Disclaimer: I'm just playing with Suzanne Collins' characters and her world. They're hers. Not mine. Any lines from the books are hers too.
AN: Many thanks to Nursekelly for all the help. Also, I spelled Cecelia's name wrong in the last chapter. Sorry
And the stars burn out, pt 12
Gale inspects the fat little rabbit his snares had caught.
His luck has been shit the last few checks. Two empty, one scrawny, and another that had been gnawed in half. Despite his best efforts, there simply wasn't enough from that one to salvage. This little furball though, might get his family through the week.
Not that they need it. The extra provisions are holding them over. His mom knows how to stretch food to the max.
"Between that and these squirrels we should be okay," Katniss mutters.
Gale nods. "Yeah, even if you barter a few of them off to your boyfriend."
Her cheeks deepen in color and she mumbles something under her breath before turning away and marching in the direction of the fence.
Gale holds down a chuckle. He's only teasing her, but Katniss being Katniss doesn't really know how to respond.
"I told her she doesn't have to get all mad anytime someone mentions it," Prim had mentioned when Gale gone to the Everdeens' house with Thom to get some medicine for Thom's niece. "It's sweet."
"It's just too adorable for words," Thom had added in an obnoxiously chipper tone
Gale decided after that he'd continue annoying her by mentioning her boyfriend every chance he could. It's good for her to be a little flustered about something, and truth be told, Mellark is good for her too. He lightens her mood, and that's something Katniss has needed for a while.
They trudge on silently through the damp debris of the woods until they reach the edge.
No hum fills the air, so they check for Peacekeepers before ducking under, back into the district.
When they reach the edge of Town Gale stops, sighing.
"You go on to the bakery. I wanna get home and spend some time with Posy," he tells her, stepping back before adding, "and I don't really feel like watching you and Mellark slobber all over each other."
Katniss' eyes narrow and she aims a kick in his direction, sending gravel spraying onto the legs of his pants.
Laughing, Gale runs off. No wonder Rory is always so chipper. If Gale spent all his time being obnoxious he'd be constantly happy too.
Chuckling to himself, Gale slows his run to a trot, then a walk, before he looks back to see if Katniss decided to let him go or wants to dole out some kind of revenge.
All he sees is the tiny form of her retreating figure, braid swinging behind her.
Turning, Gale is already planning out how he's going to barter the rabbit pelt once all the meat is off when he spots Mrs. Undersee walking down one of the little side paths away from her house.
He isn't sure why she's out alone, in fact he isn't sure he's ever seen her out on her own and that worries him.
Thinking about the most recent stop on Madge's Tour, he tries to pinpoint anything that might've upset her. She's got a fragile mind, he knows that, even if he isn't sure what exactly it is that's wrong with her.
"She's just...off," his mom had told him, when he'd asked about her, during the Games when he'd met her while trying to check up on Madge. "I don't really know, Gale. She was a little ahead of me in school and from Town. Maybe you can ask Val."
Asking Katniss' mom wasn't an option though. Gale didn't want to risk her slipping up and telling either of her daughters he was nosing around about Madge's mom.
Looking up at the sky, clear blue and cold, Gale sighs.
There's still plenty of daylight, even if she's going to Madge's house to make sure everything is okay she should be back before dark.
Still, Gale feels his feet carrying him in her directions.
Mrs. Undersee doesn't seem to live in the same reality as the rest of the world and he has the sinking feeling she won't notice when it does get late. Even if she's the Mayor's wife, maybe even because she's the Mayor's wife, a pretty lady shouldn't be wandering around the District by herself when the sun starts sinking.
Instead of following the road toward the Village though, she floats along, almost aimlessly, finally stopping at the rusted gates of the cemetery.
For a minute she just stares up at the ivy covered metals words overhead, before pushing the gate open. It screeches so loudly Gale cringes before picking up his pace to follow her in.
She passes rows of fresh graves, the winter is never kind, walking what Gale suspects is a well worn path toward the back. Older graves.
When she finally stops, Gale hangs back, hiding behind an ancient looking tree to watch her.
That's all he plans on doing, make sure she leaves at a decent time and no one messes with her, but then she turns and squints at the tree.
"Are you not going to come out?" She calls out, her voice soft and hazy.
Freezing, he closes his eyes and sighs. How had she seen him?
Shaking his head, it doesn't matter, Gale steps out and around the tree. "Did you know I was following you the whole time?"
Shrugging, Mrs. Undersee turns back to the little flat stones in front of her.
Walking across the browned grass, avoiding a few muddy patches, Gale stops beside her and looks down at the stones.
One is older, weather battered and faded, with the name 'Maysilee Donner' stamped on it.
Beside that, the second stone is a little newer, not quite so distressed, bearing the name 'Herschel Donner'.
Gale looks over at Mrs. Undersee.
She's staring down at the stones, her expression soft, not quite sad, but close.
Finally, she reaches into the little basket she'd carried out and pulls out a handful of dried flowers that she carefully places in equal bundles on each grave.
"I used to bring them candy," she tells him softly, "but Haymitch told me that was stupid."
