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An Autumn Breeze

She really was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Walking down the side of the lake towards me, the orange blaze from the setting sun lit up her face, revealing the soft freckles on her face that you had to squint to notice, they made her look younger. Her gray eyes shone in the orange hugh. Her dark hair in loose waves around her chest and back. She wore a soft white dress that dragged along the moss on the floor, the sleeves were lace and woven in a unique pattern, like vines snaking up a tree. If you didn't know her, she could easily be mistaken for an angel.

Finally, she reached me and took my hands in hers. The contact of our skin sent electricity up my arms. Even now she still took my breath away.

"Hi." She whispered, her gaze capturing me.

"Hi," I whispered back. "You look… breathtaking."

She smiled and opened her mouth to respond, but before she could speak she was interrupted by the Mayor. I didn't really pay attention to what he said, I was too lost in her.

Sometimes while looking at Katniss, my thoughts seemed to fight themselves. Some would argue that she was the best thing that had ever happened to me, that she was good and kind and saved all of our lives. The other thoughts argued that she was a beast, a mutt of the Capitol and out to destroy us.

They were hard to fight away.

But then she would come to me, make me see the real her, and the truth would always win.

But today, our wedding day, was a day that I wouldn't let any bad thoughts in. Today, I was filled with love and admiration, and so was she.

The ceremony went quick, we were down by the lake and only the Mayor and Haymitch were with us. We both agreed we didn't want a crowd, we wanted this to be just our day. Katniss asked if we could get married by the lake. It was a special place to her, probably because it was the last place standing that was untouched by the uprising. Her memories of her childhood, swimming with her Father were still alive here, so i think that's why she wanted it here.

It was a beautiful place. The world around the lake seemed more alive than anywhere else in District 12. The water drew life, all creatures of different shapes and sizes gathered around us. The grass was greener and the trees seemed taller. It was like stepping into a different world compared to the gray dullness of District 12. I'd have to come here before autumn fully consumed it to draw.

The Summer was fading slowly, some leaves were still green and some were starting to fade to dull yellow. The air was mild, neither hot nor cold, just right. There was a slight breeze, but if anything all it did was make Katniss look even more enchanting with her hair and dress blowing around her.

After the Mayor said a few words about love and marriage, he quickly got to the important part.

"Do you, Peeta Mellark, take Katniss Everdeen to be your wife?"

"I do." I said quickly, probably too quickly because everyone laughed at my eagerness.

"Do you, Katniss Everdeen, take Peeta Mellark to be your husband?"

Katniss smiled and squeezed my hands, " I do."

"Then, I pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss-."

He didn't get time to finish, because I leaned in and kissed her. I have kissed Katniss many times, more times than I can probably recall. Some of them were fake kisses but most had been real. This one was definitely real. Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer. The world faded away around us, until there was nothing left but her in my arms. Her lips on mine. Her body pressed against mine. The warmth that spread through me like a fire. I wondered if she felt it too.

I was sure that Katniss did love me, I think she had loved me long before she even knew it herself. But there was one thing that I was absolutely sure of, and that was that no one on this planet could love another person as much as I loved her. She was everything.

"Okay, okay… let's keep that for tonight you pair. When you're alone." Haymitch said, breaking the spell between us.

Katniss pulled away first, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"I asked Greasy Sae to make your favorite, lamb stew with dried plums, for our meal when we got back." I told her, and linked my arm through hers as we began walking home.

"Really," She exclaimed, "I can't wait to eat that again. It's so good! Thank you."

The walk back was quiet, we didn't really talk much but instead enjoyed the comfortable silence. Haymitch and the Mayor chatted between themselves as they followed us.

As we neared the house we heard the faint rustling of movement and hushed voices telling others to be quiet. We both looked back at Haymitch with raised eyebrows. He shrugged. "Don't ask me." He said, playing dumb.

Looking back at Katniss I noticed she looked nervous suddenly. "Are you okay?" I asked.

She gave a little nod, "Yeah, I just wonder if she came." Her voice sounded so small.

I knew who she meant.

Her mother.

Katniss and her mother have never had the strongest relationship, but I knew deep down she missed her. Mrs Everdeen hadn't visited once, we both knew it was because it was too hard for her with Prim gone. But I couldn't help but feel that it was selfish. She had two daughters, one was sadly gone, but the other was here, alive and well. The way she acted, you'd think they both had died in the Uprising.

I lead the way into the house. When I opened the door, I was blasted with a spray of multicolored confetti. Cheers and congratulations erupted around us. So many faces, Gale, Johanna, Greasy Sae, her granddaughter, Delly, Hazelle and the kids….

Then I saw a bright blue coloured wig and grinned. "Effie!" I exclaimed and ran to her, wrapping her in a tight hug. Katniss followed and we all hugged together.

"Okay okay," She laughed, "Don't ruin the hair darlings, it cost a fortune." She pulled back and touched our cheeks, looking at us fondly with a warm smile. "You both look so well."

I nodded. "We are well, really well." I said and flashed Katniss a wide grin.

"We missed you Effie." Katniss began, "Why haven't you visited."

Effie looked down sheepishly, "In all honesty, I didn't think you'd want to see me. It wasn't until Haymitch called and told me you were getting married that I thought maybe you did want to see me. I told Haymitch my concerns, and he told me i was being stupid, that you guys talked about me all the time." She looked at us both expectedly, waiting for us to confirm her fears.

