Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
"I'm telling you that this is a stupid idea," Peeta says for the thousandth time. Madge is holding her books tightly to her chest as they weave in and out through the giant crowd of students. His accent is thick, something most would describe as British, and there's panic in his voice. "You've got duties back home, Madge."
She waves her hand as though to get him to shut up. In a similar accent she responds, "Father said I don't have to be there during the signing of the alliances." Besides, Madge is only a princess. It isn't her job to be making treaties and trade routes.
She comes from a small country off the coast of Italy known as Panem. Madge's family came to power through an arranged marriage centuries ago and they're the royal family now. Making Madge the princess of the smallest, most unknown country to have ever graced planet Earth. Which is just fine by her.
They mostly keep to themselves, showing up at some well known events every once in a while. Madge likes to think of themselves as kind and gentle leaders. They don't make all the decisions anyway, there's a royal council (elected officials!) that make a lot of the calls. Madge's duties are more or less greeting the general public, keeping a positive attitude, and learning.
But their small country isn't the best for education. Sure, Madge's father could hire some tutor to come into the castle and teach, but Madge wanted the full effect. She wanted to go to a university. In the United States. So after a lot of phone calls to keep her identity concealed and taking a lot of tests to make sure she met the standards, she was enrolled in Capitol University on the east coast. She's pretty sure they're in Delaware, whatever that means.
"I'm just saying," Peeta picks back up, "that this is going to end badly."
The only real rule her father enforced was that Peeta come with her to the states. Madge didn't mind. Peeta's her royal advisor, but he's also her best friend, and she wouldn't have wanted to make the trip without him anyway.
"Someone's going to figure out who you are," Peeta continues. "And then it's going to be an absolute shit show!"
"No one's going to figure out who I am," Madge tells him. "The royal family in England doesn't even remember who I am half the time, I doubt some random civilian from the United States is keeping up on Panem politics." Almost immediately after she finishes speaking Madge collides into a human who is a lot taller than her. "I'm so sorry!" she blurts. Books and papers fly everywhere.
The boy grunts. "Watch where you're going, Princess."
Peeta reacts first, "What?"
"Watch where you're going," the guy snaps again, quickly collecting his things. Madge's hands fumble over her things.
"I'm so sorry," she says again. "I wasn't looking and there're so many people that–" The boy looks up and Madge goes silent. He doesn't necessarily look angry, just intense. His eyes are deep gray, piercing, as they watch her. "I'm sorry," she says another time. "It was my mistake."
Peeta's already finished collecting her books. "Just be more careful next time," the boy mutters.
She nods instantly and stands, grabbing her books from Peeta and nodding her head at the boy she ran into. Peeta pulls her in the other direction as fast as he can.
"I told you!" Peeta hisses. "I told you someone would know!"
Peeta worries all of the rest of the day despite Madge trying to get him to shut up. "That boyknew," Peeta insists, but Madge doesn't quite think so. They check her name on Twitter more than once and there's nothing about her traveling to the states to attend university, nothing about some royal princess sitting in class beside someone.
"You're being paranoid," Madge insists. They have a small apartment on the edge of campus, another thing her father thought necessary though Madge really wanted to experience dorm life. She doesn't mind too much. "It isn't a big deal, Peeta, I promise I can handle this."
"You can not tell me him calling you Princess didn't give you pause."
Madge turns to look at her friend and sighs, hesitantly crossing her arms over her chest. "He can't know," she says another time. She's trying to convince herself, she knows that. Of course it gave her pause. The first person who spoke to her spouted it out like he was one of her citizens greeting her at the park. "It's impossible."
"It's not impossible," Peeta says. "Madge, we have to be careful."
She rolls her eyes at him. He doesn't have to be careful. No one knows who Peeta Mellark is, he's lucky he has his own Wikipedia page! "I'll be more careful," she tells him. "Promise. You can't tell my father, though. We don't even know who that boy was. He can't be a threat."
"We'll give it a few days," Peeta murmurs. "If something happens then I have to report back. You understand that."
Hesitantly she nods, and slowly the conversation is dropped.
Okay, it really wouldn't be the end of the world if it was released that Margaret (Madge) Undersee from Panem was attending University in the states. There would be a lot of people trying to get to know her, she supposes. A lot of people taking pictures, maybe even asking for autographs. That wouldn't be the end of the world.
What would be the end of the world, though, was if someone found out and started blackmailing her and her family. Started using her. Just because Panem is a small and mostly unknown country doesn't mean there aren't people out there who would be quick and ready to snatch Madge up to strike up some sort of deal. Body guards would have to be flown in (and Madge does not need Darius in the states flirting with all the Americans) and she'd be under watch 24/7.
That is what would suck.
Madge is in the class with the boy that called her Princess. She's in the room early, Peeta by her side typing something out on his laptop (probably a daily update to her father) when she watches him stride in. She can't miss him. He's tall, has a messy head of dark hair, and is annoyingly handsome even though he was sort of rude to her when she bumped into him.
Her eyes follow him and she bites her lip, not wanting to alert Peeta, and for a moment the boy looks at her. His eyes shine with something she wants to describe as mischief and a smirk fills his face. She blushes and looks away, back to her notes in front of her.
Gale Hawthorne, she finds out his name when the teacher does roll call at the beginning of class. She responds to Margaret Donner (code names are the worst) with a smile.
The moment class is over she collects her things and hurries to get Peeta out the door. She doesn't want another run in with the boy who may or may not know who she is. But he sits closer to the door and is out of the room before she is.
"In a hurry, Princess?" she hears. Peeta shoots her an angry look and Madge spins around to face the boy. "You're always running somewhere," he says as he saunters toward her. "So are you in a hurry?"
"No I'm not," she says simply. "I just like to walk fast."
He smirks again. "You wanna grab a coffee, then?" Gale looks toward Peeta who's squared his shoulders and is now standing a little taller. "Unless that's your boyfriend…?"
"Cousin," Madge blurts. "He's my cousin." She looks toward Peeta and narrows her eyes ever so slightly. "I have class in an hour."
"Me too," the boy says. "Perfect amount of time to grab a coffee." He cocks his head to the side a little. "Hm? As an apology for running me over the other day?"
Madge can't help but smile a little bit. "Okay." Peeta nearly growls. "I'll see you in class," she forces out to her advisor before stepping up to join Gale. "Coffee. I'm not a big, um, coffee person." They start down the hallway leaving Peeta in the background.
