Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
Madge fixes her sweater for the eighteenth time, straightening it out as though it was crooked in the first place. She's so nervous she's distracting herself with invisible hairballs on her sleeve that she keeps picking at. Gale looks at her from the driver's seat before reaching out, grabbing her hand, and forcefully tangling their fingers together.
"Sorry," she murmurs.
"'Bout what?" he asks, focusing his attention back to the road. She doesn't answer, and Gale squeezes her hand once. "You have nothing to worry about," he reminds her gently. "You've already met the kids and they love you."
Madge nods almost reluctantly before looking out the window. Gale squeezes her hand another time. She might've met Posy and Vick and Rory, but she hasn't met Hazelle yet. It's like when you're playing a video game and you have easier tasks to complete before you battle the boss so you're lulled into a false sense of security.
"It's just…" Madge starts, and Gale looks over at her. "Christmas Eve?" she asks. "Why not… why not like, December 28th. Who does anything on December 28th?"
Gale smiles before looking back to the road. "We don't really do anything too special on Christmas Eve," he says. "Walk down the street, look at the lights, drink cocoa. Normally we vote on a movie to watch afterwards. And she already said she doesn't mind."
Madge starts to gnaw on her bottom lip. Doesn't mind is key for I'd rather not, but whatever. She focuses on where Gale's holding her hand and tries to ignore the knots of anticipation in her chest.
Ten minutes later they pull up outside of Gale's house. Madge has never been here before but it's almost exactly like she's expected it. Not too big, not too small. A little older but neatly kept. The yard is full of footprints in the snow, half-melted snowmen, and lots of snow-angels.
Rory's in high school, but Vick and Posy (who are in middle school and elementary school respectively) are pretty close, and it would make sense if a lot of the snow creations were from them.
With a deep breath Madge unbuckles and climbs from Gale's car. She fixes her scarf around her neck and stares up at the house, waiting for him to join her on the curb. Before she can start for the sidewalk Gale stops her, tugging her close and kissing her quickly.
"Don't be nervous," he whispers. "She'll love you."
Hazelle Hawthorne does not love Madge. It doesn't even feel like she likes her.
The second they walk inside the kids all sprint to the front room to say hello. Madge cares for them all fondly, and it's nice to see them again. Posy jumps straight into a story about how excited she is to be on break and how she can't wait to see the lights.
And after a few minutes, Madge finally spots Hazelle.
She's younger than Madge thought she would be, with cool gray eyes and hair pinned up and out of her face. She doesn't smile, but her lips are puckered in a way that might pass as a smile if Madge is reaching.
Gale lights up and strides over to greet his mother. "Ma," he says warmly, wrapping her in a tight hug. Posy and the others have vanished by this point and Madge steps forward. "This is Madge," he says when he pulls back, gesturing to Madge who fiddles nervously with her scarf.
"Hi," Madge says, reaching out her hand to shake it. Hazelle eyes her hand for a moment before reaching out as well, accepting the handshake. "It's so nice to meet you," Madge bursts into a ramble. "Gale talks about you all the time, it's really kind of you to welcome me in. Especially on Thanksgiving–I mean, Christmas Eve. Why did I say Thanksgiving?"
Hazelle seems to think her babbling is amusing, because she shakes her hand with what really could pass as a smile now. "Don't worry about it," Hazelle says. Her voice is as cool as her eyes. "It's a pleasure to have you–and finally meet you." Madge's entire face is red now and Hazelle finally drops her hand. "Tea? Cocoa?"
"Oh, cocoa, sure," Madge says, and Hazelle nods her head before turning and retreating again. Madge turns to Gale who's grinning like an idiot. "Gale–"
"Thanksgiving?" he asks brightly. She can hear the teasing in his voice but her face only turns more red. "God, I love you," he laughs, bending down to kiss her quickly.
After that he laces their fingers together and drags her into the kitchen. The walls that they pass are filled with frames of all of the kids at various stages in their life. Gale at graduation, Rory winning a soccer match, Vick holding up a science award, Posy on her first day of school. There are family photos too, photos that include their dad before he passed when Gale was younger.
In the kitchen it smells look cookies and Madge is pleased to see a fresh batch of gingerbread cookies cooling on a shelf. Hazelle has mixed her a mug of cocoa and passes it to her when she enters, and Madge smiles and says thank you before taking a seat at the table.
Gale goes to the cookies. "Any of those peanut butter ones?" he asks, popping open a nearby tub, presumably looking for more.
"In the oven now," Hazelle says. "I figured we could walk after they're out?"
"Great," Gale says with a grin. "They're my favorite. Madge tried making some a few weeks ago but…" he trails off, still grinning.
"Hey, at least I tried," she says. "You sat there and watched."
Hazelle smiles now, something that definitely is a smile. "Oh did you?" she asks Gale. "Very gentleman-like, glad I raised you well." Gale snorts before crossing the room to sit at the table with his girlfriend. "So, Madge," she says. "What are you studying in school?"
She swallows her cocoa and sits up a little straighter. "I'm a music education major," she says. "With a minor in child psychology."
"So you like kids, then?"
"Very much," she says with a nod. Hazelle hasn't taken a seat, instead she's leaning against one of the many counters in the kitchen sipping at her own mug. "I'd like to work in an elementary school, but middle school would be great too."
"Have you worked with kids before?"
"Yes. In high school I did a half-semester internship my senior year, and every summer I volunteer for a few weeks at a summer camp near my house."
Hazelle's eyes dart to Gale as she sips on her drink another time, but she doesn't respond to Madge. That nervous feeling is starting to return, making her chest and throat feel tight. She looks away from the two of them with their silent communication and looks around the kitchen instead.
"Well," Hazelle says finally, "I've heard about your relationship through Gale. How about you tell me about it?"
