Chapter 12

(Madge POV)

It had been so blissful the past few days between Gale and I that I am beginning to live for those little moments of shared kisses, intertwined hands and secret glances. And I mean really live for them. I'd find ways to prolong goodbyes and goodnights or rush through things I needed to do so that I could be waiting for him when he came out of work. It was as if suddenly, I just can't get enough of him.

My favorite thing though was getting to kiss him so much. Oh my word, he was such an incredible kisser. Not as if I had anyone to compare it too or anything but there was something about the way he made me feel when we kissed that just told me he was a natural at it. No wonder all those girls back in school raved about him. They weren't exaggerating at all, like I'd previously assumed. It was as if he had a talent for it or something. And now I got to reap the benefits of that talent whenever possible. Kissing Gale was better than I'd imagined. Whenever his lips pressed against mine, it was if I melted away, lost in the thrill of it all.

So far, kissing is as far as we taken things. Gale's been so patient. So unbelievably patient about letting things progress at a pace that would be comfortable for me as this was all new territory for me. Although as nervous as his touch had made me in the beginning, I knew it wouldn't be long before I wanted more. Before I wanted to move things along. Before I'd feel that need for him to not stop at just kissing my lips. Just thinking about it was enough to make me anxious. Both in an unnerving way and a good, exciting way.

Tonight was another date night for us. Being in 13 required that our date nights be somewhat creative as there were very few things a person could do here. Tonight, would be another surprise though. Gale had insisted on it, refusing to share even a snippet of a detail with me. Just be here when I get off work. And don't eat dinner. Those were his only instructions. The closest things to a hint that he was willing to offer me. So, while the rest of 13 was off enjoying another bland dinner in the cafeteria, I was pacing back and forth across our tiny living space, watching the minutes tick by in a painfully slow fashion.

Finally, I heard Gale pressing the keypad outside our door. I ran my fingers over my hair and smoothed out my top as I bit my lip, waiting for him to enter. When the door opened, he walked in, carrying a wooden storage crate that appeared to be pretty heavy.

"Hey Beautiful." He said as he leaned over the crate to press a kiss to my forehead.

"What's all that?"

"This, is our date." He tells me proudly as he set s the crate down on the bed.

"You got us a box?" I ask inquisitively.

"No, I got us a date. Now, you need to go hide in the bathroom until I say you can come out."

"Are you serious?" I ask him.

"Yep. Now get moving and no peeking until I say come out. Got it?"

"Fine, fine. I'm going." I say, putting my hands up in defeat as I headed for the bathroom.

As I wait behind the closed door, I can hear him moving around on the other side and I try to imagine what it is he's doing. Finally, after what feels like forever, he calls out to me.

"Okay, come on out. I'm ready."

I open the door and find that Gale has transformed our little place in a matter of minutes into a romantic setting. There are candles everywhere, illuminating the entire place with soft, dancing light and a blanket spread out on the floor with a plate of food and a bottle of wine. Where on earth did he find a bottle of wine?

"Well don't just stand there, get over here. You're missing our date!" He tells me, smiling and waving me over and patting the ground next to him. I grin and make my way over to him, settling down next to him on the blanket.

"How did you manage to get a bottle of wine? And all these candles?"

"I have my ways." He says mysteriously.

I give him a look and he gives. "Fine, if you must know, the wine was smuggled in by Haymitch, that man could find liquor anywhere in a 50 mile radius. And the candles I borrowed from the supply closet I found in the kitchen."

"You stole candles?" I whisper.

"No. I borrowed candles. They're going back tomorrow."

"It looks lovely. All of it, really." I gush. This is the most romantic dinner I've ever seen.

"Glad you like it. I thought you might." He says as he hands me a cracker and some cheese.

"And cheese? I don't think I've seen cheese the whole time we've been here!"

"Just something Peeta found for us. He's got better access to the food than I do." He explains through a mouthful of food.

