So this is a very Madge-centric chapter, but still very significant—despite whatever you may feel for her.

The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy do not belong to me.

Fated to Love

Part Two, Part Twenty

Gale placed the cup of hot chocolate in front of Madge. He had just managed to get her off his welcome mat and into his apartment before she began to sob again.

In all honestly, Gale had no idea about how to deal with a weeping woman. His mother often chided him for his lack of tact and Katniss had actually been more of the comforter during that horrible time when she lost Toad.

However, he found himself wanting desperately to stop Madge's tears.

Gale knew that she was an unhappy person; it was obvious in the sag of her shoulders, the heaviness in her graceful gait at times, and the strain in her smiles, rare as they were.

Despite all of that, there was something inside him that needed to see her happy.

"Drink," he urged gently. Madge nodded, grasping the mug in her hands and taking a slow sip. "This is probably a dumb question, but are you okay?"

She took a deep breath. "When I first got the message, I felt numb." Madge put the cup on his coffee table as Gale sat next to her. "Then I thought, I was used to him not being around. We hadn't spoken in a long time…" Her eyes filled. "I thought we had time—time to make up. Maybe after I got a better job…or got married…or popped out a kid—but he's gone now. He's gone and his final memories of me are as a washed-up prima ballerina with no career, no husband, and no children."

"You're being too hard on yourself," he responded.

"Some would say not hard enough," she told him bitterly. "I know what I did. I know what people think of me. I'll pay for that for the rest of my life. I just wish that he had a chance to see that I was trying to be better."

"Is there anyone that I can call?" Gale asked. "Anything I can do?"

Madge gave him a small smile. "You don't need to take care of me, Gale."

"What if I want to?" he countered, his grey eyes full of warm earnestness.

She didn't respond. Instead, her head went to his shoulder and, when his arm went around her shoulders, Madge closed her eyes, submitting to her exhaustion and melancholy.

"I just saw Mason two days ago and somehow he's managed to look completely different," Peeta remarked, watching as Johanna carefully diapered her son. "And, look at you! Changing diapers and being Super Mommy."

His cousin and nephew had just recently been moved to their own room in the maternity ward, giving the two more leeway for visitors.

"Don't you have anything to do when Katniss isn't around?" his cousin responded. She examined her son, smiling warmly as he shifted in his bed. "But, you're right. He's getting chubbier, not to mention stronger." Peeta helped her sit in the rocking chair next to Mason's warming station. "Two more weeks and he'll be at 35 weeks. Dr. Paylor said that if there aren't any hiccups then we can take him home."

"Speaking of home, will you be taking your son to Seam Island or will Haymitch be bringing his things to Mellark Compound?" he inquired tentatively. Haymitch was a sore subject between the cousins and Johanna eyed him stonily as he put his palms up in surrender. "I just want to know so I can prep Enobaria and Brutus…on the bedroom situation."

"Yes, Haymitch will be staying with us for the foreseeable future," Johanna replied, not quite meeting his eyes. "And, for now, there will be separate bedrooms." Her sharp eyes shot up. "I know you're upset with him and disappointed with me, but there's nothing you can do now, Peeta. What's done is done. Mason is here and I care about the father of my child, so you'll just have to deal with it."

"I understand," Peeta told her. "I'm not even mad about Haymitch anymore. In fact, I think you two work well together. I'm glad that he was there for you…I'm glad that he's here for you now."

"I'd hug you, but I don't think we're at that point." Peeta turned to find Haymitch approaching. He walked past Peeta, squeezing Johanna's shoulder affectionately, before checking on Mason. "Hey there, kid."

"I just changed him," Johanna informed Haymitch with a tired smile. "He's got one set of balls—almost pissed all over me and Peeta."

"Just like me—huge set of balls and no care for authority," Haymitch retorted.

Johanna snorted. "Any news from the outside world?"

"I thought that Peeta would've informed you." Haymitch turned to him. "You haven't heard the news that's rocked the business world?"

