Previously in The Road Most Traveled: Ingrid Kolster falls in love with Jacob Everdeen, but eventually turns him down, not wanting to move to the bad part of town with him or disappoint her family by doing so.

A/N

Posted the last chapter more than three months ago. Sorry about that!

I did revise and expand Chapter 1. For instance, I added a lot about Ingrid's rebelliousness.

"Jacob, we aren't simply not engaged – it's over. I'm sorry."

"I understand, though I think we'll both still have fond memories of each other."

"I think so."

"You're still an angel." We shared one last embrace before we went our separate ways, literally and figuratively.

I flung my bag of herbs on the counter. Father was the only one nearby, and he said, "Jacob again? I should have known."

"Yes, but this is the last time."

"What brought you to your senses?"

"He asked me to marry him…"

"What?!"

"…and I brought myself to say no. I saw his house, met his family. However much they love each other, however much we love each other, I can't see myself making such a drastic change."

"I knew you'd figure that out. Your mother will probably want to throw a party to help you get over the breakup." So even he thought Mother's attitude was a bit ridiculous. "Think about it this way. He must have set a high standard for you. Keep that in mind with the Town guys. Also, don't feel bad for him – if he can tempt you, he'd seem even better for a Seam woman, relatively speaking."

"I guess so. I think we'll both make good use of the second chance."

Some guys knew about the breakup and were acting like vultures. As a pretty young woman, I was used to that kind of nonsense. As a smart young woman, I knew to brush it off. Besides, I could use some time to think things over while waiting for the next gentleman.

It turns out I wasn't alone for long. "Why's a gal like you alone?" I turned around and saw Phillip from the bakery. Most guys wanted to be there. Right from the start, he focused on why I needed someone there.

"Just went through a hard breakup."

"Who'd leave you?" The incredulity was sincere, and he had a point.

"I left him – great guy, but someone from the Seam probably wouldn't have worked out for a Town girl like me." He started to get up and give me some distance. "No. Stay here." He did offer a stocky shoulder to cry on. "Seems you're lucky that I made the levelheaded decision instead of the romantic one."

"I think I'll prove to be both," he said with an awfully sweet smile on his face. "I always had my eye on you, but never could work up the nerve to say it until now."

"Apparently."

"And most of the guys who had the nerve to say it don't deserve such a lovely lady."

"You got that right."

Priscilla evidently saw us. When I got home, she was there to tease me. "I hear someone's getting over Jacob already."

"I won't forget him, but yes, Phillip seems very promising."

Mother overheard. "Phil the baker? Much better."

I didn't want to make another mistake, but this started to go better than I could have hoped. It looked like I'd be in for a treat once Phillip let me get to know him. It's hard to compare to Jacob, but it's hard to compare to Phillip too – they have totally different personalities. Jacob is so fiery and brave, Phillip so calm and timid, yet they were both strong, charming and kind.

He wanted me to see him at work. It was clear how much he loved his job. Effortlessly moving sacks of flour around made it clear how and/or why he got so strong – this was pleasantly mild compared to most guys' attempts at showing off. It was sweet both literally and figuratively as he made some treats for us to share. His folks didn't mind us hanging around the shop so much – I think they were pleasantly surprised to see him with a woman, let alone one of my caliber. Besides, though I loved healing, you can't really have so much fun in an apothecary shop.

Over those late spring and early summer months, I started to feel that Phillip was the one, or at least the two. I didn't want to plant the idea in his head, whether with hints or with more direct comments. It would be a challenge to wait for him, but I wanted the guy to figure it out himself.

I still saw Jacob sometimes. He knew about Phillip Mellark, and I knew about Jacqueline O'Neill, but there were no hard feelings – heck, both of us moving on helped prevent hard feelings.

Now it was time for the 55th reaping – I was now too old, but I'd never get past it, thanks to Maysilee's death. As usual, we dressed up for being herded into the town square. As usual, two Seam kids were sent off to die. Jacob remained impassive, so they must be no one he knew.

Phillip and I would meet up back at the bakery. I got there first and was waiting for him when Jacob shows up. "Is Mellark around?"

"No."

"Well, I'm about to propose to Jackie – this is your last chance."

"I'm still afraid it wouldn't work between us. I was afraid no one would be able to measure up to you, but Phillip is working out better than I could have imagined. The two of you are different, but I'm attracted to some of the same great things with both of you. Ms. O'Neill is a very lucky lady."

I finished by joking, "May the odds be ever in your favor." He understood - black humor was one of our few coping methods for the Games here in the outer districts. Well, that and the liquor that Haymitch probably gets from one of Jacob's black market friends.

