Today is Finnick and Annie's wedding. Peeta woke me up early, as we are hosting it at our house in the backyard. Finnick, Annie and Johanna are still staying with us, but we made Finnick and Annie sleep in separate bedrooms last night. We told them they were welcome to use any other house in the village, to have privacy, but they refused and told us they wanted to stay and help with the babies.
Johanna has, surprisingly, turned out to be adept at childcare. She helps me with just about everything, and is less than shy about changing diapers or cleaning up vomit. She has been an invaluable friend for the last two weeks.
A good number of people made the trip from 4. Finnick and Annie's families, and around twenty of their friends. The rest of the Victors that we met in the Capitol arrived yesterday, and they're spread out throughout the village. We had a huge rehearsal dinner last night and it was filled with laughter and friendly banter. The twins were the center of attention all night, everybody wanting to hold them and ask questions.
Both of the babies' personalities are starting to show through. Josh is sweet, even tempered, is easy to coax, and can sleep through just about everything. Eve is also very sweet, but she's about as stubborn as a mule (of course Peeta claims she gets that from me), and she is a light sleeper. Both of them, however, light up when either Peeta or I walk in the room. They love to be held by just about anyone, but it's obvious they prefer their parents.
"Kat, are you almost ready?" Peeta asks.
"Yup," I respond. "How should I do my hair?"
"I don't know. You know I love your braid, but you do look gorgeous with it down. Your choice."
"Hmm. I'm going to wear it down," I decide.
I'm wearing my bridesmaid dress, which was designed cooperatively by Cinna, Portia and Finnick and Annie's stylists. It's gorgeous. It's a very light yellow, and is incredibly simple. It's soft and smooth and falls down to my ankles. Peeta is in a standard black tux with a black vest and bow tie.
Once I'm satisfied my hair is done properly, I grab Peeta by the hand to take him to the nursery. We have to dress the twins for the wedding. As we get them ready, I think back to the conversation I had with Annie a couple days ago.
"Annie, during the wedding Prim volunteered to stay with the twins in the nursery," I tell her.
"What? Why?" She asks.
"Well, I figured it would be better in case they start crying or cause a disruption," I explain.
"No." Annie says firmly.
"Huh?"
"I said, no. Finnick and I want them there. Technically, they're actually both a part of the wedding party. Actually, so is Prim. I forgot to tell you I asked her to be a bridesmaid. You are going to hold Eve, and Peeta will hold Josh. That's what we want."
"Hey, you're the bride," I grin, "you get what you want."
Yesterday Finnick and Annie surprised us by giving us the twins' outfits for the wedding. Peeta and I couldn't believe our eyes. They had taken our outfits and miniaturized them. Josh has a little tux that is identical to his daddy's. Eve has a beautiful yellow dress that is identical to mine. They both look so cute.
"Josh is ready," I hear Peeta announce.
"So is Eve," I confirm.
We head downstairs, and the guests are starting to trickle into the backyard. We are pulled out front to take a series of pictures, and the twins actually do a great job throughout.
"Can we have a picture with just me and Finnick and the twins?" Annie begs me.
"Of course," I smile, handing her Eve. Annie looks stunning in her flowing white dress, as does Finnick in his black tux. Peeta hands Josh to Finnick and they take a couple formal pictures and then a couple goofy pictures.
When Annie brings Eve back to me, I quietly tell her something.
"You know, you and Finnick are going to make great parents."
"You really mean that?" She looks at me with wonder.
"Of course," I nod. "You're so great with the babies. They love both of you. I can't wait to be an Aunt to your kids one day."
She hugs me and whispers her thanks.
We head back into the house, and the wedding party lines up. Finnick is already at the altar waiting patiently. Johanna, me, Effie, Prim, and Annie's sister are the bridesmaids. Peeta, Haymitch, Beetee, Finnick's brother Thomson, and his friend Willison are standing for Finnick.
Soon we hear the music cue, and the first couple walks out. Peeta and I are last, right before Annie, as we are the maid of honor and the best man. I look over to Peeta, holding Josh, and he has a beaming smile on his face.
"You have the rings?" I whisper. He nods. "Give me Annie's please." He reaches into his inside pocket of his jacket and hands me Annie's ring.
"Don't lose this, Katniss," he teases. "Lord knows how Annie would react."
I giggle and nod.
"Peeta," I whisper conspiratorially, "when it's almost time to give them the rings, put it in Josh's hand and makes sure he doesn't drop it. I'll do the same with Eve. I think they'd get a kick out of that."
He smiles and nods enthusiastically.
I reach my hand out and he takes it, lacing our fingers together and squeezing gently.
It's time for us to walk down the aisle, and I'm actually a little nervous. We step off the back porch and begin our trek.
