Katniss and Peeta Forever

"I hope I'll be as beautiful when I get married, Kat."

"You will be Prim." I stare at myself in the mirror. I'm wearing a plain white cotton dress. It's pure white with straps. Prim is in a matching style but in beige. She's holding three bouquets of flowers. One for her and one for me and one for Madge.

"Are you ready?" My maid-of-honor and best friend Madge asks. Madge at eight and one half months pregnant and grieving the loss of her husband asked to be my maid-of-honor. A roll she would have played in a more normal time.

Prim walks out of the back room of the American Legion Hall first, then Madge. I take my Pop Pop's arm and we walk out to the sound of the wedding march played by the eighty year old organist we borrowed from the Episcopal Church. At the front of the hall is Peeta and his best man, his Father.

Peeta and his Father have a wonderful relationship. Peeta worked for his Father in the bakery all through high school and during the summers while in college. Peeta thought he might take over the bakery until his junior year when he declared his major and decided to go to law school. His Father was prepared for him to take over the bakery or any other career he might choose.

Peeta and his Father are dressed in black pants and a plain white shirt. No tie, open collar. Even from this distance I can see his deep blue eyes. He smiles and I smile back. I tighten my grasp on my grandfather's arm and we walk down the aisle. I look forward and from the corner's of my eyes I can see the cameras snap pictures. I think that one day I will be my Mom's age and I will show these pictures to our children.

We reach the front and I face my Grandfather, we embrace and kiss. He shakes Peeta's hand and sits. Madge then kisses Peeta and then hugs and kisses me. She can't stand for the whole ceremony so she sits down next to her Mom and Dad and Hazelle. The Undersee's have been our next door neighbors since my parents bought the house I grew up in and my Mom still lives in. Right behind them are all of Gale's brothers and sister. Prim and I became close to them after the deaths of our fathers.

I grab Peeta's hand and we turn to face Father Jack. He starts the ceremony.

"I, Peeta, take you, Katniss, to be my wife. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love and honor you all the days of my life."

"I, Katniss, take you, Peeta, for my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, until death do us part."

Peeta's Dad hands my ring to the priest and he blesses it. Peeta then places it on my finger. Prim hands Peeta's ring to the priest who blesses it and Peeta puts it on my finger.

We say together "I take this ring as a sign of my love and faithfulness in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit."

After a final prayer Father Jack says "Go in peace with Christ," to which everybody responds, "Thanks be to God."

We are now husband and wife.

After the ceremony we go outside and pose for photos. Most of the men attending head for the bar and the women present follow us out with the cameras. We didn't hire a photographer so we will just depend on the group of friends to put together our photo album. Prim's date agreed to videotape the ceremony and the reception.

We take the photos in a small garden that is next to the baseball field. The guys playing a game of softball stop and walk over to watch. We know most of them from the neighborhood and school. The shout congratulations before heading to the keg for a refill.

Today's weather is perfect. I think that after the turmoil of the last two weeks this is a welcome respite. I and Peeta pose. Then with my Mom then with his parents. Every combination of family members possible is done. We end the photo session with me and Peeta. I can't keep my eyes off him. I throw my arms around him and give him a big kiss. I hear the oohs and ahhs of our friends. I can feel myself blush as I bury my face in Peeta's chest. When I pull my face out I grab his arm and tug him to go inside.

At this point the hall has been transformed from all seats for the ceremony to tables and chairs for the reception. The Legion has done a wonderful job for us given the short notice. Everyone chipped in. We live in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. There seemed to be an enthusiasm for this wedding as a way to push other things that are on your mind to the side for a couple of hours.

All the men filter back from the bar carrying their drinks and the shutter opens for the bar in the hall. The nice thing about being a bride you get to go to the front of the line. I look at the bartender. He is a member of the PVFD and he reaches over the bar to hug me. He is the sort of person that I've known for so long he would say "I've known you since you were this big." As he held out his hand at waist level.

"Beer please."

"It's hard to believe you're old enough for this beer. I remember when you were only this big." I smile. It's good to know some things never change.

