Disclaimer: All the genius for the characters goes to Suzanne Collins, and to Pixar for the plotline (Loosely from "Up!")
AN: The song in this chapter is John Legend's All of me. I do not own it. (The lyrics are italicized and keep in mind, that just because a whole chorus is between paragraphs or lines in a conversation, it merely means that is the part playing in the background. It adds certain emotional qualities to what is being said.) I am so thankful for the response to this story! Thank you all so much for reading, favoriting, commenting, and following!
Chapter 10
You couldn't have asked for a better day. The sun was shining, the breeze was cool and gentle, and the temperature was perfect. It was the perfect day for an outdoor wedding.
The ceremony was taking place beside the lake by Katniss' house where they had all palled around growing up. A sign by the entrance to the aisle read, "Today, two families will become one. Please pick a seat, not a side." Beside that was a willow tree with a table set up with Mr. Everdeen's photo and beside it a chalk board that read in Peeta's scrolling font, "Deep in the meadow, under the willow…. This is the place where I love you." Katniss had teared up when she saw it, and hugged Annie and Finnick.
"Don't mention it," Finnck had said with a small smile.
"He was…. Is every bit a part of our family as our actual family members," Annie wiped away Katniss' tears and smiled, tears pooling in her own eyes. "And since it is day time, it's hard for the stars to see, so we made it a little easier for him."
It was finally time for the wedding, and Finnick turned to Peeta, bouncing on his toes, his face wearing a grin that couldn't get any bigger. "I'm getting married today!" He was wrong. It got bigger.
Smiling back, Peeta put a hand on his friend's shoulder to keep him planted on the ground instead of bouncing. "I know! And as your best man, I command you to calm down! You've made it this far, don't scare her now!"
"Ouch. This is marriage. This is the rest of my life. A fight to the death - literally. You try to beat each other so you don't have to be apart."
Peeta patted Finnick's shoulder.
"Too Finnick-y?"
Peeta grinned and nodded, then removed his hand, and chuckled as he looked over to the cabin Mr. Everdeen had built by the lake and saw Katniss lounging on a chaise patio chair in her bridesmaid dress, obviously over all of the pampering, plucking, and whatever else girls did.
A grin coming close to matching Finnick's on his face, as he looked at her, her hair blowing in the wind and that scowl on her face, he said, "I know what you mean Terrifying doesn't even begin to cover it."
Looking back at Finnick, they both burst out laughing.
Reaching into the pocket on the inside of his suit jacket, Finnick pulled out a few sugar cubes. Trying to keep them hidden so as no one else would see, he leaned into Peeta and whispered, "You wanna sugar cube?"
Peeta looked at him in humorous disbelief. "Are you serious? Finnick, it looks like you are trying to slip me drugs," he chuckled.
Haymitch walked up behind Finnick, reached over his shoulder, grabbed a sugar cube, startling Finnick in the process, and said, "Ooo! Sugar cubes! Don't mind if I do!"
He popped it into his mouth as he walked between the two boys, then turned around to look at them.
Peeta was snickering while Finnick was glaring.
"What?" Haymitch asked. "I am presiding over your marriage, so I get a damn sugar cube if I want, Merman." Finnick kept glaring. "Don't look at me in that tone of voice, Odair. It's not becoming."
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Peeta was the best man, and Katniss, the maid of honor, so they walked down the aisle together first.
On their way down to the alter, Katniss mumbled, "I don't want people looking at me."
Peeta chuckled slightly and said, "You have no idea the effect you can have."
Katniss lightly scoffed. "Pah-lease."
Right before they parted to stand on their respective sides, Peeta said softly, "By the way, you look beautiful today. Then again, you always do."
The blush on her face was thank you enough as they parted to each side.
Next was Gale and Johanna.
"I hate dresses," she mumbled under her breath.
Gale chuckled, "But they don't hate you."
She leaned into him slightly, causing him to trip to the side a little ways. He just smiled bigger.
"What I mean, is," she continued, "they have all the wrong drafts in all the wrong places."
As if on cue, a gust of wind came and made her dress fly up slightly.
