Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.

Divergent!Crossover - continuation of chapter 144!

Madge drums her fingers on the railing and chews down on her bottom lip, trying not to think too much about what she's going to do tonight.

She and Gale have been sneaking around for months, almost close to a year since that storm brought him to the Amity compound, and it has to end. No matter how hard she tries to push the thoughts from her mind they keep coming back, clawing at her brain and hissing until she's curled into herself crying.

Suddenly hands slide around her waist and Gale drops his chin to her shoulder as he whispers, "Hi."

"Oh," Madge tilts her head in his direction, "you scared me."

He smirks that stupid little smirk he always does and bends in, quickly pressing his lips to hers. Gale's hands tighten around her waist and pull her flush against him. He dips down and kisses along her neck and collarbone. "I missed you," he murmurs. Madge's stomach flutters like it always does, feeling his voice reverberate through her body. "God, so much."

"It was only a few days," she says back. He nips at her throat and she gasps. Gale spins her in his arms and bends down, capturing her lips fiercely. They hardly see one another. Moments like this are precious. Immediately his hands go for her hair, curling in her curls and needing her as close as he can get her. Quickly she pulls away, dropping her head down so his lips were on her forehead. "Gale," she sighs. He edges away slightly. "We should talk."

He freezes, but eventually dips his head into a nod. They moves a few feet and sink onto some nearby stairs, Gale wanting to pull her closer but unsure where this sudden tension is coming from and not wanting to ruin anything.

"What happened?" he asks.

"Nothing." Madge fiddles with the tips of her hair when she was nervous. She's doing it now. "Gale," Madge lifts her head but can't meet his eyes. Her words are struggling to come up. "We can't do this anymore. Sneaking around like this." His frown deepens. The first few times they met up she said the same sort of thing, trying to convince him to leave because it wasn't safe. But they've been doing this for such a long time now he doesn't understand where this is coming from. "One of us is going to end up getting hurt," she says.

"Madge."

"The rules are faction over all," Madge reminds him, finally meeting his gaze. She blinks away tears and he stretches forward, cupping her cheek and scooting toward her. "I like you too much, Gale. If we keep this up… nothing can happen between us."

"Things have already happened between us," he grumbles.

"You know what I mean." She's thinking long term. Future. Marriage. "And if we keep doing this, it's… it's false hope. If I fall for you anymore than I am now I'll—"

"Madge," he tries again. Gale reaches over with his free hand and grabs hers. She doesn't want to end things because he had done something wrong, because they're having relationship troubles, she wants to end them because she's falling in love with him. He can see it in her eyes. "We'll figure something out," he whispers.

"Gale—"

"If it comes down to it," he says, "we'll figure something out. We've been at this for too long to just give up." Hesitantly she nods, her lips curving into a forced sad smile. "You're not the only one who's attached," he reminds her.

"I know."

"I think about you every day. God, if I, if I could see you every chance I got I would."

"I know," Madge says again. He tilts her chin up and squeezes her fingertips. "I just hate… I hate…" she shakes her head. She isn't supposed to hate anything, being Amity and all, but she can't help it. "I just want to date like normal people do who are in the same faction."

She wants to wake up curled in his arms with sunlight streaming through the window. She wants to trace his Dauntless tattoos across his chest. She wants to wear his big black shirts that hung down to her knees. He wants all of these things as well, maybe even more than her.

Hell, she hasn't even met his family.

"I want you to meet my mom," Gale suddenly said. Her eyebrows furrowed, then parted in confusion. "She knows I'm seeing someone but I haven't said who because you're not in Dauntless."

"She'd judge me for being in Amity."

"No. She'd judge me for choosing someone out of my own faction." He sighed and dropped his hand from her face, grabbing both of her hands now. "I want to tell her. I want her to meet you. I want her opinion on the situation. I want you to meet my siblings, I want—"

"Okay," Madge cuts him off, smiling softly. It doesn't quite reach her eyes. "Sure. But I don't think it would be very tasteful to have an introduction at the Merciless Mart." Gale frowns, and Madge lets out a huff of air. "Come on, Gale. You know it wouldn't work. Plus it'd be too obvious."

