A prompt from Tumblr Season. Special thanks to Norbertsmom for her wonderful beta skill. Please Note I do not Own the Hunger Games
Last Dance
July 4th. Reaping, 76th Hunger Games
"It's going to be okay," Prim's soft voice said over her shoulder.
Katniss glanced at her 14-year-old-sister's form in the mirror.
At fourteen, her sister was taller than Katniss. Prim was all arms and legs and her face was dotted with pimples. She was at an awkward phase in her development. Prim's hair also developed a bit of a wave, and as a result, frizzed. Katniss knew instinctively once her sister passed this ugly-duckling phase she would become a svelte, statuesque beauty.
"It's not that," Katniss's voice was huskier than her sister's soft feminine voice.
"What do you mean?"
"Even if I phase-out of the Reaping, you still have to go through four more years. Four years where I have to watch from the sidelines, not being able to volunteer for you!"
Prim wound her arms around Katniss' shoulders. "Oh Katniss, it's going to be alright. I'm going to grow up and give you lots of nieces and nephews."
Katniss watched Prim's cheeks bloom with heat. Her sister was aware that Katniss had sworn off marriage and children. She effectively told Gale from an early age she never wanted a relationship with him. Though, until a small while ago, Gale hoped to change her mind. He would bring it up and she would shoot down the idea of having a Toasting.
Nonetheless, hearing her sister say it was jarring. "Prim," Katniss began.
"Katniss, everyone has their own path, or as a friend once said, "Everyone has their path to walk or dance floor to dance on. Some walk or dance by themselves and others have a partner in life to do it with."
Suddenly Katniss' imagination pictured herself living with her mother and sister. She pictured her sister growing up, falling in love, and having a family. She could see her mother move in with Prim to help with the kids. Katniss pictured herself coming to an empty house with nothing but a bag of dead forest creatures as her companions.
Blinking as she broke away from the image her mind conjured, back to the present, Katniss smiled tightly.
"What do I know? I'm fourteen and the future is yet unwritten," Prim said softly, seeing Katniss' unhappiness reflected in the mirror.
"Sorry, Prim," Katniss said. "You look nice."
Prim looked down at her dress and grimaced. "I don't like pink," she muttered. "Mom always wants me to wear it; I cannot stand it."
"It's because she still sees you as her little baby Prim."
"Ugh, at least you don't call me Lil duck anymore."
"I miss being able to call you that," Katniss said and watched her sister's eyes soften.
"Girls," their mother called out.
"Coming mother," they both said at the same time.
In the square, the process was always the same, identification with their finger pricked and a sample of blood taken for DNA verification. Katniss held on to her sister's hand as they were scanned and let into the holding pen where the kids were lined up by age with the older kids in the front and the younger kids in the back.
"We'll be okay," Prim whispered as they reached her section.
Katniss gave her sister a terse nod, before continuing on. She turned around as she heard a small girl who had just turned twelve. She was a slight girl with twin braids; her large grey eyes were filled with tears as she bit down her lips to keep from crying. She wanted to turn around and provide comfort to the little girl.
Katniss hated this, hated the Reaping, hated the Hunger Games, hated the entire process. She wished the Capitol would get over the rebellion. It happened seventy-six years ago, and with each passing year, there were fewer and fewer people alive who were there when the war happened.
Squaring her shoulders she moved forward until she spotted Madge standing by the front of the line of girls. Her hair shone brighter today. It almost looked white-blond and she'd woven a white ribbon into her hair. As she neared Katniss was nearly blinded by the garish bright pink frothy concoction Madge was wearing.
"That dress looks familiar," Katniss said, frowning, puzzled.
"This is the white dress I've been wearing since I was sixteen. I tried staining to get rid of it."
"But how?" Katniss hated the dress, it was bad enough in white, but in pink it was ugly.
"My mom had it dyed to this color," Madge looked repulsed by the color.
Katniss raised an eyebrow, "I thought you liked pink?"
"Sure when I was like fifteen. I'm eighteen now…pink is for toddlers and prepubescent children. And, if you must know, not even a little kid would like this shade of pink, it's hideous."
Katniss chuckled, agreeing with Madge that the shade of bright bubblegum pink was horrendous. "How are you going to get rid of it?"
"I don't know how, but I will find a way," Madge swore.
Katniss shrugged, she was sure her friend would figure out a fun way to either incinerate the dress or pass it on to some unsuspecting fool. She looked around for familiar faces.