Gale actually agrees with that sentiment. It's a waste of food to put it on a grave, but he decides to let Abernathy continue to be the asshole who actually said it.
"It's my dad and sister," she explains, her eyes staying on the stones. "I like to come and see them."
It's not something Gale can say he understands. Herschell and Maysilee Donner aren't here. There are bones and wrecked clothing under their feet, but nothing of the two people is left. They're just like his dad. Gone.
The only difference is his dad's body isn't under the stone with his name on it.
He keeps his thoughts to himself though. He doesn't want to upset her.
Several minutes pass by as they both stare at the ground before Gale's eyes drift back over to Mrs. Undersee's face.
She's pretty, he stands by that assessment, but in a strange sort of way. Like a picture in a book of something ancient that no longer exists, an echo that's fading into the sky.
He wonders if Madge will look like that someday. It wouldn't take much, her eyes already have ghosts in them, haunting her world.
Finally, she lets out a long breath. "I should go."
Nodding, Gale turns, expecting her to follow, but stops when he feels her link her arm in his.
Looking up at him, she blinks her dull blue eyes. "Didn't you come to walk me home?"
While he had, he hadn't intended to do it quite like this. There's no backing out now though, so he gives her a tight smile and begins walking.
They're halfway down the road from the cemetery when she rests her head against his arm. "Have you liked the dinners I've left?"
Gale almost trips over his own feet.
Stopping, he gapes at her.
"You-you knew I was going out there?" Maybe he isn't as stealthy as he'd always thought.
Mrs. Undersee's lips turn up at the edges. "Of course."
Gale almost groans as he wonders if moms are just born with some strange innate ability to know what their children are up to.
Running his hands through his hair, Gale gives her a weak smile. "How long?"
She shrugs. "A while."
He rubs his neck. "You aren't mad?"
Because if some guy were sneaking into his daughter's house every night he'd been furious.
"Why?" Her pale eyebrows pull together. "You're such a handsome boy. Madge could do worse."
Heat rises from Gale's neck and over his face as he tries not to laugh. "Uh, thanks."
Nodding, she reaches out and runs a finger over his cheek as she sighs. "You should shave though."
He nods. Of course. Hatred of facial hair must be another motherly trait.
Linking her arm in his again, she tugs him along.
"Have you liked the dinners?" She asks again, once they're in her backyard. "Daniel always has Mrs. Oberst cook."
Gale nods. "Yeah, uh, they're real good."
Her smile brightens a little and she gives his arm a squeeze just as the back door to the house opens.
"Matilda," The Mayor smiles out at her, "where have you been?"
Gale starts to pull away, he doesn't want to Mayor thinking he's putting the moves on his wife, but she holds him in place, resting her head against his shoulder.
"I went to see daddy and May," she tells him.
"And this gentleman offered to walk you home?"
Gale tries again to back away, but Mrs. Undersee is surprisingly strong for such a frail looking woman.
"Oh, no," she shakes her head. "He followed me out."
Heart stopping, Gale tries to explain, but she just carries on, oblivious to his panic.
"I think he was worried about me, dear." She smiles up at Gale. "He's Madge's little boyfriend, you know? Remember? The one I told you about, that uses her shower and eats her food."
Certain he's about to be carted off by Peacekeepers, Gale's mouth opens to defend himself. Nothing comes out though. Loopy little Mrs. Undersee had just outted his strange, not quite relationship with their daughter to her husband.
The Mayor smiles benignly, as he steps off the porch and down to his wife and Gale.
"Is he?" He asks, looking unnervingly untroubled. Holding out a hand, he gives Gale a little nod. "Daniel."
Swallowing down the fear that he's about to be executed where he stands, Gale takes his hand. "Gale Hawthorne."
Nodding, the Mayor smiles. "Gale Hawthorne. Good to finally meet you."
Not sure what he means, Gale tries to smile back, but it feels more like a grimace.
"Gale," Mrs. Undersee says his name, looking thoughtful before giving him a hazy smile. "That's such pretty name."
He starts to say thanks, he thinks, but the Mayor takes his wife's hand and points toward the house.
"Matilda, why don't you go in and get ready for bed? They'll be showing Madge's recap soon."
Her expression brightens, becoming almost excited, as she turns to Gale. "Are you staying to watch Madge? She's looked so lovely hasn't she?"
Gale nods then shakes his head, confused as to which question he's answering, before the Mayor answers for him.
"I believe Gale needs to get home. He has work in the morning and I'm sure he'll want to get to bed once the recap is over."
Mrs. Undersee's mouth forms a small 'o' as she considers what he's said before turning back to Gale.
"You will come back though, won't you?"
Much as he wants to tell her yes, of course, he can't. Mostly because he's sure her husband is going to have him executed for doing unspeakable things to their daughter. Things he hasn't even done.
He only manages a garbled grunt which she takes as an affirmative.
Beaming, she pops up on her toes and presses a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, Mrs. Undersee," he mumbles.
Her pale hair sways as she shakes her head. "Matilda."
Giving the Mayor a half glance, Gale nods. "You're welcome, Matilda."
With that she turns and glides up the steps and into the house, leaving Gale with a man he's sure is planning his murder.
