A/N at the end of the chapter.

Chapter 34—the property of Madge Undersee.

Had anybody been around the Seam in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday morning, they would have heard Gale Hawthorne grumble the phrase "goat-fuckers" every few minutes.

Madge had suggested a few days ago that it would be a good idea for him to formally introduce her to his mother. Gale knew she was right, but he hadn't been in any mad rush to make it happen. His mother's lectures were long and loud, and he wanted to wait until Hazelle was in an especially good mood before he told her.

He should have listened to his girlfriend. When he got in from hunting yesterday evening, Hazelle didn't even wait until he'd finished walking through the door. "Why the hell are you trying to buy condoms in the Hob?"

Gale had sat down on the sofa and started mentally ticking off each standard lecture as one ended and another began. First up was, "I've-never-been-so-embarrassed-in-my-life." It was a multipurpose screed that all three Hawthorne boys had heard many times over their young lives. That segued into the "respect-all-women" lecture. This was a favorite of Hazelle's, and she'd been using it a lot recently.

Then she began, "don't-you-DARE-get-anybody-pregnant." The moment Hazelle uttered the word "pregnant," Rory and Vick started snickering from the other side of the doorway where they'd been eavesdropping.

With Hazelle temporarily distracted by the younger boys, Gale stepped into the kitchen to make some tea. A few minutes later, Hazelle found him there. "Don't think we're done discussing this, Gale Hawthorne."

Gale calmly placed a cup of tea in front of his mother, unfazed by the steel in her voice. "This hasn't been a discussion. I'm pretty sure this is just a lecture," he said. "If what you actually want is a discussion, I'm going to have my say, too."

His mother sat down and picked up the mug of tea he'd offered. She narrowed her eyes at her oldest child and said, "Is that so. Well, then, go ahead. Have your say."

There was no point in trying to soften the blow, so he got straight to the truth. "I'm seeing Madge Undersee."

Hazelle set her tea down and pressed her fingertips into her eyeballs. "Madge Undersee," she said tonelessly.

"Yes."

Hazelle kept her eyes closed. "And is this...courtship with Madge Undersee the reason you're buying condoms?"

"Yes." Gale waited.

Hazelle sat up straight, smoothed her hair back and looked him in the eyes. "Is it serious?"

"Yes."

"Gale," she sighed, "Madge is a nice girl, truly, but you can't date her. What do you think is going to happen after she comes of age? Is she really going to leave the Mayor's Mansion and move to the Seam to be with a miner?"

No, we're going to run away together and find the resistance. Well, he couldn't say that, but he also didn't want to argue class politics with his mother right now. So all he said was, "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it."

"What are you going to do when her father finds out?"

"He already knows."

She started to look a little angry again. "What do you mean, he already knows?"

This was exactly what Madge had warned him about. "Madge introduced me to her father last week."

The temperature in the room seemed to suddenly drop. "Do you mean to tell me," Hazelle said, rather frostily, "that Madge introduced you to her father, but you didn't feel the need to do the same for me? Does Madge feel like she's too good to come to the Seam?"

"No. She's actually been after me to bring her here and introduce the two of you."

"Then why haven't you?" she demanded.

"Because I didn't want to, OK?" Gale raised his voice. "I didn't want to have this scene with you! I didn't want to listen to you explain to me all your reasons why I shouldn't be with the Mayor's daughter! But mostly, I just didn't want you to lecture me again about responsibility when I'm the one that puts most of the food on our table!"

Now Hazelle was well and truly pissed. "You listen to me, Gale Hawthorne. I'll lecture you about responsibility anytime I damn well feel the need. I work my fingers to the bone for the four of you, and hunting turkeys isn't the same thing as raising babies! So we'll be having this discussion no matter who you're buying condoms for!" Her voice started to waiver and crack a little. "For god's sake, Gale. I do her laundry."

For the first time, Gale couldn't meet her eyes. "I know," he said softly, feeling guilty. He wasn't ashamed of her, but he'd made her feel like he was.

"How do you think it makes me feel, when you can't be bothered to tell me that you're dating her?"

Gale was slightly horrified that his mother had started to sniffle. Time to make her mad again. Hazelle was easier to handle when she was pissed. "Ma, even if it was a girl from the Seam, I still wouldn't have told you. Let's face it. You aren't exactly known for your serenity."

Hazelle spent the next several minutes proving Gale's point. After she'd calmed down, he apologized, reassured her that he was not ashamed of her and promised to bring Madge by.

Dinner was pitifully small. Gale had only managed one squirrel and one rabbit. It wasn't enough for five people, even with tessera bread.

