Thank you so much for the love! Keep it coming!
The characters of The Hunger Games Trilogy do not belong to me.
Fated to Love
Part Three
As Peeta slept, he dreamt of his son—the joy of his heart, full of light, fire, and hope. He could hear the boy's laughter as Peeta swung him in his arms.
"Daddy!" came the joyous cry from the grey-eyed boy.
He had always thought he would be seeing Madge's baby blues in his boy's eyes but the slate of them seemed to fit, filled with youth and innocence though eerily penetrating like his mother's pair.
"What's your name?" he found himself asking the boy.
"Toad" was his reply. "It's time to wake up now, Daddy."
So he did.
The same greys from his dream greeted him in his awakened state along with a throbbing pain in his jaw.
"Don't talk," Katniss instructed kindly. He wanted to thank her but the disconnection between his mouth and his jaw was perturbing. "Cato got you in the jaw." The woman put an ice pack to his face and the relief of its coolness numbed the pain. "It's funny. I was just in this position just a few days ago." A slight chuckle rose from his throat followed by a spike of hurt and he growled. "I told you not to talk. For now, let me."
Fair enough. It looked as if there was nothing to do but let the woman holding the ice pack speak.
"You are in my home, Peeta. You will not humiliate me by saying mean things or accuse me of getting pregnant on purpose. You know that isn't true. And obviously, you know now that I don't need your money."
That was true and he nodded in agreement.
Katniss didn't need his fortune. She could have their child and raise him as the future heir of the Everdeen Plantation. Her sister and the very punch crazy Cato's child would come first but Katniss was the eldest and legally, it was what was right—for her child to take over.
However, Peeta always imagined that he would have a little one to bring to the office one day. A child that would walk around in a matching suit and who would sit next to Peeta at meetings, coloring pictures of himself in his office which, of course, would be right next to Peeta's. On downtime or while he was on calls, his kid would pretend to stamp contracts and drink chocolate milk from a Mellark Corporation coffee mug.
Katniss leaned towards him and her warm, sweet breath filled him with a longing that he never knew he had in him—a yearning to have someone to come home to and to watch the little boy in his dreams run towards after their day at the office.
"Honestly, I don't know if having your baby is a good idea. The good thing is that I can do this all myself and you won't ever have to worry."
Her mouth was just close enough that if Peeta wasn't writhing in pain, he could reach for the nape of her neck and draw her down for a desperate, hungry kiss. He was never usually this sentimental and wondered just how much drugs the Everdeen matriarch had given him.
"We don't need you."
Seriously, what the fuck?
Her words tore into him, a shock of reality invading what had been a wonderful dream. She gently removed the ice pack from his throbbing jaw and waited expectantly.
"Here's your chance. What do you have to say for yourself?"
There was a weariness in her eyes. Katniss, the so-called Post-It girl, who never asked for anything but to be respected. Katniss, who was actually super glue, never backing down and her words reminded him just how firm she could be when it came down to it.
Those were definitely top qualities in a wife.
On its own accord, his hand reached to wrap around her wrist. Under his fingers, Peeta could feel her full pulse, quick under the pads of his finger and he knew that it was his doing. They couldn't remember their night together but he could remember this—the feel of their skin against one another.
His next words seemed only natural.
"Katniss…will you marry me?"
"You've got to be kidding," was her response.
Then, her eyes rolled back and her head fell to his chest.
It wasn't the answer Peeta was expecting.
Katniss roused, her eyes adjusting to the sight of her daisy pillow case.
"You had me worried for a second," came the injured voice that whispered into her ear. She turned her head to the man who had just proposed to her. "You were out for only a moment. I managed to bring you to the pillow."
"What are you playing at?" she found herself saying. Slowly, Katniss rose from the bed and after steadying herself, she went to the open door where Peeta's Uncle—who had asked her to call him Uncle Snow—as well as her mother and Uncle Haymitch were chatting. "I'm going to close the door."
"Is that really appropriate?" her mother asked in concern.
"She's pregnant," her Uncle responded. "I don't think that they're going to be in there trying to repeat the process."
