Hi Guys! :)

Bet you thought I was gonna forget updating, didn't ya? Well, I couldn't possibly! The truth is, today was a busy day and I also had a difficult time writing this chapter. Peeta and Katniss tend to write themselves so easily, I kind of forgot what it was like having to think something through. Obviously, this is the wedding scene, which is a big moment. I'm not sure I'm completely satisfied with the chapter yet. We'll see. I may re-write. Part of the problem is that I didn't want their marriage vows/ceremony to be traditional. They're unique, and their wedding should be, too. Don't know what's in store for the next chapter, yet, but probably more dialogue with guests than this chapter had.

Oh, well. I hope I did them justice! And once again, thank you a million times over for the reviews. I love them! :D

Let me know what you think!

-Homey ;)

Disclaimer: All the creation of Suzanne Collins. I just love Peeta and Katniss so much I had to write about them!

©HomeschoolGirl 2012, or at least this actual post is. The characters, not so much. But anyway, please don't use this as your own. Thanks!

Prim is here, then.

Everywhere.

Invading my thoughts. I imagine her sitting in the front row. She turns to look at me. She's beautiful. Her hair is loose around her shoulders. She's wearing a light blue dress. She gives me a thumbs-up sign. She smiles. She tells me she's happy for me.

She would be.

"Katniss, we need to keep moving," Haymitch hisses in my ear. I see his face is going red from embarrassment.

"Sure…" I stutter, blinking rapidly.

He nudges me forward. I take a deep breath and keep walking. Somehow, I manage to shove Prim to the back of my mind, instead focusing on present things.

There's Effie sitting with Octavia, Flavius, and Venia in the front row. They're all smiling like someone gave them good news. I offer them a timid wave. One row behind them, Paylor, Betee, Thom and Plutarch sit. The rows of people continue. Among the familiar faces I spot Hazel and even Delly Cartwright, who looks happy enough to burst. She gives a squeal when she sees my dress.

Mom wasn't able to come, apparently. It doesn't bother me.

I realize the music is the melody to The Hanging Tree. A favorite song of my father's. It's weird and fulfilling all at the same time. I bet he's here, too.

I've never given much thought to spirits, or Heaven, but something of the sort must exist for Prim and my dad. They were so pure…so good. Like Angels.

I struggle to blink back tears. It's even harder when I catch sight of Peeta. He's smiling broadly, holding his arms out to me. I look at Haymitch and he just nods, loosening his hold on my arm. I rush forward and lay my head against Peeta's chest.

"You look…just breathtaking, Katniss," he whispers into my hair.

I sniff. "Thank Flavius, Octavia, and Venia for that."

He puts his finger under my chin and gently tilts my head up. "No, it's all you. You've always been beautiful to me."

I wish I could say the same to him, but it would be lying. Before the Games, I didn't even notice Peeta Mellark. He was just the boy with the bread. Untouchable. But I owed him, even then, and so much more now. Yet he keeps giving me things. All of himself. His kisses. His love. I've taken countless stabs at his heart, yet he's done his best to preserve mine.

"We're here today to celebrate the union of Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen," Thom says, standing up. We decided that he would act as our unofficial preacher, seeing as we don't have one. "Peeta, will you please recite your vows?"

Peeta turns to me, smiling. Slowly, he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring. But it's not my engagement ring. It's silver and it sparkles with a gorgeous diamond.

"Oh…" I gasp, as he slides it onto my finger. "Peeta, you-"

He silences me with a finger to my lips. "Katniss, before you argue with me, I wanted to. You deserve something pretty." He touches the back of my hand. "I hope you like it. I know you don't usually care for jewelry."

On the contrary, I love it. It's the prettiest thing I've ever owned, and it came from Peeta, which makes it even better.

"It's perfect," I say simply, and he smiles.

Thom, who has been watching the exchange with teary eyes, clears his throat.

"Um…Peeta? The vows?"

"Right!" Peeta exclaims. He takes a deep breath and catches my face in his hands, staring into my eyes. "Katniss. You've always said that I'm good with words. But this time, instead of going on and on about how much you mean to me and making it into a big ordeal, I'm keeping it short. I. Love. You. You are everything to me."

It feels like it's just me and him, when he says that. I grab his wrists, securing his hands to me. "Don't leave me, Peeta."

"I won't," he says.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

"Katniss?" Thom reminds me.

I sigh, stepping away from Peeta. I don't have a ring for him, but we already agreed that he wouldn't wear one.

"Peeta, I'm going to cherish every second from this day forward with you. I've learned not to take things for granted. In a world so unstable, the most I can hope for is that you stay with me. And so far, you have, even though I didn't deserve it at times. I'm sorry it took me so long to realize I loved you, but I know now. I love you, Peeta."