At bedtime, Gale washed up and grabbed a clean pair of undershorts from his drawer. The words, "Property of Madge Undersee" had been scrawled across the crotch in permanent ink. Smiley faces now adorned the backsides. A quick inspection proved that every single pair of shorts had been given the same treatment.

Gale yanked Vick and Rory out of their beds by the scruff of their necks and proceeded to shake them both like rag dolls. "Which one of you goat-fuckers did this?" Neither of them could stop laughing, so he divided blame equally between the two. He was on the verge of inflicting some serious injuries when Hazelle intervened.

She was more angry about the fact that Vick and Rory had used her laundry marker than she was over what Gale indignantly referred to as the "destruction of my property." He was only mollified after Hazelle told the boys they would have to do Gale's chores for the next two weeks.

So there he was, sneaking through the District in the dark, knowing he had Madge's ownership written across his dick, and a smiley face across his ass. "Those goat-fuckers," he'd mutter, every time he thought about it. He readjusted his game bag and imagined all the ways he was going to make his brothers' lives miserable when they started to date.

To get his mind off of the many ways he wanted to strangle his little brothers, he focused on the task in front of him—getting through a new part of the woods with Katniss and Peeta.

Gale wondered how Peeta would do in the woods. He was willing to go beyond the fence, so clearly he wasn't a complete coward. It's just...Peeta was so Merchant. And for all Gale's rantings about the wrongness of the class system in Twelve, Gale privately wished that Katniss would have chosen a boy from the Seam. Somebody who could listen to Gale's political views and not be shocked. He could just imagine the look on Peeta's face if he'd heard some of the things Gale said in private.

As he approached the tannery, he saw tracks in the wet grass leading towards the treeline. He followed them and and found Peeta and Katniss waiting for him just inside the tree line. They both had knives in their belts.

The darkness was nearly impossible to get through once they stepped more than a few feet away, but Peeta had brought a flashlight. He handed it to Gale. "Just don't let me forget to take it home," he said. "It's Bannock's."

Gale held his hand over the beam so he could illuminate the ground without allowing so much light to escape that they could be noticed from town. He did the same with the trees. As they got further away from town, Gale felt more comfortable leaving his hand off of the flashlight until finally he just held it in front of him.

As they picked their way towards the fence, Gale noticed two things.

First, the woods here inside the fence were very dense but also appeared empty of game.

Second, Peeta Mellark was the loudest person on planet Earth. He looked like he was walking normally, he acted like he was walking normally, but it sounded like Peeta was deliberately stomping on the largest, driest sticks in the area. Katniss had warned Gale about it, but holy shit.

Gale stopped along the way to pick up a few branches that were around 7 feet long and a few inches across. He handed a couple to Peeta. "Katniss and I don't have our bows," he explained, "so as soon as we're through the fence, we'll need to make spears. They won't catch us anything, but they'll be better than nothing if something attacks." To his credit, Peeta didn't even blink, he just nodded and took the branch he was offered.

The tree line gave way to rolling, lightly wooded hills. Gale turned the flashlight off. The sky had lightened enough that they wouldn't need it anymore. After coming over the top of the hill, they could see the fence in plain view.

They approached it cautiously, but it quickly became clear that it wasn't on. As soon as they were through, Gale and Katniss started scouting the area for signs of animal life. Peeta started turning the branches into makeshift spears, his cuts efficient and quick. In no time, he had stripped three branches of twigs and leaves, and had given each one a large, sharp point.

Each of them took a spear and continued to walk. Katniss soon found a large game trail cutting through the woods. The trail led them right to a large stream, much larger and deeper than the ones in Gale and Katniss' usual hunting grounds.

Gale and Katniss stopped and looked carefully at the stream before approaching it. Peeta followed their lead and waited for them. Gale looked at Katniss. "Cover me?" he said. She nodded and hoisted her spear up to her shoulder. Peeta did the same.

Katniss quietly explained to Peeta that they were keeping an eye out for predators while Gale approached an unfamiliar water source. Gale's eyes scanned the trees, the banks and the brush looking for any sign of movement. Satisfied that there were no cougars or wolves waiting to attack, he walked over to the stream.

Gale nearly wept when he saw the abundance of animal tracks. The bad news was he saw tracks of wolf, bear and mountain lion. The good news was it was clear that this part of the woods had every sort of small game. His heart nearly stopped when he saw evidence of deer and feral hogs. The stream itself was nearly bursting with fish.

The sun was up, and he called out to Katniss and Peeta. They cautiously walked over. He pointed out the tracks. The three of them started looking for places to set snares. Peeta had brought the snare that Katniss had made for him. Gale waited until Katniss was distracted by setting up a fishing line, then whispered, "Don't use that. Let me show you how to set up a better one."

