Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
Madge is in the kitchen for a long time after she says goodbye to her friends, scrubbing off the plates they ate Christmas Eve dinner on and sipping at her wine. It isn't until she finishes does she return to the living room, surprised to find Gale Hawthorne still sitting on the couch.
"Thought you left with Katniss and Peeta," she says. His shoulders lift slightly as his eyes zone out on the fireplace. He makes no forward effort to leave so Madge assumes he'll be here for a bit. "Do you want some more wine?"
"Sure," he murmurs. There's quiet Christmas music playing from the radio and Madge grabs the bottle of wine before lowering herself on the couch next to him. She fills up his glass and he tips his head at her. "Thanks." Madge smiles before filling up her own glass again. She sets the bottle on the coffee table and takes a hearty sip, sighing at the warmth that fills her up. They sit quietly before she turns to him. "How do you do it?" he asks before she can say anything.
"Do what?"
"Spend Christmas alone."
Madge drags her freehand through her hair and shrugs. "I usually finish off a bottle of wine before passing out and sleeping through the day." Madge lost both of her parents in the bombing of 12, she doesn't have any family to spend Christmas with. "Sometimes I bake but…" Madge trails off, shaking her head. "I try not to think about it."
Christmas was the only holiday she really enjoyed back in District 12. Her mother would always manage to get out of bed long enough to help Madge make some cookies and Madge would play tunes on the piano all Christmas Eve. They never really traded presents but everything just felt right.
"I prefer liquor," Gale says. Madge's mouth curls upward. "Didn't you get an invite from the Mellarks?" he asks, stressing the fact that Peeta and Katniss tied the knot a few months ago.
"Sure I did," Madge nods, "but it's their first Christmas together and I didn't want to impose upon them." Gale takes another swig. "Besides, I think I'd rather stay in my own bed instead of sleeping in a guest room." That's why her friends were over tonight, to celebrate the holiday. "Why don't you go home?" she asks.
"It's not for me," Gale answers.
"Not for you?" Madge rolls her eyes and turns away from him. "If I had a home to go to I would."
"It's not like I don't want to," Gale grumbles. "It just isn't…" he shakes his head and downs the rest of his wine. "I haven't had enough to drink for this conversation." Madge chews down on bottom lip as he reaches forward for the bottle. "Things have been different since the war," Gale tells her, pouring himself another glass. "Rory is still working on talking to me; Vick can't be in the same room as a fire so we don't burn a yule log anymore. Posy…" he shakes his head again. "She knows things are different."
"And your absence is helping… how?"
Gale takes a big swig from his glass and shrugs. "It's not hurting anyone."
"I doubt that."
"Christ, Undersee," he turns to face her. "I just can't do it. Alright? Maybe next year." She tilts her head into a slight nod and pulls her knees up on the couch. Madge rests her head against her legs and hears Gale sigh again. "I should leave."
"And go where?" she murmurs. "Back to your empty apartment? Stay." She peers up a bit and finds him staring at her. "No one should spend Christmas alone," Madge says.
Their eyes meet momentarily before he smirks. "I didn't get you a present."
"I didn't get you one, either," she says. "But I hardly doubt that would've changed anything." He chuckles and shakes his head. "Just stay," Madge whispers. "We can be miserable together."
Gale cocks an eyebrow and Madge can't help but smile. He nudges her with his elbow. "Who said we had to be miserable?"