Gale, as it turns out, is not as scowly and mean as Madge originally believed. He apologizes for snapping at her the other day. "I was running late for something and then all my stuff was on the ground, I didn't mean to be rude." And he has a laugh that makes her chest feel warm. "Imagine my surprise when I figure out the person that ran me over is this 5′8″ blonde girl who's basically a twig."
"Sorry again," Madge says. They're at a campus coffee shop now, right in the front of the library.
"Ah, don't worry about it Princess." She turns to look at him, making a face. "What?" Gale asks with a laugh.
"Why do you call me that?" she asks. "Princess."
Gale shrugs. "You've got the fancy accent and that whole prim and proper thing about you," he says. "Reminds me of a princess, I guess? I don't know. Like you've got a shit ton of money, or something."
"No," Madge says quickly. "I–no, I don't."
Gale laughs a little. "I'm just saying what I thought."
She orders her drink and then turns to him. "So it's like a nickname, then?"
"Sure," Gale grins. "It's like a nickname."
In her next class Madge finds Peeta anxiously waiting for her. "You could have at least texted me," he mutters as she sits down, half-empty coffee in hand. "How was your date?"
She scoffs. "It wasn't a date, Peeta. And it was fine. Besides, you were trailing me the entire time, I'm not an idiot."
"Wasn't a date?" he laughs. "Yes, Madge, when two people get coffee together that's a date. I know you haven't been on many–"
"Any," she cuts him off with a frown.
"Okay, you've never been on a date, but that was definitely one." She makes a face and he gestures to her cup. "You got coffee together," Peeta says. "Did you get his cell phone number?" Madge bites her lip, remembering fondly how they exchanged numbers. "Did you talk about, I don't know, likes and dislikes?"
"Yes," she mutters. "We did."
"That's a date, you ninny." Peeta rolls his eyes and sinks backwards in his seat. "All with the boy who knows you're a bloody princess for crying out–"
"Oh," Madge cuts him off again. "He doesn't know, Peet! It's just like, a nickname."
Peeta thinks about this for a moment. "So he thinks you're rich and pretty?"
"I, um–yes, I suppose that's what he thinks."
"Hm." Peeta frowns. "He's not wrong." Madge scoffs at her friend and he shrugs. "I still say we keep an eye on him."
Gale doesn't ask her on another date, but they do start texting. Madge is happy to have made a friend though secretly she wishes for something more with him. She also makes friends with the girl who lives down the hall, someone named Delly who literally never stops smiling and is in love with Madge's accent, as well as Delly's roommate named Annie, and a few of Gale's friends too.
Katniss is nice though she mostly keeps to herself, and Peeta is head over heels in love with her practically at first glance. Thom is loud and obnoxious but makes Madge laugh. And Bristel is sweet and always asks Madge about home (which Peeta thinks is a little suspicious, but considering Madge has been telling everyone she lives in England she doesn't worry too much).
Honestly? University isn't as scary as her mother made it out to be. She makes friends, she goes to class, she takes tests, life goes on. Madge calls home once a week to confirm to her parents that she's still alive and fill them in on her life.
And finally, late October, Madge gets a real date.
It's with a boy named Marvel, someone from the rich part of New York (which she knows is North from where Capitol is – she went to the Statue of Liberty once when she was a kid) and is pretty gentlemanly to her.
She expects Gale to be happy with her when she tells him the night before at his apartment, but instead he chokes on his beer and lifts his eyebrows. "With who?" he practically demands, and when Madge tells him his frowns is so deep she's worried it'll become permanent. "Thatasshole? You're shitting me, Princess."
"I told you I don't like it when you call me that," Madge mutters in response. It hits a little too close to home.
"Sorry," he snaps, "but I don't really like that you're going on a date with the biggest jackass on campus." Madge scoffs at him and crosses her arms over her chest. "Well, have a good time," Gale grumbles, lifting his beer to take another drink.
She storms out without a goodbye and vents to Peeta that night. "I don't understand," she says. "I thought he'd be excited for me."
"Who, Gale?" Peeta nearly doubles over in laughter. "Madge, you idiot, he's jealous." Madge furrows her eyebrows and shakes her head. "He's been into you since you bumped into him the first day here," Peeta says, still laughing. "I just thought you weren't interested, but you haven't noticed?"
"Well I'm sorry I don't spend too much time around other people my age," she says angrily. "It's a new thing. Sarcasm and I aren't friends."
Peeta starts laughing even harder, shaking his head at her.
Overall her date is not the best experience. Marvel has a whiny voice and talks about himself way too much for Madge to be too intrigued. In fact, she can't get her mind off of Gale. She's never really dated anyone, or really kissed anyone, or anything at all really, so the idea of him liking her sort of baffles her.
He doesn't even know me, she thinks more than once, and it feels like a knife to the stomach. Would he hate her if she found out she was a real princess? Would he want her more? Regardless, it probably wouldn't be the best way to start a relationship.
She tries to enjoy her date but still, Gale is on her mind.
When it's over and Marvel leans in to kiss her goodnight, Madge flakes. She thanks him for the evening but says she'd rather not see him again. Marvel gets angry but she simply walks away, marching straight to Gale and Thom's apartment.
She knocks hard on the door and Gale's the one to answer, first surprise lighting up his face but secondly anger. "How was your date?" he asks.
She pushes past him to get inside and shuts the door behind her, leaving Gale awfully close. "Do you like me?" she asks. He blinks a few times in confusion. "Because I like you, and I'm not good at flirting."
He blinks a few more times before an airy laugh escapes him. "Oh really?"
"Really," she confirms. "I've never–I haven't dated anyone really ever so I'm bad at the whole playing games things and I just want you to be upfront with me instead of acting like a dick and–"
He cuts her off with his mouth, confirming Peeta's statement from earlier. Gale presses her into his door and nods as he kisses her again and again. "Yeah," he murmurs against her mouth. "I like you." She lifts her hand to curve around his cheek and he grins. "I'm… sorry for acting like a dick."
She smiles as he pins his forehead to hers. "I'm not sure I forgive you yet."
"Mm…" Gale hums, leaning down and pressing his lips to hers another time. "I'll work on it," he murmurs against her mouth.
Gale takes her on a real date. "It's only fair," he says.
"It's about time," Thom counters as they're getting ready to leave.