Uncle Snow blushed, nodding effusively. "Haymitch is right."
Katniss smiled at them before closing the door gently and turning back to the man in the bed.
"I'm going to pretend that what you're saying has something to do with the painkillers," Katniss told Peeta. She walked over, pulling up a chair to sit by the bed. "And honestly, you're not exactly father or husband material."
"You don't know me," Peeta responded, his voice hardening. "And, you're not exactly mother material in my mind, either."
"Then, why are you proposing?" Katniss folded her hands on her lap. "We don't know each other. I'm not even sure either one of us likes the other."
"Because two negatives can make a positive," Peeta countered. "Yes, we're not the best people…but maybe we can be good parents. Our child will have two parents and will be adored by both. We don't have to like each other, but we can respect each other and respect our duties to the kid."
"Funny. I thought that people were supposed to marry for love," she responded.
"That's silly." Peeta sat up slowly, taking a slow breath. Katniss stood to help and adjust the pillow behind him. "How many marriages do you know of that were for love?"
"My parents." Her eyes filled with tears and she sat down on the mattress. "My parents were very much in love."
"Mine weren't, according to Uncle Snow," Peeta explained plainly. "It was a business arrangement and they weren't happy, but they did it. However, he did say that in the end, they actually did learn to love each other and when they went, he was sure that they had fallen in love."
"And, this will be a business arrangement?" she asked carefully.
Peeta went quiet for a moment.
"I don't know. Maybe a new kind of marriage," he said to her. "Part of me, I think, still loves Madge. I thought that was going to be a marriage with love included. But, it didn't work that way and it just taught me that marriage and relationships can't live on love alone—there has to be more. There has to be loyalty and collaboration." Peeta stopped and looked to Katniss. "Also, I want this baby. I think you do, too. If we can't love each other then we can love him with all our hearts."
Katniss bit back her tears. "How do you know it's a boy?"
"Gut instinct," Peeta responded with a slight smile. "Also, why does the word 'Toad' seem to be said when people refer to the baby?"
"Toad is what I call the baby," she explained softly. "It has something to do with my Grandmother. Also, if you call the baby something not very cute then it keeps the evil eye away."
"How very superstitious." Peeta clapped his palms to the tops of his thighs. "Then, we'll call him Toad..for now." He met her eyes once more. "And, getting married? What's your answer?"
"I need a day." Katniss squared her shoulders. "You've given me a lot to think about."
Slowly, Peeta reached into his pants pocket and finding the object he was looking for, he presented it to the mother of his child.
Katniss looked down at the Mockingjay pin that she had given him.
"You gave this to me with all your hopes for me. You wanted me to live a love-filled life. I think I could have one with our child," he told her. "My hope is that you'll accept my proposal and we can give him a life with two parents who will one day, I hope, care and respect one another. We can put our hopes in Toad instead."
And, maybe it was Toad speaking through the womb but Katniss suddenly found herself not needing the day to contemplate his proposal.
"Yes," she just barely answered. "I'll marry you."
Two Days Later…
The news spread throughout Seam Island that Katniss Everdeen would be marrying corporate mogul, Peeta Mellark. The citizens were thrilled, everyone volunteering to assist with the wedding in any way possible. The older folks thought of the Everdeen girls as their own children and the younger citizens were their friends and former classmates.
In the backyard of the plantation, in her favorite place in the world, Katniss would be married. Through the bedroom window, she could see a number of people helping with the ceremony setup. Cato, who had apologized to Peeta, was in charge of the layout. Her fiancé was outside with her brother-in-law as they both surveyed the area. The two had become fast friends as when it came down to it, Cato was no longer the only Everdeen husband and needed an ally.
"You're a lot tinier than I was," her mother remarked as they stood in her room. Katniss was in her mother's wedding dress; a sleeveless silk chiffon with an illusion neckline showing off a sweetheart top that would cradle her chest. "So I'll take it in but because the skirt is so billowy, you'll probably get away with not even showing that bit of baby bump."
