This is the last official chapter of Tides before the epilogue so I just wanted to extend my thanks. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of both me and my husband's hearts. This was a story that we both loved working on together.
The characters of The Hunger Games trilogy do not belong to me.
Tides
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Peeta
One Year Later…
Peeta awoke to an empty bed.
Sitting up, he looked around to see if there were any traces of his fiancée, but found nothing. Their bedroom door was ajar, so slowly getting out of bed Peeta went to it and walked out into the hallway.
Peeta could see that the nursery door was open. Quietly heading down the hallway, he passed by Prim's closed door. His sister was exhausted as she had just returned from walking a runway for Everdeen Design as well as a show for Chloé two days ago.
Not to mention, she had midterms coming up.
Peeta heard the sound of quiet giggling as he reached the doorway of the nursery.
Peeking inside, his heart leapt at the sight.
Robin and James were perched on Katniss' lap, one baby on each thigh as she rocked them in the chair that had become a godsend. It was the twins' favorite chair and they never cried if they were rocked on it. The two babies rested their heads on Katniss' chest, light and dark hair contrasting beautifully against his fiancée's white top.
"I can't believe that they're one," he found himself saying out loud.
Katniss looked up and grinned. "Good morning, sweetheart."
"It's 6 a.m.," Peeta responded.
She looked down at the twins that were beginning to snooze in her lap. "Not to them."
Walking over to her, Peeta sat down on the floor in front of the trio. Robin, their daughter, peeked out at him from underneath her long, dark lashes and was suddenly scrambling off of her mother. She reached for Peeta and he gathered her into his arms easily, smelling spring in her tuft of raven hair.
"Happy birthday, little Robby," he whispered into her ear.
"Ba…" came the soft, delighted sound from their daughter's lips.
"Da?" Peeta looked up to see James now reaching out to him.
"Oh, you too?" Katniss looked at their son, giving him a playful pout. "I guess we know who the favorite is!" Nevertheless, she placed James into the free space in Peeta's lap.
"Little Jamie," He said as he looked at the boy staring up at him with Katniss' beautiful grey eyes. "How does it feel to be one year older?"
James smiled up at him, a small tooth emerging from his young gums and adding to the array of baby teeth. They had the hardest time when he had begun teething. On the opposite end, Robin had taken it all quietly, only crying when she had cut her first tooth.
"Goo…" The little boy replied.
"I think that Jamie is going to be the first to talk," Katniss told her fiancé. "I can see him trying to form actual words."
"Well, don't be surprised if our little Robby surprises us all and starts before him," Peeta replied. He looked at Robin, who was reaching over to take James' hand.
Katniss chuckled. "She'll probably speak first just to tell him to shut up!"
It was common knowledge that Robin was the leader between the two. She had a way of calming her brother when he was in tears just by a stare or a tender hand pat. They had that special way of communicating as all twins do.
"You look kind of lonely sitting in that chair," Peeta said looking up at her. "Why don't you join us on the carpet?"
Robin's suddenly drowsy eyes looked up to Katniss. "Ma?"
Katniss was already sliding down from the chair onto the floor. "Wait—there's still a little time, so we can do this." She crawled over to where the star projector rested by the door and pulled it forward. "We can count the stars to sleep."
After turning on the machine, Katniss went to join him as he cradled their children. Robin immediately reached for her mother who easily engulfed the little girl in her arms.
Together, they all laid back to look up at the constellations spread over the ceiling.
"It's amazing," he said quietly. "I swear that we were just looking at these stars and you were on the brink of having these two. Now, here we are—and it's their first birthday."
"Crazy how time passes," Katniss replied before turning to him. "Keep blinking and it will be our wedding day."
Their wedding was set for next month. Now that Fashion Week was over and they were celebrating the twins' birthday later that afternoon, it was time for them to set their minds to wedding mode.
Effie was already frantic with planning. Cinna and Johanna would be coming to stay for a month to help with prep and to keep Katniss from strangling her favorite decorator-turned-wedding coordinator.
"I don't want to blink—not yet," he told her as he patted James, who slept on his chest. "Right now, I just want to stay in this moment with you and our children as we look at the stars." He reached for her hand with his free one. "Will you allow it?"
Katniss adjusted Robin who was snuggled into the crook of her arm before leaning forward to kiss him tenderly.
"I'll allow it."
"Mom, you're a lifesaver." Peeta kissed his future mother-in-law on the cheek. "The cake is beautiful—and the kids are going to love it."
"And, they won't know or care that it's gluten-free," Kate declared with a grin. "Katniss' friends are hilarious. God forbid that they don't have a healthy dessert!"
"Well, you know those Manhattan folks," he told her with a grin. "Always following the next big thing."
