Sentimental

"You look so beautiful Hillary." I tell my daughter.

"Hillary? Why are we being so formal today?"

"Aren't you supposed to on your wedding day?"

"I don't think it matters dad."

"You do look beautiful Hilly." Her brown hair is in loose ringlets and has a flower headband chain that Annie wove. She also looks nice in her white dress. Hilly doesn't wear dresses often so it's nice to see her like this.

Hilly looks very similar to Annie and our son -Nick- looks just like me.

"Please don't cry. Mom already did." She says.

"I wasn't going to. Besides your mom cries at lots of things."

She smiles.

"This is true."

"Even if I did I think it is justified because my only daughter is getting married today."

"Well, you still have a son to get married."

"That's different."

"Why?"

"Because it's about you right now." I smile.

"Dad I'm not dying. I'm not even moving that far away."

"Well you are moving around. District Four, District Six."I smile. District Six is where her soon to be husband is from. He was staying in District Four to fix and work on some transportation. He met Hilly and he stayed for awhile. Longer than he was supposed to.

When he asked permission to marry her. Which and Annie and I were surprised by because no one does that anymore. He said as soon as he met her, he knew that was going to be his wife.

Hilly rolls her eyes.

"You're so over dramatic dad."

"I do try."

"It will be in District Four for most of the time anyways. Zach likes Four better than Six. Something about the weather."

I smile.

"Okay. You better tell mom this."

"I have something planned. Mom worries so much."

"Well she has reasons to. You see-

"Dad is this when you tell your I had to walk two miles up hill in the snow to get home and back type stories? If so I think that can hold off on my weeding day" She teases. She knew what I was talking about though.

"Fine." I smile.

"Besides, I know nothing like that will happen to me. Also I'm marrying my Finnick." She says.

"She told you that?"

Hilly nods because that's what I told Annie when Hilly got engaged.

"She stole my line." I say.

"Well, I'm sorry dad."

"It's okay. So you nervous?"

"I'm afraid I'm going to fall down with the sand and my shoes."

"I won't let you fall or you could change shoes."

"I like these shoes."

"Okay." I smile.

"I love you dad."

"I love you too."

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asks confused.

"I remember when you were little you said you didn't want a white dress when you got married."

"Yeah I wanted a blue and green one to match the water." She smiles.

"So?" I tease.

"Dad I was seven, now I'm twenty five. Besides look at the headband green and blue. Also the cake is frosted a green and blue from your fancy baker friend in District 12."

"Peeta. He did your Moms and I's wedding cake. It was therapeutic back then but now it's because he wants too."

"What did it feel like when you married mom?"

"Happy."

"That's it?" She says in disbelief.

"It's hard to describe you will find out within thirty minutes."

She nods and twiddles her thumbs.

"Hilly?"

"Yes?"

"You okay?"

She smiles.

"Of course, I'm getting married today. Dad can you get Nick I want to see him."

"I will get him for you." I say and leave the room.

I see him in the hallway looking bored even though he is two years older than she is. He is happy for her but he wants this to start already.

"Hilly wants to see you." I say.

"Oh boy." he says sarcastically. "I should feel honored to see the bride before the wedding." He says more seriously and goes off to see her.

I see Annie sitting on one of the benches outside.

"Annie?" I say and smile.

"Hi." She says.

"Annie don't cry."

"I'm not crying Finnick." She whispers.

"Hilly said otherwise." I say and sit next to her.

"It was a few tears. She looked so pretty."

"I know but this is what we have been waiting for. For her to leave and start her own life."

"I know but I will miss her not being right down the road." She says because Hilly lives in a small cottage which is right down the street.

"Annie they are staying here. In that house."

"Yes but Zach travels a lot and they will live in Six for some of the year."

"Annie, she will still see us and we can video chat. She had to leave eventually."

"I know but it seems like yesterday she was asking why the sky was blue." Annie says.

"I know." I kiss her forehead. "But we still have Nick and he won't be going anywhere. He likes the water too much. Hilly has always enjoyed travel, so it's no wonder she fell in love with Zach. Besides, he said he knew she was the one as soon as he laid eyes on her. He's good for her."

