Chapter 21: Home Again

Fewer than one hundred people emigrate back to Twelve. Emilia, Haymitch, Peeta and I return to our exile in the Victors' Village, but this time we are not alone. Other Seamers and Merchants and ex-Peacekeepers join us, and soon every single house in the Village is filled with happiness and laughter.

Babies are born, romances blossom, and the hearths blaze loaves of burnt bread for Toastings.

One of the most surprising couples to arise out of war's aftermath is one I stumble on quite by accident one night, coming back late from hunting under the fence. Down by the Village fountain, I hear moaning, and rounding the corner of one house, I pull up short. By the light of a streetlamp, the handsome redheaded Peacekeeper Darius is thrusting deeply into a groaning and wailing Madge Undersee. The former Mayor's daughter is keening deliciously into the attentions, her gorgeous blonde hair damp with sweat.

"Mmmm... Uhhhhh... Oh, Panem... Dar... Darius, please..."

"I love you, Madge..."

Within the month, Peeta and I dress up in our best and are present to watch Darius feed a piece of burnt bread to Madge, kissing her sweetly.

The next couple to get married is Delly Cartwright and Thom, the Miner Foreman. I accidentally intrude on them one sunny afternoon kissing and making love under the willow, Delly's fiery red hair fluttering in the breeze as she spreads herself out like a feast for her paramour.

Hiding behind a bush, I witness Thom take Delly's hand and get down on one knee. When she starts crying and squealing, "Yes!", I run off to tell Peeta.

Peeta is more than honored when Delly, his childhood friend, asks him to bake the wedding cake for her and Thom's Toasting. As I watch Thom lift Delly's veil and bring her face close, kissing her deeply by the light of the hearth, I suddenly turn to Peeta, my expression solemn.

"Let's have a Toasting. Let's get married our way."

And so, with only Haymitch and Emilia as witnesses, I quietly dress myself in my blue Reaping frock. Haymitch guides me down the stairs from Peeta's and my bedroom and escorts me to the hearth, where Peeta has a poker ready.

Burning some cheese buns over the fire, Peeta and I quietly share the meal. Emilia presents us with the rings, which we exchange along with our vows. The firelight dancing in my grey eyes, I solemnly tilt my head and permit my husband to kiss me. Gasping as his lips touch my own, so that my mouth slightly parts to let his tongue in, I close my eyes and sink into our wedding kiss.

For the first time, I now truly feel like Mrs. Peeta Mellark. Like I am married. I am somebody's wife.

When Peeta finishes kissing me at last, he studies me for a moment. "You love me. Real or Not Real?"

Leaning in, I kiss him deeply once again, whispering against his lips, "Real."

They play in the Meadow. The little girl with blonde curls and Seam grey eyes, laughing and frolicking at her brother with dark hair and blue eyes, who tries to keep up with her on chubby legs.

With the Games now over and done with, it didn't take me long to agree. Besides, Peeta wanted them so badly. And Emilia desperately wanted to be a big sister again.

Seated on our picnic blanket, with my skirts fanning out around me, I smile as I read again the letter from Mother and Dalton, my stepfather. I was still pregnant with Sierra when Peeta, Haymitch, Emilia and I visited District 4 by train to attend their Toasting. Mother and Prim have finally established their field hospital and are in a strong enough place financially that Rory Hawthorne at last proposed to my sister; this letter conveys that the couple will be married in the fall.

Glancing up, I observe Emilia tossing my son up in the air like a ball, while Haymitch (sober these last five years!) prances around with my daughter on his shoulders. Peeta, my sweet husband, is attempting to tackle them.

I love my family. Love watching the games they are playing. Some of them might seem silly, but we know all too well... there are much worse Games to play.