Disclaimer: All stories are individuals of themselves and are unrelated to each other.
Gale readjusted his bag on his shoulder and let out a short breath. He couldn't believe he'd actually done it. He'd gotten on a plane and flown out to see Madge in Chicago. Without any warning.
They'd been friends forever, it felt like. What started off as rocky and full of bitter remarks morphed into a strong bond. Madge was kind and could balance Gale out when he got angry, and when Madge got snappy and stubborn he could ground her back. And they'd been friends, great friends, which was great.
But Gale was hopelessly in love with her. And he wanted her to know how much he cared for her. So he flew out to visit her in Chicago.
Madge had moved out a few months prior after graduating college and kept telling him how upset she was that she was going to be alone for Christmas. Her parents were going out of the country and she didn't see any reason to waste money and fly back home to stay in an empty house, so Chicago it was.
With another deep breath, Gale knocked on her apartment door. He glanced around the hallway and then checked the letter on her door, making sure it was right, before knocking another time.
The air was sucked from his lungs when the door was finally pulled open. Only it wasn't Madge. It was her college ex-boyfriend, Finnick Odair, looking disheveled and sleepy like he'd just crawled out of bed.
"Gale," he said brightly. "What a surprise!"
Gale looked into the dark apartment and ignored the sinking feeling in his chest. "You're telling me," he muttered. "Madge here?"
"Well this is her apartment…" Finnick trailed off when Gale glared at him. "Of course she's here," he said with a little laugh. "Come on in." The sinking feeling got worse. Why was Finnick Odair letting Gale into Madge's apartment, and not Madge? They'd been broken up for like, a year! "Madge," Finnick called. "Someone's here to see you."
Gale dropped his bag down and entered her apartment cautiously. It was the first time he'd visited her since she'd moved (tickets cost a lot of money and he worked, alright?) so he didn't really know the feel of the place. But soon he heard soft footsteps.
"What?" he heard Madge ask. And then she rounded a corner, pausing when she saw Gale. Her entire face lit up. "Gale!" She sprinted to him, throwing her arms and colliding against him with a hug. His confusion and anger at Finnick being here dissolved as she wrapped around him, and he around her. "What're you doing here?" she asked with a laugh.
He held her close, breathing her in. It'd been so long since he'd seen her.
"You kept talking about how you didn't want to be alone for Christmas," he murmured, finally easing off gently. "Figured I'd surprise you."
Madge peeled back with a smile on her face but with tears in her eyes. "I missed you so much," she whispered. "Thank you."
Gale grinned, pulling Madge back into a hug. He could've stayed like that forever–if it wasn't for Finnick who eventually awkwardly cleared his throat.
"I don't–I mean," Madge quickly turned into a hostess after they parted, spinning around her apartment as though looking around would help her figure out what she was trying to say. "Finnick's already on the couch," Madge tells him. "And I only have–I mean, my room, but…"
"I brought my sleeping bag," Gale told her. He'd been camping enough that he didn't mind sleeping on the floor. He even had an inflatable mattress pad to make it more comfortable. "It's no problem."
"I mean, Madge and I have shared a bed before," Finnick said. He'd taken a seat at the island in the kitchen and seemed to enjoy Madge blustering about. "I wouldn't mind, if you wanted the couch, Gale."
Finnick was practically glowing at his comment and Gale felt his entire face turning red with anger. Madge huffed, waving her hand in Finnick's direction very dismissive like, and Gale felt slightly better. He hadn't exactly figured out why Finnick was here yet, but if he was sleeping on the couch it couldn't have been romantic. Right?
"Well," Madge finally said, "why don't you sleep on my floor then, Gale? I mean–that sounds–that's awful, but we could catch up."
Gale smirked. "Sounds good to me," he said. "I might need an extra blanket though."
After a long night of catching up with Madge curled on the edge of her mattress so she could see him in the dark on the floor, Gale awoke to the smell of pancakes. He rubbed his eyes, realizing Madge must've crept out quietly as to not wake him, and stumbled back out into her apartment.
He found Madge at the counter. Finnick was cooking.
"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Finnick chimed.
"I figured I'd let you sleep," Madge said as Gale climbed into the seat beside her. "You looked tired. And flying is exhausting."