Madge rolls her eyes but can't help feeling like she's on Cloud 9. She's had a few suitors in Panem but dating is entirely different, and Gale specifically makes her feel like magic. He holds her hand as he drives, lets her pick the station, asks about her day. He's wonderful and kind and definitely not the surly boy she knocked over on day one.
They go to the park to get snow cones and sit on the bench. "I love people watching," Madge had said one day. "It's one of my favorite things." Later Peeta told her that was probably because so many people always watched her. So she and Gale get their snow cones and settle onto a bench sitting close.
Gale's just finished telling Madge a story about his little sister that makes her stomach shift. "She's got this obsession with royalty," he said. "When the Clove family got married she woke up my mom at four in the morning to watch on TV." After taking another bite he smiled. "She was five."
"All royalty?"
"Modern royalty," Gale clarified. "She's got this big crush on Finnick Odair. Rory just printed out the whole world's worth of kings and queens and princes and princesses."
Madge got a little quiet after that. She picked at her ice and changed the subject.
A few minutes later Gale clears his throat. "You know," Gale says, "you never talk about your family."
Madge picks at her ice. "Is that bad?"
"Nah," he shakes his head. "But I mean, I'm always talking about my family." He lifts his shoulders into a slight shrug. "Bad blood, or something?"
"No, not really." Madge takes a bite of her snow cone. "But, I don't know. My father's always away on trips or busy doing something, my mother's preoccupied with this or that. I mean, I love them dearly but I don't see them very often. You know? Even when I'm home, I guess."
Gale reaches over and scoops a bit of her ice out of her cup. "I'm sorry," he says after swallowing. "I didn't mean to pry."
"You're not," she tells him with a smile. "I mean, I miss them. But I'm sure they're getting on just fine without me."
"You've got Peeta, anyway," Gale says. Ah, yes. Madge always forgets that they tell everyone she and Peeta are cousins. "Must be… nice? To be so close with your cousin?"
"He's also my best friend," Madge says. "We grew up in a, um…" she never knows how to word these conversations. "We grew up in a small area. His father," the royal chef, "and my father were… close. I mean," she adlibs, "they're brothers after all." Gale nods as he follows the story. "Anyway, um, we both decided we wanted to go to the states for University when we were old enough, so our parents… started saving up. And now, here we are."
"That's a lot of money," Gale says. "What do your parents do?"
Madge blanks and quickly shoves her spoon back into her mouth. "They work hard is what they do," she finally says, resulting in a laugh from Gale.
The rest of the date is lovely, both of them often reaching across to scoop up each other's ice from their cups with Gale sneaking in kisses every now and then. They head back hand in hand, both eager to start something new.
"I don't really know if it's allowed," Peeta tells her that night. "Dating, I mean." She frowns at him, annoyed he can't even pretend to be happy for her. "Gale's great, I know that, but you know how your dad can get. And Haymitch…"
Madge groans. "Haymitch is the head of my security team, Peeta, that's it. He doesn't get final say on who I see." Besides, Madge is almost 20 years old. She should get to make those decisions on her own. "I know you'll have to tell my father, but could you… wait? A bit? I'd like to see where things go with Gale first."
Peeta looks skeptical but eventually agrees. He'll hold off on the report for a bit.
Things with Gale move quickly. He's everything Madge never knew she wanted: kind and charming and patient. He's understanding and just the lightest kiss can get her heart racing and soon everyone knows not to come between them.
"I don't think I've ever been happier to have been run down on campus before," Gale murmurs into her collarbone one night. They've got his apartment to themselves with Thom working late and Peeta's managed to get Katniss to go on a date with him, so they're all alone.
Soon they're peeling back their clothes and Gale's carrying her to his bedroom and she's stopping him. "I've never…" she trails off and looks away. She's just in her bra and underwear now but she wants more.
"We can stop," Gale says. "I don't want to rush you."
"No, I–no, I want this."
"Are you sure?" He asks her again and again, before he makes every move, and she nods and moans and begs for more. By the time they're finished, boneless in his bed, she's never felt more alive. Gale pulls her into his arms and holds her close. "Feeling okay?" he asks.
She nods, lifting up her hand to stroke his cheek. "Perfect," she whispers. He grins, kissing her gently. "I'm so lucky," she murmurs with her eyes closed. "To have been the one to run you down."
Gale's grin widens. "I'm glad you think so."
They fall asleep entangled in each other.
But even though she's away at school, Madge has rules to follow. Peeta's going to absolutely kill her because of how late she is, but she manages to get back to her apartment before the sun rises. Gale's weary to let her go, trying to get her to stay with sleepy persistent kisses, but Madge wiggles out from under him anyway.
"Where've you been?" Peeta demands the second she's inside. "I texted you a hundred times!"
"My phone died," she tells him. "I was at Gale's, it's no big deal."
"It's kind of a big deal, Madge! Your mother's coming."
She blinks a few times in reaction to this news. "Because I didn't text you back?"
"No, because she's sick and they need to run some tests on her here in the states." Madge leans backwards against the door and drags her hand through her hair. "Your father's staying in Panem but Haymitch and Darius are both on their way, they expect to see you."
She rubs at her eyes with a soft sigh. "How long do I have?"
"Four hours, max."
Madge isn't quite sure what to wear to the airport to greet her mother. She can't be too fancy and she has to have her head covered in case of paparazzi, and she didn't have much time to finish her makeup after showering and napping. Peeta has to keep poking her to stay awake.
"How was your date with Katniss?" Madge asks with a yawn.
He grins. "It was lovely, thank you." After a pause Peeta adds, "She digs the accent."
"Mm," Madge laughs and shakes her head. "You're pathetic."
He laughs with her as she rubs at her eyes. "Like your accent isn't 50% of the reason Gale asked you on that first date for coffee." Again she shakes her head, choosing to ignore the comment.
"You should bake something for her. Katniss loves food, and you're a good baker."
"I've got my father to thank for that one," Peeta says.
"Ah, yes, how is it your father's my chef, and you're my advisor? I feel like there's a disconnect there somewhere. Maybe you should be my personal cook instead."
"I already am your personal cook," Peeta tells her. "You haven't touched a frying pan in your life ever."
"Hmm…" Madge presses her lips together as she smiles. The plane's landed by now but her mother is taking a long time to get off. "You think she'll be okay?" Madge asks. "We've known she's been sick for a while."