"Then come to the Dauntless Compound," he shrugs. Her eyes become hard and cold. "What?"

"I can't just waltz into the Dauntless Compound, Gale."

"I've been in Amity's."

"Because we offered you refuge from a storm! Dauntless doesn't do that!" Again he frowns. "What, do you want me to dress up like one of you and hop on the train?" His eyes light up suddenly and she leans away. "Gale, no. No, Gale."

"Madge, come on!" He grabs her hands tighter. "No one would know. I know so many ways to get into the compound it wouldn't even be risky. As long as you've got black on no one would suspect a thing." He pulls her closer. "Think about it. Put that bravery to the test."

"Don't pressure me into this," she frowns. Gale releases one of her hands and cups her cheek again. "Could I stay the night?"

"A night alone in my apartment," Gale whispers, nodding his head. "You know you could. It would just be us. We've got no work on Saturday." Still, he pulls her closer. "Just think about it. Please?" Gale never resorts to begging. It's clear how badly he wants this.

"It's so dangerous," Madge murmurs.

"You know I'd keep you safe. Besides, with me, no one would think anything."

"People wouldn't recognize me. I don't look like I'm from Dauntless, Gale," she tries to find a reason to get out of this. "I don't act like I am." He sticks his bottom lip out – a trick he must've learned from his little sister. Oh, Posy. Madge has always wanted to meet her. She searches his pleading eyes. "You'll make sure it goes smoothly?"

His lips curve into a smile and he dips his head forward. "Of course. You know I will."

"Okay," Madge eventually nods. "Okay. I'll do it."

Peeta makes sure to cover for her. He told her of the risks but helped her with her Dauntless look anyway. Gale dropped off a bag earlier with some of Katniss's clothes and Peeta was the one to retrieve it.

Katniss was just a tad bit smaller than Madge, so the pants were extra tight. Peeta shrugs, "I mean, Gale's definitely going to like it."

And like it he does. He finds her at their designated meeting place and immediately stops in his tracks.

"Shit," Gale exhales. Seeing her with tight black pants instead of her normal long flowing skirts makes his body react in a way he isn't prepared for. She never shows off her curves but this outfit is hugging all of them, as well as dipping down the front of her shirt and exposing the tops of her breasts. He strides toward her and grabs her waist, tugging her toward him. Into her hair he murmurs, "Why the hell didn't you join Dauntless, again?"

"I look ridiculous," she huffs. Wrong, she is ridiculous. She looks absolutely breathtaking. Gale can't wait to spend the whole weekend with her. "Everything is so tight, and it, I—"

"Madge," he cuts her off. "You look good." He tugs her toward him, their fingers laced together. "Really good." A blush dances across her cheeks and he dips in, kissing her lightly. "Ready?" he whispers. Madge nods, though she's shaking. "We'll be okay. I know a shortcut."

Miraculously, it goes smoothly. Gale really does know some shortcuts, all down underground and through dripping cold hallways. The vibes from the Dauntless compound don't make Madge feel well but it might be because her clothes are so tight. Gale holds her hand with all he's got and smiles wider than she thinks she's ever seen.

Finally they emerge into an opening. He points out all the little things. "The cafeteria is over there. That's where the chasm is." This or that, things she only briefly registers. There are so many people, all dressed in black, and none are looking at her. She looks toward Gale and he tightens his grip on her hand. "Don't be nervous," he murmurs.

"Something's going to go wrong," she whispers back. He just shakes his head. "I can feel it."

"Are you that afraid of meeting my mother?" Gale asks, cocking an eyebrow. Madge frowns. "Madge, breathe. Come on. We're already here." He pulls her down a hallway. "You want to turn back?"

"Of course not," she shakes her head. "But I'm the one in the fault here if something goes wrong."

"Nothing is going to go wrong," Gale says for the thousandth time. "Don't you trust me?" Madge hesitates and his face falls. "Madge?"