Peeta shook his head. "No, I've been hiding in Katniss' studio for the past two days."

"Malcolm Undersee died. Sudden heart attack," Haymitch said. "It was just announced on Panem Radio this morning and some news outlets are already putting his obituary out."

"Oh." Peeta sat back in his seat. Once upon a time, he had thought that Malcolm would be his father-in-law. Mr. Undersee was an intelligent man, analytical in his work and he adored Madge—until she had tampered with the codicil. "I guess I should go to his funeral and send flowers to Katherine—Mrs. Undersee as well."

"How about Madge?" Johanna asked him, her stare concerned.

"I don't know," Peeta replied. "We haven't talked in a while. Since Katniss has come back, she's kind of backed off. I did hear from Katniss that she lives across the hall from Gale. They have some sort of friendship…Katniss doesn't like to talk too much about it." He sighed. "Katherine and Malcolm were good parents, but they did indulge Madge."

"Yeah, her head was a little swollen when you were dating," his cousin said, her tone unflinchingly biting. "But, it sucks to lose a parent—especially because they were on such bad terms in the end."

"Are you going to talk to Katniss about this?" Haymitch asked.

Peeta nodded, his expression grave. "Something tells me that she already knows."

Katniss placed the newspaper down in front of her.

"Anything else for you, Miss?"

Her eyes went to the waitress and she shook her head. "Just the check."

The woman nodded before returning to the café counter, leaving Katniss alone to her musings. It was strange; she knew that she shouldn't feel anything but anger towards Madge. However, she couldn't quite muster it up.

Instead, her mind focused on the photo of Malcolm Undersee on the front page of 'The Panem Press'. She could see Madge's large eyes and the subtle tilt in her charming smile—clear attributes from her father. There was also that unwavering pride in their stares.

"I was going to tell you." Peeta sat in the seat across from her. "Rue's already arranged to have flowers sent to Madge's mother, Katherine."

"I'm sure you would've," she told him wryly. "It's been on every newsstand within walking distance to my apartment. Also, Seneca and Delly filled me in." Katniss met his eyes. "Are you going to the funeral?"

Peeta nodded. "Uncle Snow will be attending as well." He waited for her response, getting none, before continuing. "Would you consider accompanying me?"

"I don't think it's appropriate," she told him plainly.

"I thought that it was a long shot." Peeta reached out, taking her hand, and she squeezed his in return. "I know that you're not comfortable with all of this. It's understandable, but we've been connected to the Undersee Family for a long time with Malcolm having been part of our staff and Madge…"

"It's fine," she told him. "You do what you have to do. I understand, really."

Peeta stood from his seat, kneeling in front of her. "What did I do to deserve someone so great?"

"Believe or not, I remember losing my dad," Katniss said. "I was a kid, but it didn't stop me from hurting for him." She took his face in her hands, leaning down to press a tender kiss on his lips. "We have to trust each other. This isn't like before, right?"

He nodded, trying to brush away that insistent voice urging him to tell the truth.

"Right."

"That's it." Katniss watched her Uncle gently feed Mason with the small bottle of formula. "You're a hungry one, aren't you?"

Mason stared up at his father, the grey in his round eyes clearly inherited from the Abernathy bloodline. Katniss smiled to herself, watching the two bond while Johanna was away, being examined by Dr. Paylor as she was still healing from the delivery.

"He really is ravenous," she told her Uncle. "How are you doing?"

"Dealing," he replied, carefully lifting the baby to caress his back. Now that Mason was no longer sporting his numerous tubes, the NICU team had given her Uncle and Johanna a little more freedom to bond with their baby. That included gentle caresses and specially trained methods for carrying their son. "We're going kind of stir-crazy here, especially Johanna."

"And, how are you two doing?" Katniss grinned, seeing her Uncle's olive complexion flush. "Getting along?"

