Ok new chapter time once again! I know how exited you are! I feel my chapters are too short so I'll make this one a bit longer than usual and see how I like it ok?
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Katniss's POV
I can feel Peeta's grip tighten. Now we will not only have two mentor two children who will probably be pulverized by careers, we will have to mentor them along with all of their siblings. I remember Rue's sisters all standing on that stage looking up at me on the victory tour. If one of them is chosen as female tribute, then I'll have to watch all of them go into the arena. Or what if Vick is chosen? Or Rory? Then we'll have to mentor Rory, Vick, and…Gale! President Snow said the siblings only have to be above the age of 12! There is now limit on how old siblings can be to enter the arena! I am in shock.
And then there's the idea of how many children might have to enter the arena. When Haymitch went in, there were 48 tributes. But there is no limit to how many siblings can go in. Then I have to think about the career districts. Since it's an honor to win in those districts, a sibling from a large family might volunteer. With two names reaped along with all of their siblings, there could be a total of ten tributes from one district alone!
I haven't noticed Peeta shaking me.
"Katniss, listen! There is more to the card." He's right. President Snow is still talking on the screen.
"After reviewing the legality of the Quell, we have come to the conclusion that we must grant the siblings of victors, immunity from the reaping. Our rules state that victors may not return to the arena, and to keep in this way, this rule is necessary." Explains the president. Prim is safe. She is safe from the certain death that this Quarter Quell promises. At least I can take comfort in this one thought. I turn to Peeta.
"At least Prim is safe." I say with a weak smile. I know this is a somewhat selfish thought, but I needed something happy to find in this situation. At least I don't have to face the faces of these children until the reaping, which thankfully is months away. For now, we should focus on the wedding. The wedding! It's tomorrow! Our families will be flown in, Gale will be flown in, and I will become Katniss Mellark.
"Katniss, are you sure you're ok?" Peeta asks in a concerned voice.
"I'm fine," I say. "I just need some sleep is all. Are you ready for bed Peeta?"
"Well sure if you are." He says. "Just let me…uhhhhh…" he gestures at the towel around his waist. "Change?" I laugh.
"Sounds fine to me." I say still laughing. "I still need to change out of my interview dress." We turn away from one another to change. I put on one of my nightgowns and smile when I realize it's the same one I wore on that walk with Peeta. I normally wouldn't wear such a slip of a nightgown, but it's really hot in the Capitol this time of year. I ask Peeta if I can turn around. When he gives me the Ok, I turn around. I blush a little when I realize that he's only wearing a pair of sweat pants. Peeta sees my blush and gets a worried look on his face.
"Oh, I'm sorry Katniss. Are you ok with…" He trails off, obviously embarrassed by the question.
"Oh don't worry. I don't mind." I say with a small laugh. I know it's a little mean to tease him, but I can't help it. I cross over to him and put my arms around his neck. "Not- At-All." I say. I muster up a mischievous grin. He laughs at my teasing, I'm glad he didn't take it the wrong way.
"Bed time" He says still grinning at me. I don't know why this statement makes me laugh.
I am wearing the beautiful diamond wedding dress. I'm in the middle of an empty field. All of a sudden, my dress is ripped and torn. I watch as the coal mine explodes, I watch as all of Rue's sisters burn to death. I am in a cage with Peeta. I watch my home district burn to the ground.
I wake in a cold sweat. Peeta is shaking me by the shoulders.
"Katniss! Katniss! Katniss wake up!" He shouts.
"Peeta, Peeta I'm awake." I have to say this a few times before he notices. I realize I'm clinging to Peeta like a life line. I probably have left nail marks in his back. I let go of him and sit up. The full force of the nightmare hits me all at once and I start sobbing. I've started making those terrible choking noises and I feel Peeta's arms wrap around me. I sob into his bare chest until the sun has risen. Once I've calmed down, Peeta kisses me lightly and takes me to breakfast.
Peeta's POV
When we arrive at breakfast, Effie goes into a fit when she sees that Katniss and I are still in our night clothes.
"Peeta! Katniss! What on earth are you wearing? Is that how you intend to meet your families on the day of your wedding? "That's right, the wedding is today. And what was that about our families? "Peeta did you hear me?" Shrieks Effie. "We will be going to meet your families down at the church in a matter of minutes! Now Katniss, you come with me and Peeta, you go with Haymitch. You know its bad luck to see the bride before the wedding!" Effie pulls Katniss down the hall with her to prepare for the wedding. I see her prep team running after them.
"So lover-boy, you nervous yet?" Haymitch says with a laugh. "Not afraid she'll leave you at the altar are you?" Even Haymitch must realize that joke is terrible. I just raise my eyebrows at him as my prep team surrounds me.