"You talking shit?" They turned to see Cinna and Johanna grinning at them. Cinna rushed over to him. "You'll thank me, my brother, when you try on your custom-made suit." He hugged Peeta. "How are you?"
"Exhausted, exhilarated, but overall great," he replied.
"You're looking every bit the DILF," Johanna said as she sauntered over and flicked at the drool cloth over his shoulder. "Fatherhood is looking good on you. You're even growing a little beard and everything!" Her hand went to his scruffy chin. "You must give Katniss rug burn."
He went bright red and she winked.
"What do you mean?" Kate inquired.
Cinna put an arm around Katniss' mother. "Just ignore her. Being in a relationship hasn't softened her one iota."
Johanna scowled at her friend before pulling Peeta in for a hug. "But, really. You look great." As they separated, she smiled at him. "Where are my Godbabies?"
"Being changed by their mother and Aunt," he told her. "Let's go see them." The two linked arms and together they went toward the front of the house to go upstairs. "Where's Vin?"
"Finishing up the wedding bands, but she'll be here tomorrow with a shitload of presents for the twins," Johanna said. "She's really stressed out because she's such a perfectionist about getting the bands right."
"But, that's why you love her," Peeta said.
Johanna didn't reply, only nodding in shy agreement.
She looked over at the wall by the staircase. The last picture with Peeta's parents still remained, but right below it was a recently taken family photo of himself and Katniss along with Prim and the twins. Messalla had taken the photo which had been the New Years' cover for Twelve Magazine.
He was in a tuxedo, Katniss in a fitted black sequin gown, and Prim in a very form-fitting silver dress, which he had originally protested against, but relented after receiving pouts from both his fiancée and sister. They were in the Manhattan penthouse and there was confetti everywhere.
The three of them smiled at the camera as the twins snoozed on the couch—Robin in a sweet silver tutu and James in a navy velvet blazer.
It was fun shoot, and it showed. The stock for the magazine had risen due to the overwhelming sales and Messalla who was now Creative Director.
As they reached the top of the stairs, they made their left down the hall and towards the nursery.
"I think that she's picking the pink." They heard Prim declare.
Katniss protested, "No, Robby is going for the yellow."
At the doorway, he found his two girls sitting on the floor with his two children. James was already wearing his corduroy pants and green flannel as he sat next to his sister, who was still in her diaper. His daughter was carefully touching two dresses—one pink and one yellow.
"Oh, get on with it!" Johanna suddenly shouted. "Ro had enough fashion icons for her lifetime. Just pick one that she can get cake on!"
"JOHANNA!" Katniss jumped up, her white maxi-dress flowing along her lithe body as she ran over to her best friend.
The two embraced and he could see Katniss' eyes brighten joyfully at the sight of Johanna. They had spent a few months apart because he and Katniss were rearing the twins. Johanna had suddenly been pulled into one of the biggest cases in Manhattan which involved some money laundering in the Upper East Side by some shady politician.
However, they spoke on the phone and Peeta would conveniently disappear when they did.
"I missed you, little mother," Johanna said affectionately. "Now, why are you torturing my Godchildren?"
"We're not torturing them," Prim told her as she stood up with James in her arms. "We're giving them free will to decide what they should be clothed in."
"Speaking of clothes, you are looking very stylish," Johanna responded as Prim performed a twirl. James clapped in happiness at the motion. "And, I can't believe that Peeta let you wear something so short."
His eyes suddenly zeroed in on the length of the A-line skirt that Prim wore. It was a little short—she couldn't bend down without exposing something. However, his younger sister had suddenly sprouted upward. She was now the same height as him, so he could see how any dress could be a little short on her.
"What do you think?" Prim asked him nervously.
Peeta looked her over. Besides the baby-blue dress, she was wearing white tennis shoes and her hair had been put up in a topknot.
"Are you wearing shorts under there?"
"Of course, big bro," his sister replied with a grin. "I'm not Johanna."
"That was one time!" Johanna retorted, who was sitting on the floor and changing Robin into a pink dress with bunny pockets. His daughter played with the skirt as she stared up at her Godmother. In turn, Johanna looked down and kissed her Goddaughter's cheek. "Your family is crazy."
Robin simply blew a raspberry.
"Why is there no vodka?" Haymitch asked as he surveyed the party along with Peeta.
Effie had decided to hold the party outdoors just like it had been for their baby shower. They had pitched a huge white tent where the food and drinks were. Outside, his father-in-law had rented a bouncy house which several of the neighborhood children were jumping in.
"Because it's a party for one-year-olds," Peeta replied with a grin.