"Thanks," he murmured. Finnick was shirtless. Why was Finnick shirtless? It was two days until Christmas, didn't he have places to be? "I figured you could show me around the city today?" Gale asked. "Favorite places, or whatever."
Madge smiled sweetly. "I'd love to. In fact–I was telling Finnick just before you got here–there's this cafe right down the street that makes the best coffee. We can go after we eat!"
"Brilliant," Finnick cheered.
Gale tipped his head forward in agreement. It sounded great, with the exception that Finnick would be there.
To be honest, Gale had no real problems with Finnick. He was great to Madge while they were together and after they broke up. Gale never really understood why they did break up. They worked well. He was kind and lighthearted, so was she. He was supportive and quiet, so was she. They worked perfectly together and Gale was happy that Madge was happy.
He was happier (though he felt guilty) when they broke up, of course, but Madge had insisted there was no bad blood there and she and Finnick were still friends.
But seriously, did he have to be shirtless? Gale wasn't an idiot, he knew he himself was handsome. He also knew that Finnick Odair was handsome. But he really didn't need to show it off.
Madge didn't seem to notice though, scrolling through Twitter on her phone as Finnick worked on their (probably bound to be delicious) breakfast. She looked up when the room fell quiet, turning her attention to Gale.
"You can nap later," she told him. "I don't want you to be too tired."
Gale smiled gratefully at her. "I think I'll be okay," he promised.
The coffee shop that Madge led them to was, admittedly, adorable. Gale wasn't the biggest fan of coffee that wasn't black but he tried Madge's sugary concoction anyway, ending up with foam on his upper lip. Finnick arched an eyebrow then but said nothing – not at least until Madge darted off to the restroom.
"She's lovely, isn't she?" Finnick asked. Gale frowned. "Sweet as sunshine," he carried on.
Gale hesitated. He didn't want to mention it, but he figured that he should. Finnick was here for a reason after all, wasn't he? "Are you still into her?" Gale finally asked.
Finnick smirked into his cup. "Would it matter if I am?" Gale didn't know how to respond, but he certainly didn't dare look away from Finnick. "Because obviously you are too. And me saying I am or am not still into her doesn't change that. Does it?"
Gale sat up a little taller. "No, I guess not," he admitted.
Before Gale could question him further Madge returned, all cheerful and smiley as though there was no tension at the table.
"I'm pretty far from the Bean," Madge told Gale that afternoon. They'd returned to her apartment and had settled on her couch. Finnick was set up in the kitchen doing something for work and Madge had stretched out with her legs on Gale's lap. "But if you want to see it we could go."
"That's that silver sculpture, yeah?"
"Yeah."
Gale shrugged. "Up to you." His voice dropped slightly so Finnick couldn't hear. "I just missed you," Gale murmured. "Whatever you want to do I'm up for."
Madge smiled, tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. "There's a Christmas tree lighting a few streets over," she said. "We could go to that tonight."
Gale nodded. "That sounds great."
"I'm in," Finnick called from the kitchen. Gale tried not to let out too loud of a sigh.
Gale got a lot of Madge time all afternoon while Finnick was getting his work done, which was a relief. When she fell asleep sometime in the afternoon, nestled against his side, Gale felt like he was on top of the world. He toyed with the tips of her golden hair as she snoozed into his chest, trying his hardest not to doze off as well.
Finnick came in eventually and plugged her Christmas tree in, filling the rapidly darkening room with rainbow lights. He settled on the couch on the other side of Madge, picking up her feet so there was room and she was draped across both of the boys. He flicked on the TV wordlessly, putting on some sort of Christmas special, when Madge eventually stirred.
"Time is it?" she murmured.
"Almost five," Gale answered.
She pulled back from his chest, rubbing at her eyes. "Sorry."
"For what?"
"You wanted to see the city," she answered, still trying to wake herself up. "Tomorrow, for sure. Okay?" Gale nodded, not really minding. Any time with Madge was good, even if she was sleeping. She pulled her feet off of Finnick and used Gale's chest to right herself, nestling between the two of them. "Anyone hungry?" she asked.
Madge took the two of them to a small restaurant down the street, the opposite direction of the little coffee shop. She seemed to like the homey-er places and Gale understood that. She missed her home, she was trying to build a new one here.
"I've always wanted to come here," Madge said as she led them inside. It's a small Italian place. "But I never felt like I had a reason."
