Chapter 17: One Kiss to Rule Them All
As soon as Peeta is pulled from the arena, I am barred from seeing him. This, of course, enrages me, but Dean reminds me that it is probably because the Capitol wants to stage the most romantic reunion ever.
And romantic it is, at Peeta's final interview with Caesar Flickerman. As soon as Peeta steps out, so handsome in his tuxedo, I am allowed to "rush" the stage. It isn't really a rush. I just emerge from the audience and approach my husband. Beaming, he holds out his hand to me. Smiling shyly, I take it. Tentatively, I lean in, refraining for just a moment, wondering if this is real. Peeta clears this up for me, as we finally close the gap between us and share a long and deep kiss. I close my eyes in absolute pleasure, splaying my arms across his back, and the studio erupts into wild cheers and applause.
This is the kiss to beat all others, a kiss that almost is confirming to all of Panem that we are, indeed, married. Peeta is my husband. I am his wife. Anything else is unthinkable.
After Peeta is crowned the Victor, he and Dean and I return home to District 12. But we have barely reached there before Head Gamemaker Plutarch Heavensbee arrives and spirits us all underground.
Apparently, President Snow was enraged to learn of Peeta's and my marriage and even more so when Peeta won. The President want to break me with losing my true love, once and for all.
And now, his failure to do this has sparked an uprising.
Once the three of us are taken to the once-thought-destroyed District 13, we help to lead the Third Rebellion. This time, the insurgency is successful, storming the Capitol and deposing President Snow. Commander Paylor, leading General of the Rebels, is sworn in as Panem's new President; her first act in office is to permanently abolish the Hunger Games.
After 100 years, we are finally free.