We were shown some of the other reapings and had to watch. As usual, Two was brutal enough to gladly volunteer for this. However, the boy, a tall handsome blonde, missed a step as he kissed his girlfriend goodbye.

When Phillip got back, I said, "Jacob's marrying someone else, so that solves that problem."

"I could give them a toasting loaf…" He was a generous man, after all. "…shall I make two? Ingrid Kolster, you complete me."

"I'd marry you in a heartbeat. I want more of this feeling."
"Me too. Months later, I still sometimes wonder if I'm dreaming."

Phillip greeted his parents with "Meet your new daughter-in-law."

His mother responded with "Congratulations. You two do make a wonderful couple."

Weddings are simple around here, so it would be easy enough to just go through with it tomorrow. The guys wore some of the nicer clothes they already had; the ladies rented a standard white gown that had been worn many times before. I'd fetch mine tomorrow morning.

Phillip's brother Paul saw us laughing together and was the next to congratulate us, although half-heartedly. "I'm happy for you, Phil, I guess."

"Yeah, I heard things aren't going too well with you and Priscilla," he replied.

"That would be an understatement. I'll love my kids, but not their mother."

This was a pet peeve of mine, so I sarcastically said, "You're the ones that didn't use birth control." I then switched to a helpful tone of voice. "I am a midwife, not just their aunt. Isn't Priscilla due any day now?"

"Heck, any moment now. I came over to announce that, but my fellow Mellarks were quite understandably distracted."

I did my best to assist with the birth while on emotional autopilot – two boys with the baker names Pan and Pumpernickel. I barely noticed that Pan was just before midnight and Pumpernickel just after. I handed in the birth certificates the next morning while at the Justice Building to pick up my wedding dress.

Evidently Jacqueline accepted, I thought as I saw Jacob follow a young woman into the hall. The four of us, though only in our mid-20's, were relatively old for the crowd in the Justice Building that day. Many young lovers got married as soon as they were both free of the Reaping. The August 2nd crowd was a big fancy wedding by District 12 standards.

We often had Hazelle Hawthorne do our laundry, and she had mentioned getting married in this way last year. She was here with her husband Thomas to cheer on this year's batch. Maysilee's sister Melody was here, but without much enthusiasm – she took her twin's death very hard. Even with time, neither me nor her new husband could really help her get over it. I definitely understood what she saw in Mr. Undersee though – a tall handsome blonde, and a smart young man who was by Panem standards going places.

All the married couples present read the vows together, and all the newlyweds answered together. The ritual statements ended with "Will you honor and cherish the ones you've chosen, throughout all the highs and lows this life presents you with?" Even a joyous Phillip was too mild-mannered to shout 'I will', but he said it clear as day and I more than made up for his lack of volume.

It took signing the marriage certificates to make it official. This of course had to be done couple-by-couple. There were plenty of witnesses, but two adults unrelated to the couple needed to officially sign as such. Melody and Mr. Undersee were doing most of this. It so happened that the Everdeens were right ahead of us in line. Jacob and Jacqueline signed and passed their pens to us. I thought it was a wonderful peaceful gesture to choose us as their witnesses. They returned the favor once Phillip and I signed our own certificate. I was now officially Ingrid Mellark, and I couldn't be happier.

Everybody left the Justice Building to go off to their own private celebrations. The two of us would have a house to ourselves in town. We walked there hand in hand, but he lifted me up to go through the doorway. There was a song the wedding party always sang at this point. James Larkin, a friend of Phillip's father, was playing along to it on the fiddle. Everyone here was a much worse singer than Jacob, but the song still sounded incredibly sweet. Phillip put me down inside so we could have our first dance – the two of us and many other couples were boisterously flying across the room. My friend worked at a sweet shop, and I married a baker, so he had relatively hearty refreshments.

Then we went off to our own very private celebration. There was another step before we went to bed together – the toasting. We built a fire together to make toast, and shared the crisped bread. No one in District Twelve really feels married without it. He said, "very special bread for a very special lady. To many, many years together."

"Cheers." Crunch crunch crunch. Crumbs covered the floor near the fireplace. It was a good thing the toasting was before bed.

"I do want children someday, but not yet."

"No worries. I feel the same way, and as the apothecary's daughter, I do know my birth control."

As we undressed for bed, I noticed that he was of wholly average size, yet as a lover he was as tender as he was in all other aspects of his life. As we savored our first time, I wondered what the future held.

A/N

I may expand the dating scenes and the wedding-night sex scene