Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
He didn't know how he ended up there, sprawled across a rock looking down at the girl below him. Gale kept his tail in the water as he tried to rouse the girl, her skin was cold. He didn't understand how humans could be so fragile in the water, as a merman he could tackle both. He also didn't understand why he hadn't just swam away, let the girl die like the rest of her crew when their boat crashed, but he was in too deep now.
Gale's father had died from a hunt, a human had speared him like he was a fish and ever since then Gale had refused to trust humans. They were easy to get caught up with, their wondrous earth ways and the way they moved. He was always interested in them to a degree, he just knew to never trust them.
But this girl was so fragile and looked so innocent. "C'mon," Gale shook her shoulders a bit. He didn't understand why he was suddenly desperate for her to awaken. "Breathe," he murmured, still shaking her.
Suddenly there was a little cough and a panicked gasp for air. Gale jerked away in surprise as her eyes snapped open, a blue that rivaled his ocean home met his gaze. She tried to sit up but became dizzy and Gale held her down.
"Hey, hey," he whispered. "You're okay. You're okay." Her chest heaved for air and she coughed some more until she rolled onto her side and vomited into the sea. She dropped back onto the rock and continued panting, sucking her tongue desperately.
"Water," she croaked. Gale looked at her confused before he remembered something his father had told him about humans before his death – humans needed fresh water to survive. Unfortunately they were surrounded by the ocean. Salt water. "Please," she cried.
"I—I'm sorry," Gale shook his head. "I have none."
"Daddy…" she turned to face him, her eyes studying his face. "My father…" Her dry tongue darted out to wet her lips but it did no good. "Where…"
"Ma'am," Gale started, still shaking his head. "Was he on the boat?" Tiredly, she nodded, squeezing her eyes shut and pulling inwards as though she was in pain. Gale shifted in his water seat, making sure to keep his tail concealed. "What's your name?" he asked. He didn't have the heart to tell her no one survived, not when she might not make it through either. Land was too far for Gale to carry her, and getting too close to the shore was dangerous for him.
"Madge," she answered before coughing again. "Please…" A loud horn blew suddenly, causing Gale to jump again. Someone was shouting, yelling for survivors, and Madge cried out for them. Her hand grabbed Gale's forearm before he could slip back into the water. "Please," Madge said again. "Help…"
And though he had no reason to, Gale nodded. As he swam from his rock back into the ocean her eyes caught on his glistening tail and she gasped, but he was gone before she could say anything. He swam far below the surface to the search boat that was looking and guided it to the rock Madge had been on.
Only when he was sure they had found her did he swim back home.
Gale anxiously swam his small home back at the bottom of the sea. His brothers swam around him knowing his nerves were shot and bombarded him with questions. Where had he been? Why was he acting so weirdly? The list went on and on and on. He couldn't bear to tell them what he'd done, that he'd saved a human. Rory would never forgive him knowing what humans did to their father, Vick would just be confused.
Instead he left them and swam to collect his thoughts.
In the next few days he couldn't get the girl, Madge, from his head. She was beautiful, her skin covered with freckles like sparkling grains of sand, her hair golden like the rays of the sun streaming through the water. She was unbelievably soft. And her eyes, Gale had never seen someone with eyes like hers. He wondered what her scales would look like if she was like him, a mermaid, and if they'd be smooth or rough. Smooth, he thought. No doubt.
Eventually he decided to return to the rock he dragged her to. He wasn't sure why, it just felt like something he needed to do. But when he breached the surface and found the rock occupied he froze.
The girl had heard the burst from the sea and turned her head, catching his eyes before he could slip below the surface again. And God, it was her.
"Wait," she called out. Gale remained frozen and she held up her hands. "Please wait," Madge said softly. She looked different, somehow. Perhaps it was because she was no longer on the verge of death. Her cheeks had a soft pink to them, her lips were full. Gale was entranced and he knew this was dangerous. But he stayed. "I've been coming out here every day," she said. "Waiting for you, you—you saved my life."
