Bombing AU. Waiting for their rescue.

It had been three long months since the bombing in twelve and all of the runaways were still lingering in the woods. This included a large number of people from the seam and a small number from town. Gale had sensed something was coming and planned for those closest to him to get out of the district early. The only person who refused to leave was the mayor's daughter. They had gotten close through the games and were known to the district as dating or sneaking around. Yet, when the bombing actually occurred Gale returned to the district to see who else he could collect from the chaos.

One victim he had found was his Madge Undersee. She was standing alone in the middle of the square staring at her burning house crumbling from a bomb. Her face held little emotion but her body was trembling. Gale pulled her towards him and pointed to the collapsed fence beyond them. Madge only stared blankly at him until she uncurled her hand to show a district 13 token.

Over the months, Madge still has hardly said a word. She showed emotion but didn't share words except with Gale. For a while Gale felt like he was forced to take care of her but as time has gone on he is used to the sad mute girl following him around. She told him the reasons of the bombing and of the growing rebellion around him quietly at night but he no longer felt the emotional attachment that was there before the bombing.

She told him that she was sure someone would look for them. Yet, it had now been three long months and he was doubtful. They were all sitting around a dim fire and were sharing stories of the day when Madge leaned over and laid her head on his chest. Surprised, Gale's only reaction was to pull her closer and secure her in his arms.

Madge had been sleeping under his tarp but it wasn't anything physical like it was before the bombing. It was more for means of protection that Gale felt towards the small girl. There were older men in the camp and even though Gale was seen as the authority figure he wouldn't put it past any of them to mess with her. She followed him and locked her hand with his. Gale was still surprised; this sign of recognition was new to him as he led her to their tent after the fire. He wasn't sure about it.

That night Gale watched her shake a few feet away from him. He wondered what it would feel like for her to be wrapped up in his arms and for her long curly blonde hair to be tangled under his chin again. He reached out and laid a hand on her shoulder. She looked back, her face wet with tears.

"Come here." He whispered and opened his arms. She offered a small smile and moved over and tucked herself into him. Within minutes Gale was uncomfortable. It wasn't a bad feeling but he was suddenly aware of all of her. As his hands settled around her hips he could feel the swell of her breasts against him. He could feel the rocking of her hips as she drew herself further into him.

Gale swallowed and closed his eyes. He let out a shaky breath and looked up at the tarp hanging over them. Madge relaxed and her hands rested on his bare chest. He wondered if she could feel his heart pounding and his blood circulating to different parts of his body.

In the morning when he woke, Madge wasn't there. He sat up stunned and anxious. He tore out of his tent and wildly ran around the camp looking for her soft skin and light colored hair. A few of the men snickered and pointed off in the direction of the lake.

Gale ran down to the lake and found Madge bathing alone. She was dipping her hair back into the dark water and standing up. He found her clothes on a nearby stump and watched as she stood, her bare back glistening the sun. She turned suddenly towards the bank and exposed herself to him.

They made eye contact and Gale could feel his face heat up. Madge's mouth formed an O and she gasped, "Gale!" He froze. It was the first time he had heard his name on her lips since the night of the bombing and it was the first time he was able to see her body in three months, he had forgotten how beautiful she was.

"I- I'm sorry!" He muttered and ran back into the forest and back into camp. He plunged into the tent and held his breath. He couldn't get the image of her curves and flesh in front of him. He wiped the sweat off his forehead and pinched the bridge of his nose.

That night Gale couldn't help lingering around Madge. She was fully clothed but his hand stayed on the small of her back all night. As they were cleaning dishes, Gale brushed a piece of her hair behind her ear. She looked up at him and smiled brilliantly. The camp seemed to stand still as they looked at the girl's smile and return to the dishes.

Gale glanced back with amazement but tried to shake off the extra emotion as well. Madge leaned against him at the fire that night and spoke up about an idea for tomorrow's snare run. No one had realized how much she had been able to learn the past months and that she actually spoke.

Gale could start to feel the group becoming uncomfortable with another voice floating around the circle and so was Gale. One man approached her as Gale was getting out another blanket from his bag for the bottom layer of their tent. He watched as Madge cowered away from him. Gale bristled but Thom, his friend was able to get between the man and Madge.