"Getting to know one another." A small burp emitted from the tiny babe and his father placed him back in his crib, covering him with a plush blanket given by her mother for her…nephew—they were still figuring out the whole family tree. "I'm moving into the Mellark Compound and we'll just go from there."

"Moving in together? That's a huge step," she informed him.

"Funny. I thought Johanna's pushing my son from her nether regions was a pretty big milestone," he retorted.

"The father of my child, everyone." Johanna was being brought back to the room via wheelchair. The attendant chuckled at her words before helping her into the chair adjacent to Mason's crib. "Thanks Ben."

The man nodded, quickly glancing over at Haymitch and Katniss, before leaving the room.

"What was that all about?" Haymitch asked, his stare on the open door. "Do I need to kick his ass or something?"

"He gave me his number and told me to give him a call once I got my girlish figure back," she responded placidly.

"What a charmer," Katniss remarked with an amused smile.

"Oh yeah." Johanna adjusted herself in the chair. "Nothing like being thoroughly examined, then being propositioned." Her gaze went to Haymitch, tight-lipped at her words. "You have nothing to worry about, my friend. You staked your claim. He's laying right there in that crib."

Haymitch broke into a laugh. "Fair enough."

"You two are strange parents," Katniss declared, blowing out her breath. "Speaking of parents, Peeta asked me if I wanted to go with him to Mr. Undersee's funeral."

Johanna looked to her. "And, you said?"

"No, of course." Katniss fiddled with her loose braid as she spoke. "It's weird and I'm not sure how I feel towards her yet. I know that her and Peeta are over and that Gale is mad for her, but I can't help it. I can't let go of that anger yet."

"Is it really anger?" her Uncle questioned. "Or, is it something else?"

Katniss looked to him curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I think Madge losing her dad actually makes you empathize with her, even—don't be upset—relate to her," Haymitch explained. "And, you don't want to because of everything she's done. You don't want to make her likeable."

"Honestly, Madge wasn't very likeable in the first place," Johanna told him. "But years have gone by and everyone has grown up…people change in good and bad ways. Maybe she found her good."

"I hate when people know more than me," Katniss groaned, her mouth tight. "I know I'm sure as hell different from the last time Madge and I ran into one another."

"Don't be so hard on yourself," her Uncle Haymitch said, giving her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. "You found a lot of good in you."

"And, not to mention, courage," Johanna added.

Katniss remained quiet, taking in their words, before looking between the two.

"You should get married or something. You make a good team."

She smirked to herself—that comment shut them up a little too quickly.

"Peeta."

Turning, he found Madge approaching him. In her fitted black dress and stilettos, his ex-girlfriend's startlingly golden features stood out in the somber crowd. Though she looked put together, he could see that the whispers about her 'fall from grace' were causing her usually pretty expression to tighten.

"Madge," Peeta started as she stopped in front of him. Awkwardly, he leaned over and gave her a slight hug. "I'm sorry."

She stopped short at his touch, surprise in her expression.

"Thanks." Madge looked behind him. "I saw your Uncle Snow and I know that Johanna is still in the hospital. Is Katniss here?"

He shook his head. "You knew that she wouldn't come."

"Gale said so, too," Madge replied.

"Did you really expect her to?" Peeta countered, letting out a labored breath. "Honestly, it's difficult for me to be here—but, your Dad was a good man and I respected him."

"I'm not here to fight with you," she told him brusquely. "I wanted to ask you to let Gale sit with you. He doesn't really know anyone here and my Mom agreed to let me sit with the family. I don't want to leave him to the wolves."

"You realize that you're asking me to let the guy who spent four years with my girlfriend in Paris sit with me like we're friends or something," he responded incredulously. "Why would I do that?"

"Because you may not have forgiven me, but you're here which means something," Madge said, the pitch of her voice beginning to squeak in panic. "And, the one person who actually cares for me needs somewhere to sit. Gale cares for Katniss, too—not in the way you think. So if not for me or even him, then do it for her!"

