I can stay out a little longer if you want too." There's a hint of happiness in his voice but more noticeable is the exhaustion.
"How about I let you walk me home and then you can go get some sleep? Tomorrow we can stay out later." I suggest.
He sighs. "C'mon. Let's get you home then."
He walks me to my door and I can tell by the way he's lingering that he still isn't ready to go home. "Walk me upstairs?" I ask as I step through the back door into a quiet house.
He nods just slightly and walks me up the back staircase. In my room, I go over to the couch and sit down, leading him with me. If he won't go home and sleep maybe I can get him to rest his eyes here for a short while. He doesn't protest as he slides down next to me. He's always liked this couch so I know he'll be asleep soon if I don't talk. I reach over and stroke his hair, leaving my hand to rest on his cheek. His palm comes up and covers the back of my hand but his eyes stay closed. Then ever so softly, he whispers, "I love you."
And then he drifts off, finally sleeping.
(Gale POV)
I wake up but before my eyes are fully open I know I'm not at home. I'm way too comfy. I rub my eyes and let my eyes adjust to the early morning sunlight streaming through the windows. Looks like I slept at Madge's all night. I glance over and see her, looking so small sleeping there in her oversized bed, buried in fluffy bedding. It makes me smile. I hadn't intended to spend the night. I just didn't want to leave Madge. Just being with her had been so relieving from the stress and weight of the day that I'd had that I was almost afraid that if I went home that the relief would disappear and somehow all the heaviness of the day would come rushing back. I must've fallen asleep on the couch right after I sat down last night. Can't remember anything after that. I quietly get up and fold the blanket that Madge must have covered me with before she got in her own bed. I tiptoe over to her desk and scribble a quick note to let Madge know I love her and I'll see her later. I place it on the bed next to her and quietly leave.
I feel good this morning. Like I'm rested and stress isn't weighing me down. I smile to myself as I walk down the empty hallway. Her house is quiet but I can smell coffee brewing and something sweet must be baking in the oven because there's a touch of sugar wafting through the air. It will be so strange living here, I think to myself. Having waitstaff that gets here before dawn and starts preparing breakfast. Having a constant stream of visitors coming in and out. Being the person that lives in the biggest house in all the district. It's so surreal even to think about.
I'm about to slip out the front door when Mayor Undersee calls out to me. I turn and find him already up and dressed, holding a cup of coffee in one hand, a newspaper in the other.
"I was um..." I start to try and explain as I try to figure out how to tell him that I hadn't meant to spend the night. I'm not one hundred percent certain that he cares if I spent the night or not but just in case it would be nice if I had some sort of valid reason for being here.
He must know that's what I'm trying to do because he quickly waves me off as if that's not what he wants. "Would you like some coffee before you go?"
Coffee? "Uh, sure." I reply, following him into the dining room.
He hands me a mug with steam rising from it and I take it. I don't know if I should make small talk or just drink my coffee and go so I stand there and take a long sip, trying to see if I can take a cue from him. He gestures to a chair so I sit.
"I've got a trip to the Capitol coming up soon that I'd like you to accompany me on. A meeting of the Districts with President Snow and his advisory staff. As my intern, it would be good experience for you to be there, to see the workings of everything."
"A meeting of the districts?" I ask, not knowing what that means.
"An annual meeting." He explains generically then sips his coffee.
"Of course. It will be good for me to go." I tell him. In truth I have no desire whatsoever to travel to the Capitol and attend any sort of meeting with anyone but I know it's something I need to do. Something I'll have to learn to do regularly.
"It won't be a long trip, just a few days. I'll make all your travel arrangements and inform the school that you'll be absent."
I want to ask if Madge will be coming too but I'm not sure if that would annoy him or not. So I don't ask. I just nod.
"I'm afraid Madge won't be able to join us this time. We'll be in meetings the entire time." He tells me as if he just read my mind.
That sucks. I hate the thought of leaving and not seeing her for several days. Hell, I couldn't even be away from her last night after the stressful day I'd had, I can't even imagine what I'll be like after a day of stress brought on by Capitol meetings. How in the world will I be able to unwind at the end of the day without her?
"When do we leave?" I ask as I attempt to focus on the task at hand and not on the worries flooding through my mind.
"Tomorrow. My secretary will see that you get a full travel itinerary this afternoon."
Tomorrow? He expects us to leave tomorrow? Does nothing come with advance notice anymore? I just nod. I don't know what else to say. So I just nod and let all the stress I'd felt so free of just moments ago now piling down on me again.