Of all the emotions that Madge feels as a single mom, the one that she probably feels the most is overwhelmed. Because when the weekdays start to roll in after their dinner at the Hawthornes' and she gets back into routine, she starts to remember how extremely demanding her schedule really was.
First, she drops Dakota at school in the mornings. Her daughter has many mixed feelings about school, usually positive and brimming with excitement, but today she's decided to be angry at the world and at the prospect of kindergarten.
"Mommy, I don't wanna go," Kota sighs with a dramatic little voice as they walk on the busy sidewalks towards her school. Madge just rolls her eyes; her daughter's too young to be melodramatic and angry about school. She herself hadn't started to feel that way until at least freshman year.
"Why? You love seeing your friends don't you? And Ms. Trinket."
"Yeah, but…"
"What is it, baby?"
They've made it to the school, where Dakota stops in front of the doors and crosses her arms. Madge kneels down and tucks a flying strand of hair behind her daughter's ear and strokes her head, trying to comfort her. But Kota just furrows her brow.
"Sometimes we get teased. By a group of senior kindergarteners."
"What do you mean?" Madge asks, genuinely worried. "How long has this been happening? What do they say?"
"Weird stuff, they aren't really good at being mean," KoKo remarks, and her mom can't help but chuckle. "Sometimes my friend and I hear them laughing at us. But they always pretend they don't so we can't tell Ms. Trinket."
"Okay, well if it's making you really sad you can tell me about it," she assures. Madge wishes she could talk about it now but she really has to get to work as well. "And I'm sure Ms. Trinket would be willing to listen to you. You'd be surprised, okay, KoKo?"
Her four year old daughter nods, and she steps forward to give her mom a tight hug. Madge is touched, and she hugs back, hoping that her daughter has the best time at school she's ever had.
"Is there anything you want to do for dinner today? When I come pick you up?" she asks, knowing that planting that seed in Kota's head will make her time at school better. And she's right; her daughter's face instantaneously lights and and she thinks hard, pursing her little lips.
"Hmm… could we just watch some movies on the couch?" Dakota asks, and Madge is shocked and nods acceptingly. It's not that she doesn't want to stay at home too, it's just that she expected Kota to want to eat out for pizza, or milkshakes or anything like that.
"Of course," she has to respond. "I'll let you pick. We can watch as many as you want." She only says that because Kota will fall asleep before one is over anyways. She kisses her daughter on the head and watches her walk into the school, and Madge continues on her way downtown.
And work isn't half bad. They spend most of the time in meetings, planning the station's marketing strategies for the coming month. Haymitch trusts Madge to represent his interests well at these boardroom meetings, so he stays in his office doing God knows what while she takes charge of the round table.
"So here are a couple of drafts of subway posters that we drew up last week," Annie explains from the front of the room, clicking through a slideshow of examples and giving everyone time to see. One has Finnick smiling confidently with his name and the radio station logo plastered right in the middle. "We're still fine tuning some graphic design elements, but is this okay in terms of content? Just so that we know to proceed."
"It looks great, Annie," Madge nods,. "We're only going to be able to choose four to actually use in the poster campaign though, can we go through them now and narrow it down?"
So they go through the portfolio Annie and the rest of publicity drew up for them, taking out similar ones and deciding which ones would stand out the most. They're in the middle of deciding between two different posters of Finnick when the announcer himself pushes open the door with his body, a tray of coffee cups in his hand.
"Hello, am I interrupting?" he asks, and Madge shrugs. He is, but he also has a beverage for her, and that's so much more important. They often do coffee runs for each other when she's in a long meeting or he's on air.
She's about to thank him when she remembers the time and raises her eyebrow. "Isn't your segment on in five minutes?"
"Yup, gotta run," Finnick responds casually, making his way towards the door of the meeting room. He stops in front of Annie though, handing her a steaming cup she clearly didn't ask for. "Here, Annie. It's just mint tea, I thought you'd like it," he grins flirtily, and Annie turns almost as red as her hair. Finnick's gone and for a second everyone in the meeting just laughs at how in shock she looks.
