anonymous: "You did all of this for me?"

*Set in the What's Left Here universe

Madge's eyes began to water, and Gale, after living with females for many, many years, was finally able to discern when women cried because they were sad, angry, or, best of all, happy.

"Happy Anniversary," he said, watching her take it all in.

She had been gone two weeks, to the New Capitol to meet with President Paylor and the other Heads of Education from each District to discuss the how things were progressing on setting up a well-rounded education system. She wasn't even supposed to be back in time for their anniversary, but Gale had a feeling– knowing Madge– that she would pull some strings and surprise him. He was right, so he was doubly glad he had planned to be done with his project the day before, anyway.

District 4, where they lived, was beautiful. Both Gale and Madge both liked living near the water, and the tropical weather wasn't bad at all (he did not miss those brutal winters in 12,) although Gale missed his lush forests and Madge missed the equally lush garden she had at the mayor's mansion. They had only been at their current house a year– moved in the day they got married, and while the inside of the renovated house was complete, the outside remained something akin to barren. They both hated it, but were too busy to do much about it.

With an obscene amount of vacation time on his hands, Gale took off the two weeks Madge was gone and decided to surprise her. With the help and connections of Finnick and Annie, he wrangled up some help (and may or may not have, all the way from District 12, bribed his brothers to come, too,) and got to work.

He kept the front yard simple: laid some sod, put some shrubs in between the grass's end and the house as a divider, and installed window boxes with bright flowers. It was the back yard that he went full out.

The designs had been rumbling around in his brain for a while, and sometimes while he hit a road block at work he'd get them out and work on them. What he wanted was an oasis, something that no only he and Madge would be able to enjoy but their future children as well. He wanted to give them a taste of 12 back.

Tree saplings of every variety lined the perimeter of their large backyard. Gale wasn't quite sure how well they'd fare, but he put in some evergreens– they would remain full in the winter, and offer a sense of privacy when the others were bare. Then he got to work, researching different flower and plant types that would do well in the warm weather, yet still retain the look he knew Madge liked.

And maybe he went a little overboard. Before he knew what he was about, he'd put in a small, artificial pond with a fountain, made a couple lounge chairs– with his Ma sewing some padding specially for them– and even sectioning off an area for a small garden. There was still that instinct in him to live off the land, and he immediately got to work on a row of herbs, and a few rows of tomatoes, peas, carrots, and lettuce.

The trees were still young, and although many things were in bloom, not all of the flowers were at their peak. Still, it turned out beautifully. It was truly a labor of love.

"What do you think, Madge?"

She turned to him, her face lit by a big grin. "I love it! Gale, I… I don't know what to say."

"Happy Anniversary, sweetheart," he said again, lifting her hand and kissing it. "Here's to many more."

She threw her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. He wound his arms around her and they stood for a moment, relishing being together again. Madge sighed, content. "I missed you," she said, "and while I don't think the gift I got you was anywhere near as great as this, I hope you'll enjoy it, anyway."

"I'm sure I'll love it," he assured her earnestly, and then, at her raised, sly eyebrow, he blinked owlishly and began to grin. "Oh, I see how it is," he said, his hands tightening, but then, just as quickly, his face fell.

Madge pulled back, frowning. "What is it?" She said.

"Well," Gale sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "There's one thing that I forgot to mention. This took a lot of work, and I had to call in some help, that may or may not still be here…"

As if on cue–

"Hey, Gale!" From different windows facing the back yard, three dark heads thrust out. "DID SHE LIKE IT?"

"DID YOU TELL HER I WAS THE ONE WHO CAME UP WITH THE FOUNTAIN IDEA?"

"DID YOU TELL HER I MADE THOSE FLOWER BOXES OUT FRONT?"

"Leave them alone, you three! It's their anniversary."

His forehead pressed against hers. "My family is here," he groaned.

While Madge couldn't deny being a teensy bit disappointed, she loved having the Hawthorne's with them. "Oh, well," she said. "I suppose this is good practice."

"Good practice?"

"Having a full house, of course," Madge said. "You know, for when we have children one day."

Gale's grin matched her own, as she took his hand and led him into the house.