Summary: A fluffy one. Rated T


She's always somewhat been a morning person. Madge likes watching the sunrise and getting up before everyone else. If she accidentally sleeps in the entire day is less whole and more lethargic. Her boyfriend on the other hand, is not a morning person. He'll sleep until half the day is gone if she'd let him.

The light is just peeking into their apartment when she's in the kitchen one morning. Today she feels happy; she woke up for a run at the gym and now she's making breakfast and listening to a violin concerto. When Madge is finished making the coffee, Gale is still sleeping soundly in their room. He's snoring lightly on his back, so she sneaks back in and straddles him, shaking him awake.

"Gale," she whispers, leaning forward and kissing his ear. All she gets is a soft groan and his eyes are still closed. So she kisses his neck and rakes her fingernails down her boyfriend's chest. "Baby, wake up."

He looks so calm when he sleeps, and Madge can't help but pepper his face with soft kisses. One lands on his eyelashes and finally his eyes start to strain and peak open, making her smile. She considers this a success. "You're going to be late for work, please wake up."

She feels his hands lingering over her flimsy little shorts, and his second groan is one of a different kind of frustration. He's stirring between his legs. "How am I supposed to get out of bed now?"

"You have to," Madge half-heartedly tries to convince. She wants him to stay in bed too, and she doesn't protest at all when he flips her over. Gale's hovering over her and his hands are stroking her stomach and moving upwards towards her breasts. It makes her sigh, and she thinks they can afford just a couple more minutes of play.

Moving in together over a year ago was the best decision ever. Now, despite their busy schedules Madge and Gale spend more time together than ever. After work they eat late dinner with each other, sitting on the touch and eating out of take out boxes together. It almost doesn't feel like adulthood, but it is. It's been a long time since college, and the only thing still constant is the two of them.

"What are you going to do to me?" she asks with wide eyes and a fake innocence.

"I haven't decided yet," he replies playfully, and his grey sparkle. His mouth trails her neck and laps at the skin, making Madge gasp and cling to him. She still hasn't gotten bored of him. Gale's kisses are still surprises and his words still make her giddy, and she gladly lets his hands roam up her torso as her shirt rides up.

He has a way of blanking her mind, and Madge is just about to give it all up when she flips him back over and tugs on his shirt so that he's sitting up. Their noses brush.

"You really should get up," she whispers, sort of hating herself for it. It's not her fault she's always mindful of time.

So she convinces Gale to get up and they eat breakfast together, sitting on their couch and sipping mugs filled with coffee. They're sharing an omelette and Madge loves every second of it. Spending time with him right now is everything she needs to get through the rest of the day.

"Do you have class today?" he asks in conversation. Madge has been working on her post graduate degree while Gale's been working, and therefore their schedules rarely align.

She nods. "I have to run errands in the morning and I have a lecture at 3."

"I'm working full day," Gale shrugs, and Madge can't help but frown.

"Do you want to meet for lunch?"

"Can't, sorry. We have clients coming in for meetings, I think we're doing a luncheon."

He's usually able to make out a bit of time to grab a coffee and chat, but Madge understands. She makes a mental note to call Delly and make lunch plans instead, she hasn't seen her friend in quite some time after all.

"That's fine," she smiles as Gale puts the empty plate down on the table since the food is gone. He takes her mug from her hands and puts it down on the coffee table too, then wraps his hands around her waist and pulls her into him. Gale's humming a tune, a sign that he's feeling happy today, and his face is nestled in her hair when he spoons her on their ratty couch that they bought at a second hand store when they first moved it.

"I love you," he murmurs into her hair, and Madge's smile grows and grows unbeknownst to him.

"I love you too," Madge laughs with certainty, and even if they aren't going to see each other all day, they'll be together again at night, and this whole day is starting to become even better.


"God, your relationship is so sappy, I can't stand it," Delly deadpans, and Madge frowns jokingly at her friend's remark.

"As if your relationship isn't sappy."

"It really isn't. Thom and I just make fun of each other and fuck."

"That sounds unhealthy," she remarks obviously, scrunching her nose.

"But it's my truth! And it's not sickeningly sweet, which really was my point."

They just grabbed lunch at a place downtown, and now they're walking through the commercial streets, staring into storefronts despite the cold weather. Delly's job is at a boutique shoe store not far from here, and Madge is thankful that they're both in the same city and are able to make lunch plans more often than not.

"When do you have to get back?"

Her best friend shrugs. "Doesn't really matter. I'm practically my own boss."

They walk for a little bit longer until Madge remembers an important point about their conversation they were having. "My relationship with Gale isn't that sappy."

Delly laughs, "It took you that long to find something not sappy about your relationship?"

"No, I'm just saying. We're not that sappy. I don't know, we're just doing really good right now."

"What about that stuff you were saying? About Gale always being really busy?" she interrogates, and Madge shrugs. Sometimes Gale is gone for the whole day and doesn't have time to think about what it does to her, but she gets it. There's no way she's going to be that girlfriend who insists on him making time for her, even if it's for his job.

"Busy is his resting state. I'm coping."

"Is he busy right now?"