"That's why we need a grown-up table," his friend replied. However, his eyes watched Hattie carefully as she and the twins played a few feet away from them. Ian, his soon-to-be father-in-law, sat on the grass rolling a ball to each of the babies. "And by grown-up table—I mean bar."
"You seem a little cranky," he told Haymitch.
The man turned to him suddenly. "Don't tell—but Effie's up-the-duff." Haymitch looked at his wife, who was talking to Katniss, Johanna, and Cinna. "We just found out two weeks ago."
"Must be something in the Panem water." Peeta looked over at Annie, who was sporting her own baby bump. She and Finnick had announced over Christmas break last year that they were having another little one. Aidan was thrilled over being an older brother. "Are you unhappy?"
Haymitch shook his head. "I'm not, but Effie is very nervous. We weren't expecting children, but then Hattie came along. Then, we were okay. But two? We're not young anymore."
"Yeah, but you have us," Peeta assured him. "Prim loves to babysit Hattie. Also, Katniss and I have learned a few tricks about handling two babies."
"I guess you're right," Haymitch grumbled. His eyes went to Hattie and Peeta could see the warmth in the man's eyes. "And damned if we don't make cute babies." The two-year-old spotted her father and scooted on the grass to push herself to her feet. "Excuse me—looks like my sweetheart is waiting for me."
Peeta watched Haymitch rush towards his daughter. It had not been too long ago that his father's friend had been all alone with just himself and Prim as company. Now here he was with a wife, a daughter, and another one on the way. He could imagine that his father was chuckling at how everything turned out.
"Funny how things change." He turned to see Katniss at his side. "Did he tell you their news?"
Peeta nodded. "It's funny how things stay the same."
"Like what?" his fiancée asked.
"How I feel about you," he replied. "You still make me breathless."
Katniss took his hand. "Well, save your breath. We have to help our children blow out their candles."
The party had been a success.
They had all remained unscathed and the twins had gotten through their first birthday celebration with ease. There had been some hiccups; Peeta's father-in-law had gotten the wrong candles and they wouldn't blow out. Also, Robin had gotten excited and kicked her bare foot into part of the cake.
But, it had all been forgotten once he and Katniss helped their children blow out the candles. The twins loved being the center of attention and had both clapped along as everyone applauded them. Prim had taken dozens of photos and Cinna was using Instagram to keep Katniss' fans informed about the twins' milestone.
Peeta tiredly gathered the remaining cups to bring them into the kitchen.
As he passed the doorway leading to the front hallway, Peeta stopped at the sight in front of him.
His sister had Rory's face cradled in her hands as she kissed him goodnight.
Peeta tried not to bristle at the couple. But, he remembered just turning fourteen and getting his first kiss. Prim seemed a little too familiar with Rory's lips…and it bugged him.
Placing the cups on the counter, he walked out into the hallway to where they were. "Ahem." Slowly, the couple drew apart; Rory's face was beet red while Prim remained calm. "I think it's time for you to head home, Rory."
Rory nodded. "Yeah, I have to head over to Gale's real quick before heading to my house, anyway." He gave Peeta an embarrassed smile. "Great party, Peeta." Peeta gave him a curt nod and Rory looked to Prim. "I'll call you tomorrow."
His sister grinned. "Okay." Walking inside the house, she began to close the door. "Goodnight."
After Prim closed the door, she sighed against it before turning to her brother.
"I don't know how to feel about this," Peeta told her.
"You were fourteen once," Prim replied, her blue eyes serious. "If I recall, you're marrying the girl who gave you your first kiss."
"I think that's the scary part about that." He looked over at the closed door. "You were getting a little too serious for my blood." Peeta took his sister's hand. "Let's talk."
He led her into the living room where Prim plopped down on the couch.
She gave him an easy smile. "I'm sorry that you saw that, but I'm not sorry that I did it." Her eyes looked to his. "This is the first time in almost a week that I've been able to hold Rory's hand, let alone kiss him."
Despite the frown growing on his lips, Prim continued.
"My life at fourteen is a lot different than yours was, Peeta. You didn't get that chance to see where things would go with Katniss. But, I get that chance to see if anything comes out of this whole thing with Rory. I'm not saying I'm going to marry him. But trust me enough to know that I'll learn if it's real or not real between us."
Peeta went over her words, his slight anger simmering down.
Finally, he spoke, "Every day you amaze me." His hand went to lift her chin. "And, I couldn't be prouder." Peeta took a deep breath. "While I trust you to make the right decisions, I'm your big brother and I'm going to worry."
Prim put her head on his shoulder. "I can understand. For a long time, all we had were each other." She looked up at him and smiled. "You're never going to lose me, Peeta. No matter where we go or who comes along—this was our mother and father's house. It's the place where I feel safe and loved because Mom and Dad are still all over this place. They're even in that nursery and in Ro and Jamie."