Gale then showed Peeta the best way to set a trap. It was similar to the one Katniss had, but it included a rock to be used as a weight. "This is better for larger game," Gale explained. "I'd love to get a bow and quiver out here. Bagging a deer would take us all the way through summer."

"How would you do that?" Peeta asked. "You'd have to bring it into the district, wouldn't you?"

"Probably," Gale admitted. "The bows Katniss and I have were placed there by Mr. Everdeen or his father. I don't know how they got them there. They either took them through town or walked all the way around the fence. If I were to walk the fence to get one over here, it'd take me at least a day."

"Do you know how to make one?" Peeta asked.

"I've tried a few times, but they didn't turn out too well."

"I work for a carpenter, you know," Peeta said. Then he just grinned as Gale gaped at him. Was this kid actually offering to get him a new bow? Gale would have to think about that. It would put him in Peeta's debt much deeper than he really wanted to be. On the other hand, being out in these woods with his bow and arrow would mean meat and lots of it.

The three of them worked their way downstream, while Gale showed Peeta how to set snares, and Katniss either kept watch for predators, or tried to catch fish. After the fourth or so snare, Peeta had the hang of it. Gale supervised and pointed out small mistakes, but otherwise Peeta set his own traps from that point forward.

As they worked, Gale and Peeta started talking. The more they talked, the more Gale realized that he and Peeta actually saw eye-to-eye on quite a lot. Peeta told Gale that he had serious doubts about the population statistics they were being fed by the government. "There's a whole section of town on the merchant side, with completely vacant houses," he said. "The Merchant families who lived there all died out and there hasn't been anybody to replace them."

Gale told Peeta his crackpot coal theory (without mentioning Madge). Peeta got a distant look in his eyes. Finally, he glanced back at Gale and said, "It's horrifying how much sense that makes. I think you're on to something."

The conversation was interrupted by Katniss' ear-splitting shriek. Gale and Peeta both jumped up, spears in hand and looked wildly around.

A huge, feral hog was charging towards Gale and Peeta. Katniss had scrambled into a tree and her spear lay on the ground. Gale, not even thinking twice, chucked the spear towards the very large, very fast pig. The throw was long and powerful, but not accurate, as it sailed far above the hog. Spear chucking was not something he had a lot of practice at.

Cursing, Gale grabbed his knife. Peeta however, calmly trotted away from Gale and made a squealing noise. The hog slowed down, and Peeta made the squealing noise again.

The hog changed direction and made a full-blown charge directly at Peeta. "The fuck are you doing?" Gale yelled at him. Katniss was screaming from the tree she was in, and she frantically climbed down. Peeta spared a quick glance at Gale and made a calming motion with his hand. Then he got down onto his knees, leaned forward and balanced his weight on his right hand. His face was serene.

Katniss was now sprinting towards Peeta and the hog. Gale intercepted her. "Catnip. It's fine. He's got this." She struggled against Gale's grip, screaming Peeta's name.

The hog reached Peeta. He shot his left arm underneath the hog as he rolled to the right. The hog flipped over with him. Before the roll had been completed, Peeta's knife had found the hog's throat.

And just like that, the hog was laying on its side, quickly bleeding out while Peeta held it down. Peeta didn't have a scratch on him. Within seconds, the hog was dead.

Katniss was furious. She broke away from Gale, got into Peeta's face and yelled at him about how he could have been killed. Peeta beamed at her as if her fury was the most wonderful thing he'd ever seen. After a minute or two, he very calmly stated, "I have to catch pigs all the time, Katniss. I'm not hurt, all right?" She stomped off to pick up their spears, but Gale could tell she was trying to regain her composure.

Peeta he turned to Gale. "I need to repay you for your help with the snares. And I'll need help getting this thing back to Rooba. What's your price?" He pointed to the pig.

Gale had taught Peeta how to trap, so now Peeta had his own hunting grounds. That was worth a lot, and they both knew it. On the other hand, this was Peeta's kill, and Gale didn't have any claim to it. By putting it in terms of payment, Peeta was telling Gale that they were even now.

I am done underestimating Peeta Mellark. "I want one quarter end. All of it, including the sirloin." The sirloin was good, lean meat. They would eat it over the next few days. Rooba would smoke it most of the rest. Then it would keep for weeks.

"Deal," Peeta said. "Let's head back." Gale clapped Peeta on the back and laughed out loud. He couldn't help it. The Hawthornes were going to have meat every day for at least a month.

