I am SO sorry for the wait on this chapter! I feel awful, saying I'd post soon, blahblahblah. The thing is, my laptop was taken away so the only time I have to type and publish is when I get online on the internet. And by "taken away" I meant gone. Never to be seen again. Anyways, you guys impressed me beyond belief giving me SO MANY REVIEWS! Amazing. A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. So enjoy this chapter, and the wedding should be updated as soon as possible! Love you all,

Soggy

P.S: This chapter is dedicated to my SAVIOUR, Hannah. So fanfic popsicles to you (iloveyousomuch). Just to let everyone else know, she pretty much saved my life. Not explaining anything though.

oOo

I woke up to a little girl jumping on my bed and screaming.

"CAN-ISS-CAN-ISS!" Ivy shrieked, her words getting jostled every time she bounced. "WAKE-UP!"

Burying my head under my pillow, I swatted at here.

She screamed and stopped bouncing, only to throw herself onto my stomach. "BREAKFAST-TIME, CANISS!"

All the air whooshed out of my lungs when she landed, making me groan and cough. "Ivy…I'm still tired."

The little girl began smacking my cheeks. "But we gonna try on our dresses today! And eat foooood!"

Blowing an annoyed raspberry, I swung the covers off. "Ok, ok. I'm getting up."

Ivy let out a triumphant laugh, and then hopped off my bed to go over to the closet on the other side of my room. "What will you wear today… Hm…" She began rummaging around on the racks and shelves.

"Ivy…" I said exasperatedly, standing up stiffly. The white nightdress I was wearing unfolded from a night of tossing and turning.

A few items were tossed behind Ivy as she excavated, eventually bringing her to a small armful of clothes. She skipped over to my bed and dumped them out.

"This," Ivy handed me a long-sleeved white T-shirt. "This," A denim vest. "This," A black pleated skirt. "And…" She went back over to the wardrobe and began rummaging around in one of the drawers. "THIS!" She handed me a tangled fistful of white ribbon.

Nearly speechless with amusement, I looked over the outfit the four-year-old had chosen for me. "Ivy, these clothes are a bit…too dress-up for me."

Ivy blinked and nodded.

"I don't really dress up."

She rolled her eyes. "Caniss. Momma says dress-up is for special days." Taking the stuff once again in her hands, she thrust it into mine. "Dress-up."

I felt like snorting at the seriousness on the little girl's face. Putting the skirt back, I pulled out a normal pair of trousers. "Compromise."

Ivy looked pleased.

Five minutes later I was dressed and braiding my hair in front of the mirror next to the wardrobe. When I was nearly done, Ivy skipped over and tapped on my shoulder. I looked down and she handed me the bundle of ribbon.

Ribbon…In my hair…

Ivy gave me the sweetest, most adorable little dimpled grin. I crumbled in.

"Fine, fine…" I finished up the braid and tied a length of the ribbon at the end. "Happy now?"

She hopped up and down, still grinning. "Soooo pretty, Caniss!"

A small idea popped up in my head and I knelt next to Ivy, gently gathering her flaming red hair into a thin ponytail. I tied another bit of white ribbon around it. Wisps of ginger hair escaped, but most of it stayed within the loop of string. Ivy beamed at me.

"What are you girls doing in here?" Into the room came Peeta, following a brisk knock on the door. He leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms, an eyebrow arching in amusement and fondness at the two of us.

Ivy pranced over to him jovially and pointed to the ribbon in her hair. "Dress-up!"

Peeta's gaze flicked up to me, and I could see the amused sparkle in his eyes. "Silly girls playing dress-up when breakfast is ready." He shooed Ivy out. "Come on, kiddo. Go downstairs, your mother is waiting."

As I followed, I felt one of his hands touch my waist.

"You look nice today."

I smiled slightly. "Thanks. It was Ivy's doing. Originally she wanted me in a skirt." I made me point by laughing. "This is as dressy as anyone'll get me, I'm sorry."

He just squeezed me lightly to his side and kissed me on the cheek. "It looks amazing."

We parted just in time for Finnick to come tromping across the living room right in front of the stairs. He was holding Ivy by the ankles, and she was letting out muffled yells of either delight or terror, I wasn't sure.

As Finnick passed, Peeta reached out and snatched the little girl from his grip. "Stop harassing the children, Finnick."

Ivy giggled, thanked Peeta and hopped off to the kitchen, where we could hear voices.

"But I like harassing them!" Finnick insisted, rolling his eyes derisively. "Speaking of which, you weren't supposed to go up there."