"Well you slept through lunch," Finnick said, "so I'm starving."
Madge walked in first, Gale fast by her side as Finnick hung back to look at one of the menus they had on the wall near the front. There was an old woman at the stand with a bright smile who greeted them.
"What a lovely couple," she said to Madge and Gale. "Table for two?"
"Oh, um," Madge's cheeks turned red.
"Table for three," Gale corrected gently, communicating with his eyes that it was okay for the slip-up. "Thank you." Madge couldn't quite look him in the eye after that, not even once they were seated, and it seemed like her cheeks were permanently red.
The doubt started to creep back into Gale, though he tried to hide it by quickly browsing the menu. What if she had gotten back together with Finnick? And he was just sleeping on the couch because they wanted to take things slow? Madge was cautious like that. It made sense.
Gale gnawed on the inside of his cheek. What the hell was Finnick doing here, if they weren't together? He felt like he should ask but he couldn't find the words to do so. Part of him was dreading the answer.
"So, Gale," Finnick said loudly, ending the awkward tension and pulling him into conversation. "Madge told me that you're working with an architecture firm? Capitol Industries, I think?"
"Yeah," Gale said, nodding. "They actually just opened a branch here in Chicago," he added.
Madge looked up then. "You didn't tell me that."
Gale felt his chest getting warm. "Why would I tell you my job opened a branch hours away from where I live? What's the point in that?" Madge seemed to deflate a little at that, but Gale still felt warm.
Truth was, that was another reason for him coming to visit Madge. To see if he liked the city. Because he'd been offered a position in the new branch and he was really considering taking it. He didn't like the idea of being so far from his family but he'd always had an adventurous soul. He wanted to move to a new city and live for a bit. If it didn't work out he could always transfer back.
Also, Madge being close by would be a great plus.
"What is it you've been up to?" Gale asked. "Still with that, uh, modeling company?"
Finnick grinned, tipping his head forward. "Yeah. They've upped my price a bit because I've started doing shirtless shoots." Madge scoffed and laughed at the same time. Thankfully it was then that the waitress arrived, allowing them all to order and forget about Finnick being shirtless.
After eating the three of them strode down the street to the Christmas tree lighting. Gale once again reflected on how happy he was to be by Madge's side, and how frustrated he was to have Finnick there as well. Gale ached to stretch out his hand and grab Madge's. To lace their fingers together as they walked down the cold streets.
But every move he made felt like Finnick was judging him. In the end Gale just shoved his hands into his pockets.
They made it to the Christmas tree lighting just on time, and the way Madge's face lit up as the colors filled the area made Gale grin.
He could stare at her forever.
"So last time we talked," Finnick said to Gale as they walked around the tree, looking at the ornaments different people had hung. "You were still with… Johanna, was it?" Gale dipped his head forward. "How's she?"
"I'm sure her and her new boyfriend are doing well," Gale answered a little smugly. "We broke up a little after…" after you two did, Gale wanted to say, but he didn't. "Anyway, we still keep in touch. She sent me a Christmas card from the beaches of Florida. So she's definitely warmer than we are."
Finnick smiled a little. "And who was it… Katniss?"
Madge was clearly listening but her eyes were on the Christmas tree, not wanting to interrupt.
"We dated ages ago," Gale said. "High school. But she and her fiance–Peeta? It's their first Christmas since they moved in together. Got a disgusting little card from them. Peeta's idea, I'm sure. Family portrait style." Madge smiled then, turning to look at him. "You get one too?"
"Of course," Madge said with a nod. "Ugly sweaters and everything."
"Catnip looked miserable," Gale laughed, and again Madge nodded. "Definitely saving it for future blackmail." Madge grinned at him and they continued winding around the tree. "So how do you like it here?" Gale asked Madge. "It's certainly colder than Delaware."
"I know," Madge said. "Delly was telling me it's supposed to be 70 degrees on Christmas? Mentioned something about how she and Thom are thinking about going to the beach." Madge shivered. "I can't even imagine." Madge looked up to the sky. "It's supposed to snow on Christmas. I'm so excited."
"You always did like winter best," Gale said softly. Madge was still smiling but her eyes had drifted back to the tree. She'd pulled her bottom lip into her mouth. "When's the last time you had a white Christmas?" Gale asked.