"The house does feel a lot different," he said to her. "It feels…"
"Alive," Prim finished for him. "You did it, Peeta. You made it happen."
"I didn't do anything," Peeta assured her.
"You took a chance and got the girl," his sister said bluntly. "And, you changed our lives—but in the best way possible." Prim looked down at her lap, deep in thought, before continuing. "Now, I'm not saying that I'll follow the same path, but it's a nice thing to aspire to." She took his hand. "Are we okay?"
He squeezed her hand. "We're okay."
"So now can we talk about more important things?" Prim asked.
He raised his brows at her. "Like what?"
She grinned at him wickedly. "Like your bachelor party?"
Two Weeks Later…
"I have to say," Cinna said as he worked on Peeta's jacket sleeves. "I make a mean tuxedo."
"I'd have to agree." Peeta looked upon the burnt-velvet sleeves of his black jacket. The intricate pattern followed throughout the jacket with the lapels being made of a silk. "So, what's the name of your line?"
"Magnus Cor." They turned to see Prim enter the room in her own black tuxedo. Her form-fitting pants were cuffed at her ankles and she wore black heels. Underneath her jacket, Prim wore a white button-up with a black bow-tie. "After Cinna's dad and Cor, of course." She did a little twirl; her light hair flying around her. "What do you think?"
"Looking beautiful, 'Best Woman'," Cinna answered with a grin. "Portia did a great job on the fitting."
"I'm feeling very sophisticated," Prim replied as she adjusted the front tie at the waist of her jacket. She gave Peeta a smile. "Do you like it?"
"You look beautiful," Peeta said. "Are you walking Johanna down the aisle?"
"No! I'm walking in with you!" Prim answered and took his hand. "We're doing this together."
He squeezed back. "Agreed." Leaning forward, Peeta kissed her cheek. "Now get back into your normal clothes. We have somewhere to go."
"Where?" Prim asked him.
"Just let Katniss know to get Robby and Jamie ready, too," he continued. Seeing the look on his face, Prim nodded before walking out of the den.
"Where are you going?" Cinna asked as he clipped the hem of Peeta's pant leg.
Peeta slowly let out a breath. "We have to go see some important people."
"Be careful," Prim said as she stood in-between Robin and James. "You don't want to mess your clothes up before you see Grandma and Grandpa."
Robin looked up at her Aunt, her blue eyes serious before looking down at her burgundy coat. James gave his Aunt a confident smile before kicking up the dirt in front of him.
"If I ever saw two polar opposites, it's these two," Katniss said as she held James' other hand. "Jamie, be careful. I know that you don't like to look messy."
James slowed his movements before giving his mother a cheerful smile.
"I feel like it's been a lifetime since we were here," Prim remarked when they got to their destination. Taking the bouquets from her tote, she went to each stone, placing white hydrangeas and yellow roses in the appropriate spots. "Hi Mom. Hi Dad. It's Prim."
Prim looked at the gravestone bearing their parents' names. "I know that it's been awhile since I've been here. For a long time, I'll admit that it's been difficult. Part of me still hasn't let go of the fact that you're not going to come back. Like I'm still waiting for you both to walk through the front door—but I'm trying. I really am."
"Mom…Dad…" Peeta stepped forward. "The last time I was here, we were just finding out what the twins' sexes were going to be—and you pulled through. You gave me my birthday wish." Katniss, along with Robin and James, joined him. "These are your grandchildren: Robin Viola…" He leaned down to kiss his daughter's dark hair. "…and James Sebastian." Peeta kissed the sunny head of his little boy.
"The first of many grandchildren," Katniss added with a small grin. Peeta winked at her in agreement. "Jean and Robby—Mom and Dad. Thank you for leading me back to Peeta and Prim. Somehow I feel like it was more than a high school reunion that brought me here. I think that you saw that I needed your children as much as they needed me. I couldn't be happier—because I'm not alone anymore. You let me into your family—and we'll never be alone again."
Peeta knelt down to lead Robin and James forward. The twins put their own flowers on the headstones in front of them. Katniss had let them each pick out a flower that they wanted to place and the twins had picked, out of all things, dandelions. The bright yellow color seemed to fascinate them.
After they were finished, the twins turned and began their run, hand in hand.
"Your children!" Prim exclaimed with a grin before running after them.
"You think they heard us?" Katniss asked. "All of them?"
They would be making similar trips to see Helena and Cor within the week.
Peeta looked over at his fiancée. For a moment, he thought he saw the girl in the night shirt as he crawled through her window. Katniss had that light in her eyes that he had first noticed when he was just a boy.