"Mhm. He has a luncheon or something. Which is weird, Beetee never usually makes him do that kind of thing," Madge ponders out loud, more for logistical reasons than any curiosity.

"Spooky," Delly jokes, widening her eyes humorously. They go into a few stores, browsing through the expensive and brand name items. They've wanders into the designer block of shops, and even if they're not going to buy anything it's still fun to just look.

They pass a jewelry store, a French one with beautiful displays and Delly just about swoons. She mocks the way Madge and Gale act, but it's clear that she wouldn't mind a little bit of sap in her life either.

"Look at these pendants, Madge," she sighs, and Madge nods taking marginal interest. She doesn't wear that much jewelry; she has her aunt's pin and a couple of other old items, but it's not something she invests in. "We should go in," her friend offers.

"Do we have to? I hate jewelry stores. The workers there are always too eager, I feel like they stalk me and pressure me to buy things."

But it's too late, Delly's already rounding the corner prepared to go in and have a look when they collide with a body.

Madge automatically sputters out an apology. "Holy shit I'm so sorry we - Gale?"

It's her boyfriend, looking wide eyed and scared. He's in his work clothes and Madge instinctually questions his excuses he gave her this morning.

"Gale, what are you doing here? I thought you had meetings."

"Madge, I-"

"No. Answer my question, why did you lie to me?"

For some reason, Delly doesn't look offended, instead she has a shocked yet happy look on her face, and Madge doesn't get it. Is she crazy for questioning her partner's word when he's out shopping instead of where he said he would be?

Her brain jumps to the extremes. "What are you doing here? Are you not working at the firm anymore? Is it another woman? Because I really just want the truth and you can tell me if I'm overreacting but I just need to-"

"Madge," he calls firmly, reaching one hand out to take hers. "You're overreacting."

"Oh," she sighs, still confused but less distraught. "Did the meeting get cancelled or something? I mean, we aren't close to your office but I guess if you wanted really good sushi you would come here."

"Madge," Delly scolds with wide eyes, nodding her head down at Gale's hand. She looks down and there's a red bag in his hand. One with the jewelry store that they were going into's brand printed on the side, and Gale looks as flustered as she is for some reason. He rakes his fingers through his hair, a sign that he's anxious.

"What?" she breathes out in utter confusion. "What is happening?" She has clues but doesn't want to say them out loud.

Delly rolls her eyes. "It's a-"

"Ring," Gale finishes. "It's an engagement ring. Fuck, I really wasn't counting on bumping into you right now."

"A ring?" she repeats out loud. Her breath is catching in her throat and she hopes they're not causing too much of a scene. "For me?"

"Yeah, Undersee. A ring for you. I wanted to do it right, take you out for dinner and pop the question, but I guess the secret is out."

"Jesus Christ," Delly curses to no one in particular. "Not that sappy. Okay."

"Do you want to see it?" he asks nervously, clutching the small box in his hand and looking around. He starts to get down on one knee as if it's the only option, but Madge pulls him back up.

"Gale! Don't do that," she commands through her teeth, really not keen on causing a scene right now. People are already staring as they walk by, a public proposal is the last thing that introverts Gale and Madge would want.

"Why? Do you not want to?"

"No, I do. I really do," she reassures, then realizing her choice of words. "I- um, I want to marry you. I just can't do this cliche, proposing-in-the-middle-of-the-street thing."

"Okay," he states, nodding to comfort himself. He probably agrees with her anyway. "I'll save it for later, I guess."

They're both confused and awkward, not really sure how this engagement thing works. The circumstances are less than ideal, but finally it hits her; Gale bought a ring, and he wants to be her husband. He went out during his lunch break to buy the ring, and she and Delly caught him redhanded.

Madge knows that "saving it for later" is just a sentiment, because she already knows his proposal, and he knows her answer. So she hugs him tight, not wanting to let go and feeling the way his body presses against hers.

"Sorry," he mumbles after some time, and she draws back.

"For what?"

"I feel like I messed this up somehow. It wasn't supposed to go like this, in my head."

"Don't worry about that," she pleads, tears already welling up in her eyes. "Gale, I love you more than anything. I don't care how you ask, I just want to be yours."

Despite her earlier protests, she can't even formulate words when he opens the velvet box, revealing a beautiful ring with two bands and a simple stone in the centre. She gives him her hand and he tries to put it on but they're both shaking. Madge can barely contain herself and when Gale finally manages to get it on it's a perfect fit, and this truly is one of the best days.

When the moment is done, Delly gives her a huge hug and she looks like she has a tear welling up too. They embrace and Madge is relishing in the moment, happy that her best friend was here for the moment when Delly whispers in her ear.

"So fucking sappy, you two can't help it at all."


A/N: If any of you guys don't know, I started a new story! It's based off of a one-shot in this compilation, the Single Parents AU. So if you enjoyed that one, be sure to go show some love on the fic, it's called "Taking Turns"! The first chapter is pretty much the exact same as the one-shot, but Chapter 2 is coming on Wednesday and it's going to be lots of fun. I hope you join me over there. :)

Also, I'll probably be writing a lot of fluff here for the next few months because Taking Turns is so much inconclusive angst, I need to balance it out aha. I'm such an impatient Gadge writer, I always want to see them together!