Peeta shrugged, putting his arm around my shoulders. "Ivy was taking a while and I wanted to see what's up."

The other boy raised an eyebrow. "Save it for tomorrow, lover boy."

That nickname still stuck? I couldn't help but snort. "He's right, Peeta." Shaking my head, I ducked out of his arms and in front, going to the kitchen as well. But not before giving Peeta a look. "Save it for tomorrow, when creeps like that won't be watching everything we do."

All three of us shuffled into the kitchen, but I heard Finnick snort. "Thank god…"

Breakfast that morning turned out to be huge. Lots of scrambled eggs with ham and then bacon and pancakes and orange juice and strawberries. Haymitch (who was there as well), Finnick and Peeta wolfed down more than I could have imagined, but dismissed that as a guy thing. Us girls—Caroline, Ivy, Mother, Annie, and Prim—were eating slower, taking time to talk to one another (and swapping sexist jokes through spraying bits of eggs everywhere did not count) and laugh. Peeta stuck by my side, and didn't feel it odd at all to have one arm around my waist the entire time. Of course, that gave Finnick and Haymitch even more to snigger about, but Peeta never even hesitated shooting back a retort that shut them up for another minute at best.

"Caniss, Momma says we're trying on the dresses again today!" Ivy said when there was a somewhat quiet lull in the talking.

When I looked at her, Caroline explained. "I thought it best to make sure everything fit before tomorrow. And to appease the beast." She gave her daughter a poke in the belly, smiling so where her eyes crinkled up.

I agreed. "That's a good idea. What else do we have planned for today?

Mother thought best that she answered that, so she folded her fingers under her chin. "Well… After we do the 'fitting', I thought we should go into town for lunch to run over last-minute plans and finalize everything." Her eyes flicked from Peeta and me. "And then you two can go off and do what you please while the rest of us are out buying supplies and getting ready."

Finnick and Haymitch bent their heads to snigger.

"Save that for tomorrow," Finnick chortled down at his empty plate. "The last thing we need is to walk in on something we really don't want to see."

Haymitch pounded the table with his fist, wheezing with laughter.

My cheeks burned violently and I saw Peeta's burning, too. In fact, everyone except Haymitch and Finnick were blushing, but Prim was obviously trying to conceal a small smile (through a red face, too).

There was a period of silence, but finally, Peeta snorted and took a drink of juice.

"Watch yourself, Odair. You just might be exempt from the wedding tomorrow." He said, eyebrows furrowing and leaning a little closer to me protectively.

Finnick rolled his eyes, but stayed quiet after that. As much as he'd probably hate to admit it, he wants to be there. As did Haymitch, but I was slightly worried about what'll happen tomorrow when there's alcohol in the house for our older guests.

"I don't know about you guys but I'm getting a little claustrophobic in here," I said, wiggling out of Peeta's arm and standing up. I gave the boys—minus Peeta—a glare. "You two are making my stomach hurt."

After getting the rest of the girls to agree with me (Finnick and Haymitch coughed and exchanged amused glances), we put the dishes in the sink and filed out of the kitchen. Annie, who had Jace making in her arms, was holding a light conversation with Caroline. Ivy insisted on being given a piggyback around the room by Prim for a moment while Mother went to get things ready in the other rooms.

"I'm getting more nervous by the second, all this talking about tomorrow." Peeta said quietly, sitting down with me on the couch. Again, his arm was thrown over my shoulders. He gave me a pointed look sideways. "Are you sure I can't see the dress?"

"Positive." I folded my legs under me and tucked my arms across my chest nonchalantly. "You'll get to see it tomorrow, no need to be so impatient."

I felt Peeta flick my head. "I can be impatient if I want. If you won't show me your dress, I won't show you the suit I got yesterday."

Part of my head deflated, and I dropped my eyebrows in an unamused look at him. "…Fine, then. You don't have to show me. Is it anything like the one we wore at the interviews before the Quell?" That last question was honestly curious, making my stubborn gaze falter a bit.

He made a noise that sounded a lot like 'ppsssssshhh'. "Nah. A bit more normal." Peeta paused. "Why am I telling you this?"

A smug grin twitched across my lips, but I didn't answer.

Prim had stopped giving Ivy a piggyback ride, so the little girl looked for attention from Peeta and I.

She came skipping over and crawled onto Peeta's lap, wrapping her tiny arms around his neck. "I love you, Peeta."