Delly Cartwright stood a few feet away in a large yellow dress that made her look paler, her eyes were trained on the boy's side.
Katniss looked over and she saw him, the boy with the bread, Peeta Mellark, standing looking like a solitary dandelion in a field of ordinary green grass. He wore a white shirt tucked into the dark trousers that were too short for him. He'd grown taller than his brother Rye, and his shirt looked too tight for those broad shoulders and muscular forearms.
"Catnip you okay?" Madge asked. Madge had picked up the name from Gale when they had dated briefly. "You're redder than a tomato."
Katniss felt a wave of heat invade her body. "Is it getting hotter out here?" she croaked.
A Peacekeeper strode by and noticed them. "Here," he handed Katniss a bottle of water.
Katniss took the water and sipped it. She nodded her thanks. It wouldn't do for one of the Reaping candidates to faint. They needed to look fresh and strong before the Capitol cameras.
"Are you ready to end this?" Madge questioned.
"I guess, I'm just nervous," Katniss whispered.
"Prim?"
"Yeah," Katniss confirmed.
Madge was going to speak, but Effie Trinket stepped up to the microphone. The woman was dressed like a shiny green lizard. The Capitol fashions never failed to cause Katniss to question their sanity.
"Welcome! Welcome," Effie said into the microphone.
The woman droned on, and with each syllable, Katniss' stomach twisted and turned. When the reminder of why the Hunger Games still took place, Katniss felt like she was going to hurl. She took deep even breaths as Effie Trinket stepped up to the ball, and Katniss watched as her long garish fingernails dipped into the girl's bowl, like claws, and picked up a slip. Closing her eyes, Katniss balled her fists. She didn't want to listen, but it was inevitable.
"Poppy Smith."
Katniss felt her shoulders relax.
She watched a girl from the section Prim was in step from the group and walk up to the front. She was pale with two golden braids. She reminded Katniss of Prim when she used to wear two braids instead of one.
It was the boy's turn next and Katniss' eyes flew to Delly who was watching HIM. Memories of an unpaid debt made her turn her eyes away. She owed him. Owed him her life, the life of her sister, and that of her mother. Katniss had never found a way to repay him.
There was still one way to repay him. If he was chosen, she could volunteer for and take Poppy's place. She could help him in the Games to make sure he lived. Could she take a life to save his? The question alone caused blood to race to her cheeks. She wasn't a murderer. Human life was valuable, but for him, she might. He was good, kind, and decent. His life was worth a thousand of her kind. Katniss looked down trying to hide her dangerous thoughts. For him, she would do anything.
"Now for the boys," Effie said into the microphone.
Katniss watched Effie's green glittering manicured fingernails reach into the bowl. Their sparkle nearly blinded those in the front as Effie carefully selected a slip of paper.
"Archibald Vaso," Effie read out loud.
The breath Katniss held slowly left her body. They were free. Her eyes searched his face; he looked relieved just like every other eighteen-year-old around them.
When it was over, she felt Prim's arms wrap around her middle.
"You're free," she squealed.
Katniss nodded.
It was as they made their way over to their mother that she saw Gale standing by her with his brothers.
Katniss frowned, but she caught movement behind Gale. It was the Mellarks reuniting after the trauma of Peeta's last Reaping. Katniss watched Peeta's father pull him into a tight embrace. His father's shoulders shook with relief. Katniss was glad someone in Peeta's family loved him. His mother stood by indifferently. His two brothers were mirrors of their mother in looks and tolerance. The eldest was conscripted to join the Snow's Youth, a program that allowed one young male to serve in the Capitol. The other brother signed up to be a Peacekeeper.
Peeta, thankfully, was different. He didn't have the same prejudiced sentiments that his mother held. However, he wasn't exactly like his father either. Peeta's father was a quiet, reserved man who went along with whatever his wife said. Peeta was sweet and kind, he was sunlight on a cloudy day, he was spring flowers growing in the meadow after days of harsh grey winter.
Her heart fluttered in her chest.
Katniss smiled, then her smile disappeared as she focused on Gale.
"What's wrong with Gale?" Prim asked.
Gale looked nervous, unlike his normal cool persona. He was sweating and his eyes flitted from her to his mother and back. She recognized that face; the one that said - I'm sorry- before he did something really dumb.
Katniss opened her mouth, but Gale spoke first.
"So, will you go with me to the Solstice Festival?"
Katniss wanted to kick Gale in the shins. They had spoken about this in the woods. She told him that she didn't want to go with him. She told him that she didn't see him as anything more than just a friend. Told him he was more like a brother. Gale countered her arguments by saying he didn't have a choice because it was what everyone expected of him.