Gale blinked a few times, holding his spot. "So?"
"So," she echoed, "I'd like to know your name."
Gale shook his head. "No you wouldn't." Her face fell at the bluntness of his words, confusion filling every pore. "You know what I am. That's the only reason you're back."
"It's not," she protested. Even her voice had a softness to it, something that reminded him of the sea. She was made for the ocean, her being a land dweller was such a misfortune for the world. "I… I wasn't sure, and it's true I'm… intrigued, but that's not why I'm here." Madge continued to stare at him. "If it wasn't for you I'd be dead."
"Your people killed my father," Gale said. He didn't know why. It definitely wasn't the right thing to say. But it came out anyway.
Madge's face fell again. "My people?" It was her turn to shake her head. "Not all humans are my people." She shifted a bit, the hem of her dress getting caught in the tide and pushing it up her legs a bit. The sight was distracting. "In fact, my people have always lived in harmony with the sea. It was your home that took my family!" Again, he continued to stare. "My mother, father, they were both on the boat. Now they're gone. So I know what it feels like to lose someone wrongly."
Gale let out a quiet huff of air. "I'm sorry."
"As am I," Madge said. "For your loss." She licked her lips, this time they became wet and it was another distraction for Gale. "But I'm not like whoever harmed your family. In fact, I'm in debt to you for saving me. My…" she hesitated. "My entire country is." Country, he thought. What does that mean? "I just ask one thing – your name."
What did he have to lose? "Gale," he answered. "My name is Gale."
She came back to the rock every day. He watched her swim out a few times, insisting that land wasn't too far from her and she was a good swimmer. Her hair became poofy when it dried, the wavy strands turning into incredibly curls. He was fascinated by her, her voice and her smile and her words.
"I've always loved the ocean," she told him one day. "My father would take me on walks on the beach when I was younger and the waves would lap at my feet." She smiled at the memory, and then her eyes watered. Crying, she explained as she wiped her tears. No one noticed things like that below the surface. "I miss him."
"I'm sorry," Gale said.
And he found himself watching her legs, her feet. He didn't understand the appeal but they were pale and smooth like the rest of her skin. She stuck her ankle in his face one day and smiled mischievously, explaining every part of her legs. Toes, knees, thighs, things Gale had never learned about.
She stayed out very late one night and Gale didn't want her to swim back in the dark. Not that it was dark yet, the sky was a deep red, but he didn't allow her to go alone anyway. He stayed by her side until the water was too shallow and watched as she walked back onto shore. Her dress clung to her in ways that made his heart feel strange and she waved over her shoulder before disappearing up a hill towards a grand mansion, one fit for a king.
"My father was a king," she said softly when he mentioned it the next day. Madge stared off into the distance and pulled on the ends of her hair. "They want me to step up. Take the throne now that he's gone." Madge fiddled with the tips of her hair. "They want my birthday to be a coronation. They say 23 is old enough to rule the kingdom."
Gale stared at her. "You're a princess – a queen?"
Madge sighed, looking away from him. "Don't say it like you're disgusted," she frowned.
"No, Madge," he reached up and grabbed her hands, causing her gaze to snap back to him at once. He didn't let go, his wrinkled fingers holding her smooth ones. "I'm not. I just never knew. That's incredible." Her eyes dropped down to where they're linked and she spun her hands, causing their fingers to lace. Gale eventually lowered his gaze as well before pausing. "Madge—"
"Don't," she cut him off quietly. She eventually moved her hands away. "I know. I…I like you, but we can't ever be anything."
His hands were still warm from touching her. "You're human."
"You're half fish." He splashed her at her quip and she shrieked in laughter, jumping into the water after him. After a bit of fun, laughing and swimming and splashing, Gale pulled her close. Her eyes drifted from his chest up to his mouth where they lingered. "I'm really trying to convince myself," she breathed, "that this is weird. Because you have a tail."