Sighing in what seemed like an annoyed fondness, Peeta removed his arm from my shoulders to put it around the little attention-seeking girl. "I love you, too, Ivy. Are you excited?"

"Yes, yes, YES." She clapped her hands over her cheeks, contorting a pair of far toddler lips. "The wedding! And pretty dresses!"

Unable to help myself, I tried to hide a smile and said, "You know, Ivy, Peeta's wearing a dress, too."

The look on Ivy's face was purely confusion. "He is?"

"Oh yes. It's pink and has frills all over it."

The little girl looked at Peeta to see if this absurd fact was true.

Peeta nodded solemnly. "I bet my dress is better than Katniss'."

After pausing a few seconds, Ivy let out a laugh. "Noooo, silly. Boys don't wear dresses. And Caniss looks prettier than you."

"I know that." Peeta put his arm back around me and gave me a brief kiss.

"EEEWWWWWWW," Ivy scrambled back out of his lap and ran across the room, tattle-telling on us to Primrose.

Though my cheeks felt warm again from the kiss, I managed to roll my eyes and act casual. "Four-year-olds…"

He agreed with me.

Another little bit of lounging around the house was allowed before Mother approached us. "Katniss, the girls are busy working themselves into their dresses in the master bedroom and bath. We'd better get you in there, too, to check one last time." She turned to Peeta. "If you feel it necessary, there are other rooms for you too, or you can wait out here."

He shrugged, declining. "I think I'm good waiting here, thank you."

Mother nodded, and then turned back around for the master bedroom, expecting me to follow.

"It won't be long," I assured Peeta, patting his shoulder. "I'll be out as soon as I can."

As I stood up and glanced back at the living room, the boys left were blinking after me. Finnick, who was holding Jace (who was busy eating his fist), still looked highly amused, but just shook his head slightly at me for some reason I didn't know. Haymitch had his eyes glazed over and slit (perhaps in deep thought, but it seemed odd). Peeta was just looking at me with an admiring gaze, eyes twinkling as usual. My boys. I sighed noiselessly in content.

Peeta's POV

I watched as she smiled shyly at me and then turned around to follow her mother into the master bedroom around the hallway corner.

Silence for a long time. Finnick was humming to Jace, talking in a low voice about the silly girls and their dresses. It was funny listening to him, but not quite as entertaining as his innuendos. Of course, they embarrassed me (and I didn't like the sick look on Katniss' face either), but someone deep inside, I was laughing along with them. It felt nice not to have such a large amount of girl hormones around me, but it seemed as though the only men in my life (just Finnick, Haymitch and Benj) seemed to be set on pushing my buttons until the day I die. I haven't murdered Benjamin yet, which was a good thing, but he didn't seem to get the cause-and-effect of "flirt with Katniss, get strangled to death by Peeta".

Over to my left, Jace had started fussing around, crying and waving his fists all over the place.

"What's the matter…?" Finnick mumbled, making a confused face as he held his son out at arm's length. "Diaper change?" Looking a little nervous, he sniffed Jace's diaper and shrugged. "You don't smell bad…"

"Probably hungry." I said casually, picking a bit of ham from between my teeth. "Annie's back there with the rest of the girls."

Finnick made an odd face. "I don't want to walk in on them."

"There's a bathroom that they're changing in. It's not like you're go in and encounter a whole bunch of minors not wearing clothes."

He snorted. "You're a pain in the ass, Mellark."

I ignored him again, but Finnick decided I was right. Snorting again in defeat, he stood up, trying to keep a grip on Jace, and shuffled back around the corner and down the hall.

Another pause, which was a lot more long and silent now that those two were out. Haymitch just sort of sat there, looking a little bad-tempered.

"So how's being abstemious feel so far, Haymitch?" Attempting to make conversation just earned me a glare.

"It feels like one continuous hangover," Haymitch said gruffly, scowling off in the distance. "Except less of a headache and more violent thoughts."

"Oh."

An awkward pause followed.

"And you're planning to walk Katniss down the aisle like that?" I couldn't help but feel really protective and a little worried that he'd flip out while walking and stab our wedding guests or something.

Haymitch waved his hand at me and shrank a little down in his armchair. "I'm fine, boy. Don't seem so worried I'd hurt her or something."

He knew me well. But I didn't respond to that, mostly because Finnick came back at that time, no longer holding Jace. His eyebrows were arched a tiny bit.

"What?" That look made me curious. "Were they not dressed after all?"

Finnick sat down, the odd look still pasted in place. "No, no they were dressed."

