A/N: Hi everyone thank you for continuing to follow my story :) It is greatly appreciated. However it doesn't seem like many have become interested in it :/ Please let me know if you wish me to continue. I am happy to know my writing is making others happy but if it isn't, then what's the point? So please let me know what you think as you read so I will know if you want me to continue :)

Chapter 2

"It's a big, big, big, big, BIG day! Oh, Katniss, you look so beautiful!" Effie chatters on and on as I make my way to the entrance. She's the only one there to meet me as everyone already has been accommodated inside. "Remember, shoulders back, chin up, and smile! Oh, smile, Katniss! Please, it's your wedding day!" she tells me frustrated on the verge of yelling. I don't blame her. I am scowling and very much. I know if I walk in there looking like this I will be talking to President Snow tonight and that's the last thing I want! Somehow this thought makes summon the strength to smile as naturally as possible and this brings some relief to Effie's stressed features.

She hands me my flowers and looks at me with a proud expression. This is a big deal for her. After all we are the only two survivors from her District for as long as she has been in the position and we're getting married to each other. It has to be very emotional for her even if it is only a scam.

I hold my flowers too high up to my chest and she makes me lower them with a wave of her hand. I do so just as the front doors open and I am faced with an avalanche of bright horrid colors. I can barely make out who anyone is. They are probably the richest of the richest in the capitol to have been able to afford a seat in my wedding. President Snow never misses an opportunity to make money. Only the front row has been reserved for the very few guests Peeta and I were allowed to invite. I feel the temptation to rush down the aisle to see my mother and sister and see how badly disappointed Gale's face is after my rejection earlier, but I remember Effie is watching me and maintain a lady-like pace.

Finally I am at the end and that's when I see them. My mother shares Prim's wide eyes when they see me. They are a mixture of happiness and sadness that is difficult to grasp. My wedding should be happy event but the circumstances of it make it so not. Right by them is Gale and his family still under the pretense of being my cousins . He masks no happiness, just a hard look of disappointment with a bit of anger though I know not directed towards me. I must admit he looks very handsome in nice clothes. Right before I pass them completely I look to my right to see Peeta's family but only his dad really catches my attention and I remember the cookies he gave me. He was always so kind to us. His face seems to say: "I wish my son was marrying a woman who loved him back but I am still glad it's you". It makes me happy to feel some approval.

Just then I realize I am almost to where Peeta is and I see him standing tall, his left hand stretched out to meet mine and help me up. I meet his hand and hold on for dear life. Thank God it's Peeta or I don't know how I would make it through. At some point I realize someone has taken my flowers from me though I can't recall who and I really don't care. I am holding both Peeta's hands as we stand across each other and I hope I am not hurting him but I am squeezing them as hard as I can. He feels the pin in between our palms and gives me a puzzled look. I forgot to pin it somewhere hidden and the realization dawns upon him as he gives an almost intelligible laugh but this doesn't help me feel any better. It's all I can do to keep this fake smile plastered on my face. I meet his eyes and they're smiling. He looks dashing and as happy as could be. He was always so much better than me in front of the cameras. He gives me a reassuring smile and a nod and then motions with his eyes towards our hands and I relax them, releasing a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. Then anger replaces my nerves. I am angry at the Capitol and I hate them. I see President Snow out of the corner of my eye and I resist the urge to spit at him. Somewhere to my left an officiant of some kind babbles away some stupidity I don't care enough to listen to. I look at Peeta's face and behind his smile I see his eyes are bit worried. He must see what is going on in my mind and if he can then that means everyone else can. I relax the muscles in my face and realize I better pull this off right so I tell myself I am madly and passionately in love with this boy in front of me and widen my smile as genuinely as I can. I just repeat to myself that I am so happy to be here and to have the prospect of spending the rest of my life with Peeta and I am surprised to find a minimal amount of truth to this. At least he's my friend. And somehow the sight of his warm smile, his blonde hair and the blue of his eyes remind me of the dandelions on the Meadow against the blue spring sky when the coal dust allowed you to see it to its full brightness and I imagined myself laying there among all the yellow flowers as the wind made them slowly sway back and forth and I felt a bit calm and a tiny spark of happiness as I realized how much Peeta reminds me of home and my smile becomes more genuine. I can tell he sees it too.

I realize the vows came much faster than I expected and just blurt them out as rehearsed and listen to Peeta do so too.

Then we are handed each other's rings. He gently places my ring on my finger and then it's my turn. The burn scars on his hands jump out at me as I put his wedding band on and they remind me that no matter how much they fix us up and try to make us a piece of their games, I know we still remain ourselves and will continue to do so. They can't erase District 12 out of us and they can push the Capitol on us as much they want, we will never be a part of them.

Just as I am wishing for this day to be over already I remember it will only be followed by a week at Capitol resorts while being followed on our every step by cameras. And then there will be the Quarter Quell which Peeta and I will mentor with Haymitch's help. And I know it will be miracle if anyone from our District wins. I know I won't be able to bear the thought that two more children that I will actually get to know and probably get attached to will die and I was not able to help it. No wonder Haymich is such a drunk.

Now I wish this day would never end. Will the future never stop getting worse?

Peeta and I descend and walk out of the building as people cheer us and soon we're in the car that will take us to the party. I am grateful for the quiet and the peace and Peeta senses it and says nothing. We are both looking at our hands, feeling how strange it feels to wear such a significant ring and yet means nothing really. How all around us, everyone is cheering for our love finally being signified by our marriage while it is cold and quiet and a bit awkward in this car. Nothing they imagine can even be close to the truth. Except a feeling of impotence fills me and I need Peeta's comfort. I need him to tell me it will be ok. That somehow all this will be for the best and we will look back upon it and it won't be such a confusing memory.

I look at him and he knows exactly what I am thinking because he opens his arms wide inviting me into his embrace and I am in his arms momentarily. His chest has become my home for comfort and his arms the imaginary protection I need, and it's calming and soothing. I almost feel like a little girl in my father's arms. But then I remember he's dead and this is Peeta and I am not a little girl in any way. I have been forced to grow up in every way. And now I am married. Married to Peeta. It's a good thing my insecure, scary future comes with some sort of guarantee, that at least one thing won't change and that is Peeta, forever him, forever there and I think if he is ever taken away from me... I can't think about it. No, I am not dependant of him. The less people I care for the less they can hurt me, the less they can take away. I already have enough with the fear of losing Prim, my mother or Gale. I don't need to add Peeta to the list. I sit up and straighten my hair and Peeta doesn't notice what was going through my mind as I was pulling away from him for the car starts slowing down as we near our destination. It's a good thing that for now it conveniences the capitol to keep him close to me. I don't know how else I could pull through the Hunger Games, without any of my loved ones. It's at least a relief they will be far away in District 12, the ignored district.

I squeeze Peeta's hand as we step out the car and into the most ludicrously over the top party I have ever been to in the Capitol.

So what do you think? Please leave me a thought, I am hanging by thread! Even if it is just a smiley face :) Thank you!