Katniss knew exactly where that propaganda came from. His mother Hazelle.
Hazelle wanted him to settle down and marry Katniss. There was a time that Katniss admired the woman, admired her drive. Now, the woman was a menace. She controlled Gale. He was a mama's boy and he did whatever she wanted. Hazelle had set her eyes on Katniss and she was determined to get Katniss for a daughter-in-law.
The problem was that Gale had never stood up to his mother. The woman knew what she was doing by having Gale ask her to the Solstice Festival.
There were two festivals that were important in District Twelve: the Spring Festival that was done to welcome the warmer weather and it also introduced the new crop of eighteen-year-olds that were eligible for marriage or work after their last reaping. And the Solstice Festival where new couples often declared their intent to be married.
Going to the Solstice Festival together was like a declaration of impending marriage.
Katniss opened her mouth to speak, but Gale's mother spoke at once.
"That would be wonderful," Hazelle said.
"Oh, Katniss," her mother breathed.
"Wouldn't that be wonderful Fleur?" Hazelle cackled like the witch that she was. "I have always said your daughter and my boy would make the most beautiful babies."
Her mother took a misstep and she looked to Katniss, but Hazelle put her arm around her mother drawing her away. "Fleur, we need to plan."
Katniss wanted to roll her eyes and say no. But their respective mothers were off speaking quietly about dresses.
Gale rubbed the back of his neck. "Katniss."
Katniss was so mad she wanted to beat him within an inch of his life. Her eyes lifted to a shadow that stood just beyond Gale's shoulder. Blue eyes clashed with hers and misery settled over her shoulders the way a thick blanket of snow covered the earth during the winter.
Angrily she spat, "I'm not talking to you!"
Her sister and his siblings were taken aback by the venom in her voice and the way that Gale looked so downtrodden.
Katniss spun around and her sister followed her. "Katniss, wait!"
Katniss spun around.
"I don't understand?"
"Hazelle," Katniss hissed, unable to form words.
Prim eyes widened. "You don't like Gale."
Katniss nodded.
"Gale likes you?"
Katniss growled.
"Gale doesn't like you, but Hazelle wants you two to get together!"
Katniss sighed.
"What are you going to do? The Solstice Festival is so final."
"I don't know Prim, but I'll figure out a way," Katniss said. She had months until the festival, until that dance.
As the days flew by Katniss stopped speaking to Gale. She refused to hunt with him. Katniss avoided him at all costs.
The Hunger Games was over and it was one of the least-watched Games in the history of the Games. A new talent show was all the rage in the Capitol. It was all the kids spoke about as Graduation came and went. The summer turned to fall and now she didn't have school to occupy her time. She still hadn't found a job. So she hunted on the days that Gale was in the mines. She rested on Sundays because that was his day.
September came and Prim excitedly went back to school. Katniss dedicated her time to the woods.
Katniss was trading with Darius when she came across Peeta. He was outside of the train station picking up cargo. She stopped listening to Darius to watch him haul two hundred pound bags easily as if they weighed nothing. The guys who worked there sometimes needed two or three guys to pick up the same sacks.
"Earth to Katniss," Darius snapped his fingers in front of her face.
Katniss blinked, "Ah yeah?"
"So the baker, huh?"
Katniss stared at Darius blankly. As she stood there it occurred to her she'd lost her ability to reason. No one knew about the bond between herself and Peeta. Since the age of eleven, she'd been tied to him with an invisible tether. In school, Katniss always knew where Peeta was. She knew his schedule; she knew when he worked, and when he had wrestling practices. Katniss attended every single one of his tournaments.
Years, she'd been trying to find a way to pay him back for years. Unfortunately, every single time she thought she had the opportunity something happened. Buttercup ran away. Gale clumsily shot himself in the foot. Madge had a crisis with a boy. Someone called Delly a mean name and Peeta went off to console her.
And now Katniss had the biggest obstacle, Hazelle Hawthorne. She snuck another peek at Peeta. He had boyish good looks and someday when other men began to look haggard, Peeta would age gracefully and devastate the female population.
She could imagine those muscular arms at that age and she shivered.
Darius cleared his throat. He caught her staring at Peeta. Suddenly she felt her body awash in blinding heat. It was hot and she was sweating.
Darius chuckled dryly.
"What?"
"Katniss, you were staring at Peeta as if he hung the moon and the stars in the night sky."