"Oh…" I paused uncomfortably. "So were the bridesmaid dresses nice?"

"They weren't in their bridesmaid dresses."

"…Well, were they just sitting around? I don't understand." I really didn't, and was beginning to frown at his vagueness.

Finnick kept his eyebrows raised, but sucked in his lips briefly. "No, they weren't sitting around either."

I was about ready to strangle him. "What, then?"

There was a long pause and I even saw Haymitch glance over with a confused face on, looking as impatient as I felt.

Finally, Finnick rubbed his hand along his jaw and turned to look at me with an impressed expression. "Just wait 'till you see the dress, lover boy."

It was my eyebrows that shot up this time. "Katniss' dress? You saw Katniss in her dress?"

He nodded slowly. "Yeah. It was…definitely something."

"Why do you get to see the dress and not me?" I grumbled, now twitching with impatience. But maybe…perhaps… "What did it look like, the dress?"

It didn't work. Finnick turned his amused, superior look on me and pretended to think. "…White."

"Nice try, Peeta." Haymitch chuckled. "It's bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding."

"Everyone keeps telling me that." I said exasperatedly. "It's starting to drive me insane."

Finnick shrugged and rolled his eyes, expression now permanently changed from awe to supercilious. "It's a nice dress, b—"

"FINNICK ODAIR."

All three of us turned our heads towards the entrance of the hall, and we saw Katniss. She was standing there, hands on hips, scowling her most threatening scowl straight at Finnick. It would have shot lasers from it if this was a cartoon.

"WHAT DID YOU TELL HIM?"

Finnick didn't shrink under her icy gaze. On the contrary, he looked incredibly amused. "Nothing, actually. He was trying to worm it out of me, though."

Katniss' scowl was then passed to me. "I told you, Peeta, be patient. You'll get to see it tomorrow. Finnick wasn't even supposed to walk in on us. I was afraid exactly that would happen, nevertheless getting caught…being naked or something."

Finnick gave me a told-you-so-look.

But thankfully, Katniss only glared for another ten seconds, and then she slinked back around the curve of the hall and disappeared.

"Women," Finnick snorted.

I couldn't help but agree with him.

All was quiet until the girls got back. Katniss had her grumpy face wiped clean, and she came to settle next to me. Though we were silent, no one else was. Ivy chattered nonstop with Prim, and the rest were huddled in a big group discussing what the plans were for today.
"Hey Peeta?" Katniss glanced up at me with an odd look on.
"Hm?"
"I'm sorry I was such a jerk."
Something inside me said she wasn't talking about Finnick seeing the dress. Biting my lip, I looked sideways at her and saw that her head was turned to other direction.
I looked back away. "I'm sorry I was such a jerk, too."
Katniss just nodded.
There wasn't really much time for either of us to say anything else, because just then, Ms. Everdeen stood up.
"We're heading to town for lunch and last-minute preparations." she said. "If anyone has anything they need to do or get before then, speak now."
Annie, who was perched on the arm of the couch, gently put Jace into Finnick's arms. "The diaper bag is still at the other house. I'll be right back."
No one else really had to do anything, so we just tossed on our semi-unnecessary jackets and stretched.
"I think I'm going to pass the little excursion part of all this," Haymitch said gruffly, rubbing his shoulder as if it was sore. "I'm staying."
Katniss paused halfway though buttoning up her denim jacket. "Try not to break anything or eat all our food."
Our old mentor put on a sarcastic grin, bringing on the memory of in the Capitol for the first Games. Bathing Haymitch during one of his drunken stupors. Not the most pleasant memory...
Sighing, I shook my head and reached over to button up Katniss' jacket the rest of the way. She gave me a look, but allowed it. I just might love that look more than her scowling... To Katniss' speculative expression, I gave her a joking wink and turned back just in time for Annie to come back in with a pretty blue shoulder bag stuffed full of Jace's necessities.
"We ready?" she pulled out a knitted sling from the bag and looped it over one shoulder and around the other. Jace, who was busy burbling, was fitted nicely into it.
Primrose skipped up next to her mother, Ivy clambered into Caroline's arms. Finnick slipped his hand around Annie's and we left.
It was a merry trip into town. Lots of laughing and giggling from up ahead to where everyone else was, but I lingered behind with Katniss, as she seemed deep in thought. It was sort of easy being around her when she's like this. Quiet, somewhat casual, too busy thinking to look to far into things or be upset. Not to mention how I can practically feel the need for human presence seeping from her pores like waves. I could take one step away and be yanked right back in. Not that I would step away, of course.
Out of the blue, Katniss huffed a great sigh that sounded almost defeated, and wrapped her fingers around the crook of my elbow.
"You okay?" I accepted her touch courteously, walking closer to her so where our shoulders brushed.
Katniss shrugged. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just...thinking."
I raised an eyebrow.
"...About all of this." With her free hand, Katniss gestured to the group in front of us, to her and I, the entire town. "The fact that we're…getting married in two days. It's just…"