The last words were said between her teeth so not to draw any more attention to herself.

The answer came out of his mouth before he could stop himself. "Fine."

"Thank you," Madge told him. Her eyes lit up and she waved. "There he is."

Peeta bit back his need to groan as Gale approached in a dark suit almost similar to his.

Great—they'd look like twins.

Gale stopped next to him. "Hey."

"Hey," Peeta echoed. "Follow me."

Briefly, Gale squeezed Madge's hand before following Peeta into the crowded church. His Uncle Snow was sitting in a pew, close to the front, and after Gale greeted him, they both sat down.

"Congratulations on the new addition, sir," Gale told him. "I visited Johanna at the hospital just a few days ago. Mason is a strong kid and I have no doubts that he'll be coming to the compound soon."

Uncle Snow puffed out his chest proudly. "He comes from a long line of strong men."

They quieted as everyone stood up and the funeral procession walked down the aisle. Katherine Undersee walked steadily behind her husband's casket, her chin high with two women flanking her sides —most likely her sisters since they all shared the same statuesque figures and light hair.

Then there were a few other members of the Undersee Family that followed behind.

Finally, there was Madge, looking pitiful and alone as she followed the group.

Peeta watched her turn, meeting their eyes briefly before looking to Gale, who nodded back as to assure her. It had been a long time since he had seen that light in his ex's eyes. He realized, only now, that during those last few years of being together that the light had faded when she looked to him.

It seemed that she found it again in Gale.

"Please be seated," the Minister began. "On behalf of the Undersee Family, I want to thank you for your attendance. As the burial is for family only, this is the community's opportunity to pay respects to Malcolm. After our opening prayer, I would like to invite family and friends up to the podium to say a few words."

The prayer began and Peeta bowed his head, listening to the Minister's thoughts on death. His mind wandered to his parents…Toad…now Mr. Undersee—too many people to have lost to the afterlife.

Screw the afterlife.

He ruminated on having to live it without his parents or his son. It wasn't fair and that little ball of anger started to burn in the pit of his stomach.

"You okay?" He turned to find Gale staring at him. "You're gripping the pew kind of hard."

"Oh." Peeta loosened his grip. "Got lost in thought."

Gale nodded and everyone sat down when the prayer concluded.

The speakers began; businessmen who had worked with Malcolm for years, former interns who had learned the highways and byways of law from the man, people who were staff members at the Undersee Home at one time or another and spoke of his compassion for the everyman and woman.

Uncle Snow went to the podium, speaking of the many charities that they had worked on with one another. Though he also admitted that despite drifting apart over the last few years, Uncle Snow still respected the man and his business ethic.

Mrs. Undersee stood up. Even in mourning, her elegant beauty was evident. Her almond-shaped eyes a deep blue, her skin a youthful crème, and her lips a dusky rose. It was evident that she had spent many days crying as there was a slight puffiness in her features.

"Thank you all for coming," she started. "It is wonderful for myself and the rest of my family to see how much my husband was respected and loved in our community. You all knew him as a businessman and lawyer for many years working for the Mellark Corporation. However, I knew him as a young man who worked as a waiter at the country club that my family attended. He pursued me relentlessly and I would not give him the time of day."

A collective chuckle rippled through the church.

"However in the end, it was his kindness that won me over. You see, I was atrocious when it came to mathematics, and it threatened my academic career at one point. Malcolm would tutor me whenever he had a break at the club and was unbelievably patient. He had a way of calming me like no other—brat that I was. He loved me, imperfections and all."

She stopped for a moment, brushing away a tear.

"And, I'm going to miss him every day."

Mrs. Undersee stepped down just as Madge stood and the two grasped each other's hands.

Stepping up to the podium, Madge took a breath.