"It's been too long," Madge admitted. "But–yeah, I really like it here." Finnick had fallen into step behind them. "I miss home," Madge added quietly.
"Misses you too," Gale murmured.
That night, Gale couldn't get comfortable on the floor. He and Madge stayed up talking pretty late again until she finally sat up and looked at him.
"Just get up here," Madge said. Gale looked at her. "It's not like we've never shared a bed before," she added. "And you're probably cold. Just–get up here!"
Not even wanting to protest Gale grabbed his pillow and the extra blanket Madge had given him and climbed into bed with her. The atmosphere shifted at once and they both could feel it. Gale stayed on his end of the mattress and Madge on hers, but they were both curled toward one another. There was about a foot of space between them and that area felt precious, somehow. And still, Gale couldn't help but feel like he and Finnick were competing quietly, and Gale had just won this round.
In the dim light of her room, she looked absolutely beautiful. Madge's hair was messy, her eyes were sleepy, and she smiled at him so sweetly he felt like he could melt into the bed.
"Gale," she whispered.
"Hm?"
But she was quiet for just a little too long and eyes were heavy. "Nothing," she finally answered.
More than anything he wanted to reach out and tug Madge into his arms. He was in love with her and wanted her to know, but at the right time. Gale didn't come on this trip to confess that to her. He came because he cared. Because she was lonely. If how he felt happened to come up sooner or later then okay, but he didn't want to make this trip about himself.
"I'm so sorry," he murmured. His eyes were drooping. "I'm just so tired."
Madge let out a little laugh. "Don't be sorry," she whispered back. It's as though their closeness made it so they could only speak in quiet tones. "I'm just so happy you're here." She paused for a moment. "Won't you miss your family?"
"I mean of course," Gale told her. "But you deserved someone." Gale didn't even want tomention Finnick. "And I missed you, Madge."
"I always miss you," she whispered back.
I always miss you too, he thought. But Gale was too tired and he couldn't get the words out.
Gale woke up on Christmas Eve still on the edge of the mattress. He'd woken up before Madge had and took a moment to watch her. Yellow light was streaming through the window and illuminating her hair. Her skin looked soft, her eyelashes were long and blonde and curling upwards. She was so beautiful Gale could hardly stand it.
Sometime in the middle of the night they must've reached out, because their hands were tangled together. That was it, though. Just their hands. Gale gently rubbed his thumb across hers. He wanted this, every day. To be like this. To be closer.
"Madge," he finally murmured. She didn't stir. "Madge," he tried again. She shifted a little, blinking hard and peeking up at him. "Merry Christmas Eve," he said quietly.
She smiled at him. "Mm…" She rolled then, closer to him, nuzzling into his chest. "Shush." Their hands became untangled and he got to wrap his arm around her waist instead. Like yesterday he reached up, toying with the ends of her hair. "S'sleepy," she murmured.
It took everything in him to not bend down and kiss her forehead. "You've got a coffee machine, right?" he asked. "You don't always go down to that cafe. Want me to make a pot?"
She nuzzled closer. "Mm…hm…"
"Is that a yes?" Gale asked with a little laugh. She nodded, her forehead bumping his chest. "Alright." He rubbed her back a little bit before slipping from bed. "I'll figure it out. Come get you when it's ready."
She smiled, curling into the warm spot he left when he stood. "You're the best," she called.
"You look happy," Finnick said when Gale emerged from Madge's room. Gale stayed tight-lipped, annoyed that Finnick was (once again) shirtless. He was also disappointed that Finnick was still there. "Good night?"
"Slept well," he answered.
"I'm sure." Finnick was at the counter again, still working on his computer. He seemed frustrated, constantly running his hands through his hair as he frantically clicked through different things. Gale started up the coffee machine and walked back to Finnick. "You and Madge going into the city today?" he asked.
"I think that's the plan."
"Mind if I come?" Finnick asked. Gale's eyebrows came together. "Never really have time to see the sights," he continued, not looking up from his computer. "Always working, one place to the next."
And though Gale really didn't want Finnick to come, he shrugged. "Sure. I mean you're her friend too." Finnick looked up at the word friend, looking smug. "She deserves a good day, you know?"
"Mm-hm," Finnick agreed.