The audience, which is turned to face us, all have soft looks on their faces when they realize we're holding our children and what they're wearing.
I hear various "Awws" and "How cute"s, and it makes me smile wider. This is really the first time we've been in a public setting with our new family except for the rehearsal dinner last night, but that was mostly close friends and family who had already met the twins. I'm sure this wedding will be front page news tomorrow, as it is being attended by a number of Victors.
We make it to the altar and Finnick is beaming at us. We take our respective places and Finnick turns around to pat Josh on the head lovingly. He smiles up at Finnick.
Just then, the wedding march starts, and everyone looks to the house with rapt attention. It is silent except for the music.
When Annie steps out, being led by her father, I'm sure she's never been more radiant. She looks at Finnick the whole time she walks down the aisle, and seems to not even notice any of the other people present. When they reach the altar, her father places her hand in Finnick's, then leans in and whispers something to him that causes Finnick to grin.
They turn around, hands firmly held in each other's, and face the minster.
It's about twenty minutes before they get to the actual vows and proclamations. I can see Annie getting more and more excited by the minute. She's about to become Mrs. O'Dair. Technically, she has been for two hours already. They signed their marriage license then, with me and Peeta as witnesses.
"Do you, Finnick O'Dair, take Annie Cresta to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold, through sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
Finnick looks in Annie's eyes, and, unlike himself, responds almost at a whisper, but with confidence.
"I do."
I've never seen Annie smile as huge as she is right now.
"Do you, Annie Cresta, take Finnick O'Dair to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold, through sickness and in health, as long as you both shall live?"
She takes a deep breath, and, beaming, answers.
"I do."
"Are there rings?" The minister asks.
Annie turns to me, and Finnick turns to Peeta. I dart my eyes down to Eve, and Annie sees her clutching the ring. She chokes a little bit with emotion, and I know she appreciates the gesture.
"Thank you so much, Katniss. For everything," she whispers before she turns back around.
They exchange the rings, both of them quietly crying, and are pronounced husband and wife. Finnick of course gives Annie a passionate kiss, and everyone cheers loudly. They walk back down the aisle together, smiling and happy, while everyone throws various flowers up in the air around them.
We have around an hour until the reception, which is in between our house and the house next door. There are tables set up with white linen and fine china, and a dance floor prepared.
The guests mill around, talking and chatting about the wedding. At least fifty people came up to me and Peeta and congratulated us on our babies, and said how moved they were when they had the rings. We thank every single one of them sincerely. Peeta never leaves my side.
The announcement is made to head to the reception, so Peeta and me hand off the twins to my mom. She puts them in their stroller that Beetee made for them and heads back to our house to put them to bed. They were both angels the entire day.
We are introduced as couples, and again, Peeta and I are second to last. Finnick and Annie come out to applause and cheering. They sit at the head table next to Peeta and me.
The time comes for speeches, and I'm nervous. I never liked public speaking, but I know as maid of honor, I have to do this. Peeta, the great husband that he is, senses this and goes first. He stands up and gets everyone's attention with a clink of his glass.
"Finnick and Annie O'Dair are two of the kindest, funniest, loving people I know. The first time I met them, I knew nothing about them, but after five seconds I knew they were fiercely in love. The way they look at each other reminds me of the way my wife and I look at one another. It is the special bond that two soul mates can share. The idea of the soul mate comes from Ancient Greece. They believed that when you were born, you were only half of a person. There was someone out there in the world that would complete you wholly, make you the person you were always destined to be. Not everyone gets the chance to find their soul mate, and I feel everlasting gratitude that I found mine as soon as I did. So, I'd like to make a toast, to Finnick and Annie finding their true soul mate."
Everyone toasts and claps, and I have tears in my eyes. That was so beautiful, so very Peeta. He sits down next to me after giving Annie a kiss on the cheek and Finnick a hug.
"That was beautiful," I whisper to him and quickly kiss him before I stand up.
I get everyone's attention again and then I begin.
"Most of you know that Peeta and I just had twins two weeks ago. Finnick and Annie have been here the entire time, changing diapers and rocking them to sleep, giving us time to actually get some of our own sleep. They are two of the greatest friends a person could ask for. They are loyal and giving. When I am around them, I always find myself smiling and laughing. Annie has become my first true 'girlfriend' and both of them are Peeta and my best friends. Finnick, Annie, I couldn't be happier for you, I love both of you, and I wish you a long life, prosperity, happiness, and a life full of love. And Finnick, hurry up and knock her up so our kids can have someone to play with!"
Everyone laughs at my last statement, toasts, and applauds. I walk the few steps over to the bride and groom. I give Finnick a light kiss on the cheek and he whispers in my ear.
"Thank you for getting my butt in gear and getting me to ask her."
"Anytime," I whisper back.