"I do," she whispers. "Gale, I do." They stop in the hallway and he blinks away his disappointment. She steps onto her tiptoes and grabs his cheeks in her hands. "I trust you more than anyone," Madge says. Her lips graze his. "More than anyone." He caves into her, his hands sliding around her waist. Gale pushes her against the wall and sighs into her mouth, stealing another kiss. "I mean it," she pants. "I'm just… I'm scared."

"Don't be," he pleads. "Come with me. Meet my family." Madge nods and his lips find hers again. "Thank you," Gale whispers. They stay against the wall another few seconds, savoring each other's warmth before he finally pulls her away again. "She's going to love you," Gale raves. "All of them. I know it."

A few twists and turns later they reach Gale's mother's house. Madge tries her best to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach and smiles at her boyfriend brightly. She does trust him, and she does want to meet his family, so she'll push away the fear she holds inside. She's not used to taking risks. Being Divergent is a risk enough, but sneaking into the Dauntless compound? Sometimes things are just too heavy.

He knocks on the door a few times and tugs Madge closer. A few moments pass before the door swings open, a little girl waiting.

"Gale!" she grins. Only a few feet tall she charges forward and latches onto his leg. "You're here! You're home!"

"Pose, I come every day," Gale laughs. He reaches down and picks up his sister who clings to him like he's a life raft. He carries her inside and gestures for Madge to follow. She shuts the door behind them and Gale lowers his sister to the ground.

She stares wide eyed at Madge. "Who're you?" Posy asks.

"That's why I'm here," Gale says. He reaches for Madge's hand and it settles the nerves in her veins. "Posy, this is Madge." Posy clearly does not approve. She wrinkles her nose and studies the girl. Mage's nerves return. "She's the girl I was telling you about, remember?"

"I didn't think she'd be so pretty," Posy sniffs. She hesitantly steps toward Madge. "I've never seen you before."

"She's busy a lot of the time," Gale says. He looks at his younger sister. "Can you go get Ma? Tell her we're here?" Posy gives Madge another look before nodding her head and sprinting from the room. Gale turns back to Madge and pulls her closer. "You okay?" Madge smiles as best she can and he squeezes her fingertips. Moments later Gale's mother emerges from the back room, her eyes wide and her smile wider.

"Hello!" she cheers. She extends her hand to Madge. "I'm Gale's mother, please call me Hazelle." Her handshake is fierce, Madge is left unable to speak. "I knew Gale was seeing someone but I never expected you to be so lovely!"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ma," Gale frowns.

"I'm Madge," she finally returns. Hazelle lets go of her hand and Madge's falls back to her side. "It's so nice to meet you."

"Please, please come in," Hazelle says, gesturing past the hallway. "We were just about to have lunch."

At the kitchen table is sitting two other boys who Madge can only assume to be Rory and Vick. Rory, the older one, looks angry and studies Madge much more than Posy had. Vick just stares and drools. Posy, in the end, decides that she likes Madge and wants to sit next to her while they eat. The Hawthorne's are great and welcoming. Happy, mostly kind, and very talkative. It's hard for her to talk but after a bit she opens up, starts to tell them about the things that she likes to do.

Madge has to be careful of how she words things. She can't give away that she's in Amity but a lot of the things she likes to do are Amity central, like listening to music and going to the orchard.

After the meal Posy and Vick leave the table to go play with their toys. "She's so nice, Gale!" Posy cheers as she walks away. "Bring her back!" The two leave Madge with Rory Hazelle and Gale.

The younger two aren't even gone for a minute before Rory says, "You're not from Dauntless." Madge tenses up, her eyes zone in on the boy. His hair is a mess, his eyes are dark and gray just like Gale's. Rory turns his gaze to his mother. "Can't you tell? The whole time she's been talking, Ma! She's not one of us!"

"Rory," Gale snaps.

His brother jerks his head around. "She's the most un-Dauntless person I've ever met!"

