Author's Note: I just wanted to say really quickly that I'm sorry I haven't updated these past few chapters as frequently. I've just gotten really busy with work and life. So hopefully this chapter (longest so far) makes up for it :) Hope you guys enjoy the wedding!


"Oh wow..." Annie breathed, stepping back and admiring her work on Johanna, "You look incredible."

Johanna didn't want to look in the mirror. She was afraid of what she might see... some dolled up version of herself that was going to trigger some sort of hidden insecurity which would cause her to bolt out and hop on the first train to District Twelve.

That was highly unlikely, right? Still, she wasn't going to risk it.

She was still trying to recover from the fact that she was being surprised with a wedding. Her own wedding. And it was happening in half an hour. She didn't know how weddings worked. She'd been to more funerals in her time. Those she understood. The weddings? Not so much, because she tended to not pay much attention to the ceremony part. What was she even going to say to Katniss?

"Can I see her yet?" Johanna impatiently asked.

Annie laughed, "Soon! The wedding will start shortly. I think all of the guests are getting here right now."

"How is it that everybody knew about my wedding... except for me?" Johanna grumbled.

"Katniss is sneaky like that."

"Why did it have to be a surprise. Isn't this something we're supposed to plan together?" Johanna was still trying to make sense of all of this.

Annie went over Johanna, doing last minute touch ups, "She incorporated everything you wanted into it. As for why it's a surprise? I don't know. You'll have to ask her. If I had to guess, I think she was just getting impatient."

"Impatient?"

"Well, yeah!" Annie laughed, "She just wants to marry you already but... you know. I think it's cute."

Johanna rolled her eyes, but there was a warm feeling inside of her, if what Annie said was true.

"You look beautiful Johanna. Absolutely stunning." Annie sighed, patting her cheek, "You're one heck of a beautiful bride."

Johanna smiled, genuinely at Annie. "Thank you. Even though I don't understand what's going on, thank you for everything."

Annie smiled back, but a knock on the door interrupted their moment.

"Wow. Johanna you look amazing!" Peeta beamed as he walked in. He was holding a bouquet of flowers, and handed it to her. "For you."

"What's this for?" Johanna asked, eyeing the bundle in her arms.

"When you walk down the aisle. Then you hand it to the person who's walked you down, all that." Peeta said and Johanna gave him a weird look, "I don't know, that's what Effie said."

"See, this is why weddings have rehearsals." Johanna huffed.

Peeta laughed, "Well you can always postpone it but before you do, just know that Katniss put a lot of effort into it, she barely slept over these past few days trying to get everything perfect for you."

"I'm not going to postpone it. It's... a nice gesture." Johanna shrugged.

Peeta put his hand on her shoulder, "You'll be fine Johanna."

She smiled, but it dropped as a daunting thought crossed her mind. She didn't have anybody to walk her down the aisle. Usually it was the father who walked the bride, but neither bride had a father. "Peeta, who am I handing these flowers to?"

"Ah," Peeta clasped his hands together, "That's for you to decide. We didn't want to force anything on you. Katniss requested that Haymitch walk with her, so you can have anyone else. I mean, it's not like it's a traditional wedding. You can have Annie walk you if you want!"

Johanna looked at Annie. She would be too busy with Kellen. Besides, she was starting to get shaky and queasy. She needed someone sturdy, to hold her up and help her get across the aisle without collapsing. It wasn't that long of a walk, but she was starting to have doubts about whether or not she'd make it.

"Will you do it?" She asked Peeta, almost instinctively.

Peeta seemed surprised like this. He surely wasn't expecting her to ask him, of all people. She expected him to decline, after all that had happened... but he did say he was always going to be her friend, didn't he? "I'd be honored to." Peeta said with a burst of confidence. His confidence seemed to rub off on her, and she felt a little better about the whole thing.

"I know this is weird, being a compliment and all. So I'm only going to say it once," Johanna spoke in something of a whisper, "You're a special kind of person, Peeta. A rare gem. You really do deserve the best."

Peeta smiled, "So do you, Jo."


Peeta was sturdy indeed. Johanna reminded herself to thank him later, because she knew she was shaking uncontrollably before walking down the aisle. But when Peeta's arm linked around hers, he held her up in such a way that he could drag her and still make her look good.