He and Gale didn't speak anymore but Gale poured a cup of coffee, filling it with creamer and sugar, before walking it back into her room. She sat up when he knocked lightly and smiled. God, she was so cute.
"Hope I made it right," Gale said, holding it out to her. She rubbed at her eyes and lifted it up, inhaling deeply. "You can tell by smell?"
"No," Madge laughed. "But it does smell heavenly." Gale sat on the edge of the mattress by her as she drank. "Into the city?"
"Whenever you're ready," Gale said with a nod. "Finnick's coming too."
Madge smiled, but there was something in her eyes that felt distant. Gale considered that another little victory, like she didn't want Finnick to come. Preferably, Gale wanted the day just with Madge. But he'd survive.
Chicago was a beautiful city.
It was drab and cold but somehow, the way Madge talked about each attraction, each tall building, each random street corner, she made it beautiful. She hadn't been living in Chicago all that long but it seemed like she had. She knew little facts, the best places to eat, almost everything to make a great tour guide. It was better when she talked about her favorite memories, her favorite places.
Finnick spent a lot of time on his phone but was happy to take photos of the two of them, and sometimes Gale took photos of Finnick and Madge. And even, hilariously, they got a stranger to take a photo of the three of them at the Bean (which Madge promptly placed on Instagram). It was just the little moments that Gale became frustrated.
Like when he was tucking Madge's golden hair behind her ear because it had escaped from her cap and Finnick loudly pointed out something unnecessary. Or when it was the perfect moment for Gale to reach for her hand and Finnick caught up with them, wedging himself in between them on the sidewalk so Gale had to fall behind.
It was a long day, crowded and cloudy, but it was beautiful and fun.
Eventually they returned back to Madge's apartment as the sun was setting. The temperature was quickly dropping as it got darker and the wind was starting to pick up. Madge looked windblown and tired but her eyes were bright. He was glad that she had had a good day too.
But once they were inside and Finnick turned on Christmas music and lit up Madge's tree, Gale felt like curling in on himself. Because, he thought for the millionth time, this trip was nothing like he thought it'd be.
"Let's take a walk," Madge suddenly said to Gale. He frowned at her. "Just the two of us," she added quietly.
That, Gale could agree to.
After re-bundling up and saying a temporary goodbye to Finnick, Madge and Gale slipped outside. They started on the same path to the Christmas tree they'd visited the night before.
"You okay?" she asked after a few moments of awkward silence. "You seem… frustrated. I mean–I know you probably–this probably isn't how you wanted to spend Christmas…"
"No," Gale stopped her at once. Without Finnick nearby it was so, so, so much easier to talk. "I did. I mean I do want to spend Christmas with you. Today was–it was fantastic. It was exactly how I'd imagined it." Mostly. Madge turned to look at him, though she didn't look all that relieved. "I just didn't want to spend Christmas with Finnick."
Finally a smile blossomed on her face. "He's leaving early on Christmas morning," she told him. Tomorrow morning. "His family lives about twenty minutes away. He wants to surprise them. I offered for him to stay on my couch so he didn't have to worry about traveling on Christmas Day, but he's had tons of work stuff to do. I figured that he told you."
Gale shuffled. "I didn't ask."
Madge was smiling. "What were you thinking?" she asked him. Gale shrugged, and when he looked at her he found that Madge's smile had slipped a little. "I hope nothing–that nothing was going on between us?"
"I don't know," Gale muttered. "I mean, you two were dating for a pretty long time. Didn't have a real reason to break it off when you did and still seemed to be good friends." He shrugged again. "I thought maybe you two'd gotten back together–that I was intruding."
"He's been sleeping on the couch," Madge reminded him lightly. "And I would have told you."
"Yeah, well."
"And we did have a reason to break up," Madge said. "I just–I never told you why." Gale slowed in his stroll, turning to look at her. He wasn't sure if her cheeks were pink from the wind or from something else. "I had feelings for you," Madge finally said. "And it… it felt disloyal, being with Finnick when I cared you for you in a way that overshadowed how I felt for him."
Gale's mind was racing–he had so many questions. Had? Do you still? Did you tell him that? How did he take it?
"Madge," Gale tried, but she stopped him.