After a just one glass of wine, my head feels fuzzy and my inhibitions fade away. I was used to having wine with my dinner back when I lived with my father. Anytime Capitol visitors were around, we always brought out the wine. It only hits me faster this time because I haven't had any in so long. Eventually, I move closer to Gale, leaning my head against his arm as we talk. When I do, he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him, leaning down and kissing my head.

"I never would've pegged you as a wine drinker you know." I say, my face buried against his chest, eyes closed. The wine making me a little giggly as I enjoy the shower of small kisses on my head.

"Nah, I'm not really. Some moonshine every now and then. At a party or if I couldn't sleep. Wine I never really had the money for."

"Moonshine? Did I ever drink that?"

"Don't think so. You weren't to crazy about me drinking it either."

"Well, what was I crazy about? What did I love?" I wish I knew what all my favorite things about him were during the time I can't seem to remember.

"Uh, me silly." He teases, making a face as if he can't believe I'd ask such a ridiculous question.

I smile up at him. "Obviously. But what else. What things did I love that were just between me and you? What were my favorite things?"

"I don't know. You liked when I would give you flowers. Anytime I did that, you'd take one and pin it in your hair. It was your way of letting me know that you liked it."

"I do like flowers."

"Especially sunflowers. Those you always liked the best. That was what you used at our wedding, you know."

"I did? Hmmm, I'm surprised I had much say in it."

"Madge? You had say in just about all of it. It was pretty amazing how you pulled it all together and made sure it was really perfect for us. And you did it in just a few short days."

"But I thought the Capitol took care of everything? I mean, they always did with everything else. I didn't even get to pick out my own clothes."

"You didn't have any say in who was invited, which ended up being just about all of Panem. Everything else had your touches on it in one way or another. The cake, the flowers, your dress, the music. It was all you."

"My dress? Really? It was so different than what I would've picked." I tell him as I remember the picture of the ruffle covered dress.

"That's because you don't know the secret." He whispers as I feel his fingers brush through my hair.

"What secret? We have a secret?" I ask, intrigued and delighted. The wine still freeing any jitters I feel, allowing me to lean more closely to him as we discuss this secret.

"Yeah, we have one." His voice muffled by my hair as he plants more small kisses on my head.

"Tell it to me?" I ask. Closing my eyes as I feel the bliss of his kisses to my head send tingles down my spine.

"The ruffles. That's our secret." His voice less muffled now as his face pulls away from my hair.

Ruffles? How is that our secret? I don't get it. "I don't understand." I say looking up at him. He leans down and presses light kisses on my face.

"You know that night you found me, asleep in the meadow? The night I woke up with you standing over me?"

"Yeah…"

"Well, that was the start of the ruffle secret. Do you remember what you were wearing?" He asks between kisses to my forehead.

I think back, trying to focus on the memory and not on his kisses. It was the middle of the night. I had on a nightgown. That short ruffled one. "My ruffled nightgown?"

"Mmmhmm. And it drove me absolutely insane. It was all I could do to not grab you and pull you down in the grass with me. God, those ruffles….the way they grazed over your legs…" He whispers as his lips finally find mine and he kisses me. I can feel it in this kiss, the desire he's remembering.

"So big, tough, Gale Hawthorne has a thing for ruffles, huh?" I tease when the kiss breaks.

"Guilty." He confesses, an almost embarrassed smile on his face. "But only on you."

"Well that actually explains a lot. My wedding dress and the blue dress I wore in the pre-games interview. I was doing it for you. Like I was sending you a secret message or something." I say aloud as it all suddenly makes sense in my mind.

"Yep. As soon as you found out I liked you in that nightgown you called up your Capitol shopper and requested she send you more clothing with ruffles. You used to love taunting me with it. You'd show up at school or my house or wherever and you'd have something on with ruffles on it. And a sneaky smile to go with it. You'd have so much fun driving me crazy, reminding me of that night in the meadow. And you made it very, very challenging to keep my hands off of you."

"All because of a nightgown?"

"One very alluring, very tempting ruffled nightgown." He says breathily as he covers my mouth with his again.