I wanted to finish her trailed-off sentence with 'insane', but I just nodded. "I know what you mean. It kind of feels just like yesterday when I got down on my knees in front of you—in front of the entirety of Panem—and proposed. Seeing you in that beautiful shimmering dress, the screaming crowd, everything. I wanted to be married to you, but not in that way. Not in that way at all. I wanted it to be real. I thought it was just the…beginning of the end." Swallowing at the memory, I couldn't help but stop for a moment and lean my head on hers, breathing in the sweet scent of her hair. "Our 'happily never after'."

Katniss, with her sadly knit eyebrows and a hunch to her shoulders, tightened her grip on my arm. "And yet we made it here. We survived." A tiny smile pulled up the corners of her mouth. "We're survivors, you and I."

I hoped Katniss was okay with it—with me stopping right there in her tracks and kissing her. Katniss' eyebrows arched in surprise, but she went with it gladly. We were both smiling, reluctant to break away and catch up with the others again.

"Hey lovebirds, save that for tomorrow!" Finnick, who had caught us, called out. The rest of them turned to look in curiosity at what he was yelling at.

Just to annoy Finnick, I slid my arms around Katniss' waist, deepening the kiss. Katniss was surprised, but I felt her laugh and I knew that she knew what I was up to and played along, twisting her fingers in my hair. We heard Ivy call out in disgust.

I couldn't take it anymore. My laughter burst from me and I was forced to draw away from Katniss. She was attempting to stifle laughter, too. Not even bothering to look at the others, I still wrapped an arm around her waist and let my hip bump into hers as we regained our footing, following behind the group. Up ahead, a few of my family had their heads bent and were giggling. Talking about us, obviously.

I felt Katniss falter in her steps to reach up and kiss my cheek. My heart immediately swelled to the size of a house. I was so completely…happy with her, and that's putting it mildly. "Happy" doesn't even compare.

When we got into town, I recognized the route to "Greasy Sae's" eatery. All eight of us (not including Jace) filed in and attempted to cram ourselves around the tiny wooden tables.

"Well, well, well." An old lady (well, not that old, but old enough) came out from behind a closed door. Her kind face was creased and her hair was grey and flyaway, but her voice was gruff and maybe an octave lower than the average woman her age. "You're going to drain my kitchens dry, girl!" she accused Katniss jokily, mock-scowling. "More and more you bring in… So what'll it be?"

We all kept it light with some stew, and when Sae finally brought it out to us, instead of leaving, she pulled up a chair and joined us.

"So, I hear our girl on fire is gettin' married." Her words were directed to Katniss, but her eyes were on me. "Figured it was a matter of time. S'pose you didn't bother inviting me, did ya? Thought you'd get away with it?"

Katniss rolled her eyes and swallowed a mouthful of soup. "We've had a lot on our plates. Of course you're invited."

Sae picked at a dirty- chewed fingernail (shouldn't people who work with food have better hygiene?). "So when is it?"

"Sunday."

The thin eyebrows on the old lady shot up, sending numerous wrinkles creasing her olive forehead. "That quick? They said 'soon', but I didn't realize how soon. Sunday, eh?"

And so Katniss began filling Greasy Sae in with our plans we had so far.

"It's at eleven." She said. "Everyone's allowed to come then, but after Mayor Channe leaves, only select people on the guest list are allowed to stay for the reception thing we're holding."

Slowly, Sae began nodding her head. "And who's on the guest list?"

"Well…" Katniss puckered her brows in thought. "All of us here, obviously—Annie, Finnick, Mother, Prim, Caroline, Ivy. Benj and Anna-Mae, from Peeta's bakery. And then there's Haymitch. You. Lucia Bennet—Caroline's grandmother. And… That's all that I can think of right now."

For a second the old cook mulled this over. Then her eyes took on a curious sparkle. "And what about your charming cousin? I haven't heard from him at all since…everything."

Katniss looked completely baffled, as was I. She opened her mouth to express her not understanding, but then shut it immediately. Realization clouded her eyes sadly. "You…haven't heard?"