"They flew her out here to make sure of it," Peeta says. They've got some nice hospitals in Panem but nothing as nice as the states. It's a field they're still working on advancing. "Look, there she is."
Madge stands to greet her mother and for a moment both of them are laughter and smiles and hugs. Soon after she's lowered into a wheel chair because she's tired. "Jet lag," she tells her daughter, but Madge knows that's only partially true.
Madge says hello to Haymitch afterwards, who still looks rather sour that she's in University, and Darius after that. "Missed you," Darius nearly hums as he pulls Madge into a hug. "Without you in the castle I feel like I've got nothing to do."
"Oh, how horrible. You're getting paid to sit on your ass."
Darius laughs loudly. "You've developed a mouth. I told you America would be no good for you." He swings his arm over Madge's shoulder and tips his head at Peeta in a curt hello. "Tell me all about it, hm?"
"What for? I'm sure you've been reading Peeta's weekly updates."
She's in the hospital when she gets a call. "Gale," she tells Peeta and Darius.
"Ah," Darius grins, "the boyfriend."
Madge rolls her eyes and then stands to answer before disappearing into the hallway. "Hey."
"Hey, baby," she hears. His voice is sleepy, he must've only just gotten out of bed. "What're you up to? I was thinking we could grab lunch." There's a lot going on in the hospital, before she can respond he asks, "Where are you?"
"I'm with Peeta," she answers. "He wanted to go, um, shopping." Madge bites her lip as she looks up at the intercom, hoping it doesn't go off again. "I can't get lunch," she says. "I'm sorry."
"S'okay." Gale yawns and Madge smiles, imagining his messy bedhead and lazy smile. "What about dinner?"
"I'll let you know." She says goodbye and returns to her friends, rubbing at her eyes before settling into her seat. They're quiet for a moment before Madge turns to Darius. "How did you know Gale's my boyfriend?" she asks. "I've read all of Peeta's reports, he wasn't mentioned as such on any of them."
Darius looks over at Peeta, then back at Madge. "Lucky guess?"
She stares at him for a moment and narrows her eyes. "You've been in the states this whole time," Madge says. "Haven't you?"
Darius sighs. "It was your father."
"You've been watching me," she murmurs. Her heart aches with disappointment but she isn't even surprised. Of course her father would've made sure Madge was being watched – Peeta isn't a trained guard he isn't the best person to keep her safe.
"Background checks," Darius says, "making sure you're never alone when you walk places, it's nothing horribly invasive."
"It's all invasive," Madge says with a sigh. "Especially because no one told me." She closes her eyes and shakes her head. "Just forget it." Madge walks away from the boys but Peeta quickly stands and follows her. "You've known."
"Of course I've known," Peeta responds. "I knew it would upset you."
"You should've told me," she stresses. Madge looks down the hallways to the room her mother is in. "I'm just–I wish it wasn't so complicated." She turns to look at her friend. "I wish I wasn't the princess of Panem and I wish I could just date Gale without Darius knowing and I wish I didn't have to worry about this awful double life that I have."
Peeta wrinkles his nose. "I'm sorry."
"Nothing you could control," she says with a sigh. "It's alright. I'm going to check on my mother."
"The hospitals here are so much nicer than what we have," Madge's mother says from her hospital bed. They both know they're already funding more medical advancements in Panem but they're still rather far behind. "How have you been, my darling?" her mother asks and reaches for Madge's hand.
"I've been well. I'm glad you're feeling better now."
They're sending her mother back to Panem in a few hours. It isn't safe to keep her away for too long, but now she has some special medicine that's going to help her headaches and physical state.
"I've been reading the reports that Peeta sends," she tells her daughter, "but I wish you would call more often. I'm sure you're having fun though, being in America and what not."
Madge can't help but smile. "I am having fun, yes."
"Well, live it up while you can," her mother says. "I'm not sure you'll be back next year." Madge's eyebrows shoot to her forehead. "With me being sick, your father needs someone to stand by his side." Madge is already shaking her head but her mother keeps talking. "Plus you have to learn the diplomatic side of everything happening," she carries on as though she can't see how upset Madge looks. Finally with a sigh Queen Undersee looks in her daughter's direction. "Darling, you don't have much of a choice in the matter. That's just the way it is."
She has Darius drive her home. He's staying full time now that Madge knows he's there anyway and she doesn't quite want to talk to anyone else. Peeta sits beside her without speaking and Madge gazes out the window with a heavy heart.
All she ever wants is the ability to make her own decisions. She's barely been allowed to make her own friends, Madge should've known that an entire life in America was too much freedom all at once. Now that she knows what it's like to be on her own, to not have to answer to anyone, it's all she craves. Of course she loves her home and of course she loves her people, but she's made friends here and memories and that's not something she just wants to give up.
"It'll be alright," Darius tells her as he opens her car door. "Your father's a compassionate man, I'm sure something can be arranged."
"I don't want to talk about it," she responds. She's too tired and too upset to have this conversation.
Peeta sighs before leading the way to their apartment. When he pushes the door open they hear banging around in the kitchen and Darius elbows his way in front of the two of them before Madge can get too far. She tries to call out but Darius is too far in, and then there's some yelling and noises of surprise.
"Who the hell are you?" they hear. And of course it's Gale, because he has a key. Madge quickly strides into the kitchen and Gale turns to her in confusion. "Who's this?"
"Darius," she answers as fast as she can. "He's just visiting."
"So you're the boyfriend," Darius grins. "I've seen pictures. Madge sends a lot home and her parents just love sharing them around." Gale still looks confused, but a little less angry. "Nice to meet you," he says extending his hand to Gale. "I'm a neighbor of Madge's. Our families are close."
Gale accepts the handshake hesitantly. "Nice to meet you too," Gale murmurs. He casts his eyes in Madge's direction. "Thought you went shopping?"
"We were going to," Peeta chimes in from where he's entering. "But Darius is a wildcard. Called us from the airport so we went to grab him." Peeta shrugs. "Parents kicked him out."
"So you flew to America?" Gale asks.
"Good a time as any," Darius says. "They're not a big fan of my Swedish girlfriend. Think she's too opinionated." Gale looks relieved at the mention of a girlfriend. "They'll call soon, ask me to come home. No worries, Mate."
"What are you doing here anyway?" Madge asks, trying to change the subject but incredibly thankful that her friends are quick on their feet.