We shook our heads at the same time. "No, we want to see you, why would you think that?" I asked.

She gave a small sigh, "Well I thought I would just remind you of all the bad things that happened during the games. I know we were friends then, but were we friends really?… I wasn't sure how you felt-"

Katniss cut her off. "Of course we were friends, Effie. You fought just as much as we did, maybe not in the same ways, but you did. And you were a part of the few happy memories I have during the games, even if you did force me to wear those awful heels."

They both laughed at that. "Well, you never really learned to walk in them properly. Did you, my dear?" Effie touched her cheek softly again and smiled. "I'm so glad you consider me a friend."

"More like family." I interjected. "Please say you'll visit more often."

She nodded eagerly. "Of course."

Octavia, Venia and Flavius appeared seemingly from thin air, all talking over each other so fast that I couldn't keep up with what they were saying. Katniss seemed to understand though as she laughed and they all hugged. I guess you would get used to it after all the time they spent with each other during preparation for the games.

I looked around and noticed a soft, kind face with a red blaze of hair. Annie. In her arms was a giggling toddler, She was talking to the toddler and they both laughed. He had a thin layer of red hair too, and bright blue eyes that looked so much like his fathers.

When she saw me looking she walked towards us.

Katniss let out a little gasp next to me. "He looks so much like Finnick." She said instantly when they arrived near us.

Annie nodded in agreement, her eyes looking far away as she looked down at her son. "He does, doesn't he?" She said and then trailed off, losing herself to her thoughts.

"What's his name?" Katniss asked, trying to get her back to the real world.

Annie looked back at her in surprise. "Oh, um. Zion, it was Finnick's fathers name." She spoke so softly, so gently. Annie was a gentle soul, too kind for the life she had lived. I wished I could have saved Finnick. He had saved my life once and I was unable to return the favor. It didn't seem fair that someone as good as him, who had suffered so much and only had a brief taste of happiness, was taken from this earth before he could enjoy it.

Life wasn't fair, I had learned that the hard way.

Katniss reached forward and gently touched his cheek. "He's beautiful, Annie. Finnick would be so proud of you both."

Annie had tears in her eyes at that.

Kathniss stepped away from me, I followed her gaze and there in the corner of the room was her mother. She looked thinner, the bags under her eyes more prominent. But the likeness to Prim was still astonishing. Prim had followed her mother in looks, whereas Katniss I assumed looked more like her dad with her dark features.

Katniss walked towards her and I let her go alone. I watched as Katniss embraced her, the tears spilling out and down Mrs Everdeen's face. They talked, and I let them talk alone. Finally they both walked to me, faces slightly red.

"He's a good one Katniss," Mrs Everdeen said and smiled up at me. "A kind man, just like his father was." She continued.

I could feel myself blushing at the compliment.

Katniss' eyes lit up. "Do you recognize this?" She asked. She took off the ring I proposed to her too and handed it to her mother.

Mrs Everdeen stared at it wide eyed for a long time. "Wow," She whispered. "I haven't seen this ring for a very long time." She slid it on her fingers and it hung loose. She chuckled slightly. "I guess I've lost weight since I last wore it."

"You wore this?" Katniss asked, the shock clear in her voice.

"Yes, a very very long time ago." She looked up and saw the confusion on our faces. "We were engaged, your father and I," She began, looking at me as she spoke. "We were very young, but madly in love and I was so happy when he gave me this ring and asked me to marry him. Or, I thought I was until I met your father Katniss." Her eyes looked far away as she spoke.

"What happened? What made you change your mind?" Katniss asked.

She smiled and looked down at the ring again. "I don't know, your father just stole my heart away. He had so much confidence, and when he sang… it literally gave me shivers." She paused and took the ring off, handing it back to Katniss. "You remind me so much of your father, you're so strong like he is… was. I'm glad you follow him and not me."

"You're strong too." She said and pulled her mother into a hug. "You just don't see it like I do."

The rest of the day went by in a blur of laughter and tears. It was so nice to see everyone and I was glad that Haymitch invited everyone in the end, even though it was against our wishes. Everyone parted for the night, and soon we were left on our own. So, we grabbed a few blankets, laid them out in front of the fire and sat together, turning over the warm bread I had made yesterday over the hot flames of the fire.

"So, what do I call you now?" I asked, looking at her sitting next to me, bathed in the orange light. "My love?" I suggested.

She made a retching sound, she's never been the romantic type.

"Mrs Mellark?"

"That makes me sound so old." She stated.

"Maybe I'll just call you Mrs Mellark when I'm cross with you." I teased which earned me a rare laugh from her.

She grinned at me. "But you're never cross with me."

"That's true."

She surprised me by taking my face in her hands and kissing me. It was soft at first, her lips a gentle caress on mine, but soon the kiss turned hungry. I dropped the toast on the floor near the fire, no longer focusing on that.

There was a need deep in the both of us, an animal cry that begged for us to be as close as we physically could to one another. She separated us, just far enough away so she could look me in my eyes. She was so beautiful, I don't think she'll ever fully understand the hold she has on me. She took my hair and knotted it into her hand and pulled my head back, kissing me again deeply. "I love you." She whispered against my lips and kissed me again before I could respond.

My head fought what she said, trying to figure out what was true and what was not. Did she really love me? Was all of this real or not?

But opening my eyes, and seeing her looking at me made me forget my doubts.

Real, I decided.