Madge laughs too, but knows that she wouldn't want to dwell on it. So she pushes the group forward, making a decision on the posters and letting everyone go.
When the boardroom is mostly empty and it's only Annie left, organizing the papers and samples she prepared for the meeting, Madge comes up to her. They're sort of friends, not as much as she and Finnick, though.
"That was weird, huh?" she starts, gesturing at the paper cup.
Annie nods slowly with wide eyes. "Kind of. I mean we've only talked a couple of times, I don't know how he figured out that I drink mint tea. Maybe I was drinking it before?" She sounds like she's trying to figure it out too, and Madge knows that Finnick probably notes her every move and every beverage she drinks, just so that he could plan that interaction. He's overzealous that way.
"I don't know," she responds coyly. "But that was really nice of him, wasn't it?"
"I guess. He's kind of seems like he does that to a lot of girls. I see him at company parties and what not," she shrugs, and Annie's not wrong. Finnick is a naturally flirty guy and he doesn't find anything wrong in talking to girls who like him too. But the problem is that Madge thinks he's probably serious this time, and it sucks that his reputation is getting in the way of that.
"Sure, but I feel as if he could change. For the right person," Madge shrugs. Annie looks confused or unsure why she's telling her this and waves her goodbye to head back to her office. When she's gone, Madge is the only one the conference room. So she exerts a long sigh and trudges out too, making a mental note to debrief Finnick sometime soon.
And for lunch, to make her day even more jam packed, she meets up with Delly. They go to a salad place that's halfway between their workplaces and sit down for a good hour, just enjoying the time together. It's the first time in the day so far that Madge has been able to slow down.
"How's work?"
"Okay, busy as usual," Madge shrugs. "What about you?"
"Normal, I guess," Delly replies, picking at her salad. She seems in a rut, and Madge doesn't bother to pry. They've been friends since they were in preschool, and she knows that Delly will tell her in time. "Didn't you go to Gale's family's house last weekend? How did it go?"
Madge laughs cynically at the memory and shrugs. "I don't know, typically horrifying."
"What do you mean? If his family is anything like him, I'm sure it was wonderful," she smiles. Delly is one of Gale's biggest fans, she thinks he's incredibly nice and cool.
"They are wonderful, which just makes the whole thing painful. The lie, it's harder to lie."
"Why can't you just think of it as a lovely dinner with some lovely people?" her friend asks, always seeing the brightside.
"Because we always end up fighting," Madge offers. "I just thought joint-custody wouldn't entail this much time seeing the other parent, you know? We broke up, doesn't that mean I get to stop talking to him?" Her complaints are exaggerated, of course. They make Delly laugh and shake her head.
"At least he's a bearable person to be around. Imagine if your ex was anyone else, any of your so-called dates."
Madge thinks about the idea of her last date, Anthony the marketing guy, and how he would react to being a parent and her ex. It makes her chuckle. "Okay, I see your point. But still, I think your image of Gale is very drastically different from the reality."
"What? No, if anything my image of him is more accurate because I'm more objective that you are."
Madge sees what her friend is trying to say, but she has to disagree. "No, listen. You only really know Gale in the context of him setting you up with Thom. He's the valiant wingman who saved your romantic life. Could you really tell me that's not subjective?"
"Okay, so we're both subjective," Delly shrugs gleefully, and Madge groans. She and her best friend have always got along, and although they've both changed quite a bit since they were kids their dynamic is very much the same. The reason she thinks so highly of Gale is because he helped to set up her and her boyfriend, Thom. A couple years ago when she moved from her and Madge's hometown to come work in the city, she was doing some waitressing and bartending in the interim. It was at a restaurant near Gale's workplace that she bumped into him and he recognized her from meeting her a couple times back in college, back when he and Madge still had been dating.
After that Gale set her up with Thom, his extremely single friend with a similar personality and they've been together ever since. Madge can't think of a couple that's better together, Delly's fun and free-spirited and Thom grounds her in a way that only he can.
