Iris Everdeen age 21 and 38

1996-2013

Seeing my beautiful daughter in the wedding, I wish her father could see her. Seeing her with Peeta Mellark, takes me back to memories of his dad and I...

I married Hunter 6 months after breaking up with Bo. I was only 18. I had no regrets. I was so happy.

I heard that Bo took over his family's bakery. He had gotten married around the same time I did to, Sidera Collins, a girl his parents set him up with. They had two boys, Graham and Rye by the time I was pregnant with my first baby. So naturally, I thought he was happy too.

Then, I was visiting my best friend Marigold Undersea. Marigold and I both had daughters on the way. She told me that Bo and his wife were pregnant with twins. Marigold was a twin, so she was happy to help them with any advice she could. Sidera was having a baby girl; they were naming Parsley Muffin Mellark. The second baby was a boy. They were naming him Peeta Wheaton Mellark.

When Marigold heard Sidera went into labor, she asked if I wanted to go to the hospital to give my congratulations. But Bucky Mason, who was a childhood friend, called and told us he was in the hospital when it she gave birth.

Sidera lost her little girl.

Bucky was married and had a daughter himself. Then that scoundrel fell in love with another woman and had just fathered another baby girl at the same hospital.

"Sidera was yelling at Bo that he never loved her. Claimed he was still in love with his "flower" girl. She threw things and shouted that it was his fault she could never have a little girl." Bucky relayed to us.

Apparently, the birth was rough on her and she couldn't have any more children. Because we were soon to be mothers, this hit us hard. We cried for Bo's situation, but decided not to go to the hospital.

My heart went out to Bo. Feeling like it was a sore spot for Sidera; I made a point never to go to his bakery again, even though it wasn't far from the house we'd just moved to.

A couple months later, Hunter and I had Katniss Gardenia Everdeen. Such a beautiful child. She looked just like her father. 4 years after Katniss, we welcomed Primrose Azalea Everdeen.

I didn't really see Bo or his wife much after that. For years even when I did see him, we'd only nod and smile never speak.

Then when my husband died. My world shattered.

Bo came to the funeral alone. But it wasn't until after, at the house, he finally spoke.

"I'm so sorry Iris." He said with sad eyes.

"Bo, thank you. It was good of you to come." I said tears falling.

I hugged a 9 year old Prim, while she slept in my arms.

"I... I don't really think there is anything I can say... to make this any easier. But if there is ever anything I can do. Please don't hesitate to ask." He said putting a hand on my shoulder.

He was such a good friend and just nice guy.

"Thanks again. I just can't believe he's gone. First we lost Maysilee Abernathy, to diabetes. Then Herb died, and now... We went to school with so many of the workers that didn't make it." I sob.

He gave my shoulder a small squeeze, then let go. He pulled out and handkerchief and handed it to me. I didn't know anyone still carried those around but it had his initials on it. B.L.M. When I tried to give it back he said to keep it.

We talked a little more about our lives. Mostly our kids. He said he thought his youngest son Peeta liked Katniss a lot. They had been in school and camp together. Peeta always had good things to say about her. He said goodbye. Then he up and moved a few weeks later without warning. I only found out because Effie came by to visit and said Haymitch told her the Mellark's were gone.

That was a dark time for me. My depression came on quickly and I just stopped getting out of bed. I tried to go to work for a week. While I was there, my boss, Dr. Snow told me he was glad to see me back. But that I could take as much time as I needed. He offered to set up grief therapy for me and my girls. I said that would be nice and tried to take them. After one session, Katniss said she was never going back. I guess she never took Prim back either.

I vaguely remember the next 12 or so months. It was like living in a dream. I could see the girls, but couldn't really respond to them. I barely ate. I only showered twice a week or so because Hazelle would make me.

Katniss stopped talking to me. Prim would come in and talk to me even though I didn't respond. She told me about school or her friend Rue, who she stayed with sometimes during school breaks. It was so she could interact with other kids, according to Katniss. But I know she was working.

I'm so proud of the way Katniss stepped up during that time? She is more amazing than she knows.

One day I took my medicine and after about two hours I felt more awake than I had in months. I got ready for work and went in to see Dr. Snow. He seemed surprised to see me but stood true to his word and gave me my job back. I started a week later.

I felt like I didn't want to step in on the way Katniss had been running the household. So I just gave her my paycheck every two weeks.