"Was not," Katniss said, wiping her face with the cuff of her shirt.
"Sure, it's the sun making you hot and bothered."
Katniss grumbled but didn't say anything.
"Is Mellark the reason for you and Hawthorne to have a falling out?"
Darius's question caused Katniss to feel uncomfortable because it was partially the truth. "No."
Darius gave her an all-knowing grin.
"Do you want to trade or not?"
"Sure, Katniss." Darius took out a few coins, "But can I offer you some advice?"
Katniss wanted to roll her eyes at Darius' words. She disliked nosy people who felt it was necessary to provide erroneous wisdom.
"I once had a girl in my life that I loved. I feared rejection because I thought she liked someone else. I ran instead of taking a chance. She sent me a letter after I was sent here. She told me she loved me but settled for that other guy because I left."
Katniss's eyes drifted back to Peeta.
"If I had faced my problems, maybe I would've had a happier ending," he said with a note of seriousness. "Don't mess up as I did, take a chance and talk to him."
Darius walked away and Katniss noticed he'd given her far too much for the turkey. Katniss watched Peeta, watched him wipe his brow, and as if he sensed her watching him, he turned to her. Katniss sucked in her gut, unsure what she was supposed to do. They had never really spoken outside of a few pleasant words at the Bakery.
Peeta smiled and waved shyly.
Katniss nodded back slowly, a smile creeping on her face. They were friends only. It started after the Reaping, small conversations when they were trading. But this new sensation left her feeling breathless.
Suddenly, she felt awkward and scurried away. The interaction left her flustered and out of sorts as if she was floating underneath the water, watching a leaf fall onto the serene surface of the water.
"Shucks," Katniss muttered as she walked back home.
Later that night she gazed at the Calendar, she only had three months to come up with a plan. As she lay in bed, her mind swirled like a leaf in the wind. How was she supposed to pay Peeta back, and how in tarnation was she supposed to get rid of Hazelle and her meddling ways.
Katniss wasn't sure.
Technically speaking Katniss was safe. She passed through the biggest hurdle, not getting Reaped.
Life outside of the Reaping Pool was freeing and terrifying and harder than when she had been in school. Gale's mother made her life difficult, blocking her from gaining employment with any of the people who had businesses in the Seam.
Rooba became nervous when Katniss sought employment. Ripper slammed her door in Katniss's face. Mrs. Greybird, the Seam's seamstress, who told her mother she needed help darning the clothing of the single men in the District, told her Hazelle forbade her to hire Katniss. Everyone from the handyman to the weaver said no. The Goatman told her the goats didn't like her, but Katniss had seen Hazelle inside of his shed.
No one in the Seam wanted to trade for her game meat either. Even the folks in the Hob didn't want to trade with her. It was a lucky thing the Merchants didn't stop trading with her or else her family would have starved.
The backdoor of the bakery opened. Peeta's flushed smiling face made her temporarily forget her problems.
"Hi, Katniss."
"You look happier than usual."
"As of next week, I will be the sole owner of the bakery," Peeta said with so much joy she squealed and hugged him. She knocked him into the door.
"That's wonderful!"
His arms held her tightly. "You're the first person I wanted to tell. I've been waiting for you all morning."
Katniss felt special and that breathless feeling she felt a while back crept through her being. It threatened to spill forth from her fingertips like magic being cast out of a wizard.
She tilted her head back and her arms came to rest on his chest. "I'm so happy for you."
Peeta smiled shyly back at her.
It was then she heard someone clearing their throat.
They turned their heads to find Hazelle staring at them.
"So this is where you spend your Sundays instead of with my boy?" Hazelle's smile did not reach her eyes.
Katniss stepped back.
"Katniss is my friend Mrs. Hawthorne, she comes to visit me on my day off."
"Friends?"
"Yes," Peeta asserted.
"Katniss is kin; I wouldn't want to impugn her character."
At that moment his father entered the backyard and raised an eyebrow. "Mrs. Hawthorne."
"Pleasant day Mr. Mellark. I stopped by to bring you your laundry and found your son and my kin in a questionable embrace."
"You mean they were hugging?" Peeta's father turned to his son. "I'm guessing you told her?"
"Yes," Peeta said.
"What is going on?" Hazelle bristled with righteous indignation.
"My son will be the next owner of the bakery come the winter solstice. My wife and I will be moving to the Capitol. Our eldest has married a Capitol girl and is expecting her first child. No doubt Katniss was congratulating Peeta on becoming an uncle and becoming the new owner of the bakery."
