Holy CoW! You guys hit my request last night so I'm posting this before I said I would- if I get reviews before tonight, I'll post Peeta's part on the wedding/reception/ wedding night!
Thank you guys so so much for all the unyielding support!
I've had a few messages about this contest I am going to run, so I'll go ahead and announce it. Back when I first started to write fanfiction, years ago, I created contests to get followers. I would ask my fans to tell their friends/fans whoever to come read my stories! In return, the person who got me the most new followers would be featured in the story! So here's the deal. Make announcements. Write on your own stories. Shameless plugs everywhere ;)
2) tell them when they come read, they must leave a review saying WHO recommended the story to them. That way I know who is responsible for sending them over.
3) The contest will run for 2 weeks. That means April 14th, I will come and check and total up who has gotten readers. I'll then message you asking for physical description and a few traits of yours. And then you'll be added to later chapters! ;) it's a fun little way to spread the word and I had fans tell me how awesome it was to see themselves in my writing. You do not have to participate in this! again, it's just for fun and I more than appreciate the awesome readers/fans I already have!
Just so everyone knows, pookieortega is up by 3, since she made an announcement on her own story weeks ago. So she's in the running right now ;)
So I'm off to work! If there are reviews when I get home, I will go ahead and post another one! My mother will be in town for Easter so I'm trying to post some before I leave you guys for a week ;)
XOXOXO
I didn't think I would ever get this excited about my own wedding. Then again, I didn't think I would ever be getting married. But I can't help but feel giddy while I soak in the lavender-scented bath the girls drew for me. When I get out, I dry myself off, and Johanna hands me a silk robe to put on.
"I think there's someone who would like to see you," Johanna says, her hand on the doorknob. I feel nervous, wondering who is on the other side but as soon as I hear impatient titters, I know.
The door opens and Flavius, Octavia, and Venia all rush toward me. I am genuinely happy to see them and hug and kiss each one of them. I'm taken aback by their appearance.
They look somewhat…normal. When I met them in the Capitol, they had green hair or purple markings on their face. Their hair is a normal shade, their make up is only slightly outlandish, and their nails are solid black.
"Oh sweetie, how we've missed you," Flavius croons as he kisses me.
"Effie called us," Venia squeals. "I can't believe we get to help you get ready for your wedding day!"
"Ok but I want to be as natural as possible," I tell them. "This is for Peeta and me. Not thousands of people. Please don't make me look…different." I almost said Capitol but realized they are from the Capitol and even they might understand what I mean. Octavia gives me a warm smile and squeezes my hand.
"You will be the most gorgeous bride there ever was."
"Peeta won't be able to take his eyes off you," Venia gushes, "not that he ever could anyway."
I hand Johanna the code and ask her to bring up my dress. When she carries it into the room, my prep team burst into tears.
"Oh…Cinna," Venia squeaks, reaching toward it.
"It's so perfect for you, Katniss. He truly loved you, you know." I nod, trying not to tear up. Octavia might kill me if my make up runs. Flavius starts brushing through my hair and my eyes meet his in the mirror.
"Can you leave it down, Flavius? Peeta loves it down." He gives me a smile and nods.
Flavius and Octavia work on me, while Venia goes to help Annie and Johanna with their hair and make up. I have to say they both look very beautiful. They help me into the gown and Annie zips me up.
"Oh Katniss…you look exquisite."
"Look at yourself, brainless," Johanna says, nodding and smiling at me. "Really see yourself for the first time." I obey and glance in the mirror.
She's right. Before this moment, I have never looked into the mirror and actually said, "I'm beautiful." I can actually see what Peeta sees. My hair is beautiful and soft around my shoulders. My make up is soft and my eyes are bright and captivating. The gown Cinna has designed is off-white, almost gold. Gold flames travel up the bodice and end in jewels around the edges. Octavia has painted my eyelids gold with black liner and my skin seems to glow. I hear a knock at the door and I tear my gaze from my reflection. My mom's eyes fill with tears as she stands in the doorway.
"Katniss," she says softly. "You are such a beautiful young lady." I rush into her arms and she hugs me tight. Haymitch stands next to her, grinning broadly. I don't smell a trace of alcohol on him. He's holding a bouquet of flowers and I suck in a breath as I realize they are evening primrose.
"You ready, sweetheart?" He holds his arm out to me and I take it. I try not to tremble as Annie and Johanna walk ahead of me and down the stairs. I freeze at the bottom of the stairs and Haymitch stops for a second, before he leads me outside.
When we get outside, I can't help but shiver. There's snow on the ground and Victor's Village is…empty. I frown, looking around.
"Haymitch-" but I stop when I see one of Thom's horse carriages nearby and Haymitch helps me up into it. He helps Johanna and Annie into the seat next to me, and lastly my mother, before he jumps into the driver's seat and flicks the reigns. He hands me a coat and I recognize it as Peeta's.
I'm bewildered as we ride through town.
"What is going on? Where is everyone? I thought we were holding the wedding in the Village."
"Jut enjoy the ride, brainless," Johanna says gleefully. Annie's eyes are sparkling so I fall silent and pull Peeta's coat tighter around me.
I've never taken a horse-drawn carriage ride and all I can think about is how nice it would be if Peeta were next to me.
When we arrive at the edge of the meadow, I start getting even more confused. Haymitch flicks the reigns and we continue through the woods, though I notice there is an actual path here now. We ride through the woods, which are breathtaking in the winter time. When we are almost to the lake, Haymitch stops the horses and the carriage slows to a stop. He jumps down and helps the girls and my mother down, before helping me. Mom kisses my cheek and then disappears from my side. Johanna and Annie are gone too. I turn to Haymitch, puzzled.