"It's not fair," Prim said good-naturedly from where she rested on their mother's bed. "At two months, I was already ballooning out. You're almost at twelve weeks and there's practically nothing there! Toad is a tiny one, isn't he?"
"Don't tell me that you're calling Toad a he, too?" Katniss responded with a sigh. "Now that Peeta is set on a boy, I'm afraid everyone will be disappointed if it is a girl."
Her mother's eyes looked over her worriedly.
"Sweetheart, is this really what you want to do?" her mother asked. "If you're really concerned about raising Toad alone, you can both share custody. You don't have to get married."
"I'm aware of that," she responded evenly. "However when I see myself raising Toad, I see both of us giving him or her goodnight kisses in one house. And, if I'm lucky, separate bedrooms."
"So you won't be sleeping in the same bed?" her sister asked. "How about a honeymoon?"
"I'll be moving into the Mellark compound," Katniss informed her with a smile. "I won't have time to think about sharing a bed with Peeta or a honeymoon."
She turned to go to the mirror, hiding the tenseness of her body. The thought of sleeping arrangements had occurred to her and that discussion was something that she was not ready to approach Peeta about.
Prim moved her hand along her belly, admiring Katniss' elegant movements in the flowing dress, as she continued to interrogate her sister.
"And, are you going to keep working?"
"I'm not sure," she said. "Uncle Snow asked if I wanted to continue working and when I mentioned going back to art school—"
"Coriolanus found an art school for you," her mother finished with a grin. "Even as a boy, he was very take charge. Peeta's father was more of the lax one. I suppose that's why I liked him better; he was filled with life."
"It's so weird that you knew Peeta's father," Katniss said as her mother adjusted the flower wreath atop her dark hair. "I don't think Peeta remembers him at all."
"People change, Katniss." Her mother pinned the wreath to her hair as Prim stood to zip Katniss up. "I would be hard-pressed to find something to tell your fiancé about the man that his father used to be—"
She suddenly snapped her fingers and Katniss watched as her mother went to her closet, reaching easily for a box on her top shelf.
"Peeta's father was very good at folding, being a baker's son and having to fold dough and such. So when we were kids, we used to do origami." Sitting on the bed, Katniss' mother opened the top of the box and pulled out an intricate newspaper orchid. "He gave this to me as a present." She unfolded one of the petals showing the penned initials, 'PM'. "See? He even initialed it."
"May I have it?" Katniss asked and her mother nodded with an obliging smile. "Thank you."
"Katniss."
She looked to her sister who was holding out her hand. Together, Prim led her to the full-length mirror so that Katniss could see herself for the first time in full regalia. Beside her, her sister grinned from ear to ear and her mother followed behind them, wrapping her arms around Katniss's waist.
The wreath was made of baby's breath and roses, fitted to her crown as the rest of her hair fell in soft waves on her shoulders. Prim had done her makeup and her sister had done a good job of bringing out her grey eyes. The dress floated around her and she felt unbelievably calm for someone who was going to be married in an hour.
"You're a beautiful bride," her sister finished, her voice choked with tears.
Her mother simply smiled and kissed the side of her hair. "Be happy, be brave."
Katniss took a deep breath.
She was ready.
Peeta finished his message to Rue, letting her know to make arrangements for Katniss' move to the Mellark compound. Before locking the phone, he caught sight of Madge's name in his contacts. Peeta sighed, wondering how everything had changed in just a matter of months.
Madge had always been part of his life. Would it be so easy to let her go?
Going to his albums on the phone, Peeta looked through the many pictures he had taken of her during their years together. She was always beautiful and perfect, her smile shy yet alluring. However behind those smiles, he had to wonder if they were ever for him or what he represented to her—safety, stability, and loyalty. Was love ever a factor to her smiles?
Peeta looked to his phone screen: Delete Album?
Taking a slow breath, he pressed the OK button.
Then going to his contacts, her number was quickly taken away.
There. Madge was completely erased from his phone. Now how long would it be until she was erased from his head?
