Author's note: Here is the last chapter. Let me know what you think. Epilogue to come soon.

Happy reading!

Chapter Twenty-Five

Prim and Peeta put their heads together over the next few weeks to come up with a perfect plan. They decided Prim would make a big deal out of having a sister-only day. They would see a movie and eat lunch at a restaurant of Katniss's choice and just hang out. Then she would clear out and Peeta said he planned on a quiet night in. They would have dinner in and cuddle up on the couch.

Peeta spent the afternoon getting the house ready and cooking. He paid attention to every detail and fretted to make it perfect.

When Katniss came in, he rushed over and covered her eyes with his hands. She laughed and leaned into him. "What is this?"

"Your birthday evening. Is Prim with friends?" He kissed her cheek.

"Yes. And she's there all night. For the record. Can't I get a proper kiss?"

"In a minute." He led her toward the kitchen. "Okay, are you ready?"

"I am." She laughed and pulled his hands away. She held them at her side as she looked around.

He'd placed small votive candles all around the kitchen and two long tapers on the table. Two plates were set across from each other and piled high with food; steak, potatoes, green beans, and a basket full of cheese buns sat in the middle of the table.

"What do you think?" He asked in her ear.

"It's beautiful." She stepped forward. "You did all this for me?"

"Of course. It's your birthday. I wanted to make your first birthday with me special." He walked around her and held out a chair. "Have a seat before it gets cold."

She sat down and watched as he made his way around the table. "You're limping a little." She pointed out.

"I got a little over-zealous today. Maybe you can rub my leg later."

"I'd like that."

"After I rub your feet, of course." He poured a little wine into her glass. "The little candles are the battery-operated ones, so we don't have to worry about them. But these are real, as you can see. We'll have to be more careful with them."

Katniss smiled and looked around the room. "It's just so perfect, Peeta. Thank you."

"Oh, honey, we're just getting started." He winked. "Dig in." He picked up his knife and fork and cut into the steak. "I know you like yours medium well. More well than medium. I like mine well done. I think I did it right."

She laughed and cut into her own steak. She took a bite and closed her eyes. "That's amazing." She opened her eyes and watched him a moment. She shook her head. "You're something else. You know that? A baker and a chef. A great artist and teacher. Fantastic boyfriend."

He rubbed her foot with his own under the table. "I worked all my life to hone those first two skills, the other two were born in me, I guess. And the last..." He wiped his mouth and pulled a long box out of his pocket. "Well, I'm working on that one. Here's your first present."

"I get more than one?" She picked it up and opened it. She laughed. "Is that a cleaver?"

He smiled. "I saw it and I immediately thought of you. You worked hard for years at that butcher counter. For Prim and yourself. Even for your mother. Years you sacrificed for the one you loved most. And now, you're living your life for you. The way you talk, I can tell that you sometimes resent your mother because she only lived for your father those first years and that's probably what made her depression worse. The mourning." He put his hand on top of hers. "I want to go on this journey with you. For the rest of your life. Living it how you deserve."

"Peeta?"

He smiled. "I know we just started eating, but I can't hold this off. I've held off long enough." He took something out of his pocket and placed it on the table beside her plate.

She looked down and saw a ring. There was a small emerald stone inset. She looked up at Peeta and the. At the ring again. "Peeta?"

He took Katniss's hand. "I don't have a good example of marriage, how it's supposed to be. Not growing up. My father was weak. I know he tried for me, but he was so beaten down emotionally by my mother before I was even born that he couldn't fight it. There were so many things he could have done differently. It wasn't a marriage of equals. But when I met Finnick and Annie and I watched them, I realized that people who love each other and support each other and complete each other do exist. And I want to be that with you. Katniss, I want to marry you. I want a life with you, bound to you. Exalting in your successes, comforting you in your failures, and for you to do the same with me. I want a marriage better than my parents had."

She picked up the ring and slipped it on. She smiled and walked around the table. She perched on his lap and held his face in her hands. "I'm not my mother. You're not your father. We're Peeta and Katniss. We're different. We'll work on this together. And we'll work harder than any of our parents ever did."

"So you'll marry me?"

"I'll marry you." She kissed him deeply and then pressed her eyes into his neck. "I love you."

"I love you, too." He rubbed her back.

Se hopped up after a moment. "Okay, listen, I want to finish this delicious meal you made and then we're going to have wild, loud sex all night long." She sat at her spot once more and tangled her feet with his under the table.

He laughed. "So when would you like to do it?"

"Well, I don't need anything extravagant. I just want you and me and our closest friends and family."

"We should do it outside."

"Next weekend." She said. "Here. Plutarch is the pastor at the church Effie and Haymitch go to. I'm sure he'd officiate."

"I'm sure he would." He smiled. "What if we invite everyone over and make it a surprise wedding?"

"Don't even tell Prim?"

"Not even Prim." He grinned. "What do you say?"

She laughed. "I'll call Plutarch Monday morning."

"There's an inscription in the ring. Did you see?" He watched as she took the ring off and tried to find the inscription he told her about.

"'Always.'" She put the ring back on and blinked at him. "From that night I woke up from the nightmare. I asked you to stay with me."

"And I said, 'Always.'" He rubbed her hand. "I'll always be here for you, Katniss."

"And I promise you the same, Peeta."

They happily snuck around making preparations for the week. They told everyone the gathering would be to celebrate their engagement. They even went so far as to go to the next town to get their marriage license so no one they knew would see them and spoil anything. They suspected Prim noticed since they all lived together, but she didn't say anything.

They met with Plutarch late Friday night to finalize things. There were important issues they wanted to iron out, even for something so small and quick.

The morning dawned bright and clear.