"Haymitch, what-?"
"Kid knows you better than anyone, sweetheart. He said it would be better to get married in your woods, where you feel the most at home. Away from town and away from everyone. Let's go." He leads me through a clearing and I feel my breath leave me.
There's a green carpet spread out on the forest floor and underneath the trees, Peeta stands waiting. His suit is off-white like my dress, with the gold flames decorating the edges. He wears a white shirt underneath and a beige bowtie to complete the ensemble. His golden curls are combed to the side, his face is beautiful in the sunlight streaming through the trees.
Annie and Johanna stand on one side, while my mother, Effie, and Delly stand on the other. Haymitch squeezes my hand and walks me down the green carpet.
Peeta's eyes meet mine and the smile that crosses his face completely transforms him. I have no breath left when I reach him and Haymitch puts my hand in his. He pats our joined hands and clears his throat.
"I just want to say, uh…you kids changed my life. And I'm happy…and grateful, I've lived to see this day. Seeing you both so happy…it makes everything worth it." There are tears in the old man's eyes and I lean forward and kiss his cheek. He looks stunned and he hurries off to the side to stand next to Effie. Peeta tugs me closer and tilts my chin up. His eyes search mine and we merely gaze into each other's eyes for a moment. He looks down at our joined hands and then back up.
"I couldn't even breathe when I first saw you," he says softly. "I didn't think you were real. Just this perfect fantasy I have concocted in my head."
"I know what you mean," I whisper back. "This doesn't feel real."
He reaches down and takes a flower from my bouquet and slides it into my hair. My eyes fill with tears as his hand goes to my cheek.
"So you know she is with you, all the time," he whispers.
He reaches down and slides a band on my finger, next to my other ring.
"Katniss. I usually have…well, the right words to say but right now, I'm just stumbling, trying to find the perfect thing to say. I can't possibly tell you how much I love you and what you mean to me. No words exist for the perfection that you are. For the joy you have brought to my life. So instead, I'll promise to love and honor you, to defend and protect you with my life, and to always be there whenever you need me. My world turned upside down when you told me you love me. Now I never want to be without you. Katniss Everdeen, I am yours until the end of time. I love you." I smile up at him while he tries to hold back the tears. Effie hands me a little box and I open it and slide the gold band onto his finger. He gapes down at it then his eyes fly back to mine.
"Peeta," I take a deep breath. "I had this all memorized and now…I can't get the words straight. I can't believe that we actually made it here…but it's your strength and your love that keep me going, when things get hard. Everything that we have been through, all that we have endured together….Peeta it was all worth it because it led me to you. I won't lie to you and tell you I will be the most perfect wife there ever was…I know we'll have difficulties. I know we will have some hard times. But I can deal with them because I'll have you. You've saved my life, time and time again and that day with the bread….you took a piece of my heart. Well today, I give you my whole heart. It's yours until it stops beating and even then, I'll continue to love you from the heavens. Peeta all I am is yours." He blinks back tears and I reach up to caress his cheek. He takes my hand in his and kisses my palm and he turns to where Haymitch is stoking a small fire. I hadn't even noticed the flames but Johanna hands Peeta a covered loaf of bread and Annie takes my bouquet. Peeta unwraps the bread and tears off a piece. He impales it on a stick and sticks it into the flames, his eyes on mine.
"Will you, Katniss Everdeen, take me to be your friend, your partner, your lover, and your husband?"
"I will do so gladly," I answer while I tear off a piece of the bread and stick it over the fire. "And will you, Peeta Mellark, allow me to stand by your side, through the good times and the bad times, and love you until the end of our days? As your loving wife?"
"I would be honored to have you by my side," he replies. He takes the toasted bread and holds it to my lips. I close my eyes as the flavors bring a range of emotions and I move the bread from the fire.
"Peeta, you fed me when my stomach was empty and you gave me hope when all of mine was gone. You brought light back into my life." I hold the bread to his mouth and he swallows it quickly.
"Katniss I promise you will never want for nothing. Everything I have is yours and as long as I am alive, I will do everything in my power to make you happy. You will never go hungry again, nor will you ever doubt your worth. I will spend my entire life showing you how incredible you are." I smile and lean forward and he meets me halfway. The moment our lips touch, I know my life is changed. I'm no longer Katniss Everdeen of District 12.
I am Katniss Mellark, wife to Peeta Mellark.
It's real.
When we pull away, our family claps and cheers. Peeta's arm wraps around me and holds me close and we grin broadly. Everyone comes up to hug us and congratulate us. Haymitch puts out the fire and everyone starts heading back out of the clearing. Peeta's wide eyes meet mine.
"You just became my wife. Real or not real?" I smile and gently turn his hand, so he can inspect his ring more closely.
It is a gold band with a pattern I fell in love with. Tiny flames are around the edges and inside the band is the word 'Real'. He looks up at me with tears in his eyes.
"You lit my heart aflame years ago and I still burn for you," I tell him softly. "And if you ever start to forget how much I love you, how much I need you, you can always look down at your ring and see that it's all real." He pulls me in for a kiss and wraps his arms around my waist.
"I love you, Mrs. Mellark," he says before he kisses me again.
I reach up and my arms drape around his neck as we share these perfect kisses, as husband and wife.