"And you have legs," he breathed back.
"But I really want to kiss you." He looked at her, an eyebrow raised. "What?"
"Kiss? What's kiss?"
Madge's eyebrows rose as well. There must be other ways that mermaids and mermen show their affection to one another. "It's, um, what we do when we like people," Madge said. He narrowed his eyes at her, thinking that she was mocking him, but then realized she was just embarrassed. "You press your lips to someone else's lips." She brushed a damp strand of hair from her face and hesitated. "I could… show you. If you want."
Gale found himself nodding.
Madge slid her hands up his arms to get better leverage on him and then cupped the back of his head, pulling him toward her. Their lips met a bit awkwardly but once Gale realized what exactly a kiss was he meets her encouragingly, their lips moved together methodically and she tasted like the sea. His hands were needy, sliding up her legs and dragging her as close as he could.
After a bit Gale noticed she was struggling to swim and pulled away. Her eyes were dark, her lips were full, and he was in way too deep.
Their days continued as such. He would come up practically every day and she would meet him there. They would talk and laugh and kiss and the more he learned about her the more he craved her in ways he never knew were possible.
After one particularly intimate afternoon Gale knew they couldn't dance around the subject anymore. "What do we do?" Gale croaked after she had burned kisses to his throat. He pressed his forehead to hers. "I can't keep this a secret from my family anymore, and when they find out that…" that he'd fallen for a human… His lips stretched for hers again and she meets him halfway, sighing into his mouth and pulling him closer.
Gale's hands slide around her waist and he groans, a sensation he's never felt before stirs deep inside his stomach. Some sort of desperation festers inside him, something that he doesn't understand. Her fingers knot in his hair and he groaned again.
A sudden splash sent him springing away from her, the sound too close and too exact to be anything but another merman. Gale spun to find Rory floating a few yards away, his eyes full of confusion and anger. "What are you doing?" Rory croaked. "What are you doing with her?"
Madge remained frozen on her rock, blinking at his brother. "Rory," Gale tried, "you don't understand."
"Understand?" Rory echoed. His face was full of disbelief. "She's a human, Gale!"
"Rory," he tried again.
"I followed you because I knew you were up to something, you've been sneaking away, I don't know what I thought but it never…" he shook his head in disbelief, his eyes honed in on Madge. "She's the reason Dad's dead!"
"Will you let me explain?" Gale growled. "She's not—Madge is—"
"And what was that you were doing with her? Some… some human mating ritual?"
"Rory," Madge called. "Please…"
"You don't get to say my name!" the merboy snapped. He disappeared under the surface of the water and was gone like that, leaving Madge and Gale alone
Gale returned to her and grabbed her hands, unable to explain what just happened. "It's okay," she whispered. "Go." Gale sighed and closed his eyes. Madge cupped his cheek. "It's okay," she said again.
"I'll be back tomorrow," Gale responded softly. His eyes opened again and met hers, the calming blue he continued to be fascinated with. "I promise." He pushed himself out of the water just enough for his lips to meet hers, and Madge's small smile was enough to give him the strength to return home.
When he returned home his mother was waiting. There was a sadness in her eyes that Gale could feel and it made him ache. "Ma," he started, swimming over to her. She shook her head back and forth with a sigh. "Ma, you've got to let me explain."
"Explain that you've fallen in love with a human?" she asked.
Gale rested where he was, dragging his hands through his flowing hair. "It's more complicated than that."
"It's more complicated than loving a human?" Hazelle asked. She gestured for Gale to join her and he swam to her side. Her hand snaked around his waist and pulled him toward her. "Unlike Rory I want to know what's happened. But you have to tell me everything."
That was something Gale could agree to. The story gushed from him, how he had been up watching the clouds when he saw her limp body draped over a rock. He remembered the storm from the night before, the fire that danced over the surface and the lightning that filled the air, and curiosity got the best of him. He told her how he was shocked at how similar humans were to them, besides their lack of tail, and suddenly couldn't leave her side.
