They play in the meadow, as I watch from the window. The dancing girl with dark hair and blue eyes. Rue. The boy with blonde curls and grey eyes. Cinna. It took five, ten, fifteen years for me to agree. But Peeta wanted them so badly. Ever since our wedding day...
I walked down the isle with Haymitch on my arm. He still offered to give me away, after all that time. We got him to stop drinking, after the war. He's actually a pleasant guy. We named him Godfather of our children. He patted me on the back as I walked up the stairs to Peeta.
"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered together here in the sign of God – and in the face of this company – to join together this man and this woman in holy matrimony. If any person can show just cause why they may not be joined together – let them speak now or forever hold their peace." Paylor said. We were invited to have our wedding in the president's mansion, for our "service in the war."
No one spoke, of course. We were the star-crossed lovers of District Twelve, with a tragic love story. No one was about to ruin our happy ending.
"Peeta," Paylor said. Peeta took out a ring. An emerald ring, instead of a diamond. Green.
"Katniss Everdeen," he smiled. "I can't believe after all this time, all we've been through, that I'm finally getting my wedding. I love you, always.
He put the ring on my finger, and I was almost crying. I took my ring out. A simple, silver band, with a small pearl in the middle.
"Peeta Mellark," I looked at the ring and showed it to him. He smiled. "If you put enough pressure on coal, it turns into a pearl," I looked at Effie in the crowd. She was laughing, teary eyed. Everyone was teary eyed. Even Haymitch, though he would deny it to his last breath. I turned back to Peeta and smiled. "I've never been good with words. But I know that I could live one hundred lifetimes and never deserve you, Peeta. I'm just lucky that you chose me. I love you. Real." I put the ring on his finger.
"Do you, Peeta, take Katniss to be your wife – to live together in holy matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," he said, taking my hand.
"And do you, Katniss, take Peeta to be your husband- to live together in holy matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse, in sadness and in joy, as long as you both shall live?"
"I do," I said.
"You may kiss the bride," said Paylor. The crowd cheered as Peeta kissed me.
"Katniss?" I was brought out of my flashback by a voice calling my name. Prim. I turned around.
"Hey Prim. I didn't hear you come in."
"I brought Gale with me," Gale comes and visits every once in a while, and on holidays. Something of an uncle to the kids. He's happy for me and Peeta, and they get along great now. He was always more like my brother anyway. "Are you okay?" she says. I nod.
But I think about that question. I'm happy, that's for certain. I have the love of my life living with me, two beautiful children, my best friend, and my sister and mother alive and well. I am happy.
Of course, one can never escape the nightmares from the Hunger Games. They still haunt me every once in a while. But I always wake up to Peeta calming and holding me. I know I'll be alright. When I find myself thinking of old memories during the day, though, I say to myself what I learned from the doctors all these years ago.
My name is Katniss Everdeen. My home is District 12. Peeta Mellark is my husband. I have two children named Rue and Cinna. Haymitch is their Godfather. Prim is their aunt. Gale an uncle.
It's like a game. Repetitive. Even a little tedious after more than twenty years.
But there are much worse games to play.