Standing up from his seat, he went to the full length mirror in Cato and Prim's bedroom. His new brother-in-law, who was actually pretty cool not counting the punch, had let him use his own navy suit from his wedding to Prim. It didn't look half bad on Peeta, a little long on the sleeves but it wasn't a big deal.
Walking to the wall next to the mirror, Peeta looked over the pictures of the Everdeens. The wedding photo for Prim and Cato was in front of a church which according to his brother-in-law was in the main part of Seam Island. The couple was a good-looking pair, tall and golden. Katniss looked surprisingly enticing in the short rose dress that she wore, her long gams on display while Haymitch and his mother-in-law flanked the couple's sides.
Hani, his mother-in-law, had taken to him. She, like Katniss, was kind and gentle. She made Peeta miss his own mother who he never knew though he could still recall the soft tones of her perfume, smelling of fresh rain water.
Then there was Haymitch who watched his every move and mostly communicated with Uncle Snow.
Haymitch would not be an easy man to break through to and he was a hell of a negotiator. Katniss now had a majority of stock in the bakery chain as part of the contract agreement between Mellark Bakery and Everdeen Wheat Plantation. The man was shrewd and it had everything to do with protecting his beloved niece.
Peeta had to give him that.
Going to the window, he looked out at the gathering guests in front of the wheat plantation and took another shallow breath.
In just a few minutes, Peeta was going to be getting married to the mother of his child.
His Uncle had arranged for a photographer to come and take pictures of the 'happy' couple. These photos would be sent to all the local media to keep the half-naked photos of himself from leaking. Currently, Uncle Snow was greeting guests along with Haymitch, happy to be back in his childhood playground. He could see that his Uncle was charmed by the Everdeens and even more excited by the coming child.
Probably because Johanna refused to settle down.
There was a beep on his phone and he looked at his screen at the text message:
'HOW DARE YOU GET MARRIED WITHOUT ME THERE, BRAINLESS!'
Speaking of his wayward cousin, he responded quickly, 'Where are you, anyway?'
'Somewhere where I couldn't get there in time to see you cuffed and shackled. I'll see you at the compound. Congrats to the unfortunate, Mrs. Mellark. –J'
There was a knock on the door and Peeta turned to find Katniss stepping into the room, bouquet in her hand.
She looked beautiful, practically floating towards him in her off-white gown.
"I know we're not supposed to see each other before the wedding but I figured that tradition doesn't count in this situation," Katniss said with a careful smile. "I just wanted to talk before we go on with this."
Peeta nodded, inviting her to have a seat on her sister's bed before sitting beside her.
"You look pretty," he told her.
Katniss blushed, the pink rise making her glow.
She looked him over. "You look…nice in a different colored suit."
He let out a laugh at her words. "You are an honest woman."
"I am." Katniss put her hand to her stomach. She took a breath before meeting his eyes to speak. "Can we try to get along? For Toad? The only reason I'm playing this game is because I want Toad to have the same happy childhood that I did. I know from what Uncle Snow told me was that he wasn't much of a father figure and more a teacher of the trade. You didn't get much of a childhood. But, Toad here is going to get that. We're going to be the ones who give it him."
Peeta nodded. "I know that. I want Toad to be happy, too."
"So we can pretend to love each other when Toad's around," she continued in a tight voice. "I will be your perfect wife and smile for the press—"
"I'm not asking you to do that," he told her. "I'm only asking that we get along for Toad's sake. I didn't have the family that we're going to give him. I want to give him that. We can make our family real. That will be good enough for me."
"Even if we're not real?" she asked shakily.
Peeta looked at her for a moment, the epitome of loveliness. His hand reached, lifting her chin with his finger and his gaze went to her mouth. She had put on a berry shade of lip gloss, making her lips full and luscious.
Leaning forward, he brushed his lips against hers tasting the bit of sweetness of the gloss. Katniss complied, her mouth parting just so to let him touch his tongue to hers.
Finally, they pulled apart as the din of the crowd below them rose.
"I can't remember if we ever kissed each other," Peeta said to her. "At least, we can tell Toad that our first kiss was something memorable."