He told her how Madge awoke, told Gale her name, and asked for help. How she reminded him of the ocean, from her tanned skin to her sea-like eyes and voice soft like the waves. From then on he told Hazelle how he went back, found her, and began a friendship with a stranger from a strange land. Madge was sweet and soft spoken, unlike anyone – including merpeople – he had ever met.
"Her family came into power after… after dad," Gale told his mother. "They disbanded the cruel hunters and fisherman, they haven't even had contact with us until she met me."
Hazelle listened to his story quietly. "How can you be sure she isn't lying to you, Gale?"
"She wouldn't," Gale shakes his head. "Ma, you've got to meet her. Then you'll understand." Hazelle sighed but he grabbed her hands. "Ma, please."
"Even if I meet her," Hazelle told him, "what will it change? You're not like her, she's not like us." She tries to get him to understand this. "You could never be with her, Gale. Not unless you went to the sea-witch and—" Gale's eyes grew. "Gale, no. You aren't to go to that woman."
"Fulvia's made the switch before," Gale says. "They're temporary, we've had so many return to us after getting their sea legs."
"Yes," Hazelle nods, "but they're a disgrace. Gale this is your home. The sea. Not the land. And what good would it be to be with her for a few days then returning here? It would hurt even more." Gale pulled away from his mother and swam to the other side of the room. "Think about us, think about your family." He pressed his hands into his eyes. "Go see Katniss, or go to the edge of the kingdom, or go hunting, Gale…. Do something here that you love. Remember why it is that you're here."
"I'm here because I was born here," Gale growled. "I didn't choose this life."
"But you don't hate it."
He squeezed his eyes even tighter shut. "I don't. You're correct. But she…" Was giving all of this up worth love? He would never know unless he tried. Gale lowered his hands and looked at his mother, her flowing hair glistening and her soft gray eyes filled with sadness. "Ma, I've got to. I've got to see."
Fulvia the sea witch was a kind woman. She was not malicious and she was not cruel. She had been a human at one time, mastered the potions of the land, and joined the sea. She liked it better here, and Gale couldn't blame her. He loved the sea, as well.
But his mother was right, he also loved Madge.
"This is a temporary treatment," Fulvia told him as she brewed him a drink in her cauldron. "Four days. Your tail will return at that time, whether you'd like it to or not." Gale nodded in understanding. He had said goodbye to his siblings, and though Rory was angry Gale knew he didn't have a choice anymore. He needed to see what life could be like with Madge, what life could be like on land. "If you wish to stay human there's only one way."
"What is it?" Gale asked. He didn't think he would, but he needed to know.
"On the fourth day, when your tail returns, you would have to bring a human with you to the sea. The sea will claim the human instead, but only if the human wants to be claimed. If not it will take you, and your tail will return." Gale nodded again as she poured the brew into a drink. "Best of luck to you, Gale. I hope you find what you're looking for."
He lifted the cup to his lips and drank.
"Sir!" Gale heard a distant shouting, a voice that was soft like the waves that were crashing on the shore. "Sir!" The voice continued calling, closer now. "Are you okay? Are you—" Gale groaned and rolled onto his side toward the voice and squinted into the light.
He felt different.
Instead of the one smooth tail he had two legs, ten toes, two feet and two knobby knees. Controlling them took more thought and he flexed his calves, feeling every movement.
"Gale?" the same voice was infinitely closer now, and incredibly soft. He blinked a few times, Madge coming into focus, and forced an awkward smile. "Gale!" Madge dropped to her knees by his side and grabbed his face between her hands before her eyes darted to his new legs. "What did—what did you do?"
"Thought I'd come to your place for once," he croaked.