I turn to Annie and she immediately envelops me in a tight hug.
"Congratulations, Mrs. O'Dair," I whisper.
"Thank you," she says emotionally, and we both know she's not just talking about this.
Various other speeches are made, all of them very nice, and then finally it's Finnick's turn. He stands up and takes a deep breath.
"Annie, you are the love of my life. When I was forced to mentor you in the Games, I was sure I wasn't going to live through it. Having to watch you in the Arena will always be the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. You persevered and came back to me, and I will forever be grateful to you. You make me a better man, and you have taught me how to love. Thank you, Mrs. O'Dair, for marrying me, and for making me the happiest guy in the world. I also want to quickly thank our hosts, Katniss and Peeta Mellark, for opening their home to us and helping us tremendously this past month. Truthfully, if it weren't for them, I'd still be trying to think of a way to propose to Annie. We were having dinner with them last month, and Katniss asked us why we weren't married. She told us how she and Peeta got together, and how they were married, and I knew I had to ask her. I didn't want to wait another second to make her my wife. Annie, you are my soul mate, my partner, my best friend, and I will love you forever."
He leans down and gives her a passionate kiss with everyone cheering. Peeta reaches over and gently wipes my tears with his thumb and I smile gratefully at him, giving him a peck on the lips.
We eat, and the food is excellent. Most of the meat was actually shot by me and Peeta this week. Soon, it's time for the cake to be rolled out. Peeta disappears into the house and returns after a few minutes.
It's stunning. It's a five-layered cake, and it's got to be at least eight feet tall. The icing is simple, but so very elegant. It's black and white, which are the colors of the wedding. At the top are two little edible figures that look just like Finnick and Annie.
They cut the cake and surprise everyone by actually gently feeding a piece to each other. Peeta and I thought for sure they'd smear it on each other's faces or something silly.
The reception goes on for hours, and everyone dances, calls for kisses, toasts, and has a great time. I don't let Peeta off the dance floor for a long time. I make him hold me in his arms during slow songs, feeling our two hearts beating as one. I look up into his eyes, and I know I'm exactly where I was destined to be, with my soul mate.
Eventually, around midnight, the party ends. Everyone returns home and to the houses they were staying in. Finnick and Annie hop on a private, rented train to head to their honeymoon in 4 at some beautiful, private beach. They offered to bring us along, but we refused, telling them it was something they needed to do themselves.
Peeta and I return home, exhausted. We quietly tiptoe into the nursery and kiss our children, tucking them in as both of them had thrown their blankets off. While Peeta heads to the bedroom to get changed, I head downstairs to thank my mom and tell her she can head home.
I go back to the bedroom change, and we brush our teeth.
"Peeta, sit on the edge of the bed," I tell him as I get the washcloth from the shower.
"It's okay, Kat, it's been a long day."
"Peeta," I warn, "I made you dance for a long time tonight. I know it's got to be sore. Please, let me help you. Besides, I haven't missed a night yet, and I don't plan on it. Let's go, Mr. Mellark."
He smiles and moves to the edge of the bed. I remove his prosthetic, clean and massage his stump, and give it a kiss.
"Thanks, Kat. It feel a lot better," he quietly tells me after I'm finished.
"No problem, honey," I assure him.
We crawl into bed and he opens his arms. I fall into them and put my head on his chest as he wraps his arms around me. I'd missed sleeping like this when my belly got too big to do it. I'd gotten used to spooning, which we still do, but there's nothing like going to sleep listening to the beating of his heart under my ear.
"Katniss, do you ever wish we had a wedding like that?" He whispers.
"Sometimes," I honestly tell him. "But I'd never trade our wedding and toasting for anything. I knew, that day, that I wanted to go to bed that night as your wife. There was nothing more that I wanted than to marry you. I honestly don't think I could wait another day."
"Really?" He quietly asks. I nod against his chest. "I love you, Mrs. Mellark. Always."
"I love you, Mr. Mellark, forever."
We're quiet for a few minutes, but I can tell that he's still awake.
"Peeta?"
"Hmm?"
"Will you, um, uh, make love to me?" I shyly ask.
"I've never wanted to do anything more in my life," he whispers as he soundly kisses me.
It's going to be a good night.
A/N: Wahoo! Finnick and Annie got married! I know this a shorter chapter than usual, but I wanted to devote the whole chapter to the wedding. I hope I did it justice. I tried to make it traditional and I tried to make the speeches great.
I'm sorry I didn't post a chapter this morning. I've spent the majority of the day on the phone with my internet provider, and my internet keeps crapping out. I probably won't have time tonight to write another chapter, so I'm giving you guys fair warning to not expect the next chapter until tomorrow.
Thank you for the reviews!
Keep reviewing and reading! Happy Saturday!
