Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
Madge leans off the balcony and lets the wind whip at her face. She still isn't used to the chill from District 2 but she doesn't really want to be inside with everyone receiving their New Year's kiss.
It's the year after the war has ended for good. Katniss and Peeta are back in District 12, a place where she should be as well. Madge couldn't return. Can't. Not with her parents death hanging over her. She'd feel too alone.
District 2 isn't very welcoming either, though. But they had jobs. And she needed one. So here she is.
Cheers radiate from inside as she pulls her coat tighter around her, letting her blonde hair dance in the wind that wraps around her. She hears the sliding glass door open but doesn't turn to see who it is. Could be anyone, really. She works for the government filing papers, but everyone in her department was invited to this shindig.
Madge only turns when the person who's made it out into the cold night takes the spot next to her, leaning over the balcony.
She should be surprised to see Gale Hawthorne but the effect of seeing him in the halls at random times throughout the year has made his appearance less startling. She hadn't imagined he'd be at this party, however.
"Is it midnight yet?" she asks him, unnerved by the silence.
"There's still a few minutes," he responds. Madge studies the way he leans over the railing, looking down at the bustling District below them that prepares to celebrate the New Year that's arriving. "Undersee," he says gruffly. "Why'd you come to District 2?"
"I needed a job," she tells him. "Needed to get out of 13. Couldn't go back to 12." He nods, because apparently his story is the same. Madge knows what guilt hangs over him with Prim but she'll never mention it. "New me, I guess."
"Suitable, with the New Year and all," he says back. Madge smiles a bit before looking back down at the District. She rubs her hands together to get a bit of warmth. "Did you celebrate the New Year back in 12?"
"Not really," she shakes her head. "There were always people over from the Capitol. Borrowing our house. Making themselves feel important." Gale chuckles and turns to face her. "Did you?"
She can imagine so. Gale would probably take girls out to the slag heap. Their New Year most definitely started out on a great note. Kisses and gentle touches that she never received.
"No," he shakes his head. "I'd stay home. The kids would always go out and bang around our pots and pans, though."
Madge laughs and looks back toward him. "You didn't join them?"
"Only if Posy begged me too," Gale chuckles. The two pause as the shouting from inside carries through the walls. 60… 59… 58…
"I've never had a New Year's kiss," Madge tells him.
52… 51… 50… "Me neither," Gale says. 47… 46… 45… "Never found the need."
"You'd think you would," Madge says, her eyebrows high on her forehead. "You know. Being Gale Hawthorne and all." 38… 37… 36…
"Never found the right girl." 30… 29… 28… "Never had a reason to look forward to the New Year. Mines. Hunger Games."
"That's all gone now," she tells him. 25… "You can start fresh. We all can." 20… 19… "No war. No starvation. No…" Madge trails off as Gale shifts in his spot, turning to face her. 13… 12…
Gale suddenly leans forward and kisses her. Gently. Carefully. His lips move quickly against hers and yet at the same time, everything freezes. Madge can still hear the people inside shouting. They're at 7. Or 3. Or…
Everyone cheers but Madge and Gale still don't move. Completely entwined in each other. Her hands have found his belt loops, his, her hair. They lean against the railing and don't pull away from one another until the cheering is only a dull roar.
As he steps back she blinks a few times. "What was that for?" she asks, her voice clearly as shaky as she is.
Gale shrugs. "I'm trying something new this year."
A/N: Happy New Year! New Years? I don't know. But happy happy to one and all! Have some fluff!