"I hate nature," she mumbled as they parted.
The rest of the bridesmaids and groomsmen made their way down the aisle, and it was now time for the bride.
As Annie stood at the end of the aisle, the sun behind her, Finnick couldn't help but think it made her look like an angel coming toward him. He blinked a few times to make sure this was real, then shielded his face from the sun to see more than just a glowing silhouette approach him.
He held his breath. He forgot how to breathe. He forgot how to think. All he knew was walking towards him, and it was beautiful.
As she finally got to him, Finnick smiled and it never left his face for the rest of the evening.
Finally getting to the vows, Annie went first and said something utterly beautiful, but to be honest, he didn't hear one thing she said. He was lost in her eyes, deafened by her lips, and dumbfounded by her touch on his hands, which she held.
Haymitch was snapping in front of his face and saying, "Odair. It's your turn." The guests chuckled, and Finnick blushed realizing he'd been caught. Taking a deep breath and looking into those eyes, trying not to get lost, he said his vows.
"My love, you have my heart. And when I die, my last thought will be of your lips. I know you've heard that all before, but it is still true.
Katniss asked me once if I had loved you right away. And I said, 'No, she crept up on me.' And you continue to everyday.
I know we are both broken, and it takes ten times as long to put yourself back together as it does to fall apart. But with you by my side, the time flies by.
May you never steal, lie, or cheat, but if you must steal, then steal away my sorrows, and if you must lie, lie with me all the nights of my life, and if you must cheat, then please cheat death because I couldn't live a day without you."
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The reception happened just feet away from where the ceremony had taken place.
It was time for Peeta to make a toast. Tapping his glass and cleaning his throat, he waited for all eyes to come to him.
"Hi. As you know I am the best man. And I don't just mean here at the wedding." Several people chuckled, he thought he even heard Katniss hiding a snort. "Nah, I'm just kidding. "
Gale shouted, "No you're not!" Causing laughter to ripple through the crowd.
"You're right," Peeta admitted, causing the laughter to increase. "And I must say, it is nice to actually eat the food I cook, instead of just catering and watching everybody else pig out. Now I know why they come back for fourths." Everyone was laughing now.
"But we are here today to celebrate two people, my best friends ever since I can remember. My partner in crime and his beautiful shadow have turned into my partner in crime and our mastermind. I heard a quote once that just seemed so fitting."
Although it was addressed to Finnick and Annie, his gaze drifted to meet Katniss' part way through, and he never faltered from her gaze.
"Sometimes you meet someone, and it's so clear that the two of you, on some level belong together. As lovers, or as friends, or as family, or as something entirely different. You just work, whether you understand one another or you're in love or you're partners in crime. You meet these people throughout your life, out of nowhere, under the strangest circumstances, and they help you feel alive. I don't know if that makes me believe in coincidence, or fate, or sheer blind luck, but it definitely makes me believe in something."
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Several dances in, as the sun was setting, Peeta asked Katniss, "Hey, you wanna take a break from this?"
"What do you suggest?"
"Let's go to the meadow and sit on the picnic table and watch the sunset."
"Please!" Katniss exclaimed in relief. "But I'm taking these chocolates!" and grabbed two off the table. They were some special kind that had a love quote inside the wrapper.
She pulled off her heels and carried them as she walked barefoot through the grass the short trek to the meadow. You could still faintly hear the music from the reception and John Legend's All of Me was playing.
What would I do without your smart mouth?
Drawing me in, and you kicking me out
You've got my head spinning, no kidding, I can't pin you down
What's going on in that beautiful mind
I'm on your magical mystery ride
And I'm so dizzy, don't know what hit me, but I'll be alright
They both sat on the edge of the picnic table, their feet dangling just inches from the ground, but they swung them as if they were kids.
My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind
Katniss pointed to the sky and said, "Look! Your favorite color."
Peeta smiled as he remembered the first time she said that to him, the first time he went to her tree house.
He pointed to her dress, which was a deep, hunter green satin and said, "Look! Your favorite color."
"Yup. Cinna sure knows me well!"
All your curves and all your edges.