"Oh my God!" She unwrapped her shawl from around her shoulders and shoved it in his direction so he could cover himself. Apparently the sea witch hadn't thought to include pants in his transformation. "Gale, how… why…" she couldn't find the words and he wasn't sure he could either. "You're an idiot!"
"Hello to you too," he frowned.
She laughed, then, and Gale felt it in his toes. Their eyes met and her smile was incredible. "Here," Madge offered her hand to him and stood. "Let me help you up. We'll go inside, I'll get you some real clothes." Gale forced himself to follow her, though the movement was difficult, and slowly they wobbled toward her home.
Haymitch, Madge's only living relative, nearly exploded when he saw Madge helping Gale inside. "Sailor, washed up at sea," Madge had lied. Haymitch didn't approve, and most certainly wouldn't if he knew she had been sneaking off to see a merman for these past few weeks. She would explain the details later. "Don't just stand there!" Madge yelled. "Get him something to wear!" Haymitch disappeared and Gale marveled at everything around him.
He was slowly getting used to walking and lifted some of his weight from her side, continuing to stare up into the home. The ceiling arched into a sphere and light filtered through the windows. There were open doors somewhere allowing a warm sea breeze to fill the room. The tile felt strange below his feet. He saw furniture that rivaled the seashell and moss covered corals that constituted his under the water.
"This place is amazing," Gale murmured.
Madge smiled, ducking her head a bit. "I'm glad you think so," she whispered back. He reached up and brushed some of her golden hair from her face and her smile brightened further. "You have a lot of explaining to do," Madge told him.
"I know," he nodded.
They parted awkwardly when Haymitch returned, a pile of clothes in his hands and an angry scowl on his face. "You're to be tended to," Haymitch said, slamming his hand down on Gale's shoulder. "I'll return you to the princess when you're fit for presentation."
"But—" Madge protested and it died when Haymitch shot her a look. "Be gentle," she murmured. She apologized to Gale with her eyes and he smiled at her to show he wasn't angry. He let Haymitch lead him elsewhere.
Gale didn't understand baths, but he was forced to have one. Ladies scrubbed at him and used a thing called soap which smelled divine, but he already missed the smell of saltwater. They picked out an outfit for him, nothing that could rival a prince he was sure but a loose fitting white shirt and some black pants, as well as some black boots.
By then he had found his legs and stood tall and strong. He strode out to meet Madge who was on the balcony, staring out at the sea.
He stopped behind her and she spun at the sound of his footsteps. Her cheeks flushed when she saw him and he grinned saying, "Pretty dress." It was white and flowing and loose, billowing in the wind that danced around them.
"You're really tall," she exhaled. He chuckled and moved toward her slowly. "What did you—I was going to swim to the rock and you were just on the shore and you had legs…" she trailed off, clearly confused. Gale grabbed her hands, running his thumbs over her knuckles. "Is it permanent?"
"No," Gale shook his head. "Four days."
"Four days," Madge echoed, a tinge of sadness in her voice. He pulled her closer and reached up with one hand, cupping her cheek. "You did this for me?" she asked. Gale nodded slowly and she stepped forward, pressing her forehead to his chest. "Life is so unfair," she murmured. His hands circled around her and stroked her back.
Unfair, indeed.
Their four days together were the most incredible thing Gale had ever experienced. He got to watch the sun rise and set over the ocean, he got to see the stars. Madge introduced him to books, showed him maps of faraway places and photos that she brought back with her from her journeys around the world. They explored the kingdom, Gale marveled at the other humans and wanted to learn everything there was to learn.
At night Madge snuck into his quarters and they explored each other's bodies before he crushed her body against his and slept more soundly than he ever had in his entire life. She was warm and sweet and whenever Gale found himself missing the sea he turned to her and found what he needed.
Not only did he learn about her life where servants waited on her, cooked her food, prepared her for her future as the leader of the kingdom, but he also shared everything there was about his own family. They talked about Rory and Vick and Posy, his mother Hazelle, his good friend Katniss.
