Good to Be Alive (Hallelujah) by Andy Grammar
I've been grinding so long, been trying this shit for years
And I got nothing to show, just climbing this rope right here
And if there's a man upstairs, he kept bringing me rain
But I've been sending up prayers and something's changed
I think I finally found my hallelujah
I've been waiting for this moment all my life
Now all my dreams are coming true, ya
Direct Quotes from Suzanne Collins' Catching Fire are in italics. Anything you recognize is basically hers.
Important Author's Note at end of chapter.
Chapter 28
District 13
December 29th
Despite reservations on Coin's side that it's too extravagant, and on Plutarch's side that it's too drab, the wedding is a smash hit. The three hundred lucky guests culled from 13 and the many refugees wear their everyday clothes, the decorations are made from autumn foliage, the music is provided by a choir of children accompanied by the lone fiddler who made it out of 12 with his instrument.
So it's simple, frugal by the Capitol's standards. It doesn't matter because nothing can compete with the beauty of the couple. It isn't about their borrowed finery – Annie wears a green silk dress Katniss wore in 5, Finnick one of Peeta's suits that they altered – although the clothes are striking. Who can look past the radiant faces of two people for whom this day was once a virtual impossibility? Dalton, the cattle guy from 10, conducts the ceremony, since it's similar to the one used in his district.
But there are unique touches of District 4. A net woven from long grass that covers the couple during their vows, the touching of each other's lips with salt water, and the ancient wedding song, which likens marriage to a sea voyage.
Winnow and Cato stood beside the couple on the altar, also in borrowed finery. Cato wore another suit of Peeta's, altered for his height; and Winnow a flowing, knee-length dress of Katniss's. They'd taken all the length from the lavender dress to add room for Winnow's belly. Which, by this point, had quite rounded out. At five months pregnant, Winnow no longer had just a little bump, but a full-fledged belly.
After the kiss that seals the union, the cheers, and a toast with apple cider, the fiddler strikes up a tune that turns every head from 12. They may have been the smallest, poorest district in Panem, but we know how to dance. Nothing has been officially scheduled at this point, but Plutarch, who's calling the propo from the control room, must have his fingers crossed. Sure enough, Greasy Sae grabs Gale by the hand and pulls him into the center of the floor and faces off with him. People pour in to join them, forming two long lines. And the dancing begins.
Winnow and Cato laughed and danced for a time, but they eventually tapered to the side to rest. After a few minutes, Annie and Finnick appeared before them, a glowing testament to their happiness. "I think we're going to retire soon, Finnick, I'm getting tired," Winnow said regretfully.
"Only after you've had a dance with me, little sis," Finnick bargained, reaching for her hand. "I can't let my own wedding night go by without a dance with you, especially since I couldn't be at your wedding," he guilted the younger woman.
Winnow sighed, flashing a grimace back to her husband, and allowed Finnick to lead her out onto the dance floor. "I don't suppose you'd mind taking a turn with me, would you, Annie?" Cato requested. The bride smiled brilliantly and placed her hand into Cato's.
Finnick whirled his adopted sister around the dancefloor for a full turn before Winnow begged off, and he guided her to a seat, where they settled together. Finnick wrapped an arm around her shoulders and placed his other hand on her belly. And, as if on schedule, the baby kicked.
"When this baby is born, I would like you to be their godfather, Finnick," Winnow requested suddenly.
"As you well know, little Minnow, you will have anything you ask of me," Finnick said, beaming. "And I'd be honored," he continued, kissing her cheek. Winnow grinned in return, patting his cheek from where she was comfortably leaned against his chest. "Who will be this little one's godmother?" Finnick asked out of curiosity.
Winnow shrugged. "Cato and I were toying with the idea that we would simply have two godfathers. Peeta," she offered.
"He will be so pleased that he may just cry," Finnick teased.
Cato and Annie returned from two turns on the floor, with Annie seeking out her husband. "Are you ready to retire, Winnie?" Cato asked, holding out a hand to her.