"I texted you," Gale says. "Said I was going to come wait for you." He gestures to the kitchen. "I was grabbing a snack."
Gale is still visibly unsettled by the appearance of Darius but isn't saying anything. Madge pulls him into her room and shuts the door behind her before collapsing backwards into her bed, thoroughly exhausted. Gale slowly climbs into bed beside her.
"Stressed?" Gale asks gently, and she nods her head. She wishes she could talk about it.
"I just wasn't expecting to see Darius is all," Madge murmurs. Gale slides beside her and she curls into his side. "He's insane, coming out here like this."
"Must be loaded," Gale mutters. "With enough money to just hop onto a plane and fly across the planet?" He shakes his head. "And he's your neighbor?"
"Sort of. It's… weird." But Madge is curious now. She peeks up at him. "And I mean, so what if he has a lot of money? That's not his fault, is it?"
Gale doesn't answer for a while. "No, I mean I guess not." He shrugs. "I just don't–I don't really get on with guys like that." He looks down at her. "They just don't understand what it's like to barely scrape by. It's hard sometimes." Madge isn't sure what to say to him. "I don't think people like that would understand me," he murmurs. "Not like you do."
Madge blinks a few times. "What do you mean?"
"Well you said your family worked so hard to get you here, right?" Madge nods in response, briefly remembering that conversation. "You probably worked hard too, with grades and maybe a part time job or something." Again she nods, but she feels like she wants to cry. "People like him with money like that, they don't have to work hard."
Madge takes a deep breath and buries herself into his chest, still nodding her head.
He would hate her.
If Gale knew who she was, he would hate her.
For her money, for her power, for things that are out of her control. She wants to weep. Gale pulls her close and exhales.
"That sounds shitty," he says. "That's not–I don't want you to think I hate your friend." But he does, she can feel it. And when he finds out he'll hate her too.
Madge constantly feels like she's lying to Gale. Every move she makes feels wrong, every time she opens her mouth she wants to say something.
"It might not be that difficult," Peeta tells her one evening. "Your father wants to come forward, say that you're over here."
Madge nearly explodes. "What?!"
"You know I don't lie to you," Darius says to her. "So I'm going to be honest here. Someone already knows you're here. We're not sure who it is, still looking into it, but we've been receiving word that an outside source knows you're in the states. They're not making threats or anything, it's just some people who know. Your father coming forward and saying that you're here, it'll be a lot but it'll keep you safer."
"That honestly makes no sense," Madge says.
"It makes plenty of sense. People will be looking out for you from all angles, rather than just, well, me and Peeta." Madge takes Darius's words and tries to imagine what that would be like, for everyone to know she's royalty.
What makes it even more frustrating is that she's not even important royalty. Ask someone on the street who Finnick Odair is and they'll tell you he's the next in line for the British Throne. But ask who Margaret Undersee is and they'll name a popstar, maybe, or that lame girl that lives next door. She's not important, but she is rich and powerful. People would change. Everything would change.
"No," she says.
"Sorry darling," Darius says, "it's not up to you." He flips through a few documents the family has sent him and shows them to her. "Your father's already making plans."
"Just–" she stops him. "Just wait, okay? Wait until the new semester." Madge is going home for winter break just like everyone else. At least this way she can prepare for her return, or something to that effect. "It's only a month and a half away. Darius, please, you have to get them to wait."
He sighs loudly. "I'll see what I can do."
"It's one Saturday," Gale says into Madge's collarbone. They've spent all evening in bed together at Gale's house. Madge can't stand to be back in her own apartment, what with Peeta and Darius constantly talking about the royal agenda, so she's been at Gale's a lot. And tonight, he's asked her to come visit his home. "My mom's dying to meet you," he says, propping himself up to look at her. "And I want you to meet my siblings," Gale continues gently.
"I don't know," Madge tries. "It's not that I don't want to–"
"Then what's the problem?" he cuts her off. Madge looks elsewhere and Gale bends down to kiss her gently. "You need a day away," he murmurs. Gale brushes his fingers over her cheek. "You've been so stressed since your friend showed up. And I feel like you're not talking to me." Madge slowly lifts her eyes to him and he smiles a little bit. "It's one day," he whispers. "Please?"
"How far away?" she asks.
Gale grins. He leans in, kissing her another time. "Excellent."
"Absolutely not!" Darius is up in arms and Peeta, though he isn't speaking, looks upset at the news of Madge's weekend trip to Gale's. "Are you fucking crazy, Madge? I can't follow you there, Peeta can't, you'll be alone with him for–"
"He's my boyfriend," Madge cuts him off. "I'm supposed to be alone with him! I've been alone with him before!" Madge paces her apartment. "You'll know where I am, I'll have my GPS on at all times so you can track me." She looks to Peeta, clearly the only person who's willing to listen to her. "I need this time with him," she pleads to her friend. "Before he finds out I've spent months hiding who I am. Please." Her voice shakes and Peeta sighs. "Please," she pleads again. "It's one day. I'll be back before midnight. Please."
He sighs another time. "It's fine," Peeta says.
"What!" Darius explodes. "Peeta, you don't have that authority!"
"Then neither do you," he snaps. "She's allowed to go to her boyfriend's house for Christ's sake. It's Gale. We know Gale. She'll be safe there, Darius." Again Peeta deflates. "At least she told us," he says to Darius. "Instead of just going."
"I thought about it," Madge murmurs.
"Exactly," Peeta says. "Just be safe."
Madge's hand flies across the console to find Gale's. "I'm nervous," she blurts. They're parked outside Gale's small townhouse and she feels like she can't breathe. All of the parents Madge has had to meet have been royals, dukes, and generals. But this, meeting Gale's family, is going to be scarier than any of that. "What if she doesn't like me?"
"She's going to love you," Gale murmurs, covering her hands with his. "Because you are incredible." She lets out a deep breath and Gale leans over to kiss her. "I promise," he whispers against her lips. "Trust me."
"I do," Madge says back. "More than you know."
Gale kisses her again with a smile. "Then let's go," he says. They unbuckle and climb from his car before walking up to the house hand in hand.
Gale's family practically pounces on them the second they walk through the door. Hazelle, his mother, is a hugger, as is his baby sister, and soon Madge is enveloped in more arms than she knows what to do with. There's a flurry of introductions and laughter and shaking hands and Madge has never felt more welcome than in this moment.