And time passed much too quickly.
He woke in the middle of the night once and watched her snoozing, her chest rising and falling, before he pressed a kiss to her forehead and slipped from the bed. Gale strode to the balcony, one of his favorite places in her home, and stared out across the sea. Somewhere under water his family was asleep as well, probably wondering about him on land. And when he returned to the sea he would live a life of disgrace, others looking at him as an outsider for having experienced a new land instead of just loving his own.
But he did love his own. He loved this one, too.
Most importantly, he loved Madge. Gale should've listened to his mother. This time together with her was not enough, and leaving her would kill him.
"Excuse me," a voice said. Gale looked over his shoulder to find a strong looking boy roughly his age. He had sandy blond hair and blue eyes like Madge's. A sibling? "I've been waiting a few days to meet you," he said, extending his hand. "My name's Peeta."
"Gale."
They shook hands and Peeta smiled, a kind smile much like Madge's. "I know," he said. "Madge talked about you all the time before you got here. Only you had a tail then and now," Peeta gestured to his legs. "Well, the world is full of surprised."
Gale felt surprise trickling through him. "Madge told you about me?"
"Of course she did," he nodded, still looking at Gale's legs. "She's in love with you." Peeta looked back up at Gale. "And not because you saved her life," he added. Peeta moved to lean over the balcony much like Gale was. "I work in the kitchen," Peeta said, finally clearing up the answer as to how he knew Madge. "My family does. Did. Sort of." The sun was sure to rise soon, the sky was turning a lighter blue. "My dad was on the boat Madge was on when she lost her family. He didn't make it."
"I'm sorry," Gale said.
"Not your fault," Peeta shrugged. "I've still got my brothers." Begrudgingly he added, "And my mom."
Detecting the hesitation Gale asked, "What's wrong with your mother?"
A little laugh escaped Peeta. "Nothing." Gale knew there was a lie there but he didn't know the boy, he had no reason to pry. "She's not the greatest." Peeta's eyes were cast out on the ocean. "I just wish I could get away from her." The silence between them was thick for a bit before Peeta shook his head. "My life story is hardly important," he turned back to Gale. "But you being here, that's important. Madge, she… she's really special. To me, to a lot of people."
"To me as well," Gale said.
"I know. You wouldn't have traded in your tail if she wasn't." Gale nodded. "She's lived a life of… royals always telling her what to do, never letting her talk. She really loves that about you, that you just let her talk. That you listen." He reached over and rested his hand on Gale's forearm. "I'm glad you're here. I've never seen her as happy as I have these past few days."
Gale swallowed back the guilt. "I'm leaving," he said. "Tomorrow. Today's my last day with legs."
Peeta furrowed his eyebrows. "Does she know that?"
"She does," he nodded again. There was a tug in his stomach. "I don't want to go." But his family was waiting for him, and he had no one to switch places with. "I'd ask her to spend time with me underwater but it's too much. And it would only be another few days…" he sighed, rubbing at his face. "She has a home here. A country that needs her. This is where she belongs." And Gale belongs to the sea. "I hate it."
"There've been stories about merpeople transforming permanently," Peeta said. "You could always—"
"I know," Gale cuts him off. "It's just not in the cards for me."
"What do you have to do?"
"Not what I have to do," Gale said with a frown. "Someone else's sacrifice." And a bit of his own, he supposed. No longer being able to see his family, his friends. Having to start his entire life over. And though it'd be with Madge, if she wished for him to stay, he still wasn't sure if he could do it. "They'd have to take my place."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
They fall into a silence for a moment before quiet footsteps are heard. Gale felt a warmth pressing into his back and small arms wrap around his chest. "Morning," Madge's soft voice came from behind him. Gale turned, wrapping his arm around her and pulling her to his side, allowing her to nuzzle against him. "What're you two talking about?" she asked with a yawn.