He realized that she was happy.
"I know they heard us," Peeta assured Katniss before taking her hand. "We should go before—"
There was a loud wail in the quiet cemetery and the couple turned to one another.
"Robin," they said in unison, hearing the throaty cries of their daughter.
"I don't remember being such a crier when I was kid," Katniss joked as they walked over to Prim and the children. "She must get that from you."
Robin was already recovering from her fall by the time they reached the children and Prim. Their little girl was sitting on a bench, her brother's hand in hers, as they drank from their sippy cups.
"And, that ability to just bounce back—she gets that from you, too," his fiancée continued before pressing a kiss to his lips.
One Week Later…
"This place is awesome," Prim said as she stepped out of the car. She looked over to where the couple stood. "No wonder the twinsies decided to come out after you left. It was out of protest!"
"I have to admit," Peeta said as he walked up the steps with James in his arms. "It looks just as beautiful as it did when we first came here." He turned to see Katniss cradling a sleeping Robin in his arms. "You okay, sweetie?"
"Yeah," Katniss said though she was grimacing. "Robby just seems to turn into a sack of bricks whenever she sleeps." James let out a small giggle and his mother grinned at the sound. "Oh, you must think that it's funny that Mommy is practically weightlifting your sister!"
"Let me help," Peeta offered. "Just toss her over on my shoulder."
"Peeta! I will not toss our daughter on your shoulder," Katniss retorted. "She's a baby not a sack of flour."
"I'll help," Prim told them and took Robin from her mother. The teenager let out a breath. "Wow, she is heavy."
"Kind of reminds me of when I was pregnant with them," Katniss informed her. She walked to the porch of the cabin to unlock and open the door. "Let's get them in for a nap."
"You really sell the whole 'don't have twins' thing, Katniss" Prim said before she walked inside.
Peeta stopped at the doorway to take Katniss' hand. "Want to run away?"
Katniss smiled at him. "What?"
"Don't take your shoes off yet," he said before going back into the cabin.
Little had changed from the last time they had come to the cabin except that Annie and Finnick had set up a small bed for Prim and a crib for the twins. The Odairs had rented out a cabin about ten minutes away since they were coming to the wedding. On the opposite end of their cabin, Johanna along with Cinna and the rest of the team were staying at a larger place, though many of them wouldn't be arriving until later in the evening.
"Can you watch the kids for a while?" Peeta asked his sister. "I think I need to take the bride for a walk."
"Sure," Prim replied. The kids were already knocked out on their bed. "I'm just going to enjoy the delights of this California King and some bad television with these two."
"Thanks. I owe you," he said before closing the door.
Outside, Katniss waited for him. She was in a pair of dark jeans and a simple fitted tank top. It had been warm on the way up so she had removed her flannel jacket, an Everdeen Design that was inspired by their last trip.
"Did I mention how you don't look like a woman who's had twins?" Peeta told her as he joined her on the porch.
"With all the workouts that I've had to do, I better look like a woman who fits into her wedding dress," Katniss replied. They walked down the steps and into the familiar forest. "Effie is not only a hardcore wedding coordinator; she was also the meanest fitness guru! But, it's worth it because the dress—" She stopped before walking into the thicket and gave him a smile. "You're not making me tell you about the dress."
"I know I'm not supposed to see it but forbidding any talk of it at the bachelor/bachelorette party was kind of crazy," he told her.
They had decided on a joint party as most of the men and women involved were married. Johanna, Maid of Honor, was not keen on having a male stripper and Peeta's Best Man was Prim, who wasn't even close to an age where they could go out to a bar or a club. However, Johanna and Prim had come up with something better.
The two had rented out an old warehouse in Brooklyn and had filled it with every sort of game imaginable: rock climbing walls, trampolines, laser tag, arcade games, and best of all—a dodge ball arena. It had been men-versus-women and while his team had a good running start, Portia proved to have very good aim.
It was during their dinner of carnival food, which Katniss could only have a little of, that Effie forbid anyone from talking about the dress.
His sister as well as his mother-in-law had seen it that day and both had come back from the fitting in happy tears.
"Another Effie rule—I think a lot of that was baby hormones," Katniss said as they reached the clearing where their wedding would take place. "Wow. I can't believe it's been a year." She pulled him to the center and yanked at his arm to make him sit down.
Together, the couple lay back to look up at the open circle of sky bordered by the long branches of the trees surrounding them. A small breeze funneled through the leaves around them and Katniss let out a loud laugh.
Peeta turned to watch her, dark hair flying along with the leaves and her smile wide.
"I think this place has some sort of magic," Katniss said once the breeze subsided. "Every time I'm here, I feel like I'm a kid again."