Madge decides to change the subject from Gale to Thom, because she truly doesn't want to talk about him any longer. "How is your boyfriend?" she asks casually, but Delly doesn't look up and forks her salad aggressively. Just with that question, Madge knows that she's hit a nerve.
"He's okay, really busy still."
"It's work, you said?"
"Yeah, at least he says it's work…" Delly mumbles frustratedly, and Madge rolls her eyes. Thom would never lie to his girlfriend, he's honest and he holds himself to a strong moral code.
"Are you thinking about this because of what Jo said a couple weeks ago? Her joke about him cheating on you?"
"I don't know Madge, she just planted the seed in my head and I can't help but think. Even if he wasn't, we just don't get to spend any time together anymore," she blurts, finally speaking her mind. She sighs sadly, biting her lip. When Delly used to get nervous she would play with the ends of her hair, but ever since she cut it all to shoulder length a couple months ago she's been doing it less. But right now her fingers are pulling at wavy strands of yellow blonde hair, and her eyes are darting around the restaurant. "I just miss him."
"He's still your boyfriend, Dell. Have you tried just asking him to spend more time with you? Maybe he hasn't thought about it."
"He loves his job," she tries to reason, but Madge just raises an eyebrow.
"More than he loves you?"
"Obviously not, but I just need to be reminded of it sometimes. Am I making any sense?" Delly asks desperately, and Madge nods to comfort her friend and to let her continue. "I just want a date. I just him to take me out so I can dress up and he can kiss me, tell me he loves me. I don't know how long it's been since I've heard it."
"I get it. Don't worry, you're in a better position that I am," she jokes cynically, but Delly doesn't flinch. "It's not wrong to need affection. You can't change his shifts and his work, but you can support him through it and you guys will get through it. Okay?"
Delly nods. With her, Madge never feels the need to dance around the issues she faces. It's hard to get into deep issues with Jo sometimes, they're always joking around and using humour as a defense mechanism. She still couldn't live without her though, and her two best friends really are the best in their own ways.
They say their goodbyes and head back to work, and Madge prays that her friend is able to figure things out with Thom. He's a great guy, he and Delly deserve so much happiness together that it makes her heart hurt.
The afternoon flies by, all Madge can do is work diligently through all her tasks and stare at the clock. She can't be late to pick up Dakota, yesterday she was almost the last parent to get to the playground, and Ms. Trinket surely can't think too highly of her at this point. She must redeem herself, even if it means counting down the time to the second and leaving five minutes early.
And ultimately, she's successful. Kota's still playing with her friends in the yard when she arrives, and when she sees her mom she runs up to her, jumping with happiness.
"Hi Mommy," Dakota smiles politely, sticking her hand up towards Madge, intending for her to take it. Madge laughs and muses at what a wonderful daughter she's been blessed with and takes her tiny hand in hers.
"Hey baby, how was your day? Was it so bad afterall?"
Kota shakes her head. "No, I had fun! Our reading buddies came to read to us today. Mine is called Hunter and he reads me books about aliens. Aliens, Mommy!"
"That's so cool," she exclaims back, knowing that now, her daughter's going to want all the alien stuffed toys and to watch all the alien cartoons. "The weather outside is really nice today. Do you want to walk or take the subway today?"
"Walk," Dakota answers quickly. "But if I get tired you'll carry me?"
Madge laughs out loud, nodding knowingly. "Sure, KoKo. We can stop for a smoothie or something too."
When it comes to Kota, walking home is almost an activity in itself. They stop to take breaks on benches, get some food or look at flowers and plants in the few parks that are peppered around the city. Madge prefers it too because it tires her daughter out and makes sure that she doesn't have a hyperactive daughter running around the apartment past her bedtime.
So they pick up a snack sized mango smoothie for Dakota, and she sips it happily while gazing at the scattered store fronts. She's mesmerized by the glass cases and the colours, it really is adorable. Even with her busy day of meeting and paperwork, Madge is glad her daughter is having fun and in turn, so is she.
