Chapter Summary: The story of how Gale and Madge became friends during Katniss's games.

There she was. The Undersee girl. The girl with the perfectly curled blonde curls and eyes the color of bluebells. The girl with the fancy gold pin which she had given to Katniss. Katniss, his cousin, who would fight death in the Arena. Gale didn't know how to deal with the enormity of it all. He had just seen Katniss and put on a brave face not allowing his grief to show. Katniss needed him to be strong. She never let her own weakness show. He knew she would be doing the same if Effie Trinket had pulled his name or Rory's from the bowl.

"What are you doing here, Undersee?" he questioned looking at her in her fluttery white dress.

"I was visiting them." She replied.

"Do you have an endless supply of gold pins? Did you give him one?" he scoffed.

"No. But I had to say something. Peeta is an old friend of mine." Madge replied.

"Then why did you give Katniss that pin? You know she can't pay you back." He didn't like Madge giving him and his family charity.

"I don't expect her to. Besides, that pin belonged in the Games. It belonged to my Aunt." Madge replied as if that explained everything.

"So? What's so special about your aunt?"

"She's dead. She died in Haymitch's games. She didn't wear it as a token but it belonged to her."

Gale felt a little sick. He had been mocking Madge but here she was with a dead aunt and a pin that she had just given to her friend. Was she thinking that finally that pin would be attached to a corpse? For surely she wouldn't be unrealistic about Katniss's chances.

"Hey, I didn't know. I didn't mean…Shit…I'm sorry." He stumbled over his words.

"I know. It's ok. I know that I looked silly today in this fancy dress. But I really thought it might be me. And after all, it might as well have been. Two people with so few slips."

Compared with him. With his forty-two. Or Thom with his 20. Or even Katniss with her twenty. But Prim with her one. And that Mellark boy with his five. But why hadn't Madge been secure in her Merchant status?

"It was pretty unlikely though. You have to admit that." He countered.

"Not really." Madge lowered her voice as they stepped into the deserted street. People stayed away from the Justice Building if they weren't visiting the tributes and all the crowds were at the back end of the building leading to the train.

"If my father was to do something they didn't like every slip in that bowl would have my name on it," Madge replied.

"And has he done anything they didn't like?"

"Not yet," Madge answered.

"That pin. It's a Mockingjay. Seems a bit symbolic doesn't it?" he needed to know about that pin.

"It suits Katniss." She continued walking scarcely noticing him. He knew she was absolutely gorgeous. He wasn't stupid and Madge Undersee was one of the most beautiful girls in District 12. She looked like she could have come from District 1 with her slim but still curvy body. There was a confidence and poise about her that most girls in 12 didn't have.

"What? You think she's part mutt?" He asked.

"No, but the existing even when you're not supposed to," Madge replied.

She turned to him with a solemn expression on her face. In the light of day, she looked ages older than just that morning. "Well, that certainly applies to all of us. But especially to Katniss."

"I know I can never compare how I feel about her to how you feel but she's my friend. She's the only friend I really have that actually was there. I suppose she thinks I'm useless but her being there every day at school meant something to me. And I'm going to do everything I can to make sure she comes home."

"But what can you do? What can I do?" He felt the pain well up in his heart.

"We can raise a collection. For sponsor gifts. I'm sure District 12 won't be able to do much but we can get her something. I don't have any money but I can pawn something." Madge gazed thoughtfully across the street.

"You don't have money?" he replied incredulously.

"Oh no. My father gets a modest salary. I don't have money of my own. All the things in the house and the house itself belong to the Capitol. It is their gift."

He gazed at the house suddenly aware that there was a lot about District 12 he didn't know. It made sense. The Capitol could ensure loyalty by promising gifts to their officials. Money could be saved. Money brought independence. But what could one do with ruffled dresses?

"We'll have to figure something out."

"We?" she looked up with an arch of her eyebrows.

"It was your idea, Undersee."

"Well, then. I guess. But where do we meet? I can't meet at home. It's filled with people from the Capitol."

"In the woods. Or are you too afraid to get your dress dirty?" He smirked at her wondering if she would look terrified like most Merchant girls.

"Ok. When?" Madge looked up at him without flinching.

"Sunday. Meet me at the meadow entrance. There is an opening at the bottom."

"Ok. And Gale. Good luck." Madge paused and laid a hand briefly on his arm. He ought to have resented her. But he didn't.

"Why? I'm not the one needing it."

"I know how much you care about her. And besides, now that you're going to be in the mines…" Madge's voice trailed off.

"I don't need your pity, Undersee. I'm fine."

"I don't pity you. I admire you and your family. You are so strong. Katniss is so strong. What she did was extraordinary."

Gale didn't know what to say. She looked at him straight in the eye. But he was tired of being strong. Tired that his mother never could rest because she was working. It was easy for Madge to admire him because she had a soft life where she didn't have to experience the poverty and oppression he faced daily.

"I don't want that either. It's a business deal. Not anything else." He kept his voice stern. It would be easy to try his usual tricks on Madge. Play her like he played most girls. So far it had worked. He had more girls than he knew what to do with. But Madge was the mayor's daughter and if he found out he would be screwed. And besides, she was Katniss's friend. There was an unspoken rule that he wouldn't mess with her friends. And considering Madge was her only friend that meant something.

"Of course. I didn't imply anything else. What did you expect me to do? Fall fainting into your arms." She laughed a little her face twinkling a moment before taking on the previous expression.

Gale was nettled. He wasn't used to a girl actually laughing at the idea of liking him. He had a sudden urge to kiss her just to convince her that she wasn't so immune as she pretended. But that would be inappropriate to his business with her and besides, there was a feeling that if he kissed Undersee he might have trouble forgetting.

"You better not." He replied gruffly.

"Then we're on the same page." Madge turned away before saying over her shoulder, "I'll see you Sunday."

Chapter Summary: Some people have been requesting finding out what Gale and Madge are doing while Katniss is away at the Games. I can't promise that I will update this story much. It's kind of more of a one-shot collection than a concise story. I would recommend you read at least the first couple of chapters of my story "I'll Just Let You Fall" so you know what is going on.

I only ship Gadge under certain circumstances. Sometimes it feels like Madge and Gale are pushed together even when Gale is being a total jerk or just using her because he is mad at Katniss. And frankly, Madge deserves better. She deserves someone who truly loves her. So never fear. While Gale has his share of assholery he isn't hung up on Katniss. (She's his cousin and it isn't GOT.)I have a bear of a time writing Gale's POV so the next chapter will probably be from Madge's POV.