"Well, don't grow down on me now," Peeta replied. "We've finally caught up age-wise. Plus, we have a wedding to attend tomorrow night."
"I know." Katniss was suddenly on top of him, her dark waves curtaining their faces. Their lips brushed, slightly, against each others. "And, I can't wait."
"Am I doing this right?" Peeta adjusted the dark bowtie in front of the mirror.
Haymitch walked over to him. "Let me take a look." The man secured the knot before adjusting the bowtie and making sure it was centered. He then took Peeta's suit jacket, which hung next to the mirror and helped Peeta put it on. Finally, the older man looked him over once more and nodded. "You look like a man ready to face his destiny."
"Thanks, Haymitch," he replied and the man nodded, his grey eyes serious. "Thank you for being here."
"I know I'm not Robby but I wanted to say that I'm proud of you," Haymitch said in quiet voice. "Just like a father would be proud of a son—that's the kind of proud I am. You've grown into the man that your father always knew you would be. The only hard part was that you had to do it without him."
"But, I have you," Peeta told him. "So, it's like he's still here."
"Same with you." Haymitch pulled him into a tight embrace. "I'm real happy for you and Katniss."
"I can't believe that I missed out on Haymitch being mushy!"
They turned to find Prim in her tuxedo; her long hair falling in tight waves. Her eyes were lined with a smoky onyx liner and her usually pink lips were now a dark berry.
Walking over to them, Prim looked her brother over and then pulled him close.
"You're a groom," she whispered in his ear.
"And you're a Best Man—I mean Woman," he replied in turn. Pulling away, Peeta looked at the young woman in the dark suit and high heels. "You look unbelievable."
"Wait till you see the bride," Prim informed him with an excited smile. "You'll swear that you're having an out-of-body experience."
There was a knock on the cabin door and Effie stepped in wearing a long navy-blue gown and Hattie, in a plum dress, as her arm accessory. "The sun is just about going down. It's time." She stopped at the sight of Peeta, her light eyes filling. "Oh, sweetheart—you look very handsome."
Hattie reached to touch Effie's face. "Mama! No cryin'!"
"She sounds incredibly like you, Effie," Peeta said and went to the woman. He kissed her cheek. "You know that Katniss would've never let herself fall for me if it weren't for you."
Effie smiled, a blush rising in her cheeks. "How so?"
"You had faith in her. You knew that she still had it in her to love," he told the woman. "And, you liked me from the beginning, so that worked in my favor."
"Well, I love you now," Effie said and kissed his cheek. "Go marry our girl—and give me some more adorable children to dress up." She looked to her husband. "Sweetheart, it's time for us to get down there."
Haymich nodded before looking to Peeta and Prim.
"Have a nice walk," he said before reaching over and hugging the two.
"We love you, Haymitch," Prim said. "Thank you for always watching over us."
Pulling away, Peeta could see the mist in his greys. Haymitch turned to leave before they could see if the tears would actually come to fruition.
With the closing of the cabin door, it was just himself and Prim.
"You nervous?" His sister asked suddenly.
"A little," he responded and blew out a breath. "I know I shouldn't be."
"It's okay to be." Prim linked their arms as she led him to the door. Opening it, his sister let him walk out before joining their arms once more. "Husband is a very different role from boyfriend, fiancé, or even father."
"When did you get so life smart?" he asked her as they made their way.
"I think it was the day that Katniss came to Panem," Prim said as they made their walk into the forest. They could hear the keys of a piano as they approached the clearing. "Seeing you two together, thinking about everything that's happened since she's come into our lives has taught me that there are always possibilities to grow and heal."
They stopped as they reached the beginning of a long white carpet. Effie was waiting for them and when she spotted the siblings, the woman gave them a trembling smile.
"You two look fabulous!" Effie kissed both their cheeks. "I hope you like everything I did." Her blue eyes sparkled under the low glow of the Christmas lights that were strewn about the trees.
"I'm sure I'm going to," Peeta told her. "Thank you for everything."
"Of course, darling," the woman said in a hushed voice. "Now go—the bride is waiting to make her walk for you."
Peeta looked to his sister. "Together?"
Prim placed her hand over his and gave him a teary smile. "Together."
The clearing had been completely transformed.
White Christmas lights were wrapped around the trees as tall, golden candleholders led them down the aisle. Cherrywood benches were filled with their guests—about a hundred or so, though there were many that were clamoring to come.
In front of them, the wooden archway was wrapped with white flowers and as they approached, the officiator, an older man with round glasses, gave them a serene smile.