"You were my best friend and I was in love with you and Finnick, he… he knew that. Heknows that," she added, almost bitterly. "He doesn't care, he understood. I mean, he might've been hurt but he never showed it. And he's with someone else now anyway so it's not like…" Madge trailed off with a sigh. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry?" Gale asked. "What are you sorry for?" Madge opened and closed her mouth, not sure how to respond. Gale reached out to get her to stop walking. "Is that why he's been pushing my buttons ever since I got here?" Gale asked. Bringing up ex-girlfriends? Pretending to be after Madge's heart?
"Probably," Madge admitted. "He's still pretty protective of me. It's just–you…"
"Stop," Gale cut her off. He pulled his hands out of his pockets and cupped her cheeks. Madge's eyes shut, maybe from the cold touch, but she didn't pull away. "Are you still in love with me?" he asked quietly.
"Gale…"
"Because I'm in love with you," he murmured. His heart was beating fast. "I am so hopelesslyin love with you, Madge."
Her eyes peeled open. "You are?"
"I flew out to be with you on Christmas," Gale reminded her desperately. "What do you think?" A laugh escaped her and Gale stepped closer, needing her closer. "Just–say it," he nearly pleaded. He needed to hear it, if it was still true.
"That I'm in love with you?"
"Yes. If it's true."
"I'm in love with you, Gale," Madge whispered. "For so, so–" he cut her off, bending down and crashing his lips against hers. Madge gasped in shock, her own hands flying out of her pockets to grab his coat, to pull him closer.
Gale wasn't sure how long they kissed. His chapped lips against her soft ones, his hands creeping back under her hood to tangle in her hair. Madge was sweeter than he'd ever even imagined. But eventually they did part. It took her a few moments to open her eyes, to look at him, but when she did…
He grinned. It was cold outside, but he had never felt so warm.
In the morning, Christmas morning, Gale and Madge both woke up when Finnick tapped quietly on the door. He pushed it open as Madge struggled to untangle herself from Gale's side.
"Ah, sorry," he said quietly, sheepishly, with a smile at the two of them nestled together. "Sounded like you two had a late night–didn't want to wake you."
Madge huffed. "Finn," she murmured.
"Hey, just saying." Finnick looked between the two of them. "About time, anyway. But, listen, it's starting to snow, so I'm going to head out now. Merry Christmas, you two."
Gale smiled sleepily at him. Finnick wasn't all that bad. "Merry Christmas."
Madge scrambled out of bed to give him a quick hug and wish him a merry Christmas as well before climbing back into bed with Gale. She nestled into his side and kissed his bare chest. "And to you," she said happily. "Merry Christmas to you too."
"Mm," Gale hummed. "Did you hear that?" he asked. "It's snowing."
Her eyes lit up as she looked up at him. "It's snowing," she agreed quietly. "We'll have to go for a walk later?"
"Of course," Gale promised. Just not now. Madge wrapped herself back around Gale and they buried themselves under blankets. "So… I didn't actually get you anything for Christmas," he told her.
Madge snorted. "You got me plenty," she shushed him.
Gale laughed too. "That's not what I meant. But, remember how I said my company just opened a firm here in Chicago?" Madge perked up immediately, her eyes widening. "They offered me a job," Gale carried on. "Here. In the city." Her eyes started to fill with tears as a smile graced her face. "I think I'm going ot take it," he said.
"You…"
"Not just because of you," he added, pulling her back to his chest. He needed that to be clear. That he hadn't based his decision solely on his feelings. "But you–I mean…"
"I love you," she whispered as he trailed off. "Gale, I love you." She'd said it a million times the night before and Gale would never tire of hearing it. He smiled and pressed a kiss to the crown of her head. "Move in with me."
He laughed. "Madge, I can't."
"No, you definitely can," she insisted. "You're my best friend and I love you and we'd save money and it's Christmas." Madge looked up at him another time. "This place is already too big and I'm the only one that lives here. "Say yes. It's–that can be my present to you."
Looking into her eyes, Gale knew it was risky. They'd started whatever this was between themlast night. But he felt brave. "Then yes," Gale murmured. "Yes, of course." She stretched up to kiss him. "I love you," he breathed against her lips. "God, I love you, Madge."
He'd said it a million times too and hadn't regret a single one. He didn't think it possible.
Madge pulled him down on top of her as they kissed. Gale knew it was going to take them a while to get out of bed on that snowy Christmas morning, but he couldn't care less.
Things were finally where they were supposed to be.