Chapter 53

We spend almost the entire day at the lake. Gale and I picked berries, swam, and layed around just soaking up the sunshine together. The whole day was peaceful and serene. No games, no Peacekeepers, no family members, just us. There's something about being alone together that makes me love him even more. It's like when we're alone, we have something that's just ours, something no one else could know or have. We get to be ourselves; our true selves. It's so difficult for me to leave and head back to the district.

"Gale, this was the best birthday I've ever had. Thank you so much for my boots and for this whole day."

"I'm glad." He says kissing my forehead and stroking my cheek.

"Can we come out here again this summer?"

"Of course we can. I plan to spend a lot of our summer out here actually."

"I wish we could spend the night out here instead of walking back each time."

"Maybe we can sometime. The mandatory viewings are finished and school is over so we wouldn't have anything we really had to get back to the district for."

"It would be kind of like having a vacation!" I shriek.

Gale laughs and says "Yeah, I guess it would."

"I'm going to be so sad when this summer ends and school starts again. I can already tell I'm going to get very spoiled with how much time we get to spend together."

"I know. I kinda hope this summer goes slowly so we can enjoy it but I have a feeling August will be here before we know it."

"Gale, what are you going to do in August? I mean, since you're finished with school and all?" I ask. I've been wanting to know for awhile but I've been somewhat apprehensive in asking him. I really don't want him working in the mines.

He quietly kicks a rock out of our path and hesitates before he answers me. "I haven't decided."

"I'm sorry, I was just curious. I didn't mean to pry." I apologize.

He stops our walking and turns to face me, taking both my hands in his and looking me directly in the eyes. "Hey, stop that. Don't ever apologize for asking me something like that. You can always ask me anything, okay?"

"I know but it really isn't any of my business. I just wondered if you were going to have to work in the mines."

"Of course it's your business. We're together so that makes what I do your business too."

I nod and he kisses me before we start walking again.

"How do you feel about me going into the mines? Does it make a difference to you?"

"Well, I know that would be the most likely next step now that you've completed school."

"That isn't what I asked. I want to know what you think about it."

"Honestly? I wish you didn't have too. I already know I'm going to miss you at school but it's more than that. The mines scare me a little and I know I'd worry about you all the time while you were in there."

"Yeah, they scare me a little too. I just don't know if I can manage any other way, you know? I don't want Rory taking out tesserae to help feed the family."

"I know. I wouldn't want that either. When I had to look at the list with all the number of times everyone's name is supposed to go into the reaping bowl it was terrible seeing how many times your name was in there. I can't imagine Rory's having to be in there like that." I say softly.

"Yeah, I can't believe I never got reaped."

"I'm glad you didn't." I say as I squeeze his hand. He squeezes it back. We both realize how differently things would be for us right now had that ever happened. Sure, I think Gale could be very skillful in the games but I would never want to gamble with his life like that. I love him far too much to even imagine him having to go through that.

"If I do end up going into the mines, I'll make sure I still have time for us, okay?"

"But only after you spend time with your family first. They have to come first." I tell him. Miners work everyday except Sunday and there's no way I would want Gale giving up time with his family to spend it with me.

He just smiles and shakes his head a little at me as if to say not to worry about things like that. We walk the rest of the way back in our usual comfortable silence. I love how we can be in each other's presence and enjoy our time without always having to fill it with conversation. It allows time for daydreaming and thinking. Daydreams that mostly center around him. I smile to myself as I think this.

"What?" He asks having noticed my random smile.

"Nothing, I'm just really happy is all."

"Well good. It's your birthday, you should be happy."

"Gale, this really has been the best day ever. Thank you for making my birthday so special."

"See you tomorrow?" He says as we pause, having arrived at my back porch.

I nod and stand on my tip toes to kiss him good bye. As we do he pulls me snuggly against his body but only for a moment. It doesn't take much for us to get carried away so the touch is only momentary but it still sends a shiver of thrill through me, all the way down to my toes.

I give him a swooning smile and then make my way up the steps, glancing back as I enter my house. He stands there, tall and gorgeous, blows me one more kiss and then turns back towards the Seam.

Inside the kitchen smells like cake and I find Mabel sticking candles in a pink frosted cake.

"Happy Birthday Miss Madge. Did you have a good day?"

"Yes, but I am in desperate need of a shower before dinner." I say only now realizing that I smell like the lake and how matted my hair is. It's probably a little too obvious that I haven't just been hanging out at Gale's house all day.

Mabel gives me a glance that tells me she agrees and says "Dinner will be ready in half an hour."

I rush upstairs and toss my dress into the hamper. I pause before removing my boots. I don't think I've ever gotten such a thoughtful gift. Gale worked hard to get these for me and there was so much thought put into them. I run my fingertips over the leather and smile as I notice something I hadn't noticed earlier. I pull off the boot and bring it closer to my eye and see the tiny words "Love You Forever" burned into the leather along the side by the sole. I can't believe I didn't see this earlier but I had been so excited about them that they went straight onto my feet. Could this guy be any more perfect? Is it possible to love him any more than I do right now? I doubt it, I really doubt it gets any better than this.