"Many of you may know me. For those that do not, I am Madge—Malcolm's daughter," she spoke, her voice calm and clear. "I'd like to imagine that I was a perfect daughter, but I'd be lying—and my father always knew when I was lying. Like my mother, I knew a different man." She paused for a moment. "I used to be a dancer, ballet mostly, but I was never good at dancing in a regular situation. I remember this one time when a good friend of mine and I were going to a Spring Dance together—"

She was referring to Peeta—they had gone to every school dance with one another.

"I didn't know what to do so my Dad taught me all the cool moves of his era." Madge beamed at the memory. "I never really used them but I remember having so much fun with him, just dancing to Chuck Berry and The Beatles. That was the kind of Dad he was—unfailingly loving."

Her expression scrunched, but she took another deep breath and continued.

"I'm always going to regret that he won't get to dance with me if I ever get married and I'm always going to regret that he didn't know how unfailingly I loved him—even if I disappointed him. So I just want to tell everyone that you should tell the people in your life how much you love and appreciate them—you never know what might happen next."

After Madge stepped down, they were no more speakers and with a final prayer, the service concluded.

There was silence as the pallbearers carried the coffin down the aisle and out of the church, the family following behind in the same order.

Madge was alone once again.

However, she looked on the verge of crumbling.

"Peeta." Gale looked at him for a moment, his eyes saying it all. "I—"

Peeta nodded in understanding. "Go."

Stepping out, Gale took Madge's hand and entwining their arms, they continued down the aisle—together.

The sudden rush of déjà vu hit Katniss as she walked into the café. She didn't know why she had decided to come in; her home was only a few minutes away and she could have made herself a cup of coffee there.

However, something urged her to come inside, removing her coat as she shook off the wetness of the rainy afternoon.

Looking around, Katniss stopped short seeing the lone seated figure by the window.

Madge.

Squaring her shoulders, Katniss walked to the table, pulling out the chair opposite of the woman and sitting across from her. Madge's coffee cup was still full and probably lukewarm as her spoon rested on a napkin, not having been used to prepare her drink.

She stared in surprise as Katniss settled in, placing her coat on the back of her chair, and telling the waitress her order.

Katniss met Madge's eyes, taking the spoon. "How do you like your coffee?"

"No milk, two spoons of sugar," Madge found herself replying. She watched as Katniss took the cup, preparing it to perfection before pushing towards her once more. "What are you doing?"

"Preparing your coffee so you can drink it," Katniss told her. "You're wasting your dollar."

"I mean, why are you here?" Madge took a sip from her cup, savoring the bitterness of that first taste before the sugar took over her taste buds. "You did a good job on this."

"My sister owns a restaurant, as you know." She took the cup from Madge and took her own sip. "You're right. It is good. Prim may know how to cook but I can make a damn good cup of coffee."

"You don't like me," Madge suddenly blurted. "You have every right not to."

"My Dad died when I was just a kid," Katniss told her, ignoring her words. "I remember crying every night in bed, missing him so badly…missing his singing…and his bedtime stories. I'd cry until my grandmother would come into the room and rub my head to help me sleep."

Madge smiled tiredly. "That's nice."

Katniss looked to her, her grey eyes softening.

"When you're older, it gets harder to cry. You feel ashamed to be weak. So honestly, I think you're in a worse situation than I was as a kid. At least I could cry. You have to sit in this café, drinking your cooled coffee, and feeling like you want to cry for as long as the rain falls out there."

"Not like I can do anything about it." Madge folded her hands on the table. "I know you probably don't believe me—but, I regret everything I've ever said and did to you."

"Funny thing is that your apologies don't matter." Katniss looked out the window, taking a breath, before looking to Madge. "Apologizing won't bring Toad back or fix Peeta and me—we just have to move on from it all. Start again."

Madge stared down at her coffee cup. "I don't know if I deserve to start again."

"Gale thinks you do," Katniss said slowly. "I usually trust his judgement."

"Thanks for trusting him," Madge replied. "Really though, why are you here?"

The waitress returned to the table, placing a slice of cake in the center of the table along with two forks, before walking away.