"Oh, quite, quite the exciting news," Hazelle stammered.
"Yes, Katniss stops by on Sundays and has tea with myself and my son while the missus is out visiting her friends." Peeta's father smiled amicably in that quiet way of his before stating. "Why are you so set against my son having a friendship with Katniss?"
"As I told your son, Katniss is kin, and I wouldn't want her character impugned."
"Ah," his father said. "I didn't know the Hawthornes and the Everdeens were related."
"We are very close. Isn't that right, Katniss?"
Katniss gritted her teeth. She didn't want anyone to know about the Festival.
Peeta's father raised an eyebrow.
"It's a shame that we wouldn't be able to conduct business if her character was in any way questioned."
Katniss couldn't believe Hazelle was trying to scare the Mellarks into bending to her will. She made a move to speak.
Peeta quietly took her hand and squeezed it when he saw that she was going to act out.
"To be fair, we only did business because you were a single mother." Mr. Mellark shrugged, before saying. "Now that your son has come of age and is helping out with the bills we really don't need your services." He slipped his hands in his pockets. "Perhaps you shouldn't be worried about Katniss' reputation."
Hazelle stood straighter; she was about to spout something, but Peeta's father calmly said, "You should be worried about your eldest."
"My son?" Hazelle sounded skeptical.
"You haven't seen him this morning?"
"No, he's hunting this morning. He normally leaves before all of us wake up."
He laughed. "Well, he's not hunting."
"How would you know?" She stood arms akimbo.
"I just saw him being arrested."
"What?"
"At the Cartwrights. Gale got drunk and ended up in their yard half-naked, serenading Adeline."
"My Gale!"
"I was just there-" He pointed behind himself.
Katniss glanced at Peeta, her eyes wide. Peeta grinned and winked at her. None of them said anything.
"They called the Peacekeepers, poor Adeline was suffering from a migraine. The noise could be heard all the way here in the backyard."
"That cannot be. Why would he go over there to the Cartwrights?"
His father scratched the back of his head as if he was considering her question. "I don't know. I thought I said instead of worrying about Katniss you should be worrying about your own son."
Hazelle glanced at Katniss. "I would recommend you go home, while I go see about my son. This has to be a mistake, my Gale is a good boy."
Katniss exhaled when Hazelle left.
"Katniss, why don't you come in and have some tea?" Peeta's father suggested.
Katniss nodded, but she was furious with the woman's meddling. How dare she try to interfere in her friendships. Hazelle was flaunting that Katniss was going to marry Gale, and if a plan couldn't be hatched it could very well be true. She would end up as a Hawthorne.
Katniss began to avoid Hazelle and her family. Katniss went as far as refusing to attend Rory's birthday party. Time marched on and on a crisp afternoon in December, about two weeks before the Solstice came around Katniss had the misfortune of finding Hazelle in her home sitting with her mother.
"Katniss, I've picked out your dress for the Solstice Festival," Hazelle began. She reached down into her bag.
Her mother gave Katniss a helpless look as Hazelle pulled out Madge's pink reaping dress. Katniss balled her fists.
"Can you believe that careless Undersee girl was going to get rid of it! Just because of a few tears that can easily be repaired. When I saw it I thought, it's practically new! Then I told myself a fine dress like this should be worn by my boy's intended." Hazelle shook out the dress and tisked under her breath. "Those Merchants don't understand the value, they're so rich they get rid of valuables. Just look at your Ma here. Tossed her out on her rump not realizing her potential."
Her mother shook her head letting her know to keep quiet.
Hazelle put the frock up against her. "My boy likes to see a girl in pink. Now, I know you're not as tall as that Undersee girl. And you're flatter than an ironing board. But that don't matter none, cuz I can fatten you up. Plus, once you bear my son a few children you'll lose that mop stick figure."
Katniss gritted her teeth to keep from blasting the woman.
"Hazelle, I'm sure Katniss has things to do. I know her measurements…" her mother began standing up.
Katniss had enough. She turned around and stormed out, and kept on walking. When she came to the meadow she stopped near the fence. Katniss felt like her entire life was slipping away. Gale didn't have the balls to say no to his mother, no one did.
Nearly six months later and she had no plan to get the woman to stop.
"Are you alright?"
Spinning around Katniss sought who had spoken to her. The soft voice came from under the giant pine tree. The shadowy figure stood, and then she saw, HIM. Her first instinct was to run. Run as fast as she could away from him and hide so that he couldn't see the bond she had with him, a bond based on real feelings.
