Katniss looked over her shoulder at Prim, who was standing in front of a full-length mirror surrounded by the other bridesmaids.
"I can't believe my little sister is getting married today," she thought to herself. It was strange to think that Prim, at just 19 years old, had found the one and would soon be vowing to spend her life with him, when Katniss' life was such a mess. Regardless, Katniss approved of her sister's beau; the pair had been nearly inseparable since the 10th grade anyway.
She rose and walked to stand next to Prim, looking at their differences in the mirror. Prim looked beautiful, with her long blonde hair cascading down in ringlets, and her face flushed and beaming. Katniss stood in a long, gray dress which made her olive skin glow and gray eyes smoulder. Even with the stark differences between them, there was no denying they were sisters.
After their father had died nine years ago, Katniss had worked so hard to keep her little family together, and her determination was finally starting to have positive results show. He bridal party left the room of the hotel and began to walk to the back garden. Katniss looked over to her mother and back at Prim, and blinked back the tears that pricked at her eyes.
"I'm so proud of you, little duck." Katniss murmured, a soft smile forming as they lined up to begin the precession down the aisle.
"And I'm proud of you, too. Thank you so much for everything, I wouldn't be here without you." Prim responded nervously, fiddling with her bouquet. Katniss grinned at Prim and grabbed Gale's arm, and the two started down the aisle as the Maid of Honor and Best Man. Prim followed closely behind, and as Rory's eyes focused on her they widened and filled with tears that, unlike Katniss', couldn't be contained.
After the 'I do's' were said and the reception had begun, Katniss stood off to the side while watching the happy couple dance in each other's arms. Wistfully, she began to think of the past, when she, too, whirled in her love's arms at school dances. She, too, had had a high school sweetheart, yet her story didn't turn out so magical. She began to sway a bit, bouncing the small child asleep in her arms gently up and down, thinking about those simple times.
The past five years had been tough and lonely, true, but also some of the best of her life. While she regretted some of the decisions her 18-year-old mind had made, she had resigned and made her peace with the outcomes. Her thoughts drifted further to the man who had, in her mind, caused all that strife, and she smiled a bittersweet smile and kissed the top of the child's head.
Suddenly a hand fell onto her shoulder, and she started and whipped her head around. Her breath caught in her throat and if asked about this moment later she would swear her heart stopped for a few seconds. The very man who had just been invading her thoughts was standing right in front of her.
"Damnit!" She thought, and as he took in the panicked look on her face he eased into his familiar, lopsided grin.
"Hi there, Katniss. Long time, no see, huh?" he asked rather nervously, yet still in that smooth tone that only he could manage.
"Yeah, a real long time," Katniss replied, and she turn so that Peeta could see what she held in her arms.
And that was the first time Peeta Mellark saw his daughter.