The worry on Sae's face was obvious, but she said nothing.

"Gale's…uh…" Red rimmed Katniss' beautiful grey eyes and she blinked furiously. Of course Gale. "He's not here. He…got killed. Back in District 13. By spies."

The old ladies' face fell a great amount, and after waiting a split-second, she put a shaking hand over Katniss'. "That's a right shame. He was a fine young man. I'll…I'll miss him."

It was obvious the topic wasn't appreciated, but Katniss took her hand back and swallowed. "His family stayed in Thirteen."

Silence for a long time.

When it was time to leave the restaurant, Sae turned down the money Katniss offered.

"It's on the house." She waved it off. "Good luck with everything."

We all said a solemn goodbye and left. And as we did, I watched Katniss warily. She looked upset. Hopefully, she wouldn't go off crying or scream at me again. Though we both know I wouldn't blame her broken heart. Though the heaviness on her shoulders was obvious, she held her head high.

Unable to help myself, I slipped my fingers in between hers and gave them a reassuring squeeze. "Things will be alright."

A sigh. "I sure hope so." And Katniss dropped her hand to hurry and catch up with the rest of the group.

Recovered quickly from the happenings at lunch, they all had their heads bent once again, but this time they were yammering about plans. Though I couldn't catch all of it, I knew the general idea about what each was talking about. Annie and Prim and Caroline were talking about flowers, Ms. Everdeen and Katniss were talking about something to do with an aisle, and Finnick was hanging back a little, attempting to convince Ivy that she really didn't need a piggyback from him. He lost in the end.

At the town square, conversations died down as we came to a halt in a small circle, somewhat away from the most town activity.

"So here's the plan…" Ms. Everdeen started, rummaging around in her pockets. A pause. "Oh, where did I put that notepad?"

"It's here." Caroline handed it to her.

"Thank you. Anyways, Caroline, Prim, Annie, Finnick, the kids, and I are going to be scattered across town picking up some last-minute items." Katniss' mother's words were directed towards me and Katniss, but her eyes were on the yellow notepad. She looked up. "Annie and Finnick, if you could see to it that everyone on our guest list is informed about Sunday's events."

Finnick put his arm around his wife's shoulders and Annie adjusted Jace's wrap. They both nodded and accepted a sheet of paper, on which Ms. Everdeen had written the names and locations of each person.

"Caroline, you and Ivy are coming with me to pick up the flowers from the florist, and we'll then store them all in Haymitch's basement." She flipped to another page and tore that one out as well. "And Prim, dear, we already ordered the suits and dresses for the rest of us, if you could pick those up from Mr. Webb that'd be excellent."

Prim beamed at her job and took the order slips from her mother.

"And last but not least…" Ms. Everdeen gave a pointed look to her eldest daughter and then to me. "Behave, you two. Everyone keep an eye on the time and meet back here at five."

There were exchanged "goodbye"s, and immediately, the little groups hustled away, chatting on about their errands.

Before long, it was just me and Katniss left from the large group, standing in the town square. People rushed by us—some I knew, some I didn't, though most of them stared at us as they passed. Sadly enough, every single one of my old friends have been ignoring me. I'd pass them sometimes out walking and their eyes would slide right over me as if I was transparent. After the Games it was awkward. And now it was nonexistent.

"So…" Katniss exhaled, looking around with a somewhat bored expression.

Despite her despondent attitude, I tried to be positive. "Well, we've got this time to ourselves. Come on,"

She frowned, but let me take her hand and lead her out of the town square.

Things cheered up a bit after a while, thankfully. Katniss once again contented herself with taking my arm in both of her hands. It was nice when we were like this.

The town was bustling at midday. People were everywhere—in shops, running across the street, hurrying their children along the sidewalks. Kids from the richer part of District 12 zipped past each other on their bicycles, earning lots of yells from upset adults.

We just kind of wandered for a while, not talking often. A few times we were stopped by a passerby asking about the wedding, and Katniss was always the one who answered. After the fourth person confronted us, I decided to cut across some neighboring streets to make a beeline for District 12's only candy shop. We bought some and sat outside, just like old times.

Katniss had let go of my arm and had wrapped hers around her knees. "So, what do you think will happen after this?"

I copied her position and looked at her questioningly.

"After the wedding. What'll happen?"

A small pause.