He puts a Bud in front of me. No fancy imports here. If you want a Heineken you have to pay for it at the bar.
"Thank you." I say with a smile. I grab Peeta's arm as we mingle around the room accepting congratulations and envelopes from our guests. I am so happy I don't think I will ever surpass this moment in happiness.
It's good to see Chief Emma and her husband Captain Mike. And also Clove and her very handsome date. And Maryann and Bear. I go over to them. "Maryann, Bear, I'm so glad you made it." Bear has lost a ton of weight since the heart attack. I'm sure that's for the better but I just can't get used to him looking so thin. I'm used to the big burly man who I've come to depend on in the most serious of situations. "Bear, how are you?"

"Better. I've never felt so good."

"Good. You look great."

"You're too kind. I look like shit. But I do feel good. You look beautiful." He hugs me and the memories of that day come back. Not the overwhelming ones of the towers but being on the street with a fallen comrade.

"Thanks. And I expect to have a dance later."

"I wouldn't miss it."

"Hey Clove. Whose the hunk."

"Kat, that is my boyfriend Cato." She waves Cato over.

"Nice to meet you Cato."

"Congratulations Katniss."

"Honey, could you get me a drink?"

"Sure." Cato gives Clove a kiss and walks to the bar.

"Oh my God Clove he's gorgeous. Not Peeta gorgeous, but gorgeous."

"I'll let you have that but just for today." She says with a smirk.

"And that accent. Is he from England?"

"Yup. I met him on the job. I responded to his office and saw him. Next thing I know he tracked me down and asked me out. That was six months ago."

"Is it serious?"

"I hope so."

"Geez Clove. you can bring him around anytime you want. Oh, when things settle down we'll double date."

"Oh I don't know Kat. I don't think I can trust you around him." We both laugh hysterically.

"Emma. Thank you for coming." I say to my Chief. My favorite Chief.

"Thanks Kat. This is my husband Mike."

"Mike, thanks for coming. Eight-three engine. right." Captain Mike is a big and handsome man. They make a perfect couple.

"Yup."

"It's a busy company."

"Very."

"Okay. That's enough shop talk for today." Emma interrupts.

"Your right. We'll leave that for next week." I say as I raise my beer to them.

Our DJ stops the music "Ladies and Gentlemen. Let me introduce for the first time Mr. and Mrs. Peeta and Katniss Mellark." Everyone cheers and we walk up to dance for the first time. I put my arms around his neck and we stare into each others eyes. "Our happy couple wants to invite all of their friends to join them on the dance floor."
I see Peeta's parents dancing, Prim and her date and my Mom. My Mom is dancing with Mr. Lancer. I didn't even know he was here. I really don't know him that well. I guess he's with someone. Wait, he's dancing with my Mom. Does my Mom have a boyfriend. After our dance I kiss Peeta and tell him that i'm going to see my Mom.

"Mom."

"Oh come here honey. I'm so happy for you." She puts her arms around me.

"Thanks Mom. I saw you dancing with Mr. Lancer. Is he with you today?"

"Yes dear. Jeff is my date." My Mom has dated a little since my Dad died but it never seemed to blossom into anything. I don't know if she felt she was betraying my Father or didn't want to subject her girls into trying to accept a stepfather.

"Are you dating him?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"Six months."

"Six months! How come you haven't said anything?" I say sounding like I'm the grown up here.

"Oh Katniss. I never knew who you were dating sometimes." I nod and shake my head.

"I guess you're right Mom. Do you like him?"

"Of course I like him. I've been with him for six months."

"You know what I mean. Do you LIKE him?" I say trying to pry information from her.

"Maybe." I think her response means YES.

I'm all smiles inside. She has been alone way too long. Everything she has done has been for me and Prim. Now it's her turn. "I'm happy for you Mom." I hug her. "If you get married can I give you away."

"Oh Katniss stop it." I can see her blushing. It's so cute.

By the time the reception is over I'm exhausted. I find Peeta so we can say our good byes and leave for our first night together.

After the good byes we get into the car for the ride up to the bed and breakfast in the Catskills for our wedding night. "Are you ready?" Peeta asks. I nod yes. "Did you have a good time?" That's an absurd question to ask the bride. I just laugh at the question.

"Yes. Yes I did. Thanks for inviting me." Peeta chuckles. "Wow. I can't believe Jo caught the bouquet. She is a committed bachelorette."

"Who knows. People change." And that they do. Look at me. I have changed so much in just less twelve days.

A/N: I am sorry for not updating sooner. I have been busy at work and I had three stories going at once. I decided to complete "Emma's Games" first. I did that and now I can concentrate on "Baby" and "Aftermath. Thanks for your understanding.