He turned away from her that night believing that he would get carried away if she snuggled into him again. The song birds woke him up early and Gale stretched, popping his shoulder muscles loudly. He relaxed and yawned looking for another hour of sleep before starting the day. "Gale?" he heard her whisper. He turned and looked over his shoulder.

"What's wrong, Madge?" She sat up slightly.

"I'm scared." Gale sat up too and ran his thumb across her cheek.

"Of what?"

"I'm scared..." she sighed heavily and sunk back down into her pillow.

"You can tell me." Gale whispered and pulled her towards him. She buried her face in his chest and muttered some words, "speak up." He smiled and tilted her chin up.

"I don't want to lose you."

"Why would you lose me?" His eyebrows knit together furiously and his hold on her strengthened.

"I..." she choked back a sob, "I've been so distant." She cried, "And I'm afraid you don't love me anymore." Love. Gale used that excuse to lure her out of the district three and a half months ago. He hadn't really known if that's what they had but he was sure that it meant something.

"Madge, no, oh darling." He pressed kisses into her hair and pulled her further into him, "I still love you but I don't know how to help you."

"Gale..." she cried softly.

"Just tell me how to help you." She was shaking again and this time Gale ran his hand up and down the length of her body trying to sooth her. He tried to remember what this was like before the bombing and he wondered if Madge's body has changed since then.

"I can feel you hesitating." She whispered through her tears and he could tell she was holding her breath. Gale moved over her body slower trying to see what had changed. Her breasts were fuller and her hips were wider but how? It had only been a long three months... he swallowed hard.

"Why are you so worried about losing me, Madge?" his hand was trembling as it rested on her hip. She curled further into him. "Answer me." He didn't want to frighten her but she was frightening him.

"I'm pregnant." She whispered strongly but burst into tears, "and I'm so afraid and so alone." He didn't answer and Madge kept trying to explain herself, "I knew when I first got here... your mom... she knew... I didn't know what to do; I didn't want to tell you." She was shaking hard, "you were mad still so I didn't talk because if I talked I would tell you." She started crying again, "and I thought we would be rescued and I would have support and care there." She cried harder, "but we haven't been rescued."

"You weren't going to tell me at all?" He murmured. She buried her head in his chest.

"No," She wailed.

"What changed your mind?" He wondered.

"It's becoming noticeable." She giggled through her sniffling. Gale turned her onto her back and ran his hand across her stomach, sure enough there was a good bump forming across her abdomen. He looked up at her and saw her eyes wide and her pink cheeks.

"Did I just embarrass you?" He murmured in the early morning light.

"I just thought..." she looked away from him and sighed.

"What?" He asked and rested his hand on her rising and falling bump.

"I just thought you wouldn't want us." Us. This was getting harder for Gale to comprehend.

"I'll always want you Madge." He murmured and gathered her up in his arms. "Always. I've been so worried. You've cut all of us off competently. Now I know you've been housing all of this stress... I cannot begin to imagine what made you do that to yourself."

"I didn't know what to do." She cried again.

"You do not ever have to be alone again." He said seriously, "and never withhold anything from me."

"I'm having twins." Madge said and looked guiltily down at his hand.

"That was a good place to start." He murmured but withdrew his hand from her stomach and made a face at her.

"Don't look at me like I'm breakable." Madge sighed. Gale chuckled.

"I'm not used to you talking so much." He admitted.

"I'm not used to you showing so much emotion."

"Fair enough." Gale nodded. "Uh...Do... you want to get more sleep, are you tired, are you hungry, are you comfortable?" Madge groaned.

"Do not start playing the worried father, Hawthorne." She warned.

"Too late, now answer my questions."

"I knew I shouldn't have told you." She laughed and leaned forward, kissing him slowly on the lips. They broke apart and Gale smiled slightly before glaring at her.

"Don't change the subject or distract me. Answer. The. Questions." Madge laughed loudly as she rolled her eyes and turned over.

"Goodnight." She murmured and closed her eyes even though sunlight was now obviously poking its head into the tent. Gale smiled and pulled her closer, draping his arm over her stomach and rubbing circles softly.

"Night."

Review and Request!

Erin