"Nothing," Gale responded. He leaned down and pressed his lips to Madge's forehead, feeling his heart twist at the way her eyes crinkled when she smiled.
Peeta turned to Gale in the quiet that followed, "It was nice to meet you."
"You as well," he replied.
Peeta smiled sadly at the two of them before leaving them alone on the balcony.
"If you…" Madge started, but stopped, and Gale turned to look at her. They were on the beach, far enough away from the waves that their feet weren't getting wet. He had hours left before the sea would reclaim him and everything felt heavy.
"What is it?" Gale murmured.
She blinked a few times and looked away from him. "If you could find a way to stay, and you wanted to stay…" she took a deep breath. "I'd want you to."
And he admitted, "I want to." Her chin quivered and he reached over to grab it, pulling her chin so she looked at him. "I am in love with you," Gale said softly. Madge's eyes began to fill with salty tears and it made his entire being ache. "My family, they would understand if I chose this. If I chose you." Gale had spent 25 years searching for a partner, someone who rivaled him, balanced him out. Of course the one he found would be off limits. "And I want to."
Madge sniffled and she dove toward him, burying her face in his chest. "I love you," she cried weakly. "It isn't fair, it isn't fair." Gale kissed the top of her head and pulled her closer, rubbing soothing circles on her back. "I want you to stay," Madge said with such desperation it was as though maybe if she wanted it enough he could.
"He can," a voice said.
Madge pulled back from Gale and looked up, finding Peeta on the shore. "Peeta?" she echoed. "What… what do you mean?"
"You said you just need someone to talk your place," Peeta said to Gale, "right?"
"Peeta I could never ask that of you," Gale frowned.
"You don't have to. I want to go." Peeta extended his hand toward the sea. "I've always loved the ocean, the merpeople. Their culture has fascinated me since I was little and fishing with my dad and saw a few swimming by." He paused, smiling at the memory. "There was the girl, her tail was so beautiful I was… I was blown away. She waved to me, I felt welcomed. I don't feel welcomed in my home anymore."
"Peeta," Madge tried, but he shook his head.
"My brothers, they've all found lovers. All I have now is my mother and she… she's dreadful, Madge. I need a new start."
"You wouldn't be welcomed with open arms," Gale said, shaking his head at Peeta. "You'd have to prove yourself to them. There would be no guarantees."
"You don't understand," Peeta said. "I'm willing to risk it all." He gestured back to Madge's home. "You've been great to me and my family all of these years," he said to Madge, "let me help you. I want this just as much as you do. I'm willing to risk it if you are."
Could he do it? Could Gale risk it all for Madge?
He was nodding before he knew, "Yes. Yes, I am."
The transformation was quick and relatively painless. Gale's legs felt strong and Peeta dripped into the sea as his tail formed, a collection of green and silver scales that replaced what used to be his legs. The sea claimed Peeta, and Gale could no longer return.
It was getting darker at this point and Peeta had no idea what to do, where to go, so he and Gale sat on the shore for a long time discussing things. Gale told him all about his home and how to get there, how to act and behave, how to prove himself as worthy and show that he wanted to be there.
A splash lifted from the water and both turned to find Katniss, Gale's friend from home, a few feet into the ocean. "Gale?" she called. Gale looked at her with sad eyes but smiled all the same. "I owe Prim money now," she said with a frown as her eyes found his legs, but then smiled as well.
"Katniss," Gale beckoned for her to come closer and she swam in his direction. "This is Peeta. He's… he's taken my place."
Katniss looked at the boy and her lips parted in surprise. "I know you," she said.
Peeta looked at her and blinked echoing, "I know you."
They stared at each other for a long time before Gale awkwardly cleared his throat, causing them both to return their eyes to him. "Show him how to live," Gale asked of Katniss, and she nodded. "Send my mother tomorrow. Please. Tell her this was not a light decision."