Before they head up to their apartment they stop at the local pizza place just around the corner, picking up a large cheese pizza to bring back home. Although they definitely can't finish it all on their own, Madge loves eating leftover pizza, and so does Jo. She's working a closing shift tonight and will probably be hungry too.
In no time at all they're on the couch. The walk took about an hour, and Madge herself has her stomach grumbling at the smell of the pizza she's holding, fresh out of the oven. It's only five o'clock, but she needs to eat right now or else she'll implode.
"Are you hungry, Kota?" Madge asks while helping her daughter out of her shoes.
Kota shrugs, a habit that Madge wishes she could get her out of. It's definitely her fault, she's always indecisively shrugging and never giving solid answers. She needs to be more cautious of her actions because her daughter will imitate them, and sometimes she forgets that.
"Okay," she nods anyways. "Well why don't we watch a movie now and then after I can help you take a bath, clean you up all squeaky."
"I thought you said we can watch as many I want?"
"We can, if after your bath you aren't tired we can put on another one. Is that alright?"
Dakota nods, and Madge smiles. They plop down on the couch and begin to scroll through movies. As she expected, all Kota wants is space related moves. Tons of them aren't appropriate for her age, Madge wishes Netflix would sort through the movies further but instead she searches desperately for animations and family films for them to watch.
Finally, she scrolls onto Lilo & Stitch. "This one is about Hawaii, baby," she offers her daughter. "It's about a little girl who finds an alien friend in Hawaii. Do you want to watch it?"
How could she refuse? Dakota nods vigorously so she presses play.
The movie runs, and for the first half Dakota is surprisingly quiet. She stares into the television and listens carefully at the film and doesn't speak. Madge watches too; it's been so long since she's seen this one, she must've been babysitting when she was fourteen the last time she had seen it. There are parts that she forgot and songs that she remembers, watching kids' movies aren't that bad at all.
But halfway through the movie, just as Nani and Lilo are surfing at the beach, she loses focus. It starts with her asking for pizza, but then all she wants to do is talk. Kota gets it from Gale; he can't get through a movie without starting up a conversation or asking random questions. Madge can't even imagine what movie night is like on weeks that Gale has her - they probably don't even look at the screen once.
So Madge turns the volume down and lets the film run in the background, happy to talk to her daughter if that's what she wants. The whole point of movie night was to do something she wanted after all.
"What did you do today, mommy?" she asks curiously. Kota's intrigued by her job and the idea of working in an office building. The few times she's brought her in her daughter was captivated by the stationary and the silent bustle.
"Well, I had some meetings. We talked about some new posters that we want to put up in the subways, maybe we'll see them sometime soon. And for lunch, I went out with Aunt Delly."
"What did you eat?"
"Salad."
Dakota scrunches her nose. "Ew."
"Salads don't have to be 'ew,' mine had strawberries in it, and a really yummy dressing."
"Strawberries? Daddy says that you love strawberries."
It's funny that Gale would still remember that, Madge barely remembers his favourite colour. "It's true," she nods in response. "When we were in college, Daddy would bring strawberry yogurt to me when I had early morning classes. He knew I always skipped breakfast."
"Does he still do that when you have to go to work early in the morning?" Kota asks innocently, and Madge sighs.
"No, Gale has his own work to do. And plus, you know we aren't like that anymore, baby. We don't bring each other yogurt anymore, that's why you take turns coming with me and with him every week."
"I know, I know, I know," Kota breathes with a little annoyance. She's heard the spiel countless times, Madge assumes she doesn't want to keep getting the same elementary explanation. "I just thought that it was just yogurt. That doesn't mean you have to get married."
Dakota really is wise beyond her years, and it makes Madge reach out to stroke her hair. It's flying everywhere as usual, and she wishes she could get it to stay put for once. The problem about what her daughter is saying though is that it's never just yogurt.