All your perfect imperfections.
"What do you say we eat those chocolates?"
"Who says you get one? Go get your own!"
Peeta looked entirely shocked and sad so she quickly continued, "Peeta, I'm just kidding," and placed a hand on his knee.
"Good. Because I was gonna take it anyway," and he grabbed one out of her hand.
After they had both unwrapped their chocolates and eaten them, they pulled out the little pieces of paper in the wrapper with the quote.
"What does yours say?" Peeta asked.
"'My love, kiss me now in these meadows full of birdsong.'"
"How dramatic."
"And what about yours?"
"'Surprise and amazement are the characteristics of beauty.'"
"Wrong. I am the embodiment of beauty and I hate surprises. And what I hate, I scowl at, and I'm told my scowl is not very pretty."
"Well, let's test that theory."
"What?"
Peeta stood in front of her. He held out his hand. "Can I have this dance?"
She smiled and took his hand, leaning her head on his shoulder and nuzzling his neck as then gently swayed.
How many times do I have to tell you
Even when you're crying you're beautiful too
The world is beating you down, I'm around through every mood
You're my downfall, you're my muse
My worst distraction, my rhythm and blues
I can't stop singing, it's ringing, in my head for you
My head's under water
But I'm breathing fine
You're crazy and I'm out of my mind
Peeta turned his head to whisper in her ear, "My love, you never cease to amaze me, and you are full of surprises. I find you more and more beautiful each day."
He talked over the chorus of the song.
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh
He got down on one knee. "So, will you kiss me now in these meadows full of birdsong, and accept this ring and be my wife?" He pulled a ring box out of his jacket pocket and opened it to reveal a silver ring with black pearl as the center stone, surrounded by tiny diamonds.
Give me all of you
Cards on the table, we're both showing hearts
Risking it all, though it's hard
Katniss just scowled at him, in confusion and said nothing.
"You're wrong. That scowl is beautiful."
She play slapped his arm and smiled. "Yes." And slapped him again. "And stop being so... Finnick-y."
'Cause all of me
Loves all of you
Love your curves and all your edges
All your perfect imperfections
Give your all to me
I'll give my all to you
You're my end and my beginning
Even when I lose I'm winning
'Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you
Putting the ring on her finger as the sun finally went under the horizon, he asked her the same question he had asked her at this very table three years ago.
"Katniss, will you run with me?"
Her smile was the biggest he'd seen in years. "Always."
"Cross your heart?"
"I do." She drew an x over her heart. "Because I need you."
"Real or not real?"
They both smiled.
"Real."
I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh
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After the stars were out, they headed back to the reception.
"You know I sat at that table last night an talked with your dad?"
Katniss looked at Peeta in confusion.
He just smiled and shoved his hands into his pants pockets. "Yeah. I went there and laid down on the table like we did the night I told you about my mom, and just talked. I asked if he was okay, and what it was like to be a star, or live in the stars, I wasn't sure which. One star twinkled, so I took that as an 'Okay'."
Katniss had a grin growing on her face as she stared at her fiancé.
"I told him how much you miss him, how much we all do. And I asked him if I had his blessing to marry you. Well, to ask you. There's no way anyone could ever force you to do something you didn't want."
Although she was smiling, a silent tear trickled down her cheek. "And what did he say?" she whispered.
Peeta turned to her with a smile. "You'll never believe me."
She laughed. "You are telling me about a conversation with my dead father through the stars and I believe you. Try me."
Peeta grinned. "Well, right after I asked, I saw a shooting star and then that star that had twinkled at first twinkled again. So I said, 'Thank you', and just laid there for a while. I think he was happy."
"Why?"
"Just a feeling. The stars only twinkled brighter than they did last night tonight while we were in the meadow."
Katniss smiled and grabbed his hand.
"Lovebirds!" Johanna called and walked over to them. She wore her usual smirk, but had a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Congratulations!" she whispered and pointed to the ring on Katniss' finger.
"How did you know?"
"Oh, don't mention it, Brainless. You're welcome," Johanna said sarcastically.
"Thank you. How did you know?"