"How did Effie manage to get a piano into a forest?" Prim asked as they made their way next to the arch. The smile on her face remained in place as there was an array of flashes going off in their faces. Messalla was walking around speaking into a microphone as Castor and Pollux took photo after photo.
The two men waved before heading to the back to await Katniss' entrance.
"Effie has a series of connections," Peeta told his sister as his eyes looked to the back of the clearing where Katniss would be entering. His chest was pounding. "Katniss gave me one job and that was the music. So I asked Effie, being the wonderful woman that she is, and she made it happen."
"I'm so hiring her for my first wedding," Prim joked.
"First wedding?" Peeta snorted at her words. "Bless the man who takes you on."
The banter relaxed his nervous body and he was sure that Prim had done it for that very reason.
The two turned as Kate walked down the aisle with Robin and James, both in white. Robin was looking down at her white lace dress in fascination as James, in his tuxedo, smiled up at the shining candleholders. Their eyes lit up as they saw Peeta and he waved to them as his mother-in-law led them to the front seats closest to him.
His eyes then went to the Johanna, who was making her way down the aisle in the black gown with the lace capped sleeves and the sweetheart neckline. Her dark hair was twisted in a chignon and secured with bright-white flowers. Johanna walked down the aisle confidently and as she passed Lavinia, she gave her partner a wink.
The Maid of Honor smiled brightly as she made her way towards them.
"Looking good, Mellark," Johanna said as she got to her side of the arch. "But, I think you're about to have your breath taken away."
And, Johanna was right.
Katniss entered the clearing on her father's arm and he suddenly let out a choked breath at the sight before him. The two walked down the white carpet aisle to a slow instrumental of a Disney song that he had heard Katniss singing to the twins a few weeks ago.
Her hair was down, split down the middle, and flowing in thick wave of ebony. Her dress was long-sleeved, mermaid-style, and made of delicate lace with a deep v-neckline that ended down at her midriff. She was ethereal, floating down the aisle to the delicate piano music.
Their eyes met and Peeta could see that there were tears in her eyes. Ian kissed Katniss and then reached forward to embrace him.
"Take care of her, son," the man said in an overcome whisper.
"I will," he assured his father-in-law.
Turning to Katniss, his hand reached out to take hers.
"Katniss…" His words caught in his throat as he stared at her. "Wow."
His bride let out a joyful laugh. "Same to you."
"Okay everyone!" Johanna tapped at her champagne glass to get the guests' attention. For a moment, the guests continued to talk amongst themselves as Katniss' best friend stood in the front of the mic. "SHUT UP NOW!"
The crowd went silent.
She smiled and brushed a stray hair off her forehead. "Before we get to the dancing and everyone gets drunk or, in the twins' case, sleepy." Her eyes went to her Godchildren who were snoozing in Peeta's arms. "I wanted to say a few words about our beautiful bride, Katniss Everdeen-Mellark."
Cinna let out a loud whoop from where he sat in the crowd of round white tables.
The reception was being held in the back of the large cabin that Cinna and Johanna had rented. The cabin had also been the place where Katniss had gotten ready that afternoon for the wedding.
The yard was spacious enough to accommodate the long white table that the wedding party were sitting at, along with the twenty tables for the guests as well as the dance floor that separated them. The caterers were using the house's kitchen for food set-up and distribution.
Effie had done a meticulous job and had now put down her coordinator gloves to relax with Haymitch. They sat at the table closest to the wedding party as Effie rested her head on her husband's shoulder.
"Since the moment I met Katniss, I knew that there was something very special about her," Johanna began as she looked at her friend. "She was that special mixture of innocence and knowledge, poise and vulnerability, but most of all unbelievable strength. Katniss had been through things that I would never wish on anyone, but what always amazes me is that she was able to persevere. However, there was always that one thing that seemed to be missing inside those grey eyes of hers."
Her eyes went to Peeta. "And, then Peeta came along. As I watched them stumble along together, I slowly started to piece together what had been missing inside Katniss all along—life. People always see Katniss as this fashion designer or businesswoman but Peeta brought out so much more in her. She became the girlfriend and the confidant—she became a person with life. Someone who woke up for something that was more than just dollar signs and, in Manhattan, that's a rarity. I couldn't be more honored to be your best friend."
Johanna raised her glass.
"To Katniss—for having that spark inside her and to Peeta for lighting it. Cheers!"
The crowd echoed her final word and Johanna went to them. She kissed Katniss on the cheek and then went to Peeta to press a kiss to his own damp cheek.
"You did good," he told Johanna.
"So did you," the woman replied.
There was suddenly another loud whoop from Cinna and his eyes went to where Prim was now standing.
"Hi everyone," Peeta's little sister started. "As you all know, I'm Prim—Peeta's sister and the Best Woman." The crowd let out a raucous laugh and Prim livened up, striking a pose for them.
