Disclaimer: The original characters of this story are property of the author. This is an universe where the Hunger Games do not exist.

co·ad·u·nate adj.Closely joined; grown together; united.

"Pretty dress," he says.

Gale looks at Madge Undersee's perfect white dress and frowns. All of the girls in the Seam in their dresses for today are not as clean and pressed, much more gray. The dresses that they're getting will have been handed down for generations, will have coal stained into the fabric. The mayor's daughter, however, has a brand new white dress to beat everyone else's. Madge accepts the berries with a tight smile.

She hands the coins across to him and Katniss and clears her throat. She says, "Well if I end up getting paired off today I want to look nice, don't I?"

There's a darkness in her eyes that Gale doesn't like. Perhaps it's because she accepts her eventual fate of being married off, or maybe it's because he knows her words are sarcastic. He doesn't understand how anyone could just accept the investable, there must be some inner resistance going on somewhere.

"Nothing but from the mayor's daughter," he chirps. He can take what Madge can dish. Katniss elbows him in the side.

Today is Coadunate Day.

"Mm," Madge frowns just as he had when she answered the door. "You've got to look nice though, don't you Hawthorne? You're guaranteed a wife today. You'll have to make a good first impression," she says smugly. He fidgets uneasily on his feet and casts his eyes away from her. "Are you nervous?"

"Madge," Katniss scowls. Her gray eyes widen and she jerks her head to the side slightly, clearly disappointed in the blonde in the doorway. Don't. Everyone is nervous today. "Thanks for the trade."

Madge fidgets uneasily on her spot and tips her head forward in the slightest apology. "Good luck today," she says.

"You too," Katniss responds. She pulls Gale away before he can say something nasty.

Gale and she walk away from the Undersee mansion in mostly silence. They both know today is going to change everything. In less than a few hours Gale is going to be forced to enter the Justice Hall where they'll take a DNA sample with a small needle and where he'll stand in front of a computer screen and answer a few questions. Sooner or later a number will print out, the same number that his future wife will have.

The smaller the number the sooner he is to be married. Even if he has the last number of the day, he's still going to be married today. Like Madge said, it's guaranteed. He's reached the maximum age.

He and Katniss part without saying anything, they'll see each other soon either at the Justice Hall or after the ceremonies are performed, and they've never been very good at talking about coadunation anyway.

The second Gale arrives home his mother is waiting for him. Hazelle Hawthorne has her hands on her hips and her eyebrows are very high on her forehead.

"Where've you been?" she asks. Gale drops his game bag on the ground loudly without responding. "I've had your bath ready for hours. The water isn't even warm anymore! Go, go! We haven't got all day!"

"Ma," he groans as she pushes him toward the bathroom. All three of his younger siblings are waiting on the couch dressed nicely. "I don't see why it's such a big deal."

He's just going to get stuck with some deadbeat girl from the Seam who he'll work alongside in the mines. They'll be forced to have x amount of children and will make y amount of money and will strive to survive. There are no other outcomes to Coadunate Day. He's known this ever since he was a child, and though he's tried to pretend it isn't happening, Gale knows that it is his fate.

Coadunate Day takes place every single year during early August, right before the new school year begins. Every child between the ages of 14 and 18 are required to go to the Justice Hall where they get a DNA sample taken, and then take some sort of personality test, so they can be matched to another citizen in the district. A match can be found at any of the ages, whether it be the first year a child's name is registered or the very last. Sometimes it takes a few years until someone's match is in the system, or after a careful evaluation it's finally decided two should be together. Sometimes people are in the system for years at the same time before being matched.

After the two meet or reacquaint themselves in the presence a Capitol escort, they're moved onto the stage outside the Justice Hall where they are wed in front of the entire district. That night, no matter the age they've been married at, sex is required to seal the deal. An injection is given to the two being married that will make it a pleasant experience.