Slowly, but surely, we got mostly out of debt. We're able to keep food on the table. Sometimes I don't ask what we are eating. That way, I don't feel like I'm eating Bambi or Thumper. It all seems to taste like chicken and ignorance is bliss.

I work a lot to stay busy. Hazelle and I get together once a week to do laundry and go grocery shopping. She fills me in on what I've missed and what I continue to miss being at work so much. Thank goodness my girls confide in her. I wish they would confide in me, but I guess I've earned the cold shoulder that Katniss gives me. And the treatment likened to a friend rather than a mother, from Prim.

I love my daughters and they are becoming wonderful young women, so I don't think I should interfere. Hazelle says they may not seem like it but they still need their mother. Especially, in these teen years and to just be prepared because they will come to me someday soon.

Katniss age 17

2013

Madge Undersea is my best girlfriend. We've been friends since birth. We are the same height, but that's where our physical similarities end, since she's fair skinned, has blond, curly hair and light brown eyes.

Tonight, she's wearing a very pretty, pink dress that's sparkly and looks a lot like mine even though she wasn't in the wedding. But, Madge fills her dress out in ways I would only hope to.

Her mom was my mom's best friend and her dad is the Mayor of Soulsbyville. We lead totally different lives. She hasn't had to struggle a day in her life, well financially. Their family has encountered loss just like the rest of us. Her mother's twin sister died at the young age of 20. Madge and I weren't even born yet. And my Uncle Herb was one of her dad, Harris' best friends growing up.

Mayor Undersea felt especially responsible when the Saw Mill blew up because they later found out, it was faulty gas lines. And when you want something like that fixed it goes through the Mayor's office. He told Haymitch, who told Effie, who later told me, that he found paperwork under a pile on his desk a week after the explosion.

Nobody blames him, though. There may have been faulty gas lines but someone in the facility was careless and lit a light near a gas leak.

"You look so pretty Katniss."

"Thanks Madge, so do you. I feel like I'm trying to win a pageant." I say and we laugh.

"No, you look hot! All the boys are staring. Even Peeta and he just lost his family almost a year ago, in a plane crash. Did you know he's living with Haymitch? That's why he's one of the groomsmen." Madge tells me.

"Oh, my Gosh! No. I didn't know any of that." I gasp.

"I know it's so sad. Haymitch is like, his legal guardian. Peeta wasn't on the plane. His older brother Rye is the only one to survive the crash, but he's in a coma and they don't know if he'll wake up or not." She tells me all of this and I'm in disbelief.

Poor Peeta.

"That's horrible. When his family moved, I never heard anything else about them. He's so brave to come here and be in front of all these people, after going through something like that." I say.

"Yeah, he's so strong. And my dad says he's handled everything much better than anyone could've hoped." Madge says.

I understand too well the feeling of losing family. I can't help but think of my dad at that moment and even though my heart still hurts. I know I've come to terms with him being gone. I wonder how Peeta feels. Does he have a shoulder to lean on?

"Oh, I'm so jealous." She whines, after a few minutes.

"What? Of who?" I say turning back to her.

"You. You got to be in the wedding. You get to dance with Peeta. He's super cute, right. I know you thought so that last year at summer camp." She accuses.

"No I... Wait you thought I thought Peeta was cute then?" I ask.

"Yup. I noticed." Madge informs me.

"I thought you only noticed Gale that year." I say without thinking.

"I did, but we messed that all up. Gale liked you anyway. You haven't even looked at any boys since..." She starts but stops from saying what we both know she was going to.

"I've had a lot on my plate the last few years, Madge. Boys haven't really been a priority." I say, kind of irritated.

Though, I'm truly embarrassed about Gale. I knew she liked him before and she still likes him, but I sort of dated him for like a day, in ninth grade. It almost came between all of our friendships.

"You're right I'm sorry." She apologizes.

"No, I'm sorry." I say.

I take her hand to show her I'm sorry for being snippy. She smiles and pulls me up out of my seat, spinning me around to relish the fact that I'll never be this dressed up again, and we laugh.

"Wait, what do you mean I get to dance with him? I don't really dance." I say.

"The wedding party is dancing a routine. It's in the program. He was your groomsman. So he's your partner." She says.

"Oh, Lord." I say.

I'm not prepared for that.

"I'll see you later." Madge whispers and smiles then leaves me.

I 'm nervously pulling up the top of my dress when a hand taps my shoulder lightly. I turn.

It's Peeta.