After the crowd settled, Prim turned to look at him, her blue eyes filled.
"Peeta—every day you amaze me." Faintly, he remembered that he had told her those very words. "Your humility and your kindness, your strength and your wisdom—and most of all, your ability to just love unrepentantly. We lost our parents at a very young age and I watched my brother take it all in. I watched him learn to become a man all on his own. Not to mention, Peeta had to deal with helping me grow up."
She took a long inhale before continuing. "And so when Katniss came along, I told myself that my prayers had been answered because I had prayed for so long that Peeta would have someone that loved him the way that he deserved to be loved."
Her eyes went to Katniss.
"Katniss, thank you for finding your way back to us," Prim said in a tight voice. "For meeting my eyes as I sped down a sidewalk. For giving my brother his first real kiss. For helping us become a family again—and for giving birth to the coolest niece and nephew that a girl could ever have. I'm looking forward to more of them." His sister let out a watery laugh. "I love you both so much." Prim raised her glass. "To Mr. and Mrs. Mellark."
Everyone echoed their cheers and Prim rushed over to them, giving them each a kiss before mumbling that she needed to fix her makeup.
His eyes went to Katniss, who was beaming at him. "Hey."
"Hey," he echoed. "You happy?"
His wife—he still couldn't believe it—nodded at him. "And yourself?"
"I'm pretty damn content," Katniss told him. "Though I can't wait for the honeymoon."
"One night alone." He sighed in agreement. "Completely quiet."
"I hope not completely quiet," his bride said, a small smile grazing her face.
He leaned forward, still cradling each of the children in his arms. "Come here."
Katniss obliged, their lips brushing lightly before she tilted her head to deepen their kiss. There was the clinking of glasses and he felt Katniss wrap a hand around the nape of his neck to anchor him closer, her tongue teasing his.
As they pulled away, Peeta felt the heat emanating off his body. "I'm holding you to that kiss, Mrs. Mellark."
Katniss nodded, her smoky eyes staring into his. "I was hoping you would, Mr. Mellark."
Johanna and Prim were suddenly behind them. "Before you continue your provocative talk, please remember that the cameras catch everything," the Maid of Honor said wickedly. She pointed to Castor and Pollux, who were standing to the side.
"Also, please refrain from exposing my niece and nephew to this grossness!" Prim added as she took Robin from Peeta. She handed her sleeping niece to Johanna before carefully taking James. "No need for them to know that their parents are complete horndogs!"
"Well, little sister," Katniss started. "They'll have to understand that without that grossness—they wouldn't exist."
"Touché…" Prim kissed Katniss on the cheek. "You two have a first dance to get going."
The sounds of a slow song began to pour out of the speakers that were set up in the corners of the reception area.
Standing up, Peeta held out his hand, the brushed white-gold ring on his finger gleaming. "May I?"
"You may." Katniss took his hand before standing up. Her own finger sported an identical band next to her engagement ring.
Together, they rounded their table and went to the center of the floor. Katniss tilted her head to listen to the song.
"What's wrong?" Peeta asked as he wrapped his arm around her waist.
Placing a hand on his shoulder, Katniss met his eyes. "I don't know this song."
"How could you forget?" He pulled her closer so that he could whisper in her ear. "It's the first song that we kissed to."
"No, it isn't," his wife protested as they moved in graceful unison. "There was a guitar playing in the song that we kissed to."
Peeta shook his head. "I knew it was crazy that I was waiting for you in that tree. But, I couldn't let you leave without you knowing how I felt." His lips went to her ear. "So, you let me into your room and you were wearing your Panem High School shirt. There were boxes packed up and the only things that you seemed to have left in your room were your bed, your star projector, and your clock radio…"
"I remember now," Katniss said with a grin. "You were so sweet. No one had ever said that they were in love with me—and something inside me knew that it was real—your words. It was the most romantic thing that's ever happened to me." She pulled away to meet his eyes. "Until now."
Peeta kissed his wife as the words to the song echoed in his ears.
"All along we've known the way these conversations end
You can't deny the shore its tide or sermons their amen
It's just as well we tell ourselves there's not so much to lose
But I would trade ten thousand days for one more hour with you…"
I'm just a little overwhelmed with emotion right now. I really can't believe that this was the last chapter.
Thank you to everyone for sticking around. Not many notes since I'm a little floored by all this writing.
Songs:
The instrumental that Katniss walks down the aisle to is "If I Never Knew You" from the Pocahontas soundtrack.
"Tides"-Hey Marseilles
Next: The Epilogue, Katniss—Four Years Later
Till then, JLaLa
