Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
It's their one year anniversary and he's late.
Madge sighs, straightening her posture the best she can. She was taught from a very young age that being upset gives no excuse to slouch. So she sits tall in her seat, staring down at the menu in front of her.
"Excuse me, Miss," a gentle voice rings out. Madge lifts her gaze. "You're going to have to order soon or we're obligated to give your table away."
Madge feels a piece inside of her crumbling. "Of course," she nods. That's only fair. Her eyes dart toward the clock on the wall. "Ten more minutes?"
The waiter looks down at her apologetically and nods once before stepping away, leaving Madge alone with her nearly empty glass of water.
Just when she's about to give up and call it a night she watches a tall hulking figure nearly sprinting into the restaurant. Gale collapses into his chair in a hurry, letting out a deep breath.
"Shit, Madge," he drags his hands through his hair. His tie isn't properly knotted and his shirt isn't buttoned up all the way. "Let me explain."
"It's our anniversary," Madge says calmly. Her insides are shaking with rage and disappointment but she remains calm. "You're nearly an hour late. I was starting to think you had forgotten."
"Never," Gale growls. "I got held up at work. We've got a big meeting next week and everyone's been staying overtime just to get it ready." Madge listens to his story thoughtfully, reaching for her glass and taking a sip as he speaks. "And then on the way home I ran into Katniss and we got to talking and—"
"And of course Katniss is more important than I am," Madge cuts him off. Gale's eyebrows shoot to his forehead as Madge sucks in a sharp breath. "I should have known."
"The hell are you—"
"Listen, Gale," Madge says weakly. "I knew that when I married you there was a piece of you that would always love Katniss." He furrows his eyebrows his lips part slightly. "One year later and I still feel like I can't compare to her in the least."
"Madge—"
"But I'm your wife not Katniss, and I'm sorry but I feel as though I should rank a bit above her."
"Dammit, Madge, will you stop talking?" he snaps. Madge deflates, sinking backwards in her chair and trying to blink her tears away. "Of course Katniss is second to you. You should know that."
"You're almost an hour late," she sniffles.
"Yeah, because Katniss and I were talking about you." Madge feels her chin quiver as she holds his gaze. "Got you this," he mutters, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a thin black box. Madge hesitates before reaching for it. "I told her I was getting it for you and she wanted to see it."
Madge carefully peels off the lid, staring down at the necklace inside. Tears are filling her eyes again. "It's beautiful," she whispers.
"Cost a damn fortune, too," he grunts. Madge runs her fingers over the diamonds on the silver chain. "Designed it myself. After the night I proposed to you out in the meadow. With the stars. Remember?"
Her voice is still weak, "Of course I remember."
"Bragged about it for months," Gale continues, "all the time I put into getting it just right. Katniss wanted to see it." Madge squeezes her eyes shut, suddenly feeling entirely too guilty. "And I got carried away talking about the whole thing. Talking about you." He reaches across the table and grabs her hand. "So, I'm sorry that I'm late."
Madge eventually peels her eyes open. She forces out her apology, "I'm sorry, Gale."
"Hell, Madge, you really think I still loved Katniss when I married you?"
"I—I don't know, I just—"
His grip tightens around her hand, his eyes intensifying. "Course I care about Catnip," he mumbles. "She's basically my sister. We survived a war together. But I don't love her. Not like that."
Madge opens her mouth to respond when suddenly someone is clearing their throat. Both Gale and Madge turn to the waiter who stands with his tablet out.
"How nice of you to show up," he quips at Gale. Gale clenches his teeth and narrows his eyes at the boy. "Shall we start off with drinks?"
"A bottle of your nicest wine," Gale grumbles. "That's all for now."
The waiter smiles, "I'll be back, then."
When he walks away Gale turns back to Madge. His hand is still holding hers. "You're right," he mutters to her. "I don't have any excuse for being late, especially not a conversation with Katniss, but I can't take it back now."
Madge sniffles again. "I'm sorry for acting so… jealous," she finally responds.
Gale's mouth lifts upwards just a bit. "Jealous," he repeats, testing the word on his tongue. "You of all people, jealous. Have you always been jealous?"
She snatches her hand back from him and wipes at her eyes with the back of her palm. "Don't act surprised, Gale Hawthorne," she nearly snaps. "There are women looking at you wherever we go."
"There are?"
"Oh, stop that," she scolds him. Madge drops her eyes back down to the necklace, her fingers gently running over the diamonds. "You must see them."
"Why would I?" he asks. "You're the only one I'm ever paying attention to."
Madge glances up and meets his gaze, finding that her cheeks are heating up. Gale grins and reaches for her hand again.
"Here's your wine," a voice suddenly says, lowering the bottle onto the table. The couple thanks the waiter as he pops the cork. "For dinner this evening?"
After having spout off their orders and the waiter disappearing, Gale turns back to Madge. "Happy anniversary," he whispers. "I love you."
She nibbles on her bottom lip. "I love you, too."
Gale's smile widens. "And I promise to never be late again."
"Don't make promises you can't keep," she tells him as he pours her a glass of wine. With a laugh they clink their glasses together, toasting for another loving year together.