"I'm here because they have really good cake," Katniss informed her, her mouth rising into a grin. Slowly, Madge returned a smile. "I'd like to eat it—in silence."

Madge nodded, letting out a shaky breath, overcome by the tentative peace. Carefully, she speared a piece on her fork, taking a bit and tasting strawberries. It reminded her of eating strawberries on the back porch of her house with her father.

God, she missed him.

Her eyes blurred and Madge blinked, letting the tears roll down her cheeks.

Another blink and she saw Katniss holding out a napkin out to her.

Taking it, Madge quickly wiped her eyes. "It's just really good cake!"

Katniss smiled gently, her grey eyes kind.

"So good that if you cried this whole time, it would be totally understandable."

So Madge did.

Stepping out of the elevator, Madge headed down the hallway, her hair and sweater damp from the rain. Despite all of this, for the first time in a long time, she felt a little lighter as she headed to her door.

She resolved to call her mother tomorrow, determined to earn her forgiveness as she sifted through her bag and took out her keys. They had reached a tentative truce during the funeral, bonding over losing the most important man in their lives.

It was the beginning of something.

As she went to turn the knob, something inside her stopped—and looked to the door across the hall.

Gale said his door would always be open for her.

Determined, Madge crossed the hallway and turned the knob—it was unlocked—before stepping inside.

Gale was sitting on his couch going over a stack of papers and, as she closed the door behind her, he gave her smile. Without missing a beat, he went back to work and Madge toed off her shoes before joining him on the couch.

Her head went to his shoulder and Madge closed her eyes, feeling the brush of his kiss against her temple.

She was home.

It was late night when Peeta got to Katniss'.

After letting himself in—she had given him a key—he made his way through the dark studio, careful not to disturb any of the canvases that lived in the space that was their sanctuary.

Katniss was already asleep, her hair up in a topknot, and her glasses on. Peeta grinned, remembering fondly how he would find her in the same position in their quarters.

Quickly, he undressed and slipped under the covers, his arms wrapping around her waist. She pressed her back against him, rousing slightly, and turning to look over her shoulder.

"You're late," she reprimanded him with a sleepy grin.

"In business, there are no breaks," he replied. "Did you have a good day?"

"Went over some new bag designs with Caesar…visited Johanna and Mason…ate cake with Madge…finished one of my paintings—"

Peeta pushed himself up on his elbow to look at her. "Did you just say that you ate cake with Madge?"

"Yeah…" Katniss yawned, her eyelids fluttering as she spoke. "She needed to cry."

"Of course," he replied, laying back down, his lips pressing to her ear. "Why did you do it?"

"Because I needed to forgive…I won't forget, but I have to move on," she said, half-asleep. "You and I need to move forward. She does, too."

He was proud of Katniss; the strength of this woman never ceased to amaze him and every day, Peeta was thankful for running into her at the mall…for waking to her in his hotel room…for becoming her friend…for falling in love with her—again.

Peeta whispered into her skin, "I don't think I could love you any more than I do right now."

Her response was a slumbering smile.

For now, that was enough.

I know that not a lot of folks like Madge. This chapter may or may not have changed that, but at least I got you feeling something for her!

I don't know if any of you watched the original series, but the Gale character was actually searching for his sister and in the end, it ended up being the Madge character.

Which was kind of odd because their chemistry came off more like a couple.

Anyway, that was my major change to the series storyline.

I enjoyed the café confrontation—not that I think of it that way—because it says a lot about Katniss' character. She is still upset, but she hasn't lost that compassion and kindness of her old self in oppose to Madge, who was once a confrontational character in the earlier chapters. The switch was kind of nice.

Anyway, if you don't know by now—the next chapter has a big thing happening…

Comments are always welcome, but please remember that I can't answer back guest reviews on FFn—unless that's your intention.

Really though, I love your feedback.

Next: Chapter Twenty-One—Baby Mason comes home, a party happens, and a painting is revealed.

Until then, JLaLa