They're still standing in the doorway while Hazelle goes through the list. Where are you from? Do you miss home? What are you studying? It carries on for a long time before Gale intervenes.
"Ma," Gale's left them alone as his mother went through her questions and is now ducking his head back into the hall. "Why is the wash basin in the kitchen?"
Hazelle sighs. "The washer broke again. I haven't had time to have someone come look at it, and–"
"I'll look at it," Gale stops her. He looks toward Madge, a silent question in his eyes. Okay? She nods ever so slightly and he smiles back. "Where's the tool kit?"
Hazelle goes off to find the tools and leaves Madge in the hallway. It takes all of two seconds for little Posy to arrive with wide eyes and a green binder in her hands. "Are you a princess?" Posy asks quietly.
That word always makes Madge pause. She cocks her head and looks down at Gale's little sister. "I'm sorry?" Posy's only seven, but Madge knows little children aren't given enough credit.
Posy looks down the hall her mother and brother just disappeared before looking back at Madge. "Come with me," she whispers. Posy quickly hurries up the steps and down a hallway and Madge follows as fast as she can. Soon they end up in a pink room that is covered with toys and dolls. Posy flops down on the ground. The green binder in her hands is placed down and Posy looks up at Madge who's still standing in the door way. "Get in here and shut the door!" Posy says, and Madge quickly does so.
She lowers herself on the ground next to Gale's sister, more curious than anything. Posy opens the binder and points to the first photo. The sight of it causes Madge's heart to beat a little harder. She remembers what Gale said all that time back, that Posy had a sort of obsession with royalty. She didn't think too much about it, but….
"That's Finnick Odair," Madge says.
"Mm-hm," Posy says with a nod. She flips the page and on the next page is Ashley Gloze, informally known as Glimmer. Another royal. "I collect them," Posy says.
"Royals?" Madge asks.
"Current royals," Posy clarifies. "Rory got all of the pictures for me," Posy goes on, flipping through the photos. "And you look just like…" Posy trails off as she turns the page, showing Madge a picture that makes her heart stop. "Margaret Undersee."
The photo before her, in fact, is Margaret Undersee.
The photo was when Madge went to Finnick's birthday in England and she's very dressed up, but if someone looks close enough they could figure it out. This little girl has figured it out.
"Oh my gosh," Madge forces out a laugh. "That's crazy, Posy!" And Posy laughs too, looking up at Madge with a bright smile. "There's… no way, that I–that's, of course not."
Posy grins. "I won't tell Gale," she says. "You're probably undercover."
"Posy!" Madge's smile quickly fades. "I'm not–that's not me, okay? That's, no. It's not me. I'm not a princess." Posy's grin flickers. Madge's fingers feel cold but she can't ruin this day with Gale's family. She plasters a smile back onto her face. "You could be a princess though, I'm sure of it."
Posy latches to that comment and is once again nice and bright. "Really?"
"Really," Madge says with a nod.
The green binder is quickly forgotten.
After a lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, Gale drags Madge up to his childhood bedroom. He pins her against the door and kisses her deeply as she groans quietly into his mouth. Eventually he pulls away with the sweetest smile on his face.
"I love seeing you with them," he whispers. Gale lifts his hand to her cheek and Madge blushes. Lunch was silly, mostly full of Rory making inappropriate jokes and Vick marveling over Madge's accent. "They love you."
"They're great," Madge murmurs back. "I'm glad I could come."
Gale kisses her another time. "Me too."
The end of the semester approaches faster than Madge is ready for. She spends as much time with Gale as she possibly can, pushing back the guilt of her double life so she can focus on being happy by his side. Finals week is hell but Madge makes it through, and soon enough the fall semester is coming to a close.
Gale goes with Madge and Peeta (and Darius who is still around) to the airport. Before they board Madge pulls him aside, away from the boys and prying eyes, down a mostly empty hallway.
"I need to tell you something," Madge murmurs. Gale arches an eyebrow at her but nods his head, urging her to continue. "You are so important to me," she whispers. "I've met… I've met a lot of important people to my life, but none of them as important as you."
"Madge." Gale cups her cheek. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she says quickly. "Nothing, I just, I need you to know how much you mean to me."
Gale's eyes flicker to the airport. "Are you worried about flying?" he asks.
"No," she says another time. "We just–we won't see each other until the spring, and–"
He leans down, kissing her gently. "It's two months," he whispers. "We can do two months." Gale kisses her again. "Besides, we have phones, and Skype. The time difference will be a bitch, but we can do it."
Madge feels tears coming to her eyes. "Yeah." Her hands grip his shirt. "Things are going to be different," she says.
"Things aren't going to be different," Gale murmurs with a little laugh. "It's going to be okay."
Madge pulls him down to kiss him another time, praying that he's right.
Madge can't deny that she loves Panem.
The air is warm despite the fact that it's nearly Christmas and everyone is happy she's returned. Madge also can't deny that she's happy she's done with school for now, it's really nice to not have to worry about homework and tests.
She still talks to Gale almost every day. They have to manage with the time zone difference and they play phone tag every once in a while. But overall, things will be okay.
Until the morning Madge wakes up to Peeta banging on her door. She sits up quickly and rushes to answer the door. "What is it?" she asks, barely having time to pull on a robe. "What's wrong?"
"The press release," Peeta exhales. "It went out this morning."
Madge checks her phone and finds it full of tweets, and then her Facebook and finds it full of new friend requests. She's a nobody royal, but she's still a royal. The people she barely spoke to in class, the neighbors in her apartment building, they all want to know who she is.
There are even a few texts from Delly and Annie and the people she considered close friends, wondering if all of it is true and why she hadn't told them.
But there's nothing from Gale.
She calls him immediately, fingers fumbling over her phone to get to his contact, but he doesn't answer. And then she tries again. And again. He might be busy, she thinks, but knows that isn't entirely true.
So she tries again the next day. And the next day. And the next day.
And finally, after about a week, he answers the phone.
"Gale?" she rasps. "Oh, my God, I've been–"
"Stop calling me," he cuts her off. His voice is stern but empty. "I see that you've been calling me, and I'm asking you to stop."
"Wh–what?"
"I'm not going to answer. So just stop calling me, Princess." His words come out full of venom and she feels her heart stop. "This is over."
And then he hangs up, and Madge feels her heart shatter.