She smiled at all of the guests who were there. A few of her old neighbors and schoolmates from District 7. Some neighbors from District 12. Plutarch. Effie. Ms. Everdeen. Gale. She spotted Aris in the back, who she was surprised to see alive. Some of the Council had shown up, which left a sour taste in her mouth, but she wasn't going to let that spoil her day. Annie was sitting up in the front, with her perfect little boy right beside her. She gave Johanna a reassuring smile as she got up to the altar, handing the bouquet to Peeta, like he'd told her to. He planted a kiss on her cheek, and took his seat beside Annie.

Within seconds, everybody's head turned back to the entrance. It was time for the person they all really came here to see. Johanna could be jealous, but she couldn't blame them. Katniss was quite a sight to see.

But she wasn't expecting this to take her breath away like that.

Immediately, her eyes fell on Katniss, and it was as if there was nobody else in the room. For a moment she literally forgot how to breathe, until the pain in her lungs snapped her out of it. Her eyes were glued on the beautiful woman walking up towards her, in the elegant white dress, epitomizing the meaning of perfection. She couldn't help but marvel in the fact that it was all for her.

Her eyes locked onto Katniss's, who couldn't seem to look away from Johanna, even as Haymitch was taking her flowers. There was this beautiful glow about her. She just seemed so happy. Every ounce of doubt Johanna ever had was washed away. This was what they were meant to do. Every moment in Johanna's life was just leading up to this one. And the feeling was euphoric.

Her hand slid easily into Katniss's, as she stepped up beside Johanna.

"I've missed you, gorgeous." Johanna said, managing a sly smirk.

Katniss smiled, "I'm sorry about all of this."

"Don't be." Johanna said, but couldn't say more as the ceremony began.

Johanna had assumed that since it was her own wedding, she might be paying more attention to the ceremony. But she couldn't. She couldn't keep her eyes off of Katniss, and thoughts were running rampant throughout her mind.

When it came time for the vows, Katniss delivered a beautiful one: "Johanna, when we met you were rash, unforgiving, and brutally honest. Let's face it, that hasn't changed a bit." The audience chuckled, and Johanna gave a dramatic eye roll, though she knew very well it was true. "I thought, because of all of this, that I hated you for so long. But I came to learn that I never hated you, I just hated me for allowing myself to fall in love with someone like you... because you were the first person I'd met that made me feel so powerless. But I've come to learn it's not a bad thing. I got to know one of the kindest, most loving people I've ever known. You're beautiful, inside and out. And I'm honored to be able to spend the rest of my life with you. I promise to love you every second of every day, for the rest of our lives."

Johanna was in awe, watching Katniss speak about her in such a kind way. People didn't use kind words to describe Johanna. But it was her turn, and she hadn't prepared this yet, so the words just spilled out of her mouth: "Katniss. My beautiful Katniss. I can't believe I'm standing here with you, right now, about to make you my wife. But more so, I can't believe you haven't turned around and run off yet." Laughter from the audience. It wasn't that funny, but Johanna wouldn't have been surprised if that was a running joke among some of the guests. "I loved you from the moment I met you, it just took me a little while to realize it, because I was planning a way to kill you when I met you. Naked. In the elevator." More laughter, although she was sure most of the guests were confused. It sounded wrong, and not quite like how it had actually gone down, but she was going to let them think whatever they wanted. "From the moment I met you, I've wanted nothing more than to drown in your love. We've had ups and downs, like most relationships. But I love you when I'm happy with you, and I love you just as much when I'm mad at you. You've changed the way I see everything. But most importantly... all that pain I've been through in the past, it's worth it now, to be able to stand here with you. I love you, with everything I have... everything I am."

Johanna felt like she had been rambling a little bit, but Katniss understood it. Katniss wasn't able to hold it in anymore, as tears seemed to flow freely from her eyes now. Johanna gently wiped them away, still fighting her own tears back. It wouldn't be so bad if she cried a little bit. They would be happy tears... pure joy. She'd never been so happy that she's cried before. Until now, because she couldn't hold it back anymore.

They exchange the rings, which Johanna had smartly swapped out the fancy Capitol ring and put her mother's ring there instead. It had a lot more meaning to it, and she knew that her mother would understand, and would be so happy for her. "My precious baby!" She could almost hear her mother say, "My baby getting married! You'd better give her my ring or so help you!"