Hearing all this, the secret we shared and how I used to tease him with it, makes me want to kiss him even more. That, combined with the effects of the wine, cause me to find myself needing to be closer to him than I am. I shift, lifting myself up slightly and resettling myself on his lap. His arms encircle me, his lips magical against mine. That blissful, floaty feeling consumes me and I press myself against his chest and his lips begin to travel down my jaw, onto my neck. It feels so extraordinary, leaving me wanting more of this, like I suddenly can't get enough of him. I let out a tiny moan, unable to control myself. At first it fuels him, his lips hungrier against my skin but then, out of nowhere, he slows their movement. And then they stop altogether.

"We should slow down." He whispers in my ear. Even the feel of his breath sends a surge of need and want right through me. Slow down? Is he crazy?

"What?" I manage to get out, breathless and dizzy.

"This. We should slow down. I got a little carried away. Sorry, memories, you know?" He explains.

I stare at him confused. "But…it's okay. I like this." I tell him, thinking he must be doing this for my benefit. He must think I'm nervous.

He smiles down at me, runs his thumb over my cheek. "I like it too." Kiss to my lips but only quickly before he speaks again. "But I can't rush through this with you. As much as I'd like too, it isn't fair to you if I do."

"Are you serious? You want us to stop?"

"No. Not at all. But I want to be sure when things move further for us that it isn't clouded with wine."

"You think I want you to kiss my neck like that because I'm drunk?" I ask, not sure if I should be insulted that he thinks I'm drunk or if I should be grateful he respects me enough to stop just in case I am.

"No, not drunk. Just maybe a little tipsy. But it isn't just that. Madge, you have no idea how much I want you. Here. Right now, everyday, all the time. Trust me, I want you. But I have to wait because it only means something if you honestly want it too. It has to come from you, not me."

I stare at him, my eyes watching his and I see so much love in his eyes, on his face. He truly loves me. I can see it right there in his eyes. My heart skips a little as I go to speak. "I can still kiss you though, right? That's still okay?"

"More than okay." He whispers as he leans forward, kissing me, slowly this time. I fall into it, savoring it, taking it in. How did I get so lucky? How did I ever end up with someone so…so everything my heart could have ever wished for?

(Gale POV)

I wrap my arms around her as she curls against my side. Having her sleep like this, wrapped against me, keeps me from falling asleep myself. Because I'm just so completely happy that we're at this point. The last couple days have been incredible. As incredible as when we very first began dating back home in 12. It was like we had that fight about Tripp and my temper and then once that was resolved, she really began to warm up to the idea of us. She warmed up to me. Even now as she falls asleep in my arms, I can't get enough of her. I just love this girl so much. If it's even possible, I think I love her even more now than I did before.

Tonight, we'd had a date night again, something I intend to keep doing. I'd borrowed a bunch of candles from the supply closet in the kitchen. No one will miss them before I return them tomorrow and they're the long-burning kind so I knew I wouldn't use them all up tonight. Then, after sharing with Peeta my plans to continue date nights, he manages to score some soft cheeses and bakes me some crackers. I'd gone to Haymitch hoping he could get me a bottle of champagne and as I suspected, he found a bottle for me in no time. Some sparkling wine he says tastes better than champagne. Girls love it, he'd said. I have no clue where he found it and I definitely don't want to find out what girls he's shared a bottle of wine with so I thank him and get the heck out of his office.

I'd divulged the secret about the ruffles to Madge finally. The moment just felt right to tell her and she responded well to it. More than well actually. She'd climbed into my lap and our kissing grew more intense. She was eagerly welcoming my kisses, pressing herself against me, kissing me back. I'd gotten caught up in the moment, almost forgetting that this was new territory for Madge now. When I heard that light moan, that ever pleasurable sound slip from her mouth, I'd realized I needed to slow us down. I didn't want to stop us but I knew I needed to. Madge is new to all of this, she doesn't remember anything from before and I need her to be certain of every single move she makes. If she were to get caught up in the moment and get carried away and then have regrets later, I'd never forgive myself. So, I'll keep things slow. I want to be absolutely certain that when things progress between us to that next level, that it's felt one hundred percent on both sides. It has to be what we both undoubtedly want.