Katniss let out a quiet laugh. "And, it was a pretty good one, too." Standing up, she did a quick check in the mirror. "Oh, I almost forgot!" She went to her bouquet, pulling out an intricately-made paper flower.
As Peeta rose from his seat, Katniss went to him to adjust the paper flower to his front pocket like a boutonniere.
"Your father was apparently very good with origami. He gave this to my mother and I thought that you'd like to wear it so he could be part of the wedding too. His initials are under one of the petals—interesting to be named after a son of the sun."
"He got too reckless," Peeta said. "I'm not that way at all."
"You were for one night and you're going to be an Everdeen," she retorted in a calm voice. "Your life is going to be nothing but recklessness now."
"And, you'll be a Mellark, where we know about control," he countered with a smirk. "You want to walk down there with me?"
Katniss nodded and he held out his arm. "I never liked the thought of making the walk down the aisle alone."
Taking his arm, they walked to the door together and Peeta opened it, letting her lead as they went down the hall and down the stairs. Together, they went towards the kitchen where the door to the backyard led.
In the kitchen, her mother looked surprised to find them coming down together and so did Haymitch.
"You look beautiful, sweetheart," Haymitch said as he went to Katniss and gave her a kiss on the cheek. He sniffed at Peeta. "You clean up well, can hardly see that bruised jaw."
"Thanks," Peeta responded.
If this was the best he could do with Haymitch then it was what he would take.
Hani went to her daughter first, giving her a hug, and a kiss on the cheek.
She then went to Peeta. "I'm trusting you with one of my most prized treasures. Treat her like she is one."
"Katniss will have everything that she deserves," he assured her.
Brother and sister went to the open door, getting ready to step outside.
Suddenly, Hani turned to the soon-be-wed couple, a sly grin on her face.
"Peeta, you might want to wipe the lip gloss off of your mouth."
"You did well, Peeta," his Uncle said as they sat at the round table, observing the reception. On the dance floor, the citizens of Seam Island danced to the bluegrass band playing. "Katniss is a beautiful woman."
Peeta looked across to where his wife stood talking to an older couple before leaning down to kiss each of them. He could see that despite the cheerfulness in her smile, she was exhausted.
"She's selling herself short with me," Peeta responded. He looked to his uncle and gave him a smile. "Thanks for being supportive. Though Johanna is pissed that there was such a rush."
The older man shook his head at the mention of his daughter. "I was too hard on you and coddled my daughter," the man responded with a wry smile. "I suggest that you don't ask any advice from me on your little one."
"You took care of me," Peeta told the man before him. "That's all that anyone can ask for." Standing up, he took a water bottle from the table. "I should go check on her."
"Good man," his Uncle said, his dark eyes on Peeta. "I am very proud of you."
Peeta nodded before making his way to his bride. Katniss turned to him and he could see that she was at the brink of falling over.
"Don't push yourself," he chided and opened the water bottle. "Did you take your prenatal vitamin?"
"Yes, Dad!" Katniss responded before taking the bottle from him, gulping it down quickly before placing it on a nearby table. "It was a nice wedding." She looked around. "Everyone looks to be having a good time."
"You don't." Peeta held his hand out. "We should dance."
She raised a brow at him. "Why?"
"So you don't have to play the hostess," he responded and Katniss sighed in resignation before taking his hand. "Thanks for holding me up during the vows."
"Same." They crossed through the tables to get onto the dance floor. On the wooden floor, Peeta pulled her close and Katniss rested easily on his shoulder. "Is it bad that I feel like big fat liar?" A thin laugh escaped her lips. "It's the reason that we didn't get married in the church. There's no way that I'm lying on holy ground." She stopped for a moment. "Also, all the real couples in my life were married there. It wouldn't be fair."
His lips found their way to her hair. "Thus the lovely outdoor wedding, I get it."
"Plus, this is my favorite place in the world," Katniss explained as she pulled away to look into his eyes. "My family has been here for a hundred years. I was born of this ground."