Gales POV
Peeta's, Katniss's, and my family are all sitting in the hovercraft to the capitol. I'm sitting in between Prim and Rory. I am worried for my family. Prim doesn't have to be since her sister is a victor. But if Rory or Vick is chosen for the games, then all three of us will be going into the arena. I try not to think about the games. They are months away anyway. But thinking about the present is no better. I am going to the one event that forever steals Katniss away from me.
The hovercraft lands with a thud, we all file out into what looks like a large square in the capitol. I can see the large church in front of us. Our pilot tells us that we won't speak with Katniss or Peeta until after the wedding since they have already arrived and the ceremony will be starting soon. So I follow my family inside. I am certain I'll never have the same relationship with Katniss ever again after this.
Katniss's POV
Venia shakes her aqua hair out of her eyes as she and the other members of my prep team add the final touches to my appearance. With Cinna's help, they slip the gorgeous diamond dress over my body. As Cinna straightens the diamond veil, I start feeling the butterflies in my stomach.
Peeta's POV
I'm standing at the altar waiting for the ceremony to begin. I'm nervous, but not about the actual wedding, about what things will be like afterwards. Sure Katniss has been uncharacteristically flirty lately, but I just attributed that to her nerves about the Quell and the wedding. But now she knows that Prim is safe, and the wedding is here. Will she change her mind afterwards? Or maybe I'm just paranoid. Yah I'm sure that's it. I pull at my bowtie suddenly wondering when it became so hot in here. I see our families in the front row and gulp. I don't have any more time to be nervous, because the music has begun.
Katniss's POV
Haymitch offers me his arm. Since my father is…gone, Haymitch will be giving me away to Peeta.
"Ready Sweet-heart?" I don't have any time to answer. The music has begun, and we have started to walk down the aisle.
Gale's POV
Katniss has started walking down the aisle. The diamond dress has the same effect as her interview dress from the games. It has the illusion of sending tongues of flame up her body, but in silver. Right up to the end, she is still the girl who was on fire. Only now, that girl's last name will be Mellark. And I can't stand it. I turn and look towards Peeta. That doesn't help though. When he sees Katniss, the look of happiness on his face sends that same pang of jealousy through my body that I felt on that night by the school yard. As Katniss steps up to the altar, and Haymitch lets go of her hand, I know things will never be the same between us.
Katniss's POV
I don't pay much attention to what the pasture is saying. All I can think about is how different my life is going to be after this. Finally I hear my cue.
"I Do" I say without really thinking.
"Peeta, you may now kiss your bride." Says the pasture. And then Peeta's kissing me. We stay that way for a while, but that's mainly for the cameras. I enjoy kissing Peeta, but this kiss just doesn't fill me with that need the other ones did. As we pull apart I see happiness in his eyes. It's so genuine, that I can't help but smile back at him. All of my nerves melt away when I see his smile. I don't even look away when I throw my bouquet of multicolored primroses over my shoulder.
At the reception
After thanking everyone; our prep teams, stylists, and Effie. We are about to go and find our families and a most likely drunk Haymitch so we can go back to district 12, when President Snow walks up to us.
"Congratulations Children!" He exclaims. He pulls us both into a group hug, then whispers in our ear, lips covered by my hair. "And more congratulations on stopping the rebellion" He pulls away and smiles. Despite his happy tone, he still looks like a snake to me. At least, as far as I know, I am safe from his anger.
As the president leaves, spot our families trying to lift an unconscious Haymitch off of the floor. Peeta walks over to a struggling Prim and helps her lift, and for old times' sake, I poor a pitcher of cold water on Haymitch's face. He wakes with a start, flailing the knife that isn't there.
We all pile into the hovercraft, waving goodbye at the crowed below. The whole way home, Peeta and I sit awkwardly across from Gale. He's been staring at Peeta for hours. I'm sure the fact that Peeta and I had to share a seat due to lack of room is making this any easier on Gale. Prim and I have tried and failed many times to start conversations between them. We spend the rest of the trip this way.
We land back in district twelve about an hour after Gale stopped his awkward starring contest with Peeta. We are greeted by Madge and her family. They help us bring my things into Peeta's house, that's where we decided to live since Mother and prim were already staying in the other house.
Later that night, Peeta and I lay in bed. Peeta is already asleep, but I can't even close my eyes. I lay awake wondering what my new life will bring.
Ok guys remember that I crave your input. And that includes constructive criticism. Yes I know that this story is a bit OOC but I did kind of plan it that way. I'll try not to steer too far off of character though :P a big thank you to MountainAir for telling me that I was spelling Cinna wrong :P I lost my books and thought I was spelling it right before. And yes Prim is safe from the games. Otherwise it would kind of defeat the fact that snow forgave Katniss now wouldn't it
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