As their friendship grew, Katniss's bond with Peeta grew.
"Are you alright?" Peeta asked again as he approached slowly.
Katniss shook her head, but words failed her as she watched him approach. He stood before her and she was forced to look up at him. He wasn't as tall as Gale, only a handful of people were that tall, but he was a bit above average height and he was stocky, massive compared to her slight build. Still, despite his broad and sizable hands, his manner and eyes denoted gentle kindness.
"Do you need help?"
With Katniss, it had always been one of two ways. No speech or verbal diarrhea, "Gale's mother is driving me crazy. She's got this notion in her thick head that me and Gale," she snickered at Gale's name, "are perfect for one another."
His eyebrows rose, but Peeta didn't say anything; he kept on listening to her tirade.
"Gale's such a mama's boy that he will do anything that spiteful woman says. She wants me to go with Gale to the Solstice Festival. She wants me to see that I can't live without her son, so she began making my life miserable."
Katniss began pacing, fuming as she thought about the past six months.
Peeta just stood there waiting for her to speak.
"She's made it impossible for me to feed my family. She knows I don't want a job in the mines, she's made it impossible for me to find a job elsewhere. No one in the Seam or in the Hob will trade with me. The only people who will do any business with me are the folks from your side of town."
"Is that what she was trying to do to my father a few weeks ago, trying to get him not to do business with you or for me to stop being your friend."
"Yeah."
"Damn, she's evil."
"And the worst thing is, she somehow got a hold of Madge's horrid pink dress and is expecting me to wear it to the festival. Do you know how much I abhor pink? Do you?" Katniss yelled.
"If you go to the Solstice Festival you are as good as married," Peeta surmised. "And you don't want that."
"Exactly," Katniss exclaimed.
"Is that why she was claiming you guys were family?"
"Yes," Katniss said miserably.
"What if you went with him but left with someone else?"
His words stopped her short.
"Katniss, I know you don't want marriage or kids…but the only way out of this predicament is to find someone else you can marry."
"Are…you?"
"Possibly, that is if you want?"
Heat slammed into her face. Her eyes widened and she watched him come closer. Darius' advice suddenly and infuriatingly came to her mind. If she didn't open up to him, she'd end up unhappy, but if she took a chance with him, she'd be happy - better off.
Things became clear.
"Yes I want to," she whispered.
Peeta took her hand and pulled her close. One of his hands reached to cup her cheek. He leaned in and when his lips brushed hers it was like all of those pent-up emotions exploded within her and the world was set alright.
He pulled away. And the smiles they shared were like a thousand fireworks being set off at once.
"So, I'm going with you?"
"You're going to go with your family, but I'll meet you there. And we'll dance all of the dances together, even the last dance."
"Okay, I'm going to need another dress."
"Where are you going to get another dress?"
"Madge."
Less than an hour later they were at Madge's.
"Shut the front door!" Madge pushed Katniss and she fell on her bed. "I can't believe you and Peeta finally got together!"
Peeta raised an eyebrow.
"Oh goody, I cannot wait to see that woman's face." Madge giddily laughed. "I dated Gale briefly, but his mother is a bully. She didn't think I was good enough for her precious son. Me, the daughter of the Mayor. Apparently, I wasn't pure enough. So what's the plan?"
"My idea is that Katniss wears the pink dress, and then she changes at the Festival and joins me on the dance floor," Peeta said.
"I love it!" Madge went to her closet. "Okay, we need to make you look exceptional."
"Bridal," Katniss said, standing by the bed. She took Peeta's hand.
Madge turned around and said. "Bridal?"
"Well hell," Madge said. "We're going to need my mom for this."
"Your mom?" Katniss questioned.
"She's going to convince my father to marry you, two knuckleheads. There's no way you're leaving that Solstice Festival as an Everdeen."
"Are you sure?" Peeta asked, searching Katniss' eyes.
"Yes."
"I'm going to need three dresses then," Madge said.
"Three?" Peeta said.
"Well, I'm going to need one, Katniss is going to need one, and Prim is going to need one. Besides, she can run interference and help you change." Madge smiled, she walked back into the closet. "I've got to find the perfect dress for Prim."
"What do we do about the pink dress?" Katniss asked.
"Simple we give it to Delly, she's been eyeing it," Madge said from the closet.
"Okay," Katniss said.
"I'll tell my dad, he'll be ecstatic." Peeta turned to Katniss, "I can make us a cake."