The second the back door clatters shut, Gale's mouth begins his defense with little input from his brain.
"Sir, I just want you to know, I'm not Madge's boyfriend."
One of the Mayor's eyebrows quirks up. "Oh? Then why are you sneaking out to her house in the middle of the night? Are you leading her on?"
Gale's mouth goes dry.
"No! I-no!" He grapples with his mind to find a patch for the mess he's created. "We-we're friends, that's it, I promise."
Maybe not even that, Gale thinks bitterly. Not if he can't make her see things can work out.
The Mayor stays quiet for a moment, studying Gale, before one side of his mouth twitches.
"You know, if you're worried about retaliation, you shouldn't." He shrugs. "If I were going to do anything to you I'd have done it months ago when Matilda came home telling me she'd get to be a grandmother someday."
Stomach doing a somersault, Gale swallows a lump in his throat and tries to process what he's just been told.
Months ago? The Mayor had known Gale was sneaking out to Madge's house for months and not put a stop to it?
That's some pretty shitty parenting, Gale thinks to himself. If he had a daughter and some guy was sneaking around her like he had with Madge, he'd have him skinned.
Looking amused for some reason, the Mayor chuckles. "If Madge didn't want you around, you wouldn't be. She maybe quiet, but she's strong."
Gale nods his agreement, trying not to think about Madge pushing him away.
"So...you aren't going to...do something to me?" Gale finally asks, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "For-because of Madge, I mean."
Reaching out, the Mayor gives him a pat on the shoulder. "Not unless Madge asks me to."
The sick feeling subsiding a little, Gale nods.
Turning, the Mayor walks back up onto his porch, calling over his shoulder to Gale as he does.
"Have a good night, Gale."
#######
Madge thinks about Cecelia's words for days.
As she walks through the forests of Seven then ignores the lone female Victor's stony glare, while she's carted through plants that make hovercrafts, trains, and cars, and even as she's shown the massive machines that create power from wind and water, she can't think of anything but the possibility that her life might not be as grim as she'd imagined.
She knows she should ask Mr. Abernathy about it. He's been a Victor for most of his life and he's her best asset, but she holds it in. It's too much hope, too much promise, and she isn't ready to lose it just yet.
It isn't until the early morning when her train enters Four that she finally breaks.
The coast line slips by as the sun begins to rise, streaking the sky with pinks and yellows, as Madge watches.
"I wonder how far out you'd have to go to get away," she mutters to herself, squinting at the horizon.
"All the way to hell, sweetheart," Mr. Abernathy grunts from behind her, leaning on the doorframe, mug in hand.
Frowning at him, Madge walks back to her mess of a bed and settles into the comforter, waiting for him to tell her why he's already up and in her room.
Taking a sip of what she knows to be coffee, his new drink of choice, Mr. Abernathy crosses the room and leans into the window, watching the scenery for a moment before he decides to speak.
"No swimsuits," he quickly grunts. "No matter what anyone says."
"I don't even know how to swim," she points out. "I don't think I'd have a reason for a swimsuit."
Not that she'd want to put one on with all the cameras around anyway. Her dresses with their dangerously low necklines make her uncomfortable enough.
"Still," he grumbles, "you tell them no."
Madge nods, looking down and picking at the stitching on her comforter for a minute before pulling one of her pillows to her and hugging it.
She considers letting the moment pass, like so many others since meeting Cecelia, but it's eaten at her too long. She needs to know if she's setting herself up for more heartache.
"Mr. Abernathy," she begins, staring at the pattern on her pillowcase, "Cecelia, she has...children, she has a family...do you think-"
Her thought is cut short when he drops onto the bed beside her and takes her hand. "Yes."
Slowly, Madge lets her eyes rise, lock with his.
Running his free hand over his face, he sighs.
"I want you to have a life, kiddo. You're smart, you'll be able to do what needs to be done, play this game and maybe win a few rounds." He gives her a small smile. "Cecelia is a best case scenario, I know that, but you can be too."
"What if I screw up?"
"You won't."
While she isn't so sure, the thought that she won't, that she'll play the game so flawlessly that she'll be able to have something close to a normal life, causes her lips to turn up.
"I could have a boyfriend?" She asks, trying to keep her voice even.
She could have Gale.
Mr. Abernathy snorts. "I guess, someday. You're a bit young for a boy."
Madge can't help it, she laughs.
"I'm sixteen years old," she tells him, a real smile finding its way onto her face. "How old do you think I need to be?"
He shrugs. "Thirty? Forty?"
Rolling her eyes, Madge makes a disgusted noise.
Reaching out, he pulls her to his side and presses a kiss into her hair. "I just want you to be happy."
He wants her to have the things he didn't.
Closing her eyes, Madge relaxes against him and lets her mind wander.
Maybe she could get married, have children, have a life...
Just as quickly as the thoughts form she squashes them out. It's too much of a gamble. One she knows she can't live with if she came out on the losing side.
Easing in closer, pretending that everything he wants for her is a possibility, Madge blinks back tears.
She suddenly wishes she'd never met Cecelia.