Winnow took his hand and allowed her husband to tow her to her feet. "Yes, I'd just like to bring Peeta a slice of the cake we slaved over," she said, pecking him on the cheek. She turned back to the newlywed couple and kissed each of them on the cheek and bid them to enjoy themselves.
Winnow and Cato collected a few slices of cake and headed towards the medical wing. "We're just going in to have a slice of cake with Peeta," Cato told a guard, who opened the door as their hands were full.
Peeta beamed at the sight of them, as well as the three platefuls of cake. "You two look wonderful," Peeta greeted. "How was the ceremony?"
"Beautiful. They're so in love, and so happy," Winnow answered, taking a seat at the table.
Cato laid the cake down on the table, one for each of them. "And they adored the cake," Cato interjected. They sat down to eat. "We won't stay long, Peeta. Winnow's tired, but we needed to talk to you," Cato began.
Peeta looked up, easily seeing the sleepiness in Winnow's eyes. "What is it?" he asked.
Winnow smiled slowly, lazily. "Cato and I, we'd like you to be godfather of our baby, you and Finnick both," she requested. Peeta's expression shifted from curiosity to shock in the span of a millisecond, and then his eyes began to tear. "Finnick said you'd cry," Winnow teased, flicking a tear from the corner of Peeta's eye.
"So will you do it?" Cato asked, grinning.
Peeta laughed, wiping at his eyes. "I'd love to."
!
At midnight, Katniss stood outside the door to Peeta's cell. She had hoped to meet with him privately, but the audience of doctors that assembled give her little hope of privacy. When Haymitch gave her the okay through her earpiece, Katniss opened the door.
Peeta sat at the table, a plate with half-eaten wedding cake in front of him. "Winnow and Cato were here earlier. They seem to calm him," Haymitch murmured through her earpiece. Katniss swallowed the tiny seed of resentment, wishing it was the same for her.
Peeta wore three restraints on each arm, and an intravenous tube that dispensed a knockout drug just in case he lost control. Katniss walked over until she was standing about a yard away from the table. She crossed her arms over her ribs before speaking. "Hey."
"Hey." He responded, an edge of suspicion in his voice.
"Haymitch said you wanted to talk to me," Katniss said.
"Look at you, for starters." Peeta said, eyeing her warily. "You're not very big, are you? Or particularly pretty?"
The observation rubbed Katniss the wrong way. "Well, you've looked better." She retorted.
Haymitch warned her urgently to back off, but Peeta laughed. It wasn't the laughter Katniss knew – this laughter is hard, and cold. "And not even remotely nice. To say that to me after all I've been through."
"Yeah. We've all been through a lot. And you're the one who was known for being nice. Not me." Katniss responded. She suddenly felt tired, and so very angry. "Look, I don't feel so well. Maybe I'll drop by tomorrow."
Katniss had just reached the door when Peeta spoke. "Katniss. I remember about the bread."
She stopped, still facing the door. "They showed you the tape of me talking about it," she suggested.
"No. Is there a tape of you talking about it? Why didn't the Capitol use it against me?" Peeta asked, confused.
Katniss turned back towards him. "I made it the day you were rescued." She answered. "So what do you remember?"
"You. In the rain," he said softly. "Digging in our trash bins. Burning the bread. My mother hitting me. Taking the bread out for the pig but then giving it to you instead."
"That's it. That's what happened. The next day, after school, I wanted to thank you. But I didn't know how." Katniss said.
"We were outside at the end of the day. I tried to catch your eye. You looked away. And then…for some reason, I think you picked a dandelion." Peeta said and she nodded. "I must hae loved you a lot."
"You did." Katniss answered, voice catching.
"And did you love me?" Peeta asked in return.
FOLLOWING NOTE IS REPEATED - I WANT MORE INPUT FROM YOU!
BUT - HERE IS MY IMPORTANT NOTE - In the epilogue of this story, I have a few ideas of different shorts to include - but I'm curious as to what YOU want to see most! Please send me either a message or include this in your review! Of course, I will have a "Happily Ever After" for Winnow and Cato & their family in the epilogue, and Katniss & Peeta's family will also appear - but what ELSE would you like to see?
Thank you for all your support, please review.