"I'm a transfer," Madge forces out. Gale lets out a soft breath of air. "Didn't I mention that?"

"Sure, you're a transfer, but not into Dauntless." He gestures to Madge. "You've got no calluses, no bruises or scrapes. There's dirt under your fingernails. Please, for the love of God tell me where there's dirt at the Dauntless compound?"

"Rory!" Gale tries again.

"You're from Amity. I know it."

Hazelle digests the conversation quietly before she turns to her younger son. "Rory," she says gently. "Go to your room."

"Ma—!"

"Go to your room," she says again. "Now." With a grunt Rory pushes himself away from the table, scowling at his brother and at Madge before he disappears. Hazelle turns to Madge and smiles softly at her. "I knew the moment you walked in that you weren't from Dauntless, Sweetie. I don't mind." Gale lets out a sigh of relief but Madge's shoulders are still tense. "I couldn't figure out which faction you belonged to, Abnegation or Amity, but I think that Rory was right. Was he?"

Madge's hands are shaking but she nods her head. "Yes. I transferred from Abnegation."

Hazelle smiles. "You're Divergent. Like Gale," she tips her head at her son. "Like his father." Surprised at the revelation Madge has no words, but she tips her head anyway. "I bet you have some Dauntless in you, don't you? Brave enough to come into the compound."

"Candor, too," Gale chirps. "She's got it all but Erudite." He reaches across the table and grabs Madge's hand. "Ma, she's… Madge is the most incredible person I've ever met." He doesn't know how to string his thoughts into words. "I… I want to be with her. But she… we're not—"

"In the same faction," Hazelle points out. "Obviously. How long have you been together?"

"Almost a year," Gale says. He looks toward Madge who is looking at him. She's not shaking as much anymore, not after Hazelle's declaration of knowledge about Divergence, but she still seems unsure. "What do we do?"

Hazelle thinks on this for a moment. "As Dauntless, Gale, we've been assigned the task of keeping order in our city. And this, no matter if I don't mind, is against the rules." Madge falls slack. "The only option for you two to stay together would be to become factionless. Otherwise, it can't last. It's improbable and illegal." Hazelle looks at her son, holding this girl's hand, and smiles sadly. "I'm sorry, Gale." She turns to Madge. "You are absolutely wonderful," Hazelle tells her. "And I'm so happy my son has met you."

"Thank you," Madge whispers. Her voice cracks. Gale looks toward the ceiling. "I'm glad I could… I could meet you. His family." Madge looks up at Gale. "He means the world to me." Finally Gale tilts his head down and looks at Madge. His heart shatters.

Not wanting to waste another moment of his precious time with Madge he stands abruptly, pulling her with him. "We're going to go," Gale tells his mother. Hazelle nods her head. "There are things I want to show you," Gale says to Madge. "Things I want to do. You'll still stay, right?"

"Of course," Madge nods.

Gale turns to his mother and says, "Tell the kids I had to go. I'll come by tomorrow some time." Hazelle nods. "Love you, Ma," he calls, dragging Madge toward the door and leaving his home. Madge waves over his shoulder. Gale pulls them out into the hallway and starts walking but Madge stops him. "What is it?"

"What is it?" she echoes quietly. Gale steps toward her so they're closer to the wall instead of the middle of the hallway. "Gale, what you're mother said—"

"What about it?" he asks. His eyes narrow at her, his hands slide around her hips. "I want to be with you. And being factionless is not an option." The answer becomes clear. He wants to continue to sneak around. And without even saying it, he knows how she feels about it. "I know you don't want to live like this," he whispers, lowering his forehead to hers. "I know you don't. But will you? For me?"

Madge blinks until her eyes stay shut. He cups her cheek. Eventually, she nods. "You know I will," she whispers back. "I'd do anything to be with you."

"Until we figure something out further, something past this." He presses down, their noses brush and their lips graze. "And we will," he promises. "We'll figure out where to go next."

"Okay," she croaks.

He kisses her gently. She prays his hope is enough.