Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
"Undersee, c'mere."
Madge's engaged to Gale Hawthorne but it appears as though he can't even remember her name.
"What's gotten into you, Undersee?" He waves his hand toward her and frowns. "You alright?"
"Madge," she blurts out.
She's put up with it long enough. The entirety of their relationship he's called her Undersee. At first it was bitter, harsh remarks. Eventually it molded into flirting teases. Then something of a relationship, and now… now what?
Madge paces toward him. "My name is Madge."
Gale's eyebrows furrow and he frowns. "I know that," he says. Again his hand extends but this time he attempts to link it with hers. She pulls away.
"Then call me Madge," she says. They're engaged for crying out loud. No longer teenagers. No longer dating. Engaged. "Like you mean it."
For a moment he pauses, but then Gale's smirking. "Madge," he murmurs, "you're acting ridiculous."
Somehow he manages to get lace his fingers with hers. Despite his hold she's still angry.
"We're getting married in two weeks, Gale, and I've barely ever heard you say my name." In fact, she's starting to think that he hates it.
This time he really frowns, shaking his head. "That's not true." Madge opens her mouth to protest but he cuts her off. "You're name is beautiful. But you'll always have time to be Madge."
"I don't—"
"You'll only be Undersee for two more weeks," he whispers. "Madge, you'll always be Undersee until you're not." Gale bends down and kisses her gently. "Because then you'll be Hawthorne."
She lets the nickname stay.