"Let's move onto the toasting," Thom instructs, clapping his hands together. Someone has started a fire in the hearth. Peeta and I go to stand next to each other, facing the fire, while Peeta cuts a bit of bread for both of us. I watch his face the whole time. He's smiling, yet focused. A little knot of excitement twists in my stomach.

Peeta hands me my bread. I skewer it on a stick. At the same time, we both hold the pieces into the flame.

His hand finds mine and squeezes once, twice. My face is burning from the heat of the fire but I don't want to turn around, as I'm painfully aware of the crowd watching us. At last, Peeta pulls his bread back. I'm quick to follow. The pieces are burnt in places, undone in others, unevenly toasted. But I don't care.

"Please face each other," Thom says solemnly.

Peeta and I do so. We look into each others' eyes. With determined movements, we both hold the bread to our lips.

It's hot and delicious. I chew and swallow, repeating the pattern several times until my hand is empty. For good measure, I lick the crumbs from my fingers.

I look at Peeta to see he is already finished. So that's it. We're married.

My name is Katniss Mellark.

"You may kiss your bride," Thom hints, as we are still standing there staring at each other. I open my mouth to say something-maybe to point out that people are watching us-but Peeta's hand finds the back of my neck and he secures my face to his.

His lips are warm from the bread, and his hand is hot as it snakes around my waist, holding me to him. People begin to clap, some even wolf-whistle, as the kiss continues. I don't want to break away, though. He is my husband. He is mine. No one, not even the most beautiful person in the world, can take him from me.

"Okay, okay," Thom says, laughing as everyone converges upon us. We are forced to pull away, but Peeta's eyes say it all: Later. I find I can't wait until later.

"Effie," I say, pulling the bubbly woman into my arms. "Thank you. The primroses are…just gorgeous. It's more than I could've hoped for."

She holds me close. "I knew you'd want her here, Katniss."

I nod, smiling with ease. Which is weird, since we're discussing Prim.

"I do," I mumble at last. "I can feel her, too, thanks to you."

Effie pulls away. "In case you ever have any doubts, what you did that day at the reaping was right. She wouldn't have lasted in the Games. She was too pure. Thanks to you, she had extra time to enjoy life."

I can't agree with her, not yet, but that's okay. Maybe some day I will.

"Katniss?" Peeta asks, slipping an arm around my shoulder. "Greasy Sae says it's time to eat. But I want to show you something first."

"Okay," I agree with confusion, wrinkling my forehead. Peeta pulls me from the throng of people, outside, toward his house.

We go into the kitchen and I wonder what he's doing before he turns and kisses me. I respond instantly, winding my arms around his neck, pulling myself to him. I close my eyes, savoring the moment.

"We should go back," he says after seconds, minutes, hours, days. I lose track of time entirely when he's with me like this. If it wasn't so enjoyable, it'd be highly embarrassing.

"Right," I chide myself, stepping away. "We have a wedding to get back to." My stomach growls and I laugh. "Plus, I'm starving."

"Me too," he agrees with a whisper, as he leads me out the front door.

Back inside, the piano player has chosen a more festive tune as people serve themselves and then stand around, chatting lightly, eating various foods.

Peeta and I get bowls of chowder. Somehow I also manage to snatch a blueberry pastry from the tray set up on the dessert table, though it's almost empty. The wedding cake, grand and beautiful with five tiers, is some of Peeta's finest work. I tell him so and he mumbles a modest thank you.

Haymitch sits on my right, Peeta on my left, as we take our seats at the "honors" table. People surround us, exclaiming over the richness of the food and the prettiness of my dress. I smile at all of them, chatting easily between spoonfuls of the delicious chowder.

When my hunger is quenched, it's time for the cake. Peeta insist that we cut the first slice as husband and wife, and I don't argue. I go to grab the knife, and his arm reaches out around me so his warm hand can cover mine. My heart speeds up at just that simple touch.

"Now," Peeta says as we slide the cake slice onto a plate. "We have to feed each other. Deal?"

"Deal," I say, as he hands me my portion of the cake. I hold it out and we count down from three.

I let out a loud laugh as I shove the cake directly on his face. He looks aghast for a moment before he smiles and licks the frosting from his cheeks.

"Don't forget your slice!" He chants, as I'm laughing so hard I don't notice I have yet to be fed mine. The next thing I know, my eyes are covered in chocolate. Crumbs fill my nose. I sputter around the dessert and start laughing all over again.

"Mmm," Peeta says, swiping his finger across my cheek and putting some of the cake into his mouth. "It's delicious."

I elbow him playfully. In response, he kisses me.

It's going to be a good night.