"Perfect day for a surprise wedding." Katniss said against Peeta's lips as he kissed her.

He smiled. "It is. And I can't wait. I love you so much. I want the world to know." He rolled out of the bed and picked up his leg. "I'm going to wear shorts today."

She looked at him with concern. "Are you sure?"

He nodded. "It's a little too warm these days for long pants. And it's time all our friends and family know that I'm a little different."

"I'm proud of you." She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him once more. "Do you think they'll be shocked?"

"I think Prim already knows something's up, so I don't think it will be a shock or a surprise. Annie and Finnick will probably be impressed. Especially Finnick. And I think your uncle will give me a hard time. Everyone else will be shocked beyond word, I'm sure." He rubbed her back. "I'll make the cake and then shower. So it's all yours and Prim's to take your sweet time. Get pretty for me."

"You mean I'm not already?" She asked with a pout.

"Of course not. Your hair is a mess and you have morning breath." He grinned. "I still love you, though." He walked away and left her alone to get ready.

"I know what's happening." Prim said as she made a cup of coffee.

"Do you?" Peeta asked as he poured the batter into cake pans.

"Is Katniss preggo?"

Peeta gave a deep bark of laughter. "Definitely not."

"Then the only other thing I can think of is a wedding." She grinned. "I know better than to assume my sister would get pregnant so close to the beginning of her college career. Plus, I heard you guys whispering about it a few times."

"So are you cool with it?"

"Totally." She gave him a big hug. "Welcome to the family. Officially."

He patted her back. "Thanks, kid." He stepped away and put the pans in the oven. "Just keep it to yourself, okay?"

"No problem. Need me to get anything for you?" Prim asked.

"Nope, I think we're good here. Thanks." He made a cup of coffee and walked out of the kitchen. He tapped on the bathroom door.

"Yeah?" Katniss called.

"Coffee?" Peeta offered.

"I'd love some."

"Then open up because I brought you some."

She opened the door a bit and smiled. "I knew there was a reason I said yes."

"One of many, I hope. By the way, Prim guessed about the wedding and I confirmed. I made sure to ask her to keep it to herself, though."

"Good."

He leaned in. "Kiss?"

"Sure." She met him the rest of the way. "I'm almost done in here."

"I just put the cake in the oven." He cupped her cheek. "This day is going to be so long."

"Bathroom quickie?" She asked with a mischievous grin.

He laughed. "I could be into that."

Prim walked by and said, "You have a wedding to prepare for. Chop-chop!"

Peeta shook his head. "She's right. I still need to run to the store for some more things. Decorate the cake." He kissed her once more and stepped away. "I love you."

"You've said that before."

"I have. But I feel like saying it."

She laughed. "I love you, too. By the way."

He stared lovingly at her a moment and then moved away.

Peeta spent a lot of time making sure the cake was perfect. He wouldn't let Katniss look at it. He wanted it to be a surprise.

The guests started arriving a little after noon. There weren't many, but they all played important parts in Katniss and Peeta's lives.

Gale shook Peeta's hand. "Hey, I want to say thank you."

"For what?" Peeta asked.

"For making her happy. I tried. But she needed you. And now she has you. So thanks." Gale patted Peeta's hand and let it go. "That ring is really pretty, too."

"Thanks. Did you meet Finnick? He's the one who helped me pick it out." He waved Finnick over. "Finnick, this is Gale, Katniss's best friend."

"Her Johanna, huh?" Finnick held out his hand. "Nice to meet you. She's told us a lot about you. That beautiful pregnant lady over there is my wife Annie. If you're in the mood for a good hug, go introduce yourself. She's dying to meet you."

"I'll have to make my way over there. That's my fiancée Madge talking to her."

"Oh, really? She's cute." Finnick said appreciatively.

Katniss walked over and whispered in his ear. "You ready?"

"So ready. Where's Plutarch?"

"Over there with Cinna and Alan. But he knows the drill."

Peeta nodded. He held his hands up and got everyone's attention. "Hey, everyone, can I get you all to quiet down a minute? I have some stuff I want to say."

Everyone slowly turned and quieted in their small groups.

Katniss slipped her hand into Peeta's.

Peeta kissed her knuckles. "Katniss and I are so happy you could join us for our celebration of our engagement. But we're actually going to be married today." He nodded to Plutarch who made his way across the yard. There were a few gasps from the crowd and a whoop that Peeta was sure was from Finnick. "So gather close. And join us as we join our lives together."

Everyone was silent as Katniss and Peeta said their vows. There were a few sniffles and Katniss saw Effie wiping her eyes. She could have sworn she saw Johanna wipe at a wayward tear.

And when it was over, Plutarch said, "I would like to present to you Katniss and Peeta Everdeen."

The crowd erupted and Katniss felt herself lifted off the ground. She looked down to find it was Finnick. He was cheering his head off.

"I need you to put me down." She said with a laugh. She sniffed and realized she was crying.

"Can't." He carried her a few more feet to where Peeta was on Gale and Haymitch's shoulders.

Her uncle was smiling more than he had on his own wedding day. He was proud of her, she could tell.

The couple were carried all over the yard for several minutes as the crowd rejoiced. When they were finally put down, Peeta disappeared into the house and came out with a cake.

Katniss put her hand over her mouth when she saw how he'd decorated it: a cupcake with an arrow through it sat in the middle. He'd written, "Peeta loves Katniss" and "K&P" and many sweet variations of that theme all over it.

Peeta asked, "You like it?"

"I love it." She said. She framed his face. "I love you." She kissed him softly.

He wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss as several people in the crowd wolf whistled. He smiled and rested his forehead against hers. "You make me so happy."

"And I'm happy you're happy."

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