They didn't bother to field dress the pig. Rooba would use the offal to make sausage. Instead, they tied it to one of the spears, held it up until its bowels drained out, and then headed back towards town.

Katniss acted pissy on the way back. Frankly, she was starting to get on Gale's nerves. Peeta, on the other hand, grinned like a fool every time Katniss brought up how dangerous feral hogs were and how he could have been killed. I suppose when your parents don't give two shits for your well being, somebody upset at the thought of you being hurt is a nice change.

Things went smoothly once they got back and knocked on the tanner's door. Mr. Bucking answered, looked at the hog and grinned. "Well, I'll be. Peeta, when you said you'd have something for me, I didn't think you'd be back so soon." He winked at Katniss and Gale. "Good to see you both. Katniss, go tell Rooba I've got a hog for her." Katniss sprinted towards town.

While they waited, they all made polite chit-chat. Mr. Bucking was a nice man, which nearly made up for the fact that the tannery reeked worse than the pig shit they'd drained from the hog.

Katniss returned with Rooba, who was pushing a wheelbarrow. In minutes, Rooba had agreed to butcher and smoke their portions, and buy the rest. They'd pick up their fresh pork this afternoon. The smoked meat would be ready in a few days. Mr. Bucking bought the skin.

Gale looked at the sky. It wasn't even mid-morning. He hadn't made any money today, but he could sell all the meat he caught over the next few weeks. He had the whole day free and he knew who he wanted to spend it with.

He said goodbye to everybody, and headed towards the Mayor's house. If Madge was free this afternoon., he'd go home, clean up and take her for a walk. He knocked on her back door and smiled when she answered.

"Gale!" Madge was clearly happy to see him. "I wasn't expecting you today."

"I have the day free," he explained. "I was wondering if you'd like to go for a walk with me this afternoon."

"I'd love to, but wouldn't you rather go now?"

Gale looked down at his clothes and hands. "I need to get cleaned up first."

Madge said nothing but pulled him into the house. She took his jacket and then pointed to the sink. "Wash," she ordered. He washed his hands and forearms, and dried them on the towel she provided.

Her fingers on her lips, she very quietly led him to the basement. "Nobody is here," she whispered. "Well, my mother is here, but she's just taken her medication. And my father won't be here for several hours." She started to get undressed.

Gale glanced around, nervous about getting caught. "Where is he?"

"With Haymitch Abernathy. Once a month, Dad goes to Victor's Village with a bottle of the good stuff. Trust me. He won't be back until close to dinner." Madge was totally naked now and she reached for his belt.

Gale pulled off his shirt. Madge ran one hand up his stomach while the other fumbled with his belt buckle. She leaned in and placed kisses on his chest. By the time she got his belt off and his pants unbuttoned and unzipped, he was rock hard. She reached into his shorts and stroked him.

Gale groaned with need and pulled her closer to him. He kissed her, sliding his tongue over hers while he brushed his fingertips against her breasts. That caused her to make some noises that he liked a lot, so he did it some more. Eventually, Madge broke off the kiss and just let her head hang back as Gale tweaked and teased her nipples. Her hand was still clasped around him but she was so distracted by what Gale was doing to her that she'd stopped moving it.

He bent down just enough to get one of her perfect pink nipples into his mouth. Madge made even more of the noises, straddled his thigh and started grinding into it. He cupped her bare ass with one hand and placed his other hand between his leg and her folds. She was so wet, she was slippery. Gale teased her folds as she moved against him, softly brushing her clit with his thumb. He ran his tongue from her nipple up to her earlobe and started whispering into her ear.

"Madge," he breathed. "Madge, God. I think about you every night, Madge." She was making more and more of those wonderful sounds. Gale moved in her hand, which was still around him. He kept whispering in her ear, and started sliding three fingers in and out of her as she rocked faster and faster against him. He felt her clench around his fingers as she called out his name.

When she'd come back down from her orgasm, Madge seemed to realize that she was still holding his cock. Pulling her hand out of his shorts, she said, "I need you in my mouth. Now." She got on her knees and slipped his pants down over his hips. She started to do the same with his undershorts, but stopped. Then she looked up at him, brown eyes sparkling with humor.

"Nicely done, Gale. You really know how to flatter a girl."

Those little goat-fuckers.

A/N: I'm back! Thank you all for the faves, follows and reviews. I know there are some reviews that I missed while I was out of the country, so if I did not respond to yours, I apologize. Huge sticky buns to this chapter's pre-reader, greenwool, and beta, evilgrinstar.

Feral hogs are a real problem in the American South, Midwest and in Appalachia. They are descended from domestic pigs that were deliberately released into the wild to provide hunters with game.