"…I'm not too sure." I answered truthfully, sucking on a lemon disk of candy thoughtfully. "But hopefully it involves some normality. We'll get nine months to go back to being ourselves—hunting, painting, baking. But don't think I'll let you go out in the woods alone after a few months." My thoughts amused myself, but when I looked over at Katniss, she was frowning.

"Why divide it into months?" She puckered her brows.

"Nine for…" I was beginning to feel foolish, but dismissed that and shrugged. "Well, hopefully after nine months we'll have our hands ful with keeping Peeta Jr. safe."

She actually snorted, loud and wet-sounding, covering her face quickly with a hand. But when she pulled it away, it was obvious she was doing her best not to laugh. "Peeta Jr.? Seriously?"

So she wasn't angry. Good. I grinned as wide as I could at her. "Yes. It will be a boy, and we'll name him Peeta Jr."

She gave me a look as if I was insane, even though I was joking. "No. There can only be one Peeta at a time. No."

"No? I don't know, it sort of has a ring to it…" I laughed when she smacked my arm. "Well, since we're on the topic of kids and names…"

Katniss looked a bit reluctant. "I'm not even pregnant yet, Peeta. I don't want to count my chickens before they hatch."

Unable to help myself, I leaned down close to her ear, still smiling. "I like the name Christophe."

I wasn't sure if her expression was annoying or thoughtful. "…I like Tolliver."

"Tolliver?" Cute…

"But never mind." Katniss scrunched up her nose and looked defiant. "I said I didn't feel like talking about that right now."

I shook my head, still smiling, but said nothing.

We stayed there for another while. The tiny clock inside the sweet shop said it was two in the afternoon, so Katniss and I decided

We should spend the last three hours somewhere else besides the gravel in front of the candy store. I was pleased that she let us hold hands again. And on the way to where neither of us knew, something occurred to me.

"I haven't finished our cake yet…" I furrowed my brows, unsure whether or not I should be worried.

She glanced up at me. "Do you want to go there now? I can just tell everyone…"

"No, no." The image of the wedding cake came to mine and excitement bubbled inside me. She's bound to love it… "I only have a tiny bit more to do. I'll go tonight when it's closed."

Katniss nodded.

At three-thirty, we found ourselves lying on our backs in the grass at the edge of town. A few trees blocked the cobbler's shop from view, giving us a little piracy from prying eyes. Katniss wasn't touching me at all, but our fingers were just barely an inch apart. Her eyes were closed.

"Maybe we can go back to normal after this." She said, breaking the silence.

I turned to look at her, grass sliding on my cheek. "Yeah?"

"Yeah."

I felt content. Wanting to do more, I let our fingers touch and slipped my hand around hers. But she read my mind. Letting out a comfortable sigh, Katniss rolled onto her side resting her head on my chest.

I couldn't help it. A quiet laugh escaped my throat.

"What?" Katniss slid an arm under her and propped her chin up on it.

"Lean close." I beckoned jokily with my finger, a memory making me laugh again. Frowning, Katniss did so. "Closer. Not quite."

Her right cheek was not quite touching mine—ear close to my lips—when I stopped beckoning.

I allowed myself a small smile, and I whispered, "We're in love, so feel free to kiss me any time you want."

A pause, in which she was still in that position. Then Katniss laughed, and without waiting for anything, she kissed me, clumsily matching up our lips. As it always did when we kissed, my heart leaped up to my throat causing me to smile widely against her mouth with pleasure. I touched my thumb to her cheek.

But sadly, it lasted just a fraction of eternity. Katniss drew away, and I could see her smiling, too.

"Thanks." I gave her another, smaller peck on the lips. I think I needed that."

We both sat up. Somewhere in the distance, a bird was singing. It's song burbled a bit closer, and then it was only until Katniss pointed, I noticed it was on the tree almost directly above us. With long, sharp beak, black-and-white feathers, and ruffling it's wings excitedly was a mockingjay.

I looked at Katniss, and she lifted her chin. A clear, two-noted trill was sung in her beautiful voice, awaiting the birds' approval. The mockingjay just blinked. Beside me, Katniss tried again. This time, it was a four-note tune that sounded vaguely familiar. The bird liked this. It clicked its beak and sang it back.

Katniss smiled as the mockingjay said it again, and then took off, delighted with its new song, ready to share it with the other birds. We heard it all the way into the forest where it got lost in all the other forest noises.

I sighed quietly, content with maybe just watching Katniss like this for the rest of my life. But not two seconds later, she caught me staring and rolled her eyes.

"Come on," Bracing her hands on her knees, she stood up. "We should get going."