"I know but I will miss her."

"Annie. I will too." I say and kiss her.

"She seems so young."

"Annie she is older than you were when we got married."

"That's different. A war was going on."

"Annie, you wanted to marry me before that."

She sighs.

"I guess. I will miss her."

"Like Hilly said to me, she isn't dying."

Annie smiles.

"There is that."

"Dad. Mom." Nick says.

We both look at him.

"It's almost time."

We go back to Hilly.

"How do I look?" She asks us.

"So beautiful." Annie says.

Hilly smiles.

"Okay bridesmaids get ready." Someone says.

Annie leaves to sit down next to Nick and it is just Hilly and myself.

"Don't have me fall dad." She says again.

"Why are you wearing heels then?"

I ask.

"Because it makes me look pretty." She smiles. "And it's my day you aren't supposed to be asking questions like this." She smiles.

"Sorry Hilly Odair."

"Dad."

"I just wanted to say it one more time."

She smiles.

"Dad you're getting as sentimental as mom."

"I know but how many times does your only daughter get married?" I smile.

"Hopefully just the once." She smiles.

"Hopefully." I say and kiss her forehead.

"I love you Dad." She says.

"I love you too." I say.

"Okay Hilly whenever you're ready." Someone says.

I take her hand and walk her down the aisle and then sit next to Annie.

We watch as our only daughter gets married and she looks so happy. The happiest I have ever seen her.

Annie leans in and kisses my cheek.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

It doesn't take a second before they kiss.

They walk back down the aisle except this time as husband and wife.

Annie and I stay back until almost everyone has left the wedding area to head to the reception.

"You okay Annie?" I ask.

"Yeah I was just thinking when I married you. How happy I was."

"I was happy too. You looked so beautiful in that green dress."

"You didn't look terrible in that suit either." She smiles.

"Let's go. Hilly will notice we aren't there." I say and take her hand.

We do and sit and watch as they have their first dance and then everyone heads to the dance floor.

"Dad?" I hear Hilly ask as she comes over here.

"Yes?" I say.

"It's time for the whole father daughter dance thing." She smiles. "Then I have to dance with Nick. I know he will step on my feet so you better be gentle." She teases.

"Don't worry I've had plenty of practice doing this."

"I'm sure you have."

I take her hand and she leans into me when we get on the dance floor.

"So how does it feel to be married?" I whisper.

"It feels different for some reason. Why is that?"

"Because you know you will be with that person forever."

"I know" She says and rests her head on my chest. "I love you dad." She whispers.

"I love you too."

"Always." She whispers.

"Always." I say because I would say this to her when she was a child. Annie would too.

"Remember I'm not being taken from you." She says.

"Hilly this is what you need to tell mom."

"I know." She says

"Don't worry Mom will be fine. Don't worry about it now."

She lifts her head from her my chest and looks at her husband.

She smiles.

"Dad." She says.

"Yes?"

"You and Mom will always be in my heart. Even though I have someone else. You will never fade."

I smile and kiss her forehead.

"Once again make sure your mother hears this."

"Don't worry I will. I have a whole speech already memorized."

"Good because she will miss you more I think."

She scoffs.

"What?" I say confused.

"Dad come on."

"Come on what?" I ask.

"You may not have as tight a grasp around me as mom does, but I think you will miss me more." She smiles.

"Why?"

"I just get this feeling."

"Okay." I say and twirl her around.

The song ends and I head back to Annie. Hilly starts to dance with Nick and he does step on her foot. I can tell because of her scrunched up face. She then just starts laughing.

"That's nice." Annie says watching them.

"Yes." I say

"I remember when they hated was other." She sighs.

"Annie that's what brothers and sisters are supposed to do."

"I know. I'm just saying."

I smile.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" She asks.

"Hilly was right you are very sentimental."

"Well this is one of those days."

"When she is older you're going to be sentimental about this."

"Probably." She smiles.

The rest of the night Annie and I watch our daughter be very happy. She seems to be in a daze of happiness. It makes Annie and myself remember how we felt on our wedding day.