Katniss smiled and her heart raced with joy. That night she waited until her mother was asleep.
"I'm not marrying Gale," Katniss whispered to Prim.
"I'm sorry," Prim whispered back.
"Follow me," Katniss whispered.
Together, they went downstairs.
"What's going on, Katniss?"
"I'm not going to marry Gale and I need your help."
Prim's eyes grew large. "How?"
Katniss smiled widely. "I'm going to marry Peeta during the Solstice Festival."
"EEEKKK," Prim squealed, as she jumped up and down.
"Shhhh," Katniss looked up the stairs. "You're going to wake up mom. She can't know anything."
"Okay, tell me everything!"
Katniss explained the plan. She felt lighter than she had on her Reaping day. The next two weeks flew by. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. Thankfully she wouldn't be wearing this stupid pink dress for much longer.
Thanks to Prim's cajoling, both families had agreed to walk together to the Justice Building where the Festival was being held.
"Ready?" Prim said behind her.
"Are you sure Delly is going to be able to put this on?"
"Yup, I worked on the dress Katniss, a few snips, and the hidden panels will unfurl like the red carpet during the Reaping."
Katniss sighed, there was nothing about this dress that looked elegant on her. On Delly, this dress was going to look amazing.
"Stop fidgeting," Prim said.
"I'm nervous."
"Oh Katniss, it's natural to be nervous," their mother said from the door.
Prim and Katniss exchanged looks. Katniss felt bad for not telling their mother what was going on. But she didn't want Hazelle to find out. That woman was capable of shackling Katniss to her son.
There was a knock at the door.
"That should be them," their mother said, leaving.
Katniss came down the stairs finding Gale looking like an awkward gargoyle in her home.
"Katniss." Gale's voice didn't sound like his own.
"Gale, don't just stand there, tell her how pretty she looks, and help her put her coat on. You wouldn't want her to catch a cold. It's snowing outside." Hazelle ordered.
Gale flushed then shuffled forward to help her put her coat on.
"Time's a wastin," Hazelle said and everyone piled outside.
"It's a winter wonderland," Posy said.
Gale began walking next to her and Prim inserted herself between them. When they entered the square, they headed to the Justice Building. As if on cue Madge called out.
"Katniss," she called.
Madge was with the Mellarks and the Cartwrights.
"Hello, folks," Peeta's father greeted.
"Why Jason, where is Ethel?" Her mother asked.
"She left today. Katniss didn't tell you. Our eldest got married and we're expecting our first grandbaby. Ethel and I are moving to the Capitol. Ethel left today, I'm leaving in a few days. Got a few loose ends to tie up."
"Oh," her mother said.
Greetings were said and Hazelle looked like she was going to explode. But her younger boys were friends with the Cartwright boy, so begged their mother to spend some time with him.
"Might as well walk together, show unity and whatnot," Peeta's father said, slapping his hand on Gale's shoulders.
Peeta came to stand by her other side and Katniss desperately tried to keep cool, calm, and collected. They walked together the rest of the way to the Justice Building.
"Hey Katniss, would you mind going with me to the ladies' room?" Madge asked as they were standing by the coat check.
"Oh, I'll go too," Prim said.
"Me too," Delly said.
"But," Hazelle said.
"Oh let them go," Mrs. Cartwright said. "You remember what it was like at that age. Fleur, you recall how we used to pile into the bathroom, all of us." Delly's mother said to Katniss's mother.
"Gale, you wait here for her," Hazelle grumbled.
"Yes ma'am," Gale said.
Katniss was hauled into the bathroom. She turned to look back at Gale but her eyes really made contact with Peeta who greeted her with a wink. In the bathroom, the girls all turned to Katniss.
"Operation Last Dance," Prim said like Effie Trinket, "Has Commenced."
It was a flurry of zippers and dresses and combs. In the end, Prim wore a knee-length, sleeveless, lace overlay dress in a blue-green color. Madge wore a similar dress but her dress was a backless halter top in the same blue-green color. Delly slipped into the pink dress.
Katniss smiled at her reflection. Her hair was let down, it was parted to the side with side-swept curls. Her A-line dress had sheer sleeves with sheer embroidered floral lace layered bodice. Underneath was a silky separate spaghetti sleeved ombre dress, it was white at the top and ended in a pale minty blue underskirt. It was perfect for the Solstice Festival.
"You look magical," Delly breathed.
"She looks hot," Madge said.
"Come on, Peeta has to be dying," Prim said.