The entire system has been in place for as long as Gale can remember. Somewhere in his years of education at the public high school he learned that Coadunate Day was forged in an attempt to create a steady marriage that will produce healthy and diverse children. There was once a time in Panem where children were beginning to die off due to weak genes and marriages were failing very early on, leaving the kids without a steady home. Not wanting the future of Panem to be in shambles, Coadunate Day was created: a combination of personality tests and DNA samples to find your "perfect" (and required) match. Two people are wed, required to have children, and live together for the rest of their lives. If they don't produce the amount of children they've been assigned, then they are deemed useless killed for being unable to contribute to the future of society.

"It's a big deal," his mother frowns, "because you're going to meet the girl you're going to be joined with for the rest of your life. And you should make a good impression."

"I'm going to be wed to her whether I make a good impression or not," he frowns. She shoves him in the bathroom and shuts the door behind him.

With a huff Gale strips himself from his sweaty hunting clothes and sinks into the bath. The water is still warm for which he is thankful and it doesn't take him long to scrub the thin layer of coal from his skin. He rubs the bar of soap over his body and lathers some into his hair as well, hoping he smells flowery fresh like his mother so desperately wants. It isn't long before Hazelle is banging on the door telling him to hurry up, and then Gale has to force himself from the bathtub one last time.

He towels off quickly before wrapping it around his waist, exiting the bathroom with an eyebrow cocked.

Hazelle is waiting outside the room with her arms gesturing toward the back bedroom. "Go on! I laid something out for you!" She pushes him toward the open door and smiles brightly when he stops in the doorway. Laid out across the bed is— "It was your father's," she says. "He wore it to our wedding."

Gale pauses, staring down at the slightly worn outfit with a smile. He can't help but be a bit jealous of his mother and father. They had been best friends since they were young and the odds were clearly in their favor, for they were assigned one another on Coadunate Day. The two were only required to have two children but were honestly and truly in love. They stopped after four.

If only Gale could be so lucky, perhaps he could get assigned to Katniss. They've been friends for a long time, he could grow to love her. Ever since Gale was a child he's closed himself off from feelings like that in fear of Coadunate Day. He doesn't want to imagine the pain of being in love with someone and getting paired up to someone else. It would be complete and utter heartbreak.

Instead he skipped from girl to girl, taking a few to the slagheap and making sure they remembered him for when they were assigned someone besides him. No one ever stuck around for too long. He didn't care much.

"Thanks, Ma," he says. Gale's father died in a mine collapse when he was fourteen years old. "Honestly. It means a lot."

"Ooh," she hugs him, clearly forgetting that all he's wearing is a towel around his waist, and sighs. "Gale, whoever this girl is that you're going to be paired with is going to be in for a treat!"

"Thanks," he says again. He shoos her away so he can change, shutting the door behind him with a click.

Gale sighs when he's by himself in the room. He removes the towel from around his waist and lifts it to dry his hair. As he gets changed all he can think about is how the girl he ends up with might be lucky, but is he going to be?

The Justice Hall, like every Coadunate Day, is packed.

Gale enters the building and is overwhelmed by the crowd of fourteen to eighteen year olds. It's mass chaos. He's been here a few times, however, and knows exactly where to go. It takes him a bit to weave through the masses but eventually he finds the line of other eighteen year old males. They all have the same look in their eyes, one that Gale probably has himself.

Coming here year after year and having the computer say No Match is not the best experience. There are even horror stories about eighteen year olds getting the same screen and spending their life alone. Everyone in the country is guaranteed a match, but that doesn't stop him from worrying. It's how parents have gotten their children to behave, saying things like if you're not a good kid they won't pair you up with anyone on Coadunate Day. I've seen it happen before. It's never true.

Gale doesn't want to be forced to marry anyone, but he would most certainly do that then spend the rest of eternity by himself. He's always wanted a family like his own. Hopefully whoever he ends up with is someone who values family.

Oh, she has to. Panem may not be the greatest country in the world but they really do try to match people up according to their personalities. They wouldn't marry him off to someone entirely dislikable, would they?

He can't say it hasn't been done before.

God, please let the odds be in his favor today.