"She knows," Katniss nodded before returning her eyes to Peeta. "I think he'll fit in okay." Peeta smiled and scratched at his forehead before Katniss looked away, on the shore to where Madge was slowly making her way toward them. "Is that her?" she asked.
"That's her," Gale answered.
Katniss smiled. "She reminds me of the sea," she said.
In the morning Gale and Madge swam out to the rock that he first met her at. He prayed that his mother would actually arrive. He didn't plan to leave her like that but he had no chance to wait for something like this to happen again. He loved Madge and if Hazelle met her she would understand why Gale made this choice.
"If she doesn't come…" Gale started, but forced himself not to think it. Their feet dangled in the water and Madge nudged him with her elbow. "I don't want them to hate me."
"They're your family," she whispered. "They couldn't."
They sat in silence for a while watching the surface of the ocean. In the distance dolphins were jumping and seagulls were squawking. Their hands were linked together and the sea breeze tossed Madge's hair in his face more than once. She kissed his knuckles to calm his nerves and reassured him again and again that his family would arrive.
Suddenly Gale felt a tug on his ankle that caused him to jump, and in front of him appeared his little sister. "Hi, Gale!" she cheered, giggling, as she held onto his ankle.
"Posy," he croaked. She giggled again. "You're here!"
"I had to see your toes," she said, poking at his foot. "Ma said they're like fingers only littler." She poked his foot again. "Ma was right."
"Ma's always right," Vick said, breaking the surface with a smile. "Hey, Gale."
"Vick," he breathed.
"The gangs all here," Hazelle said as she reached them as well. Even Rory surfaced a few seconds later, his face void of any anger. "Gale, sweetheart, Katniss came to us right away last night." No one had yet to address Madge and for the moment that was okay. "She explained what happened and introduced me to the boy who came back instead. He's very lovely."
"He is," Gale agreed.
Posy was still poking Gale's feet. "Ma said that you're in love." The little girl's eyes lifted to Madge and she giggled again. "I can see why." Madge let out a breathy laugh and smiled. "I'm Posy," the girl said. "Can you swim? I don't think Gale could ever love someone who couldn't swim."
"I can swim," Madge nodded with a grin. "Not all the way down, though."
"Well you don't have a tail," Posy said, waving her hand. "Of course not all the way down."
Hazelle's gaze moved to Madge as well and she swam over. "Katniss did not do you justice when she told me of your looks," Hazelle said. "You're beautiful, dear."
"Oh, thank you," Madge blushed. "You are, too. Your eyes are incredible." Hazelle smiled kindly and reached up, grabbing Madge's hand. Her fingers were pruny but her touch was gently. "Ma'am, I…"
"Please, call me Hazelle," she responded.
"Hazelle," Madge started again. She looked toward Gale for a brief second and he nodded in encouragement. "Your son has made me so happy," Madge said softly. "I… I am so lucky, so lucky for meeting him."
Hazelle smiled still and nodded. "Yes, you are. But he's lucky as well." Gale grinned, leaning down to press a kiss to Madge's shoulder. "I can't say that I'm not sad," Hazelle admitted, looking at her son, "but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't happy too."
Posy giggled, "She just wants a grandbaby."
"Ugh," Vick frowned. Rory rolled his eyes and floated on his back, allowing the sun to warm his tail. "Don't make me think about it."
They all laughed, and Gale had never felt more relieved in his entire life. They spent the afternoon swimming back and forth and talking to one another. Madge got to know each one of Gale's siblings and his mother, and they all got to know her. By the time the sun was beginning to sink they arranged for another meeting later in the week.
Gale and Madge swam back to the shore and she raved on about how she had so many new laws to pass regarding the restoration of the coral reefs and the underwater homes, the protection of the merpeople and perhaps even building meeting centers where both humans and merpeople could coincide and get to know one another in a peaceful setting.
And though Gale no longer belonged to the sea, when his hand found Madge's, he felt at home.
A/N: This started as a little idea and somehow it grew into this. Hell if I know. Hope you like it!