Katniss nodded as all of the girls piled out of the bathroom. As she walked out her breath caught in her chest as she caught Peeta standing in his dark suit looking handsome. That suit emphasized his broad shoulders and narrow waist. Her mouth grew dry.
She floated to him and his hands came out for hers. She easily slid her hands in his. He pulled her into him and they kissed. There were gasps around them, but for Katniss, there was no one but Peeta. Their foreheads pressed together.
"Hello," Peeta whispered.
"Hi," Katniss whispered.
They pulled apart, looking like a team.
Next to her, Gale's eyes were wide, "Katniss?"
"Oh be quiet Gale; she's in love with Peeta. And you're not saying a thing to your mother, you hear," Delly ordered.
Gale's head snapped to Delly.
"Delly," he squeaked. "You look beautiful."
"I love, love," Prim said.
"Yeah, me too, me too…" Madge said, sighing.
"May I," Peeta said, holding his arm to her.
Katniss slipped her arm around his and together they walked into the foyer that was converted into a dance floor. The interior had thousands of white twinkling lights suspended from the ceiling and it was decorated with white trees and white tables with white flowers lined the sides.
The band struck up a song as they entered and Peeta led Katniss to the dancefloor past Hazelle. All eyes were on Katniss and Peeta as they were the first couple and they made a striking pair on the dance floor. People were whispering all around them, but Katniss didn't pay them any attention. All she cared about was the man who held her, the man she was going to marry tonight. Dance number after dance number they didn't stop holding each other as the music played.
The Mayor began talking. Katniss was held loosely in Peeta's arms.
"This evening we have a first, a young couple who want to start a tradition, to get married and have a Toasting."
Everyone began talking.
"Can Katniss Everden and Peeta Mellark come to the front," the Mayor urged them forward.
As they walked up to the Mayor, Hazelle marched over to where they were. She reached out to put her hand on Katniss, but Prim was suddenly by her side.
"OH NO! NO YOU DON'T!" Prim said.
"Primrose Everdeen!" Hazelle began.
"NO!" Prim stomped her feet.
"Fleur, come control your child; her behavior is unacceptable."
Prim narrowed her eyes.
"Oh no, you've awoken the beast…" Katniss muttered.
"The beast?" Peeta whispered back.
"Watch," Katniss said.
Prim put her hands on her hips and began stalking toward Hazelle. Gale's mother started walking backward. "You want to talk about unacceptable behavior! I've seen you belittle my sister, bully my mother, coerce half the town, and frankly browbeat your son into something you want. No one, and I mean no one, wants my sister to marry your son. My sister has been in love with Peeta ever since she was eleven."
"Eleven?" Peeta asked.
Katniss slapped him playfully.
"I've got you beat," Peeta said playfully back. "I've been a goner since I was five years old."
"And now when they've finally admitted they have feelings for one another I'm not going to let you ruin this!"
"You tell her, Prim," Madge called out.
"Is this true, Katniss?" Katniss' mother asked, coming out from the crowd. "You love each other?"
"Yes," Katniss turned to her mother and raised her chin. "I love him. I love my boy with the bread."
There was an instant awe from the crowd as Hazelle slowly stepped to the side, trying to avoid the prying eyes around her.
"That's all I ever wanted," Fleur said, hugging Katniss and then Peeta.
"Gale, you're okay?" Katniss said.
"Yup," Gale said grinning. "I'm just glad it's not me." He walked over the Delly and stood by her side, both had huge grins on their faces.
"Okay, if there aren't any more objections, are we ready to get married?" The Mayor asked.
"Yes," the entire town said.
Katniss stood before Peeta and they spoke their vows before the eyes of everyone as their toasting took place. Peeta's father produced a small blow torch like the ones used for pastries and they toasted their bread and fed it to each other in between shouts of joy.
It was magical and the district was filled with joy. AS Katniss danced the last dance with Peeta she realized it wasn't really the last dance. It was the first with her husband, the man she loved.
She might have come here with Gale, but she definitely left with Peeta.
The End.
Prompt: Katniss agreed to have a date with Gale at the Winter Solstice festival, after her last reaping. Little they did know she would arrive at the festival with him but would come back home with Peeta Mellark. [submitted by anonymous] Due date: 12/19
A/N: This prompt was so sweet. I wrote a if they didn't get reaped. It's set around the Winter Solstice that happens around Dec. 20, 21, or 22 depending on the calendar and if it's a leap year. Thank you Norbertsmom for her beta skills. Merry Happy & Joyous Holidays!
Rated T
Word Count: 7034