While she sleeps soundly in my arms, I run my fingers through her blonde, wavy hair and watch her. She's so precious to me and feeling her come back to me, one slow step at a time, makes me begin to feel whole again. I have her. She doesn't love me yet of course but she will. I can feel it. She will love me, I know she will.

The next morning, when I wake up, she's awake already but is still tucked under my arms.

"Morning my love." I say before I realize it's too much. She may know I love her but that doesn't mean she wants to hear me talk about it when she isn't at that point yet. Inwardly, I cringe, hoping she won't pull away from me over my saying that. She doesn't. Instead, her face lights up and she presses her lips against mine. It's enough to let me know that I didn't freak her out.

"Morning. How'd you sleep?" She asks.

"Too good." I mumble as I hug her tighter to me, not ready for us to get out of bed and not wanting to let go of her. She responds by nuzzling her face in the curve of my neck. I feel her lips kiss me there, just once and quickly before she releases herself from my grasp and heads for the bathroom, smiling back at me over her shoulder before closing the door behind her. God, this girl drives me crazy. In the best and worst ways.

Later, at breakfast, she continues to show me that she's growing more comfortable day by day when she takes her food tray and heads straight over to where my family is seated. It's the first time she hasn't wanted to eat alone. I grab my tray, following behind her, smile smeared across my face.

Breakfast goes well with my family. Posy couldn't be happier to have Madge at the table. She's really been missing her and we were all running out of excuses as to why Madge wasn't able to come around much. Rory seems to have forgiven me for the whole Tripp thing. And honestly, the kid is wise beyond his years. Had it not been for him, I don't know that I would've told Madge about everything and that could've ruined everything for us. Yep, he's a smart one, I'll give him that.

I was intrigued when Posy ratted out Rory about a crush he has on some girl in his class.

"Rory's got a girlfriend. He luuuvvvs her!" She giggles. Rory, not nearly as amused as everyone else at the table, gives Posy's chair a firm kick under the table.

"I do not! Shut up, Posy!" He says, face frowning.

"It's true! He talks about her all the time." Vick chimes in, winning himself a chair kick as well.

"All right, all right. Leave him alone you two. If he doesn't want us to talk about his love life, we need to respect that." I teasingly scold, while taking my own jab at Rory.

To that, he shoves back from the table, storming off. I realize I probably took it too far and I feel bad since I kinda owe him. "Be right back. Gotta do some damage control." I whisper to Madge.

"Hey man, wait up!"

"Leave me alone, alright? I don't have a girlfriend."

"But you do like someone, don't you? That part's true?"

"Kind of."

"Well that's nothing to be embarrassed about. What's her name?"

"Her name's Rebekah. She's in my class."

"Well have you talked to her yet?"

"No. Wouldn't know what to say. It's different here. Back home, it wouldn't have been a big deal. I was the little brother of a legend. Here, I'm nobody."

I laugh a little. "So that means, here, you get to be the actual legend, not just the little brother of legend. What are you waiting for? Go find her and give her some of that Hawthorne charm we're famous for."

He straightens up a bit, looking more confident now and smiles. "Never thought of it like that."

I gesture for him to get going, to go find her and he does. He heads out of the cafeteria, legs moving much faster than before. I turn back to the table to see Madge, holding Posy on her lap, talking with her in an animated fashion. I stand back, just watching them together. I love seeing this. Seeing her fall back into place with my family. My eyes meet with my mothers and she smiles across the room at me. She too, is glad to see Madge coming around. Life is finally good again. We're finally happy. All of us, together and happy.

A/N: Thank you everyone for your reviews! This was just a happy, fluffy chapter because well, because don't Madge and Gale deserve that at this point? I think so.

And Bekylou4jc, I hope you enjoyed the little surprise I threw in just for you!