Madge throws herself into the diplomacy side of things. She works side by side with her father and learns about alliances, treaties, the infusion of a better education system and medical system. She focuses on greeting her people, she focuses on smiling. Because the more she pretends to be happier the easier it gets.
Before she knows what's happening she's back on her way to Capitol University. Darius is with her this time under no disguise, and same goes for Peeta (who hasn't told Madge if he's been in contact with Katniss or not). There are cameras the second they land, a private car waiting for them, and a crowd of her peers outside her apartment.
"This was a mistake," Madge says the second they get inside. "I shouldn't have come back this semester."
Peeta rests his hands on Madge's shoulders. "You may be the princess of Panem," he says softly, "but you're also a warrior. You're strong. You can make it through this."
Madge huffs, pushing his hands from her. "So you are still with Katniss," she says.
Peeta turns a shade of red Madge has never seen. "What do you–what?"
"Last semester when we were here you were all about me leaving. You wouldn't have wanted to come back if you weren't still with her." She shakes her head, sitting down at the kitchen table. "And I'm–I'm happy for you, Peet. But I–I don't–I shouldn't be here." Peeta sits down with her. "I know I'm–I'm here to learn, and I'm excited about that, but I–I can't stop thinking about G–Gale, and–" Madge sniffles and swats at her eyes. "Sorry. Never mind."
Darius sits down as well. "You can do this," Darius agrees. "Take to it in stride. It's going to be okay."
It's not okay.
Madge can't focus in class because people are so busy taking Snapchat photos of her to send to their friends. And she's terrified that she's going to end up somewhere at the same time as Gale and not know what to do.
She still spends time with with Delly and Annie and thankfully nothing seems to have changed with their friendship. And as Madge suspected, Katniss and Peeta continue seeing each other as well.
But she misses Gale. She really does.
It's a snowy evening in February when she first runs into him. She rounds a corner and slips on a patch of ice, colliding with someone else.
His hands go out to steady her but they still end up on the ground, Madge having hit her head on the sidewalk. "Ow," she whines, immediately wondering where Darius is to save her from stupid situations like this. She sits up and finds Gale steadying himself as well. "Gale," she croaks.
"Jesus Christ," he mutters. "Can you watch where you're going?"
"Gale," Madge says again, but he shakes his head. "Wait, just," she fumbles to get herself standing but the ice is too much. "Can we–I want to talk to you!"
"What's there to talk about?" he snaps. "You–you–you lied to me!" Madge sinks backwards on the ground as Gale stands, brushing himself off. "Princess," he growls. "No wonder you fucking hated when I called you that." Gale stands and stares down at her as she fights back tears. "Here," he grumbles, extending his hand to her. Madge hesitates before accepting his hand and pulling herself up. "I took you to meet my family," he grunts once she's standing. "You were–I…" he trails off, looking at her in the fading sunlight. "And you lied to me."
"Everything was true, Gale, how I felt for you–"
"Save it," he snaps another time. "Like you'd want anything to do with a boy like me. You were having your fun, slumming it with a poor guy from the middle of nowhere Delaware." Gale holds his hands up. "You lied to me," he says again, his voice cracking toward the end.
Madge tries to follow after him but he walks swiftly once he turns away from her. And again, she doesn't feel better once he's gone.
Madge is studying for a midterm exam when there's a crisp knock on her door. Darius leaps from his seat on the couch to answer it, something he's expected to do, while Madge keeps paging through her textbook. But when the door's opened there's a laugh, and something that sounds like hugging, and Madge peers up from her textbook.
"Darius?" she calls. But he's not the redhead that marches into the room. Madge springs from her seat at the sight of her friend. "Finnick!" She rushes forward and throws her arms around him, laughing as he picks her up into a hug. "What are you doing here?" she asks with a laugh as he lowers her to the ground.
"I heard that you've gone from a nobody to a somebody very quickly." Finnick's next in line for the British Throne, but he's from Ireland. It's made him very popular. "I thought you might want some tricks."
"So you flew to America?"
He laughs, settling down at the kitchen table. "I'm doing a nationwide college tour," Finnick tells her. "Starting here at Capitol. My mother suggested it – she said it would make me seem more likable, or something."
Madge arches an eyebrow. "You're giving speeches?"
"I'm a great public speaker," he teases. "Besides, I wanted to see you. I know how hard it can be to be… us."
Madge smiles but can feel tears in her eyes. Not from sadness, but that someone understands her. "Very hard indeed," she whispers.
"I was with Katniss earlier," Peeta says a couple days later. They're eating dinner in their apartment, because Madge hates going out because of the cameras, and Finnick's decided to stick around for a bit. "She said that Gale mentioned you. That you ran into each other."
"Just like old times," Madge murmurs quietly.
Finnick nudges her under the table. "Who's Gale?"
"Her boyfriend," Darius answers.
"He broke up with me when the news broke," Madge tells Finnick, who looks awfully annoyed at this news. "It's my fault," she carries on. "I lied to him, and it… it's just, I don't want to talk about it."
Finnick takes a big drink from his glass of wine before smiling. "You care for him," he says, and Madge nods. "Still?" And again she nods. "I mean, you're not required to marry someone for an alliance or anything like that, you can do whatever you want," Finnick says. "So I mean, go for it."
"He hates me," she says. "I get that. I understand. I just–I miss him."
Peeta hesitates. "I can talk to him, you know." Madge shoots him a look. "I still see him. I mean, he doesn't talk to me, probably because of, well you know. But I can talk to him if you want."
"No use," Madge says. "He hates me. He wants nothing to do with me." She takes a bite of her food and forces a bright smile. "I'll be fine."
Finnick paces the back room as Madge sits in his fancy dressing room chair. He's giving his speech tonight, meaning he's leaving in the morning for his tour. "I'm good at public speaking," he says as he moves. "I'm good at this. I'm going to be great. Fantastic, even."
"Fantastic," Madge agrees with a smile. She's glad that he's been able to come visit. He's given her a few tips about paparazzi and handling the press and it's been incredibly helpful. "You're going to be great, Finnick. The audience is packed with people ready to learn about…"
"They just want to stare at me," Finnick fills in her silence with a laugh. She moves from her chair and strides over to him, holding out her arms. "Thanks, Madge," he says softly, hugging her tightly. "It's been so nice to see you."
She holds him a little closer, dreading that he's going to leave. It's been so nice to talk about the struggles of being royal with someone who really understands.