When Madge was in kindergarten she also thought her parents were perfect and meant to be together. Although they didn't get divorced, no couple is perfect, and the Undersees were no exception. Even if Kota understands that Gale and Madge aren't together, she probably doesn't understand why and thinks that they're still meant to be a couple in the end. But Kota's comment about not needing to get married could prove otherwise.
Just then, Dakota yawns, so her mother nudges her and turns off the movie.
"Come on baby, let's get you washed up and tucked into bed."
"No, I can still watch it!" she insists, pouting at Madge. "I'm not tired."
"Yes you are," Madge sighs. "We'll finish it tomorrow, okay? I promise, KoKo."
Of course she's tired, when her mother picks her up and takes her to the shower she doesn't even object one bit to being carried. Madge turns on the bathtub and lets it run, adding in some colourful bubble bath that Kota loves so much.
"In you go," she says, gesturing her daughter at the tub after she's undressed. Kota uses the little steps that they found at the bath store and steps into the foaming tub, giggling at the smells and the feelings.
While Madge helps to wash her, they have fun. Kota loves playing with the toys and making beards and hats with the bubbles. She's such a kidder, and such a bright light in her mother's life right now. Even when Madge and Gale had her young and didn't see it coming, Madge couldn't imagine her life any different. She doesn't even know how she could've been happy without Kota there keeping her company.
Kota sits with her back facing Madge while they play hairdresser, and she lathers her daughter's hair making jovial small talk with her.
"So Madam, what brings you to my hair salon today?" Madge asks mocking a serious tone. "Just a wash? Or maybe a cut? Do you want some colours in here?"
"No!" Kota squeals happily. "Don't colour my hair, just wash."
"If you insist. The customer is always right." Madge hopes the scalp massage isn't putting Kota to sleep to, so after a couple minutes she taps her shoulder signaling that she's done, and they pour water gently over her hair, rinsing out the shampoo. "But really baby, what are we going to do with your hair?" she sighs, breaking character. "It flies every time I try to tame it. It won't sit still, just like you."
"Daddy likes my hair," Dakota comments defensively, and Madge laughs.
"I like your hair too, I love it."
She barely acknowledges her mother's compliment and instead, rambles on into a story. "Because I always tell Daddy that I want his hair, or Aunt Posy's hair, but then he tells me that my blonde hair is the most prettiest hair he's ever seen," KoKo explains. "That means you have the most prettiest hair too, Mommy! We have the same hair!"
Kota clutches onto Madge's locks making them a bit damp, but Madge doesn't mind. She sighs and pours the final bucket of water over her daughter's head, grabbing the towel from the doorknob and motioning for her to get out. She dries her and musses up her hair, still playing, even though she can tell Dakota's getting tired.
"Your hair is pretty anyway, do you understand? Everything about you is pretty, what other people think about it barely even matters."
Kota nods obediently while stepping into her pajamas, and Madge rubs her face adoringly. She's a little tired too, despite it only being a little past eight. She's going to stay up to do work, watch a bit of her own TV and wait until Jo gets home, but it sure is exhausting sometimes.
"Are you tired?"
She can't even lie, nodding her small head and yawning a second time. "Thank you for the bath, Mommy."
She smiles with pride. "No problem, baby."
A/N: Last chapter I got a lot of comments saying that Madge doesn't know how to stand up for herself or that Gale is using her, and I think both those statements are true to an extent but I want to try and communicate what I think they're dynamic is like right now. Yes, Gale might be extremely selfish right now but I don't think that he knows there are other options and he really thinks that he's doing the best thing for both him and for Madge, he sees them as a team. Madge on the other hand is choosing to pick her battles, she /does/ have a spine and is saving her fuel for later. You'll see.
Also, they could possibly still be... into each other! Spoiler alert, I don't write stories with no happy ending, especially if it's not canon so I think they both have unresolved feelings to work out as well for all communication to be honest and open. Maybe this story was too much of a challenge for me to tackle, but I'm going to try and see it through.
That's all, if you liked this chapter please give it follow or a review and thank you so much for reading.