The line moves slowly and Gale finds his mind filled with names. He could end up with any of the eighteen year old girls that haven't been matched. Bristel Clearwater, Jade Trayers, Samantha Wicken, the list goes on. Or someone younger, someone he knows from school. Or maybe someone he doesn't know at all. Would it be best that way? To marry someone he has never met?

Gale finally reaches the door. Behind it is a computer screen where his fate will be decided. After a few more minutes of waiting for the boy in front of him to finish he is escorted in by a peacekeeper.

The room is dark. The computer is old. It takes a bit for it to load.

A small surface extends from the side of the desktop and Gale places his finger on it, wincing when a needle juts out and collects a sample of his DNA. He sucks his finger to get it to stop bleeding as the computer registers who he is.

Gale Hawthorne. His birthday appears, alongside a few other identification pieces. A list of family members. A special ID number he's never going to remember and isn't even required to, used only for the Capitol's purposes. He sighs and hits the confirmation button.

The questions are simple.

How many children would you like to have?
A) One.
B) Two.
C) Three.
D) Undecided.

Gale isn't sure why this question is asked, he's going to be given a necessary amount of children no matter how many he wishes to have.

Which of these traits do you value most?
A) Determination.
B) Kindness.
C) Patience.
D) Bravery.

Where is your preferred residence space?
A) Town.
B) Seam.

Again, in the end, Gale has no say in it. Perhaps the system that scans his answers will take his wishes into consideration even if it's decided against in the end. That's sort of reassuring, just not enough.

Who has been the biggest influence on your life?
A) Your siblings.
B) A friend.
C) Your parents.
D) A teacher.

Which of the following do you most prefer in a mate?
A) A sense of humor.
B) Someone who will give you space.
C) Good looking.
D) A quiet person.

Would you rather marry…
A) An attractive person who you dislike
B) An unattractive person you can tolerate
C) It doesn't matter

I think it is important to follow the rules.
A) Strongly disagree
B) Disagree
C) Agree
D) Strongly Agree

Gale follows the rules when he's supposed to, but only because he's supposed to. He answers agree because he knows that's the correct answer, but in the end he disagrees an immense amount. Gale has been breaking the law since he was a kid, slipping under the fence that surrounds the district so he can hunt in the woods. He's needed to feed his family ever since his father died, it was the only way it could be done.

I think it is important to finish schooling before starting work.
A) Strongly disagree
B) Disagree
C) Agree
D) Strongly Agree

I have never been in love.
A) True
B) False

I can see myself falling in love one day.
A) True
B) False

Gale doesn't understand why they need to know this. They're going to put him with someone anyway.

Gale hits the final next button and rocks backwards on his heels, and then the screen flashes. Match Found. A simultaneous relief and also disappointment erupts inside of him. It's not as though he's excited to be paired off with someone, but part of Gale was hoping he might be too good for anyone they want to match him with. Of course that isn't true. They always find someone. They have to keep the population of Panem growing somehow.

A number prints out from the bottom of the computer and Gale pulls it up. Seven. He is number seven. And somewhere else, somewhere among the girls in the crowd he edged his way through earlier, also has the number seven. They will be the seventh people to get married in the infinite list of people.

The peacekeeper in the room escorts him down another hallway where Gale has to weave past the people with later numbers than his own. He wishes he could see the woman he was going to marry before they enter the certification room, but the girls and boys are kept apart for a reason. Gale sinks into a chair with a sigh and drags his hands through his hair, and then reaches up to fiddle with the tie around his throat that is strangling him.

It's selfish, but he hopes that she's pretty.

Atop of that, he also hopes that she's kind. He wants a wife who is brave and smart. A wife who can put up with him when he's too much to handle but at the same time someone who isn't afraid to call him out when he oversteps. If he's going to have to put up with her for the rest of his life he wants her to meet the small standards that he has. Besides, his future children will have to call her their mother one day.

Don't get your hopes up, he thinks. Gale's just another boy from the Seam, no one special. They wouldn't assign him someone incredible, and even if they did it wouldn't mean a thing.