Finally, they got to the part Johanna had been waiting for the entire time. She'd been dying to kiss Katniss from the second she saw her, but knew that she couldn't or Effie would have a hissy fit. But finally, they said their "I do's" and then -

"You may now kiss the bride!"

Johanna didn't wait a second longer and pulled Katniss close to her, kissing her with every ounce of love and passion she had built up in her. She didn't care about the people watching, or any of that nonsense. It was just her, and Katniss. Forever.


"Holy shit," Johanna mumbled.

Katniss was sitting on her lap, cuddled up into her. "What?"

"I'm married..." She seemed to be in shock, though the ceremony only ended minutes ago.

"Hey guess what, me too!" Katniss laughed, pressing her lips to Johanna's, "I love you so much."

"I love you more," Johanna smirked, stealing another kiss.

"Impossible." Katniss muttered.

Johanna stroked up and down Katniss's waist. They were waiting for the wedding guests to move to the reception area, and everybody had given them a little bit of alone time before they went out and had their first dance. After that, the party could begin.

"I just want to know something." Johanna stated, resting her head against Katniss.

"Anything."

"Why the rush?"

Katniss sighed, "Do you wish we'd waited?"

"No," Johanna shook her head, moving her hands up to Katniss's face. "I don't think it's physically possible for me to be more happy. I've smiled more in these past couple of hours than I have in my entire life. And that's all thanks to you. I wouldn't change today for anything. I was just... surprised." Katniss leaned down and kissed Johanna.

"I got anxious. I wish I had a good excuse. All I can say is that I literally just couldn't wait any longer to be your wife." Katniss shrugged, "I guess I could have asked you about moving the date up, but I was worried you'd say no and then you'd over think things... and you know how you get when you over think things."

Johanna nodded, "I'm not mad. I'm happy."

"You want to know something embarassing?" Katniss asked, a smile playing at her lips, "My mom started asking me about kids."

"What?"

"When? How many? How?" Katniss rolled her eyes and laughed. Johanna couldn't hold back her own laugh either. "I told her you didn't want any."

Johanna scoffed, "Don't pin that on me! If you really want kids then eventually we could think about having one."

"But I don't."

"I know, so why did you tell her that?" Johanna frowned, "I don't want her to hate me."

"Because she would have scolded me. And trust me, she doesn't hate you. She couldn't." Katniss reassured her, stroking her chin. "Do you want kids?"

Johanna shrugged, "They're kind of a pain in the ass and I really don't feel like dealing with the pregnancy or diaper changes or any of that. But... they're not all that bad I guess. I mean, look at Kellen."

Katniss nodded, and snuck in a kiss. "You're cute with kids anyway. Almost makes me want to have some. Almost."

Johanna laughed, "I'd be perfectly happy spending the rest of my life with you, and only you." With that, her lips found Katniss's again. She figured they'd be there practically the entire night.


The first dance went as well as it could have gone, for an unrehearsed number coming from someone who really wasn't great with dancing.

Then, the festivities began! Everybody seemed to want to dance with Katniss, though most of them went and congratulated Johanna as well. Even Gale, though his congratulations weren't very heartfelt. Johanna planned to sit back and watch Katniss dance around with the wedding guests, whenever she wasn't dancing with Katniss herself. But her friends wouldn't let her.

She spent a lot of time with Annie, who seemed thrilled to be there. She danced a little bit with baby Kellen, who could barely stand on his feet. She danced a few times with Peeta as well, and even managed a dance with Haymitch and Plutarch. But the highlight of her night was every time Katniss was in her embrace. Their lips found each other almost immediately, even after being separated only for minutes. Johanna knew that was going to cause trouble, because she would have to be separated from Katniss in the future, but she couldn't imagine being just one room over right now. She needed this woman with her, holding her...

"I love you Katniss," Johanna whispered, kissing her softly as they danced to a slow song. Her feet were getting sore, but she wasn't going to stop, not with Katniss in her arms.

"I love you too," Katniss murmured between kisses.

Johanna smiled, "Thank you for all of this. This is, by far, the happiest day of my life and there's not a thing in this world that could ruin that."

She meant it as she said it, but she spoke only a second too soon. Because, right as the words fell out of her mouth, a chill ran up her spine and her gaze shifted to the back entrance.

Directly in her line of sight, wild eyes staring right back at her... the young, bedraggled and dirty girl, barely recognizable but still completely unmistakable. Rosaline Snow.