"Like Aphrodite, did the wheat part and you stepped out fully grown?" he teased.
Katniss chuckled and shook her head. "No, more like I spent my days as a kid, working like everyone else."
They were suddenly encircled by a group of guests and Cato stepped forward, a broad smile on his handsome face.
"Okay, everyone! It's time for the newlyweds to start their night!"
Peeta was suddenly lifted off the ground. Katniss yelped as she was lifted by another group of people.
"This is not funny, Cato!" she yelled at her brother-in-law. "What are you doing?"
Prim went to her husband, a smirk on her pink lips as she looked up at the pair.
"It's Seam Island tradition for all newlyweds!"
Peeta was defenseless as their group rushed to the side of the house and towards the town. Looking over at Katniss, he could see that she was just as confused but looking around steadily to figure out a plan of escape.
When they got to the main dock, the group veered to the left and Peeta was back on the ground being shoved into an open door of a small boathouse. He heard an angry yell as Katniss was brought in quickly and the metal door was shut.
She pounded against the door. "Not funny!"
"Sleep well," came the sing-song voice of Cato.
"I'm kicking his ass once I'm out," Katniss muttered.
"Hold him down and I'll give him one, too." Peeta looked around the dimly-lit room, surprised to see an air mattress with fresh bedding, a picnic basket, and their sleeping clothes by another door. He went to look through the other door, finding only a bathroom with no windows. "What is this?"
"A boat house," his wife said. "I forgot that they did this. The last time I remember this happening was for Prim's wedding."
"What do you mean?" he questioned.
"We're here for the night," Katniss informed him. "Every new couple of Seam Island is put here."
Peeta looked at the mattress. "That's a clean one, right?"
"Yes." She shook her head in exasperation. "Groom's family usually shells out for the supplies so Uncle Snow is probably in on this."
"That clever, white-haired fucker!" Peeta stomped his foot and Katniss raised a brow at his childish behavior. "Are you going to be okay?"
She went to the picnic basket and looked inside. "Lots of delicious bread from your bakery and some fresh deli turkey. They even put my favorite mustard and potato chips. There's also some apple cider and bottled water, too. Uncle Snow is keeping us well fed."
"So we should just have some dinner and go to bed." Peeta looked to the mattress. "Go ahead and get dressed first then take the bed."
"That's silly," Katniss concluded. "We can sleep in the same bed. Trust me. We're too tired to do whatever they think we are going to do."
"So exhaustion is the only reason that you're not jumping me?" Peeta joked, trying to ease her annoyance.
Katniss rolled her eyes. "I'll go change."
Taking her sleeping clothes, she went to the bathroom and closed the door behind her.
Going to the basket, he pulled out the bottled waters and the apple cider. The smell of fresh bread eased his nerves and Peeta put the loaf back into the basket before going to where his sleeping clothes were.
He changed quickly though made sure that the newspaper flower was untouched. Raising the petals, he looked until he found his father's initials, moving his finger over his father's writing before placing it on a shelf for safe-keeping.
There was a soft cough and he turned to find Katniss in a long white nightgown, her face beet red and arms crossed.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"This nightgown is completely sheer," she responded in a tight voice.
Peeta nodded, his own face growing warm. "I'm going to turn around and you can just…get in the bed."
Turning, Peeta could hear the quick steps and her shuffling as Katniss got under the blankets.
"You can turn around."
He swiveled, finding her staring up at him from the mattress, blankets drawn to her chest. His breath stuck in his throat, seeing her there, staring up at him with those glossed lips.
"Are you hungry?" he asked her. Katniss nodded and he took the basket to the mattress, sitting down at the end of it. "I'll make us something to eat."
"Turkey, pickles and mustard on top of them," she told him in a rushed voice. "Toad likes pickles."
"Extra pickles then." Peeta began to prep their food. "Uncle Snow says that you're thinking of going to art school. I didn't realize that you were an artist."
"I actually interviewed at my company to be on their artistic team," she explained, watching him create her sandwich. "Unfortunately, they thought that I was more qualified to stick Post-It's on and get Seneca coffee."