A boy, the baker's youngest son, sinks into the seat in front of him. His name is Peeta. He flashes Gale his number. Six.

Peeta lifts his shoulders. "Is getting married earlier than most better or worse?" he asks. The baker's boy has his son slicked back with some sort of grease that makes him look a bit ridiculous. His shirt is nice and white, his tie is a deep orange. "Probably better, right? To get it out of the way?"

"I don't know," Gale answers. He licks his lips and looks toward the wall that separates them from the girls. On the other side is his soon to be wife. "I've never been married before," he jibes.

"Right, right," Peeta nods and fidgets nervously. They're both quiet for a bit. "My brother's didn't get paired until they were both eighteen," Peeta says. "I was surprised to be matched already."

"Interesting," Gale drones.

Peeta clearly doesn't pick up on the sarcasm. "You know, it feels different than I thought it would. I've had a crush on this one girl since I was a kid. I thought this might help me get over it. It hasn't. It's made it worse." The odds are obviously not in Peeta Mellark's favor. "I don't see why it has to be like this."

"Don't," Gale warns.

He eyes a peacekeeper at the back of the room. Talk like this isn't worth getting imprisoned over, or worse. Gale agrees, it shouldn't have to be like this, but it's not as though they can stop it now.

In fact, it didn't used to be like this. Things changed a while back when the population of Panem started dropping. The living conditions are absolutely shit in every district, not just here in 12. People started to decided that they would rather not bring children into this world. The working conditions were awful (they still are) and mandatory labor is required. If the people weren't going to reproduce for the hell of it, Panem was going to make them.

Gale doesn't understand why the people couldn't just fall in love with whomever they wanted and be told to have so many children. Why does the Capitol have to choose everything for them?

Peeta reaches the front of the line and Gale tips his head at him. The blonde forces some sort of awkward smile and lifts himself to his feet. The peacekeepers escort him through the door. Gale doesn't get a glimpse of the girl who enters from the other side.

Gale doesn't know Peeta very well besides the fact that his father makes pretty good trades, but Gale does wish him the best.

Without Peeta's sweaty forehead to distract him, Gale begins to bounce his knee. Way in the back of the line he spots his friend Thom who looks a bit nervous as well, and a few other people he knew from school. Gale averts his gaze back to the door which he'll be pushed through sooner or later, into a room where a woman named Effie Trinket all the way from the Capitol will introduce him to his wife. The two will shake hands before being escorted onto a stage where they will be wed in front of the entirety of the district. Sealed with a kiss.

"Number Seven," a loud automated voice rings out. Gale leaps to his feet, clearly more nervous than he thought he was.

He leaves the doors handle sweaty and finds Effie Trinket on the other side. "Oh, lovely, lovely!" she cheers. "Today is such a big day for you, boy!" She paces over to him and injects something into his arm. His eyes search for the girl he's going to be linked to. Has there been a mistake? He doesn't see anyone! But then the door creaks open and in strides a girl. And she's wearing a pretty white dress.

She freezes when she spots him, and he, her. Effie paces over and injects whatever she just did into Gale into her as well.

"Gale," the girl finally croaks.

His voice is quiet. "Madge." Gale turns to Effie. "This has got to be a mistake!"

"The Capitol doesn't make mistakes," Effie scolds him. She pulls the two of them together. "Shake hands, you two! Shake hands!" She forces their hands together and Gale finds that Madge's are sweaty as well. Their handshake is firm. Her stare is relentless. "Oh, I'm so excited for you two! Imagine the children, imagine them! They'll be so beautiful!" Effie pushes them toward the door that leads to the front of the Justice Hall, that leads to the stage where the ceremony will continue. "Go on, children! Go be wed!"

She shoves them outside before either of them can say anything else.

A/N: This fic was inspired by SwishyWillow. I hope you all have a great Valentine's Day! This fic will be updated every day until completion, and will be ten chapters long. Let me know your thoughts, please! Thanks to juniorstarcatcher for the beta and all the help on getting this fic!