Rolling her eyes, Johanna handed her a photo, and Katniss took it, looking at her friend curiously. When she looked down to the photo, she gasped. She felt Peeta put his arms around her waist from behind and rest his chin on her shoulder. He gave a little squeeze when he saw the photo.
It was of Peeta's proposal. She must have snuck up and caught it.
She turned her head to Peeta, their faces inches apart, "Did you have anything to do with this?"
He acted with mock surprise and said, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Then winked at Johanna. He gave Katniss a quick peck on the lips, and Katniss rolled her eyes and looked back to the photo.
She was smiling, as Peeta slipped on the ring, and he was beaming.
Johanna handed her another photo.
This one was of them dancing in the meadow, the sunset behind them.
Johanna handed her two more.
One was of them sitting on the table from behind, Katniss' head leaning on Peeta's shoulder, pointing to the sky.
The next they were slightly pulled apart, and he was pointing to her dress.
Just like their first page in the book. "Look! Your favorite color."
Gale walked up and took Johanna's hand in his. "Catnip, I never thought you would get a ring. You're too scary."
"Shut up, Grumpy Godzilla."
"Ooooo, a combo of my nicknames. Did I make the little Kitty angry?"
After a moment of tense silence they all burst out laughing and Gale gave her a hug and congratulated her.
Finnick and Annie walked up to them and leaned into the group and whispered in unison, "Is the eagle bald?" They all grinned, nodded, and went to their respective spots.
Finnick grabbed a mic and said, "Thank you, everyone, for coming, and I just want to say goodbye. This has been a wonderful evening, and we are going to end it with a little routine that started this whole thing. Hit it!"
Gale's little brother, Rory, was the DJ, and he nodded and put on Burn. With the intro Finnick leaned into Katniss and said, "2319! We've got a 2319!" and pointed to her engagement ring. She grinned as he grabbed her ring-clad hand and squeezed it.
They did the whole routine the same as at the proposal months ago, albeit the proposal. But this time, when they got to the bridge, which repeated the same thing four times:
We can light it up up up
So they can put it out out out
Gale and Johanna spun on the first one, and their clothes smoked and looked like a bed of burning coals.
Peeta and Katniss spun on the next repetition, Peeta lifting her in the air, becoming one pillar of smoke until he set her down and their clothes resembled a bed of coals as well.
The audience was oooing and ahhing.
Finnick and Annie were the last to spin, using the last two repetitions. Finnick spinning with a flourish, and then holding his hand out to Annie, and she spun, Finnick holding her hand above her head. Her wedding dress seemed to catch fire and she disappeared in a cloud of smoke, shortly reappearing in a beautiful blue satin cocktail dress that went to her ankles in the back and to her knees in front, fading from dark blue on the bottom to light blue on the top. She resembled an ocean wave as they finished the routine.
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After thanking Cinna again for her wonderful dress, he gave Annie a hug and said, "Don't mention it, my Little Mermaid. Thank you for having the flash mob idea in the first place."
They left to everyone throwing rice, and got into the back of a car, the driver taking them to the airport to go on their honeymoon. "Somewhere tropical," was all Finnick would say.
Annie looked at Finnick and said, "I hope you know I was serious about what I said in my vows."
"What? Oh yeah. Your vows. I uh, I wasn't listening."
"Finnick!"
"I'm sorry, I just got lost in the moment!"
She huffed and crossed her arms, slouching down in the seat.
Finnick winced as he reached into his inside coat pocket and pulled out a sugar cube. With a nervous grin he said,
"Wanna sugar cube?"
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A/N: Ta-da! Okay. We are getting to the island and more Up-y part of the story. If you have any ideas or suggestions for this story, please PM me, or leave a comment/review! (Comment/review/follow anyway. You know you want to. :P)
Also, you can find me on tumblr: Konzelwoman
In the hopes that you have read this far, thank you. May the odds be ever in your favor, the force always be with you, and may you live long and prosper.
And once again, Disclaimer: All the genius for the characters goes to Suzanne Collins, and to Pixar for the plotline (Loosely from "Up!")