"As of today, you're Seneca's boss," Peeta told her with a grin; she snorted in response. "Your sandwich." She took her sandwich eagerly and bit ravenously into it. "Glad you have an appetite." Making his sandwich, he settled on his side and began to eat. "Throwing a wedding is tiring."
"Mm-hmm…" Katniss agreed. "Having a baby is, too. You're either throwing up or eating. Or in my case, you're both."
After they were finished, Peeta went to wash his hands and after throwing a pillow over his face, Katniss went to do the same. He felt the mattress shift as she got back into the bed and placed the pillow down to find her covered once more.
They went quiet.
"I guess we should sleep," Peeta said after a moment.
Katniss nodded, settling down against her pillow. Doing the same, he laid down and closed his eyes trying to not focus on the warmth radiating from her body.
"Peeta?" His eyes opened to find her staring at him. "Did you always keep my pin with you?"
"Yes," Peeta told her. "It reminded to keep hoping for better." He smiled tiredly. "And, I got you…and Toad."
"That's real nice of you," Katniss replied. "Can I ask you to do something?"
"Sure."
"Can we try to make this real?" she asked him in a shaky voice. "I'm just comprehending how scary this marriage is. I'm supposed to trust you and I don't even know what your favorite color is."
He watched her for a moment, hearing the panicked rambling, and his hand reached to cup her cheek trying to calm her.
Katniss put her hand to her mouth to suppress her sobs.
"Orange. Like the sunset, the very one that set when we made our vows." Katniss sniffled and he brushed a tear away from her weary face. "We're going to be okay, Katniss. We'll take care of each other and there has to be some love in that."
Katniss wiped her eyes and nodded quickly.
"Green," she said in trembling voice. "Like a toad."
Pushing himself up, Peeta moved over to where she lay. Slowly, he leaned down to kiss her and Katniss arched against him, the thin cloth of her gown pressing her hard buds into his own chest. An unfamiliar longing took hold and he found himself deepening the contact, letting his mouth savor the taste of her—his one and only wife.
Almost reluctantly, they pulled apart and he smiled down at her. "Good night, Mrs. Mellark."
Manhattan, New York
"Great job, Madge," her instructor Madame Cashmere told her with a smile. "You fit right into our troupe." She handed the ballerina a towel and Madge quickly wiped her brow. "Go home and rest."
She nodded, eager to sleep and eat. "Thank you, Madame."
Going down the hall and into the dressing room, Madge waved to some of the other dancers who were just getting to the studio. As prima, she was expected to be there earlier and stay later than everyone else and she was going on her tenth hour.
Walking into the dressing room, Madge went to her locker, tossing her towel on the bench behind her.
She turned back, her eyes catching a newspaper under the towel.
It had Peeta's photo on it and he was wearing a suit with a large, origami flower in its chest pocket.
Picking it up, she was surprised to see a photo of a pretty raven-haired woman with almond-shaped eyes alongside Peeta's. She was wearing a long white dress and a flower crown on her head.
Madge dropped the paper as she read the headline above their photos:
CEO Peeta Mellark weds Plantation Princess Katniss Everdeen: Corporate World Rejoices!
Happy 2016!
These two are both running a bit hot and cold, aren't they? I kind of like that. However, it's nice to know that they're sharing the common goal of child rearing. Also, Katniss is fine, that fainting was just shock. I'm sure you're curious to know if anything further went on in the boathouse. You'll find out in the next chapter.
I'm really into mythology and if you look for offspring of the sun god, you will find the name of Peeta's father.
Yes, Johanna is Snow's daughter. However, she will be using her mother's maiden name, Mason. She's a bit of a wayward one, that girl.
Also, are you wondering where Gale is? Don't worry, he'll be back. If you missed him.
Then there's Madge, this character in FTL was the one I disliked the most...so yeah.
Next chapter: Welcome to the Mellark Compound—Katniss moves into her new home, makes her first appearance as Mrs. Mellark, and Johanna makes her grand entrance.
Till then, JLaLa