O didn't want to, but I got up anyways. Katniss let me put my arm around her waist as we peeked inside the cobblers. It smelled of wood and leather, and had all sorts of shoes stacked high to the ceiling. On the south wall, there was a scruffy analog clock that read "4:45".

"Shoot, we have to go," Katniss said, and we both rushed out.

From the edge of town to the square it took about 45 minutes walking. 15 at a sprint.

"I'll race you there," I said, letting a grin light up my face.

She put on a sly smile as well. "You're on." And she took off without waiting for me. Letting out a snort, I ran after.

Feet pounding against the gravel and dirt, we zipped around people, swerving in between buildings and shooting apologies out to less lucky passersbys. I caught up with Katniss about halfway there, lungs beginning to burn. She glanced sideways at me and flew ahead, dancing across the cobblestone. It looked like her feet weren't even touching the ground. She was flying. Trying not to laugh, I put on one last burst of speed that made me gasp and clutch my side when we finally got to the square.

I fell to my knees next to Katniss. She was laughing.

"They aren't even here yet." She said, winded, wiping her hand down her face.

I heaved a sigh and collapsed against the side of the butcher's place. "They'd better be soon. You sure your mother said five?"

"Yeah." Katniss sat against the butchers with me and flopped her head on my shoulder. "I win."

"Yes, you do."

We got about five minutes to breathe before the first part of our group showed up. Finnick was attempting to calm down Jace, who was screaming, while Annie was rummaging around in the diaper bag for something. When they saw me and Katniss, they came over immediately.

Finnick gave Jace to Katniss, who looked flustered, and he reached over to the diaper bag. Within ten seconds, he pulled out a funny-looking shawl. Annie took it and thanked him.

Finnick exhaled noisily and relaxed on the wall to my left. "Jace was hungry." He explained.

Sure enough, once the tiny pink baby was situated under the wrap and latched on to his mother, he stopped complaining.

It took another fifteen minutes for the rest to arrive. Prim was the third after Annie and Finnick. She was looking excited, as usual, and settled herself next to Katniss. Then Caroline, Ivy and Ms. Everdeen came. To my surprise, Ivy bypassed Katniss' lap and crawled onto mine, babbling on about the "preetttty" flowers. She smelled like them, too.

From there, everyone compares the thoroughness of which their errands were completed. All of them were thoroughly completed. Finnick described to Ms. Everdeen his idea for the "aisle" and explained how he already set everything up after talking to the last person on his guest list. Ms. Everdeen was extremely pleased. Prim had put Finnick, Jace's and Haymitch's suits in the hall closet in my house, and then the dresses for Caroline and Ms. Everdeen in their closet. It seemed as though nearly everything was in order.

Katniss was squeezing the life out of my arm, and I could feel her practically shivering with excitement. I put one of my hands over hers and felt the coldness of the pearl ring.

Ms. Everdeen took a deep breath and let it out. "And now to go home and fix dinner."

"No, Mother. You should rest a while before doing that. There's no rush." Primrose shook her head and gave her mother a look.

But Ms. Everdeen waved that off. "No resting until after the wedding. I'm fine, dear, don't worry."

There was a break in the conversation for a few minutes. Jace finished eating and the shawl was stored back in the diaper bag. I would have guessed Ivy had walked a lot, unable to be carried by anyone because their arms were full of flowers. She curled up in the crook of my elbow and nodded off.

A few minutes later, Katniss brought her legs to her chest and had an arm wrapped around them. "So what else is there to do for tomorrow, Mother?"

Ms. Everdeen brought out her trusty yellow notepad again and stared at it for a few seconds. "…I think that about covers it except for the schedule for in the morning. But we can go over that during dinner."

That's it? That's all that's left?

Katniss tightened her grip again on my left arm.

It was looming closer and closer, the wedding. It seemed as though with every passing day, we skipped two more. It felt like ages ago I proposed… But here we were. With my fiancée in one arm, a four-year-old redhead napping in the crook of my other. Finnick and Annie were here. The wedding was tomorrow. And I was unbelievably happy.

oOo

Sorry for such a bad ending, but you would have hated it more if I'd drawn it out and so boringly described dinner and such. But to fill you in, after dinner Haymitch, Finnick (with Jace) and Peeta went to Peeta's house to prepare the groom (eek) and then the girls stayed at Ms. Everdeen's house to do the same with our bride. So OMG the wedding is next chapter! And don't worry about anything, I have got EVERYTHING under control.