"Ma," Gale nearly whines.
But Madge is happy to. "Oh, sure. Well, we had a sociology class together," Madge starts, remembering fondly how Gale politely asked Madge if he could sit beside her (considering she'd set her backpack there to try and make people leave her alone). "He, um…" she trails off, feeling her cheeks warm. "He wasn't really good at the quizzes we had, so he asked if we could study together."
Gale is practically groaning.
"Oh did he?" Hazelle asks. "All he's told me is you met in class. Did you actually get any studying done?"
"Yeah, yes," Madge says with a nod. Which is true. But also she doesn't want Hazelle to think she's some sort of girl who assume studying is sex. Because it wasn't. "For a while, actually. It wasn't until the end of the semester did he ask me for coffee."
"Well that's sweet," Hazelle says, smiling again, which makes Madge feel relieved. "If I remember correctly he passed that class with a B."
"Would've been an A if I didn't sit next to such a pretty girl," Gale murmurs.
"Would've been an A if you took our study session a little more seriously," Madge responds playfully.
"As stated earlier, I still was with said pretty girl, therefore…"
"Excuses, excuses," Hazelle teases them. "Go on."
Madge continues the story with a smile, recounting how they went for coffee, how Gale had lost some of his usual charm he had in class and was slightly nervous. How he'd spilled his coffee all over her (which thankfully wasn't burning hot) and how he'd admitted he hadn't been on a date in a while and Madge found it so endearing that they made another date – one that didn't involve small talk at the school cafe.
"So besides not helping bake cookies," Hazelle says, "he's been good?"
Madge feels her cheeks get hot for the zillionth time. "Great," she confirms.
When the oven finally dings and the cookies are ready to be taken out, Gale drags Madge down one of the hallways to show her another wall full of pictures. But even being away from his mother doesn't ease her nerves the best.
"I don't think she likes me," Madge finally murmurs.
Gale scoffs. "Why not?"
"I don't know–all the questions… and she makes these faces like I'm not good enough for you."
Gale turns to her at once. "You?" he asks. "Not good enough for me?" Gale shakes his head instantly. "You're insane, Madge. If anything it's the other way around–it's always been the other way around."
"Don't do that," she sighs, shaking her head. "It's not true. Especially not to your mother."
"Who is asking you questions," Gale carries on, ignoring her response, "so she can get to know you better. Not because she thinks you're not good enough." Madge sighs again, feeling her shoulders slump. Gale sighs too, taking a step away and shaking his head. "You know how Katniss and I used to be together?" Gale asks.
Madge tips her head forward, looking somewhere else. "Yeah." Katniss and Madge met through Gale, considering he's still friends with her, but Madge didn't know they'd dated until a bit into her relationship with him. "Why?"
"Well she's from here," Gale reminds her. "My hometown. We grew up together." Madge nods again. "And Ma loved her. Still does. And Katniss is like my sister now, which is great because I love having her in my life and she's done a lot for me and helped me as a person. But she still broke my fucking heart." Madge is still looking somewhere else and Gale steps toward her, cupping Madge's cheek. "Ma just worries about me," he says gently.
"She thinks I'll break your heart," Madge murmurs.
"No–Madge," Gale exhales. He opens his mouth to say something else but Posy calls for them, saying they're getting ready to leave to see the lights. He sighs and leans forward, kissing her between her eyes, before they start off to join Posy and the others.
Somehow during the walk around the neighborhood, Gale gets in the front of the line with Vick and Madge ends up in the back with Hazelle. Madge still feels like this is an interrogation, like Hazelle is trying to prove that Madge is The Worst and Gale should ditch her before he's in too deep.
So Madge turns to Hazelle with a deep breath and says, "I really like your son."
Hazelle looks amused. "Rory's mostly known for making ladies feel uncomfortable, and Vick's good at telling the truth but–"
"Gale," Madge blurts.
Hazelle laughs. "Yes, Sweetheart, I was just teasing you." Madge's face feels hot. "And I know. I can tell by the way you look at him."
"I mean, I really," Madge huffs, wishing she had a better way to get this across. "I love him. I just want you to know that I love him."
The four Hawthorne kids are stopped a decent amount of yards away staring at a heavily decorated house. Hazelle turns to Madge and smiles sweetly.
"You are so adorable," Hazelle says. "He loves you too," she says with a little shrug. "I mean, hemust, if he's brought you to meet me."
Madge shifts a little on her feet. "What do you mean?"
Hazelle shrugs, her smile growing. "I haven't met any of Gale's girlfriends, not since Katniss." Hazelle reaches out, resting her hand on Madge's shoulder and squeezing once. "He's serious about you," Hazelle tells her. "And he's made a good choice."
Madge's face goes warm. "Oh."
Hazelle's smile widens again, resembling Gale's goofy grin. "Come on," she says, tucking her arm into Madge's. "Let's join the others."
Once they've looped around the neighborhood they head back to the Hawthorne's home. All the kids follow Hazelle inside (who winks at Madge before entering) while she and Gale linger outside for a moment. He pulls her toward her with a curious look in his eyes.
"What'd you and Ma talk about?" Gale asks.
"Nothing."
He grins. "Liar." But Gale doesn't pry, instead he tugs her closer and kisses her gently. "I love you," he whispers against her mouth.
"I love you," Madge echoes just as softly. Gale grins again but before he can press his lips to hers another time the door opens.
"Those peanut butter cookies are ready," Hazelle says, peering outside. "If that's something you're interested in."
Gale laughs a little, shaking his head. "In in a sec," Gale calls to her. She smiles at the two of them before the door clicks shut another time. He turns to Madge another time, mirroring her smile, before kissing her nose quickly.
Madge is no longer nervous when they make their way back inside.