After I've made myself presentable again, having showered and dressed, I head down to the dining room where Mabel has prepared quite a feast. Our table is loaded down with roasted chicken, steamed veggies from my garden, whipped potatoes and fresh baked rolls. My pink birthday cake on a silver cake stand centered on the table.

"This looks so good!" I say as I sit down.

"Glad you like it. Your father will be in shortly. He got an urgent phone call just a few minutes ago. He said to go ahead and start without him."

Of course my father isn't here for my birthday dinner. Probably feels too guilty to look at me still. I can't imagine what I would ever deem so important that I would miss my child's birthday dinner. Hell, he hasn't even seen me yet today and he still took this stupid call. Always about the Capitol, always about the business. I sigh and start eating my meal alone. Mabel must pity me because she pulls out a chair and sits with me to keep me company.

"You should eat too Mabel. There's more than enough and you know it." I tell her through a mouthful of zucchini.

"No thank you. But I can still keep you company. Did you have a nice day with Gale?" She asks.

"I had the very best day! He got me boots!" I tell her in excitement.

"So I saw." She says reminding me she saw me when I returned from the lake. I know she knows I've been out in the woods but she doesn't mention it out loud thankfully. I think she trusts Gale enough to keep me safe.

"Happy Birthday Madge!" My father says as he makes his entrance, smiling bigger than I've seen him smile in quite some time.

"Thank you." I say flatly, still peeved that after all we've been through he saw the need to miss half my birthday dinner for a freaking phone call.

"I have news. Excellent news. Well, excellent for us anyway." He blusters, hands flailing about as he speaks.

"What?" I ask suddenly curious given his odd mannerisms.

"Seneca Crane was killed today. Penalty for changing the rules of the Games. He's dead Madge, you're free!"

"What? Wh.." I stutter out and can't finish before the tears race from my eyes. I'm free? Just like that?

"That's right! He's dead, you won't have to marry him now. You're free Madge, free!" He repeats as tears fall from his own eyes and his arms embrace me so tightly.

"I can't believe it." I whisper through my own happy tears.

"Me either. That's why I took the call. It was confirming his death."

"I need to go. I have to tell Gale. I have to tell him!" I say as I jump up from my chair so forcefully it falls backward.

Mabel and my father are both crying and smiling and wave me out the door knowing nothing could keep me from Gale right now, not with news like this.

I full on run to the Seam. The Peacekeepers will just have to get over it if they see me running. I'm too elated to care what they think right now. Everyone I pass on the way to the Seam is a blur to me. Tears of relief and joy soak my face and all I want to do is get to Gale's house.

I'm so out of sorts that I forget to even knock as I enter his house and instead just fly right through the door. His family is sitting around the table eating dinner and I startle every one of them with my intrusive and unannounced entrance.

"Madge? What's wrong?" Gale asks in alarm. He's on his feet and at my side in a flash, concern radiating from his face.

"No. Nothing's wrong. He's dead Gale. Seneca Crane is dead! I'm free! Free to marry whomever I want!" My voice is breathless both from excitement and from running all the way here.

He stares in astonishment for a second, taking in the most unbelievable news I just dropped on him before he pulls me into his arms and swings me around in circles as he kisses all over my tear covered face. "Are you serious?" He asks between kisses. "You're free?"

I nod rapidly, smiling from ear to ear, tears of joy continuing to pour down my face. He pulls my face to his and meets my lips with incredible passion and want and I instinctively find myself arching into his body as he kisses me and his arms wrap around me and his hands grip at my hips.

It's only when Hazelle clears her throat from the table that we remember his entire family is watching us from 2 feet away. Gales hands move back up to my waist and we pull away from the kiss but he doesn't let me go. I look over at the table to see an array of expressions on the Hawthorne family faces. Hazelle has her eyebrows raised and is staring at us with a firmly locked jaw, Vick looks down at the floor as he's seen this before and doesn't care too remember it, Posy is giggling and covering her mouth with her tiny hands and Rory has a sly grin plastered on his face. I know I'm beet red with embarrassment and even Gale is looking a little pink in the cheeks.

"Sorry Ma. Just got caught up in some good news is all, forgot where we were." He says before pulling me out his front door leaving his family to their dinner.

He leads us to the clearing, it being the nearest semi-private place we know where we melt into each other, overtaken by a relief so intense, so needed, so wanted. As we lay there, under the starry night sky, embraced in each other's arms, I feel a sense of calm for the first time in as long as I can remember. My marriage contract is void, Katniss and Peeta will be home tomorrow, and Gale and I are totally, hopelessly in love with one another. For the first time, I feel like life is exactly as it should be. It's, dare I think it, perfect.

A/N: And there you have it, the end of The Things Which Determine Our Fate. Not to worry though, a sequel is already in the works! It will carry Madge and Gale's love story into Catching Fire. It isn't titled yet but I should have it up sometime in the next week so watch for it! I can't thank all of you enough for reading, reviewing and following along with this story. Your tolerance of my grammatical and spelling errors has been so gracious and I promise to make a better effort on my sequel. Thanks again to all my readers, you guys rock!