They're just pulling apart from each other when Madge hears, "You've got to be fucking kidding me." The both of them turn, finding Gale standing in the doorway. He looks defeated, his hands hanging limply on his sides. "Of course you two…"
"Gale," Madge starts, but he shakes his head and backtracks.
"Ah, wait a second," Finnick says, quickly holding up his arms. "She was wishing me luck for the speech I've got to go give." He tips his head at the two of them. "See you later," Finnick says, and then he's gone.
Gale looks back in Madge's direction. "How did you get back here?" she asks. "The, um. The security is tight."
"Peeta got me through," Gale murmurs. "He… came to me. About you." Madge hesitates, not sure if she can even look directly at Gale without tearing up. "Said you wanted to tell me. Last semester. Before it got like this."
Madge nods. "I did." Madge presses her lips together. "Is that why you're here?"
"I don't know," he admits. Gale shakes his head. "I don't know."
"I do. You want to yell at me," she says, "so yell at me."
"I don't want to yell at you," he says.
"Yes you do," Madge says. She feels small. She's a fucking princess and she feels small. "You–you ended things with me, because you hate me, and I–I understand that, but you're just, you want closure, so yell."
"What good would it do for you to be with me?" he asks. It's not angry, it's a question. He's being sincere. Madge blinks a few times, surprised he hasn't snapped. She doesn't understand. "I'm poor. Depending on who you ask I've got no future. And you–you're fuckingroyalty, Madge." Gale drags his hands through his hair and paces toward her. "You have more money than I can even imagine. You run a fucking country!" He shakes his head and steps away. "So tell me, what good would it do for you to be with me?"
"It's not about that, Gale," she whispers.
"Then what's it about!" He throws his hands in the air. "Does it make you look good to have a charity case? Do you seem more appealing? Is it the tabloids, they want you to be with someone?"
"No," Madge says. She shakes her head. "It's–it's none of that, Gale, it was never any of that!"
"Then what!"
"I loved you!" she shouts. Gale freezes. "You were the first person to ever see me, Gale! And maybe–maybe I'm not exactly the same as you thought. But I am," Madge carries on. "I'm stillme, I'm still that girl, and I'm still in love with you!"
Gale surges forward and cups her cheeks. "It's impossible," he breathes. Madge's eyes are shut but her hands have found his shirt. She grips it tightly. "For us to ever be together."
"Gale," she nearly cries.
"But I love you too," he croaks. He dips down to kiss her gently and Madge wants to dissolve in relief. Her hands lift to tug at his hair and he presses down, kissing her with all he has. Madge gets so lost in him she has no idea how long time passes before they part. "I'm an ass," he rasps against her mouth. "I'm such an ass, I'm so sorry." They're against the wall now, faint cheers from Finnick's speech down the hall filtering through the walls. "We–you're, it just, it can't, Madge."
"Why not?" she challenges. "It's–the cameras, they're annoying. And the gossip is the worst, but it–I never thought that stuff bothered you, and I–Gale," Madge clings to him. "Please, just… just think about it, or something, just, I miss you. I miss you. I miss you so much. He pins his forehead to hers and searches her eyes for some sort of answer to this dilemma. "I didn't ask for this life," she says with a quivering chin. "In fact I–I don't really ever ask for anything, but I'm… I'm asking you this. To… to think about it."
Gale presses his lips to her again. "I'm thinking," he whispers against her mouth. "I'm thinking."
Everyone's so distracted with Finnick Odair that Madge and Gale are able to slip out the door without anyone noticing. They end up back at his apartment on opposite sides of the couch, their lips still swollen from all the kissing.
"I'm thinking long term," Gale says. "And I can't move to Panem. And you can't move here."
"Well why can't I?" Madge questions. "Panem is run by elected officials – I'm a figurehead, Gale." He hesitates. "If you want to think long term, then that's fine. But it's not an issue from me." Of course, her mother wouldn't be happy, and neither would her father, and probably Panem's citizens wouldn't be too happy either, but everything would be okay. "Don't think long term, though. Think now."
"I'm… trying." She reaches over and grabs his hands. "I'm not…" he trails off as she scoots closer. "This is going to be hard," he croaks. "But I want this. I want you."
"I want you too," she murmurs. Her eyes linger on his lips. "You make me feel…" she sighs, smiling a little before murmuring something under her breath.
"What?" Gale asks. "Make you feel what?"
"Like a princess," she murmurs again.
Gale throws his head back in a laugh. "Well we can't have that," he teases. Gale pulls her toward him and kisses her again, just like earlier, losing himself in her. "We can try," he whispers, and she nods, smiling. "I want to try."
"Me too."
As predicted, it's a struggle. Most of the photos that come out of the two of them have Gale scowling, and then there are plenty of articles written about how he must not be happy with her.
But he is happy, he tells her all the time. He hates the publicity and the cameras and the attention, but when it's late at night and they're curled together in bed he whispers his love for her. And Madge doubts it every now and again, she doubts he's being true, but Gale would never be the type to use her and she shoves those thoughts from her mind.
It isn't until summer is approaching do they start seriously questioning their relationship again.
"I'm going to talk to my parents," Madge says. They're laying in his bed, it's early afternoon. "I'm coming back next year, Gale. I'm going to make them let me. If this is still something…"
"Something I want to do?" he asks. Gale nuzzles into her neck. "Well I don't. I hate this." Madge frowns and he looks up. "That sounded shitty," he says. "I meant I hate the press." Quickly he presses a kiss to her chin. "But I love you."
"Mmm…" she slides her hand over his waist and tugs him toward her. "You can come visit me," she whispers. "We have a guest house."
"Ehh…" Gale trails off and Madge laughs.
"You'll have to meet my parents sometime, Gale."
"Jesus," he groans. "A king and a queen. I don't even know what to…" he sighs.
"One step at a time," she says. Gale nods, nuzzling her another time.
"Just think," Gale breathes. "None of this would've happened if you would've watched where you were going that first semester."
Madge grins. "So you're happy I'm a klutz, then?"
"Very happy," Gale says with a laugh. He kisses her again as they drift back into a light sleep.
Madge knows that she's a princess. She knows that her life is complicated, and strange, and a struggle at times. But when she's with Gale, it doesn't quite matter. He makes her feel more important than she's felt before.
A/N: Happy Gadge Day! x